《Global Lords: Hundredfold Increments Starting With the Undead》 Chapter 1 - 1 Chapter 1, National Lord_1 1 Chapter 1, National Lord_1 Translator: 549690339 In the pitch-black cave, the heavy breaths of beasts echoed occasionally. On the open ground in front of the cave. A few farmers armed with stone axes and pickaxes were edging forward under the harsh supervision of the lord. Thwack! The lord raised his whip, mercilessly striking a farmer. The whip was made from rattan vines, lined with small barbs. A frightening bloody scar appeared on the farmer¡¯s back with just one strike of the whip. Hiss! Fang Hao gasped sharply. The fiery pain brought him to immediate alertness. He turned around quickly. There, a man wielding a whip was staring at him with a wicked glare. ¡°Get moving, and don¡¯t come out without the treasure chest. Or I will flay you alive.¡± Thwack! The man roared, slashing the whip in the air again. Before Fang Hao could react, an alert sounded in his ear. [Welcome to the game ¡°Universal Lord¡±.] [Recruit farmers, collect resources, train soldiers, expand your territory, and use anything you can to survive!] [Your territory is your sanctuary, developing it will increase your chances of survival.] [Treat your recruited farmers and soldiers kindly. If their loyalty decreases, they might slacken their work and even desert you!] [If you encounter others like you, congratulations! You¡¯ve just caught a fat pig, unless, of course, you¡¯re weaker ¡ª then you are the fat pig.] [Newbie protection countdown: 6 days 23 hours 40 mins, during this period your territory will not be attacked!] [For more features, refer to the Book of Lords!] [Lastly, good luck!] Upon hearing the complete prompts, Fang Hao¡¯s face drastically changed. He could accept the fact that he had travelled across dimensions. However, his current situation seemed dire. Dressed like a farmer, and the sinister man behind him, who looked more like a lord. Around his waist hung a brown, leather-bound book, which must be the Book of Lords mentioned in the prompts. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m cannon fodder!¡± Fang Hao cursed silently. The five villagers were moving at a measured pace. Farmer at the side pleaded tearfully. ¡°Lord, we are just ordinary farmers, we can¡¯t steal the treasure chest.¡± However, this plea did not invoke sympathy from the lord. ¡°Shut up, just go in!¡± The lord cursed loudly. His expression was severe and impatient. The five villagers had no choice but to continue their way forward. Fang Hao stayed silent all along, and didn¡¯t look back. Apparently, The lord was using the farmers as cannon fodder, betting on their luck to get resources and gain an early advantage. Worst scenario, he would simply sacrifice the farmers, which wouldn¡¯t affect him at all. The five persons moved forward step by step. Eventually, they entered the cave. The deeper they went into the cave, the darker it got. The breathing of the beast grew louder and clearer. The farmers became even more terrified. Their legs began to tremble, and they had to lean against the wall, dragging their feet forward. With slow and painful steps, they finally saw the cave¡¯s occupant when they reached the depths. It was a giant brown tiger. Black stripes, colossal size; much larger than any tiger Fang Hao had seen on television. At that moment, The tiger¡¯s sanguine eyes were firmly fixed on them. They radiated a deadly aura and held a grudge. ¡°Tig¡­Tiger, we¡¯re doomed.¡± The farmers fell into panic. With their combat power, they stood no chance against a grown tiger. ¡°It¡¯s injured.¡± Fang Hao whispered. The cave was dim, and the smell of blood filled the air. Looking closely, one could see that the tiger was injured. And grievously so. Its abdomen was filled with dark, fresh blood. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ try to stick to the wall, grab the treasure chest and leave.¡± suggested one of them timidly. Without retrieving the treasure chest, the lord would certainly not let them go. They suppressed their fear and carefully tiptoed around the tiger towards the treasure chest in the cave. Hoping in their hearts, the tiger would ignore them due to its injury. They moved gingerly along the wall. The tiger¡¯s eyes were glued to them, following their steps and shifting with their movement. When the tiger noted that these humans were attempting to sneak past and go straight for the treasure chest. It roared in rage, dragging its bloodied body and entrails towards Fang Hao and his group. ¡°Fight it, kill it, or we¡¯ll all die.¡± Fang Hao yelled, swinging his stone axe. Suddenly, the cave was filled with the tormented cries of the farmers and the furious roars of the tiger. ¡­ Several minutes later. Bathed in blood, Fang Hao emerged from the cave, waving to a man gazing off into the distance. ¡°Has the monster inside been killed?¡± The man called out from afar. Fang Hao nodded. A sudden, irrepressible look of joy crossed the man¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s great. That¡¯s wonderful.¡± Muttering to himself, he ran towards the cave. Entering the cave, he saw the tiger and the bodies of four villagers. Without hesitation, he moved farther into the cave. When he saw the wooden treasure chest, a hint of confusion appeared on his face. ¡°Why is it already open?¡± Just then. An intense sense of danger swept over him from behind. Thump! A sound like chopping wood echoed in the air. A stone axe, flung with considerable force, slashed across his neck from behind. The blade, carved from stone, wasn¡¯t sharp, but it still managed to tear apart his flesh, managing to hack halfway through his sturdy neck. ¡°You, ¡­.¡± The man¡¯s eyes were wide with astonished rage, and a look of incredibility. How was this possible? A villager sent by the system, how could he attack himself? Why would this happen? Fang Hao swung his axe a second time. Blood splattered. A head dropped instantly, rolling to one side. [As a villager, you¡¯ve killed the lord of the territory, your sin value +500.] ¡­ Fang Hao took a deep breath. He bent down to pick up the book from the other man¡¯s waist. The cover of the book was brown leather, with gorgeous golden designs embossed on it. At the center were four large characters: ¡°Book of Lords¡±. As he touched the Book of Lords. A notification appeared again. [An error in initial lord data detected, data correction.] [Compensation issued, a hundredfold increase.] [Detected lord sin value of 500, automatically assigned to the evil camp¡ªUndead.] He was done for! Upon hearing the new prompt, Fang Hao¡¯s heart tightened. Because he had killed the lord just now, he was automatically assigned to the evil camp. Wasn¡¯t he now an enemy of all? But, in the next instant, he calmed down. Even if he was assigned to the evil camp, he did not regret it; it was far better than being a mere villager under this man¡¯s rule. He continued to look at the Book of Lords. As he flipped through, each page was marked with a different title. [Resources][Manufacture][Buildings][Channel]. It was like touching a page of paper, but at the same time, like touching a tablet screen. Touching it yielded feedback. He flipped to the first page [Resources]. The amount displayed was 0. In the manufacture section, he had unlocked [Hemp Rope][Stone Axe][Stone Pickaxe]. In the building section, he had unlocked [Level 1 Cottage]. The next moment he opened it, [Level 1 Cottage] swiftly turned into [Level 1 Graveyard]. It must have been due to his allocation to the Undead camp. He continued to flip to the channel page. [Speaking privileges, 10 instances per day.] Information started to stream rapidly. ¡°Has anyone left the village? Is it dangerous outside?¡± ¡°Someone save me! There¡¯s a wild boar near my village as large as a tiger. At this rate, I¡¯ll really be killed by a pig.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so thrilling. I want the full story.¡± ¡°How are your villagers? A few hyenas ran by the village gate a few minutes ago, and now no villager dares to go out to work.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doomed, there¡¯s a giant python outside my village. It¡¯s just swallowed two of my villagers.¡± ¡­ One message after another appeared. Between the lines, the danger of this world was reflected. And most people, it seemed, were trapped in their villages, too afraid to venture out. The lord that he had just killed was actually a ruthless character who had ventured out of the village with his villagers. He had even tried to infiltrate the tiger¡¯s lair to steal the treasure chest. Unfortunately, he had ended up dying in the cave. Closing the chat channel. Fang Hao went back to the dead tiger. He had hidden all the items from the chest beneath the gigantic carcass. [Level 2 Warcraft Magic Stripe Tiger, do you wish to slaughter it?] Yes! [Slaughter completed. You¡¯ve obtained 600 meat, 45 Beast Skins, and 25 Beast Bones.] With the Book of Lords, he had acquired the lord¡¯s abilities. Chapter 2 - 2 Chapter 2, Burst of Soldiers (New book, seeking collection and recommendation)_1 2 Chapter 2, Burst of Soldiers (New book, seeking collection and recommendation)_1 Translator: 549690339 No need to personally dissect. A light enveloped the tiger¡¯s corpse and the next second it was completely dissected. Meat and furs, beast bones automatically separated, neatly placed to one side. The beast bone is not the corpse of the tiger, more like some kind of drop. The tiger¡¯s corpse had just left behind a complete white bone. The next second, like sand and stone that had been eroded by the wind for a hundred years, finally turned into a powder. After the corpse of the tiger disappeared. It revealed the items hidden beneath. These were the items in the chests inside the cave, which were temporarily hidden under the tiger¡¯s corpse to lure and kill this leader. [Tier 1 Warehouse Blueprint] [Hemp Rope 5] The blueprint, transformed into light, drilled into the Book of Lords. It was recorded in the [Building] page. Fang Hao picked up the stone axe and stone pickaxe by the dead farmer, bundled up the meat and fur with hemp rope, and walked out of the cave. The most pressing matter was to leave here and head for the territory. According to the system prompt he heard earlier. Every leader has a territory, and the territory has a seven-day novice protection period. It could at least protect his safety. With the residual memory in his brain, he hurried towards the territory. Along the way, he did not dare to pause at all. Finally, he saw the thatched house protected by a transparent light curtain. [Tier 1 Lord¡¯s Wooden House] [Owned by: Fang Hao] [Territory Building: Tier 1 Underground Cemetery] (Note: Core building of the territory.) [Materials needed to upgrade: 800 wood, 500 stone, 280 thatch, 60 hemp rope.] Not far from the simple house, there is also a semi-underground building. [Tier 1 Underground Cemetery] [Recruitment Limit: 0/5] [Can recruit: Skeleton (free)] (Note: In this building, recruit worker-type troops to do basic work.) [Materials needed for upgrading: 300 wood, 400 stone.] Good grief, everyone in the chat channel is discussing about recruiting farmers. When it comes to him, only skeletons can be summoned. He went straight from the realm of the living to the underworld. Thankfully the lord¡¯s hall wasn¡¯t made underground, otherwise he would have to sleep in a coffin. Fang Hao didn¡¯t delay any longer and directly started recruiting. [Can recruit: Skeletons 0/5, would you like to recruit?] Confirm recruitment. The system prompt sounded again. [Hundredfold amplification triggered, successfully recruited 505 skeletons.] White boney arms extended out from the ground in front of the cemetery, and five white skeletons climbed out. Before Fang Hao can react, another flash of light, countless snow-white skeletons filled the territory. Even a portion of them stood outside the protective barrier. [Skeleton Worker (Tier 1)] [Faction: Undead] [Race Attributes: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness.] [Innate Abilities: Novice Gathering Mastery.] [Undead: This type of troop is already dead, unable to have morale, emotions, and also immune to poison, disease, blindness, mind magic.] [Hollow Skeleton: No fatal weaknesses] [Light Weakness: Light magic does 20% bonus damage to self.] (Note: These skeletons are generally used as laborers and cannon fodder, don¡¯t expect that frail body to do anything big.) This¡­ At this time, Fang Hao was dumbfounded. So this is how the hundredfold amplification he gained was used. Meanwhile, Fang Hao felt relieved. Fortunately, what his quantity amplification procured were skeletons, undead troops that didn¡¯t need food. Otherwise, summoning hundreds of farmers, he wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the food supply. If he was unable to provide food for the farmers, slack work or rebellion would occur. Who knows, he might even get killed by his own farmers. The skeletons just stood there, staring blankly at him. ¡°Your job is to gather resources and collect food.¡± Fang Hao threw the stone axes and pickaxes he had brought back on the ground. The closest few skeletons stepped forward and picked them up. ¡°Alright, go and work. Remember, don¡¯t go too far.¡± Fang Hao issued the order. Five hundred skeletons turned around, crowding towards the outside of the territory. These skeletons may not be powerful troops, but they won in numbers. Others could only summon 5 farmers, yet my 505 soldiers couldn¡¯t compete with them? What a joke. When all the skeletons went off to work, Fang Hao was the only one left in the territory. Sitting on a stone, he pulled out the Book of Lords and casually flipped it open. [Stone Axe: Stone1, Wood1, Rope1.] [Stone Pickaxe: Stone1, Wood1, Rope1.] [Rope: Straw2.] Letting skeletons strip trees and stones with their bare hands clearly couldn¡¯t maximize their potential. He needed to promptly make stone axes and pickaxes. Half an hour later. From a distance came the sounds of footsteps and the scraping of bones. Some skeletons already brought back wood and stone. [Resources: Wood50, Stone40, Straw80, Meat800, Beast Skin30.] The skeletons put down the materials and immediately left. Fang Hao directly opened up [Production]. He used 2 units of straw to make a rope. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Successfully Produced Rope*101.] ¡°Damn, even that can be multiplied by a hundred,¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. Even production could trigger a hundredfold amplification; this was just too powerful. With the mentality of giving it a try. He used 2 units of wood, 2 units of stone, and 2 units of rope to each make a stone axe and a pickaxe. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Successfully Produced Stone Axe*101.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Successfully Produced Stone Pickaxe*101.] It worked. The subsequent stone axes and pickaxes produced also enjoyed the same amplification. Fang Hao had now figured out the pattern; the recruitment of troops would trigger a hundredfold amplification, and so would the production of tools. Without any hesitation. He immediately produced again. He made a total of 202 stone axes and 303 stone pickaxes. Mining takes more time so he made more pickaxes. In an instant, the tools piled up beside the wooden house, forming a small hill of equipment. He walked to the territory gate and called out loudly: ¡°All those without tools, come back and get some, then continue to work.¡± Skeletons didn¡¯t have much intelligence, but they could understand basic instructions. They came back in groups, took their tools, and once again walked out of the territory to continue working. Meanwhile, Fang Hao looked at the remaining tools on the ground and frowned slightly. ¡°Damn, in such a short time, I¡¯ve lost more than twenty? They couldn¡¯t have gotten lost, right?¡± He made tools according to the number of skeletons, but now there are twenty-eight tools left on the ground, meaning more than twenty skeletons hadn¡¯t come back. Running away was not possible. These skeletons didn¡¯t even have intelligence, let alone the idea of escape. So they either got lost or didn¡¯t hear Fang Hao¡¯s call. Just as he pondered whether to go out and look for them. He saw more than a dozen skeletons Approach, carrying a mountain goat. The skeletons looked ragged, covered in dirt, one was missing an arm, another had two ribs broken. Turned out they went hunting. ¡°Not bad, you did well.¡± Seeing the skeletons in such a sorry state, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but praise them. But the skeletons showed no reaction. Thump! They tossed the goat¡¯s carcass on the ground and turned to leave. ¡°Wait! Take the tools with you.¡± Fang Hao quickly yelled out to stop them. The skeletons turned around stiffly, picked up the tools, and set out again. Watching the slender white figures fade away, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head, ¡°So aloof!¡± In the chat channel. Everyone was complaining about their farmer¡¯s low stamina. After working for a while, they needed to return to their territory and rest. Fang Hao checked the attributes of his skeletons for this reason. They didn¡¯t even have stamina and worked tirelessly, constantly laboring. When they collected a certain amount of materials, they would deliver them back to the base before heading out again to work. Model employees of the modern era. [Tier 1 Warcraft mountain goat, would you like to butcher it!] Butcher it! A light flashed over the mountain goat¡¯s body. The useful meat and materials were skillfully dissected. They were neatly arranged on one side. The leftover bones became a pile of white powder. [Butchering Completed, Obtained Meat500, Beast Skin20, Beast Bone15.] Chapter 3 - 3 Chapter 3, World Reward (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Collection)_1 3 Chapter 3, World Reward (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Collection)_1 Translator: 549690339 The 500 Skeletons, though dull, didn¡¯t know what fatigue was when they started working. Moreover, they held an absolute advantage in terms of numbers. They are hundreds of times more efficient than the other lords. It wasn¡¯t long before. In front of the wooden hut, several basic resources piled up into small hills. ¡°This can¡¯t go on,¡± Fang Hao looked at the piled-up resources, frowning. There¡¯s no room to step foot now, and the Skeletons still kept putting materials onto the open space. [Resources: Timber 420, Stone 340, Thatch 250, Meat 1100, Leather 65, Beast Bone 40.] ¡°I need to build a warehouse.¡± Fang Hao opens the construct column. [Tier 1 Warehouse: Timber 300, Stone 280, Thatch 100, Hemp Rope 50.] The hemp rope needed 50 pieces. Fang Hao first used the thatch to make a hemp rope, triggering a hundred-fold increase, resulting in 101 hemp ropes. He chose a piece of land next to the Lord¡¯s Log Cabin, then chose to build. [Tier 1 Warehouse, should it be built?] Fang Hao confirmed and held his breath. He wasn¡¯t sure if the hundred-fold effect would apply, resulting in a hundred warehouses. [Construction Complete!] The expected hundred warehouses didn¡¯t appear. A warehouse with a wooden framework and thatch-roof appeared before his eyes. The remaining materials on the open ground were neatly sorted and put into the warehouse. The Skeletons passing by Fang Hao consciously bypassed him, putting the resources into the warehouse instead of piling them onto the open ground. Once the materials ran out, Fang Hao sat down in another spot. Looking at netizens blowing all kinds of fancy horns¡­ ¡­ After the resources were consumed. It didn¡¯t take long before the resources were raised again, thanks to the hard work of 500 Skeletons. The rate at which resources were being gathered was simply terrifying. This time, Fang Hao wanted to upgrade his main city. [Tier 1 Lord¡¯s Log Cabin] [Lord: Fang Hao] [Domain Buildings: Tier 1 Underground Cemetery, Tier 1 Warehouse] (Note: Core Domain Building.) [Upgrade Material Required: Timber 800, Stone 300, Thatch 100, Hemp Rope 20] Without much hesitation, he directly clicked upgrade. The resources in the warehouse disappeared, and the poor cabin was enveloped by a flood of light. The log cabin expanded a lot and became more sophisticated and stronger. [Tier 2 Lord¡¯s Log Cabin] [Lord: Fang Hao] [Domain Buildings: Tier 1 Underground Cemetery, Tier 1 Warehouse] (Note: Core Domain Building.) [Upgrade Material Required: Timber 1200, Stone 600, Thatch 300, Leather 120, Hemp Rope 50] ¡­ [World Announcement: Congratulations to Lord Fang Hao for being the first in the world to upgrade his Main City! Reward: +50 Influence for all factions, +200 Influence for your faction, +1 Lord Skill for your faction, one special building blueprint, one equipment manufacturing blueprint, +200 Warfire Coins.] The world announcement sounded three times in the ears of lords all around the world. The group of lords, who were once filled with anxiety due to hardship, boiled over in an instant. ¡°What¡¯s going on? It hasn¡¯t been that long but he¡¯s already accumulated enough resources? How is that possible? ¡°Damn it! Unfair, I¡¯m still feeding my farmers vegetable soup to regain their strength, but he¡¯s already upgrading his main city.¡± ¡°How did the guy above acquire food? I¡¯m so hungry.¡± ¡°Wild vegetables, just got them from the roadside.¡± ¡°This guy must be cheating! Does anyone know how to report this? There must be a reward for reporting.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a game, where would you find cheats.¡± ¡­ Everyone was shocked by this World Announcement. Everyone was gathering resources, so how did Fang Hao gather enough so quickly? Everyone crossed over together, so why was he so quick? With the farmers gathering 20 units of wood per hour, to accumulate 800 was not something that could be done in a short amount of time. Not to mention the many external factors interfering, making resource gathering more difficult. Fang Hao shook his head and gave a bitter smile, closed the channel, and checked the rewards he received. [Bone Manipulation Technique] [Type: Passive Skill] (Description: When commanding skeleton undead, mobility +5%, all attributes +2%.) [Obtained: Green Equipment Blueprint ¨C Two-handed Light Crossbow] (Description: A handy and efficient light crossbow.) [Crafting Materials Required: Timber 5, Iron 2, Metal Parts 3.] [Obtained: Purple Special Building Blueprint ¨C Rejuvenation Spring.] (Description: Life is conceived in nature, a spring source of life, reminiscent of the taste of mother¡¯s milk.) [Requirements for construction: 1000 sturdy timber, 2200 stone bricks, 22 natural gems, 12 traces of the forest, 10 traces of spring water, 8 essences of magic.] Seeing the materials needed for the blueprint, Fang Hao was slightly stunned. What a big pile of messy stuff. Of course, the extra reward still made him happy, even if the materials were currently insufficient and couldn¡¯t be built. In the future, when more resources are mined, he would gradually collect these materials. The blueprint turned into a beam of light and merged into the Book of Lords. In the production column, the double-handed crossbow was unlocked. In the construction column, the Rejuvenation Spring was unlocked. It¡¯s a pity that there isn¡¯t enough material right now, so he can only wait to produce when he has enough materials. Just as Fang Hao was studying the rewards, some resources were contributed. In order to expand the advantage, Fang Hao decided to upgrade the Underground Cemetery. [Level 1 Underground Cemetery] [Materials needed for upgrade: 300 lumber, 400 stone.] After confirming the upgrade. The cemetery, which was built on a half-underground, expanded a lot. And the attributes of the building also changed. [Level 2 Underground Cemetery] [Recruitment Limit: 5/10] [Can recruit: Skeletons (free)] (Note: This building can recruit labor soldiers to do basic work.) [Materials needed for upgrade: 600 wood, 800 stone, 120 ropes, 2 Shadowstones.] The recruitment limit has increased from 5 to 10. This setup gave Fang Hao a pleasant surprise. The recruitment limit refers to the number of people who can be recruited using the building, not the total population. Otherwise, even if he built many buildings with 500 skeletons right now, it would be hard to break through the current population size. This recruitment limit allows Fang Hao to recruit another 5 skeletons. He chose to recruit immediately. [Recruitment Available: 0/5 Skeleton, do you want to recruit?] Recruit! [100x multiplier triggered, successfully recruited 505 skeletons.] Wow! Once again, a white bone skeleton sea appeared on the open ground in front of him. Fortunately, Fang Hao already adapted and didn¡¯t feel any discomfort. Fang Hao continued to use the 100x multiplier to make 202 stone axes and 303 stone picks. ¡°One for each person, go out to collect¡­¡± Howl!! Before Fang Hao could finish his sentence, a wolf howl came from outside the territory, interrupting his words. Standing on a stone and looking into the distance. He saw more than 10 robust prairie wolves pounced excitedly on the working skeletons, gnawing and tearing at them non-stop. A few nearby skeletons began to attack, but without the number advantage, they were no match for the prairie wolves. They were torn apart, and bones scattered all over the ground. ¡°These beasts dared to bully my undead.¡± Fang Hao cursed angrily. He yelled at the skeletons outside working: ¡°Kill these wolves for me.¡± Although Fang Hao shouted loudly, his voice didn¡¯t carry far. Even so, nearly 100 skeletons heard Fang Hao¡¯s orders. They turned together, looked at the prairie wolves. After a half-second pause, they wielded their weapons and charged at the prairie wolves. The undead are different from humans. They can¡¯t feel fear, even if the enemy is stronger than themselves, when the lord issues an order, they will rush up regardless. For a moment, battles broke out between the groups of skeletons and wolves. The sound of bones breaking and the howls of prairie wolves echoed around them. Soon, more and more skeletons gathered around. Six wolf carcasses were left behind by the prairie wolves, and the remaining ones broke through the encirclement and escaped. Fang Hao walked out of the territory, looking at the chaotic scene. ¡°Bring all the wolf corpses in and pick up the tools that were dropped.¡± The skeletons carried the remaining wolf corpses into the territory, and the rest began to collect the dropped tools. [First-tier Warcraft Prairie Wolf *6, would you like to slaughter!] Confirm the slaughter! [Slaughtering completed, gained 2400 meat, 120 beast skins, 90 beast bones.] After the slaughter, he gained quite a bit of meat and beast skins and bones. But Fang Hao was not even a bit happy. Looking at the skeletons that were injured and broken in the battle, his brows furrowed. These prairie wolves are ultimately a danger, hindering the skeletons from working, and maybe one day they would attack himself. Now that the territory¡¯s protection is still there, it¡¯s the best time to eliminate this hidden danger. ¡°Everyone take up arms and follow me.¡± Fang Hao shouted and walked out. Surrounded by over 900 skeletons, they headed in the direction where the wolves had fled. Chapter 4 - 4 Chapter 4, Skeleton Soldier_1 4 Chapter 4, Skeleton Soldier_1 Translator: 549690339 Through the lush green forest. Ahead is a flat prairie where on the grass lay scattered, gnawed animal bones. Over twenty Prairie Wolves are lazily sprawled out on the grass, basking in the sun. Several of them bear visible scars, their still wet wounds staining the grass in a dark red hue. Behind the pack of wolves is a natural cave entrance. The cave inside is dim and unclear. Based on former experiences with beast lairs, there should be beasts inside, possibly a small BOSS. Fang Hao hides in the bushes, watching the pack of wolves from a distance. He feels an indescribable heaviness in his heart. If he didn¡¯t possess the ability to amplify by a hundred times. Like other Lords, only having five farmers. Facing these Prairie Wolves, could he survive? Probably very difficult, truly very difficult. ¡°Surround them, then launch an attack together.¡± He instructed the skeletons. However, the skeleton army remained indifferent, showing no expression or response. ¡°Okay, go, kill all, spare none.¡± Fang Hao said helplessly. Clatter! The skeleton army charged out from the bushes, wielding their weapons and running towards the pack of wolves. There was no need for any tactical deployment, the number of skeletons was too many. They formed a semi-circle naturally during their charge, enclosing the wolves and the cave within. The sudden appearance of the skeleton army startled the pack of wolves. But it didn¡¯t give the wolves a chance to respond. The fight had already commenced. Despite their ferocity, the Prairie Wolves were vastly outnumbered. Facing nearly a thousand skeletons, they seemed extremely vulnerable. With a single clash, they were drowned in the sea of skeletons. In the blink of an eye, over twenty Prairie Wolves were killed by chaotic axes. Meanwhile, inside the cave, a pair of lustre green eyes lit up, like flickering ghost fires. A formidable Prairie Wolf King walked out angrily. It stood at the entrance of the cave, roaring loudly. Aroo¡ª¡ªoo!! [Prairie Wolf King (Level 2)] [Skills: Bite, Pounce.] However, the next moment, when it saw the dense skeleton army in front of the cave, the roaring abruptly ceased. Crack, crack! Turning their heads, the skeletons stared collectively at the Wolf King. The next second, they all poured into the dark cave, followed by the sounds of battle and crying. Several minutes later. The skeletons that went into the cave all walked out again. A few of the skeletons carried the Wolf King¡¯s corpse and a wooden treasure chest. Thump! With a dull sound, they threw the treasure chest directly in front of Fang Hao. ¡°You¡¯re not stupid!¡± Knowing to bring out the treasure chest and deliver it to Fang Hao showed some intelligence. But the skeletons carrying the treasure chest turned around and left, presenting their back to him. The chest opened. [Obtained: Level 1 Barracks Blueprint, Common Wooden Shield Blueprint (White).] The two blueprints turned into light and entered the Book of Lords. Although few, they were still ordinary blueprints. Yet Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but feel elated. With the blueprint of the barracks, if he was able to build it, he would be able to recruit soldiers. Thus increasing his security. ¡°Okay, take all the dropped items, carry all these wolf corpses, let¡¯s return to our territory.¡± Fang Hao shouted. The skeletons, two by two, lifted the wolf carcasses overhead, following Fang Hao back to the territory. ¡­ Returning to the territory. The skeletons threw the extra tools into the warehouse, and placed the wolf carcasses on the empty ground. They then turned around and went back out to work. Although the intelligence of the skeletons was low, their diligence and industriousness in not eating or drinking was really not bad. [Level 1 Warcraft Prairie Wolf *24, do you wish to slaughter?] Confirm slaughter! [Slaughter complete, obtained Meat 9600, Beast Skin 480, Beast Bone 360.] [Level 2 Warcraft Prairie Wolf King, do you wish to slaughter?] Fang Hao clicked confirm continuously. [Slaughter complete, obtained Meat 800, Beast Skin 50, Beast Bone 40.] After the slaughter, the bodies stacked on the open ground turned into light and flew into the warehouse. In the warehouse, the storage amount of meat exceeded all the other resources. Even if he was a big eater, he still couldn¡¯t eat so much meat. With the issue of the wolf carcasses resolved, next was to build the barracks. [Level 1 Barracks Blueprint (Burial Grounds): Required resources, Wood 300, Stone 500, Rope 60.] Undead faction buildings don¡¯t use much wood. They consume more stone. Having chosen a location, he started constructing the barracks. With a flash of light, the barracks were built at the burial grounds. [Level 1 Burial Grounds] [Recruiting: Skeleton Soldier] [Skeleton Soldier: White Bone 300.] (Note: You can recruit faction soldiers in this building, higher building levels can unlock new solder types and higher tiers.) [Upgrade materials required: Wood 500, Stone 720, Leather 80, Rope 240, Shadowstone 5.] The burials grounds were larger in comparison to the underground cemetery. The underground cemetery resembled a graveyard. The Burial Grounds, on the other hand, was more like a mass grave. The recruitment condition surprisingly required 300 Beast Bones. If it hadn¡¯t been for the recent defeat of the wolf pack, the bones wouldn¡¯t have been enough. Similarly, someone else in the in-game chat had obtained an item called a ¡®Soul Crystal¡¯. It was hard to obtain and was an item used to summon troops. Its function was the same as that of his own White Bones. He immediately chose to recruit. After all, they needed to be summoned sooner or later. The sooner they were summoned, the sooner they could work, and the faster his territory could develop. [The hundredfold multiplier has been triggered, successfully recruiting 101 Skeleton Soldiers.] A burly skeleton emerged from the underground barracks. Multiple rays of light descended around it, representing the additional 100 Skeleton Soldiers that had been amplified. Skeleton Soldier (Tier 1) [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness.] [Skills: Shield Bash] [Innate Abilities: Basic Combat Mastery, Basic Swordsmanship Mastery, Basic Shield Mastery.] [Undead]: This unit is already dead and cannot have morale or emotions. At the same time, it is immune to poison, diseases, blindness, and mind-affecting magic. [Hollow Skeleton]: There is no fatal weakness. [Light Weakness]: Light magic inflicted on this unit has a 20% damage bonus. [Shield Bash]: (Requires Shield) Smashes the enemy with a shield, causing blunt damage and a chance to stun the target. (Note: The skeleton soldiers lifting their weapons, their angular bone arms raised high, they have some combat power, but they¡¯re still fragile and can¡¯t withstand the enemy¡¯s continuous attacks.) ¡­ The Skeleton Soldiers were slightly bigger than the Skeleton Laborers and weren¡¯t just bare white bones. Instead, they wore tattered cloths on their upper bodies that fluttered in the breeze like a bunch of mop shreds. To be honest. The newly joined combat units did not give Fang Hao much surprise. The first three abilities were the same as those of the Skeleton Laborers, with an additional Shield Bash skill added at the end. It also required a shield to be effective. Right, today¡¯s acquired blueprints were of the shield type. He immediately opened the crafting page in the Book of Lords. [Wooden Shield: 3 wood, 2 hemp ropes.] Craft! [Hundredfold multiplier activated, successfully crafted 101 Wooden Shields.] A pile of wooden shields appeared beside him. ¡°Alright, everyone pick up a wooden shield and a stone axe,¡± Fang Hao commanded. The Skeleton Soldiers stepped forward, each one picking up equipment. ¡°Your mission is to patrol the territory and ensure that the Skeleton Laborers can work normally. Then, gather prey,¡± Fang Hao pointed. The Skeleton Soldiers received the order and turned to leave. The territory was still in the newbie protection phase. As long as they were within the territory, they wouldn¡¯t be attacked by any beasts or enemies. So, as long as they huddled up, there would be no danger. On the contrary, those Skeleton Laborers needed some protection in case of another beast attack. That would disturb their normal work. After issuing all the instructions, the sky gradually darkened. Hunger rumbles reminded him that he, after all, was still human. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day. There were flintstones inside the Lord¡¯s wooden house. He lit a fire, roughly chopped the meat into chunks with his stone axe, stuck them on wooden skewers, and roasted them over the fire. Immediately, the enticing smell of roasting meat filled the air. While waiting for the meat to cook thoroughly, he opened the chat channel out of boredom. Without a mobile phone, this became his only form of entertainment. ¡°Who has food? I¡¯m so weak from hunger. Please, give me something to eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starving too, but I don¡¯t dare to go out. Who can help me?¡± ¡°Who knows how to go back, I¡¯ll wire you 5 million instantly if I can go back.¡± ¡°Wake up, person above! You better face the reality now!¡± ¡°Exchanging supplies for food. The loyalty of my farmers is dropping. If I don¡¯t give them food, I¡¯m afraid they will eat me. Anyone who has food, I¡¯ll exchange supplies for food.¡± ¡°Online begging for food, I¡¯m the campus belle from the film academy.¡± ¡­ Huh? You can exchange supplies? The food behind him was indeed a bit excessive. Rather than waiting for it to spoil, it would be better to exchange it for foods he needed. Action followed thought. After looking into it, he found out how to exchange items on the Book of Lords. [Trader: Fang Hao] [Registered Item: Meat] [Quantity: 1000 units.] [Requirement for 1 unit: 50 units of wood, 40 units of stone, 5 units of iron ore (any one of them).] (Note: If You have any special items, you can private message to increase food quantity.) ¡­ No sooner had he posted the information than the chat channel exploded. ¡°Holy crap, someone listed meat, and it¡¯s 1000 units.¡± ¡°Boss is incredible¡­ Boss, do you need a leg strap?¡± ¡°Fang Hao? Is it the Fang Hao who first upgraded his main city? Wow, it really is him.¡± ¡°Damn it, Fang Hao had such a lucky start.¡± ¡°That¡¯s blatant extortion. A unit of meat costs so many supplies. Are you even human?¡± ¡°Boss, I have a gold tooth. Does it count as a special resource? If you want it, I¡¯ll break it off right away and give it to you.¡± ¡°Save your yellow teeth to ward off mosquitoes, the person above. Boss Fang Hao, I have a gold chain. Can I exchange it for two units of food with you?¡± ¡°Save your gold chain to hang yourself!¡± Chapter 5 - 5 Chapter 5, Shadowstone_1 5 Chapter 5, Shadowstone_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I got it, finally I can eat.¡± ¡°Shit, how come it¡¯s gone so fast, I didn¡¯t get any.¡± ¡°Boss, please put some more up, I didn¡¯t get any just now.¡± The meat that Fang Hao put up for sale was visibly decreasing in amount, and the 1,000 units of meat were sold out in less than two minutes. Then, a bunch of private messages came flooding into Fang Hao¡¯s inbox. ¡°Bro, I didn¡¯t get any just now, I have some wood, can we trade?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starving to death, bro, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tier pagoda.¡± ¡°Brother Fang Hao, I¡¯m so hungry, I¡¯ve taken some very private photos, can I trade them for some food with you?¡± Fang Hao outright ignored those who were hoping to freeload. It¡¯s indeed dangerous to hunt outside the territory. But the amount of exchange material he set was absolutely not much. Even you could say, everyone could afford to exchange. Just that there were too many people who had crossed over and the initial territories didn¡¯t have direct methods to get food. Food thus became the scarcest resource. On the contrary, water was not in short supply. Many territories had sources of water nearby, and a river or a freshwater lake was enough for you to sell. No matter how much water you sell, you can¡¯t possibly sell out a river, right? So water resources were not expensive, many people had them for sale. Wood and stone can be slowly gathered, they¡¯re always available. But without food, things can get pretty tough. Fang Hao thought for a moment, and put another 500 units of meat up for sale, still at the same exchange rate. The channel was once again buzzing. ¡°Fuck, buy it quickly.¡± ¡°He really put more up, how does the boss have so much meat, he isn¡¯t cheating, is he?¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say, this is reality, not a game.¡± ¡°Boss, take me under your wing, your little bro is willing to work like a dog.¡± ¡°Is handsome Fang Hao short of a girlfriend? When you¡¯re out, having one more friend can give you a hand at a crucial moment, and I can give you a few hands!¡± ¡°Fuck, the one above is onto something.¡± ¡­ Watching the various salty comments roll endlessly in the channel, Fang Hao finally realized how scarce meat was. The vast majority of people currently weren¡¯t able to leave their territories and hunt wild beasts. Those who did manage to leave and luckily slayed a beast, got food. But they only killed one. They might not be willing to sell it, but would want to keep it for themselves and their farmers. On the other hand, Fang Hao had just put up 1,500 units of meat. This proved he still had a lot of stock. The newly put up 500 units of meat also sold out very quickly. Two transactions in total made him gain: 60,000 units of wood, 11,920 units of stone, and 20 units of iron. This number actually surprised Fang Hao a bit. The exchanged material once again filled up the warehouse, and all the empty space in the territory. Only a small path remained in the middle, for himself and Skeleton to pass normally. Ding! A private message sounded. ¡°Bro, see how much meat this can trade for, I don¡¯t have much resources, need to give some more help in the early stage.¡± Then, a blueprint was sent over. ¡°[Simple Leather Armor Blueprint (Common)]¡± ¡°[Type: Equipment]¡± ¡°[Materials: Beast Skin 2, Hemp Rope 2.]¡± Equipment blueprint. Some people are too lucky, having equipment blueprints at this time. Even though it¡¯s common, it¡¯s exactly what¡¯s needed in the early stages. ¡°Why don¡¯t you use it yourself?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Soon, the other party replied with some helplessness. ¡°No way, I¡¯ve used all the materials to upgrade the building, I and the farmers need food, so I have to sell it for now.¡± ¡°Okay, for a common quality, I¡¯ll give you 50 units of meat,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Thanks, bro, I¡¯ll start the trade immediately.¡± The other party expressed his thanks repeatedly. It should be said, Fang Hao did not take advantage of people¡¯s distress. In times of food shortage, even if Fang Hao offered 10 units, the other party would have to exchange. Both lords and farmers need to eat. But Fang Hao still offered 50 units, quite generous by any standard. Quickly, an equipment blueprint appeared in the designated trade column. Fang Hao also put up the promised 50 units of meat. As soon as he got the blueprint, he immediately collected it in the Book of Lords. A charred smell came from the roast meat on the grill, and Fang Hao had to close the channel to finish his meal. If he kept roasting the meat, it would have turned into charcoal. After a satisfying meal, Fang Hao decided to make the leather armor first. There might not be any danger at night. He reopened the Book of Lords, ¡°Simple Leather Armor: 2 Beast Skins, 2 Hemp Ropes.¡± Make it! ¡°Hundredfold Amplification triggered, successfully created 101 Simple Leather Armor.¡± ¡°Simple Leather Armor (white)¡± ¡°Category: Chest Armor¡± ¡°Defense: Level 1 Defense¡± (Note: A simple leather armor made of leather and hemp rope can provide a certain level of defense.) Not bad! Of course, he couldn¡¯t ask for too much. He donned one himself, and distributed the rest to his skeleton soldiers. Each skeletal soldier, now clad in leather armor, started to look more like the part. As he finished all these tasks, dusk had fallen. Fang Hao brought a few stacks of straw from the warehouse and spread them out in the Lord¡¯s log cabin. He closed the door and fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ The night passed without incident. Though he slept deeply, he woke up with his back and waist aching. It was as if he had lost a kidney. His body wasn¡¯t used to sleeping on straw, apparently. Stepping out of the hall, he saw the loyal skeleton workers diligently working, seemingly tireless. He did some quick exercises. He relit the extinguished bonfire from yesterday, continued roasting meat, and had it for breakfast. While turning the roast, he put up 2000 units of meat for exchange, maintaining the same requirements as yesterday. ¡°Fang Hao has put stuff up for exchange, hurry and grab it.¡± ¡°Fang Hao, could you share how you got so much food? We¡¯re all transmigrants, we should help each other.¡± ¡°I suspect there are lots of grass-type animals near where he spawned.¡± ¡°When it comes to grass-type animals, teddy bears are the only ones I respect, the rest are just trash.¡± ¡°Boss Fang Hao, I¡¯m at sea. Can I exchange some fish for meat with you?¡± ¡­ It seemed like many people were waiting for Fang Hao. There was a scramble the moment the meat was put up for exchange. This was even fiercer and faster than yesterday. Fang Hao¡¯s name appeared to have ingrained itself in people¡¯s hearts. The meat that was hard for others to obtain, he was selling it out in thousands. While watching everyone chat, he finished his breakfast. Seeing the materials piled up all over the territory, Fang Hao got up. It was now his time to work. ¡°Materials needed for upgrading to a Level 2 Warehouse: 750 Wood, 450 Stone, 200 Straw, 100 Hemp Rope.¡± He clicked to upgrade the warehouse directly. With a flash of light, the warehouse was smoothly upgraded to Level 2. It had gone from a simple grass shed to a good-sized log cabin that could store more resources better. ¡°Level 2 Warehouse¡± ¡°Storage: 30000/30000¡± (Note: The resources in the warehouse will be preserved better, and the food stored won¡¯t spoil easily. The higher the level of the warehouse, the more resources it can hold, and the better the effect.) ¡°Materials needed for the upgrade: 1200 Wood, 950 Stone, 320 Straw, 220 Hemp Rope, 100 Leather.¡± For the next level warehouse, aside from the increased materials- Straw had been replaced by leather. He wanted to continue with the upgrade to a Level 3 Warehouse, but was notified ¡°Lord¡¯s log cabin must be at Level 3.¡± Just as Fang Hao was planning to upgrade the Lord¡¯s hall. A private chat notification came up on the Book of Lords. He opened the Book of Lords. ¡°Big Brother Fang Hao, I have a special kind of ore here. I want to exchange it for some meat.¡± This person had a pretty nice name, Dong Jiayue. Fang Hao quickly replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Ore was also a resource. Currently in the early stages, special ores were still hard to come by. ¡°Shadowstone¡± ¡°Type: Ore¡± (Note: A rare ore required for the construction of Undead faction buildings.) Fang Hao¡¯s eyes brightened upon seeing the attributes. The upgrade for the Undead buildings had already demanded Shadowstone. He had also been considering how to obtain Shadowstone and often kept an eye on the chat channel. He was checking if anyone was selling it. But he didn¡¯t expect someone to proactively approach him. Chapter 7 - 7 Chapter 7, Wriggling Spine_1 7 Chapter 7, Wriggling Spine_1 Translator: 549690339 Upon seeing this, the origin and use of the Wriggling Spine were already known. It was mentioned in the chat channel. The construction of a barracks was not for unrestricted recruitment of troops. The human camp would drop a consumable item known as the Soul Crystal, a necessary material for recruiting troops. Just like Fang Hao summoning skeleton soldiers, he needed 300 Beast Bones. But Beast Bones were slaughter materials, which could be used for recruiting undead troops. They were not the primary recruitment item for the Undead Camp, but rather a temporary substitute. The Wriggling Spine was the primary recruitment material for the Undead Clan, serving the same function as the Soul Crystal. The skeleton soldiers had swiftly cleaned up the battlefield. The supplies had already been gathered. [Harvest: 21 iron daggers, 8 Wriggling Spines, one flatbed cart, two Unicorn Corpses, and one giant antlered deer corpse.] There were more than twenty Gnolls, but only eight Wriggling Spines had dropped. It seemed, there was a certain drop rate, not every corpse had one. Fang Hao had not made the next move, instead, he was deep in thought. There was clearly a Gnoll stronghold, or perhaps a camp nearby. Otherwise, the Gnoll hunting team would not have appeared. Scouting out their location and military strength had become crucial. Fang Hao himself took an iron dagger and strapped it to his waist. [Iron Dagger (white)] [Category: Dagger] [Attribute: Tier 1 Damage] (Description: Attaching an iron piece to a wooden handle to make a weapon? Is this the product of brain work?) ¡°You guys switch your weapons.¡± Fang Hao picked out twenty uninjured soldiers, replacing their stone axes. The quality of the stone axes were also (white), but the functions were not the same. Although the stone axes had damage, they did not reach Tier 1 Damage. Their primary function was to cut wood. For combat, they did not cause as much damage as the iron daggers. When the soldiers heard Fang Hao¡¯s order, twenty of them immediately came up and changed their weapons. ¡°Alright, follow me.¡± Fang Hao continued. It was not time to go back yet. They needed to investigate the location and numbers of the Gnoll camp. Rather than wait for the enemy to attack him, he preferred to determine the situation, preparing to take the initiative to attack. Identifying their location was not difficult. Besides the cart tracks left on the ground. There was a path that had opened up in the dense forest. Through the deepest part of the forest, they saw a defensive wall made of logs and a towering lookout tower. There was no significant difference from a human village. Many Gnolls were coming and going, cutting wood, quarrying stones, and gathering various basic resources. If there was no protective shield. Fang Hao would think this was also a human territory owned by a special race. Regrettably, it was not. There were other Gnoll hunting teams returning. In addition to the bodies of wild beasts on the flatbed carts, there were also humans. Fang Hao roughly estimated that there were about five to six hundred people in the camp. In addition to a large number of stone-throwers, there were also the Gnoll warriors with iron swords and the valiant Gnolls with iron axes. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Fang Hao said, leading the soldiers slowly back. This camp must be eliminated eventually, but not at present. They needed to gather enough manpower to launch an attack. Back at the edge of the forest, along with the previously confiscated flatbed cart and food, they returned to the territory. Upon returning to the territory, the sun was just overhead. ¡°You guys continue patrolling.¡± Fang Hao said. After pushing the flatbed cart into the protective shield, the skeleton soldiers returned to their posts, patrolling and protecting the worker skeletons from wild animal attacks. Of course, if there were wild animals, that would also be a good thing, as it could increase the food reserve. [Tier 1 Warcraft Unicorns*2, Tier 1 Spotted Deer, Slaughter?] Slaughter! [Slaughter completed, gained 1200 meat, 90 Beast Skins, 60 Beast Bones.] Apart from the acquisition of [Wriggling Spine], the cart and food also turned out to be a good harvest today. The most important thing was the discovery a nearby Gnoll camp. Thinking of the sizable number of Gnolls who were so close to his territory, he felt an unconscious tension arise in his heart. This was not a game. This was reality. People died every day for various reasons. He was not a person who hesitated. He immediately went to the front of the barracks. [Level 1 Burial Grounds] [Recruitable: Skeleton Soldiers] ¡°[Skeleton Soldier: Wriggling Spine 1.]¡± (Note: You can recruit troops of the corresponding faction at this building. Upgrading the building level can unlock new soldier types and higher tier troops.) ¡°[Upgrade materials needed: Wood 500, Stone 720, Leather 80, Hemp Rope 240, Shadowstone 5.]¡± Previously, recruiting a skeleton soldier required 300 Beast Bones. Now, only one Wriggling Spine is needed. That is to say, one Wriggling Spine equals to 300. ¡°[Recruitment available: Skeleton Soldier, Cost: Wriggling Spine 8, Do you wish to recruit?]¡± Confirm recruitment. The system¡¯s prompt sounds off again. ¡°[Successful recruitment of 808 Skeleton Soldiers due to hundred-fold amplification.]¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! All camps throughout the territory were filled with the bright flashes of the 8 skeleton soldiers crawling out from the Burial Grounds. Seeing this spectacle, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t surprised as he had seen it many times before. He continued to manufacture 808 wooden shields and 808 stone axes for them. ¡°Some of you go hunting for food, and the rest transport supplies. Take the resources gathered by the Worker Skeletons to the warehouse,¡± ordered Fang Hao. The group of skeleton soldiers, upon receiving orders, robotically turned around and exited the territory to complete their tasks. After giving these commands, He reignited the extinguished fireplace and began slicing meat using an iron dagger, getting ready to roast the meat. He had already decided to take out the Gnoll camp. Before that, however, lunch had to be sorted out. Eat and drink to your fill. Compared to the meat chunks chopped with a stone axe yesterday, slices cut with a dagger were more suitable for grilling. However, they lacked seasonings and ¡°happy water.¡± Otherwise, the meal would be even more joyful. Soon, the aroma of the meat filled the air, stimulating the appetite. Whilst enjoying the tenderly roasted meat, He opened the chat channel to see what everyone was discussing. ¡°Does anyone have Soul Crystals? Undead appeared outside my territory, willing to trade resources for Soul Crystals.¡± ¡°Same here, a farmer got killed by something, and the rest are now too scared to work.¡± ¡°Trading resources for weapons, anyone selling weapons?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all using stone tools, what weapons could we possibly have?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ren Yongning, whoever can bring me home will be made the CEO of my company.¡± ¡°Never heard of you, who are you exactly, a noodle shop¡¯s CEO?¡± ¡°I¡¯m starving. Is Fang Hao not putting up food this afternoon? My farmers and I have gathered a lot of resources, just waiting to trade for food.¡± ¡°Calling Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± ¡°Same here¡­¡± ¡­ Seeing the repeated messages flooding the channel, Fang Hao chuckled wryly. The essence of being human is repetition. Even if the chances to speak are precious, they are taken up by repeated statements. Today was the second day after everyone was transported to this new world. From the conversations, you could discern the differing development speeds of the territories. Most people were still in the initial phase, logging and quarrying, gathering resources. Others, through luck or personal abilities, had established military camps. They had begun realizing the importance of Soul Crystals. In the human camp, only those with Soul Crystals could recruit troops in the military camps. But regardless of whether they were recruiting troops or not, Food was a necessity. Without an adequate food supply, the loyalty of the citizens would decrease, and in severe cases, they might even defect. The larger the population of the territory, the greater the food demand. Hence, food was a fast-selling commodity. With this in mind, Fang Hao directly put up 2000 units of food for sale. At the same moment, all chatter within the channel abruptly silenced. Following two seconds of silence, exclamations filled the air. ¡°The boss put up food! Who said that something happened to the boss? What a rotten mouth.¡± ¡°Fang Hao is awesome!¡± ¡°Fang Hao is awesome!¡± Chapter 8 - 8 Chapter 8, Bones and Dogs (Bosses, please support with more recommendation votes.)_1 8 Chapter 8, Bones and Dogs (Bosses, please support with more recommendation votes.)_1 Translator: 549690339 Amidst the surprised exclamations. The 2000 units of meat were quickly disappearing, and in the blink of an eye, they had all been sold out. As a result, Fang Hao acquired a large amount of materials. The materials piled up in his territory are growing rapidly, like a mountain. There were too many people in the regional channel. Even 2000 units of meat were not enough for everyone. Messages started appearing again in the channel of people who missed out, asking if more could be put on sale. Ding! A private chat notification sounded. Upon opening it, it was the young lady who had sold him the Shadowstone, named Dong Jiayue. ¡°Brother Hao, are you there?¡± Dong Jiayue asked directly. Fang Hao immediately replied, ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Brother Hao, I¡¯ve gotten two more pieces of Shadowstone. I want to exchange them for some food.¡± Dong Jiayue said. In the morning, the two had already conducted a trade of Shadowstone. One piece of Shadowstone was traded for 30 units of food from Fang Hao. Shadowstone is a special building material for the Undead faction and is essentially useless and non-marketable in the human factions. Obtaining 30 units already exceeded Dong Jiayue¡¯s expectations. She was so thrilled after the first transaction that she cheered for a long time. ¡°Sure, you can list them, and I will buy them.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Ok, thank you, Brother Hao.¡± Dong Jiayue agreed and immediately initiated the assigned trade of two Shadowstones. Fang Hao, in return, promptly paid 60 units of meat and made the purchase. Upon completion of the trade, both parties were pleased. Fang Hao acquired the faction specific material, and Dong Jiayue received 60 units of meat which could last her several days. Moreover, she could potentially exchange these for other resources. If there¡¯s one resource that currently acts as a medium of exchange, it would definitely be meat. ¡­ Having taken care of everything. Fang Hao quickly stuffed the remaining grilled meat into his mouth. After satisfying his hunger, he promptly arrived at the Underground Cemetery. [Level 2 Underground Cemetery] [Recruitment Cap: 10/10] [Recruitable: Skeleton (Free)] (Note: Can recruit labor troops at this building to do basic work.) [Materials needed for upgrade: Wood 600, Stone 800, Hemp 120, Shadowstone 2.] Previously, he didn¡¯t upgrade. Because he lacked Shadowstone, in addition to that which he had just traded from Dong Jiayue, He now had exactly three Shadowstones in his possession, satisfying the upgrade material requirements. Upgrade! With a flash of light, the Underground Cemetery was successfully upgraded. [Level 3 Underground Cemetery] [Recruitment Cap: 10/20] [Recruitable: Skeleton (Free)] (Note: Can recruit labor troops at this building to do basic work.) [Materials needed for upgrade: Wood 1200, Stone 1600, Leather 100, Hemp 240, Shadowstone 5.] After the upgrade. The recruitment cap has increased from 10 to 20. Fang Hao immediately began recruitment. [Recruitable: Skeleton 10, do you wish to recruit?] Confirm recruitment. The system¡¯s prompt once again sounded. [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, successfully recruited 1010 Skeletons.] A dense light brightened up, and 1010 Skeletons crowded around. He then created 1010 sets of stone axes and stone picks, distributing them to the newly recruited Skeletons. Next, he began to create Leather Armor and Wooden Shields. [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, successfully crafted 3030 Simple Leather Armors.] [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, successfully crafted 2020 Wooden Shields.] Currently, the number of Labor Skeletons are around two thousand, of which several were lost in the beast attack. The number of Skeleton Soldiers is 900, being the main armed force within the territory. He called all the working Skeletons outside to gather. Regardless of whether they were Skeleton Soldiers or Labor Skeletons, all were uniformly equipped with [Simple Leather Armor] and [Wooden Shields]. As for weapons, apart from the twenty Skeleton Soldiers who were equipped with [Iron Daggers], the rest were uniformly equipped with stone axes. The Gnoll Base must be taken down as soon as possible. Whether it¡¯s about eliminating hidden threats or strengthening ourselves, the sooner it is done, the more beneficial it is. Fang Hao stood on a large stone, looking at the vast ocean of Skeletons below. ¡°Bones and dogs, historically incompatible, tonight I shall lead you all to annihilate the gnolls, and regain the dignity of us undead.¡± Fang Hao raised his arm and shouted, his expression high-spirited. But around him was still silent. The Skeletons dumbfoundedly stared at him, like an array of terracotta soldiers, with no movement at all. ¡°Uh, well, I just want to tell you that this battle is not just for me.¡± Fang Hao jumped down from the large stone, mumbling, ¡°Sooner or later, you¡¯ll depress me.¡± Other lords could chat with their peasants. He, on the other hand, had to live with a bunch of Skeletons every day. Just on the second day, he already felt a bit autistic. Even his self-proclaimed title has become ¡®us undead¡¯. He¡¯s going to stress himself to death, sooner or later. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Fang Hao called out. The procession set off majestically, with the weapon-wielding Skeletons surrounding Fang Hao in the middle. Offering him adequate protection. Even if danger arose, attacking him wouldn¡¯t be easy. The procession continued to advance towards the Gnoll Base. In the morning¡¯s survey, Fang Hao had roughed out a map. Not to mention it¡¯s also close by and not hard to find, they could soon see the still bustling Gnoll Base from a distance. ¡°Squat down, everyone squat down.¡± Fang Hao half-squatted, letting the bushes conceal everyone from sight. Seeing this, the Skeletons mimicked him, squatting down and moving forward. Concealing their bodies as much as possible. This wasn¡¯t intended as a stealth attack, but rather, since their side lacks long-range troop types, to reduce the distance of attack as much as possible. To reduce casualties on the way to the attack. Fang Hao lead the Skeleton Army to quickly approach their destination. Despite sneaking while squatting, the rustling of the large patches of bushes and grass made quite the noise. In an instant, it caught the attention of the nearby Gnoll woodcutters. With wide open eyes, they curiously looked towards the direction where Fang Hao and his men were. ¡°Charge, take down the base.¡± Fang Hao issued the command. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! Upon receiving the command, the Skeletons instantly burst out of the bushes and killed in the direction of the base. Oooh!! A horn was blown in the Gnoll Base. Facing the attack of the Skeleton Army, the village gate began to close slowly. Regardless of the gnolls outside the gate shouting, the gate was not opened. In the end, the gnolls were caught up by the charging Skeletons and the chaotic axe ruthlessly turned them into mud. Facing the attack of the Skeleton Sea, an instant counter-defence was made inside the camp. Gnoll Slingers ascended the wooden defence walls and began to swing their slings and throw. The power of the slings was impressive. When it hit the Wooden Shields and Simple Leather Armors, it could absorb some of the damage. But when it hit the skeleton frame of the Labor Skeletons, fractures would appear on the hit part, and in worse cases, they would break directly. Fang Hao watched from afar. He was resentful that his troops did not have long-range weapons. Fortunately, he still had an absolute advantage in numbers. At this moment, the Skeleton Army had already reached the foot of the wall. Like human pyramids, relying on each other¡¯s bodies, they successfully climbed up the three-meter-high wooden defence wall. Seeing this reminded Fang Hao of a scene from a movie he had seen. It was extremely similar to a scene from World War Z. Chapter 9 - 9 Chapter 9, Returning Home with a Full Load_1 9 Chapter 9, Returning Home with a Full Load_1 Translator: 549690339 Gnolls are not a powerful race. In past battles, they leveraged their numerical advantage and some simple tactics. Their combat strategies were also quite simple. But now, facing an undead army that outnumbered them, they were clearly outmatched. The skeletons piled up against the walls of the village and struck down the gates with fierce blows. The wave of skeletons flooded into the camp like a rampaging torrent, initiating a brutal melee. The Gnoll soldiers within the camp did not coordinate with each other. Each one fought their guild¡¯s target. Soon, under the relentless assault of the relentless skeletons, the Gnolls were overwhelmed. When the camp once again fell silent, the still, unmoving skeletons waited for orders. It was only then that Fang Hao walked over from a distance. Looking at the chaotic battlefield, he commanded, ¡°Clean up the battlefield. Gather all the equipment and resources.¡± The skeletons, no longer stationary, began to collect the fallen gear from the ground. Logically, there should be a boss in the camp. Perhaps a village or a clan leader. But now, after being pulverized, it became rather difficult to distinguish who were the leaders and who were the followers. In the face of death, all creatures are equal. As the skeletons busied themselves with cleaning up the battlefield, Fang Hao, leading a dozen skeletal soldiers, entered the largest wooden hut of the tribe. This was likely the Clan Leader¡¯s room, or some sort of meeting hall. The furniture was styled in a savage fashion. ¡°We¡¯ll take this bear-skin rug back. Move the table and chairs out, we¡¯ll take them along later,¡± Fang Hao directed from inside the hall. The skeletons began to move, hauling everything outside. All the items would be packed and taken along soon. No helping it, resources were lacking in his territory. The only furniture was a pile of hay, which served as his bed. There was another room behind the hall. Upon opening the door, he saw a large bed in the room, draped with a fur blanket. In the corner of the bedroom, there was a black chest with a metallic sheen. ¡°Yay!¡± Fang Hao made a fist in celebration. He now had a bed. As for it being previously used by the Gnolls. He didn¡¯t mind. Given their current situation, he couldn¡¯t afford to be picky. He could just clean up the fur blanket once they got back. At least, no longer would he have to sleep on a pile of hay. Once again, he turned his attention towards the chest. The chest in front of him was different from the wooden chests from before. You could tell it was of a higher grade, which also meant that the rewards inside would be more substantial. ¡°Move the bed and fur blanket outside. Be careful not to damage them,¡± he ordered. The skeletons began to haul out the bed. Fang Hao approached the chest, rubbed his hands together, and asked for blessings from the God of Luck before opening the chest. [Obtained: Marketplace Building Blueprint, Cart Making Blueprint, Battle Axe Making Blueprint, 20 Warfire Coins] Generous! Just as he had imagined, the reward was generous. He had opened two wooden chests before, and their rewards were basically two common items. This metal chest contained three blueprints, all of which were practical. He even got 20 Warfire Coins, the camp was quite wealthy. Having received the equipment, he left the building. In the central space of the camp, the collected supplies piled up into a small mountain. Without lingering, Fang Hao continued to the warehouse. The warehouse was stocked with various materials, wood, stone, food, beast skins, and some weapons and tools. ¡°Move also the goods from here.¡±, Fang Hao commanded the moving operation, while continuing to rummage for other goods. Beyond the living quarters of the Clan Leader, the rooms of the general Gnolls were quite crude. Calling them houses wasn¡¯t quite right. They were more like hovels or makeshift shelters. Around the sweep, there wasn¡¯t much left to loot. Back in the open space. Fang Hao started to sort out the inventory. Resources: 122 Wriggling Spines, 5520 units of wood, 3220 units of stone, 47 units of iron, 3225 units of food, 144 units of beast skin, 20 Warfire Coins. Equipment: 120 Iron Daggers, 72 Single-edged Swords, 45 Battle Axes, 12 Flatbed Carts. Furniture: 1 Large Iron Cauldron, 1 Solid Wood Table, 6 Chairs, 1 Double Bed, 1 Bear-skin Rug, 1 Set of Fur Blankets, 12 Wooden Ladders. Blueprints: Marketplace Building Blueprint, Cart Making Blueprint, Battle Axe Making Blueprint. As Fang Hao took inventory, a smile spread slowly across his face. As expected, looting was the quickest way to develop. The spoils from seizing this camp would sustain his operations for quite some time. Of course, there were no small losses on his side as well. He lost at least one-third of his forces. But this wasn¡¯t a problem. Worker skeletons could be summoned for free, there was only a cooldown time. And the situation with the skeletal soldiers was even better. The Wriggling Spines yielded 122 new additions. If he desired, by using the 100-fold amplification, he could recruit an army of 10,000. No matter how you looked at it, he didn¡¯t lose out. ¡°Alright, start loading up.¡± With the 12 flatbed carts they acquired, it was just right for transporting these things and it would be more convenient. However, he underestimated the amount of looted goods. The 12 carts weren¡¯t able to fit everything. He had no choice but to open the crafting menu and start making more carts. Besides, they would be useful in the future, so he might as well have them made now. [Flatbed Cart: 22 Wood, 8 Hemp Ropes] Fortunately, only basic materials were required, and they were readily available. Construct. [100-fold Amplification Triggered: Successfully Constructed 101 Flatbed Carts] As the flatbed carts appeared one after another, the skeletons started to load goods onto the carts and tightly secured them with hemp ropes. Meanwhile, Fang Hao was eyeing this camp again. A few ideas started coming to his mind. His advantage was the large number of skeletons that required no food or sleep and worked tirelessly. The resources in the vicinity of his territory would eventually be depleted. This place was a decent stronghold. Once everything was in place, he could deploy a portion of the worker skeletons here for collection. The warehouses and residences were already in place, so no additional construction was needed. As he was lost in thought, All the goods had been loaded. After boarding up the village gate, the majority of the forces left the Gnoll camp and headed back to their own territory. Due to the carts and the cargo, They couldn¡¯t cut through the forest like they did when they arrived, so they had to take the main road back. Lying on the flatbed cart, resting on the fur blankets, He opened the Book of Lords to pass the time. ¡°This damn stone axe is a piece of crap. It¡¯s so slow at cutting trees, and it breaks after a few swings.¡± ¡°Stop complaining. This is how it is now. Just gather more and upgrade your buildings quickly. You can also trade the surplus with Boss Hao for some food.¡± ¡°Such bad luck, I have a river near my territory. I made a net and I could catch a couple of fish every day, but today, when I went to check, I was nearly scared to death.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°A net full of bones! I hauled in the net and it was full of skeleton bones. Some skeletons still had stone axes in their arms, it scared the hell out of me, damn it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s eerie, you aren¡¯t near an unmarked grave or something, are you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I dug out the fish and buried the bones. I also kowtowed a few times, I dare not eat the fish, so I put them up for sale.¡± ¡°The guy above, I bought your fish, you bastard scammed me.¡± ¡°How did I scam you? The fish are fine, still wriggling.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you eat them then?¡± ¡°I was worried they might be poisonous.¡± ¡°Damn you, you wait and see.¡± Chapter 10 - 10 Chapter 10, Establishment of a Market (Asking for recommendations......). _1 10 Chapter 10, Establishment of a Market (Asking for recommendations¡­¡­). _1 Translator: 549690339 Watching the two bicker amusingly, Fang Hao also took note of this newcomer¡¯s ID. Zhang Bin. There was a stream near the Gnoll encampment. From that recent battle, many of his skeletons had perished, and some of their bones had been swept away by the stream. That must¡¯ve been why Zhang Bin saw a ton of bones in his fishing net. It also indicated that their territories were not far apart. Of course, even if he didn¡¯t bury the bones, they would eventually disappear over time. After all, this world had become digitized. The army returned to camp in high spirits. No need for manual sorting. All different types of resources were sorted automatically and neatly stored in their respective places. He ordered his skeletons to move the bed into the lord¡¯s wooden cabin. The fur rugs and bedding were sent to the nearby river to be cleaned. He then opened up the Manufacturing tab and summoned the Iron Axe Blueprint that he had just acquired. ¡°Iron Axe: 2 Iron, 2 Wood.¡± The requirements for making an iron axe were not high, but iron is a relatively scarce resource. Luckily, he had acquired a small amount from wiping out the Gnoll camp. The inventory showed 59 iron units. Enough to craft an iron axe. Production started immediately. ¡°100x Amplification triggered. Successfully crafted 808 Iron Axes.¡± ¡°100x Amplification triggered. Successfully crafted 505 Stone Pickaxes.¡± Manual laboring skeletons had suffered some losses in the battle. There were a bit more than 1,400 left. Because the Undead¡¯s building requirements needed more stone than wood, he allocated more manpower to stone mining. With the original remaining tools, along with the newly crafted stone pickaxes. 900 Labor Skeletons were assigned to mine stone. 500 equipped with iron axes were assigned to continue chopping wood. The remaining iron axes were distributed to skeleton soldiers, replacing their stone axes. With the increased number of skeleton soldiers, there was no longer a need for that many to patrol. 200 Skeleton soldiers were reassigned to move carts for transporting supplies. That way, laboring Skeletons didn¡¯t need to ferry resources back and forth. Saving time and increasing overall work efficiency. After settling everything, all the Skeletons started their respective tasks according to the plan. Fang Hao propped up a wooden pole. The fur bedding recently washed was draped over it for drying. He looked forward to sleeping on a bed tonight. Just thinking about it made him feel strangely content. He moved the hay from the lord¡¯s house. And threw them angrily into the warehouse. A sense of triumph prevailed on his face, ¡°I¡¯ve got a bed now, I won¡¯t be needing you anymore!¡± After busying himself for a while. Fang Hao opened the Building tab again to examine the newly acquired Market Building Blueprint. So¡­ Is this Market for trading goods? ¡°Level 1 Market: 800 Wood, 500 Stone, 220 Hemp.¡± The basic resources needed for a level 1 Market weren¡¯t excessive. All considered basic resources, there weren¡¯t any requirements for exotic or rare items. Construct it! A radiant light flashed, and a two-story wooden building appeared before his eyes. Next to the small wooden building, a fenced area was set aside as a marketplace. Before Fang Hao could explore the functionality of the new construction The system message rang out again. ¡°Market construction complete, your Undead faction influence has reached 200. Do you accept the trading delegation from your region (Skeleton King-Odys) to set up shop in the Market?¡± So that¡¯s how it is. Trade between lords can be executed through the Book of Lords. Similar to trading items in the game, irrespective of the distance, the traded items teleport directly into your storage once the trade is completed. Currently, only the regional channel has been opened. Still, it is incredibly convenient and doesn¡¯t require any fees. The appearance of the Market allows the earth lords who had traveled through time to trade with the native forces. Not only did you have to construct a Market, but a certain level of influence was also required. Fang Hao, being the first to upgrade his main city, was awarded a faction influence of 200. Which just meets the requirement for the Undead faction¡¯s trading delegation to set up shop. Accept! There were no second thoughts. A trading delegation meant no danger. ¡°You accepted the request from the Skeleton King ¨C Odys¡¯ trading delegation to set up shop. The Skeleton delegation¡¯s arrival countdown begins: 11 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds.¡± Following that, a desolate tombstone suddenly appeared in the fenced area within the Market. It emitted a faint green light. The tombstone displayed a synchronized countdown. ¡°Damn, are they going to crawl out from there?¡± It gave off an impression. Like this delegation of skeletons isn¡¯t walking here. Instead, they are going to crawl up directly from this tomb in front of him. Of course, he was just making a facetious remark and wasn¡¯t burdened by it. After all, he had seen so many skeletons crawl out of tombs, and he wasn¡¯t afraid of it nor did he feel any sense of burden from it. ¡­ Not bothering with his own Market having a ticking countdown, Fang Hao began to prepare dinner. Although he¡¯d gotten a cooking pot from the Gnoll encampment, Fang Hao had no desire to use it. From the food scraps left by the Gnolls, he could tell these creatures also treated humans as food. Who knows how many people might¡¯ve been cooked in that pot? Meat is meat, after all. He decided to continue eating roasted meat. He still lit the fire and continued preparing roasted meat. At the same time, he opened the ¡°regional channel¡±, looking forward to a friendly chat with others to kill time. ¡°Damn it, I¡¯ve had enough. These stone axes are like paper mache; they break after just a few uses.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s so troublesome having to remake them every time they break.¡± ¡°Ah! What¡¯s the use of complaining? Better to save your energy and chop more wood.¡± Stone tools were not as durable as iron ones. Iron tools withstood more use and rarely broke, while stone tools were consumable. After chopping two or three trees, they would break and need to be remade. Others don¡¯t have the luxury of Fang Hao¡¯s 100x amplification. It¡¯s very troublesome to craft one by one. Just as everyone was expressing their discontent, A message popped up. ¡°Selling Iron Axes. One Iron Axe for 8 Iron or 50 units of meat.¡± As soon as the message was sent, the chat room went abuzz. ¡°Gosh, that¡¯s a total rip-off ¨C 50 units of meat! Is this a golden axe or what? Wouldn¡¯t it be faster just to rob people?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a tool for gathering resources; everyone will have it sooner or later. Why are you setting such a high price?¡± ¡°This is obviously taking advantage of everyone. Clearly, they are trying to rip people off in the early game.¡± ¡°Bro, lower the price. Produce more and sell more!¡± Everyone started criticizing him. Indeed, even Fang Hao had the blueprint for the Iron Axe. The ingredients required were 2 units of iron and 2 units of wood. The resource requirement wasn¡¯t high. This person wanted to exchange for 8 units of iron or fifty units of meat, which was no small amount. Even though everyone needed an Iron Axe, no one would be willing to give up so much food for it. Moreover, it was uncertain how many of them had this much reserve of iron and meat. Facing the crowd¡¯s outrage, this person didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Buy it or don¡¯t buy it! If you can¡¯t afford it, others can! You all know very well how dangerous this world is; every second counts. The quicker you gather resources, the higher the chance you have of surviving. Think about whether to buy it or not!¡± He spoke aggressively, but also factually. Every day, some people died exploring the map and searching for food. Luckily, lords still had seven days of protection. Otherwise, even more people would be dead by now. Therefore, after he spoke, many remained silent. The criticism noticeably died down. Just as Fang Hao was enjoying the show, A private message popped up. Yao Liang! The guy who was just selling Iron Axes. ¡°Fang Hao, are you there?¡± Chapter 11 - 11 Chapter 11, Skeleton Merchant_1 11 Chapter 11, Skeleton Merchant_1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao scowled at his private chat message. ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± Fang Hao replied. Actually, he had some guesses in his heart. ¡°Iron axe, 50 units of meat for one, can increase resource gathering speed, how many do you want?¡± Yao Liang¡¯s tone was full of confidence. He didn¡¯t even ask if Fang Hao would buy, he just asked how many he wanted? It was reasonable to think so, as only Fang Hao would have the meat to spare for an axe. After all, he puts a large amount of food up for sale every day, which clearly showed his ample food reserves. At the same time, this proved that Yao Liang saw him as a rich fool. No wonder he said in the channel that if you guys can¡¯t afford it, someone else can. He had set his sights on him a long time ago. Just as Fang Hao was about to decline, he saw Yao Liang post again in the channel. ¡°I have already made a deal with Fang Hao, he will purchase a large number of iron axes, there are not many remaining, if you want to buy, hurry.¡± What a noise! As soon as his words were out, the channel boiled again. ¡°So expensive, only Boss Fang Hao can afford it.¡± ¡°They¡¯re both price gougers, turning a simple tool into a luxury item.¡± ¡°Both of them are no good.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy, I hunted two unicorns today, will get two.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, even Fang Hao knows the importance of early development, why don¡¯t you understand? There aren¡¯t many left, if you want to buy, hurry.¡± Watching people chat, Fang Hao frowned. He didn¡¯t want to get involved in this, but Yao Liang had used him as a tool to make people believe the axes were scarce and accept the price. Truthfully, Yao Liang was smart. A smart but mean person. If Fang Hao had not obtained the blueprint for the iron axe, he would have traded food for a few. However much he traded later wouldn¡¯t matter, as long as he made the trade, Yao Liang would use it to his advantage, using Fang Hao as his free advertisement. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t one to care about what others thought. But he also didn¡¯t want to be used by others. After thinking a bit, he decided to clarify himself in the channel. ¡°I, Fang Hao, have neither bought nor intend to buy his axe, don¡¯t blindly trust.¡± ¡°Wow, Boss Fang Hao spoke.¡± ¡°Capture! A living Fang Hao.¡± ¡°I knew it! This asshole was messing with us. Boss Fang Hao did not actually buy.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s words immediately led to others condemning Yao Liang¡¯s shameless behavior. Immediately following this was a private message from Yao Liang. ¡°Fang Hao, what the fuck do you mean? Are you trying to undermine me?¡± ¡°I never traded with you, so I need to let everyone know.¡± Fang Hao calmly replied. ¡°Good, you fucking played me, wait and see.¡± Yao Liang cursed in rage. Fang Hao squinted his eyes, remembering Yao Liang. But he currently didn¡¯t know where Yao Liang¡¯s territory was, so even being angry didn¡¯t help. Both of them cursing each other online would only waste their daily chat limit. After thinking for a bit, Fang Hao thought of a plan to retaliate. He immediately used the 100x multiplier to make 101 iron axes and put them up for sale. [Trader: Fang Hao] [Listed Item: Iron Axe] [Quantity: 100] [Required for 1 unit: 4 units of Iron.] (Note: If you have a blueprint or special materials, you can negotiate price in private chat.) Compared to Yao Liang¡¯s 8 units of iron, Fang Hao¡¯s 4 units seemed very reasonable. And Yao Liang sent another private message. ¡°Motherfucker, you wait.¡± At this moment, Yao Liang was furious. Fang Hao had undermined him and made him lose face in the channel. Then he sold iron axes for 4 units after. Those who just bought from Yao Liang were now chasing after him for refunds. There¡¯s no law in this world. Even though they didn¡¯t know each other¡¯s territories, Yao Liang dared not offend so many people. Under pressure, he had no choice but to refund the others. ¡­ Fang Hao ignored the enraged Yao Liang. In this world, strength is the most important. With the expansion of territories, those who survive will inevitably meet, and by then it wouldn¡¯t be about who can curse better. After listing the trade, the stock of iron axes slowly reduced. Private chat rung again. ¡°Boss Fang Hao, I have a blueprint, I want to trade it for your iron axes.¡± The blueprint was sent over. [Wooden Bucket Blueprint (White)] [Materials for Production: 5 Wood, 2 Hemp Rope.] ¡°I¡¯ll give you two iron axes for it.¡± replied Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, thank you very much.¡± Once the two completed the trade, the blueprint was immediately added to the Book of Lords. Fang Hao immediately started crafting. [Triggered hundred-fold amplification, received 101 Wooden Barrels.] Just then, a Skeleton returned with some supplies. ¡°Go fill these barrels with water,¡± said Fang Hao. The Skeleton immediately lifted the wooden barrels and set off. At the same time, several private messages came in. All of them wanted to trade blueprints for iron axes. [Received white blueprint [Wooden Bench]: 5 Wood, 2 Hemp Rope.] (Note: A simple wooden bench which can accommodate up to three people at a time.) [Received white blueprint [Drying Rack]: 3 Wood, 2 Hemp Rope.] (Note: Used for air-drying raw meat, handy for long-term storage.) [Received white blueprint [Simple Single Bed]: 7 Wood, 6 Hemp Rope, 3 Leather.] (Note: A simple and practical single bed, you can rest assured on it without worrying of falling off.) I have a double bed made of solid wood. Fang Hao muttered quietly, previously there was no bed, and he could only sleep on grass. He always woke up aching all over. Just after getting a big double bed, now he had received a blueprint for a single bed. Why does it always happen this way, either nothing happens or everything happens all at once? Apart from the blueprints. Dong Jiayue contacted him too. Exchanged Shadowstone for 10 iron axes. After all, the food they exchanged last time was enough for her and the farmers in her territory for quite some time. Next. Fang Hao put 2,000 units of meat for sale and then returned to the Lord¡¯s log house to rest. ¡­ Next morning. Fang Hao came out of the log house and had a big stretch. Sleeping in a bed is really comfortable. The morning sun cast a warm glow over his face, dew shimmered on the grass next to it. The breeze carried a faint scent of plants as it passed. Honestly, the air here is much better than the world he left behind. Picking up a plank placed aside, he etched ¡°3¡± on it. Signifying it was his third day in this world. He lit up the fire to prepare breakfast, while also not forgetting to list more food for others to buy. As he waited for the meat to be cooked, Fang Hao began crafting the [Drying Rack]. He only received the blueprint for the drying rack last night. There was nothing to dry late at night, so he waited until the day to craft it. [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, received 101 Drying Racks.] A hundred drying racks appeared on the ground. He called over a passing Skeleton, ¡°From now on, you are in charge of drying food.¡± The Skeleton put down the iron axe it was carrying, went to the warehouse, picked up a piece of meat, and hung it on the drying rack. These skeletons are peculiar. Even though they are not very intelligent, they are capable of carrying out basic tasks given by Fang Hao. They work efficiently and adeptly. Just like executing a program, they neatly hung three pieces of meat on each drying rack to dry. Watching the Skeleton busy at work, Fang Hao took the last piece of grilled meat and popped it into his mouth. After swallowing it, he put out the fire. A notification suddenly rang out. [Skeleton Caravan has arrived at your territory, it¡¯s up to the Lord to inspect it.] The market that was built yesterday. The indicated time of arrival was 12 hours. After the night passed, it was already time. ¡°You guys, follow me.¡± To be on the safe side, Fang Hao called a few Skeleton Soldiers along with him. There¡¯s likely no danger, but just in case. A few skeleton soldiers immediately walked over, holding axes and shields and following behind Fang Hao. Upon reaching the market, Fang Hao saw that a tombstone that had been built was now completed. A magnificent looking Skeleton sat beside the tombstone. The Skeleton Merchant was dressed in rich attire, leaning against a wooden staff in his right hand, and wore a gemstone ring on his scrawny bone finger. His hollow eye sockets shone with a blue light, like that of a ghost fire. Upon seeing that Fang Hao was a human, the blue light in his eye sockets flickered with surprise. But soon it calmed down. He spoke softly, ¡°The God of Undead accepts the faith of all believers.¡± Seeing Fang Hao approach, he immediately stood up and said, ¡°My Lord, Ruer is willing to serve you.¡± Fang Hao was taken aback. Holy shit! This skeleton can talk. Chapter 13 - 13 Chapter 13, Gods Presence_1 13 Chapter 13, God¡¯s Presence_1 Translator: 549690339 Dong Jiayue was fortunate. Her territory was situated near a mountain range. The nearby timber and stone resources were abundant, so she had no worries about mining. In reality, Dong Jiayue¡¯s grandfather owned a martial arts studio and she had learned some martial arts with him since childhood. Therefore, on the second day of crossing into this world, she left her territory and began exploring her surroundings. She found an ancient tomb in a valley. Soon, she discovered some blueprints and Shadowstones from the tomb. She kept the blueprints for the development of her territory, and sold the Shadowstones to Fang Hao to acquire resources. Among the Lords who came over with her, she was progressing quite well. But today, while leading militiamen to explore the second layer of the ancient tomb, many undead creatures suddenly appeared. Not only did two militiamen die, she was also injured. She had no choice but to retreat to her territory and reconsider her strategies. The ancient tomb was the basis of her lead, and despite the danger, she had to continue exploring it. After much thought, she decided to come to Fang Hao, hoping to advance some weapons and equipment. Dong Jiayue was not aware that Fang Hao had iron weapons. She just thought that iron axes would be more lethal than stone ones, and wanted to advance some iron axes. ¡°You want to advance some iron axes for fighting?¡± Fang Hao asked in surprise. ¡°Ah, is that alright?¡± Dong Jiayue was somewhat uncertain because every resource now was extremely important, affecting one¡¯s own development and survival. She hurriedly added, ¡°Let¡¯s consider it as an advance reward for the Shadowstones, okay?¡± Fang Hao asked again, ¡°What are the types of soldiers you have? What weapons and equipment are they using?¡± He was not familiar with the information about human soldiers. ¡°Just ordinary militiamen, there aren¡¯t any special troops yet,¡± Dong Jiayue replied. She thought that Fang Hao would know about the militiamen. After all, everyone was a cross-world traveler from Earth and belonged to the human camp. They naturally knew about the soldiers recruited by humans. ¡°How many people do you have?¡± ¡°Three.¡± Previously, she had several tier 1 militiamen. Two of them died in the previous battle, leaving only three. Including her, there were four. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate much. He replied, ¡°I can provide you with weapons and equipment. Whenever you find valuable items during your exploration, prioritize trading them with me.¡± ¡°Great, thank you, Brother Hao. Thank you for your trust,¡± Jia Yue quickly expressed her gratitude. This was not just a trade, but also showed Fang Hao¡¯s trust in her. This kind of trust was especially precious in a place like this. ¡°Okay, list a unit of wood or something so that I can trade the items to you,¡± Fang Hao said. The system only allowed trading, not gifting. However, there were many workarounds. Listing a rock from the ground to be exchanged for gold was allowed. ¡°Okay.¡± Soon, Dong Jiayue listed a unit of wood in the designated trade. Fang Hao gave her four single-edged knives and four wooden shields. When Dong Jiayue saw that she had actually received real weapons instead of iron axes, she was amazed. Just how far had Fang Hao¡¯s territory developed? On just the third day, he had already acquired real weapons. If he was able to give those weapons to her, that implied that such equipment was not scarce in his place. At this moment, Dong Jiayue¡¯s impression of Fang Hao was even more profound and unfathomable. She immediately sent another message to Fang Hao to express her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Brother Hao.¡± ¡°Okay, be careful. Survival gives hope,¡± Fang Hao advised. Shadowstone, it was a necessary material to upgrade an undead building. At present, only Dong Jiayue could obtain it. Thus, she must be supported to continue exploring the tomb. Of course, after several transactions, although they hadn¡¯t become friends, Fang Hao had a pretty good impression of Dong Jiayue. He didn¡¯t want her to face any danger. ¡­ After the transaction was over, both of them started getting busy again. Fang Hao brought up the ¡°Production¡± page and started producing weapons and shields for over ten thousand skeleton soldiers. [Iron Sword: Wood 3, Iron 3, Leather 1.] When he wiped out the Gnoll camp, he had gained 47 units of iron. And through selling iron axes over the past couple of days, he had earned more than 300 units of iron. It may not be much, but with the hundred-fold amplification, there¡¯s enough to equip this team. Make them! [Hundred-fold amplification triggered, you have obtained 13130 Iron Swords.] [Hundred-fold amplification triggered, you have obtained 13130 Wooden Shields.] [Hundred-fold amplification triggered, you have obtained 13130 Simple Leather Armors.] [Hundred-fold amplification triggered, you have obtained 14140 Leather Helmets.] ¡­ ¡°Alright, everyone pick up your weapons and equipment.¡± Fang Hao shouted loudly. All the skeleton soldiers he had recruited stepped forward, picked up the weapons and equipment that had been made, and put them on. ¡°You don¡¯t go.¡± Fang Hao casually grabbed a skeleton soldier who was about to leave. He was using the [God¡¯s Presence] Skill directly. Everything went black before his eyes. The body of Fang Hao, sitting on the stone steps, instantly fell backward. And the dumbfounded skeleton soldier standing nearby, in his hollow pupils, suddenly flamed two ghastly blue ghost fires. Similar to the skeleton merchant who just left. [God¡¯s Presence on target, Skeleton Soldier, Compatibility 72 %.] Fang Hao¡¯s consciousness transferred to the skeleton, surprised, he looked at the skeletal limbs, then looked at his own body beside. ¡°You two, carry me into the room, place me on the bed.¡± The skeleton¡¯s voice sounded dry and hoarse. It sounded very eerie. Two skeletons picked up the body of Fang Hao and headed toward the lord¡¯s wooden house. Thud! The skeleton used its skull to hit open the wooden door before they dumped him on the bed. Seeing this. Fang Hao was so angry he kicked the two skeletons on their backsides with his bone leg. ¡°You two are trying to kill me.¡± Both kicked skeletons staggered, still standing there in a daze. Next, Fang Hao assigned work. Some to patrol, some to help the workers gather resources. He, however, selected about 2000 skeleton soldiers for exploration of the surrounding territories. The Book of Lords had added a new page [Map]. Any places that had been explored would automatically record the terrain and topography. Places which had been explored before would need to be re-explored to have the map record them. ¡°Follow me!¡± Calling out to the 2000 skeleton soldiers behind him, they headed out of the village. The territory was still under protection, the protection shield could ensure his safety. Adventuring while possessing the skeleton seemed like a sure win. ¡­ Meanwhile. Gnoll camp. A Gnoll with a saber slung about his waist had a gloomy face, full of rage. He sat on a large stone waiting for the news from the scouts. He had led a team to the Orc Bazaar for trading, but upon return, found his den had been wiped out. All resources and items had been moved out. Not even a chair was left behind. Fuming with anger, he had no choice but to order someone to fetch a stone for him to sit on while waiting for news. ¡°Leader, there¡¯s news.¡± A few Gnolls ran over hastily, shouting loudly. Despite not being very intelligent, Gnolls still belonged to the intelligent races. Occasionally, one or two Gnoll priests would appear, their intelligence not inferior to humans. ¡°Speak.¡± The Leader ordered wrathfully. ¡°We followed the cart tracks and found an undead village. There are lots of undead there.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°From what I saw, at least several thousand.¡± Hearing this number, the leader¡¯s face turned even grimmer. The enemy¡¯s numbers were too great, they were not something they could withstand. ¡°Contact the Fireblade Tribe, tell them we¡¯ve found a wealthy village and invite them to loot together.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 Chapter 15, The Lost Wooden Samurai Spirit_1 15 Chapter 15, The Lost Wooden Samurai Spirit_1 Translator: 549690339 An iron pot isn¡¯t exactly an essential item. Moreover, there is already an iron pot in my inventory, obtained from a raid on the Gnoll camp. However, given the psychological burden of having previously cooked human flesh in it, it has been sitting unused. Now, someone is selling an iron pot blueprint, so I can manufacture a brand new one. ¡°Can do.¡± The other party replies, then added, ¡°Brother Fang Hao, once you¡¯ve learned the blueprint, I could provide the materials. Could you make me a pot, uh¡­ Hehe.¡± Fang Hao immediately understood his intention. Pretty smart idea. At the current level of the domain, one iron pot is enough. He sells the blueprint to me in return for three iron axes, then asks Fang Hao to make him another pot. He¡¯s taking no loss at all. ¡°Of course, sell me more blueprints next time.¡± Fang Hao generously says. He wasn¡¯t particularly bothered about it. With a hundredfold increase, it¡¯s impossible for any deal to constitute a loss. One set of materials can create a hundred products, it¡¯s the blueprint that is hard to come by, not the materials. ¡°Thank you, brother, I¡¯ll list it right away.¡± Soon, an iron pot blueprint appeared in the designated transaction list. After giving the other party three iron axes, Fang Hao received the iron pot blueprint. [Iron Pot: Wood 6, Stone 6, Iron 3.] Craft! [Triggered Hundredfold Increase, received 101 Iron Pots.] A flash of light occurred. 101 Iron Pots appeared on the open space in front of me. The new iron pots are different from the ones seized from the Gnolls. The newly crafted pots were one-piece, with a wooden pile below and an iron pot on top. He chose one and gave it to the other party, fulfilling their agreement. He kept three pots for himself and put the rest, along with the remaining Gnoll iron pots, up for sale. [Trader: Fang Hao] [Registered Item: Iron Pot] [Quantity: 98.] [Required for 1: 5 units of iron ore.] (Note: If there are special resources, blueprints or items, we can have a private chat.) ¡­ Finished off all the work. Fang Hao summoned a skeleton, ¡°You will be in charge of boiling water.¡± The skeleton proceeded as instructed, bringing the stone materials to the warehouse to start boiling the water. There were 101 buckets of stored water in the domain, no need to fetch it from a distance anymore. Fang Hao continued to open the Book of Lords and navigated to the ¡°Manufacture¡± page. He selected a ¡°Bath Bucket¡±. [Bath Bucket: Wood 5, hemp rope 3.] Manufacture. [Triggered Hundredfold Increase, received 101 Bath Buckets.] The iron pots had not all been sold yet when a large number of bath buckets appeared again. He would offer the extra buckets for sale, but not at present. Prolifically selling a large number of items could attract attention from potential buyers. There¡¯s no rush, he could sell them in broad daylight the next day. Guided the skeleton to move the buckets to the open space next door. Water was boiling now. After adjusting the water temperature, he quickly took a bath. Having taken a bath, he felt rejuvenated, full of spirit, and relaxed. Stepping out of the bath, he spread his arms wide, waiting for his body to air dry. The feeling of complete relaxation while basking in breezes felt pleasantly good. ¡­ Next, he started preparing dinner, boiling a pot of meat soup. He idly switched on the [Area Channel] to pass time. ¡°Hey! Have any of you used Brother Fang Hao¡¯s pots yet? Any special situations?¡± ¡°Nothing at all, why?¡± ¡°I foraged for some mushrooms and wild veggies and made a pot of soup. I didn¡¯t even add any meat, so why is there oil floating in it, and that meaty aroma¡­ it¡¯s like I¡¯ve boiled a pot full of meat.¡± ¡°Stop bragging, man.¡± ¡°Is it real or fake? I also made mushroom soup, but it¡¯s clear as water.¡± ¡°It is true. I just tasted it, and it does taste like meat soup.¡± ¡°Damn, brother, you¡¯ve found a treasure, isn¡¯t this a daily meat soup?¡± ¡°I suspect your pot has a hidden attribute.¡± ¡°Would you sell it? I¡¯d buy it at high price.¡± In an instant, the channel was filled with discussions about iron pots. The iron pots listed for sale were rapidly selling out. Some people need a pot. Others buy it, hoping to get an iron pot capable of brewing a vegetable broth. Fang Hao did not expect such a thing to happen. The pot for cooking green vegetables, which produces oil, should be the iron pot from the Gnoll camp. After all, years of cooking meat in it can leave some traces of grease. Having arranged everything. He went to bed to rest. ¡­ The next day, early in the morning. He stepped out of the lord¡¯s wooden house. He yawned and marked the fourth day on the side. He cooked breakfast on the fire. After breakfast, he jogged around the boundary of his territory, doing some basic exercises such as sit-ups. His physique was originally quite decent. He had muscles all over his body. But after crossing over, he found that his muscles were increasingly slack. This wasn¡¯t a good sign. Thus, he arranged for morning exercises first thing in the day. Having done everything. He changed into a more comfortable position on the bed. He used the [God¡¯s Presence] skill to possess the body of a skeleton soldier. Today¡¯s task was the same as yesterday¡¯s ¨C to continue exploring the surrounding terrain. He chose 2000 skeleton soldiers and led the team out of his territory with big strides. They passed through a plain to the west. Fang Hao abruptly stopped and signaled for the team to halt. He stared solemnly ahead. Several humanoid creatures were wandering about. Their bodies were entwined like vines, with green sprouts growing in some parts of their bodies. [Lost Wood Element Servant Spirit (Rank 3)] [Type: Summoned Creature (Masterless)] [Abilities: Entangle, Revival.] (Description: Servant spirits who have lost their masters gradually lose their purpose. They wander here, attacking all passing creatures.) These are rank-three soldiers. Moreover, there are three of them wandering ahead. After glancing at the skeleton soldiers behind him, he gave the command to attack. ¡°Attack.¡± 2000 skeleton soldiers raised their weapons and launched an attack. The massive charge quickly drew the attention of the [Wood Element Servant Spirits]. They glowed faintly with green light. Vines grew from beneath the skeletons¡¯ feet, writhing and entwining like pythons, grabbing the nearby skeletons to restrict their movements. But the number of skeletons was too large. The entanglement had no effect at all. Soon, the skeleton soldiers rushed up to them. The Wood Servant Spirits transformed their arms into whip-like vines and started fighting the skeletons. The Wood Servant Spirits demonstrated considerable combat power. However, faced with the numerous skeletons¡¯ concentrated and disordered attacks. The Wood Servant Spirits found it hard to hold on. In the end, they turned into green lights and scattered in the air. They even dropped items after death ¨C a [Natural Gem] and three units of [Trace of the Earth]. He collected everything. ¡°Search the area, see if there are any chests nearby.¡± The skeletons quickly dispersed. After a while, they actually brought over a black iron chest. Fang Hao immediately opened it. [Obtained: Spiritual Field Blueprint (Green), Mindful Necklace (Green), Natural Gemstone*5, Trace of the Forest*1, Warfire Coin*15.] In addition to some materials. This time he actually obtained a green blueprint and a piece of green equipment. [Mindful Necklace (Green)] [Category: Neck Ornament] [Item Effect: Increases spiritual power recovery.] (Description: A necklace that keeps you full of energy.) Many items in this world have been digitalized. Unlike in games, there is no clear display of health and spiritual power. However, when using the [God¡¯s Presence] skill to possess the body of a skeleton soldier, he could clearly feel mental fatigue. This necklace, although not as exciting as a good weapon, was exactly what he needed. [Spiritual Field Blueprint (Green)] [Type: Building Blueprint] (Description: Build a Spiritual Field in a suitable location to grow crops, enhancing their growth speed.) Chapter 16 - 16 Chapter 16, Orc Plan (Looking for recommendations, collected.)_1 16 Chapter 16, Orc Plan (Looking for recommendations, collected.)_1 Translator: 549690339 There is a slight difference between Spiritual Fields and regular farmland. Under normal understanding, a Spiritual Field has better soil quality, so crops grow better and mature faster. It¡¯s been the fourth day since coming to this world. Although there¡¯s no worry about food and drink, having barbecued meat without seasoning for every meal is indeed a bit monotonous. The presence of a Spiritual Field could perhaps allow for the cultivation of crops, which could change the monotony of his diet. ¡°You guys, switch out your shields,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The skeleton soldiers who were called upon discarded their broken shields and picked up the equipment of their fallen comrades. In the recent battle, despite the Undead having an overwhelming numerical advantage, they still lost eight skeleton soldiers. They were replaced by those with the best shields among the eight. After getting equipped, the team continued on their journey, further exploring the map. ¡­ Inside the Gnoll camp. The once razed encampment was welcoming a new batch of troops. They stood around two meters tall, their gaping mouths and fierce appearances emanating an air of barbarity and violent bravery. Unlike the Gnolls, these were real Orc Warriors. Inherently aggressive, war and looting were their only pleasures. Inside the Clan Leader¡¯s hall. The Gnoll Clan Leader stood nervously to one side, constantly wiping the sweat from his forehead. He never expected that his call for reinforcements would bring the notoriously volatile Kedo. Kedo was a young orc, both the leader of the tribe and the son of the Fireblade Tribe clan leader. At this moment, the Gnoll Clan Leader wasn¡¯t sure if calling for backup from the Fireblade Tribe was the right decision. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that, during your absence, your camp was attacked by these undead?¡± Kedo asked in a deep voice. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± the Gnoll hastily replied. ¡°This village is very rich? I haven¡¯t heard of Undead having any valuables,¡± Kedo asked again. He came here leading a team, certainly not to avenge the Gnoll camp. The survival of these weak creatures didn¡¯t matter to them in the slightest. They had heard that the village was very rich and came hoping to loot it. ¡°Very wealthy, very wealthy,¡± the Gnoll Clan Leader simpered. ¡°Better be, if I find out you dared to deceive me, I¡¯ll turn your skull into a decorative piece and hang it on my wall,¡± Kedo¡¯s warning carried a deadly threat. The Gnoll Clan Leader broke out into more sweat and dared not utter a word. At that moment, the scout who had been sent to investigate the situation returned and entered the hall. ¡°My lord, the situation has been surveyed. Indeed, there is an undead village, but it¡¯s under the protection of an energy shield,¡± the scout reported in a solemn voice. Kedo¡¯s face gradually darkened as he listened. After the scout left, he roared out in rage, ¡°You dare deceive me! I¡¯ll cut off your head to use as a chamber pot!¡± The Fireblade Tribe were familiar with energy shields. The energy shield perfectly protected the village, and no matter how powerful their machinery was, they could not break through it. This signified that they made a wasted trip ¨C even if the village¡¯s defences were low, they couldn¡¯t get in. The Gnoll Clan Leader jumped at Kedo¡¯s roar. He didn¡¯t know the function of the energy shield and had only thought of calling the Fireblade Tribe for revenge. ¡°I didn¡¯t dare, I didn¡¯t dare.¡± Just as Kedo was about to grab his battle axe and behead the Gnoll, a voice interrupted their conversation. ¡°Commander Kedo, I have a way to take the village,¡± a voice proposed. All eyes in the room suddenly turned to this speaker. This was a human, wearing a Nike sports jacket over a piece of leather armour, with a brown book dangling from his waist. Kedo¡¯s commanding presence was so strong no one had noticed there was a human standing in the Orc Tribe¡¯s hall. Kedo suppressed his anger and asked in a cold voice, ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± With that, he slouched back in his seat with a nonchalant air. ¡°If there¡¯s a protective shield, it¡¯s likely one of my kind. If we can¡¯t break into the village, we can lure them out and kill them. Once they die, the shield will naturally disappear,¡± said the human with a smile. This man¡¯s name is Zhuang Hong. Unfortunately, the day after he crossed over, his territory was discovered by the Fireblade Tribe. Though his domain had a protective shield, and the orcs could not break in, they still blockaded the entrance, hindering the development of the domain. The farmers couldn¡¯t leave, and resources couldn¡¯t be gathered. Zhuang Hong proved to have some wit about him, he negotiated with the orcs and made the village a vassal of the tribe. There was no need for military development; all they had to do was continually collect resources for the Fireblade Tribe. He came today with Kedo, and when he heard the sound of an energy shield, he guessed it was another lord. And this lord will be the gift he presents to Kedo. ¡°Are you confident?¡± After hearing Zhuang Hong¡¯s plan, Kedo¡¯s eyes light up. Orcs aren¡¯t good or particularly fond of strategic scheming, but they could acknowledge that this plan might work. ¡°We can give it a try,¡± said Zhuang Hong. ¡°Good, as long as you succeed, I¡¯ll speak to my father to give you more power.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Zhuang Hong with joy in his heart, hurriedly expressing his gratitude. ¡­ As dusk approached. Fang Hao led his team back into his territory. In addition to exploring nearby maps, they also hunted a large number of beasts. Increasing the reserve of meat and beast skins. After all, every day there¡¯s a great crowd roaring to be fed, waiting for him to serve up food. Cancelled the ¡°God¡¯s Presence¡± status and slaughtered all the beasts. ¡°Slaughter completed, gained 7500 meat, 450 beast skins, 300 beast bones.¡± On the fourth day of crossing over. The demand for meat still existed. He could tolerate a little more hardship, eat a little less. But farmers and soldiers also needed to be provided with food to replenish energy and increase loyalty. Imported the ¡°Spiritual Field Blueprint¡± into the Book of Lords. ¡°Materials required for a Level 1 Spiritual Field: 1500 wood, 800 stone, 300 hemp ropes, 5 natural gems, 1 trace of the earth.¡± The requirements for a green-quality blueprint were high. Among them, natural gems and the trace of the earth were rare resources that were hard to come by. Luckily, the warehouse had these materials. With the Book of Lords in hand, he chose to build on a flat open space outside the village. A wooden fence enclosed a piece of empty ground. The wild grass disappeared and the soil was loose, not as hard as before. He stood on the outside, measured the distance with his stride. It was approximately a 10-meter by 10-meter square field. However, they had no crop seeds yet. Returned to his territory. He sat down on a bench in front of a wooden hut, concocting soup while opening the area channel. A lot of information scrolled on the surface. ¡°Does anyone know how to bandage a wound? I¡¯ve been bitten by a wolf. What should I do? Could I get rabies?¡± ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sitting at the kids¡¯ table.¡± ¡°Seriously, guys, I really got bitten. The wound is deep. Don¡¯t mess around.¡± ¡°Immediately rinse the wound with water, then squeeze out the contaminated blood.¡± ¡°Can I use river water?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to use clean water so as not to infect the wound.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, brother.¡± Then, Fang Hao¡¯s private chat soon followed up. He opened it and saw it was the lord who just asked for advice on how to treat a wound. ¡°Is Brother Fang Hao there? Lifesaver ah! Can I exchange a pot with you? I¡¯d like to boil some water.¡± Chapter 17 - 17 Chapter 17, Crop_1 17 Chapter 17, Crop_1 Translator: 549690339 There is a fixed number of times each person can speak every day. Even though some people use their attempts to chat and joke around, most lords are quite restrained. If there isn¡¯t anything important to discuss, they won¡¯t waste words in the chat channel. This lord is probably quite desperate, he¡¯s almost used up all his chat opportunities. ¡°Sure, you can shelve it, and I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Fang Hao isn¡¯t a good person, but he¡¯s not a cold-hearted one either. He wouldn¡¯t play the saintly figure by doing charity, but if someone else was in trouble, he wouldn¡¯t stand idly by, laughing at their misfortunes. Therefore, Fang Hao didn¡¯t demand anything in return, planning to give the lord a pot. ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± Then, the other party promptly shelved the item in a private chat. Exchanging a [Bone Arrow Blueprint] for an [Iron Pot]. [Bone Arrow] [Type: Arrow] [Damage: Level one damage] (Description: An arrow made from sharpened bones, very fragile, the bone arrowhead will shatter upon hitting the target.) It turns out the other party didn¡¯t expect to get something for nothing. It¡¯s just that the effect of this bone arrow is somewhat negligible. This is the lowest level type of arrow, similar to the stone axe among weapons. Fang Hao didn¡¯t say much and directly clicked to confirm the exchange. The iron pot he put up for trade disappeared, and he got a bone arrow blueprint in return. He entered the blueprint and filed it under the [Manufacturing] tab. At the same time, he remembered the [Double-Handed Light Crossbow] blueprint he received earlier. Ever since the Skeleton merchant appeared and he exchanged the [Metal Part] blueprint, he had met the production conditions. However, there hadn¡¯t been any battles so far and the occasional beasts that showed up could easily be dealt with by his Skeleton soldiers. On second thoughts¡­ The [Double-Handed Light Crossbow] weapon was perfect for the single-minded Skeleton workers. The attack power didn¡¯t rely on the combat power of the Skeleton laborers, but on the destructive power of the crossbow itself. In any case, leave it for later. It¡¯s not needed at the moment. While having dinner, he listed 5000 units of food for the people on the channel. After thinking for a while, he posted in the channel. ¡°Who has seeds for crops? If you have some, you can quote me in a private chat.¡± The moment Fang Hao posted¡­ The chat feed froze for a few seconds. Then, it began to boil over like a pot of stew. ¡°Holy shit! Is Lord Fang Hao developing agriculture now?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are we all in the same world? While we¡¯re still eating raw meat and drinking animal blood, the boss has already entered the farming age.¡± ¡°Asking for guidance. I planted a seed a couple of days ago. I¡¯ve been fertilizing it daily, but it¡¯s not sprouting!¡± ¡°To the guy above, based on many years of clinical experience, your shit is poisonous.¡± ¡°How do you know, did you get mouth ulcers because of this?¡± ¡°Puke~!¡± ¡­ The topics in the channel gradually started to get weirder. It moved from agriculture to fertilizers, and finally turned into a food safety issue. The daily limit of ten chat posts was still unable to stop everyone¡¯s wild imaginings and teasing. It brought a touch of joy into this dangerous world. Soon, someone initiated a private chat with a price offer. ¡°Boss, are you there? I have 20 potatoes, do you want them?¡± Potatoes are tuberous plants, they don¡¯t have seeds. You can plant them simply by cutting them into pieces. ¡°Yes, what do you want to exchange for them?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Boss, how does 8 units of meat sound?¡± The other party asked cautiously. He was worried that if Fang Hao disagreed, it would be awkward for both of them after rejection. Looking at the current situation¡­ Fang Hao had considerable popularity throughout the entire region. Many people were purchasing food as well as tools like iron axes and pots from him. No one knew when they would need Fang Hao¡¯s help, naturally, they didn¡¯t dare to offend him. Similarly, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t be petty over minor differences. ¡°Sure, you can put it up.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± The other party happily agreed and promptly shelved the item. Fang Hao completed the trade and obtained 20 potatoes. Then, it was time to make hoes. He had obtained a stone hoe blueprint yesterday while exploring the map and defeating a giant bear to open a treasure chest. [Stone Hoe: Wood 2, Stone 2, Hemp Rope 2.] Create! [Triggered Hundredfold Amplification, Obtained 101 Stone Hoes.] Sigh¡­ There¡¯s only so much farmland, creating over 100 hoes seems a bit overkill. He halted a diligent Skeleton worker who was chopping trees with a stone axe and said: ¡°You¡¯ll be responsible for farming from now on, plant these potatoes first.¡± The Skeleton laid down its stone axe, picked up the hoe and potatoes, and mechanically walked towards the outskirts of the village. Fang Hao followed behind, feeling somewhat nervous. To be honest, he had lived in the city up until now and didn¡¯t know much about farming. He only knew about digging holes, burying seeds in soil, watering them, and then waiting! But farming is definitely not that simple. If the Skeletons didn¡¯t know how to do it, and he himself did not know how to do it, there would be a real issue. He would have farmland and tools, but wouldn¡¯t be able to farm. But it turned out, all of Fang Hao¡¯s worries were unfounded. The Skeleton arrived at the spiritual field and skillfully tilled the ground, cutting the potatoes into pieces and planting them one by one. Its movements were proficient. Simultaneously, a faint glow appeared on the planted spots, showing a countdown. [Time Until Maturity: 6 Days, 23 Hours, and 59 Minutes.] Nice, this spiritual field is amazing. It takes only 7 days for crops to mature. Doesn¡¯t this mean that he can eat potatoes after 7 days? Soon after, more people privately contacted Fang Hao, selling him garlic and chili pepper seeds. After trading for the seeds, which weren¡¯t many, he handed them over to the Skeleton farmer for planting. ¡­ After taking care of everything¡­ He did a few laps around his domain and did some sit-ups. Now he had plenty of food and water, and he was developing at a pace faster than many others. Next up was the competition of lifespan. He should not let his body fail him when his domain was doing well. Therefore, proper exercise was still necessary. While he was midway through his third set of sit-ups, two Skeletons approached him. They held up a wild boar¡¯s carcass. Thump! They dropped it right beside him, stirring up a cloud of dust. Fang Hao, who was in the middle of doing a push-up, got a face full of dust. ¡°Are you sick? Can¡¯t you see there¡¯s a person here?¡± Bellowed Fang Hao. The Skeletons paid no heed and just walked off. Meanwhile, Fang Hao¡¯s attention was drawn to the wild boar¡¯s carcass. There were several fatal wounds on the boar, but what caught his attention was a smooth piece of beast skin tied to its tail. It read: ¡°Brother, I¡¯m a lord nearby. Let¡¯s meet and chat, we can help each other out, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in front of the forest to the east.¡± The words were in Chinese, and you could tell that the other party wasn¡¯t merely imitating, they were actually proficient in using these characters. It seems like another lord nearby had discovered his territory. Fearing an attack from the Skeletons, they decided to get this message to him in this way. Looking at the time, he felt even more puzzled. Normally, there would be some distance between domains, definitely not too close. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be the fourth day before the other party discovered his domain. At this moment, it was getting dark. After he finished his dinner and exercises, he would be going to sleep. And yet, the other lord chose this time to ask for a meeting. Even if he agreed to meet, how would the other party return? The night was much more dangerous than the day. It could be deduced that the other lord had a place to stay nearby ¨C to the east and near his territory -¡­ Without thinking, Fang Hao instinctively thought of the Gnoll camp. Chapter 18 - 18 Chapter 18, Lets Talk About It_1 18 Chapter 18, Let¡¯s Talk About It_1 Translator: 549690339 Continuing to study the wild boar corpse. There is still a chance to look over the body before it gets butchered. Once it¡¯s butchered, meat and materials are separated automatically, and the parts that can¡¯t be eaten will vanish on their own. The wound is deep, indicating that the person who killed the wild boar was very strong. Yet, a human lord should not possess such strength. It must be the work of his soldiers. Among the splinters of the boar¡¯s broken tusk, a red hair has been found. This hair is thicker and stiffer than a human¡¯s, looking similar to the boar¡¯s fur. ¡°Could he be of a special faction, or have special soldiers?¡± Fang Hao frowned and muttered, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart. It doesn¡¯t feel like a simple mutual aid agreement. ¡­ Night falls Before the trees to the east, A torchlight illuminates the area. Zhuang Hong is holding a torch, waiting for the arrival of the Lord from afar. There are more than just him in the forest, nearby in the shrubs, nearly 2,000 beast clan warriors are hidden. ¡°Zhuang Hong, it seems your plan didn¡¯t work.¡± Orc Kedo spoke from the side. Zhuang Hong had proposed a plan, to lure the Lord, who is under protection, out and kill him. The low-ranking skeletons are completely incapable of communication. They killed a wild boar, had Zhuang Hong write a letter to meet, and delivered it to the hands of the opposing Lord. Agreeing to meet here. But the sky is getting dark, and the opposing lord has not yet shown up. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer, he should come.¡± Zhuang Hong insisted, undeterred. If his plan were to fail, with Kedo¡¯s temperament, he would surely punish him. Even the simple whipping punishment of the Orcs would be too much for him to bear. Just then, as the two were talking, A group of people walked out from the territory in the distance. Under the bright moonlight, they could see the figure of the other party. ¡°They¡¯re here, you all hide.¡± Zhuang Hong urged. Kedo also noticed the people coming from afar, waved his hand, and had all the Orcs hide. Once the other party is killed, the protection will disappear. Soon, under Zhuang Hong¡¯s gaze, A man, completely wrapped in clothes, approached. Behind him were two skeletons dressed in leather, wielding swords and shields. Zhuang Hong squinted, surprised at the opposing iron sword, but also greedy for it. ¡°Brother, you finally made it.¡± Zhuang Hong greeted warmly. Fang Hao looked at Zhuang Hong and spoke in a low voice: ¡°Hmm, how should I address you?¡± His voice was hoarse and low, sounding very uncomfortable. ¡°Zhuang Hong, what about you, brother?¡± Zhuang Hong stepped forward to greet. ¡°Who I am isn¡¯t important, where are the people you¡¯ve hidden? You can have them come out now.¡± Fang Hao spoke directly. There was still a little uncertainty in his heart before. Seeing Zhuang Hong standing alone here, he was certain of the other party¡¯s ill-intention. Who would dare to stand here alone? Even Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t dare to stand here in the night, just to wait for someone purely. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Stop pretending, I¡¯m already here, there¡¯s no need for you to keep up the act.¡± Fang Hao continued. Whoosh! Just then, a gust of wind was heard. A cold light flew out from the bushes next to them. Crack! Bang! With a crisp sound, an iron knife pierced through Fang Hao¡¯s body and nailed him to the tree behind him. At the same moment, a large group of Orcs rushed out, slaughtering the two skeleton soldiers with their knives. ¡°Hmph! A smart fool, he guessed there was an ambush, but still dared to come.¡± Kedo sneered as he walked out from the bushes. The Gnoll Clan Leader, courteously took the hatchet that was nailed to the trunk and respectfully handed it to Kedo. He didn¡¯t forget to flatter, ¡°Lord Kedo, you¡¯re amazing, killing him with one move.¡± ¡°Shut up with your nonsense.¡± Kedo snapped angrily. The Gnoll Clan Leader smiled obsequiously, ¡°Yes, yes, I shouldn¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Kedo, who was initially immersed in the joy of victory, suddenly became serious. The protective dome around the distant territory hadn¡¯t disappeared, the skeletons working outside also began to retreat. They stopped their work and returned to the territory. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Kedo¡¯s voice dropped a few degrees colder. The Gnoll who had been chattering nonstop shrank back, shutting his mouth, and silently retreated to one side. Zhuang Hong, expression solemn, walked up, uncovered the corpse and carefully examined the body pierced by a battle sword. Upon seeing the face, Zhuang Hong¡¯s complexion took a drastic turn. ¡°Lord Kedo, look.¡± Kedo and the Orcs around him looked over. This was no human clan lord, but just like the other two skeleton foot soldiers, it was a skeletal figure, stuffed with straw to make it look plump. ¡°We¡¯ve been fooled. Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll head back to camp, and arrange for guards to stand by the entrance tomorrow,¡± Kedo ordered. It was unknown how they had used skeletons to probe. But clearly, they hadn¡¯t lost their lives. They started to gather their forces and hid inside a protective shield, leaving the Orcs helpless against them. They could only go back to camp and wait for other opportunities tomorrow. The Beasts lit their torches and began to retreat in large groups. And behind them, a small skeleton followed the light of their torches from a distance. ¡­ Late at night. Fang Hao sat up from his bed. With a rub of his temple, he looked slightly weary. He had been tailing the retreating Orcs and had confirmed that their destination was the Gnoll¡¯s campsite. At the same time, he was also aware that their plan this time had not succeeded. The Orcs surely wouldn¡¯t let him off, and conversely, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t allow such a dangerous, uncontrollable group to exist near him. He walked out of the room and lit a bonfire. He started to make tools by the firelight. [Metal Parts: Metal 1.] Create! [Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, received Metal Parts 101.] [light Crossbow: Wood 5, Iron 2, Metal Parts 3.] He directly selected 20. [Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, received Light Crossbows 2020.] [Light Crossbow (Green)] [Category: Dual Handed Distance] [Damage: Second Level Damage] (Description: Handy and convenient light crossbow.) He picked a skeleton to test shoot. It functioned fine, no issues at all. [Bone Arrow: Wood 1, Beast Bone 2.] Bone Arrows are consumables. He selected 100. [Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, received Bone Arrows 10100.] In an instant, the weapons on the empty field formed a small mountain. ¡°Load the Bone Arrows on the carts, all working skeletons pick up the light crossbows,¡± Fang Hao shouted the order. A few carts were pushed over, bundles of Bone Arrows were loaded onto the cart. The working skeletons cast aside their tools and picked up the light crossbows beside them. Meanwhile, he inspected all the skeleton foot soldiers¡¯ weapons and armor, selected a few skeletons, and swapped their shields and armor. Everything was ready. He returned to his room, laid down and cast ¡®God¡¯s Presence¡¯. The next second, a ghastly blue flame rose from a skeleton foot soldier¡¯s chest. ¡°Advance.¡± The ghostly flame flickered as Fang Hao issued the command. The White Bone Army left their camp, marching in the direction of the Goblin¡¯s camp. ¡­ The Gnoll¡¯s camp. The Gnoll¡¯s houses could hardly accommodate the bulky Orcs. In the centre of the clearing, crude Beast Skin tents were set up. Over 2000 robust Orcs gathered at the central space of the camp, having their dinner. They had been busy since earlier trying to lure and kill Fang Hao, but they ended up returning fruitlessly. Inside the Clan Leader¡¯s hall. Kedo, the Orc, and Zhuang Hong were eating meat from their plates. Facing the unusually sticky meat soup, Zhuang Hong had some difficulty swallowing. ¡°Lord Kedo, although we failed this time, it also proves the feasibility of this plan. If we come across other human clan lords, we¡¯ll surely succeed.¡± Zhuang Hong put down the soup and spoke softly. Kedo remained silent, while the Gnoll Clan Leader gave Zhuang Hong a strange look. The Beast Clan respected strength above all. It was common to see infighting among their own kind. However, it was rare to see someone like Zhuang Hong such keen on providing ideas to foreign races and plotting against his own kind. Chapter 19 - 19 Chapter 19, Killing Zhuang Hong_1 19 Chapter 19, Killing Zhuang Hong_1 Translator: 549690339 As Zhuang Hong spoke, he carefully observed Kedo. The plan just now had been perfect. His appearance proves the feasibility of the plan. But they had clearly underestimated that Lord, a one who had a unique faction and the ability to control skeletons. The failure in the ambush made Zhuang Hong feel extremely uneasy. For now, he was a pawn at their mercy. He was in a situation where he relied on the Orcs who had the power to decide his life or death, hence the need to act with caution and appeasement. ¡°If you weren¡¯t still of use, I would have killed you long ago,¡± Kedo said coldly. Zhuang Hong¡¯s territory was now a subsidiary village of the Fireblade Tribe. They were gathering resources for the tribe every day. Killing such a free labour force would indeed be a waste. ¡°Yes, Yes, I will do my best,¡± Zhuang Hong kept wiping his sweat, repeatedly promising. ¡°Humph, you¡¯d better prove your worth¡­¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Just then, the sound of wind breaking sounded intensively from outside the room. After which, it was the painful howls of the orc warriors. Kedo briskly stood up and walked out. However, as soon as he stepped out, he saw arrows falling towards him. Pat, pat, pat! Arrows fell like rain, forming a gigantic net that covered the entire campsite. The arrows tore through the tent, and Orcs kept falling. ¡°Bone Arrow!¡± Kedo picked up one of the arrows fallen outside the door. The bone arrowhead shattered upon touch with the ground, leaving only some bones on the shaft. ¡°Find cover, don¡¯t run aimlessly,¡± Kedo yelled. The Orcs running around began to look for shelters to dodge the arrows. There wasn¡¯t much cover in the campsite, those who squeezed into the shelters survived, while those who didn¡¯t¡­ The rain of arrows continued for more than ten minutes. Besides a few who used their companions¡¯ bodies as shields, many Orcs were killed under the Bone Arrows. Never had they seen such a relentless and rain-like barrage of arrows. When the rain of arrows ceased, Kedo and the others went out of the hall and climbed on the city wall. Seeing the skeletons holding crossbows under the moonlight outside, Kedo couldn¡¯t contain his rage anymore. He roared, ¡°It¡¯s those damn skeletons, warriors of the Fireblade Tribe, pick up your weapons and follow me to wipe them out.¡± Roar!! Roar, roar, roar! The morale of the Orcs was ignited; they picked up their weapons and roared loudly. Over a thousand Beast Clan warriors, like angry beasts, charged towards the skeletons in the front. Their eyes glowed red, seemingly frenzy. Carrying a heavy sense of oppression. However. As the Orcs rushed out of the camp. A large number of skeleton soldiers appeared from the sides of the road. Looking around, the whole forest was filled with skeletons holding sharp blades. No orders were needed. The next second, the two sides started clashing. Two thousand against one thousand. The moment they clashed, the Skeleton Sea drowned the thousand or so Orcs, making it impossible to see any signs of them. Only the furious and unwilling roars of the Orcs were heard. Half an hour later. The battle came to an end, with all the Orcs killed, including Kedo who was hacked to death. No one survived. Fang Hao, controlling the skeleton soldiers, walked into the camp stepping on blood plasma. Zhuang Hong was hiding in the corner, his body trembling constantly. He¡­He was done for. If he had known better, he wouldn¡¯t have provoked this person. Why did he have to stand up and advise the Orcs on how to provoke this person? ¡°Zhuang Hong, right! I don¡¯t think I got your name wrong. Any last words?¡± Fang Hao came to him and asked softly. ¡°No, don¡¯t kill me, I was wrong, I¡¯m willing to give you my territory. We¡¯re from the same place, please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Zhuang Hong begged loudly. He could negotiate with orcs, and he could negotiate with humans. Even though the person in front of him was now just a skeleton, he could confirm that it was once a human. Zhuang Hong still held onto a glimmer of hope. But his words were of no use to Fang Hao. ¡°So this is your last words? I understand.¡± He then raised the iron sword in his hand. Zhuang Hong shuddered, yelling out loud, ¡°What else could I do? My territory is near the Orc Tribe, I just wanted to survive, what else could I do if not to submit to them, is it wrong for me to want to live? I just wanted to live¡­¡± In the end, Zhuang Hong began to cry profusely. Everyone has different experiences. Zhuang Hong thought he had a rough start, but Fang Hao¡¯s beginning was even more precarious. Zhuang Hong¡¯s fault was choosing the wrong path. Choosing to kill Fang Hao. ¡°I get it. If you can go back to Earth after you die, remember to send me a dream.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Hao swung his sword, effortlessly slashing his throat. Blood splattered everywhere. Zhuang Hong¡¯s face was filled with terror, his hands desperately clutching at his throat, trying to stay alive. But it was all in vain, he could only collapse weakly to the ground, the light in his eyes gradually fading. ¡­ The victor is king, while the losers are bandits. If he had believed Zhuang Hong¡¯s words from the beginning, and went to meet him in person. Then it would be him who had died. And Zhuang Hong would be the victor, someone who had defeated his enemy with strategies. Now it was the same, Fang Hao was the victor, he would not show any mercy to him. The so-called ¡°I was wrong, I won¡¯t do it again, we are compatriots¡±. They were just excuses made by the losers. Such people would only hold onto their grievances, waiting for a new opportunity. Therefore, killing Zhuang Hong, just like killing the lord who initially drove him out of his cave to steal his treasure chest, did not create any psychological burden. He bent down to pick up the Book of Lords from Zhuang Hong. He flipped it open to take a look. Perhaps due to an unrecognizable identity, the current skeleton soldier¡¯s body couldn¡¯t be used. He put away the Book of Lords. He continued controlling the skeleton to squat down and began to undress Zhuang Hong. In a few moments, Zhuang Hong was stripped bare. ¡°Quite pale!¡± This wasn¡¯t some kind of special fetish of Fang Hao¡¯s, but he genuinely needed those clothes. Everyone came here with their original clothes, but changing them had become a troublesome task. Since Zhuang Hong was already dead, these clothes would now become his. As for the taboo of wearing a dead man¡¯s clothes This didn¡¯t apply to Fang Hao. In this world, it¡¯s kill or be killed. If he dared to kill people, why would he be afraid to wear clothes? He took off the blood-stained clothes, trousers, and sneakers and put them to one side. The sneakers were genuinely decent. They looked expensive at first glance. ¡°Someone, bury him.¡± Two skeleton soldiers entered, picked up Zhuang Hong¡¯s body, and headed outside. At least he¡¯ll be at peace underground. Hopefully it¡¯s all a dream, and after we wake up, everyone will return to their original world. He left the Clan Leader¡¯s hall. The stars in the sky still shone, and a trace of dawn appeared on the horizon. He estimated that it should be around three or four in the morning. The skeletons were still busy. They were stripping the dead orcs of their equipment and collecting them. Standing in the doorway of the hall, a sharp pain in Fang Hao¡¯s head hit him. It was as if someone was flicking at his brain nerves, one tap at a time, causing intermittent bursts of pain. It was a mixture of fatigue from fighting through the night and the exhaustion of spiritual power from using ¡°God¡¯s Presence¡± ability for a prolonged time. He gave some instructions to the skeletons and immediately deactivated the ¡°God¡¯s Presence¡± ability. Returning back to himself. After drinking a mouthful of water, he fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 20 - 20 Chapter 20, Bloodthirsty Set (Seeking recommendations, seeking favorites)_1 20 Chapter 20, Bloodthirsty Set (Seeking recommendations, seeking favorites)_1 Translator: 549690339 When he woke up again, the sun was high in the sky. He had slept straight through to noon. The rumbling in his stomach, protesting against the hunger, reminded him that it was time to eat. The surroundings of his territory were quiet, all of his skeleton soldiers were still at the gnoll camp and had not returned yet. Inside his territory, mountains of resources were stacked. He lit a fire and made some barbecue. He opened the Book of Lords and found the chat constantly updating. There were several private messages as well. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re not in trouble are you? I¡¯ve prepared a lot of resources, waiting to trade them for food with you.¡± ¡°Boss Fang Hao, why haven¡¯t you put the food on the market today?¡± ¡°Boss, if something happens to you, let me know the location of your territory. I want a share of the legacy.¡± There were many similar messages, including ones from those who had traded blueprints with him before. They were all asking if something had happened to Fang Hao, otherwise why hadn¡¯t he put the food on the market at this time. Fang Hao yawned twice. He put the food on the market, proof that he was alive and well. In the chat channel, people were still making idle talk. ¡°Let me tell you, today I pulled up a net full of skeletons again, a lot more than last time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s scary, you should switch to a different river, this one must be poisonous.¡± ¡°No wonder no one is buying the fish you sell, is your river the River Styx? You keep fishing up skeleton bones.¡± ¡°Are there any piranhas in the river?¡± ¡°No, listen to me. I found several sets of leather armor and helmets among the skeletons. They¡¯re great for equipping my soldiers.¡± ¡°Wow, how lucky.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so envious, I don¡¯t have soldiers or leather armor.¡± ¡°How many sets did you find? Are you willing to sell them? I can trade resources.¡± ¡°Not selling! I¡¯m walking upstream along the river, waiting to find more. Then I¡¯ll sell them to you.¡± This must be that Zhang Bin again. The last time there was a battle with the gnoll camp, he said that he had fished up a bunch of skeletons in his net. At that time, Fang Hao had the feeling that this guy¡¯s territory was downstream from the gnoll camp, along the nearby creek. Another battle had taken place last night. Now, he said he had fished out more skeletons, along with leather armor and helmets. It became clearer that his territory was not far from the gnoll camp. Watching the others chat and joke, Fang Hao finished his barbecue. After a few mouthfuls, he went back to his room, selected his troops, and used the God¡¯s Presence skill. ¡­ The next second. Fang Hao appeared in the gnoll camp. The skeleton soldiers had finished cleaning up the battlefield. Without new orders, they stood stiffly in place, like terracotta warriors. After a glance around, Fang Hao went to the stack of resources in the center. Resource type: Wriggling Spine 1742 pieces, Iron 120 units, Beast Skin 80 units, Warfire Coin 50 pieces. Equipment type: Orc Machete 2012 pieces, Orc Leather Armor 842 pieces, Orc Leather Helmet 655 pieces, Orc Leather Boots 1055 pairs, Orc Iron Armor 32 pieces, Orc Iron Helmet 11 pieces, Flatbed Cart 12 units. Miscellaneous: 4 baskets of fruit, 42 units of salt, Manim Market Map. Truth be told. Only war can bring rapid development to Fang Hao. To support war with war, under the boost of a hundredfold increase, every battle leads to a burst in the number of soldiers. This time another 1742 Wriggling Spines were obtained, under the hundredfold increase, the number of soldiers would reach a horrifying level. Massive amounts of orc equipment could also enhance the combat power of the skeletons. As for the fruits and salt, no need to elaborate. Just some improvements in the diet. [Manim Market] [Category: Single Blueprint] (Description: A peaceful market established by orcs, where all fights and looting are prohibited.) This was similar to the previous Dragon Tomb map that he had obtained. On the single piece of map, was a route leading to the orc market. This suddenly reminded him of his own market. In 5 days time, the Skeleton Merchant would bring new merchandise to his territory. And he had not yet prepared enough Warfire Coins. Maybe he could try out this orc market. To get some Warfire Coins. Next to the pile of supplies was a set of equipment neatly displayed. Bloodthirsty Helmet, Bloodthirsty Chest Armor, Bloodthirsty Gauntlets, Bloodthirsty Boots. Bloodthirsty Set (Purple) Category: Body Defense Defense: Level 5 Defense Set Effect: Berserker: For every enemy eliminated or assisted in elimination, strength increases by 1% for 8 seconds. (This effect can stack up to 50 times). (Description: The sound of the armor rubbing together, is like thick, fresh blood being spilled on the ground.) Fang Hao had some impression of this equipment. That was Kedo¡¯s equipment, and it seems that it is still a rare set. The chest armor was a metal plate wrapped tightly in a layer of black leather, with intricate patterns carved on the leather. The Bloodthirsty Set was a treasure of the Fireblade tribe, previously worn by the Orc Clan Leader, Fireblade. This time, Kedo went on the expedition as one of the most favored sons of the Fireblade chief, he was allowed to wear this Bloodthirsty Set for safety. But who could have expected that they all underestimated this Undead Village without even a city wall. Kedo ended up staying here for good. Picking up the Bloodthirsty Gloves and flipping them over, A mangled orc finger fell out of the glove. Needless to imagine, The equipment was too difficult to remove and the Skeleton¡¯s movements were rather rigid. They simply yanked it off along with the finger. Thinking of this, Fang Hao shook both the glove and the boots, fortunately there were no remaining limbs. ¡°Alright, secure the cargo, we are heading back to the territory.¡± The skeletons loaded all the spoils of war onto the cart, after securing them with ropes, The large group set off again, majestically returning to their territory. ¡­ After a few hours of journey, The group finally returned to their territory. They unloaded all the supplies according to their locations, then had all the skeletons return to their posts and continue their work. Life had to continue. To counter the possible dangers that may arise in the future, the pace of development could not slacken. Fang Hao deactivated the God¡¯s Presence state and walked out of the Lord¡¯s cabin. Looking at the world through the skeleton¡¯s body and through his own eyes are quite different experiences. The world is grim and colorless in the skeleton¡¯s eyes, giving off an underworld feeling. It was better for him to see the world himself, it surely felt good to be alive. This time although the fight was involuntary, the gains were quite substantial. Not only did he acquire a large quantity of orc equipment, but also over a thousand Wriggling Spines. As a novice protection coming to an end, these Spines could be of help to increase the safety of the territory after he starts to enlisting soldiers. Skeleton soldiers do not need food, unlike other lords. When recruiting troops, they need to consider their food reserves. In addition to this, there¡¯s Zhuang Hong¡¯s Book of Lords and Kedo¡¯s purple level set. Both were precious treasures. Fang Hao descended the steps and drew near the supplies. System prompts followed immediately. [Book of Lords can be consumed.] As follows, Zhuang Hong¡¯s Book of Lords, just like a blueprint, turned into specks of starlight and integrated into Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. [You have acquired the decision power over Zhuang Hong¡¯s territory.] [Occupy/Discard] [Occupy: Will become your subordinating territory, can continue to develop.] [Discard: Will receive 50%-80% of the territorial resources of this territory, and this territory will be abandoned.] Chapter 21 - 21 Chapter 21 Big Surprise, Small Wonder_1 21 Chapter 21 Big Surprise, Small Wonder_1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao did not make a decision immediately, but opened the map and checked. After devouring Zhuang Hong¡¯s Book of Lords. According to the rules, Fang Hao had now taken over Zhuang Hong¡¯s territory and became the new lord. And the Book of Lords, it is more like a lord¡¯s certificate. After being devoured, he gained the decision-making power of this territory. On the map, the location of Zhuang Hong¡¯s territory appeared to the east of his own territory. This distance is really not close. With his current strength, he simply can¡¯t divide soldiers to manage, especially since Zhuang Hong said that the territory is very close to the orc tribe. In name, it had also become a subsidiary village of the orcs. After deliberation, he finally chose to abandon it. The most important thing is to develop steadily. He has a hundred-fold amplification and can regain it in the future. [You have abandoned the subsidiary territory, you will get 80% of the territory resources, 50% of the territory building resources will be returned.] The light flickered. A large number of materials appeared, transported from Zhuang Hong¡¯s territory. They were placed on the open space in the territory. And on the map of the Book of Lords, the territories that had been lit up were once again shrouded in mist, unable to be observed. [The lord has risen to level two, Marching Speed +1%, Resource Gathering +2%, the number of daily speeches in the regional channel +10.] [Unlock new blueprints: Torch production blueprint, ranch building blueprint, logging yard building blueprint.] Fang Hao didn¡¯t know if he was the first person to kill other lords and devour the Book of Lords. But what can be confirmed is that most people still do not know that the Book of Lords can be devoured and upgraded. In addition to obtaining the opponent¡¯s resources. The Book of Lords can also be upgraded, thereby unlocking more features and permissions. The increase in marching speed and gathering speed is no less tempting than top-notch equipment. If this rule is made public, it may intensify conflicts among lords. Even the lords who do not want to participate in the battle are wary of others¡¯ covetousness. The newly unlocked blueprints on the Book of Lords. It¡¯s also a considerable gain. Zhuang Hong, as a subsidiary territory of the orcs. In order to better mine resources for the orcs, the tribe also provided some aid. It includes blueprints for facilities like ranches and logging yards. Zhuang Hong did not disappoint the orcs. He did indeed mined a large amount of resources for them every day. Now it has been directly abandoned by Fang Hao, and the blueprint has been integrated into Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. ¡­ When checking the Book of Lords. The regional channel was still continuously scrolling the information. And one of them has to do with Zhang Bin, who always catches skeletons in the net. ¡°]Bro, sell me a few sets of leather armor, you can¡¯t use that many.¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Zhang Bin, sell the extra ones to us.¡± ¡°Little brother Zhang Bin, there are many wild beasts outside my village. If you give me two sets, I will reward you well when I meet you, okay?¡± ¡°Bin is awesome, can you accept me as your little follower?¡± ¡­ Fang Hao looked at the people in the channel shouting ¡°Awesome boss.¡± His mind went blank for a moment. Going up along the chat record, he finally found the reason for this. It turned out that Zhang Bin got several pieces of leather armor from the skeleton washed up by the net. So, he simply followed the river upstream with his militia. He got quite a harvest, and got more than ten pieces of leather armor and helmet. He boasted about it in the channel, which led to that scene. A bunch of people were shouting that the boss is awesome. In addition, due to Fang Hao¡¯s silence these two days. Some people have already drawn an equality line between Zhang Bin and Fang Hao, thinking that Zhang Bin is the second new boss. They even think that he has surpassed Fang Hao. Seeing all this. Fang Hao could only smile bitterly and shake his head. These folks were really not ambitious. It¡¯s just a few pieces of ordinary armour. Is it necessary to flood the channel? Moreover, these ordinary equipment were dropped by his skeleton and washed away by the river. If these people knew that he had hundreds of orc armors and a set of purple equipment. Will they flood the channel? Highly shouting that he is awesome. Wait, it seems like they have shouted it several times before. At this moment. Private chat rang out, it was from Dong Jiayue. She had disappeared for two days, Fang Hao even suspected that she was in danger. ¡°Brother Hao, are you still alive?¡± ¡°What kind of speech is that.¡± Fang Hao was flipping through the chat, so he responded very quickly. ¡°Uh.. Brother Hao, I got a couple more shadowstones. Do you still want them?¡± Shadowstones are useless for others but Fang Hao. Fang Hao is willing to exchange it for resources. ¡°Yes, how many do you have?¡± Fang Hao responded quickly. His territory was developing well, but he hadn¡¯t found a way to get shadowstones. And Dong Jiayue became his only way to get shadowstones. ¡°I have five here, I¡¯ll trade them with you.¡± Speaking, she directly posted the specific transaction. ¡°What do you want in exchange? More grain?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Last time I borrowed weapons in advance, it¡¯s okay. Shadowstones are useless to me, and I also managed to harvest some.¡± Dong Jiayue replied again. Last time, she had borrowed several weapons from Fang Hao in advance. This time¡¯s transaction is considered to be a repayment for those weapons. Fang Hao smiled slightly, didn¡¯t refuse, and continued to ask, ¡°So it sounds like those weapons were a bit useful, things are going smoothly.¡± As he said, he put 150 units of meat in the shadowstone exchange column. He didn¡¯t take advantage of Dong Jiayue either. ¡°I¡¯m totally depending on these weapons¡­¡± Then, Dong Jiayue clarified about her experience exploring the ancient tomb. The ancient tomb was divided into individual burial chambers. The first two burial chambers were relatively simple and not too dangerous. She got shadowstones and some blueprints from there. But the tomb rooms to come weren¡¯t as easy, as some undead skeletons emerged. Thanks to the weapons Fang Hao had supplied, she probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to continue exploring further. ¡°That¡¯s good, be careful. Surviving to develop steadily is the key.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s tone was like that of an elderly father. In Dong Jiayue¡¯s ancient tomb, only ordinary undead skeletons had appeared so far. Low-level skeletons had low intelligence and only pursued basic actions. It isn¡¯t difficult to defeat them. Especially skeletons without a leader. Fang Hao¡¯s skeletons were like this. But their advantage was also very apparent ¨C large numbers and unified command. Otherwise, these low-intelligence skeletons could hardly exert effective combat power. ¡°By the way, Brother Hao, do you have any armors? Anything will do?¡± Dong Jiayue asked again. ¡°Yes, you need armor?¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Ah! You really do have it. That¡¯s great!¡± Dong Jiayue exclaimed. While contacting Fang Hao, she was also in touch with Zhang Bin. After all, the channel was all about Zhang Bin getting a lot of armors. But Dong Jiayue¡¯s offered price didn¡¯t satisfy Zhang Bin, so they didn¡¯t close the deal. When she was chatting with Fang Hao, she casually asked a question. She did not expect that Fang Hao really did have some. ¡°How many do you need? I¡¯ll prepare it for you.¡± Fang Hao replied. Chapter 22 - 22 Chapter 22, Building a Ranch (Anyone watching? Please recommend, collect,) _1 22 Chapter 22, Building a Ranch (Anyone watching? Please recommend, collect,) _1 Translator: 549690339 Dong Jiayue looked at the private chat and did not respond for a while. She never thought that Fang Hao had such a substantial fortune. He not only sells massive amounts of food every day, but now he also owns iron weapons and even armor. Moreover, his generous offer of asking how much she needed was surprising. Zhang Bin had collected some leather armor and already attracted a large number of fans. Even now, on the regional channel, people were hailing Zhang Bin as a big shot, hoping that when he found more, he would sell to them first. If these people knew that Fang Hao not only had armor, but also weapons. . . They would probably flood the regional channel with their admiration. ¡°7 sets, can I pay with food and lumber?¡± Dong Jiayue asked. Fang Hao looked behind him at the mountainous piles of lumber and stone resources. He replied: ¡°I will lend you first; you can repay me with good items after you finish exploring.¡± He was not short of basic materials. If he wanted to, Fang Hao could use the hundred-fold magnification to produce weapons and armor in exchange for these materials. But there really was no need. There were just too many resources within his territory. He had already enclosed a vacant lot behind the Lord¡¯s cabin with wooden fences. It was used specifically for storing these basic resources. What he needed now were special resources, special tools, or various blueprints. ¡°That works too, thank you Brother Hao,¡± Dong Jiayue hastily said in gratitude. She felt somewhat relieved that the person she knew was Fang Hao. ¡°I will list them, check them out when you can.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao listed 6 pieces of simple leather armor and helmets, and 1 orc iron armor set and helmet. The orc iron armor was a level second armor, naturally meant for Dong Jiayue to wear, because she would be the key to obtaining more Shadowstones in the future. ¡°Wow, Brother Hao, you¡¯re awesome.¡± Even though she was prepared, when she saw the orc iron armor, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp in astonishment. They each ended their conversation and got back to their work. ¡­ Fang Hao returned to his loot. He picked up the Bloodthirsty Chest Armor. The Bloodthirsty Chest Armor is internally made of metal plate armor, and the exterior is wrapped with a layer of red leather ornated with embossed patterns. Bright red, exquisite. It¡¯s extremely heavy to hold, just like carrying a heavy piece of iron. Even with his current body, he wouldn¡¯t be able to fight if he wore it. Fang Hao again used God¡¯s Presence to control a skeleton soldier and tried to put on the armor. But the situation was similar to his, the weight of the armor affected normal movement and combat. There is indeed a difference between reality and the game. In the game, anyone could put on any armor. But in reality, one must consider one¡¯s physical strength. Wearing this armor is like carrying an ox, and it¡¯s challenging to fight. ¡°Damn! Even if I take ten pounds of protein powder, I won¡¯t reach the strength of an orc.¡± Fang Hao cursed. This armor could only be put away for now. He will bring it out when his strength reaches par, or when he acquires higher-level soldiers. As the skeletons wash and dry the acquired clothing by the river, he left the territory. The newly unlocked blueprints. Needs to be produced as soon as possible. [Level 1 Ranch: Lumber 1000, Stone 800, Straw 500, Hemp Rope 200.] Outside the territory, he chose a flat piece of land. He began to build. Wooden fences fenced off the plot, and a simple wooden shed was built in the middle. But right now, the ranch is still empty, with no animals at all. It seems he needed to capture some gentle animals for breeding next time. Having settled the construction of the ranch. He continued to look for a location to build the lumberyard. He had initially planned to build the lumberyard at the Gnoll camp, but after careful consideration, he decided to abandon this plan for now. The issue with the Orc Tribe had not been completely resolved. Better to be on the safe side. He chose a location near the forest to build the lumberyard. [Level 1 Lumberyard: Wood 2000, Stone 1200, Straw 200, Hemp Rope 550, Iron 120.] (Description: Lumberyard area, +5% wood gathering efficiency.) Directly choose to build. A lumberyard appears before your eyes. The skeleton laborers who are chopping trees nearby begin to work around the lumberyard. After assigning a few skeleton soldiers to guard the building against beast attacks, he returns to his territory. Two out of the three blueprints have already been built. There¡¯s only a torch left, which Fang Hao feels is unnecessary. He simply rests at night, for the skeletons, as undead creatures, do not need torches for light when they work in the dark. If he needed one later, it wouldn¡¯t be too late to make it then. Apart from the blueprints and equipment, the biggest gain is more than one thousand seven hundred Wriggling Spines. This means that if Fang Hao is willing. He could recruit an army of a hundred thousand skeletons. Enough to vastly outstrip the average lord. For now, Fang Hao does not plan to recruit. An army of a hundred thousand skeletons is too much and would easily attract unnecessary trouble. It¡¯s not conducive to the development of the current territory. ¡­ After tidying everything up, there¡¯s still time. He can continue exploring the map. Fang Hao again uses [God¡¯s Presence] and enters the body of a skeleton soldier. The battle with the orcs is just the beginning. The days to come will be more dangerous. To survive safely in this world, exploration and development must not be halted. Setting off with 2000 skeleton soldiers, he continues to explore the surrounding map. Crossing the southern valley, the trees and plants become denser. Drawing the iron sword from his waist, he chops off the branches and thorns in front of him. Fang Hao notes this place down as a backup wood gathering point. Thinking of this, his footsteps suddenly stop. Instinctively he squats down, staying hidden. All the skeleton soldiers behind him also stop. Though they don¡¯t squat, they rigidly stand in place. Ahead in a clearing, a young unicorn sheep lazily munches on grass. There are plenty of game in the forest, so food is abundant. It¡¯s easy to come across creatures grazing or strolling around. Fang Hao crouches further low, glancing under the unicorn sheep¡¯s belly. ¡°Great! It¡¯s a female, we¡¯ll have sheep¡¯s milk in the future.¡± The ranch has just been established, young wild animals can be caught and raised. In the future, he¡¯d be able to drink sheep milk. ¡°Quick, surround it, capture it alive, don¡¯t hurt it.¡± Fang Hao instructs the skeletons behind him. He fears these simple-minded subordinates might rush up and slaughter it upon sight. The stunned skeletons, upon receiving the order, slowly disperse. Gradually surrounding it. The woolly creature idly grazing perks its ears up, abruptly lifting its head to look in all directions. The next moment, it bolts in one direction. ¡°Quick! Catch it!¡± Fang Hao shouts out loud. The skeletons surrounding it on all sides no longer hide, chasing after the fleeing unicorn sheep. Bang!! A muffled noise. A skeleton trying to block the path of the unicorn sheep gets hit square in the chest. It is flung back like it was hit by a cannon, snapping branches and bushes on its way back. It ends up in a rather sorry state. Capturing it alive is way more difficult than killing. ¡°Chase, catch it, catch it alive!¡± The unicorn sheep runs in front while a bunch of skeletons chase it frenetically from behind. After about twenty minutes of chasing. The unicorn sheep completely disappeared. Before their eyes stands an ancient castle surrounded by thorns and roses. [Shadowwind Castle] Chapter 23 - 23 Chapter 23, Shadowwind Castle_1 23 Chapter 23, Shadowwind Castle_1 Translator: 549690339 The ancient castle seemed to have stood the test of time. The towering grey walls were covered in dark green vines, giving it an old, ominous feeling. All focus was on the ancient castle, letting the whereabouts of the unicorn be completely forgotten. The fact that none of his two-thousand skeleton soldiers were lost gave him a little bit more confidence. ¡°Open the doors,¡± commanded Fang Hao. Screech! Dust swirling up, alongside a piercing sound. Under the combined effort of the skeletons, the corroded, mottled door was slowly pushed open. No matter how dangerous this ancient castle might be, its proximity to his own territory required an investigation. Moreover, the sudden appearance of a lone ancient castle within the dense forest drenches one in unease. As the door creaked opened, the scene within revealed itself to Fang Hao. Behind the door was the courtyard of the castle. The courtyard was covered in fallen leaves, with wild grass growing everywhere. Weeds entwined around gravestones, coiling and intertwining with the miscellaneous vegetation. ¡°Damn! I knew it wasn¡¯t a living world¡¯s building.¡± Who could predict that the courtyard of this castle would be a graveyard. Now, it could also be seen that there were walls in front of the courtyard, connected by stone steps and a brick archway. Suddenly, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze was drawn to a gray-white crystal stone beside a grave. ¡°Shadowstone!¡± Fang Hao unconsciously gasped. The crystal stone not far away looked exactly like the Shadowstone he and Dong Jiayue had traded for. Also, Dong Jiayue did mention that this type of crystal stone was obtained in ancient tombs, what was in front of him did somewhat match with that. Upon closer inspection, there were several others nearby. ¡°Go and bring those Shadowstones over here,¡± Fang Hao said. A skeleton soldier immediately stepped forward, walking through the weeds along the blue brick road towards the Shadowstone. The skeleton soldier walked towards the gravestone, just about to take the Shadowstone suddenly, like boiling water, the ground in the courtyard began to tremble violently. Following that, one after another, corpses infested with maggots crawled up through the cracked ground. ¡°I knew it!¡± Fang Hao muttered under his breath. According to what Dong Jiayue said, while obtaining the Shadowstone, they encountered some undead creatures. He conjectured that this might be a similar situation. Turns out what you fear, you attract. Fang Hao called back the skeleton soldier who had gone in, standing at the entrance, watching as one after another corpses crawled out. These bodies must have been buried underground for many years. Their messy hair mixed with leaves and dirt. Their skin was long decayed, emitting a repulsive stench. Their wide open mouths and chalk-white eyes seemed to echo with roars of anger. At this moment, Fang Hao felt rather fortunate that his troops were skeletons. At least they looked clean and didn¡¯t give off the smell of decay. Rotten Corpse (Tier 1). (Description: Cannon fodder within the Eternal Night Legion, their bodies are brittle and fragile. Individually, they possess very low combat abilities, so they attack in groups, proving that they pose a significant threat). Eternal Night¡­ The name does have an impressive ring to it. As Fang Hao pondered, the number of Rotten Corpses had already increased to more than a hundred. Watching as they raised their weapons and headed towards him, Fang Hao tentatively said, ¡°We¡¯re all dead here, why don¡¯t we all sit and chat?¡± The Rotten Corpses didn¡¯t respond, but instead sped up towards him. ¡°Charge, kill them,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The skeleton soldiers charged forward. Fang Hao also struck down at a Rotten Corpse that had rushed in front of him with his sword. Thud! The Rotten Corpse didn¡¯t dodge or evade and let Fang Hao¡¯s sword strike its forehead, splitting open a crack. Even with its skull cracked, it showed no reaction. Its machete struck downward, slashing towards Fang Hao. Fang Hao dodged and smashed his shield into its skull, executing the [Shield Strike] skill. Bang!! With a dull thud, the Rotten Corpse stumbled and fell to the ground, momentarily stunned. Fang Hao saw his opportunity and hacked at its neck several times with his iron sword, severing the head. Dead, once and for all. The battles involving other skeletons were also nearing an end as Fang Hao¡¯s usual fighting style was to overwhelm the enemy with numbers. The number of skeleton foot soldiers was naturally large. They were equipped with iron swords, wooden shields and various other full sets of armor. How could these newly risen rotten corpses compare? After an onslaught, all the rotten corpses were annihilated. ¡°Clean up the battlefield and collect the shadowstones and equipment.¡± Fang Hao loudly commanded. The skeletons immediately began to act, collecting shadowstones and stripping equipment from the bodies of the rotten corpses. Soon, the loot was gathered. [5 Shadowstones] [1 Death Trace] [122 Broken Single-Bladed Knives] [Inner Castle Key] Gaining 5 Shadowstones made Fang Hao elated. They were important materials for Undead Clan buildings, their value was even more important than the equipment gained. The exact use of Death Trace was not clear, but it was also a special material and very rare. In successive battles, Fang Hao¡¯s side always overwhelmed the enemy with sheer numbers. At the same time, Fang Hao also realized his own deficiencies. It was the low-level status of his soldiers. A level 2 soldier can often fight against four to five level 1s without suffering a defeat. So, the level of the soldier is particularly important in a battle. The only way to upgrade troops is to improve their building standard. [Broken Single-Bladed Knife] [Category: Weapon] [Damage: Level 1 Damage] (Description: Corroded broken single-bladed knife, watch out for tetanus.) Well then. Fang Hao suddenly felt relieved, thankful that he and his skeleton soldiers were not human. Otherwise, if he was a human lord leading human soldiers, And they were subject to this small amount of damage with the added risk of bacterial attack, who could sustain it? In this environment, how many people understood medical treatment? If they got sick, were infected, I¡¯m afraid few people could make it through. [Key (Shadowwind Castle)] [Category: Equipment] (Description: The key to the second floor of Shadowwind Castle, where the eternal night¡¯s servants have slept for a long time, await your next game.) A game? Everyone here is sly, it¡¯s not certain who¡¯s playing who. Fang Hao was not scared in the slightest. If they consider this a game, then why shouldn¡¯t he consider this place as a mission? Isn¡¯t possessing skeleton soldiers, just like controlling characters to kill monsters in games? He should be more qualified to use the word ¡°game¡±. ¡°Gather up, prepare to move to the next zone,¡± Fang Hao shouted. The skeleton soldiers gathered around him. He ascended the stone steps, arriving at the gate to the second floor. He inserted the key and turned it gently. The rusty metal heavy doors creaked open. The group walked in. There wasn¡¯t much distinction between the first and second floors. But to proceed to the next level, the path was no longer a city wall but the gate to an old castle. The castle was markedly western, constructed entirely from stone, with white roses climbing the walls, some even spreading into the windows, adding to the gloominess. He stepped into the castle, leading his group. This time, they were not greeted by the rotten corpses of the first level. Instead, they were met by undead spear-wielders. [Zombie Spearmen (Tier 2)] [Ability: Fight] [Skills: Thrust, Charge Defense.] (Description: Zombie Spearmen are not clumsy like rotten corpses, having received the baptism of eternal night, they will fulfil their duties to the end.) These zombies were in better condition than the rotten corpses. They were clad in rusty, decaying armor, and clung on to a metallic spear. They arose from their tombs, after a moment of silence, fell into formation and raised a battered flag, the design of which was obscured by its wear and tear. Once they were ready, they locked eyes on Fang Hao and his group and began a spear-aided advance. ¡°Spread out, prepare to fight,¡± Chapter 24 - 24 Chapter 24, Bloodthirsty Wolfbats_1 24 Chapter 24, Bloodthirsty Wolfbats_1 Translator: 549690339 The spear soldiers weren¡¯t as clumsy as the rotting corpses. While still rigid, they silently followed their former formations and tactics. The current scene was just like that. The spear soldiers autonomously formed a square formation, thrusting out their long spears to create forwards-facing spear phalanx. It somewhat resembled a scaled-down, or simplistic version of the Macedonian phalanx. ¡°Spread out, surround them, spread out now,¡± Fang Hao roared. Slightly startled, the skeleton foot soldiers dispersed, trapping the zombies¡¯ square formation in the middle. There weren¡¯t many zombie spearmen. About three hundred or so in total. Seeing their enemies encircling them, they halted their attack, evidently puzzled. Their spear targets kept shifting, like the hands of a clock, changing directions on the spot. ¡°Indeed, they can¡¯t manage without directions,¡± Fang Hao noted, somewhat amused. Despite the zombie spearmen¡¯s ability to form a phalanx in an instant, their intelligence was still abysmally low. Without instructions, they didn¡¯t know how to respond to being surrounded by the enemy. Their formation kept changing direction. Fang Hao didn¡¯t waste any more words. When the time was right, he gave the command. ¡°Attack!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! The skeleton foot soldiers launched an attack, pouncing on their target like beasts from all directions. The ones attacking from the front were sent flying high into the air by the protruding spears. The spear tip got stuck in the skeleton¡¯s ribs, lifting it high into the sky, both parties showing off their claws and teeth, venting their rage. And on the other three sides of the spear formation. The skeleton foot soldiers closed in, slashing out with swords and daggers. Fang Hao initiated his attack from the side, grabbing a spear that had been swung around, his iron sword slashing towards the opponent¡¯s neck. Splat! The iron sword smoothly cut open the opponent¡¯s throat. The dark-colored blood hung on the wound like thick syrup, not even a drop falling down. ¡°Damn it.¡± Fang Hao cursed softly. He tilted his head to avoid the opponent¡¯s attack, constantly swinging his iron sword. The wound on his opponent¡¯s neck grew and grew until he eventually cut through their bone. The fight was rather intense. Zombie Spearmen belonged to Level 2 and thus, they had higher basic attributes than the skeleton foot soldiers. When all the zombie spearmen were wiped out, more than thirty skeleton foot soldiers had been injured or killed. Even the soldier controlled by Fang Hao had his left shoulder bone broken by a spear. It hung limp, unable to lift the wooden shield. Fortunately, skeletons didn¡¯t feel pain, otherwise he would have a lot to endure. ¡°Clean up the battlefield. Damn, these zombies are fierce,¡± Fang Hao shouted, tearing off a strip from the zombies¡¯ rotten flag and attempting to bind it around the ribs. The skeleton soldiers began to clear the battlefield. The spoils were collected. [7 Shadowstones] [2 Death Traces] [Blueprint: Iron Spear] [324 Rusty Iron Spears] [Ancient Castle Key] Besides the Shadowstones and Death Traces, a blueprint for an iron spear was also obtained. In this world, the rule of [Production] was granted to lords. Blueprints became particularly important. Whether a designer or blacksmith, as long as you had a blueprint, you could forge the desired equipment and items. Even though they gained more than 300 iron spears, it couldn¡¯t compare to the worth of the blueprint. Having collated all the spoils from the battle. They reached the ancient castle. After inserting the key, skeletal foot soldiers pushed the door open with a concerted effort. Entering the ancient castle. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes widened instantly. Unlike the dour exterior, the central hall of the castle was exceedingly bright and luxurious. He felt like he was in a miniature palace. The smooth floor shone with a gleam, the wooden wall panels on the walls were adorned with intricate patterns, and the Crystal Stones on the copper lampstands radiated a faint light. This made the interior of the ancient castle still brightly lit. Inside the castle was a red carpet, extending along the carpet every few steps, stood a stone pillar. The stone pillars were carved with lifelike patterns. And atop each stone pillar, sat a creature like a giant bat. With eyes closed and immobile, they were like sculptures. The bodies of the bats were comparable to those of adult wild beasts. They were huge with twisted muscles all over their bodies. Through the gaps in the flesh wings, one could see their enormous claws and sharp, curved nails. There was no need for any natural alertness nor any understanding of these creatures. Having experienced two rounds of battles outside, it was clear that these were new monsters. However, these bat-like creatures kept their eyes closed, completely unmoving, making it hard for Fang Hao to tell if they were sleeping, or dead. ¡°Go scout.¡± Fang Hao said. The skeleton soldiers in front walked forward, along the red carpet. After only a few steps. Suddenly, a giant bat on a stone pillar opened its eyes sharply, let out a howl, and sprang down from the stone pillar. With its wide wings unfolding and aided by the gliding speed, it grabbed the advancing skeleton soldier into the air. Before the skeleton soldier could react, he was torn to shreds by the giant claws. Scattered bones fell from the sky, strewn all over the ground. [Bloodthirsty Wolfbats (Level 5)] [Ability: Combat] [Skills: Flight, Bloodlust] Description: When the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats bare their sharp fangs, it means they have lost all reason. They will tear flesh, bone marrow, and sate their desires in the most cruel manner. When the wolfbats swoop down and get close. Fang Hao could clearly see their attributes. Seeing that it was a level five combatant, his heart skipped a beat. How did the level of these creatures suddenly increase so much? With the first wolfbat tearing the skeleton soldiers to pieces, the other Bloodthirsty Wolfbats opened their eyes one after another. When their rage-filled, bloodthirsty red eyes turned towards Fang Hao and the others who had intruded, They began to howl continuously, leaped down from the stone pillars, and pounced. ¡°Fight, kill these creatures.¡± Fang Hao roared. Upon receiving the order, the skeletons swung their iron swords to initiate an attack. The space in the castle hall was limited, only a portion of the skeleton soldiers could squeeze in. The rest were blocked outside the castle, unable to enter, nor able to use their numerical advantage. Boom, boom, boom, boom! There were a total of six Bloodthirsty Wolfbats. They swooped down and plunged directly into the horde of skeletons, tearing open the defensive armor with giant claws and biting the skulls of the skeletons with their large mouths. Once the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats were injured, they would fly into the air, waiting for their wounds to slowly dry up. Then they would continue to charge down and battle with the skeletons. ¡°Close in, don¡¯t scatter.¡± Fang Hao continued to command. The scattered skeletons began to converge towards Fang Hao, using the wall behind them as a defensive point. To avoid being dispersed once again. But Fang Hao¡¯s command also attracted the attention of the wolfbats. The nearest wolfbat dropped the skeleton it was holding and charged straight towards Fang Hao. Fang Hao dared not make a head-to-head confrontation. His body instantly fell to one side to evade the attack. Bang! The wolfbat knocked several skeletons flying, and its own body crashed into the wall behind it. The huge recoil caused the wolfbat to succumb to a brief dizziness. It shook its head, its body wobbly. ¡°Idiot! Kill it for me.¡± Fang Hao cursed and attacked at once. The nearby skeleton soldiers lunged at the same time, swinging their iron swords. Wounds began to appear on the body of the wolfbat, and bright red blood flowed out. With a wail of agony, it took to the air with its bleeding body. Fang Hao cursed his luck silently. It survived such an attack, what a tenacious life force. Looking at the situation on the field, the loss of the skeleton soldiers had already reached hundreds. Continuing to fight would only increase the casualties. ¡°Get out and close the door on them.¡± The skeletons retreated back to the outside of the castle without looking back, closing the huge doors of the castle before the other side could react. ¡°A few of you block the main door, I¡¯m going to get reinforcements.¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25, Skeleton Conversion Field_l Chapter 25: Chapter 25, Skeleton Conversion Field_l Translator: 549690339 Having removed the God¡¯s Presence status, Fang Hao rose from the bed. After having a sip of cold water, he walked out of the Lord¡¯s Cabin directly. Outside, the worker skeletons were still busily doing their work, and the skeleton soldiers were patrolling and hunting. He opened the Book of Lords and turned to the ¡°Production¡± section. ¡°Bone Arrow: 1 Wood, 2 Beast Bones.¡± He set the quantity to 100 and chose to make them. ¡°100-time Amplification triggered, successfully made 10100 Bone Arrows.¡± Bundles of bone arrows appeared, piled to a side. ¡°Prepare ten carts, load the double-handed light crossbows from the warehouse and bring the gnoll daggers.¡± Fang Hao ordered loudly. A few skeletons nearby immediately put down their work and went to the warehouse to load the carts. Fang Hao had been thinking about countermeasures after the recent battle. Considering the higher rank and better physical abilities of the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats, they far exceeded the skeleton soldiers. But most importantly, they flew. The skeleton soldiers¡¯ swords and shields could only strike when the Wolfbats landed to attack. However, the Wolfbats were too quick; it was difficult for the skeleton soldiers to follow their speed. So, Fang Hao decided to change tactics. If they couldn¡¯t catch up, then they would abandon their swords and shields. He made more than ten thousand bone arrows which, while limited in their attack, could potentially whittle down the enemies. Soon, the carts loaded with two thousand double-handed light crossbows and over 200 gnoll daggers were pushed over. These double-handed light crossbows were crafted when dealing with the orc troops. They had been carefully preserved in the warehouse. This saved Fang Hao from wasting materials to craft more. Once again, Fang Hao sent skeletons to look for over 200 elongated wooden poles. He tied gnoll daggers to the tops of the poles with sturdy hemp ropes, making them into makeshift spears. This was somewhat awkward. Fang Hao had already obtained the blueprint for iron spears. But the blueprint was at Shadowwind Castle, and making them would require the Book of Lords. In other words, he could only make them after the Book of Lords had recorded the blueprint when the skeletons from the Shadowwind Castle returned. Fang Hao didn¡¯t want to delay until the evening, so he skipped one of the steps. He simply mounted the daggers on long wooden poles, serving as makeshift spears. Soon, 200 spear-daggers were made. ¡°Load the bone arrows and the spears onto the carts.¡± Fang Hao said as he moved back to his room. Once again, he used God¡¯s Presence and possessed a skeleton soldier standing outside the door. The ten thousand bone arrows, two hundred spears, and the two thousand double-handed light crossbows grabbed from the warehouse were all loaded onto the carts. Everything was ready. Fang Hao led three thousand skeleton soldiers and pushed the carts towards Shadowwind Castle. The road was clear. When they arrived at Shadowwind Castle, more than a thousand skeleton soldiers were still guarding the fortress¡¯s gate. They showed no signs of slackening. ¡°Okay, 2000 of you need to abandon your shields. Take up the double-handed light crossbows, and a few of you take the spears.¡±, said Fang Hao. 221 gnoll-dagger spears, 324. rusty iron spears. A total of 545 spears could be gathered. It was plain to see Fang Hao¡¯s reasoning. The diving attack of the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats was fierce, cumulatively knocking down large numbers of skeletons. If they failed to handle the diving attack, then the crossbowmen would struggle to perform effectively. After thinking for a long time, Fang Hao thought of the spears. To thwart the damage of the diving attacks. However, to see if the idea was feasible, they needed to verify it in combat. With everything set, Fang Hao said, ¡°Open the gate.¡± The castle gate was opened ajar, and Fang Hao peered inside. The grand hall of the castle was a mess after the earlier battle. The six Bloodthirsty Wolfbats had once again returned to the six massive pillars, motionless as if they were statues. ¡°Good, let¡¯s move in.¡±, Fang Hao urged. Armed skeletons flooded the great hall with their weapons and the accumulated pile of ten thousand bone arrows. The hall was limited in space and became instantly crowded as the skeletons entered, leaving even more behind outside. The actions of Fang Hao and the others stirred the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats, which were just resting. When the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats opened their eyes to discover it was still these low-grade skeletons, their rage became difficult to contain. An angry roar resounded through the air. ¡°Nie Ma, fire!¡± The Bloodthirsty Wolfbats had only just taken off when the skeletons wielding light crossbows had already pulled their triggers. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A dense flurry of bone arrows, like a large net, fired at the bats. Due to the suddenness of the event in the confined space, the bats didn¡¯t have time to find cover. In an instant. Every bat was assailed by bone arrows, inflicting pain beyond bearability. The bats, furious, dived to attack just as the crossbowmen were reloading. Fang Hao was waiting for just this moment. ¡°Spears!¡± The skeleton soldiers thrust their iron spears at the diving bats. The lead bat, seeing the oncoming spears, realized with dread that it was too late to brake. Instantly charging into the forest of spears, its wings were pierced, making it slide into the heart of the skeletons. The skeletons with swords and shields, naturally, took advantage of this opportunity to ¡®kick them while they¡¯re down¡¯. With each swing of their sword, they hacked its head into a mash. The remaining five Bloodthirsty Wolfbats watched the scene in front of them in terror. They never imagined that these skeletons, who had just exited and re-entered, managed to kill one of their companions. Blood of the deceased still glistening broodingly on the iron spears. Just a few seconds later. New bolts were reloaded once more. ¡°Fire!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The rain of arrows again surged out, staking the bodies of the bats, making them look like porcupines. While the damage of the bone arrows was limited, they were still able to penetrate the bats. Occasionally, a few arrows even pierced their wings, shooting through to form a hole. The bats, bathed in blood, attempted to dive for an attack but were immediately repelled by the spears. ¡°Fire!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! ¡°Fire!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! After the fourth volley of arrows, the bats could no longer endure. Bleeding profusely, they recklessly charged forward. The spears once again stabbed out, piercing their bodies while the other sword and shield bearers finished them off. Soon, the battle that had lasted almost an hour finally ended. ¡°Throw the bodies out,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The deaths of the ferocious Tier 5 Wolfbats were indeed a little stifling. Despite possessing overwhelming strength, they were slain by Fang Hao¡¯s combined arms approach. The massive bodies of the six Wolfbats were dragged outside, leaving trails of fresh blood along the way. Once again, the hall lapsed into silence. Fang Hao trod upon the arrow shafts strewn across the floor, as if walking on dry grass, causing a cracking noise with each step. This battle deeply impressed upon Fang Hao the importance of troop tiers. Tier 5 Bloodthirsty Wolfbats, fighting hundreds of Tier 1 Skeleton Soldiers, left the soldiers with no means to fight back. Yet the eventual victory relied heavily on Fang Hao¡¯s mastery and opportunism. Any other lord would find it hard to achieve the same outcome. If they encountered the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats in the early stages of their domain, they would be left with only one path ¡ª death. ¡°Search, see if there¡¯s anything good on the first floor,¡± Fang Hao loudly ordered. If he was given six Tier 5 troops, he refused to believe there was nothing of value here. Soon, the Skeleton Soldiers had turned the first floor upside down. A few items were presented before Fang Hao. [Acquired Building Blueprint: Skeleton Conversion Field..] Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26, Life is a Disease (Looking for Recommendations. ..)_1 Chapter 26: Chapter 26, Life is a Disease (Looking for Recommendations. ..)_1 Translator: 549690339 [Skeleton Conversion Field (Blue)] [Category: Building Blueprint] [Required materials: Wood 5OO, Stone 500, Hemp Rope 50, Shadowstone 5, Death Trace 2.] (Description: The Skeleton Conversion Field can transform buried creatures/bones into skeleton soldiers, unlocking troops, and can use a corresponding number of offerings for recruitment.) As expected, Fang Hao was not disappointed. After defeating a tier 5 troop, he obtained a blue architectural blueprint. Looking at the introduction, it¡¯s not bad. It can bury dead creatures and transform them into corresponding skeleton soldiers. After the first transformation, the building will keep a record, and then you can use the corresponding number of offerings for recruitment. The offerings refer to the ¡°Wriggling Spine¡±. Whether there will be new recruiting offerings in the future is currently unknown. This is a pretty good blueprint. It¡¯s just that now the Book of Lords is not with him, so he can only keep it safe and record it when he goes back. There were no other spoils in the hall. Some decorative items like carpets and lampstands will be searched when leaving. ¡°Follow me to the second floor.¡± Fang Hao took ten skeletons, went up the stairs and headed to the second floor. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t want to bring more manpower, but the space on the second floor was narrow and divided into many rooms. There weren¡¯t enough people to fit, and even if a fight broke out, it would be difficult to fight with sheer numbers. Fang Hao took a few skeletons. Searched each room one by one. The second floor room is nicely furnished, but it can be seen that it has not been lived in for a long time. There was a thick layer of dust on the furniture. Came to the last room on the second floor. It was a study, with beautifully carved tables and chairs, and heavy blue curtains, showing the love of the castle owner for this study room. After confirming that there was no danger, Fang Hao stepped in. The bookshelf was neatly filled with books, as well as some ornaments that the original owner liked. A golden lampstand and a half-read book were placed on the desk. There was a luminous stone on the lampstand. Same as the light fixtures on the staircase. [Nightstone] [Category: Ore] (Remark: An ore with the function of light accumulation, can emit a soft glow at night or in darkness.) Wow, it¡¯s a night pearl. ¡°Search around, see if there are any other good things?¡± Fang Hao said as he casually picked up a book from the table to glance at. When the Lords came to this world, they were also endowed with certain abilities by the system. They could communicate normally with various races and understand the language of many races. So they wouldn¡¯t come here and be completely disconnected from this world. The skeleton soldiers started to search around. Fang Hao was attracted by the first sentence in the book. ¡°Life is a cancer, but I have found a cure for it. Prompt then sounded. [Collected a clue to the Elixir of Immortality, 1/5 ) This suddenly interested Fang Hao. For humans, immortality has always been attractive. If he saw such a statement in his original world, Fang Hao would decisively throw it aside and phone the police. But after coming to this world, filled with different races and powerful creatures. He belonged to the Undead Faction, where even skeletons could talk, so the Elixir of Immortality was not a lie. So, under circumstances allowed by strength, perhaps clues to the Elixir of Immortality can be collected. He roughly browsed through the book. And gathered some information about this world. Like the previously encountered Eternal Night Legion, the ¡°Eternal Night¡¯ represents the vampire faction. And his own faction, the Undead, is known as Immortal. The two manipulate undead creatures, but the factions are different. After browsing through, he put this book away and also started searching for items. The skeletons¡¯ search was not exactly polite to say the least. Maybe for them, the order of searching was only to find treasure, and did not include handling things carefully. The room quickly became a mess, and Fang Hao had two more items in his hands. [Directional Teleportation Scroll] [Healing Potion] [Warfire Coin*27] [Blood Stone* 5] There weren¡¯t many precious spoils in the study apart from the furniture. He obtained a magic scroll. [Teleportation Scroll] [Category: Magic Scroll] (Description: Can record a target point, use to teleport to target area.) The teleportation scroll, resembling the town portal scroll he¡¯d used in games before. Once used, it would teleport him to a specified location. It was pretty decent, you never know when it might come in handy. He stowed away the teleportation scroll and continued to examine the next item. [Healing Potion] [Category: Potion] (Description: Can heal certain injuries.) Fang Hao looked at it and quickly stowed it away. In this world they¡¯ve crossed into, there were no hospitals or doctors. Even slight ailments could prove fatal here. Just like a player who was attacked by Prairie Wolves outside the territory before. Despite rushing into the protective barrier alive, he¡¯d sustained serious injuries. If there had been a healing potion then, it would have been extremely helpful, allowing the injuries to heal faster and better. One more protection. There were 27 Warfire Coins in the desk drawer. To live in such a huge castle yet only leave this much money, really frugal. [Blood Stone] [Type: Ore] (Description: Rare ore required for Blood Clan building construction.) The function of the Blood Stone was similar to that of the Shadowstone. The difference was that Shadowstone was used for Undead building construction materials, while Blood Stone was for the Blood Clan. ¡°Alright, follow me upstairs.¡± The castle only had three floors, but every floor¡¯s framework was much taller than a normal building. The framework of the first floor hall was around 6 to 7 metres. Each room on the second floor was over 4 metres. The Skeleton Troopers put down the items in their hands and followed Fang Hao out of the room. They continued upwards along the stairs. At the entrance of the staircase to the third floor, there stood two statues with open mouths, baring their fangs. They somewhat resembled the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats encountered on the first floor, but were much smaller and their bodies weren¡¯t overly huge. Though the statues looked fierce, due to a long period without cleaning, a layer of dust had settled on them. Upon reaching the third floor, he proceeded a few steps forward. He stopped in front of a room. The large door of the room was engraved with exquisite patterns, including various flowers and plants, and different human figures. Though not as big as the castle gate, it was still huge and solid. ¡°This door looks valuable.¡± He exerted a bit of force, but the wooden door didn¡¯t budge, except for the dust on it which fell onto Fang Hao¡¯s head due to the shake. ¡°Together, push the door open.¡± Fang Hao retreated a step, allowing the Skeletons behind him to do the work. There was no need to do the work if so much help was available. The Skeletons behind him stepped forward and together, they pushed the door open. Accompanied by a shower of dust, a thin slit opened in the door. Fang Hao tilted his head, peering in through the slit. Housed within was a gigantic black coffin. ¡°Stop,¡± Fang Hao whispered. Based on the creatures they¡¯d previously encountered, item descriptions, and the portraits hanging on the castle walls. He could determine that the owner of this castle belonged to the Blood Clan of the Eternal Night Clan. Therefore, in this grand main bedroom, such an exquisite coffin unavoidably made him suspicious ¨C could a vampire be sleeping inside? But with the intense fighting outside, even the castle doors were torn. Even someone hard of hearing for the past ten years should¡¯ve heard it, right? ¡°You all wait at the door.¡± Fang Hao walked lightly towards the curtains after entering through the door¡¯s slit.. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27, Flame Ring l Chapter 27: Chapter 27, Flame Ring l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao slipped into the room through the gap. The bedroom was spacious and lavishly decorated. In the middle of the room, there was an unusually extravagant black and gold coffin. It was rare to see a coffin crafted with such grandeur. Even though Fang Hao was not familiar with coffins, he could tell from the materials and craftsmanship that this was a fine one. After giving it a quick glance, Fang Hao paced towards the windows of the room. His idea was simple. He intended to open all the curtains in the room and let the sunlight shine in. If there were truly a vampire inside, he would let the sun punish it. Fang Hao vaguely remembered that vampires were afraid of sunlight. He wondered whether garlic and silverware would help. If time allowed¡­ He would consider going back to pick a huge amount of garlic to hang around the coffin, leaving no chance for the vampire. Swift! With this in mind, Fang Hao pulled the heavy curtain open. Seeing the window, however, Fang Hao slightly paused. The windows of the castle were not translucent, but, like the main door, had two shut panels. He opened the panels again, allowing the sunlight to flood into the room. And as the sun entered, the Nightstones mounted on the walls and ceiling gradually dimmed. Having opened all windows, the dazzling sunlight instantly brightened the room. ¡°Come in.¡± Fang Hao called out, and the skeleton soldiers outside the door quickly came in and stood still. ¡°Open the coffin!¡± The skeletons stood on each side of the lid, gripping the cover with their hands. They heaved and a crack in the lid was opened. Fang Hao quickly peered inside. Empty! The coffin was fully opened, yet there was no vampire inside, just an empty coffin. Indeed, with such a commotion, the vampire should have woken up even if it was afraid of sunlight. [Exquisite Corpse-rejuvenation Coffin (Blue)] [Category: Corpse-rejuvenation Coffin] (Description: The corpse-rejuvenation coffin of the Eternal Night Clan that calms you instantly when you lie in and has the function of nourishing spiritual power.) Wow! The coffin had attributes! However¡­, this offered luck somewhat ominously. Unsure of its effects on spiritual power, Fang Hao concluded that this sealed coffin would definitely suffocate anyone once its lid was shut, meaning you could be buried directly ¨C very convenient indeed! ¡°Cover it!¡± said Fang Hao. The coffin was a rare blue quality item, but there was no use for him. Maybe he could sell it to another vampire later. Next, it was time to gather the items. The skeletons found a dark room next door. There was a treasure chest made of gold inside. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s gold!¡± In the center of the dark room, there was a treasure chest emanating a faint golden glow. This was Fang Hao¡¯s first encounter with a gold chest since he came to this world. The best he had seen before was an iron chest. This sudden upgrade to gold took him by surprise. He rubbed his hands, praying silently in his heart for good fortune to open excellent items. He opened the treasure chest. [Obtain: Wall Construction Blueprint, Guard Tower Construction Blueprint, Exquisite Corpse-rejuvenation Coffin Manufacturing Blueprint (Blue), Hardwood Plank Manufacturing Blueprint, Flame Ring (Blue), Warfire Coins+120, Blood Stone+40.] The golden treasure chest did not disappoint. He got three blueprints and a blue equipment, plus 120 Warfire coins. With the advent of the marketplace, Warfire coins came to serve a purpose. However, Fang Hao had not yet found a stable way to obtain them. [Level 1 Wall Construction Blueprint: lumber 1200, stone 500, thatch 300, hemp rope 800.] The number of materials required for building level 1 walls was more than for other constructions. But it made sense, considering that walls needed to enclose buildings within a property, thereby requiring more resources. [Guard Tower] [Category: Special Construction] [Required Materials: Wood 500, Stone 300, Thatch 120, Hemp Rope 100.] (Description: Troops/heroes stationed in the Guard Tower will gain +2% in all attributes and can detect all dangers in the guarded area.) The Guard Tower is a special construction. The term ¡°guard¡± doesn¡¯t specifically refer to guarding the territory, but rather to guarding specific locations. That is, building a Guard Tower in a key area allows troops or heroes to be stationed there to guard that area. If Fang Hao were to build a tower, the place he would consider first is right in front of the Lord¡¯s wooden tower. By the time the territory¡¯s protective shield disappears, his own safety would have significantly improved. [Hardwood Board: Wood 2.] [Exquisite Corpse-rejuvenation Coffin: Hardwood Board 12, Leather 6, Cotton 5, High-quality Fabric 6.] Well, looks like they¡¯re planning for me to open a coffin shop. I wonder if the funeral industry is booming in this world. [Flame Ring (Blue)] [Category: Ring] [Skill: Flame Fireball] (Description: A ring imbued with destructive energy.) [Flame Fireball]: Shoots a fierce fireball at the target, causing Level 3 damage and continuous burning damage, (cooldown 1 hour). It¡¯s actually a magic ring. It allows the use of a magic skill called Flame Fireball. Fang Hao was absolutely thrilled. He finally had some attack power. Overall, he was quite satisfied with this adventure in the ancient fortress. Not only did he obtain the much-needed Shadowstones, but he also acquired numerous blueprints and a Flame Ring. This significantly enhanced his strength and chances of survival. Fang Hao carefully stored his items and descended the stairs. ¡°All of you come in, take everything you can carry out to the courtyard,¡± Fang Hao ordered the waiting skeleton soldiers. The territory resembled an old, rundown village. Everything they saw seemed valuable, so naturally, they wanted to take it all. The skeleton soldiers entered and started moving items out of the fortress. Bang! While leaving the hall, Fang Hao tripped over a stone slab under his foot. Despite not feeling any pain in his skeletal body, he could tell the force was quite strong. [Stone Brick (Construction Material)] Hmm? A thought crossed Fang Hao¡¯s mind. He traced the source of the stone brick and looked upwards. A piece was missing from the top of the entrance. It must have fallen during the battle with the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats. Due to the limited space indoors, the skeleton army struggled to demonstrate their advantage in numbers. So, Fang Hao gave the order to break down the fortress¡¯s main gate. Because of the improper dismantling, the stone brick fell off. ¡°So, do I have upgrade materials now?¡± Fang Hao muttered, as an idea struck him. The materials required to upgrade to a Level 4 Lord¡¯s wooden house were stone bricks. But he hadn¡¯t obtained the blueprint for stone bricks yet, and no one in the channel had mentioned obtaining stone bricks or blueprints either. So, seeing the stone brick sparked an idea. To dismantle the fortress. If he took apart such a large fortress, wouldn¡¯t he get a lot of stone bricks? As he thought about it, he deactivated the [God¡¯s Presence] state again. He woke up in his bedroom. Fang Hao rubbed his tired temples. The God¡¯s Presence state was too demanding, especially when it involved continuous combat. He left his house and started rallying all the busy laborer skeletons. The laborer skeletons had participated in the earlier battles. The original number of 2000 had decreased to about 1700. Despite this, Fang Hao still had a far superior workforce compared to other lords. The number of farmers other lords had ranged only from five to ten. Compared to 1700, it was simply insignificant. ¡°Grab your tools and flatbed carts and follow me..¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29, Pig-headed Human l Chapter 29: Chapter 29, Pig-headed Human l Translator: 549690339 This is a troupe of pig-headed humans. They pant heavily from the recent battle, their eyes are crimson as they glare at the surrounding skeleton soldiers. They are a merchant group from a village. They were on their way to exchange and sell the goods from their village at the ¡®Manim Orc Market¡¯. On their way here, they noticed this territory and the bulk of supplies corralled by wooden fences beyond it. The greedy pig-headed humans concocted a devious plan to steal some goods and sell them at a generous price in the market. Unbeknownst to them, they were discovered by the patrolling skeleton soldiers while pilfering the resources. The battle ensued. The intense combat attracted the other nearby skeleton soldiers. By the time the pig-headed humans were able to react, they were already surrounded by an alarming number of skeletons. Regardless of how much they retaliated, they could not break the encirclement. During the ongoing battle, their ranks suffered heavy casualties, and their troop of a hundred had shrunk to just over twenty. Just as they resigned to their fate, prepared to surrender and die. The skeletons stopped their attack and stood rigidly in place, forming a circle around them. The pig-headed humans look at each other, bewildered. Just as they began to consider breaking free, the skeleton soldiers in front abruptly parted, opening up a path for someone to pass through. The next second, shock appeared in the eyes of the pig-men. A young human male walked through the crowd of skeletons, ultimately standing in front of them, curiously inspecting them. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Fang Hao asked solemnly. The pig-headed humans, despite their appearances, were not stupid. Seeing how the undead soldiers treated this human, they immediately realized that he might be their chance at survival. After carefully choosing his words, one spoke, ¡°Respected sir, my name is Parker. We are a merchant group passing through here and have unfortunately had a misunderstanding with your, ahem, soldiers.¡± This pig-man named Parker had beady eyes that kept shifting, scrutinising Fang Hao and the skeleton soldiers. He was also wondering why a human could command so many undead soldiers. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Fang Hao gave a slight smile, his gaze falling onto their carriages. There were five carriages in total with the pig-men. Four were covered by oilcloths to protect from the sun, while the last was loosely holding some miscellaneous items. There were furs, leather armours, bathtubs, and a big pile of tools. Obviously, the cause of the battle was not as simple as Parker had stated. The pig-men had stolen goods from the territory and were subsequently ambushed by the patrolling skeletons, leading to the fight. Parker noticed Fang Hao¡¯s gaze and realized that he couldn¡¯t continue lying. He quickly explained, ¡°Sir, we did not know these goods belonged to you. We made a wrong decision and we are willing to compensate.¡± Fearing any unnecessary triggers, Parker directly offered compensation. Orcs are greedy and warlike. Many tribes don¡¯t bother with farming or mining, instead relying on plundering for growth and expansion. Thus, most orcs believe in one universal law. That is brute force. If someone is more powerful than you, you endure their beatings. If they are weaker, you ravage, kill, and loot without mercy. ¡°Let¡¯s talk somewhere else,¡± Fang Hao suggested. Corpses of the pig-headed humans littered the ground. Blood turned the soil a dark red, and the scent of blood saturated the air. Fang Hao turned around and walked towards his territory. Parker and the others followed, flanked and watched by many skeleton soldiers. When they arrived at an open area in front of the territory, Fang Hao sat on a rock. Parker and the others respectfully stood on the side, their gigantic pig heads stealing occasional glances at Fang Hao¡¯s territory. ¡°You¡¯re a merchant group?¡± Fang Hao curiously asked. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Parker replied. ¡°Where do you come from?¡± ¡°That, that¡­ a small village up north,¡± Parker eventually answered. ¡°The goods on the carriage are yours? Where are you taking them?¡± Fang Hao continued. He still didn¡¯t know enough about this world. Communicating with the locals as much as possible would help him gather more information. ¡°We plan to take the goods to Manim Market and exchange them for other goods,¡± Parker answered diligently. ¡°Manim Market?¡± Fang Hao was slightly taken aback. He seemed to remember the name, having seen it on an acquired map that was found in a Gnoll camp. The map was actually of the Manim Market. As he looked at the Book of Lords, sure enough, the location of Manim Market had been marked on the map page. ¡°Yes, a peaceful trade market established by the orcs.¡± Orcs live to fight, and they have a fondness for looting and combat. While tribes did interact with each other, they would also attack each other. Thus, the Manim Orc Market was established, with its own set of rules. It forbade fighting and looting within the market, and all transactions had to be voluntary and mutual. Orcs followed these rules, bringing their tribes¡¯ surplus goods to the market for exchange, either for other goods or currency. ¡°Can anyone go to this market?¡± Fang Hao asked, intrigued by the orc market. Parker glanced at Fang Hao and the crowd of undead skeletons around them, nervously replying, ¡°This¡­ might be difficult.¡± Fang Hao nodded in understanding and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk about compensation. You stole my property and killed so many of my soldiers. I can¡¯t let you leave without some repercussions.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s voice grew stern. Parker glanced at the surrounding skeletons again. His heart thumped loudly in his chest as he boldly declared, ¡°Sir, we are willing to leave one carriage of goods as compensation.¡± Ha! Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°If I kill you all, all the goods are mine. What makes you think I would spare you for a single carriage of goods?¡± This¡­ The faces of the pig-men began to perspire profusely. Fang Hao¡¯s words silenced their arguments. The most valuable part of their group was the contents of the carriages. If these goods were not enough to serve as compensation, what else could they offer to convince him to spare their lives? ¡°Sir, you see, our goods¡­¡±, Parker attempted to say something. Fang Hao cut him off, not permitting him to continue. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one final minute. If you can¡¯t provide what I want, you won¡¯t need to leave.¡± After saying this, Fang closed his mouth. All of the pig-men fell silent. Sweat poured from their foreheads like raindrops as they felt the intense fear of death, their minds blank. Soon, one minute had passed. ¡°Alright, time¡¯s up. Kill them,¡± Fang Hao ordered straightforwardly. ¡°Wait, sir, Warfire Coins, we can give you Warfire Coins¡­¡±, Parker let out a howl in desperation. Fang Hao¡¯s expression hardened, ¡°Cease the attack.¡± The skeleton soldiers, ready to strike, returned their weapons to their previous positions. ¡°Continue,¡± Fang Hao ordered. Wiping the droplet of sweat falling into his eye, Parker hurriedly said, ¡°Sir, Warfire Coins are the universal currency here. If you¡¯re willing, we can give you Warfire Coins to earn your forgiveness..¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31, Guarding the Pavilion l Chapter 31: Chapter 31, Guarding the Pavilion l Translator: 549690339 [Skeleton Spearman (Tier 1)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness.] [Skill: Spear Stab] [Innate Abilities: Basic Combat Mastery, Basic Spear Mastery, Basic Shield Mastery.] [Undead]: This type of soldier is already dead, hence they are void of morale, emotions, and immune to toxins, diseases, blindness, and mental magic. [Hollow Skeleton]: Has no fatal weak points. [Light Weakness]: Light magic deals an additional 20% damage to itself. [Spear Stab]: (Requires a spear) Stabs at the target with a spear, dealing substantial damage. (Note: Skeleton soldiers that have undergone preservation treatment and are armed with spears can confront any charging troops, ignoring all charge bonuses.) From the exterior, the Skeleton Spearmen and Skeleton Infantry have not much difference. But their properties have changed. The innate ability of the Skeleton Infantry is Sword and Shield Mastery, meaning they are more familiar with the sword and shield. On the other hand, the Skeleton Spearmen have switched to the combination of spear and shield, gaining attribute bonuses when armed with a spear and shield. During the castle raid, the advantages of troop combination have already been demonstrated. The Skeleton Infantry, relying solely on the sword and shield combination, was defenseless against the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats. But with a slight change, swapping some of the infantrymen¡¯s weapons for long spears and light crossbows, the situation on the battlefield transformed. From being pressured, they started to pressure the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats, eventually killing them all. It goes to say, the higher the tier of troops the better, but the combination of each troop type is equally crucial. They can produce significant advantages and effects on the battlefield. Next, Fang Hao conducted five more recruitments. [One Hundred Times Amplification Triggered, successfully recruited Skeleton Spearmen*5O5.] He crafted enough wood shields and iron spears to equip the 606 Skeleton Spearmen. ¡°All right, go patrol the surrounding areas. Hunt any beasts you encounter and bring them back.¡± Fang Hao commanded. The Skeleton Spearmen turned around and left the territory. Once all the skeletons had left, Fang Hao reopened his Book of Lords. He had obtained several blueprints in the castle. [Level 1 Wall Construction Blueprint: Wood 1200, Stone 500, Straw 300, Hemp Rope 800.] Walls are of utmost importance to a city. In two days, when the protective shield vanishes, it will be the last line of defense for the territory. Therefore, the earlier and higher the walls are built, the better. He chose to build it right away. A square of light covered the territory and the next moment, a two-meter tall wooden fence was erected, protecting the territory. Huh? So a level 1 wall is made of wood. It seems that in order to make the wall stronger, the level of the wall needs to be raised. [Level 2 Wall: Wood 2400, Stone 1600, Straw 500, Hemp Rope 1600.] The materials needed have doubled. Thankfully, Fang Hao had many skeleton laborers. If he were an ordinary lord, he would have to save up resources for construction for a long time. The level 2 wall was completed. The wall was significantly thicker and taller, adding nearly 5 meters in height. [Level 3 Wall: Wood 3600, Stone 3000, Straw 1000, Hemp Rope 2800.] The materials for a level 3 wall have increased significantly. The amount of wood and stone has risen by over a thousand units each. It¡¯s simply terrifying. Click to upgrade. Five minutes later, construction of the level 3 wall was completed. The wall stands about 5 meters high, with its material changed from solid wood to a mix of wood and stone. The bottom three meters are made of stone, while the top is still constructed from stout logs. Patrol and defense personnel can now be arranged on top of the wall. After the construction was completed, Fang Hao continued to inspect the new architectural blueprints he had acquired. [Guardian Watchtower] [Category: Special Building] (Description: The soldiers/heroes stationed in the Guardian Watchtower have their attributes increased by 2% and can sense all dangers within the guarded area.) [Required Materials: Wood 500, Stone 300, Straw 120, Hemp Rope too.] In Fang Hao¡¯s view, the role of the Guardian Watchtower is more like a gatekeeper. Or perhaps, a guardian deity of the gate. It can protect a specific area, and the soldiers or heroes stationed there will have their attributes increased by 2%. Although not high, all buildings can be upgraded. When the building¡¯s level is increased, the added attributes will naturally increase significantly. After some thought, he decided to build the Guardian Watchtower in front of his Lord¡¯s log house. He was the only living person within his territory at the moment, and the skeleton soldiers didn¡¯t need any special protection. He was the one that needed the most protection. Confirm construction. The light appeared and a simple wooden watchtower emerged in the open space in front of the Lord¡¯s log house. [Please choose a building to guard, Level 3 Lord¡¯s House/Level 3 Warehouse.] The Guardian Watchtower automatically detects nearby buildings for it to choose to protect. Choose, the Lord¡¯s log house. The Guardian Watchtower emitted light once again, enveloping the Lord¡¯s log house with a ripple of light. [Please select the troops to be stationed, 2 soldiers/1 hero.] Skeleton Infantry. The tier of the troops he had at hand were all tier 1. Among infantrymen and spearmen, which one would be a better gatekeeper? Obviously, the spear weapon of spearmen might not be suitable for deployment in this watchtower. So he chose the Skeleton Infantry. Two Skeleton Infantry quietly walked over and stationed themselves on both sides, guarding the Lord¡¯s log house. Fang Hao circled around the watchtower to inspect it. It felt fairly good. When the territory is further developed, the watchtower will be placed a bit to the side. Next, he wanted to construct a Skeleton Conversion Field, But his stomach released rumbling sounds of protest. Looking at the sky, he found that it was nearing dusk. The setting sun broke through the cracks in the clouds, spilling trails of rosy light. It¡¯s already this late. He lit up a fire, sliced the meat from the warehouse. The Spiritual Field had been built already, with skeletons assigned to watch over it every day. In a few more days, he¡¯d be able to eat vegetables. Eating meat every day was somewhat unbearable, especially without any seasonings, just plain meat. While flipping the meat slices on the grill, he opened the regional channel to see people chatting. ¡°What weapons do your soldiers use? Today I trapped a Prairie Wolf in a trap, it took a long time and quite a bit of effort for me and my soldiers to kill it. Two of them even got injured.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it, I¡¯m worse off than you. I boiled a pot of mushroom soup, went out to use the bathroom, came back and found all my farmers lying on the ground, frothing at the mouth. I¡¯m now acting like a nursemaid, following Dr Zhang¡¯s instructions to detoxify them!¡± Doctors here refer to a new type of vocation. These people have some medical knowledge that ordinary people do not have. When you encounter problems, you can pay resources to consult them, and they provide guidance based on their knowledge. ¡°I feel pity for the brother upstairs, haven¡¯t had any mushrooms for a long time.¡± ¡°? Is that a lady on the floor above? Where¡¯s your territory? Do you want to develop together?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him, Miss. Let¡¯s discuss the problem of enlarging mushrooms in private.¡± ¡°No more nonsense, I¡¯m in urgent need of long spears and bows to kill the Warcraft in the water.. I¡¯m willing to trade a hard wooden shield blueprint, only serious people welcome!¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32, Skeleton Giant Bat (Im Here to Chapter 32: Chapter 32, Skeleton Giant Bat (I¡¯m Here to Ask for Recommendations Again. )_1 Translator: 549690339 [Hardwood Shield (White): Serves L, hardwood planks, 2 hemp ropes.] Even for items that possess the same white attribute, there¡¯s still a range of quality and capability. The shields that Fang Hao currently provided to his skeletons are at the lower end of the white attribute, made out of common wood. In contrast, hardwood shields, which also have a white attribute, are significantly stronger than their wood counterparts. As Fang Hao was enjoying his grilled meat, he became interested in the other party¡¯s message. After giving it some thought, he decided to ask for the other players¡¯ asking price. Immediately, he privately messaged the other player, asking, ¡°What do you want to trade for it?¡± ¡°Holy shit, Fang Hao, big boss. If it¡¯s a trade, it would depend on the type of spear you have.¡± The other player replied. Spears come in different varieties. Currently, the market offers a wood spear, bone spear, and stone spear, all of which possess a white attribute of quality. Of course, they also come in different degrees of quality. Without giving it much thought, Fang Hao replied, ¡°Iron Spear!¡± ¡°Holy shit! The big boss already has iron weapons. Damn!¡± Upon hearing that Fang Hao obtained a blueprint for an iron spear, the other player couldn¡¯t help but get excited. ¡°What would you like to trade? Let me consider,¡± Fang Hao asked again. It seemed the other player was lost in thought as there was a pause before they replied, ¡°I have 12 militia, can I exchange them for 13 iron spears?¡± ¡°A white color blueprint isn¡¯t worth that many iron spears,¡± Fang Hao responded. [Iron Spear: Serves 2 wood, 2 iron.] If manufactured according to the recipe, crafting 13 iron spears would require 26 units of iron. At present, in the region, no lord has reported the discovery of an iron mine. Hence, iron resources remain scarce. Although Fang Hao enjoys the benefits of hundredfold amplification, he has to be careful not to disrupt the market rules with his abilities. Transactions should still generally adhere to the market price. ¡°Big boss, I genuinely need these weapons. Please help a brother out and advise how many you can give,¡± understanding his initial ask was high, the other player urged Fang Hao to name his price after the initial refusal. After a moment of pondering, Fang Hao responded, ¡°I can only give you three iron spears, but if you have 5 units of iron, I can give you 10 damaged iron spears as a temporary measure.¡± Fang Hao then sent the characteristics of the [Damaged Iron Spear]. The damaged iron spear, a spoil of war from defeating the zombie spearmen in the old castle. It¡¯s quite different from a regular iron spear and is already full of rust, worn out heavily. Since there were no blacksmiths in his territory, nobody could repair the equipment. So, it would be better to sell them. However, even in their damaged state, they are still stronger and more lethal than ordinary wood or bone spears. ¡°Big Boss, can you cut me some slack? I only have three units of iron. Can we do the deal with that? I¡¯ll repay the remaining two units later,¡± he pleaded. ¡°Okay, list them!¡± The two players, via a dedicated channel, quickly completed the trade. Three iron spears and ten damaged iron spears disappeared, and Fang Hao ended up with a blueprint of a hardwood shield and three pieces of iron. After saving it to his Book of Lords, the conditions to make the hardwood shield were lit up. Both players ended their private chat. And switched back to public chat. ¡°The hardwood shield blueprint has already been traded with Big Boss Fang Hao. No need to PM me anymore. By the way, Big Boss Fang Hao is awesome!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did you get the AK? You seem so excited.¡± ¡°What the hell did you exchange? I just upgraded to a stone spear.¡± ¡°Did Big Boss Fang Hao already have iron spears?¡± ¡°Shit, Big Boss is awesome. I also want iron weapons.¡± ¡°Big boss is awesome¡­¡± Fang Hao swallowed his last piece of grilled meat and closed the chat. Clearly, his development speed far exceeded most lords. Although it¡¯s an encouraging sign, he can¡¯t get arrogant and complacent. There were too many people from different walks of life crossing over into this world, with countless professionals among them. People die here every day. If he wanted to survive and thrive, he should keep improving himself and his territory tirelessly. After taking a sip of water to rinse his mouth, he instructed a few skeletons to boil some water as he planned to take a good bath before bed. He did not have the luxury before, but now he did. He had all the amenities now, so he could afford to relax a bit. Fang Hao rose from his chair, brushed his butt. He walked around his territory before stopping by an open space near Burial Grounds. He planned to build the Skeleton Transformation Field here. [Skeleton Transformation Field (Rare): Serves 500 wood, 500 stone, 50 hemp ropes, 5 shadowstones.] (Description: The Skeleton Transformation field can convert the buried organism/bones into skeletal soldiers. Depending on the type of organism, the required number of offerings will be consumed for recruiting.) The Skeleton Transformation Field was fundamentally different from a barrack. It required you to capture creatures to unlock related soldier types. Once you have unlocked, you can sacrifice offerings to recruit. After selecting the location, Fang Hao started the construction. A ray of light ascended, and a building appeared before Fang Hao. The Skeleton Transformation Field had a tombstone about two meters high, and in front of it was a pool circled by stones, around five meters in diameter. Inside the pool was soft soil, uneven and rugged. It looked like a dry swimming pool. ¡°Go and bring the corpses of Bloodthirsty Wolfbats here,¡± Fang Hao commanded. Two skeleton soldiers went to the resource pile. In a few trips, they brought the corpses of six Bloodthirsty Wolfbats. ¡°Throw one corpse in,¡± Fang Hao continued. He was curious to see how exactly the Transformation Field works. What would a corpse transform into? Obeying Fang Hao¡¯s command, the two skeleton soldiers tossed one of the Bloodthirsty Wolfbat corpses into the pool. [Bloodthirsty Wolfbat corpse, confirm to transform into skeleton soldier type?] Transform! The next second, the soil in the pool became soft like marshland. The corpse of the Bloodthirsty Wolfbat sank slowly, bit by bit, swallowed by the earth. A minute later, the transformation was completed. [Transformation Completed, gained Skeleton Giant Bat soldier type] The next moment. A skeleton Giant Bat suddenly flew out from the soil and landed on an open space nearby. The giant bat was made up entirely of white bones, except for its wings. The semi-transparent meat membrane was still intact, providing the ability to fly. [Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 3)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerability to Light] [Skills: Dive Attack] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Flight Mastery] (Remark: Skeleton soldiers transformed from corpses retain the characteristics and attack style of their previous life.) Previously, the Bloodthirsty Wolfbat was as large as a grown wolf, with a wingspan reaching about three meters. The current Skeleton Giant Bat, however, was noticeably smaller, more the size of a vulture, and the soldier rank was reduced from Tier 5 to 3. It seemed that the Transformation Field downgrades the strength during the transformation process. Most importantly, the transformed soldier couldn¡¯t trigger the hundredfold augmentation, and Fang Hao only got one Skeleton Giant Bat. ¡°Throw all the corpses in,¡± Fang Hao commanded. Swish! Swish! Swish! The remaining five corpses of the Bloodthirsty Wolfbats were thrown into the Transformation Field. In a short while, five other Tier 3 Skeleton Giant Bats came out and landed nearby. ¡°Not bad.¡± Fang Hao nodded, satisfied. Although it fell short of his expectation, it filled the gap in his air-combat unit.. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33, Incorrigible 1 Chapter 33: Chapter 33, Incorrigible 1 Translator: 549690339 Soaking in the tub, he enjoyed a refreshing bath. Bare-skinned, he stood on the open space, letting the wind dry the water droplets from his body. Although it was late, the night breeze was not cold but rather pleasant. Wait till his body was dry, he then put on his clothes and walked back to the Lord¡¯s wooden house. The lord¡¯s wooden house had undergone substantial changes. The floor was covered with a soft carpet, all the furniture had been transformed, and the nightstone chandeliers emitted a gentle glow. Even at night, it provided sufficient illumination. All these items had been procured from the ancient castle. He planned to decorate the other rooms when there was time in The following day. The lord¡¯s wooden house was an important building in the region. The main hall, along with three bedrooms. Currently, as the only living person in the territory, Fang Hao occupied just one master room. Resting in bed, he casually browsed the regional channel. Finding no interesting news, he instantly turned it off again. He stared for a moment and then cast ¡°God¡¯s Presence,¡± possessing the Skeleton Giant Bat. ¡°God¡¯s Target, Skeleton Giant Bat. Compatibility 45%.¡± The lower the compatibility, the more that body rejected you, and the greater the spiritual power consumed. The higher the compatibility, the better you controlled that body, consuming less spiritual power. Fortunately, Fang Hao only wanted to experience the sensation of flight, not planning to stay for long. Fang Hao looked around, finding himself on the roof of the warehouse. Spreading out the skeletal wings, he attempted to lift off into the sky. Flight was not difficult, but maintaining stable flight and accurately maneuvering past obstacles was somewhat hard. Trying a few times, he got slightly familiar with the controls. Steering the Giant Bat through the obstacles felt similar to a VR flight simulation. Whoo! With a surge of his wings, Fang Hao shot straight into the sky and headed for the outskirts of his territory. The skeleton soldiers were on their patrol duty. The laborer skeletons were tending to the fields, waiting for the potatoes to mature. Fang Hao flew around, observing the surrounding territory under the cover of the night. Suddenly. A flash of light caught his eye. Looking carefully in that direction, he noticed a flicker of firelight in the distant woods. ¡°People?¡± Fang Hao thought to himself. A fire in the vicinity of his territory might not be a good sign. Skeletons don¡¯t need any light, so the presence of firelight implied that other people might be there. Or perhaps something else, remaining in the forest. With this thought, Fang Hao changed his direction and flew towards where the firelight was coming from. On his way, he spotted some wheel tracks left on the ground. Fang Hao suddenly remembered the Pig-Headed Human merchant team that had passed through his territory and headed in this direction. They still haven¡¯t left? Very soon, his suspicion was confirmed. The woods were dense. During the day, the Pig-Headed Humans surrounded the fire pit, whispering among themselves. ¡°Captain, wouldn¡¯t this fire attract that kid¡¯s attention?¡± one of the Pig-Headed Humans asked. Captain Parker, fully armed, heard the words and scoffed, ¡°That kid is not strong enough himself. He¡¯s hiding in his territory and wouldn¡¯t dare to come out. Those low-level skeletons can¡¯t make out what the fire is all about. So don¡¯t worry.¡± He had observed Fang Hao and the skeleton soldiers quite thoroughly. The other Pig-Headed Humans nodded after hearing his words. They stuffed the roasted food from the fire pit into their mouths. While eating, one of them asked, ¡°Captain, what should we do next?¡± I have watched the route of the skeleton patrols. We will avoid them take away all the valuable things, and set everything else on fire in the end. We will not spare him anything,¡± Parker sketched a simple operational map on the ground with a stick and explained softly. The Pig-Headed Humans on the side listened and nodded constantly, indicating they understood. ¡°Captain, won¡¯t this final fire attract their attention?¡± someone asked. Stealing was one thing, but setting a fire in the end seemed a bit too much. You see, a large part of that resource storage place is made of wood. This final fire could burn for several days. If the human territory wasn¡¯t protected by some shield, the whole territory could be reduced to ashes. ¡®We lost so many men. Do we let them die in vain? Don¡¯t you think the human kid deserves some lessons?!¡± Parker chastised softly. ¡°Oh, yes, we will go along with whatever you say, Captain,¡± one of the Pig-Headed Humans said, shrinking his neck. Pig-Headed Human Captain Parker looked at the sky. ¡°Alright. Check your equipment. It¡¯s time to move out.¡± Parker kicked out the fire pit, and several Pig-Headed Humans rushed to prep Fang Hao stood on a tree branch, listening to their conversation without missing a word. Flapping his wings, he dashed into the sky and headed back to his territory. The night was pitch-black. The moon was hidden behind the clouds, leaving only a few stars twinkling constantly. The Pig-Headed Humans rushed out from the edge of the woods, carrying packages on their backs as they quickly advanced toward Fang Hao¡¯s territory. After dodging several skeleton patrols, they smoothly arrived at the resource storage area. ¡°Pack up the valuable things. The nightstones, carpets, portraits, quickly!¡± Parker urged quietly. The rest of the Pig-Headed Humans were excited. These things were worth much more money than selling furs. They rolled up their sleeves, selecting valuable items that they could carry away. Just as they were enjoying the loot. Ha! Suddenly, a yawn sounded from nearby. Caught in the act, the Pig-Headed Humans froze, nervously watching in the direction of the sound. The moonlight was hazy. They saw a man sitting not too far away, calmly watching them. It was Fang Hao, the lord of the territory. Meanwhile, the supposedly relaxed skeleton patrol began to converge on their location, surroundingall the Pig-Headed Humans. ¡°How long have you been sitting there?¡± Parker asked seriously. The Pig-Headed Humans were unsure if Fang Hao had been there all along without them noticing or if he had arrived later. ¡°Just a little late after you,¡± Fang Hao responded calmly. ¡°You knew we were coming?¡± Pig-Headed humans backed up against each other, being cautious of the advancing skeletons. ¡°Kinda. Besides, I found out later.¡± We admit our defeat this time. Let us go, and we will leave right away. We will bring you the money when we return. How does that sound?¡± Parker said earnestly. The skeletons holding spears formed a circle. The spearheads were pointing at them, gradually closing in. ¡°You think this is child¡¯s play, a game? I gave you a chance, but you took my generosity for stupidity.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s voice dropped a few degrees. ¡°No, no¡­¡± Parker attempted to explain, but Fang Hao didn¡¯t give him any opportunity. He directly ordered, ¡°Kill them all.¡± Whoosh! The standby skeletons attacked instantly, like a roaring tsunami upon the Pig-Headed Humans. ¡°Break out, quick!¡± Parker yelled simultaneously. As a group, they charged one side, trying to find a breakthrough point and fight their way out. For a moment, the sound of fighting and cries filled the night air.. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34, Solving Trouble_l Chapter 34: Chapter 34, Solving Trouble_l Translator: 549690339 The fierce battle lasted for twenty minutes. Parker, leading two pig-headed humans and covered in wounds, broke through the besieging skeletons and rushed towards the forest. As long as they made it to the dense woods, they might have a chance of survival. ¡°Trying to escape?¡± Fang Hao gave a cold laugh, stood up, and raised his left hand. A blazing fireball appeared out of thin air and flew in the direction where Parker and the others were fleeing. Paulker, soaked in blood, kept running without daring to look back. Suddenly, intense heat from behind forced him to take a glance. Seeing the magical fireball, his face turned paler with fear. Bang!! Before Parker could react, he was struck and sent flying by the fireball. ¡°Captain!¡± The two other pig-headed humans who were running away cried out in shock. But Parker lay there motionless, his body engulfed by flames. The two pig-headed humans, realizing that their leader was dead, exchanged a glance and continued to flee. However, they had only managed a few steps when several large skeleton bats swooped down from the sky, knocked them over, and ate them alive. Only after all the pig-headed humans had perished did Fang Hao leave his territory. The sizzling smell of roasting flesh wafted from Parker¡¯s far-off corpse, suddenly making him feel hungry. ¡°Collect the spoils of war and throw the corpses into the conversion field,¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The skeletons leaped into action. The pig-headed humans were stripped clean of valuable materials, their corpses thrown into the conversion field to be transformed into Tier 1 skeleton soldiers. [Acquired: Orc Single-edged Knife 27 pieces, Wriggling Spine 8 pieces.) ¡°Restore all the goods to their original places,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The skeletons promptly returned the items that the pig-headed men had scattered back to their designated area. Inside the territory, Fang Hao sat on a bench, watching the pig-headed man with an injured leg in front of him. He was left behind as a hostage. Now, he was the only one alive. ¡°All your members have just been killed by me. Have you anything to say?¡± Fang Hao prodded. It was late in the day, and he was running out of patience for dealing with these pig people. ¡°I know, I heard Parker¡¯s shouts. They were still coveting your wealth. They brought this on themselves,¡± the weak pig-human managed. ¡°I¡¯m curious, what¡¯s your relationship with them? Weren¡¯t they afraid I¡¯d kill you straight out if they stole the goods?¡± Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but ask the nagging question in his mind. The pig-headed man coughed twice before continuing, ¡°I was originally the captain of this team, and Parker was my deputy.¡± The injured pig-human began his tale. They hailed from a pig-human tribe in the north. Their mission was to transport several months¡¯ worth of supplies collected from the Pigmen Village to the Manim Orc Market for sale. En route, his deputy, Parker, suddenly led a mutiny, wounding him and placing him under house arrest. If he wasn¡¯t more familiar with the route to the Manim Market than Parker, he would¡¯ve probably been murdered and dumped in the wilderness by now. And now, the goods are gone. Parker handed him over to Fang Hao, conveniently using him to dispose of a threat. He then assumed leadership unopposed. ¡°Knowing Parker¡¯s intentions, why would you stay and wait for death?¡± Fang Hao pressed further. ¡°There are too few people in the Pigmen Village. If they all died here, the village would be in even more trouble. It¡¯s better that I stay and exchange their lives for mine,¡± the pig-man suggested. ¡°Quite the saint¡­¡± Fang Hao muttered. Surprisingly, this elder pig-man was willing to cooperate with Parker¡¯s charade and serve as the hostage due to this line of thinking. The pig-man didn¡¯t understand what ¡°saint¡± meant, yet he continued, ¡°Sir, I apologize for Parker and his crew¡¯s actions toward you, but these were individual acts. Please don¡¯t take it out on our village.¡± Fang Hao remained quiet, single-mindedly mulling over the old pig-man¡¯s words. Manim Market¡­ With the hundredfold amplification boost, he gained the ability to mass-produce. An open orc market might just be what he needs to make a splash and earn Warfire Coins. ¡°You told a good story. I suppose I could spare your village,¡± Fang Hao finally responded. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Dragging his injured leg, the pig-man knelt before Fang Hao and expressed his gratitude. ¡°But there¡¯s a condition. Stay outside my territory for the night. I¡¯ll tell you what to do tomorrow. Don¡¯t even think about escaping, or your fate will be far worse than your companions¡¯,¡± Fang Hao warned coldly. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Fang Hao left the pig-man a blanket and ordered the skeleton soldiers to keep an eye on him. He then returned to his room for rest. The following morning at daybreak, A light fog rose from the woods, shrouding the land. Fang Hao had rested well the previous night. He stepped out of his home and stretched himself. On the wooden board at the door, he marked down his sixth day in this world. Tomorrow would be the seventh day, when the newbie protection period would end. Each time he thought about it, he was overcome with a sense of urgency. He drew in a deep breath to steady himself. And then he started his morning exercise routine. First a few laps around his territory, followed by five sets of push-ups and sit-ups. After finishing all his exercises, he was slightly drenched in sweat. He commanded the skeletons to boil water for a bath while he prepared breakfast by the fire. He also remembered to supply food to everyone in his domain. Even though the skeletons were not efficient hunters, they still managed to butcher 5 or 6 beasts daily. This ensured an abundant food supply. ¡°Bring in the pig-man from outside the territory,¡± Fang Hao casually ordered as he turned the meat on the spit. A skeleton promptly left to fetch him. [Authorize non-territory resident Bolton to enter the territory?) The protection barrier required the lord¡¯s permission for non-residents to enter the territory. Authorize! Soon enough, the pig-man from yesterday, with a spear pointed at his back and a grim expression, was brought in. Walking briskly to Fang Hao¡¯s side, he respectfully said, ¡°Sir, you asked for me..¡± Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35, Fireblade Tribe 1 Chapter 35: Chapter 35, Fireblade Tribe 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Sit down. I forgot to ask yesterday, what¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao indicated for him to sit. ¡°My name is Bolton, sir.¡± Bolton nervously sat down, starting to speculate why Fang Hao wanted him. Not killing him, but not letting him go either, what was the meaning of this? Fang Hao put the roasted meat in front of him and asked, ¡°Is the Manim Market only open for the Orc tribes to trade?¡± Huh? Bolton was slightly stunned, and understood somewhat. He wasn¡¯t killed because he was interested in the Manim Market. After a moment of thought, he quickly responded, ¡°Not quite, there were humans and dwarves who used to trade here, but that was a long time ago. Now, it¡¯s only between the Orc Tribes.¡± Fang Hao fell silent, his mind quickly working. When he went back to his room to rest the previous night, he seriously thought about the Orc market. Today was the sixth day, and the protection shield would be gone tomorrow. Once their territory lost this protection, it wouldn¡¯t be good for them, the transmigrators. So, while the protection shield was still there, he had better go to the Manim Market to observe, and see if he could trade some supplies. Therefore, he asked for Bolton first thing this morning to gain more understanding. ¡°What about the Undead Clan?¡¯1 Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Er, it would be best to go to the Manim Market in human form, going as an undead might make things more difficult.¡± Bolton hastily answered. Fang Hao nodded, noticing that the other had not touched the meat in front of him. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t eat meat?¡± ¡°No, not the case.¡± Bolton shook his head. Pig-headed humans are omnivores who eat everything. And their digestive system is very good, they are known as iron stomachs, naturally, they eat meat. ¡°Go ahead and eat, having a full meal can help recovery. I have an ample supply of meat in my territory.¡± ¡°Th-thankyou, sir.¡± Bolton carefully looked at Fang Hao and picked up the roasted meat with his hands to eat. Fang Hao continued his inquiries, ¡°At the Manim Market, what sells well?¡± ¡°Slaves, weapons, food crops, they all sell well, then minerals, furs and such,¡± Bolton explained as he ate. Orcs are not good at forging, nor are they good at farming. So weapons and crops sell very well. ¡°Oh!¡± Fang Hao responded and began to eat his meal. The two ate quickly, when Fang Hao was full, Bolton also put down his food, indicating that he was full as well. He put out the fire and cleaned up everything. Fang Hao handed over an iron sword and hardwood shield from a passing soldier to Bolton, ¡°Can this equipment be sold for money?¡± There were skeleton soldiers guarding all around, so he wasn¡¯t worried about Bolton doing anything with the weapon. Bolton carefully looked at the iron sword and shield. He said, ¡°Such ordinary equipment wouldn¡¯t fetch a high price in the Orc market, but it sells fast. If the quantity is large, it could be sold for a good price.¡± Fang Hao nodded and stated his intention. ¡°Bolton, I want to go to the Manim Market to sell a batch of goods, you will act as my guide. After selling the goods, I will let you go and also pay you a reward, what do you say?¡± Fang Hao had a map to the Manim market, but it would be less troublesome if Bolton accompanied him. After all, Manim was an Orc market. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Bolton¡¯s face was bitter. Did he have room to choose? They had captured him and interrogated him, it was just a more gentle command. But he still hoped that Fang Hao would keep his promise and not make it too difficult for him. ¡°I am willing to be your guide, sir,¡± Bolton said. ¡°Good, you wait outside the territory for a while, we¡¯ll set off together later,¡± Fang Hao said. Bolton nodded and under the watch of the skeleton soldiers, he exited the territory. Once Bolton walked out. The tall city walls blocked the outside view. No need to worry about Bolton discovering Fang Hao¡¯s secret. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and began to make iron swords. [Iron Sword: Wood 3, Iron 3, Leather 1.] Set the quantity to 10 pieces. Start crafting! [Hundredfold Amplification activated, acquired 1010 Iron Swords.] A massive number of iron swords appeared on the empty ground in front of him. ¡°Bring the carts over and bundle and load the iron swords,¡± Fang Hao ordered. In a short while, the five carts left behind by the pig-headed humans were brought over. The horses were quite well-behaved, and they didn¡¯t react excessively despite being surrounded by the Undead. The carts were parked aside, and the skeletons loaded the iron swords onto them according to Fang Hao¡¯s instructions. Then, he went to the Burial Grounds, intending to recruit some soldiers. [Hundredfold Amplification activated, recruited 10100 Skeleton Infantry.] [Hundredfold Amplification activated, recruited 20200 Skeleton Spearmen.] From the previous war with the Orcs of the Fireblade Tribe, he collected 1700 spines. Which were still stored in the warehouse and not used yet. Now it was enough for him to squander. He continued to forge iron swords, iron spears, hardwood shields, armor, equipping the newly recruited soldiers. Getting everything ready. With over 30,000 soldiers, accompanying the five carts, they left their territory. Outside the territory, Bolton saw the tens of thousands of skeleton army emerging from the territory with his eyes wide, finding it hard to believe. He had just had breakfast with Fang Hao, and there wasn¡¯t such a large army in the territory at that time. Where did they come from? ¡°Bolton, get in the cart. We¡¯ll need you to lead the way from here,¡± Fang Hao invited from atop the cart. The crowded skeleton army parted a path. Bolton, feeling apprehensive, climbed onto the cart, settling in at the back. ¡°Sir, so many undead might cause panic,¡± Bolton quietly reminded. A small tribe only has a few hundred people. Only a large tribe could rival the population of ten thousand. Mobilizing tens of thousands of soldiers to escort the supplies on these carts, only Fang Hao could do something like this. ¡°No problem,¡± Fang Hao did not explain further. The cart advanced, heading towards the direction of Manim Market. At the same time. To the east of the territory, Fireblade Tribe. The pig-headed human clan leader, who had been wiped out by Fang Hao twice in a row, was now kneeling in the center of the orc hall, shivering uncontrollably. Two nights ago. Over two thousand Orc Warriors were overwhelmed by the Undead Army. He was familiar with the camp¡¯s terrain, hiding in the excrement dump of the camp, narrowly escaping death. Outside the territory, he hesitated for a long time, eventually choosing to come to the Fireblade Tribe to bring back the news of Kedo¡¯s death and ask the Fireblade for revenge. At the same time, he might face the Fireblade¡¯s wrath. But he couldn¡¯t think of so much at this point, for revenge, he could only rely on the power of the Fireblade Tribe. ¡°You say Kedo is dead?¡± A deep voice suddenly sounded. In the seat ahead, a burly orc was sitting. His upper body was naked, revealing a dark red tattoo, along with numerous scars. His beard was whitening, a pair of eyes filled with murderous intent, was staring dead at the pig-headed human clan leader. This was the Clan Leader of the Fireblade Tribe, Kent. In the face of the overwhelming pressure that was flooding in like a tide, the pig-headed human¡¯s body began to tremble uncontrollably, trembling as he answered, ¡°Ye-yes, Lord Kedo was killed by those evil undead, all other members also perished in battle.¡± Bang!! Kent slammed a fist, and the stone table in front of him instantly shattered. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you die?¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36, Orc Market (Seeking recommendations. )_1 Chapter 36: Chapter 36, Orc Market (Seeking recommendations. )_1 Translator: 549690339 Kedo was Kent¡¯s youngest son, and also the son he valued the most. All this time, he had been raised as the heir apparent of the tribe. In the tribe, he was second only to one and above all others. But when Kent heard the news of his son¡¯s death, he was instantly furious, with crimson in his eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you die?¡± Kent roared furiously. Kedo had left the tribe this time in response to a call for help from the Gnoll camp. They said there was a small village nearby the camp, and all the loot from pillaging it would belong to the Fireblade Tribe. The Fireblade Tribe was the largest Orc Tribe in the nearby region. What threat could a village pose? So, he let his son lead the team to it. But in the end, his son died, and the Gnoll clan leader survived, which made Kent suspect something was amiss. The Gnoll Clan Leader looked even more uncomfortable. If he said that he had hidden himself and thus escaped, he would definitely be blamed and killed directly. So, he simply made up a lie that was easy for the other party to accept. ¡°It was Lord Kedo, Lord Kedo hid me. He said I was small and not easy to find, so he told me to bring the news to you, so you can avenge them.¡± Gnolls were small in stature, so this explanation seemed plausible. ¡°What else did Kedo say?¡± Kent closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Kedo said you are a great father, a great warrior, and that you would avenge him,¡± the Gnoll continued to shout loudly. Phew! Kent let out a heavy sigh, continuing, ¡°Alright, talk about that undead village.¡± ¡°Okay, okay!¡± Then, the Gnoll told Kent all about discovering the village and the human lord. ¡°You¡¯re saying, a human can command an undead army?¡± Kent found it hard to believe. ¡°Yes, everyone saw it. The leader of the other side was a human,¡± the Gnoll said loudly. ¡°Come here,¡± Kent beckoned loudly. An orc immediately came in. Kent continued, ¡°Mark the location of the undead village, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to investigate.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The Gnoll quickly drew a simple map. The orc soldier took the map and turned to leave. Kent thought for a moment, then continued, ¡°You are still of some use, I won¡¯t kill you, but Kedo and two-thousand warriors died because of the information you provided.¡± At these words, the Gnoll¡¯s heart jumped. Kent continued, ¡°Bring him out and flog him.¡± An orc soldier immediately came in, grabbed the Gnoll and dragged him out. The Gnoll was startled and cried out, ¡°Lord Kent, I still have use, I know that village, I¡¯ll be useful for sure.¡± This sentence was indeed of some use. Kent said to the departing soldier, ¡°Don¡¯t let him die.¡± Soon after, the sound of loud whips and the painful wails from the Gnoll could be heard outside the house. Meanwhile. The pig-headed Bolton had indeed served as a guide. Leading the caravan, he found a more easily navigable route, thereby avoiding several large beast lairs. You could say that just having a map of the Manim Market was not enough, you also needed to know the optimal route to get there. Fang Hao lay in the carriage. Using God¡¯s Presence, he incarnated into a Skeleton Giant Bat, soaring into the sky and overlooking the land. And in the distance, he could already see the silhouette of a city. With caravans going in and out, that must be the Manim Market. Controlling the giant bat to land on the carriage, Fang Hao returned to his own body and opened his eyes. ¡°Bolton, we¡¯re almost there, right?¡± Fang Hao called out. Bolton was in the first carriage, while Fang Hao was in the third, so he needed to raise his voice to talk. Bolton¡¯s massive pig head looked back, and he also called out, ¡°Yes, sir, it¡¯s just ahead, but I¡¯m afraid your army won¡¯t be able to enter the city.¡± This huge undead army. It would not just be an issue of entering the city, even approaching it could cause panic. If the other party was alarmed and a fight broke out, it would be difficult to retreat peacefully. ¡°You said Manim doesn¡¯t allow fights and looting, does this apply to humans too?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°It applies to everyone, but it has been many years since a human caravan appeared in Manim Market, so you might attract some attention,¡± Bolton said. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Let the army camp nearby when the time comes, you take me in.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Bolton nodded. Fang Hao had also considered this before. Fighting was not allowed inside the Manim Market, and every orc obeyed this rule. Moreover, Fang Hao had ways to protect himself. He had a Teleportation Scroll in his hand, which he could use to escape in case of danger. When they were still a distance away from the Manim Market. The caravan stopped, the skeletons began to set up camp, and built a simple defensive position. The five carriages were already hitched together. Bolton and Fang Hao, driving the carriage, continued to head to the Manim Market. Twenty minutes later, the two arrived at Manim city. The unspectacular grey wall was clad in weeds that sprouted from the mortar between the bricks. Two Tauren guards stood at the gate, checking the incoming and outgoing vehicles. ¡°This place is governed by the Tauren Tribe, led by the fifth tier Hero, Tellock. That¡¯s why no one dares to cause trouble here,¡± Bolton explained softly. There was an absolute difference between heroes and ordinary soldiers. Heroes were more powerful and had more talents and abilities. They were often the leaders, or the backbone of a force. By bringing this up, Bolton was not only introducing Tellock to Fang Hao but also indirectly reminding him not to get into conflicts here. Picking a fight with a fifth-tier hero was not a wise thing to do. Fang Hao nodded, showing that he understood. When the caravan arrived at the city gate, the muscular bare-chested Tauren guards, wielding their battle axes, strode over. ¡°Bolton, here to sell goods, huh?¡± One of the guards called out. Bolton flashed a smile and pointed at Fang Hao, ¡°I¡¯m guiding a friend this time, he¡¯s brought goods and sincerity.¡± The two Tauren guards¡¯ attention fell on Fang Hao. When they saw that he was a young human, the vast Tauren eyes were filled with surprise. ¡°A human? It has been a while since a human came to Manim,¡± one of the guards said quietly. ¡°Yes, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t need me as a guide,¡± Bolton chuckled beside him. The Tauren guards gave a cursory check of the goods and didn¡¯t say much more. He threw over a wooden plate and said, ¡°Teach him the rules, don¡¯t cause trouble in the city.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Bolton hastily agreed. Upon entering the city, the caravan went straight to the market. The sudden appearance of a human in the city attracted a lot of orc¡¯s attention. Many followed closely behind the caravan, intending to see what goods this human would sell. By the time they reached the market and exchanged the wooden plate for a stall, there was already a crowd of Orcs gathered behind the carriage. Lifting the oilcloth over the carriages revealed rows of iron swords. ¡°Come look! Weapons from the Human Clan! You can buy them with money or trade them with blueprints or special materials, come take a look!¡± Bolton began loudly hawking his wares.. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37, Bunny Girl_i Chapter 37: Chapter 37, Bunny Girl_i Translator: 549690339 | Bolton shouted out loud. This immediately caught the attention of the surrounding Orcs. They all gazed curiously. ¡°Bolton, when did your tribe start getting cozy with humans?¡± an orc in the crowd shouted out. Bolton didn¡¯t take offence but replied, ¡°Helping a friend sell some goods, all top-notch weapons, come take a look if interested.¡± Orcs are experts in warfare and looting. Most of the time, they are either engaging in battle or looking for fights. The demand for weapons and equipment has always been high. ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡± One of the Orcs stepped forward, picking up an iron sword and swinging it twice. ¡°One Warfire Coin each, you can also trade with blueprints and special materials, we can negotiate.¡± Bolton continued to shout. These are just ordinary equipment, and you dare ask for a Warfire Coin each? Are you not too greedy?¡± Someone else questioned loudly. Several other people in the vicinity chimed in agreement. ¡°Everyone knows the market rate, one Warfire Coin each, no bargaining!¡± Bolton hollered. The crowd fell into a brief silence. Soon, someone shouted, ¡°I¡¯ll take a hundred.¡± Alright, please come this way for payment and then you can take your goods.¡± The orc went up to Fang Hao, opened his bag made from beast skin, and handed him too Warfire Coins. Fang Hao took out a hundred iron swords from the car and let the buyer take them away. The common currency among the Orc Tribes is Beasthead Gold, but due to inferior craftsmanship, the gold content varies greatly. Warfire Coins, on the other hand, are universal. They are used in both large trade markets and private transactions. Warfire Coins are always the mainstream transaction currency, so there¡¯s no need to worry about not being able to spend them. Once someone started buying, other Orcs who needed weapons also began to make purchases. In less than half an hour, more than three hundred had been sold. The amount of Warfire Coins in the wooden box behind Fang Hao quickly accumulated. Just a few days ago, Fang Hao was worried about where to get Warfire Coins, yet making money seemed so easy now. ¡°I want 50 iron swords.¡± An Orc stepped forward, pulled out his wallet, and hesitated, ¡°Can I trade with blueprints?¡± ¡°It depends on the blueprint, I don¡¯t need all of them.¡± Fang Hao responded. ¡°Well, see for yourself.¡± The Orc took out a blueprint and handed it over. Fang Hao took it and glanced at it. [Arrow Tower Building Blueprint (White)] That one was alright; Fang Hao didn¡¯t have it yet. ¡°10 swords.¡± Fang Hao quoted a price. Really? I¡¯ll trade it then and buy the remaining weapons with Warfire Coins.¡± The Orc seemed pleased. That left Fang Hao feeling like he had made a loss. The Orc pulled out 40 more Warfire Coins and took 50 iron swords. ¡°I also have a blueprint. Let¡¯s see how many swords you¡¯ll give me for it.¡± The next orc pulled out a blueprint. [Beast Skin Boot Blueprint (White)] 5 swords.¡± Fang Hao quoted a price. His price was somewhat higher than that of the Skeleton merchant. Fang Hao had his own plans for this. He could motivate more orcs to trade blueprints, thus increasing his own collection. ¡°Alright!¡± The Orc traded for 5 iron swords. Another Orc approached. ¡°See how much these are worth.¡± He said, handing over some items. [Essence of Magic, a trace of Spring water.] Fang Hao frowned as he looked at the items in his hand. Both the essence and traces were very rare resources. For those in need, these were very valuable. 5 swords each.¡± Fang Hao named the same price as for the white blueprints. The Orc sunk into contemplation, evidently dissatisfied with the price. As the other Orcs began to get impatient, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll trade. Plus 40 swords, paid with Warfire Coins.¡± Fang Hao nodded, collected the money, and made the trade. As more trades proceeded smoothly, those who came with blueprints and special resources had a clearer sense of the procedure. Everyone who traded was accepting of the price. Bang! At that moment, a figure was thrown at Fang Hao¡¯s feet. ¡°How much can she be exchanged for?¡± The speaker was a traditional orc with a wicked-looking face, sporting a curved knife at his waist. At his feet was a female. She had a slender figure, a pretty face, and particularly noticeable were the pair of long ears on top of her head; it reminded Fang Hao of the occupational term bunny girl from movies. The bunny girl appeared to be young, curled up on the ground in terror, her face ghostly white, her body trembling uncontrollably. She was wearing coarse clothes that barely covered her body; the neckline was very low, revealing her full breasts. ¡°You want to sell her?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Of course, tell me how much you want for her. It will save me taking her to your human city.¡± The Orc said loudly. Human and Orc aesthetics vary. In the Orc Kingdom, human-looking and physically frail breeds like the Rabbit Clan aren¡¯t favored by males; They are almost considered alien. However, these bunny girls are very popular in human camps. They can bring a good price if sold to a wealthy nobleman, or someone eager to taste an Orcish flavor. Therefore, women of the Rabbit Clan become slaves and are taken to humans for sale. ¡°How many are you hoping for?¡± Fang Hao asked back. With his 100-fold amplification, any trade would be beneficial to him. However, he was unsure how to appraise a person¡¯s worth and lacked any reference case. ¡°100 swords, 100 swords, and this woman is yours. Have fun with her once you get back.¡± The Orc said lasciviously. ¡°That¡¯s too much, 50 swords. An Orc slave isn¡¯t worth 100 Warfire Coins.¡± Fang Hao shook his head slightly. Although he wasn¡¯t sure about the price, he knew the Orc was definitely inflating it. Based on his experience from the market, halving the asking price was reasonable enough. The Orc pondered. He said, ¡°Stop screwing around, don¡¯t you want to have a taste of an orc? She just came of age and has never been touched by a man.¡± ¡°50, no more.¡± ¡°90.¡± ¡°50.¡± ¡°Stop joking around, it would be better to sell her to a human city. My final price is 60.¡± The Orc finally gave his lowest price. ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. ¡°Haha, okay, she¡¯s yours now.¡± The Orc laughed loudly. He pushed the bunny girl towards Fang Hao, along with a slave identification card for the bunny girl. The bunny girl stumbled until she was standing next to Fang Hao, her head lowered, her face pale as a ghost. Her eyes were filled with tears as she bit her lips to prevent herself from crying. The bunny girl¡¯s appearance might not satisfy Orc aesthetics, but she fulfilled all of a man¡¯s fantasies about women. Cute face, full bust, perky backside, standing at about 1.7 meters, a pair of straight, killer legs that really turned heads. The pair of rabbit ears on her head and the white bunny tail on her rear end were enough to kill. ¡°Alright, stop crying. What¡¯s your name and can you count?¡± Fang Hao tried to sound as gentle as possible. ¡°Master, my name is Eira, and yes, I can count.¡± Eira replied in a small voice, still sobbing softly. Eira, your job is to bundle up the weapons for the customers.¡± Yes, Master.¡± as she wiped away her tears, she responded.. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38, Bronze Bull Order 1 Chapter 38: Chapter 38, Bronze Bull Order 1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao collected the money. On the side, Eira, the rabbit girl, bundled up the iron swords purchased by the customers with hemp rope for easy carrying. For a while, the three formed a certain understanding. The number of iron swords on the cart decreased rapidly. Three hours later. The iron swords on the cart were finally sold out, replaced by boxes of Warfire Coins and supplies. Fang Hao took stock of his earnings. [Warfire Coins: 742, Blueprint of Arrow Tower, Blueprint of Harvest Statue, Blueprint for Beast Skin Boots, Blueprint for Long Bow, Blueprint for Iron Arrow.] [Natural Gems: 12, Essence of Magic: 3, Trace of the Spring: 4, Trace of the Earth: 2, Trace of Hunting: 1.] Looking at the list of earnings, Fang Hao nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, only by leaving the mountains can one find the path to wealth. These white-quality iron swords, while not of high value individually, became exceedingly profitable in large quantities. With all the goods sold out, Fang Hao saw no reason to linger. After all, this is Orc territory. Safety is always a concern. ¡°Bolton, what do you plan to do? Stay here, or come back with me?¡± Fang Hao asked Bolton, who was standing by his side. He then took out 50 Warfire Coins, put them in a leather purse, and threw it to Bolton. Bolton had played a significant role in making this a smooth sail. As agreed, upon reaching this place, Bolton was free to leave. ¡°Thank you, sir. With this money, I plan to buy some supplies and return to my tribe.¡± Bolton said with delight as he caught the money bag. This money compensated for the lost goods. ¡°Good. Be careful on your way back.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t insist on him staying. Bolton looked a little embarrassed. To him, a human who can control an army of the Undead was more dangerous than anything else. He wished he could quickly please his master and then be allowed to leave. ¡°Yes, sir. I will be careful.¡± Bolton said softly. ¡°Hmm!¡± Fang Hao nodded, driving the carriage, ready to leave with Eira. He planned to meet up with his undead army and return to his territory as soon as possible. Just as he was about to leave, an approaching squad of Tauren stopped his carriage in the middle of the road. ¡°This human guest, the Chieftain wishes to see you. He awaits you in the Chieftain¡¯s Hall.¡± said one of the Tauren. Fang Hao furrowed his brows, beginning to ponder their intentions. From their attitude, it didn¡¯t seem like they wanted to rob him of his money. But he didn¡¯t seem to have any contact with the Tauren chieftain. ¡°My goods¡­¡± Fang Hao looked hesitant as he glanced over his shoulder to the goods on his cart. The wooden crates on the cart held over 700 Warfire Coins and precious materials. ¡°Rest assured, we shall look after them. There will be no problems.¡± continued the Tauren guard. Since they said this, Fang Hao didn¡¯t really have any good reason to refuse, and he was rather curious about these heroes. ¡°Fine, lead the way.¡± Fang Hao said. The Tauren led the way into the innermost part of the city. The place truly looked like a city, with taverns, smithies, and busy Orcs, each preoccupied with their tasks. He led Fang Hao further to a building brimming with tribal aura. ¡°Chieftain, the guest has arrived.¡± reported the guard standing by the door. ¡°Let him in then!¡± A deep voice rang out from inside the room. The Tauren guards cleared the path, allowing Fang Hao to stride in. The chief¡¯s hall was very spacious. At the head of the hall sat a gigantic Tauren. Standing nearly 2.5 meters tall, his bronze skin gave off a faint metallic sheen. His chest muscles, block-like in shape, exuded immense power. Fang Hao didn¡¯t doubt that this guy could kill him with a single punch. [Bronze Bull ¨C Talok (Purple-tier Five-star Hero)] There was a brief silence in the hall. Fang Hao scanned the Tauren, while the latter similarly observed him. Talok certainly hadn¡¯t expected the human who arrived here alone to be so young and thin. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Talok said in a deep voice. Thank you.¡± Fang Hao sat down on a nearby large seat. Human friend, my name is Talok, how should I address you?¡± Talok¡¯s attitude was very friendly. ¡°My name is Fang Hao, nice to meet you, Chief Talok.¡± ¡°Ha ha, I like you, intelligent human.¡± Talok burst into laughter, his voice echoing like a resonant bell and somewhat ear-piercing. Fang Hao gave a faint smile. ¡°By the way, are these equipment you forged?¡± Talok picked up an iron sword from the ground. Held in his hand, it looked more like a dagger. It happened to be one of the iron swords that Fang Hao had just sold in the market. Talok had also arranged for someone to buy one. Yes, Chief Talok.¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°So you mean to say, your territory has many blacksmiths, able to produce numerous weapons with similar workmanship?¡± Talok continued to inquire. Well¡­ Fang Hao found it hard to respond. As a lord who had traveled through time, he could use the Book of Lords to create weapons. Creating the same type of item meant that the quality was fairly similar, even identical in some cases. ¡°Indeed, I can mass-produce certain equipment.¡± Fang Hao replied vaguely. ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll be straightforward. I want to place an order for a batch of weapons, and pay with Warfire Coins.¡± Talok went on. Fang Hao was intrigued. So there were customers who took the initiative to come forward? ¡°Iron swords?¡± ¡°No, these weapons are too light for us. I want to order battle axes, 3000 of them.¡± Fang Hao was suddenly in a dilemma. He didn¡¯t have blueprints for battle axes. ¡°Chief Talok, I don¡¯t have any suitable blueprints for the battle axes that you need.¡± Fang Hao said, slightly embarrassed. A customer was giving you money, but you couldn¡¯t produce what he wanted. He wasn¡¯t being a competent seller. ¡°Ha ha, that¡¯s not a problem. I have battle axe blueprints here. If you¡¯re willing to take the order, they can serve as your advance payment.¡± Talok let out a hearty laugh. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes brightened up. Could there be such a good deal? ¡°What¡¯s the price? What kind of price are you willing to offer for a battle axe?¡± ¡°8 Warfire Coins. When can you deliver?¡± Talok¡¯s smile faded, and he fixed his gaze on Fang Hao. ¡°Three days, I¡¯ll deliver the goods to you in three days. Is that acceptable?¡± Fang Hao replied calmly. Hearing the three-day delivery, Talok took a deep look at him. 3000 battle axes can be completed in three days? Just how many blacksmiths did he have in his hands? ¡°Are you sure you can deliver them in three days?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Hao responded confidently. ¡°Good.¡± Talok had someone bring the blueprint and handed it to Fang Hao. [Battle Axe (Green): Wood: 3, Iron: 12, Leather: 2.] A green-tier equipment, it looked rather decent. Also, to suit the large stature of the Tauren, the iron consumption for this type of battle axe was several times that of regular ironwork. Then I¡¯ll be going back now, and have your weapons ready and delivered as soon as possible.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Good. Don¡¯t forget about the schedule.¡± Fang Hao exited the Chief¡¯s Hall. Eira was still sitting on the cart, waiting for him. ¡°Master.¡± Eira whispered. ¡°Hmm, nobody has stolen our money, right?¡± Fang Hao climbed onto the cart and casually inquired. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go then.¡± Driving the cart, they set off for the city¡¯s outskirts.. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39, Orc Raid_l Chapter 39: Chapter 39, Orc Raid_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao and Eira, riding a horse cart, left Manim Market. To avoid causing panic and unnecessary troubles among the Orcs. The camping spot of the Skeleton army was a twenty-minute journey from Manim Market. Now, they were on their way to the camping site to rendezvous with the Skeleton army. On the road, Eira kept her head low, appearing cautious and careful the entire time. ¡°How did you become a slave?¡± Fang Hao casually asked. There was indeed a lack of human presence in his territory. Being constantly surrounded by cardboard cutout skeletons was something Fang Hao had grown tired of, and this was also why he agreed to purchase Eira. Who could resist the addition of a charming bunny girl? ¡°Our village was attacked, the survivors scattered, I was captured and became a slave,¡± Eira explained softly. The Orc Tribe only respects strength. All rules are based on power. For weak races like the Rabbitmen Clan, even if they were willing to become a vassal of other tribes, few powerful tribes would accept them. Once a village was wiped out, there would be people hunting for valuable folks, branding them as slaves. Slave masters would train their slaves to not resist against their masters, making them easier to sell. ¡°Do you have any family left or any kin?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Eira shook her head, indicating that she had no family left. Being members of the Rabbitmen Clan, they were weak and not suited to the Orc lifestyle. ¡°Interestingly, I¡¯m alone too. No worries, we need to look forward.¡± Fang Hao drove the horse kart and murmurmed. Only then did Eira lift up her head, looking curiously at Fang Hao before quickly lowering it again. [The Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s Eira¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 75.] A system prompt suddenly appeared. Loyalty? Right, the system had mentioned loyalty on the first day after Fang Hao¡¯s arrival. If loyalty was too low, farmers or soldiers would become unproductive or even desert. He had been dealing with not-so-intelligent skeletons all along and almost forgot about this matter. But, he didn¡¯t really say anything just now, yet her loyalty increased. He immediately checked Eira¡¯s attributes. [Eira (Tier 1)] [Faction: Orcs] [Race Traits: Living creature, Agile, Alert.] [Skills: Half-moon kick, Head Cook.] [Innate Abilities: Basic Combat Mastery, Basic Sword Mastery.] [Living Creature]: This type can be healed, affected by morale, emotion, etc. Is immune to Bone Manipulation Technique and similar abilities. [Agility]: Agile body, has far superior speed than average, capable of performing difficult moves. [Alert]: Rabbitmen Clan, naturally alert, can sense danger. [Head Cook]: Familiar with cooking recipes, has capability to innovate in cooking, food can increase the morale of living creatures. [Half-moon kick]: Spins in mid-air, kicks in a half-moon pattern causing damage to the enemy. (Description: Rabbitmen Clan differs from other Orcs, they don¡¯t believe in ¡®strike first, think later¡¯, rather they prefer to think first.) Not bad at all. Although only tier 1, Fang Hao had no expectations of her participating in battles. The cart continued to move forward, they were nearing the Skeleton camp. Once past the hillock ahead, they would reach the location of the Skeleton camp. After all, undead creatures had a bad reputation, so they chose a rather hidden place when setting up the camp. At that point. Eira¡¯s pristine rabbit ears twitched suddenly. Her head jolted up instantaneously, her eyes filled with horror as she looked to the left. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Hao noticed Eira¡¯s action. ¡°Master, a crowd is approaching rapidly,¡± Eira said anxiously. ¡°What?¡± Fang Hao was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t heard anything. He looked to his left, but the forest blocked his view and he couldn¡¯t see anyone. However, Fang Hao knew that given Eira¡¯s character, she wouldn¡¯t joke around at a time like this, and her innate ability of alertness suggested that someone was indeed approaching. ¡°Watch me!¡± Fang Hao said, then immediately deployed God¡¯s Presence. ¡°Huh?¡± Eira didn¡¯t understand what Fang Hao was saying, but the next second she saw him collapse weakly. She swiftly caught Fang Hao and took hold of the horse cart reins, continuing to drive it forward. A skeleton camp in the mountain valley. Blue flames ignited within the body of the Skeleton Giant Bat. [God¡¯s Presence Target: Skeleton Giant Bat, Compatibility 45%.] The next second, Fang Hao, controlling the Skeleton Giant Bat, soared into the sky. Looking down on the earth, Eira could be seen driving the horse cart, slowly approaching this place, and indeed, behind the forest on the left of the cart, dozens of orcs were rapidly closing in. And their target was his horse cart. ¡°Greed truly is a death warrant,¡± Fang Hao muttered. These orcs were clearly coveting the wealth Fang Hao had acquired. Unable to make a move in Manim Market, they planned to stop Fang Hao¡¯s convoy on the road. After all, the party consisted of only Fang Hao and Eira. It was as vulnerable as a sheep. After clarifying the situation, Fang Hao descended and started directing the skeleton army, making preparations. The five horse carts moving together had significantly slowed their speed. Meanwhile, orc figures were now visible emerging from the forest on the left, running towards the direction of the cart. Fang Hao cancelled his God¡¯s Presence, directed the cart away from the main path, and moved towards the front-right. He charged into the mountain recess. However, the incoming orcs had blocked Fang Hao¡¯s route, surrounding the convoy. Looking at the mob of orcs, Fang Hao was not at all nervous and said calmly, ¡°The rules of the Manim Market prohibit any force from looting. Are you planning to break the rules?¡± ¡°Heh! If we kill you two, who will know we did it?¡± An orc sneered. His gaze, however, was continuously scanning the boxes on the horse cart. The convoy was surrounded by the orc party who blocked Fang Hao¡¯s way out. They knew that the dilapidated wooden box was filled with Warfire Coins. If they could rob it, they would amass a fortune. How could they not be tempted? ¡°So, no room for negotiation?¡± Fang Hao unflinchingly asked. ¡°Haha! Interesting human, you think you could still make it out alive?¡± The orcs laughed arrogantly. ¡°We will skin you alive, chop you to pieces, make a stew out of you and share it among ourselves.¡± The orc licked his lips, ¡°You won¡¯t even have a body left, who would know how you died.¡± The orcs chuckled and laughed, as if they were teasing their prey. ¡°Remember to throw away his brains, he¡¯s a dumbass. Eating it might affect our intelligence,¡± another orc loudly added. On the main road, the orcs were somewhat cautious. But they didn¡¯t expect this human to be an idiot, driving the horse cart into this recess of the mountains. What a good place to kill and loot. While the orcs were discussing their ¡®menu¡¯, deciding how to cook the two of them, Eira asked with a trembling voice, ¡°Mas- ¨C Master, what should we do?¡± She thought to herself how unlucky she was. She had just been sold to a human being and had run into such trouble. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they are merely sacrifices.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. The noisy surroundings suddenly went silent. Anger surfaced on the faces of the orcs. They found this human incredibly arrogant, they considered his insults towards them even while facing death quite outrageous. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re asking for death, let¡¯s get him. The money will be equally shared amongst us,¡± ordered the leading orc coldly. The rest of the orcs, roaring angrily, prepared to slaughter this presumptuous human. Creak, creak, creak!! Then, a series of intensive sounds, like the rubbing of bones, echoed around them. Next, undead skeletons, equipped with armor and weapons, emerged from behind the hollow, surrounding everyone.. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40, Want to become a skeleton? _1 Chapter 40: Chapter 40, Want to become a skeleton? _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are there so many Undead here?¡± the orcs¡¯ faces changed dramatically. But no one was able to provide an effective answer. More than twenty orcs, relying on each other, watched solemnly as the skeletons gradually tightened their encirclement. It was only when they noticed that a group of skeleton soldiers were protecting a human that they realized that all this was a trick of this human. ¡°Boy, who the hell are you?¡± the orc shouted. Fang Hao gave a faint smile and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Have you guys figured out how to eat me? My brain might taste good, and it might not make you dumber if you eat it.¡± The undead soldiers continued to close in on them. The orcs, however, were not in the mood to discuss whether they should eat brains. ¡°Kill, let¡¯s break out together!¡± the orc shouted. The rest of the orcs nodded in agreement. Of course, Fang Hao also had no wish to delay any longer and simply commanded: ¡°Kill them all.¡± Woosh! The moment the command was issued, the skeletons launched an attack, flooding the orc forces instantly. After less than five minutes of battle, the world returned to calm. ¡°Collect the loot, bury the bodies,¡± Fang Hao ordered indifferently. This sort of thing happened too often. To him, these twenty-something individuals were merely a one-sided slaughter. Soon, the bodies were buried, and the spoils transferred onto the cart. [Rewards: 8 Wriggling Spines, 22 Orc Weapons, 15 Orc Armor, 43 Warfire Coins.] Well, it counts as a small harvest. The orc weapons and orc armor weren¡¯t of much use to Fang Hao. The most useful things were the Wriggling Spines and the Warfire Coins. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back to our territory,¡± Fang Hao said. Numerous skeleton soldiers surrounded the cart and headed in the direction of their territory. Eira¡¯s eyes bulged as she watched the scene unfold in disbelief. Sitting in the back of the cart, it took her a while to make sense of everything. What¡¯s going on? Her master didn¡¯t seem to be an ordinary human. He commanded such an enormous skeleton army. Could he be disguised as a human, yet part of the Undead Clan? Would she be turned into one of these skeletons if she followed him back? Thinking of this, Eira¡¯s body involuntarily trembled again. [Loyalty of Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s Eira towards you has decreased by 5 points, currently at 70.] The task of driving the carriage had been handed over to the skeletons. Fang Hao was lying in the cart resting when he suddenly got notified that Eira¡¯s loyalty had decreased, which caused him to feel slightly taken aback. When they were surrounded by orcs just now, Eira¡¯s loyalty did not change, and she seemed to be ready to share the danger and adversity with him. Now that the danger was over, why did her loyalty decrease? ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you hungry? 1 have some dried meat here, you can eat some first,¡± Fang Hao said, tossing the bag of dried meat over to her. Eira held it in her arms, her large eyes shifting a little. ¡°Right, do you eat meat?¡± Fang Hao suddenly remembered, do rabbits eat meat? ¡°Thank you, Master. I eat anything, and very little of it,¡± Eira answered in a crisp voice, opening the bag and putting a small piece of dried meat in her mouth to chew. Rabbitmen weren¡¯t rabbits. Their eating habits weren¡¯t much different from that of humans. They¡¯re omnivores. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to worry too much, I¡¯m not one of those slave traders, I won¡¯t harm you,¡± Fang Hao explained on the side. Eira nibbled on her dried meat, her large eyes occasionally stealing glances at Fang Hao. The Rabbitmen and Human Clan had similar aesthetics. Looking closely at Fang Hao now, his eyes were deep, his features distinct. He was actually quite attractive. ¡°Master, will you turn me into a skeleton too?¡± Eira raised her head, looking at Fang Hao. Large, moist eyes, filled with a pitiful expression. At her words, Fang Hao was taken aback. ¡®¡öDo you want to become a skeleton?¡± Fang Hao asked in surprise. ¡°No, no, Eira doesn¡¯t want to become a skeleton. Eira will behave and serve the master well. Please don¡¯t turn Eira into a skeleton,¡± Eira directly kneeled in front of Fang Hao, her forehead lowered deeply. The clothes barely covering her skin fell slightly, revealing a large part of her delicate skin. No wonder the slave master had demanded such a steep price. This rabbitman had an appearance that truly satisfied the demands of human males. Fang Hao lightly coughed, turning his gaze away, and said, ¡°Alright, get up. I have no plans to turn you into a skeleton, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Eira raised her head, glanced around at the neatly arranged skeleton army. ¡ö¡öWhy would I lie to you? You don¡¯t have to be too formal. No one in the territory would bully you. You can live comfortably and do things you like,¡± Fang Hao said casually. ¡°Thank you, Master. I will definitely take good care of the master,¡± Eira¡¯s furrowed brows finally relaxed, revealing a smile. Fang Hao¡¯s face warmed slightly. Being addressed as ¡®Master¡¯ by a bunny girl was somewhat embarrassing. [Rabbitman Eira¡¯s loyalty towards you has increased by 10 points, currently at 80.] ¡°Alright, rest for a bit. If you are hungry, eat some jerky. It will be better once we reach the territory.¡± Having said that, Fang Hao laid down on the cart, opening the Book of Lords to pass the time. As he opened the local channel, he saw a message. -Fuck, can the Book of Lords take pictures? There is a huge army of skeletons passing by not far from my territory, easily tens of thousands.¡± ¡°Respect to the soldiers, I¡¯d advise you to show some respect.¡± ¡°I knelt and watched them leave, how else should I show respect? ¡°I¡¯m Zhang Qilin, 500 lumber, 1 offer you a drop of kyhn blood. ¡°I¡¯m disciple of Uncle Nine, 400 resources, I offer you fortune-telling!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Diga¡­¡± Watching the frenzied scrolling of messages, Fang Hao looked around. Indeed, in the rear, he saw a territory protected by a shield. The territory had no walls, but was simply surrounded by wood. Figures could be seen looking his direction, but the faces were unclear. Having seen this, Fang Hao paid it no more attention. As dusk approached, the massive convoy finally returned to the territory. Only when the carriage entered the territory did Eira realize the terrifying number of skeletons present within Fang Hao¡¯s domain. Patrolling squads, those farming, those transporting resources. All were skeletons. This wasn¡¯t a human city, it was an undead gathering place. ¡ö¡öMove all these into the hall, be careful not to break them,¡± Fang Hao pointed to the crates holding Warfire Coins. The crates weren¡¯t large, and it was safest to keep them in the Lord¡¯s wooden house. The remaining resources were sent to the warehouse for storage. ¡°Eira!¡± ¡°Master, your orders,¡± Eira immediately approached, replying respectfully. ¡°There¡¯S meat in the warehouse, prepare dinner. It¡¯s just for the two of us, they don¡¯t need to eat,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, understood Master,¡± Eira replied immediately, busying herself with the task. She began to light the fire, preparing dinner. And Fang Hao, after drinking a sip of water, began to continue building with the resources he obtained today. ¡°Level 1 Arrow Tower: Lumber 500, Stone 350, Thatch 280, Hemp Rope 200.¡± (Description: The Arrow Tower is one of the important parts of defending a base. It can be placed within the castle for early detection of enemy movement and also conduct ranged firepower attacks against enemies within its range..) Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41, Harvest Statue l Chapter 41: Chapter 41, Harvest Statue l Translator: 549690339 Arrow towers should be set up on the city walls. After looking around at his territory, he finally chose the four corners of the city walls as the positions to place the arrow towers. The Lord¡¯s Cottage had just reached level three, and the area of the city was about the scale of a larger village. It was not like a giant city where one side of the city wall extended for hundreds of meters. Building four arrow towers was enough for now, the number could be increased after the city wall is upgraded and expanded. After choosing the location, he directly chose to build. Corner of the city walls. One after another, their radiance lit up. Four arrow towers were successfully built. About 5 meters tall, it has a stone base and a wooden platform at the top. Archers could be stationed there for guard duty and long-range attacks. [Level One Arrow Tower] [Placement: 0/3] [Materials Needed for Upgrading: Wood 750, Stone 600, Straw 150, Hemp Ropes 330.] He then upgraded all four level one arrow towers to level three. [Level Three Arrow Tower] [Placement: 0/4] [Materials Needed for Upgrading: Wood 1500, Stone 1300, Hemp Ropes 800, Bricks 400.] (Description: The arrow tower is one of the important parts of a base¡¯s defense, they can be placed within the castle to observe the enemy¡¯s actions earlier and also provide firepower attacks against enemies within the range.) The level three Arrow Tower¡¯s height was close to 7 meters, standing towering high. Ideally, you can place 4 archers on each tower to scout the enemy outside the territory and attack. But Fang Hao had no archers, so he had to assign skeleton soldiers temporarily as crossbowmen. ¡°You guys, go to the warehouse and switch your weapons to crossbows.¡± Fang Hao selected 16 skeleton soldiers and asked them to change their weapons. The skeleton soldiers patrolling mechanically stopped their steps. They turned and headed towards the warehouse. Fang Hao took this opportunity to open the Book of Lords and start crafting iron arrows. Among the blueprints exchanged from the orc market, there was a blueprint production for iron arrows, which had been recorded in the Book of Lords. [Iron Arrow: Wood 1, Iron 1.] Quantity selected was 10. Produce! [A hundred times amplification triggered, obtained 1010 iron arrows.] Just as the production was completed, the 16 skeleton soldiers appeared with crossbows in their hands. ¡°Take the arrows and get to the arrow tower.¡± The skeleton soldiers picked up the bundles of arrows on the ground and climbed up the arrow tower in groups of four. After constructing the arrow towers, Fang Hao continued to flip through the Book of Lords. Check the buildings that can be built. [Harvest Statue (Blue)] [Type: Unique Building] [Effect: Planting, Gathering +10%] (Description: The goddess blessed this piece of land, abundant leaves and fruits, and a rich yield of grains.) [Construction Requires: Wood 320, Stone 1200, Natural Gem 5, Essence of Magic 2, Trace of the Earth 3, Trace of the Forest 3.] Oh my, God! Seeing the blueprint attribute, Fang Hao exclaimed. He had not noticed before, it seemed he had found a treasure. The Harvest Statue, incredibly enhanced the planting and gathering in the territory. This effect, was as good as a top-notch equipment. Suppressing the joy in his heart. After making a round within his territory, Fang Hao decided to place the statue in the center of the territory. Fortunately, there were enough materials, so he straightaway chose to build. A blue light ascended, slowly unveiling the outline of the statue. This construction took a full 5 minutes. When the light dissipated. There stood a delicately sculpted goddess statue right before his eyes. The pedestal was about 3 meters high, on top of which was the image of a beautiful mother goddess wearing a crown with a serious expression, stretching her arms forward as if bestowing the earth. Then, a faint light brightened, spreading and stretching across the entire territory. The statue¡¯s self-effect also came into effect at this moment. Considering the current situation, the development of the territory was quite good. There were enough people and defensive structures like city walls and arrow towers had also been built. Even without the protection of the newbie protective shield, there was certain self-protection ability. When encountered with forces like the Gnoll Camp, or about ten thousand, whose ranks were not much different, Fang Hao also had enough self-protection ability. For the undead, war is a sufficient source of nourishment. Unless in a battle, Fang Hao is completely killed. Otherwise, with the Wriggling Spine, combined with the ability of a hundredfold amplification, It would be like a snowball, the more people, the stronger, the stronger. Growing fast and large in wars. ¡°Master, dinner is ready, you can eat now.¡± As Fang Hao was daydreaming, Eira had already prepared dinner. Fang Hao walked over and could already smell the aroma permeating the air. On the table, there was vegetable soup and meat steak. Not only was the aroma pronounced, but everything also looked quite good. Seeing it just made you want to eat more. He sat on the bench, took a bite of the meat, and nodded in satisfaction. The cooking was just right and very delicious. It was better than his cooking just a little bit. Just as he was about to take the second bite, he noticed that Eira was standing to the side, eagerly looking at the food, constantly swallowing. ¡°What are you looking at? Sit down and eat.¡± Fang Hao curiously said. He remembered Eira saying that the Rabbitmen Clan also eat meat. Why is she not eating now? ¡°Huh? Eira is not hungry, I will eat after the master finishes.¡± said Eira softly. The treatment of slaves was not as good as Fang Hao¡¯s. There were not a few who starved to death alive, let alone eating meat, it was a difficult thing to even fill the belly. And also, slaves were not allowed to dine with their masters. Regardless, Eira kept saying she wasn¡¯t hungry, her eyes were fixed on the food in the pot, and she kept swallowing. ¡°Alright, there are no such rules here, sit down and eat together. Only if you have eaten enough, you can do well at work.¡± Fang Hao said. Eira still hesitated, she took a step forward, but then retracted it. ¡°Come on, sit down and eat.¡± Fang Hao continued to urge. Only then did Eira sit down carefully, she was as obedient as a wronged child. She scooped up a bowl of vegetable soup, and stole a few glances at Fang Hao, then put it in her mouth and began to eat. Seeing Eira quietly eating, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and checked today¡¯s chat channel. As soon as he opened it, chat records constantly emerged. ¡°It¡¯s over, something really happened to Lord Fang Hao, no food has been put up this afternoon, and none in the evening either.¡± ¡°Yeah, I constructed a barracks, and was waiting to exchange food with Lord Fang Hao to recruit soldiers. I hope nothing has actually happened.¡± ¡°Why do people keep saying Fang Hao is in trouble, I have been crossing for 6 days, I hear it every day, can¡¯t you wish him some luck?¡± ¡°Exactly, why are your mouths so foul, always saying someone else is in trouble, or in distress.¡± ¡°Oh! The person above is anxious. Why are you in a hurry when someone mentions Fang Hao?¡± ¡°Is he Fang Hao¡¯s good son! As soon as you mention Fang Hao, his son would definitely pounce on you and bite you.¡± ¡°Humph! Just that dumbass Fang Hao, doing things so ostentatiously. If he didn¡¯t die outside, if I ran into him, I would exterminate him..¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42, Forced Task (Seeking Chapter 42: Chapter 42, Forced Task (Seeking Recommendation )_1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°Hey, hey, you guys are being too extreme. Is there really a need to spew such venomous words?¡¯1 ¡°Exactly, the meat and various tools that Fang Hao sells have helped a lot of people. There¡¯s no need for you to hurl such abuses.¡± ¡°Many of us in this area have survived thanks to Boss Fang Hao. Have you guys lost all your consciousness?¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯m confused, why do you care if we criticize Fang Hao? Is he your father or your mother?¡± ¡°Exactly, Fang Hao could be dead now. You guys have been praising him so much¡ªare you planning to die with him?¡± A fierce argument broke out between those who defended Fang Hao and those who cursed at him. Fang Hao was surprised to find such a thing happening, but soon he figured out the reason behind it. In the initial stages after everyone crossed over, people lacked food and tools. Even if they didn¡¯t trade with Fang Hao, people wouldn¡¯t deliberately offend him. Today was the sixth day since crossing over. Those who had survived so far were already familiar with this world and had figured out the basics of survival. The food and items like iron axes and bathtubs that Fang Hao sold in the channel were no longer indispensable. Therefore, some people started to come out and began to verbally slander Fang Hao. After all, cursing others does not come with the sense of accomplishment that comes from defying the powerful. Ding! A private chat notification sounded. It was from Dong Jiayue. ¡°Brother Hao, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, just had dinner.¡± ¡°Oh, as long as you are okay. Don¡¯t take to heart what people say in the channel. You don¡¯t have to bother with those annoying people,¡± Dong Jiayue comforted. She was worried that Fang Hao might be disillusioned by the incessant abuses on the channel. ¡°Who are these people? I don¡¯t seem to have offended them, right?¡± Fang Hao asked casually. He didn¡¯t take it very seriously, but he was still curious to know why. And then, by watching the chat, he could tell. Only a few people were cursely abusing him for no apparent reason, almost as if they had specifically planned this. Dong Jiayue paused for a moment, then replied softly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but a few days ago people in the chat were discussing you. There seemed to be some resentment in their words.¡± ¡°Ah? For what reason?¡± ¡°It seems to be because the prices of your products are low, so they cannot make any profits.¡± Fang Hao was not in the business of hiking up prices. The goods he sold were sold to make a profit, but also priced so that others could afford them. For example, the iron axes he sold. Typically, making an iron axe would cost 2 iron and 2 wood, while Fang Hao sold them for just 3 iron. Price was kept low so those who suddenly got the blueprint for the iron axe could not make huge profits by selling theirs. Since Fang Hao had a higher reputation, if people wanted to buy, they would choose to come to him first. Even if these people sold at the same price, no one would buy their products. ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s business competition. I was wondering if I had offended them!¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. ¡°Yes, it should be these people. I¡¯m not sure, but the one who stands out to me is Yao Liang, although he hasn¡¯t said anything today,¡± Dong Jiayue continued. Yao Liang? Seeing this name, Fang Hao instantly remembered who this person was. He had previously obtained the blueprint for the iron axe and was busted by Fang Hao for trying to use his advertising in the channel. At the time, Yao Liang had angrily sent a private message cursing Fang Hao and wishing him ill. Considering this, it¡¯s plausible Yao Liang would organize people to verbally attack him. ¡°Okay, I get it now, thank you.¡± ¡°I should be the one thanking you. I haven¡¯t repaid you for the weapon you lent me.¡± The two ended their conversation. Notifications for private chats kept ringing. Many people were confirming if Fang Hao was safe and asking about the dispute in the channel. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then opened the world channel and gave a response. ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you for your concern. I¡¯ve seen what¡¯s happening in the channel. Please don¡¯t waste your messages on these people. I¡¯ve added a few people to my refused trades list and won¡¯t conduct any transactions with them in the future. Thank you all.¡± At the same time, he put up for sale 1000 units of meat for people to purchase. Fang Hao¡¯s announcement and the food he has put up for sale provoked another uproar in the channel. ¡°See, Fang Hao is fine! If you¡¯re so tough, don¡¯t buy Fang Hao¡¯s meat¡­ Oh right, you can¡¯t even if you wanted to.¡± ¡°People were saying Fang Hao is in trouble, looks like the real trouble is with all of you. He¡¯s not in any trouble.¡± ¡°Whoa there, he¡¯s just selling some food, look how riled up you all are.¡± ¡°You bunch of sycophants. The moment Fang Hao passes gas, you all celebrate like you¡¯ve won the lottery. You must be used to being sons.¡± Fang Hao made a statement. Instead of calming people down, the channel grew even more chaotic. At this stage.- Food was no longer an absolute necessity. People could build barracks, recruit soldiers, and go hunting. Perhaps they didn¡¯t have enough to sell, but they had enough to feed themselves and the villagers. So, even if Fang Hao blacklisted these people, they weren¡¯t afraid and continued to mock him. When the channel started arguing again¡­ The long-awaited system prompt rang in everyone¡¯s ears. [Congratulations on surviving.] [The newbie protection period lasts for another 10 hours.] [When the protection period ends, all surviving lord territories will enter a beast frenzied state, prompting attacks from surrounding warcrafts.] [Frenzy of Beast: All wild beasts will enter a bloodthirsty state, all attributes increase by 30%, duration is 24 hours.] [Best of luck¡­] As soon as the system finished speaking, another sound echoed in Fang Hao¡¯s ears. [Novice task changed.] [Due to the special nature of your territory, your novice task has been changed to [Subjugation of Fireblade Tribe]. The original task has been cancelled.] [Task Description: You killed the son of Chieftain Kent of Fireblade Tribe. The tribe will retaliate with 30,000 warriors against your territory.] [Best of luck¡­] The change in task made Fang Hao frown deeply. Others were under attack by beasts, but he was facing an attack from Orcs. Not to mention 30,000 of them¡­ The number is significant indeed. Of course, when he wiped out that Orc team, he had anticipated that their tribe would seek revenge. But he did not expect it to collide with the novice task, thereby causing a change in mission. ¡°It looks like I need to improve my defenses and increase my troops.¡± Fang Hao still had 1372 Wriggling Spines, and a current force of 150,000. Even though they were still Tier 1 soldiers, he wasn¡¯t fazed by the onslaught of Orcs. With such many troops, he could exhaust them to death. He switched back to the regional channel. ¡°Damn, I have to set traps to hunt a single warcraft, this beast frenzy is going to be the death of me!¡± ¡°Exchanging wall blueprints, who has one? Offering a higher price, hurry up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need walls, who has wooden fence blueprints? I¡¯ll exchange it with iron.¡± Confronted with the frenzy of beasts, everyone¡¯s first thought was to fortify their lands before launching an attack. Walls are the most effective, but even with the blueprints, the vast resources required are more than most people can afford. Some people opted for a lesser alternative and decided to build wooden fences instead. ¡°Trading resources for equipment, exchanging for weapons now.¡± ¡°Yeah, who has iron weapons? I¡¯m still using a bone spear.¡± ¡°I remember a few days ago, someone exchanged a blueprint for an iron spear from a beast he caught in the river. Anyone remember who he swapped with?¡± ¡°Oh right, I think that happened.¡± ¡°I remember, he used a hardwood shield blueprint to exchange weapons from Fang Hao. Should be an iron spear.¡± ¡°Damn, so that means Fang Hao has got iron spears and hardwood shields..¡± Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43, Selling Weapons l Chapter 43: Chapter 43, Selling Weapons l Translator: 549690339 The territory has a protective shield, and the conscripted militia can hunt to get food. It gives people the illusion that they¡¯ve adapted to this world. They assume that as long as there is enough food to satisfy the farmers and the militia, they can steadily develop. But all these are mere human assumptions. The emergence of a mandatory task and the beast hoard attack that will occur in 10 hours have harshly brought everyone back to reality. This time, with the protective shield gone, the attacking beast horde will benefit from the ¡°Beasts¡¯ Blood Boiling,¡± a 30% increase in all attributes. Once again, people realize the danger of life and death they will face. The most effective way to improve their combat power is to change their weapons and equipment. A brave warrior, wielding only a stone axe, can hardly show his true strength. Once they remembered that Fang Hao had once sold iron spears. All the conversations are once again redirected to Fang Hao. ¡°Is Brother Fang Hao here? I want to order some equipment.¡± ¡°Big Brother, it¡¯s urgent. Please sell some weapons.¡± The heated argument just now instantly quelled. Everyone is calling out to Brother Fang Hao, asking him to sell some equipment. The threat of death hangs over everyone¡¯s head. Fang Hao watches the channel, saying nothing. This mandatory task provides a good opportunity for Fang Hao to sell the equipment in his warehouse. There are mainly two types of equipment backlogged in the warehouse. Some of them are made using his own blueprints and were replaced in the process of equipment upgrade, while others are spoils from several battles. There are weapons from the orcs, as well as weapons that fell when zombies in the castle were killed. These equipments generally have low durability and are old. After a quick sorting out, weapons were promptly put up for sale. [(Assorted Weapons 1142 pieces/Wooden Shields 4212 pieces), each piece required: Wood 300, Stone 150, Iron 5, Special Resources 2. (Any kind)] Assorted weapons include a variety of spoils, such as broken single-edge swords, broken spears, and orc weapons. The wooden shields are from one of Fang Hao¡¯s earliest blueprints. Long ago it was considered obsolete and has been piled in the warehouse. These weapons still have lethality, but their durability is not high and the degree of damage varies. Then, Fang Hao gave skeleton soldiers new weapons to replace the damaged ones. He also puts those replaced weapons up for sale on the channel. The mandatory task tomorrow is like a sword hanging over everyone¡¯s head. Even those who are greedy will choose to spend all their savings to replace a batch of equipment for survival in the imminent battle. After all, only surviving now can talk about the future. If you die, having lots of resources will be useless. So, Fang Hao has the right to set the price for weapons. Not to mention that his prices are reasonable, even if he doubles or triples the price, these people have to grit their teeth and buy them. This is to increase their chances of survival. ¡°Big brother is awesome. These weapons can save many people.¡± ¡°Why are there so many more wooden shields than iron spears?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense, there¡¯s a lot of wood in storage, of course, there will be more made. How much iron ore can there be?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± ¡°Brother Fang Hao, did you mistake me for someone else? I didn¡¯t say anything bad about you. I¡¯ve been banned from trading. I am innocent, more wronged than Dou E.¡± ¡°Stop acting, you were the worst with the snide remarks, now you¡¯re playing the victim.¡± ¡°Dou E: Very unlucky.¡± ¡°Brother Fang Hao, I was wrong, I was just messing around. I beg for your forgiveness. Please remove the trading ban.¡± ¡°Brother Fang Hao, you¡¯re my biological father, I was wrong. I¡¯m slapping my own face! The beasts are coming tomorrow, please let me buy some weapons. I beg you.¡± A complete reversal of the situation occurred. People are praising Fang Hao for being awesome. Those people who insulted him are now apologizing and regretting their actions. They appear sincerely willing to change and start over. Of course, Fang Hao has no intention of lifting the ban. Especially since he knows some of them have formed an organization. The sooner these people expose themselves, the better. This way, Fang Hao can identify who is against him. At the same time, he has received a number of private messages. ¡°Big brother, could you check out this blueprint, how many weapons can it exchange for?¡± [Wooden Cup Production Blueprint (White)] [Wooden Cup (White): 1 Wood, 1 Hemp Rope] (Description: A simple water container made.) Uh, ¡°This, seems to be of not much use¡­¡± said Fang Hao. The cup Fang Hao uses for drinking is also made of wood. It was made by carving a groove into a block of wood and was used for drinking water. So, this wooden cup blueprint, really does not have much use, even its existence is trivial. ¡°Uh, big brother, let¡¯s exchange it for another one, just consider it as a blueprint reserve,¡± the other party quickly said. He was worried that Fang Hao would refuse. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Iron spears.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t worry about it. As long as it was about the same and the other party¡¯s demands were not high, we can make a deal. ¡°Alright, put it up for sale. I¡¯ll give you one.¡± Soon, the two completed the deal, and Fang Hao got the wooden cup blueprint. After that, Fang Hao got many more blueprints and some rare materials. [Woven Wooden Window Production Blueprint (White), Beast Skin Pants Production Blueprint (White), Bell Production Blueprint (Green)] Trading blueprints is actually quite difficult. After getting a blueprint, most people would directly record it with the Book of Lords. Once recorded, the blueprint disappeared and could no longer be traded. The blueprints that stayed behind, were either kept for later sale or duplicates of what they already had. So, blueprints have the least traded volume. Soon, the weapons on the shelf were snapped up. Fang Hao also gained a huge amount of materials and a lot of special resources. In addition to the natural gems and traces of the earth that he had seen before, there were also some materials such as copper ore and saltpeter for the first time. After everything ended, There¡¯s a brief calm in the channel. The battle due tomorrow forced everyone to strengthen their territory. Fang Hao and Eira are finishing dinner. Eira is cleaning up the dinner table. Fang Hao opens the Book of Lords, flips to the production tab, and chooses to make a wooden cup. [Wooden Cup (White): 1 Wood, 1 Hemp Rope] Make 1. [One hundred times increase triggered, received Wooden Cup 101 pieces.] Bang, Bang, Bang! Piles of wooden cups suddenly appear out of thin air on the table in front of Fang Hao. It gave Eira a start. She quickly reached out to catch a few cups that were about to fall. At the same time, she widened her eyes in surprise at the sudden appearance of the cups. ¡°Don¡¯t mention my abilities to outsiders,¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°Yes, sir. I absolutely won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Eira promised loudly. There are only two of them in the territory. There¡¯s no place to tell anyone else. ¡°Let¡¯s keep a few of these cups for our use, and throw the rest into the warehouse.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± He gets up and continues to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s battle. [Bell (Green): 200 Wood, 50 Iron, 10 Copper, 5 Hemp Rope] (Description: The bell can be placed in watchtower-type buildings to ring the alarm..) Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44, Pre-war Preparation (Seeking recommendations )_1 Chapter 44: Chapter 44, Pre-war Preparation (Seeking recommendations )_1 Translator: 549690339 The materials needed for the warning bell are not many, but they include copper. If it weren¡¯t for the materials he just exchanged, which included copper, he would not have been able to build it. Since the materials were just enough, he chose to make it. ¡°ioox Amplification triggered, obtained 101 warning bells. In an instant, 101 warning bells appeared in front of Fang Hao. The bell was not large, about 40 cm in diameter at the bottom and 50 cm tall. The whole body was iron-green with complex patterns carved on surface. Inside the bell, a clapper hung that could hit the bell with a gentle swing. He summoned several patrolling skeletons, ¡°Place these four on the arrow towers.¡± The warning bell can be placed on the arrow towers, alerting others by ringing the bell when danger is detected. The few skeletons struggled to carry them onto the arrow towers. Fang Hao followed behind and waited for it to be installed. He looked at the warning bell and then looked at the materials used to make it. Among them were 50 iron and 10 copper. Having such little copper content, he somewhat doubted whether the bell could ring. He lifted the clapper inside the copper bell, swung it lightly, and hit the bell. Ding! A loud bell ringing echoed, vibrating Fang Hao¡¯s brain, scattering the flock of birds in the distant forest. Now he knows that the copper bell can ring and quite audibly so. He descended from the arrow tower. Looking at the blueprint, he could also build a Spiritual Field and a logging site. But these two were both outside the castle and the Orcs were to attack tomorrow. Now is not the time to increase the numbers. Wait until after the big battle, it won¡¯t be too late to build them. Next, he continued to prepare for the battle. He came to the Skeleton Conversion Field. The Skeleton Conversion Field had already unlocked two types of soldiers. One was the Tier 3 Skeleton Giant Bat and the other was the Tier 1 Skeleton Pig-Headed Man. The attributes of the Skeleton Pig-Headed Man had no differences from the Skeleton soldiers. So, there was actually no need to specifically recruit Skeleton Pig-Headed Men. Just need to recruit Skeleton Giant Bats to supplement the shortage of aerial combat units. Fang Hao directly set the recruitment number to 300. Confirm recruitment! The system¡¯s prompt sound rang again. ¡°loox Amplification triggered, successfully recruited 30,300 Skeleton Giant Bats.¡±. In an instant, thirty thousand Skeleton Giant Bats emerged in the light and landed all around his territory. ¡°Go and standby outside the territory.¡± said Fang Hao. The Skeleton Giant Bats soared into the sky, flew out of the territory, and landed on the open ground to standby. After consuming 300 Wriggling Spines, there were still 1,072 Wriggling Spines left. According to the prompt, there were thirty thousand Orcs attacking. And the number of troops he recruited with loox Amplification was enough to crowd out and tire out the enemy¡¯s thirty thousand troops to death. Next, he came to the Burial Grounds again to continue recruiting soldiers. ¡°Available Recruits: Skeleton Soldiers 500, Consumption: 500 Wriggling Spines, Recruit?¡± Recruit! ¡°ioox Amplification triggered, recruited 50,500 Skeleton Soldiers.¡± ¡°Available Recruits: Skeleton Lancemen 572, Consumption: 572 Wriggling Spines, Recruit?¡± Recruit! ¡°ioox Amplification triggered, recruited 57,772 Skeleton Lancemen.¡± Shua shua shua!! Countless skeletons appeared. The number of over 100,000 skeletons had already far exceeded the capacity of the territory. So, the skeletons stood still in the same spot, stacked upon each other, like a human pyramid. Seeing this, Fang Hao promptly began to make equipment for them. He crafted fifty-five thousand sets of sword and shield, and fifty-eight thousand sets of spear and shield. He also made one hundred and ten thousand sets of leather armor for all the newly recruited skeletons to wear. They then remained standing by in the open area outside the city. Now that he had acquired the beast skin boots from the Orc market, he finally managed to collect all the pieces of protective gear. ¡°Eira¡­,¡± Fang Hao called softly. He looked around, only to find Eira hiding in the lord¡¯s wooden house, with just half her head peeking out, looking terrified. Summoning hundreds of thousands of undead soldiers had scared the timid rabbit girl significantly. She was cautiously observing the outside world, her face full of fear. Only when she heard Fang Hao call her did she hesitantly come out, saying, ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Change your boots,¡± Fang Hao said. Eira¡¯s shoes were worn-out but clean. They didn¡¯t fit, and it was clear they were discarded by someone else. Beast skin boots crafted from the Book of Lords might not be the most comfortable footwear, but they were far superior to Eira¡¯s shoes. ¡°Oh, thank you, Master,¡± Eira responded immediately. She took off her old shoes with holes in them, revealing her fair, small feet. Her toes were as white as tender lotus sprouts. She slipped on a pair of beast skin boots, lightly stepping on the ground. Apparently pleased with her new footwear, a content smile crossed her face. ¡°Wear these for now. I¡¯ll get you a better pair later,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you, Master, these are great,¡± Eira replied hastily, clearly satisfied with her new boots. This world did not have sneakers or basketball shoes. Even the orcs wore leather boots. Having endured a long period of enslavement, Eira was quite content with the boots. The sky was gradually dimming. ¡°Come, I¡¯ll show you your room,¡± Fang Hao continued. There were no ordinary houses in the territory, and neither was there a blueprint for constructing housing. The only residential building was his own wooden lord¡¯s house. Fortunately, the wooden house had three rooms. Fang Hao occupied one, one was the study. The remaining room could be allocated to Eira. He took Eira to the room and said, ¡°Eira, I¡¯ll make a single bed for you in a while. From now on, this will be your room.¡± Eira, who was following behind him, now stood there with her eyes wide open, staring in surprise at what soon would be her room. She had never dared to hope for a room of her own. It was enough for her not to be caged anymore. But now, not only did she have her own room, it was also incredibly luxurious. The floor was covered with a beast skin rug, thick and heavy silk curtains hung at the windows, a table and chairs were set up against the wall, and a huge wardrobe with beautifully carved designs was also present. Even when she was not enslaved, she had never lived in such luxury. ¡°Get used to this place while I make your bed,¡± Fang Hao said, slapping his forehead. The furniture in the room had all been moved from the castle. The castle had several rooms, all with tables and wardrobes, but no beds. Luckily, he had a blueprint for a single bed, so Eira would not have to sleep on the floor. After finishing his instructions, Fang Hao went out to make the single bed and wooden grid window. He had just exchanged for the blueprint for the window. He could now install one in every room of the lord¡¯s wooden house. Within a short time, the single bed and wooden window were done, and he instructed two skeletons to carry them in. Upon entering, he saw Eira barefoot, her shoes off, her feet on the carpet. Seeing Fang Hao return, she stood warily to one side. He directed the skeletons to set up the single bed and wooden grid window. Fang Hao smiled slightly and said, ¡°Okay, you can rest now. No one here will bully you. If there¡¯s any physical work to do, you can direct these skeletons.¡± ¡°Yes, Master, Eira understands,¡± she replied. ¡°Good, rest early,¡± Fang Hao said and then left the room. He had just walked up to the second floor. Then the prompt sounded. [The loyalty of Eira from the Rabbitmen Clan increases by 10, current loyalty is 90..] Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45, Orc Legion 1 Chapter 45: Chapter 45, Orc Legion 1 Translator: 549690339 All preparations had been completed, and Fang Hao returned to his own room. Lying in bed, he went through all his plans in his mind once again. Tomorrow, after the novice protection shield disappears, the orc¡¯s Fireblade Tribe will launch an attack on his territory. This was no game, it was a real war. If he died, everything would be over. He used all his gathered Wriggling Spines to recruit troops, to ensure absolute dominance in this war. The development of his territory had already surpassed the other lords, so he simply could not afford to fail at this point. He lay in bed. Opened the regional channel, it was quite quiet today. The few people that were speaking were exchanging items. It seemed that the sudden compulsory task had put a significant amount of pressure on everyone. Everyone was preoccupied with the arrangements in their own territories and no longer had the energy to chat in the channel. He closed the channel and immediately entered the God¡¯s Presence state. ¡°God¡¯s Presence target, Skeleton Giant Bat, compatibility 45%.¡± When he opened his eyes again, he had already possessed the Skeleton Giant Bat. He flapped his wings and flew to the sky, scouting the surroundings of his territory to ensure there were no enemies that night. After patrolling one round, he found that there was no danger nearby his territory. He then released the God¡¯s Presence state, lay down on the bed, and gradually fell asleep. The next day. ¡°Master, master.¡± The not-yet-awake Fang Hao felt someone talking near his ear. When he opened his eyes, he saw Eira bending over and whispering softly. Her upper body was leaning low, which caused her already barely covered clothing to open wide and reveal a considerable amount of smooth skin. It was a feast for the eyes. ¡°Ah!¡± Fang Hao replied instinctively. ¡°Master, didn¡¯t you say you have an important thing to do today and that you wanted to get up early?¡± Eira explained softly from the side. Right, today was the day when the orcs would attack. ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Fang Hao immediately sat up and put on his clothes. After quickly freshening up, he walked out of his room and climbed up the city wall to look into the distance. The Gnoll camp was to the east of the territory, so the Fireblade Tribe would also come from the east. Standing on the arrow tower, he saw nothing. The territory outside was still covered by a large forest, possibly hiding the opponent who could be on their way. Fang Hao directly sat on the ground of the arrow tower, activated the God¡¯s Presence. ¡°God¡¯s Presence target, Skeleton Giant Bat, compatibility 45%.¡± Outside the territory, in a place where troops were gathered. A Skeleton Giant Bat, with pale blue light emanating from its eyes, flapped its wings and flew to the east. Flying over the mountains, he indeed saw a large group of orc troops approaching. He estimated that in about an hour, they would reach the foot of his city. Fang Hao let the Skeleton Giant Bat perch on a big tree. He continued to use the God¡¯s Presence to monitor the movement and types of troops of the orcs while deploying his own forces. Fireblade Tribe. Last night, the orc scout relayed back the news about the enemy territory. Indeed, there were undead troops patrolling near the territory, but it was not as exaggerated as the Gnoll Clan Leader had said. He roughly estimated there were five or six thousand in total, and they were all tier 1 skeletons. Chief Kent, after hearing the information brought back by the scout. Direcly ordered to execute the Gnoll Clan Leader. Early in the morning, the entire tribe set off, hastily marching towards the undead territory. They aimed to flatten this territory before nightfall, to avenge Kedo, and to loot all resources from the village. ¡°Chief, we can see the enemy territory now.¡± A wolf-mounted cavalry whispered to the chief¡¯s chariot. Chief Kent of the Fireblade Tribe, on a chariot pulled by two wolves, was meditating. Hearing the report from his subordinate, he barely opened his eyes, ¡°Did we spot their human lord?¡± ¡®We didn¡¯t see their lord, he must be hiding within their city walls, but their forces have increased since yesterday, they have also built walls and defense towers.¡± ¡°Are they still those skeleton frames?¡± ¡°Yes, these are all the lowest grade of undead troops.¡± ¡°Humph! Speed up, we want to bring back the resources of this territory to our tribe before dark.¡± Kent ordered. Yes.¡± The cavalry answered, and passed on the chieftain¡¯s order. The Fireblade Tribe was a nation of warriors, more so now than ever before. Pedestrians were 20000, spear hand were 7 thousand, wolf riders were 3 thousand. With such a strong combat force, they were not afraid of those inferior skeletons. Kent held his chin, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes. He was already thinking, once he caught that human lord, what kind of torture he should use on him. He couldn¡¯t just let him die easily, he¡¯d torture him until the very end. Then chop him into pieces, and feed them to the wolves for food. The team rapidly approached and could see the skeleton army arranged under the enemy¡¯s city when they drew near the local territory. The skeletons were shining white, wearing armor, with weapons and shields in their hands. The number was not small, around too thousand. ¡°Prepare to attack.¡± After secretly laughing at the enemy¡¯s self-defeating move, Kent ordered loudly. On top of the city wall. Fang Hao looked at the orc army below the city with a serious look on his face. Even though he had made full arrangements and calculated countless times in his heart. Yet, with the major battle approaching, he felt nervous, depressed, and all kinds of emotions were rising in his heart. Fang Hao looked at the countdown on the Book of Lords, waiting for the enemy to initiate the attack. When the countdown reached 0, the system prompt also sounded again. [The novice protection period officially ends.] [Wishing you all good luck¡­.) The protective shield above the territory gradually disappeared like a burst balloon. The orc army in the distance also blew the hom of attack. Wow~! The horn sounded. The orcs, as if they were injected with chicken blood, became quite crazy, they shouted loudly and initiated the attack instantly. There was no particular strategy to speak of. All types of soldiers rushed forward together, but due to different speeds, the ranks were broken up. The ones who rushed to the front were the wolf riders. They wanted to use their rapid movement to launch the first wave of charge attack. ¡°Archers can attack now.¡± Fang Hao issued the command. On the city wall, Fang Hao had placed 1000 light crossbow holding crossbowmen, who lifted their crossbows to aim at the advancing wolf riders when they heard Fang Hao¡¯s command. The abrupt rain of arrows took the wolf riders by surprise. Their formation was instantly broken up, with them spreading out from each other, but the assault continued unabated. Fang Hao stood on the city wall, watching the cavalry¡¯s changes. ¡°Eira ¡± Fang Hao murmured under his breath. Eira was also in full leather armor, her face full of fear. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Take care of my body, don¡¯t let it get bumped or scratched.¡± Fang Hao sat down on the ground. ¡°Huh?¡± Before Eira could understand what was happening, Fang Hao¡¯s body went limp and fell backward. Eira caught the limp Fang Hao and was at a loss for what to do. Down the city! [Target for divination, Skeleton Spearmen, compatibility 75%.] ¡°Spearmen, step forward two steps, be ready to meet the enemy.¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. All the spearmen stepped forward two steps, aiming their spears at the advancing wolf riders.. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46, Fireblade - Kent 1 Chapter 46: Chapter 46, Fireblade ¨C Kent 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª Those wolf riding cavalry who originally planned to charge quickly. Seeing their welcoming party holding forward stabbing spears, they immediately pulled their reins, preventing their mounts, the wolves, from moving further. If they were to charge, it was equivalent to speeding themselves up into a sharp blade. There was no difference between that and giving up their lives. But just as they stopped, another hail of arrows had fallen, injuring a large number of cavalry and mount wolves, causing them to scream in pain. The failure of the cavalry in the front did not deter the Orc army behind from keeping up their assault. The dark mass of Orc infantry, roaring angrily, continued to charge forward. When the Orc spear-casters were four hundred meters away, they stopped took out the short spears from their backs, and threw them into the skeleton troops. After Fang Hao had finished arranging the setup of the skeleton spear-men, he deactivated the ¡°God¡¯s Presence¡± state. He got up from Eira¡¯s arms and looked at the movements of the orcs under the city again. Before Eira could say anything, he slumped and fell again. ¡°God¡¯s Presence Target, Skeleton Giant Bat, Compatibility 45%.¡± 30,000 skeleton giant bats, hidden by Fang Hao in the woods. When 30,000 skeleton giant bats, like dark clouds, appeared in the sky above the battlefield, a large shadow quickly moved. Then, they flew over the orc spear-casters. With wings folded, the 30,000 giant bats dive-bombed like bullets into the ranks of Orc spear-casters, starting a battle. The nearby Orc warriors rushed to aid, but the mobility of the skeleton giant bats was higher than that of the cavalry. After one wave of attack, they flew high, not staying long. ¡°This boy had arranged ambushes, watch out for these skeleton bats, speed up the attack.¡± Chief Kent commanded loudly, urging the attack pace. The orcs charged even more crazily. Fang Hao woke up again, ignoring the soft touch of Eira¡¯s body. He looked at the overall battle situation under the city again. It was like playing a real-time strategy game on a computer, but instead, he needed to repeatedly activate God¡¯s Presence, which wasn¡¯t as convenient as a simple mouse click. By then, the Orcs were already at the city gate, just three hundred meters from the wall. ¡°It¡¯s time to close the net.¡± Fang Hao said, and fell again. Eira held Fang Hao in her arms, watching the battle in the city nervously. The furious roars from the orcs in the city made her trembling involuntarily. Just yesterday, she was thanking her luck for being sold to a good master. She was fed well and given a comfortable room. But today, they were attacked by Orcs. She knew about the brutality and fighting style of the Orcs, and reckoned that this city would hardly be able to withstand their attack. Just when Eira was feeling sad, and was feeling reluctant to let go of her new master, Fang Hao, the tide of the battle on the field suddenly changed. A large number of skeleton troops popped up again in the Orcs¡¯ back, and on both sides. The skeletons arranged in a neat and orderly manner, with the spearmen and soldiers interspersed in positions, they started to shrink the encirclement quickly in a pincer movement. Skeleton Giant Bats in the sky kept harassing, with Orc soldiers constantly being grabbed and dragged into the sky. They were ripped apart by a cluster of Skeleton Giant Bats. The sight of countless undead troops caused chaos among the roaring orcs. Morale began to plummet. The fierce and warlike Orc army began to suffer heavy casualties upon encountering the undead army who knew neither life nor death nor pain, their numbers quickly reducing. Chieftain Kent stood on the Wolf War Chariot, his face an extremely grim sight to behold. The number of enemy undead was dozens of times larger than the intelligence he had received. This kind of battle that traded life for life could drain all his warriors. He pulled the reins of the Wolf War Chariot tightly, and yelled: ¡°Everyone rally tome!¡± Kent wore an iron armor, wielding a long blade. Each swipe brought out a flaming sword light, killing a large number of skeleton soldiers. Fang Hao also noticed Kent at this time. After all, looking down from the wall, whether it was the Wolf War Chariot or the void surrounding him was too noticeable. ¡°Flame Blade ¨C Kent (Blue Tier 3 Hero) So, he was Fireblade, and a Tier 3 hero at that. In the orc market, Fang Hao had encountered his first orc hero. It was the tauren chieftain, Bronze Bull Talok. Unexpectedly, the chieftain of the Fireblade Tribe was also a hero. Just of a slightly lower rank compared to Bronze Bull. Nevertheless, he still demonstrated a combat power far beyond regular troops. Bang!! Seated in his wolf chariot, Kent broke through a barricade made by a squad of skeletons. Hordes of skeleton soldiers were knocked down and crushed by the chariot. Breaking through the skeleton blockade, he rushed straight to the city gates, lifted a battle-axe, and slashed with all his might. A solid crimson blade glow marked the swing of his axe and the next second, it directly chopped down on the city gate. Boom! The whole city wall shook violently, leaving a massive crack on the gate. Such a level of attack, the level 4 wooden gate wouldn¡¯t hold up for long. Watching the orcish hero prepare for another hit, Fang Hao¡¯s expression immediately darkened. We must delay his breaching of the city. The skeleton army on the battlefield had already gained an advantage; wiping out the orcish force was now a matter of time. We had to prevent the orcish hero from breaking open the gates until there were enough skeletons to swarm and kill him. Fang Hao hid on the city wall, peering through the cracks at the enemy. Seeing that he hadn¡¯t been spotted, he extended his left hand immediately. A scorching fireball began to form. It was the Flame Fireball, a skill brought by the Flame Ring. ¡°Burn to death.¡± He gave it a gentle push, and the fireball whizzed out towards the orcish hero. Kent was gathering his strength. Just as he prepared to strike again, a surge of heat descended from above. Without any hesitation, driven by his dangerous intuition, he swung his blade upwards, casting a bloody red blade glow. Boom! The blade glow collided with the fireball, creating an explosive noise. It was enough to make one¡¯s head swell. Swoosh swoosh swoosh! Meanwhile, the archers on the wall, under Fang Hao¡¯s command, attacked Kent. All two thousand archers focused on one single target. The black tight-lying arrows were like a dark net cast down from above. Kent swiftly waved his blade, knocking down the incoming arrows, but the wolves pulling his chariot weren¡¯t as lucky. Under such a dense attack of arrows, they instantly became porcupines. Filled with arrows, they fell to the ground, lifeless. And so, the distant, non-stop harassment continued. It continued until the end of the battlefield skirmishes. The skeleton soldiers, using their sheer numbers, filled in the gap in tiers, killing every orcish soldier. Both injured and intact skeleton warriors were left, totalling 50,000. Nearly 200,000 troops were reduced to just 50,000; truly a deadly battle. The upcoming battle did not require any further direction from Fang Hao. The only one left was Orc Chieftain Kent. Without the mobility of his wolf chariot, he was surrounded by the skeletons. Even with his amazing combat power, even with his savage attacks and all. After 30 minutes of being besieged, he let out a final roar of unwillingness before being completely submerged by the skeleton sea. The intense war finally came to an end, with the undead victorious.. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47, Victory Over Orcs l Chapter 47: Chapter 47, Victory Over Orcs l Translator: 549690339 The air was thick with the scent of blood. The battlefield was a mess. A dense collection of carcasses and white bones blanketed the whole battlefield. Severed limbs and flowing blood. Droplets of blood seeped into the soil, staining the ground black and red. Standing on top of the city wall, Fang Hao and Eira quietly observed the sight before them. They remained silent for a while. Fang Hao descended from the wall, and the broken city gates swung open once again. ¡°Clean up the battlefield, collect all the spoils of war, and toss the bodies into the Skeleton Conversion Field,¡± Fang Hao stepped out and issued the order loudly. The skeletons which had previously stood motionless once again sprang into action, stripping the bodies of all their equipment and throwing them into the Skeleton Conversion Field. The transformation of the bodies in the field took some time. As more and more bodies were placed inside, the conversion time kept stacking up. Soon all the spoils of war had been collected. The orc chieftain was also given special treatment by Fang Hao. The skeleton soldiers stripped him bare, even prying open his mouth to check if he had any gold teeth or such items. [Gains: 35720 orc weapons, 27420 sets of orc leather armor, 8300 sets of orc iron armor.] Additionally, [18867 Wriggling Spines, War Horn, Bloodthirsty Blade.] [War Horn (Blue Tier)] [Category: Horn] [Attribute: When blown, boosts allied units¡¯ morale by 5%, movement speed by 10%, and attack by 2%.] (Description: The art of war depends on the initial momentum.) Not bad! The boost to morale is useless for skeleton troops. As soldiers of the skeleton faction, they feel no emotions, they do not know fear or death, so naturally, there¡¯s no concept of morale boosting. But increased movement speed and attack are still very valuable attribute enhancements. No wonder the orc army seemed to be injected with adrenaline when the horn sounded, rushing from afar. Especially the wolf riders, their speed was incredibly high. Other than the mobility of the cavalry, this horn also greatly improved the movement speed. [Bloodthirsty Blade (Purple Tier)] [Category: Giant Sword] [Damage: Level 4 Damage] [Set Effect: Berserker: For each enemy killed or assisted in killing, increase strength by 1% for 8 seconds. (This effect can stack up to 50 times).] (Description: The thick, fresh blood compels you to commit heinous acts.) Fang Hao was all too familiar with the Bloodthirsty set. Previously, when he killed Kedo, he had obtained part of the Bloodthirsty armor set. It was because the Bloodthirsty set was incomplete that Kent, a third-tier hero, couldn¡¯t unleash his real strength. Otherwise, relying on the damage stacked by killing skeletons, he could¡¯ve killed his way through. And even broken the city gate and invaded the territory. But all of that has already been set in stone, this test was still won by Fang Hao in the end. He has collected all pieces of the Bloodthirsty set, though he can¡¯t wear them now. Lastly, there were 18867 Wriggling Spines. Compared to the orc equipment he collected, the number of spines excited Fang Hao even more. If he wished, he could summon a massive skeleton army again, to continue fighting for him. Self-sustaining through warfare was his best strategy. After cleaning up the battlefield, Fang Hao began to regroup his forces again. After the battle, there was a more important task at hand. Scouring the opponent¡¯s territory. Since the enemy had thrown everything they had, there probably weren¡¯t many soldiers left in their domain, perhaps it was even an empty city now. If Fang Hao didn¡¯t seize the resources in the orc territory soon, other nearby lords could take advantage of it. By then, transporting resources would become a big hassle. ¡°Eira, I¡¯m going to lead troops to these people¡¯s territories and transport back all useful resources. I¡¯ll leave some forces with you, but don¡¯t open the city gate for anyone other than me,¡± Fang Hao instructed Eira. Fang Hao had considered using God¡¯s Presence, possessing a skeleton to go there. But the deployment of God¡¯s Presence, has a distance requirement between himself and the troops. The farther the distance, the more spiritual power it consumes, growing exponentially. Moreover, in the recent battle, Fang Hao frequently used God¡¯s Presence consecutively, which left him in a state of exhaustion. He could not undertake the task of leading troops to the Orc territory. After some consideration, he decided to go there himself. ¡°Ah? Oh! Okay, I understand, Master,¡± Eira replied in a small voice. Her heart raced when she heard Fang Hao was leaving her alone to command a group of skeletons to guard the city. But her obedience to her master as a slave made her grit her teeth and agree to it. ¡°Hmm, wait for my return,¡± Fang Hao patted her shoulder gently and left with his troops. The moment Fang Hao departed with his 30,000 troops, the gates of the territory sealed immediately. Eira stood on the city wall, watching Fang Hao and his troops disappear into the distance. Fang Hao did not know the location of Fireblade¡¯s territory. But the Orc army had left obvious traces along the way as they advanced. As long as he followed these traces, it would not be difficult to find their location. The Undead army advanced swiftly while Fang Hao lay on a cart, not daring to recklessly consume his spiritual power through God¡¯s Presence. He simply opened the Book of Lords to check everyone¡¯s battle situation. As expected, it was not as lively as usual. ¡°My territory soon can¡¯t be defended, I¡¯ve lit the signal fire, are there any nearby brothers that can save me? I¡¯ll give you all of my resources.¡± ¡°Brother, I see you, can you come and reinforce me, and then we can take back your territory together.¡± ¡°Damn, I¡¯m trapped with my soldiers in a hut, how can I reinforce you.¡± ¡°Help! I¡¯m so scared, I want to go home.¡± ¡°Red, Red! I don¡¯t know if you are here in this world, but if you can see this, I want you to know, I love you¡­¡± ¡°Wang Xue, I love you, I hope you can be happy in the end.¡± ¡°Yang Mengmeng¡­¡± What the hell! The chat group instantly turned into a large-scale confession scene, with men and women¡¯s names appearing one after another. It seemed that everyone had a partner, someone they liked. Dammit! The battle just now did not wound him as deeply as this. All the bloody transported here, yet he had to watch these people indirectly showing off their love. Inwardly cursing, Fang Hao sat up and glanced around. He did not see any signal fire, so it seemed he was still far from the others. He had been on the move for several hours. Fortunately, only he needed to eat, drink, and relieve himself. The skeleton soldiers did not require these, which saved time. The Fireblade camp had exceeded the village boundary, it would be more appropriate to describe it as a small city. The tall stone walls stood high, through the open city gates, he could see the buildings inside. The Orc territory was not an empty city like Fang Hao imagined, as more than a dozen Orcs were left there. ¡°Go, take over the city directly,¡± Fang Hao commanded and then sounded the War Horn. Whooo!! The clear sound of the horn rang out, and various attribute enhancements were applied to the skeleton soldiers. They rushed towards the territory at a fast pace. The Orcs who remained in the city changed their faces when they heard the horn and saw the skeletons rushing towards their territory. Closing the city gate could not stop the invasion of the skeleton army. Like a towering formation, they stormed the city wall and seized the city. When Fang Hao arrived from the rear, the city gate was slowly pushed open by the skeleton soldiers, welcoming his arrival. ¡°Collect all that can be taken,¡± Fang Hao issued the looting order.. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48, Sweeping the Territory (Seeking Chapter 48: Chapter 48, Sweeping the Territory (Seeking Recommendations, Catching-Up Reading Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao issued a search order, and all the skeleton soldiers immediately dispersed. They began to gather any resources that could be taken away. Fang Hao surveyed the entire territory. When he saw the chieftain¡¯s hall in the central position, his eyes lit up. In general, the chieftain possesses the greatest wealth of the tribe, so some valuable items were bound to be unearthed. Moreover, this kind of territory, home to tens of thousands, undoubtedly had some high-quality treasure chests. ¡°You guys don¡¯t need to search anymore, stay with me,¡± Fang Hao called over a few skeletons. It was uncertain whether there would be any special dangers inside, so it would be better to be cautious. Six skeletons immediately stopped their work and quietly followed behind Fang Hao. The chieftain¡¯s hall was still a combination of ordinary stone and wood, not like the stone brick construction of the castle. This left Fang Hao feeling somewhat regretful. If this place was also a stone brick construction, he would have arranged for people to dismantle it and obtain the stone bricks. Stepping into the hall, it was spacious and bright. ¡°Take down all these curtains and lamps, but be careful not to damage them,¡± Fang Hao started ordering as soon as he entered the house. The skeletons got to work. The Orc camp was obviously not as wealthy as the vampire castle. Antler chandeliers bearing candles burned halfway were hung around, not the Nightstones found in the vampire castle. Of course, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t discriminative and planned to take them all. The skeletons began to carry the furniture out of the room, while Fang Hao sat in the chair in the center, scrutinizing it from left to right. This chair was undoubtedly Chief Kent¡¯s. Orcs were robust in size, but when Fang Hao sat down, it seemed somewhat oversized. ¡°Alright, carry it out,¡± Fang Hao rose and instructed for the chair to be carried out as well. No matter whether it could be used or not, it would be transported back first. The hall was soon emptied. Fang Hao then continued to raid a few bedrooms. All kinds of furniture, ornaments, curtains, and quilts were moved out, waiting to be transported away collectively. Inside the master bedroom. While the skeletons carried the goods, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze landed on a golden treasure chest placed against the wall. This was the second golden treasure chest he had seen. His heart felt a strange sense of excitement. ¡°Heavens above, Earth below. As the decree of the venerable Lord Taishang says, ¡®evil be gone, fortune come, and great wealth to the entire household!¡±1 After silently chanting for a while, Fang Hao directly opened the treasure chest. [Obtained: Cavalry Training Camp Blueprint, Fine Single-Edged Blade Blueprint (green), Quarry Building Blueprint, Leather Saddle Blueprint (white), Warfire Coin+320, Beast Tooth+35.] The harvest wasn¡¯t too bad. Even though there weren¡¯t any particularly surprising items, there were a Cavalry Training Camp blueprint and a green equipment blueprint. Once cavalry units were recruited and green single-edged blades produced, the overall strength of the territory would be greatly enhanced. [Beast Tooth] [Category: Ore] (Description: A rare ore required for building construction by the Orc Clan.) It was shaped like a crescent moon, like a beast¡¯s tooth. Fang Hao had collected a fair amount of ores from different races. Shadowstone from the Undead Clan, Blood Stone from the Blood Clan, and now Beast Tooth from the Orc Clan. All the blueprints were added to the Book of Lords, and the Warfire Coins and Beast Tooth were packed into the bag. He then got up and left the chieftain¡¯s hall. Inside the hall, except for the house, all the furniture and utensils had been moved outside. The skeletons were still sweeping through the territory. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, on the other hand, landed on a pasture not far away. It was the pasture of the War Axe Tribe, where hundreds of unicorns had been tamed and kept in the corral. These unicorns were obviously domesticated, eating and resting peacefully, oblivious to the invasion of their territory. Even when the skeletons passed by the corral, the unicorns only lazily glanced over. They continued their meals and naps as usual. Seeing these unicorns, Fang Hao¡¯s heart immediately filled with joy once again. He remembered the last time he had to capture a wild unicorn, he and his skeletons had spent over an hour chasing it down. In the end, the unicorn managed to escape. Now, I¡¯ve successfully domesticated both male and female orcs. ¡°Take all the sheep away,¡± Fang Hao instructed the Skeleton, and after a thought, he added worriedly, ¡°I want them alive, all tied up, and brought back to my territory.¡± The Skeleton entered the sheepfold and began to tie up the unicorns one by one. When all the resources were transported out, Fang Hao started to tally them up. [Resources: 3 Wriggling Spines, 51208 Wood, 28503 Stone, 8575 Thatch, 111850 Leather, 842 Iron, 520 Copper, 524 Warfire Coins.] [Miscellaneous: 442 baskets of fruits, 95520 units of meat, 1120 units of salt, 324 unicorns.] [Furniture: 20000 simple wooden beds, 8000 various cabinets, 4000 sets of tables and chairs, 4 antler chandeliers, various pots, bowls, spoons, and pans, assorted curtains and fabrics.] The amount gathered this time was quite substantial. If it wasn¡¯t for the limited number of soldiers he had brought with him, Fang Hao would have wanted to dismantle the doors and windows of the orc¡¯s dwelling and take everything away. Fang Hao brought out the Book of Lords and immediately used the hundred-fold amplification to create 30,000 carts, onto which he secured all the acquired materials. However, he soon realized, that even so, this batch couldn¡¯t transport all the resources back. It seemed a second trip was needed. Luckily, it was still early, and there was plenty of time. He picked several carts of important materials for the first trip and decided to return to his territory. ¡°Let¡¯s go, back home.¡± Leaving the gates of the Battle Axe territory slightly ajar, the team majestically returned to their own territory. From a distance, watching Fang Hao leading the team back, Eira ordered the Skeleton soldiers to open the city gates and welcome them. ¡°Master¡­,¡± Eira called out joyfully. It was far better to stay with Fang Hao than with these skeletons. Thankfully, she was no longer as scared as she initially was when she realized the skeleton soldiers wouldn¡¯t hurt her. ¡°Hmm, these are all the spoils from the orc¡¯s territory. Replace your bed and look around to see what else you need and arrange them yourself,¡± Fang Hao said while directing the skeleton soldiers to unload the goods at the designated spots. Eira¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at the piles of items on the carts of the skeleton troops. And the hundreds of unicorns grazing leisurely. It was as if they had raided a house; how did they bring back so much from just one trip. ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Eira responded. Fang Hao nodded, ordering the skeletons to lead the unicorns into the paddock. Because of its first-level status, the paddock was immediately crowded with more than 300 unicorns. With ample resources, he immediately upgraded the paddock. [Level 2 Paddock: 1500 Wood, 1200 Stone, 800 Thatch, 400 Hemp Ropes.] [Level 3 Paddock: 2200 Wood, 1800 Stone, 1600 Thatch, 800 Hemp Ropes, 200 Leather.] The paddock was upgraded to level three and instantly became twice as large, in no way inferior to the orc¡¯s paddock. After all the hustle, Fang Hao told Eira, ¡°I need to make another trip, you continue to look after the house.¡± After saying this, he led the skeletons, who had finished unloading, on their way. They returned to the orc¡¯s territory to continue transporting the remaining goods. Nearing twilight, they started to return to their territory with the second batch of goods. The marching speed of these infantrymen, especially the skeleton infantry, was too slow, and most of the time was wasted on the road. Once he recruits cavalry, the marching speed will increase. Lying on one of the carts, he chose a comfortable position and opened the Book of Lords to see how everyone else was doing. They had been fighting from morning till evening. It should have ended by now; after all, they couldn¡¯t keep up a battle of attrition for a whole day. Indeed, the surviving lords were discussing their victories and gains. As long as they survived, the meat from the slain beasts was enough to feed their territories for several days. Suddenly, a message caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. It was from Zhang Bin, whose territory was not far from his own and always encountered skeletons while fishing in the river. ¡°Can someone please save me, I can¡¯t hold on any longer. I am willing to give you all my resources. Please, someone, help me..¡± Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49, Challenge Ended_l Chapter 49: Chapter 49, Challenge Ended_l Translator: 549690339 Within Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. Wild beasts, infuriated by raging fury, launched a frantic attack on the territory. All defensive measures within the territory were destroyed. Zhang Bin, along with all his citizens and soldiers, made a last stand at the lord¡¯s cabin, desperately fending off the beasts¡¯ onslaught. But the long battle left him and his soldiers utterly exhausted. They barely held on, driven by instinct and desperation alone. Everyone knew they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold out much longer. Without reinforcements or some other kind of help, they would all become prey for the beasts by the end of the day. Having been replaced by the militia, Zhang Bin once again opened the Book of Lords, pleading, ¡°Could any brother lend a hand? I swear, if we survive this, I, Zhang Bin, will never forget your good deed.¡± There was more at stake now than merely exchanging weapons and food. Unless you¡¯re able to exchange for rocket launchers, enough to blow up the swarming beasts outside, a weapon or two would not make much difference. They could only hope that some nearby lord, who had already completed their defences, would have the time to come to their aid. However, Zhang Bin¡¯s plea did not elicit much of a response in the channel. Such pleas had become all too common that day, and hardly anyone paid them any mind. Even the lords who had been victorious in the great battle had their own losses, where would they find the resources to aid him? Zhang Bin was glued to the Book of Lords, as he failed to elicit any sort of response or aid, his spirit instantly wilted. Sunken in defeat, his energy and focus depleted substantially. What use was their desperate clinging to life now? It seemed there was little difference between dying now or later. ¡°Lord, what¡¯s wrong with you? You must hang in there! Everyone¡¯s counting on you!¡± A soldier next to him shouted aloud. The soldier was clad in simple leather armor, with an iron spear in hand. He was drenched in blood, looking akin to a blood demon. The blood came from the beasts, but also from himself and his fallen comrades. No one wanted to die, not even the recruited villagers and soldiers. ¡°Ugh! It¡¯s all over, it¡¯s all over. Why did I come here? Why did I come here?¡± Zhang Bin muttered to himself continuously under his breath. Seeing Zhang Bin¡¯s predicament, the soldiers knew they were doomed. The lord had already lost his will to fight; how could they continue combat? The morale of every soldier and villager plummeted in an instant, crushing any remaining determination to continue their stand. The beasts launched an even more ferocious attack. Just as Zhang Bin and the villagers braced themselves for death, there came a flurry of rapid footsteps from outside the room. The sound of these footsteps was crystal clear, sounding akin to a rumbling horde approaching. ¡°Lord, there¡¯s a troop fighting with the beasts!¡± A soldier guarding the door cried out in joy. Zhang Bin¡¯s spirits lifted. Perhaps a nearby lord had come to their aid after all. He got up and came to the door, peering through a crack. But one look at what was happening outside immediately replaced his joy with panic and fear. Indeed, a formidable army was battling the beast horde, but it was not composed of humans. Instead, it was an array of skeletons, each decked out in armor, brandishing weapons. These skeletal soldiers, whether in movies, novels, or games, have always been antagonists to mankind. This was like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Everyone squished against the windows or crevices, staring out. The skeleton horde clashed fiercely with the beasts. But the number of skeletons was simply overwhelming. Against their sheer multitude, which looked like a vast Skeleton Sea, the several hundreds of beasts stood no chance. In a brief moment, the beasts were swallowed whole. The battle ended swiftly, with every frenzy-induced beast slaughtered. The skeleton army began to clear the battlefield. Zhang Bin and the others watched in silence, their hearts pounding in their chest. They held their breath and dared not make a sound. They were afraid that the slightest noise would draw the attention of these skeletons and prompt them to attack. If they were no match for the beasts, fending off these undead troops would be impossible. Just then, a soldier whispered, ¡°Lord, what is that skeleton doing?¡± Zhang Bin jumped, shooting the soldier a stern look to keep him silent. But he also noticed the skeleton in question, quickly changing his position to see what it was doing. He saw the skeleton walk straight to the warehouse, take a careful look around, then pack all the gemstones in his backpack. Seeing the rare materials he had gathered being placed into the skeleton¡¯s backpack Didn¡¯t bring much reaction from Zhang Bin. If there was a rescuer, he would have given these materials away. If the skeleton was taking them, so be it. As long as he and his people were left unharmed. Just when everyone was hoping for these undead creatures to leave soon. That skeleton, who had taken the gemstone, stood in front of the lord¡¯s cabin. Bang! Bang! Bang! There was knocking at the door. Damn! Zhang Bin and others shuddered, almost falling over from fright. A few villagers clung to each other, their faces deathly pale. Just as expected¡­ The skeletons really wouldn¡¯t let them off. Fang Hao manipulated the skeleton to stand in front of the cabin, gently knocking on the door. He had no other intentions, just wanted to see if there was anything good inside the lord¡¯s cabin. After all, Zhang Bin had promised in the channel that whoever saved him would receive all his resources. He didn¡¯t need all the resources, nor could he use them all. To choose some gemstones and things he liked wouldn¡¯t be too much to ask for. However¡­ Although Fang Hao had knocked on the door, all he heard from inside was a startled exclaim. And then silence. Fang Hao didn¡¯t wait, he kicked the door open with one foot. And met the terror-stricken gazes of everyone inside. One of them had the Book of Lords hanging at his waist, needless to say, he must be the local lord, Zhang Bin. Thud! Zhang Bin knelt directly in front of Fang Hao, shouting loudly: ¡°Great undead, we are just ordinary humans, we didn¡¯t disturb your sleep, please don¡¯t harm us.¡± Fang Hao wrinkled his brow, what gibberish. He pushed him aside, and continued examining Zhang Bin¡¯s cabin. The cabin was probably Level 3, as there was a second floor bedroom. But the decor was rather ordinary, just some simple chairs and tables made of wood. Under the suspicious gaze of Zhang Bin and others, Fang Hao continued upstairs, examining each room. His eyes eventually fell on one item. [Exquisite Weapon Rack (Green)] [Type: Prop] [Function: Weapons placed on the rack slowly recover from damage.] (Description: You can dislike it, but you cannot ignore its existence.) Goodness, he didn¡¯t know where Zhang Bin found this treasure. It¡¯s actually pretty good. He picked it up and carried it in his arms. He directly descended the stairs. Looking at the still nervous Zhang Bin and others, he lightly patted their shoulders and walked out of the lord¡¯s cabin. The skeletons group left, carrying more than a hundred beast corpses. Zhang Bin and the others¡¯ eyes were full of confusion as they watched the undead troops gradually drift away. What just happened? What did they come for? They took two materials and a prop rack they picked up themselves and just left? ¡°Lord? We¡¯ve won. We can start cleaning the battlefield now. Night is coming.¡± Zhang Bin responded immediately, loudly saying: ¡°Yes, hurry, clean up the battlefield. We¡¯re eating meat tonight, it¡¯ll fill us up.¡± The Skeleton Troops had taken some of the beast corpses, but they left plenty, enough to eat for several days. ¡°Good!¡± everyone responded excitedly, as if they were survivors of a disaster. Fang Hao returned to his territory with the last of the supplies. The sky was dim, Eira had prepared dinner, only waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s return. Just as he commanded the skeletons to unload the cargo. A system prompt suddenly sounded. [Congratulations to the Lords, the Blood Boiled Challenge has ended. Rewards will be distributed based on the points scored in the challenge.] The Blood Boiled Challenge has ended. The beasts, still in attack mode, lost the Blood Boiled state and automatically retreated back into the forest.. Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50, The Best in the World (Seeking recommendations )_1 Chapter 50: Chapter 50, The Best in the World (Seeking recommendations )_1 Translator: 549690339 Before everyone could let out a sigh of relief, a system notification sounded again. [World Announcement: Congratulations to Lord Fang Hao for ranking first in this round of points accumulation! Reward: Influence on all factions +100, Influence on affiliated faction +300, one Hero Recruitment Scroll, one Special Building Blueprint, one Item Crafting Blueprint, and 300 Warfire Coins.] The system announced it three times consecutively. Whether you wanted to hear it or not, it kept broadcasting. As expected. Once again, Fang Hao is the world¡¯s number one. The Book of Systems¡¯ private messages started to ring out. ¡°Brother Hao, you¡¯re still the most powerful.¡± ¡°Great Lord Fang Hao, you are truly formidable!¡± ¡°Congratulations, Grand Lord, on becoming the world¡¯s number one.¡± Those who had exchanged blueprints and materials with him all sent congratulatory private messages. Fang Hao thanked them all one by one. Meanwhile, the regional channel was also filled with exclaimed surprise. ¡°Our region¡¯s big boy is the world¡¯s number one.¡± ¡°Lord Fang Hao is outstanding, not only is he the number one in our region, but also the world.¡± ¡°Thanks to Lord Fang Hao¡¯s weapons I survived. If anyone dares to speak ill of the big boy, they become my enemy.¡± The channel was filled with conversations about Fang Hao¡¯s achievement as the world¡¯s number one player. Meanwhile, Fang Hao, after eating dinner, started checking his received rewards. [Hero Recruitment Scroll (Your Faction)] [Category: Recruitment Scroll] (Description: Use to randomly recruit a hero from your faction.) Fang Hao clenched his fist, absolutely thrilled inside. In these past few days, he had really seen the power of heroes. Bronze Bull ¨C Talok, the Chieftain of the Tauren. In charge of Manim Market, even the most arrogant orc must abide by Talok¡¯s rules. From this, you can see his own strength. The same goes for Fireblade ¨C Tekken, who he fought today. One man is equal to an army. By his power alone, a vacuum zone was created amidst an undead army. Fang Hao only managed to kill him by relying on the sheer number of his skeletons. It can be said that there¡¯s a complete conceptual difference between heroes and troops. They are more powerful, each one being the powerhouse occupying a region. With this recruitment scroll, he can have heroes, too. He suppressed his curiosity and continued checking his other rewards. An orange special building blueprint, [Wishing Pool], [Wishing Pool Blueprint (Orange)] [Category: Special Building Blueprint] [Prerequisites: Four Statues of the Gods (1/4)] [Required Materials: Wood 5200, Stone 3500, Tough Hemp Rope 1200, Bricks 3000, Natural Gems 120, Trace of the Forest 120, Coral Crystals 50, Tears of The Ocean 50, Breeze White Coral 50, Dawn Blue Coral 50, Essence of Magic 10, Perfect Essence 5, Tears of Asha 1.] (Description: A finite amount of basic resources can be consumed weekly to make a wish, with a chance of getting a wish reward.) Oh, I see. An orange building blueprint. Last time, he¡¯s yet to collect all the materials for the system reward¡¯s purple blueprint. This orange blueprint has come now, but the description of this special building is indeed powerful. Once a week, there¡¯s an opportunity to consume basic resources to make a wish, and there¡¯s a chance to get the wished item. The prerequisite is to construct four statues of the gods, one of which is the Goddess of Harvest in his territory. He needs to collect three more statues of the gods. Moreover, it will take some effort to get these weird materials. [Dwarven Fire Gun Making Blueprint (Blue)] [Category: Fire Gun] [Required Materials: 5 Composite Boards, 3 Cold Forged Steels, 12 Precision Parts.] (Description: Its straightforward triggering method and formidable attack power have made the Dwarven long-range weapon famous.) Another decent item. For the rigid and stiff Undead Skeleton troops, a simple triggering method is especially important. He remembers how he tried to have the Skeleton Infantry mimic Gnolls, using a sling to launch attacks. But the results were disastrous. The stray stones not only knocked down a few comrades but barely missed his head as well. All the Sling Weapons were immediately dismantled by him, turned into stones and ropes. Eira came over, holding freshly washed fruits. As she approached, she saw Fang Hao sitting there chuckling to himself. Eira didn¡¯t know that Fang Hao was looking at the reward attributes. She just assumed something good happened and he was laughing quietly to himself. ¡°Master, the fruit is washed, please have it.¡± She sat kneeling on the side, presenting the fruit to Fang Hao. The fruit still had droplets on it, giving it a clear and transparent look, very appetizing. ¡°Get up, don¡¯t kneel all the time, these legs are wasted, no, I mean just do your job as usual, there¡¯s no need for constantly bowing and kneeling.¡± Fang Hao said softly. It¡¯s Eira¡¯s second day here, after a full day of combat, she¡¯s not that scared of skeletons anymore. She even directed the skeleton to replace her room with a solid wooden double bed. However, when facing Fang Hao, she always kneels down, looking oppressed. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Eira stood up from the ground. Her pale knees were slightly red. Fang Hao picked up a piece of fruit and took a bite. The taste was similar to pear, very juicy, but tasted average. ¡°What¡¯s this fruit called?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Red Fruit!¡± Eira answered. Alright, the name probably came from the color of the fruit¡¯s skin. ¡°You should also eat, we harvested a lot of this fruit. It¡¯s just the two of us, we won¡¯t be able to finish them before they spoil.¡± Fang Hao handed the fruit to Eira and softly said. From the Orc Tribe, they brought back hundreds of baskets, each holding more than 20 fruits. If they can¡¯t finish the fruits, they will all spoil soon. Eira carefully accepted the fruit, looked at Fang Hao, and took a bite. Instantly, the sweet juice flooded into her mouth. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Eira swallowed the fruit and wore a satisfied smile. Fang Hao smiled slightly, ¡°Okay, if you like it, eat more.¡± After saying that, he held the recruitment scroll in his hand and walked out. Rather than savoring fruit here, he¡¯d rather use the recruitment scroll to recruit his first hero. Walking out of the wooden lord¡¯s house. The sky was dim, and the bright moon was high in the sky. With the[Hero Recruitment Scroll]in hand, Fang Hao mindlessly thought of numerous famous generals from ancient times. Then he realized, this is not the same world, the figures he was thinking about most likely wouldn¡¯t appear here. He could only pray for a high-grade, powerful, and invincible hero. That way he could sit back and relax as a salted-fish lord. Uh¡­, it seems like he¡¯s already quite a salted fish. [Would you like to use the Faction Hero Recruitment Scroll? Once used, a random faction hero will be recruited.] Deep breath in. ¡°Use it!¡± Following that, the recruitment scroll emitted a faint light in his hand, slowly drifting away as if the paper burned out. Next second, a complex magic array appeared in the space in front of him. Encased in an orange glow, a figure slowly rose from the ground. ¡°Holy crap! A legendary golden!¡± The light dispersed. A tall and thin figure appeared before him. [Successful recruitment, The Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson (Orange Tier 7 Hero)] Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51, The First Hero_1 Chapter 51: Chapter 51, The First Hero_1 Translator: 549690339 The light scattered, revealing the figure of The Corpse Witch Nelson. He was over 1.8 meters tall and slightly hunched over, looking like an old man. Unlike ordinary skeleton soldiers who appeared bare-boned, he wore a decent-looking robe outside of his skeleton frame, holding a magic wand in his hand. As Fang Hao was observing him, Nelson was observing Fang Hao as well. He couldn¡¯t believe that the one who summoned him from the void was a human. This seemed somewhat against the rules. What should he do next? Should he serve a human? His abilities, however, did not seem suitable for a human. [The Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson¡¯s Loyalty to you has decreased by 10 points, current Loyalty is 60.] The system¡¯s notification startled Fang Hao awake. ¡°Damn, I haven¡¯t even done anything, how come it¡¯s dropped?¡± He murmured in his hearts. Clearing his throat, Fang Hao said, ¡°I am Lord Fang Hao, welcome to the team, Mr. Nelson.¡± Nelson hastily bowed, ¡°Greetings, my lord. ¡°Mm,¡± Fang Hao slightly nodded his head. Nelson stood up straight, surveyed the territory surrounding him, and curiously asked, ¡°My lord, aren¡¯t you afraid of me?¡± Clearly, he was referring to his skeleton body. Most creatures in this world would not willingly deal with the undead. Fang Hao was remarkably composed for a young man encountering such a sight. Fang Hao smiled faintly, ¡°The God of Undead accepts all believers.¡± He had heard this line from a skeleton merchant once; it sounded cool at the time, so he remembered it. Nelson was moved; he bowed again: ¡°Nelson pays his respect to the lord, may you be mighty and undying.¡± [The Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson¡¯s Loyalty to you has increased by 20, current Loyalty is 80.] ¡°Haha, there is no need to be so respectful, Nelson. Our territory is still in its growth stage, and will require your abilities in the future,¡± said Fang Hao with a smile. He felt secretly delighted, the line worked wonders. Whenever other undead join, he could start off with that line to avoid fluctuations in Loyalty. Fang Hao also took this opportunity to check Nelson¡¯s attributes. [The Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson (Orange Tier Seven Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Template: Orange] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light.] [Legion Talent: Magic Power Storm, Ranged Command, Mage Commander.] [Skills: Royal Funeral, Viscera Collector, Viscera Museum Scholar, Cheating Death, Mass Burial, Magic Power Emanation.] [Inherent abilities: Domain Darkness Mastery, Advanced Magic Mastery, Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Command Mastery.] [Magic Power Storm]: Increases the magic power of the commanded unit by 35%, and magic recovery by 15%. [Ranged Command]: Increases the attack power of ranged units by 15%. [Mage Commander]: Increases the attack power of mage units by 25%. [Royal Funeral]: Holder of the secret of reincarnation, from the funeral rituals scholars, skilled in cleaning your corpse, removing viscera, dehydration, reshaping, casting spells, and preservation. [Viscera Collector]: Sealed Viscera jar has no number limit. [Viscera Museum Scholar]: Comes with a blueprint of the Viscera Museum, automatically unlocks the building blueprint once the hero is recruited. [Cheating Death]: As long as he is willing, the dead will become undying. [Mass Burial]: Earth Elemental Magic, raging earth imprisoning and squeezing the enemy¡¯s body into mud. [Magic Power Emanation]: Constantly replenishes magic power. (Description: The holder of ancient knowledge, the guardian of the secret of immortality.) This was somewhat different from Fang Hao¡¯s initial thought. He had wanted to recruit a hero with strong martial prowess, but he ended up recruiting a corpse witch instead. Looking at his attributes, he seemed to be more of a scholar than a warrior. An official once responsible for conducting royal funerals. To be honest, Fang Hao felt that he was becoming more and more distant from the living. But the path of the Undead seemed to broaden as he advanced. Of course, being a civilian did not necessarily mean he wasn¡¯t powerful. It just meant that his power was more pronounced in development or internal affairs. Nelson belonged to the category of funeral heroes, and he also knew a simple Earth Elemental Magic. The spell ¡°Grand Burial¡± seemed more like something to facilitate the last stage of burial. ¡°Nelson, what kind of building is the Viscera Museum?¡± Fang Hao asked again. All of Nelson¡¯s characteristics were clear, except for the Blueprint of the Viscera Museum, which had no detailed introduction. ¡°The museum is a very important type of building in a Royal Funeral. Combined with the energy-storing Viscera Jars, it can give our forces powerful abilities. The funeral ritual group can also make powerful and unique items here,¡± Nelson replied casually. Fang Hao nodded, somewhat understanding but not completely. ¡°Then let¡¯s build the museum first,¡± Fang Hao said, opening the Book of Lords once again. According to the instructions, Nelson¡¯s included Blueprint could also be viewed on it. [Viscera Museum: Wood 12000, Stone 10000, Hemp Rope 4200, Leather 800, Shadowstone 10, Death Trace 5.] The resources it consumed were indeed a considerable amount. The basic materials exceeded tens of thousands, and the Shadowstones and Death Traces were barely enough. He was saving the Shadowstones for upgrading the barracks, but it seemed that he had to use them here first. ¡°Master Nelson, where do you think would be a suitable location?¡± Fang Hao asked in a low voice. -I think somewhere near there would be nice,¡± Nelson pointed in a direction not far away. It was the Burial Grounds, the gathering place for the Skeleton Conversion Field, giving off an aura of death. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s build it here for now,¡± Fang Hao chose a location right next to the Skeleton Conversion Field and began to construct the building. Soon, a large outline of a building appeared out of thin air. The construction, however, required half an hour. This came as a surprise to Fang Hao. He knew that previous buildings, the slowest ones, had taken only about five minutes. The fastest ones had been completed in an instant. As the two made light conversation while waiting for the construction to complete¡­ Clank! A light sound rang out from the side. They looked over only to see Eira holding a wooden bucket, staring wide-eyed at Nelson. For this strangely dressed, talking Skeleton, she was full of disbelief. ¡°Eira, come here,¡± Fang Hao called out softly. Eira was a little scared, but still forced herself to walk over. ¡°Eira, this is Master Nelson, a scholar who just joined our territory,¡± Fang Hao lavished his words, using terms like ¡®Master¡¯ and ¡®Scholar¡¯ at every turn. ¡°Hello, Master Scholar,¡± Eira kept her head down, not daring to look at Nelson¡¯s face. Or to be more accurate, nobody wanted to look at a skeleton frame with flickering ghost fire. Nelson was also curious. How had another member of the Orc Clan appeared, and a very weak Rabbit at that? ¡°Master Nelson, this is my maid, Eira. If you need anything in your daily life, feel free to tell me or her,¡± Fang Hao continued to introduce. Nelson, on the contrary, showed enough respect, saying, ¡°Miss Eira, I am pleased to meet you.¡± All the inhabitants of the territory had now met and become acquainted with each other. While their number of troops was sufficient, the population of the territory was still too small. Fang Hao continued to chat with Nelson, understanding more about his past. Nelson still retained many of his professional skills, but his past memories were very vague. Without realizing it, the museum was slowly constructed and completed. [Viscera Museum] [Collected Viscera Jars: 0/20] (Note: Placing Viscera Jars that have stored various types of energy can give powerful abilities to the troops and produce special weapons.) [Materials needed for upgrade: Wood 25000, Stone 20000, Stone Bricks 12000, Hemp Rope 8500, Leather 1600, Shadowstone 20, Death Trace 15. (Requires that the Lord¡¯s Hall reaches the Stone Castle level..)] Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52, Viscera Museum (Seeking recommendations. ?)_1 Chapter 52: Chapter 52, Viscera Museum (Seeking recommendations. ?)_1 Translator: 549690339 The Viscera Museum was expansive and its architectural style brimming with religious elements. The walls were colorfully painted with a variety of ritual symbols, lively and vivid. ¡°My Lord, would you like to visit?¡± Nelson extended an invitation. Gazing at the colossal architecture in front of him, Fang Hao was filled with curiosity. The museum was only one floor, but its footprint far exceeded that of Fang Hao¡¯s Lord Cabin. It had become the largest structure in his territory. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Fang Hao gave a light smile and walked in stride with Nelson. The interior of the building was very spacious, almost like a real museum, divided into areas of different sizes. Each of them even had labels. [Underground Cemetery][Burial Grounds], They were two undead buildings within Fang Hao¡¯s territory. ¡°My Lord, once we acquire viscera jars with special abilities, they can be placed in the corresponding areas as offerings, which can bestow powerful and special abilities onto our troops,¡± Nelson whispered an explanation from the side. If he were outside, Fang Hao might not understand Nelson¡¯s explanation. However, being on the scene, he now understood Nelson¡¯s explanation. It¡¯s like runes for heroes in a game. The viscera jars were the runes that could grant special abilities to chosen troops. Looking now, it seemed like he had stumbled on treasure. This enhanced the strength of whole units, which was much more powerful than just a warrior hero. He had a hundredfold reinforcement; mass army production was his advantage. ¡°Hmm, how can we obtain viscera jars?¡± Fang Hao asked further. He had one empty viscera jar that he had purchased from the skeleton trader. ¡°They could be fired in a pottery kiln, or purchased,¡± Nelson continued. Oh. Certainly, the pottery kiln would require blueprints. And purchasing them meant buying from the skeleton trader. There was not much to explain. The two continued on, and the second hall was somewhat smaller. In the center was a large, long stone table. The surface of the stone table was smooth and polished. ¡°My Lord, when the day comes that you wish to shed this mortal coil, a ceremony can be conducted here,¡± Nelson said softly, leaning on his magic wand. Fang Hao was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood Nelson¡¯s implication. Crap! This table was for mummification. He instinctively wanted to step back but immediately stopped and calmly said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Nelson didn¡¯t say anything more. Moving further inside was Nelson¡¯s living space. It was convenient that the museum had a room for him, sparing Fang Hao the trouble of arranging accommodations. After touring the museum, they headed outside. ¡°Alright, Nelson, when you have time, you can stroll around the territory to familiarize yourself with the environment.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Nelson responded. Fang Hao left the museum with Eira waiting at the door. Seeing him return, she immediately followed him towards the Lord¡¯s Cabin. The next day, early morning. Because of last night¡¯s late hours, he didn¡¯t get up as early today. He had a lazy morning. Eira didn¡¯t wake him, letting him sleep in. After stretching, he walked out of his bedroom. As soon as he went downstairs, he heard Eira humming a tune in the room. It seemed she was in a good mood today. Fang Hao cracked a small smile, just about to leave, when Eira opened the door. They almost collided into each other. ¡°Ah! Master, you¡¯re awake.¡± Hair damp, Eira was wrapped in a leather blanket, barely covering her chest and buttocks. The bare skin exposed was flushed from steam. Adorably so. Eira abruptly curtsied, causing the already scant leather blanket to seem even more insufficient. It made Fang Hao¡¯s heart race this early in the morning. ¡°Are you having a shower? There are curtains, don¡¯t catch a cold,¡± Fang Hao quickly diverted his gaze. The territory indeed didn¡¯t have the resources to make bath towels or cloth. But why not scavenge some curtains from the old castle and orc camp? Those were good fabrics that could easily serve as bath towels. The skeleton had been cleaned several times and was very clean. ¡°The curtains are really nice, I¡¯ve stored them away to be used when needed,¡± Eira said softly. She really knew how to manage things. ¡°Alright, just don¡¯t catch a cold. After your bath, get ready for breakfast,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Alright, master, I¡¯ll prepare breakfast right away,¡± Eira replied eagerly. Fang Hao watched Eira¡¯s swaying buttocks from behind and shook his head slightly. This was really a fox spirit; who knows how many episodes she would survive in the Journey to the West. He walked out of the Lord¡¯s cottage. As usual, he did some aerobic exercises, running, and push-ups until he was slightly sweaty. The physique was the capital of the revolution. Seeing the charm of the Rabbitmen Clan, his body could not afford to break down earlier than planned. After finishing the exercises, Eira began to make breakfast. Fang Hao decided to construct the Cavalry Training Ground, recruiting cavalry units early on. He walked to the gathering place of the military buildings, opened the Book of Lords, and found the blueprint. Once Cavalry Training Ground was input into the Book of Lords, its name changed due to the faction relationship. It was called the Corridor of the Undead. [Corridor of The Undead: 500 wood, 700 stone, 500 straw, 120 hemp ropes.] Construct! A flash of light, and a long, narrow corridor appeared before Fang Hao. [Level 1 Corridor of The Undead] [Recruitment: Skeleton Scouts] [Skeleton Scout: 1 Wriggling Spine] (Note: It is possible to recruit cavalry units from the affiliated faction in this building. Upgrading the building will unlock new soldier types and higher-ranking units.) [Upgrade materials required: 1000 wood, 1200 stone, 950 straw, 300 leather, 250 hemp ropes, 10 shadowstones.] Being able to recruit cavalry made Fang Hao happy, of course. However, all the accumulated shadowstones were consumed when building the Viscera Museum last night. He couldn¡¯t continue upgrading the Corridor of the Dead. But it doesn¡¯t matter. Based on his experience in upgrading barracks, the 2nd level is only a transition and does not unlock new units. So, there¡¯s no rush to upgrade the units now. Directly recruit the units, first to see what the cavalry look like. [Recruitment Available: 1 Skeleton Scout, Cost: 1 Wriggling Spine. Confirm Recruitment?] Confirm recruitment! The system¡¯s prompt sounded again. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Successfully Recruited 101 Skeleton Scouts.] The next second. A skeleton soldier, riding a skeleton horse, slowly walked out from the corridor. And on the vacant land next to it, light flickered, and a hundred skeleton scouts of the same appearance appeared. ¡°This is not right. Supposedly, recruiting a skeleton soldier requires a spine, doesn¡¯t it? Does this mean recruiting cavalry comes with a skeleton horse? So isn¡¯t it more suitable to recruit cavalry?¡± Fang Hao analyzed by himself. [Skeleton Scout (Level 2)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Characteristics: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.] [Skills: Charge.] [Innate Abilities: Basic Combat Mastery, Basic Swordsmanship Mastery, Basic Riding Skill Mastery.] [Charge]: (Mounted status) Can charge towards the target, quickly closing in or dispersing formation, inflicting significant damage on the enemy. (Note: Mounted skeleton scouts make up for their lack of mobility, possessing effective mobility and a remarkable charge ability.) The skeleton horse clomped on the ground, making a series of ¡®clippity-clop¡¯ noises. Looking at the scouts, Fang Hao nodded in satisfaction.. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53, Skeleton Scout_l Chapter 53: Chapter 53, Skeleton Scout_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao once again opened the Book of Lords to create equipment for the skeleton cavalry. After several battles, it was clear to see the importance of weapons and equipment. The quality of equipment can significantly influence the course of a battle. Flipping the Book of Lords to the manufacturing page, he directly selected the newly acquired blueprint. [Fine Single-Edged Blade (Green): Wood 5, Iron 10, Leather 3.] The fine single-edged blade was green equipment, the second green weapon blueprint in Fang Hao¡¯s hands. The first one was the axe blueprint given to him after he took a Tauren order. At this thought, Fang Hao suddenly remembered the order he had signed with the Bronze Bull. He had promised to deliver 3,000 axes to the Bronze Bull after three days, and today was already the second day. Tomorrow would be the third day, and he should start preparing to deliver the goods to the Bronze Bull. He set the number of fine single-edged blades to 10. Select manufacture. [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, off to a fine single-edged blade 1010.] Fang Hao had only recruited a hundred skeleton cavalry, but the skeleton conversion field had converted quite a few werewolf cavalry, which had now become skeletons and were also under Fang Hao¡¯s command. The rest were still being converted. After making the single-edged blades, he continued to make saddles. [Leather Saddle: Iron 2, Leather 5.] Manufacture quantity 10. [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, 1010 leather saddles obtained.] [ Leather Saddle (White)] [Category: Saddle] [ Function: Stability+2%, Horse speed+5¡ã/o.] (Description: A low-quality saddle made of ordinary leather.) Just as all the cavalry were being fitted with equipment, Eira¡¯s voice came from behind him, ¡°Master, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao responded, turning his head. He was indeed a little hungry. He told the cavalry to stand by at the gate and went back to the lord¡¯s wooden house to eat. On the way, he happened to see the newly recruited hero from yesterday, the Corpse Witch Nelson, at the Viscera Museum. ¡°Nelson, Eira made breakfast. Would you like to join?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Thank you, lord, but I won¡¯t need to,¡± Nelson replied. Being of undead nature, he naturally didn¡¯t need to eat. ¡°Hmm, you can look around the territory,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Nelson nodded slightly, not refusing. When he arrived at the dining table, Eira had already prepared breakfast, and the water cup was full, showing her great consideration. ¡°Let¡¯s eat together.¡± After sitting down, Fang Hao started eating. This time, Eira did not refuse, and obediently sat down and started eating as well. After these two days of interaction, Eira had gradually understood Fang Hao and become familiar with the territory. She started to accept her current life and was not as nervous and reserved. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords while eating. Checked the chat channel. ¡°Damn it, the meat stored in the warehouse was stolen. I lost more than three hundred units. I¡¯m freaking out.¡± ¡°Last night, my territory was also visited by beasts. Although they did not attack people, the villagers and I did not sleep well all night; we were scared.¡± ¡°Hey! Now that the defense shield is gone, our territory is no different than the wilderness. Don¡¯t store food in the warehouse, put it all in the lord¡¯s wooden house.¡± ¡°And one more thing ¨C don¡¯t light a fire at night.¡± The crowd chatted. The disappearance of the shield had left those territories without walls vulnerable to the visits of beasts or unknown creatures. This situation was causing great concern. Who knows if any creature might appear in the night and snap your neck while you slept. The chat continued in the channel. ¡°The creatures visiting at night are mostly wild animals. If you build a wall, you can prevent 90% of them.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the guy above talking nonsense? If I had a blueprint for a wall, would I lose food?¡± ¡°Indeed, I guess now 80% of the people don¡¯t have the blueprint for a wall. Even if they did, materials would be a problem.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a wall blueprint either, but I had the farmers use logs to encircle the primary buildings, and it worked well. You guys could try that.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Right now, I¡¯ll have the villagers go logging, and also enclose our residences and warehouses.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that too; it¡¯s too dangerous otherwise.¡± ¡°Calling Fang Hao, I would like to buy iron axes.¡± ¡°Damn it, I also want to buy iron axes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fucking snatch, 1 said it first.¡± As he was picking up his food, Fang Hao paused for a moment. Why was it that no matter where the conversation went, it always ended up involving him? But on second thought, it made sense. The mandatory task had already ended. The surviving lords all had ample food to support their farmers and soldiers. From now on, their goal was to develop their territory and get a head start. Even if they didn¡¯t have to cut wood for the walls, many people would buy tools such as iron axes from him for efficiency¡¯s sake. Fang Hao quickly filled his stomach with a few bites. ¡°Eira, eat slowly, don¡¯t waste.¡± Fang Hao stood up and casually said. Eira opened her big eyes wide and nodded her head. She didn¡¯t know why Fang Hao was always so busy. Fang Hao walked over to the side and directly manufactured 1010 iron axes for selling. When the 1010 axes were put up for sale, the channel again erupted into a frenzy. ¡°Holy shit, the big shot is watching us chat.¡± ¡°Does Fang Hao have OCD? Every time it¡¯s either 101 or 1010, is there some hidden meaning here?¡± ¡°Hurry and grab them, they¡¯ll be gone soon.¡± ¡°Damn, you beasts, you¡¯re even grabbing tools.¡± In the region, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t the only one with an iron axe blueprint. But only Fang Hao was able to sell them in such large quantities. After all, the effect of the one hundred-fold amplification gave him an advantage others could not compare with. In just a few minutes, all the axes were sold out. Apart from the huge amount of iron resources Fang Hao received, he didn¡¯t receive any blueprints but did get some rare materials. It seemed that after the battle yesterday, everyone had not gone out to explore and collect blueprints. The reason Fang Hao would put up items in response to what the channel needed was simple. Firstly, everyone had come together, and he was unwilling to see others in trouble, and secondly, he also needed the others to improve their capabilities. Currently, Fang Hao had ample resources and could make lots of equipment. But there were few in the channel who could offer items of equivalent exchange. What they could offer, he already had. In other words, the other lords in the region were too poor. Only by letting them become slightly richer could he earn their rare materials and blueprints. After everything was done. Fang Hao returned to his room. He flopped down on the bed and began to use the[God¡¯s Presence], The next second, Fang Hao was sitting on a skeleton horse, his bony fingers gripped the reins tightly. [God¡¯s Presence Target, Skeleton Scout, Compatibility 50%.] The compatibility was not high, but it wasn¡¯t a major issue. Fang Hao would not be using God¡¯s Presence for a long time, so not much mental exhaustion would be incurred. ¡°All scouts, follow me.¡± With a pull of the reins, the skeleton horseman stood up, sprinting away the next second. All the skeleton scouts, following Fang Hao¡¯s command, started to run, heading south.. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54, Enlightening Potion (Asking for recommendations.) 1 Chapter 54: Chapter 54, Enlightening Potion (Asking for recommendations.) 1 Translator: 549690339 The dense sound of horse hooves, akin to an urgent drumbeat, would stir flocks of birds into flight wherever they passed. Fang Hao led his cavalry, galloping his steed swiftly. In no time at all, they arrived at Shadowwind Castle. Traveling on horseback halved the journey, significantly boosting efficiency. Shadowwind Castle. The once quiet and vacant castle was now bustling like a large construction site. Clang, clang. The pickaxes never ceased striking the walls, removing intact bricks of stone. Fang Hao had stationed a large number of skeletons here. Aside from the laborer skeletons that were dismantling the walls, there were numerous skeleton soldiers responsible for transportation and support. Even so, the efficiency of the laborer skeletons was still not high. The tools they wielded were the relatively outdated pickaxes, which needed constant replacement. Two days later, the number of finished stone bricks collected was only 167 units. Many of the bricks that were dismantled were already shattered, turning into ordinary stones. Fang Hao dismounted to check the stockpile of pickaxes and the number of carts available. This was to ensure there were sufficient logistical reserves, so as not to hinder the work of the skeletons. After inspecting the area, he mounted his horse and left. Fang Hao did not return to his territory with his troops, but continued southwest. Even the areas explored by the current skeleton bodies would be automatically recorded on the map in the Book of Lords. This was the perfect opportunity to use the cavalry¡¯s mobility to quickly expand the map area. The cavalry spurred their horses to hurry along the journey. They would cross any area that was not too dense with trees. Tree branches constantly whipped against their armour. ¡°Stop!¡± Fang Hao pulled the reins, signalling the cavalry behind him to halt their advance. Through the gaps in the trees, one could see the creatures roaming ahead. [Lost Wood Elemental Attendant (Tier 3)] [Type: Summoned Creature (No Master)] [Ability: Manipulating plants, Promoting growth.] (Description: These attendants, having lost their masters, gradually lost their objective, and roamed around attacking any creature that passed.) Fang Hao had cleared this type of lost elemental attendant before. Their attributes and capabilities were the same, and they were also located on the western side of the territory. ¡°Who¡¯s the thoughtless jerk summoning so many attendants and dumping them all over the place? Don¡¯t they have any sense of public decency?¡± Fang Hao cursed quietly. From the description, it could be seen. These attendants didn¡¯t appear naturally, but were summoned. They were discarded by their master, and thus slowly lost their spirituality and became wandering monsters that attack passers-by. Compared to the few that he encountered last time, there were quite a few this time around, 15 or 16 of them. ¡°Prepare for battle.¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! All the cavalry silently pulled out the long swords at their waists, and the aura of slaughter spread. ¡°Charge!¡± Fang Hao let out a low roar, and his skeletal horse immediately burst out of the woods, leading all the cavalry towards the Wood Elemental Attendants. When closing in to about a hundred meters, all the cavalry initiated a charge. By the time the Wood Elemental Attendants noticed the enemy, the cavalry had already pierced through their forces like a razor-sharp blade. Facing such a surprise attack, the Wood Elemental Attendants had no means to defend. Their innate abilities had yet to be launched when half of them had already fallen to their blades. After the cavalry had passed through the field, they circled back and charged again. This time, the Wood Elemental Attendants launched an attack, but their numbers were too few to withstand the enemy¡¯s onslaught. After two rounds of charging, all of them eventually perished under the hooves. ¡°Clean up the battlefield and look for any chests.¡± Fang Hao gave the order. All the cavalry immediately scattered, searching for the spoils of war. Fang Hao dismounted, and next to the body of the fallen Wood Elemental Attendant, he picked up two essences of nature. After remounting, he started looking for other treasures, too. Based on past experience, there should be a treasure chest nearby. Very quickly, Fang Hao found his target. Before him was a corpse dressed in a robe, sitting against a tree. It was unclear how long the person had been dead, the robe on the body had decayed, leaving only the ruined upper half of the corpse, which was covered in newgrown vines. If it wasn¡¯t for Fang Hao¡¯s sharp eyes, it would be quite difficult to spot this corpse. [Mage¡¯s Skeleton] [Type: Remains] (Description. This is the remains of a mage who succumbed to a backfire of his own magic and was ultimately buried in the wilderness.) Those skeletons whose properties could be checked usually harbored secrets or possessed special items. Previously, in a bear cave, he had found the skeleton of an adventurer from which he acquired a single-page map to the Tomb of the Dragon. It could be considered an exciting chance encounter in the wild. ¡°Hand me that backpack.¡± Fang Hao pointed to a backpack beside the corpse. The cavalry dismounted and passed the backpack to Fang Hao. The backpack was also tattered, just a slightly rough handling could tear the fabric apart. He rummaged inside it. The rotting journal had turned into a lump of mud. A potion, a scroll, and 120 Warfire Coins. [Enlightening Potion for Magic Power] [Category: Potion] [Effect: Acquire a mage¡¯s constitution.] (Description: An enlightening potion created by a Master Alchemist. After consumption, it stimulates the body¡¯s potential and enables the perception of the existence of magic power.) Fang Hao looked at it again and finally understood the meaning of the potion. That is, after consuming this potion, one¡¯s potential would be awakened and one would gain a mage¡¯s constitution. Meaning, after drinking it, one could become a mage, a professional rather than a common person. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this thing have an expiration date?¡± Fang Hao wiped the dirt off the bottle, looking it over and over. This person had probably been dead for many years, his clothes and shoes were all rotten. The potion wouldn¡¯t have expired as well, would it? Although he really wanted to become a mage, he couldn¡¯t just gulp down anything. If it ended up perforating his stomach, that would be a truly pathetic way to die. The second item was a skill scroll. [Elemental Guardian (Wood)] [Category: Skill Scroll] [Ability: The ability to summon two wood element attendants to fight alongside, lasting for 30 minutes.] (Description: War is never about fighting alone, use the natural energy around you, summon an attendant to launch an attack on the enemy.) Certainly! Fang Hao absolutely agreed that war isn¡¯t a solo fight. At the same time, it also alleviated his guilt for outnumbering his opponents in every fight. Whether in a war or a fight, it all comes down to the number and strength of the people. If everything should be balanced, it would be better for everyone to sit down and have a literary contest, perhaps even result in a couple of classic couplets. The scroll of [Elemental Guardian (Wood)] was his third skill. The previous two were faction skills, Bone Manipulation Technique and God¡¯s Presence. This skill might just unlock the door to his career. Having stowed away his loot, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Bury him, let him rest in peace.¡± Reaching this point, Fang Hao let out a sigh. Only the chest cavity and above were left of the remains, the rest had completely decayed and disappeared. Otherwise, he could have tried throwing it in the conversion field. The skeleton rider used the back of his knife to dig a hole under the tree large enough for the burial of the corpse. The corpse was lifted by two skeletons, its arm fell, and an object fell from the palm. ¡°Pick that up and show it to me,¡± Fang Hao said quietly. One of the skeletons went forward, picked up the dropped object, and once again handed it to Fang Hao.. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55, Wooden Spirit Guard 1 Chapter 55: Chapter 55, Wooden Spirit Guard 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª Fang Hao held it in the palm of his hand, examining it carefully. The size of a one-dollar coin, made of metal, covered in dirt. It seems to be a pendant, except its chain is gone. From the side, he saw a small bulge which he pressed lightly. Click! The lid of the pendant instantly flipped open, revealing an inner layer. Inside were engraved the four letters, ¡®Grigorya¡¯. [Silver pendant] [Type: Necklace] (Description: A common pendant almost worthless, yet it carries a father¡¯s full longing. You can either sell it or return it to Grigorya.) Fang Hao held the pendant, a thought coming to mind. This looked like, a task. A task of returning a lost item. Based on his past gaming experience, returning the pendant might reward him with something special. Whatever, this pendant was worthless anyway, and did not even have additional attributes. It was useless to him. If he ran into this ¡®Grigorya¡¯ in the future, he would give the pendant back to her. Thud! The skeleton threw the body straight in and started covering it up. Speaking of which, the Wood Element spirits wandering around were quite useful. Otherwise, here, the body would have been nibbled down to nothing long ago and even this pendant might have ended up in someone¡¯s belly. Having done everything, Fang Hao, along with his cavalry, left once again. After obtaining the Enlightening Potion, Fang Hao had no further interest in patrolling. He made a round with the cavalry and then directly returned to his territory. After assigning a patrol mission to the cavalry, he immediately canceled the God¡¯s Presence state. He woke up from the bed, took a sip of water, and got up. When he came out of the wooden house, he saw Eira airing the washed rug. ¡°Eira, go get Nelson.¡± Fang Hao said softly. ¡°Okay.¡± Eira replied and went towards the Viscera Museum. She was truly terrified of Nelson, the undead hero. However, she could not refute Fang Hao¡¯s command. So she tiptoed to the front of the Viscera Museum and called out softly, ¡°Scholar Nelson! The lord asks for you!¡± Her voice echoed in the museum hall, making Eira unsure if Nelson heard her or not. Just when she was about to call again, the sound of approaching footsteps rang Hero Skeleton Nelson, leaning on his cane, hobbled out. ¡°Alright, where¡¯s the lord?¡± Nelson asked softly, his empty eye sockets emitting a faint blue light. ¡°He¡¯s in the lord¡¯s hall.¡± Eira spoke with her head bowed, somewhat scared to look at Nelson. ¡°I see, tell the lord, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After replying, Eira quickly walked away. Fang Hao sat on the bench in front of the wooden house, looking at the [Enlightening Potion] in his hand. I wonder if it has an expiration date. From the two times he got the world¡¯s first, it¡¯s apparent that Fang Hao is ahead of other lords. However, in this world, that¡¯s not enough. Only by gradually stacking all the advantages can he survive better and more safely. So, he was interested in the Enlightening Potion, which could greatly enhance his strength. While he was pondering. Eira and Nelson almost stepped in one after the other. Lord, you called for me,¡± Nelson said softly. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother with formalities and directly handed the potion to him ¡°Check if this can still be drunk? Is it expired?¡± Nelson, as an immortal undead, had been around for a long time and naturally recognized this kind of potion. He immediately recognized it as soon as he took it in his hand. ¡°My lord, this is a potion made by an alchemist, of course, it¡¯s drinkable.¡± Nelson handed back the potion. No matter the potion, it only works on living creatures. Even if an undead were to drink it, it would only clean the interior of their bones. ¡°Has it expired?¡± Fang Hao was still a bit uneasy. ¡°Expired? You mean, is the potion dirty?¡± Nelson didn¡¯t quite understand the meaning of the word. Although the mud on the potion bottle was wiped off, you could still see dark scratches on the glass. ¡°Er, I mean, is the potency still there? Will I get sick if I drink it?¡± Fang Hao pondered for a moment, then explained what he meant by ¡°expired¡±. ¡°It will not, you can rest assured about that.¡± Nelson was confident. Once Fang Hao received confirmation from Nelson, he no longer hesitated. He uncorked the potion, took a sniff, then drank it all in one gulp. The potion left a taste that reminded him of soap water, which was rather unpleasant. Immediately after, a warm sensation spread from his stomach, enveloping his entire body in an instant. Fang Hao realized something changed within him, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what. [Your magic and spiritual power has increased, giving you a deeper understanding of the elements.] It was indeed a success. Besides the initial warm sensation, there were no unusual occurrences. When he took out the Skill Scroll again, a prompt immediately popped up. [Would you like to learn the skill: Elemental Guardian?] Learn! The scroll transformed into a beam of light which charged into his body. Having learnt a new skill, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t wait to give it a try. A surge of energy rose within him; in the next moment, two wooden elemental guardians appeared in front of him. [Wood Element (Third Tier)] [Type: Guardian Spirit] [Race Traits: Wood Elemental Affinity, Spirit Body.] [Skills: Entangle, Revive.] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Element Mastery, Basic Battle Mastery.] (Wood Elemental Affinity]: Decreases damage from wood elemental magic by 50%, immune to negative wood magic, increases damage against antagonistic elements by 50%. [Spirit Body]: A magical construct, immune to poison, mental, resurrection and other living creature statuses, has a duration. [Entangle]: Grows vines beneath enemies¡¯ feet to restrict their movements. [Revive]: Heals life. (Under revive status, the guardian spirit cannot move, attack, or perform any other action.) (Description: One of the most common guardians of summoners, you can trust your guardians fully, they will never betray you.) The wooden guardian spirits were tall and possessed humanoid bodies and appearances. However, their bodies were made up of entwined trees, with green plant buds growing out of them. Wow! Master, you¡¯re amazing! Did you summon them?¡± Eira let out an exaggerated scream. When faced with the wooden guardian spirits, Eira, who was normally faint-hearted, did not display her usual fear. Instead, she screamed in surprise. ¡°Keep it down, keep it low-key,¡± Fang Hao hurriedly said. Skills don¡¯t oppress the body. If he can learn one more skill, Fang Hao would be fairly satisfied. Even though he had quite a few troops under his command. ¡°Oh,¡± Eira obediently shut her mouth. Lift this,¡± Fang Hao pointed to a wooden bench in front of him. One of the wooden guardian spirits stepped forward, and with its arm, grew writhing vines that wrapped around and lifted the bench. ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Fang Hao and Eira were both astonished. The bench was not light and usually required the combined strength of four skeletons to lift. Now that a single wooden guardian spirit had easily lifted it, the level of strength it displayed was rather surprising. ¡°Try lifting this,¡± Fang Hao pointed to another heavy object.. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56, Heros Corpse (Seeking recommendations...)! Chapter 56: Chapter 56, Hero¡¯s Corpse (Seeking recommendations¡­)! Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao had already tested the power of the Wooden Spirit and several skills. Then, after 30 minutes, the summoning period for the Wooden Spirit came to an end. It dissipated immediately afterwards. As for the Wooden Spirit, Fang Hao was relatively satisfied. Its strength and skills were both very impressive. The only downside was that only two could be summoned at a time, which didn¡¯t give him the same reassurance as his vast skeleton army. The skeleton army was still key for major battles, with the Wooden Spirits serving as supports, or could be used to protect himself. Before he knew it, it was already noon. Eira had prepared lunch. Sitting at the table, he chatted with Eira a bit and then habitually opened the chat channel in the Book of Lords. This had become a habit of Fang Hao¡¯s. Not only could he pass the time, but he could also stay updated on other people¡¯s progress, and stay in the loop on various information. ¡°Today, I cleared out a cave with my soldiers. Once again holding the machete in my hand, I was reminded of the times when I was fighting in Tongluowan.¡± ¡°Quit boasting or we won¡¯t sell you any materials!¡± ¡°Damn¡­ sorry.¡± ¡°Instead of a direct confrontation, I feel like setting traps is a safer option. It significantly reduces the risk of face-to-face encounters.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a hunter among us; please teach me how to set traps. I¡¯m too weak for hunting.¡± ¡°I second that, how should I set traps?¡± ¡°Selling [Simple Animal Traps], exchange for blueprints or rare resources.¡± ¡°Damn, he spent all that time just to advertise his product.¡± ¡°Damn it! I was about to take notes, but it turns out he¡¯s selling animal traps.¡± ¡°XDM, I found that dual daggers are really useful, light and flexible, directly fatal with one attack.¡± ¡°The legend of, 2 daggers style.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± More and more people are adapting to this world. Those who can¡¯t adapt and are weak have already failed during the trial on the seventh day, permanently disappearing from this world. The ones who survived all have some abilities and opportunities. More and more lords are leaving their territories and starting to participate in hunting and fighting. The daily discussion topic has shifted from needing food every day to discussing hunting and fighting. After lunch. Fang Hao continued leading the exploration in nearby areas, and didn¡¯t return to his territory until dusk. Just stepping into the territory and before ending his God¡¯s Presence state, he saw Nelson walking towards him. ¡°My Lord!¡± ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the matter, Nelson?¡± Fang Hao dismounted and asked quietly. He was still a skeleton cavalryman at this moment, and had never told Nelson about the God¡¯s Presence ability. Yet, Nelson recognized him immediately. ¡°My Lord, I found the body of an Orc hero in the Skeleton Conversion Field. I feel it would be a bit wasteful to directly turn it into a soldier,¡± Nelson got straight to the point. Last time during the battle against the orcs, over 30,000 orcs were killed. Adhering to the principle of zero waste, Fang Hao ordered all the bodies to be thrown into the Skeleton Conversion Field for transformation. This included the body of the Orc hero, Kent. However, with more than 30,000 bodies, the conversion field needed to slowly convert them one by one, taking more than a hundred hours in total. ¡°Well, I¡¯m aware of this Orc body, do you have any good suggestions?¡± As the two walked side by side, Fang Hao asked. If Nelson mentioned it, there must be a better way to handle the body. When it came to handling skeletons, Nelson, the expert in funeral rites, was the true professional. ¡°When a hero dies, their consciousness does not perish. I can use a ceremony to revive them, so they can serve the God of Undead as an Undead hero and work for the Lord,¡± Nelson explained softly. ¡°Undead hero? Will he become a hero for our territory?¡± Fang Hao became interested. The power of a hero needs no further elaboration. If he could make them become his own heroes, the strength of his territory would also be enhanced. ¡°Yes, my Lord, they will become your powerful and loyal servants,¡± Nelson calmly explained. Upon hearing this, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes brightened. It seemed like a deal that would not cause him a loss. After thinking for a while, he continued to ask, ¡°Then what¡¯s the difference between this and the Skeleton Conversion Field?¡± The Skeleton Conversion Field could also turn a body into a skeleton, and he could then summon more skeletons. Moreover, he had a hundredfold amplification, by which he could summon a large group at a time. Isn¡¯t it better than creating one by Nelson¡¯s method? As Nelson walked with Fang Hao, he began to explain. ¡°The Skeleton Conversion Field would degrade the original orc into a maximum of 8th-tiered skeleton soldier. However, the ceremony would allow us to retain the original strength and wisdom of the body.¡± Nelson did not exhibit any impatience with Fang Hao¡¯s lack of knowledge. The Skeleton Conversion Field was just a blue special building. The converted body not only dropped in strength but also had a maximum limit. A level one Skeleton Conversion Field had a maximum limit of the 8th-tiered soldier. No matter how strong the hero was, once it entered the conversion field, it would follow the basic conversion principles, and would become an 8th-tiered soldier at the very flag_representation, and its skills would also disappear. In this flag_representation, it was indeed a bit wasteful to throw the hero into the conversion field. ¡°Wait here for a moment. I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Fang Hao told Nelson and deactivated his God¡¯s Presence state. Then, He walked out of the Lord¡¯s cabin. ¡°You mean to say, if I hand this body to you, you can retain its original rank and abilities, and it will also have normal wisdom, right?¡± Fang Hao asked while sitting on the bench. Sitting down on a chair, Nelson said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s no different from when it was alive. This is the advantage of the Immortal Clan.¡± Lucky him. Having an elder around is truly like having a treasure. In the future, the heroes he defeats could all become his own heroes. Won¡¯t he have more and more heroes then? No wonder the Immortal Undead has a bad reputation on the continent. The heroes that died now become the heroes of the Undead Clan. You tell me, isn¡¯t that annoying? Fang Hao thought about it hard for a while and found Nelson¡¯s idea to have no downsides. So he nodded and agreed, ¡°Fine, then let¡¯s leave it to you.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord, rest assured, five days later, I will present the new undead hero to you,¡± Nelson said. ¡°Alright, thank you, Scholar.¡± Nelson nodded slightly and returned to the Viscera Museum. Fang Hao returned to his cabin. While Eira was preparing dinner, Fang Hao ran three laps around his territory. Throughout the day, he only exercised in the morning and evening. The rest of the time, he was in the state of God¡¯s Presence and barely moved himself. His muscles were about to atrophy from the lack of movement. After dinner, he returned to his room to rest. The next day, early in the morning. As the first ray of sunlight entered the room, Fang Hao sat up in bed. Pushing open the lattice window, he breathed in the fresh morning air. He stretched himself to the max, activating his body. He opened the door and went downstairs. Eira was still waking up earlier than Fang Hao, and was currently humming a tune while cleaning the hall on the first floor. Seeing Fang Hao coming down, she quickly said, ¡°Master, you¡¯re up. I have prepared fresh water for you to wash your face!¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°I can wash my face myself, you prepare breakfast. We¡¯re going to deliver the goods to Manim Market today.¡± Today was the day of his appointment with the Bronze Bull. He needed to deliver 3,000 axes to him. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Eira responded and put down her tools to prepare breakfast.. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57, Delivery l Chapter 57: Chapter 57, Delivery l Translator: 549690339 The food supply within the territory is plentiful. For him and Eira, it¡¯s somewhat surplus. As the Lords now all have food, meat is no longer a hot commodity in the channel and is hard to sell. Fang Hao roughly calculated it. This situation will probably continue for about a week or so. Only when people have consumed all the meat obtained from the frenzied beast¡¯s blood, the price of meat will rise on the market. Fang Hao is not in a hurry either. Although not many people buy meat, basic equipment such as iron axes and wooden shields are still selling well. For him as a merchant, the impact is basically negligible. However, everyone is still poor and there are not many resources to exchange. They like to use the excuse that we are all fellow earthlings and freeload Fang Hao¡¯s items. Fang Hao inspected the territory. ¡°Master, breakfast is ready,¡± Eira called out. Fang Hao returned to the wooden house and sat down at the table. Today¡¯s breakfast is a slice of steak and a bowl of vegetable soup. The vegetables were obtained from the Orc¡¯s territory and are their reserves. Now they are his. With plenty of ingredients, Eira can cook more and more lavish food. Just having meat will get tiring to eat sooner or later. ¡°Master, are you still going to sell iron swords at the Manim market?¡± Eira asked softly with her big eyes wide open. Having got familiar with Fang Hao, she was no longer as reserved as before. ¡°I promised Bronze Bull to make a batch of goods for him. Today is the delivery day,¡± Fang Hao replied while eating. ¡°Oh, master, we are running low on seasoning in the storeroom. When you go to the market this time, we need to replenish some seasoning,¡± Eira said. ¡°Alright, remind me at that time,¡± Fang Hao responded. ¡°Okay,¡± Eira agreed. The previous sauces were all obtained from the orc¡¯s camp. Although it¡¯s only been two days, they were consumed quite fast. We can take this opportunity to buy some seasonings when we go to the orc market. After finishing breakfast. Fang Hao asked Eira to bring the wagon, and he began to craft axe hammers. [Axe Hammer (green): Wood 3, Iron 12, Leather 2.] The crafting of the axe hammer consumes a hefty amount of iron. If not for his hundredfold amplification counting as a manual labor fee, he might not profit from this trade. Of course, trading with Bronze Bull ¨C Talok has benefits beyond just making money. Getting in touch with a market manager is precisely what Fang Hao needs. The materials are plentiful. He sets the crafting quantity to 30 pieces. [Hundredfold amplification triggered, received 3030 axe hammers.] The next second, a pile of heavy axe hammers sprung up around Fang Hao. The axe hammer is heavier than an ordinary battle axe. The large fan-shaped axe face, carved with totem-like patterns, is full of violent aesthetics. When Eira led the horse-drawn carriage over, she was also startled by the sight before her. She was only away for a few minutes, how did so many weapons appear? ¡°We can load up the car now,¡± Eira said. ¡°Okay,¡± Fang Hao commanded the skeletons to start loading the carriage, while Eira jumped onto the roof of the carriage to secure all the goods with hemp rope. Even so, Fang Hao still underestimated the weight of the axe hammers. Five carriages couldn¡¯t carry 3,000 axe hammers at all. He had no choice but to call for five more flatcars, each drawn by a skeleton wolf. After the goods were loaded, Fang Hao counted 30,000 skeletons to defend, and they left the territory in a grand fashion. The management of the territory was handed over to Nelson. Of course, it¡¯s just a day¡¯s journey. There¡¯s not much to manage. With previous experience, this trip to the Manim Market was a familiar one. After a few hours of travel, they could see the outline of the city. ¡°Master, you can see the Manim Market,¡± Eira said. ¡°Ah? We¡¯re here.¡± Fang Hao sat up and immediately closed the Book of Lords. The Orcs harbor hostility towards the undead. Especially with a group of tens of thousands approaching the city, it would surely cause great panic. If that happens, smooth trading would be difficult. ¡°Change direction,¡± Fang Hao said. The team began to change direction and set up camp again under the cliff where they camped last time. All the skeletons were left behind. He and Eira rushed the five carriages ahead to the Manim market. Soon, they arrived at the city gate. Two strong Tauren stared at them both. ¡°I told Chieftain Talok that I would come to deliver goods today,¡± Fang Hao stated indifferently. The Tauren nodded, ¡°Okay, go in. The Chieftain ordered that if you come, you should see him directly.¡± Fang Hao looked at the Tauren, all looked the same, but the Tauren remembered Fang Hao¡¯s appearance. After all these years, only one human came. That made recognition not so difficult. ¡°Can you arrange for someone to transport these five carriages of goods in first? We need to go back for another five carriages,¡± Fang Hao said. Due to the quantity and weight of the goods. This time, a total of 10 carriages were used, 5 of which were horses, and the other 5 were skeleton wolves. After sending this trip, another trip is needed to get the remaining goods. The Tauren guard looked at them both with confusion but didn¡¯t ask too much. He arranged for workers to unload the goods from the carriage and transport them to the Chief¡¯s Hall. Meanwhile, Fang Hao and Eira returned to the camping place with an empty carriage and took another five carriages of goods. Two round trips wasted a lot of time. Only then was all the cargo delivered. Fang Hao returned to the Chief¡¯s great hall once again and saw the all-bronze hero, Bronze Bull ¨C Talok. ¡°Chieftain Talok, how about it? Are you satisfied with the quality of the goods?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. After changing his physique and learning magic. The pressure brought by Bronze Bull didn¡¯t feel as intense as before. His speech was also more casual. ¡°Very good, I am very satisfied with this trade,¡± Talok said loudly. Before Fang Hao¡¯s second batch of goods arrived, he had already checked the goods. The quality was very good, and so were all of them. This made him very satisfied with this batch of goods. ¡°Haha, thank you, Chieftain, for your trust. Then this trade is considered achieved,¡± Fang Hao was also very satisfied. Talok naturally understood what Fang Hao was saying. With a clap of his hands, a Tauren came in from the side door, holding a wooden box in his arms. As the Tauren approached, they could hear the sound of gold coins colliding inside the box. Thump! The box was placed at Fang Hao¡¯s feet with a dull sound. [Warfire Coins, 24,000 pieces.] ¡°Okay, let¡¯s talk about the next trade,¡± Talok said loudly. The first trade between the two sides can be considered as a mutual test. Each other¡¯s sincerity, strength, are all within the scope of each other¡¯s consideration. Fang Hao delivered 3,000-quality axe hammers in three days, which pleased Talok greatly. Similarly, the fact that Talok so readily took out 24,000 Warfire Coins also surprised Fang Hao at Bronze Bull¡¯s currency reserve. The trade can continue. ¡°Of course,¡± Fang Hao smiled and replied. ¡°This time I want 3,000 sets of armor. How long will you need to deliver?¡± ¡°Five days.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Hearing Fang Hao quoting five days again, Talok¡¯s bovine eyes widened in disbelief.. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58, The New Order (Im asking for a recommendation again.)_1 Chapter 58: Chapter 58, The New Order (I¡¯m asking for a recommendation again.)_1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao¡¯s delivery time surprised Tellock. The Taurens had their own blacksmiths. If they chose to order from Fang Hao regardless, the speed of crafting the equipment was the crucial reason. 3000 sets were no small number. Delivering them in only five days was almost unimaginable. Seeing the widened eyes of Tellock, Fang Hao was taken aback. He was afraid that Tellock¡¯s eyeballs might pop out from surprise, and that he would have to help him look for them on the ground. ¡°Chieftain, rest assured, I will deliver on time as promised,¡± Fang Hao assured him. He had the Book of Lords and the ability to increase production by a hundredfold, which allowed him to deliver at any time. However, there were some things that he also couldn¡¯t overdo. Exceeding the Taurens¡¯ understanding might cause unexpected issues in the transaction. Tellock glanced at him again and came back to his seat, ¡°Alright, as long as you have a plan.¡± -I will deliver the armor on time, but I still need the blueprint from you, Chieftain,¡± Fang Hao stated. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can provide you with the blueprint,¡± Tellock lightly responded. For all lords, the importance of a blueprint goes far beyond a single piece of equipment. Soon, a Tauren brought the blueprint and handed it to Fang Hao. [Plate Armor Crafting Blueprint (Green), Armlet Crafting Blueprint (Green)] [Plate Armor: 12 Leather, 6 Iron, 4 Iron Plates] [Armlet: 5 Leather, 3 Iron, 2 Iron Plates] Fang Hao was excited. They were two green equipment. He could produce them in bulk and upgrade all his skeleton army to green equipment, enhancing their combat power. ¡°What¡¯s the price, Chieftain? At what price do you plan to purchase this batch of goods?¡± ¡°25 Warfire Coins each set,¡± Tellock gave his price. Fang Hao shook his head, quite dissatisfied with the price. A set referred to two pieces, both of which were green equipment. The materials required must be quite a lot, especially the third kind, Iron Plate, a new material that needed a blueprint. Even though he had a hundredfold increase, he still couldn¡¯t lower the price too much. ¡°Chieftain Tellock, this price won¡¯t even cover the labor cost. It¡¯s hard for me to agree,¡± Fang Hao placed the blueprint back on the table, pretending to consider. Tellock knew he offered a low price, so he asked, ¡°What price do you think is right?¡± ¡°70 Warfire Coins for one set.¡± Fang Hao emphasized the three words ¡®Warfire Coin.. ¡°70 is too high. Let¡¯s each take a step back and make it 50,¡± Tellock stated in a deep voice. ¡°Chieftain Tellock, with only five days and a guarantee on the quality, I¡¯m also under great pressure. 6o Warfire Coins, no less, or else I¡¯d be suffering losses,¡± Fang Hao added 10 to his asking price. Tellock started to ponder. He seemed to be considering whether to accept this price. After a long thought, he slammed the table, ¡°Alright, I agree.1 ¡°Good, I will deliver on time in five days.¡± Fang Hao revealed a smile, picked up the blueprint again from the table. He didn¡¯t claim the blueprint in front of Tellock because it was better not to expose too many secrets. ¡°By the way, Chieftain Tellock, where can I buy some horses and spices?¡± Fang Hao asked again. The ten horses in his territory were not enough to deliver goods. Especially this time with the three thousand sets of armor, more horses would be necessary. He plans to buy more to avoid a shortage when needed. ¡°You can buy those in the market. You can take a look around, don¡¯t worry about safety. No one dares to cause trouble in Manim,¡± Tellock said gravely. ¡°Alright, then I won¡¯t disturb your rest, Chieftain.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao left the Chieftain¡¯s hall, and the 24,000 Warfire Coins were temporarily kept by Tellock for safekeeping. After he finished his shopping, he would take the coins away. Outside the door, Eira was quietly waiting. Seeing Fang Hao come out, she happily greeted him. ¡°Master, did it go well?¡± Eira asked in her crisp voice. ¡°It went well. Made a good profit and accepted a bigger order,¡± Fang Hao confidently answered while walking. -Where are we going next?¡± Eira followed Fang Hao¡¯s steps and continued to ask. From his direction, he wasn¡¯t going to where the carriage was parked. But instead, he was heading to the market. -I¡¯m going to buy some horses and spices you suggested,¡± Fang Hao stated. ¡°Okay,¡± Eira replied and silently followed behind. The two of them arrived at the market. This was the busiest area in Manim. The entire area was full of various stalls. Vendors were hawking their goods. A leisurely human in the Orc Market certainly attracted a lot of attention. Greedy eyes measured Fang Hao up and down. Fang Hao disregarded them, continuing to saunter around casually. Eira, however, was a bit timid and closely followed behind him. The two of them wandered around the market, choosing what they were fond of. Soon, Fang Hao discovered that although the Orc Market seemed to have many stalls, the variety of goods was quite scarce. Many vendors spread a cloth in front of them, placed two pieces of animal skin, or unidentified ore, and began selling it. ¡°How much for these stones?¡± Fang Hao squatted down in front of a female Ore¡¯s stall, examining the resources on display. Beast Tooth 55, Natural Gem 22, Trace of the Earth 3, Trace of Brutality 5, Trace of Violence 5. The rest were animal skin products, which Fang Hao didn¡¯t need, so he didn¡¯t pay them much attention. ¡°What are you interested in? These are resources, not just rocks,¡± the female Orc corrected him. The female Orc belonged to the Demon Orc lineage. She had a large mouth with prominent tusks and her body was covered with robust muscles. Sitting cross-legged, her bare thighs were covered with thick hair, as if she was wearing fur pants. ¡°I¡¯ll take all these,¡± Fang stated, pointing at Beast Tooth, Natural Gem, and all the other resources. ¡°All of them?¡± The female Orc asked surprisingly. ¡°Yes, if you give me a discount, I¡¯ll consider buying all.¡± Fang Hao smiled. It was very rare to encounter someone selling so many rare resources at once. He had enough money and could use it either to upgrade buildings or for storage. ¡°Are you paying with money or bartering. ¡°Warfire coins.¡± ¡°Alright, wait a moment.¡± The female Orc was silent, trying to calculate a reasonable price without scaring off the potential customer. ¡°It¡¯s 55 Warfire coins to take all. How about that?¡± After a while, the female Orc spoke again. ¡°I don¡¯t like dealing with pennies. 50 Warfire coins, and I¡¯ll take them all.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± The female Orc was straightforward and agreed right away. After exchanging money and goods, the transaction was completed. Meanwhile, a crowd of Orcs had gathered around Fang Hao. As soon as he stood up, someone came up and asked, ¡°Sir, do you need these gems? I have a few Natural Gems, I will give you a discount.¡± ¡°I have some too. You should have a look. People gathered around him from all sides, pushing their resources onto him. Soon, he received hundreds of rare resources and spotted a blueprint unintentionally. [Wooden Enhancer Blueprint]: Bone Powder 5, Tree Sap 4, Waterl. (Description: Material that makes wooden planks more sturdy).. Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59, Intelligence Map_l Chapter 59: Chapter 59, Intelligence Map_l Translator: 549690339 After purchasing some resources, Fang Hao and his companion continued on their way. Soon, they saw a stall selling horses up ahead. ¡°How much for these horses?¡± Fang Hao approached the horse stall and asked. There are many types of mounts for Orcs. Horses and seat wolves are among them, it all depends on how the troops are paired. The Orc selling horses, looked up and down at the humans before him. When his gaze slid to the coin purse around the waist that felt weightless, he displayed a disdainful look. However, when his gaze fell on the Flame Ring in Fang Hao¡¯s hand, his expression changed immediately. Based on his many years of experience in the market, this ring was definitely not ordinary. It could even be a rarely-seen Magic Ring. If the other party did not have money, getting this ring would be a sure-win deal for him. Hearing the human asking the price, he rapped the wooden board beside him with the whip in his hand. Then, with a obsequious smile on his face, he said: ¡°Mister, it¡¯s clearly priced. Stallions cost 20 gold each, mares 40 gold each. They can all breed, you can continue to propagate them after purchasing. The ¡°gold¡± here referred to Beasthead Gold, the currency circulated among the various Orc tribes. Because the level of Orc coinage is not high, the quality varies greatly, the exchange rate between Warfire Coin and Beasthead Gold has reached about 1:5. One Warfire Coin is equivalent to five Beasthead Gold. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao responded, and began to walk around the horses. There were a total of five horses tied to one side. When Fang Hao bent down to look at their bellies, indeed there were three stallions and two mares. Meanwhile, the merchant followed behind Fang Hao with a still-smiling face. ¡°Mister, if you don¡¯t have enough money, you could also exchange items. For example, the ring on your hand can exchange for a stallion.¡± Hearing the salesman¡¯s words, Fang Hao stopped in his tracks. The ring on his hand, while not often used. Was a genuine magic equipment that could potentially unleash a powerful fireball. Was it only worth 20 gold here? 4 Warfire Coins? He must be joking. If magic equipment were that cheap, he would want as many as possible and fill his fingers and toes with magic rings. That would make him comparable to a strong mage. ¡°I¡¯ll take all five horses,¡± Fang Hao said in a low voice. The merchant was taken aback; he never said anything about exchanging for five horses. He promptly rebutted, ¡°No, no, no, mister, what I meant was, your ring can only exchange for one stallion, not five.¡± ¡°Think about it, with such a trinket, you can exchange for such a splendid mount, what a profitable deal.¡± ¡°If you are willing, you can even take your maid with you for a ride, the broad back of the horse could accommodate any movement of you two.¡± The horse dealer winked and leered, displaying the typical ¡°men would understand¡± expression. Rabbit women may not conform to the Orc Clan¡¯s aesthetic sensibilities, but they are immensely popular in human city-states. Everyone knows what they¡¯re bought for. Fang Hao observed the flamboyantly gesturing salesman and Eira¡¯s face blushed in embarrassment. Even her pair of rabbit ears turned red. ¡°Shut up. Enough with the nonsense,¡± Fang Hao coldly interrupted the merchant¡¯s incessant chattering. Fang Hao¡¯s sudden reprimand. Caused the smile on the horse merchant¡¯s face to gradually freeze. Although conflicts and robberies are not allowed here, this was still the Orc¡¯s territory. He, a human, dared to rebuke him while only being accompanied by a weak Rabbitman. It¡¯s time to teach him a lesson about the ferocity of the Orcs. ¡°You human twerp, I was just giving you a good explanation and you dare to insult me, you must clear things up today or I¡¯ll kill you. Even Chieftain Tellock won¡¯t be able to do anything to me.¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! With this cold question from the horse merchant, several strong Orcs stood up around them, staring coldly at him. Fang Hao had just taken out a few Warfire Coins from his pocket. Hearing the other party¡¯s words, he paused for a while. After juxtaposing the shiny coins in his hand, he asked back, ¡°So, are you selling or not?¡± Huh? The Orc horse merchant, seeing the Warfire Coins in the other party¡¯s hand, had his anger dissipated in an instant and resumed his greasy smile, ¡°Oh dear, of course we are.¡± The other Orcs who had stood up prepared for a fight also went back to their own places. They were seeing for the first time someone who didn¡¯t keep their money in a bag but in their trouser pockets instead. ¡°Alright, 28 Warfire Coins, these horses are now mine.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t wish to waste anymore words with the man, so he brought out the exact amount of cash. ¡°They¡¯re yours.¡± The horse trader took the Warfire Coins with an overtly happy expression on his ugly face. He then personally unfastened the horses and handed the reins to Fang Hao. Watching the two walk away with the horses, the trader finally understood. The young human delicately unmasked his plot to snatch the ring resulting in the sudden change in demeanor. But the man did have the money after all. Plus, the currency he had was the universally acceptable, Warfire Coms. ¡°Interesting background¡­¡± the trader mumbled to himself. Apart from these five horses, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t find any others for sale. For the time being, they would have to manage with these five and send them to the station where the carriage was parked. There, stables were available, they provided fodder and if one wished, they could also have their horses groomed. Of course, all of this was for a fee. It was already noon; next Fang Hao and Eira planned to head towards the tavern. Fang Hao planned to have his lunch at the tavern and to purchase some seasonings as well. Bang! As they pushed open the door, the copper bell hanging on the back of the door let out a crisp sound. When Fang Hao and Eira entered the room. The originally bustling hall fell silent for a brief moment, then after two seconds, the noise continued. There was drinking, card games, all kinds of activities. The tavern owner was a apron-clad Tauren who was currently wiping the counter with a piece of hemp cloth. ¡°What¡¯ll you have?¡± the Tauren owner asked. ¡°Water is fine, and two servings of steak.¡± Fang Hao replied. Not all the orcs indulge in primitive behavior; they have their own civilization and customs. However, their dietary habits were predominantly carnivorous with very few tribes engaging in farming. ¡°Hmm.¡± While the owner was getting them water after wiping his hands clean, Fang Hao noticed several pieces of yellow paper on the counter. ¡°What are these?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. The owner glanced up and replied, ¡°Various information and resource locations sent by merchants from various places, five gold pieces or one Warfire Coin each. There¡¯s also a slave contract; signing a slave also costs one Warfire Com.¡± Manim Market was a city with a significant population flow. Caravans from various places and tribes would also sell some information here. However, the information was not necessarily accurate, and after purchase, verification was required. So rather than calling it information, it was more like a single-page map. ¡°1¡¯11 take them all.¡± Fang Hao took out four Warfire Coins and placed them on the counter. The owner received these, handing him three maps and the slave contract. The three maps were of [Ogre Base], [Abandoned Mine], and [Unknown Cave], Fang Hao put the maps away, planning to record them with the Book of Lords after leaving this place. Soon, the steaks were served. After finishing the meal, Eira bought some seasonings from the owner. As the afternoon approached. The two of them left the Manim Market with everything they had acquired that day. After they had put some distance between themselves. Fang Hao began to use the Book of Lords to record all the blueprints and maps. [Superior Plate Armor Blueprint (Green) Superior Arm Guard Blueprint (Green), Wood Enhancer Blueprint.] [Ogre Base, Abandoned Mine, Unknown Cave, Slave Contract.] Plus the five newly purchased horses, tied up at the end of the carriage, moving along with the team. And 24,000 Warfire coins, enough for the expenses of the current territory.. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60, Call for Help (Request for recommendation votes). _1 Chapter 60: Chapter 60, Call for Help (Request for recommendation votes). _1 Translator: 549690339 Three single-page maps were incorporated into the main map by the Book of Lords. The strategic points of a few maps were also shown on the map. Among them, the Ogre stronghold and the abandoned mine were not far from the territory, whereas the Unknown Cave was at a considerable distance. Next, Fang Hao would focus on exploring these two closer locations. However, while their locations were known, detailed information was still unclear. The scale of the Ogre stronghold, its combat power, whether there were dangers in the abandoned mine or if it was worth mining, etc. These needed to be ascertained before taking further action. Otherwise, if he wasn¡¯t careful, it could result in huge losses. The caravan quickly arrived at the designated camping site, and after meeting up with the Skeleton Army, they began to return to the territory. The journey was smooth. Fang Hao returned to his territory with all the spoils of war. By the end of the journey, it was nearly dusk. While Eira went to prepare supper, Fang Hao directed the moving of Warfire Coins and rare ores into the master¡¯s wooden house. These were all treasured items that needed to be properly preserved. There were no stables or paddocks in the territory as yet, currently the horses in the territory had all been settled in the pasture. The skeleton laborers took care of feeding them. This time with an addition of 5 horses, Fang Hao simply planned to construct another pasture as a temporary structure before obtaining a stable building. He went over to the original pasture and began constructing a new one beside it. [Level 1 Pasture: 1000 Lumber, 800 Stone, 500 Hay, 200 Hemp Rope.] All the required materials were basic resources, and the pasture was built immediately. In a burst of light, the fences and hay sheds of the pasture were put up. Then, Fang Hao continued to upgrade the building to level three. This was the highest level a territorial building could currently reach. The master¡¯s house was the core building of the territory. The maximum level of all buildings was contingent on the level of the master¡¯s house. Speaking of which, it had been three days since the bricks were mined, so they should meet the upgrading standards now. After settling the horses in the new pasture and assigning skeleton workers to take care of them, as soon as he finished these tasks, Eira had supper ready. A simple dish of steamed meat, and a bowl of vegetable soup. The food in the territory was rather bland, but luckily Eira¡¯s cooking skills were decent and under plentiful seasoning, the food tasted quite good. He casually opened the Book of Lords to check on everyone¡¯s progress. As soon as he opened it, he noticed there were two unread private messages. ¡°Brother Hao, are you there?¡± ¡°Brother Hao, can you help me? Please reply once you see this.¡± The messages were from Dong Jiayue, sent around noon. He had been too busy today, he hadn¡¯t opened the Book of Lords all day, and thus hadn¡¯t seen the messages. ¡°I¡¯m here, just saw your message.¡± Fang Hao replied. He¡¯d conducted a few transactions with her and gained many Shadowstones, which sped up the development of his territory. Quickly, Dong Jiayue responded. ¡°Brother Hao, can you help me? If you can¡¯t, I really don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Desperation and helplessness were evident from her words. From their several encounters, he knew some aspects of her personality. Dong Jiayue was a rather cheerful girl, who could quickly adapt to circumstances and responded accordingly. When others were hiding behind protection shields, lamenting the cruel world, Dong Jiayue had already stepped out of her territory and started exploring the surrounding map. Although her development was not as good as Fang Hao¡¯s, she fell into the upper levels amongst regional lords. Yet now, she expressed helplessness and despair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, what happened?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been injured, and my wound is not healing. The doctors in the channel say I have a ruptured organ, and they can¡¯t stop the bleeding. Given the current conditions of the territory, I can only wait for my slow death.¡± This revelation made Fang Hao furrow his brows once again. None of the lords who had traversed to this side had territories with medical treatment capabilities. For minor illnesses, hang in there; for serious illnesses, await death. This is why doctors have a high status within the channel. Some medical knowledge can be exchanged for valuable resources. ¡°Let me see if there¡¯s anything that could save you. How did you get this injury?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. He stood up from the dining table, signaled Eira to start eating, and went back into the wooden house to look for some items that could treat injuries. Then, Dong Jiayue began to explain her experiences. There was a large ancient tomb near her territory, from which she had gained significant benefit. She used the blueprints to develop her territory, and sold shadowstones to Fang Hao in exchange for resources. Her development was indeed rapid. A few days ago, due to the Orc Blood Boiling task, the exploration of the ancient tomb was halted. It was only today that they regrouped, bringing a large number of recruited soldiers, to venture deeper into the tomb and gain more rewards. But this time, the number of undead within the tomb far exceeded her expectations. Although they eventually won the battle, it came with great cost. Several soldiers died, and she herself ended up with severe injuries and a ruptured organ. Such an injury, not to mention in this world, even in the originally modern world, is highly dangerous if not treated promptly. Dong Jiayue sought help from Fang Hao with a try-it-out spirit. She didn¡¯t have high hopes. She couldn¡¯t think of anything that could cure her injuries. ¡°Ah! I was too anxious. I could have waited until my power improves, until my troops level-up before proceeding with the exploration. But I killed so many people and now I myself might not survive,¡± Dong Jiayue¡¯s tone was one of despair. Although she didn¡¯t die on the spot. After applying a simple bandage on the wound, it only delayed death, it didn¡¯t change the inevitable outcome. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no hurry,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Brother Hao? Do you have a way?¡± Dong Jiayue sensed something. ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Hao immediately sent her the attributes of an item. [Exquisite Corpse-Raising Coffin], ¡°?¡± Dong Jiayue sent a question mark. ¡°No, sorry, wrong one, [Healing Potion],¡± Fang Hao hastily sent out the Healing Potion. The Healing Potion was something Fang Hao had found in Shadowwind Castle. He had kept it, in case he got injured, but now it seemed it should be used to save Dong Jiayue. Seeing the Healing Potion, hope was ignited once again in Dong Jiayue¡¯s heart. There are all kinds of strange powers in this world. Perhaps, the Healing Potion can save her life. ¡°Brother Hao, I have over 5,000 basic resources here, a wall blueprint, and 12 shadowstones. Can I exchange these for the Healing Potion?¡± Dong Jiayue was somewhat excited. Anyone who was on the brink of death and then suddenly saw hope would probably be as thrilled. But Dong Jiayue was also aware of the rare value of the Healing Potion. It¡¯s as if a person has an extra life. No one can predict when they will encounter danger or get injured. When you need it, a Healing Potion is more valuable than any blueprint or treasure. She wasn¡¯t sure if Fang Hao would give it to her. ¡°Just give me the 12 shadowstones. Keep the basic resources and the wall blueprint for your own development,¡± Fang Hao said directly. He didn¡¯t lack basic resources, and getting those from Dong Jiayue would not be very useful. He already had a wall blueprint and did not need another one. It¡¯s more like a form of support, leaving a favour owed. Fang Hao was quite interested in the ancient tomb near her territory. ¡°How can that be? The Healing Potion is so precious,¡± Dong Jiayue responded. ¡°Just treat it as you owe me. Give me something good later.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll owe Brother Hao. When I find something good, I¡¯ll repay you.¡± ¡°Okay, go treat your wound.¡± Fang Hao put up the items for a specific trade. [Received 12 Shadowstones]. The Healing Potion disappeared while Fang Hao received 12 Shadowstones. These precious materials have quite a high price in the Orc market. They each got what they needed, it seemed to be a gain for both.. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61, Skulkrusher Tribe (Additional) ! Chapter 61: Chapter 61, Skulkrusher Tribe (Additional) ! Translator: 549690339 Of course, the value of an item is in its importance to you. Fang Hao has no use for healing potions, but at this moment, they are lifesaving items for Dong Jiayue. Shadowstones are useless to Dong Jiayue, yet they are rare resources for Fang Hao. It¡¯s just a matter of mutual need. Both of them got what they needed and were satisfied. ¡°Brother Hao, I have used it, and it seems to have some effect. I need to rest and will stop chatting with you for now,¡± Dong Jiayue said again. ¡°Okay, rest well.¡± After saying that, they both ended the chat. Fang Hao walked out of the cabin and returned to the dining table to continue eating. After finishing his meal, Fang Hao didn¡¯t take a break. Instead, he went to check on his collection of stone bricks in the resource area. He had arranged thousands of skeletons in Shadowwind Castle to work tirelessly at demolishing and gathering stone bricks. Yesterday, he had already amassed over 160 stone bricks, so they should have reached the required quantity by now. Indeed, he had 240 units of stone bricks. Just enough to upgrade the lord¡¯s hall. [Level 4 Lord¡¯s Cabin]: Wood 2200, Stone 1000, Leather 240, Hemp Rope 180, Stone Brick 200. Upgrade. A faint glow rose from the Lord¡¯s cabin as the upgrade started. The countdown began for the construction, 10 minutes. As the level of buildings increased, so did the construction time. This was something to bear in mind in the future. He couldn¡¯t afford to be without a place to stay, especially at night when he and Eira are upgrading. The 10 minutes passed quickly, and the Lord¡¯s cabin was upgraded. [Level 4 Lord¡¯s Cabin] [Lord: Fang Hao] [Existing structures: Level 3 Underground Cemetery, Level 3 Warehouse, Level 3 Burial Grounds, Level 3 Lumber Yard, Level 3 Pasture, Level 1 Spiritual Field, Level 3 Wall, Level 3 Arrow Tower, Level 2 Hall of the Dead, Guard Pavilion, Skeleton Conversion Field, Viscera Museum.] (Note: Core structure of the territory.) [Upgrade Requirements: Wood 3500, Stone 2200, Hard Wood 1200, Stone Brick 1000, Hemp Rope 550, Iron 220.] The area of the Level 4 Lord¡¯s Cabin had been expanded by one-third again. Although still called a cabin, from the outside it looked almost entirely built of stone with no visible wooden parts. ¡°Master, come and see, we¡¯ve got a new kitchen!¡± Eira excitedly called. Fang Hao also went inside the cabin to inspect. The first-floor hall had greatly expanded, leaving a large open space where the tables and chairs were originally placed. Apart from this, a separate kitchen was added on the first floor. Eira no longer had to cook outside over an open fire. He continued to the second floor. His bedroom and study had expanded again, and another bedroom had been added, Now, there were four bedrooms in the Lord¡¯s cabin. After a look around, Fang Hao went downstairs, planning to upgrade the other buildings as well. Passing by the first floor, he saw Eira happily putting various cooking ingredients into the kitchen one by one. She seemed very pleased to have a kitchen. Outside, he first arranged for the Underground Cemetery to be upgraded. [Level 4 Underground Cemetery]: Wood 1200, Stone 1600, Leather too, Hemp Rope 240, Shadowstone 5. The Underground Cemetery could be used to recruit skeleton laborers. With each upgrade, the recruitment limit increases. This is very helpful for territorial development and resource collection. Upgrade! Five minutes later, the Underground Cemetery upgrade was completed. [Level 4 Underground Cemetery] [Recruitable limit: 20/30] [Recruitable: Skeleton (Free)] (Note: Soldiers for basic work can be recruited in this building.) ¡°[Upgrade materials required: Wood 2000, Stone 2500, Hard Wood 400, Stone Bricks 300, Hemp Rope 320, Shadowstone 10, Death Trace 3.] Level four upgrade of the Underground Cemetery is complete. The recruitment limit has increased by 10. But the materials required for the next upgrade have also increased significantly. ¡±[Available recruits: Skeletons 10, would you like to recruit?] Recruit confirmed. ¡¯¡¯[Hundred-fold Amplification Triggered, successfully recruited 1010 skeletons.] Hundred-fold amplification was triggered and obtained 1,010 skeleton workers straight away. ¡°Go to the warehouse, pick up the pickaxes, and stand by outside the territory,¡± Fang Hao said loudly. The recruited worker skeletons picked up pickaxes from the warehouse and went to wait outside the territory. With sufficient basic resources, he decided to assign these 1,000 skeletons to the demolition work at Shadowwind Castle to flatten the buildings as quickly as possible and collect more stone brick reserves. Fearing that these skeletons might get lost if they went alone, he decided to have them wait for his instructions, and would take them over once he was finished with his tasks. Once all the skeletons had left the territory, Fang Hao continued on to the next building. ¡°[Level four Burial Grounds]: Wood 1700, Stone 2200, Leather 350, Hemp Rope 500, Shadowstone 12.¡± These Burial Grounds functioned as the barracks of the Undead faction. Currently, they could recruit tier 1 skeleton soldiers and spear-bearers, all of which were melee units. With sufficient materials, it was an ideal time for an upgrade. Upgrade confirmed. 10 minutes later, the upgrade was complete. The only pity was that the level four Burial Grounds did not unlock any new types of soldiers. They were still skeleton soldiers and spear-bearers. Next, Fang Hao upgraded the level four warehouse, city wall, arrow tower, and pasture in succession. By the time he had finished all this, it was gradually getting darker. He returned to his room, activated God¡¯s Presence, and possessed one of the worker skeletons waiting outside the territory. With a wave of his hand, he led all the newly recruited worker skeletons towards Shadowwind Castle for the large-scale demolition work. Meanwhile. Skullcrusher Tribe, Chillywind Mountain. The Great Chief Shah was waiting with a gloomy expression on his face. Before long, the orc priest walked in, looking slightly haggard. ¡°Great chief, Kent¡¯s soul is bound by some force, and it cannot be resurrected through the altar,¡± the priest said softly. Shah¡¯s face darkened further. ¡°Can we communicate with him?¡± Amiri asked. ¡°If the Great Chief needs it, I can briefly awaken Kent¡¯s soul.¡± ¡°Alright, wake up his soul then.¡± The priest nodded, ¡°Great Chief, please come with me.¡± With that, they left the hall and headed for the altar. The Skullcrusher Tribe was the most powerful orc tribe in Chillywind Mountain. They had conquered all the scattered tribes near the mountain, becoming the strongest leader. But after unification, the tribe¡¯s development faced new difficulties. The land in Chillywind Mountain was barren, and mining resources were increasingly scarce. So Shah turned his eyes to the resource-rich plains and forests for further development. Kent was one of the pioneer armies he arranged. Once Kent managed to establish a foothold with his support, the entire tribe would migrate over there. In the previous years, backed by the Skullcrusher Tribe, Kent¡¯s tribe developed rapidly. They soon eliminated several smaller nearby tribes and established a firm foothold. But two days ago, Kent¡¯s soul had returned to the altar, meaning Kent was dead, and he could not be resurrected even through the Hero Altar. Soon, the two arrived in front of the Hero Altar. Under the altar, hundreds of creatures from various races had their throats cut, their blood forming a strange glyph. ¡°Great Chief, Kent¡¯s awakening time will be very short, you must ask him quickly,¡± the priest warned again. ¡°Yes, begin,¡± Amiri said, indicating his understanding. The Orc priest began the ceremony. The figure of Fireblade-Kent gradually appeared on the Hero Altar.. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62, Searching for a Mine 1 Chapter 62: Chapter 62, Searching for a Mine 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Great Chief, we can begin now,¡± the priest said, stepping aside afterward. Shah looked at Kent¡¯s flickering form and asked directly, ¡°Kent, how did you die? What about the others?¡± At Shah¡¯s words, Kent¡¯s expression became slightly bitter, replying, ¡°An Undead base suddenly appeared near our tribe. They annihilated our tribe, and every member died in battle, no one survived.¡± Whoosh! The high-ranking members of the Orc Clan below immediately plunged into chaos. The Undead faction has always been mysterious and strange. They rarely appear in areas where living creatures gather, and each time they appear, they bring about panic and chaos. Kent¡¯s Fireblade Tribe had developed in that area for a few years, but they never found any Undead bases. How did an Undead base suddenly appear? ¡°What¡¯s the strength of the enemy? How many are there?¡± Shah continued to ask. ¡°The enemy is only the scale of a village, with no hero units to speak of, but they have hundreds of thousands of low-level soldiers,¡± Kent continued to answer. But the figure on the altar had started to shake violently, unable to hold on much longer. ¡°A village has so many soldiers?¡± Shah found it odd, even doubting that Kent might have seen wrong, or that his memory was confused. ¡°Indeed, I saw it all with my own eyes. The enemy¡¯s leader is a human. I suspect he may have a treasured item from the Undead Clan, which allows him to control so many Undead soldiers, I¡­¡± Kent wanted to continue, but the next second, his consolidated soul shattered directly. Turning into points of light that slowly disappeared. ¡°Great Chief, it¡¯s time,¡± the priest said. Shah nodded his head, but his mind was pondering over Kent¡¯s words. He didn¡¯t feel a trace of sadness for the death of Kent and tens of thousands of orcs. War and death are the norm for the Orc Clan, they happen every day. His only regret was the support he had given to Kent¡¯s territory over the years. Who would have thought that a group of suddenly appearing Undead could shatter years of effort? While feeling annoyed, he also remembered the last words of Kent, that the enemy might have an artifact of the Undead in his hands. This interested him. If the enemy really has such a treasure, isn¡¯t it destined to be his? The Skullcrusher Tribe is not the same as the Fireblade Tribe. They had long conquered the Frostwind Tribe, and had many troops at their disposal. Extinguishing a village that only had low-level soldiers was as easy as pie. As for himself, Shah was a purple Level 9 hero, incomparable to Kent. ¡°Fetch someone.¡± Immediately an orc stepped forward, ¡°Great Chief.¡± ¡°Arrange scouts to go to the Fireblade Tribe, investigate the location of the Undead village, and bring me all the information,¡± Shah said loudly. Yes.¡± The orc took the order and quickly left to arrange things. Shah strode back, feeling much better. If what Kent said was true, a weak human possessed an item that could control tens of thousands of Undead. All he had to do was send troops to extinguish them and obtain this item. The power of the tribe would greatly increase. As for the battle, Shah was not worried at all. What kind of defensive power could a village-level building possess? He had absolute confidence that he could easily annihilate this village and get the treasure from their hands. The next day, early morning. The sun shone through the window, illuminating the room. Fang Hao rubbed his eyes, stretched, and got out of bed. It was a new day. After getting dressed, he slowly strolled out of the room. ¡°Master, good morning.¡± Eira was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Seeing Fang Hao come down, she smiled. These past few days, Eira had become more and more cheerful. She even occasionally told Fang Hao about the things that once happened in the tribe, as well as the Orc Clan¡¯s lifestyle. ¡°Good morning!¡± Fang Hao waved his hand. He walked out of his wooden house, scooping out some clear water from a barrel for washing up. After upgrading his wooden house to level 4, it now included a kitchen. He wondered if one day it might possess sanitary facilities with running water. After washing up, Eira brought breakfast over. Vegetable meat soup and a fruit platter. Given the current circumstances, Fang Hao¡¯s lifestyle was unmatched, completely different from other lords. Eira picked up a piece of fruit and brought it to Fang Hao¡¯s mouth. Fang Hao opened his mouth to chew, the delightful sweetness and aroma of the fruit filling his mouth. ¡°I added some sweet wine to the fruit, what do you think of the taste, master?¡± Eira squatted by his side, watching Fang Hao with her big round eyes. Eira still wore her ragged linen coat, loosely draping over her body, revealing an eye-catching bosom. Her short shorts tightly wrapped her buttocks, emphasizing her fair thighs that were full of sensuality. It was hard to focus on the meal in such conditions. ¡°Master? Is the taste not good?¡± Eira asked quickly, seeing Fang Hao remain silent. Cough, cough! ¡°The taste is good, very good,¡± Fang Hao complimented. The taste was indeed good; it had a refreshing wine aroma. ¡°Hee hee, that¡¯s good.¡± Eira giggled, picking up another piece, ¡°Master, please try this one.¡± Breakfast ended, Eira took care of the dishes while Fang Hao continued with his work. He had important tasks today. To perform a thorough check within his territory and see if there was any place that required his attention. He passed by the Viscera Museum. The main entrance was wide open, but Nelson was nowhere in sight. Ever since Nelson had told Fang Hao that he could create skeleton heroes, he hadn¡¯t come out. It seemed that the creation of a skeletal body wasn¡¯t as simple as he had initially thought. The Skeleton Conversion Field was continuously converting orcs into skeleton warriors day and night, which significantly boosted the ranks of the Undead Clan. Especially the converted Direwolves, many of which Fang Hao had assigned to Shadowwind Castle for transporting goods. After making a round of the territory, Fang Hao found no places requiring his immediate attention. He returned to the lord¡¯s cabin and after instructing Eira, lie down on the bed to cast God¡¯s Presence. [God¡¯s Presence target, skeleton scout, compatibility 65%.] He cast God¡¯s Presence on a skeleton scout with a compatibility of 65%. Presumably, his compatibility had increased from 50% to 65% because of the Enlightening Potion he had taken. When casting God¡¯s Presence continuously, the consumption of spiritual power was somewhat reduced. The key task he had set for the day was to explore the Abandoned Mine marked on the intelligence map. He did not plan to travel alongside infantry but instead decided to take an initial reconnaissance trip with the cavalry. According to the map, The Abandoned Mine was located to the north of his territory and was not very near. After confirming the direction and position, ¡°All cavalry, follow me.¡± Fang Hao shouted, leading 101 skeleton scouts towards the Abandoned Mine to the north. They crossed woods, swamps, And finally approached the mine. Just as Fang Hao stopped to confirm their location, fighting sounds and angry roars came from the front. ¡°Someone¡¯s fighting?¡± Fang Hao raised his eyebrows. And strangely, the noise was coming from the place that was directly in his path. ¡°Let¡¯s go, check it out.¡± The cavalry rapidly approached and finally saw the fighting targets. It was a squad of ten pig-headed humans, holding their swords and looking nervous. And their foes were even more dread-inspiring. A group of rotting, head-crushed creatures had surrounded the pig-heads and launched an attack. ¡°Damn! It¡¯s like Train to Busan¡­.¡± Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63, Iron - Eating Worm_l Chapter 63: Chapter 63, Iron ¨C Eating Worm_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao had seen rotten corpses at Shadowwind Castle, but none was as shocking as this one. The animals he usually saw had become odd-looking and fully decayed monsters. A giant buck with a collapsed half brain encrusted with rotting pimples prowled about even with its eyeball dangling on the side. It was still launching attacks against the pig-headed humans. Even the pig-headed humans that died during the battle, once they fell, turned into decayed animals ¨C behaving like infectious zombies. They would attack their former companions. The whole battlefield was filled with strangeness. [Giant Buck carcass] [Prairie Wolves carcass]¡­. Fang Hao looked at several pieces of information of animal zombies in a row, and all of them showed that they were corpses. Not combat units. That¡¯s not right. At Shadowwind Castle, the information about rotten corpses would display their rank and skills. Why are these just showing as corpses? Clip-clop! Clip-clop! The sound of horse hooves hit the ground, drawing the attention of the pig-headed humans and the animal zombies. Seeing a team of undead cavalry approach, the pig-headed humans turned even paler, as if jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Today was their death day. The zombie animals, on the other hand, were more direct. The moment they saw Fang Hao and his group, they immediately launched an attack. ¡°Charge, kill them all, I don¡¯t believe that you, skeleton, can be infected.¡± Fang Hao whispered. Even if you are a zombie, you can be infectious. But that¡¯s supposed to apply to normal creatures. I don¡¯t believe that you, skeleton, can be infected. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s command, the cavalry drew out their iron swords, kicked their horse¡¯s belly and then launched the attack. The power of the cavalry charge was immense, instantly cutting off the heads of several animals. The head of one Prairie Wolf rolled to the feet of Fang Hao¡¯s horse. Just as it stopped, a long thin worm burrowed out of the Prairie Wolf¡¯s head, trying to escape into the distance. [Iron-Eating Worm] [Ability: Parasite] With a light stomp from the skeleton horse¡¯s hoof, the Iron-Eating Worm turned into mush. It seemed, the Iron-Eating Worm itself had no offensive capabilities, but attacked by parasitizing on hosts. Shortly after, all parasitized animals were slain by the cavalry. The Iron-Eating worms, burrowed out from the animals¡¯ heads, were all crushed to death by the surviving pig-headed humans. Once the Iron-Eating Worms lost their host, they had no power to attack and were easily killed. The battle was over. The skeleton cavalry surrounded the remaining dozen pig-headed humans. Whether to slaughter or spare them, they awaited Fang Hao¡¯s command. Fang Hao rode the undead horse closer, scrutinizing the pitiful regiment of pig-headed humans. This was his second encounter with pig-headed humans. ¡°Excuse me, does anyone of you know Mister Fang Hao?¡° Just as the skeleton cavalry was about to take action, one of the pig-headed humans mustered the courage to step forward. Upon hearing this, Fang Hao was taken aback. ¡°You know me?¡± Fang Hao asked. The pig-headed human looked at the direction from which the skeleton cavalry had come from ¨C Fang Hao¡¯s territory, and took a gamble. Unexpectedly, the skeleton in front of him admitted he was Fang Hao. The pig-headed human hesitated, then asked carefully: ¡°Are you Mister Fang Hao? I took you to the Manim Market a few days ago, do you remember?¡± Aha! From this, Fang Hao came to understand. This pig-headed human was Bolton, who took him to Manim. ¡°Bolton, is your village nearby?¡± Fang Hao directly called out the other party¡¯s name. He thought all pig-headed humans looked alike. If the guy didn¡¯t speak, and there was no significant difference, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to recognize him. ¡°Yes, yes! Lord Fang Hao, you have saved me again.¡± Bolton was overwhelmed with emotions and fell to his knees, thanking him loudly. He wasn¡¯t sure why Fang Hao had taken the form of a skeleton but he didn¡¯t really care. All he knew was that thanks to their acquaintance, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t immediately kill him and his people. Seeing Bolton kneel, the rest of the pig-headed humans followed, loudly expressing their gratitude for Fang Hao saving their lives. ¡°Stand up. What are you doing here?¡± Fang Hao asked. Getting up with the rest of the pig-headed humans, Bolton respectfully answered, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s a mine shaft just ahead where we¡¯ve been safely mining some ores.¡± ¡°You mean the abandoned mine shaft?¡± ¡°Yes, the shaft is quite large but it¡¯s been occupied by these insects. No factions dared to mine it for a long time. Our village is nearby and occasionally we send people to mine some ores safely from the outskirts.¡± Bolton explained softly. Thanks to Bolton¡¯s explanation, Fang Hao had a rough idea of the situation. The mine shaft had been there for a long time and many factions had tried to mine it. However, any creature that got too close would be attacked by the iron-eating worms and turned into a puppet corpse. No faction could stand such losses so the mine was completely deserted, becoming an abandoned mine. The pigmen village wasn¡¯t far from here and occasionally people were sent to mine some ores. But incidents like today¡¯s would frequently occur, resulting in casualties. They had no choice, the pigmen village wasn¡¯t affluent and was sometimes threatened and looted by other beast clans. Even though they knew there would be casualties, people would still be sent at the risk of mining ores. ¡°Alright, take me to the mine shaft.¡± Fang Hao said softly. Hearing this, all the pig-headed humans turned pale. Bolton reacted quickly and said, ¡°Sir, some of them are injured. Let them go back to the village and I¡¯ll take you there.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not waste any more time.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. A few pig-headed humans glanced at Bolton and turned around to leave. Bolton led Fang Hao and the rest of the cavalry towards the direction of the mine. With Bolton leading, they soon saw the entrance of the mine shaft. The mine area was enormous, you could even say it was a mine field. They could see abandoned mine carts and some dilapidated facilities. It looked like it had been specially built at some point. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, the worms are especially active today. They would attack as soon as you approach, making it hard to deal with.¡± Bolton said softly. ¡°Fine, wait here. I¡¯m going to take a look.¡± Fang Hao took his cavalry forward with him. The moment he stepped into the range of the mine, He saw puppet corpses of various beasts and orcs coming from all directions in the mine. ¡°Dismount, fight.¡± Fang Hao commanded. All the cavalry dismounted, drew their weapons, and began attacking. Fang Hao wanted to verify whether these iron-eating worms had any effects on the undead creatures. Sure enough, during the battle, one iron-eating worm left its host and tried to burrow into the brain of a skeleton cavalry amidst the chaos. But the next second, the skeleton cavalry reached its hand into his eye socket and choked the iron-eating worm to death. It seemed that these iron-eating worms were useless against the skeletons. As more and more puppet corpses emerged from the mine, Fang Hao gave the order to retreat. ¡°Retreat.¡± The cavalry remounted their horses and moved far away from the mine area. After they retreated to a safe distance, the controlled corpses retreated and went back into the mine. At that time, Bolton came over and asked, ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± Bolton, who lived nearby, naturally knew the dangers of the abandoned mine. No one who entered it had ever come out alive. Fang Hao was the first one. Of course, as things stood, Bolton wasn¡¯t quite sure whether Fang Hao was still considered human. ¡°Let¡¯s go to your village,¡± he replied.. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64, Mother Worm (Extra)_1 Chapter 64: Chapter 64, Mother Worm (Extra)_1 Translator: 549690339 The arrival of a group of undead cavalry. Brief chaos swept over the pig-headed human village. Standing on both sides of the road, they were whispering in fear. Under Bolton¡¯s guidance, Fang Hao went straight into the village. It was clear that the pig-headed humans¡¯ village was not affluent, identical to the previous gnoll camp in size. There were around two to three hundred individuals. ¡°Sir, please wait a moment, I will inform the clan leader,¡± Bolton respectfully said. ¡°No need, find me a grass hut, and don¡¯t let anyone disturb us,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Sure, sure!¡± Bolton found a grass hut at the corner of the village. ¡°Sir, is this place all right?¡± Bolton asked, afraid the other party might not be satisfied. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just make sure that no one approaches during this time,¡± Fang Hao warned again. ¡°I will tell the clan leader not to allow anyone near here.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After Bolton left, Fang Hao had a hundred cavalrymen enter the grass hut before he dismissed the state of God¡¯s Presence. His conscious returned to its own body. Fang Hao sat up from the bed. He exited the lord¡¯s wooden house and stretched his body in the open space. After about half an hour¡¯s rest, he began his next plan. He opened the Book of Lords and flipped to the [Manufacture] menu. He found the blueprint for the [Fire Torch] he had before. [Fire Torch: Wood 1, Straw 2, Leather 1.] The fire torch was a blueprint obtained from the previous battle against Zhuang Hong. Before now, there was never an opportune moment to use it. Create a hundred units. [Achieving a hundred times amplification, you have received 10100 torches.] Ten thousand torches appeared in front of Fang Hao. He had the skeletons bring a few carts to store the bundles of torches. After making all the preparations, Fang Hao returned to the room and resumed his God¡¯s Presence. [Target for God¡¯s presence, skeleton soldier, compatibility 88¡ã/o.] When he opened his eyes again, he had transferred his consciousness to a skeleton soldier¡¯s body. He counted eight thousand skeleton soldiers, two thousand skeleton spear-wielders, and a hundred skeleton giant bats. A squad of eleven thousand, carrying the prepared torches, once again headed towards the abandoned mine. A few hours later. Fang Hao and his team finally arrived at the abandoned mine again. The mining area was still deserted, the vegetation was dead, and no living creature could be seen. ¡°Set up the spear formation, skeleton soldiers put down your shields and grab your torches,¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The spear-wielding skeletons began to form a shield wall, their spears poking out from the gaps in the shields. The skeleton soldiers put down their shields and picked up the ready-made torches from the carts. After lighting up one with a flintstone, they lit up each torch in the soldiers¡¯ hands, one by one. Fang Hao¡¯s idea was simple. The worms were too tiny to grab, and it wasn¡¯t convenient to kill them with swords. However, burning them with the fire from the torches and pinning them down was effective. All the torches lit up, creating a sea of fire. ¡°Advance and kill all living creatures,¡± Fang Hao commanded again. The skeleton army entered the mine, where a mass of controlled animals and orcs appeared again within the dark mine. They launched an attack on the skeleton legion. The spear-wielding skeletons pushed forward, their extended spears pierced all the attacking corpses. Iron-Eating Worms crawled out from the bodies and began searching for new hosts. Sssss!! But the very next second, a torch was pressed onto it, burning it to ashes. Eight thousand skeleton soldiers, closely following the spear-wielders. Chasing the fleeing worms throughout the area. Facing the already dead undead, these parasitic worms had no way out. They could only be burnt or crushed to death after their host died. Soon, hundreds of animal carcasses were piled up in the middle of the mine. And some charred, crispy worm corpses. The battle outside was over; next was the mine. ¡°Good, prepare to enter the mine.¡± Fang Hao started to arrange his strategy. The mine was narrow, allowing only three people to walk side by side. He arranged for three skeleton spearmen to take up the first and second rows, while the following three lines were occupied by skeleton soldiers holding torches. The rest of the soldiers were stationed at the entrance. After all the arrangements were made. They started to line up according to the plan and entered the mine. Fang Hao positioned himself in the third row, holding a torch in his hand, closely following the spearmen. The cave was pitch-dark, with cold winds making the torches flicker constantly. With the help of the faint torchlight, the walls of the mine, marked with various man-made scratches from the excavation, were visible. It seemed that during the initial phase of mining, these worms were not present. They appeared later and occupied the mine. Going further in, the ground was already covered with bones of various animals. The bones were as densely packed as a mass grave. Soon, a large number of parasitized animals appeared from the depths of the mine in front. They launched an attack on the undead troops. In this narrow mine, a fierce battle broke out. The parasitized animals attacked fearlessly. The skeleton spearmen kept thrusting their long spears, turning their targets in front into honeycombs. Fang Hao and those following close behind were also very busy. They used their torches and feet to thoroughly kill the worms that escaped. After successfully repelling a few waves of attacks, the troop continued to advance into the depths. Eventually, they reached the end of the mine. At the deepest part of the mine, there was a nest assembled from countless bones. The structure was somewhat similar to a swallow¡¯s nest. But inside the nest wasn¡¯t a swallow; it was a gigantic worm. The bloated belly was like a spider, constantly wriggling. [Iron-Eating Worm Matriarch] [Ability: Reproduction] Damn it, it¡¯s the mother worm. No wonder no one has been able to wipe out these worms for so long. The worms had already formed their social structure. As long as the Matriarch was alive, these Iron-Eating Worms would never be eradicated. Bang! An iron sword held by a skeleton soldier hit the cave wall, echoed continuously in the mine. The initially closed-eyed Matriarch suddenly opened its numerous eyes, bloodshot, looking at them. At such a close range, Fang Hao could feel the fury in the Matriarch¡¯s eyes. The body of the Matriarch started to wriggle violently. Its tail was posed at a strange angle towards the skeletal troops. From the huge belly of the Matriarch, the wriggling speed was rapidly increasing. The next second. The tail spewed out a massive amount of Iron-Eating Worms, shooting towards them like a cloud covering the sky. Fang Hao stood at the third row. Seeing the worm swarm, as if sprayed out by a high-pressure water gun, his face instantly changed. Although the skeletons weren¡¯t afraid of these worms, He could feel a wave of nausea rising within. ¡°Raise the shields.¡± The spearmen in the first and second rows raised their wooden shields. Slap,slap! The worms struck the wooden shields, making frequent collision noises. ¡°Spearmen, go kill the Matriarch, the rest of you, clear the worms.¡± Fang Hao issued orders after avoiding the spray attack. Ignoring the worms around them, the spearmen launched an attack on the Matriarch. The others, on the other hand, started to clear out the Iron-Eating Worms in various ways.. Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65, Pink Pig Man 1 Chapter 65: Chapter 65, Pink Pig Man 1 Translator: 549690339 Half an hour later. All the worms in the cave had been exterminated. After the Skeleton Spearman killed the queen worm, a silver treasure box was found at the back of the nest. They made a small discovery. After leaving the mine, the skeletons also brought out the silver treasure box. They placed it in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Clear out the mine, carry out all the bodies and bones for incineration,¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The skeletons began to divide the tasks amongst themselves. Some nearby chopped wood, while others entered the mine to transport all the corpses and bones out, preparing for a burning. Fang Hao himself, came to the treasure box and opened it directly. [Reward: Iron Round Shield Blueprint, Iron Pickaxe Blueprint, Iron Sheet Blueprint, Warfire Coins+65] Upon seeing the rewards, Fang Hao¡¯s pupils brightened slightly. Every reward from this treasure box was iron-related blueprints. [Iron Round Shield: Wood 12, Metal Components 5, Iron Plate 2.] (Description: The round shield of wood is covered with a layer of sturdy iron skin, improving the defensive power and toughness of the shield.) Not too shabby. The iron round shield can perfectly replace the current hardwood shield. Enhance the defence of the infantry. [Iron Pickaxe: Wood 2, Iron 2.] The blueprint for the iron pickaxe was something Fang Hao had been looking for. The demand of it exceeded even that of weapon and equipment blueprints. The mining speed of the stone pickaxe was too slow, and it was worn out easily due to its low durability. Now with the iron pickaxe, the work efficiency of the labouring skeletons can be greatly improved. Also, these iron axes and iron pickaxes are very popular items and can be sold at good prices. [Iron Plate: Cast Iron Piece 2.] (Description: The processed iron plate is an important material for forging finished ironware.) The appearance of the iron plate was a pleasant surprise for Fang Hao. The trade deal with the Bronze Bull, includes the iron plate as one of the essential materials for the manufacture of the defence set. Unexpectedly, the blueprint for the iron plate was obtained here. As for the cast iron pieces required for synthesizing iron plates, although there were no clues yet, Fang Hao was not in a hurry. The delivery time vowed to Bronze Bull is still far away, and there¡¯s plenty of time. While Fang Hao was checking the rewards. All the corpses of the animals were set on fire. This was done to deal with the possible uncleaned worms hidden in the corpses. Might as well burn them all. The crackling flames consumed everything like a devouring dragon, enveloping all the corpses and turning them into ashes. The fire burned for more than an hour before it gradually died down. After letting the skeletons cover it with soil, Fang Hao led the team back. Passing by the pig-headed human village, Fang Hao used God¡¯s Presence to change from the infantryman¡¯s body to the Skeleton Cavalry¡¯s body. [God¡¯s Presence Target, Skeleton Scout, Compatibility 65%.] With a puli on the rein, the skeleton horse reared high. The noise from the stables attracted the attention of the pig-headed humans outside. A pig-headed human cautiously walked in and respectfully asked, ¡°Is it Mr Fang Hao?¡± Earlier, the Clan Leader of the pig-headed humans had arranged for someone to invite Fang Hao to the Clan Leader¡¯s Hall. No matter how hard they tried to communicate, these skeleton cavalrymen remained motionless like statues, completely unresponsive. Having no other choice, they were asked to wait outside the door. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. He still couldn¡¯t differentiate the appearances of the pig-headed humans, but the one in front of him was definitely not Bolton. At a glance, the pig-headed man saw that the skeleton was truly speaking his legs trembled with fear. However, not forgetting the words of the Clan Leader, he quickly said with a Shaky gait, ¡°Respected Mr. Fang Hao, our Clan Leader has learned of your arrival, please follow me to the Clan Leader¡¯s Hall.¡± Oh? Fang Hao was taken aback, then replied, ¡°Lead the way!¡± ¡°Yes, sir, please follow me.¡± The pig-headed man replied, immediately leading the way. The village was not large, covering a small area, and they quickly reached the central area of the village, the Clan Leader¡¯s Hall. ¡°Clan Leader, Mr. Fang Hao has arrived.¡± ¡°Hmm, please enter, Mr. Fang Hao.¡± Fang Hao went inside the building directly. Inside the hall, there was a female pig-headed person sitting. About one and a half meters tall, slightly plump, she was wearing a light blue gown with red flowers embroidered on the collar. Her skin was fair and she wore a gemstone necklace around her neck. Though she was the most appealing pig-headed person Fang Hao had ever seen, the pig-headed image still did not comply with human aesthetics. But it at least didn¡¯t cause disgust, resembling a pet pig. ¡°Honorable Mr. Fang Hao, good afternoon, I am Petty. I heard that you will be cleaning up the abandoned mine, do you need any assistance from us?¡± Petty asked softly. ¡¯ ¡°No need, the abandoned mine has been thoroughly cleaned. Before nightfall I will arrange for workers to start mining.¡± Fang Hao answered lightly. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s casual reply- Clang! Petty, the Clan Leader, lost her balance and directly fell from her chair. She quickly stood up. Her powdered white face flushed red instantly. She coughed lightly, then said, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, what did you say just now? I didn¡¯t hear it clearly. Did you say you plan to clean up the abandoned mine? That mine has been attempted by many tribes, but has always been impossible to mine, remaining deserted to this day.¡± She believed that she had heard him wrong or that Fang Hao had misspoke. How could it be possible that the news of Fang Hao¡¯s arrival was received in the morning, and the cleaning was done in the afternoon? ¡°No, the Iron-Eating Worms in the abandoned mine have been eliminated by me, and I will arrange for people to start mining later.¡± Fang Hao stated once more. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s second Confirmation- Petty was sure she hadn¡¯t heard wrongly, disbelief and shock filled her eyes. He conquered their helpless abandoned mine so swiftly and simply? It was somewhat unbelievable. If it weren¡¯t for the undead skeleton standing before her, showing off strength and mystery, she would have thought that it was some joke. ¡°You¡¯re not joking? Ail the worms have been eliminated?¡± Petty inquired further. ¡°There is no reason to hide anything. If you wish to verify, you can arrange someone to check right now,¡± said Fang Hao with a calm tone, then he added, ¡°I have sole claim over the mine. If you harbour any ill-intentions, I will take it as a provocative act.¡± At these words, Petty¡¯s facial expression stiffened somewhat. She could hear the confidence in Fang Hao¡¯s tone. This kind of confidence, was confidence in his own strength, and an indifference to the Pigmen Tribe. ¡°No, of course, not,¡± Petty hurried to defend. The atmosphere at that moment was somewhat awkward. Petty had invited Fang Hao because she learned about his plan to clean up the mine and had wanted to assist while benefitting from it. However, to her surprise, he had directly mentioned that the mine was already cleaned up. Moreover, he had declared his ownership forcibly. This left her in a difficult position. Just as she was about to say something, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. A pig-headed man rushed in, panting heavily. ¡°Clan Leader, it¡¯s bad, an army of tens of thousands of undead has suddenly appeared and is approaching the village,¡± reported the pig-headed man wiping the sweat off his forehead and speaking anxiously. Petty was even more panicked, and urgently commanded, ¡°Quick, quick get ready for battle.¡± Saying so, she wanted to go outside, completely forgetting about Fang Hao who was sitting to her side. Seeing her about to rush out, Fang Hao tersely said, ¡°Clan Leader Petty, these are my troops, they won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Petty stopped in her tracks, her eyes showing more fear than surprise.. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66, Affiliated Village (Seeking Recommendations, ). _i Chapter 66: Chapter 66, Affiliated Village (Seeking Recommendations, ). _i Translator: 549690339 The tens of thousands strong skeleton army had caused quite a bit of panic. Even though Fang Hao had said he wouldn¡¯t attack the village, the anxious pig-headed humans still shut their village gates. As for Fang Hao, he was sitting in the great hall, watching a few pig-headed humans whispering in the distance. Upon finding out that Fang Hao¡¯s massive skeleton army had camped outside the village Petty called several senior members of the tribe, claiming there were important matters to discuss. They completely ignored Fang Hao and started quietly discussing amongst themselves. Some of them were arguing so fiercely that their faces turned red. They looked like freshly cooked pig heads. Thinking of pig head meat made Fang Hao feel a bit hungry. He wondered what Eira would cook for dinner. After all, after being busy all day, having a delicious meal was quite a luxury. The pig-headed humans didn¡¯t make Fang Hao wait for long. After their discussion, Petty came directly to Fang Hao, knelt down, and softly said, ¡°Honorable Lord Fang Hao, we hope to join your rank and become a subordinate village to your territory.¡± The other pig-headed humans behind Petty also knelt down, lowering their heads in submission. The Pigmen Tribe was not strong and was somewhat weak. Fang Hao¡¯S territory was not far from the Pigmen Village, and with mining plans in the near vicinity, Petty and all the Pigmen began to worry. On this continent, the only iron law was power. The battles between the Orc Tribes were endless. Even if Fang Hao currently doesn¡¯t show any hostility, what about in the future? Any small friction, mishandled, gave Fang Hao a reason to destroy them. By then, given the Pigmen Village¡¯s power, it would only be a massacre. A one-sided, helpless massacre. Now, Petty only had two choices. First, migrate, taking all the villagers to find a new foothold and rebuild the village. Second, yield to Fang Hao, become his subordinate village, and let him have full control over their lives and deaths. But relocation was not an easy task. It was very likely that they would be plundered and attacked by other factions while looking for a new place. Those who died would die, and the captives would be reduced to slaves and sold. So, after several rounds of discussions, they chose the second option: to submit to Fang Hao. Seeing Petty kneeling in front of him, Fang Hao realized what the pig-headed humans had been discussing. ¡°What benefits does your joining bring to me?¡± Fang Hao counter-asked. Fang Hao was not really interested in the pig-headed humans. Skeleton soldiers, who neither eat nor drink, and work tirelessly, were his ideal type of soldiers. These pig-headed humans were not strong, their appearances did not fit his aesthetic, and having them associated with him would only hold back his development. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, all of the pig-headed humans felt a bit awkward. They had been debating the pros and cons of joining Fang Hao, but from their conversation, it seemed that he wasn¡¯t very willing to accept them. This was a case of their presence being offered up eagerly, yet the other party wasn¡¯t willing to take them in. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, may I say a few words?¡± Bolton at the back said softly. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Lord Fang Hao, your territory is immensely powerful, but mining ores at such a great distance still presents many difficulties; such as storage after mining the ores and interruptions from neighboring forces. These are all problems you¡¯ll face.¡± Bolton said softly. Bolton had been to Fang Hao¡¯s territory and knew that the journey was not short. Based on the distance, he proposed some potential issues that might arise. Upon hearing his words, Fang Hao was slightly moved. Bolton¡¯s words were not without reason. ¡°Continue,¡± Fang Hao commanded. Bolton continued to say, ¡°The solution is quite simple, Lord Fang Hao. As long as you entrust these problems to us, the storage of ores and the defense and maintenance of the mine can all be resolved.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t respond, and the others also waited in silence. The solution Bolton suggested was to make the Pigmen Village the outpost for ore mining. In the future, the mined ores could be stored in the village, and they would be responsible for the maintenance of the mine and the defense against surrounding powers. Fang Hao couldn¡¯t always focus on the mines since his main interest was in his own territory. But to be honest, this was a pretty great idea. Fang Hao looked at everyone and said softly, ¡°Chief Petty, I would like to talk with you privately.¡± The female pig-headed human was taken by surprise and quickly said, ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The rest left, leaving only Fang Hao and Petty. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, you may speak now.¡± Petty felt a bit awkward at this moment. She and her people were planning to become Fang Hao¡¯s subordinate village, but he didn¡¯t seem to be very interested in welcoming them. This made them feel a sting of rejection. ¡°Chief Petty, 1 can agree to your joining, and will arrange for troops to protect your village, but I still can¡¯t fully trust you,¡± Fang Hao said quietly. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Petty wasn¡¯t sure whether to be happy or sad. It was clear from his tone that he was reluctant. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Petty asked through gritted teeth. ¡°I need you to sign a Slave Contract with me to ensure you won¡¯t do anything harmful to me,¡± Fang Hao said straightforwardly. Hearing this, Petty¡¯s face turned extremely pale. A Slave Contract was not the same as being a subordinate. A servant bound by a contract could not disobey any order from their master, even if it was an order to die. They must obey. Once this contract was signed, she would be at Fang Hao¡¯s mercy. This left Petty in a dilemma and she didn¡¯t know what to choose. ¡öTil give you two minutes to think about it,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡ö¡¯No need, I will sign the Slave Contract. I also hope that you, my lord, will not make things difficult for the other villagers,¡± Petty said directly. ¡°Well, you can still call me lord from now on. I won¡¯t tell others about the Slave Contract,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± The reason Fang Hao only asked Petty to stay was to allow her to save face. Being a former chief and becoming a slave to others was not a glorifying thing after all. [The Pigmen Clan village has voluntarily become your subordinate village. It can be confirmed in the Book of Lords.) Since Fang Hao was currently using God¡¯s Presence, he couldn¡¯t confirm it in the Book of Lords. ¡°Alright, you can explain to the villagers. I will visit in person later,¡± Fang Hao continued. In person? Petty was a little confused, she cautiously stole a glance at him then quickly lowered her head. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Petty responded. Fang Hao exited and returned to his skeleton army, and dismissed his God¡¯s Presence. Fang Hao sat up from bed. Picking up the Book of Lords from the bedside, he checked and indeed, the option to confirm the subordinate village appeared. He immediately selected confirm. [The Pigmen Village has become your subordinate village. You can name the village and control all resources of the village.] Fang Hao didn¡¯t immediately rename the village as he saw no need to do so. But being able to control all resources brought him immense joy. The Book of Lords was connected to their warehouse, allowing him to distribute and use all of the resources stored in the Pigmen Village within his own territory whenever he wished. Which meant, as long as the iron ore was put into the warehouse, Fang Hao didn¡¯t need to transport it to his territory. He could process and use it through the Book of Lords. Similarly, he could use the resources from his territory in the Pigmen Village through the Book of Lords. This all greatly highlighted the mining importance of the Pigmen Village. [Unlocked New Blueprint: Stable Construction Blueprint..] Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67, Division of Labor_l Chapter 67: Chapter 67, Division of Labor_l Translator: 549690339 After becoming a subordinate village, a new blueprint was unlocked. With the horse stable, horses can now be raised there. When he opened the door and went downstairs, he saw Eira airing out the carpet. Upon seeing Fang Hao come out, she smiled sweetly, ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao also smiled slightly. He had just seen a group of pig-headed humans, and now he was seeing the sweet and adorable Eira; such a pleasing sight. ¡°By the way, I have to go out for a while and might come back late, so you eat first,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Ah? I¡¯ll wait for you to come back and have dinner together,¡± Eira said. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll try to come back as soon as possible.¡± Having said that, Fang Hao began to arrange manpower to prepare for the trip to the Pigmen Village. First, he transferred back 500 skeleton laborers and 10,000 skeletal soldiers from Shadowwind Castle. Once again setting out, he led the major forces to the Pigmen Village. A few hours later. When Fang Hao arrived at the Pigmen Village, it was already dusk and there were deep-red clouds rising at the horizon. Seeing another huge skeletal army approaching, the pig-headed humans in the village were filled with shock and disbelief. Just how many troops did Fang Hao have? Each time he moved, he had over ten thousand. The Clan Leader had just announced that the village had become a subordinate to Fang Hao. Some young pigmen didn¡¯t take it seriously, even full of resentment. They believed that submitting to Fang Hao was a sign of humiliation for the orcs. Yet, seeing Fang Hao bring another ten thousand soldiers of the undead again, they abandoned such thoughts. They could only pray that the submission goes smoothly and not anger Fang Hao into leveling their village. The village gate opened, and everyone was looking for Fang Hao. ¡°I am Fang Hao, where is your Clan Leader?¡± Fang Hao came forward from the center of the troops. Wait, what? All the welcoming pigmen were once again stunned, all turning to look at Bolton on the side. Wasn¡¯t Fang Hao a skeleton? How did he turn back into a human? Bolton had met Fang Hao before, immediately stepping forward and saying, ¡°Lord Fang Hao, our Clan Leader is waiting for you in his room. You can go straight there when you arrive.¡± Thinking about it, Fang Hao agreed; it would save others from seeing the signing of the Slave Contract. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao went straight into Petty¡¯s room. The room was dimly lit. The afterglow of the sunset, streaming through the pink drapes, filled the room with an ambiguous mood. Petty was kneeling on the bed, her back turned towards the door. Her light blue robe was half off, revealing her fair back. From the side, you could see her two ample parts, half covered, supremely enticing. ¡°Lord, you may begin,¡± Petty said softly, turning her head. Oh no¡­ When Petty turned her head, all illusions shattered. ¡°Petty, there¡¯s absolutely no need for this,¡± Fang Hao quickly exclaimed. Even if Fang Hao thinks Petty is one of the cute types among the Pigmen Clan, it doesn¡¯t mean that his aesthetics have changed to this extent. Pigmen do not match Fang Hao¡¯s aesthetics, just as humans do not match those of the Pigmen Clan. Each side believes the other¡¯s appearance is peculiar and ugly. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Petty blushed even more and covered herself up, her face full of embarrassment. ¡°Lord, I¡­,¡± Her face flushed, Petty was hoping to offer herself to Fang Hao in order to ensure his kindness towards the village. Only to be outright rejected by him. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s sign the contract. I still have many things to deal with,¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and turned to the contract page. The Book of Lords contained two Slave Contracts in total. One was Eira¡¯s, the other was a blank contract purchased from Manim Tavern. ¡°Okay!¡± Petty pricked her finger lightly with a needle, and when the blood flowed out, she directly pressed it onto the contract. The contract was complete. [Petty from the Pigmen Clan, your current loyalty to me is 65.] The initial loyalty is 65. It seems that Eira¡¯s initial loyalty was more than 50. It appears that Petty trusts himself quite a bit. ¡°Alright, dress up, we¡¯re going to the mine.¡± Fang Hao said. The contract ends. Fang Hao trusts the pig-headed humans more now too. Once Petty got dressed, they both left the room. Petty started summoning personnel to accompany him to the mine. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to create tools. [Pickaxe: 2 wood, 2 iron.] Set the production quantity to 10. [Hundred-fold Amplification triggered, you obtained 1010 pickaxes.] [Wagon: 22 wood, 8 hemp ropes.] Quantity: 10 [Hundred-fold Amplification triggered, you obtained 1010 wagons.] A thousand pickaxes and a thousand wagons appeared out of nowhere. It scared the pig-headed humans again. It¡¯s unclear who was the first one to kneel, but one after another, they all took a knee and bowed their heads in worship. In their minds, only a divine spirit could create so many things out of thin air. Even Clan Leader Petty, after bowing in worship, saw an increase in loyalty. [Petty from the Pigmen Clan¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 30, current loyalty is 95] Good heavens, there¡¯s some unexpected gain, huh. Petty¡¯s loyalty just shot up 30 points, reaching 95. Once everything was prepared. The two of them each lead their own group and started to head towards the abandoned mine. Standing in front of the now safe mine, Fang Hao said: ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the mining and transportation, you just have to maintain the road between the village and the mine, and the mine¡¯s defense.¡± The mining is taken care of by the skeleton workers, and the transportation by the skeleton wolves. What the Pigmen Clan needs to do is to smoothen the road between the village and the mine, and set up mining defenses to prevent any future attacks from other forces. ¡°Yes, sir. I will arrange it immediately,¡± said Petty. As Petty went to assign work to the Pigmen, Fang Hao began giving his orders to the skeletons. ¡°You, pick up the pickaxes and mine the ore here,¡± Fang Hao ordered loud and clear. 500 laborer skeletons each grabbed a pickaxe and started mining in the mining area. ¡°Your next task is to patrol the vicinity and ensure the mine is safe,¡± Fang Hao arranged for another 2000 skeleton soldiers to be stationed near the mining area. The other forces or wild beasts don¡¯t know yet that the Iron-Eating Worms have been thoroughly eradicated. As time goes on, wild beasts will inevitably come near and bother the skeletons at work. Once everything was settled by Fang Hao, Petty completed assigning tasks as well. He came over and said softly: ¡°Sir, arrangements have been made and work will begin first thing tomorrow.¡± Today is indeed a little late to start any work. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back,¡± Fang Hao replied. They returned to the village. Petty accompanied Fang Hao for a walk around the village. The Pigmen Village is rather small and the village level is fairly low. According to Petty, they had moved here only a few years ago. Her father, the former clan leader, died during a hunt and she consequently became the new leader. After taking office, she began to sell goods to the Manim Market. They wandered all around and inspected every building thoroughly. The buildings included the Clan Leader¡¯s Hall, the log walls, a warehouse, three pastures, a farm, a stable, and several dozen ordinary residences of the Pigmen. Out of all these, Fang Hao was most impressed by the stable. The stable raised more than a dozen adult and young horses. After the village became a subsidiary village, the building blueprint for a stable was unlocked. From the pastures and the stable, it could be seen that the Pigmen were skilled in raising livestock. The livestock they raised were all quite well, fairly healthy. After walking around the village, Fang Hao began the process of upgrading the Pigmen Village.. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68, Wooden Spinning Wheel (Seeking Chapter 68: Chapter 68, Wooden Spinning Wheel (Seeking Recommendations, Favorites¡­) 1 Translator: 549690339 According to the rules, Fang Hao can freely use the resources of the subsidiary village, but Petty needs Fang Hao¡¯s consent to use them. In a sense, this village is now Fang Hao¡¯s village. Petty is more like a temporary manager, acting as the village chief. Therefore, upgrading the village and increasing its defense level is a must. Upon this thought, Fang Hao upgraded the village immediately. He upgraded the walls to a level three and set up arrow towers at each of the four corners. He then upgraded all the buildings inside the village to a level three as well. Unlike the subsidiary territories, the building level of a subsidiary village can¡¯t surpass the region¡¯s level, it can only be upgraded to level three. Petty watched the village expand and upgrade with an excited look on her face. This recent round of upgrades had accelerated the village¡¯s development by several years. ¡°My Lord¡­¡± Petty¡¯s eyes sparkled with awe. Even though the human in front of her was still rather ugly, it didn¡¯t hinder her admiration and respect towards him. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to leave soon. I¡¯ll leave some soldiers here for defense, how many do you think will be required?¡± Fang Hao whispered. Fang Hao still needed to return to his own land. He would leave some troops at the Pigmen Village for routine patrols and defenses, but the specific amount would require Petty¡¯s opinion. The other pig-headed humans in the village were still somewhat resistant to the undead. ¡°My Lord, these undead soldiers¡­ Can they obey orders?¡± Petty asked after some thought. If Fang Hao left and the undead soldiers lost control, they could potentially wipe out the entire village. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, before I leave I will give them orders. Besides me, they will follow your commands,¡± Fang Hao reassured Petty in a gentle voice. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good, then let¡¯s leave 1000 soldiers. They will be responsible for the village¡¯s safety,¡± Petty suggested. The village was not large, and 1000 troops were more than enough to defend it. ¡°Okay.1¡® Fang Hao appointed 1000 skeleton infantrymen and gave them the order to obey Petty¡¯s commands, besides his own. When everything was in order, Fang Hao started his journey back to his own land with the remaining skeleton soldiers. When he returned to his territory, the moon was high in the sky. The skeleton army carried torches throughout the journey, and many wild beasts closely followed them in the dark. But as the troops advanced, the beasts would run away. Following for a while, once they neared Fang Hao¡¯s territory the beasts dispersed. Only returning to the wooden palace, Eira heard his arrival and rushed out to greet him. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back,¡± Eira leapt into Fang Hao¡¯s arms. Just like a kitten who has been waiting for its owner at home, she was slightly cautious and somewhat reproachful. Fang Hao smiled lightly, stroking her ears. ¡°Sorry for being late, I was busy,¡± he said. [Eira of the Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 8 points. Current loyalty is 98.] What? Simply by stroking her ears, he¡¯d gained 5 points of loyalty. Fang Hao gently stroked Eira¡¯s ears again. Eira lifted her head, her eyes filled with affection, ¡°Master¡­¡± With a loyalty of 98, Fang Hao could clearly feel Eira¡¯s reliance on him. A stark contrast from when he first purchased her. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re a grown woman, stop acting like a child. Have you had dinner?¡± Fang Hao asked softly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll prepare for you right away.¡± Eira loosened her grip and went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. They had a simple meal. It was already late, so they went straight back to their rooms. Lying on the bed, Fang Hao first called the Skeleton Giant Bat to patrol the surrounding areas of the territory. Only after being assured there were no dangers did he comfortably go to sleep. The next day, when Fang Hao awoke, the sun was high in the sky. He had gone to bed late the previous night and Eira hadn¡¯t woken him up, so he ended up sleeping until noon. After getting dressed, he went downstairs and began to wash up. ¡°Master, you¡¯re awake.¡± Eira smiled as she said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao replied, drying his face. ¡°Just a moment, Master. I¡¯ll prepare breakfast right away. By the way, there¡¯s a skeleton merchant who arrived in our territory. He said to have a look at the market once you¡¯re awake.¡± Eira suddenly seemed to remember and hurriedly told him. The sudden appearance of the skeleton merchant gave Eira quite a scare. Fortunately, the skeleton merchant was quite polite. After introducing himself, he returned to the market area. The mention of the skeleton merchant made Fang Hao pause. He immediately glanced at the wooden board in front of his gate that marked the time. As expected, it was the time that the skeleton merchant was supposed to arrive. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go check him out,¡± Fang Hao said. While Eira went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, Fang Hao quickly made his way to the market area. The undead zone within the market. Ruer, the skeleton merchant, was leaning on his cane, elegantly seated on a chair as he waited quietly. Seeing Fang Hao approaching, he rose to his feet and respectfully greeted, ¡°Good afternoon, my lord.¡± ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Ruer. I was up late last night, so I overslept a bit,¡± Fang Hao apologized. ¡°Haha, no worries. Would you like to take a look at the goods now?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ruer tapped his cane on the ground again. A gloomy tunnel leading to the crypt opened once again, and the bone racks rose. On the racks were six items as usual. [Leather Vest Blueprint (White)]Price: 5 Warfire Coins. [Wooden Spinning Wheel Blueprint (Green)]Price: 20 Warfire Coins. [Forge Structure Blueprint (Green)]Price: 25 Warfire Coins. [Advanced Hero Contract (Blue)]Price: 50 Warfire Coins. [Viscera Jar (Green)jPrice: 50 Warfire Coins. [Blank Map]Price: 2 Warfire Coins. (Time left for the merchant¡¯s stay: 2 hours 12 minutes.) Looking at the blueprints this time, Fang Hao was very satisfied. Indeed, shopping is the quickest way to fulfil one¡¯s needs. This time, he obtained many blueprints. ¡°Mr. Ruer, I¡¯ll take all of the goods this time,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. He took out 152 Warfire Coins from his pocket and handed them to Ruer. ¡°Thank you for your generosity.¡± Ruer unhooked all the blueprints from the shelves and handed them to Fang Hao one by one. The market was in its early stages, and the items for sale were all ordinary goods. Of course, Ruer also had a good impression of Fang Hao. He was decisive, and he bought all the goods every time he saw them. With all the goods cleared from the shelves, Ruer slowly returned to his crypt, ¡°Goodbye, my lord.¡± ¡°Goodbye Mr. Ruer, 1 look forward to your next visit.¡± Ruer gracefully bowed, and the crypt slowly closed. After bidding farewell to the skeleton merchant. Fang Hao began to examine the properties of the goods he had purchased this time. [Leather Vest (White): Iron 3, Leather 5.] There¡¯s a difference between a vest and a saddle. A saddle is a seat placed on a horse¡¯s back to increase riding stability. A vest, on the other hand, is a type of armor. It provides the horse with a layer of protection, enhancing its defence. It tends to be used more by combat horses. With the vest blueprint, he could boost the combat capability of his territory¡¯s cavalry. He decided not to rush the production and continued to the next blueprint. [Wooden Spinning Wheel Blueprint (Green): Wood 22, Metal Parts 5, Hemp Rope 3.] (Description: An important tool for making fabrics..) Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69, Ogres Stronghold—1 Chapter 69: Chapter 69, Ogre¡¯s Stronghold¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 | The spinning wheel seemed to be related to the tailoring industry. These were far off for Fang Hao, so he didn¡¯t hurry to craft them. [Forge Furnace: Stone 12, Clay 5.] (Description: Let the furnace burn, where metal can be smelted into metal blocks.) Metal blocks! Seeing the introduction, Fang Hao was elated. Iron ingots were the necessary materials for making iron plates, Fang Hao has always been keen on obtaining an iron block method. Unexpectedly, it was not synthesized by blueprint, but it needed to be smelted in a forge. After looking at its characteristics, he immediately chose an empty spot on the left side of the Lord¡¯s hut to start constructing. Then, a forge furnace built from stone and clay was completed. [Forge Furnace] [Raw Material: Iron 5] [Product: Cast Iron Blocks (15 minutes required)] (Description: You can obtain processed metal objects by heating, it is used for manufacturing and alchemy materials.) Aha! So that¡¯s how to get the cast iron blocks. Fang Hao made five more forges. ¡°Hey, you guys will be in charge of making the forges from now on.¡± Fang Hao randomly selected a few lucky skeletons to take care of the forges. It takes 5 minutes for each cast iron block to be made in the forge, and Fang Hao cannot just stand there watching, so he had to leave it to the skeletons to operate. The stopped skeleton stiffly turned around. It looked at the forge and went to the warehouse to put in the iron ore. Seeing that the skeletons could properly use the forge, Fang Hao felt relieved, And continued to look at the [Advanced Hero Contract (Blue)]. [Advanced Hero Contract (Blue)] (Description: An advanced slave contract that can be signed with the highest blue hero contract.) He already had two slave contracts. This time, he actually got the hero contract, which can be signed with a blue hero. It¡¯s pretty good. He saved the contract in the Book of Lords, not knowing when it might come in handy. The remaining items had all appeared before. Fang Hao knew their use. After checking the properties of all the items, Fang Hao went to the ranch area. Yesterday, after taking in the Pigmen Village as a vassal village, he unlocked the blueprint of the stables. After building it, he could raise horses in the stables. Choosing a suitable place, he began to build. [Level 1 Stable: Wood 720, Stone 4.50, Straw 350, Hemp Rope 180.] (Description: Used for the breeding and training of horses.) After building the stables, Fang Hao continued to upgrade them. Due to the need for bricks at level 4, he could only upgrade the stable to level 3 for now. The territory is currently divided into three areas. The city center, military district, and breeding district. The city center includes the Lord¡¯s Hut, Warehouse, Guardhouse, Viscera Museum, and the recently built Forge. The military district has the Underground Cemetery, Burial Grounds, Corridor of the Dead, and the Skeleton Conversion Field. The breeding district has the Ranch, Spiritual Field, and Stables. All three districts are placed in different locations, they do not interfere with each other. Fang Hao¡¯s territory is a little different from others¡¯ territories. Other races need to build residential houses for farmers and soldiers, most of the space in their territory would be occupied by civilian buildings. But Fang Hao didn¡¯t need to do this, there were only he and Eira in the territory, they couldn¡¯t even fill one Lord¡¯s Hut. Hero Nelson lived in the Viscera Museum and needed no separate dwelling place. So, even though he had these buildings, most of the territory was still empty, which looked exceptionally barren. Having finished all these, Eira had cooked the meal and was calling Fang Hao to eat. While eating, Fang Hao checked the regional channel again. He wanted to see everyone¡¯s progress. ¡°How¡¯s that guy who got attacked yesterday doing? I haven¡¯t heard from him all day.¡± ¡°I guess things don¡¯t look promising. If my territory were destroyed one day, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised either.¡± ¡°Maybe I should buy some weapons from Fang Hao later, to increase my defense.¡± Although they had survived the beastly blood boil, their safety hadn¡¯t improved at all. On the contrary, with the disappearance of the protective shield, more and more territories were being discovered by the local forces and were being obliterated. For a while, not only did the weapons in Fang Hao¡¯s hands sell like hotcakes, but even the meats that were difficult to sell a few days ago also started selling well. ¡°Yesterday, a dozen or so refugees came to my territory seeking to join.¡± ¡°Damn, what good luck, free labor.¡± ¡°What good luck, my ass! These folks don¡¯t seem like refugees at all, more like a gang of bandits. I only have a little over ten village militiamen, I have a bad feeling about this.¡± ¡°Why¡¯d you let them join then? Aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll slaughter you?¡± ¡°I regret it too. I didn¡¯t realize it at the time. I need to get more Soul Crystals to recruit more soldiers, just in case.¡± Seeing this, Fang Hao remembered the Pigmen Village he had taken in yesterday. This is not a game. The digitization of the world only makes it easier for the Lords who have crossed over to understand this world. The native inhabitants are no less intelligent than you, and even understand this world better than you do. Therefore, contracts like the Slave Contract that restricts the other party are especially important. At least after the contract is signed, they won¡¯t make harmful decisions. He quickly finished his meal. Many Lords privately messaged Fang Hao, asking for custom-made iron axes, iron spears, and other weapons and tools. Fang Hao made some directly and put them up for sale to them. Only when everyone was generally well-off could he, as a merchant, exchange for better and rarer resources. Otherwise, if everyone was poor except him, all he could exchange for would be common resources like stones and wood. Next, Fang Hao had to deal with his own business. Today, his plan was to explore the second map he got: the Ogre base. He opened the map on the Book of Lords to check the exact location. The base was to the west of his territory, which was the direction of the Lost Wooden Spirit he had encountered before. It was just further away. After getting everything sorted, Fang Hao went straight back to his room. After lying down on his bed, he used God¡¯s Presence to enter one of the skeleton cavalrymen. [God¡¯s Presence target, Skeleton Scout, Compatibility 65%.] This time Fang Hao took a Skeleton Giant Bat with him and headed towards the Ogre base. With a clatter of hooves, he galloped all the way. He didn¡¯t pay any mind to the beasts he encountered along the way, he just rushed straight towards his destination. Two hours later. As he neared the Ogre base, he pulled the reins and halted the skeleton horse. This place was mainly composed of rugged terrain, surrounded by mountains, forming a kind of depression in the landscape. From afar, he could see the Ogre base. Chaotic buildings, and huge figures moving around. Fang Hao needed information, so he used God¡¯s Presence again to change targets. He transferred to the Skeleton Giant Bat on the horse¡¯s back. He launched into the air, flying towards the Ogre¡¯s base. From a bird¡¯s-eye view, he could get a clear picture of the entire base. The base was built against a mountainside, and lacked any form of defensive facilities like walls. Apart from the crude and decaying tents, there were bones strewn on the ground and various skulls impaled on stakes. [Ogre (Tier 7)] Ogres, with their corpulent and enormous figure, stood about three meters tall. They only wore a piece of loincloth and wielded a giant mace. They were Tier 7 troops. Perched on the mountain ridge, the Skeleton Giant Bat counted the number of enemies. The headcount was not small, there were around fifty Ogres. Once he had finished tallying the count, Fang Hao didn¡¯t linger. He flew back to the side of the skeleton cavalryman and ordered him to return to the territory.. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70, Battle Ogre (Seeking recommendation tickets...)._l Chapter 70: Chapter 70, Battle Ogre (Seeking recommendation tickets¡­)._l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao deactivated his God¡¯s Presence mode and sat up in bed. He walked straight out of the lord¡¯s cabin. The existence of more than 50 seventh-tier troops was unexpected for Fang Hao. No wonder there were no tribes near the ogre base. They must have either been annihilated long ago. Ending up as food in the bellies of the ogres. Even Fang Hao felt some hesitation at this point. Destroying the ogre base would result in heavy casualties. It was uncertain whether this was worthwhile. Just as Fang Hao was deep in thought, a worker skeleton walked by him, carrying in its hands newly-finished iron castings. Seeing the iron castings, a light bulb seemed to go off in his head. That¡¯s right, he still had the newly-acquired equipment blueprint. Once all the troops upgrade their equipment and increase their defense, heavy losses may not necessarily be incurred. With this thought in mind, Fang Hao¡¯s confidence surged once again, and he decided to face off against these ogres. He checked the manufacturing column. He had received three types of new equipment blueprints. [Plate Armor (green), Arm Bracers (green), Small Iron Round Shield (green).] A total of three green-level blueprints. The blueprints for the plate armor and arm bracers were obtained from the Bronze Bull. Since he previously did not have any iron plate blueprints, he didn¡¯t upgrade the equipment. In the chest he obtained from attacking the mine yesterday, he got blueprints for a small iron round shield and ferrous metal production. [Plate Armor: 12 leather, 6 iron, 4 iron plates.] [Arm Bracers: 5 leather, 3 iron, 2 iron plates.] [Small Iron Round Shield: 12 wood, 5 metal parts, 2 iron plates.] The skeleton soldiers responsible for territorial security numbered 54,000, and were assigned to patrol the area around the territory. Moreover, Fang Hao still had 18,867 Wriggling Spines unused. If Fang Hao desired, he could summon a sea of undead to wipe out all enemies. Of course, up to now, there hasn¡¯t been a need to use all the wriggling spines. For the time being, he would equip the 54,000 skeleton soldiers. He would produce 60,000 sets of equipment, including for the troops stationed at Pigmen Village and Shadowwind Castle. There were 174 iron casts in the warehouse. He would start by producing iron plates. [Iron Plate: 2 iron casts.] All were made, totaling 87. [Hundred-fold Enlargement triggered, obtained 8,787 iron plates.] Materials were sufficient, so he proceeded with equipment production. He set the production number for Plate Armor, Arm Bracers, and Small Iron Round Shield to 600 each. [Hundred-fold Enlargement triggered, obtained 60,600 Plate Armors.] [Hundred-fold Enlargement triggered, obtained 60,600 Arm Bracers.] [Hundred-fold Enlargement triggered, obtained 60,600 Small Iron Round Shields.] In an instant, numerous green lights appeared in the territory, making it appear as if the sky was falling. Piles of equipment filled every corner around Fang Hao. The quantities were much larger than those obtained from any prior enlargement. Even Eira, who was in the cabin, heard the sound of iron armor clashing, and she peekily looked out to investigate. Fang Hao casually picked up some of the equipment to inspect it. The plate armor and arm bracers were leather armor wrapped in iron plating to improve their defensive properties. The small iron round shield was a wooden shield covered with iron plating. In short, the addition of these three pieces of equipment, increased the overall defense of the soldiers by more than double. This would allow them to exert greater combat power in battle. Once equipment production was complete, Fang Hao activated God¡¯s Presence again, took possession of a skeleton cavalry, and gathered all the soldiers nearby to upgrade their equipment. After all the soldiers had changed their equipment, Fang Hao immediately set out an army of 30,000 infantry, and 2,000 skeleton warriors armed with light crossbows, for a total force of 32,000. Fang Hao returned to his room and used God¡¯s Presence to possess a skeleton soldier. Leading an army of ten thousand, they marched imposingly away from their territory, heading for the ogre stronghold. Three hours later. As the troops approached the stronghold, the frequently appearing nomadic animals were nowhere to be seen. Aside from the rustling of the leaves when the breeze blew, not a hint of bird song or insect chirp could be heard. ¡°These ogres really are not to be trifled with. Even the birds dare not to approach.¡± Fang Hao looked around and muttered softly. Indeed it was so. Rank 7, was the highest rank of soldier Fang Hao had encountered since crossing over. Neither the Orc Tribe nor the common Tauren warriors at Manim Market had reached this level. Add to this the brutal and gluttonous nature of the ogres, turning the surrounding area into an isolated zone without any beasts or villages. The team continued to advance quickly, the iron armor of the soldiers clinking with friction. Soon, they had advanced to a position not far from the stronghold. The scale of the army, tens of thousands strong, also drew the attention of the ogres. They rose from the ground one by one, huge clubs in hand. Amidst their roars, more than 50 colossal ogres launched an attack. The earth shook, leaves scattered in all directions. ¡°Archers, fire at will!¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! Dense iron arrows whistled out, yet the ogres blocked their heads with their massive arms, their footsteps never hesitating for a moment. Several ogres were promptly riddled with arrowheads, and blood flowed from their bodies and arms. When the ogres were still five hundred meters away, Fang Hao issued the command for a full attack. ¡°Everyone attack, kill them all.¡± At the same time, Fang Hao blew the War Horn. Circle after circle of faint ripples enveloped all the skeleton soldiers, amplifying their movement speed and attacks. Rumble, rumble, rumble!! The thirty-thousand-strong skeleton corps mobilized. Their footsteps gradually quickened, and finally, they were running full tilt, charging towards the oncoming ogres. Boom!! A loud crash. The skeleton soldier in the lead was hit by the ogre¡¯s massive club. Like a kite with its string cut, it flew backwards, landing beside Fang Hao. Fang Hao looked at the skeleton in front of him, which was still wobbling in an attempt to stand up again. Its plate armor, however, had already caved in, forming an eye-catching dent. The skeleton soldier seemed to have not suffered much damage, he shook his head, paused for two seconds, and then continued to attack the ogre. It seemed that the plate armor played a significant role. If it was still wearing the previous simple leather armor, this skeleton, when hit, would definitely be crushed to pieces. Boom, boom, boom!! With each swing of their clubs, a number of skeleton soldiers were sent flying, crushed to pieces. But the number of skeleton soldiers was like a swarm of locusts in a plague, fearlessly charging and attacking the target in front of them. Fang Hao didn¡¯t just watch the battle, he unsheathed his iron sword and joined the melee. Splat, splat!! The skeleton soldiers desperately swung their weapons, but the ogres had thick skin and dense flesh. Although they were only wearing a covering cloth, it was difficult to inflict lethal damage on them. In contrast, with each swing of the ogre¡¯s wooden club, several skeletons were sent flying and crushed into piles of broken bones. Fang Hao slid forward, dodging to the side of an ogre. With two quick slashes, he left two cut marks on the ogre¡¯s sturdy, hairy thigh. ¡°This won¡¯t work, going on like this.¡± Seeing that the battle turning into a tug-of-war, Fang Hao began to consider other strategies. At that moment, the ogre¡¯s covering cloth caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. Then, he revealed a cold smirk. ¡°You may have thick skin, but I don¡¯t believe ¡®it¡¯ is as thick.¡± Before his words fell, Fang Hao thrust his sword towards the ogre¡¯s groin.. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71, Troll Brewing Barrel l Chapter 71: Chapter 71, Troll Brewing Barrel l Translator: 549690339 Splat! The sound of a blade piercing through flesh resounded. The ogre that was previously in a frenzy, roaring and wielding a massive club, suddenly stiffened. It collapsed to the ground, emitting a painful howl. Its heart-wrenching screams filled the sky, attracting the attention of all the ogres. The skeletons naturally wouldn¡¯t pass up this perfect opportunity. They launched an attack at the collapsed ogre. A barrage of shield strikes, like an intense rain, continuously battered the ogre¡¯s head. The small chance of causing dizziness, due to the frequent attacks, occurred more often. Causing the howls to sound intermittently. Fang Hao flicked the blood off his sword, glanced at the weak points of all the ogres, and said solemnly, ¡°Aim for their groin.¡± The ogres may not understand Fang Hao¡¯s language. But they could feel the focus of Fang Hao¡¯s gaze. Coupled with seeing the ogre whose groin was gushing blood, their faces turned ashen, and their legs clenched tightly together. The skeletons heard Fang Hao¡¯s command. They stopped hacking wildly, and whether they had a sword or spear, they aimed from all angles, attacking the ogre¡¯s groin. Even if the ogres tried to defend, they could not cover all fronts. For a moment, all the ogres had suffered attacks on their lower bodies, their howls filled the atmosphere. The battle between the two sides lasted for more than an hour. In the end, it was the skeleton army who relied on their sheer numbers to secure final victory. They killed all the ogres. Fang Hao looked at the scene before him and shook his head slightly. The ogres¡¯ bodies lay scattered about, and each one had sustained varying degrees of damage to their groin, blood flowing everywhere. The skeletons¡¯ losses were even more severe, with shattered craniums and broken limbs littered across the ground. Some skeletons¡¯ bodies were even flattened into an iron pancake along with their armor, pasted to the ground. Fang Hao let out a sigh. In this battle, about 8,000 skeletons had died. In addition, many of the surviving skeletons were badly damaged. ¡°2,000 of you follow me; the rest clean up the battlefield.¡± Fang Hao gave his orders loudly. All the skeletons began to move again, starting to clean up the battlefield. Fang Hao, accompanied by a few skeletons, strode straight into the ogres¡¯ lair. The ogres¡¯ dwelling place was akin to a massive garbage dump. The entire campsite was littered with foul and murky water, skulls of various species hoisted high on wooden stakes, hanging like grandiose banners in mid-air. ¡°Dismantle all the tents and gather up the beast skins.¡± After looking at several tents, Besides the beast skins on the ground, there was nothing but beds. Of course, there was nothing else to collect. Following Fang Hao¡¯s orders, the skeletons began to tear down these crude shelters, bringing out all manner of beast skins. Fang Hao continued the search. Such a stronghold, with powerful 7th order ogres, surely wouldn¡¯t be without a treasure chest. With the skeletons searching and dismantling tents along the way, they finally found a golden treasure chest in a tent by a broken wall. Fang Hao took a deep breath and opened the golden chest. ¡°Acquired: Construction Blueprint for Stone Processing Factory (Green), Blueprint for Trolls¡¯ Brewing Barrel (Blue), 11 Troll Stones, 120 Warfire Coins.¡± The gold chest from the ogres was quite rewarding. A green construction blueprint and a blue crafting blueprint were found. ¡°Stone Processing Factory: Wood 2200, Stone 1800, Thatch 550, Leather 320, Rope 400.¡± ¡°Description: Through processing, the excavated stone can be made into squared bricks.¡± Yeah! Upon seeing this description, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but rejoice. The halt in all construction works was due to the dearth of stone bricks. Consequently, aside from special positions, all the labouring skeletons were assigned to dismantle the buildings in Shadowwind Castle for their stone bricks. The progress of this work was extremely slow. Now that he had obtained the blueprint for the Stone Processing Factory, he could arrange for workers to start producing squared bricks upon returning. He continued to examine the second blueprint. This was the first blue blueprint that he had acquired from opening a treasure chest. [Troll Brewing Barrel: Wood 120, Hardwood Planks 50, Metal Parts 22, Iron 5, Iron Plates 12, Essence of Wine 2.] (Description: A gigantic wine barrel crafted by alcohol-loving trolls. Simply add ingredients and clean water into the barrel, and you can enjoy pure wine.) Holy moly! With this barrel, couldn¡¯t I open a tavern? Just add the ingredients and clean water, and it will automatically transform into wine. That¡¯s way too convenient. Currently within my territory, Eira is responsible for preparing food, and she does a pretty good job. But all we have to drink every day is boiled clean water. I have missed the taste of beverages more than once. With this barrel, it could solve the problem of drinks. I just don¡¯t know how the wine tastes. Does it cater to human taste? After reading the information of the blueprint, I continue to check the Troll Stone. [Troll Stone] [Category: Ore] (Description: A rare ore containing the wild beliefs of trolls.) Yet another unique ore. I¡¯d better stash it away for now, who cares if it¡¯s useful later. After checking the awarded items. The skeletons have also completed their tasks. The battlefield was cleaned up, and this foothold was completely flattened. The scattered bones were buried by the skeletons who dug a pit. ¡°Load the wagon, bring back all the spoils, especially the bodies of the ogres.¡± Fang Hao shouted loud. Upon death, the ogres dropped 12 Wriggling Spines. But more importantly, Fang Hao desired the ogres¡¯ bodies. By throwing the ogres¡¯ bodies into the Skeleton Conversion Field, he could have his own three-meter tall troops. He could summon them by using up the Wriggling Spines. Swiftly the skeletons loaded the wagon and tied up everything with hemp ropes. The main force took all the spoils and began to return to the territory. Unimpeded along the way, the large group made it back to the territory. Fang Hao withdrew from the God¡¯s Presence state and left the lord¡¯s hut. He first incorporated the two blueprints and tossed 120 Warfire Coins into his own moneybox. He then coordinated the skeletons to categorize the spoils. The bodies of the 50 ogres were dumped into the Skeleton Conversion Pool for transformation. Whether it¡¯s because the ogres¡¯ level is high or they just have tough hides, each body required ten minutes to transform. While waiting for the transformation to complete, Fang Hao went to check on the brick production. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the skeletons, 127 units of bricks were available. Things that have been built are really not that easy to dismantle. Fortunate for Fang Hao, he obtained the blueprint of a stone processing factory. In the previously designated industrial area, he chose a piece of vacant land to build the factory. As the light faded, the building was completed after 10 minutes. [Stone Processing Factory] [Place: 0/5 workers.] [Raw material: Stone 2] [Production: Bricks] (Description: Through processing, mined stone can be made into regular bricks.) Fang Hao immediately selected five skeletons. Three spontaneous skeletons entered the factory while the other two went to the warehouse to bring stone materials to the factory. The setup of the factory was completed. The first ogre body was also successfully converted in the Skeleton Conversion Field. Fang Hao immediately stepped forward and checked the attributes. [Skeleton Troll (Tier 5)] Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72, Skeleton Troll (Well, you know... votes and stuff.) _1 Chapter 72: Chapter 72, Skeleton Troll (Well, you know¡­ votes and stuff.) _1 Translator: 549690339 Skeleton Troll (Tiers) Faction: Undead Racial Characteristics: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerable to Light. Skills: Fleshless Body, Brutal Cleave Innate Abilities: Intermediate Mastery in Combat, Intermediate Mastery in Defense. Fleshless Body: (Passive Skill) It reduces physical damage received by 35%. Brutal Cleave: (Active Skill) Strikes the target, increasing damage by 15% and has a knockback effect on smaller targets. (Note: The skeletal soldier transformed from a corpse still retains its characteristics and attack methods from when it was alive.) The transformed Skeleton Troll dropped from a Tier 7 creature to Tier 5. Still being almost three meters tall with a towering physique, its snow-white skeleton is now exposed without any covering cloth. It has become the highest tiered and best attribute soldier in Fang Hao¡¯s hands. While the Fleshless Body skill seems to be an Undead skill, it is also related to the Troll¡¯s abilities when it was alive. Fang Hao remembers clearly, the impact of physical attacks was minimal when facing the siege of the skeletal army. If not for some underhanded tricks employed by Fang Hao, his side might have suffered even greater losses. So the Fleshless Body skill, which reduces physical damage by 35%, plays an important role in close combat. No need to elaborate on the Brutal Cleave, Fang Hao witnessed it personally. Skeletal soldiers were sent flying or smashed into fragments. It can be said that this Skeleton Troll is a powerful soldier. Opening the conversion field manual page. Unlocked entries: Skeleton Orc Warrior (Tier 1), Skeleton Wolf Cavalry (Tier 2), Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 3), Skeleton Troll (Tier 5). The four types of unlocked troops can all be recruited by Fang Hao via consuming Wriggling Spines. When thousands of Skeleton Trolls appear on the battlefield¡­ What kind of scene would that be on the battlefield? Thinking of this, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t wait to find a target to test the combat power of the Troll army. While Fang Hao was thinking, the second Skeleton Troll was also successfully transformed. The two enormous bodies stood before Fang Hao, waiting for his instructions on the spot. Fang Hao slapped his forehead, ¡°Right, weapons, weapons¡­¡± In the previous battle, the Trolls¡¯ weapons were just large wooden clubs. Because of their huge size, even a wooden club could be very destructive. Since those were just ordinary wooden clubs, they were not counted as spoils of war and brought back. So, what kind of weapons should he arrange for them now? Suddenly, Fang Hao thought of battle-axes. He had received a battle-axe order from the Bronze Bull. The Tauren are nearly 2.5 meters tall. Although they are not as tall as Trolls, they are quite close. The battle-axes that the Tauren use should be suitable for the Trolls. ¡°You, go to the warehouse and bring an axe.¡± Fang Hao pointed at one of the Skeleton Trolls and said. Last time, Fang Hao used a hundredfold amplification to make 3030 axes. He gave 3000 axes to the Bronze Bull and left 30 axes in the warehouse. These massive and heavy axes couldn¡¯t be used by the previous skeletal soldiers and had been left unused in the warehouse. Now it was time to see if the Skeleton Trolls could use them. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s command. The Skeleton Troll went to the warehouse, brought back an axe, and returned. It needs to be said, the size of the axe matches the physique of the Troll perfectly. Especially since this is an official weapon, it is definitely far more destructive than a wooden club. [Battle-Axe (Green)] [Category: Battle-Axe] [Damage: Tier 3 Damage] (Description: Iron and blood, pain and roars, always dominate the battlefield.) ¡°Alright, you two, pick up the axes and patrol the territory.¡± said Fang Hao. Transforming ogres takes a decent amount of time, so waiting for all 50 ogres to appear is quite time-consuming. Once that¡¯s done, tasks need to be assigned en masse. Just finished handling that. Eira then moved her snow-white legs, walked over, and said, ¡°Master, it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± Since I woke up pretty late today, most of my time was wasted on the road back and forth. After annihilating the ogre hideouts, I returned to my territory at dusk. I settled down at the dining table, and Eira served dinner. Today¡¯s main course is steamed fish and oatmeal with sheep¡¯s milk. The spiritual field on my territory has already produced several mature crops. I also never stop trading for new crop seeds on the area channel and assign the skeleton workers to plant them. Similarly, the unicorns in the pasture have started to produce milk, allowing me to taste the long-anticipated sheep¡¯s milk. Ever since Eira arrived at my territory, I no longer have to worry about meals. Eira¡¯s cooking skills are quite decent. She tries different things every day. Even though the food is simple, she can always make a variety of flavors. ¡°Master, try the steamed fish.¡± Eira picked up a piece of fish and fed it to me. Her cute face was full of anticipation, and her bunny ears trembled slightly. The fish was traded from someone else on the channel. Eira learned how to use chopsticks from me. I opened my mouth and allowed Eira to feed me. After chewing gently, I complimented, ¡°Not bad, the taste is very good.¡± Hearing my praise, Eira¡¯s face blossomed into a smile, ¡°Master, eat more, it won¡¯t be good tomorrow if it¡¯s left.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s eat.¡± I smiled and said. After dinner. Eira began to clean up the dishes, and I, leaning on the bench, lightly patted my swollen belly. Yikes, I accidentally ate too much again. While resting, I opened the Book of Lords. It¡¯s not just to pass the time. I¡¯m planning to sell all the replaced equipment. I listed 54,000 pieces of Simple Leather Armor and Hardwood Shield directly. I planned to exchange them for various resources and materials. As soon as 100,000 pieces of equipment were listed, the channel erupted. ¡°Holy shit! I¡¯m dumbfounded. Lord Fang Hao listed 100,000 pieces of equipment, I¡¯m flabbergasted.¡± ¡°How is this possible? Even with blueprints, who has the raw materials for 100,000 sets of armor? This is impossible.¡± ¡°What¡¯s impossible about it? Can the lord be the same as you?¡± ¡°I grabbed 20 sets. All my militia have them now. They are used, but the price is fair.¡± ¡°I also bought some. They clearly show signs of use. Do you think Lord Fang Hao¡¯s army has already reached tens of thousands? Otherwise, why are there so many used armors?¡± ¡°The one above me is smart, but how much food would you need for an army of tens of thousands? Even if you have enough Soul Crystals, you wouldn¡¯t have enough food.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re the one without a brain, then explain why all the armors are used.¡± ¡°Okay, stop arguing. When I marry Lord Fang Hao, I¡¯ll tell you the answer.¡± The sale of my armor caused quite a stir in the channel. The squabble between those two subsided after they ran out of their 10 free chat opportunities and got replaced by other chat content. The 50,000 sets of armor and 50,000 shields I listed also rapidly dwindled amidst the chatter. Even though these are vanilla armors, not everyone has them. I closed the Book of Lords and returned to my room. As I lay in bed, I used God¡¯s Presence again. The next second, I was directly in the body of the skeleton stationed at the Pigmen Village.. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73, Bathroom 1 Chapter 73: Chapter 73, Bathroom 1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao left 1,000 skeleton soldiers in the Pigmen Village. They were to assist in the defense of the village. Fang Hao controlled the skeleton soldiers to descend from the city wall, coming face to face with the Pigmen Clan Leader, Petty. ¡°Petty, how is the progress?¡± Fang Hao walked up to him and softly asked. A skeleton approached head-on, suddenly speaking, startling Petty and making him tremble, his big ears rising. Then, he quickly realized that Fang Hao was once again using a spell to control the skeletons. ¡°My lord.¡± Petty hurriedly saluted, and the group of pig-headed humans behind him followed suit. ¡°Alright, take me to see your progress.¡± Fang Hao directly said. ¡°Yes, my lord, please follow me.¡¯1 Petty led Fang Hao out of the village. After a 20-minute walk across the forest, they reached the mining area. Outside the mine, the construction of the wall has already started, along with simple wooden houses and Pigmen left on watch. ¡°Following your instructions, my lord, the defense wall has begun construction, and the roads are also being worked on.¡± Petty explained on the side. After officially becoming a subject of Fang Hao, the Pigmen Village experienced a significant development. The basic structures within the village were upgraded by Fang Hao. You could say that it boosted the village¡¯s development by several years. But these changes did not bring joy to the Pigmen. Instead, their hearts were filled with apprehension as they carefully carried out the tasks assigned by Fang Hao. This fear towards Fang Hao wasn¡¯t just because he was their lord, but more so because of his ability to control, the undead army, and his various peculiar abilities. The pig-headed-human hierarchy had private discussions about this matter. Was Fang Hao a human with special abilities, or was he an undead disguised as a human? No one could figure it out. But they all agreed on one thing: they couldn¡¯t afford to provoke Fang Hao and give him an opportunity to dispose of their village. Therefore, they didn¡¯t dare slack off on the tasks assigned by Fang Hao. All of the men, women, and children in the village were mobilized to construct defense walls and roads. Seeing Fang Hao silent, the pig-headed humans close by immediately became nervous. Their manners showing their fearfulness. ¡°Good, the progress isn¡¯t bad.¡± After a slight pause, Fang Hao softly spoke. Whew!! Suddenly, there were several relieved sighs from behind him. ¡°As long as my lord is pleased, we are just doing our jobs.¡± Petty stood by, speaking softly. ¡°Okay, arrange for people to go to the main territory tomorrow and bring back some household items for the residents.¡± Fang Hao spoke again. The standard of living in the Pigmen Village wasn¡¯t high, given its nature as a small village. After Fang Hao obliterated the Fireblade Tribe, he garnered thousands of sets of wooden beds and various furniture pieces. He sold some in the regional channel but still had leftovers. He planned to give these items to Pigmen Village, which could improve their living environment. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Petty and the others looked bewildered. They quickly responded, ¡°Ah? Oh, okay. I¡¯ll arrange for people to go first thing in the morning.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for now. I¡¯m leaving.¡± After saying this, Fang Hao immediately dropped the God¡¯s Presence state. The uncontrolled skeleton¡¯s soul fire in its pupils was extinguished. After standing still for two seconds, it walked straight toward the direction of the Pigmen Village, returning to its original position. ¡°Clan Leader, what does the lord mean by this?¡± An older pig-headed human asked, puzzled. Petty hurriedly waved his hand in dismissal and softly called, ¡°Bolton!¡± Bolton immediately stepped forward, ¡°Clan Leader.¡± ¡°Right, Bolton. You will take people to the main territory first thing tomorrow morning to collect the household items that the lord mentioned.¡± ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡± Bolton nodded in understanding. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back then.¡± Petty quietly said, leading the rest of the Pigmen back to the village. After dropping the God¡¯s Presence state, Fang Hao woke up from bed. He opened the window and looked at the sky outside. It was gradually getting darker. In a world without computers and smartphones, it was about the right time to go to bed. He wasn¡¯t sure whether or not it was a result of consuming the Magic Potion. In his original world, he was popular amongst mosquitoes. But in this world, he no longer had that concern. Even if mosquitoes appeared, he showed no signs of being bitten. Knock! Knock! Knock! The door was tapped lightly. ¡°Master, you¡¯re up. It¡¯s hot today, would you like me to prepare bathwater for you?¡± Eira¡¯s voice rang out from outside the door. This was due to her hearing Fang Hao¡¯s movements and coming to remind him. Fang Hao thought a little, a bath sounded rather good. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± ¡°As you wish, Master. Please wait a moment.¡± The sound of Eira¡¯s footsteps faded away. Soon after, when Fang Hao descended the stairs and arrived at the bathroom, warm water had already been prepared in the bathtub. Fang Hao shed his clothes and comfortably sank into the tub. ¡°Ah, this is great.¡± Indeed, it must be said, Eira was very thoughtful; the water temperature was perfect. The bathroom filled with a faint steam. Creak! The bathroom door opened, and Eira, wearing a simple tube top and shorts, walked in. Her snow-white skin, beaded with droplets of mist, appeared even more translucent and lustrous. ¡°Master, let me help you cleanse your body.¡± As she said this, she stood by the tub, scrubbing Fang Hao¡¯s back. Fang Hao didn¡¯t utter a word, just enjoyed the gentle motions of the young girl. Both of them were clear about it, the relationship between a master and a servant in this era. The intimate atmosphere continued for quite a while. After Fang Hao had finished bathing, Eira served him by helping him dress, her face flushed. Early the next day. Fang Hao was awakened by a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Eira opened the door and said, ¡°Master, Mr. Bolton has arrived with his people.¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯ve come so early.¡± Fang Hao said, yawning and stretching. Eira walked into the room where she helped Fang Hao to dress properly. ¡°Master, what would you like for breakfast?¡± Eira asked softly. ¡°Something simple would do.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Alright.¡± With what had transpired the previous night. Eira attended to Fang Hao without the previous restraint and shyness, their relationship had become much closer. After getting dressed and finishing his washing, Fang Hao walked directly into the manor house. From a distance, he saw Bolton leading a group of pig-headed humans, all waiting on a bench. Upon seeing Fang Hao, they hurriedly stood and bowed, ¡°Good morning, Lord.¡± Eira invited Bolton and his men to wait in the hall. However, the pigmen chose to wait outside, for the lord to awaken from his slumber. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to the warehouse and see what you all need.¡± Fang Hao yawned and led the group towards the warehouse. Bolton nodded and led the other pigmen to follow closely behind Fang Hao. Thanks to Fang Hao¡¯s favourable impression of Bolton, his status in the Pigmen Village had risen significantly. Outside of the village¡¯s clan leader and several elders, Bolton had the highest prestige. Plus, Fang Hao¡¯s domain was truly intimidating. Outside and within his domain, barring the bunny girl they¡¯d just seen, all that moved were well-equipped skeleton bones. This made the pigmen, who were already terrified of Fang Hao, even more apprehensive and cautious. After passing through several buildings, they arrived at a large open space enclosed by a fence. The open space was stacked with a variety of scavenged items as well as a massive amount of basic resources. ¡°Those beds and furniture there, I believe they¡¯re better than yours. Load them up, and you can take them later.¡± Fang Hao pointed out. Bolton and the others stared at the scene before them, their eyes wide. To collect so much furniture, how many tribes had their lord annihilated? Upon further thought, their decision to surrender and pledge allegiance was indeed a wise one. ¡°Thank you, Lord.¡± Bolton and the others expressed their gratitude and started to load the items onto the cart. ¡°By the way, have you guys already had breakfast? Would you like me to have breakfast prepared for you?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°We¡¯ve already eaten, thank you for your concern, Lord.¡± Bolton promptly answered. They hadn¡¯t slept until now like Fang Hao. The journey from the Pigmen Village to Fang Hao¡¯s domain took a few hours¡¯ travel. They¡¯d already eaten breakfast and set out from the village at the crack of dawn. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, allowing them to load the items onto their carts themselves.. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74, Recruiting Trolls (Seeking recommendations...)._1 Chapter 74: Chapter 74, Recruiting Trolls (Seeking recommendations¡­)._1 Translator: 549690339 After Fang Hao finished his breakfast. Bolton came over again, first he gave a small nod to Eira, then walked over to Fang Hao¡¯s side. ¡°Sir, the Clan Leader asked me to share some intel with you.¡± Bolton began standing by Fang Hao¡¯s side. ¡°What kind of intel? Let¡¯s have it.¡± Fang Hao started to feel curious. He just contacted Petty the day before, but didn¡¯t hear anything about any intel. Yet in the morning, a message was delivered. ¡°This is it: to the west of the village, there¡¯s a site held by a group of powerful elemental creatures,¡± Bolton said and then carefully observed Fang Hao. Checking to see whether he was interested. Surely enough, upon hearing the news, a gleam shot through Fang Hao¡¯s pupils. The news of the site was quite tempting for Fang Hao as he viewed it as a unique wilderness location. ¡°Keep talking,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing¡­ more.¡± ¡°Nothing more? How many monsters are there and what kind are they?¡± Fang Hao proceeded to ask more questions. Bolton stroked his fat chin and continued, ¡°The creatures are all elemental beings, ranging from Tier 4 to Tier 5, and quite a handful in number.¡± Fang Hao fell into contemplation. Elemental creatures were scarce in this world. Up to now, Fang Hao had only encountered a lost Wood Servant Spirit, which was a type of Wood element creature. But Wood Servant Spirits were summoned creatures that would completely lose their way upon the death of their masters and start attacking any nearby creatures that came by at random. Fang Hao eventually triumphed over them with his skeleton army and wiped them out. ¡°Do you have a map?¡± Fang Hao inquired. Bolton still shook his head, ¡°No, but I can find the way.¡± ¡°Very well, once you¡¯re done loading, we will set off together. We will first visit the village, and then the site as you¡¯ve mentioned,¡± Fang Hao immediately made up his mind. Gradually expanding his territory was his plan from the very beginning. As he heard about the site from Bolton, he decided to explore it first and see if there were any special artifacts to be discovered. ¡°Are we heading out today?¡± Bolton was somewhat surprised. Don¡¯t they need to prepare for the creatures in the site? ¡°Is there any issue?¡± Fang Hao responded with a question. ¡°Oh, no, none at all. I will urge them to speed up,¡± Bolton said and ran over to the warehouse again. He urged the pigmen who were loading the furniture to speed up their work. After Bolton¡¯s departure, Fang Hao started to prepare for the upcoming fight. As there have been no major battles recently, he had not employed the hundred-fold amplification to expand his forces. This time, he had to be ready. He first arrived at the Skeleton Conversion Field to recruit Skeleton Trolls. He had unlocked Tier 5 forces the previous day and planned to test their might today. Due to the increase to Tier 5, the resources spent on raising the number of forces also increased proportionally. ¡°Recruitment of Skeleton Trolls: Wriggling Spine 5, Death Trace 2, Troll Stone 1,¡± the system notified. Fang Hao increased the number of recruitment to 11. ¡°The hundred-fold amplification was activated, recruiting 1111 Skeleton Trolls.¡± With a sudden glow, 1111 tall Skeleton Trolls appeared before Fang Hao. Even when his territory had expanded significantly. The appearance of these 3-meter-tall trolls still made his territory seem much more crowded. Skeleton Trolls were Tier 5 forces, and also the strongest close-combat forces Fang Hao had on hand. Next, Fang Hao crafted 1111 axes for the Skeleton Trolls. The only pity was that the Plate Armor provided by the Taurens didn¡¯t fit the massive bodies of the Trolls. Otherwise, after equipping the metal armour, their combat power would have increased exponentially. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re done. We can set¡­ off now.¡± Bolton and the others approached and saw the thousands of giant ax-wielding skeletons, their mouths agape. He was unsure how so many gigantic skeleton soldiers appeared while he was away from Fang Hao for just a while. The sense of oppression and death these tall and robust skeletons exuded was several times that of ordinary skeletons. Just by looking at them, the feeling of being engulfed by the aura of death was overwhelming. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set off,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Bolton said and then quickly led the troops, leaving the territory ahead of everyone else. Fang Hao let the soldiers go ahead while he stayed behind to briefly arrange the situation with Eira. He would leave 20,000 soldiers with Eira. To protect the territory, they should suffice. Within the nearby regions, there was no power that posed a threat to his territory. Fang Hao was confident about this. After reminding them of the measures, Fang Hao then followed the main army out of the city, heading towards Pigmen Village. This time, Fang Hao brought along 1100 Skeleton Trolls, 20,000 Skeleton Soldiers, and Pikemen. His mighty army left the territory in great pomp. All the beasts they encountered along the way scattered and fled. Three hours later. The army reached Pigmen Village. Seeing trucks of furniture being unloaded, the pigmen all wore joyous expressions on their faces. These furniture pieces were far superior to what they owned in their homes. ¡°Sir, you came in person?¡± Petty came out to greet Fang Hao. ¡°I¡¯m planning to visit the site. I kept the main army away from the village to avoid causing panic,¡± Fang Hao said softly. Bolton quickly leaned into Petty¡¯s ear and whispered something. ¡°That many?¡± Petty exclaimed in surprise. Apparently, Bolton had shared with Petty about the forces Fang Hao brought along, leaving her utterly shocked. After her shock, Petty quickly composed herself. Looking at Fang Hao, she asked, ¡°Sir, what do you need me to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need the Pigmen¡¯s help for the battle, but I do need a quiet room where I am not disturbed by anyone,¡± Fang Hao replied. Upon hearing that the Pigmen were not needed for the battle, both Petty and Bolton breathed a sigh of relief. They were truly afraid of Fang Hao using them as cannon fodder. Fortunately, all he needed was a room. ¡°There¡¯s a vacant room in the Clan Leader¡¯s Office, it¡¯s quiet and no one will disturb you,¡± Petty told him. ¡°Good, lead me there, Bolton ¨C get ready to lead the way once I return.¡± ¡°As you command, sir.¡± Fang Hao followed Petty into a vacant room. The room was squeaky clean, but it had been a while since anyone had lived there. ¡°Sir, this is my old room. It¡¯s been empty for a while. Do you need anything else?¡± Petty explained. This was her previous room. When she took over as Clan Leader, she moved into the main bedroom and left this room vacant. ¡°No need, go and inform the villagers that anyone approaching here will face attack from the skeleton soldiers,¡± Fang Hao gave another reminder. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll go and tell them right away,¡± Petty, sensing the severity in Fang Hao¡¯s voice, quickly nodded to show she understood. Petty left to tell the villagers not to approach the Clan Leader¡¯s Office. The skeleton soldiers who were stationed in Pigmen Village, split into groups of 500, and surrounded the entire building of the Clan Leader¡¯s Office. In case of a battle, the skeletons could hold them off for a while allowing Fang Hao to awaken instantly. Everything was handled properly. Fang Hao then laid down on the bed and entered the state of God¡¯s Presence. ¡°God¡¯s Presence target, Skeleton Soldier, Compatibility 88%.¡± After possessing a skeleton soldier, Fang Hao strode out of the hall. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Bolton patiently waiting. ¡°Bolton, we can set off now..¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75, Mist Wrap t Chapter 75: Chapter 75, Mist Wrap t Translator: 549690339 Bolton had a strong talent for leading the way. Without needing to look at any map, he could remember every location clearly. He remembered clearly where detours were needed and where monster strongholds were located. After leaving Pigmen Village, the large team headed west. They crossed through forests and mountain valleys. The disturbed wild beasts let out a few roars of anger, then left. They avoided this army composed of bones. Finally, in the long march. The team entered the ruins. A clear isolation zone was formed between the city ruins and the forest. Behind them was a lush forest. In front, however, was a barren waste where nothing grew. In the distance, they could see a city ruin. Most of the city wall had collapsed, and among the rubble and rotting wood, a few weeds were growing, adding some green to the pale grey scene. ¡°Sir, we have entered the ruins,¡¯1 Bolton said. Fang Hao also knew that this was the ruins, after all, he was not blind. He could see the difference between here and the outside world. ¡°Where are the elemental creatures you mentioned?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. He looked around, but didn¡¯t see any elemental creatures. He didn¡¯t even see a single mouse. ¡°Sir, when we get closer, they will appear,¡¯1 Bolton quickly replied. Fang Hao nodded. He pointed at a lucky skeleton soldier and ordered: ¡°Go, scout ahead.¡± The skeleton soldier walked out of the team and strode forward. About two hundred meters in, a layer of mist suddenly rose from the ground. The mist wrapped around the scouting skeleton. Fang Hao narrowed his eyes, closely observing the mist. Just then. Zizz! In the mist, several flashes of lightning, like electric currents, struck the scouting skeleton. Its body flew backward and by the time it landed, it had become a scattering of bones. Killed in one hit. A sense of heaviness immediately filled Fang Hao¡¯s heart. Even when they encountered a level 7 ogre, a skeleton soldier wearing plate armor could withstand a strike. However, it was killed instantly by the creature in the mist. ¡°Attack, kill them!¡± Fang Hao immediately ordered. The creatures in the mist were powerful, but their numbers were not high. Fang Hao¡¯s battle style was quite straightforward. For him, the strong prey upon the weak, and the many terrorize the few. As for tactics and ingenious strategies. Er¡­ He did not need them at the moment. Tens of thousands of skeleton soldiers and 1,100 skeleton ogres ran past Fang Hao and Bolton. With the sound of crunching bones and clashing armor filling the battlefield. A sea of gleaming skeletons charged at the mist. Zizzz!! Brilliant arcs of lighting shot from the mist, constantly striking the skeletons. Fortunately, the skeleton ogres were enormous and only suffered some impacts, not being killed instantly. On the contrary, the normal skeleton soldiers could not withstand such impacts, they were killed with a single strike. Soon, the skeleton army charged into the mist. The tide of the army pushed out the creatures inside the mist. They appeared in Fang Hao¡¯s line of sight. ¡°Air Elemental (5th order)¡± (Description: The remnants of the magic dust settled and agglomerated to produce an air elemental. In a favorable environment, it will display extraordinary and frightful power.) The air elemental looked as though it was made of collected clouds. The upper half of its body had a human-like silhouette, while the lower half looked like floating mist. It resembled the scene of Aladdin¡¯s genie in its entrance in a cartoon series. It¡¯s an air elemental. This wasn¡¯t something Fang Hao had expected. He had assumed that elemental creatures, based on his use of the wood spirits, would follow the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The occurring of an air elemental, it made him reconsider his original beliefs. Perhaps this world doesn¡¯t conform to conventional notions. Boom! Boom! Boom! The air elementals engaged in fierce combat with the skeleton ogres. Fortunately, air elementals were also living entities, not an elusive mist. When attacked by a giant axe, they too would get hurt and cry out in painful roars. Sizzle! Off in the distance, an air elemental is relentlessly forced out of the fog by five skeleton trolls. Its gaseous arm points, and a lightning bolt hits one of them before immediately spreading to two others, like a serpent made of electricity. The three struck skeleton ogres stiffened slightly, and from where they were hit, white smoke began to rise. However, the skeleton ogres only sustained some damage, raising their war axes. Striking at the body of the air elemental overhead. The five war axes repeatedly fell, completely annihilating the air elemental. It turned into a plume of smoke which gradually dissipated in the air. The battle was still ongoing. Roar! When the last air elemental was completely destroyed, the fog obscuring the view around them also gradually cleared. ¡°Are there any other creatures?¡± Fang Hao asked Bolton who stood beside him. ¡°Ah? I don¡¯t know, we¡¯ve been blocked out by these air elementals.¡± Bolton immediately answered. They couldn¡¯t even eliminate these air elementals, so naturally, they had no idea whether there were any other monsters inside. Fang Hao nodded and ordered the skeleton soldiers to search the surrounding area for any treasure chests or other spoils of war. Before long, a skeleton soldier came striding over, carrying a silver treasure chest. With a bang, it was tossed in front of Fang Hao. Seeing the treasure chest, Fang Hao¡¯s mood improved somewhat. He hasn¡¯t even entered the ruins city and already he has acquired a treasure chest. Opening the treasure chest. [Obtain: Mist Enshrouded Skill Scroll, Air Elemental Summoning Skill Scroll, Trace of the Sky 2, 87 Warfire Coins.] There were a total of three rewards. Two of them were air elemental magic. This almost caused Fang Hao to jump up in excitement. Since he had taken the Magic Revelation Potion, he was able to learn various magic skills. This time, he acquired two more kinds of magic, which enhanced his ability to defend himself. Currently speaking. With the hundred-fold enhancement, the strength of his territory is not weak. As long as Fang Hao had time to gather his forces, he could compete with all the forces around his territory. But the weakness is also very obvious. His personal strength was too weak. In the face of assassination or other targeted tactics, he would struggle to respond. Therefore, strengthening himself, enhancing his skill to increase his survival rate, was equally crucial to the development of his territory. These two skills happen to be what he needed. He suppressed his excitement and began to check the rewards he acquired. [Mist Wrap] [Category: Air Elemental Magic] [Level: Level Three Magic] [Ability: The mist will cover the battlefield, reducing the enemy¡¯s field of vision by 75% and morale by 15%.] (Description: Ready for a game of hide and seek? Toy with your opponent in the mist, unable to distinguish friend from foe within three meters.) This skill is identical to the mist that Fang Hao had just witnessed. It doesn¡¯t seem to have the same effect as before. In the previous situation, the density of the cloud and fog was such that only when the air elemental was forced out could the creatures inside the fog be seen. But this skill scroll seems to have greatly reduced that ability. He continued to the next skill scroll. [Elemental Guard (Air)] Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76, Deceased Mage (Dont forget the recommendation tickets.) 1 Chapter 76: Chapter 76, Deceased Mage (Don¡¯t forget the recommendation tickets.) 1 Translator: 549690339 Elemental Guard (Air) [Category: Skills](With no elemental physique, this skill cannot be learned.) [Ability: Summons two Air Elemental Attendants to fight in tandem for a duration of 30 minutes.] (Description: War is never fought alone. Use the natural energy around you, summon attendants to launch attacks on the enemy.) This was Fang Hao¡¯s second summoning skill. The first one summoned Wood Attendants, this time it is Air Attendants. He wonders whether all of them can be summoned at the same time. He secured all the loot. Fang Hao turned to Bolton again, ¡°Bolton, wait for us here.¡± ¡°As you command, sir.¡± Bolton immediately responded. He didn¡¯t want to enter into the ruins, and now that Fang Hao asked him to stay behind, he felt a sense of relief. Of course, Fang Hao has his own motives. He himself has secrets he doesn¡¯t want others to know, and Bolton wasn¡¯t exactly helpful moving forward either. Better to have him wait here, making both parties feel more at ease. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s continue to move forward.¡± Fang Hao waved his hand, and the skeleton army marched on in unison, stepping towards the ruined city. Traveling along the mud-covered road, they crossed the desolate city gate and entered the city. The city was in ruins, with the remaining towering stone walls teetering, and the eye could only see debris and rotten beams. Looking at the scene in front of him, Fang Hao has the feeling that the city has been bombed. Whoosh!! Just then, a fireball flies in from a distance. Bang!! The fireball hit a skeleton, the explosion flung its body into the air. Its metal armor was dented, leaving black burn marks behind. Fang Hao got startled, and immediately looked in the direction of the attack. There can be seen elemental creatures engulfed with flames roaming in abundance amidst the rubble in the distance. Fire Elemental (Tier 6) (Description: Aggressive fire elementals, born from the fury of elemental magic, if you anger them, be prepared to endure a scorching inferno!) Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! More and more fire elementals emerge, occupying the entire city. One after another, searing fireballs flew towards the skeleton army. ¡°Kill!!¡± Fang Hao coldly ordered, and the entire skeleton army immediately fanned out, attacking the continually appearing fire elementals. Fang Hao himself also drew his iron sword. After dodging a rapidly shot fireball, he charged directly at the fire elemental. Approaching, he immediately unleashed a shield strike. The iron-wrapped shield directly struck the fire elemental on its head. Flames fluttered from the elemental¡¯s body, but it didn¡¯t seem to be stunned. Fang Hao dodged the elemental¡¯s counterattack by lowering his head, and swiftly swung his sword twice in succession. Two sword marks appeared on the fiery body. Simultaneously, the skeletons by Fang Hao¡¯s side continuously wielded their weapons, inflicting persistent damage on the fire elemental. Boom! Another fireball flies. Fang Hao immediately raised his shield to block. The fireball hit the shield, its immense force caused him to stumble back a few steps before regaining his balance. He quickly moved forward, continuing to engage with the fire elemental in front of him. Having understood the attack method of the fire elemental, a cold laugh flashed in Fang Hao¡¯s heart, thinking it was no big deal¡­ The second he thought that¡­ Fang Hao suddenly discovered a ring of fire suddenly appeared beneath his feet. Just as he wanted to move¡­ From the center of the ring, a pillar of flame surged upward, swallowing him and other two skeleton soldiers. Fang Hao sat up on the bed. Taking a look at his surroundings, he confirmed that the skeleton he had been controlling is deceased. Taking a deep breath, he immediately re-initiated the God¡¯s Presence ritual. Once again possessing the body of a skeleton soldier, he rejoined the battlefield. The recent ring of fire was apparently a fire elemental¡¯s ability. Occasionally appearing, it burned the only tier 1 skeleton soldiers directly into ashes. However, this circle of fire ability didn¡¯t inflict as much damage to the skeleton trolls. On the contrary, these trolls, adept at fighting, made the enemy constantly retreat. Bang!! With a single stroke of his sword, Fang Hao completely annihilated the fire elemental before him. The rest of the battles were also gradually coming to an end. With the numerical advantage of the skeleton army, and the existence of a fifth-tier skeleton troll, several hundred fire elementals were quickly annihilated. Fang Hao was just about to give the order to clear the battlefield. Swoosh! A magic arrow engulfed in flames was aimed directly at him. Bang! Fang Hao instinctively raised his shield, blocking the fireball. The magic arrow shattered before him, turning into scattered sparks. Suddenly looking to the side, he saw a mummified corpse wrapped in tattered robes, quietly chanting a spell. [Restless Mage (Tier 7)] (Description: Natural Mages are the world¡¯s top scholars. Their spiritual power, far exceeding that of ordinary people, prevents them from resting even in death, their fragmented souls trapped in their bodies, wandering aimlessly.) This long-dead mage hadn¡¯t undergone a professional or traditional mummification process. With every movement, dried and wrinkled skin fell off his face like sand. The state of decay of his body was hindering his movements. Despite his powerful magic power or ability to delay body decomposition, in a few decades, this body would be completely decayed. Seeing him chant another spell, Fang Hao immediately ordered, ¡°Quick, kill him.¡± These deceased mages were merely undead. Who knew what major attack the next spell might incite. The closest skeleton soldiers charged towards the undead mage. It seemed the mage had sensed this, his chanting faltered slightly and he promptly summoned four fire elemental souls in an attempt to block the advancing skeleton soldiers. But the four fire elementals weren¡¯t nearly enough to oppose the numerous skeleton army. Within moments of coming into contact, before they could unleash a simple Fireball, they were either killed by a flurry of swords or chopped by a chaotic axe. The undead mage, upon seeing the abrupt annihilation of his summoned souls, began to retreat while ceasing his spell chants. ¡°Kill him,¡± Fang Hao urged once more. There could be a potential danger here. The skeleton soldiers lunged towards the retreating undead mage. Apparently, both the close-combat ability and defense of this mage weren¡¯t too high. Each iron sword stabbed into his body, completely killing him. When the already decaying body was violently filled with sharp swords, it ¡®Bang¡¯ burst into a cloud of dust and decayed particles, not even leaving a corpse behind. ¡°Damn it! Where¡¯s the corpse?¡± Fang Hao cursed. I just wanted your bodies, dying without leaving a corpse behind, isn¡¯t that a bit too much. With a sigh, he gave another order, ¡°Search for the loot; avoid approaching the building up ahead.¡± While there seemed to be no immediate danger, a reasonably intact stone tower up ahead gave Fang Hao a feeling of unease. Sure enough, the loot was quickly scavenged. The slain fire elementals had dropped some materials. [Violent Marks 3) [Red Flame Essence 12). Besides these, there was also a silver treasure chest. He opened the chest directly. [Obtained: Fire Arrow Skill Scroll, Beast Taming Contract (Green), Tailor Shop Blueprint, Warfire Coins+72.] A skill scroll should be quite valuable. Every time a skill scroll appeared, it would automatically raise the level of the loot chest.. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77, Starfire_l Chapter 77: Chapter 77, Starfire_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°After opening the treasure chest. Fang Hao ordered the skeleton soldiers to perform a thorough search. But the city had been abandoned for too long, and all sorts of items had already been worn away by time, leaving nothing behind. Finding nothing, Fang Hao began to regroup the troops. The damaged equipment in the skeletons¡¯ hands was replaced with that of their dead comrades. After two fights in a row, the skeleton army had achieved significant victories, but the casualties were also substantial. From this, Fang Hao saw the shortcomings within the team. They lacked ranged units. Although he could force the skeleton soldiers to switch to light crossbows, their stiff and slow actions required Fang Hao¡¯s personal command on the sideline. It was a desperate measure in a desperate situation. After regrouping, the team continued to push forward. Ahead was a well-preserved building, a towering stone tower, only the top of which had collapsed, littered with grey tiles and decayed timber. The mottled stone walls still towered, appearing solid as ever. The stone tower was located in the center of the city, and combined with its unique design, it should have been a lord¡¯s mansion or some sort of administrative building. Upon reaching the stone tower. Fang Hao exhaled, ¡°You guys, and you others, come in with me.¡± There was not enough room inside the stone tower to accommodate the entire skeleton army. So, Fang Hao selected five skeleton trolls and ten skeleton soldiers. Considering the large size of the skeleton trolls, they were asked to wait at the entrance of the stone tower, where the space was relatively cramped. The outer door of the stone tower was already decayed and cracked, and it collapsed with the rotting wood as it was pushed open. Despite the countless years that have passed, the interior of the stone tower still depicted its past magnificence and splendor. The carvings on the stone bricks, the rotten desks, carpets, and the rusty, teetering Nightstone chandelier overhead. This city must have once had its own glory. It is unknown what caused it to become a ruin. Clang!! As Fang Hao was investigating the room and looking for anything he could take, several Undead Mages walked out of the other rooms of the tower, knocking over the lampstand on the table and making a clear sound. As soon as they came out, they targeted Fang Hao and the others, converging various magics and attacking them. Boom! A thud. A water magic arrow hit hard against the shield in hand. Fang Hao felt a tremendous force and involuntarily tilted backward. Boom! Boom! Boom!! The rest of the skeleton soldiers were also subjected to attacks. For a moment, the already decayed furniture was in complete chaos, wood chips flying everywhere, and chairs shattering. ¡°Kill them,¡± said Fang Hao, his gaze slightly cold as he gave his direct order. The skeleton soldiers launched an attack, raising their shields and charging at the Undead Mages. Boom! Boom! Boom!! Magic spells were released one after another, summoning one Magic Servant after another. A fierce battle ensued with the rushing skeletons. The intense battle attracted the hidden Undead Mages from upstairs. The skeleton army did likewise. Only a part of the skeleton soldiers who could enter the tower formed the army, and there were constantly skeletons rushing in from the outside, joining the battle incessantly. Fang Hao held his iron sword, cutting down a summoning ghost, and rushed to the Undead Mage. The iron sword turned into a flash of cold light, slashing down the opponent¡¯s raised arm. The arm¡¯s muscles were rotten, exposing the white bones. With one slash of the sword, the entire arm was cut off, disrupting the casting of the magic. The cut end exposed dried, grayish-white flesh, without a drop of blood. The Undead Mage looked a bit puzzled at his severed arm, then again raised his left hand to start casting. Crack!! Fang Hao swung his sword twice more, cutting off the left hand again. Having lost both arms, the Undead Mage fell into a brief state of confusion. Unable to cast spells calmly, the undead mage struggled to retaliate effectively. Ultimately, Fang Hao and the skeleton soldiers managed to slay the undead mage with their overwhelming attacks. The mage¡¯s magic was highly damaging, but when enemies got close, they proved powerless. This was especially true against the skeleton army, who were experts in group combat and nearly impossible to defend against. Once they closed in, they would surround and attack. One man, one sword, could reduce an undead mage to a bloodied mess. By the second round of attacks, it would be eliminated. The skeleton army battled their way up the stairs. Until, they had completely annihilated all the undead mages. ¡°Some of you check the upper floors for any remaining enemies, everyone else, put out the fire!¡± After the battle ended, Fang Hao commanded loudly. Among the mages, were a handful of Fire Elemental Mages, who had set fire to anything combustible in the room with their repeated fire magic spells. Much of the furniture within the stone tower had been constructed from decaying wood that instantly ignited upon contact with fire magic, causing red flames to cable up quickly. The fire spread rapidly. These mages were dead, unable to feel the threat of the flames. Yet Fang Hao and the skeletons were the same, unafraid of death, they had fought through the fire until now. Only after the conflict had been resolved did they start to put out the fire. Unignited combustibles were thrown outside, preventing the fire from spreading further. Luckily, the ground floor was a large hall, and there wasn¡¯t much combustible material to begin with. After burning for a while, combined with the effort to extinguish it, the fire was finally brought under control. That¡¯s when the skeletons that had gone up to check for enemies came down, proving that there were no enemies left on the upper floors. If there were any enemies left, they would have already started fighting. ¡°Bring down the chandelier and take the Nightstone. We¡¯re going to grift every room,¡± commanded Fang Hao, proceeding leisurely. He ordered the skeletons to move anything useful to the outside. Directing them as he walked. Without a stop, he quickly made his way to the third level. Upon entering the largest room, he saw a set of white bones draped in a robe, seated on a wicker recliner. Its body sprawled weakly on the chair, resembling a long-dead corpse. ¡°Another boss?¡± Fang Hao instinctively took a step backward. However, a second later, he dismissed his initial thought. [Elder Mage¡¯s Skeleton] [Type: Remains] (Description: Internal strife led the city towards destruction. Former allies turned into enemies. The elderly leader, powerless to change things, heard the cries from outside the window and slowly ended his own life.) When the target was displayed as a skeleton, it indicated the opponent was already deceased. According to the description, it seemed the city hadn¡¯t been invaded from the outside, but instead had experienced infighting. After confirming there was no danger, Fang Hao walked right into the room. Behind the reclining chair was a dilapidated desk, its books long rotted and torn. Only a long, tawny leather box was still intact. He dusted off the box, unlocked the latch, and slowly lifted the lid. Suddenly, a surge of red energy burst forth, flooded the entire room. Upon examining the item in the box, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. It was a magic wand. ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s beautiful!¡± Fang Hao whispered in awe. The wand was exquisitely crafted. The wooden handle was engraved with intricate patterns, and a giant red gemstone was nestled at the top. If one looked closely at the gemstone, it seemed as if there was a flame burning within. [Starfire (Purple)] [Category: Wand] [Ability: Starfire] (Description: Life is fragile, it can¡¯t withstand even a hint of starfire.) [Starfire]: Summons a meteor to fall, triggering an explosion where it lands.. Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78, Mage Tower j Chapter 78: Chapter 78, Mage Tower j Translator: 549690339 | Fang Hao held the magic wand, elation filling his heart. This trip was indeed not in vain, yielding a fine piece of purple equipment. Having drank the Magic Revelation Potion, Fang Hao¡¯s body began to accept and sense magic elements more easily. If there were no other circumstances, Fang Hao might well embark on the path of a magic summoner. And this purple magic wand would be perfect for him. After the excitement, Fang Hao turned his attention to the bones lying nearby. ¡°Move the skeleton outside.¡± Two skeletons approached to lift the bone remains from the vine chair. But just as the surface contact started, the body crumbled like powder, leaving only the skull leaning against the back of the vine chair, now integrated with it. Alas! Fang Hao sighed faintly. There are requirements for transformation, and the most important is the integrity of the body. It is not enough to just retrieve a part, or a piece of a limb, to carry out transformation. ¡°Bury the skeleton along with the vine chair in the courtyard.¡± At the back of the Stone Tower, there is a rather large courtyard. Since the deceased had been obsessed with this city in life, it should be their wish to remain here. The two skeletons didn¡¯t attempt to touch the remaining skull this time, but moved it out together with the vine chair. ¡°Alright, search each room to see if there are any valuable items,¡± Fang Hao commanded his other skeletons. The skeletons quickly scattered, conducting a room-by-room search. Soon, a gold treasure chest was tossed in front of Fang Hao. Could it be another mage skill? Thinking this, he directly opened the treasure chest. With a flash of light, the reward appeared. [Received: Blueprints for Mage Tower, Timber Processing Plant, Root Magic Wand; Pages from the Elemental Codex; 50 Mithril, and 142 Warfire Coins.] One flash of light after another invited astonishment from Fang Hao. Him receiving the Starfire Wand had already given him a huge surprise. The emergence of so many blueprints now was like icing on the cake. He had received gold chests before. But compared with these rewards, whatever was inside those chests was far less superior, whether in terms of grade or practicality. One could say that this relic exploration was more than worth it. He started inspecting the rewards from the chest. [Mage Tower Blueprints (blue)] [Category: Building Blueprints] [Construction Materials: 3500 wood, 2200 stones, 320 leather, 400 hemp ropes, 120 mithril, 20 perfect essence] (Description: Consume faction items to recruit a ranged mage class.) Upon seeing this blueprint, the Soul Fire in Fang Hao¡¯s pupils flickered slightly. This was exactly what he needed. A building that could recruit long-range troops. After recruiting mages, he could remedy the absence of long-range units in his army, making it more diversified. He then looked at the second blueprint. [Timber Processing Factory Blueprint (Green)] [Category: Building Blueprints] [Required Materials: 2800 wood, 800 stones, 550 straw, 320 leather, 400 hemp ropes, 85 metal parts.] (Description: Through synthesis and processing, the wood that has been mined can be made into harder and sturdier tough wood.) Good gracious! There it was, the last required material for upgrading the lord¡¯s territory had finally appeared. For the fifth level Lord¡¯s Hall, not only are stone bricks required but also tough wood. Prior to this, Fang Hao had always assumed that tough wood was also made from a blueprint, and could be produced once he had the blueprint. Now it seems that tough wood requires factory processing, and isn¡¯t as simple as just using the Book of Lords to make it. But that¡¯s fine, after returning Fang Hao can arrange for people to get down to processing; there should be ample manpower in his territory. [Wooden Wand Blueprint (Green)] [Category: Wand] [Materials Required: Sturdy Wood 1, Iron 1, Essence of Magic 2, Mithril 2.] (Description: A general-purpose magic wand made from a variety of materials. It is effective in amplifying magic.) Not bad at all. But it¡¯s far less impressive compared to his own wand. In terms of both properties and appearance, the Starfire excels. That shimmering flame gem, as big as half a fist, exudes an aura of wealth wherever it goes. [Elemental Scripture Fragment] [Category: Torn Pages of the Scripture] [Ability: Damage+1% for Air, Earth, Water, Fire Elemental Magic, number of summoned spirits +1.] (Description: Ancient scripture fragment, collecting all fragments will yield the complete scripture¡¯s magic.) Peculiar treasures are plentiful. Another chapter fragment of the scripture popped up. Why are the people of this world so shaky, tearing up good stuff into pieces? Fang Hao sorted everything and then walked down from the Stone Tower directly. He looked at the sky, it was probably around three or four in the afternoon. He had been busy since the morning when he set off from his territory. The other skeletons located in the Stone Tower and various corners of the city also found numerous resources. Iron, copper, and other durable materials, as well as rare materials such as mithril and Essence of Magic, were collected. These mages seemed to have collected these rare materials. All of them were moved out. Additional Nightstones disassembled from the Stone Tower and assorted silver and copper items were also collected. Only after everything was sorted did Fang Hao wave his hand, letting everyone return with the loot. Bolton, who seemed half-asleep, looked completely surprised when he saw them return loaded with goods. After identifying the skeleton possessed by Fang Hao, he immediately stepped forward, ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve returned.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go back to the Pigmen Village.¡± Fang Hao then led the large group towards the Pigmen Village. They all hurried along with their heads down, moving faster than when they came. Soon, the Pigmen Village was in sight. Outside the village, a few pigmen were gathering resources. As soon as the village was in sight, Fang Hao issued a forward command to all of the skeleton soldiers. He himself then de-activated the God¡¯s Presence and woke up in his room. After stepping outside, he directed the 500 skeleton soldiers guarding the door to return to their respective posts. ¡°Lord, you have come out.¡± Seeing Fang Hao, Petty walked over. ¡°Yes, this time¡¯s loot, I have reserved a Nightstone chandelier for you.¡± Fang Hao replied as he walked outside. Nightstone is not any ordinary stone. As per the market price, it¡¯s quite expensive. Most forces prefer to use candles, as natural ores like Nightstone are difficult to purchase. ¡°Oh, thank you, sir.¡± Petty immediately thanked him. The two of them then arrived at the entrance of the village. From a distance, they saw the densely packed skeleton army rapidly approaching. ¡°Prepare the cart.¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± In no time, the skeleton army arrived at the village entrance. The skeletons carrying the loot deposited their goods in the village warehouse, while the rest of the skeletons were stationed outside the village. Fang Hao picked up the obtained skill scrolls and blueprints for his personal study and also for the Book of Lords¡¯ collection. [Successfully learned skills: Mist Wrap, Elemental Guardian (Air), Fire Arrow.] [Book of Lords Included blueprints: Tailor Shop Construction Blueprint, Mage Tower Construction Blueprint, Timber Processing Factory Construction Blueprint, Wooden Wand Crafting Blueprint.] [Book of Lords Special Collection: Taming Contract (Green), Elemental Scripture Fragment.] Beams of light flickered and merged with his body and the Book of Lords.. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79, Undead Mage_l Chapter 79: Chapter 79, Undead Mage_l Translator: 549690339 He collected all the blueprints. Apart from a few items kept for the Pigmen Village, all the loot was loaded onto the cart, ready to be taken back to his territory. Meanwhile, Fang Hao, accompanied by Petty, headed towards the interior of the Pigmen Village. He planned to construct a Stone Processing Factory and a Wood Processing Factory here. In this way, the production speed of bricks and hardy wood could be increased. [Stone Processing Factory: Wood 2200, Stone 1800, Thatch 550, Leather 320, Hemp Rope 400.] He discussed the construction site with Petty. And then began the construction in a vacant area at the corner of the village. Ten minutes later, the Stone Processing Factory was completed. Then Fang Hao continued to build the Wood Processing Factory. [Wood Processing Factory: Wood 2800, Stone 800, Thatch 550, Leather 320, Hemp Rope 400, Metal Parts 85.] Another ten minutes of construction time. A Wood Processing Factory was completed. [Wood Processing Factory] [Placement: Workers 0/5-1 [Raw Materials: Wood 2, Wood Enhancer 1.] [Production: Hardy Wood] (Description: Through synthesis processing, the harvested wood can be made into tougher and firmer hardy wood.) The Wood Processing Factory was also completed. The production of hardy wood required an additional raw material. [Wood Enhancer]. The name seemed familiar, it seemed like he had the blueprint. He immediately opened the Book of Lords to look it up, indeed, after flipping through several pages, he found the Wood Enhancer. [Wood Enhancer: Bone Powder 5, Tree Sap 4, Water 1.] (Description: A material that makes the wood board tougher.) Bone powder can be made by grinding beast bones. Tree sap is a resource that occasionally appears when harvesting trees. There is also a certain amount of stock in the warehouse. Enough for him to manufacture a lot. He set the production quantity to 50. Make. [Multiplier Triggered, gained Wood Enhancer 5050.] A large amount of Wood Enhancer appeared on the vacant ground. ¡°Assign people to process them, the village will need a lot of bricks and hardy wood when upgrading in the future.¡± Fang Hao instructed softly. Fang Hao¡¯s territory needed these materials. The Pigmen Village will also need these materials for future upgrades. Increasing the production speed was also good for the development of the Pigmen Village. ¡°Okay, thank you, sir, I will arrange the manpower immediately.¡± Happiness appeared on Petty¡¯s face. The Pigmen Village was relatively backward. Before Fang Hao came, the village had not been upgraded or expanded. This was not because they didn¡¯t want to expand but because they lacked the ability and resources. Now that there is an opportunity to continue upgrading and developing, Petty was naturally overjoyed. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded and didn¡¯t say much more. After taking another round in the village, Fang Hao lead the team back to his territory. A few hours later. The large group finally returned to the territory, and the spoils of war were sorted and sent to the warehouse. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back!¡± Eira came out to greet him. ¡°Put this in my room.¡± Fang Hao handed the magic wand to Eira. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± Eira exclaimed as she took it with both hands. Her small hand caressed the red gem at the top, which was barely wrapped in her hand, ¡°The gemstone is still warm.¡± Fang Hao gave a slight smile, coughed lightly, ¡°It¡¯s called Starfire, it¡¯s a fire attribute magic wand.¡± When he first saw the magic wand, his expression and thoughts were almost the same as Eira¡¯s. After all, he had been tinkering with it for half a day and wasn¡¯t as surprised as he was at the beginning. ¡°Master, you¡¯re really impressive, this magic wand must be very expensive,¡± Eira said, still with a look of shock on her face. ¡°It should be quite valuable.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Eira held the magic wand, observing it as she took it upstairs to Fang Hao¡¯s room. After Eira left, Fang Hao continued on to the military zone. He wanted to build the newly acquired blueprint in the military zone, the Mage Tower. After the blueprint was recorded in Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords, it became the Undead Mage Tower. [Undead Mage Tower: Wood 3500, Stone 2200, Leather 320, Hemp Rope 400, Mithril 120, Perfect Essence 20.] (Description: Consumes camp items, can recruit long-range mage units.) He chose a location and directly started the construction. A flicker of blue light appeared, and the outline of a tall tower slowly took shape in front of him. The construction countdown of twenty minutes had passed, and the light faded away. A gloomy tall tower stood before Fang Hao. [Undead Mage Tower] [Recruit: Undead Mage] [Sacrifices: Wriggling Spine 3.] (Note: The corresponding camp units can be recruited in this building. The higher the building level, the more types of soldiers and higher tiers can be unlocked.) [Upgrade prerequisites: Lord¡¯s Stone Tower] [Upgrade materials: Solid Wood 4200, Stone Brick 2500, Metal Parts 850, Mithril 240, Perfect Essence 50, Shadowstone 20.] The building properties were clear at a glance. However, recruiting the Undead Mage requires 3 wriggling spines. The rarity and rank of the recruited units likely determine the amount of materials consumed during recruitment. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, consuming 3 wriggling spines to start recruiting. [Recruit: Undead Mage. Cost: Wriggling Spine 3. Do you wish to recruit?] Yes! [One Hundred Times Amplification triggered, recruiting 101 Undead Mages.] A flash of light flickered. 101 Undead Mages appeared before Fang Hao. They still had the appearance of skeletons, but they held their heads high, dressed in long robes. They were somewhat reminiscent of the Skeleton Traders. [Undead Mage (Tier 3)] [Camp: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light] [Skills: Dark Missile] [Innate Skills: Intermediate Magic Mastery] [Dark Missile]: Unleashes a dark magic missile, causing massive magic damage and triggers an explosion on hitting the target. The morale of the affected enemies rapidly declines. (Note: When life surpasses the years that its body can tolerate, death is inevitable and all that remains is the continuous passage of time.) A Tier 3 unit. Not bad, Fang Hao was very satisfied in his heart. Not only did it fill the gap of long-range units in his army, but its rank was relatively high. The skill was Dark Missile. After causing an explosion, the morale of the affected targets drops. Morale is an important potential attribute in battle. Low morale can reduce combat power, and in severe cases, it can even lead to desertion. Therefore, morale can severely affect the course of a battle. The recruited Undead Mages stood dumbstruck, silently looking at themselves. Fang Hao once again opened the Book of Lords and created a page. He had also obtained a green blueprint for a magic wand from the ruins of the Mage City, perfect for the Undead Mages to equip. [Root Wood Magic Wand (Green): Solid Wood 1, Iron 1, Essence of Magic 2, Mithril 2.] He checked the warehouse. In the few hours he took to return from Pigmen Village to his territory, The wood processing factory of Pigmen Village had produced solid wood, so he could start making the magic wands. Create! [100-Fold Increase Triggered: Obtained 101 Root Wood Magic Wands.] A large number of Root Wood Magic Wands appeared before Fang Hao.. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80, Skeleton Tailor (Please keep Chapter 80: Chapter 80, Skeleton Tailor (Please keep reading, recommending votes la la la )_1 Translator: 549690339 [Wooden Magic Wand (Green)] [Category: Magic Wand] [Damage: Amplification of Tier 2 Spells] (Description: A versatile magic wand made from a variety of materials, effectively amplifying magic spells.) 101 Wooden Magic Wands are scattered on both sides. Fang Hao tells the Undead Mages, ¡°Pick up the wands, your task is to go to the city walls and stand guard.¡± The Undead Mages aren¡¯t as rigid as the Skeleton Foot Soldiers. They orderly pick up the wands and give a slight bow to Fang Hao before leaving. Even though they¡¯re still unable to speak, they show higher intelligence than the Skeleton Foot Soldiers. The Mages silently climb the city wall and carry out their patrol duties. Fang Hao heads to the industrial area once again. After the completion of the wood processing plant, he continues to construct a tailor shop. [Tailor Shop: Wood 750, Stone 400, Leather 220, Hemp Rope 120, Metal Parts 50.] Confirm construction. Swiftly, the Tailor Shop comes into view. [Tier 1 Tailor Shop] [Recruitable: Tailors] [Tailor: Wriggling Spine 1.] (Note: You can recruit troops belonging to the same camp in this building and carry out tasks related to spinning raw materials into yarn and weaving fabric.) [Upgrade Requirements: Wood 1050, Stone 750, Leather 340, Hemp Rope 220, Metal Parts too.] What the heck! He originally thought that the tailor shop was just a simple building. Unexpectedly, it also serves as a place to recruit troops. Well, it¡¯s too late to think more now that the building is already constructed. [Recruitable: Skeleton Tailor. Consumes: 1 Wriggling Spine. Recruit?] Confirm recruitment. [Triggered 100-Fold Amplification, Recruited 101 Skeleton Tailors.] Bursts of light flash, and 101 Skeleton Tailors, wearing linen robes and leather measuring tapes around their necks, appear before Fang Hao. Though they¡¯re skeletons as well, their hollow eye sockets are ignited with blue flames. [Skeleton Tailor (Tier 1)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light.] [Skill: Raw Material Processing.] [Raw Material Processing: Can turn raw materials into yarn, including but not limited to linen, wool, silk.] (Note: From fiber to thread, from thread to fabric, from fabric to clothes, tailors can make ordinary clothing look dazzling.) 101 Skeleton Tailors gather in front of Fang Hao and respectfully bow. They speak in unison, ¡°Honorable Lord, we are willing to serve you.¡± They can speak? The Undead Mages he¡¯d just recruited with the wriggling spines didn¡¯t talk. But these Skeleton Tailors can. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes narrow, but he quickly relaxes. Being able to recruit talking skeletons doesn¡¯t seem strange to him. The Skeleton Merchant, although not a high-ranking combat unit, is also able to speak. Therefore, it seems reasonable that his tailors can talk. ¡°Well, welcome to my territory.¡± Fang Hao says with a smile. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, the Skeleton Tailors straighten up. ¡°Right, are you guys able to use spinners?¡± Fang Hao suddenly remembers the blueprint for a spinner he received not long ago. The spinner certainly has something to do with fabric weaving, and should be within these tailors¡¯ range of work. The leading tailor steps forward and says softly, ¡°Sir, we can use the spinner to turn yarn into fabric, and then make various clothes from the fabric.¡± ¡°Oh, please wait a moment.¡± Fang Hao opens the Book of Lords and uses the 100-fold amplification to make 101 spinners instantly. Hand it over to the group of tailors. The unicorns raised in the ranch also provided some wool, although not much, it was enough to keep these fellows busy for a while. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao asked the lead tailor. ¡°Sir, my name is Soye!¡± ¡°Alright, Soye, from now on you¡¯re the head of the tailors. You will distribute tasks to everyone from here on out¡±, Fang Hao commanded. The Soul Fire in Soye flickered as he immediately bowed again, ¡°Thank you for your trust, sir.¡± From the conversation, it was clear that Soye was highly intelligent, no less than the Skeleton merchant. Perhaps those with special occupations like merchants and tailors all possess normal intelligence. Too dull, and one can¡¯t sell items like the Skeleton merchant. ¡°Hmm, the development of the domain still relies on everyone¡¯s collective efforts,¡± Fang Hao gently patted his shoulder. Soye nodded in agreement. While they were chatting casually, Eira ran over. Seeing the oddly dressed Skeleton tailors with tape measures hanging around their necks, she almost turned and ran. Only when she saw Fang Hao standing among them did she stop her getaway, yelling, ¡°Master, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± All the skeleton tailors turned to look at her in unison, startling Eira once again. ¡°Come here, Eira,¡± Fang Hao called softly. This was not Eira¡¯s first encounter with Skeletons. She suppressed her worry, hiding behind Fang Hao. Her large ears drooped down. ¡°This is my maid, Eira.¡± Fang Hao introduced, and then spoke to Eira. ¡°Eira, this is Captain Soye and the rest of them are our territory¡¯s tailors.¡± ¡°Oh! Hello, Captain Soye¡± Eira greeted quietly. Soye responded, ¡°Nice to meet you, Miss Eira.¡± Seeing that the Skeleton in front of her was courteous, Eira was a bit less nervous. ¡°Alright, you go about your business. We¡¯ll go eat,¡± Fang Hao said, leading Eira away. After sending Fang Hao off, Soye also assigned tasks to his folks. They began making thread from cotton and started processing cloth using spinning wheels. On their way back, Fang Hao looked at Eira. Eira was still wearing the clothes she had on when she was brought over from the slave trader. Her coarse hemp garment, although clean, was still somewhat tattered. ¡°Eira!¡± ¡°Master, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Eira¡¯s large eyes asked curiously. ¡°Let Soye make a couple of dresses for you when he has time. You¡¯ve been wearing these for too long.¡± Eira was slightly startled, and when she looked up at Fang Hao again, her eyes welled up slightly. Indeed, she had been wearing this dress for a long time. Since she became a slave, she hadn¡¯t changed it. Because of numerous washes, the fabric had broken into countless pieces. She used straw to make rope, and simply sewed up the worn parts to continue wearing it. Even so, this had been the best and most free period of her life since becoming a slave. She never thought she would have the privilege of such a life now. Everything in front of her felt like a dream she had while locked in a cage. As soon as the tailors arrived at the territory, Fang Hao wanted to make clothes for her. She was moved deeply. Her big watery eyes looked at her master, full of emotion. [Rabbit girl Eira¡¯s loyalty to you increases by 2 points. Current loyalty: 100.] [Underneath you, Eira, whose loyalty to you has reached 100 points, will not show any negative emotions such as betrayal.] The sudden appearance of the prompt made Fang Hao slightly startled. Looking at her watery eyes, he felt that the rabbit girl in front of him was extremely cute. He gently stroked her big ears, causing Eira¡¯s face to flush. Fang Hao suddenly had an idea. Should he ask Soye and the others to make a bunny girl outfit for Eira to try on? Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81, Pre-order a pair of underwearl Chapter 81: Chapter 81, Pre-order a pair of underwearl Translator: 549690339 Sitting down at the dinner table, Eira served the prepared dinner. While tasting Eira¡¯s cooking, he opened up the Book of Lords and turned to the regional chat. ¡°Buying Natural Gem, resources for gemstones, anyone willing to trade?¡± ¡°Damn it, I opened treasure chest today and got city wall blueprints, but the material requirement is too high, have to save up for half a month.¡± ¡°Damn! I¡¯m still building with wood, I¡¯m so envious!¡± ¡°Sigh! I don¡¯t even have a change of clothes, my stockings are so smelly.¡± ¡°Ahem! I would trade 10 units of resources for a pair of lady¡¯s stockings.¡± ¡°20 units.¡± It¡¯s been over ten days since Fang Hao came to this world. Aside from the clothes he was wearing, he also had an outfit stripped off of Zhuang Hong. He had clothes for a change. But most other people had only one set on them. Especially the one with leather shorts on. What a tough guy. Meanwhile, Fang Hao started to consider. Whether to have the tailor make some clothes for his people and sell them to other lords. During a clothing shortage, they could make some quick money. Once everyone¡¯s territory had tailors, it would be much harder to profit from this. On second thought, it seemed quite feasible. He¡¯d ask Soye about it tomorrow. Closing down the regional chat, he continued eating while chatting with Eira. On the other side. The Skullcrusher Tribe, Cold Wind Mountain Range. Great Chief Shah, sitting on the leader¡¯s position, looked at the tributes presented by the affiliated tribes. The gold and silver tribute session had ended. Now was the presentation of Orc girls from each tribe. ¡°Great Chief, this time 4.0 Orc girls have been brought, all of them are here.¡± An old Orc reported softly. As soon as he finished, several female Orcs walked into the hall from outside, lining up below, waiting for the Great Chief¡¯s selection. Some of these Orc women were huge, with muscles bulging all over their bodies, and sharp teeth and tusk. Others were of average height, but hairy all over. ¡°Greetings Great Chief.¡± The 40 female Orcs spoke in unison, their voices ringing out like thunder in the hall. ¡°Hahaha! Good, very good.¡± Shah laughed heartily looking at the women below. He walked down the steps, close to a female orc almost two metres tall whose body was covered in muscles. His big hand reached directly into her clothes. He nodded in satisfaction, ¡°You stay, the others can leave for now.¡± The chosen female orc had a happy expression. The rest seemed disappointed and left. When the hall was empty, Shah pushed the female orc onto a chair, her buttocks protruding. Just as he was about to have a good time¡­ A voice suddenly reported from outside the door, ¡°Great Chief, the scout team has returned and is waiting outside.¡± Shah frowned and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes. His large hand was still stroking the female orc¡¯s body. But eventually, he suppressed his lust, whispering, ¡°Go to my quarters and wait for me.¡± The woman nodded and entered Shah¡¯s bedroom. Shah returned to his seat and said loudly, ¡°Let them in.¡± The door opened and a Orc team leader strode in. ¡°Great Chief.¡± The Orc saluted. ¡°Speak, what¡¯s the news?¡± Shah¡¯s voice betrayed his impatience. ¡°Great Chief, we have found the other side¡¯s city. They have city walls, arrow towers and all troops are lower-tier skeletons.¡± The Orc team leader reported loudly. Shah narrowed his eyes, thinking for a moment, continued to ask, ¡°Is the other side a human lord? Any news about Divine Artifacts or treasures?¡± The Skullcrusher Tribe was not particularly close to this lord¡¯s territory. The purpose of this long-distant scouting trip was to investigate the Divine Artifact and treasures mentioned by Fireblade. Of course, he was most concerned about the treasures. ¡°As there are too many of them and they patrolled a large area, we didn¡¯t see the other side¡¯s lord. But from the smoke rising from their city every day, we inferred that it should be the human lord mentioned by Kent.¡± The Orc team leader continued. When he had led the scouting, Fang Hao was exploring the mine with his soldiers. Half of the troops were taken away to fight with the Iron-Eating Worm in the mine. He only saw a small part of the force. As for Fang Hao. Except under special circumstances, he hardly ever left the city. These Orcs had no idea about the effect of God¡¯s Presence. The only thing they saw was the skeletons coming in and out of the city. Upon hearing that the scouting team hadn¡¯t even seen the other lord, Shah¡¯s face darkened even more. Add to that the disruption of his pleasure, a spark of fury ignited in his heart. He huffed heavily, like a bellows. ¡°Attendants!¡± Shah called out in a low voice. Two Orc soldiers immediately entered the room from outside, ¡°Great Chief.¡± ¡°The scouting team was inefficient this time, send them to the punishment ground, and have them lashed.¡± Shah said coldly. The Orc team leader trembled, not knowing where he had failed. He pleaded loudly, ¡°Great Chief, please spare us, Great Chief.¡± The two Orc soldiers stepped forward, took him away, dragged him out of the room among his cries. Lashing was not as simple as just a few lashes. One lash down was strong enough to kill a cow, and it would follow with several days of exposure under the sun. Every time after a lashing, half of the Orcs couldn¡¯t survive and would die on the punishment ground. The team leader was taken away, and the hall quieted down again. Shah squinted slightly, beginning to consider his options. The just-punished team leader had gathered comprehensive intelligence, including the scale of the city and strength of its forces. Whether the other side was a human was no longer of importance. Next, all they would have to do was send troops to take over the city. Not only would they acquire the other¡¯s treasures, they could also use the city as a base to re-implement the plan of domain migration. And thereby, leave this barren land. At this thought, Shah¡¯s eyes lit up again. After uniting the entire Cold Wind Mountain Range, he found a new target, a new journey. ¡°Attendant.¡± The Orc guard waiting outside came in again, ¡°Great Chief.¡± ¡°Notify all leaders, convene a meeting.¡± The next morning, dawn. Fang Hao was having the breakfast Eira prepared, he watched everyone chatting in the channel. Then he posted a message in the chat too. ¡°Buying wool, flax, silk, private chat me for a price if you have any.¡± The second Fang Hao¡¯s message went out. The previously lively chat suddenly stopped scrolling. Only this message remained inside the chat box. It took three seconds before messages started flooding in like an explosion. ¡°OMG! Lord Fang Hao is still alive? I thought¡­¡± ¡°You thought shit, everyone¡¯s living better than you.¡± ¡°Wait! Let me butt in, is Lord Fang Hao planning to move into the textile industry? Why is he buying all textile-related items?¡± ¡°Let me butt in too, Lord Fang Hao, I want to pre-order a pair of underwear..¡¯ Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82, Measuring Three Sizes (Voting Now )_i Chapter 82: Chapter 82, Measuring Three Sizes (Voting Now )_i Translator: 549690339 Even though trades are conducted via the channel, and there¡¯s no concept of a ¡®shop1. The various goods that Fang Hao sells all convey a feeling of a shop. Items ranging from bathtubs, iron pots, and even ironaxes and boundary markers are all selling out, indicating that they are very popular.He was selling all sorts of things. Whether it¡¯s ironaxes, iron boundary markers, iron pots or bathtubs. The truth is, all of them have a durability, and when the durability reaches 0, they can no longer be used. When there are no suitable craftsmen to repair them, they need to be repurchased. So, everyone turns out to be Fang Hao¡¯s repeat customers. Now Fang Hao suddenly started purchasing all sorts of textile products without a limit. Everyone was more and more amazed at the development of Fang Hao¡¯s territory. Fang Hao looked at everyone¡¯s clamor and spoke again. ¡°Indeed our territory has been studying textile products, and if successful, we will sell them to everyone via the regional channel, anyone who has cotton, flax, silk can chat privately with me about the prices.¡± ¡°Damn! I just mentioned it casually, and you really started operating in the textile industry, do we live in the same world?¡± ¡°Boss man, recognize me!¡± Hey mister, I want to put in a tailor order for some dresses.¡± The person above, I know you, you¡¯re a man, why do you want to tailor a dress?¡± ¡°None of your business, everyone has the right to pursue freedom, so what!¡± One after another, the messages were continuously scrolling. Soon after, someone immediately sent him private messages. ¡°Boss Fang Hao, I have some flax here, how much do you want?¡± Fang Hao was startled, it seems like the other party has quite a decent quantity of flax. -500 units, is that enough?¡± Fang Hao roughly burst out with a number. ¡°Enough.¡± Oh? Fang Hao¡¯s mind stirred, he specifically looked at the other party¡¯s name Deng Bin. Could it be that this person has already started planting flax? Otherwise, how could he have such a large stock of flax. That¡¯s not right! If he can use flax, then there¡¯s no way he would sell it to me so eagerly. ¡°What do you need in return?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The other party kept quiet for a moment, then replied: ¡°20 iron boundary markers, 30 iron spears.¡± Seeing what the other party wanted, he knew that the other party¡¯s territory was developing slower, and definitely hadn¡¯t reached the stage where it could use flax. At the same time, he couldn¡¯t accept this kind of exchange. He replied: ¡°Iron is popular currently, this amount of flax cannot be exchanged for it.¡± Iron boundary markers and iron spears are all hot-selling products in the market, and their selling prices are not low either. With 500 units of flax, Fang Hao really didn¡¯t want to make the trade. Because even if Fang Hao does not want it, the flax still can¡¯t be sold, but iron boundary markers and iron spears can still be sold smoothly. The other party was a straightforward person and continued to speak: ¡°Boss man, you develop fast, you propose a price, as long as it is acceptable to me, I will sell it, and then you take care of us who develop slower.¡± This person is smart, selling things as they should, and plans to cling onto Fang Hao for future advancement. Fang Hao made a rough calculation in his head and said: ¡±1¡¯11 buy your 500 units of flax for an equivalent of too units of iron, I¡¯ll restock every 7 days, you can sell to me anytime.¡± ¡®Alright alright, I want 25 iron spears, we can trade right now.¡± the other party replied quickly, the initial asking price seemed more like a bargaining strategy. Iron spears can be exchanged for 4 units of iron in the trading area. According to the price Fang Hao set, too units of iron equates to 25 iron spears. Of course, in Fang Hao¡¯s place, there is a hundred times increment, 25 iron spears just cost 2 units of iron. ¡°Sure, list them for sale first!¡± Soon, the two reached a deal, and each got what they needed. Fang Hao continued to ask: ¡°Can you tell me how you got so much flax?¡± This made Fang Hao curious. ¡°Sure!¡± Deng Bin discovered this type of flax plant very early. He didn¡¯t identify it at first, it was only when the villagers brought it back he found out it was flax by looking at its properties. Later, he followed the place where he found the flax and discovered a large area densely grown in a grassland. Since he had no use for it, he didn¡¯t arrange for anyone to harvest it. This time, partnering with Fang Hao, he guaranteed that he would provide a sufficient quantity of flax when trading. After the trade completed and the chat ended. Fang Hao once again obtained some cotton and flax, but he didn¡¯t get any silk. When no one else sent him private messages, he closed the Book of Lords. After breakfast, Fang Hao carried out his usual patrol around his territory. When he arrived at the tailor shop, he saw many skeleton tailors operating spinning wheels, processing the cotton threads they made last night into cloth. Now the raw materials in the warehouse are sufficient, enough for them to produce for a while. ¡°Good morning, Lord.¡± Soye strode over, respectfully greeted. Soye was appointed as the team captain by Fang Hao, and acquired the authority to command all tailors. She assigned some workers to process cotton into cotton thread, and some workers were making cloth from cotton thread. It seemed that she¡¯s allocated the work clearly. ¡°Morning, Soye!¡± Fang Hao greeted her with a smile. ¡°What can I do for you, Lord?¡± Soye continued to ask. ¡°Eira, come here.¡± ¡°Soye, make some dailywear for her.¡± Fang Hao continued to speak when Eira came over. In a private room. Eira, wearing underclothes, stood straight in the middle of the room. Fang Hao held a measuring tape, measuring her body dimensions. This matter should not be Fang Hao¡¯s responsibility, but under Eira¡¯s teary eyes, Fang Hao had to step in and do it himself. ¡°Eira, lift your arms. Eira lifted her white arms. Fang Hao wrapped the tape from her back, around her chest, creating an indentation in the middle. ¡°Master, loosen it, it¡¯s too tight.¡± Eira said softly. ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Hao loosened the measuring tape and noted a number. Then, Fang Hao continued to measure, recording her waist and hip dimensions one by one. ¡°Eira, your legs are disproportionate to the rest of your body!¡± Fang Hao wrapped the tape around her thigh again. Eira¡¯s thighs were smooth and delicate, especially when compared to her height, they were long and slender. If she represented in the modern world, she would definitely overshadow most actresses. ¡°Master, do you like short legs?¡± Eira opened her eyes wide and asked softly. ¡°Ah? No, I like long ones.¡± Of course he likes longer ones. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good!¡± Eira breathed a sigh of relief, a strange joy surged in her heart. Soon, Fang Hao finished all the measurements. Then It was Eira¡¯s turn, who learned by imitation, and measured all of Fang Hao¡¯s dimensions from head to toe. Only after they finished all the measurements did they return to the tailor shop and passed the data to Soye. They let Soye make clothes for them first, with the needs of the people on the channel being pushed back. After patrolling the territory. Fang Hao walked back to the lord¡¯s cabin, he was just about to lie back onto the bed, to explore the map through God¡¯s Presence mode. Suddenly, the door was knocked again. ¡°Master, Scholar Nelson is out and wants to see you.¡± Eira¡¯s voice came from behind the door. Nelson is out? Since Nelson entered the Viscera Museum, it had been four to five days. According to him, it¡¯s about time he came out. Stepping out of the cabin, he saw Nelson leaning on his magic wand with a large skeleton hero standing beside him.. Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83, Hero Fireblade 1 Chapter 83: Chapter 83, Hero Fireblade 1 Translator: 549690339 Nelson hunched his back, leaning on his magic wand. Although he was an immortal golden hero, his staggering steps looked quite like those of a battle-weary elder. Next to him stood a tall skeleton warrior, his back straight and strong like an erected blade. The contrast between the two was striking. ¡°Milord,¡± Nelson bowed slightly. ¡°Scholar Nelson,¡± Fang Hao welcomed with a smile. The more contact he had with the undead, the more puzzled Fang Hao was. Why are all living creatures so opposed to the Undead Clan? Compared to the savage Beast Clan, skeleton traders and Nelson were both affable, like gentlemen. ¡°Milord, allow me to introduce Fireblade.¡± The skeleton warrior with a strong physique knelt down on one knee and said loudly, ¡°Fireblade pledges loyalty unto death to you, my Lord.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed as he turned to look at Nelson. Nelson nodded in affirmation. Fireblade-Kent. The orc hero who died at his hands. After being transformed by Nelson, his status had become one of the heroes under Fang Hao¡¯s command. [Fireblade (Level 3 Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Template: Blue] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light. ] [Army Talent: Berserk, Infantry Commander, Chariot Commander. ] [Skills: Blood Rage, Flame Slash, Killing Intent, Cruelty. ] [Innate Abilities: Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Equestrian Mastery, Advanced Command Mastery, Advanced Two-handed Weapon Mastery. ] [Berserk]: Troops under his command gain a 1% increase in strength after killing or assisting in killing an enemy, this effect lasts for 5 seconds and can stack up to 15 times. [Infantry Commander]: Infantry troops get an 8% increase in attack power. [Chariot Commander]: Chariot troops get a 5% increase in attack power. [Blood Rage (Active)]: Enters a rage in battle, all attributes increase by 10%. [Flame Slash (Active)]: Swings the sword once, burning the air, inflicting 100% fire damage. [Killing Intent (Passive)]: When injured, attack increases by 15% [Cruelty (Passive)]: Inflicts greater damage on seriously wounded enemies. (Description: Product of the Immortal Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead. This hero cannot progress or advance.) Fireblade¡¯s attributes were quite good. During his battle with the Beast Clan, Fang Hao had relied on overwhelming numbers of his undead army to bring down Fireblade. The area around Fireblade was piled high with the skeletons of his victims. Now that he has been transformed by Nelson, he had become one of the undead heroes under Fang Hao. However, while Fireblade may be a hero, he could no longer progress or advance, remaining as is perpetually. That is to say, Fireblade¡¯s potential has peaked, he could no longer improve. Of course, it¡¯s too early to consider the issue of hero advancement at this point. Adding one more hero, brought a significant improvement to the fief. He proceeded to check Fireblade¡¯s loyalty. [Fireblade¡¯s loyalty to you has reached too] [Your subordinate, Fireblade¡¯s loyalty has reached too points, negative emotions such as treachery and betrayal will not appear.] The soul of Fireblade-Kent had been bound and modified by Nelson. Although he retained his intellect, he lacked independent emotions. He had no memory of the past and would only be loyal to the fiefdom and to Fang Hao. This was a relief to Fang Hao. In this way, Fireblade would harbor no further thoughts of revenge against him. ¡°Good, Fireblade, I welcome your addition.¡± Fang Hao declared loudly. Fireblade rose to his feet, ¡°Thank you, milord.¡± After a moment of consideration, Fang Hao instructed two of his skeleton guards, ¡°Go fetch the Bloodthirsty Set.¡± The two skeleton warriors went into the room and brought out the four pieces of the Bloodthirsty Set, and the Bloodthirsty Blade. This set of equipment had been obtained from the Fireblade Tribe. Because it was too heavy, neither he nor any other soldiers could wear it, so it was kept in the lord¡¯s hall. ¡°Fireblade, I entrust this set of gear to you. I hope in the future you will make a great contribution to our land.¡± After all the twists and turns, it ended up back in Fireblade¡¯s hands. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Fireblade donned the Bloodthirsty Set, holding the Bloodthirsty Blade in his hand, and his aura became instantly fierce. ¡°Alright, wait for me outside the territory, later we will explore the nearby map together.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Fireblade responded and waited outside the territory. Fang Hao had a brief chat with Nelson and then went straight back to the Lord¡¯s cabin. In his God¡¯s Presence state, he took Fireblade and his troops to explore unknown areas. Dusk was approaching. The large troop returned with a full load. Although they didn¡¯t come across any special strongholds or forces, they hunted numerous beasts and found several wooden treasure chests. Animals were butchered, providing food and hides, increasing the storage in the warehouse. And the chests contained a good number of items. [Blueprint for Iron Hoe, Blueprint for Stone Bowl, Natural Gem 12, Mithril 10, Springs Trace 3, Magic Power Trace 2.] It was quite a rewarding excursion. Wooden treasure chests usually contained limited items, besides materials, blueprints were generally basic ones. As Fang Hao collected all the blueprints, the skeleton crew returning from Shadowwind Castle just happened to be unloading. He had allocated a large amount of skeletons to demolish in Shadowwind Castle. During his map exploration, he had checked the progress at Shadowwind Castle. The once towering Shadowwind Castle had been reduced to ruins, and after consecutive work by thousands of skeletons, there was nothing left but rubble and broken walls. The stone brick reserves in the territory were now enough for current upgrades. And the speed of producing stone bricks at the stone processing factory was faster than regular mining, so he immediately issued the command for a full retreat. All the working skeletons were called back to the territory. Fang Hao, with 1200 skeleton laborers in front of the territory gate, started assigning tasks. Firstly, he established three stone quarries and three logging sites outside the territory. Then he upgraded all the quarries and logging sites to Level 4. [Level 4 Quarry] [Category: Building] (Description: Quarry area, stone collection efficiency +15%.) [Level 4 Logging Site] [Category: Building] (Description: Logging site area, wood collection efficiency +15%.) Once established, it could significantly improve the efficiency of basic resource extraction. The laborer skeletons began their work. Fang Hao then returned to the territory and upgraded the other buildings. He upgraded the [Underground Cemetery], [Warehouse], [Burial Grounds], [Castle Wall], [Arrow Tower] and [Corridor of the Dead] all to Level 4. When all the upgrades were complete, the storage area for resources in the territory became instantly spacious. All was done. It was also time for dinner. Perhaps because of the new clothes on the way, Eira was clearly in a good mood. She introduced the ingredients for dinner to Fang Hao and fed him actively. As the two enjoyed their meal, the long-lost system prompt sounded again in everyone¡¯s ears. [Congratulations on surviving 13 days.] [In ten hours, all surviving Lord¡¯s territories will enter the compulsory task ¡®Nature¡¯s Revenge¡¯, where all territories will be attacked by Nature¡¯s Guardians.] [The number of Nature¡¯s Guardians will be adjusted according to the total amount of resources collected within 14 days.] [Good luck¡­] The sudden task leaves Fang Hao slightly stunned. He immediately turned to look at the wooden board recording the time next to him, today was his 13th day after the crossing. In ten hours, it would be the 14th day. Could it be that there¡¯s a compulsory task every 7 days? Chapter 84 - Chapter 84.: Chapter 84, the 2nd round of compulsory task 1 Chapter 84.: Chapter 84, the 2nd round of compulsory task 1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao didn¡¯t get much time to think, the system prompt resounded again. [Challenge Mission: Nature¡¯s Revenge. (Accepted)] [Mission Content: Prevent the advancing Nature Guardians.] [Mission Description: Your reckless deforestation and exploited the angered Nature Guardians, they will retaliate for your actions, with a troop deployment of 120,000.] [Good luck¡­] Staring at the mission, Fang Hao frowned slightly. An unknown force had brought them to this world. Forcing everyone to participate in this inexplicable military competition, those lagging behind will be mercilessly eliminated. Everyone was struggling to survive, constantly mining resources, and developing their territories. And now they were telling him this was environmental destruction, being punished by nature. If you don¡¯t mine, you die, and if you do, they say you¡¯re destroying the environment. Either way, they were behind it. It was hard to figure out how to survive. Fang Hao directly opened the Book of Lords to see if anyone else had also received the mission. Sure enough, as soon as he opened it, they were discussing this matter. ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, I¡¯m going to die, tomorrow I¡¯ll be attacked by 12 of those Guardian things, how am I supposed to survive?¡± ¡°WTF, the guy above isn¡¯t content, I have over 50 Guardians.¡± ¡°Stop arguing, didn¡¯t the prompt say it? It¡¯s based on territory mining quantity, the allocation of monsters, the more resources you mine, the more Guardian comes to attack your territory.¡± ¡°Why though, I traded my resources with boss Fang Hao for food and equipment, why are they after me?¡± Right right! We should trade for weapons with boss Fang Hao, my territory is just starting to develop, I don¡¯t wanna die.¡± ¡°Boss, I want to trade equipment with you too.¡± No sooner had they wrapped up their discussion was the Book of Lords bombarded with numerous messages. Countless people were exchanging weapons, armor, and food privately. Right now, the equipment that Fang Hao sold externally was fairly basic. The weapons were iron spears, the armors were complete sets of leather armor. As for the more advanced equipment, such as the green Plate Armor, Fang Hao did not sell them. He remained cautious. In this world, even the weapons sold had to maintain superiority over his own equipment. During the recent period of peace. Both the equipment and meat food sales slowed down considerably. Seizing the opportunity, they could amass a significant amount of war wealth. [Trader: Fang Hao] [Items Registered: Iron Spear] [Quantity: 10,000.] [Required for 1: 4. Iron Ore or any rare resource.] (Note: If there are special items, you can private chat to increase the weapon quantity.) Next, he listed 10,000 sets of leather armor and 5,000 units of meat food, exchanging for various scarce resources. Fang Hao did not lack ordinary resources, what he wanted were those scarce resources. His ability was naturally limited, but with many people in the region, obtaining these resources was not difficult. The moment the weapons, armor, and food trade links were displayed, public discussions resumed. Holy crap! Listing 10,000 weapons and equipment right off the bat, is boss Fang Hao running an armory?¡± ¡°At the crucial moment, still have to rely on boss Fang Hao, others just can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Stop wasting time, the quantity is quickly running out.¡± ¡°Damn, you animals, you guys are all too quick.¡± At the same time. Fang Hao received many private messages. Ignoring those planning on buying on credit and the resources Fang Hao didn¡¯t need. Finally, he filtered out two content with the Blueprints. ¡°Boss Fang Hao, I have a blueprint here, take a look at how many iron spears can it be exchanged for, [Civilian House Building Blueprint].¡± [House Building Blueprint] [Category: Building Blueprint] (Description: Can construct standard civilian houses, no special features.) This type of house is different from the human faction¡¯s built-in civilian house. The built-in civilian houses are functional buildings that provide the function of recruiting farmers in addition to living. And house buildings are just standard houses, providing shelter from wind and rain, but do not possess special features. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 5 iron spears.¡± Fang Hao replied. Opposite party was silent for a while, ultimately still agreed. The battle of tomorrow is imminent and they have no resources to exchange, he had no choice but to exchange the blueprint. Even if 5 spears were a bit of loss for him, he had to persist in trading. Only people who survive can talk about the future. The two completed the trade. Fang Hao successfully got the blueprint he wanted. After that, Fang Hao successively traded for many blueprints from other lords. [Bedside Table Making Blueprint (White)] [Wooden Barricade Making Blueprint (White)] [Wool Carpet Making Blueprint (White)] [Beast Skin Backpack Making Blueprint (White)] [Sturdy Fishing Rod Making Blueprint (Green)]. One blueprint after another, Fang Hao reaped a lot. This trade was equivalent to him cleaning out two or three small bases. ¡°Master, would you like some fruit?¡± After the dinner, Eira was cleaning up the dishes and politely asking. Sometimes when Fang Hao was too busy, he would leave hurriedly after eating. ¡°Yeah, sure, oh and first call Nelson and Fireblade over, I have something to tell them.¡± Fang Hao quietly said. ¡°Oh, alright!¡± Eira bounded off to find Nelson and Fireblade. The territory was not crowded, but it was quite large. Sometimes Fang Hao would wonder why the channel always had people saying they have recruited some refugees in their territories, and they even had some with special skills. Why nothing happened in his territory? If a couple of refugees came here, it could also bring a little bit of vitality to the territory. In a short while, Nelson and Fireblade swiftly came over. Upon seeing Fang Hao, they courteously greeted. ¡°My lord, you asked for us.¡± ¡°Yeah, I have something to tell you, I just got news that the territory will be under attack tomorrow, you two should be prepared.¡± Fang Hao quietly said. Hearing this news, whether it was Nelson or Fireblade, they looked at each other. My lord, where did you get this news, is it accurate?¡± Nelson curiously asked. ¡°Absolutely accurate, the attack will start tomorrow morning, with a force of 120,000.¡± Fang Hao affirmed confidently. What is the plan, my lord?¡± Nelson continued to ask. Fang Hao rubbed his temples, quietly said, ¡°There are ample sacrifices in the territory, tomorrow morning I will increase the force within the territory, then Nelson you command the ranged troops, and Fireblade commands the infantry.¡± In fact, there wasn¡¯t any special plan. They didn¡¯t even know what the enemy looked like right now. However, as the hero within the territory, Fang Hao needed to inform the two in advance so that they can be psychologically prepared. So it won¡¯t be in a mess during the war. -Rest assured, my lord, Fireblade will defend the territory to death, to protect your safety.¡± Fireblade immediately stood up and loudly declared. Fireblade was created with 100% Loyalty. His loyalty was absolute to Fang Hao and the territory. Even if Fang Hao told him to die, he would immediately execute the order. Not to mention leading an army into battle. Hearing Fireblade¡¯s words, Fang Hao gave a small smile, reassuringly said, ¡°It¡¯s not to that extent, the territory can handle a battle of this scale..¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85, Natures Revenge 1 Chapter 85: Chapter 85, Nature¡¯s Revenge 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ã The next day, at dawn. Eira was kneeling by the bed, her fair little hand lightly nudging a sleeping Fang Hao. Master, wake up. Didn¡¯t you mention having important matters to attend to today?¡± Hearing her voice, Fang Hao snapped his eyes open. His brain was in standby mode for quite a while before it began to operate normally. Yes, today was the day of the forced task. He had asked Eira to wake him up early. He sat up from the bed and whispered, ¡°Eira, how did you get in?¡± Usually, Eira knocked from outside the door and would not directly enter Fang Hao¡¯s room. ¡°Master, I knocked on the door, but you didn¡¯t get up. I was worried that it would delay your schedule for today, so I came in,¡± Eira said in a pitiful tone. He had fallen asleep rather late last night, probably why he didn¡¯t hear the knock. ¡°Right, I have something to do today.¡± Fang Hao stretched his body to wake himself up quickly. Eira immediately helped Fang Hao dress up and after a simple washing up, they immediately walked out of the lord¡¯s wooden house. It was still early, probably around 5 in the morning. The Guardians¡¯ attack was approximately three hours away. At that moment, Fireblade, dressed in the Bloodthirsty Set,walked over holding the Bloodthirsty Blade in his hand. He declared loudly, ¡°My Lord, a strange cave was found in the forest one kilometer outside the territory, but it is protected by a shield that prevents us from dismantling or attacking it.¡± The map around his territory was engraved in Fang Hao¡¯s mind. These sudden appearance of mysterious caves protected by shields, were most likely where the Guardians would appear. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Fang Hao nodded. The number of enemies in this mission depended on the amount of resources gathered. Fang Hao¡¯s thousands of undead laborers, working tirelessly day and night, had successfully increased the number of enemies to 120,000. Let alone the regional channel, even in the world channel, nobody probably had more than Fang Hao. After reporting, Fireblade returned to his post. Meanwhile, Fang Hao headed to the barracks to increase the number of soldiers. First, he went to the Undead Mage Tower. [Do you want to consume the Wriggling Spine to recruit Undead Mages?] He set the recruitment number to 100 and clicked recruit. [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, successfully recruited 10,100 Undead Mages.] In a blink of an eye! 10,000 proud Undead Mages appeared before Fang Hao. A dense sea of White Bones. Fang Hao continued to craft 10,100 pieces of the [Wooden Root Magic Wand], 10,100 suits of leather armor, and equipped all the Undead Mages. Combining with the mages recruited last time, the territory now had a total of 10,201 Undead Mages. ¡°Pick up the equipment and all ascend the city wall,¡± Fang Hao said loudly. All the Undead Mages silently put on the equipment and directly went up the city wall. Next, Fang Hao continued to recruit infantry. The Skeleton Spearmen and Skeleton Foot Soldiers were expanded to 200,000 each. As for the Skeleton Trolls, because the recruitment process required Troll Stones, he only recruited 5,000. These 50 Troll Stones were exchanged from the channel in the past few days. In an instant, the whole city was crowded. Even the roof of the buildings was covered with skeleton soldiers. This was why Fang Hao recruited early in the morning, instead of last night. Otherwise, arranging so many soldiers late at night would be difficult. ¡°Fireblade!¡± Fang Hao called out loudly. ¡°My Lord.¡± Fireblade made his way through the crowd and came over. ¡°You will be in command of these soldiers. Station them outside the territory.¡± ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± Fireblade led the skeletons away with a wave of his big hand. Once all the skeletons had left the territory, Fang Hao continued to make weapons and armor. He had the skeletons transport them outside using carts so they could equip the soldiers. With the troops and equipment sorted out, Fang Hao proceeded to make defenses. Yesterday, he had traded his iron spears for the blueprint for the defenses. Seeing that a big battle was imminent, he decided to craft them all. [Wooden Barricade: Wood 12, Hemp Rope 8.] The materials were not very expensive and were all basic materials. He set the production quantity to 100. [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, obtained 10,100 Wooden Barricades.] In an instant, a large number of wooden barricades appeared again. [Wooden Barricade] [Category: Obstacle Equipment] (Description: Sharpen the top of the wooden post, fix it crosswise to hinder the movement of enemies and horses.) Fang Hao had seen this type of obstacle in movies. In some films, bandits set up such roadblocks on the roads, hindering passage for anyone who did not pay tolls or blocking cavalry. This was considered a simple and effective tool. He arranged for hands to transport all the wooden barricades outside the city and set them up on the inevitable path of the enemies. ¡°My Lord, everything has been arranged,¡± Fireblade reported again. ¡°There are no problems here either with the Mages,¡± Nelson also came forward. Fang Hao nodded, and continued, ¡°Fireblade, scout around the territory again to see if there are any other caves. If there are, notify me immediately.¡± There was still some time left before the start. ¡°Yes, My Lord, I will go immediately,¡± Fireblade quickly left. Fang Hao also went back into his room and entered God¡¯s Presence state. The next second, he possessed a Skeleton Foot Soldier in Pigmen Village. At this time, Petty was leading the Pig-headed humans and had just returned to the village from outside. ¡°Petty!¡± Fang Hao called out. Petty, who was in the middle of a conversation, paused, and immediately realized that it was Fang Hao. He hurried forward, ¡°Great Lord.¡± ¡°Are there any strange caves or special buildings that suddenly appeared around the village?¡± Fang Hao asked. This had just occurred to him. The compulsory task was clearly targeted at the lords and would not affect their native villages. But since the Pigmen Village had become a subordinate village of Fang Hao, it was unclear whether it might be affected. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m not sure about that. What kind of cave does the Great Lord want to find? I will immediately arrange for someone to start searching.¡± Petty thought that Fang Hao wanted to find a certain cave. It seemed that the people of the Pigmen Village, whether patrolling or working outside, had not noticed anything unusual. ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. If there is any danger, abandon the village and flee towards the main territory,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Oh, oh!¡± Although Petty was still somewhat confused, he nodded in agreement instinctively. The next second, without waiting for Petty to ask in detail, Fang Hao deactivated his possession. The Soul Fire in the pupils of the Skeleton Foot Soldier gradually extinguished. In the territory. Fang Hao walked out of the wooden house again and ascended the city wall on the west side. On the city wall were 10,000 Undead Mages holding Wooden Root Magic Wands. Below the city wall were over 200,000 skeleton soldiers await orders in perfect order. Moving forward, densely connected wooden barricades could be seen. While others used barricades as roadblocks to stop approaching teams or block cavalry, Fang Hao used them as if they were free. Looking down from the city wall, it looked like the Great Wall made of mahjong tiles out of boredom when he was a child. When everything was ready, The system prompt appeared again. [The task officially starts, good luck to you¡­] At the same time. A long-sounding horn suddenly echoed in the sky. Fang Hao sat on his chair, immediately activated God¡¯s Presence, and possessed a Skeleton Giant Bat. He controlled the giant bat to fly into the sky, heading towards the direction of the cave.. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86, Complete Victory_l Chapter 86: Chapter 86, Complete Victory_l Translator. 549690339 | The view from up in the air was more expansive. To Fang Hao¡¯s relief, enemies only appeared from the west, with no signs of enemies from other directions. This allowed him to focus all his attention on the west, while minimally deploying troops for defense in other directions. Fang Hao led the Giant Bat swiftly forward. He finally caught sight of the strange cave mentioned by Fireblade. Rather than a cave, it was more appropriate to call it a giant teleportation gate. At this moment, a large curtain of light formed in the teleportation gate, and a massive number of monsters walked out of it. [Marbled Giant Lizard Guardian (Tier 2)] [Nature Warrior Guardian (Tier 3)] [Nature Archer Guardian (Tier 3)1 [Nature Mage Guardian (Tier 4)]- An enormous crowd trickled out of the curtain of light. They were not made of flesh, but rather were humanoid creatures woven from vines. They held various weapons in their hands, stubbornly advancing towards the territory. Whoosh!! Just then, an arrow was shot at him. Immediately after, countless arrows came shooting towards him. The Skeleton Giant Bat, which Fang Hao was controlling, was turned into a pin cushion of arrows in a moment. Awakening from his seat, Fang Hao glared coldly towards the west. ¡ö¡öMilord, how are things?¡± Nelson asked quietly from the side. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± No sooner had the words left his mouth, A horde of nature guardians emerged from the forest at the end of his line of sight. From a few, they became hundreds and then tens of thousands until his entire view was filled with enemies. There wasn¡¯t much formation or lining up. The next second, all the advancing guardians roared, lifting their weapons and launching their attack. Tens of thousands of forest guardians, like a surging wave, came charging crazily forward, hacking down the barriers before them, clearing all obstacles. For a moment, the entire area outside the territory was filled with the figures of enemies. ¡°So many!¡± Nelson¡¯s face also changed. Even though he already knew the numbers, his heart still filled with some worry when he saw so many enemies with his own eyes. ¡°It¡¯s alright, get ready, they can¡¯t win,¡± Fang Hao said coldly. Nelson took a serious look at Fang Hao, firmly planting his magic wand into the ground, and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Mage corps, prepare for battle. Tens of thousands of undead mages raised their wands, beginning to accumulate magic. Following this, streaks of dark magic orbs flew out, exploding within the attacking guardians. In an instant, a large number of guardians were blasted away, suffering heavy casualties. The enemy¡¯s long-range troops also began to retaliate. The Archer Guardians and Mage Guardians aimed at the city wall, shooting arrows and magic missiles. In a moment, magic and arrows were whisking through the sky above the battlefield. Of course, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t idle either. Identifying an enemy concentration area, he immediately released the Starfire skill carried by the Starfire Wand. The next second, fiery red meteors rained down from the sky above everyone, smashing into the ground. With the earth-shaking impact, all enemies within the range were almost completely annihilated. The magic had a fire attribute, and proved particularly effective against wooden species. The spread of fire killed a large number of enemies. Below the city walls. Melee guardians, having cleared all the roadblocks along the way, finally charged to the foot of the city. The Skeleton Spearmen tightened their formation, their shields forming an unbreakable iron wall. Long spearheads emanating a cold aura emerged from behind this shield wall, pointing directly forward. Facing the sharp spears, the melee guardians showed no fear, relentlessly ramming their way forward. Their weapons hacked on the shield wall, but their bodies had already been pierced by the spears. For a moment, light green blood soaked the ground beneath their feet. Woo!! At this moment, Fang Hao, standing atop the city wall, sounded the War Horn. A faint ripple enveloped all the skeleton soldiers, enhancing their mobility and attack power. At the same time, he executed the Mist Wrap skill. The battlefield below the city walls was instantly shrouded in a thick mist, engulfing the entire battlefield. Mist Wrap was a skill that Fang Hao had recently learned. He hadn¡¯t found a use for it until today, when he realized how useful it really was. The fog covered the entire battlefield, reducing the enemy¡¯s visible range by 75% and their morale by However, his soldiers were unaffected. This greatly increased the advantages of his army. ¡°Advance!¡± shouted Fireblade, the leader below the city. Under the cover of the mist. The spear and shield wall began to resist the enemy¡¯s attack, pushing forward bit by bit. The spears cleared the path ahead, and the enemies who broke into the ranks were slain by the sword and shield soldiers behind them. Like a meat grinder, they were killing enemies far superior to themselves. Boom!! Boom! Boom! Dense magic bullets exploded at the foot of the city wall. After assessing the entire situation, Fang Hao immediately descended the city wall, found a quiet place, and cast God¡¯s Presence. The next second, a ghostly blue Soul Fire rose in the pupils of the Skeleton Giant Bats. There were ten thousand Skeleton Giant Bats, which Fang Hao had arranged in the jungle outside the battlefield before the battle began. Now, he cast God¡¯s Presence and ascended into the sky with 11,too Skeleton Giant Bats. After circling around, they flew to the enemy rear. Diving down, their massive, sharp claws directly struck a mage. Behind them, ten thousand giant bats did the same, diving down and fighting with the mages. Skeleton Giant Bats are simplified versions of Skeleton Bat Wolves, they weren¡¯t as formidable. Otherwise, Fang Hao would¡¯ve preferred to drag them into the air, before tearing them to pieces. Mages have high attack power but their defense isn¡¯t prominent. Against the attack of the Skeleton Giant Bats, they suffered severe casualties quickly. Once the mage defenders were wiped out, the flock of Skeleton Giant Bats immediately changed direction and charged towards the archer defenders who were still attacking the city wall. Below the city wall, the melee troops. The melee defenders launched an even more frenzied charge. The Giant Lizard defenders ran quickly, their bodies slamming fiercely against the shield wall like battering rams, indifferent to the spears piercing their bodies, as long as they could break the shield wall. Fireblade moved forward with the troops. He casually slaughtered two charging Giant Lizards. After a fresh assessment of the battlefield, the Soul Flame in his pupils flickered non-stop. ¡°Kill!¡± Fireblade¡¯s low roar resounded from the formation. The next second. The shields in the first row opened like gates, and a red flame blade light flew out, shattering hundreds of enemies in front. Then, Fireblade, with his long knife, rushed out of the formation to kill the enemies. Behind him, 5000 Skeleton Trolls followed closely. Under Fireblade¡¯s lead, they were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the formation, starting a massacre. The moment the shield wall opened, the entire troop was like a lion that had been lying dormant for years, fiercely pouncing on the enemy. And the spear formation behind was advancing rapidly, cleaning up in their wake. By the time most of the enemies were killed or injured. The battle was nearing its end, these defenders felt no fear, they knew not of retreat. This accelerated the progress of the battle. When Fireblade pierced the last defender with his sword, the battle ended entirely. ¡°Lord, all the enemies have been eliminated.¡± Fang Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Very good, Fireblade, you¡¯ve worked hard. Organize the cleanup of the battlefield, collect all the spoils.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Under Fireblade¡¯s command, all of the skeleton soldiers spread out to collect the spoils of the battlefield.. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 87, Harvesting Resources l Chapter 87: Chapter 87, Harvesting Resources l Translator: 549690339 After the death of the Natural Guardian, its corpse, along with its weaponry and equipment, visibly withered and dispersed at a rapid speed, like a dying plant. There were no remnants of a wriggling spine, nor any weapons or equipment left behind. What dropped instead was a variety of rare materials. Natural Gems, Mithril, Essence of Magic, and so on. The cleanup of the battlefield proceeded swiftly, and all sorts of resources were promptly sorted and presented before Fang Hao. ¡°My lord, all the spoils of war have been collected, please review them.¡± Fang Hao descended the city wall, taking stock of the loot lying before him. [Acquired: Tough Wood 13,552, Mithril 2,424., Trace of the Earth 1,345, Trace of the Forest 5,422, Natural Gem 721, Trace of Divinity 12, Natural Essence 572, Rich Essence 451, Essence of Magic 220, Perfect Essence 32.] These 120,000 enemies, they sure didn¡¯t drop too little. The materials that have always been difficult to gather were acquired in such large quantities all at once. The material resources dropped by the enemy, these scarce resources, are even more valuable than their equipment. They significantly hasten the improvement and development of territorial strength. Just that the drop rate is a bit low. From 120,000 enemies, only these few were dropped. Perfect Essence and Trace of Divinity are only in double digits. The highest amount, 13,000, is for the basic production materials. ¡°Transport all to the warehouse.¡± Fang Hao gave another order. The Skeletons obeyed, hauling all the spoils of war to the warehouse. Just as Fang Hao was about to return to the city and use the resources to upgrade the buildings, sudden turmoil arose on the eastern side of his territory. Thick black smoke billowed up into the sky, snaking into the heavens like a giant black serpent. This thick smoke was a sight Fang Hao had seen during the last compulsory mission. It was Zhang Bin calling for reinforcements, a way to alert nearby lords of his location. It seems that Zhang Bin is once again struggling to fend off his mission adversaries. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and, as expected, saw numerous calls for help. ¡°I can¡¯t hold them off anymore. Can anyone nearby come to my aid? These guardians are too savage.¡± ¡°Damn it! My soldiers are all dead, I¡¯m buying Soul Crystals. Anyone selling, please hurry.¡± ¡°Phew! I managed to complete the mission, although I lost a few soldiers, thankfully my territory remains intact.¡± ¡°Bigshot, can you see the smoke signals I¡¯ve ignited? Could you possibly help me?¡± The number of Natural Guardians was determined by the amount of resources gathered within the lord¡¯s territory over a period of 14 days. The faster the territory develops and the quicker resources are harvested, the more enemies appear in the territory. The number of your enemies, in some sense, corresponds with your comprehensive strength. Even so, many lords simply couldn¡¯t defeat their adversaries and cried for help incessantly in the channel. Among them, one particular call for help via smoke signal was from Zhang Bin. Fang Hao considered for a moment, then decided to visit Zhang Bin¡¯s territory and harvest another batch of rare resources. No, no, he was going to lend a hand to a fellow transmigrator and help him through this difficult situation. ¡°Nelson, I¡¯m leaving Fireblade in your charge, I need to step out for a while,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Very well, my lord.¡± Following Nelson¡¯s response, Skeleton soldiers were immediately deployed to clean up the outskirts of the territory. Destroyed barricades were cleared out while those unscathed were repositioned on the roads surrounding the territory. Once everything was arranged, Fang Hao returned to his room to cast God¡¯s Presence and embody a skeletal soldier. Accompanied by Fireblade and 20,000 skeletal soldiers, he headed towards Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. At Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. The level 2 city wall was still made of raw wood. Zhang Bin and his militia were resisting the attack of the Natural Guardians. Accepting a rock passed to him by a peasant, Zhang Bin heaved it down at the attackers bellow the wall, swearing loudly, ¡°Take this, you bastards! My development has been miserable enough, and you still choose to retaliate!¡± Below the city wall, more than one hundred Natural Guardians were attempting to burst open the city gates and invade the city. The weapon in hand reduced the city gate to a sorry state. It was only a matter of time before it would be breached. Zhang Bin was frustrated in his heart. He wished he had used all his resources to upgrade the city wall if he had known about the compulsory challenge. Right now, the city wall was only at level 2, mainly constructed from raw wood logs. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! Just as Zhang Bin continued to hurl stones at the enemies below the city wall. Several arrows whistled towards him. Thud!! A sound of an arrow penetrating flesh. An arrow had run right through Zhang Bin¡¯s shoulder, and due to inertia, he fell from the city wall in an extremely embarrassing fashion. ¡°My Lord, are you alright?¡± The farmer quickly helped Zhang Bin up, his face full of anxiety. ¡°Ah~ Damn it¡­¡± Zhang Bin roared in pain, clutching his wound tightly with his other hand. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining the ground a dark red. ¡°Forget about me, keep defending.¡± Zhang Bin barked through gritted teeth, the situation was too critical for any distractions. The farmers held the city gates with all their might, while the militia on the city wall were both trying to evade the ranged attacks from the enemies while throwing all kinds of objects down at them. Even so, it wasn¡¯t long before the militia were getting hit by arrows and the city gate was on the verge of collapse. Zhang Bin once again made an appeal in the channel, but his 10 posts had already been used up. All his messages were drowned out by the sea of information. ¡°Sigh, if only those skeletons could come again.¡± At this moment, he remembered the compulsory task from last time. When he and the militia could no longer hold out, a group of skeletons suddenly appeared and killed off the attacking beast horde. If only that skeleton army could appear again and fight these nature guardians. ¡°My Lord, the city gate can¡¯t hold any longer.¡± The farmer shouted loudly. ¡°Prepare for a fight to death.¡± Zhang Bin said as he picked his iron spear with his one good hand. Everyone gathered together, preparing for a last-ditch effort. Fang Hao and Fireblade, leading a large squad, sprang out from the forest. In the distance, Zhang Bin¡¯s territory was still under attack by the nature¡¯s guardians. Facing an attack from nearly a hundred nature guardians, Zhang Bin¡¯s soldiers could only continuously defend, relying on the city wall to execute simple counterattacks. ¡°Fireblade, kill all the nature guardians under the city walls.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± Fireblade nodded and led 10,000 skeleton soldiers in a direct frontal attack. Fireblade took the lead, the Bloodthirsty Blade in his hand acting like the scythe of the Death God, shattering all enemies before him. The Skeleton Sea was even more overwhelming, drowning the enemies. The battle was over at the first encounter. It took two hours to get here, but the battle lasted no more than five minutes. ¡°My Lord, they are all destroyed. There are some humans in the city. Do you want all of them killed?¡± Fireblade stepped forward and asked loudly. On the city wall, the whole body of Zhang Bin and his soldiers shook upon hearing these words. They nearly collapsed. ¡°First, clean up the battlefield. Gather all the dropped resources.¡± Said Fang Hao, glancing at the people on the city walls and giving out orders. The skeletons immediately scattered and began to collect the loot dropped on the ground. Unfortunately, the enemies on Zhang Bin¡¯s territory were too few, and only 42 rare resources were collected. For this, the two-hour journey seemed not worth it. Fang Hao was not satisfied. ¡°Open the gate!¡± Fang Hao said in a low voice. Zhang Bin remained silent, not knowing whether he should open the gate or not. Boom! Fireblade didn¡¯t give Zhang Bin time to think. With a slash of his blade, the city gate split into two and crashed down. Zhang Bin was shocked and quickly snapped out of his stupor. He led the villagers to rush down the city wall and shouted, ¡°Honorable, Honorable Sir, please don¡¯t kill us. We are willing to follow your orders..¡± Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 88, Rejuvenation Spring Well (Seeking recommendation votes.) ! Chapter 88: Chapter 88, Rejuvenation Spring Well (Seeking recommendation votes.) ! Translator: 549690339 Zhang Bin was not a fool, knowing the other party possessed the strength to kill them all. Yet there was a clear difference between the skeletons before him and the nature guardians who had just attacked. These skeletons could communicate, they could negotiate, giving him a chance for negotiation. If he wanted to survive, he had to show an attitude of wilful submission. In other words, this world was too dangerous, and relying on a powerful being might not be a bad thing. Fang Hao strode into the city, glancing at Zhang Bin who was cautiously nearby. He walked straight towards the warehouse. It was not his first time visiting Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, and he was very familiar with the locations of the warehouse and the lord¡¯s wooden house. Upon arriving at the warehouse, he gathered up all the gemstone materials. Then he rummaged through the lord¡¯s wooden house. After finding nothing worth scouring, he went straight out of the other party¡¯s territory and left. Zhang Bin stayed kneeling on the spot, with a group of militiamen watching the skeleton army gradually leave. He was a bit bewildered. What was the meaning of this? Did they just¡­ leave? ¡°Lord, your¡­ your injuries¡­¡± A militia man whispered a reminder. ¡°Ah, right! Damn, my hand.¡± The oppressive force of the Skeleton Army was so immense that the moment the city gate was broken open, he thought he was about to die. The fear of death made his arrow-pierced arm feel less painful. But when he was reminded, Zhang Bin immediately felt a heart-wrenching pain. The villagers immediately help Zhang Bin towards the lord¡¯s wooden house. The others began repairing the city gate. Having left Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, Fang Hao dismissed his disguise. With Fireblade leading, he didn¡¯t need to constantly use God¡¯s Presence to navigate. As he left the room, he saw Eira preparing dinner. After a busy day, and not eating lunch, dinner was served early. ¡°Master, please wait a moment, dinner will be ready soon.¡± Eira whispered from the kitchen. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao walked out to the empty area on the right side of the wooden house. Today, he had obtained a large amount of rare materials, and the buildings that could not be built due to insufficient materials in the past now met the construction conditions. [Rejuvenation Spring Well (Purple)] [Category: Special Building] [Construction Required: Hardened Wood 1000, Stone Bricks 2200, Natural Gem 22, Trace of the Forest 12, Trace of Spring Water 10, Essence of Magic 8.] (Description: Life is nurtured in nature, the spring of life, reminiscent of the taste of mother¡¯s milk.) The Rejuvenation Spring was the reward for the first person in the world to upgrade the lord¡¯s wooden house when Fang Hao first crossed over. Today, all those complicated building materials have finally been gathered. The construction conditions were met. He chose a location closer to the lord¡¯s hall. And began construction. A light purple glow slowly rose, gradually forming the shape of a small pool. Plants began to emerge from the ground, leaves spreading and flowers blooming. Flowers hovered above the pool, condensing dewdrops which fell into the center of the pool. It took a full twenty minutes. The well was finally completed, the whole building looked like a flower garden pool. A green glow rose, emitting a faint vitality, full of beautiful flowers. [Rejuvenation Spring Well] [Effect: Rejuvenation Spring] [Water Production: 1 unit/hour] [Well Water Capacity: 50 units] [Rejuvenation Spring: The blessed spring water of nature, drinking it can heal certain injuries, restore spiritual power, and long-term consumption can enhance physical constitution.] (Description: Life is nurtured in nature, the spring of life, reminiscent of the taste of mother¡¯s milk.) Mother¡¯s milk? This description is beginning to sound more and more like an advertisement for baby formula. And it¡¯s the kind of formula that¡¯s sweetened with saccharin. The phosphorescent pool is so clear, it¡¯s like a mirror reflecting the surroundings. The nearby flowers form dewdrops like pearls, which fall into the pool and create exquisite water splashes. The Rejuvenation Spring in the pool is not the pool water. Rather, it is formed by the dewdrops that have accumulated from the hovering flowers above. The most important part is the healing effect of this Rejuvenation Spring. This spring water is a simplified version of a healing potion. Drinking a cup can treat certain injuries. Fang Hao had a bottle of healing potion in his hand before, but he later gave it to Dong Jiayue for emergency use. Now that his territory has a Rejuvenation Spring, it serves as a form of security for him. Moreover, consuming this regularly can enhance one¡¯s physique. This is truly a great thing. Curing diseases when sick and strengthening the body when healthy, isn¡¯t this better than health supplements? Wow, it¡¯s so beautiful. It would be even better if we raise a couple of fish in this pool,¡± Eira excitedly said after seeing the Rejuvenation Spring. Fang Hao was startled and quickly said, ¡°This is the Rejuvenation Spring. We¡¯ll need it to cure us when we¡¯re sick in the future. We cannot mess around with the water in it.¡± He feared that Eira would put a couple of fish into it the next day. By that time, who could drink the water if it smelled fishy? Oh, right, master. I have prepared the dinner. It¡¯s ready,¡± Eira suddenly remembered what she came to do. To ask Fang Hao to have dinner. ¡°Let¡¯s go. From now on, we¡¯ll drink the water from here. It¡¯s also beneficial to our health,¡± they said as they walked towards the wooden cabin. Is the spring water that amazing?¡± Eira asked somewhat doubtfully. She came from a small Orc village and had never heard of water that could strengthen the body. ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll know in the future.¡± The pair arrived at the dining table and Eira began serving today¡¯s delicacies. Since Fang Hao won big today and obtained a lot of rare resources, today¡¯s dinner was rather sumptuous. Vegetable soup, steamed fish, and ribs. While Fang Hao was enjoying his meal, he once again opened the channel. At this point, most lords had finished their tasks. ¡°Finally, it¡¯s over! God, I almost died. This world is so fucking messed up.¡± ¡°The soldiers I recruited painstakingly died by half, with the remaining all injured. It feels like I¡¯m back to square one.¡± ¡°Stop complaining. At noon, there were calls for help everywhere on the screen. It¡¯s good enough to survive.¡± ¡°Trading special resources for healing items. DM if you have any. Urgent¡­¡± ¡°Stop dreaming. Where can we find healing items now? I¡¯ve already laid down, waiting to die slowly.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyes lit up. Many lords or their soldiers were injured in today¡¯s trial mission. Yet till now, no healing potions had been seen for sale. There were some medicinal herbs, but the healing effects of these herbs were really poor. Wouldn¡¯t his Rejuvenation Spring present a big business opportunity? With this thought in mind, Fang Hao immediately posted his Rejuvenation Spring for sale. [Trader: Fang Hao] [Registered Item: Rejuvenation Spring] [Quantity: 30 units] [Requirement per unit: 30 rare resources] Remark: For special items/blueprints, please PM. Oddly enough, you can take a sip or even a half sip for a normal drink. But for trading, it must be listed based on 1 unit as the basis. It can¡¯t be sold by the sip or by the cup. The trading requirement is also very clear. This time, everyone got a certain number of rare resources. Even Zhang Bin¡¯s territory had 40 units of resources for sale. He didn¡¯t want any other resources but the rare ones held by others. Though 30 units is not a small amount, the majority of the lords can afford it. Besides, those who need it are the seriously injured ones.. When life itself is hanging by a thread, would you still care about the cost? Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 89, Building Houses_l Chapter 89: Chapter 89, Building Houses_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao checked the listing information once again and sent out the trade details. In the regional channel, the chatter instantly decreased. The listed Rejuvenation Springs were quickly being bought off. Within less than two minutes, all 30 units of Rejuvenation Springs were sold. Then the regional channel began to buzz again. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s badass, he has healing items already?¡± ¡°30 units of rare resources, this is outright robbery, after all the hard work today, it¡¯s all gone to him.¡± ¡°Damn! If you think it¡¯s expensive, sell yours to me. I¡¯ll give you 30 units of resources, everyone buying is injured, almost on the brink of death, who would care about the price.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? What healing item, what resources, what is Lord Fang Hao selling now?¡± ¡°Stop looking. It¡¯s a kind of spring water for healing, but it¡¯s already sold out. I just private messaged Lord Fang Hao, the supply of this spring water is limited, he can only sell about 30 units a day.¡± ¡°Which spring water, where did you get this spring water?¡± This time¡¯s mandatory task. Almost every Lord had suffered some degree of injury. Everyone was well aware that in this world, struggling to survive every second, an injury could indicate a catastrophe. Though the injury wouldn¡¯t worsen, it would certainly slow down their activities. The spring water, capable of restoring health, played an irreplaceable role. Nevertheless, the Rejuvenation Spring Well could only produce so much water, he couldn¡¯t afford to sell all at once in case he and Eira faced special situations. Therefore, when facing those who wanted to trade privately, he could only tell them. The quantity is limited, you¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow if you want to purchase. Most of them were disappointed, cursing themselves for being slow and not being able to acquire the spring water. After dinner, it was still early. Eira was washing the dishes and Fang Hao went straight to the tailor shop. From afar, he could see the skeleton tailors busily at work. Seeing Fang Hao approach, the tailor Soye greeted him, ¡°Good evening, my Lord.¡± ¡°Good evening, when will the batch of clothes we talked about yesterday be finished?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°My Lord, we¡¯re rushing for it, it¡¯s estimated to take another two days,¡± Soye replied. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t in a hurry, he just asked casually as he was here. ¡°Alright, I plan to build some houses for you for rest and work, what are your thoughts on this?¡± Fang Hao voiced his intentions. These skull tailors were somewhat different from ordinary skeleton soldiers. Skeleton soldiers only mechanically execute tasks, they don¡¯t have independent thinking. Although these tailors were recruited, they clearly had their own independent thinking. They couldn¡¯t be treated as ordinary skeletons, and needed to provide some places for rest and work. Having over a hundred people weaving under the open sun wasn¡¯t the ideal scenario. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, my Lord. It would be best if you could create a place for us to work and rest,¡± Soye spoke frankly. The current environment indeed needed some improvement. ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao took out the Book of Lords and switched to the construction page. He had received the blueprints for civilian houses yesterday, which could be used to build houses for the skeleton tailors. After discussing with Soye. They decided to build 30 houses and a large factory. ¡°(Level 1 House: Wood 300, Stone 180, Thatch 120, Hemp Rope 80.] (Description: It can be used to build ordinary civilian houses, with no special features.) Having completed the building, he upgraded all the houses to Level 4. Houses were transformed from ordinary log cabins into two-story wooden buildings. They also changed from providing shelter to two people to housing four. However, it exceeded the number of log cabins needed by the skeleton tailors. But that doesn¡¯t matter, the territory is vast, and everyone can live more comfortably. ¡°[Soye of the Undead Clan¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 5 points, current loyalty 85-] ¡°[Har, the Tailor of the Undead Clan¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 5 points, current loyalty 75.] ¡°[Undead Tailor¡­] Having the houses built, the loyalty of the tailors all increased. Soye as the captain, inherently had higher loyalty, now reaching 85 points. The loyalty of other skeleton tailors also reached 75. Loyalty is the bond between a Lord and his troops. The higher the loyalty, the faster they work, and the less likely they are to rebel. If their loyalty is low, not only will the troops be demotivated and slack-off, in severe cases, they might desert or even act against you. By then, it won¡¯t be a problem of work efficiency, but a matter of life and death. Thinking about how Fang Hao became a lord, one can understand the severity. ¡°Soye¡­.¡± Fang Hao called out. Soye was distributing houses to the skeleton tailors. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s call, he ran over immediately. ¡°My lord, what are your orders?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the blueprint for the factory right now, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to build one for you, it might take a few days,¡± Fang Hao said softly. Without blueprint, if you want to build something, you need to do it manually. Many lords don¡¯t have the blueprint for city walls, so they let the peasants build simple log walls. This type of construction has no difference from the blueprint ones. However, blueprint constructions can be completed in minutes and can be upgraded. But manual constructions can take several days, or even months, and cannot be upgraded. ¡°Thank you, my lord, we can wait, we are not in a hurry,¡± Soye replied with a respectful attitude. The undead are the least afraid of waiting. They have plenty of time to waste. ¡°Good.¡± After discussing the factory¡¯s requirements with Soye, Fang Hao arranged for the labor skeleton to build the factory next to the tailor shop. Although the two had mentioned it as a factory, it was actually a sizable warehouse. It was capable of providing shelter from the wind and rain and wasn¡¯t a difficult construction. If it were complex, they might not be able to design it or the labor skeleton wouldn¡¯t be able to build it. Seeing the start of the construction of the factory, Fang Hao gave a few instructions and then returned to the front of the Lord¡¯s wooden house. He sat down on the bench and opened the Book of Lords again. There were new blueprints, including the bedside cabinet blueprint, wool carpet blueprint, beast skin backpack blueprint, and sturdy fishing rod blueprint. The first two didn¡¯t need to be made. They weren¡¯t lacking them and they weren¡¯t of much value. The fishing rod was also temporarily unnecessary as the pressing time didn¡¯t allow him to waste it fishing. In contrast, the beast skin backpack was useful to him. In this world, they didn¡¯t have system spaces, or space rings or spacial gadgets, to store items. Every time he went out, he would bring a wooden cart, he also had a simple homemade backpack. It was made of beast skin and hemp rope. Now he could use the Book of Lords to make a professional beast skin backpack. ¡°[Beast Skin Backpack: Leather 5, Spun Thread 2.]¡± (Description: A finely crafted backpack, which can carry more items and reduce the load of the user..) Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 91, Blood Hunterl Chapter 91: Chapter 91, Blood Hunterl Translator: 549690339 Deep in the night! The territory is still brightly lit. The collected Nightstones had been turned into street lamps, set up on both sides of the street, and in important places like the tailor shop, and the Viscera Museum. The bright Nightstones shrouded this burgeoning city in a faint glow. The lord¡¯s wooden house. Fang Hao was sound asleep. Bang!! Suddenly, a deep bell sound reverberated through the entire territory. Fang Hao jolted awake, his heart pounding. Bang! The bell rang again. The copper bell in the territory had been struck. Fang Hao rolled out of bed, not bothering to dress properly. He hastily put on his armor, grabbed the Starfire Wand from the weapon rack next to his bed, and left the room. When the territory¡¯s bell was rung, it meant there were enemies. Just after leaving the lord¡¯s wooden house. He saw a figure flying above the territory, massive bat wings spread wide, obscuring the bright moon in the sky. ¡°Batman?¡± Fang Hao subconsciously uttered. He almost thought he had time traveled again, but Nelson walked towards him, confirming he was still within the territory. However, the figure¡¯s appearance highly resembled Batman¡¯s entrance. ¡°Sir, this should be a vampire from the Eternal Night Clan.¡± Nelson approached. Vampire? Fang Hao immediately thought of Shadowwind Castle. In Shadowwind Castle, he had gotten a lot of information about vampires. He also understood that the Eternal Night Clan represented vampires. Could this vampire be linked to Shadowwind Castle? As Fang Hao thought, he checked the properties of the stranger. [Blood Hunter-Giovanni Hamilton (Blue-tier Level Five)] A blue-tier Level Five hero. No wonder, he dared to invade the territory on his own. At this moment, the undead mages in the territory and the mage towers were already engaged in battle with him. Magic missiles filled the sky, with black lightning from the defense towers. The scene was incredibly shocking. The Blood Hunter, Giovanni, relying on his flexible flying ability, was exchanging blows evenly with the defense of the territory. ¡°Seems like he¡¯s more of a tough nut to crack,¡± Fang Hao commented quietly. To prepare for the forced mission, Fang Hao had recruited ten thousands of undead mages. With such a number of mages attacking at the same time, the density of the magic missiles was like a giant net flying towards the vampire. However, the intruder, relying on his flying ability and high mobility, could always evade with ease. Then, he would look for the opportunity to counterattack. The undead mage team had difficulty dealing with the vampire, and neither could the vampire harm the undead mages and magic towers on the ground. Plus, there was a skeleton hero wielding a long blade and a swarm of skeleton melee soldiers on the ground. The vampire didn¡¯t dare to descend and engage in close combat. Both parties continued to exchange blows, neither able to get the upper hand. After dodging a scorching blade light in the sky, Giovanni¡¯s peripheral vision caught sight of two figures in the territory, engaged in conversation. A human and a seemingly hunched over skeleton. Standing in front of the main hall signifying the pair had special identities, they might even be the administrators of this city. Killing these low-grade, vast number of skeletons was pointless. It would be better to directly kill the leaders, then use his flight advantage to escape. With this thought in mind, after dodging some magic. Giovanni retracted his bat wings, dove from the sky, and attacked the location where the two were standing. Seeing the vampire rushing towards him, Fang Hao felt a tinge of anxiety inside his heart. Fang Hao raised his magic wand, ready to summon his guardian spirits to protect him. At this moment, Nelson reached out to stop Fang Hao, saying, ¡°Master, it s better for you to stand aside and observe the battle.¡± With that said, the magic wand in his hand was struck heavily on the ground. Bang! The next moment, Nelson¡¯s whole body underwent a sudden change in momentum. Fang Hao, who had some foundation in magic, could perceive that Nelson¡¯s hunched body had exploded with terrifying fluctuation in magic power. The magic elements in the surrounding space were converging rapidly towards his body. The ground beneath him began to transform, the leveled surface was boiling and roaring like boiling water. Nelson¡¯s bony finger pointed towards the approaching vampire. Suddenly, the ground rose like a tsunami, surging towards the sky. When Blood Hunter Giovanni, who was rushing over, saw the earth rushing towards him like a tidal wave, his face instantly changed. He opened his bat wings again and tried to slow down and turn to escape. But it was already too late. The soil had wrapped around his ankles and was rapidly spreading across his entire body. Like a spider wrapping up its prey in a cocoon, his entire body was wrapped up. This was Nelson¡¯s skill ¨C Heavy Burial. Bang!! The soil clod fell down and landed in front of Fang Hao and Nelson. The soil at the top slithered to both sides, revealing a pale human face. When Giovanni saw Fang Hao and Nelson, his face instantly turned extremely ugly. He never expected that such a powerful undead hero would be living in this undead territory. Two blood-red eyes surveyed the surroundings. Looking at the humans suspiciously, and also looking at the undead Corpse Witch. When did humans start mixing with the undead? Why would such a powerful Corpse Witch that could kill him in a second appear in this small city? All of this was contrary to logic. At the same time, he regretted even more why he came alone. But now, it was already too late for any words, he could only think of a way to intimidate the other party. ¡°No matter who you are, undead or human, I am Giovanni Hamilton, a pure-blooded noble of Hamilton Clan. Release me immediately if you don¡¯t want to die!¡± Giovanni shouted as he ineffectively tried to break free. Fang Hao was slightly startled, giving Nelson a puzzled look. Listening to the other party¡¯s tone, and the fact that he exposed his clan, seemed like his background was not ordinary. Unfortunately, his opponent was Fang Hao, a new lord to this place, who would neither know about nor care about any family or even a king. ¡°Stop talking nonsense, I don¡¯t care what family you¡¯re from or how pure you are, why did you forcibly invade my territory?¡± Fang Hao said loudly. Whether one¡¯s lineage is pure or not, it doesn t matter. Where he came from, the only time it mattered was during breeding. So that notion would not work here. Giovanni snorted coldly, gave Fang Hao a sidelong glance and said, ¡°Kid, mind your status, you don¡¯t have the right to question me.¡± He was very clear. The powerful existence in this territory was the Corpse Witch standing next to him, not this frail human in front of him. He assumed that this human was merely a vassal or a servant of the undead. Fang Hao frowned, ¡°Nelson, teach him a lesson. ¡°Yes, master.¡± After Nelson answered, once again, a surge of magic power emanated from his body. The next second, the soil wrapped around Giovanni began to tighten bit by bit, putting out cracking sounds as bones were forcibly broken. ¡°Ah! Have you gone mad, you undead, why are you listening to the orders of a human?¡± Giovanni screamed in pain, while shooting an angry look at the Corpse Witch. Compared to undead and humans, vampires were closer to the undead in nature. He couldn¡¯t understand why a potent Corpse Witch would take orders from a weak human. ¡°I¡¯m asking you one last time, why did you attack my territory?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed, his voice was gloomy. Giovanni suddenly felt a chill down his spine and a wave of fear arose in his heart. He was sure if he continued his defiance, the opponent would silence him permanently, even if he had revealed his family background. ¡°Hey! Stop acting dumb, did you or didn¡¯t you take the things from my castle? How can you guys be so shameless? You stole my things and even stripped the castle.¡± Giovanni became increasingly furious as he spoke, unconsciously raising his voice.. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 92, Revival—1 Chapter 92: Chapter 92, Revival¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 Saying this, Giovanni¡¯s anger flared up again. Vampires have a long life. Giovanni, who shares Hamilton¡¯s lineage, has caused a lot of trouble due to his rebellious nature. His greed for blood, looting, and stealing, has earned Giovanni a bad reputation amongst all clans. Anything that Neville is interested in, be it an object or a life. He will find a way to acquire it. That¡¯s where the Blood Hunter came from. Vampire life is extravagant, and Shadowwind Castle is one of Giovanni¡¯s mansions. Many objects inside, whether part of the architecture or otherwise, were accumulated over many years. And the location of Shadowwind Castle was carefully selected by him. The forces that were pursuing him would have difficulty finding this place, not interfering with his regular life. But who could have expected¡­ He was just gone for a while. When he returned, not only were the items in the castle gone, even the castle itself was stripped bare. Who could endure such a thing? When he discovered Fang Hao¡¯s territory, and that it was populated by low-level undead, his anger initiated an attack. He wanted to rip apart everyone here, whether humans or undead. But he didn¡¯t expect there to be a powerful undead hero present within the territory. They defeated him in an instant. Fang Hao looked at the furious Giovanni with an unchanging expression, but felt somewhat awkward. He thought Shadowwind Castle was just a deserted dungeon, and the dust inside the castle showed that nobody had lived there for a long time. Fang initially thought that no one had lived there for such a long time, and probably nobody would be coming back soon. By the time the castle¡¯s owner returned in a few years, his own territory would have developed, and he wouldn¡¯t be afraid of the owner. But just a few days later, the owner already showed up at his doorstep. And he left nothing of the castle for the owner, not even a strand of hair. Fang Hao fell into silence, while Giovanni, feeling more confident, shouted, ¡°Release me at once, and compensate for all my losses, or brace yourself for the wrath of the Hamilton family!¡± Giovanni was very confident in his family. The Hamilton family could easily destroy this small city in front of them. Once released, Giovanni would find a way to capture this man and make him his blood slave. Each day he would drain his blood and torment him bit by bit. Hearing Giovanni¡¯s threat, Fang Hao shook his head with a bitter smile. Not to mention that the items he had scavenged from inside the castle were already almost sold. He had no means to compensate for the losses. Even if he did, he would not compensate. The rule which this world adheres to isn¡¯t about reasoning. The only rule here, might is right, every reasoning is built on the power to intimidate the other party. Given Giovanni¡¯s nature, had he found Fang¡¯s territory first, he would not only have plundered the land, but Fang wouldn¡¯t have survived either. Fang was also grateful that he obtained a golden hero like Nelson. ¡°Are there more of your kind nearby?¡± Fang Hao leaned in, asking in a low voice. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Giovanni felt a tightening in his heart, sensing that something wasn¡¯t right. He quickly changed his tone and said, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash, we can resolve this peacefully. It¡¯s just a castle! I won¡¯t pursue this matter anymore. Consider those items as gifts to a friend.¡± Giovanni was not stupid, he naturally noticed Fang¡¯s intentions. He backed down immediately to try and ease the tension between them. Fang Hao was not stupid either, he wasn¡¯t going to believe Giovanni¡¯s words. Release Giovanni so he can go gather his family¡¯s power? Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Fang would sooner believe that he could grow another 5 centimeters than he¡¯d believe Giovanni would swallow his pride. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it shouldn¡¯t be too quick and painful. Welcome to the undead camp,¡± Fang Hao extended a warm smile once again. ¡°Have you gone mad? Your small city can¡¯t withstand the wrath of my family. I advise you not to do anything stupid.¡± Fear was now evident on Giovanni¡¯s face. Vampires have long lives. They can enjoy life over countless years. All of them, when faced with death, exhibit even greater fear. Fang Hao didn¡¯t say anything. Nelson slightly waved his hand, and the soil wriggled, covering Giovanni¡¯s nose and mouth once more. ¡°I leave it to you,¡± Fang Hao said in a low voice. Nelson nodded slightly and continued, ¡°A pure Blood Clan member, might yield some unexpected gains.¡± With a gentle wave of his hand, two skeleton soldiers came over. They hoisted Giovanni, bound by the soil, and carried him into the Viscera Museum. Converting Fireblade into an undead hero last time consumed five days of Nelson¡¯s time. This time, who knows how many days it would take to transform Giovanni into a skeleton hero. Nelson left, and Fang Hao, yawning, returned to his lord¡¯s cottage to rest. The next morning. Fang Hao woke up from his dream. He rubbed his eyes and walked downstairs. Just as he reached the staircase, he collided with Eira, who was coming up the stairs. Eira¡¯s body lost balance momentarily, and she clung tightly to Fang Hao. The intimate contact allowed him to feel the softness of Eira¡¯s body. ¡°Master, Sir Nelson is waiting for you at the door,¡± Eira quickly said, stabilizing herself. ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao replied, heading downstairs. As soon as he walked out of the door, he saw Nelson sitting on a bench, with a Viscera jar giving off a faint blue glow next to him. ¡°Good morning, Nelson,¡± Fang Hao greeted with a smile as he walked over. Upon seeing Fang Hao, Nelson stood up and said, ¡°Good morning, my lord.¡± Nelson held a special status in the territory, not just as the first hero under Fang Hao¡¯s command. His knowledge and abilities were extremely powerful. Especially his ability to transform enemy heroes into skeleton heroes affiliated with him. This was nothing short of a divine skill. ¡°Did you need something?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, my lord, please look at this,¡± Nelson handed over the Viscera jar in his hand. Fang Hao had encountered Viscera jars before. He had bought one from the skeleton merchant. Even though he knew they were used to hold human organs, he had never used one before and didn¡¯t know how to use it. But the Viscera jar before him was different. The one he had bought was empty, but this Viscera jar was already in use. [Viscera Jar] [Category: Container] [Ability: Revival] [Revival]: A Viscera jar with the Revival feature, refills the life value of combat personnel. (Description: You can place the Viscera jar with special abilities in the Viscera Museum, giving troops special abilities.) ¡°This,¡­¡± Looking at the attributes of the Viscera jar, Fang Hao furrowed his brow. The two Viscera jars in the warehouse were both empty. How come he now held a heavy one in his hand that also possessed attributes? Could it be one of his own? -Lord, the Viscera jar contains the organs of the vampire we captured. It has now gained special abilities,¡± Nelson explained softly. Fang Hao felt a jolt in his heart. Could it be that the corpses of heroes could be preserved in Viscera jars? Thinking about it, it didn¡¯t seem right. Fireblade, as the first one to be converted into a skeleton hero, didn¡¯t have his organs preserved as such. Fang Hao couldn¡¯t figure it out and decided to ask directly, ¡°What are the requirements for preserving organs in a jar? Or is there some kind of rule?¡± Nelson just made a gesture of ¡°please¡±, ¡°My lord, please. I will explain it to you on the way..¡± Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 93, Trading Suspension_l Chapter 93: Chapter 93, Trading Suspension_l Translator: 549690339 The two of them walked side by side towards the Viscera Museum. Along the way, Nelson provided some answers. ¡°My lord, the Viscera jar is a magnificent invention of the Undead Clan. It uses curses to seal away powerful forces and bestow this strength onto the soldiers,¡± he said. Fang Hao nodded his head in half-understanding. He asked again, ¡°Does this sealing process have any requirements? What I mean is, can a Viscera jar be used after anyone dies?¡± This point piqued Fang Hao¡¯s curiosity. A Viscera jar was a tool that could tap into limitless potential. It was like a skill card in a game, bestowing unique effects when paired with different soldiers. It could bring about various changes to ordinary soldiers. Fang Hao recognized the significance of these jars and treated them very seriously. ¡°Not exactly. Only those possessing ancient bloodlines or special talents can be sealed,¡± Nelson continued to explain. This reminded Fang Hao of Giovanni from last night. The man had continuously boasted about his family and lineage. It seemed that his family indeed possessed a special bloodline. The pair chatted as they arrived at the Viscera Museum. Upon entering the hall, they immediately felt a chilling sensation that caused an involuntary shiver. Various microstructures were displayed in the Viscera Museum. There were Burial Grounds, Underground Cemeteries, Halls of the Dead, Mage Towers of the Undead, and Magic Defense Towers. All of these structures belonged to the Undead faction, excluding any special buildings. In front of each structure was a circular indentation, the same size as a Viscera jar. Nelson continued, ¡°My lord, by placing a Viscera jar in the corresponding area, the power of the jar will be bestowed on the soldiers.¡± With that, he handed the Viscera jar back to Fang Hao. After considering for a moment, Fang Hao placed the Viscera jar of Revival in the indentation of the Burial Grounds. Clank! As if triggering a mechanism, the Viscera jar sank into the indentation, leaving only the skeletal lid visible. A faint glow spread instantly, and the attributes of the Burial Ground soldiers also changed. Skeleton Soldier (Tier 1) Faction: Undead Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerable to Light Skill: Shield Bash Enhanced Skill: Revival Innate Abilities: Basic Combat Mastery, Basic Sword Mastery, Basic Shield Mastery Note: Skeleton soldiers wielding weapons raise their jagged bone arms. They have only basic combat ability, but their fragility makes them unable to withstand sustained attacks. The Burial Grounds served as the barracks for the Undead faction. Although it could currently only recruit Tier 1 soldiers, it was the building best suited for the Revival skill. Revival could allow soldiers to recover their health continuously during battle. Compared to cavalry and mages, infantry on the frontline needed this skill more. ¡°Okay, the power of the Viscera jar has been bestowed upon the soldiers, and I must now continue with my work. I¡¯ll remain here for the next few days,¡± continued Nelson. A skeleton hero took time to create. The previous Fireblade had taken five days, and this one was unlikely to be done any faster. ¡°Your efforts are appreciated, Sir.¡± ¡°It is my duty, my Lord.¡± Upon leaving the Viscera Museum, Eira had prepared breakfast. Just as Fang Hao was enjoying his food, the pig-headed human with a carriage entered the city. According to the plan, today was the day to deliver goods to The Bronze Bull at the Manim Market. The pig-headed human, together with a caravan and 120 helpers, had set off early to reach Lord Fang¡¯s territory. ¡°Greetings, Lord Fang,¡± Bolton saluted along with everyone else. ¡°Yes, why don¡¯t you all take a seat and I¡¯ll have someone prepare the goods,¡± Fang Hao said. Having said that, he dispatched a skeleton soldier to lead the carriage directly to the warehouse. The pig-headed human stayed behind to wait. Bolton was no stranger to this place, but for most of the other pig-headed humans, it was their first time here. Facing an army of skeleton soldiers, they sat in their chairs, uncontrollably shaking their legs. From a great distance from the city, skeleton soldiers were already patrolling. The closer one got to the city, the more skeleton soldiers there were. Layer upon layer, it had now reached a terrifying level. At this time, Eira brought over some fruits. Bolton got up again, his attitude still respectful, ¡°Miss Eira.¡± ¡°Hmm, good morning, Bolton.¡± Eira also greeted cheerfully. They had seen each other a few times and were somewhat familiar with each other. She placed the fruits in front of the pig-headed human, then continued back to the wooden house to clean the room. Outside the warehouse. 30 carts are parked next to the warehouse. 20 of them were brought by the pig-headed humans, 10 were bred in the territory¡¯s stables. Of course, the warehouse didn¡¯t have much equipment, he just wanted to avoid so many people and use the Book of Lords to create. He opened the Book of Lords and turned to the production page. [Plate Armor: Leather 12, Iron 6, Iron Plate 4.] [Arm Guards: Leather 5, Iron 3, Iron Plate 2.] The quantity of these two types was adjusted to 30. [Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, Obtained Plate Armor 3030.] [Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, Obtained Arm Guards 3030.] Clang, Clang! One piece of equipment after another appeared, completely stacking up the surrounding open space. The plate armor rolled and collided, making a crashing sound. ¡°Load the carts.¡± Fang Hao commanded. The accompanying skeletons took action, loading the plate armor and arm guards on the carts. After loading everything onto the carts, he led the convoy out. Bolton and the others were still sitting and waiting. Seeing Fang Hao come out, they immediately stepped forward. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± The pig-headed humans took over the position of the cart driver. After putting the rejuvenation springs produced overnight on the carts. The convoy drove out of the territory in a grand manner, heading towards Manim Market. This time, Fang Hao brought 30,000 skeleton soldiers and 120 pig-headed humans. Eira and Fireblade of the territory stayed to guard the house and did not leave with him. After several hours of travel, Manim Market could be seen from a distance. All the skeleton soldiers were stationed in the distance, and he continued to move forward with the pig-headed humans. After the previous few visits, The Taurens had become familiar with Fang Hao, they simply inspected the goods and let him pass directly. He came to the Chieftain¡¯s Hall and handed all the goods to the Taurens. ¡°Chieftain Talok, it¡¯s been a few days since we last met.¡± Fang Hao smiled and greeted. Bronze Bull Talok also laughed and said: ¡°Indeed, it has been several days, Fang Hao!¡± A pair of bull¡¯s eyes once again carefully looked at Fang Hao. Just a few days, and 6,000 pieces of equipment were delivered? This is simply unbelievable, even somewhat incomprehensible. The two chatted casually. Not long after, a Tauren guard walked in, whispered a few words in Bronze Bull¡¯s ear, and the guard retreated again. ¡°Ha ha, friend Fang Hao, I am very satisfied with this trade, please wait a moment, my people are bringing your reward.¡± The Bronze Bull said in a booming voice. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m glad Chief Talok is satisfied, I still look forward to our future cooperation.¡± Fang Hao continued. His two trades with Bronze Bull have made great use of Fang Hao¡¯s abilities. With the help of the Hundred-fold Amplification, he easily earns Warfire Coins. Therefore, he hopes to continue working with Bronze Bull to earn more Warfire Coins. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Bronze Bull¡¯s face became serious. He said in a deep voice: ¡°Friend Fang Hao, perhaps our cooperation will have to be suspended for a while.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Fang Hao frowned. Bronze Bull thought for a moment, then decided to reveal some information. ¡°You come from the west, have you seen an undead city there?¡± Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Purchasing Slaves_l Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Purchasing Slaves_l Translator: 549690339 The orc slave trader pulled down the rag covering the iron cage. Baring the rust-streaked, oily iron cage, and the rabbit people in it. These rabbit people were all females, their ragged clothes barely covering their vital areas. Huddled in corners, their bodies were shivering uncomfortably. The orc slave trader boasted, ¡°My friend, these rabbits are all young and healthy and are great choices for both labor and as pets. Where else can you find obedient slaves like these? What do you think?¡± What a human would do with the rabbit girls was the best known to the slave trader. If they truly wanted slaves for labor, they wouldn¡¯t normally pick these weak rabbits. Fang Hao said nothing, but circled around the cage. Looking at the numb, beaten rabbits, he asked: ¡°Are you sure these are healthy?¡± The slaves before his eyes didn¡¯t look healthy, and they were not as lively as Eira. The slave trader heard this. He picked up his stick, banged it hard on the cage bars, and shouted threats, ¡°Put some energy into it, or I¡¯ll bury you all tonight if you don¡¯t sell.¡± The ear-piercing noise from the iron cage caused the curled bodies within to stir slightly. ¡°Friend, you know, in order to keep them obedient I cannot feed them too much. They are just hungry, certainly not sick.¡± The slave trader continued to explain. In order to keep the slaves lethargic. They would control the food supply, leaving their slaves in a state of not starving but too weak to run. ¡°My friend, these slaves are young and obedient, and when you don¡¯t need them anymore, you can sell them at a good price. You really won¡¯t make a loss, plus¡­¡± The slave trader kept selling relentlessly on the side. These slaves were originally scheduled to be transported to the human city for sale, hoping for a good price. However, news of a possible war in the eastern tribes made them change plans. They had to sell these slaves as soon as possible. During their stay in Manim Market, he met the human who had bought the rabbit person before. He set his sights on Fang Hao. No matter what, he had to make the current human buyer purchase this batch of slaves, or he would be making a loss. ¡°My friend, what do you think? Would you like to buy these rabbit girls?¡± The orc slave trader, with a parched mouth, asked again after licking his dry lips. Fang Hao looked at the rabbit girls in the cage, then at the slave trader. He hesitated then asked, ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡± ¡°Heh, the old price, sixty Warfire Coins per person.¡± The slave trader answered with a smirk. When selling Eira, he had taken sixty short swords in exchange. So, he now quoted the same price. He still believed that Fang Hao would accept it since they had a previous transaction. However, Fang Hao shook his head slightly. ¡°One slave for sixty Warfire Coins. If you¡¯re sticking with this price, you can keep them.¡± Iron swords and Warfire Coins were not the same thing. As far as Fang Hao was concerned, sixty iron swords were merely a day¡¯s consumption, but Warfire Coins were irreplaceable. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s objection, the slave trader was slightly taken aback. They had traded at this price before, why the sudden change? ¡°As you can see, we have always traded at this price; these slaves are definitely worth it.¡± The slave trader continued. Fang Hao was unmoved and countered, ¡°Fixed price, ten Warfire Coins per person, four hundred total for the forty-two people. Take it or leave it, but let¡¯s not waste each other¡¯s time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible, we would not make any profit.¡± The slave trader said loudly. The value of slaves is not often high. Especially the feeble, thin, and hairless breed of rabbit people, they were hardly fit enough to be orcs. They wouldn¡¯t appeal to orcs. Only by transporting them to human cities could they get a higher price. Yet Fang Hao¡¯s attitude¡­ Gave them the impression of indifference, as if he could buy or not buy their wares. This left the slave trader indecisive. He had to clear this stock, but the price seemed unbearably low. Just as the slave trader hesitated and pondered over more pleas, Fang Hao turned and began to walk away. Which gave the slave trader a jolt, he hastily replied, ¡°Sold, my friend, I¡¯ll sell.¡± Upon hearing the slave trader say he would sell, only then did Fang Hao halt his steps. ¡°Bolton, give him the money.¡± Bolton took 4.00 Warfire Coins from his bag and handed them over. The slave trader took the coins and handed Fang Hao the slave contracts, forty-two in total. From this moment on, these rabbit girls were under Fang Hao¡¯s ownership. ¡°Alright, get your spirits up. This human is your new master.¡± The slave trader boomed, herding every single slave out of the cage and in front of Fang Hao. This was a crucial step. Letting the buyer see that their purchased slave was not impaired. The rabbit girls stood in a line. As the slave trader promised, these chosen rabbit girls were young, and their figures catered to human tastes. With their lowered heads and drooping ears, they looked spiritless. Wearing only shabby clothes, they barely concealed their ample chests and perky behinds. A simple movement exposes a great deal of skin. Luckily, orcs had different beauty standards, otherwise, these rabbit women would likely not be in this place. ¡°Take them to the cart and prepare food for them.¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Bolton immediately arranged for people to escort the freshly purchased slaves to where the carriage was parked. Having dealt with the slaves. The orc slave trader was still counting the Warfire Coins on the side. ¡°In future, if there are such Orcs available, regardless of gender, they can be sold to me. It¡¯s the same rate or payable in iron swords.¡± Fang Hao said quietly. The slave trader, who was counting Warfire Coins, was slightly surprised. He confirmed with suspicious eyes, ¡°You also want male rabbit people?¡± He thought, this human is really a deviant. ¡°Yes, not only the Rabbitmen Clan, but I¡¯m also interested in other Orc clans that are similar to humans, those who are easy to manage. I have a large territory that needs to be developed. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Fang Hao lightly slapped his shoulder. ¡°Oh, I understand, I understand.¡± The slave trader replied subconsciously, not knowing if he truly understood. Immediately after, he added, ¡°Recently, the situation in this region has been a bit chaotic, so the matter of the slaves might be delayed for some time.¡± ¡°Hmm, when you deliver the slaves, I will pay you then.¡± Fang Hao was not in a hurry either. ¡°Alright, in that case, I will give you a gift as a token of our long-term collaboration.¡± The slave trader pulled out a shell from his robe and handed it to Fang Hao. Fang Hao held it and inquired curiously, ¡°What is this, a seashell?¡± ¡°My friend, this is a sound-transmitting shell, a simple and practical tool for sending messages.¡± The orc slave trader explained. [Sound-transmitting Shell (Son)] (Description: Can be used to receive messages from the mother shell.) Sound-transmitting shells come in pairs, a mother shell and a son shell. Speak into the mother shell, and sound can be heard from the son shell. In other words, the gift the orc was giving Fang Hao was only for his own convenience when he has merchandise, it was otherwise useless. The orc was quite shrewd; he knew how to do business. Fang Hao stored the shell, chatted with the orc for a bit more, and then turned to leave.. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 96, Fighting Tooth Girl (Please recommend.)_l Chapter 96: Chapter 96, Fighting Tooth Girl (Please recommend.)_l Translator: 549690339 After bidding farewell to the slave trader, Fang Hao went straight to the tavern. He pushed open the door of the tavern. Inside the tavern, it was still bustling as usual. Beastmen of various races were drinking and chatting, shouting loudly. Fang Hao was no stranger here and the tavern owner knew him well. ¡°What¡¯ll you be having?¡± the Tauren owner asked. Fang Hao came to the tavern to replenish some spices for his territory and to see if there were any new single-page maps available. ¡°Honey wine, please. And prepare the same spices as last time for me,¡± Fang Hao said softly as he sat at the counter. ¡°Alright, wait a moment!¡± The owner wiped his hands with a cloth and began preparing what Fang Hao needed. Fang Hao turned his gaze to the posting board next to him. It usually had some information on it, like bounties from various tribes, or maps brought by merchants. The map of the mine and the monster outpost Fang Hao got last time were obtained from here. There was a single-page map available today as well. Map: Unknown Cave Category: Single-page Map (Description: A map drawn by a traveling merchant, recording the route and terrain of unknown ruins.) ¡°Interested in the map?¡± The Tauren owner came back over, placing the honey wine in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take the map and these slave contracts,¡± Fang Hao declared directly. ¡°This map is a bit more expensive, it costs 3 Warfire Coins. Each slave contract costs 1 Warfire Coin, you can pay for it all when you check out,¡± the owner said. Fang Hao nodded, sipping his honey wine as he chatted casually with the owner. Honey wine didn¡¯t quite suit the taste of adult beastmen. Considering the beastmen¡¯s fondness for alcohol, honey wine was considered more of a sweet drink. While sipping his honey wine, Fang Hao suddenly remembered the Blueprint for a Troll¡¯s Brewing Barrel that he had acquired. He was still short of two quintessences of wine for the crafting materials. If it weren¡¯t for that, he could even open his own tavern. He cast a glance at the Tauren owner, curiously asking, ¡°Do you have any quintessences of wine here?¡± ¡°Quintessences of wine? What are you going to do with them?¡± The owner asked with some surprise. Seeing the owner¡¯s surprised expression, Fang Hao was certain that the tavern must have them. ¡°I need them to make something. Sell me two,¡± Fang Hao responded directly. ¡°Ah, well, I do have two in the warehouse, but they¡¯re 50 Warfire Coins each. Interested in buying?¡± The Tauren answered uncertainly. 50 each, not exactly cheap. Even though Fang Hao had done two deals with Bronze Bull, the owner wasn¡¯t sure if he would be willing to spend that much. After all, with too Warfire Coins, one could hire a small squad of beastmen. ¡°Deal. You can include it with my spices,¡± Fang Hao agreed readily. ¡°Alright.¡± The owner didn¡¯t hesitate, readily agreeing and instructing the barkeeper to prepare the items. As Fang Hao was drinking his wine and waiting for the owner to prepare the goods, a card game at the neighboring table caught his attention. It was a game similar to poker, using dominoes and dice to ultimately determine the winner and the loser. The winner collected the wager, while the loser left cursing angrily. ¡°Damn, this is some rotten luck.¡± At that moment, a curse echoed from the card table. The cursing beast-eared girl hurled her dominoes onto the table in frustration. She was a short girl, but she stood out in the tavern. Her silver hair draped over her right shoulder while the hair on the other side was shaven extremely short, exposing her furry beast-ears clearly. She wore a brown leather bustier on her upper body, her slender waist bare, revealing abs and a shadow of a v-line. Her tight skin-fitting leather pants highlighted her athletic legs perfectly. Her waist was thin, her back was slightly curved, and her body was lean and muscular. Full of wild, unrestrained nature. The girl flung her bone cards on the table with an angry expression and loudly cursed her luck that day. The rest of them just watched happily, picking up their winnings. In a moment of aimless rage, she turned her head and met Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, their eyes locking. Fang Hao tensed up inside and quickly looked away, pretending to be examining the antler chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Even so, his actions drew the attention of the white-haired girl. She kicked a stool out of the way and sat down right next to Fang Hao. ¡°Human kid, what were you just looking at?¡± The girl casually asked, plopping down onto a seat next to him and questioning. ¡°Just glancing around, why, is there a problem?¡± Fang Hao replied. Fang Hao grumbled to himself about his rotten luck. Not that he was scared of this white-haired girl, but he had the feeling of stirring up trouble just by trying to enjoy the spectacle. ¡°Anjia, he¡¯s a guest of the Tellock Chieftain. Don¡¯t make trouble here.¡± The Minotaur boss interjected. Turns out, the white-haired girl¡¯s name was Anjia. Hearing the Minotaur¡¯s words, Anjia took another look at him. She swiveled her big round eyes, broke into a grin, leaned over, and proposed, ¡°I just lost all my money at cards, lend me 200 gold coins. If I win, I¡¯ll pay you back with interest. If not, I¡¯ll spend three days with you ¨C and I mean in any way you want. How about it?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the white-haired girl standing before him. She changed her attitude so quickly and spoke so straightforwardly. It almost felt like there was something wrong with her brain. ¡°Anjia, play your cards, don¡¯t bother the guests.¡± The Minotaur boss continued. But the girl didn¡¯t pay any mind to the boss¡¯s words. She persisted, ¡°What do you think? Want to consider it?¡± The people around them started to chuckle quietly, waiting in anticipation for the upcoming scene. ¡°200 gold could get me 20 of you, no difference. Why would I lend it to you?¡± replied Fang Hao. He had just bought a whole lot of Rabbitmen, all looking pretty decent. 200 gold for three days, even if she really was willing to spend three days with him, it wouldn¡¯t be a good deal. ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m a Hero, no ordinary goods. You¡¯re telling me 200 is too much?¡± Anjia huffed, noticeably upset. This made Fang Hao even more surprised. He quickly checked her properties. [Fighting Tooth ¨C Anjia (Blue Rank 7 Hero)] Turned out, she really was a hero. No wonder this humanoid beast with human-like appearance can act so arrogantly and rudely in the tavern without anyone stopping her. The tavern owner could only mention the Bronze Bull Tellock to suppress her a bit when she was causing trouble to Fang Hao. But what species was this girl of? So domineering and provocative, a leopard? ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s quite enjoyable to be accompanied by a hero for three days. You won¡¯t lose on this deal for 200 gold, right?¡± Anjia said with a smile. Tavern, Hero. Fang Hao stroked his chin and nodded slightly, ¡°Not bad. You wouldn¡¯t regret this, would you?¡± ¡°As Anjia, I never go back on my word,¡± Anjia continued. ¡°Okay, I agree. I don¡¯t have Beasthead Gold, I¡¯ll give you Warfire Coins instead.¡± Fang Hao promptly brought out 40 Warfire Coins and pushed them towards Anjia. ¡°Alright, wait for me to earn you a fortune.¡± Anjia snapped up the Warfire Coins and walked back to the card table, yelling loudly, ¡°Come on, watch me make you all beg for mercy.¡± Then, the crowd continued the card game that they were playing earlier. At the front desk. The Minotaur boss sighed lightly, ¡°Let it go. Spending this money will save you further troubles from Anjia.¡±. Huh? Hearing the boss¡¯s words, Fang Hao looked again at the card table. It seemed that Anjia¡¯s card luck was infamously bad in this place.. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 97, Where are you running 1 Chapter 97: Chapter 97, Where are you running 1 Translator: 549690339 &¡ª ¡°Is this Miss Anjia audacious enough to create a commotion in the city?¡± Fang Hao asked in a low voice. The Manim Market does have special regulations. No one is allowed to loot or fight inside the city. That¡¯s why Fang Hao, a human, dared to swagger about in the city. Though Miss Anjia is a hero, she¡¯s merely Blue color ¨C somewhat weaker than Bronze Bull. ¡°Enough about her. It¡¯s good enough that she doesn¡¯t bother the Chieftain. You too keep your distance. If she pesters you on your turf later on, that¡¯s unnecessary,¡± the cow-headed boss warned gently, signaling him to look out for himself. Seeing the boss¡¯s expression made Fang Hao even more curious about Anjia. Apparently, even Bronze Bull Talok seemed at a loss about how to deal with this beast-girl. Very soon, the bartender who went to the warehouse to fetch the spices returned. Packed neatly were all the spices Fang Hao needed, as well the essence of wine. The boss quickly calculated the cost. ¡°220 Warfire Coins.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Without fussing, Fang Hao directly handed over 220 Warfire Coins. He put everything into his backpack. The trade was completed. Anjia¡¯s gambling game over there was also nearing its end. The once bold and resolute attempt to turn the tide was nowhere to be seen, as sweat was already forming on her brow. When she lost her last chip, her eyes began to dodge when she saw Fang Hao. ¡°It seems your luck isn¡¯t on your side,¡± Fang Hao remarked. Y-yes, it¡¯s a bit off,¡± Anjia responded. ¡°As per our agreement, you need to come with me,¡± Fang Hao stood up, ready to leave. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Anjia became a little flustered. It wasn¡¯t that she was afraid of Fang Hao; it¡¯s just that this place was Talok¡¯s territory after all. The consultation she had agreed upon with Fang Hao in front of everyone might run into Talok¡¯s interference. If she really was forced to accompany this human for three days, wouldn¡¯t she have no chance to run? Anjia¡¯s big eyes spun around anxiously. ¡°Wait, my luggage is in the guest room. Let me get it.¡± With these words, she hurriedly headed upstairs. Leaving Fang Hao alone standing in the tavern¡¯s main hall, watching her disappearing backside. Fang Hao had just sat down. Bang! The sound of a heavy object falling came from outside the window. Then, a figure with her luggage dashed past the window on horseback, heading towards the city gate. Leaving behind a trail of dust. Fang Hao stood by the window, with his eyes wide open. Slim body, white hair, beast ears. Damn it, the girl¡¯s run away. There was a moment of silence in the tavern. Then, all the orcs in the bar burst out laughing. ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s so Anjia.¡± Everyone seemed to have anticipated that Anjia would not smoothly fulfill her promises, as expected. The bovine boss came out to intervene, ¡°I¡¯ll mention this incident to the Chieftain, see if there could be any compensation for you.¡± ¡°No problem, it¡¯s just a small amount of money, no need to bother Chieftain Talok.¡± Fang Hao reassured him casually, eyeing the direction in which Anjia had fled. After that, he walked directly out of the tavern, sauntering towards where his carriage was parked. Seing Bolton, he said, ¡°You lead, everyone leave the city.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Bolton answered, starting to organize the return journey. In contrast to the 120 pig-headed humans on the way there, 42 more young girls from the Rabbitmen Clan were returning. The Pigmen Clan served as escorts, the carriage hauled the Rabbit Clan girls, and the return j ourney began. Fang Hao lay in his carriage, exercised God¡¯s Presence, and arrived on the Skeleton Giant Bat camping down in a mountain recess. Controlling the giant bat to take off into the sky, he began searching for Anjia who had left the city. Soon, he found traces of Anjia. Anjia didn¡¯t take the main road but rushed directly into the woods. She tied her horse to the side, climbed up a tree, and observed the Manim Market. If she hadn¡¯t climbed the tree, it would have been hard to spot her from the air. ¡°Let¡¯s see where you¡¯re going.¡± Having confirmed Anjia¡¯s location, Fang Hao began to command his skeleton army to intercept. Anjia galloped out of Manim, plunging headfirst into the forest. She threw a disdainful smile back at the city, gradually receding behind her. This clueless human actually wanted her, a renowned thief, to accompany him for three days. ¡°When you come out, I¡¯ll rob all your money and leave you broke on the roadside,¡± Anjia gnashed her teeth. Unlike everyone else¡¯s fear of escape. Anjia wasn¡¯t planning on running away. She was simply hiding in the forest, waiting for that human¡¯s caravan to leave the city, and then she would steal all his goods. She had heard rumors in the tavern. This human was incredibly rich, hauling Warfire Coins out by the boxful. Once she robbed him, wouldn¡¯t all that money be hers? The more she thought about it, the more excited Anjia felt. Tying her horse to a tree, she climbed up to get a good view of the gates of Manim City, ready to wait as long as it took for that human to emerge. Time passed slowly. Chewing on a piece of grass and idly swinging her legs as she sat on a tree branch, Anjia grew impatient. ¡°Did that human die in there? Why isn¡¯t he coming out?¡± But as soon as the words left her lips, her face changed dramatically. She suddenly felt a faint vibration, followed by the sound of rustling bushes. Glancing around, she saw a dense skeleton army forming a circle, closing in on her. Anjia was stunned! She rubbed her eyes incredulously. What was going on? A massive undead army here? It was impossible! But when she reopened her eyes, the undead army was still there, closing in on her rapidly. It looked like they intended to capture her alive. ¡°Bloody hell, I just lost a lot of money, I¡¯ve got a lot of steam to blow off.¡± Anjia swore, She took out a pair of Tiger¡¯s Claw from her waist and slipped them onto her hands. The next second, she leaped from the tree and punched a skeleton in the skull. Crack! The skull shattered with a resounding break. This kind of injury didn¡¯t hinder a skeleton¡¯s movement; it raised its iron sword and swung it down at her. Anjia slid her foot back, twisted her waist, and delivered a counter elbow strike. The skeleton¡¯s head was sent flying like a ball, and its body instantly fell apart, turning into a pile of white bones. Clang, bang! Suddenly, countless skeletons swarmed toward her, and Anjia fought back fiercely, punching and kicking in the sea of skeletons. But soon, she realized something was off. The more skeletons she killed, the more seemed to appear, as if they were never-ending. Plus, as the battle wore on, she sustained injuries and her energy quickly waned. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a skeleton with blue flames flickering in its eye sockets, flipping her off. Wait, what? Boom! Distracted for a moment. An iron shield smashed into her forehead and she was briefly stunned. The skeleton army quickly overwhelmed her and pinned her to the ground, stacking up like children playing a game. Under the command of the Blue Fire Skeleton, Anjia was tightly bound in rope, several layers thick. Even so, Anjia did not stop struggling and kept cursing, ¡°Let me go, you trash! If you¡¯re courageous enough, unbind me and we¡¯ll fight fair and square.¡± But the skeletons, dumb as posts, stood in place guarding their captive, unresponsive to her words. She didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. Anjia grew tired from all the swearing and decided to take a break, needing to recover her strength. At the same time, she racked her brain for ways to escape. Apparently, these skeletons were like blockheads, undisturbed by her curses. She was clueless as to why they would capture her instead of killing her. Just as she was deep in thought. She heard the rumble of wagon wheels from behind. Then, a familiar voice echoed, ¡°Miss Anjia, I have to say, leaving without notice is a bit impolite, don¡¯t you think?¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 98, Fighting Tooth Clan_l Chapter 98: Chapter 98, Fighting Tooth Clan_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao walked around from behind, ending up in front of Anjia. Seeing it was Fang Hao, Anjia became instantly agitated, roaring, ¡°So it¡¯s you, you despicable villain, manipulating these undead to fight me. If you are a man, we should have a fair fight.¡± ¡°What do you mean, despicable villain? According to our agreement, you¡¯re mine for the next three days. I can do what I want with you, didn¡¯t you say that yourself?¡± Fang Hao sat down in front of Anjia, staring directly into her eyes. ¡°You¡­ I will repay you,¡± Anjia tipped her head back, the expression on her face clearly saying, my word is my bond. Fang Hao fought back a laugh at Anjia¡¯s antics. Did he look like a fool? She borrowed money from him in the bar, didn¡¯t repay and took off. And now, having been caught, she was acting as though she was wrongfully accused. Was this not an insult to his intelligence, indirectly suggesting that he doesn¡¯t appear too clever? ¡°Give me 40 Warfire Coins right now, or you¡¯ll have no choice but to come with me,¡± Fang Hao said seriously. Anjia looked around at the undead army. She was starting to regret it now. Who had ever heard of a human controlling so many undead? Who would want to go with you? ¡°I don¡¯t have any money on me right now, but I promise to pay back the principal amount with interest,¡± Anjia continued. She had lost all of her capital. Where would she get money to repay Fang Hao? Fang Hao sneered, ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing more to be said then. Kill her, she¡¯ll make a good skeleton.¡± As soon as he said that, the skeleton soldiers nearby lifted their razor-sharp weapons. ¡°Wait! Wait!¡± Anjia yelled out in panic. Fang Hao halted the skeleton, smiled, and said, ¡°Relax, it only hurts for a moment. Then it gets better.¡± ¡°What the hell are you up to? What good does it do you to kill me? If I¡¯m dead, who will return your money?¡± Anjia yelled back. Anjia was suffering. Was this guy even human? Just for 40 Warfire Coins, he had mobilized tens of thousands of undead to surround her, and now he wanted to kill her and turn her into a skeleton. Was it really necessary? ¡°You know my secret now. I can¡¯t let you leave. There¡¯s no other choice but to kill you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone,¡± Anjia said loudly. ¡°Kill her¡­¡± Fang Hao repeated his command. The skeletons in the crowd, who had just lowered their weapons, raised them above their heads again At this point, Anjia could only helplessly close her eyes. ¡°Hold on! My lord, why not give her a chance and let her atone for her errors by becoming your slave,¡± Pig-man Bolton came over hurriedly and suggested in a whisper. Fang Hao once again stopped the skeleton about to strike and fell into deep thought. He asked in a somewhat hesitant voice, ¡°Anjia, are you willing to sign the Hero¡¯s Contract with me?¡± With tears in her eyes, she gritted her teeth and said forcefully, ¡°I am willing¡­¡± After saying that, the sound of Anjia¡¯s soft sobbing could be heard. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, turned to the Hero¡¯s Contract page. He went behind Anjia, made a small cut at his fingertip, and pressed it on the Hero¡¯s Contract page. The next second, a faint light enveloped Anjia and entered her body. At the same time, Fang Hao received a system prompt that he had obtained the Hero Fighting Tooth ¨C Anjia. ¡°[Fighting Tooth ¨C Anjia, current Loyalty: 55.]¡± That¡¯s really too low. If he didn¡¯t have the Hero¡¯s Contract, she might even consider killing him at such a low point. Hero¡¯s Contract and Slave¡¯s Contract function similarly. They enforce rules to the existing subordinate relationships. That is, it prevents actions that would harm the master. Moreover, the master has the power to decide the life and death of the other party. Once this contract is signed, the signee loses their freedom and becomes at the mercy of the master. After the contract is completed, Fang Hao immediately checked her attributes. ¡°[FightingTooth ¨C Anjia (Blue Seventh Level Hero)]¡± ¡°[Faction: Orc]¡± [Template: Blue] [Racial Traits: Living Creature, Poison Resistance, Fond of Fighting.] [Legion Skills: Pathfinding, Infantry Commander.] [Skills: Fist Dance, Red Tooth, Divine Warrior Training, Never Fear the Strong.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Body Technique Mastery, Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Physical Fitness Mastery.] [Living Creature]: This type of soldier can be healed and be affected by morale, emotions, and etc., immune to Bone Manipulation Technique and similar abilities. [Poison Resistance]: Dilutes internal toxins while in a coma after poison onset. [Fond of Fighting]: All attributes increase in excited state. [Pathfinding]: The unit leading the troops does not get affected by rough terrain and marches at a normal speed. [Fist Dance]: Proficient in using physical attack moves such as rushing punches, breaking tiles, and causing landslides. [Red Tooth]: Elbow strike, deals 200% of standard damage. [Divine Warrior Training]: Better control the boiling power within, continuously causing harm to the enemy. (Description: (What, there are still living members of the Fighting Tooth Clan?) The Fighting Tooth Clan is the most unusual among the orcs, they fear no other clans, no matter how powerful, leading to their extinction.) Anjia¡¯s attributes are not bad. The describable content always feels familiar to Fang Hao. Alright then. Though her loyalty isn¡¯t high, she¡¯s his hero now anyway. Looking at the silently weeping Anjia, Fang Hao forced a bitter smile, feeling like he had perhaps frightened her excessively. ¡°Untie her.¡± The pigman pulled out the iron sword at his waist, cutting all the ropes binding her. After all, in order to subdue this Fighting Tooth Clan girl, she was bound layer upon layer of ropes. ¡°Alright, stop crying. My territory is not bad, I guarantee you won¡¯t have to worry about food and drink there,¡± Fang Hao persuaded from the side. Anjia remained silent, wiping her tears with her sleeve. Bolton began commanding the skeletons to clean up the battlefield. This battle resulted in quite the loss of skeleton soldiers. The ground was littered with scattered white bones, and dropped equipment. When everything was ready, everyone got back on the carriage. Under the escort of skeletons and pigmen, they headed towards the territory. Except for the newly joined Anjia, there were also 42 bought slaves from the Rabbitmen Clan. Anjia merely felt wronged in her heart and kept wiping away her tears. The other bunny girls, however, were scared to the point of turning pale by the platoon of skeletons. They thought they had been sold to a human master. Now, they were imagining themselves being used as sacrificial offerings in some undead rituals, or even being killed in more cruel ways. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably. ¡°My name is Fang Hao. I have my own territory. You can live there in the future,¡± Fang Hao said on the side. But all he got in response was silence. Only the sound of the wheels pressing against the road and the collision of soldier¡¯s armor could be heard. In any case, Fang Hao shut his mouth as well. He lay in the carriage, casually flipping through the Book of Lords. They moved forward silently. When the fortress-like city came into view, the faces of both the rabbit women and Anjia turned even more solemn Was this a city? Or a kingdom of the undead? Layer upon layer of skeleton soldiers patrolling around the city, their numbers reaching a terrifying level. The convoy passed through patrolling soldiers and entered the city. ¡°Alright ladies, this is my territory. Welcome to join,¡± Fang Hao introduced warmly. A second later, dozens of rabbit girls were scared into sobbing.. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 99, Level 5 Building_l Chapter 99: Chapter 99, Level 5 Building_l Translator: 549690339 | As the territory expanded and developed, the labor shortage became increasingly apparent. It wasn¡¯t that there weren¡¯t enough skeletons, but rather the finer tasks that ordinary skeletons could hardly handle. For instance, cleaning up, doing laundry and cooking. in the dictionary of ordinary skeletons, there simply wasn¡¯t the notion of handling things gently. Sanitation within the city alone was beyond the capability of a few people. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back!¡± Eira, hearing the commotion, ran out of the Book of Lords¡¯ wooden house. When she saw the rest of the Rabbitmen Clan in the carriage behind her, she looked on curiously. -These are new citizens who have joined us. You show them around our territory.¡± Fang Hao looked at the teary-eyed rabbit girls. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Eira, seeing her own clan, had a joyful expression on her face. In a territory filled with the undead, having a few clan members became extremely important. After speaking with Fang Hao, she went to the center of the rabbit people and started chattering away. They toured around the territory. The hero Anjia glanced at Fang Hao and left with Eira. After all, being with a beastman was always more comfortable than being with Fang Hao. The rabbitmen were familiarized with the surroundings by Eira. Fang Hao, on the other hand, started preparing housing for them. With so many people, he couldn¡¯t let them all sleep outside. He chose a suitable residential area and built 20 level 4 houses immediately. A level 4 house could accommodate 4 people at the same time. Since they¡¯re all females and there weren¡¯t any married couples living in families, 20 houses were enough for them. If needed, he could add more in the future. After building the houses, Fang Hao made beds, beast skin blankets, and some daily necessities. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t a slave master and he wasn¡¯t heartless either. Basic needs of life were still required. Once everything was done, Fang Hao continued to check other buildings. After these last few days, the production factory had accumulated quite an amount of construction materials. He could upgrade existing buildings. Firstly and most importantly, the core of all the buildings, The Book of Lords wooden house. [Level 5 Book of Lords Hall: Wood 3500, Stone 2200, Hardwood 1200, Brick 1000, Hemp rope 550, Iron 220.] He previously lacked hardwood and bricks, but now he had enough to build. Upgrade. In an instant, a beam of light enveloped the Book of Lords¡¯ wooden house and when the beam faded, a magnificent three-story stone building stood before him. [Level 5 Book of Lords Stone Tower] [Owner: Fang Hao] [Ability: Production/Collection +2%, Troop Movement +2%, All attributes +l¡ã/o] [Current Buildings: Level 4 Underground Cemetery, Level 4 Warehouse, Level 4 Burial Grounds, Level 4 Lumberjack¡¯s Hut, Level 4 Ranch, Level 2 Spiritual Field, Level 4 City Wall, Level 4 Arrow Tower, Level 4 Courtyard of the Departed, Level 4 Undead Mage Tower, Market, Sanctuary Tower, Rejuvenation Spring Well, Statue of the Harvest Goddess, Skeleton Conversion Field, Viscera Museum, Level 4 Stable.] (Note: Core building of the territory) [Upgrade materials required: Wood: 6200, Stone: 4500, Hardwood: 3200, Brick: 4000, Iron: 500, Metal Parts: 320.] Upon attaining level 5, The Book of Lords Wooden House was now referred to as the Book of Lords Stone Tower. The entire structure was built from stone bricks, making the structure sturdier and grander. Apart from that, there was also an additional ability. There was a significant boost to production rates and the attributes of troops. This should symbolize the transition of the territory into the second phase. After upgrading the Book of Lords Hall, Fang Hao continued his upgrades on the other buildings, especially after hearing about the Skullcrusher Tribe from Bronze Bull. Fang Hao turned his thoughts around repeatedly, but could not find any information about the Skullcrusher tribe in his mind. But the Undead territory west of Manim Market was referring to himself, there was no one else. Thinking about it, he upgraded city walls and arrow towers to level five. He looked at his resources. The Undead base¡¯s facilities were all at level four. To upgrade to level five, the need for hardwood and brick was a given, but what was lacking the most was Shadowstone. Among those left in his warehouse, there were only 18 pieces of Shadowstone. Shadowstone quantities weren¡¯t enough for building both the level 4 Undead Hall and the level 4 Undead Mage Tower. This was only enough to construct the Burial Grounds. [Level 5 Burial Grounds: Wood 2400, Stone 3500, Hemp Rope 600, Hardwood 220, Bricks 150, Shadowstones 15.] The Burial Grounds serve as the barracks for the Undead faction. Standard Undead infantry can be recruited here. Upgrade. [Level 5 Burial Grounds] [Recruitable units: Skeleton Warrior/Skeleton Spearman (Tier 2.)] [Recruitment requires: 2x Wriggling Spine.] [Abilities: Revival (Viscera Jar augmentation), Upgrade.] [Note: This structure can recruit faction soldiers. Upgrading the structure unlocks new types of soldiers and higher tiers.] [Upgrade requirements: Wood 3200, Stone 4300, Hemp Rope 700, Hardwood 440, Brick350, Shadowstone 20] [Upgrade]: Upgrades recruited units to a higher tier, up to 100 units. (Each unit takes 5 minutes.) Yeah! Fang Hao tightly clenched his fist. When the Burial Grounds were upgraded to level five, the names and tiers of troops also changed. The Skeleton Swordsman became the Skeleton Warrior. The Skeleton Spearman became the Skeleton Spearbearer. All ranks from Tier 1 rose to Tier 2, which greatly improved the overall Combat Power of the troops. The upgrade function of the building could promote the recruited Tier 1 skeletons to a higher tier. With a direction for advancement, Fang Hao began to arrange shifts for the skeleton soldiers to upgrade. After all, patrols cannot stop within the territory. just as he finished arranging, Fang Hao was about to continue reading the Book of Lords when he heard Eira calling him and rushing over. ¡°Master, we¡¯re back.¡± Eira returned with the newly joined Rabbit women. The returning Rabbitwomen no longer had their initial tense expressions. They had taken a tour around the territory with Eira and learned more about Fang Hao and the territory. They knew that Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t hurt them easily, and he wouldn¡¯t turn them all into skeletons. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t as ferocious as other slave owners. They could be well-fed and housed. By the end of it, all the Rabbitwomen looked not just relieved but even hopeful. If things were really as Eira said, then they were genuinely fortunate to serve such a good master. Being well-fed and having a roof over their heads were not luxuries that all slaves could enjoy. ¡°Hmm, where¡¯s Anjia?¡± Fang Hao looked back at Eira, but he didn¡¯t see Anjia. ¡°Ah, Miss Anjia is chatting with Mr. Soye, so we came back first,¡± Eira said. ¡°Alright there are daily necessities here, one set for each of you. Allocate the housing yourselves, three people to a room,¡± said Fang Hao to the newly joined Rabbitwomen. ¡°Thank you, Master!¡± The group of Rabbitwomen hurriedly expressed their thanks. -Eira, you take a few people to cook, make it a lavish spread tonight, consider it a welcome dinner for everyone,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Eira agreed, and led the Rabbitwomen to the kitchen. Fang Hao proceeded to the tailor¡¯s shop to see what Anjia and Soye were discussing. As he approached the tailor¡¯s shop, he saw Anjia sitting there big and tall, while Soye, the skeleton tailor, was cowering in a corner, looking like a hostage rather than an undead. As he entered, he heard Soye saying, ¡°Miss Anjia, I can¡¯t play cards and I have no money, please don¡¯t bully me..¡± Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter too, Brewing Barrel_l Chapter 100: Chapter too, Brewing Barrel_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t, I can teach you. You¡¯ll get the hang of it after playing it for a few times,¡± Anjia continued. ¡°I have work to do. I really don¡¯t have time.¡± Soye, still sitting by the side, refused. Fang Hao was speechless upon seeing the scene in front of him. Up until now, Eira was still somewhat resistant to the undead, conversing with Soye seldomly aside from essential matters. Isn¡¯t it said that living creatures resist the undead!? But Anjia seemed to be quite familiar with it, having already engaged Soye in conversation. Ahem! Fang Hao cleared his throat and walked to the pair. ¡°Lord,¡± Soye greeted respectfully. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Seeing Fang Hao approaching, Anjia¡¯s expression stopped for a moment as she stood up, not saying anything. ¡°Anjia, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Chatting, what¡¯s wrong with that? Can¡¯t a person talk?¡± said an arrogant Anjia, lifting her head in response. ¡°I¡¯m just coming to let you know that if you don¡¯t hurry over, all the good rooms will be taken by others. Then, only the rooms no one wants to live in will remain,¡± Fang Hao stated casually. ¡°You¡­!¡± Anjia bit her silver tooth and glared at Fang Hao viciously. She¡¯s a hero, isn¡¯t she? Let alone assigning her a special room. And now he informed her at such late notice. Doesn¡¯t it mean that the rooms are now occupied by other people? Thinking about it, she got up and rushed towards the residential area. Only after Anjia left did Soye feel free, and asked, ¡°Lord, are these orcs the new members you¡¯ve recruited?¡± ¡°Yes. From now on, they will be the inhabitants of the territory. You should also keep track of which areas need manpower in your work, and I will arrange it accordingly,¡± Fang Hao said. The Rabbitmen Clansmen are weak and gentle, and some powerful orcs don¡¯t recognize them as part of the clan. But in Fang Hao¡¯s view, the Rabbitmen Clan is currently the best choice for territory population. The Rabbitmen Clan are smart and diligent. They complete all orders given by Fang Hao meticulously. This point alone is far superior to those orcs who roar and fight all the time. As the territory gradually expands, he also needs manpower to handle all sorts of chores, then these Rabbitmen Clansmen will be a good choice. After all, the skeleton soldiers will be responsible for fighting. They are mainly responsible for rear services. ¡°Alright, lord, I will consider this,¡± Soye nodded in understanding. ¡°Uh-huh, go ahead with your work, tell me directly if you need anything.¡± ¡°Yes, lord.¡± Having bid farewell to Soye, Fang Hao also returned to the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower. Anjia was standing in front of the Stone Tower, seemingly waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s return. ¡°Did you choose?¡± Asked Fang Hao as he came over. ¡°What do I choose? The rooms have all been snatched up by others, and how could you ask me, a hero, to share a room with them?¡± Anjia¡¯s eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth, as if asking if Fang Hao didn¡¯t respect heroes. No matter which tribe or human city-state, Heroes are quite rare. Normally, they are either the clan leader or the core members among their forces. ¡°Yeah, that makes sense. I¡¯ll build you a separate one, where you can live alone,¡± Fang Hao felt justified after hearing her reason. Even though he forcefully signed a contract with her. Anjia is indeed strong, and loyalty is also very important. We have to take into consideration her feelings. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll live here,¡± Anjia pointed at the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower. ¡°But that¡¯s where I live,¡± Fang Hao exclaimed in surprise. ¡°I¡¯m not taking the whole place. And I¡¯ve looked, there are still many empty rooms inside. I want the one on the second floor facing south. Arrange for someone to decorate it with carpets and a Nightstone chandelier from the warehouse for me,¡± Anjia clearly arranged for herself. She had even chosen furniture from the warehouse that suited her needs. Lord Level 5 wooden house once again expanded, from four rooms directly to six rooms. The building spanned a larger area and had the semblance of a small castle. The two new rooms were located, one on the first floor and one on the second floor. The one Anjia selected was on the second floor, the height was just right, and the lighting was also excellent. ¡°Don¡¯t you consider having a house for yourself? It can have several rooms,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll stick with this one,¡± said Anjia. Fang Hao gave it a thought and apparently didn¡¯t find any major problems. Anjia signed a contract with him, even if the level of loyalty was not high, she would not do anything to harm him. With the safety issue guaranteed, giving her a room wouldn¡¯t pose any problems. ¡°I can agree, but you have to promise that you will follow the rules of the territory in the future,¡± Fang Hao proposed an exchange condition after giving it some thought. ¡°Alright!¡± Anjia quickly agreed, and without waiting for Fang Hao to finish speaking, she rushed into the Stone Tower to check out her room. [Fighting Tooth-Anjia¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 20 points, the current loyalty is 75 points.] The system prompt followed closely after Anjia rushed into the room. She¡¯s that happy just for getting a room? It increased 20 points directly. Among the heroes, Anjia is of a ranger type, without a fixed dwelling or clan. She is prone to cause troubles, and many clans have large objections towards her. She had been living in open cities like Manim Market all along. NOW that Fang Hao has given her a room, it¡¯s the first time she has her dwelling since she became a hero. It¡¯s only natural for her to feel inexplicably happy. Before Fang Hao could go in, Anjia came out again, walked over naturally, ¡°assign a few skeletons to me, I¡¯ll move my furniture in. Fang Hao called for a few skeletons, helping Anjia and the other Rabbitmen to move the furniture into the room. With Anjia enthusiastically directing the skeletons and decorating her room, Fang Hao got to take time out to continue making the Book of Lords and unlock blueprints. [Giant¡¯s Brewing Barrel: Wood 120, Hardwood Planks 50, Metal Parts 22, Iron 5, Iron Plates 12, Essence of Wine 2.] (Description: A giant barrel made by an alcohol-loving giant, which can produce pure wine by adding ingredients and clear water to the barrel.) Fang Hao has been wanting to do this blueprint for quite some time. He¡¯s gotten quite tired of the taste of plain water. It¡¯s not a bad decision to make some fruit wine or mead with flavor. He got 2 essences of wine from the tavern during his visit to the Manim Market, which happened to meet all the conditions for making a brewing barrel. Choose to make it directly. [ioox amplification triggered, obtained Giant¡¯s Brewing Barrel 101.] In an instant. 101 huge beer barrels appeared in front of Fang Hao. The two-meter-tall, wooden barrel body blocked the line of sight. There are two openings on the side of the barrel body that can be used to pour in clear water and ingredients. And there¡¯s a metal tap at the bottom of the barrel. These 101 large kegs made Fang Hao somewhat troubled. One is enough for everyone in the territory to use, and there¡¯s really no use for the other 100. ¡°A few of you, carry one into the empty room on the first floor of the Stone Tower. Send the rest to the warehouse,¡± said Fang Hao, intercepting four skeleton soldiers who were helping to move the furniture. The four skeletons immediately dumped the furniture at hand on the ground, carried the keg into the Stone Tower, and placed it in the empty room on the first floor. After placing it at a fixed location, they poured in clean water and fruits. [Fruit Wine Brewing: 29 minutes, 59 seconds..] Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 101, Eating Together_l Chapter 101: Chapter 101, Eating Together_l Translator: 549690339 The brewing barrels started their real countdown. It¡¯s a foolproof operation, anyone with a hand could brew fruit wine. There were still too troll brewing barrels left in the warehouse. Opening a tavern with them would certainly be profitable. The drinks sold at Manim Tavern were not cheap. If he opened his own, with lower prices and no production difficulties, it would be a no-brainer. By just adding some water and fruits, it could automatically transform. It felt like finding free money! Once there were more residents in his territory, or it had been opened to outsiders. He must open a tavern, with a few bunny girl waitresses, the business would surely boom. Wait a minute! Orcs have a different aesthetic. In an orc tavern, bunny girls would not satisfy their aesthetic preferences. Bunny girls might be better suited for human males. At this moment, a bunny girl walked over, hanging her head and said softly, ¡°Master, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Fang Hao responded and followed her out of the room. Once outside, all the Rabbitmen and Pigmen were waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s arrival, with only Anjia sitting there, legs crossed. When Fang Hao approached, they rose to their feet. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Lord.¡± There were more people dining today, new Rabbitmen, Anjia, and the Pigmen who went to the market with them. Although the dining hall had been greatly expanded, it was still hard to accommodate so many people for a communal meal. So, a simple dining table was set up in the open space outside the lord¡¯s hall, where everyone could eat together. ¡°Alright, everyone sit down.¡± Everyone took their seats and the prepared dinner was served at this time. Roast meat, steamed fish, cold cuts, salad, vegetable soup¡­¡­¡­.. and so on. A sumptuous dinner filled the long table. Whether they were new Rabbitmen or Pigmen from the village, they rarely saw such abundant meals. For a moment, they stared at the meal, their mouths watering. ¡°Cough cough! I have a few words to say.¡± Fang Hao stood up, and the hall instantly quieted down. ¡°Firstly, welcome the addition of the bunny ladies. You can live here with peace of mind. The territory will provide you with food, shelter, and protection. Tomorrow, I will assign you appropriate work. If you can do it, do it. If you can¡¯t, learn to do it.¡± ¡°The Pigmen worked hard today. Everyone, eat and drink freely, the territory has plenty of food. Now, let¡¯s enjoy our meal.¡± Fang Hao finished speaking, then sat down again. ¡°Thank you, Lord.¡± Everyone thanked him and began to eat. Fang Hao saw that the time was almost up and the fruit wine in the brewing barrels should have been processed. So he arranged for people to serve the fruit wine to everyone. They chatted while drinking. [Nancy of the Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 10 points, current loyalty is 80.] [Mami of the Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 10 points, current loyalty is 75.] [Rabbit girl¡­ your loyalty to her has increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 70.] One prompt after another appeared, and the loyalty level increased quickly. The Rabbitmen girls were constantly stuffing their faces with food. Their faces could hardly conceal their happiness and excitement. They had become slaves and ate sticky food every day. The slavemasters, fearing they might run away, even reduced the amount of food, leaving them just enough to avoid starvation. But today, not only did they get their own rooms and no longer have to live in cages. They were also eating such a sumptuous meal. All the Rabbitmen had changed their hearts. They went from being afraid of Fang Hao to being glad they were bought by him. After dinner, the Pigmen drove back to the Pigmen Village. The Rabbitmen did not disperse either. They gathered together and chattered excitedly. The next day, early morning. Fang Hao suddenly opened his eyes, his forehead covered in sweat. In his dream, he had returned to his original world, and his colleague had stabbed him several times in the chest. This tension, this pain, felt so real. It was so real that he could still feel the pressure on his chest even after waking up. Fang Hao subconsciously touched his chest, only to feel soft skin. ¡°Damn it? What the hell is this?¡± Fang Hao immediately woke up a bit more, looked down, and saw Anjia sleeping next to him. One of her long beautiful legs unceremoniously lay across his chest, she was sleeping soundly. Holy shit. ¡°Ah! Master, you¡¯re awake.¡± From his other side, Eira¡¯s voice floated over. He looked abruptly and saw Eira lying on his other side, smiling at him. ¡°Ah.¡± Fang Hao answered subconsciously. He quickly recalled in his head what had happened last night. After dinner, everyone continued to drink some wine. When it got late, they all returned to their own rooms to rest. But now, what was the deal with these two on either side of him? ¡°Eira, how did you get on my bed?¡± Fang Hao asked softly. Eira burrowed her head into Fang Hao¡¯s chest and whispered in his ear, ¡°Perhaps we had too much to drink. Master, are you getting up now?¡± Indeed, they drank too much. Anjia was still sleeping peacefully on the other side, her pose rather wild. Fang Hao moved her leg off his chest, got up and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m getting up. There¡¯s a lot to do today.¡± Under Eira¡¯s gentle urge, Fang Hao got dressed. Ignoring the soundly sleeping Anjia, both he and Eira left the room. As the door closed, the sleeping Anjia furrowed her brow. She sank into dreams. In front of a low wooden house, a little girl with white hair was waiting boredly. It was Anjia as a child. The door of the house opened. An old Orc, draped in a bear-skin cloak, stepped out. Young Anjia immediately went to meet him, ¡°I heard them say that as long as you don¡¯t want me anymore, you can stay here and retire.¡± The old Orc turned around, glancing at the low, beast-skin sealed wooden window behind him. Defensively, he said, ¡°You must have misheard. Why would they want to keep a old guy like me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mishear. You¡¯re already so old, why not stay here? You¡¯re going to die.¡± Anjia continued. ¡°I won¡¯t die. Let¡¯s go, I still have many old friends, there will be tribes willing to take us in.¡± The old Orc touched the bag on his back, boasting, ¡°I had good fortune today, won so much, enough for our journey.¡± Anjia¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to the big bag of food. ¡°Why don¡¯t you teach me your card playing skills? Then I can also win some good things.¡± ¡°Ah, an Orc tribe may not suit you. When you grow up, live in human cities, these skills will get you into trouble,¡± the old Orc said. Following behind the old orc, Anjia asked, ¡°Why do I have to live with humans, just because I don¡¯t have hair on my face? Among the other children of my age, I¡¯m the strongest.¡± ¡°You can try to make friends with them, not every problem needs to be solved with fists.¡± ¡°Why do you always change? Didn¡¯t you say girls are powerful, less likely to get bullied!¡± ¡°That depends on the situation, fists will only make things worse.¡± The old and young figure slowly disappeared into the distance while having their conversation. Five years later. Anjia, fifteen years old, a Level 10 warrior. The old Orc had aged. His body was no longer strong, the skin piled up like old tree bark, as if only bones remained beneath the skin. He was dying, his eyes could barely open and he could no longer walk. Anjia, carrying the aged Orc, had crossed the forest and rivers to reach the nearest Orc city. She planned to use the method that the old orc had discussed to extend his life. Arriving at the city, the guards scrutinized Anjia and the old Orc on her back. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I want to enter the city and use the ¡®Merit Training Ground¡¯ to extend his life. Please let me in.¡± Still carrying the Orc, Anjia bowed to the guards. ¡°Go to the training ground to extend his life? You must be sick. Get lost, you can¡¯t just go anywhere.¡± The guards pushed Anjia away. Anjia was pushed back several steps, her expression instantly cooled, her right hand reached to her waist and the Tiger¡¯s Claw was drawn. The guard sneered, ¡°Oh, what, you dare¡­¡± Bang! Before he could finish his sentence, the orc guard was sent flying like a sack, utterly embarrassed. The alarm inside the city rang, a large number of orc guards surrounded the two. The situation had indeed become worse. ¡°What do you want?¡± A Orc General walked out, looking at the old and young pair, he sternly asked. Such a combination, wasn¡¯t likely to cause trouble. ¡°I want to use the Merit Training Ground. Didn¡¯t you say all Orcs can use it? Why can¡¯t I?¡± Anjia clenched her fists, asking loudly. ¡°You¡¯re level 10?¡± The General took another look at the young girl in front of him. Anjia did not answer, just coldly stared at him. The General fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand, ¡°Let them in, all Orcs can use the Merit Training Ground.¡± Anjia, carrying the Old Orc, brushed past the General and entered the city. The old Orc, laying weakly on her back, kept muttering, ¡°Go west, closer to the human city, they¡¯re more likely to accept you. Don¡¯t fight all the time in the future.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re not going to die, I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t die.¡± Before the Merit Training Ground, Anjia put down the old Orc and took out the prepared materials. A light flashed, Anjia disappeared, the old Orc still sat there, gazing into distance, his eyes slightly narrowed. Five minutes later. Blue light soared into the sky above the Training Ground, all the Orcs shouted in surprise and gathered to watch. They wanted to see who had advanced to become a hero. When Anjia reappeared, the old Orc had already stopped breathing, but there was a smile on his face. The next second, the scene instantly shattered. Whoosh!! Anjia suddenly awoke from her dream, gasping for breath. Large tears rolled down her cheeks, blurring her vision. It was a while before she could stop crying. ¡°No need to worry anymore, there¡¯s a place that would take me in now, I have a home.¡± The sun was shining outside and the Rejuvenation Spring nearby filled the air with a natural fragrance. Outside the room, the newly joined Rabbitmen had already begun working, cleaning various areas of the territory. ¡°Master.¡± The Rabbitmen greeted. ¡°Mm, good morning.¡± Fang Hao replied and quickly left. Only a few young Rabbitmen girls were left behind, looking happy and chatting in low voices. Upon arriving at the military district, Fireblade was seen arranging Level 2 troops for patrols around the territory. Seeing Fang Hao coming over, he walked towards him, ¡°Lord, do you have any orders?¡± ¡°Not an order, come with me. I¡¯ve received some information, let¡¯s discuss it together,¡± Fang Hao said. Nelson was performing a Skeleton hero conversion ceremony at the Viscera Museum, and hadn¡¯t emerged yet. When there¡¯s an issue, it could only be discussed with Fireblade first. The two returned to the Lord¡¯s hall, Anjia, looking sleepy, was just coming downstairs. She didn¡¯t even realize she was coming out of Fang Hao¡¯s room. ¡°Anjia, you too, come here, let¡¯s discuss this together.¡± Fang Hao called out to her, stopping her from going wherever she planned to go. ¡°Oh!¡± Anjia replied somewhat reluctantly. Her eyes, however, were rapidly surveying Fireblade, seeming to be quite interested in the bloody long blade in his hand. The three seated themselves in the hall. Fang Hao went straight to the point, ¡±Skullcrusher Tribe, have either of you heard of it?¡± Fireblade shook his head, ¡°Never heard, is it an Orc tribe?¡± Fireblade¡¯s memories, or his soul had been altered and deleted, all his memories of the Orc tribes were gone. Only the altered ones, the memories after becoming undead, remained. ¡°Skullcrusher Tribe? The Skullcrusher Tribe from the Coldwind Mountains?¡± Anjia suddenly asked in surprise. Both of them turned their gazes to her in that instant. It seemed she knew something.. Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 102, Silkworm Room (Seeking Chapter 102: Chapter 102, Silkworm Room (Seeking Recommendations¡­)! Translator: 549690339 Come to think of it, it makes sense. Anjia is an orc hero and a regular at the tavern. It¡¯s normal for her to pick up some news about the Skullcrusher Tribe. ¡°Right, how well do you know about the Skullcrusher Tribe in the Cold Wind Mountain Range?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. Anjia sat nearby, casually saying, ¡¯Tve heard bits and pieces. Shah, the chieftain of the Skullcrusher Tribe, is notoriously fierce and despotic. Long ago, he conquered all the tribes in the Cold Wind Mountain Range and has been studying group migration.¡± Cold Wind Mountain Range, Shah. Fang Hao memorized these names. From Anjia¡¯s words, this Shah had conquered the entire Cold Wind Mountain Range. ¡°So, how strong is this Shah? And what is his military strength?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Heard he¡¯s pretty formidable. I¡¯ve never seen him, but he has a good number of troops. The whole Cold Wind Mountain Range is his territory,¡± Anjia responded. The Cold Wind Mountain Range was, indeed, quite a distance from here. As an orc herself, the information Anjia occasionally learned about the Skullcrusher Tribe was second-hand. She had never been there herself, nor had she seen Shah. Fang Hao nodded in understanding. After a moment, he continued: ¡°I got information from Bronze Bull Tellock that the Skullcrusher Tribe is planning to attack us. So, I need to know their movements and information.¡± As Fang Hao finished speaking, their faces turned solemn. From what Anjia had said, the strength of the Skullcrusher Tribe couldn¡¯t be compared to that of an average tribe. This wasn¡¯t good news for their newly-developed territory. ¡°How¡¯s that possible? The Cold Wind Mountain Range is too far away from us, a journey would take several days. Are you sure Tellock didn¡¯t get it wrong?¡± Anjia said, somewhat skeptical. ¡°He probably didn¡¯t get it wrong, Anjia. Here¡¯s the map, point me to the location of the Cold Wind Mountain Range.¡± Fang Hao opened the map page of the Book of Lords. Anjia stood next to him, resting her elbow on his shoulder. She was quite interested in this magical luminescent map. The map in the Book of Lords was similar to a bird¡¯s-eye view map in a game. It showed the mountains and rivers, not simple sketches made with pen and paper. ¡°Everything beyond the vicinity of our territory is all fogged. How am I supposed to know where¡¯s where?¡± Anjia¡¯s finger hovered in the air, making no move to touch the map. ¡°Just the general area.¡± ¡°Then this area, I suppose.¡± In the end, Anjia pointed out a location, located to the northeast of their territory. The distance was indeed far. ¡°If the war really begins and you die, don¡¯t forget to terminate our contract. If I manage to survive, I can then avenge you,¡± Anjia suddenly said, out of nowhere. Fang Hao was taken aback, then said irritatedly, ¡°Should I thank you for that?¡± The contract linked Fang Hao and Anjia. One of the rules was that if the master dies, the slave and hero would also die. This was the iron rule in the contract, emphasizing the importance of protecting the master. Anjia was afraid that if Fang Hao died, she would be dragged down with him. ¡°No need.¡± Anjia gave Fang Hao a pat on his shoulder, apparently not registering the sarcasm in his words. Fang Hao shot her a glance, then turned to Fireblade. ¡°Fireblade, arrange for our soldiers to upgrade and strengthen the patrol around our territory.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± The morning meeting ended, and Fireblade went to carry out his tasks. Eira had prepared breakfast. Fang Hao walked to the dining table, and Anjia sat down as if she had been there all along. Breakfast was served, and the three of them ate without much conversation. Anjia and Eira chatted while eating, acting as if they knew each other before Fang Hao even came along. Ding! The Book of Lords sent a notification-a private message. ¡°Big Brother Fang Hao, are you there?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°I have a blueprint. I want to exchange it for some Rejuvenation Springs.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s see what blueprint you have.¡± At this stage, the demand for meat was declining continuously. There were more people selling meat in the channel, and the market wasn¡¯t as frantic as before, where any meat placed for sale would be snapped up immediately. However, Fang Hao¡¯s Rejuvenation Springs held a significant position in the current regional market. The daily supply of Rejuvenation Springs could not meet demand, accumulating rare resources for Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, [Silkworm Farm Blueprint], what do you think?¡± the other party continued. ¡°That works. Price?¡± Fang Hao carried on questioning. ¡°5 units of Rejuvenation Springs.¡± The person didn¡¯t hesitate to speak up. ¡°5 units are too much. That¡¯s enough for me to buy three of your kind of developing blueprints. 2 units, you can put it up for sale if you¡¯re willing,¡± Fang Hao quoted directly. This wasn¡¯t Fang Hao driving the price down. Rejuvenation Springs were only exchanged for rare materials and special items within the channel. The blueprints were evaluated through private chats. The Silkworm Farm Blueprint was definitely useful, but it required silkworm rearing and silk spinning before generating any value. This slow-developing process wasn¡¯t really popular now. If the silkworms can¡¯t be kept alive, he might starve to death. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s quota, the other party remained silent for a while before agreeing reluctantly. ¡°Alright, 2 units then. I¡¯ll list it now.¡± The person finished speaking and directly listed a specific trade. Fang Hao gave the person 2 units of Rejuvenation Springs, completing the transaction. The next second, he had a Silkworm Farm Blueprint in his hand. [Level 1 Silkworm Farm: 500 timber, 420 stones, 350 thatches, 220 leather, 180 hemp ropes, and 1 Natural Gem.] The building materials required weren¡¯t too much but it required 1 Natural Gem. It appeared the Silkworm Farm was a rather high-level building. After a few bites, he finished his meal. Fang Hao went straight to a vacant area and constructed the [Silkworm Farm], A flash of light, and a seemingly ordinary wooden hut appeared in front of him. It didn¡¯t look too different from a level 1 hut. [Level 1 Silkworm Farm] [Category: Building] (Description: The silkworm farm provides a basic environment for silkworm rearing.) [Upgrade Requirement: 800 timber, 750 stones, 4.50 thatches, 280 leather, 220 hemp ropes, and 2 Natural Gems.] The Silkworm Farm was currently empty, like the pasture, silkworms were not included. Given that they didn¡¯t have silkworms now, Fang Hao did not continue with the upgrade. When there were silkworms available, he would consider upgrading the building. After dealing with the Silkworm Farm, Fang Hao returned to the room. He planned to use God¡¯s Presence to go to Pigmen Village and ask Petty whether she knows anything about the Skullcrusher Tribe? Gathering information was crucial before a war. He lay on the bed, entered God¡¯s Presence mode, and the next second, he found himself in a skeleton soldier in Pigmen Village. Within Pigmen Village. Petty was in the great hall, listening to reports from several pigmen. One of the pigmen looked rather disheveled, covered in injuries. His right hand was bloodied, missing two fingers. Seeing the state of her subordinate, Gentle Petty turned furious, her face rosy with rage. She roared loudly, ¡°Bandits, they¡¯re nothing but a bunch of bandits¡­!¡± ¡°Chieftain, we should tell the Lord about this. It will be difficult for us to resolve this issue,¡± an old pigman whispered. ¡°Yes, chieftain, let¡¯s send Bolton again, see what the Lord says,¡± others also suggested. Just then, a voice sounded from the entrance. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You needed me for something?¡± Everyone turned around to find a skeleton whose eyes flickered with a mysterious blue light walking in.. Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 103, Gnoll Tribe l Chapter 103: Chapter 103, Gnoll Tribe l Translator: 549690339 ¡°My Lord.¡± Everyone immediately got up to pay their respects. It wasn¡¯t the first or second time Fang Hao had appeared before them in this form. Over time, they had grown accustomed to it. Generally, those who could speak and suddenly appeared were the ones in which Fang Hao had used the Undead Spell to possess. Petty also quickly stood up, yielding his seat and said: ¡°My Lord.¡± Sitting down in the vacated seat, Fang Hao curiously asked: ¡°You were looking for me. What happened?¡± The injured pig-headed human nearby was pitifully noticeable. The wounds weren¡¯t that of a wild beast attack; it looked more like he had been brutally tortured. Combining this with the people¡¯s earlier conversation, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that something had happened at Pigmen Village. ¡°The thing is, there¡¯s a Gnoll Tribe to the east of the village¡­¡± Petty narrated the situation personally from the side. Here¡¯s the thing: the full exploration of the mine allowed Pigmen Village to harvest a large amount of iron ore every day. This greatly sped up the development of both Fang Hao¡¯s territory and the village itself. As time passed by, the Gnoll Tribe had discovered that the Iron-Eating Worms of the mine were eradicated and that a group of undead were mining instead. Fang Hao had stationed a lot of skeleton soldiers in the mining area. The Gnolls did not directly wage war against the undead soldiers but instead captured a patrolling pig-headed human and brutally tortured him, even cutting off two of his fingers. Additionally, the pig-headed human brought back news, ¡°The Gnolls asked a lot of questions about the undead and demanded half of the mining output in the future.¡± After Petty finished speaking, he intended to observe Fang Hao¡¯s reaction. However, the skull face before his eyes didn¡¯t disclose anything besides being frightening. Having listened to Petty¡¯s words, Fang Hao fell silent. This Gnoll Tribe seemed to be contending for the mine, but they also asked a lot of questions about the undead. Because of the increasingly sensitive situation with the Skullcrusher Tribe, his heart grew more concerned. Even if he was overthinking it and the Gnolls simply wanted to share in the spoils, Fang Hao would not agree. They didn¡¯t do anything yet demanded half the mining output. How shameless! ¡°How large is the Gnoll Tribe¡¯s territory? Tell me about their population and military strength,¡± said Fang Hao. Upon hearing this, joy instantly filled the hearts of the pig-headed humans. This meant that the Lord could no longer tolerate the situation and planned to take action. Petty pondered for a moment, then said: ¡°Their Clan Leader is a third-tiered green hero. The population is around 2,000. Pigmen Village is definitely not their match.¡± The population of Pigmen Village was just over a hundred. And there was no hero to defend it, so naturally, they were no match for the Gnolls. If it weren¡¯t for the presence of Fang Hao, the pig-headed humans would not have the right to own the mining area at all. ¡°Okay, I understand. Get ready, and when the army arrives, we will wipe them out.¡± Having said that, Fang Hao immediately withdrew himself from the situation. Awaking from his bedroom, he picked up his magic wand, put on his armor, and walked out of the Stone Tower. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Anjia carrying a black iron treasure box towards him. With a bang, she threw it in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Can you open this? Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything good inside.¡± The treasure box was a special reward for the Lord after a battle. Others couldn¡¯t open it; only Fang Hao and the skeletons possessed by him could. Anjia found the treasure box, fumbled with it for a while but couldn¡¯t open it, so she directly carried it back and threw it in front of Fang Hao. Fang Hao looked at the treasure box on the ground and scratched his head, ¡°Collected from the outside?¡± He had just invoked God¡¯s Presence status and not much time had passed, so where did this black iron treasure box come from? ¡°Oh, I was strolling around our territory and found a nest of Forest Giant Spiders. That¡¯s where I saw this treasure box,¡± Anjia casually said. Fang Hao definitely didn¡¯t believe her. He had cleared the surrounding area with a team, and the territory range was patrolled by many skeletons. Not to mention Forest Giant Spiders, even ordinary beasts kept their distance. Alright, as long as Anjia isn¡¯t in danger, that¡¯s fine. Just open the treasure chest directly. [Received: Beast Bone Fish Spear blueprint, stump stool blueprint, Warfire Coin+11.] Well,¡­ The luck this time is average, there isn¡¯t anything useful. ¡°Anjia, where are the corpses, those of the forest giant spiders?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Thrown over there, why? You want the corpses too? The meat is sour, it can¡¯t be eaten at all.¡± Anjia emphasized. ¡°Not that, corpses can be converted into skeleton soldiers, which can increase the number of soldiers in the territory.¡± ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll go back and get them.¡± Anjia was about to turn around and leave. Fang Hao quickly stopped her and said, ¡°Forget it, come out with me later.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Next, Fang Hao summoned Fireblade and explained the situation about Pigmen Village. This time he wants to wipe out the Gnoll Tribe directly to ensure that the mine can be mined normally without interruption. Twenty thousand infantry, five thousand skeleton ogres, fifteen thousand undead mages. Forty thousand troops, seemingly an overkill just to wipe out the Gnoll Tribe. The reason for bringing so many people is still for his own safety. ¡°Fireblade, you stay and hold the territory, Anjia will go with me.¡± Fang Hao made a choice between his two generals. The reason for choosing Anjia was not because Fireblade was incapable. Instead, Fang Hao was uneasy about Anjia guarding the territory, fearing that she would start her own games as soon as he left. This time, the hero of the Gnolls was only at the green third-order, and any of the heroes could wipe him out. Therefore, Fireblade is left to guard the territory. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Fireblade expressed his understanding. After counting the troops, Fang Hao walked out of the territory with the army, heading towards Pigmen Village. On the way, Fang Hao was lying on a cart, with Anjia also lying beside him. A big plant leaf shielded the sunlight overhead. Lazily, he asked: ¡°Are you actually a human or not?¡± ¡°If you curse me again, I¡¯ll get angry.¡± ¡°No, I mean, are you a living human?¡± Anjia turns around, curiously looking at Fang Hao. ¡°You¡¯ve had several meals with me, can¡¯t you tell if I¡¯m alive or not?¡± Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords and retorted. The undead don¡¯t need to eat. In a way, not needing to eat is also an advantage. ¡°Then how come you can control these skeletons, aren¡¯t you the illegitimate son of some undead king?¡± Anjia continued to ask curiously. Just yesterday, he forced her to sign the contract, she was full of grievances. Now she¡¯s chasing after Fang Hao with questions, her acceptance of reality is quite swift. ¡°Illegitimate son? Have you ever seen a female skeleton?¡± Fang Hao asked in return. ¡°How would I know, I¡¯m asking you! It¡¯s my first time seeing the undead. I¡¯ve never seen them before.¡± Anjia replied. ¡°Due to some special opportunities, I have gained the ability to control the undead. All you need to remember is that our territory belongs to the undead faction. These undead creatures will not harm you.¡± Fang Hao explained. ¡°Oh, so you are human after all.¡± The tone of Anjia¡¯s voice suddenly became gloomy. She lost interest instantly. Fang Hao felt like she was still swearing at him, so he turned away and stopped paying attention to her. Time passed bit by bit, with the team moving forward without a pause. Finally, they arrived at Pigmen Village. From afar, Petty and a group of pigmen were seen waiting at the entrance. As soon as he saw Fang Hao, he came right over to bow, ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, is the room ready?¡± Fang Hao jumped off the cart and asked while walking. ¡°It¡¯s ready, the same room as before.¡± Petty spoke softly. Fang Hao walked straight into the room. Two hundred skeleton soldiers immediately surrounded the house. Even Petty himself wasn¡¯t allowed to approach.. Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 104, Claws Terror - Nigo (Asking for recommendation tickets.)_1 Chapter 104: Chapter 104, Claws Terror ¨C Nigo (Asking for recommendation tickets.)_1 Translator: 549690339 Anjia stood outside the house, curiously observing Pigmen Village. She hadn¡¯t expected there to be an auxiliary village of Orcs outside her territory. ¡°Cough, Chief, this is Miss Anjia, a hero from the Lord¡¯s side,¡± Bolton hurriedly introduced. Then he turned to Anjia and said, ¡°Miss Anjia, this is our Clan Leader, Petty.¡± Upon hearing that the beast-eared girl in front of her was a hero, Petty immediately gave her respects and said, ¡°Miss Anjia.¡± ¡°Mm, if anyone bullies you, tell me, I have your back.¡± Anjia spoke like a big sister and patted Petty¡¯s shoulder. Perhaps it was because they were both female Orcs. Anjia¡¯s attitude towards Petty was much friendlier than that of Bolton and the other male Pigmen. She even said she would protect her. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, Miss Anjia,¡± Petty said with a smile. Just as the two were chatting and getting to know each other better, Fang Hao invoked God¡¯s Presence, possessing a skeleton warrior¡¯s body. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Bolton, lead the way,¡± he said. ¡°Sure, Lord,¡± understood Bolton, nodding. This was Anjia¡¯s first time seeing Fang Hao in this state. Hearing the Pigmen call him ¡®Lord¡¯, she realized that the skeleton was him. Lowering her voice, she asked, ¡°You¡¯ve skinned yourself? Are you that cruel to yourself?¡± ¡°Nothing about skinning, that sounds scary. There is a green Third Rank Hero among the enemies. I¡¯ll leave that to you,¡± as Fang Hao walked ahead, he briefed Anjia about the situation. Anjia was a blue Seventh Rank, with overall strength stronger than that of Fireblade without considering external factors. Soldier to soldier, general to general, this could also save many forces. ¡°Okay,¡± Anjia readily agreed. The party set off again, led by Bolton, heading towards Gnoll Tribe¡¯s territory. Upon departing from Pigmen Village, and headed northeast, the journey became increasingly difficult. The forests were dense, and the shrubs were abundant. They moved through the forest, and after about 20 minutes, they were close to Gnoll Tribe. ¡°Lord if we cross this forest, that would be the village of the Gnolls. The Gnolls are naturally alert. As soon as we step out, it¡¯ll draw their attention.¡± Bolton spoke softly. ¡°Mm,¡± Fang Hao nodded. He moved closer, peering through the gap in the trees. The buildings in the distance were part of the Gnoll village. Through the open city gates, the interior of the tribe could be seen. Tents dotted the landscape, appearing like a large tent gathering. While they were secretly observing, a howling sound emerged from the Gnoll tribe. Then, the busy Gnolls nearby swiftly returned to the tribe, and looked towards the hidden location of Fang Hao and his party from afar. ¡°Lord, it looks like they¡¯ve found us,¡± Bolton said with a wry smile. ¡°So alert!¡± At this moment, a Gnoll emerged from the tribe, tall, with a rusty machete hanging from his waist. He climbed the city wall and loudly said, ¡°Come out! There¡¯s no point playing turtle now.¡± ¡°This is the leader of the Gnolls, Claw Terror ¨C Nigo.¡± Bolton quietly introduced. The reason why the Gnolls acted so aggressively and arrogantly in the nearby area, plundering resources at will, was because of Nigo¡¯s existence. Whether a power has a hero, and the strength of that hero, greatly affects their status in this area. Not everyone is like Fang Hao, possessing an army strength in tens of thousands due to his hundred times amplification. ¡°Let¡¯s go out,¡± Fang Hao said, leading Bolton and several others out. Bolton, Fang Hao, and Anjia were the first to emerge from the bushes. Seeing Bolton appear, the gnoll was momentarily surprised, then burst into laughter. ¡°Bolton, what¡¯s this? Has your clan chief come up with a solution? Did you bring me a woman? She¡¯s too ugly, have your clan chief accompany me for a few days, then everyone will be happy.¡± But the laughter didn¡¯t last long. When hordes of skeleton warriors, towering skeleton ogres, and undead mages appeared. Nigo¡¯s face quickly turned serious, his eyes filled with murderous intent, ¡°You pigmen actually dare to collude with the undead¡­¡± ¡°What are we waiting for; I¡¯m going rip his mouth apart.¡± Anjia removed the tiger¡¯s claw from her waist and wore it on her hand. Although she didn¡¯t care about others¡¯ opinions, no one had ever dared to call her ugly. At this moment, a hero with lower strength than hers dared to insult her, already made Anjia¡¯s heart burn with anger. Fang Hao also didn¡¯t waste words, he directly said: ¡°Form a formation and advance, mages attack from a distance.¡± With Fang Hao¡¯s command, the infantry formed a spear formation and advanced forward. The undead mages began to chant magic spells, with black magic missiles shooting towards the enemies on the wall like parabolic lines. Bang Bang Bang! When magic missiles exploded, gnoll warriors were blasted away. The effects of the dark attribute began to spread among the crowd, demoralizing the troops. Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh! The Gnoll archers began to retaliate, arrows whistling out, hitting the shields making a crackling sound. Despite the intensive arrows, the skeleton soldiers quickly advanced to beneath the city walls, and began the assault on the gate. The tall skeleton ogre, with the crude ladder, rapidly approaching the city wall. Bang! The battle-axe in their hands slashed into the city wall, and a whole row of archers were hacked into mincemeat. Next, they simply put the ladder right by the city wall, and the skeleton soldiers beneath the city began to climb the wall. Then, there was a loud roar beneath the city. The city gate fell under the attack. Skeleton soldiers surged into the city like swarms returning to their nests. Engaging in brutal melee combat. Inside the city. The gnoll soldiers, facing the surging bone-wave, were as weak as tofu. The fierce and bloodthirsty orcs, seemed so powerless and frail at this moment. Nigo stood at the back of his troops, glancing at his rapidly declining subordinates, his eyes red, his face ferocious. ¡°A bunch of low level undead, I¡¯m going to kill you all and then skin all the pigmen.¡± He roared, his knees slightly bent, then leaped high in the air. The cleaver in his hand over his head. Bang! A dull sound blasted, the cleaver slashed straight over a skeleton ogre¡¯s body, cleaving it from shoulder to waist, the body was severed into two halves, scattering into a pile of white bones. Nigo landed, his cleaver swung into a shadowy flurry, which crushed all the surrounding skeleton attackers. For a moment, it stopped the skeleton soldiers from getting close. ¡°Make way, you go kill others.¡± Suddenly, a voice emerged from behind the skeletons. Although the skeletons couldn¡¯t speak, they could understand commands. They didn¡¯t surround Nigo any longer, but bypassed him to continue killing other gnolls. As they pulled away, Anjia, the orc maiden, wearing the tiger¡¯s claw, stepped forward. Nigo stared coldly at Anjia, his voice icy, ¡°Little lady, you seeking death? I ve killed more people than you¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Ugly freak¡­¡± Anjia muttered, stretching her neck. ¡°Seeking death!¡± Nigo cursed angrily, his body steaming with a bloody mist, his eyes turning even more crimson. The next second, his cleaver suddenly swung up, slashing towards Anjia¡¯s ribs. Skill: Bone-picking.. Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: Chapter 105, Letter to the Skullcrusher Tribe __1 Chapter 105: Chapter 105, Letter to the Skullcrusher Tribe __1 Translator: 549690339 Nigo¡¯s knife strike was swift and ruthless, coming in at an incredibly tricky angle. If it were someone else, they would probably have been cleaved in two before they could even register the move, falling to the ground and breathing their last. But Anjia remained calm and composed. Without much thought, she lifted her hand and her metal Tiger¡¯s Claw worked to counter Nigo¡¯s most powerful strike. Clang! The sound of metal colliding rang out, the resulting blast causing clothes to flutter. Then, her other hand smoothly delivered another punch. Boom! Her fist burst forward, causing the ground beneath Nigo to shatter. His body, struck as if by a metal ball, instantly flew back several meters, a pitiful sight.¡¯ ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Anija sneered without launching another attack. Nigo¡¯s face turned more serious. Wiping the trail of blood from the corner of his mouth, he realized that the seemingly young woman before him was a hero of a higher rank than himself. ¡°Have you gone mad? You¡¯re aiding the Undead, we should be on the same side.¡± Nigo was no longer arrogant, he roared accusatively, furious at Anjia for siding with the Undead. ¡°Yo yo! Just a moment ago you were threatening to kill me,¡± Anjia retorted, advancing step by step. ¡°We are of the same race. Together, we can definitely kill these Undead, and then I¡¯ll let you be the Clan Leader,¡± Nigo argued desperately, his grip tightening around his combat knife. ¡°No need, you¡¯re too ugly.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s see who dies,¡± Nigo said as he thrust himself forward from the ground, charging at Anjia. He rapidly swung his combat knife, a myriad of sword shadows inundating Anjia. Anjia remained composed, engaging in Fist Dance combat with her adversary. The speed of their moves grew faster and faster, their attacks more relentless. Seeing that he was on the losing end, Nigo gritted his teeth. With a flick, he deflected Anjia¡¯s attack with his combat knife. Baring his full set of fangs, he lunged his mouth towards Anjia¡¯s neck. Anjia smirked. Skill: Red Tooth. With quick turn of her waist, her elbow stuck out like a fang and collided with Nigo¡¯s temple. Bam!! With a thud to his head, Nigo¡¯s body stiffened for a moment then went limp. Outside the village. Fang Hao was chatting with Bolton. This type of battle posed no fear for him. Within his territory, the more combat there was, the more rapid his development and the greater the scale of his army. An effective war could greatly enhance his strength. Soon, the battle gradually came to an end. The cries of battle within the tribe also diminished and slowly died down, restoring calm. Fang Hao, leading Bolton, started heading inside the village. Just as they reached the entrance, he saw Anjia in the distance, dragging a bloody figure as if he were a dead dog. If it weren¡¯t for the slight rise and fall of the figure¡¯s chest, Fang Hao would have thought he was already dead. Is this their leader?¡± Fang Hao inquired curiously. ¡°Yeah, I figured you could use him, so I didn¡¯t kill him,¡± Anjia replied matter-of-factly. ¡°Good,¡± Fang Hao said. He beckoned to several skeletons, ¡°Tie him up and if he resists, kill him.¡± Over a dozen of the undead creatures picked up hemp ropes and began to bind Nigo tightly. Actually, Fang Hao¡¯s concerns were unnecessary; given Nigo¡¯s condition, he was barely left alive. Handing Nigo over to the skeletons, Anjia immediately caught up with Fang Hao¡¯s pace and asked, ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Loot the place. Take everything valuable.¡± ¡°Awesome! I¡¯m on it!¡± Anjia exclaimed cheerfully. She discovered that she actually got along with Fang Hao quite well. The trio entered the inner part of the tribe. The Gnoll Village, to tell the truth, was not very large, although it was still much better than the small Pigman Village. But it simply could not compare to the Fireblade Tribe. Both in terms of architectural scale and resource reserves, it fell far behind. ¡°Clean up the battlefield, gather resources, remove everything from the tents, and dismantle the tents,¡± Fang Hao immediately ordered. The skeletons standing by sprung into action immediately. They cleaned up the battlefield and began the dismantling work. Fang Hao then led his two companions straight into the Gnoll Clan Leader¡¯s hall. Ordinary wooden furniture, animal horn chandeliers, nothing of great value. Then they moved to the inner chamber. While Anjia began to rummage around haphazardly, Fang Hao immediately spotted a silver treasure chest in the corner. He walked over and opened the chest directly. [Obtained: Blueprint for Marching Tent, Blueprint for Leather Stand, Blueprint for Improved Leather Boots, 80 Warfire Coins, 4 Beast Teeth.] All three items were blueprints, along with 80 Warfire Coins and 4 Beast Teeth that Orcs used in construction. Behind him, Anjia was rummaging through the cabinets. Whether useful or not, everything was dumped onto the ground. -Hey, Fang Hao, is this a letter? It¡¯s all text,¡± Anjia, holding a piece of paper, handed it to Fang Hao. He took it and looked at the content. As a transmigrator to this world, he was endowed with the abilities to understand both the spoken and written language. While the paper was written in bizarre orcish text, Fang Hao could understand its content. It was a letter written by Nigo himself, yet it hadn¡¯t been sent out. The letter mentioned that he had detected a connection between the Pigmen Tribe and the Undead. If necessary, Nigo could lead his clan to eliminate the Pigmen Village. The intended recipient of this letter was the Great Chief Shah. That is, Skullcrusher ¨C Shah. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed, his mind filled with surprise. This Gnoll Clan Leader actually had contacts with the Skullcrusher Tribe in the Cold Mountain Range. What a coincidence. Why would such a small village of a few thousand inhabitants have access to this information? Suddenly, a thought struck Fang Hao. The Bronze Bull ¨C Talok¡¯s clan had 3,000 members and they too had received the news of the Skullcrusher Tribe targeting the Undead territory. Then it was believable that this thousand-strong Gnoll Tribe could be in contact with the Skullcrusher Tribe as well. Going deeper, could the Bronze Bull also be in contact with the Skullcrusher Tribe and not be telling him the truth? After all, he had only met the Bronze Bull twice ¨C they could hardly be called friends, at most they were partners. ¡°Anjia, stop rummaging. We¡¯ll take these pieces of furniture later. Let¡¯s go out first,¡± Fang Hao called out to her. ¡°Aren¡¯t we searching anymore?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave this to the soldiers. We are going to interrogate that Gnoll,¡± packing the items he got, Fang Hao got up and walked out. Hearing that they were going to start the interrogation, Anjia followed him out. They let the skeletons carry all the furniture and items out. The two then went straight to Nigo. At this point, Nigo was tied up like a bundle, but the powerful recovery ability of the orcs had already improved his appearance greatly. He was no longer a mangy dead dog. ¡°Nigo, how did you know that Shah is planning to deal with the Undead?¡± Fang Hao sat down in front of him and asked softly. Nigo glared viciously at the two, then immediately turned his head to the side. He remained silent. Thud! Anjia kicked him directly in the stomach, sending his body flying out like a sandbag. Two skeletons immediately went over and dragged the far-flung Nigo back. ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to speak, I¡¯ll leave you to her. You¡¯re both orcs, maybe you can find some common ground.¡± Fang Hao said. Nigo cast a fearful glance at Anjia. He spat out the blood in his mouth, and said, ¡°Not long ago, the scouting team from the Skullcrusher Tribe came by. They said they had news to tell them, and they would reward me..¡± Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 107, Stone Monster Construct_l Chapter 107: Chapter 107, Stone Monster Construct_l Translator: 549690339 [Enhanced Leather Boots: Thick Leather 3, Yarn 2, Metal Parts 2.] Yarn is a general term, both flax and cotton yarn are referred to as yarn. He has metal parts, but thick leather has to be processed with a leather rack before it comes out as a finished product. He started crafting now. There was still plenty of time, and the unknown sense of danger brought by the Skullcrusher made him tense. In the following time, Fang Hao once again opened the Book of Lords to review the newly obtained map. This map was purchased yesterday from Manim Tavern, located in the southwest direction of Manim Market. It¡¯s called Mysterious Cave. If he set off now, there was enough time to return to the territory before nightfall. On this departure, the configuration remained the same as before, with a force of fifty thousand soldiers, and Anjia accompanying. Taking into consideration the cave, he had prepared plenty of torches. He returned to his room and manifested God¡¯s Presence on to one of the Skeleton soldiers. Then, with most of his troops, he left the territory in a mighty procession once again. Three hours later. Fang Hao and others finally arrived at this mysterious cave with the help of the map. It was different from what Fang Hao had imagined. This cave was not a hole in the mountain but a huge pit hole on the ground with a diameter of about 5 meters. Instead of forming naturally, it seemed more like a hole collapsed after an earthquake. Standing near the hole, he could feel a chilly and uncomfortable feeling coming from within. ¡°How did someone record this and sell it as a blueprint?¡± Anjia looked down into the cave and asked. In her opinion, this was just a big hole formed by geological changes. It wasn¡¯t worth one Warfire Coin at all. Fang Hao ignored her and looked down too. Under the cave was a pool of water, he didn¡¯t know whether it was from the original mountain or accumulated rainwater. The sides of the pool were rocks covered with moss, and through the dark depths, he could faintly see a small path leading further inside. ¡°Make a rope ladder, prepare to go down.¡± Fang Hao shouted out the order. Adhering to his principle of frugality, Fang Hao, whenever leading his troops out, would have the Skeletons push a substantial number of carts. So that any spoils of war could be brought back. It was the same this time, more than one hundred carts, equipped with prepared hemp ropes. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s commands, the Skeletons started knotting the ropes, making them into rope ladders. When everything was ready, they lit the torches and started climbing down the rope ladder into the cave. The torchlight illuminated the surroundings. On the side of the pool, there was indeed a passage leading to the depths. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Damn¡­!¡± Suddenly, Anjia, who was standing behind, made Fang Hao, who was contemplating the passage, shudder unexpectedly. The torch in his hand almost dropped. ¡°Why are you an undead so nervous?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°You scared me. What¡¯s up?¡± Fang Hao replied annoyed. ¡°I just want to ask, was this dug by humans?¡± Anjia ran her hand over the cave wall. Fang Hao approached the wall and scrutinized it carefully. He could indeed see some marks left by tools. But it didn¡¯t seem as if it was entirely dug out, it appeared more like an existing hole that had been artificially expanded. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s been expanded twice over, seems like there might be something interesting inside.¡± Fang Hao replied, nodding. ¡°Exploring, I like it.¡± Anjia was quite enthusiastic. ¡°If there¡¯s danger, retreat first.¡± Fang Hao reminded her. After all, he was using God¡¯s Presence, and his other troops were also Skeleton soldiers. If Anjia encountered danger, it would indeed be dangerous. Fang Hao didn¡¯t want Nelson to turn her into a Skeleton Hero either. ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Anjia casually replied. About a hundred Skeleton soldiers had come down. The Skeleton Ogres, due to their huge size, simply could not descend. The remaining Skeleton soldiers stayed above. If they encountered any danger, this would allow them to respond in a timely manner. Once everything was ready, the two with hundred Skeletons headed directly into the cave. The cave was dark and deep, the flickering glow of the torches reflected on the cave walls, turning them into an orange-red hue. As they delved deeper, the caliber of the tunnel increasingly widened. There were no intersections, just a straight path leading further in. Fang Hao cast a careful look at the ores on either side of the mountain. They weren¡¯t any specific type of ore and held no value for mining. The journey continued. As they emerged from the cave, an expansive underground space revealed itself. A giant palace was carved out by human hands. The carvings on the wall were life-like, with glowing Nightstone lanterns sporadically placed every few metres, emanating a faint light. ¡°Do people live here?¡± Anjia whispered in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The damp and cold here is bound to give one rheumatism,¡± Fang Hao replied. Even if it were a skeleton living here, moss would definitely grow on its bones. ¡°What¡¯s rheumatism?¡± ¡°Nothing important, there¡¯s definitely treasures to be found here,¡± Fang Hao deflected the subject. ¡°True,¡± Anjia said, her excitement evident in her expression. Who could resist the allure of an imminent treasure? Extinguishing their torches, the few people stepped into the main hall. As they entered, slight creaking sounds echoed from both sides. Within the dim light emitted by the Nightstones¡­ Four figures detached themselves from the wall, moving about mechanically. [Stone Monster Construct Warrior (Rank 5)] Sighting the attributes of the opponents, Fang Hao¡¯s pupils constricted slightly. These stone monsters were unlike any regular creatures. They were covered in stone armor, complex patterns carved into the armor. Their hands held a long blade showing signs of rust and decay. Seeing that the creatures were rank five, Fang Hao furrowed his brow. This was a type of creature he¡¯d never encountered before. He¡¯d assumed they were stone people or stone spirits or the like; he didn¡¯t expect them to be called Stone Monster Constructs. Watching the stone monsters, moving their rigid bodies slowly towards him¡­ Fang Hao gave the command to prepare for battle, ¡°Form ranks, prepare for battle.¡± The skeleton army sprang into action. They quickly formed a battle formation, their spears targeting the approaching stone monsters. ¡°Why so tense? There¡¯s no threat,¡± Anjia said, pushing off the ground and morphing into a shadow charging towards a stone monster. Her right arm slightly bent, she sent a punch flying. Boom! With the dispersion of her energy, a loud rumble echoed. The chest of the stone monster suddenly shattered, revealing gears and several metallic components inside. ¡°Holy-! A robot.¡± The sight startled Fang Hao into an outburst. Apparently, the stones wrapped around the exterior were merely a shell, the interior was akin to a complex, precise structure. Fang Hao was surprised, but Anjia didn¡¯t hold back at all. Her punch was powerful, knocking the stone monster backwards like a punching bag, until it finally shattered into fragments. After defeating one, without pausing, she rushed towards another, fists and kicks flying everywhere. In contrast to Anjia¡¯s overwhelming and violent style, Fang Hao¡¯s side was having a bit more difficulty. Due to the limited space, only 100 skeleton soldiers had made it inside. Even if they still had numerical advantage, to Fang Hao, it wasn¡¯t truly a war of attrition. Even muttering under his breath, daring them to go outside for a fair fight. Clang! Clang! Spears and swords continuously chopped at the stone monsters, creating a symphony of clanging sounds. The battle lasted over ten minutes. Fang Hao¡¯s skeleton squad had taken down 2 stone monsters, while Anjia eliminated 4. on her own. ¡°Here, see what this is for,¡± Anjia tossed over a jadelike round sphere. It was completely translucent, allowing him to see the energetic bluish-white turbulence inside. [Energy Core] [Category: Energy medium] (Description: Small construct energy crystal, storing powerful energy within. Essential energy core for the operation of a construct..) Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 108, Stone Coffin_i Chapter 108: Chapter 108, Stone Coffin_i Translator: 549690339 Based on the introduction of the Energy Core. Fang Hao understood its purpose. It¡¯s just a battery. A tool that provides an energy source. ¡°Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything else we can dismantle from these things.¡± Fang Hao pointed to the disassembled constructs on the ground. The skeletons began to act. In total, they obtained 6 Energy Cores, 12 metal parts, 4 precision parts. There was also a rusty metal knife. The weapon had nothing special, white equipment, and had already been corroded beyond recognition by the dampness. Fang Hao had the blueprint for metal parts. But he didn¡¯t expect to get precision parts here. The last time he got the blueprint of a fire gun, one of the components was precision parts. All the items obtained were carefully stored, and everyone continued to advance. This place is like a subterranean palace. When they reached the end, they saw an arched brick tunnel leading to the next area. Below the corridor, there was a black iron treasure chest. Now seeing a black iron level treasure chest, Fang Hao was not too surprised. He once prayed before opening a chest, greeting various gods of fortune. Now, he was more discerning and anything less than gold did not catch his eye. He opened the chest directly, and a light appeared. [Obtained: Black Iron Knight Sword Blueprint (green), Low-level Mental Potion, 11 Warfire Coins.] A green sword popped out. Skeleton warriors had Sword and Shield Mastery, but the weapon in their hands was a white iron sword. Now that he had obtained a green single-handed sword, it was just right to equip all soldiers with better gear. [Black Iron Knight Sword (green): 3 cast iron blocks, 1 tough wood, 1 leather.] Good Lord. This Black Iron Knight Sword, two out of its three materials were of level two. Other than Fang Hao, most lords, even if they got the blueprint, would have difficulty making it. After looking at the Black Iron Knight Sword, he continued to look at the lower-grade Mental Potion. [Low-Level Mental Potion] [Type: Potion] [Effect. Restores a certain amount of spiritual power.] He had obtained a healing potion once before. When Dong Jiayue was injured, he had given it to her through the trading platform. Today, he also got a Spiritual Potion that restores spiritual power. He placed all spoils of war in his bag and continued to the next level through the corridor with his command of people and horses. The second level, similar to the first, was somewhat smaller, but the decoration was a bit more lavish. Apart from carvings on the walls, there are parts where colored patterns can be seen. They depict some status of human life. This caused Fang Hao to fall into deep thought. Is this a tomb? It feels somewhat like a cemetery. On both sides of the wall, there were still statue-like [Stone Monster Construct Warriors (level 5)], [stone Monster Construct Spearmen (level 5)], [stone Monster Construct Fire Lizards (level 5)]. Compared to the first level, the second level had an increased number of stone monsters, reaching a total of 12. Among them, the Fire Lizard construct was not a humanoid construct, rather it was more like a giant lizard, a crocodile made of stone. As they entered, the Stone Construct Monsters once again broke free from their shackles, taking slow steps to kill the invaders. Prepare for battle, Anjia, take it easy, don¡¯t damage the core.¡± Fang Hao raised his shield and reminded. Although he didn¡¯t know the specific function of the Energy Core, it was certainly a valuable item. He didn¡¯t want to wreck it as much as possible but rather collect some. Alright.¡± Anjia responded and couldn¡¯t wait any longer, hurtling towards the stone monster. For a blue-level seven hero dealing with these level five creatures, it was indeed simple. However, it was not so easy for Fang Hao. The weapon in his hand smacked against the Stone Monster, making a clanging sound, but the Stone Monster¡¯s power was great. Each ordinary slash, even if blocked with an iron shield, would force the level 2 Skeleton to retreat several steps. Whoosh!! At that moment, a Fire Lizard Stone Monster, quickly charged to the front of the formation. Opening its wide mouth, it spat out a blaze. Several Skeleton Warriors were set alight, burnt to ashes in the large fire. Disperse and attack, first target the Fire Lizard Stone Monster.¡± A moment of shock passed through Fang Hao as he quickly issued the command. The formation swiftly dispersed, all focusing their attacks on the Fire Lizard Stone Monsters in a chaotic frenzy. Twenty minutes later. They finally achieved victory. Looking at the scattered stone parts and white bones on the ground, he gently shook his head. Even though they had eradicated all the stone monsters in this area, the casualties among the skeletons were also high. They had lost more than 80 Skeleton Soldiers, and the remaining ones were in a ragged state. ¡°Anjia, take the team to clean up the battlefield, I¡¯ll go and summon more skeletons,¡± commanded Fang Hao. Anjia shrugged her shoulders indifferently, indicating that Fang Hao could call the shots. Fang Hao had a strange feeling. Was it just him or had Anjia become more obedient? Maybe she had grown up overnight? Fang Hao pulled out, and summoned another 300 Skeleton Soldiers. This time, the entire area was instantly crowded. Gathering the loot. 12 Energy Cores, 21 metal parts, 8 precision parts. Similarly, at the end of the area, was a passageway to the next area. To the side, there was a black iron chest. Opening the chest. [Blacksmith Shop Blueprint, Wooden Mask Blueprint, 2 Health Potions, 12 Warfire Coins.] This second area actually produced a blueprint for a blacksmith shop. Personally, Fang Hao felt that a blacksmith¡¯s shop wasn¡¯t of much use to him. Whether it was weapons or armor, he made everything using the Book of Lords. With the hundred-fold amplification effect, he could quickly produce a large amount of equipment. It was just that his territory was still rather remote. If he expanded his market in the future, he could sell equipment to all the races in the area. On his own, this would definitely be a major war profiteer. So, a blacksmith shop, or rather a blacksmith, was not necessary for him. Of course, since the blueprint turned up, he would build it when he got back, to increase the productivity of his territory. Inspecting the second blueprint. [Wooden Mask (Green)] [Category: Mask Blueprint] [Ability: Level 1 Fear] [Level 1 Fear]: Wearing the mask has a chance to invoke level 1 fear status, causing the enemy ¡®living creatures¡¯ squads to experience fear, demoralization and other negative states. (Fear effect can¡¯t be stacked, takes the maximum level of fear value.) (Description: The mask originated as a mold for construct facial armor. With modifications over time, it has formed into the mask we have today. The mask is painted with various ghoul-like faces, causing unease and fear in those who see it.) Not bad, another piece of equipment. When fighting against the Skullcrusher Tribe, I¡¯ll have all the skeletons wear these masks. Even if there¡¯s a chance of inducing fear, with an army of thousands, that chance multiplies exponentially. I¡¯ll scare the hell out of you. There s nothing special about the health potion, we¡¯ve gotten it before. Put away everything, continue to the next level. Passing through the long, narrow corridor. Immediately entered the third area. Also, the last area. The Nightstone lanterns were replaced with gold ones, and there were many burial objects like pottery, jewelry, decaying and ruined paintings, etc. They were referred to as burial objects because at the end of the area in front, there was a stone coffin. However, the crust of the earth here had experienced a fracture, causing a large part of the stone coffin to collapse. This area did not have the stone monster constructs of the previous two areas. At the center of the location, a new type of construct, two meters tall and covered in iron armor, was kneeling. [Iron Monster Construct (Level 7)] Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 110, Assembly Blueprint l Chapter 110: Chapter 110, Assembly Blueprint l Translator: 549690339 Don¡¯t even mention the phantom fox right before his eyes, who is a wild undead. He wouldn¡¯t even trust Eira, a bunny girl who appeared weak at first glance, when he first met her. Only by signing a contract and limiting the other party by rules would he feel safe to leave them alone. If this female ghost was willing to sign a contract, he would be willing to add another type of soldier to his territory. Having a newly born undead creature with such high wisdom could potentially trigger a hidden plotline. However, if she wasn¡¯t willing¡­ Fang Hao naturally wouldn¡¯t insist, claiming what he could and going on his own separate ways. The air fell into a silence. After several seconds of silence, the wandering spirit finally spoke. ¡°Master, I¡¯m willing to sign a contract with you.¡± Finishing her words, she made an elegant bow. ¡°Good, let me welcome you in advance. Once we have finished sorting out the items here, you may follow us back to the territory,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, master.¡± The skeleton soldiers began their operation, starting to comb through the entire hall. The spirit quickly adapted to the role, proactively leading the skeletons and unveiling every tucked away item. Meanwhile, Fang Hao took advantage of this time to start opening the treasure chest. A flash of light. An item appeared before Fang Hao. [Acquired: Black Iron Open-faced Helmet Blueprint (Green), Simple Hand Saw Blueprint (Green), Sound-transmitting Shell, Stone Monster Assembly Blueprint (Blue), Golden Mammoth Assembly Blueprint (Purple), Mammoth Assembly Troop Saddle (Blue), Healing Potion x5, Warfire Coin x220.] Swish, swish, swish!! The dazzling light of the blueprints almost blinded him. Blueprints cluttered in front of Fang Hao. These blueprints included a wide variety: equipment blueprints, tool blueprints, and even blueprints of assembled structures. He had just encountered the power of these assembled structures. Even the initial Stone Monster, with its layer of stone armor, was impervious to swords and spears. Confronted with the hacking of a horde of skeletons, it had only caused sparks to fly. Without Anjia, and with the tomb restricting the number of soldiers, dealing with these assembled structures would have posed a serious challenge. Even though it was a golden treasure chest, it was a top-tier treasure chest of the type, with so many items. Fang Hao started checking the attributes of each item. [Black Iron Open-faced Helmet: Leather x5, Iron x3, Iron Plate x4.] (Description: The Open-faced Helmet can provide more comprehensive defense for the head.) This was a good quality green armor item. Once mass-produced, it could substantially enhance defense. Whether it is for equipping soldiers or for sale, it could fetch a good price. [Simple Hand Saw: Hard Resilient Wood xi, Cast Iron Block xi, Metal Parts x2.] (Description: The appearance of the handsaw made logging and wood processing much more convenient and simple.) A handsaw¡­ interesting. [Sound-transmitting Shell] [Category: Tool] [Ability: Sound transmission] (Description: A complicatedly crafted but extremely difficult to use one-way communication device.) This wasn¡¯t the first time Fang Hao had seen a Sound-transmitting Shell. Last time at the Manim Market, a slave trader gave him a Sound-transmitting Shell to facilitate contact in the future. Sound-transmitting Shell comes in pairs: speak into the mother shell, and it will one-way transmit the sound to the daughter shell. It is useful as a communication tool. Currently, the territory wasn¡¯t too vast, the only place he needed to have contact with was the Pigmen Village. Whenever he had to pass any information to the Pigmen Village, he used God¡¯s Presence, passing his instructions through the stationed skeleton soldiers and then disconnecting. It was much more convenient than using the Sound-transmitting Shell. [Stone Monster Assembly: Energy Core xi, Basic Head Part xl, Head Stone Armor xi, Basic Torso Part xi, Torso Stone Armor xl, Basic Arm Part x2, Arm Stone Armor x2, Basic Leg Part x2, Leg Stone Armor x2.] (Description: The Construct Troops serve as loyal guards, standing by like stone sculptures, and the moment they discover an enemy they initiate an endless assault. (Minor damages can be repaired by accompanying engineers to continue the battle.)) [Golden Mammoth Construct: Large Energy Core 1, Mammoth Basic Head Part 1, Mammoth Golden face armor 1, Mammoth Basic Torso Part 1, Mammoth Golden Body Armor 1, Mammoth Leg Parts 4, Mammoth Golden Leg Armor 4, Mammoth Tusks 2, Magic Cannon 1.] (Description: A construct modeled after a mammoth, its colossal size as formidable as a dragon, its robust body can trample over all defenses, stepping into devastated prey groups, reaping the living. (Minor damages can be repaired by accompanying engineers to continue the battle.)) The consecutive appearance of two constructs made Fang Hao frown slightly. These things, to Fang Hao, felt like robots put on armor. They possess strength and abilities that ordinary people can¡¯t compete with. In other words, the Stone Monster Construct is already quite powerful. If constructed, it can greatly enhance the strength of the territory. But the materials required for construction are substantial. Trying to gather these materials is indeed a difficult task. As for the Golden Mammoth Construct, in his mind, he can already imagine a giant mammoth covered in golden armor charging on the battlefield. Everywhere it goes, soldiers are flattened into minced meat, the defense walls are smashed down. Even just thinking about it felt exhilarating. The problem still lies in the production materials. With so many materials, it seems very difficult to obtain them. After checking the blueprint properties, the skeletons¡¯ search is also nearing the end. Everyone, loaded with spoils of war, slowly began to exit the tomb passage. Along the way, they plucked the Nightstones from the first two areas and took them all away. They returned all the way to the entrance and climbed out using the rope ladder. By the time they left the pit, it was already near dusk. All the skeleton army, along with the newly joined wandering spirits, began to return to the territory. With Anjia leading, Fang Hao directly ended the God¡¯s Presence, waking up from the room in the territory. He got up from the bed and stretched his muscles and bones. His mood was still pretty good. Exploring this cave, he didn¡¯t really hold much hope. But unexpectedly, he stumbled upon an ancient tomb and received plentiful spoils from it. Not to mention the gold and silver treasures, these things are immaterial. In terms of blueprints alone, he obtained many kinds. Including the Black Iron Knight Sword manufacturing blueprint, Blacksmith shop construction blueprint, Wooden mask making blueprint, Black Iron Open-faced Helmet making blueprint, Simple hand saw making blueprint, Stone Monster Construct making blueprint, Golden Mammoth Construct making blueprint. Also, Magic Potions and healing potions. These items can help the overall strength of the territory make a substantial leap. The danger level of the Skullcrusher Tribe will, in time, be significantly reduced. He left the Stone Tower. Eira was teaching the other rabbit people some rules of the territory. Like a little teacher, she explained and demonstrated at the same time. Seeing Fang Hao come out, the rabbit people immediately got up to salute. ¡°Master, shall I prepare dinner?¡± Eira asked. Under normal circumstances, it would already be mealtime. But since Fang Hao was constantly using God¡¯s Presence, Eira had postponed the dinner time. ¡°Wait a bit for Anjia to return.¡± ¡°Alright, master.¡± Eira continued to lecture the rabbit people on knowledge. Fang Hao walked to the side, listing today¡¯s Rejuvenation Springs for sale. The resources exchanged are also biased, prioritizing the acquisition of Shadowstones. Then, a whole bunch of people were asking what Shadowstone is and what it¡¯s used for. Now, the only thing hindering his construction upgrade progress is the Shadowstone. Because of the Skullcrusher Tribe¡¯s targeting, he also needs to hurry up and speed up the development progress. Finally, Anjia led the team back to the territory.. Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter ill, Little You_1 Chapter 111: Chapter ill, Little You_1 Translator: 549690339 Returning to his territory. The skeleton soldiers sorted all the booty they carried. Some were sent to the warehouse, others to the storage places for basic supplies. Anjia walked into the hall, casually tossing a bag filled with various blueprints and an energy core to Fang Hao. The latter received it and added it all to the Book of Lords. Compared to the jewels gleaned from the outside, these blueprints are the true rewards. ¡°That little ghost is waiting outside, should we let her in?¡± Anjia grabbed some fruit and began eating as she spoke. The wandering spirit from the ancient tomb, had not officially joined the territory and was considered an outdoor soldier. With Anjia¡¯s guidance, she could enter the territory, but if she wanted to enter the Lord¡¯s mansion, she needed Fang Hao¡¯s permission. Otherwise, it would be deemed as an attack, and she would come under attack by the soldiers within the territory. ¡°Let her in,¡± said Fang Hao. Anjia went to the door and led the wandering spirit inside. Not long after. Anjia returned, followed by the drifting figure of a woman in spirit form. As she entered the lord¡¯s hall, There was a look of surprise on the spectre¡¯s face when she saw Fang Hao on the white bone throne. She was a bit slow to react, the lord she had just seen was a skeleton, and now he appeared in human form. ¡°Wandering Spirit, I am giving you a chance. Do you want to join our territory? If so, I can sign a contract with you. If not, you are free to leave,¡± Fang Hao sat on his throne, his face solemn. Without any hesitation, the spirit hiked up her transparent dress a little and bowed slightly, ¡°Respected lord, I am willing to join your territory.¡± On the way here, Anjia had not restricted her freedom, She was free to follow the procession. If she wanted to leave, she could do so at any time, and no one would stop her. By the time she made it to Fang Hao, she had already made her choice. ¡°Good.¡± Fang Hao did not waste words, he directly opened the Book of Lords, chose a blank slave contract, and signed it with the ghost. Unlike contracts with living creatures, The spectre did not need to imprint her hand in blood. After both parties agreed, An ash-blue fingerprint automatically appeared on the slave¡¯s space. The contractual process was complete. [The spectre, her current loyalty to you is 70 points.] Perhaps because they are both from the undead camp, The spectre¡¯s initial loyalty reached 70 points directly. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Being the first female ghost in the territory, he should at least know her name when they meet. -My lord, I have no name. Please, could you give me one?¡± The spectre floated there as she spoke. Ah¡­this was a problem¡­ Naming someone was a challenging task. Under her expectant gaze, Fang Hao directly said, ¡°You¡¯re a girl, so how about Little You? I hope that you are carefree and untroubled in the future.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord. I really like this name. I will be called Little You from now on,¡± Little You smiled slightly. However, her smile was slightly chilling on the face of a ghost. [The spectre Little You¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 5 points, the current loyalty is 75 points.] Fang Hao also gave a slight smile. Indeed, a pleasant conversation does wonders. Immediately, he began to look at Little You¡¯s stats. [Spectre (Tier 3)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Ethereal, Vulnerable to Light] [Skills: Spirit Possession, Dark Void, Unfinished Business] [Innate Abilities: Junior Combat Mastery] [Ethereal]: All physical damage is reduced by 25%. [Spirit Possession]: The spirit can possess a living target for extended periods. (Variables such as the target¡¯s rank, conscious awareness, intention, etc., affect the success rate of possession.) [Dark Void]: Existing in the darkness, the spirit body is not restricted by terrain. [Unfinished Business]: Unfulfilled wishes from life, assist the spirit in completing its wishes, and there¡¯s a chance that it may recover its memories and evolve into a hero. (Wishes: Gather her collection of 12 Swords of Absolution from when she was alive.) (Notes: They are bound here, neither eating nor sleeping, constanting reliving the agony of their impending death.) As expected¡­ This spirit is no ordinary undead. Not only does it possess many skills, but it also carries a unique storyline. If I can fulfill her wishes, there¡¯s a chance that she could evolve into a hero. Fang Hao looked back at the spirit and asked, ¡°Little You, do you know of the 12 Swords of Absolution?¡± Little You¡¯s figure wavered and she responded curiously, ¡°Are they weapons? I don¡¯t know much about weapons.¡± It¡¯s probably due to a loss of memory. It seems like I will have to find the 12 Swords of Absolution myself. ¡°Alright then, welcome to the team. Familiarize yourself with the territory. I¡¯ll build you a house after dinner. From then on, you¡¯ll live there,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± She said and then floated out of the Manor. After Little You left, Eira¡¯s dinner was ready. The two of them sat down to eat at the dining table. Fang Hao habitually opened the Book of Lords, browsing through it while eating. Anjia was enthusiastic and narrated their adventure in the ancient tomb today to Eira while describing the origins of the female ghost in their territory. Eira listened with wide eyes, both scared and filled with curiosity about the upcoming events. After dinner¡­ Fang Hao exited the room. He happened to see Little You, floating in from afar. The sky was getting dark, and if it weren¡¯t for the streetlights lit by Nightstone, it would have been challenging to spot her figure in the dark. ¡°My Lord,¡± Little You said softly. Most of the territory is inhabited by the Skeletons. Little You had toured around the territory and familiarized herself with the surroundings. -Well, there aren¡¯t many rules around the territory. Just stay away from the Viscera Museum, avoid hurting others, and feel free to reach out to me if there¡¯s any issue.¡± As Fang Hao moved, he softly instructed. The Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson¡¯s standing in the territory was only second to Fang Hao¡¯s. Whether it was his knowledge or the ability to create skeleton heroes, both were enough for him to garner this treatment. As such, not interfering with Nelson¡¯s work was of great importance. -As you command, my Lord. I will remember your orders.¡± Little You followed behind softly. The two of them, one leading the other, arrived at the area near the Undead construction. -I¡¯ll build your house here, is that okay with you?¡± Fang Hao said. Even though spirits are undead and intangible, they still need a place of rest. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Fang Hao nodded, opened the Book of Lords, found the housing section, and constructed directly. Bright lights flashed, and a wooden house appeared before Fang Hao. Then, he immediately upgraded the wooden house to level 4, transforming it into a two-story building. [Little You¡¯s loyalty towards you increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 8o points.] After the construction of the house, Little You joyfully twirled in the air. Her loyalty also increased. It seems that a house indeed provides a sense of safety for women, an age-old truth. ¡°The storeroom is full of furniture. Look for what you need, and I will instruct the skeletons to move them into your room.¡± The furniture in the territory was all scavenged from various tribes. They were unsellable and useless otherwise. Everything was piled up in the storage area. ¡°Thank you, my Lord. Speaking of furniture, I noticed a wooden coffin in the corner of the storeroom, may I have it?¡± Little You said. ¡°A coffin?¡± Fang Hao frowned, trying to recall when there was a coffin in the storeroom. He then remembered that there indeed was a coffin. [Beautiful Corpse Coffin].. Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 112, Skeleton Blacksmith l Chapter 112: Chapter 112, Skeleton Blacksmith l Translator: 549690339 The Exquisite Corpse-rejuvenation Coffin was an item he had scavenged from Shadowwind Castle. No one had died in his territory, so it had never been put to use. Now that Little You mentioned it, Fang Hao remembered the beautifully crafted wooden coffin tucked away in a corner of the warehouse. ¡°You want that coffin?¡± Fang Hao curiously asked. A broken stone coffin appeared in his mind. The stone coffin that housed Little You¡¯s body had collapsed halfway, damaging her corpse. Did her subconscious still want a coffin? ¡°Can I? If you have other uses for it, then never mind,¡± Little You hurriedly explained. ¡°There¡¯s no other use for it. But what use would you have for this wooden coffin?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Sir, I am in a formless state, this wooden coffin would benefit me,¡± Little You answered. ¡°Alright, if it¡¯s useful to you then you can have it.¡± The two of them went to the warehouse, and had the skeleton warriors move some furniture into Little You¡¯s wooden cabin. Even though she only asked for the corpse-rejuvenation coffin and nothing else, the room seemed empty without anything else in it. After all, many valuable items had been discovered in the ancient tomb. [Exquisite Corpse-rejuvenation Coffin (Blue)] [Category: Corpse-rejuvenation Coffins] (Description: A corpse-rejuvenation coffin from the Eternal Night Clan. Lying in it makes one instantly tranquil, and it is said to nourish the soul.) It seemed that the property of nourishing the soul might benefit Little You. The skeletons then moved the corpse-rejuvenation coffin into Little You¡¯s room. Little You floated directly into the coffin, even trying to lie down in it. It was as if she were floating in the middle of the coffin. It was unclear if this counted as getting in the coffin. Little You was delighted to receive the corpse-rejuvenation coffin, and her loyalty to Fang Hao increased by 10 points, reaching 90 points. As for whether or not the corpse-rejuvenation coffin would have nourishing effect on a wandering spirit, that was no longer important. With everything in order, Fang Hao left Little You¡¯s cabin. He went to the industrial district to construct the buildings from blueprints he had. Arriving at the blacksmith¡¯s forge, he opened the Book of Lords and flipped to the building page. [Tier 1 Blacksmith¡¯s Workshop: Wood 600, Stone 850, Leather 300, Hemp Rope 200, Iron 150.] Construct! The construction time for a Tier 1 Blacksmith Workshop is five minutes. Among the Tier 1 buildings, it takes one of the longest durations. Five minutes passed. The Blacksmith Workshop had been constructed and appeared before Fang Hao. [Tier 1 Blacksmith¡¯s Workshop] [Recruit Available: Blacksmith] [Blacksmith: Wriggling Spine 1] (Note: You can recruit soldiers of the corresponding faction at this build site for iron forging and weapon repairs.) [Materials Required for Upgrading: Wood 1200, Stone 1500, Leather 500, Hemp Rope 220, Iron 200.] Its function is the same as that of the tailor¡¯s shop. It allows you to recruit functional troops. The Blacksmith Workshop serves to recruit blacksmiths for iron forging and repairs. Having sufficient resources, Fang Hao directly upgraded it to Level 4. When the Blacksmith Workshop reached Level 5, the materials required changed. [5th Level Blacksmith¡¯s Shop: Wood 5200, Stone 7300, Hardwood 750, StoneBrick 600, Iron 500, Metal Parts 120, Red Flame Essence 2.] The consumption of materials increased exponentially. Fortunately, these materials could be obtained in abundance from the Rejuvenation Spring¡¯s regional channel every day. This could support his building consumption. Upgrade. [5th level Blacksmith¡¯s Workshop] [Recruit Available: Blacksmith] [Blacksmith: Wriggling Spine 1] [Ability: Focus.] [Focus]: Work efficiency +5%. (Note: You can recruit troops of this building¡¯s affiliation here for the forging and repair of iron tools and weapons.) [Upgrade required: 6000 lumber, 7500 stone, 900 hardwood, 1000 stone bricks, 600 iron, 220 metal parts, 4 red flame essence.] Upgraded to level 5, the blacksmith shop has unlocked new capabilities. The blacksmith¡¯s work efficiency has increased by 5%. With the construction completed, the next step is to recruit blacksmiths. [Blacksmith: Wriggling Spine 1, would you like to recruit?] Confirm the recruitment. [A hundred-fold amplification is triggered, 101 skeleton blacksmiths are recruited.] A flash of light, 101 skeletons wearing shiny leather aprons and holding metal hammers appear in front of Fang Hao. They also have skeleton bodies. But compared to the tailor skeleton, the blacksmith¡¯s skeleton is even larger. In their hollow pupils, a bluish soul flame is flashing. [Skeleton Blacksmith (Tier 1)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerability to Light.] [Skills: Focus, Iron Processing.] [Innate Skills: Level 1 Blacksmith Mastery.] (Note: Illuminated by a blazing fire, the blacksmith forges metal weapons and tools on the anvil.) [Iron Processing: Skillfully operates the forge, speeding up the smelting speed of the finished product.] The forge is used to smelt iron into cast iron blocks. Now it¡¯s operated by the laborer skeletons. Afterward, it is handed over to the blacksmiths to operate, which will also improve the speed. ¡°Lord, we are at your service.¡± The blacksmiths saluted in unison. Like the tailors, they all have independent souls, capable of speech and independent thought. ¡°Welcome everyone.¡± Fang Hao smiled, then looked at one of the blacksmiths. ¡®What¡¯s your name?¡± The skeleton blacksmith who was called stepped forward two steps and respectfully said, ¡°My Lord, my name is Coulon.¡± ¡°Good, Coulon, from now on you are in charge of the blacksmiths. I will be giving the tasks to you, and you will distribute them.¡± Fang Hao said softly. [Undead Clan Blacksmith Coulon¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 10 points, current loyalty 90.] ¡°Thank you for your trust, my lord.¡± Coulon saluted once again. His expression didn¡¯t change much, but his loyalty increased by 10 points immediately. ¡°I¡¯m going to build some forges, and when they¡¯re ready you¡¯ll take the place of the laborer skeletons. Repair the equipment in the warehouse as well.¡± Fang Hao said, while walking and giving instructions. He immediately went to the forge construction area, increasing the number of forges to 50. With the previous experience from the tailor, he again built houses for these skeleton blacksmiths, told them they could rest and arranged their work schedules. The loyalty of all the blacksmiths collectively increased by 5 points again. After finishing the construction of the blacksmith shop. Fang Hao started to return to the lord¡¯s mansion. While walking, a weak voice came from his side, ¡°My Lord, kind human, please let me go.¡± In the dim comer shrouded in darkness beyond the reach of the Nightstone¡¯s light, the Gnoll leader, Claw Horror ¨C Nigo, was imprisoned. The moonlight was hazy. In the black iron cage, Nigo was bound hand and foot, lying there with injuries all over his body. He was surrounded by hundreds of skeleton soldiers, all watching Nigo. Weakness and injuries made Nigo worry that these people had no intention of letting him live. They were just looking for a way to dispose of him. ¡°Do you have new information to tell me?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t approach, but asked softly towards the darkness. ¡°No¡­ no¡­¡± As soon as Nigo answered, and saw Fang Hao turn around to leave, he hurriedly said, ¡°My Lord, I would like to pledge loyalty to you. I can spy for you, really, I will infiltrate and explore all the information for you.¡± Hearing Nigo¡¯s words, Fang Hao¡¯s step paused. Infiltrating as a spy, that¡¯s a good idea.. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 113, Full of Rewards_l Chapter 113: Chapter 113, Full of Rewards_l Translator: 549690339 | The fact that Nigo was still alive¡­ was not because Fang Hao had any use for him. It was simply because Nelson was busy working on converting the vampire into a skeleton hero and wasn¡¯t available to transform Nigo. Killing him now, in the middle of summer, would be unpleasant and could potentially dampen everyone¡¯s mood. So, Fang Hao figured he¡¯d just lock him up for a few days, wait for Nelson to finish the conversion, and then decide what to do next. However, upon hearing Nigo¡¯s words, Fang Hao fell into deep thought. The information he had about the Skullcrusher Tribe was scanty at best. If he could somehow sneak a spy into their ranks and get them to gather intelligence about the enemy¡¯s next moves, it would be a rather good idea. ¡°You can get into the Skullcrusher Tribe?¡± Fang Hao halted his departure and turned his gaze once again to the shadowy figure in the iron cage. ¡°Yes, I can, Master. The Skullcrusher Scouts have said that those who help the Skullcrusher Tribe will be rewarded. If I use this as an excuse to enter the tribe, I¡¯m sure I can join them and acquire information for you,¡± Nigo responded loudly, grasping at what he saw as his last straw. He didn¡¯t want to die. Of course, he had no intention of genuinely being loyal to Fang Hao. If he got the chance to escape, he would definitely take revenge. He¡¯d torture the human in front of him and the girl who¡¯d beaten him up to death. Despite his inner thoughts, Nigo remained reverent in his tone, ¡°Master, I will do well. I will correct my mistakes.¡± Fang Hao stroked his chin, deep in thought. It wasn¡¯t a bad idea. Of course, the good idea was the spy part, not the letting-Nigo-go part. Having eradicated his race, there was no way they could reach an agreement. Even if there were a hero contract, Nigo¡¯s loyalty wouldn¡¯t be high. Furthermore, the only hero contract he had was bound to Anjia. ¡°Master? The Great Chief of the Skullcrusher Tribe is known as a tyrant and his troops are formidable. Without intelligence, you might be at a disadvantage,¡± Nigo¡¯s thin tongue licked his dry lips, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you the information: the numbers of their troops, their time of attack, everything.¡± Nigo kept talking, trying to convince Fang Hao to accept his idea. ¡°Your idea isn¡¯t bad. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± After saying that, Fang Hao left, slowly disappearing from Nigo¡¯s sight, leaving the latter begging in the background. Returning to his room, Fang Hao saw that it was already quite late. He lay down on bed, checked the regional chat where everyone was chatting, and then drifted into sleep. The next morning¡­ Fang Hao got up and stretched as the day was beginning to brighten. After visiting the bathroom and finishing his washing, he left his room and headed downstairs. Anjia¡¯s room was still closed, she must have still been sleeping. Eira was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the three of them. He left the manor. The rabbit people were early risers and they were already working according to their assigned chores. ¡°Master, you¡¯re up early today.¡± A rabbit woman greeted him with a smile, curtsying respectfully. Her simple movement made her simply-dressed figure all the more eye-catching, revealing loads of fair skin. All the rabbit women were young and had attractive figures. Which was a feast for the eyes early in the morning. Of course, having seen much of the world, Fang Hao merely smiled at her and replied, ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Yes, Master, good morning.¡± The rabbit woman beamed back at him. Here, they had food to eat and a housing to live in. No one bullied them, and their master was usually quite approachable. For them, it was like living in paradise. The rabbit people adapted quickly thus, always greeting Fang Hao of their own accord whenever they saw him. The sight of working skeletons no longer frightened them. Fang Hao went straight out of the domain and headed to the Lumbering Area. He opened the crafting menu and chose ¡°Simple Hand Saw¡±. ¡°Simple Hand Saw: Sturdy Wood 1, Cast Iron 1, Metal Parts 2.¡± Create 30. ¡°Hundredfold Amplitude triggered. Received 3030 Simple Hand Saws.¡± In front of him lay 3000 hand saws. The shape of the saws wasn¡¯t much different from the ones used for cutting wood in the modern world. The sharp teeth of the saws could effectively cut through wood. ¡°Replace tools and store the leftovers in the warehouse,¡± Fang Hao ordered loudly. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s command, the skeleton workers in the nearby lumbering area came over to replace their tools. The lumbering area housed a small tool warehouse for easy storage and retrieval of tools. Soon, the labor skeletons had replaced their tools with hand saws, and stored the remaining ones in the warehouse. About 1000 worker skeletons had been assigned to the lumbering area by Fang Hao. The reason behind crafting 3000 tools was to prepare for replacement due to wear and tear. Since the skeletons worked day and night, their tools wore out quickly. And sometimes, Fang Hao was too busy and might forget to replace them for a while. Therefore, he decided to make more just in case. After crafting the tools, Fang Hao returned to his domain and started to craft the newly acquired Black Iron Armor. There were nearly 50,000 skeleton soldiers in his domain now. He would first equip the skeletons within the domain with new gear. ¡°Black Iron Knight Sword (Green): Cast Iron 3, Sturdy Wood 1, Leather 1.¡± Create 300. ¡°Hundredfold Amplitude triggered. Received 30300 Black Iron Knight Swords.¡± ¡°Black Iron Open-face Helmet: Leather 5, Iron 3, Iron Plate 4.¡± Create 500. ¡°Hundredfold Amplitude triggered. Received 50500 Black Iron Open-face Helmets.¡± ¡°Wooden Mask: Sturdy Wood 1, Leather 2, Metal Parts 1.¡± Create 500. ¡°Hundredfold Amplitude triggered. Received 50500 Wooden Masks.¡± Fang Hao produced the items from three different blueprints consecutively. The area around Fang Hao was now full of equipment. The quantity had reached an astonishing level. Fang Hao picked up a Black Iron Knight Sword and examined its attributes. ¡°Black Iron Knight Sword (Green)¡± ¡°Category: One-handed Sword¡± ¡°Damage: Level 3 Damage¡± (Description: A weapon modeled after a knight¡¯s sword. While it is a replica, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that it can slice off your head.) The level 2 Skeleton Warriors had Sword and Shield Mastery. By equipping them with knight swords, it would significantly increase the damage output of the skeleton warriors, making up for the level difference. ¡°Black Iron Open-face Helmet¡± ¡°Category: Head Defense¡± ¡°Defense: Level 3 Defense¡± (Description: The open-face helmet offers comprehensive protection for the head.) The Black Iron Open-face Helmet looked like a can helmet seen in movies. It looked like an iron bucket with a ¡±T¡±-shaped opening at the eyes and nose area. At least it was different from a simple iron bucket. If not, Fang Hao might as well have made some iron buckets and have the skeleton warriors wear them on their heads. They could also be used for storing water. He then checked the last item. ¡°Wooden Mask (Green)¡± ¡°Category: Mask¡± ¡°Ability: Level 1 Fear¡± (Description: The mask was originally used as a piece of protective armor for the face of a construct. As it evolved and improved over time, it has now become known as a mask). Painted with various ghostly designs, it can cause unrest and fear in others. ¡°Level 1 Fear¡±: Wearing the mask has a chance to trigger Level 1 Fear, causing negative effects such as fear and a loss of morale in enemy ¡®living creature¡¯ troops. (Fear effects do not stack and will take the maximum fear level value..) Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 114, Tripping While Walkings Chapter 114: Chapter 114, Tripping While Walkings Translator: 549690339 A wooden mask. The most significant use for it is the ability it provides. The Level 1 Fear power can make the enemy¡¯s living creatures potentially experience fear, resulting in various negative states. This effect, placed on the Undead Clan, would definitely be more effective and might possibly even stack. An army of the undead, far and wide, wearing sinister and horrifying masks. Whoever it is, they would feel anxious. Having negative emotions would be normal. ¡°GO and fetch Fireblade.¡± Fang Hao instructed a rabbit girl who wasn¡¯t far away. ¡°Ah? Master, which lord is called Fireblade?¡± The rabbit girl curled her fingers, speaking softly. Although she knew the skeletons would not harm them, she dared not get close to the undead region on a daily basis. ¡°It¡¯s the one holding a long blade, clad completely in red armor,¡± Fang Hao described. ¡ö¡¯Ah! Oh, okay.¡± The rabbit girl was a bit nervous, but she still followed the order and went to find the described skeleton hero. Soon, the rabbit girl brought Fireblade over. Fireblade¡¯s outfit was very striking. Blood-red armor, a long blade at his waist, the friction of the armor as he moved gave him the air of a commanding general. ¡°Lord, you were looking for me,¡± Fireblade said with a salute. ¡°These are newly made equipment. You arrange to replace the soldiers¡¯ old gear. The discarded equipment can be stored in the supplies area,¡± Fang Hao instructed. The supply area was simply a canopy erected in a vacant lot. It was used to store excess resources. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Fireblade took the command and started organizing the skeletons for the equipment change once he left. As the number of heroes increased, the management of Fang Hao¡¯s population became much easier. He did not need to waste his breath shouting orders himself. He only needed to give charges to each person in charge. After giving orders to Fireblade, Fang Hao left the equipment pile. He was just about to return to the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower for breakfast. When Anjia, still rubbing her eyes, came down from upstairs. She really slept until she naturally woke up, not feeling any pressure at all. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re up this early,¡± she yawned upon seeing Fang Hao. Fang Hao shot her an annoyed look. What was she talking about ¨C he was raising early? He had already been busy for a whole round. Eira brought breakfast to the table, and the three of them started eating. Meanwhile, Anjia and Eira were chatting while eating. Fang Hao was still checking the regional chat in the Book of Lords. ¡°Looking for level 4 Lord¡¯s Mansion building materials ¡®Stone Bricks¡¯. If you have any, please discuss the price privately. I offer a high price in exchange if you know the manufacturing method and have the blueprint. ¡°Damn, the one above is already at Level 4 Lord¡¯s Mansion. That¡¯s so fierce!¡± ¡°Awesome, I just upgraded to a Level 2 Lord¡¯s Mansion. Only yesterday did I gather enough materials to upgrade my city wall to Level 2. It¡¯s really frustrating to compare oneself to others.¡± ¡°Level 4 should be the highest level in our region.¡± ¡°Perhaps not! Perhaps Fang Hao the big shot has already reached a higher level, who knows?¡± ¡°Impossible. Based on the initial peasant population¡¯s calculation, the resources harvested daily can¡¯t exceed level 4 ¡± ¡ö¡öIf you say it¡¯s impossible, then it must be impossible. Do you think you are the big shot?¡± ¡°Ignorant, the parallel world also has anal maniacs.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± Ding! As Fang Hao was watching the discussion, a private message alert sounded. Could it be that the level 4 Lord had come to him to buy Stone Bricks? When he opened it, he realized he was overthinking it. It was a message from another Lord. ¡°Fang Hao the big shot, are you still buying Shadowstones?¡± In recent days, Fang Hao had been buying Shadowstones, making it clear that he would preferentially exchange Shadowstones for weaponry, equipment, or the Rejuvenation Spring. This made everyone in the channel interested in Shadowstones. After all, weaponry, equipment, or the Rejuvenation Spring are considered quite expensive now. ¡°Yes, do you have some?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Can I ask first what use Shadowstones have? I see that they are from the Undead Clan. What use would you have for them?¡± the other party asked. It could be seen that this person had gotten hold of some Shadowstones. But, knowing that Fang Hao was also buying them, they were afraid that Shadowstones had some special use, and they would lose out by selling them. First they would ask about their use, and then decide whether to sell them or not. Fang Hao replied directly: ¡°I received a blueprint for an Undead special building which requires Shadowstones. They can¡¯t be used for normal human buildings. ¡°Oh, alright, Fang Hao the big shot, I have 13 of them here. I want to exchange them for some weapons.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Um, big shot, do you have anything besides iron spears?¡± ¡°Would an iron sword do?¡± ¡°Okay, okay, and you¡¯d better believe it.¡± Fang Hao just had a batch of iron swords replacement today, which could be exchanged for Shadowstones. ¡°One Shadowstone for 3 iron swords,¡± Fang Hao directly quoted a price. ¡°Ah? Big shot, don¡¯t joke, this is a rare resource. You even said you prioritize exchanges. 3 is too few. 5 iron swords,¡± the other party said. ¡°Besides me, you can¡¯t sell Shadowstones to anyone else. Let¡¯s compromise: 4 per, neither of us loses out.¡± ¡°Fine, make it four. I¡¯ll put it up for a dedicated trade.¡± ¡°Okay, the same price next time.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take my people to look for more later. Soon, the other party put the 13 Shadowstones on the trade platform and Fang Hao put up the promised 52 iron swords for the exchange. Ding! Just after the trade was completed, another private message rang out. ¡°Big shot, urn¡­ the underwear 1 ordered, is it ready yet? I can¡¯t stand it anymore.¡± Fang Hao remembered this person. Last time when he was collecting flax in the channel, this person said he wanted to order a piece of cloth underwear because the leather ones were too rough. It had been so long, and they were still concerned about this matter. -Um, I¡¯ll check when I have time. I¡¯ve been quite busy recently and didn¡¯t pay attention to this,¡± he replied. ¡°Big Shot Fang Hao, please find a way about it. Wearing leather is too uncomfortable.¡± ¡ö¡öCan¡¯t you just not wear it? As a man, can¡¯t you be more easy-going?¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Walking will trip me.¡± ¡°Damn, bragging¡­.¡± After chatting for a while, the Book of Lords was closed, and the three had finished breakfast. Anjia was still yawning and wanted to go back to bed, but Fang Hao called her to stop. ¡°Anjia, go and call Little You. Let¡¯s go see that Gnoll.¡± ¡°Okay, sure.¡± Anjia pouted her mouth, walking out reluctantly. Fang Hao came to the cage. Anjia and Little You came over. The wandering spirit was not exactly afraid of daylight, but she did look frustrated. Upon arriving here, she quickly hid in a shadow to avoid direct sunlight. The Gnoll was originally trying to beg for mercy, but was then startled into quiet submission by the arrival of Anjia and lay down on the ground pretending to be dead. He was afraid that would somehow upset this mad woman who usually dragged him out for a beating. ¡°Lord, do you have command?¡± Little You asked softly. Her loyalty to Fang Hao had already reached 90 points. Which was rather high. Any command that Fang Hao made, she would accomplish it with all her dedication. Fang Hao glanced at the weak Gnoll and said, ¡°I want you to attach yourself to him and go to the Wind Chilled Mountains to gather intelligence for me.¡¯ Little YOU looked at the Gnoll, her face full of difficulty. ¡°Lord, you want me to possess a hero? That¡¯s impossible Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 115, Gnoll Undercover_l Chapter 115: Chapter 115, Gnoll Undercover_l Translator: 549690339 Little You, in her ethereal form, displayed an expression of surprise. She was merely a third-order type of soldier, obligated to walk around heroes during ordinary days, let alone possessing them. Now, for Fang Hao to ask her to possess a hero was not just resistant, it was fundamentally impossible to accomplish. Of course, Fang Hao also knew this. Little You possessed the ability of Spirit Possession, which was an upgraded version of the possession ability. Even so, numerous restrictions still existed when it came to accomplishing possession. The main factors were the rank and power. It was difficult to possess a unit that was stronger than you. ¡ö¡öWhat if he¡¯s the living dead, devoid of a soul? Could you possess him then?¡± said Fang Hao, glancing at the distant Gnoll. Fang Hao¡¯s thought was simple. He felt that Little You¡¯s Spirit Possession was extremely similar to his own God¡¯s Presence, but his God¡¯s Presence only targeted his subordinate undead troops, and he couldn¡¯t use God¡¯s Presence on other troop units. Little You¡¯s Spirit Possession, on the other hand, applied to any living creatures, hence satisfying Fang Hao¡¯s initial hypothesis. Both God¡¯s Presence and possession have some fixed requirements. The descending unit, the smarter, and the stronger the soul, the greater the difficulty of possession. What if Nigo was merely surviving physically? It might be simpler. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Little You was somewhat flustered, ¡°My Lord, I don¡¯t know if I could succeed, I have never used this ability before.¡± After awakening, she had been in the ancient tomb, never once venturing out. Naturally, she had never used this ability. ¡°No rush, try when the time comes.¡± Fang Hao replied. As soon as he finished speaking. The Corpse Witch Nelson appeared and slowly walked over. Originally, Nelson was conducting a transformation ritual, and Fang Hao did not want to interrupt, but the threat of the Skullcrusher Tribe made him had to call out Nelson. ¡°My Lord.¡± Nelson approached and gave a slight bow. ¡°Scholar Nelson, there has been a situation in the territory resulting in the interruption of your ritual,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Oh? What happened?¡± Nelson asked softly. Next, Fang Hao recounted the incidents at the Cold Wind Mountain Range and Skullcrusher Tribe. Also, he shared his plans with Nelson. Nelson glanced at the wandering spirit in the shadow, who hurriedly bowed deeply in respect. ¡°Well, we can try. Move this Gnoll to the Viscera Museum,¡± Nelson directly instructed. Immediately, a skeleton soldier stepped forward, lifted the Gnoll, and followed behind Nelson. Amid the Gnoll¡¯s loud cries, they entered the Viscera Museum. Leaving Fang Hao and the others waiting outside. ¡°Who is this? I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± Anjia whispered to Fang Hao on the side. ¡°He is a hero of our territory, Scholar Nelson,¡± Fang Hao introduced. ¡°Oh.¡± As the trio were chatting, a blood-curdling scream echoed from inside the Viscera Museum. just hearing this horrific wail left one with a chill running down their spine. Shortly afterwards, the doors of the Viscera Museum opened once more. ¡°My Lord, it¡¯s done. This wandering spirit can attempt possession. If it s unsuccessful, I can just preserve the body by drying it,¡± said Nelson, leaning on his magic wand. Fang Hao nodded, looking at the wandering spirit nearby, ¡°Little You, you try to possess him.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Little You gradually approached the corpse, turning into a mist, and merged into the Gnoll¡¯s body lying on the ground. The next second. The Gnoll, with his eyes tightly shut, abruptly opened them. He sat upright, staring wide-eyed, surveying his surroundings. ¡°Little You?¡± The Gnoll immediately got up, crossing his legs, bowing with a pointed foot. ¡°Sir, is it acceptable like this?¡± A gnoll, somewhat balding and riddled with scars, went about genteely and ladylike, making it somewhat difficult to accept. But it was certain that Little You succeeded. She could control this body at this moment. And from Fang Hao¡¯s perspective¡­ She was still known as ¡°Claw Scary-Nigo¡±. ¡°Very good, next, observe your behavior, you are a Gnoll hero now.¡± Fang Hao gave a word of instruction. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Little You felt quite good. She could easily manipulate this body, as if it was her own. However, the appearance of the Gnoll left her extremely uncomfortable. ¡°This body can last five days. After five days it will show signs of death. You will either have to return with information or find a new body within five days,¡± Nelson reminded from the side. So, this body could only be maintained for five days. Five days later, people would realize that it had died. Little You would be in danger if she were discovered then. -I understand, Bachelor Nelson. I will bring back the intelligence.¡± Little You spoke, treating the undead scholar with respect in her speech and manners. ¡°Good, be careful about everything. Return immediately if there¡¯s any danger.¡± Fang Hao also advised. They discussed a few things that needed to be cautious of afterward. After several reminders of safety first, Little You, possessed in the body of a gnoll, rode out of the territory and headed swiftly toward the Cold Wind Mountain Range. Before leaving, Fang Hao introduced her to the situation of the Gnoll Tribe and gave her a teleportation scroll bound with the coordinates of the territory. She left the territory amidst the thunderous gallop. After seeing off Little You, Nelson closed the door of the Viscera Museum again. He continued with half-finished work. Fang Hao also thought about which part of the territory needed more defenses. While he was thinking seriously¡­ Eira came rushing over and whispered, ¡°Master, the Skeleton Trader is here, waiting for you in the market area.¡± Was it time for the Skeleton Trader to appear again? Indeed, quite a few days had passed since the last time he appeared. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Market area. The Skeleton Trader leaned on his gem-studded cane, playing with the handle with his skeletal fingers. His pupils, burning with a blue flame, surveyed the territory in front of him with astonishment. The thick city walls, the towering watchtowers, the magic towers imbued with magical energy, the Viscera Museum, the blacksmith¡¯s shop, and the tailor¡¯s shop. It was hard to believe¡­ That in just 7 days, this territory had developed to such an extent. If his mind wasn¡¯t still sharp¡­ He would have thought that he remembered the time wrong, or came to the wrong place. While he was in awe, he saw Fang Hao strode toward him. The Skeleton Trader, Ruer, immediately revealed a smile, greeted respectably, and said, ¡°Honorable Sir, we meet again.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m delighted to see you again, Mr. Ruer.¡± Fang Hao responded with a smile. His dealings with Ruer had always gone smoothly, and the things he had bought had promoted a lot of development in the territory¡¯s power. ¡°I hope the goods this time are to your satisfaction.¡± Ruer lightly tapped the ground with his cane. The skeletal shelf appeared, displaying the goods for sale today. Fang Hao walked up and inspected the product information. ¡°Blueprint of Frost Orange Production (Green)¡± Price: 10 Warfire coins. ¡°Black Gunpowder Production Blueprint (Green)¡± Price: 25 Warfire coms. ¡°Fine Mill Building Blueprint (blue)¡¯1 Price: 30 Warfire coins. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Chapter 116, Sky Eye Trade Alliance 1 Chapter 116: Chapter 116, Sky Eye Trade Alliance 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª [Frost Orange Soap Blueprint (Green)jPrice: 10 Warfire Coins. [Black Gunpowder Blueprint (Green)]Price: 25 Warfire Coins. [Fine Mill Construction Blueprint (Blue)]Price: 30 Warfire Coins. [Advanced Hero Contract (Purple)]Price: 320 Warfire Coins. [Viscera Jar (Green)]Price: 50 Warfire Coins. It appeared that the quality of the blueprints on the shelves also upgraded along with the territory. Previously, most of them were white, with one or two green ones. Now they are all green and blue, and there is even a purple blueprint. ¡°1¡¯11 take them all.¡± Fang Hao took out 435 Warfire Coins and handed them to the Skeleton Merchant. ¡°Thank you for your generosity.¡± The Skeleton Merchant took the money took down the blueprints one by one from the shelf, and passed them to Fang Hao. Fang Hao took the blueprints and recorded them in the Book of Lords. The Skeleton Merchant, having sold his goods, was about to leave. ¡°Mr. Ruer, if you¡¯re not in a hurry, would you sit down and have a chat?¡± Fang Hao said. The Skeleton Merchant paused, looking curiously at Fang Hao. Then he said: ¡°I¡¯m not in a rush. What do you want to talk about?¡± The two of them sat down on a stone bench nearby. I remember Mr. Ruer mentioned before, when the Lord¡¯s House reaches the Stone Tower level, we can start selling items to the outside world. My Lord¡¯s House has been upgraded to the Stone Tower level, so what should I do next?¡± Fang Hao went straight to the point. Fang Hao could clearly remember that Ruer had said that the market could sell to the outside. Now that his Lord¡¯s House had reached the Stone Tower level, he didn¡¯t know how to proceed. And there was no guidance for the next step. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re having trouble with this.¡± Ruer understood why Fang Hao wanted to talk to him, and was well aware that within a short week, this territory had already upgraded to the Stone Tower stage. This development speed amazed even Ruer, a merchant who traveled all over the place. ¡°Yes, does Mr. Ruer know how to do it?¡± ¡°If you want to sell items to various forces through the market, you have to get approval from the Sky Eye Trade Alliance and become one of its members to sell your products,¡± Ruer explained. Fang Hao frowned, curious about this new mention of the Sky Eye Trade Alliance. ¡°So how can we join the Sky Eye Trade Alliance?¡± He never thought that to sell his goods to others through the market, he would require approval from this so-called Sky Eye Trade Alliance. Ruer continued with the explanation: ¡°To gain recognition from the Sky Eye Trade Alliance is not an easy task. Only the stronger forces in each region qualify to join, and apart from the strength and influence of the forces, the endorsement and recommendation of old members are also required.¡±¡® Fang Hao stroked his chin. This certainly was a stringent requirement, much like bidding for a company. ¡°Mr. Ruer, is there any way to get this endorsement and recommendation?¡± ¡°Haha! Sir, you are straightforward indeed. If you want a recommendation, I can mention this to Lord Odys and see how it goes,¡± Ruer¡¯s bony jaw kept shaking, making a hoarse laughter. Ruer was not the owner of the Skeleton Merchant Association, but simply a man in charge of local business. Skeleton King ¨C Odys, was the owner of the Association, and also a territory lord. Whether he would get a recommendation or not depended on Odys¡¯s attitude. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ruer, if successful, I will make sure to give a gift of gratitude ¡± said Fang Hao. According to Ruer, on this continent, few forces were willing to deal with the Undead. Therefore, the recommendation quotas in the hands of Odys often remained vacant. Moreover, given Fang Hao¡¯s high influence in the Undead faction, his chances of getting this endorsement were high. The two of them sat for a while. Fang Hao also subtly raised some topics about this continent and about the Undead. But Ruer was very shrewd. He would discuss some issues to a point and never discuss them thoroughly or even glossed them over in a sentence. After a chat, Ruer told Fang Hao to wait for a response and then left the territory through the teleportation array. Having seen off the Skeleton Merchant, Fang Hao continued with his own business. Heroes and maids in the territory are now sharing most of the workload, but he is still very busy. One thing leads to another. There¡¯s always work to be done. He opens the Book of Lords to look at the blueprints he just bought. The first three are for production, but he lacks the materials to make them. Next are the construction blueprints. [Grade 1JD Mill: Wood 1200, Stone 800, Rope 550, Iron 220, Metal Parts 120 Natural Gemstones 2.] (Description: JD Mill increases grain milling output by 10% and production speed by 5%.) In an instant, a building appears before him. The construction of the building is complete. But there¡¯s no grain. So it wasn¡¯t upgraded. It will be once there¡¯s grain to use at the mill. Otherwise, upgrading early wouldn¡¯t have much of an effect. After a busy morning, it¡¯s already midday. It felt like he had just had breakfast, and Eira was already calling for lunch. When he gets to the dining table, the food is already there. Fang Hao eats while casually opening the Book of Lords to see what everyone else is chatting about. ¡°Good weather, a fine day to return from hunting.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hunting yourself? Don¡¯t you have soldiers, man?¡± ¡°Ay, so boring. I want to play games, watch TV shows, miss the girls on my hard drive.¡± ¡°Hey, bro up there, are you bored? I can chat with you. 5o units of resources per hour. If we¡¯re close, we can chat face to face.¡± ¡°Has commerce developed this fast? There¡¯s even paid chatting now?¡± No, I¡¯m curious, there¡¯s a limit of 10 messages per day. How do you chat for an hour?¡± ¡°What I meant is, offline chat, mouth to mouth.¡± ¡°Holy shit, that would be suffocating in an hour.¡± ¡°Accepting natural gemstones¡­ high price for natural gemstones.¡± The channel is still as interesting as ever. Watching everyone chat not only helps relieve stress, but also allows you to learn new vocabulary, new knowledge. It makes you realize how out of touch you are with the times. Fang Hao looks at everyone chatting. He posts a purchase message. ¡°Buying all kinds of grain, grain seeds, anyone with them please PM me.¡± When Fang Hao doesn¡¯t speak, everyone chats normally. As soon as he speaks, the channel becomes as rowdy as if injected with chicken blood. ¡°Cao, Boss Fang Hao spoke.¡± ¡°The boss finally showed up, he hasn¡¯t been speaking in the group for a long time.¡± Brother Hao, I¡¯m your only fan, please pay attention to me¡­¡± ¡°Wait, are you guys kidding, didn¡¯t anyone notice that Boss Fang Hao is buying grain?¡± Why the alarm? Boss Fang Hao has been buying seeds for a few days now. Recently he wants to plant grains, so what? Not allowing it?¡± The discussion in the channel has become heated. Fang Hao¡¯s private messages also started to flood in with messages. ¡°Boss Fang Hao, I have some wheat seeds here, do you need them?¡± The one messaging Fang Hao has a rather memorable name, Lu Qi. ¡°Yes, how much do you have?¡± Fang Hao asked. A basketful, about the size of a basin, a basket.¡± Lu Qi replies Wow, that is quite a lot. Fang Hao asked: ¡°How did you get so much, are there any fields near your territory? You can also sell me the mature ones.¡± I traded for them. There¡¯s a village outside my territory. I got the seeds in exchange for some resources.¡± Lu Qi did not hide the truth.. Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 117, Maid Costume_l Chapter 117: Chapter 117, Maid Costume_l Translator: 549690339 After enduring the second forced mission. The patrolling militias deployed by Lu Qi discovered local farmers. After conducting an investigation, they found that the villagers were quite friendly, so Lu Qi personally went to the village to engage in friendly exchanges. In the village, Lu Qi traded for fruit and food, providing him with a source of sustenance. He also traded for some seeds, planning to farm them once he had more farmers in his territory. Seeing Fang Hao buying seeds, he thought he could trade for some equipment he needed. ¡°Well, let¡¯s trade seeds first,¡± Fang Hao said. Everyone has their own opportunities. Fang Hao found the Orc market, while Lu Qi found a human village. Each of them benefited from the locals. At the same time, through Lu Qi¡¯s storytelling, Fang Hao learned about the existence of human villages in this area. His territory, however, was in an area predominantly inhabited by Orcs. ¡°How do you plan to trade?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°I need armor, man,¡± Lu Qi replied. Fang Hao was taken by surprise! He thought that like others, Lu Qi would prioritize weapons. Unexpectedly, Lu Qi was considering armor. This meant that Lu Qi¡¯s territory was not worrying about equipping soldiers with iron weapons. Indeed, everyone¡¯s development varied greatly. ¡°As for armor, I have a Beast Skin Helmet, Beast Skin Armor, and Hardwood Shield. Which one do you want?¡± ¡°Hardwood Shield,¡± Lu Qi answered. -Hardwood shields sell well in the market, so I¡¯ll exchange 5 Hardwood Shields for your seeds,¡± Fang Hao proposed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll list them then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Soon, Fang Hao received a trade offer. After placing the 5 Hardwood Shields, a basket woven from straw appeared next to him, filled with wheat seeds. After finishing lunch, Fang Hao took the wheat seeds to the Spiritual Field. The first thing he did was to increase the number of Spiritual Fields. [Materials required for a Level 1 Spiritual Field: 1500 Wood, 800 Stone, 300 Hemp Ropes, 5 Natural Gems, 1 Trace of the Earth.] Fang Hao had plenty of each material. He directly expanded 5 Level 1 Spiritual Fields. Then he upgraded all of them all to Level 5 Spiritual Fields. The plain near the stream was now completely covered with Spiritual Fields. Following this, he could leave the farming work to his skeleton labor, relieving him of this burden. After finishing all these tasks, it was still early. Fang Hao selected some troops and headed out with Anjia to continue exploring the surrounding area. They returned around dusk. In addition to bringing back some meat, they also opened a silver chest and obtained a blueprint for crafting Siege Ladders. [Siege Ladder: 220 Wood, 150 Hemp Rope, 10 Metal Parts.] (Description: A simple Siege Ladder that can be quickly made, allowing soldiers to climb up city walls.) In his previous battles, Fang Hao had not encountered any particularly high or imposing walls. They were mostly found in village-level gathering points. The Skeleton Soldiers, outnumbering the enemy by tens of times, would climb the walls by stacking on top of each other. They seldom adopted any tactical strategy. By over-instructing them, the Skeleton Soldiers would have difficulty understanding the situation, leading to various errors. Once he returned and had tidied up, he ate dinner and prepared to rest. The next day, at dawn, Fang Hao was turning over when he felt something soft under his arm. When he opened his eyes, he saw Eira lying next to him, staring at him with wide eyes and a smile on her face. Did Eira stay over last night? He couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°Eira, why are you here?¡± he asked. ¡°I saw that you were sleeping soundly, Master, so I didn¡¯t disturb you. I¡¯ve been waiting for you to wake up,¡± Eira replied sweetly with a charming smile. Eira¡¯s loyalty to Fang Hao had reached 100%. Fang Hao trusted Eira completely, and she was entirely dependent on him. Therefore, Eira was allowed to come and go from Fang Hao¡¯s bedroom, cleaning it on regular days and sometimes waking Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get up then. There¡¯s a lot to do today.¡± Fang Hao stretched and sat up. ¡°Master, Mr. Soye came by this morning. It seems that he has something to discuss.¡± Eira mentioned while helping Fang Hao get dressed. Soye was the skeleton tailor. Speaking of Soye, Fang Hao remembered the troublemaker who kept urging him because of those leather shorts. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go see him later,¡± said Fang Hao. After getting dressed, they both left the bedroom. After washing up, they left the stone tower. Looking at the bright sky, Fang Hao stretched his stiff body. The weather is really good today. He began exercising within his territory. Fireblade strode over with his long blade and said, ¡°My Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, good morning, Fireblade.¡± While stretching, Fang Hao replied. ¡°My Lord, as you instructed, we¡¯ve increased the scope and manpower of patrols on the north and west sides of our territory. If any enemy approaches, we should be able to detect them in time,¡± Fireblade reported. ¡°Yes, be especially cautious about Orc scouts. If any are found, eliminate them immediately,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°As you wish, my Lord.¡± Fireblade nodded and walked away. Following Fireblade¡¯s departure, Fang Hao continued his exercise. After jogging two laps around the territory, he stopped at the tailor¡¯s shop. ¡°My Lord.¡± Soye quickly approached upon seeing him. ¡°Hmm, Eira told me you came to the Manor this morning?¡± Fang Hao wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Yes, my Lord. The clothes you mentioned last time are ready,¡± Soye said. The current work of the tailors is to make clothes for the residents of the territory. Except for Fang Hao and Eira, who had already given their clothing sizes to Soye, the newly joined rabbit people didn¡¯t have any decent, full sets of clothing. Their old linen slave outfits were faded from washing. They needed new outfits to wear daily and at home. ¡°Good, take me to see them.¡± Fang Hao had been wearing the same two sets of clothes back and forth. The two of them went to a stand-alone room in the tailor shop where the newly made clothes were stored. ¡°Try these on, my Lord.¡± Fang Hao took off his outer clothes and put on a beige robe. The robes, made of cotton and cotton thread, felt very comfortable despite their plain style. This could be worn at home outside of battle. Beyond clothes and trousers, the tailors had also rushed to make some underwear. ¡°Not bad,¡± Fang Hao said, very satisfied. ¡°These are the outfits we made for your maids,¡± Soye said. As the number of maids in the territory increased, so did the number of outfits. Unlike Fang Hao¡¯s robe, the maids¡¯ outfits, under the guidance of Fang Hao¡¯s innovative designs, were boldly out of sync with the era. They were called maid uniforms and Bunny Girl outfits. Due to time constraints, other designs such as Christmas outfits, nurse uniforms, flight attendant uniforms, student uniforms, and witch costumes were still being designed. In the future, they would be produced one by one.. Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 118, Im Excited (Seeking Chapter 118: Chapter 118, I¡¯m Excited (Seeking Recommendations, Monthly Tickets¡­) 1 Translator: 549690339 After understanding Fang Hao¡¯s design concept. Soye also found inspiration in the clothing, no longer adhering to the original production rules, instead trying out some bold innovations. After bidding farewell to Soye and the others, Fang Hao returned to Stone Tower with several skeletons carrying a large amount of clothing behind him. Eira happened to be in the kitchen, serving breakfast. Master, breakfast is ready; you can eat now.¡± The scent of the food permeated the entire dining room. Eira, with her culinary skills, excelled and thoroughly enjoyed cooking. With an abundance of food and condiments, she could even invent one or two new dishes, and they tasted pretty good. ¡°Alright, take your time. These are the clothes that Soye made. Have the two of you try on a few, and you can wear this one,¡± Fang Hao handed over the clothes in his hand to the two of them. In addition to Eira, there were two other Rabbit Clan girls serving as maids at the mansion. ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Eira took the clothes, her eyes filled with joy. The other two Rabbit Clan maids were also quite happy, and the three of them went into the room to change. Not long after¡­ They walked back in, heads down, their faces slightly red. The two maids were in black and white maid outfits, the skirts extended to their thighs, revealing pale, straight legs paired with a pair of brown boots. Not bad, not bad at all! Fang Hao nodded slightly. Now if only they had a pair of black stockings, then they¡¯d be perfect. As for Eira, she was wearing a black bunny girl suit. The low-cut neckline showcased her ample cleavage, and the fitted shorts tightly wrapped her bottom. The rabbit tail and slightly reddened rabbit ears exposed on the outfit made one¡¯s blood rush. Master, does this outfit look good on me?¡± Eira asked softly. ¡°Beautiful.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master,¡± Eira replied. ¡°What you two are wearing is called a maid¡¯s outfit, you¡¯ll put them on for work. There are some casual wear as well, you can distribute them to everyone later, and I¡¯ll keep making more for you to change into,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Master, what about what I¡¯m wearing? What¡¯s it called?¡± Eira, touching her bunny girl outfit, asked curiously. ¡°Ah, this, well, it doesn¡¯t have a name yet. Since it looks good on you, let¡¯s call it bunny girl clothes from now on,¡± Fang Hao said, smacking his thigh as if the name had just occurred to him. ¡°Oh? Is it okay to use our name for it?¡± Eira asked shyly. ¡°Yes, I think it¡¯s suitable. You don¡¯t have to wear this all the time, only when you¡¯re alone,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Alright, Master.¡± Fang Hao distributed all these maid outfits. Eira went back to her room to change into her maid outfit and came back out. Even though all Rabbit Clan girls were beautiful, Eira¡¯s looks still far surpassed the rest. Her figure and looks, along with the nutrition she¡¯s getting since arriving in the territory. All this made her whole demeanor and state outshine the others. After passing the clothes to the other two Rabbit Clan girls, Eira went upstairs to wake Anjia for breakfast. Nothing can get through to her. Except for mealtime. As Anjia sat down at the table next to Fang Hao, she asked softly, ¡°Where¡¯s mine?¡± ¡°Yours what?¡± ¡°New clothes! They all got some, why didn¡¯t I?¡± Anjia complained. Turns out she was referring to the new clothes. These are maid outfits, meant for the maids when they are working,¡± explained Fang Hao. Fang Hao had prepared casual daily clothes for Anjia as well. Only the maid outfit was missing from her lot. ¡°I don¡¯t care, I want a set.¡± Anjia said. Fang Hao gave in and said, ¡°Alright, Eira will give you a set later.¡± ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Eira nodded. With 101 skeleton tailors working, there was enough clothing for everyone. Since Anjia wanted a set, there was no harm in giving her one. Seeing her objective fulfilled, Anjia showed a satisfied smile, chatted and ate breakfast with Eira. Fang Hao, on the other hand, opened the Book of Lords and started a private chat with the lord who made leather underpants. ¡°Are you there?¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ Boss, have you made the underwear yet?¡± The other party responded quickly, seems like he was also reading the Book of Lords. ¡°They¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take five pairs. How do we exchange, boss?¡± The underwear made by tailors is a type of loose boxers, with drawstring waistbands, therefore doesn¡¯t come in different sizes. Anyone who isn¡¯t overly overweight can wear them. Moreover, after spending so many days in this world, even the fat ones are probably starving and have slimmed down. ¡°Do you have any rare resources? I don¡¯t need ordinary resources. It¡¯s hard to set a price,¡± Fang Hao said. Fang Hao has unlimited basic resources. If we are to trade, we would need some rare resources. ¡®T have some. Just name your price, boss,¡± the other person continued. He wouldn¡¯t put up with Fang Hao if he demanded a high price just for a pair of underwear. He would rather continue wearing leather underwear, or not wear any at all. ¡°Alright, one unit for two pairs. You need five pairs, so that¡¯s two rare resources,¡± Fang Hao proposed. ¡°Alright, you list the trade, boss. 5 pairs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao directly put up 5 pairs of men¡¯s underwear for trade, and the other party promptly traded a Natural Gem and an Essence of Earth. This easy and swift transaction brought a smile to Fang Hao¡¯s face. During the second mandatory mission. All surviving players received a certain number of rare resources. Subtracting the ones they can use themselves, or to upgrade their buildings, there were still a large number left. As crafting underwear requires minimal resources and is convenient, to obtain these resources is a new path to wealth. He thought for a moment and announced in the channel, ¡°Selling various men¡¯s and women¡¯s underwear, two pieces for one unit of rare resource. Men¡¯s and Women¡¯s cotton clothing, one piece for three units of rare resources. DM for blueprints and special items.¡± He finalized the text and sent it directly. The lively discussion in the channel centered on clothing after Fang Hao¡¯s announcement. ¡°Wow, is Boss Fang Hao venturing into the clothing industry now? Am I witnessing the rise of a capitalist tycoon?¡± ¡°Underwear is so expensive. I think I will stay naked. The old doctor said it helps with secondary development.¡± ¡°Yay! Fang Hao, please list the items. I have one set of clothes since I came here, and my underwear is stinky.¡± ¡°Ahem! So, miss, I offer two units of rare resources, you buy a new one, give me the old underwear.¡± ¡°Dude, are you sick? Even wanting her stinky underwear? Miss, I offer three units.¡± ¡°Pervert, I offer 5 units.¡± Fang Hao was bewildered when he saw the community¡¯s comments. What¡¯s going on? Why did it seem that the girl¡¯s used underwear was better selling than his own? And there was even a bidding war. Fang Hao listed the underwear and home clothes at their predetermined prices. The items he listed sold quickly. But less than 10 minutes after they were listed, feedback was posted in the channel expressing dissatisfaction with the goods. ¡°Oh my! These clothes are so ugly, as if made by a farmer.¡± I agree, so outdated, like country clothes.¡± ¡°You guys are really picky. Isn¡¯t it good to have clean clothes to change into? Thought you were walking a red carpet, expecting to look spectacular. Ridiculous.¡± ¡°Does that concern you? I have resources, Fang Hao, do you have nicer clothes? I don¡¯t care if they¡¯re more expensive.¡± Ah, what? The regular female garments made by the tailor essentially were ordinary cotton dresses, naturally, they won¡¯t have the aesthetic design of modern clothing. Fang Hao pondered for a while and then sent a picture of a maid outfit on the channel. ¡°Oh, a maid outfit, that looks nice.¡± ¡°Fang Hao, boss, you sure do like to play big¡­¡± ¡°So, does this mean that there are women in Boss Fang Hao¡¯s territory? Otherwise, who would wear this maid outfit.¡± ¡°What you say doesn¡¯t make sense. Can¡¯t the Boss have his own preferences?¡± ¡°Oh, when you say that, I start to get excited¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ¡° Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 119, Searching for the Tomb of the Dragon_l Chapter 119: Chapter 119, Searching for the Tomb of the Dragon_l Translator: 549690339 Originally, Fang Hao thought maid outfits were mostly to satisfy men¡¯s preferences. In this current stage of survival, he reckoned it would be hard to sell them. But the reality was quite the opposite of what he thought. Compared to normal men¡¯s and women¡¯s clothes, maid outfits were surprisingly popular. Apart from those distributed to the bunny girls, the rest were sold out in less than 5 minutes. Their popularity far exceeded that of regular clothes. It seemed that personalized outfits also sold really well. Once the maid outfits were sold out, the amount of regular clothes quickly decreased, but there was still a large amount of underwear available for sale. At the same time, Fang Hao also received a large amount of pre-orders. Among them were a few from lords whose names were obviously male, also ordering maid outfits. In this brand new world, people express their true natures, and find their true selves. After breakfast. Fang Hao returned to his room and began to plan the day¡¯s activities. The surrounding areas of his territory had almost been fully explored, cleared in all directions: southeast, northwest. Especially with Anjia¡¯s help, who would roam around when she had nothing to do. She upended all the nearby beasts¡¯ lairs. From the map he bought at the tavern, he still had one, but the location was to the east of the Tauren camp and quite far away, likely posing some difficulties. Plus, with the threat of the Skullcrusher Tribe, he would have to accelerate the development of his own territory. Lying in bed, he directly entered God¡¯s Presence mode. The next second. Fang Hao found himself on a skeleton warrior stationed in Pigmen Village. As the Soul Fire in his pupils stirred, he saw Petty had just returned from outside the territory, quietly instructing the pigmen who were with her. Petty.¡± Fang Hao descended from the city wall and called out. Those who stay in the Pigmen Village for defense, apart from those on patrol around, the rest stood guard on the city walls. Petty, seeing a skeleton calling her, knew it was Fang Hao using his powers. After giving simple orders to the remaining pigmen, she went to Fang Hao and said, ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, Petty, how is the exploration of the Tomb of the Dragon that I asked you to arrange?¡± Fang Hao asked. Since the Tomb of the Dragon is situated north of the Pigmen village, he asked Petty to arrange for people to go explore it quite some time ago. ¡°We have the results, my lord. Please come inside and I will show you the map.¡± Petty motioned with a gesture of invitation. The two entered the clan leader¡¯s hall. Petty took out a simple hand-drawn map and placed it in front of Fang Hao. ¡°My lord, the location of the Tomb of the Dragon is in a range of continuous mountains. The roads are rugged and the resources are scarce. I have arranged multiple teams for exploration and found a route. If you could spare more time, we could continue exploring the mountains,¡± Petty explained. On the Book of Lords¡¯ map, the location of the Tomb of the Dragon was visible, while the rest of the area was still covered in fog and unexplored. This exploration by the pigmen was very useful to Fang Hao. ¡°No need, this is enough. When I come, arrange for someone to guide us,¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Oh, alright, my Lord,¡± Petty quickly nodded. Fang Hao seemed set on exploring the Tomb of the Dragon. After their conversation ended, Fang Hao deactivated God¡¯s Presence mode put on his armor, took his Starfire Wand, and walked downstairs. First floor lobby. Anjia had already changed into her maid outfit and was talking to Eira. Upon seeing Fang Hao descend the stairs, she twirled around cheerfully and asked, ¡°How do I look?¡± Beautiful,¡± Fang Hao praised. Anjia and Eira had two different kinds of beauty. Even if Anjia was wearing a maid outfit, she didn¡¯t give off the feeling of a gentle maid. She was more like a mischievous imp in a maid outfit. ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll wear this from now on,¡± Anjia said happily. ¡°You can change when we get back, gather your things, we¡¯re going out for a bit,¡± said Fang Hao. He sat down, flipping through the Book of Lords, reconfirming the route he had just seen from the Pigmen Village. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Anjia hung on Fang Hao¡¯s shoulder, looking at the map in the Book of Lords. She felt the softness of her arm. Fang Hao pointed on the map, ¡°Here, the Tomb of the Dragon.¡± ¡°Huh? Tomb of the Dragon? Did a dragon die there?¡± Anjia took immediate interest, her eyes sparkling. The Dragon Clan has always been synonymous with power. A place where a dragon has died is naturally a great place for adventure. ¡°I don¡¯t know; it¡¯s just called that. Maybe a large snake died there, or maybe there¡¯s nothing at all,¡± said Fang Hao, trying to temper Anjia¡¯s expectations. The Tomb of the Dragon is just the name on the map. Like Mysterious Caves and Unknown Camps, they are given the names by the discoverers. Whether there really was a dead dragon could not be determined for certain. Of course, Fang Hao hoped that there would be a dragon¡¯s corpse. ¡°Enough talk, let me change my clothes, and then we can set out,¡± said Anjia, who ran upstairs to change her clothes. When she came down again, she had put on her own clothes and had a pair of Tiger¡¯s Claws around her waist. After a brief explanation to Eira and Fireblade, they set off with 50,000 troops heading north. The lord¡¯s mansion had been upgraded to a level 5 Stone Tower, which together with the White Bone Throne, boosted marching speed. This allowed the large troops to significantly increase their speed. Soon, they arrived at the Pigmen Village. ¡°My lord, Miss Anjia.¡± Petty, with several pigmen, came forward to greet them. ¡°Are you ready?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. Let Bolton guide you, and the carts and necessities for the journey have been prepared,¡± said Petty. Fang Hao always brought some carts with him when he took his troops out. These carts, pulled by Skeleton Wolves, would come in handy if there were any spoils of war difficult to carry. Bolton stepped forward, greeted them, ¡°Lord, Miss Anjia.¡± ¡°Bolton, you¡¯re familiar with this road?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°I am.¡± Alright, let¡¯s set out then.¡± Fang Hao went into the room, invoked God¡¯s Presence, and the troops set out again. They headed in the direction of the Tomb of the Dragon. Bolton held the drawn map, leading the team through the jungle in the mountains. This was not a map that could be integrated into the Book of Lords but a hand-drawn map on a piece of beast skin. It marked the general route and important places. Only someone familiar with the area, like Bolton, could understand this map. To avoid trouble, the large troop bypassed some forces and monster dens to avoid unnecessary fights. Their mission was the Tomb of the Dragon, and they needed to return to the territory before nightfall. You could say that time was tight and the mission was heavy. After at least four or five hours on the road, they finally reached the continuous mountain range that Petty had mentioned. At the same time, Fang Hao, controlling the Skeleton Warrior, began to feel the burden of his spiritual power due to the distance. Fortunately, the destination was not far away, so they could hold on until they reached the Tomb of the Dragon.¡± ¡°My lord, the road ahead is a bit rugged,¡± warned Bolton in front of the mountain range. ¡°Let¡¯s go in,¡± said Fang Hao. The whole team obeyed Fang Hao¡¯s command, but the hero of the territory was actually Anjia. Anjia had the [Pathfinding] skill. The units led by the hero have a 20% reduced impact when marching in rugged terrain. This could also play a certain role.. Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Chapter 120, Stone Element_l Chapter 120: Chapter 120, Stone Element_l Translator: 549690339 | Bolton led the team into the mountains. The cracks in the mountains were like gusts of wind, whistling, surrounded by stone walls, with no grass or trees to be seen. As they got closer to their destination, the road became more rugged. Just when they were about to arrive at their destination. Suddenly, the ground shook, and rocks rolled down from the mountainsides. Then, they heard hurried footsteps coming from straight ahead. They looked up abruptly. They saw several monsters made of rocks running down the sloping mountainside, charging towards the team. [Stone Element (Level 6)] The Stone Element is a humanoid species, composed of rocks, with stony limbs and a head. They towered over 3 meters tall, and their run echoed like an earthquake. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The leading Stone Element roared, throwing a rock from its hand. Whoosh! The rock, like a cannonball, whistled towards the team. Following this, the rest of the Stone Elements also began to fling rocks from their hands, attacking the Undead Legion. ¡°Raise your shields,¡± Fang Hao roared. The skeleton soldiers raised their shields. The next second, there was a flurry of heavy impact sounds. Bang, bang, bang!! Rocks rained down like a storm, even though the shields were coated with a layer of iron. Facing such an attack, the shields began to twist and deform. After the first round of tossing, the Stone Elements had rushed down the slope and were charging towards Fang Hao and his comrades. At this point, Fang Hao had no other way to deal with this, other than fight. ¡°Kill them.¡± Roar! The Undead Legion, like a swarm of bees, rushed towards the charging Stone Elements to attack. With a swift run, the towering Skeleton Ogre gradually moved to the front. Boom, boom, boom!! The Skeleton Ogre collided with a Stone Element of a similar size instantly, creating a deafening noise. Its ax swung down hard, landing directly on the Stone Element¡¯s head. Steel hitting rock, created a shrill, cutting noise. The Stone Element¡¯s head was instantly chopped off a piece, but it did not hinder the Stone Element from counterattacking. The fist of stone slammed into the Skeleton Ogre¡¯s body, making a heavy thud. The surrounding skeleton soldiers also instantly surrounded the Stone Element, launching a concentrated attack. Iron hitting rocky skin, sparks appeared from time to time. Anjia, on the other hand, calmly put on her Tiger¡¯s Claw. After a glance at Fang Hao, she took a step and charged towards the Stone Elements. Upon reaching the closest Stone Element, she leapt and threw a powerful punch. Boom!! With a muffled sound, Anjia¡¯s punch directly landed on the Stone Element s head. The invincible stone, under this punch, was fragile like porcelain, instantly shattered into pieces. Anjia landed, but did not pause her foot for a moment. She charged towards the next Stone Element, starting her own hunting session. Whether it was the vast number of Undead or Anjia selecting targets at random and attacking, Stone Elements were killed one after another, leaving the ground littered with fragments of rock. Boom! Soon, under Anjia¡¯s leadership, all the Stone Elements were killed. Some rare materials were dropped. ¡°Clear the battlefield, collect the spoils, and search for treasure chests,¡± Fang Hao loudly ordered. The Skeleton Warriors immediately dispersed and started collecting the items around. ¡°Bolton, are you alright?¡± When Fang Hao looked at Bolton, his face suddenly changed. Bolton¡¯s entire head was dyed red with blood, looking somewhat chilling with his blood-red pig¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, sir, just some scratches,¡± Bolton said, wiping away the blood that was obstructing his vision. At the start of the battle, although the stones were thrown in his direction, they didn¡¯t hit him. However, shards from the shattered stone grazed his forehead and pierced his ears. Blood flowed freely, staining half of his face red. After a quick bandaging, the bleeding was stopped. ¡°There is a healing spring in the territory. You can fetch some of its water later, it will help you recover.¡± Fang Hao said. The Rejuvenation Spring has healing properties. No one in the territory was injured, so its healing effect was never verified. However, it was still popular in the chat channel, proving that the Rejuvenation Spring is really effective. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, my lord. I¡¯ve endured worse injuries before, as long as it¡¯s bandaged, I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Bolton said carelessly. While Bolton dismissed it with his words, he silently cursed his bad luck. Previously, when the pigmen were exploring on their own, they never encountered this group of Stone Elements. Maybe it was because the activity of tens of thousands of people marching was too loud, which somehow drew out this group of Stone Elements. ¡°When you get back, ask someone to fetch some spring water to prevent infection,¡± Fang Hao said, then turned to Anjia, ¡°Are you alright, Anjia?¡± ¡°Cut it out! This little scrape hurt me? You have to be kidding.¡± Anjia sneered. Fang Hao¡¯s concern seemed to be a sign of distrust in her abilities. ¡°Glad to hear you¡¯re okay.¡± Soon, the spoils from the battle were collected. [Obtained: Natural Geml2, Trace of the Earthl6, Battle Trace8, Essence of Magics.] It seemed that the Spiritual Species wouldn¡¯t drop a Wriggling Spine. After several experiences with battles against Spiritual Species, after killing them, they would only drop some related rare materials. After waiting for five minutes, a chest was brought to Fang Hao by a skeleton. A silver chest. Without any hesitation, Fang Hao opened it immediately. [Obtained: Basement blueprint, Stonecutting blueprint, Trace of Earths, Warfire Coin22.] The rewards were average, but the two blueprints were exactly what Fang Hao was missing. [Basement (Green): Woodl200, Stonel5oo, Hemp Rope6oo, Metal ComponentsSO.] [Ability: Constant Temperature] [Constant Temperature]: Can keep a stable temperature in the room. (Description: You can use it as storage or secret chambers, treasure rooms, etc.) The basement was not bad. It was perfect for housing the barrels of liquor in the territory and freeing up a room. [Stone Slab: Stones.] (Description: Made from crude stone, it can be used for paving roads.) After safely storing the blueprints and materials, the team continued their journey. Half an hour later, Everyone finally arrived near their destination; only one hill separated them from the Tomb of the Dragon. ¡°My lord, the location on the map is right behind this mountain. There¡¯s a tunnel entrance up ahead, it should lead to the Tomb of the Dragon,¡± Bolton continued to lead the way. The pigmen stopped their exploration at this point. Since they had completed their task, they saw no need to venture further in. Fang Hao nodded in understanding. Everyone followed Bolton onward, arriving at the location of the entrance he¡¯d described. The mouth of the cave was quite large, with an estimated height and width of around five to six meters. The edges of the cave mouth were fortified with stone bricks, and there were ruins of buildings and wreckage on both sides of the ground. The area had merged with the surrounding environment over the centuries, becoming one with the mountains. It was clear; this was a man-made construction. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in. Bolton, stay at the back. If there¡¯s any danger, retreat. Fang Hao instructed. Bolton¡¯s combat power was weak, his primary role was as a guide. The main force was still the skeleton army and Anjia, the hero. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Bolton replied. The team entered the tunnel; switching from daylight to dim light. They pulled out Nightstones from their backpacks, which emitted a faint glow to provide illumination. As they proceeded a few steps, the Soul Fire in Fang Hao¡¯s eye sockets suddenly trembled. Taking advantage of the light from the Nightstones, They noticed there were gray-white crystals on both sides of the cave. Fang Hao was too familiar with these crystals. Shadowstones.. Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Chapter 121, Dragon Bone (Seeking recommendation votes... )_1 Chapter 121: Chapter 121, Dragon Bone (Seeking recommendation votes¡­ )_1 Translator: 549690339 The Lord¡¯s Mansion has been upgraded to Level 5 Stone Tower. Apart from special buildings, the rest of the establishments have met the construction requirements. However, due to the lack of Shadowstone, many constructions of the Undead faction are yet to be upgraded. He has made direct requests for Shadowstone in the channel, but the number of people willing to trade remains minimal. Over a few days, he barely received any. Now, the appearance of a fairly large amount of Shadowstone in this tunnel fills his heart with elation that cannot be hidden. Even the headache caused by using the God¡¯s Presence spell has been significantly relieved. ¡°Collect all the materials along the way.¡± As the tunnel¡¯s width was limited, Fang Hao didn¡¯t split his team to collect the materials. As they advanced, he collected all the encountered Shadowstones. After traversing a distance, the count of Shadowstones had already reached 27. Fang Hao put all the Shadowstones into his pack, and started brainstorming. Theoretically, Shadowstones only appear in ancient tombs, Chaotic Burial Grounds, or places where the aura of death is exceptionally strong. Yet so many Shadowstones have appeared in a mountain path connected to the Tomb of the Dragon. Could it be that a dragon truly died in there? Only then could such a strong aura of death emanate. While Fang Hao was ponderating the possible scenarios, Anjia¡¯s furry animal ears twitched slightly; she stared intently at the dimly lit tunnel ahead. Upon careful inspection, one could discern subtle differences in the shadows. In the darkness, something as thick as ink seemed to be rapidly approaching. ¡°Danger,¡± Anjia whispered softly. ¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Hao swiftly looked up, also noticing the swiftly spreading black shadow ahead. [Shadow Apparition (Tier 8)] As expected, a monster, and of the 8th Tier at that. ¡°Prepare to fight,¡± Fang Hao commanded. Swish, swish, swish! All the Skeletons immediately pulled out their weapons, aimlessly standing there; utterly clueless. Very soon, The Shadow Apparition rushed to the front of the team. The next moment, a series of exaggerated human-like shadows launched an attack on the Skeleton Squad. The moment these shadows took form, the Skeletons identified the target and began counter-attacking. This type of Shadow Apparition was different from Little You, the Wandering Spirit. Although Little You was a soul entity, her facial features and body structure are clear. However, the currently appearing Shadow Apparitions resembled ghosts in ghost stories. They only possessed human contours, their heads didn¡¯t have facial features, their bodies were formed by shadows, soaked in an aura of death. From their faceless faces, they emitted furious roars and launched angry attacks on the targets before them. All of this took place in this restricted space. An intense battle broke out. In a few minutes, under the overwhelming numerical advantage, the battle ended. After the Shadow Apparitions were eliminated, their bodies dissipated on the spot. They dropped some special materials. [Death Trace x3] These so-called traces, essence and such are special materials, which can be used in construction and recruitment of special troops. Their value is even higher than ordinary blueprints. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s move on. Keep an eye out for Shadowstones,¡± Fang Hao ordered, directing the team to advance. The team continued to move forward. Along the way, they encountered several attacks from the [Shadow Apparitions], The rank of the Shadow Apparitions wasn¡¯t fixed, the lowest being Tier 3 or 4, and the highest reaching Tier 7 or 8. He gathered quite a lot of [Death Traces], this was a considerable gain. The tunnel was lengthier than what Fang Hao had imagined. He didn¡¯t know who dug this tunnel, they must have possessed significant power. Even in the modern world, this would have been a major project, requiring large-scale machinery and equipment. As the team ventured deeper into the tunnel, it started to narrow. From the initial capacity of several people walking side-by-side, it became possible for only two people to pass side-by side. The already confined space became even more oppressive. Bang! Anjia punched through a shadowy figure that was attempting to approach. The skeleton soldiers were also slicing down the approaching shadows with their chaotic swords. Eventually. In the continuous push forward, a cave entrance and bright sunshine appeared ahead. Finally about to exit. Along this path, they collected so many Shadowstones and an endless number of ghostly figures. This made Fang Hao extremely curious about this Tomb of the Dragon. As they emerged from the dark cave, their eyes were instantly engulfed by light. The next second, when everyone saw the view ahead, they couldn¡¯t help showing surprised expressions. Turns out, Fang Hao and the others hadn¡¯t crossed the entire mountain range. They had instead entered into the belly of the mountain. Ahead, was a massive basin-like depression, surrounded by towering cliffs. In the center of the basin, was a gigantic dragon bone. The ground beneath the dragon bone was tainted blood-red, surrounded by considerable numbers of shadow soldiers. [Wandering Spirit (Tier 7)] [Shadow Leopard (Tier 6)] [Rotten Corpse (Tier 4)] All kinds of monsters, all gather around the dragon bone. ¡°A real dragon died here!¡± Anjia exclaimed from the side. The Dragon Clan is known for their power, their infamy widespread. Everyone has heard stories or legends about them, but only a few have ever seen a real dragon. Anjia was no different; seeing such a huge dragon bone, her eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement. ¡°Hmm, not bad,¡± Fang Hao said lightly. But the soul fire pulsating in his eye sockets betrayed his excitement. If this dragon bone were taken back, the military strength of the territory would greatly increase. ¡°What now? Just keep watching?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°What else?¡± Fang Hao glanced at the undeadarmy that was streaming out of the cave, then gave an order, ¡°Kill all the enemies.¡± Rush! The moment they heard this command, the skeleton army rushed towards the enemy like a swift tide. From the cave behind, new skeleton soldiers were continuously pouring out, rushing towards the enemy in an unending stream. Whoosh! Suddenly, the sound of a piercing missile echoed out. A cold light was rushing towards Fang Hao¡¯s skull. Clang! Anjia punched out, sending the cold light flying. It spun a few times before embedding itself into a nearby cliff. It was a dagger. It was only after the action that Fang Hao realized what had happened and stepped back a half astep. The long-distance use of God¡¯s Presence made Fang Hao¡¯s actions appear unbelievably slow. Even after noticing the attack, it was difficult controlling the skeleton to dodge it in time. Fortunately, Anjia¡¯s was a powerhouse. Otherwise, that dagger would have ended up in his own head. Looking back at where the dagger had come from,. A pitch-black woman was standing there. Her entire body was cloaked in darkness, making it difficult to see her face, however certain features clearly revealed her gender. [Corrupted Elf (Green Tier 9 Hero)] An elf, no wonder she has such a good figure. This was also the first hero-class monster Fang Hao had encountered on his journey. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Kill her quickly.¡± Fang Hao said, eyeing the enemy ahead. The elf¡¯s armor was already rotten, with occasional fragments still clinging to her body. She was holding a dagger with a reverse grip and a short sword was hanging at her waist, and coldly stared at the twosome. The her eyes were pitch-black. ¡°Understood.¡± With her reply, Anjia sprung forward like an arrow towards the black elf. The corrupted elf stood motionless, and the moment Anjia got close, she immediately drew her short sword for a counterattack. Clang! Bang! The sword clashed with the Tiger¡¯s Claw, emitting faint collision sounds. But the next second, the elf was suddenly flung back like a cannonball, crashing into the distant cliffs.. Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 122, Light Feather Short Sword l Chapter 122: Chapter 122, Light Feather Short Sword l Translator: 549690339 Anjia¡¯s power was far from trifling. In their first round, the elf was sent hurtling backward, hitting the mountain wall behind with a loud thud. Dirt and rocks scattered all around. Anjia didn¡¯t hesitate in the slightest and immediately dashed toward her opponent, intending to strike while the iron was hot. The elf slid down the mountain wall, avoiding Anjia¡¯s head-on punch in the nick of time. Suddenly, she shifted steps. She dodged the attack at an odd angle, her short sword swiftly twirling to stab into Anjia¡¯s ribs. The series of movements were fluid and elegant. Anjia twisted her body and avoided the attack as well. ¡°Interesting.¡± A faint smile appeared on Anjia¡¯s face. The very next second, her fists started raining down like a deluge, constantly striking various parts of the elf¡¯s body. The elf was caught in a vicious cycle of rapid-fire attacks. Each time she tried to escape, she was forced back into the fray. As the elf staggered from the relentless hits, Anjia instantly activated her skill, Red Tooth. Her waist twisted as she delivered a backward elbow strike. The immense force completely obliterated the corrupted elf. The next moment, its body disintegrated into a pool of black dirt. All the infected creatures were like puppets manipulated by death, Driven by darkness, through bodies that were not their own. Seeing that the battle on Anjia¡¯s side had ended, Fang Hao came over and asked, ¡°Did you win?¡± ¡°Of course. She put up a good fight, too bad she met me,¡± Anjia said confidently. She was well-known in Manim Market. Although she was a 7th-tier blue hero, her strength was quite formidable. She often provoked Bronze Bull Tellock, annoying him tremendously, yet he could do nothing about her. ¡°Where¡¯s the body?¡± ¡°What body? Her body is long gone,¡± Anjia responded. ¡°Ah!¡± Fang Hao sighed faintly and said, ¡°Help out those skeletons quickly so we can finish up and go eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anjia joined the battle, swiftly killing the monsters in the basin. After about half an hour, the battle was over. All the enemies had instantly disintegrated after their death, dropping masses of rare resources. The only ones left were the skeleton soldiers who had died on Fang Hao¡¯s side. Bones littered the battlefield. ¡°Everyone start collecting the loot, check for treasure chests,¡± Fang Hao ordered while walking over to the dragon bones. As he approached, the monumental dragon bones still inspired an indescribable awe. It was indeed a dragon. [Remains of the Giant Dragon) [Type: Remains] (Description: The remains of a dragon species that was used as a sacrifice, strong body, grudges of the dead, has infected this land.) Sacrifice? Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight of this word. Could it be that someone captured this dragon to use as a ritual offering? At the same time, Fang Hao also took notice of the symbols on the ground. After brushing aside the dark-red soil, he could see that the entire basin was a massive disc filled with intricate inscriptions, as if the dragon was presented on a platter. How strange¡­ ¡°Do you want to bring these back?¡± Anjia asked, walking over. She slapped the dragon¡¯s skeleton with her small hand, as if gauging its ripeness. ¡°Of course, what¡¯s the point of all this trouble otherwise?¡± Fang Hao responded. Having expended all this effort, naturally, he would take everything back. It was a shame about the body of the dark-skinned elf. If only they still had it. ¡°Can you actually use all of these? Why don¡¯t we keep a section to make soup for us by Eira?¡± Anjia, always full of odd ideas, suddenly suggested this. Fang Hao was stunned by her absurd proposition. He retorted incredulously, ¡°Are you ill? I¡¯m scared I might get poisoned.¡± ¡°Come on! Just a small piece won¡¯t harm. Don¡¯t be so stingy!¡± Anjia nagged on the side. Time gradually passed. The skeletons gathered all the spoils of war scattered around them. Among them, a short sword caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. This short sword was by no means a stranger; it was just used by the [Infected Elf]. When it was collected by the skeleton soldiers, there was a scabbard which made a perfect set. Looking at it now. This short sword indeed looked too extravagant to be a weapon. The scabbard was made of an unidentified metal, a bright white material, carved with exquisite patterns. The blade of the short sword was sharp, with the hilt shaped like a tree canopy, and several tendrils twisting around it. [Light Feather (Orange)] [Category: Short Sword] [Damage: Level three damage] [Properties: Leader charm+3.] [Skill: Blessing (Passive).] [Blessing]: The wearer (living creature) is not affected by any negative status. (Description: The beautiful little princess, weak and afflicted by nightmares, was constantly ill. The king summoned the best blacksmith in the kingdom to forge a dagger that could dispel disasters, and gave it to the princess, who always carried it around.) Did Anjia just kill a princess? Why would a princess appear here? It really is incomprehensible. Actually, this short sword is not used for combat. Level three damage, which is the level of a blue weapon. On the contrary, the leader¡¯s charm and the Blessing skill, pull the short sword¡¯s attributes up to the level of orange. After all, immunity to all negative status is such a powerful ability. So, it¡¯s more like a weapon-type amulet than a weapon itself. In summary, it is indeed a very good treasure. ¡°Really nice.¡± Fang Hao happily put it in his backpack. The short sword can be regarded as an unexpected gain this time. Soon, the skeletons had collected all the spoils of war. [Acquired: Death Trace 312, Divine Trace 12, Star Silver 5, Shadowstone 137, Dragon Crystal 12.] Cool! Really cool. I directly got 137 Shadowstones that have been tormenting me. This is simply a huge surprise. It¡¯s been such a long time since I came to this world, and this is the first time I¡¯ve gotten so many Shadowstones. Besides Shadowstones, there is a new material called Dragon Crystal, which was found around the dragon bones. Just when Fang Hao was feeling happy for getting so many materials. Bolton came over and said, ¡°Sir, you better come over, there is a God statue here.¡± The Whole basin covered a wide area, standing on the mountain, you can see the general outline of the basin. But being in the basin, plus the tall strange stone totem, obstructed a lot of vision. ¡°Lead the way,¡± said Fang Hao. Bolton nodded and led the way. At last, Fang Hao and his men saw the God statue Bolton mentioned. It was a huge stone statue of a God about 10 meters high. The sculpted figure had a human body, but the face was hideous and scary. The torso was naked, exposing the twisted muscles. He held a giant Wolf Fang Club in his hand, appearing to be in the midst of combat. ¡°A Troll?¡± Fang Hao said subconsciously. The God statue in front of him didn¡¯t give Fang Hao the impression of a strong human being. Instead, it gave him a feeling similar to an Ogre. [Slaughter God Statue (Blue)] [Category: Special Building] [Effect: Attack +io¡ã/o, Skill recovery speed +10%.] ((Description: The God of Slaughter will bless this territory, and all combat units will feel the pain and slaughter..)) Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 123, Slaughter God Statue_l Chapter 123: Chapter 123, Slaughter God Statue_l Translator: 549690339 The territory had a Harvest Statue, in the image of a female deity. After its construction, it provided bonuses to gathering and planting. The effect was different from that of the Slaughter God Statue they saw now, but its function was the same ¨C giving attribute bonuses to forces that had constructed such statues. Unfortunate for them, this statue was carved directly from a cliff face, making it impossible to transport. If they could, they would have taken it back with them. ¡°Sir, there is another treasure chest here. And there¡¯s a smoother road ahead that leads out,¡± Bolton continued to report. ¡°Alright, Bolton, you and the skeletons are to bring all the carts here so we can load them up and leave,¡± instructed Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Bolton replied and then led a group of skeletons away. After Bolton left, Fang Hao shook his head slightly. He was unsatisfied with the gold treasure chest in front of him. Such a grand battle against so many creatures, and all they got was a gold treasure chest. He had no other choice. He couldn¡¯t just ignore it, so he chose to open it. [Received: Building blueprint of the Slaughter God Statue (blue), blueprint of Troll Heavy Armor (green), blueprint of Troll Iron Helm (green), blueprint of Troll Battle Boots (green), an Unnamed Map, and +12 Troll Stones.] The rewards from treasure chests often had some relevance to the location of the battles. Even though they couldn¡¯t determine what had happened here, obtaining so many troll-related blueprints and Troll Stones suggested its connection to trolls. But it didn¡¯t matter anyway. Whatever involvement with trolls this place had was not important to him as it seemed to have been abandoned for many years. Since he obtained the Dragon Bones he was seeking, his goal for the day had been accomplished. And moreover, he had also obtained many Shadowstones and Light Feather Short Knives. Ah! What a pity about that elf corpse, he had yet to see a female skeleton. Having calmed himself, he checked the blueprints he had collected. [Slaughter God Statue (Blue): Wood 350, Stone 1200, Natural Gem 5, Essence of Magic 2, Traces of Battle 3, Traces of Violence 3.] (Description: The Slaughter God will bless this territory, and all battle units will feel pain and slaughter.) It goes without saying, this was the blueprint of the giant statue in front of them. Different from the Goddess of Harvest. The Goddess of Harvest was designed in the image of a human female and brought a pleasing aesthetic to your territory. The statue of the Slaughter God, on the other hand, had a more harsh image. It could even scare children to tears. Nevertheless, they could not avoid constructing it. The attributes provided by the Slaughter God Statue were quite impressive. It could increase the attack power and skill recovery of combat units by 10%. The skills of the units refer to things like the Shieldbashing of the warriors and the Charge of the Cavalry. Additionally, in the Book of Lords, there was another orange blueprint for the [Wishing Well], You could consume a certain amount of basic resources every week to wish for rewards at a certain probability. The prerequisite building for the Wishing Well was the existence of four deity statues. The Slaughter God Statue was the second deity statue in the territory and a necessary construction. [Blueprint for Troll Heavy Armor(Green)] [Blueprint for Troll Iron Helm(Green)] [Blueprint for Troll Battle Boots(Green)]. These three blueprints were for Troll equipment. [Troll Heavy Armor: Iron Plate 8, Cast Iron Square 3, Thick Leather 5.] [Troll Iron Helm: Iron Plate 5, Cast Iron Square 2, Thick Leather 3.] [Troll Battle Boots: Iron Plate 6, Cast Iron Square 3, Thick Leather 4.] These three items were obviously equipment for trolls. They were just right for equipping his Skeleton Troll with a new set of gear. Currently, the armor of the Skeleton Troll was assembled by the rabbit women using small iron round shields connected by ropes and tied to the skeleton¡¯s bones. The enormous body with an additional round shield looked like a moving target. It was unsightly and barely provided minimal defense. Now, with this new set of equipment, they could equip the Skeleton Troll and finally get rid of the small round shield. [Unnamed Map] [Category: Single-page Map] (Description: The map marks an unknown area.) Fang Hao glanced at it and threw it directly into his backpack. Once he returned and integrated it with the large map, he would be able to determine its location. Right now, he could not understand what was depicted on this current map. After reviewing all the rewards, Bolton arrived with the skeletons pushing the carts along the main road. ¡°My lord, this path leads out, the small path we just took isn¡¯t the main road.¡± Bolton pointed to the road that led outside. ¡°That¡¯s good. We¡¯ll take this road later.¡± Fang Hao replied. Bolton nodded. Fang Hao commanded all the skeletons again, ¡°Separate the dragon bones and load them onto the carts.¡± The frame of the dragon bones was huge, they needed to be loaded onto the carts in sections. The skeletons busied themselves with loading the enormous dragon bones onto the carts and securing them with ropes. After walking around the entire basin to ensure nothing was left behind, Fang Hao gave the order to return. The convoy filled with white bones resembled a long dragon. Even larger bones needed several skeletons to lift and transport them, and they began to move towards the Pigmen Village. By the time they returned to Pigmen Village, it was near dusk. The sunset cast a long shadow of the convoy. Fang Hao deactivated the God¡¯s Presence state, sat up from the bed, and found the world spinning in front of his eyes. This divine presence was essentially an overdrive run for him. If it wasn¡¯t for the rich rewards and constant excitement, he would have yielded to the headache and removed the state early on. After resting with his eyes closed for a while, he finally sat up on the bed. He picked up his magic wand and walked out of the room. ¡°My Lord, has the squad returned?¡± As soon as he walked out of the room, Petty came over to ask. ¡°Yes, the team didn¡¯t stay in the village and went straight back.¡± Fang Hao replied. It was really quite late, and they still had a long way to go before they reached home. ¡°All right, my lord. Do you need me to arrange a horse for you?¡± Petty continued. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Then I will arrange for some people to escort you to meet with the convoy.¡± Petty arranged for some pigman warriors and skeleton warriors to escort Fang Hao. After merging with the convoy, they continued on their way back to the territory. Two hours later. The convoy smoothly entered the city gate. Eira began preparing dinner, while Fang Hao immediately headed to the Transformation Pool with the dragon bones. There were sufficient Shadowstones, so he immediately upgraded the Transformation Pool. Light surged, and the once five-square meter Transformation Pool expanded to almost ten meters in length. It was large enough to accommodate dragon bones. One cart after another dumped huge dragon bones into the Transformation Pool. The Transformation Pool was like a swamp, swallowing the pile of skeletons, slowly and gradually sinking. At the same time, a countdown appeared at the Skeleton Conversion Field. Conversion time: 7 hours, 59 minutes. This was the longest transformation time amongst all the species Fang Hao had transformed so far. It even took 8 hours. If it had been earlier, a few babies could have been delivered in the maternity ward in the same amount of time it took for the transformation. After complaining, Fang Hao moved on to building the blueprints he obtained that day. There were two construction blueprints in total: The Cellar and Slaughter God Statue. He first went to the location where the Harvest Statue was built, and chose to build the Slaughter God Statue two meters away. Fang Hao didn¡¯t understand much about design; he just built structures that were similar or related together. So, it didn¡¯t look too chaotic. [Slaughter God Statue (Blue): Wood 350, Stone 1200, Natural Gem 5, Essence of Magic 2, Traces of Battle 3, Traces of Violence 3.] Build! Blue light emerged, slowly carving out the outline of the statue. Five minutes later, the light faded. The mini version of the Slaughter God statue from the Tomb of the Dragon appeared before Fang Hao. At the same time, a red halo expanded from the center of the statue, enveloping the entire territory. All the combat units in the domain received the blessing of the Slaughter God Statue, and their combat power and skill recovery were increased by io¡ã/o.. Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 124, Qinglong Commerce Chapter 124: Chapter 124, Qinglong Commerce Association^ Translator: 549690339 The Slaughter God Statue was successfully constructed. The boost instantly applied to all types of soldiers. Although its appearance was somewhat lacking, the effect was quite good. Next. Fang Hao continued to the Undead building area for building upgrades. He had gathered quite a lot of shadowstone today, which was perfect for upgrading the undead buildings that weren¡¯t upgraded yet. First up was the Underground Cemetery. The Underground Cemetery could recruit skeleton laborers. Skeleton laborers formed the foundation of territory construction. All resource exploitation relied on them. Their functionality was not inferior to combat troops in the slightest. [Underground Cemetery Level 5: Wood 2000, Stone 2500, Hemp Rope 320, Hard Wood 4.00, Brick 300, Shadowstone 10.] Upgrade! [Underground Cemetery Level 5] [Recruitment limit: 30/50] [Recruit: Skeleton (free)] (Note: This building can recruit labor units to perform basic tasks.) [Upgrading materials required: Wood 3500, Stone 3200, Hard Wood 750, Brick 600, Iron 200, Shadowstone 20.] After upgrading to level 5, the recruitment limit increased by 20 straightaway. Recruit! [Hundred-fold multiplier triggered, 2020 skeletons recruited] Two thousand skeleton laborers appeared. Fang Hao ordered them to collect tools from the warehouse and assign them to their respective duty stations. Next was the Corridor of the Dead. [Corridor of the Dead Level 5: Wood 3200, Stone 3800, Hemp Rope 450, Hard Wood 500, Brick 450, Shadowstone 35.] Upgrade! [Corridor of the Dead Level 5] [Recruit: Skeleton Scout/Skeleton Cavalry] [Skeleton Scout: Wriggling Spines 2/Skeleton Cavalry: Wriggling Spines 3.] (Note: In this building, you can recruit cavalry of the affiliated faction. Upgrading the building can unlock new soldier types and higher unit levels.) [Upgrading materials required: Wood 4500, Stone 4200, Hemp Rope 500, Hard Wood 1200, Brick 900, Iron 220, Shadowstone 50.] The Corridor of the Dead corresponded to the cavalry training camp. With this upgrade to 5th level, a new troops type was added ¨C the Skeleton Cavalry. Fang Hao didn¡¯t recruit immediately, since the number of troops in the territory had reached saturation. He would recruit when necessary so there was no hurry. According to the recruitment rules, needing 3 Wriggling Spines means this was a third-level unit. Then, Fang Hao continued to upgrade the Undead Mage Tower. Unfortunately, no new troop types appeared for the Undead Mage Tower. There was still only the Undead Mage. After the upgrades of the undead buildings were completed. Fang Hao continued to the lord¡¯s Stone Tower, planning to build a cellar. As soon as he stepped into the hall, he saw Eira wearing a maid¡¯s outfit, busily working in the kitchen. Her voluptuous bosom almost breaking out, and her fair, long legs exposed. They didn¡¯t harbor the peculiar thoughts of modern humans. They simply knew that this form of service was beautiful. What girl wouldn¡¯t like beautiful clothes? Eira was preparing dinner, with Anjia right behind her, non-stop talking about today¡¯s battle. From stone-men to towering Troll statues. Seeing Fang Hao coming over, she immediately blocked his way, ¡°Where¡¯s the dragon bone? Give me one, let Eira make us a soup.¡± She still remembered about boiling soup with dragon bones. Fang Hao extended his index finger to her, ¡°I don¡¯t have any dragon bones, but you can suck on this. It still has a bit of bone flavor.¡± Anjia glared at him and showed her teeth as she lunged at Fang Hao¡¯s finger. Fang Hao reflexively recoiled, avoiding her attack. Seeing Anjia was genuinely upset, he hurriedly said, ¡°Just joking, we had a good harvest today. Let¡¯s have Eira prepare more delicious food, and we¡¯ll have a celebration, alright?¡± Today indeed was a harvest-filled day. Light Feather¡¯s orange dagger, a large amount of shadowstone, Death Trace, several equipment blueprints. Most importantly, he received the long-awaited dragon bone. It was only fair to celebrate everyone¡¯s achievement. ¡°Hmph!¡± Anjia stood with both hands on her waist and huffed in indignation. ¡°Eira, could you make a couple more dishes?¡± Fang Hao asked. Eira smiled, ¡°Sure, master.¡± Then, Anjia began to order her favourite dishes. Meanwhile, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for a cellar in the building category. [Cellar (Green): Wood 1200, Stone 1500, Hemp Rope 600, Metal Parts 50.] The moment he selected the blueprint, a prompt appeared. [Building site is under the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower, do you wish to build?] Yes! Immediately, an additional staircase appeared at the staircase area of the stone tower. It led to the newly built cellar. [Cellar Level 1] [Ability: Constant Temperature] [Constant Temperature]: It can maintain a consistently stable temperature in the room. (Description: You can use it to store items, or as a secret room, treasury, etc.) [Upgrade Materials Needed: Wood 1800, Stone 2200, Hemp Rope 850, Metal Parts 75.] Fang Hao took out a piece of Nightstone and walked down into the cellar. The level one cellar was just a room of about 20 square meters. Having plenty of resources, Fang Hao instantly upgraded it to level 5. The name also changed from celler to basement. The number of rooms instantly increased to five, and a second underground floor appeared. Fang Hao came back up to the first floor, stood at the top of the stairs, and said, ¡°Anjia, take a few skeletons and move the barrels of wine down into the cellar.¡± ¡°Huh? But it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± Anjia seemed reluctant. ¡°Go quickly. Once that¡¯s done, it will be just in time for dinner.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Anjia went out and called a few skeleton soldiers to move the barrels of wine into the basement. The cellar¡¯s constant temperature function was ideal for storing wine. The other rooms could also be used as storage rooms for the Lord¡¯s Mansion, storing everyday utensils, fruits, and vegetables. They could also serve as secret rooms to store the rare resources and Warfire Coins that Fang Hao had accumulated recently. Once everything was done, Eira had also prepared dinner. The three of them sat at the dining table, chatting and having dinner. Fang Hao also opened the Book of Lords to check on the recent progress of everyone. However, just as he opened it, he found that there seemed to be some kind of conflict happening in the chat. Chat Channel: ¡°Everyone beware, exposing a scammer ¡®Ly Yan¡¯. Don¡¯t trade with him. He¡¯s a complete scammer, screwing over his own people in this world.¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense. I put up ordinary water for sale. Who asked you to trade without looking properly? I advise you to get your eyes checked.¡± ¡°You told me that you bought the Rejuvenation Spring water from Fang Hao. I planned to use it to heal my villagers. You switched it with ordinary water. Give me back my blueprint.¡± ¡°Get lost. Whether your villagers live or die has nothing to do with me. Stop annoying me. Keep blabbering in the channel, and I¡¯ll send troops to wipe you out.¡± ¡°Wipe me out? Dare to disclose each other¡¯s maps? Let¡¯s fight a real fight.¡± ¡°Hey! I won¡¯t. Having traded ordinary water for a blueprint, I¡¯m very happy. Go die.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s Rejuvenation Spring water had always been selling well. Due to the limited production of Rejuvenation Spring Wells and the fact that there could only be one special type of building, the daily sales volume was also limited. Not a few middlemen bought some to resell it at a higher price when someone was urgently injured. But this Ly Yan was even more despicable than the middlemen, replacing the Rejuvenation Spring water for sale with ordinary water and cheating the other party out of a blueprint. This kind of thing was obviously underhanded of Ly Yan. Those who bought the Rejuvenation Spring water were dealing with life-threatening matters. ¡°You little bastard, just wait for me. Don¡¯t let me know where you are.¡± ¡°Stupid jerk.¡± Right when the two were having a heated argument, lines of messages scrolled by, interrupting their conversation. ¡°The Azure Dragon Mutual Aid Trading Association has been established. Starting today, we will sell all kinds of tools, materials, equipment, and other items to everyone in the channel. We also sincerely invite those with common aspirations in this region to join us and build a glorious future together.¡± ¡°The Azure Dragon Mutual Aid Trading Association has been established,¡­, we will build a glorious future together.¡± ¡°The Azure Dragon Mutual Aid Trading Association has been established,¡­, we will build a glorious future together.¡± Several identical messages were sent in a row, just like spam. Everyone had been in this world for a while now, and this was the first time they had seen an alliance formed by a group. This Mutual Aid Trading Association seemed to have some ideas. After all, finding a group or a backing in this dangerous world seemed like a good idea. ¡°Can your trading association provide cheaper items than Fang Hao? They sold tens of thousands of sets of equipment at once a few days ago, can your trading association do that too?¡± ¡°Hmph, that kid Fang Hao only took advantage of the initial advantage. He¡¯s no good now.¡± ¡°Exactly, I saw the equipment they sold a few days ago. It was just plain trash, who knows where they dug it up from. The members of our trading association have already started equipping green equipment, and yet you guys are still stuck on Fang Hao. Are you addicted to being his sons?¡± ¡°Fang Hao¡¯s era is over. Next is the era of our Azure Dragon Trading Association. Those who want to join can enjoy a discount. The commodities will be a lot cheaper.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, right? Fang Hao has helped many people. Why attack him while you¡¯re selling your stuff?¡± ¡°Look, one of Fang Hao¡¯s loyal sons.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t act as a son, your heart will feel uncomfortable.¡± The emergence of the Azure Dragon Mutual Aid Trading Association caused chaos in the channel. After announcing the establishment of the trading association, they not only started selling goods, but also began to attack Fang Hao, as well as those who spoke up for Fang Hao, as if it was premeditated. With more people in the Azure Dragon Trading Association and sufficient preparation in advance, they quickly gained the upper hand in the verbal war. Many people couldn¡¯t out-talk or out-swear them. It could be seen that by establishing this trading association, they could completely avoid buying items from Fang Hao. They were not afraid of Fang Hao adopting a trading blacklist to restrict their trading. Their blatant swearing at Fang Hao didn¡¯t give them any psychological burdens either. ¡°Yeah, we are targeting Fang Hao. So what?¡± ¡°If you dare, ask Fang Hao to come to my territory to bite me. You guys want to be Fang Hao¡¯s dogs, but he doesn¡¯t even care.¡± Just as the channel was in a state of chaos, the system sound suddenly rang out. [Random Event: Lord¡¯s Conflict (Accepted).] [New Function of the Book of Lords: Alliance System, Alliance Chat Channel, Photography Function.] [Event Mission: Lord¡¯s Attack.] [The locations of the surrounding lords have been immediately opened, and all lords can check the locations of surrounding lord territories in the ¡®Book of Lords-Map Page¡¯.] [Event Duration: 23 hours 59 minutes.] [Good luck to you ] Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 125, Crowdfunding to Defeat Fang Chapter 125: Chapter 125, Crowdfunding to Defeat Fang Haul Translator: 549690339 As system notification appeared, the entire regional channel fell into silence. Not a single new message was seen in the channel, where just moments ago a tumultuous argument was taking place. The last message, much like a public execution, lingered there. Everyone knew. In this lawless world, as time passed, territories expanded. Everyone was a competitor. But most people were still restraining themselves, silently developing their own territories. Even if there were disputes, they¡¯d vent in the Book of Lords. And since nobody knew the location of anyone else¡¯s territory, safety could be ensured. But now, for the next 24 hours, the position of surrounding territories could be viewed. You¡¯d know who your neighbors were. Many people had crossed over in the same time, what if one of them was a hothead? Or maybe, you had an enemy who looked forward to purchasing the location of your territory! After the prompt sounded, everyone felt uneasy. Thinking back to whether they had offended anyone, whether someone would come to make trouble. ¡°Cough! Brother, it was all a misunderstanding, I just happen to have a Rejuvenation Spring here, I¡¯ll trade it to you.¡± ¡°Fine, we all came from Earth, let¡¯s live in harmony.¡± ¡°Exactly! I¡¯m initiating a trade now, I¡¯ll add 5 units of meat to it, to help your injured villagers recover.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Just moments ago these two were screaming and shouting at each other, now they suddenly showered each other with love. The abrupt change of attitude was hard to digest. At this moment, others also began to speak up in the channel. ¡°I¡¯ve never offended anyone, my territory has no resources, I beg the big shots for mercy.¡± ¡°My territory is surrounded by a large number of monsters, no one would come attack me, right?¡± ¡°I feel that everyone does not need to worry. If someone really wants to attack a territory, they¡¯d have to think whether they could win. And, after they dispatch their troops, what if their base is stolen? This task isn¡¯t a compulsory one, everyone should still exercise restraint.¡± ¡°Indeed, everyone should exercise restraint. This task isn¡¯t compulsory.¡± ¡°Damn it, why is my heartbeat racing? No, I have to be more careful.¡± Upon receiving the mission, Fang Hao immediately looked at the map in the Book of Lords. As expected, two special markings had appeared on the territory map. It seemed that these markings explored a certain range centered around own territory. Territories within that range would be marked on the map. One was in the east, the other in the west. The one in the east was Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, Fang Hao passed by more than once. And the territory in the west belonged to a lord named Li Teng. Fang Hao just had a brief look, without any intentions of invading the two. First, he was confident in his own strength, secondly, there was the looming threat of the Skullcrusher Tribe. As long as these two didn¡¯t court death, he couldn¡¯t be bothered about them. If he wanted to take over their territories, Fang Hao could do so at any time. To compete with his tens of thousands of arm forces, their measly thirty or twenty forces were simply not in the same league. Just as he closed the map, Fang Hao¡¯s private chat started buzzing continuously. ¡°Boss, Quick! I want to buy 20 iron spears, and 20 sets of leather armor.¡± ¡°Fang Hao, I want to buy 30 iron swords.¡± ¡°Fang Hao, 20 sets of leather goods for me.¡± It seemed that this sudden event had brought quite a bit of pressure on everyone. From the messages to buy equipment, their nervousness was apparent. There were too many private chat messages, and Fang Hao could only reply 20 times, not nearly enough to get back to everyone. Simply put, initiating direct trades with others right away, without replying to all messages. After finishing the private chats, Fang Hao pondered for a moment, feeling this was a great opportunity to make money. He quickly finished his meal and walked out of the Stone Tower. He crafted 30,000 each of Iron Swords, Iron Spears, and Leather Armors, including the equipment obtained from eradicating the Gnoll Tribe, and put them all for sale on the regional channel. In addition to trading for resources, the priority was Blueprints. ¡°Damn it! Fang Hao is a big businessman, every time he sells in thousands.¡± ¡°Too bad, there are no green gear on Fang Hao¡¯s list.¡± ¡°I should buy some, in case someone picks on me, at least I¡¯ll have some protection.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a problem.¡± Meanwhile. In the territory to the west of Fang Hao¡¯s territory, Li Teng¡¯s fists clenched, looking at the territory that suddenly appeared on the map, his eyes were filled with madness and malice. He directly opened the Alliance channel: ¡°My territory is near Fang Hao¡¯s. If you all support me, I will dispatch troops tomorrow morning and kill Fang Hao directly.¡± Li Teng¡¯s grudge with Fang Hao was kind of laughable. The last time someone verbally attacked Fang Hao on the channel, he chimed in with a sarcastic comment. As luck would have it, Fang Hao happened to be checking the channel, he added Li Teng to the banned trading list almost reflexively. Later, those who were banned grouped together to form this Green Dragon Trade Association. Apart from mutual support, They also shared a common enemy, that was Fang Hao. Upon discovering Fang Hao¡¯s territory appearing on his own map, he decided to use this opportunity to eradicate Fang Hao. ¡°Really? What kind of support do you need?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know how powerful Fang Hao is. These days his sales of equipment are in tens of thousands, he may be a tough nut to crack.¡± ¡°Ha! You don¡¯t actually believe Fang Hao has tens of thousands of soldiers, do you? He must have gotten some special opportunity allowing him to get all that damaged equipment. Didn¡¯t you see the group chat saying that the equipment had all been used before!¡± Looking at the squabbling within the alliance channel, Li Teng spoke up. ¡°Gather 200 Soul Crystals for me, as much iron resource as possible. I am confident of eradicating Fang Hao.¡± After saying this, Li Teng posted a photo and troop information [Great Sword Infantry (Tier 4)] in the channel. Li Teng wasn¡¯t blindly confident, he really possessed substantial strength. When most others in the channel were still at Level 2 or 3 of their Lords¡¯ Mansions, he had already advanced to Level 4. And with the opportunity that came his way, he obtained a building enabling him to recruit Tier 4 Great Sword Infantry. If Fang Hao hadn¡¯t been so dazzling, Li Teng would have been the chosen one. ¡°Li Teng, you even have Tier 4 troops, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier.¡± ¡°Wow, Brother Teng is too powerful, with Tier 4 troops, eradicating Fang Hao is a piece of cake.¡± Seeing the Tier 4 troops, everyone instantly became eager to assist. Li Teng continued: ¡°Enough talking, if you¡¯re willing to give me the Soul Crystals and iron resources, do so immediately. And if you have good equipment, trade it to me. After occupying Fang Hao¡¯s territory, the spoils of war will be divided proportionately.¡± ¡°Okay, I have 12 Soul Crystals here, and another 50 units of iron.¡± ¡°I have some here too¡­¡± People started pooling their resources, waiting to eradicate Fang Hao, who was ranked first in the region, and take his resources. Early the next morning, Fang Hao woke up on time, stretched lazily, and got out of bed. Just as he stepped out of the door, he saw Eira running in somewhat panic-stricken. Seeing Fang Hao, she stammered, still somewhat frightened: ¡°Master, over there, a giant creature has appeared..¡± Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: Chapter 126, Bone Dragon 1 Chapter 126: Chapter 126, Bone Dragon 1 Translator: 549690339 No need for Eira to explain, there were no tall buildings near the Skeleton Conversion Field. At a glance, a huge Bone Dragon could be seen standing there. ¡°It¡¯s okay, that¡¯s a new type of soldier recruited in the territory, they pose no danger.¡± Fang Hao lightly patted Eira on the back, signaling there was no need to worry. Eira¡¯s face was filled with lingering fear, she whispered, ¡°Oh, should I ask Miss Anjia to accompany you, just in case there is danger?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Fang Hao finished speaking and walked towards the direction of the Conversion Field. AS he got closer to the Bone Dragon, he increasingly sensed its massive size. When he got under it, he found that even while sitting there, it was as high as a six or seven story building. Even though Fang Hao knew it was his recruit, he still felt oppressed. ¡°Lie down!¡± said Fang Hao. The Bone Dragon glanced at Fang Hao, its straight front legs bent and the entire body lay down on the ground. Bone Dragon (Tier 10) Faction: Undead Racial Traits: Undead, hollow skeleton, weak to light attacks. Skills: Dragon¡¯s Might, Death Breath, Soul Plunder. Innate Skills: Advanced Flight Mastery, Advanced Combat Mastery, Advanced Defense Mastery, Advanced Magic Resistance. Dragon¡¯s Might (passive): Nearby living creatures have a 20% chance of being so tense they cannot act, 80% chance causes a decrease in morale by 15%. Soul Plunder (passive): Every time a target is killed, the recovery of ¡®Death Breath¡¯ skill is accelerated +1%. Death Breath (active): Dragon¡¯s breath can directly absorb the lives of those unfortunate living creatures. (Note: Skeleton units converted from corpses still retain their unique characteristics and attack methods from their previous lives.) Dragons are as powerful as imagined. Even after transformation, they have reached the tenth tier unit. Surpassing the Skeleton Trolls, they have become the most powerful unit under Fang Hao¡¯s command. In Fang Hao¡¯s heart, besides being a powerful unit, the Bone Dragon is a mount he dreamed of. The territory is gradually expanding, and these recent explorations to various places require several hours of travel. Without doing anything, time is wasted on the road. In earlier movies, there were always dragon knights, not only powerful in combat but also excellent mounts. However, the Bone Dragon in front of him was even more enormous, lying there like a small airplane. It could seat not just one but more than a dozen people. But¡­ Fang Hao touched the body of the Bone Dragon and began to worry. Even if he endured the pain and sat on the skeleton, wouldn¡¯t his small body fall out of the skeleton¡¯s gaps during flight? He won¡¯t need a parachute later, right? It s better to walk, no need to seek such death. He complained in his heart, but his brain started thinking for a solution. The dragon is dead, but he is alive. He decided to ride this dragon today. There are also skeleton mounts in the territory, how did they manage to ride these mounts? Saddles! Fang Hao then thought of saddles. If there is a saddle, it can perfectly solve the weakness that the skeleton mount is not good to ride. However, the saddle definitely does not fit the size of the dragon¡¯s body, Fang Hao immediately thought of another prop. Mammoth Carrier Saddle. The Mammoth Carrier Saddle was obtained in the tomb tunnel last time and had not been used yet. It is the only one likely suitable for the Bone Dragon to use. ¡°Let¡¯s try and see.¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and started crafting directly. Mammoth Carrier Saddle: 220 sturdy wood, 850 thick leather, 300 iron, 120 metal parts. Create! Hundredfold Amplification triggered, received 101 Mammoth Carrier Saddles. With a flash of light, 101 huge mount saddles appeared on the ground in front of him. The earner saddle was different from the ordinary saddle, it was quite big. ¡°You wait here for a while, don¡¯t wander off.¡± Fang Hao patted the Bone Dragon and instructed. The bone dragon¡¯s massive body could potentially cause significant chaos if let loose around the territory. Fang Hao left the conversion field and gathered six Skeleton Warriors and a blacksmith from the smithy. ¡°Sir, how can I help you?¡± asked Kulyn, the leader of the blacksmith team saluting. ¡°Take a few men with me. I have some tasks to deal with. Let¡¯s see if you can handle them.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°As you wish, lord.¡± Kulyn left with two blacksmiths, following Fang Hao. In front of the Bone Dragon. Fang Hao instructed the Skeleton Warrior to cover the Bone Dragon¡¯s body with a troop saddle. The length was just right, but minor adjustments were needed for some parts. ¡°Kulyn, you guys deal with the troop saddle, make it suitable for the Bone Dragon.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°As you wish, lord. Simple.¡± Kulyn replied. He and the other blacksmiths picked up their tools and began adjusting the saddle. Before long, the troop saddle was fitted to the body of the Bone Dragon. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s ready. You can give it a try.¡± Kulyn said. The Bone Dragon crouched down to make it easier for Fang Hao to climb on. The troop saddle wasn¡¯t just a single seat. In addition to the front control position, there were two rows of seats, a total of six. It could fit seven people in total. Fang Hao fastened the reins to the Bone Dragon¡¯s neck and gripped them tightly. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go for a loop.¡± The Bone Dragon raised its body, with a powerful push from its legs and spreading its wings, it shot directly into the sky. The wind whistled. Fang Hao held onto the reins tightly. Oh, crap¡­ Fang Hao could clearly feel the trembling of his facial muscles. It felt as if a pair of strong hands were kneading his face. Apart from the initial inertia when taking off, as the Bone Dragon ascended to the sky and spread its huge wings, it gradually became stable. The azure sky, the clouds within reach. This feeling was really remarkable. Fang Hao shouted loudly, ¡°Ah~! Burp!¡± He had swallowed plenty of wind. The Bone Dragon hovered above the territory, from where Fang Hao could see the hardworking skeleton workers below and the patrolling skeleton warriors. He could also see the Pigmen Village in the distance, and Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, which he¡¯d passed several times. ¡°Enough, let¡¯s go down.¡± Fang Hao leaned over and patted the Bone Dragon¡¯s neck. Upon command, the Bone Dragon folded its wings and dove towards the territory. ¡°Oh crap!¡± Woo woo woo¡­ After a successful landing, Fang Hao jumped off the Bone Dragon. Leaning on the Bone Dragon¡¯s body, he felt a bit dizzy. ¡°Next time, takeoff and landing should be slower, and smoother,¡± Fang Hao said. The Bone Dragon had reached Tier 10, and its intellect was slightly more advanced than that of an ordinary trooper. It seemed to understand Fang Hao¡¯s words, its giant skull nodded slightly. Fang Hao designated a large open space outside the city as a temporary resting area for the Bone Dragon. After all, the Bone Dragon was enormous, and letting it roam freely in the territory could cause various problems and damages. After checking out the transformed Bone Dragon. The gloom caused by the Skullcrusher Tribe had also dissipated. With the Bone Dragon, even if the Skullcrusher Tribe was strong, Fang Hao now had the ability to parry and counterattack. After getting everything done, Fang Hao returned to the lord¡¯s mansion to have breakfast. Eira brought over a sumptuous meal. Fang Hao had just taken his first bite when there was a notification from the Book of Lords. In the regional channel. ¡°(?Fang Hao, clean your neck and wait for death, Fang Hao, you bastard. I¡¯m coming to kill you right now.¡± After saying this, he also attached an encyclopedic entry for a Tier 4 troop, a Heavy Sword Infantry (Tier 4), along with a photo of more than 60 heavy sword soldiers. As soon as the Tier 4 soldiers appeared, the chat channel was instantly filled with a ruckus. ¡°Damn, Tier 4 soldiers! How is this possible!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we all say we were going to cool down yesterday! How come two big shots started fighting this early in the morning.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always hated Fang Hao. I¡¯m glad someone finally stood up to get rid of this profiteer..¡± Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 127, Taking the Initiative^ Chapter 127: Chapter 127, Taking the Initiative^ Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Exactly! Fang Hao, this crook, has monopolized and controlled the market prices for too long. He deserves to die.¡± ¡°I back Brother Li Teng. Obliterate Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Yes, we all support you. Wipe out fraudster Fang Hao. In the channel, there were multiple messages condemning Fang Hao relentlessly. Those who wanted to defend Fang Hao ended up silently deleting their written words and chose to remain silent because of the fear over Li Teng¡¯s warrior power. ¡°You all are truly shameless. Don¡¯t think we can¡¯t see, you lot are the ones who boldly formed the Blue Dragon Commerce Guild yesterday. Wanting to annihilate Brother Fang Hao and monopolize the market, isn¡¯t it? Everyone clearly knows who the fraudster is, who deserves to die.¡± just as everyone was viciously berating, a voice shattered the original line up. The speaker isn¡¯t a stranger, but Dong Jia Yue who¡¯s been healing and scarcely seen lately. ¡°Oh look, Fang Hao this brat has a woman fighting for him¡­¡± ¡°Where is Fang Hao? Hiding in his shell, letting a woman speak for him.¡± ¡°Exactly, where¡¯s that arrogant attitude from before? Dong Jia Yue¡¯s defense of Fang Hao instantly made her the target of those attacking Fang Hao. They mocked and insulted her like rabid dogs. This world¡¯s chat doesn¡¯t have any banned words, all kinds of unpleasant words attacked Fang Hao and Dong Jia Yue. At this point, Li Teng spoke again. ¡°Fang Hao, you have a few hours left to live, enjoy while you can. After I and my troops finish breakfast, that will be your time of death.¡± It¡¯s currently still morning. The troops also need to eat and drink plenty before going to the battlefield, otherwise their loyalty will decrease, potentially causing mistakes. Plus the journey, there¡¯s a few more hours before they can reach Fang Hao¡¯s territory. Fang Hao watched the chat within the channel; his face gradually darkened. He couldn¡¯t recall any grudge he had with this Li Teng. Yet, since the enemy had identified him as an easy target, a fat sheep, then he has nothing to say apart from exterminating him, giving a cautionary reminder to everyone in the channel. Fang Hao didn¡¯t want to talk, that doesn¡¯t mean he was easy to bully. He said straightforwardly: ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯ll come to you. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ll kill me.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t care at all about Li Teng¡¯s power. This was the first time he had seen someone showing off and revealing his cards before a war in the channel. Fang Hao knew that Li Teng¡¯s ultimate card was a Tier 4 Giant Sword warrior, but Li Teng didn¡¯t know what cards Fang Hao had. Therefore, Fang Hao didn¡¯t take him seriously at all. Not to mention, now he has a Tier 5 Skeleton Troll and a Tier 10 Bone Dragon. Even the Fireblade Tribe that Fang Hao wiped out at the beginning was stronger than Li Teng. Who gave him the courage to publicly challenge Fang Hao? ¡°Wait till I catch you, let¡¯s see if you can still talk tough.¡± Li Teng said. ¡°Support Brother Li Teng, eradicate the evil.¡± ¡°Support Brother Li Teng, wipe out fraudster Fang Hao.¡± Excluding those from the Blue Dragon Commerce Guild, there wasn¡¯t a second opinion in the channel. After all, Li Teng had demonstrated Tier 4 troops, surpassing their power. Those who wanted to speak up for Fang Hao also quietly shut up. They could only curse these shameless people within their territory. Only Dong Jia Yue defended Fang Hao, her single voice of rebuke seemed extremely feeble. Fang Hao sent a message to Dong Jia Yue:¡± Li Teng is just a clown. Don¡¯t waste time on these people.¡± ¡°Brother Hao, I can give you some soul crystals to expand your troops, just to be safe.¡± ¡°No need, just sit back and enjoy the show.¡± Closing the Book of Lords, Fang Hao also finished breakfast. After drinking a cup of fruit wine, he directly left the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower, heading towards the Skeleton Conversion Field. Since he had unlocked the Bone Dragons, it was time to summon them and test their combat power. [Bone Dragon: 10 Wriggling Spines, 7 Death Trace, 5 Star Silver, 10 Dragon Crystals.] The Treasury had enough supplies of Death Trace and Star Silver. But Fang Hao had only 12 Dragon Crystals. Therefore, he could only set the summoning quantity to 1. [Hundred-fold enhancement triggered. 101 Bone Dragons have been summoned.] A series of flashes, and 101 colossal Bone Dragons appeared in the sky over the territory. Just like a dense cloud, they blocked out the sun. A tremendous pressure enveloped the entire territory, making the trembling Rabbit Clan maids, who had been working, nearly faint. ¡°Go stand by in the open space outside the territory,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Whoosh¡¯.¡¯. A series of swooshing sounds resounded, as the Bone Dragons flew out one by one, landing on the open ground outside the territory. Fang Hao called for the blacksmith again. He ordered them to install ¡®troop saddles¡¯ on all the Bone Dragons. Each saddle could carry one ¡®coachman¡¯ and six types of soldiers. While the blacksmiths were fitting the Bone Dragons with the saddles, Fang Hao began crafting equipment for the Skeleton Trolls. Yesterday, he had obtained several blueprints for Troll equipment. [Troll Heavy Armor: 8 Iron Plates, 3 Cast Iron Chunks, 5 Thick Leather.] [Troll Helmet: 5 Iron Plates, 2 Cast Iron Chunks, 3 Thick Leather.] [Troll Combat Boots: 6 Iron Plates, 3 Cast Iron Chunks, 4 Thick Leather.] He adjusted the quantity to 11. [Hundred-fold enhancement triggered, nil sets of Troll Heavy Armor obtained.] [Hundred-fold enhancement triggered, nil Helmets obtained.] [Hundred-fold enhancement triggered, nil pairs of Troll Combat Boots obtained.] These pieces of Troll equipment were piled up like a small hill in the open space outside the city. ¡°My Lord, what are you¡­?¡± Fireblade walked over. Fireblade¡¯s soul had been altered, and he was 100% loyal to Fang Hao, always acting with steadiness. Without any significant battles, Fireblade had been acting as the defense commander of the city. After all, Fang Hao was not at ease entrusting this task to Anjia. ¡±Fireblade, get the Skeleton Trolls to change their equipment. They will come with me later,¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡± Fireblade always executed Fang Hao¡¯s commands faithfully, without any emotional changes. Whether it was to defend the city or lead the troops in battle, he showed neither willingness nor reluctance. Ten minutes later. The blacksmiths had finished fitting all the saddles. The Skeleton Trolls had followed instructions and changed their equipment. Fang Hao selected to Bone Dragons, and 68 Skeleton Trolls to accompany him and Fireblade. ¡°Mount the Bone Dragons. Prepare to depart,¡± Fang Hao took the lead and sat on the back of a Bone Dragon, while six Skeleton Trolls climbed onto the dragon¡¯s back. The group of 70, after mounting the dragons, soared into the sky, heading in the direction of Li Teng¡¯s territory. Fang Hao absolutely could not allow Li Teng to approach his territory. There were numerous skeleton troops patrolling around his territory. If Li Teng came close and compared it to the map, he would deduce that Fang Hao could control skeletons. With Li Teng¡¯s stupid brain, he might even take pictures and post them directly on the regional channel, revealing Fang Hao¡¯s secret. Fang Hao was not like Li Teng, he wouldn¡¯t boast at the expense of exposing his secrets just for a moment of admiration. Therefore, upon learning that the other party was planning to attack his territory, he chose to take preemptive action.. Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 128, Rapid Combat_l Chapter 128: Chapter 128, Rapid Combat_l Translator: 549690339 Meanwhile. Li Teng was lounging, using a toothpick to clean his teeth. Having just finished breakfast with his soldiers, they were about to set off. Hell-bent on eradicating Fang Hao this time. 60 tier 4 Great Sword Infantry, over 50 tier 1 militiamen, plus his own army of more than 100, what could little runt Fang Hao use to fight against him? What made him think he could challenge him? In the Alliance, the person with the best development only had a force of just over twenty. Regardless of how well Fang Hao developed, he was no match for him. ¡°Prepare to set off, everyone. Our opponent is merely an insignificant little territory. We¡¯ll go there, kill everyone, and take the city. It¡¯s as simple as that, understood?¡± Li Teng used the toothpick in his mouth to give his pre-battle mobilization speech. No matter how he calculated it, there was no reason for him to fail. It would only take some time to travel there, taking over Fang Hao¡¯s territory wouldn¡¯t be difficult. ¡°Understood, Lord.¡± All the soldiers responded loudly. Spit! Li Teng spat out the toothpick in his mouth, he waved his hand, ¡°Set off. The city gates opened, and the troops started moving towards the direction of Fang Hao¡¯s territory on the map. They hadn¡¯t gone far out of the city when¡­ ¡°My Lord, it seems there¡¯re creatures flying towards us in a group.¡± A Great Sword Infantryman frowned. Li Teng took a glance and slightly frowned. It was too far to see clearly, ¡°Crows? Or eagles? Ignore them, keep moving.¡± The troops continued to advance at Li Teng s urging. But before long, everyone¡¯s faces started to turn pale. The targets coming head-on got bigger and bigger and when they saw the creatures in the sky¡­ Everyone¡¯s heart tightened. The Tier 1 soldiers even covered their heads and hid, their bodies shaking uncontrollably. Bone Dragons, a group of Bone Dragons that blotted out the sky, they were rushing towards them with an oppressive aura. What on earth was happening? On the back of the dragon, Fang Hao could see a human troop moving from far away. Without asking, he knew it was Li Teng¡¯s troop attacking Fang Hao¡¯s territory. Li Teng wasn¡¯t a total idiot; he had slightly more troops than those he had announced in the channel. About a hundred. ¡°Approach them, Dragon Breath!¡± Fang Hao patted the Bone Dragon¡¯s neck. Roar!! Receiving the command, the Bone Dragon swiftly dove down and released its Death Breath directly above the troops when it got close. The Death Breath was full of death energy. It discharged from the dragon¡¯s mouth and swept across the marching troops below. ¡°Ahhh~!¡± Heart-wrenching cries rang out. People hit by the Death Breath started to dissolve and only a charred skeleton was left on the ground. Roar! Then the Bone Dragons following behind also released their Dragon Breath, sweeping the panicking people who were running in all directions. This was a massacre, a massacre that left no suspense. Li Teng was terrified of the sight before him. He reflexively backed off, tripping over himself and falling to the ground. The Dragon Breath was reaping his soldiers¡¯ lives before his eyes. The Tier 4 soldiers he was extraordinarily proud of were as weak as ants under the Bone Dragon¡¯s breath. There was absolutely no chance of resisting. The next second, Li Teng didn¡¯t hesitate at all and turned to run, fleeing towards his territory with abandon. After one round of breath. All of Li Teng¡¯s soldiers had died. Two Tier 1 soldiers had been too frightened by the Dragon¡¯s Might at the very beginning and had fled into the distant woods. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother to pursue these soldiers. After all, whether these Tier 1 soldiers fled or not had no impact on a victory that was already secured. The dragon made a circle and Fang Hao saw Li Teng turning back to his territory with abandon. Li Teng¡¯s modern clothing made him easy to identify. Watching Li Teng enter his territory and the city gates closing again, Fang Hao sneered, ¡°This kid really is lucky to have survived.¡± The Bone Dragon changed direction and began flying towards Li Teng s territory. The Bone Dragons that blotted out the sky were circling above the territory. The next moment, countless large figures, Skeleton Trolls wielding giant axes, jumped down from the Bone Dragon¡¯s body. They descended into the city like dumplings in a pot, the towering city walls, the tightly closed city gates were of no use now. Followed by a Skeleton Warrior dressed in full red armor, wielding a long blade, who jumped down. He spoke loudly: ¡°Kill all the people who are resisting. Capture the opposing lord alive.¡± Clatter! All the Skeleton Trolls received the command and quickly dispersed to clear out the remnants. But, besides a few Tier 1 soldiers who stayed behind, where were others to resist? Only the farmers of the territory were trembling in fear in their rooms. The city was taken, the city gates opened, and Fang Hao strode in casually. He sat down in the lord¡¯s mansion. At this time, Li Teng, like a dead dog, was begging loudly as Fireblade dragged him in front of Fang Hao. Li Teng¡¯s arrogant demeanor in the channel was nowhere to be seen. His whole body was shaking uncontrollably; his snot and tears were mixed. When he saw a man sitting in the lord¡¯s seat, he was slightly taken aback. He had been thinking all the time that he was just unfortunate to be attacked by the Undead. He never thought the troops were Fang Hao¡¯s. ¡°Li Teng, we meet.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile, speaking in Chinese. This,¡­ Even if Li Teng was slow to react, he had an idea what was happening at that point. His eyes widened and he looked terrified as he looked at Fang Hao in front of him. ¡°You are Fang Hao? Impossible, impossible. You¡¯re lying to me, you¡¯re Undead ¡­.¡± Li Teng yelled out loud. He knelt on the ground, his body continually retreating. Fireblade dragged him back again. ¡°I¡¯m Fang Hao. I¡¯ll make it quick for you, in consideration of us being fellow townspeople.¡± Fang Hao spoke softly. Li Teng had to die, and everyone had to know. Otherwise, some people would take any opportunity they got, get smuggish, and then try to challenge him. This was a warning to everyone. He was willing to play. If no one bothered him, fine. But if someone had idle time to come bother him, it would only lead to a dead-end. ¡°No no no! Boss, I was just joking with you, just a joke, don¡¯t kill me.¡± Fang Hao remained silent. ¡°Boss, please spare me this time, I was wrong, I won¡¯t dare to do it again, I kowtow to you, spare me this time, I won¡¯t dare to do it again. Saying that, he banged his head hard against the ground as if the harder he kowtowed the better. Fang Hao still didn¡¯t speak and directly opened the Book of Lords. The Area Channel was still buzzing. ¡°Judging by the time, Li Teng should have arrived, wonder if he has killed that kid Fang Hao yet.¡± ¡°Fang Hao is probably begging for his life right now, wiping his tears off like a wronged little wife.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Li Teng, hurry up and post the photos, we want to see what mess Fang Hao is in.¡± One message after another appeared in the channel. Still cheering for Li Teng, ridiculing and attacking Fang Hao. Fang Hao looked at Li Teng and said directly: ¡°Fireblade, make it quick. He¡¯s a fellow townsman.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 129, Affiliated City_l Chapter 129: Chapter 129, Affiliated City_l Translator: 549690339 Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, the long blade at Fireblade¡¯s waist unsheathed. Li Teng was even more scared to death, a stain spreading from his crotch. ¡°Fang Hao, Fang Hao, don¡¯t kill me, I beg you, I really won¡¯t do it again,¡± he pleaded. Dragging his muddy pants, he advanced a few steps: ¡°I was wrong, please let me go this time, really, let me go. Splat! The next second. A cold gleam flashed from Fireblade¡¯s long blade, and Li Teng, who was begging for mercy, suddenly felt a pain at his neck. Next, the world spun around, and he saw his body kneeling on the ground. His eyes filled with confusion, slowly rolling to one side. Li Teng was dead, his head severed by Fireblade. Looking at the severed head rolling to his feet, Fang Hao sighed slightly. He didn¡¯t want to kill people and didn¡¯t want to use his strength to bully others. But this was the third person he had killed. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and, using the newly available photo function, took a picture of Li Teng¡¯s severed head and corpse, and sent it directly into the channel. There were no limitations on gore, and no pixels used for censorship. The bright red blood, the lifeless severed head, the limp body, instantly silenced the channel. Everyone shut their mouths. For a moment, no one spoke. ¡°Li Teng is already dead, as for others who harbor hostility towards me, feel free to challenge¡­¡± Fang Hao¡¯s words lingered in the channel for a long time. It was quite a while before someone finally spoke again. ¡°Is that Li Teng¡¯s head?¡± ¡°No shit, if it wasn¡¯t Li Teng¡¯s head, with his personality, he would¡¯ve been spouting threats by now.¡± ¡°Eh, Leader Fang Hao is a real boss.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Li Teng¡¯s deathly image remained displayed in the regional channel. Those who had supported Li Teng and verbally attacked Fang Hao now kept their mouths shut. Those who dared to speak in the channel began to address Fang Hao as boss, one after another. Then, an untimely message appeared. ¡ö¡¯The Azure Dragon Mutual Aid Business Group is permanently disbanded.¡± A simple conclusion, but it represented the feelings of all the members of the Azure Dragon Business Group. Li Teng¡¯s lifeless appearance sent chills down the spines of members of the Azure Dragon Business Group, with beads of cold sweat appearing on their foreheads. They were terrified that Fang Hao would find out the locations of their territories and directly rush over to kill them. If the whole business group¡¯s support in Soul Crystals couldn¡¯t match up to Fang Hao alone, how could they possibly resist? They wanted to apologise to Fang Hao in the channel, but were afraid of inadvertently revealing their own misdeeds. If they didn¡¯t say something, they would be overwhelmed with guilt, so after some discussion, they simply disbanded the just established Business Group as a form of apology. Actually, everyone knew very well that the people who insulted Fang Hao were these business group members. If the locations of everyone were revealed, Fang Hao might indeed wipe them all out. Fang Hao merely glanced at the situation and then paid it no further mind, directly closing the Book of Lords. All those who had provoked him and insulted him in the channel had already been added to his blacklist. As the territories expanded, everyone would eventually meet. And when that time came, old and new scores would be settled. ¡°Sir, for you,¡± Fireblade picked up Li Teng¡¯s Book of Lords and handed it to Fang Hao. As he received it, he got a notification. [Book of Lords can be devoured.] Then, Li Teng¡¯s Book of Lords turned into stars and merged into Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. [Devouring successful, your current Book of Lords level is 2, upgrade requirement 1/2.] The first time he devoured a Book of Lords, his own Book of Lords had already been upgraded to level 2. He received: Marching Speed +1%, Resource Gathering +2%, daily message limit in district channel +10 as rewards. Today¡¯s devouring accounted for 1/2 of the total upgrade requirement. Devouring one more, he could upgrade his Book of Lords to level 3, acquiring more benefits. [You have obtained the decision-making authority over Li Teng¡¯s territory.] [Occupy/Abandon] [Occupy: Will become your subsidiary territory and can continue to be developed.] [Abandon: Will acquire 50%-80¡ã/o of this territory¡¯s resources, this territory will be abandoned.] The first time, due to lack of power, he chose to abandon, but now he had the capability and the strength to control this city. Occupy! Without any hesitation at all, Fang Hao directly chose to occupy. [You have occupied a subsidiary territory and have the ownership of this territory and its two subsidiary villages.] [You can set an ¡®Acting Regent¡¯ in your Book of Lords.] After choosing to occupy, this city was automatically recognized as a subsidiary territory. He obtained all the rights to the city. To his surprise, Li Teng had indeed managed to make quite an impressive development. The Lord¡¯s Mansion and the city walls had all been built up to level 4, and he was earnestly hoarding materials for upgrading to level 5- Upon opening the Book of Lords, he could see all the Blueprints that Li Teng had acquired. Aside from what Fang Hao already owned, there were two new Blueprints. [Scythe Manufacturing Blueprint] [Agricultural Truck Manufacturing Blueprint] [Two-Handed Heavy Sword Manufacturing Blueprint (Green)] [Heavy Sword Infantry Training Ground (Human Clan)]. The first two were both agricultural blueprints. The Agricultural Truck Blueprint wasn¡¯t too different from the cart blueprint, the agricultural truck was just bigger and heavier. The last two blueprints were, in Fang Hao¡¯s view, rather mediocre. Especially the heavy sword infantry, their combat prowess was just so-so, thought they appeared quite imposing at first glance. After one round of attacks from the Bone Dragon, they had nearly been annihilated. The information about the subsidiary villages could also be seen. In the storeroom of the subsidiary villages, he found a large amount of wheat and potatoes. This was proof that these villages could produce a large amount of food. No wonder his expansion was so rapid. The issue of food and clothing was indeed a crucial factor. ¡°Sir, there are still many human farmers remaining in the territory, do you want us to kill all of them?¡± Fireblade walked in again to ask for Fang Hao¡¯s instructions. ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°More than 20.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Bring them in.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± In a little while, a group of peasants were brought in. Fang Hao counted 32 people, more than the 20 that Fireblade had mentioned. The peasants were different from Fang Hao¡¯s skeleton laborers. The Human Clan accepted some external refugees. Once you accepted them, they would become the peasants of your territory. Some of these people were recruited by Li Teng, and even more were refugees that he had taken in. There were even a fair number of women among the refugees, or entire families with children. ¡°I am Fang Hao. Starting from today, I am the lord of this city. I will ask you some questions. If you answer well, you are safe. If you don¡¯t, don¡¯t blame me for not being kind,¡± he said. There was still silence below. Everyone clumped together, no one daring to speak. -Who knows what the area around the territory is like, tell me about it.¡± After a moment of silence, a man stepped forward fearfully from the crowd, kneeling on the ground and said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m a vagabond from a western village. There are many human villages to the west..¡± Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 130, Blood Hunter Hero 1 Chapter 130: Chapter 130, Blood Hunter Hero 1 Translator: 549690339 After listening to several of the villagers, Fang Hao began to understand the situation. West of this fiefdom, many human villages were regularly preyed upon by bandits made up of humans and the beast clan. Residents of villages that had been wiped out would look for human cities to join. This is one reason why there were so many refugees. Now that he understood the situation, Fang Hao came up with a plan. Looking at the people below, he said, ¡°Some of you may already know, but for those who don¡¯t, I have no intention of starting a war. It was your lord who challenged me.¡± Although Fang Hao was powerful, he did not want to be branded a warmonger. It was Li Teng who had provoked him; Fang Hao was merely reacting. The crowd below remained silent. Fang Hao continued, ¡°From today onwards, I am the lord of this fief. You can live here as usual; the fief will provide you with food and shelter.¡± All the farmers looked lost, glancing at their companions nervously. After hesitating for a few seconds, all of them knelt down to show their submission following the first person to kneel and give thanks. Of course, Fang Hao would not just let them go and spread the news of the undead army. Not killing all of them already showed his final bottom line. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I am a human like you, a mage who can summon creatures. You can continue with your regular work and live your lives as usual.¡± Fang Hao said, then he cast a spell and two wooden spirit guards appeared by his side. The kneeling farmers, seeing this, began to murmur amongst themselves. Stories of mages were always popular. Even in remote villages, there would be one or two stories about mages or tales about noble lords and their mistresses. Seeing Fang Hao performing magic made them believe him a little more. ¡°You can go back to your work. I will appoint a new governor for you in due course.¡± Fang Hao waved his hand slightly, signaling that they could leave. All the farmers left, returning to their own stations as instructed. Fang Hao, accompanied by Fireblade, left the lord¡¯s manor, too. Once outside, he began rebuilding the fiefdom. First, he built arrow towers on the walls to provide basic warning for the whole fiefdom. Then he built a lumberyard, a pasture, a stone mine, a wood processing plant, a stone processing plant, and a forge. Most importantly, he built a mill. There were still two subsidiary villages in Li Teng¡¯s fiefdom, which had stored a lot of crops, so the mill played a significant role. After everything was built and the farmers were assigned work, he exchanged 12 soul crystals in the regional channel. He then went straight to the Great Sword Infantry training ground. [Great Sword Infantry Training Ground] [Recruitment available: Great Sword Infantry (Tier 4 troops)] [Great Sword Infantry: 4 soul crystals, 20 food.] (Description: A special building that can recruit special troops.) He set the recruitment count to 3. And then chose to recruit. [Recruitment Amplification xioo triggered, 303 Great Sword Infantry gained.] The glow faded, and 303 burly Great Sword Infantry stood before Fang Hao. [Great Sword Infantry (Tier 4)] [Faction: Human] [Race Characteristics: Living creatures, Human Spirit, Learning] [Skill: Sweep] [Inherent Abilities: Intermediate Combat Proficiency, Intermediate Tactical Proficiency, Intermediate Great Sword Proficiency] [Living creatures]: This unit is a living creature, it can be healed and resurrected, and is affected by morale. [Human Spirit (passive)]: Spirit increased by 3%. [Learning]: Humans are good at learning. In addition to mastering weapons, any secondary weapon can be equipped (secondary weapons need practice). [Sweep]: AOE attack that damages all enemy units in front and inflicts 40% extra heavy damage. (Remark: Do not underestimate these guys who lift heavy iron swords. In the history of the empire, there are countless poems glorifying how the Great Sword Infantry fought to their last man to guard their lord.) The 303 Great Sword Infantry stood before Fang Hao, their muscular upper bodies bare. With bronze skin and bulging muscles, they looked as exaggerated as gym coaches. If they were to hand out flyers on the streets, they would surely attract a lot of attention. ¡°We are at your service, my lord,¡± The 303 muscular men said in unison, touching their chest with one hand and saluting. The human etiquette was slightly different from that of the undead, but both expressed respect for the lord. They had just been recruited and had no memory of Li Teng. They only knew that their lord was Fang Hao. ¡°I welcome you on board. Wait a moment. I will make some equipment for you,¡± Fang Hao said. He opened the Book of Lords and started making equipment for them. [Two-handed Great Sword: 5 iron, 4 leather] Set production quantity to 3. [Amplification xioo triggered, gained 303 Two-handed Great Swords.] Next, Fang Hao made plate armor, arm guards, black iron open-faced helmets, and leather boots. He made 303 sets in total and distributed them to all the Great Sword Infantry. Only when all the Great Sword Infantry were properly equipped did Fang Hao continue, ¡°Your duty is to guard this territory, protect the safety of the villagers and the city. And, without my orders, anyone who tries to flee this territory will be treated as a traitor and executed on the spot.¡± At your command, sir.¡± They all dispersed to carry out Fang Hao¡¯s orders. After wrapping things up here, Fang Hao left. Regarding the governor, Fang Hao hadn¡¯t thought of a candidate yet. He just asked Fireblade to stay and guard the fiefdom for the time being. He would choose a suitable person to replace Fireblade when he returned. He left a small number of soldiers for Fireblade. Then Fang Hao mounted the Bone Dragon and flew back to his domain. Thanks to the Bone Dragon, a journey that would have taken hours took only 20 minutes. Upon returning to his territory, Fang Hao saw Nelson coming out of the Viscera Museum, followed by a skeletal hero with large wings on his back. ¡°Good afternoon, Lord.¡± Nelson greeted him proactively. After Fang Hao, Nelson held the highest status in the domain. Out of respect, Fang Hao also greeted Nelson with the honorific ¡°scholar¡± whenever he saw him. Nelson¡¯s high status was due to the fact that he was a level 7 orange hero and, more importantly, capable of creating skeletal heroes. This made him like a production line. The hero units that other lords could only dream of ¨C he could turn those into heroes on his side whenever they were killed. The loyalty of these heroes was 100%, an extremely powerful feature. This directly enhanced the strength of the fiefdom, not less powerful than Fang Hao¡¯s loo-fold amplification. Just because of this, no one could surpass Nelson¡¯s status in the territory. Good afternoon, Scholar Nelson. The conversion is complete?¡± Fang Hao looked at the Winged Hero behind him. Even though he had been made into a skeletal hero, he still retained the vampire¡¯s fangs and gigantic bat wings. ¡°Yes, my lord. Blood Hunter, this is Lord.¡± Nelson stepped aside, making way. Blood Hunter took a step forward and bowed, ¡°Blood Hunter at your service, my lord..¡± Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter 131 - Orc Counterattack Part 1 Chapter 131: Chapter 131 ¨C Orc Counterattack Part 1 Translator: 549690339 Blood Hunter already reduced to a white bone. Without the cover of lips, two tusks look more sharpened and slender. ¡°Welcome to join us, Blood Hunter,¡± said Fang Hao with a smile. [Blood Hunter (Fifth Order Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Template: Blue] [Racial trait: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light.] [Legion Talent: Dark Deception, Air Force Commander.] [Skills: Blood Siphon, Dread Scythe, Thirst.] [Inherent abilities: Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Flight Mastery, Advanced Command Mastery.] [Dark Deception]: In the dark, the units led by the hero are less likely to be discovered. [Air Force Commander]: Flying troops¡¯ Attack Power is increased by 5%. [Blood Siphon (Active)]: Causes 70% spell damage to living targets, 25% chance to weaken the target, every second during the process, 2% of your health is restored. [Dread Scythe (Active)]: Summons a blood-colored scythe to slash forward, causing 150% weapon damage. [Thirst (Passive)]: The scent of blood on the battlefield ignites the desires within your body, increasing overall attributes. (Description: The creation of the Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead, this hero can¡¯t be promoted or advanced.) Blood Hunter¡¯s skills are pretty decent. At that time, he relied on his ability of flight, the attacking forces in his territory could barely touch him. Had he not charged himself headlong into Nelson¡¯s holding, there really wasn¡¯t much one could do about him. Now, his memory has been altered, and he has become a hero for Fang Hao. In the future, he will be fighting for the territory in the endless years to come. In the same vein, as a modified undead hero, he won¡¯t be able to advance and progress anymore, he will always remain as he is. [Your loyalty to Blood Hunter has reached too.] [Blood Hunter under your banner, his loyalty to you has reached too points, he will not be affected by any intrusive feelings.] Blood Hunter has no memory of his past, he will only be loyal to Fang Hao and his territory. ¡°Blood Hunter, you shall lead Bone Dragon and Skeleton Giant Bat,¡± Fang Hao said. The only flying troops in his territory were Bone Dragon and Skeleton Giant Bat. Moreover, Fang Hao felt that Bone Dragon was a really good fighter in itself, arranging Blood Hunter was mainly because of the enhancement bestowed by Legion Talent. Regardless, having it was always better than not having it. ¡°Yes, master,¡± Blood Hunter agreed, and with his colossal bat wings spread open, he flew into his territory. All of Bone Dragons were arranged outside the territory by Fang Hao, a hundred Wyverns took up too much space. After Blood Hunter had left, Nelson entered the main hall of the City Lord¡¯s mansion with Fang Hao. The two of them sat down on the chairs. ¡°This morning, I occupied a human city on the western side of my territory, it lacks a Lord, I don¡¯t know who should be arranged for this task,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh? A human city?¡± Nelson expressed surprise, thought for a moment and continued to say, ¡°Humans might find it hard to accept the undead¡¯s rule.¡± ¡°I did consider that, I¡¯m hesitating to send a Rabbit Clan over there,¡± Fang Hao voiced his thoughts. Though the Rabbit Clan belongs to Beast Clan, their appearance is very close to humans. And the girls of the Rabbit Clan had a gentle disposition, it was relatively easier for Fang Hao to control them, there would be lesser errors. ¡°That can also work, but those kids of Rabbit Clan have limited abilities, even if they are arranged, I fear you might be still worried,¡± Nelson thought and responded. What he meant was, the Rabbit Clan is a small community, they are not educated and lack worldly wisdom. Most of them had become adults but could only recognize a few common words, managing a city that is growing larger would be difficult. In the end, it would still be Fang Hao singlehandedly managing two cities, the appointment of the city lord is deemed pointless. Fang Hao gave it a thought, these are indeed important points to consider. ¡®Til think about it,¡± Fang Hao fell into deep thought. Next, Fang Hao and Nelson discussed the issue of Skullcrusher Tribe. Time slowly passed by. When night fell, the system notification appeared again. [The unexpected event ¡®Lord¡¯s Conquest¡¯ ends, Map Marker feature revoked] [Alliance System, Alliance Chat Channel, and Photograph feature are officially activated.] This mission didn¡¯t grant any rewards. Most people were restrained as this wasn¡¯t a compulsory mission, no battle took place. Before going to bed, Fang Hao lazily scrolled through the regional channel. ¡°25 years old, model, maid, foot fetish, selling Photo Album¡­¡± ¡°[Picture]online lullaby service, wake up service in the morning, interested guys contact me.¡± ¡°25 years old, exactly 180, any aunts willing to date?¡± The opening of the Picture feature seemed to have launched a new business opportunity in the channel. Various beautiful girls dressed in the maid costumes sold by Fang Hao, striking a range of sexy poses. Some of the handsome young men were showing off their muscular torsos, baring them for all to see. Fang Hao was watching them critically. He watched until his eyes could no longer stay open, and then he slipped into sleep. Meanwhile, elsewhere. The Skullcrusher Tribe in the Mountain Range of Bitter Cold. Inside the Great Chief¡¯s hall. Nigo, the Gnoll whom Little You had possessed, was standing in the center of the hall, looking around with his eyes constantly on the move. Above him hung chandeliers made out of human skulls. They illuminated the entire hall, yet added an eerie quality to it. The soft breeze passed through, causing the chandelier to sway. Casting the shadow of the Gnoll in an unsteady glow. Little You was a wandering spirit, and yet the oppressive atmosphere in the hall made her curse to herself. This place was even scarier than her own graveyard. While she was lost in her thoughts and worries about revealing her true self, There were slow approaching footsteps from the back of the hall. Soon after, a burly Orc with the Demon Bloodline emerged, striding in confidently. It was the Great Chief of the Skullcrusher Tribe, Skullcrusher ¨C Shah. Shah reached his throne and sat down directly. Looking a bit impatient, his gaze fell on the Gnoll below. ¡°Have you brought the news of the Undead Camp?¡± The voice of Skullcrusher was somewhat deep, fortunately, he didn¡¯t seem to realize anything amiss. ¡°Sir, I bring news. Those damned undead wiped out my tribe. I beg you to take revenge for them,¡± Little You imitated the Gnoll¡¯s manner of speaking and wailed out loud in complaint. It was evident to everyone present. Despite being a hero, Nigo was now covered in wounds and had patches of fur missing at various places. It was as if he had some kind of skin disease, looking ugly and pitiful. ¡°Tell me everything you know. I will arrange for you to have a position, and we¡¯ll crush those undead, avenging your people.¡± Shah remained expressionless, lazily reclining on his throne. ¡°Th-thank you, sir. The leader of the undead army is a human. All the soldiers involved in the attack were undead, numbering about ten thousand.¡± The Gnoll said loudly. All of this was prearranged by Fang Hao to be told. The Orcs clearly had sent scouts to surveil the territory. Since it was unclear how much information the Orcs had, she decided to tell the truth in order to win their trust. ¡°What type of undead soldiers were there?¡± Shah continued to ask. ¡°Mostly, they were lower-ranked undead foot soldiers. There were also some undead mages.¡± ¡°Undead mages too?¡± Shah¡¯s brows furrowed all of a sudden. The last scouting party hadn¡¯t reported anything about any mages. ¡°Yes, but not too many.¡± Little You saw his surprised expression, guessing they probably hadn¡¯t known about the undead mages, and quickly amended her statement to say there weren¡¯t many. ¡°Hmm, any other information?¡± Shah continued to ask. ¡°No more. After my village was destroyed, I rushed here to ask for your help, and I hope you can give me an opportunity for revenge.¡± The Gnoll, with a face of agony, roared. The tone was filled with hatred towards the enemy. ¡°You¡¯ve come at the right time. You will join the army tomorrow and seek revenge for your people,¡± Shah said indifferently. Little You knitted her brows. The army was set to advance on the territory tomorrow? She had almost arrived too late. Seeing the Gnoll silent, Shah asked coldly, ¡°What is it? Do you have something else to say?¡± ¡°No-nothing, when the time comes, I will kill the enemy with all my might, I won¡¯t let our Great Chief down.¡± Little You immediately responded. ¡°Ha! So, this Gnoll does have a way with words.¡± Shah gave a soft laugh. Then he shouted towards the outside of the door, ¡°Come in.¡± A Beast Clan guard walked in. ¡°Great Chief.¡± Shah continued, ¡°Take him to Amary and let Amary explain the plan and the rules to him.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He then led the Gnoll out of the hall. Towards the camp where soldiers were gathering. Although Nigo¡¯s status was not high, As a hero of the Gnoll, he was assigned separate quarters. When night fell, The Gnoll, lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. A female spirit left the body and hidden in the darkness of the night, she went out to find the information related to the upcoming battle.. Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 132, Zhang Bins Continuous Chapter 132: Chapter 132, Zhang Bin¡¯s Continuous Nightmares_i Translator: 549690339 The next day, early in the morning. Fang Hao rubbed his blurry eyes and sat up in bed. He had just gotten out of bed when he noticed the sound-transmitting stone on his bedside table already stored a message. It must have been some news relayed back by Little You. The sound-transmitting stone is one-way transmission, which means Little You could only send information. Fang Hao¡¯s could only receive information. He picked up the sound-transmitting stone and put it to his ear, listening carefully. As he heard what was inside, Fang Hao¡¯s expression started to become increasingly serious. Little You¡¯s message was relatively brief. The enemy¡¯s army had set off early this morning and according to the plan, they were marching on quickly, and were going to commence an attack near the territory in a day or so. The commander leading the team was not Skullcrusher Shah, but a hero named Amary. There was also one more thing, various tribes on the east side of the territory would also join in on the attack. The largest of these tribes, and the one with the most influence, was Fang Hao¡¯s old acquaintance, Bronze Bull ¨C Tellock. Having heard all the messages from the sound-transmitting stone, Fang Hao¡¯s heart immediately tightened. Despite his confidence in his own troops, he still felt inexplicably nervous upon hearing of the imminent attack. He put down the sound-transmitting stone, took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and then walked right out of his room. Eira was preparing breakfast. Seeing Fang Hao coming down the stairs, she warmly greeted him. ¡°Good morning, Master.¡± ¡°Morning. Keep the breakfast simple, Eira. I have important matters to attend to once we¡¯re done eating,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh, alright, Master.¡± ¡°And where¡¯s Anjia? Tell her to hurry up and get up,¡± Fang Hao continued, and then walked straight out of the lord¡¯s mansion. He made his way to the Viscera Museum where Nelson and Blood Hunter just happened to be coming out. ¡°Lord.¡± The two saluted him. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded and then said, ¡°Little You sent back news. The Skullcrusher tribe started their march early this morning¡­¡± Fang Hao briefed them on the news Little You had sent back, particularly highlighting the matter regarding Bronze Bull. ¡°Lord, what do you propose?¡± Nelson asked Fang Hao. Fang Hao thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Blood Hunter, get ready. Have all bone dragons carry enough skeleton trolls and set off right away.¡± ¡°Okay, My Lord, I¡¯ll prepare right away.¡± Blood Hunter spread his wings and flew towards the bone dragons¡¯ station. Fang Hao thought again and then said, ¡°Scholar Nelson, if you¡¯re not otherwise engaged, come with us. After all, the opponent has a purple hero and I¡¯m afraid Blood Hunter may not be able to handle him alone.¡± Nelson nodded, ¡°Alright, My Lord, I¡¯m at your service.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Having given all the instructions, Fang Hao went straight back to the lord¡¯s mansion to wait for Eira to serve breakfast. At this time, Anjia walked downstairs sleepily, stumbling with her steps. Her dress was half-flung, her loose collar hanging in front of her, exposing a large area of skin. ¡°Fang Hao, why did you wake me up so early? Are you insane?¡± Anjia grumbled as if venting out the vexation of waking up. She kept talking while going downstairs. ¡±We are about to invade a territory. If you don¡¯t want to go, stay back and guard the house. Anyway, we have enough people,¡± Fang Hao said indifferently, sipping the vegetable soup. Hearing that a fight was brewing, Anjia¡¯s sleepy eyes immediately lit up. She rushed to the table and started to eat, ¡°Eat quickly so we can leave earlier. Who are we fighting this time¡­¡± ¡°Bronze Bull.¡± Splutter¡­ Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, the vegetable soup that just entered her mouth was all spit out. Bronze Bull, in this region, had quite a high prestige aside from his strength. Such prestige could organize the constantly fighting and looting orcs, and create the Manim Market. This was enough to highlight Bronze Bull¡¯s position in this region. ¡°Tellock huh, he¡¯s decent. Why are you going after him?¡± Anjia asked quietly. Anjia knew the strength of Fang Hao¡¯s undead army. Now with the bone dragons, not to mention Bronze Bull, even a gold bull or silver bull would be crushed to slag. ¡°Little You sent a message that Bronze Bull is joining the Skullcrushers in their attack on our territory. Therefore, we must prepare in advance and weaken the opponent¡¯s combat power,¡± Fang Hao replied while continuing his meal. Bronze Bull¡¯s ¨C Tellock was one of Fang Hao¡¯s concerns. He could persuade the surrounding Orc Tribes to put down their arms, and exchange goods peacefully at the Manim Market. He could make Orcs pick up their arms to attack a city of the Undead. Therefore, the problem of Bronze Bull had to be solved. If it couldn¡¯t be resolved peacefully, then he would simply have to be killed. he could either join to become a purple hero under Fang Hao¡¯s command, or not join and become a purple skeleton hero. The only difference is whether or not they can continue to improve in the future. ¡°Oh, alright, he can give me those bull horns, I¡¯ll use them as decoration.¡± Damn it! Fang Hao almost spewed out. Your worst plan is to kill the Bronze Bull, and you¡¯ve already started coveting the bull¡¯s horns on its head. ¡°Fine, I will leave early, and you will lead fifty thousand infantrymen to this location. There¡¯s a city over there where we will meet.¡± He opened the map on the Book of Lords and pointed to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Anjia nodded. After the two men finished breakfast, they left instructions for Eira. Fang Hao mounted his Bone Dragon, took his 101 Bone Dragons, loaded with Skeleton Trolls, and set off for the direction of the Manim. Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. Zhang Bin was lying in bed, looking a bit haggard. The lord¡¯s attack mission from yesterday has given him quite a shock. Especially after knowing Fang Hao¡¯s territory is located to the west of his own territory, and Fang Hao beheaded Li Teng and sent a bloody photo into the channel. This night was filled with nightmares. In his dreams, his head had been cut off by Fang Hao more than once. Even as he woke up, he subconsciously touched his own neck. He checked to see if it was still attached to his body, had it not been decapitated. ¡°Lord, we hunted some wild beasts, you come down and decompose them.¡± Outside the window came the shout of a soldier. The soldiers were also wondering why the Lord, who usually gets up early, was still not up at this time today. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ll be right down.¡± Zhang Bin shouted, and went downstairs after getting dressed. In front of the Lord¡¯s mansion, there were two unicorns, which were the spoils of the soldiers in the morning. Zhang Bin used the butchering function of the Book of Lords to slaughter the two unicorns. The meat and materials were automatically separated and placed in the warehouse. ¡°Lord, you look a little dreary. Are you ill?''¡±¡® One of the soldiers noticed Zhang Bin¡¯s haggard look and asked quietly. ¡°No, I just didn¡¯t rest well. Wait for me, I¡¯ll go hunting with you.¡± Zhang Bin said. Just when he was about to turn around and go back to change his armor, suddenly he felt the sky darken. He looked up instinctively and saw a huge figure covering the sky. Just like the dark clouds pressing down, blocking the sunlight overhead. Clang! The weapon fell from the soldier¡¯s hand. All the people, including Zhang Bin, were shocked, their legs going a bit weak. It¡¯s dragon, nearly a hundred giant bone dragons. Whoosh! One by one, the giant bone dragons folded their wings and stood directly on the city wall with their massive claws. Nicely lined up in a circle around the territory. Fang Hao stepped down from the dragon¡¯s back, leading the heroes and the skeleton troll, and came in front of Zhang Bin. ¡°You are Zhang Bin, right? I¡¯m Fang Hao, our territories are not too far apart,¡± Fang Hao showed a friendly smile, trying not to make the atmosphere too tense. Fang Hao had seen Zhang Bin more than once. But all were through the perspective of the God¡¯s Presence Skeleton. This was the first time he saw him in person. Zhang Bin was a bit older than him, about 30 years old, wearing a somewhat faded white shirt and trousers, it seems he was an office worker before. But, why are his dark circles so heavy, does he have any health issues? While Fang Hao was looking at Zhang Bin ¨C Zhang Bin¡¯s reaction was a bit slow. Listening to the other person¡¯s words, he didn¡¯t quite know what to do. In front of him stood Fang Hao, behind him were two undead heroes, and so many bone dragons and skeleton trolls. Fang Hao¡¯s strength has reached such a stage. So this time, he must have come to kill him. It seems his nightmare from last night has come true. His life was at stake. Thump! His legs gave way, and he collapsed. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, please don¡¯t kill me..¡± Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 133, The 2nd Affiliate city_l Chapter 133: Chapter 133, The 2nd Affiliate city_l Translator: 549690339 Zhang Bin fell to his knees, his face as white as a sheet. His mind kept replaying the gruesome scene of Li Teng¡¯s head being severed, as aired on the channel yesterday. This indomitable fear left him trembling, his mind blank. Fang Hao frowned, ¡°Who wants to kill you? Get up and talk.¡± Upon hearing he won¡¯t be killed. Zhang Bin carefully looked up, hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up. ¡°Fang Hao, what are you doing?¡± He felt the need to confirm once again. This show of might clearly wasn¡¯t to lounge and chat. ¡°Come, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± As if it were his own Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao stepped into the Great Hall. He had been to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory several times and had a clear grasp of the layout. Everyone entered the room. Zhang Bin quickly moved to the front of the Lord¡¯s Seat, dusted it off, and said, ¡°Brother Fang Hao, please, have a seat.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, taking the seat directly. Zhang Bin sat down next to him, cleared his throat, and curiously asked, ¡°May I¡­ may I know why you have come? If there is anything you need, I will do my utmost to fulfill it.¡± Even though Fang Hao said he wouldn¡¯t kill him, he still sounded a bit shaky. ¡°There is indeed a matter.¡± Fang Hao said. Zhang Bin¡¯s heart tightened but he asked anyway: ¡°Go¡­ ahem, go ahead. If I can do it, I definitely will.¡± Fang Hao continued: ¡°I will be going to war with a large tribe to the east the day after tomorrow. Their troops number over ten thousand. Your territory is right in the middle, making it a dangerous location.¡± ¡°Ahhh? What¡­ What should I do then?¡± Zhang Bin¡¯s face turned even paler. Fang Hao had no reason to deceive him. Given his overwhelmingly superior strength, there was nothing he could do to stop Fang Hao. This meant that whatever Fang Hao told him must be true. ¡°Zhang Bin, we are fellow townspeople. Our territories are so close, we should support and stick together.¡± Fang Hao gave him a deep look and said, ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± Zhang Bin¡¯s mind was in a haze as he received too much in one day. He was somewhat overwhelmed. However, the phrase ¡®Do you understand my meaning¡¯ made him instantly catch on. After working in a corporate environment for so many years, he could easily decipher the implied meaning behind words. Without any hesitation, Zhang took off his Book of Lords and handed it to Fang Hao, saying, ¡°Brother Fang Hao, you¡¯re right. We should stick together for our survival.¡± He was not a fool; he knew that Fang Hao was giving him an out. As for the fellow townsman excuse, Li Teng had also crossed over from the same place, yet Fang Hao had lopped his head off anyway. This way of doing things Fang Hao proposed was amiable in comparison. Seeing that he was a smart one, Fang Hao revealed a slight smile, took the Book of Lords from Zhang Bin, and chose to devour it. [Devour successful. Your Book of Lords has met the upgrade requirements. Current Level: 3, Required for a level up: 0/5.] [Lord has risen to Level 3, Marching Speed +2%, Resource Gathering +3%, Infantry Attack Power +1%, Regional Channel Daily Speeches +10] [Unlocked New Blueprint: Hunting Lodge (Human). Zhang Bin had a blueprint Fang Hao did not have: the Hunting Lodge. It could be used to recruit hunters for hunting. [You have acquired control over Zhang Bin¡¯s territory.] [Occupy/Discard] [Occupy: Will become your subordinate territory, can continue to develop.] [Discard: Will acquire 5o¡ã/o-8o% of the territory¡¯s resources, this territory will be discarded.] Of course, he chose to occupy. Occupy! [You have occupied the subordinate territory and gained possession of this territory and two subordinate villages.] [You may appoint a ¡®Proxy Governor¡¯ for your sub-cities in your Book of Lords.] With his Book of Lords being devoured, Zhang Bin had a bitter look on his face. After all this effort, he ended up losing even his territory. ¡°You and your handful of troops won¡¯t be much help in the war against the orcs. So here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: Li Teng¡¯s city was Level 4 and had over 300 Tier 4 soldiers. You take your men and go be the City Lord there.¡± Fang Hao said at this moment. ¡°Uh, okay!¡± Zhang Bin automatically replied. Then, he snapped back to reality. His heart leaps with joy, overwhelmed with a wave of ecstasy. Yesterday, when Li Teng shared his Tier 4 troops in the channel, he just couldn¡¯t help feeling envious. Now that Li Teng had been wiped out, Fang Hao had kindly given it all to him instead. From a Level 3 city to a Level 4 city, along with 100 Tier 4 troops, he simply couldn¡¯t believe his luck. His heart throbs wild with such misfortunes turned fortunes; a benefit of his young age. Otherwise, his heart would have given out due to the extreme fluctuation in his fates. Upon hearing Zhang Bin¡¯s words, Fang Hao nodded slightly. He located the ¡®Acting Regent¡¯ field in his Book of Lords, and filled it out, writing Zhang Bin¡¯s name. In the next second, A glimmer of light projected from Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords, forming into a smaller book. The ¡®Book of City Lord¡¯. After picking it up and looking it over, Fang Hao understood the significance of the Book of City Lord. The Book of City Lord was similar to the Book of Lords in regards to upgrading and construction of the city under its jurisdiction. It could also be used to make items. However, what you can build, what you can create, and even the troops you can recruit, all require Fang Hao¡¯s permissions. From this point on, Zhang Bin was no longer a lord, but a city lord beneath Fang Hao¡¯s command. Of course, for Zhang Bin, this was a good thing: no longer would he have to proceed with his development in constant fear, now that he was under the wings of a proverbial stronger entity. ¡°Alright, you keep hold of this book. Gather everyone up- -I¡¯ll send you all to the territory,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Ah, so suddenly?¡± Zhang Bin was a bit taken aback. He¡¯d barely gotten up, hadn¡¯t even washed his face, and so many things had happened already. Now, he had to leave everything behind and head straight to his new location. That was no short distance to travel. ¡°Well, I¡¯m about to attack the eastern orc territories. Are you going to participate?¡± ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not. I¡¯ll immediately notify my people to leave.¡± Fang Hao chuckled lightly, ¡°See if there¡¯s anything worth taking. Li Teng¡¯s resources were far more abundant than yours, so don¡¯t bother with bringing resources.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± After agreeing, Zhang Bin began to assemble his subordinates. When everyone has finally gathered at the city lord¡¯s mansion, they found that their combined forces of soldiers and farmers numbered only 42 people. ¡ö¡öOnce there, have the skeleton hero Fireblade ¨C my hero ¨C sent directly back here on a Bone Dragon,¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Uh?! Boss, you want us to ride that?¡± Zhang Bin gulped nervously. ¡°Are you afraid of heights?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s fine! It¡¯s as fun as a roller coaster ride. Off you go,¡± said Fang Hao, giving Zhang Bin a push. Once everyone had boarded the Bone Dragon, It rushed skywards. Amidst screams, it flew off towards the horizon. As Zhang Bin was lifted into the sky on the Bone Dragon, he looked down at the earth and saw a skeleton army, long and winding like a white serpent, already on the march. He understood then, Fang Hao had not lied; they indeed were heading into battle. Having sent off Zhang Bin and his people, Fang Hao began to upgrade this territory. He upgraded both the Lord¡¯s Mansion and the city walls to Level 5, and proceeded to construct arrow towers and magic defense towers. His plan was simple: To keep the enemy at bay, turning this place into the first battlefield rather than his own territory. Even if there were any issues during the fight, he would then have a chance at a counterattack. Once all the defensive structures had been built, Anjia arrived at the city with tens of thousands of white skeletal soldiers. ¡°Everyone prepare to head towards Manim Market, Fang Hao instructed before entering a room in the Lord¡¯s Mansion. 500 skeleton soldiers surrounded the Lord¡¯s Mansion, ensuring Fang Hao¡¯s safety. Without delay, a flicker of a dim blue soul fire rose in the pupils of a skeleton warrior. ¡°Let¡¯s start. March to Manim..¡± Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 134, Attacking Manim Market 1 Chapter 134: Chapter 134, Attacking Manim Market 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Manim Market. The usually bustling Orc market has been quiet these past few days. The market is no longer open to the public, and a large force of Orc troops are stationed outside the city. These troops initially come from different tribes. Now, they have gathered here with a collective purpose. Tomorrow, they will strike a stronghold of the Undead located west of the city. And after achieving victory, they are to receive rewards granted by the Skullcrusher Tribe. In the chief¡¯s hall. Apart from Bronze Bull Talok, chieftains of some minor tribes have also gathered here, discussing the forthcoming campaign. ¡°We have received word from the Skullcrushers; they will arrive tomorrow, at which point our troops will merge with theirs and set out together,¡± reported Bronze Bull in a deep voice. This will be their first collaboration with the Skullcrusher Tribe from Coldwind Mountain. As the organizer of this campaign, Bronze Bull has shouldered a significant responsibility. ¡°Chieftain Talok, how powerful is this City of Undead that the Skullcrushers speak of? Why would the Skullcrushers travel such a long distance-are they after something?¡± A prominent Orc chieftain asked loudly. The Skullcrusher Tribe is crossing a vast distance to eliminate a City of the Undead. There must be factors they are not aware of. ¡°Apparently, the Undead attacked a village established by the Skullcrushers, though they didn¡¯t elaborate much on the details,¡± Bronze Bull answered, lightly tapping the armrest of his chair. Under normal circumstances, Bronze Bull would never agree to such a battle. However, the rapid growth of a City of Undead to the west of his tribe¡¯s territory has instilled him with unease. Since the Skullcrusher Tribe has proposed to eliminate them, Bronze Bull is naturally willing to join in and lend a hand. If the Skullcrusher Tribe were to ignore this, there would be a high probability of conflict once the City of Undead develops, especially considering it¡¯s in close proximity to their tribes. ¡°Either way, we have the tribesmen from Coldwind Mountain as the main forces. What is there to fear?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I haven¡¯t been in a fight for so long that I feel stiff!¡± The Chieftains, caught up in their excitement, eagerly discussed the upcoming battle. 5 Just as everyone was getting worked up, hoping to go out and start fighting, a Minotaur guard stormed into the room. He shouted, ¡°Chieftain, it¡¯s not good! An army of tens of thousands of Undead, accompanied by Bone Dragons, is about to reach the city.¡± ¡°What!¡± Bronze Bull stood up, shocked. ¡°Massive waves of Undead forces are approaching. You must come to see it quickly,¡± the Minotaur guard repeated again. ¡°Quick, lead me to see.¡± Bronze Bull grabbed his battle-axe and rushed out with the guard. The remaining Clan Leaders were all in a panic as well. Their clansmen were still stationed outside the city. If a battle broke out now, they could suffer significant losses. Everyone hurriedly left the chieftain¡¯s hall. As soon as they climbed up the city walls and saw the White Bone Army surging from afar, their faces turned pale. Especially when they saw the lifeforms flying in the sky. A swarm of White Bone Dragons-what on earth was happening? Could it be, instead of a City of the Undead, they are facing an Undead Empire? ¡°Chieftain Talok, quickly-let my clansmen inside first. Hurry up.¡± ¡°Yes, our clansmen are still outside. Let them in quickly.¡± The Undead forces were still some distance away, but if they delayed any longer, it would be too late. Bronze Bull nodded and ordered his men to let all the Orcs stationed outside into the city. The marching Undead Legion didn¡¯t stop to rest. From a distance, they could see the Orc forces camped outside Manim City. Unlike the previous Orc trading teams, these forces were well-equipped and brought their supplies with them, clearly gathered in preparation for a fight. It was obvious, even without guessing, that they were responding to the call from the Skullcrusher Tribe. ¡°My Lord, the Orcs stationed outside are entering the city. It seems like they intend to fight a defensive battle,¡± Blood Hunter, with wings folded, landed on Fang Hao¡¯s chariot. For this operation, Fang Hao did not ride on a dragon while invoking the God¡¯s Presence. Instead, he sat on a chariot drawn by a skeleton wolf, chatting with Nelson as they traveled. Hearing Blood Hunter¡¯s report, Fang Hao stood up and looked towards Manim City. Indeed, Orcs were entering the city gate rapidly, leaving a lot of tents unattended outside. Prepare for battle,¡± Fang Hao commanded. ¡°Yes.¡± Blood Hunter once again spread his wings, landing on the back of a Bone Dragon, and began leading the Dragon Squad. ¡°Anjia, get ready for a fight. Wake up, dammit!¡± Fang Hao slapped Anjia¡¯s cheeks but succeeded only in getting a handful of drool. Considering Anjia¡¯s biological rhythm, it was indeed quite early for her to wake up. But to sleep the whole way through-and remain asleep even now-was a bit excessive. ¡°Huh? What?¡± Anjia rubbed her eyes and naturally wiped away her drool. ¡°We¡¯re about to fight.¡± ¡°Ah, we¡¯re about to fight, huh? We¡¯re finally here!¡± Mention of the battle instantly woke Anjia up, her face revealing an eager, anticipatory expression. ¡°Charge.¡± Fang Hao blew the War Horn after speaking. A ripple of blue spread out, and attributes of Movement Speed +io% and Attack +2% took effect on all the soldiers. Without any formation, Fang Hao¡¯s command set fifty thousand skeleton soldiers into motion, each pulling out their weapons from their waists and rapidly approaching Manim City. As their footsteps hastened, the Undead army began to run. A tsunami of skeletons surged forward. On the city walls. ¡°Quick! Get your men onto the walls.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you order your men to do that? Don¡¯t command mine.¡± The city was in a state of chaos; as there were too many Clan Leaders, and not one would bow to the others. In the past, their tribes often fought each other-let alone follow the others¡¯ orders now. ¡°Everybody shut up, I¡¯m the one commanding now,¡± Bronze Bull shouted, pushing aside two people about to fight. Among all the attendees, Bronze Bull was the only one with the title of hero, while none of the others were heroes. Upon witnessing Bronze Bull¡¯s threatening demeanour, the two individuals backed down. I agree to Chieftain Talok¡¯s command.¡± ¡°I agree as well.¡± Bronze Bull gave the two of them a hard stare, then loudly commanded, ¡°All ranged combatants, get on the walls, tear down all the houses in the territory, and bring the stones and rolling logs here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The chaotic Orc forces temporarily unified. All the Orcs began to move. The ranged soldiers went up to the city walls, preparing to attack the rapidly encroaching Undead. But then, in the next second¡­ ¡°Watch out for the Bone Dragons¡­¡± Someone shouted a warning as the sky darkened. Several Bone Dragons swooped down, spewing Death Breath upon the ranged units gathered on the city walls. Black energy columns sprayed from the dragon¡¯s mouths. For a moment, all struck Orcs howled in agony. Their flesh melted and separated from their skeletons, which were strewn across the city walls. This¡­ Witnessing this, a sense of dread settled in the hearts of everyone. The end. Their ordinary troops couldn¡¯t fight against a Tier-lo Bone Dragon. Even if they intended to defend, they couldn¡¯t get to the city walls. How were they supposed to fight this battle? However, this was just the beginning. Dozens of Bone Dragons in the sky hovered above the city, reaping the lives of the Orcs with their Death Breath.. Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 135, Taming the Bronze Bull_l Chapter 135: Chapter 135, Taming the Bronze Bull_l Translator: 549690339 The brave orcs, at this moment, are as fragile as ants. Under the dragon¡¯s breath, they can¡¯t climb onto the city wall for defense, the remaining orcs can only find cover to avoid the hovering bone dragon. The orcs who couldn¡¯t find cover have already turned into piles of white bones on the ground. While the orcs couldn¡¯t leave their hiding places. One of the Skeleton Trolls jumped down from the dragon¡¯s back and opened the city gate, ushering the skeleton army into the city. Fang Hao, controlling the skeletons, stepped into the city with ease. ¡°Stop the attack.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Thump, Thump, Thump!! The bone dragon stopped its circling, landed on the rooftops of the city, and the earth trembled. ¡°Bronze Bull, my old friend has come, aren¡¯t you coming to have a chat? Maybe we don¡¯t have to fight this battle?¡± Standing outside the Chieftain¡¯s hall, Fang Hao spoke loudly. Bronze Bull and the others, unable to cope with the bone dragon in the sky, had all retreated to the Chieftain¡¯s Hall. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s voice, the other clan leaders looked towards Bronze Bull simultaneously. The skeleton outside recognizes Bronze Bull? ¡°Chief Tellock, why don¡¯t you have a talk with him? Try to save as many of the remaining people as possible.¡± one orc clan leader whispered. The orcs were now completely at a disadvantage, it could be said that if the fighting continued, none of them would survive. The ability to negotiate was the orcs¡¯ only way out. Although orcs are known as war mad, they are not fools. They enjoy pillaging, not courting death. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡± Bronze Bull put down his weapon and walked out. Exiting the Chieftain¡¯s Hall, Fang Hao was waiting at the door. Seeing Bronze Bull coming out, he said to one of the skeletons: ¡°Bring two chairs.¡± Bang! The skeleton kicked open the door of the nearby tavern , pulled out two chairs from under the shocked eyes of the orcs, and left. Setting them before Fang Hao. ¡°Have a seat, Chief Tellock.¡± Fang Hao sat down in a chair first. Bronze Bull sat down grandly, examining the skeleton in front of him, ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°I am Fang Hao, Chief Tellock, you seem to be forgetful.¡± Fang Hao said in a calm tone. Hearing the name Fang Hao, Bronze Bull¡¯s expression changed instantly. Fang Hao had traded with him twice before, and their cooperation had been fairly smooth. They couldn¡¯t exactly be called friends, but they had also interacted before. But the fact that the skeleton in front of him claimed to be Fang Hao was even more shocking than the sudden attack of the undead army. ¡°Don¡¯t act so surprised, it¡¯s just a spell, let¡¯s talk about this situation, how do you plan to handle it.¡± Fang Hao went straight to the point. ¡°You attacked Manim and you¡¯re asking me how to handle it?¡± Bronze Bull said angrily. ¡°Come on Tellock, you¡¯re not good at acting, so stop pretending. Skullcrusher is on his way, do you think I don¡¯t know? Be honest, you and your clan might have a chance to survive.¡± Fang Hao spoke bluntly. Bronze Bull, who was just about to question and blame, instantly lost his attitude. Now the two sides were at odds, it was normal for them to be wiped out. Moreover, in the law of the orcs, war only saw the strength, not right or wrong. ¡°What do you want? Since you didn¡¯t continue to attack, you must have already thought about it, so why bother to ask me?¡± Bronze Bull continued. Fang Hao glanced at Bronze Bull and said seriously: ¡°It¡¯s simple, either surrender or die.¡± ¡°Sir, we surrender, we surrender.¡± From a distance, an orc clan leader, having overheard their conversation, shouted loudly. No one wanted to continue a battle with no hope of victory. Even if Fang Hao wasn¡¯t talking to them, it didn¡¯t stop them from expressing their stance. Fang Hao ignored the shouting orc, his gaze remained on Bronze Bull, and he continued: ¡°Sign a hero contract and I won¡¯t kill you.¡± A purple battle hero can greatly enhance the strength of a territory. However, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t insist on it, nor did he have any desperate need for his skills. If the Bronze Bull is unwilling, he would just kill him and make him a skeleton hero, ensuring he would not lose out in any way. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Bronze Bull¡¯s expression became more serious, ¡°You want me to sign a hero covenant with you? That¡¯s quite a scheme.¡± Once the covenant is signed, it would tightly bind the two of them together. Although the Bronze Bull appears as a subordinate hero, he no longer has any independence or freedom. If Fang Hao is not willing, the Bronze Bull will be unable to leave for the rest of his life, being firmly tied here. ¡°Think about it, the lives of these orcs hinge on your words. If you agree, everyone lives. If you refuse, everyone dies. You have one minute to decide.¡± Fang Hao leaned back in his chair and calmly stated. Bronze Bull fell silent, and the entire place instantly quieted down. Every orc¡¯s heart was lifted, guessing what Bronze Bull¡¯s decision would be. Their fate was directly related to his words. ¡°Alright, time¡¯s up. Tellock, what¡¯s your decision?¡± Fang Hao directly asked. There wasn¡¯t really a full minute, just a brief pause. Thud! Bronze Bull slammed his fist on the armrest, grinding his teeth as he said, ¡°Fine, I agree to sign the covenant with you, but you have to keep your word and ensure the safety of the other orcs.¡± Whew! Behind him, clan leaders from various tribes all sighed in relief. They had feared Bronze Bull would directly reject these undead, leading to their misfortune. Anyway, the current undead were just targeting Bronze Bull alone. Perhaps they would be allowed to leave after that. [Manim Village voluntarily becomes a subsidiary village of your secondary city, confirm in the Book of Lords.) Fang Hao was still in the state of God¡¯s Presence and could not confirm it in the Book of Lords now. But there¡¯s no rush, he can confirm it after he returns. ¡°Fine, I promised you, and I will honor it. Have everyone come out and gather here, don¡¯t blame me if you don¡¯t.¡± Fang Hao continued. Bronze Bull had no other choice but to comply with Fang Hao¡¯s orders, summoning all the orcs to assemble in the central plaza. ¡°Anjia.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anjia said. ¡°Take some people to check, don¡¯t touch anything else, just bring out all the money.¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Anjia¡¯s eyes immediately brightened. ¡°Okay.¡± After speaking, he led a group of skeleton soldiers directly into Tellock¡¯s chieftain hall. In the plaza. All the orcs were gathered, their weapons and equipment confiscated, everyone standing there. About 5,000 orcs were left, the rest had already turned into white bones under the dragon¡¯s breath. ¡°My lord, can we leave now? We are not members of the Tauren Clan, we are¡­ we are just passing merchants.¡± An orc tribe leader stepped forward, pleading for himself and his clansmen. ¡°Less talking, go back to your spot.¡± Fang Hao coldly rebuked. The orc tribal leader shivered, shrunk his neck, and returned to the lineup. Fang Hao looked at the crowd of orcs below and said loudly, ¡°I know about the Skullcrusher tribe, and I know your purpose. According to the customs of the orcs, the defeated become the slaves of the victor, you should all understand this, right?¡± It¡¯s common for orc tribes to plunder each other. The defeated often become the slaves of the victors. This is why orc slave traders live such plentiful lives. There are fugitives and defeated orcs everywhere, as long as there¡¯s information, a large number of slaves from wiped-out tribes can be captured. ¡°My lord, didn¡¯t you just say if Chief Tellock signs the covenant, you would let us go?¡± the tribal leader said softly. ¡°I said 1 won¡¯t kill you..¡± Fang Hao looked at the orc, frowning, ¡°Why do you talk so much?¡± Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 136, Purple Hero_l Chapter 136: Chapter 136, Purple Hero_l Translator: 549690339 All the orcs were put in shackles and kept under unified surveillance. Fang Hao promised not to kill them. As the defeated party, they naturally have to work for Fang Hao to make up for their mistakes. Before long, Anjia came back with the skeleton. ¡°Fang Hao, this old bull is really wealthy.¡± Behind Anjia, several skeletons were following. Each pair of skeletons were carrying a box filled with shining coins. There were WarfireCoins and more Beasthead Gold, a common currency among the Beast Clan tribes. [Acquired: 271455 WarfireCoins, 355451 Beasthead Gold.] Wow, Bronze Bull is really wealthy. It makes sense when I think about it. Bronze Bull has been running the market here for many years, and he must have saved a lot of money. Just the two transactions between Fang Hao and Bronze Bull amounted to tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of WarfireCoins. He is simply swimming in wealth. As for the remaining items, Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan to take them away. Once the Manim Market is registered as a subordinate village in the Book of Lords, all its resources will be shared with the main city. There is no need to go through the trouble of transporting back and forth. ¡°Talok.¡± Fang Hao called out. Bronze Bull Talok walked over, glanced at the boxes of money on the ground, and showed no expression. At this point, even if he was unwilling, there was nothing he could do. He had already lost and couldn¡¯t make the other party leave the money behind. ¡°Lord Fang Hao.¡± Bronze Bull responded reverently. Although the contract has not been signed, according to the agreement, Bronze Bull will become one of Fang Hao¡¯s heroes in the future. His status is the same as Anjia¡¯s. It¡¯s only right to address him as ¡®Lord¡¯. ¡°Well, leave the old and weak of your tribe behind, and the rest of the orcs will go to my territory with me.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± Bronze Bull immediately agreed. Manim needs people to stay behind. Fang Hao let the old and young from the Tauren clan stay behind to look after Manim, also as a reassurance to Bronze Bull that they wouldn¡¯t be made too miserable. As for the other orcs. Those who came here were all young and strong fighters. There were no groups of old or young. Once Bronze Bull had given his instructions, the large procession started up again, escorting a large number of orcs to Zhang Bin¡¯s city. After everything was arranged, Fang Hao directly deactivated his God¡¯s Presence state. He opened the Book of Lords and saw the message sent by Zhang Bin. -Boss, I¡¯ve arrived in the city. Mr. Fireblade has also returned on his Bone Dragon.¡± After Zhang Bin joined, his address changed from ¡®Big Brother¡¯ to ¡®Boss¡¯. A whiff of countryside life. ¡°Okay, develop it well and ensure the food production of the subordinate villages.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Okay, Boss, I¡¯ll do my best to not let you down.¡± Zhang Bin was somewhat excited at the moment. His current territory¡­. It could not be called a territory, it should be called a subordinate city. His current subordinate city was much better than his original one. The agriculture there was developed very well, and there was absolutely no problem with food supply in the future. Moreover, his backer was Fang Hao. He didn¡¯t need to worry about people causing him trouble. As long as he did not court death or provoke Fang Hao, he could develop safely. It was much better than his original remote place. ¡°Hmm.¡± After ending the chat between the two, the Book of Lords showed a new prompt. [Manim Village has become your subordinate village of the secondary city. You can rename the village and control all resources within the village.] Like the Pigmen Village, Manim Market has also become a subordinate village in the Book of Lords. Now, Fang Hao could check the resources of Manim Market through the Book of Lords. In the future, Fang Hao could carry out direct operations through the Book of Lords, using resources from secondary cities and their subordinate villages. [New blueprint unlocked: Tavern Construction Blueprint.] [Tavern Blueprint] [Type: Construction] (Description: Inquiring about insider news, commissioning investigations, and collecting maps¡ªthere¡¯s nothing a tavern can¡¯t find out. Of course, you have to make sure your tavern is filled with customers.) After looking at the attributes of the tavern, Fang Hao scratched his head. He had thought he could recruit heroes in the tavern, but it turned out to be a place for gathering information. In the tavern, he had indeed bought some maps given by passing merchants, explored a few places, and made some gains. But this tavern seemed to be of little use to his main city. The main city was all occupied by undead, with not even a bird coming from outside, what could be found out? The tavern had to be built in a place where there are outsiders. He waited in the city for a while. The team returning from Manim Market also entered the city. All the orcs truly saw Fang Hao himself. A human of such a young age, and who did not look strong, could command powerful undead. It was simply incredible. ¡°Tellock, sign the contract.¡± Fang Hao walked straight to the Bronze Bull and opened the Book of Lords. In the Book of Lords, there was a purple hero contract, which he had bought the last time the skeleton merchant came to his territory. In other words, this hero scroll saved Tellock. Without this scroll, his fate would be to become an obedient skeleton hero. The contract was handed to him, the Bronze Bull did not hesitate and immediately cut his finger to leave his handprint on the contract. Abeam of light emerged from the contract and entered the Bronze Bull¡¯s body. The contract was completed. [Bronze Bull ¨C Tellock, current loyalty to you is 65.] The contract is a rule-based restraint. Tellock will be unable to betray or harm Fang Hao in any way. This rule is much more advance than modern contracts. [Bronze Bull ¨C Tellock (Purple Tier 5 Hero)] [Faction: Orc] [Template: Purple] [Race Traits: Living, Tenacious, Blood Rage.] [Legion Talents: Inspire Allies, Infantry Charge.] [Skills: Beast God¡¯s Rage, Bronze Skin Iron Bone, Heavy Strike, Earth Trample, Frenzied Charge.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Strength Mastery, Advanced Defense Mastery, Advanced Tactics Mastery, Advanced Command Mastery.] [Tenacity (Passive)]: Duration of stun effect is reduced by 15%. [Blood Rage (Passive)]: After entering battle, close-range attack power increases by 5%. [Inspire Allies]: Morale of the troops led by this unit will be boosted, all attributes increase by 10%. [Infantry Charge]: Infantry under his command receive a 30% charge boost. [Beast God¡¯s Rage (Active)]: Awakens the beast god¡¯s blood in the body, lasting 20 seconds, attack power increased by 270%. [Bronze Skin Iron Bone (Passive)]: Close-range resistance increased by 10%, ranged resistance increased by 15%- [Earth Trample (Active)]: Tramples the earth, causing nearby enemies to be stunned. [Frenzied Charge (Active)]: Charges forward, repelling and causing substantial damage to all enemies in the way. [Heavy Strike (Active)]: Brutally strikes a single enemy, dealing 100% increased damage on hit. (Description: After the destruction of their homeland, the Taurens became aimless wanderers. After the Bronze Bull became the chieftain, his power and prestige allowed them to establish the Manim Market and their own order.) The contract was completed, and Fang Hao smoothly reviewed the Bronze Bull¡¯s attributes. For such a long time, his bronze skin had given Fang Hao a sense of an 18-copper-man formation. His muscles were even more exaggerated than those fitness coaches distributing flyers on the street. Surprisingly, in the attributes, there was really a Bronze Skin Iron Bone skill. ¡°Tellock, those orc captives are under your supervision. No one is allowed to leave here.¡± Fang Hao handed the captives directly to the Bronze Bull. ¡°Yes, my lord, I understand,¡± Tellock agreed. He then turned around and headed toward where the orc captives were held. Fang Hao then turned to Blood Hunter, ¡°Blood Hunter, command the Bone Dragon to make a few more trips and toss all these orc bones into the transformation field.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± With all the gains from this trip, he boarded the Bone Dragon and flew towards his main city.. Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 137, Skeleton Minotaur 1 Chapter 137: Chapter 137, Skeleton Minotaur 1 Translator: 549690339 It took Fang Hao and his companion twenty minutes to reach the main city. As soon as they landed, Fang Hao immediately rushed to the barracks for recruitment. He took a look at the stock of the Wriggling Spines in his warehouse, 16521 in total, 457 of which were dropped from the Orcs he had just killed on the battlefield. Altogether, there were 16978 Wriggling Spines, enough for him to carry out a massive recruitment operation. He first went to the Skeleton Conversion Field to recruit from the troops he had successfully transformed. The types of troops he had unlocked were not many, mainly the Skeleton Beast (Tier 1), Skeleton Soldier (Tier 1), Skeleton Wolf (Tier 2), Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 3), Skeleton Troll (Tier 5), and the Bone Dragon (Tier 10). The Skeleton Beast was a result of Fang Hao¡¯s experiment of throwing the bones of some wild beasts into the conversion pool. AU the beasts of Tier 3 or below became Tier 1 troops after the transformation. During this time, Fang Hao had adjusted his trading methods in the channel, preferring to exchange special and rare materials. This had allowed him to accumulate some recruitment materials. His warehouse had 212 Beast Tooth Stones, 72 Blood Stones, and 3 Troll Stones. There was no need to recruit Tier 1 troops, so he went straight to recruit the Tier 3 Skeleton Giant Bats. Skeleton Giant Bat: 3 Wriggling Spines, 1 Blood Stone. He set the quantity to 72. And he chose to recruit directly. ¡öHundredfold Increase¡¯ triggered, recruiting 7272 Skeleton Giant Bats. Seven thousand Skeleton Giant Bats appeared in the light and landed all around. ¡°Go and stand by outside the territory,¡± Fang Hao ordered. All the Skeleton Giant Bats flew straight outside the territory. After recruiting the Skeleton Giant Bats, Fang Hao continued to recruit Trolls. For other lords, the Troll was still a difficult target to overcome. He didn¡¯t know which lord obtained these three Troll Stones. Skeleton Troll: 5 Wriggling Spines, 2 Death Traces, 1 Troll Stone. He triggered Hundredfold Increase1 again and recruited 303 Skeleton Trolls. He arranged them to wait outside the territory as well. As the Skeleton Trolls went out, the Blood Hunter came back with a huge group of Bone Dragons dragging a large number of Orc corpses. ¡°My Lord,¡± Blood Hunter greeted. ¡°Hmm, throw the corpses in,¡± said Fang Hao. A large number of skeletons were thrown into the Transformation Pool. The breath of the Bone Dragons had corroded the flesh and blood of these Orcs, leaving only a pile of White Bone. Even so, nearly a thousand skeletons piled up in the Transformation Pool formed a Bone Mountain. The Transformation Pool began to consume and transform the material. When Fang Hao went to chat with the Blood Hunter for a while and returned to recruit more troops, his eyes suddenly lit up. Skeleton Minotaur (Tier 4). Faction: Undead. Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeletal, Vulnerable to Light. Skills: Frenzied Charge, Heavy Strike. Innate Skills: Intermediate Strength Mastery, Intermediate Defense Mastery. Frenzied Charge (Active): Charges forward, pushing back enemies in its path and causing massive damage. Heavy Strike (Active): Powerfully hits an enemy, inflicting 70% more damage on the target. (Description: They look gentle? You¡¯re lucky then. But I still must warn you, don¡¯t provoke them, or they¡¯ll shatter you and hang your intestines on their horns to dry.) The attributes of the Minotaur are quite good. Especially Frenzied Charge, it is very useful in large-scale wars, and better than the heavy strike and cleave skills that regular orc transformed Skeletons have. After checking the remaining transformed orc skeletons and not finding any good troops, he directly recruited the Skeleton Minotaurs. Skeleton Minotaur: 4 Wriggling Spines, 1 Death Trace, 1 Beast Tooth. He set the quantity to the maximum of 212 Beast Teeth. He selected ¡®Recruit1. ¡®Hundredfold Increase¡¯ Triggered, recruiting 21412 Skeleton Minotaurs. Over 20,000 Skeleton Minotaurs, standing about 2.5 meters high with horns on their heads, appeared around him. ¡°Alright, all of you go and wait at the gate of the territory.¡± All the Skeleton Minotaurs walked out. The recruitment in the Skeleton Conversion Field used up 1079 Wriggling Spines. He still had 15442 Wriggling Spines left, enough for him to continue recruiting ordinary troops. Next, Fang Hao continued to the Undead troop building for recruitment. This time he planned to use all of the Wriggling Spines. After all, in case of any mistake during the fight. [Undead Mage: 3 Wriggling Spines.] Recruit quantity: 1000. [Skeleton Cavalry: 3 Wriggling Spines.] Recruit quantity: 147. [Skeleton warrior: 2 wriggling spine.] Recruit quantity: 3000. [Skeleton Spearman: 2 Wriggling Spines.] Recruit quantity: 3000. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 101000 Undead Mages.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 14847 Skeleton Cavalry.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 303000 Skeleton Warriors.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 303000 Skeleton Spearmen.] Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! Countless lights flashed, a large number of skeleton soldiers were recruited and arranged outside the territory to await orders. Among all the troops recruited, the number of cavalry was the smallest. This was also part of Fang Hao¡¯s plan. Outside the territory, most of the undeveloped forests couldn¡¯t bring out the mobility and combat power of the cavalry. Most importantly, Fang Hao didn¡¯t have a cavalry leader under him, so to play a role in battle, he had to command using God¡¯s Presence, which was troublesome to operate. So the number recruited was the remaining Wriggling Spines, about 15 thousand cavalry were recruited. As he stepped out of the territory. Looking around, it was a dense white bone army. If this were not an army that Fang Hao had just recruited, the scene before him would have made his heart tremble. Next, Fang Hao continued to make equipment for the troops. A large number of equipment was made through a hundred-fold amplification. If it wasn¡¯t for Fang Hao¡¯s ample iron reserve, this large-scale production really wouldn¡¯t have been affordable for ordinary people. All kinds of troops are fully equipped. Eira also came out from the territory, ¡°Master, do you need me to prepare lunch for you?¡± Fang Hao had been busy since morning until now. Despite hustling and bustling, he didn¡¯t feel hungry. ¡°Eira, have your clan prepare. We¡¯II be spending the night outside tonight, and you¡¯ll be responsible for dinner.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment. Food was indeed a problem. ¡°Oh, okay, Master. We¡¯ll prepare.¡± Twenty minutes later, Fang Hao left 50,000 troops to garrison, and the rest of the army set off for the secondary city. On the way. Fang Hao was lying on the cart, resting his head on Eira¡¯s plump and smooth thigh. A young Rabbit Clan girl beside him served the washed fruit into Fang Hao¡¯s mouth. It didn¡¯t feel too boring. After chatting with the Rabbit Clan girl for a while, as Eira¡¯s thigh started to feel numb, he switched to another Rabbit Clan girl¡¯s thigh to recline. He casually opened the Book of Lords to kill time. ¡°Let me just ask, do any of you have Warfire Coins? What is this thing for, and why can¡¯t it be traded in the channel?¡± ¡°This has been discussed in the channel before. It should be the currency of the native inhabitants and can¡¯t be exchanged in the channel.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± ¡°I have recruited a blacksmith who comes with a blueprint for making iron swords. Not to brag, but apart from Fang Hao, all of you are trash¡­¡± ¡°Let me say something too. Of course, I¡¯m not including Fang Hao. I¡¯ve recruited a tier 3 unit in the wild. If you¡¯re not convinced, come find me. My name is Handsome Drift.¡± ¡°Drift my ass.¡± ¡°Agh! I¡¯m developing too slowly. If this keeps up, I don¡¯t know if I can survive tomorrow¡¯s compulsory mission.¡± ¡°What? Is it time for the compulsory mission again?¡± [Congratulations on surviving 20 days.] All of a sudden, the system prompted. ¡°Shit, you jinx!¡± Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 138, Mandatory Task Appears 1 Chapter 138: Chapter 138, Mandatory Task Appears 1 Translator: 549690399 r r ¡ª Throughout this tune, he had been consumed with worry about the Skullcrusher Tribe, and completely forgot about the seven-day compulsory task. ¡¯ Now that the system prompt showed up, it confirmed that his third seven-day compulsory task had arrived. [Congratulations, you have survived for 20 days.] [In ten hours, all surviving Lord¡¯s territories will enter the compulsory task ¡®Demon Rat Invasion¡¯, during which all territories will be attacked by the Demon Rat army.] [Demon Rat Invasion: Land productivity decreases by 20%, food spoilage increases by 20%, disease infection rate increases by 50%.] [After the task ends, the compulsory mission will be canceled, and random public mission will start.] [Wish you good luck¡­] Fang Hao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If the Demon Rat invasion and the Skullcrusher tribe both struck at once, how would he handle it? Just as his heartbeat accelerated with anxiety, the system prompt chimed again. [Mission change.] Phew! Fang Hao let out a deep breath. It¡¯s changed, it¡¯s changed. If it hadn¡¯t, he¡¯d be done for. [Mission change.] [In view of the specific circumstances of your territory, the compulsory task has been changed to [Skull-Breaker Hammer], the original task has been canceled.] [Skull Breaker Hammer: Orc army marching speed increased by 35%, attack power increased by 10%.] [Mission description: The Skullcrusher tribe has organized an orc army of 300,000 to launch an attack on your territory, codenamed Skull-Breaker Hammer.] [After the task ends, the compulsory mission will be canceled, and random public missions will start.] [Wish you good luck¡­] Darn it! What the heck! If you dare, confront me face to face. What does it mean to boost their abilities? Snap! In a fit of anger, Fang Hao slapped the thigh of a rabbit girl sitting next to him. A startled cry rose in the air. ¡°Ay! Sorry, I got carried away there.¡± A red palm print appeared on her fair thigh, and Fang Hao apologized somewhat uncomfortably. The rabbit girl blushed, stuttering, ¡°That¡¯s OK¡­ If Master likes it, it doesn¡¯t really hurt.¡± ¡°Ah, no rush¡­¡± Fang Hao said awkwardly. Ding! At this moment, the Book of Lords suddenly chimed. When he opened it to check, he found that many people were mentioning him. ¡°@Fang Hao, I want to order some weapons from you.¡± ¡°I want to buy some armors, and Rejuvenation Springs.¡± Fang Hao had hacked Li Teng to death and posted the pictures in the regional channel. Everyone started to be more cautious when speaking with Fang Hao, no longer as casual as before. Who knew if one day their territory would be exposed by some random task, and get wiped out by enemies with soldiers and horses. After looking at the messages, Fang Hao replied, ¡°I¡¯m in the wilderness I¡¯ll go back and make them for you. This is the last compulsory task, everyone, fight to survive and support each other if you are nearby.¡± There was a slight pause in the channel, then message after message popped ¡°Damn! I¡¯m getting teary-eyed all of a sudden.¡± ¡°Honestly, from the very beginning, when Brother Fang Hao started selling food, weapons, and then later, Rejuvenation Springs, most of the people in the channel who managed to survive received help from Brother Fang Hao in some way.¡± ¡°Brother is right, this is the last compulsory task, everyone has to survive. My territory has a tier-three troop, if I can finish the battle early, I¡¯ll support anyone who sends up a smoke signal.¡± ¡°I have more troops, if anyone needs help, you can send up a signal smoke.¡± People need a leader. A leader with prestige and authority. Many who were doing well started to speak, expressing their intentions to rush to the aid of nearby territories if they win their battles. Fang Hao saw the messages and let out a faint smile, comfortably shifting his position he said, ¡°Though I¡¯m in the City of the Undead, my heart is still blazing hot.¡± Pretty soon, the team caught sight of the city ahead. Night. The Skullcrusher tribe¡¯s army, after a strenuous march, was finally closing in on their target. As night fell, the army began to set up camp and start fires for cooking. Even the sturdy Orcs felt drained after such a high-intensity march. But the results were evident, they made good time. Orc tents were pitched, people started to cook, stewing carried raw meat, while others used this time to lay down and rest. After having their fill, the camp was filled with snoring sounds. It sounded like a large construction site, the noise was ear-piercing. Inside the commander¡¯s tent, Amiri, dressed in bright silver beast armor, was looking at the scout¡¯s intelligence map. According to the route, they should reach the City of the Undead by tomorrow, take the treasure from them, and present it to the Great Chief. By then, his status would also be elevated and he would ascend to a higher position. Tramp, tramp, tramp!! Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent. Amiri¡¯s face turned stern, his hand reaching for his sword. ¡°Who is it?¡± The Orc guard asked. ¡°It¡¯s me, I have something to report to the commander.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± Said Amiri. He recognized the voice, it was one of his subordinates. An orc strode in, panting heavily he said, ¡°Commander, it¡¯s bad news. The accompanying Gnoll is dead in his tent.¡± Amiri¡¯s expression immediately turned serious. Killing a Beast Clan hero in the camp was a grave matter. Aside from the danger he himself might be in, if this got out the morale of the army could possibly take a hit. ¡°Gather the guards and go to see.¡± Amiri said in a grave voice. With a group of men, he rushed towards the tent where the Gnoll was residing. The Gnoll was not a member of the Skullcrusher Tribe, but a hero arranged by Great Chief Shah to accompany the army on the journey before they set off. Despite his low racial status, as a hero he was capable of fighting. The Gnoll rarely interacted with them, silently following the team. But his sudden death made Amiri nervous. Could there really be an assassin in the camp? If an assassin managed to silently kill a hero, wouldn¡¯t he also be in danger? Soon, they arrived at the Gnoll¡¯s tent. ¡°Take down the tent to avoid any danger inside.¡± The temporary tent was not sturdy, two orcs stepped forward, and with a few tugs, they tore it down, revealing the black shape of the Gnoll¡¯s body lying on the ground. Now the Gnoll was far from what he originally looked like. His fur had fallen off, his bare skin looked like it had been poured with molten iron, it was gray and swollen. He didn¡¯t look just recently dead, but like a body that has been dead for several days. ¡°Lord, this¡­¡± The remaining orcs also saw the clues. They belonged to professional military personnel. They dealt with the dead frequently in their battles. A person¡¯s body will undergo various changes if it has been dead for a long time. 6 Although they didn¡¯t understand the reasoning, they could guess approximately when the death occurred. Amiri wore a solemn expression, looking at the body on the ground. ¡°Since we can¡¯t figure it out, let him tell us..¡± Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 140, White Bone Tsunami (11 happy, plus one more chapter. )_1 Chapter 140: Chapter 140, White Bone Tsunami (11 happy, plus one more chapter. )_1 Translator: 549690339 Little You had just returned and didn¡¯t pick up the meaning in Fang Hao¡¯s words. She said seriously, ¡°The orc army has been expanding all the way, and the number has reached close to 350,000.1 heard that this Bronze Bull is a hero. If they unite, it will greatly enhance the enemy¡¯s combat power.¡± She still didn¡¯t know that Bronze Bull had been subdued by Fang Hao, and was worried that the enemy¡¯s strength would be boosted by this hero. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about that. Yesterday I led my troops to crush Bronze Bull¡¯s army and made him sign a hero¡¯s contract with me. He¡¯s now mine,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Ah? That fast?¡± Little You was stunned. She had just passed on the news about Bronze Bull to Fang Hao yesterday. That is to say, Fang Hao had crushed Bronze Bull¡¯s team within a day after receiving the news and made him sign the contract. Could it be that the Bronze Bull just sounds tough, but isn¡¯t very strong? No, the orc tribe took this Bronze Bull very seriously, it shouldn¡¯t be so weak. Fang Hao put on his last piece of armor and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s a meeting downstairs.¡± As he left the room, Eira and other maids had started preparing breakfast. ¡°Master ¡± Eira and a group of bunny girls bowed. ¡°Hmm, go and call all the high-level officials to the conference hall for a meeting.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Five minutes later. All the heroes had arrived and were sitting on both sides of the conference hall. Fang Hao sat in the main seat, looked at everyone, and quietly said, ¡°I just got the news, the Skullcrusher tribe¡¯s army has approached our territory for the final assembly. Blood Hunter, you take the Sound-transmitting Shell and scout out the enemy¡¯s status.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Blood Hunter took the Sound-transmitting Shell and walked straight out of the conference hall. The Sound-transmitting Shell was brought back by Little You, which just happened to be used by Blood Hunter, so they can relay back the news in real time. With Blood Hunter gone, Fang Hao continued to assign tasks to everyone else. ¡°Nelson, you¡¯re in charge of all mage units, Fireblade and Anjia command skeleton warriors and skeleton spear-wielders respectively. Bronze Bull, you take over all orcs and skeleton minotaurs. Blood Hunter will lead the air units. Any problems with that?¡± Fang Hao moved on with the assignments. These assignments didn¡¯t involve any tactics; they were just allocated based on each person¡¯s military talents. Everyone was to lead the type of troops they were best at. As for Fireblade and Anjia. They had close to 700,000 basic skeleton soldiers. Even if they were stationed outside the city, you could see hills of skeleton soldiers as far as the eye could see. Since both were in charge of infantry, it made sense to split the forces between them. ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°Good, this will be the arrangement for now, everyone go and prepare.¡± Once given their orders, everyone started to prepare. Soon, Blood Hunter sent back the news that the orc¡¯s army was indeed stationed here. After a simple breakfast, Fang Hao went straight back to his room and started using God¡¯s Presence. Soul Fire rose in the pupils of the skeleton warrior. He went straight to where the troops were stationed, ¡°Move out and invade the orcs¡¯ territory, catching them off guard.¡± The orc army certainly wouldn¡¯t expect the undead army, which should have been frightened away, to be assembling and ready to strike. One hundred thousand undead soldiers were left within the city. Even though there were no heroes left behind to command, Fang Hao could still terminate God¡¯s Presence at any time to take control if there were an attack on the city. Of course, if something unexpected were to happen, it would be that the orc army, not waiting for Bronze Bull, set off early, encountering the undead army halfway and resulting in a field battle. It would be difficult to bypass such a large army and directly attack the city. The colossal undead army, were setting off grandly. Heading toward where the orcs were stationed. On the way, they ran into Blood Hunter, who was returning. ¡°Lord, the orcs haven¡¯t set out yet, but they¡¯ve arranged for someone to rush to Manim Market. I killed him on the way,¡± Blood Hunter reported. The giant bat wings provided Blood Hunter with mobility that ordinary soldiers didn¡¯t have. Scouting out enemy situations and killing solitary orcs was a bit of an overkill. ¡°Good, you¡¯re in charge of the flying units,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The army continued to advance quickly. Eight o¡¯clock in the morning. The system¡¯s notification tone rang out once more. [Mandatory mission ¡®Demon Rat Invasion¡¯ officially begins. All lords, please prepare your defenses.] Then, Fang Hao received another notification. [Your mission is a changed mission, the situation will progress on its own, not included in the calculation.] It seemed that battles in other domains had already begun. While Fang Hao¡¯s group was still on a long journey. Finally, after a quick march. The large forces were approaching the target, ahead was the orc¡¯s camping site. Skullcrusher army, the camping location. Inside the military tent, Amiri looked grim, ¡°Have the people who went to look for the Bronze Bull returned?¡± A guard outside the tent walked in, answered, ¡°Lead, they haven¡¯t returned, should we send more people?¡± Amiri sunk into silence, a strange sense of danger welled up in his heart. Something must have gone wrong somewhere. But where the problem was, he couldn¡¯t figure it out for the moment. BAM! Punching a chair beside him, the chair shattered into pieces, bustling with scrap wood. ¡°No more waiting, notify them to prepare to move. After we wipe out the Undead territory, well come back to settle accounts with Bronze Bull.¡± Amiri said angrily. ¡°Yes, Lead.¡± The Orc guard was about to relay the order when their expressions simultaneously changed. Amiri furrowed his brow, watching the ever-expanding ripples in his water cup. An earthquake? Just then, the camp outside suddenly erupted in chaos. An orc stumbled into the tent, didn¡¯t wait for Amiri to chide, he yelled out, ¡°Lea, leader, an undead legion has appeared, there are too many.¡± Amiri¡¯s heart tightened, the undead daring to attack was really out of his expectations. A kick sent flying the vociferous orc, who cursed, ¡°If you dare roar again, you¡¯ll be the first one I butcher.¡± He had precise intelligence on the numbers of the City of Undead¡¯s army. About fifty thousand low ranked skeletons. Though their numbers were many, those low ranked undead facing a large force of 300,000 Orcs would crumble like paper. Even if they attacked, what could they do ¨C merely shifting the battlefield here. The Orc, who was kicked over, retracted his neck and said, ¡°Leader, you should go and see, the number of undead is too many.¡± ¡°Go!¡± Amiri said, and walked out of the tent. As soon as he left the tent, Amiri felt something was wrong. The ground¡¯s trembling was increasingly clear. ¡°It¡¯s a bone dragon! They have a bone dragon¡­.¡±, Suddenly, the front cluster of orcs erupted with a cry. The cry only added to the chaos on the scene. Amiri ordered his trusted aides to keep order, and the whip in his hand whipped the Orcs, ordering them to return to their units for battle. With the successive whip cracks, the encircling crowd dispersed. Amiri and his trusted aide saw the scene before them first hand. The oppressive feeling of death from the undead enveloped him. The vast army of skeletons occupying the entire field of vision as far as could be seen. Like a white tsunami, crossing the jungle and fields, it was rapidly closing in. The vibrations just now were not an earthquake. It was the sound of this skeleton army¡¯s approach. Above in the sky, an enormous number of bone dragons were flying at an even faster speed, clearly closing in on the camp. ¡°Blow the horn, prepare for battle!¡± Amiri roared with all his strength. This battle was likely to be a battle of life and death.. Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 141, Victory and Human Slavery_l Chapter 141: Chapter 141, Victory and Human Slavery_l Translator: 549690339 Woooo! The vibrant howls reverberated in the air, catapulting all the orcs into a state of combat. Amiri forcefully subdued the rising fear in his heart and began directing his troops into battle positions. All available items were gathered and stacked around, reinforcing the hastily built defense works. There were about 300,000 orcs, a massive number, yet they could only fortify a portion of the area. Amiri was loudly directing, and his messengers dispersed quickly, relaying his commands. Seeing the Bone Dragons in the sky drawing nearer, all Amiri could do was give hurried orders. ¡°Prepare all Bat Riders for an attack, draw the Bone Dragons away, and arrange the ranged troops for battle.¡± The Bat Riders were a level-five flying unit of the orc tribe. With immense wings, they resembled bats, with sharp claws and teeth. An orc cavalryman could ride on its back and attack both air and ground units. Even so, the Bat Riders were only level-five units and could not be compared with the legendary units like the Bone Dragons. Amiri simply needed them to distract or draw the Bone Dragons to other directions, so his foot soldiers could focus on the approaching Undead Army. If the Bone Dragons were to be allowed into battle first, the orc army would have difficulty coping. After all, the orc army primarily consisted of foot soldiers. Thousands of Bat Riders ascended into the sky, assuming a unique formation, and flew straight towards the Bone Dragons. The orcs on their backs began to pull out their spears, ready to attack. They knew their role ¨C to constantly harass and not actually fight the Bone Dragons to the death. But reality was always crueller than expectations. When the thousands of Bat Riders were about to throw their spears and attack the Bone Dragons, Whoosh! From the backs of nearly a hundred Bone Dragons, swarms of Skeleton Giant Bats erupted like birds startled from a forest and dispersed. They circled in the sky for a while before making a beeline for the Bat Riders. Seeing the oncoming swarm of Skeleton Giant Bats, the expressions on Bat Riders quickly changed. This fight was far from being a match. ¡°Scatter, harass the Bone Dragons when you see an opportunity,¡± ordered the Bat Rider captain loudly. The formation instantly dispersed, each seeking opportunities to distract the Bone Dragons. Despite their swift responses, several Bat Riders were still engulfed by the Skeleton Giant Bats. As they broke apart once more, their flesh had been stripped, and the bones fell from the sky. For a moment, It appeared as if it was raining bones from the sky, with skeletal remains incessantly plummeting. Even the notoriously fierce and savage orc army felt a chill running down their spines seeing this sight. The chase between the Bat Riders and Skeleton Giant Bats persisted, while a hundred Bone Dragons unobstructed soared over the orc encampment. They were indifferent to the arrows launched upwards. Roar!!! Opening their massive jaws, they spewed streams of deadly breath down towards the densely packed area beneath them. The dark light beams swept over the orc army. The orcs hit by the beams began to lose their flesh, turning into dried skeletons amidst their scream of agony. The Bone Dragons flew past overhead, turned around in the distance, and once again flew towards the orc army. ¡°Damn it!¡± Amiri cursed. The battle had begun, they had no way to retreat. Even if they knew they were outmatched, they had to fight. If he commanded a retreat now, the 300,000-strong army would instantly collapse, resulting in even more disastrous losses. ¡°Warriors! Shatter these Undead and take down their leaders,¡± Amiri yelled, rallying his troops. Roar! The orc foot soldiers, their eyes turning blood-red, let out blood-curdling yells. They charged wildly towards the rapidly approaching Skeleton Army, seeming to have lost their minds from rage. Within the ranks of the Undead- A hundred thousand Undead Mages in the rear launched their attack first. Black missile waves, full of negative energy, flew over the main army in an arc and landed amidst the charging orcs. The missiles exploded, blowing up large groups of orcs and spreading negative energy among them. Even so, the frenzied orcs continued to charge fearlessly and ferociously. Fireblade coolly commanded the raging orcs who were rushing towards him like madmen, ¡°Raise Shields, out with the spears.1¡® One by one, iron spears shimmering with a cold light emerged from the gaps in the shields, aiming at the raging orcs. Thud Thud Thud!! The orcs, using their bodies¡¯ strength and shields, viciously rammed into the shield wall erected by the skeletons. Theirs was a destructive force akin to a battering ram, splitting the shield wall and penetrating the formation. In the meantime, many other orcs were pierced by the long spears, their blood and innards spilled on the ground. The orcs that managed to break into the skeleton¡¯s formation didn¡¯t achieve quite the result they had imagined. An iron sword cleaved down onto them, reducing them to a splatter of mushy flesh. The main forces of both parties were entrenched in a fierce battle. On the right flank of the Orc Tribe, tens of thousands of undead troopers crossed the rough and rocky mountains, directly appearing in the rear of the tribe¡¯s formation. The Orc maiden leading the team looked at the battlefield below, consumed in bloodshed, and simply roared, ¡°Kill.¡± The command was relayed, and she led the undead army, headed straight for the orc army. As time passed. The battle on both sides entered a frenzied stage. The undead army, unaffected by morale and unable to experience pain or fear, advanced relentlessly. However, the orc army, no longer boosted by the effects of the War Horn suffered a swift decline in morale, their fighting spirit not as fierce as in the beginning. Fang Hao assessed the battlefield situation. He said, ¡°Tellock, end the battle quickly.¡± Bronze Bull let out a soft sigh. His enormous bull¡¯s head nodded slightly, ¡°As you command, Milord.¡± Bronze Bull¡¯s troops began to move forward from the rear, taking cover behind the shield wall. Fireblade glanced at Bronze Bull and gave his order again, ¡°Open!¡± Swish Swish Swish! The shields parted. With his eyes glowing crimson, Bronze Bull immediately activated the [Frenzied Charge], Along with the Tauren warriors and the Skeleton Minotaurs, they sprang forth from the formation, charging like a speeding train, sending all enemy soldiers in their path flying. They burst into the Orc¡¯s formation, shaking off corpses entangled on their horns, and the abilities [Beast God¡¯s RageHWar Stomp] follow up in succession. Like a blood-thirsty war god, they tore through the Orc¡¯s lines. The rhythm of battle, at the very moment when Bronze Bull charged from the formation, this led to a faster defeat for the Orcs. All the undead abandoned their defenses and started attacking with all their might. The sea of Skeletons completely covered the battlefield. This sight foreshadowed the victors of this war. The Orc army began to collapse, a large number of Orcs chose to flee when their morale dropped to the lowest point, scattering in all directions towards the forest. But the Bone dragon circling in the sky, along with tens of thousands of Skeletal Giant Bats, were not going to give them a chance to escape. They selected their targets and proceeded to eliminate them one by one. The noise of the battlefield finally subsided near dusk. The sight was gruesome. Blood flowed like a river, corpses were strewn all over, scattered limbs and broken bones were everywhere as if it was purgatory on earth. ¡°My Lord, all the orcs have been killed. We are currently organising a team to clean up the battlefield. We found several human corpses towards the rear of the camp. It looks like orcish handiwork; they are already dead.¡± Fireblade reported. In a blade-to-blade battle, it was hard for anyone to survive. Fang Hao had adamantly ordered not to take any prisoners. Most humans who appeared here were likely transmigrators like himself. ¡°Take me there.¡± Fang Hao replied. Fireblade nodded, leading Fang Hao across the sea of corpses towards the rear of the orc camp. Shortly after, Fang Hao saw the human corpses Fireblade had reported. Six humans had their heads chopped off, their skulls flung about haphazardly, staring unblinkingly, resentfully at a corner of the sky. From their attire, it was clear; they were transmigrated Lords like himself. He bent down to pick up a Book of Lords fastened around someone¡¯s waist. [Book of Lords (Level 3), belonging to Lord Guan Qi.] Level 3? The level of this person¡¯s Book of Lords was higher than his own. As Fang Hao continued to search for other Books of Lords, he began to understand the reason. It seemed that these Books of Lords had all been devoured by Guan Qi. [Lord Guan Qi¡¯s Domain has been destroyed; unable to obtain the decision power..] Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 142, 4th Level Book of Lords_l Chapter 142: Chapter 142, 4th Level Book of Lords_l Translator: 549690339 | Right. Today is a compulsory mission, and all the Lords are defending their own territories. The people here were captured by the orcs, leaving their territories deserted and available for the enemy¡¯s plunder. The destruction is understandable. If today wasn¡¯t a compulsory mission, the territory would remain even if the resources were stripped empty. He¡¯s currently under God¡¯s Presence on the Skeleton, temporarily unable to swallow. He could only consume this Book of Lords after returning. ¡°Bury them near here, I hope when you wake up, it¡¯s only a dream.¡± Fang Hao whispered. Life is so fragile. In this world, no one can assure their own survival. Fang Hao doesn¡¯t lack common skeletons. These few bodies of his fellow villagers will not be transformed, at least they will be laid to rest. A few skeleton soldiers stepped forward, collected the human heads scattered around, and buried them nearby with their bodies. The skeletons began to scatter to clean up the battlefield. The clean-up method of Fang Hao¡¯s camp is somewhat more complex. In addition to collecting loot and weapons, they also need to collect complete corpses. It¡¯s not about bringing back the organs, but the limbs must be intact. The fallen skulls and limbs have to be collected and put onto the wagon to be taken back to the territory. Wagons full of corpses tied tightly with hemp rope were still horrifying. ¡°My Lord, judging by the clothing, this man was the leader of this army,¡± Fireblade¡¯s gaze fell on the body in front of him. The body in front of him was clearly different from the normal orc attire, with more sophisticated equipment, clearly a leader in the army. ¡°Let Scholar Nelson identify it, confirm the identity, and transform it into a Skeleton Hero.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Fireblade replied. ¡°Good, collect the spoils of war and let¡¯s head home.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± In the center of the Undead Army, carriages full of corpses were huddled. Thick fresh blood dripped along the carriage, leaving dark brown trails. The army followed the road, heading towards the territory. God¡¯s Presence was removed. Fang Hao woke up from the bed in the room. Coming out of the room, he saw Eira and several rabbit-clan maids gathered in the hall. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s face filled with leisure, everyone showed a joyful expression without a doubt ¨C his side had won the war. ¡°Master, shall we prepare a more lavish dinner?¡± Eira asked in a low voice. ¡°No need, we¡¯ll go back after dealing with things here,¡± Fang Hao said. Even now, there weren¡¯t many living creatures in the territory. The orcs forced onto the battlefield by him probably wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy a victory feast. It might be better to return to the main city and have a simple but nice meal with a few of them. ¡°Oh, okay, Master.¡± Eira obediently nodded. Soon, the large team returned to the city. The convoy carrying bodies didn¡¯t stop, and directly transported the bodies to the main city for transformation along the road. Besides the bodies and equipment of the 300,000 orc army. The greater gain was the Wriggling Spine. To cope with this battle, Fang Hao had exhausted all his resources. Only to amass this nearly 800,000-strong Undead Army. But the victor was Fang Hao, his power would snowball, growing to a horrifying extent. [Acquired: Wriggling Spine 115782.] 110,000 spines. Fang Hao looked at this number and nearly laughed out loud. Nevermind whether the Skullcrusher Tribe will counterattack or not, Fang Hao is considering a preemptive strike once he has gathered sufficient intelligence and the timing is right. He could wipe out the Skullcrusher Tribe completely and neutralize any potential threat. ¡°My lord, your book.¡± Fireblade hands the acquired Book of Lords to Fang Hao. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao takes it. As soon as the Book of Lords is in his hand, a notification for possible absorption appears. [The Book of Lords (Level 3) can be absorbed.] Following that, the Book of Lords in his hand turns into a ray of light and merges into Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. [Absorption successful. Your current Book of Lords is Level 4, with 4/6 progress needed to level up.] Two days ago, when Li Teng was killed, the Book of Lords was only Level 2, with 1/4 progress needed to level up. After absorption, it immediately reached Level 4, with 4/6 progress needed for the next level upgrade. Fang Hao wonders how many humans the Orc captured along the way. Definitely, more than the 6 he saw, perhaps more. [Upon reaching Level 4, Marching Speed increases by 3%, Resource Gathering by 4%, daily limit of regional channel messages increases by 30.] All attributes increase again after reaching Level 4- Even the daily limit of regional channel messages increased by 30. This would make it easy to engage in verbal arguments without fear. His opponents would run out of messages while he can still reply. Such a pity for these people¡¯s territories and resources. Otherwise, Fang Hao¡¯s domain could have expanded significantly. [Blueprints unlocked: Target Range Construction, Leather Boot Crafting, Kitchen Knife Crafting. ] There¡¯s even a blueprint for constructing a target range. -My lord, I heard you are leaving soon?¡± At this point, Bronze Bull comes over. He¡¯s wrapped in bandages in several places, apparently injured in the recent battle. ¡°Tellock, you¡¯re right on time. I was just thinking about discussing the situation here with you.¡± Fang Hao invites him in for a chat. The two of them go into the main hall and sit down on the chairs. Two Rabbit Clan maids bring them plain water. Unlike the main city, where there are fruit wines, only water is available here. ¡°Tellock, we wiped out 300,000 Skullcrusher troops. What do you think the Skullcrusher Tribe will do in response?¡± Fang Hao cuts straight to the chase. Among Fang Hao¡¯s commanders, probably only Bronze Bull is qualified to comment on the Skullcrusher Tribe. Being an Orc himself, he used to maintain private contacts with them. Without hesitation, Bronze Bull immediately replies, ¡°My lord, I think you are overestimating the Skullcrusher Tribe. If they had won this war, they would have used the captured cities as a base to absorb neighboring tribes and grow stronger. But having lost and 300,000 of their troops dead, they¡¯re severely crippled. I suspect there may even be internal disputes within the tribe. Bronze Bull¡¯s point is simple. It¡¯s the Skullcrusher Tribe, not Fang Hao, who should be worried. Once they learn about the massacre, troubles could surface within their own tribe. ¡°You¡¯re saying, it¡¯s unlikely they will launch another attack in the short term? Fang Hao is having trouble understanding the situation of the local forces. He can rely on the Wriggling Spine, together with a hundred-fold increase, to recruit massive armies. But for other forces, it¡¯s challenging to amass and maintain armies. A 300,000-strong army being wiped out without a single soldier escaping ¨C such a calamity would cause chaos even in a country. Thinking of launching another expedition and gathering another 300,000 troops could be a problem. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the situation in the Coldwind Mountain Range, but they definitely won¡¯t send troops in the short term,¡± Bronze Bull states confidently. Fang Hao rubs his brows, deep in thought. He doesn¡¯t know the Coldwind Mountain Range, and they don¡¯t know him either. The Skullcrusher Tribe thought Fang Hao only had a 50,000-strong undead army, so they dispatched a 300,000-strong force to annihilate him. Then, they would use the momentum to unify all local Orc tribes. But unexpectedly, Fang Hao used even bigger forces and slaughtered all 300,000 of their troops. Now, what Fang Hao lacks is information about the enemy.¡± Whether it¡¯s the road, the enemy¡¯s strength, the distribution of various tribes, or the consideration to launch a counterattack, everything needs to be taken into account. Fang Hao¡¯s White Bone Army can directly confront the enemy, utilizing their terrifying numerical advantage. But once his forces are dispatched to raid the Skullcrusher Tribe and spread out into the Coldwind Mountain Range, problems can easily arise. His advantage is like a snowball rolling, he cannot lose, he can only win. ¡°is there any way to get information about the Skullcrusher Tribe? Can we send some Orcs or buy out some Orcs from the Skullcrusher Tribe?¡± Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 144, Merit Training Ground_l Chapter 144: Chapter 144, Merit Training Ground_l Translator: 549690339 The compulsory tasks are more like a funnel. Continually and relentlessly filtering out those unfit for this world. Once the number of people being filtered out is sufficient, the compulsory tasks are cancelled. Of course, this is just Fang Hao¡¯s feeling, whether it is the same for everyone is yet to be determined. He continued to look at today¡¯s rewards. This time, he received two building blueprints. The first one is a blueprint for the camp building, the Tower of the Fallen (purple). Not bad, it¡¯s a purple blueprint. [Tower of the Fallen (Purple)] [Type: Building Blueprint] [Ability: Increases the range of God¡¯s Presence control.] (Description: A special Undead camp building that can be built within the territory of a city/village, can increase the range of God¡¯s Presence control.) [Materials needed for Construction: Durable Wood 3350, Stone Bricks 4500, Iron 1200, Death Trace 120, Shadowstone 30.] Is this it? Fang Hao was somewhat dissatisfied with this reward. What¡¯s this thing? There¡¯s no feeling of surprise at all. He could at least have been given a blueprint for a special troops building for him to recruit some powerful troops. Or a powerful weapon that could wipe out the Skullcrusher Tribe in one go. But instead, he got something that increases the range of God¡¯s Presence. Although it¡¯s something he needs, he¡¯s still not very satisfied with it. Even though he complained in his heart, he couldn¡¯t change the reward. The purpose of the Tower of the Fallen is easy to understand. It is like a signal tower in modern society. Fang Hao¡¯s God¡¯s Presence ability is quite useful. A big part of his survival up to now is thanks to God¡¯s Presence, he can use it to possess his troops without having to take any risks himself. However, God¡¯s Presence has a significant restriction; its effectiveness is affected by distance and compatibility. Fang Hao can use God¡¯s Presence to descend upon the Pigmen Village, but he can¡¯t control the skeletons to go to the Tomb of the Dragon beyond the village. He needs to physically go to the Pigmen Village and then use God¡¯s Presence to shorten the controlling distance. The Tower of the Fallen can solve this problem. Although it¡¯s a beneficial ability, the quantity requirement for shadowstone is too high. What he lacks the most is shadowstone, even with the blueprint, he can¡¯t construct it. He continued to check the second blueprint. Seeing this blueprint, Fang Hao¡¯s blood surged instantly. An orange blueprint. [Merit Training Ground (Orange)] [Type: Special Building] [Ability: 1. Hero Assessment, 2. Hero Advancement.] [Hero Assessment]: Any troop that has reached the tenth level or are special-type can undergo an assessment. If successful, they can be promoted to a hero. If not, they are demoted by 1-3 levels, but may continue to undergo assessments after reaching the tenth level again. (Conversion, production, summoning, etc., types of troops cannot be assessed.) [Hero Advancement]: Heroes can go through trials here. By passing trial levels, their levels can be increased. Failed trials will not result in any penalties. [Hero Assessment: Hero Heart 1, Warfire Coin 100.] [Hero Advancement: Hero Certificate 1 (the corresponding template), Warfire Coin 500.] (Description: Growth and breakthrough are the unchanging rules of survival in this world. Sometimes, all you need is a little push to make a leap forward.) [Materials required for Construction: Durable Wood 2200, Stone Brick 3000, Iron 1200, Battle Trace 200, Perfect Essence 30.] After looking at the abilities of the building, Fang Hao¡¯s expression became serious. The symbolism of this building was self-evident. Whether a territory has a way to improve or not can directly impact a hero¡¯s sense of belonging there. No one wants to live their entire life in a village with no development. A territory that can foster and support their growth is more likely to be accepted by the heroes. At the same time, the troops that reach the tenth level can undergo a hero trial, and if successful, they could become heroes. This signifies that he could now form an army composed of heroes. However, only the Bone Dragon within his territory has reached the tenth level. He wasn¡¯t sure whether it was considered a converted troop unit. Even if it¡¯s not, he currently doesn¡¯t have the Hero Heart and the Hero Certificate. Above all, the fees for this were too much. It costs more than applying for a master¡¯s degree and there¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯ll pass. Exorbitant, it¡¯s really exorbitant. While complaining about the exorbitant prices in his heart, Fang Hao chose a vacant spot near the statue area for construction. An orange glow lit up the territory, attracting the attention of many people. After a good twenty minutes, a building resembling an altar appeared in front of Fang Hao. [Ding!] [The loyalty of the Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson towards you has increased by 5, the current loyalty is 85.] [The loyalty of Fighting Tooth ¨C Anjia towards you has increased by 10, the current loyalty is 87.] When the building was completed, the affection of the two heroes in the territory towards Fang Hao once again increased. It seems, this building has a substantial influence on the heroes. The loyalty increased just by constructing a building. The more cultured and worldly a person is, the more formidable they are to win over. Nelson, as his first hero, only had a loyalty of 85, which was just slightly higher than the Bronze Bull, who was forced to join yesterday. Sigh! He could only think of slow ways to increase their loyalty. ¡°Master, it¡¯s mealtime.¡± Eira jogged over, shot a glance at the altar, then turned to look at Fang Hao with big round eyes. ¡°Oh, let¡¯s go. I just finished up too.¡± The two of them then headed towards the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower. To celebrate today¡¯s victory, the dinner Eira prepared was more lavish than usual. Though it was not in large amounts, it included all the dishes that Fang Hao and Anjia liked. After the meal was served, the trio began to eat. Anjia and Eira were having a conversation. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to see what everyone was talking about in the channel. Now that the system rewards had been distributed, those who were alive could finally breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°I survived, fuck.¡± ¡°Without the compulsory tasks from now on, everyone can take their time to develop. There¡¯ll be no need to prepare for a 7-day test every moment.¡± ¡°Yeah, every time it got to the sixth day, I didn¡¯t even dare to poop. I was afraid that if I died, they would say I was a hungry ghost in the underworld. But now, I don¡¯t need to be scared.¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear from the above that he knows how to live.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to treat myself to a good meal today to celebrate the end of future compulsory tasks. Now that I have soldiers and food, to be honest, life is finally like how a Lord should live.¡± ¡°I think some of you are oversimplifying things. The system did state that after the compulsory tasks end, random event tasks will begin. Essentially there is no difference.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it! Random event tasks will be harder. Compulsory tasks give you a set time and arrange for a task to challenge your territory, but random events can be scarier. Do you all remember the ¡®Battle of Lords¡¯ the day before yesterday? That was the first random event task. When your territory is exposed to other lords, it won¡¯t be any simpler than a siege task, right? -I get what you¡¯re saying. It¡¯s like in a game, previously we were playing solo against the computer, although it was tough, there was at least a strategy to follow. But now we¡¯re not only playing against the computer, we¡¯re also playing against other players. Everyone could potentially be your enemy. Is that what you mean?¡± ¡°More or less.¡± The duo explained their thoughts on the random events. Those in the channel who were previously celebrating their victories instantly deflated, and the whole channel quietened down. The cancellation of compulsory tasks is not an end, but just a new beginning. There are many more difficulties waiting for them. These lords in this novel world are experiencing a wide variety of new gameplay methods, designed to entertain unknown individuals. ¡°Oh dear, I almost forgot. I¡¯m here to buy Rejuvenation Spring from Boss Fang.¡± ¡°Oh yes, I need to buy some too.¡± Following that, several people private messaged Fang Hao to buy the Rejuvenation Spring to recover from their injuries.. Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Chapter 145, Recommending Trade Chapter 145: Chapter 145, Recommending Trade Alliance_i Translator: 549690339 The next morning. Fang Hao had just gotten up when he heard Eira say that the skeleton merchant had already been waiting in the market. Calculating the time in his mind, it wasn¡¯t yet time for replenishing the market, so this visit must be about the Skeleton King¡¯s recommendation. If Fang Hao wanted to sell his goods in the market, he needed to join a union called the Eye of Sky. A necessary condition for joining was the recommendation of a veteran member. The skeleton merchant, Ruer, knew of Fang Hao¡¯s intentions to join the union and offered to recommend him to the ¡®Skeleton King ¨C Odys¡¯, to see if he could gain the approval of the undead king. After all, Fang Hao was one of the few new territories developing within the undead ranks. The Skeleton King had a high chance of supporting newcomers from his own camp. Quite some days had passed; today would likely be about this issue. Whether it could be done or not, the answer would soon be known. Upon arriving in the market area. The skeleton merchant was still patiently waiting, sitting quietly on the side. Undead were unaffected by time, and the passing years did not pose a threat to them. Even if they sat quietly for an entire day, they wouldn¡¯t feel like time was being wasted. ¡°Sir.¡± Noticing Fang Hao approach, Ruer stood up and saluted. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Ruer,¡± Fang Hao greeted with a smile. ¡°Sir, I came because of the recommendation letter,¡± Ruer stated directly. Just as I thought. Fang Hao¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but his heart couldn¡¯t help but race. This recommendation was crucial to his next steps. ¡°Oh? What did Lord Odys say?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Lord Odys agreed, but it¡¯s not for free.¡± Ruer gripped his cane tighter. ¡°Just state your request, Mr. Ruer. If it¡¯s feasible, I won¡¯t be stingy.¡± The fact that they could make demands was a good thing. There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch, especially in this world. Help without any apparent reason was more worrying. ¡°After joining, 20% of the profits from your sales within the next two hundred years¡­ Upon hearing this, Fang Hao¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Or 10,000 Warfire Coins.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s smile reappeared. The undead perceived time differently from humans. To them, two hundred years was just an increase in numbers. But for Fang Hao, his own existence in two hundred years was uncertain. He didn¡¯t know whether he would accept the transformation in the future, but for now, two hundred years was too long. So long that he found it somewhat unbelievable upon hearing such a number. Compared to 20% of the profits for two hundred years, Fang Hao would rather accept the condition of 10,000 Warfire Coins, although this was a sky-high price for the average Lord. But Fang Hao could still accept it. He could afford those ten thousand Warfire Coins. His ability to produce items with a hundredfold increase was like a gift for the market. With very few resources, he could mass-produce items and sell them rapidly at a similar price, competing with veteran companies for the market. Therefore, it was crucial to join the Trade Alliance and have links with other forces. Similarly, Odys¡¯ demand for twenty percent of the profits for two hundred years had a direct impact on his plan. It was better to make a one-time payment and buy out straightforwardly. ¡°Is there room for negotiation?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Lord Odys set these terms personally.¡± The meaning was clear; there was no room for negotiation. ¡°If we do agree on this, when can I join the Eye of Sky?¡± ¡°We could proceed today. The recommendation letter is merely a formality, not a real letter. I will guide you through some procedures at the time.¡± Ruer expounded. Fang Hao nodded, then called a rabbit maid from afar, ¡°Tell Eira to bring over ten thousand Warfire Coins.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The rabbit maid ran off. Soon after, Eira came over with two skeletons. They were holding a money box that was filled with glittering coins. ¡°Mr. Ruer, please count it.¡± Seeing the money box filled with Warfire Coins, the soul fire in Ruer¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Although 10,000 Warfire Coins wouldn¡¯t be much for a veteran force. Fang Hao¡¯s market had just been built less than a month ago. Being able to pull out this much money effortlessly was beyond Ruer¡¯s expectations. ¡°No need, so when are you planning to embark, sir? Joining the United Trade Company involves a process, and the sooner, the better.¡± Ruer continued to say. ¡°What is the process? So that I can have an idea.¡± Fang Hao asked further. ¡°I brought a teleportation scroll to the Eye of Sky station. It can teleport up to three people. You can register after reaching the station. This process is relatively simple, and seldom is anyone rejected.¡± Ruer patiently explained. Fang Hao thought for a while then said, ¡°Mr. Ruer, let me prepare. We will set off in twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Twenty minutes later. After finishing breakfast, Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia, came over. The heroes in his territory all had different duties. Fireblade was arranged to guard the east side of the city. He watched the east while also being able to rush to the Manim Market in case of an emergency. Nelson was in locked-in creation mode at the Viscera Museum, crafting a skeleton hero. Only Blood Hunter and Anjia remained in the territory. Anjia did not have the personality to guard a city, so Fang Hao kept her by his side, acting as a bodyguard. Lately, Anjia seemed to have changed her disposition. She wasn¡¯t as wild as before. The day before yesterday, Fang Hao heard from Nelson that Anjia sought him out to play chess and lost several games. If not for the intimidating presence of old man Nelson, Anjia might have smashed the chessboard. However, this showed Anjia¡¯s change as she was gradually changing herself. ¡°Mr. Ruer, we can depart now.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Without delaying, Ruer pulled out a scroll and opened it directly. A light blue curtain appeared in front of Fang Hao. Fang Hao had seen such a curtain before. In the second compulsory mission ¡®Nature¡¯s Revenge¡¯, the nature guardian had also appeared through a similar curtain, attacking various territories. This curtain could be likened to a teleportation door. Once inside, one would be transported out. ¡°After you, Sirs.¡± The Ruer took the lead and entered the curtain. While Fang Hao and Anjia followed him into the curtain. Feeling disoriented, when they opened their eyes again, they had arrived in an unknown place. Looking down from here, there was a flat stone road lined with lush flower beds. There weren¡¯t many people on the street, it was rather quiet. Similar to modern street lamps installed on both sides of the road, Nightstones were placed on their tops. If it weren¡¯t for the different races walking on the streets and the lack of plastic billboards, Fang Hao would have thought that Ruer had directly teleported him back to Earth. ¡°Welcome to the Eye of Sky Alliance¡¯s 032 Station.¡± Noticing their curious gazes, Ruer continued, ¡°Sir, the Eye of Sky Alliance only operates in the morning. Once the paperwork has been completed, you are free to explore the area and even stay the night.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s deal with the formalities first,¡± Fang Hao said. Ruer nodded, leading them towards the central building in front.. Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 147, Sky-High Priced Item _1 Chapter 147: Chapter 147, Sky-High Priced Item _1 Translator: 549690339 Ask the transmigrators what they fear. Apart from powerful extraterrestrial beings, internally, everyone is most afraid of Fang Hao. He alone shoulders the heavy responsibility of sustaining the entire region¡¯s population, and the recent instances of him selling equipment are counted in the tens of thousands. In the previous event, Li Teng, considering himself a heaven-sent messenger, challenged Fang Hao. But within less than half an hour, Fang Hao chopped off his head and posted the picture in the local channel. Everyone who provokes Fang Hao in an attempt to assert themselves is punished. Nobody wants to, nor would they dare to provoke this killer. Who knows when he might come to their territory and chop off their heads. Xu Yang feels the same. When he sees Fang Hao, he subconsciously thinks that Fang Hao is just like him. That Fang Hao must have relied on other races to come here, and in their recent conversation, he was disdainful and sarcastic. Thinking about it now, he regretted and wished he could slap his own mouth. Why couldn¡¯t he just chat properly instead of talking nonsense? Having barely found protection under the Trolls and getting some time of safety, he had now offended Fang Hao, this star of disaster. At the bar, Fang Hao checked his identity as per the Goblin¡¯s requirements. A letter with the Eye of the Tower seal, and a blueprint were given to Fang Hao. The Goblin¡¯s sharp voice said again, ¡°Construct the Eye of Commerce building, complete three internal orders and you will pass the test to become an official member. You will receive instructions on what to do at that time.¡± Fang Hao accepted the items, ¡°Oh, alright. Thank you.¡± After they moved aside, the people behind them came forward to handle their own business. ¡°Is it over already?¡± Fang Hao looked at the two items in his hands. ¡°It¡¯s not complicated, it just needs someone who understands the process.¡± Mr. Ruer started to speak. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Fang Hao said. Leaving the building, they returned to the street. The couple who were kissing in the dark alley were gone, replaced by two different species exchanging emotions deep within the small alley. ¡°Mr. Ruer, what is the test that the Goblin mentioned?¡± On the way back, Fang Hao asked again. Once Mr. Ruer is gone, he would have no idea where to ask him about it. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to understand, as after building the Trade Alliance¡¯s building, there will be a week-long probationary period. During this period if you can complete three orders, it essentially means you have passed the test,¡± Mr. Ruer explained. ¡°What¡¯s the use? By being a member, aren¡¯t I just selling items outright? Setting up a test doesn¡¯t seem to serve much purpose,¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°You can consider it an ability, three orders in a week, which is the basic requirement. If you can¡¯t even fulfill that, there is no point in joining the Trade Alliance,¡± Mr. Ruer explained. The Eye of Commerce is more like a platform, providing a convenient method of transaction for all members who join. Displaying the wares to all forces who have built markets before the eyes. And if you wish to join the Trade Alliance, you should have a stable source of goods. Whether it¡¯s selling weapons, equipment, blueprints or tools, you should ensure a steady source. Saving for half a year to sell once, the Trade Alliance would not allow you to take up space. Apart from the admission test, there is still a monthly quota to reach, and failure to do so will result in membership cancellation. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± The group chatted while walking, stopping again in front of a building. It was a two-story Stone Tower with a sign bearing the Eye of Commercial Alliance¡¯s symbol hanging at the door. ¡°This is the Trade Alliance¡¯s location. Here, you will understand the importance of Warfire Coins,¡± Mr. Ruer said, leading the way and pushing open the door. The door opened, and a bustling noise filled their ears. It was like stepping into a pub, with people filling the seats, discussing on their own. ¡°New face, huh?¡± a voice called out. It was only when a Goblin climbed onto a high stool with effort that Fang Hao noticed his figure. ¡°Ah, just joined,¡± Fang Hao replied. Mr. Ruer sat down, seemingly letting Fang Hao familiarise himself with the environment here. ¡°Alright, joining the Trade Alliance would be beneficial to you humans too.¡± The goblin poured himself a glass of orange fruit wine and spoke. Everyone looking at Fang Hao, clean and white, assumed he was from the human faction. ¡°May I see the goods? I heard there are quite a few good things here.¡± Fang Hao asked directly. The goblin scoffed and corrected, ¡°Remember, they are the best stuff¡­.¡± With a tap underneath the bar counter, the cabinet behind him instantly opened, revealing an array of items. The goblin gave a confident look, raised his glass of wine to his lips, about to take a sip while boasting about the merchandise here. However, he noticed some compartments did not open. The drinking action paused slightly, and with a couple of taps on the buttons above the counter, there was still no reaction. Frowning, he asked, ¡°Kid, which faction are you from? The compartments for humans and elves aren¡¯t opening for you.¡± ¡°Undead.¡± Clang The wine glass fell to the ground. The goblin bent down to pick up his cup, while Fang Hao examined the items on the counter. They included weapons, tools, skill scrolls, potions, and a wide range of other items. Fang Hao could not afford them, but he was just there to broaden his horizons. [Demon Dragon Potion] selling price: 4.5 million Warfire Coins. (Description: Changes the constitution, significantly enhancing the magical power of the body) [Lover¡¯s Greedy Potion] selling price: 5.2 million Warfire Coins. (Description: Reduces body sensitivity, prolongs endurance.) [Design Blueprint of the Starfire Gun (Orange)] selling price: 6 million Warfire Coins. (Description: A firearm designed by a Dwarven master.) [Viscera jar (Orange)] selling price: 9.22 million (Description: In the event of unit death, a toxic plague erupts from the corpse.) [Blood Cup (Crimson)] selling price: 15.5 million Warfire Coins (Description: A cup that overflows with fresh blood. Drinking the blood from the cup enables the drinker to possess the blood owner¡¯s ability for a certain period.) [¡­ (Orange)] selling price:¡­ Each item is worth a fortune. Each one was worth more than a million. Included were dragon armors and various orange equipment designs that Fang Hao coveted. No wonder, upon his arrival, Ruer had mentioned the importance of currency. The goblin also picked up his fallen wine glass from the ground, climbed back onto his stool, and smoothed his hair. ¡°What do you think, see anything you like?¡± asked the goblin. ¡°I like everything, just that I have no money.¡± Fang Hao patted his pocket. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The goblin roared in laughter,¡± You will have money in the future, everyone joins the Trade Alliance to make money.¡± ¡°How do I get those factions to display their merchandise?¡± Fang Hao pointed to the unopened compartments. ¡°Influence, hardly any factions welcome the Undead. You need a higher influence to get those compartments to open.¡± The goblin explained leisurely. Goblins don¡¯t like the Undead, especially the stench of death that emanates from them. If it wasn¡¯t Fang Hao who came but Ruer, this goblin probably wouldn¡¯t have explained so much. ¡°Alright, what if these are sold out?¡± Fang Hao asked further. ¡°These goods are all supplied by top factions within the region, the goods get updated once a month. If you see anything you like, you¡¯d better work hard to make money this month, because you never know when they¡¯ll appear next time.¡± The goblin took out a silk handkerchief, wiped the fallen glass, and refilled it with wine. ¡°What if, I said if, there are bad guys who come to loot directly? Wouldn¡¯t that be a windfall?¡± A question suddenly popped up in Fang Hao¡¯s mind. ¡°Not to mention whether those people can find this place, even if they could, wouldn¡¯t they have already pillaged if they dared? This continent is never short of greedy fools.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right..¡± Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 148, Skeleton Merchant! Chapter 148: Chapter 148, Skeleton Merchant! Translator: 549690339 After chatting with the goblin for a while, Fang Hao had a drink in hand and returned to Ruer¡¯s side. He sat down at the table nearby. ¡°It seems that you and the goblin had a pleasant conversation,¡± Ruer remarked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Not everyone can get a drink from a goblin.¡¯ ¡°Oh, maybe we just hit it off.¡± Fang Hao replied casually. Anjia, who had been quietly listening, learned that goblin ale was a rare treat and took a sip from her cup. The moment the liquid touched her lips, Anjia¡¯s face became contorted. She quietly spits it back into the cup and returned it to Fang Hao. ¡°How is your understanding now? You know the importance of Warfire Coins, right? With enough money, you could become the top power in this region overnight.¡± Ruer began to emphasize the importance of Warfire Coins once again. His words might be an exaggeration, but his message was clear. The importance of Warfire Coins; with Warfire Coins, nothing was out of reach. Weapons, equipment, skill potions, even immortality could be obtained here. As long as you have money, or power. Of course, most people often had neither. Having money without power just made you a target for others. If you have power, you naturally have ways to earn money. These two things were closely tied together. ¡°Yes, money is indeed crucial.¡± Fang Hao agreed. ¡°Look at that building.¡± From their table by the window, Ruer pointed at a four-story stone tower across the street. ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the auction house. Every year they hold one or two auctions here, and even Lord Odys attends them. Maybe you¡¯ll see him at the next one. ¡°Eh, Lord Odys attends these auctions?¡± ¡°Of course, they only hold two a year, even if he doesn¡¯t buy anything, it¡¯s a good chance to interact with the outside world.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± This was something they could agree on. Even if they didn¡¯t purchase anything, they could see what their rivals were buying. Moreover, such occasions were perfect for networking and discussing potential collaborations. After talking for a while, they left the shop and headed for the teleportation array area. At the parting, Fang Hao handed Ruer a purse with his fee in it. Ruer gladly accepted without refusing. By the time they returned to their territory through the teleportation array, it was already afternoon/evening. Anjia jumped around, eager to find Eira and share her experience at the Trade Alliance. Of course, a plain account would be boring, so she would spice it up with some stories of confronting bullies and street fights. This would make the story more thrilling and attractive. Instead of going straight back to his mansion, Fang Hao headed directly to the marketplace, planning to start the construction of the Trade Alliance¡¯s building first. [Trade Alliance Hall: Hardwood 1200, Stone brick 800, Iron 320, Metal parts no, Essence of Magic 20, Mithril 15.] [Description: The Trade Alliance¡¯s member¡¯s base building.] The Trade Alliance Hall was not an independent building, but an expansion of the marketplace. It was more an upgrade. Choosing to build, the original marketplace was transformed into light and was turned into a two-story stonework building, expanding its quarters. An emblem of the Trade Alliance was hanging above the door. This was a building that represented the Trade Alliance. The fenced areas around it which were originally filled with different booths now turned into a massive warehouse for goods. Shelves for storing goods were placed on both sides. [Level 1 Trade Alliance Hall] [Category: Trade Alliance Building] [Registered Faction: Undead] [Recruit: Skeleton Merchant] [Skeleton Merchant: Wriggling Spine 1, Warfire Coin 10.] [Faction Ability: Arrival (Allows the merchant to teleport to the targeted marketplace)] [Test Stage: Number of Order fulfillment 0/3.] [Description: Exclusive buildings built by the Trade Alliance for its members.] The faction ability Ruer used to appear at the marketplace was the Arrival. The goods Ruer sold were mainly blueprints and magical items, which Fang Hao didn¡¯t have. The focal point of his future sales would naturally be the goods made in bulk. He planned to use the hundredfold amplification to create the most valuable items. First, let¡¯s recruit the Skeleton Merchant. [Skeleton Merchant: Wriggling Spine 1, Warfire Coin 10.] Recruit 1. Light flickered. [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, recruited 101 Skeleton Merchants.] 101 Skeleton Merchants, dressed in suits and holding walking canes, appeared in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Lord, we are at your service,¡± the Skeleton Merchants greeted in unison, the echo of their voices filling the room. Now Fang Hao understood that all the Skeletons had the same recruitment conditions, but each of them had their own distinctive appearances. The Skeleton Tailor had a tape measure hanging from his shoulder, the Skeleton Blacksmith held a hammer, and the Skeleton Merchants were dressed appropriately, even holding a cane in their hands. Oh! Right, the additional 10 Warfire Coins for recruitment must have gone towards their outfit. No wonder. -Welcome to all of you,¡± Fang Hao said to the leading Skeleton Merchant. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Honorable Lord, my name is Doujin.¡± ¡°Great name, I like it. From now on, you¡¯ll be in charge here. The instructions I hand over will be distributed by you,¡± Fang Hao declared loudly. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh, delighted with the name of the first merchant he recruited. This was divine will! ¡°Thank you, Lord. I¡¯ll do my best to live up to your expectations,¡± Doujin bowed in response. [Skeleton Merchant Doujin¡¯s Loyalty to you increased by 10 points, current Loyalty is 8o points.] ¡°Yes, since we just joined the Trade Alliance, Doujin, you decide what we should do next,¡± Fang Hao handed over the decision to Doujin. Later on, he wouldn¡¯t have the time to always worry about the Trade Alliance, it would be Doujin¡¯s responsibility to handle things from now on. ¡°As you wish, Lord.¡± Doujin directly walked into the counter area, pressing a button underneath it. Rattle! A row of merchandising cabinets opened, revealing a dazzling array of items inside. ¡°Lord, these are the goods available for sale to our territory¡¯s factions. You can purchase according to your needs,¡± Doujin explained. This was the difference between a member of the Trade Alliance and an ordinary faction. Before, if Fang Hao didn¡¯t buy Ruer¡¯s goods, they would disappear after a few hours and he would have to wait and see if he could refresh them. Now was different, all the goods were displayed there. Even if you don¡¯t buy, they won¡¯t disappear and would stay on the shelves forever. Therefore, there was no rush to buy all at once. He could wait until he had enough materials and could use them before making the purchase. However, there was another point. If products were sold out or removed, new items would be replaced on the shelf. They weren¡¯t permanently preserved either. ¡ö¡öGood, buy all those items,¡± Fang Hao pointed to a few blueprints. Not only did they have blueprints here, but there were also finished equipment in units of loo, as well as some alchemy potions. However, a hundred sets of equipment, for Fang Hao¡¯s undead army of tens of thousands, did not play a significant role. If they were lost, it would be difficult to find them. It was still the most cost-effective to buy blueprints. [Iron Claw Rat Nest Construction Blueprint (Green): Wood loo, Thatch noo, Trace of the Forest 3.] [Black Iron Kite Shield Manufacturing Blueprint (Blue): Cast Iron Block 40, Iron 5, Metal Parts 2, Thick Leather 5.] [High-speed Hardwood Shortbow Manufacturing Blueprint (Blue): Hardwood 5, Metal Parts 3, Thick Leather 2..] Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 149, Not a Person and Big White Leg_l Chapter 149: Chapter 149, Not a Person and Big White Leg_l Translator: 549690339 [Black Iron Battle Pickaxe Blueprint (Green): Sturdy Wood 3, Iron Block 5, Metal Parts 3, Leather 5.] [Apprentice Mage Robe Blueprint (Green): Cotton Fabric 4, Spun Thread 5.] Five items in total, all of which Fang Hao can now craft and use. As for the rest that he couldn¡¯t use at the moment, there was no rush to purchase them. Doujin handed the items to Fang Hao, who promptly paid as per the quoted price. ¡°Sir, as members of the Trade Alliance, you can fill out orders. If you still can¡¯t find the goods you need here, you can fill them in the orders. Other members may consider selling them to you,¡± Doujin explained as he pulled out two orders from under the counter and placed them in front of Fang Hao. Looking at the orders before him, a wave of excitement coursed through Fang Hao. What a great system! Write down whatever you need, and those who possess it would then sell it to you. Suddenly, a bewilderment crept into Fang Hao¡¯s mind. What was it that he lacked? ¡°Can I list corpses?¡± Fang Hao asked. If powerful beings from other races die, selling their bodies to him could be a good business. ¡°Ahem! I understand what you mean, sir. But the Trade Alliance has explicit rules against the Undead Clan purchasing the corpses of other races in any form,¡± Doujin answered. Oh, so it was clearly stipulated. It seemed the Undead Clan had tried this before, only to be forbidden by the Trade Alliance later. ¡°Is it just these two orders?¡± ¡°You can only have two at the moment, and the Trade Alliance will send new ones every seven days.¡± In other words, two orders updated every seven days, huh? ¡°Then let¡¯s fill in an order for Undead Clan soldier building blueprints. Oh yeah, exclude the ones we already have in our territory.¡± As Fang Hao spoke, Doujin started writing. Fang Hao¡¯s script was Chinese. He could understand the languages of other races, but the natives couldn¡¯t read Chinese. ¡°Very well, sir,¡± Doujin jotted down the details on the order form, then placed it inside a mailbox-like container. After closing the top, the order was officially sent to the headquarters of the Trade Alliance. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯d like to discuss?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°Sir, there is one last thing. There are a total of 74,511 village-level forces that meet the criteria for traders to arrive. Among these, 13,205 are Human Clan lords. You also need to recruit some personnel and the goods they carry,¡± Doujin explained. ¡°That many¡­?¡± ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t need to recruit all of them. Each force has different opening hours. You can recruit half of the total number of traders, but a third of the number is necessary if there¡¯s a shortage of personnel,¡± Doujin reminded again. Half of 74,000 is around 38,000 people. That¡¯s quite a number. With the one hundred times amplification effect, that would be 380 people. At ten Warfire Coins per person, the total came to 3,800 coins. Fang Hao had already spent 10,000 coins to attain Odys¡¯ referral, and now there was this large expense. This was not how he had envisioned his zero-capital start-up. He was almost out of cash. Hopefully, he wasn¡¯t being played by the Trade Alliance. ¡°Sir, what are your instructions?¡± Noticing Fang Hao¡¯s silence, Doujin asked softly. ¡°I will recruit a sufficient number of traders. You will handle the allocation when the time comes. Prioritize the needs of the Human Clan lords.¡± Among the 13,000 lords who have built markets, undoubtedly, they were transmigrators just like him. Those owning village-level buildings were just village chiefs at most. Only transmigrators like him were designated as lords. Human Clan lords could obtain Warfire Coins through opening treasure chests or through certain opportunities. However, to get traders to settle in the markets they built, they would need the influence of their respective clans. Fang Hao stood out and was first in his region, which allowed him to unlock the Undead Clan¡¯s traders. The lords probably had a hard time getting traders from their clans to settle in their markets after building them. If he could earn a single Warfire Coin from each of the 10,000 lords, he could recoup his expenditure. Of course, it was not just about prioritizing them, but also because the weapons, equipment, and various goods he produced were more suitable for humans. ¡°Understood, my lord,¡± Doujin nodded. Next, Fang Hao began recruiting traders again. [One hundred times amplification triggered, you have gained Skeleton Trader 38,380.] The room was filled with Skeleton Traders, with even more appearing outside the room. Then, Fang Hao crafted a mass of Black Iron Knight Swords, Black Iron Open-faced Helmets, Hardwood Shields, Light Crossbows, and various tools such as bathtubs, marching tents, iron axes, picks, and hand saws in the warehouse next to the Trade Alliance building. The one hundred times amplification effect allowed a small amount of materials to mass-produce a large number of items. Selling them wasn¡¯t an issue either. Sir, rest assured. I¡¯ll allocate the goods according to the needs of each territory. You can rest easy,¡± Doujin said. Yes, I trust you all. I¡¯m going to build separate houses for you all behind the building. You can rest during your free time.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± The thanks were met with an increase in the loyalty of the Skeleton Traders. After handling everything, Fang Hao returned to the lord¡¯s mansion for a meal. Having been busy all morning, his stomach had been rumbling for a while. He was a little envious of the undead who didn¡¯t need to eat and therefore never felt hungry. Eira prepared a hearty lunch. She brought it out and the three of them began chatting while enjoying the meal. When Anjia began telling Eira about her past adventures, Fang Hao lost his rightful place in the conversation. He reached for the Book of Lords, taking a peek at others¡¯ chats. In the regional chat: ¡°Big news, big news! I built a market a while ago and couldn¡¯t find any traders to come, but today, suddenly, a clan settled in. Guess who it was?¡± ¡°Who cares who it was? If you¡¯re going to say it, then say it. We¡¯re not playing guessing games with you.¡± Exactly. Your endless chatter¡­ Are you not able to get straight to the point?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you two also wasting your time scolding him?¡± ¡°You too.¡± ¡°So are you.¡± ¡°Stop. I¡¯ll show you a screenshot. [Screenshot: Fulfilling the clan influence requirement of 50. Do you accept the arrival of a trade caravan from this region¡¯s (Lord ¨C Fang Hao) into your market?]¡± ¡°[Picture].¡± The first screenshot was of the system notification, while the second was a photo he took using the Book of Lords. In the picture, a Skeleton Trader holding a cane was peddling his goods. ¡°You guys don¡¯t know how shocked I was. I can accept Fang Hao progressing quickly, but the undead? Did Fang Hao renounce his humanity even before transmigration?¡± ¡°How is that even possible? Could he have the same name as someone native to this land?¡± ¡°What nonsense. I have had interactions with natives, their names are similar to western names, a long string of gibberish. The names with two characters, that¡¯s Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Yes, Fang Hao has been collecting Shadowstones, whose description states they are materials for undead-related construction.¡± ¡°That settles it! Fang Hao isn¡¯t human.¡± Looking at everyone¡¯s chat, Fang Hao almost spat out his food. Guessing was one thing, but why did they confidently claim that he wasn¡¯t human, backed by seemingly logical reasoning? To dispel their doubts, Fang Hao turned on the camera function of the Book of Lords. Stretching his left hand across the dining table, he took a photo of both his hand and the food, proving that he was still human and that he needed to eat. After snapping the photo, he sent it to the regional channel. ¡°[Picture] Guys, stop squabbling. I¡¯m still human. I just obtained a special building for the Undead Clan. Now, we can just trade items normally and buy things at the market,¡± Fang Hao explained in the channel. Fang Hao, we didn¡¯t mean that you weren¡¯t human. It was a typo, please don¡¯t mind it.¡± ¡°Yes, we were just joking. Please don¡¯t get angry, Boss.¡± ¡°Wait. Didn¡¯t you all notice? In the bottom left corner of Fang Hao¡¯s photo, there¡¯s a pair of white legs. There¡¯s actually a girl in his territory.¡± ¡°Really? Let me see.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s true. Those legs¡­ so white¡­.¡± Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 150, The Order Delivered to the Chapter 150: Chapter 150, The Order Delivered to the Doorstepl Translator: 549690339 Ding! Just as everyone in the channel area was exclaiming about the presence of a woman in Fang Hao¡¯s territory. The Book of Lords issued a notification for a private conversation. Xu Yang? There was no need for Fang Hao to remember who this name was. As soon as he saw the content of the message, he was able to identify the sender¡¯s identity. ¡°Sorry about this morning, Fang Hao. I didn¡¯t know it was you. It was my lack of foresight.¡± Turns out, the person who chatted with him in the Eye of Heaven Trade Alliance this morning was named Xu Yang. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It was just a casual chat,¡± Fang Hao replied. He hadn¡¯t actually taken the incident that seriously. Plus, Xu Yang took the initiative to apologize, so Fang Hao decided to let it go. ¡°Ah, thanks, Fang Hao.¡± Xu Yang breathed out a sigh of relief. Even if no one knew where his territory was, offending Fang Hao still made him quite anxious. He had been thinking about it all morning, and as soon as he was done dealing with the trolls, he immediately sent a message to Fang Hao to apologize for what happened today. Luckily, Fang Hao was quite forgiving and didn¡¯t seem to hold a grudge over this morning¡¯s incident. Seeing that Fang Hao didn¡¯t continue the conversation, Xu Yang sent another message. ¡°Fang Hao, Have you joined the Eye of Heaven Trade Alliance?¡± ¡°Yes, I just joined. I¡¯m a junior member,¡± Fang Hao replied. At the moment, the entire channel area was discussing Fang Hao¡¯s skeleton merchant. He himself didn¡¯t have much to hide. Moreover, his territory was already somewhat self-sufficient, so releasing some information didn¡¯t pose much of a problem. ¡°Fang Hao, you¡¯re amazing. The chief of the trolls is planning to order some troll equipment. If you¡¯re interested, I can help you get in touch,¡± Xu Yang shared his idea. Fang Hao was taken aback. New customers were always a good thing. ¡°Of course, I do have an idea. But I would have to know what the trolls need. I don¡¯t have many blueprints here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask and see what requirements they have,¡± Xu Yang said. Then, his connection status showed that he was disconnected, likely to go and ask the troll chieftain. Not long after, Xu Yang sent another message. ¡°Fang Hao, the troll chieftain said at least green-level equipment. If you can provide that, they could place an order with your territory,¡± Xu Yang replied. As a junior member, Fang Hao clearly couldn¡¯t go to the trolls¡¯ territory. To order goods from Fang Hao, there was a solution ¨C orders could be placed directly with him, and a transaction could be made between the parties. ¡°[Troll Heavy Armor (green)][Troll Iron Helm (green)][Troll Battle Boots (green)][Axe (green)], see if they need any of these,¡± Fang Hao sent over a series of equipment images. ¡°Great! Fang Hao, wait a moment.¡± Xu Yang relayed these details to the troll chieftain. Soon thereafter, Xu Yang sent back a message, slightly excited. ¡°Got it, Fang Hao. You can check the order when you have time, the trolls need the equipment as soon as possible for a clash with the stone elements outside their territory.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll handle it right away,¡± Fang Hao replied, feeling a bit excited as well. ¡°Okay, boss.¡± After they severed the connection, Fang Hao, who had finished his lunch, made a quick remark to the two women and headed to the market. On the other side, Xu Yang, who had closed the Book of Lords, raised his fists in elation. As a middleman, he facilitated the cooperation between these two parties, showing his worth to the trolls, while also improving his relationship with Fang Hao. Even though it seemed like both parties benefitted from the trade, Xu Yang, as the middleman, was also a winner. This sense of joy wasn¡¯t any less gratifying than acquiring a precious blueprint. Upon arriving at the Trade Alliance building, Doujin was still standing at the counter. The other skeleton merchants had been dispatched to various territories by Doujin to sell goods. ¡°Sir.¡± Doujin greeted as soon as he saw Fang Hao entering. ¡°Yes, Doujin, any new orders? Specifically from the trolls,¡± Fang Hao sat down at the counter. ¡°Yes.¡± Doujin turned around, opened the mailbox behind him, and took out an order. [Specified order] [Requirements: Troll Heavy Armor 1000, Troll Iron Helm 1000, Troll Battle Boots 1000, Axes 3000.] [Trade Alliance Gains: 510,000 Warfire Coins, +10 Troll Influence.] It seemed that the trolls valued the axes quite a lot. The quantity requied for armor was 1000 sets, while for axes, it was a whopping 3000. ¡°Doujin, once I accept this order, how do we deliver the goods? There isn¡¯t any address provided in the order.¡± If there were an address, he could arrange for someone to ride the Bone Dragon to deliver the goods. At that point, he could make a drop shipment to complete the trade. This didn¡¯t even include an address. How could he ship the goods then? ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, sir. The order is the target address. When the time comes, I will arrange for a merchant to use advent to send the goods.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± So it meant that the combination of the order and the advent power of the skeleton merchants functioned as a point-to-point teleportation scroll. It could deliver goods directly to the other party¡¯s territory. It was indeed more convenient than delivery. ¡°Alright, arrange for someone to accompany me to the warehouse then. Once the equipment is produced, it will be delivered to the trolls,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Fang Hao left the Trade Alliance Stone Tower and walked towards the goods warehouse located beside it, a skeleton merchant following him. In front of the goods warehouse, Fang Hao began crafting the items needed by the trolls. [Troll Heavy Armor: Iron Plate 8, Cast Iron Block 3, Thick Leather 5.] [Troll Iron Helm:¡­] Under the influence of a hundredfold enchantment, 1010 sets of troll heavy armor, helmet, and battle boots were produced, along with 3030 axes. He summoned a few skeleton soldiers to organize the equipment. He presented the order to the skeleton merchant who had followed him. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The skeleton merchant took the order and disappeared in a flash of light, along with the prepared equipment. Sitting down on a chair nearby. Xu Yang sent him another private message, ¡°My god, your merchants are skeletons! How amazing is that?¡± It seemed that his skeleton merchant had already arrived at the other party¡¯s territory. ¡°Yeah, how is it? Are the trolls satisfied with the goods?¡± ¡°They are satisfied. They are counting your money now.¡± ¡°Good, if they¡¯re satisfied then that¡¯s all that matters. Oh, by the way, you helped out a lot this time. Is there anything you need? I can send you some weapons or equipment. Take a look, what do you need?¡± This time, the transaction allowed Fang Hao to earn 510,000 Warfire Coins in one go. Xu Yang played an indispensable role in the process. Fang Hao made such a big profit that he naturally couldn¡¯t let Xu Yang¡¯s efforts go unrewarded. Warfire coins couldn¡¯t be exchanged as items in the channel, but he could provide other assistance, such as weapons and equipment. ¡°Ah, that won¡¯t be necessary. I was just helping introduce the parties involved,¡± Xu Yang replied. ¡°What are your troops like? Do they need spears or iron swords?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t have any soldiers in my territory, just a lot of farmers.¡± Xu Yang¡¯s dependency on the trolls didn¡¯t allow him to recruit any combat troops, not even Tier 1 militia. His job was to lead the farmers to mine basic materials for the trolls. His status was equivalent to a slave leader, relying on his own labor to survive. Such unequal dependency was definitely problematic, but there was no better solution for Xu Yang. After all, he had missed the best opportunity for development; all he could now do was maintain the status quo. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you some mining tools. You¡¯ll get them later,¡± Fang Hao said directly. He directly put up [Hand Saw iooo][Iron Pickaxe 1000] on the specified transaction column in the Book of Lords. It was a reward for Xu Yang for making the connection this time. ¡°Thankyou, boss.¡± This time, Xu Yang didn¡¯t refuse, he exchanged a few units of wood and completed the transaction.. Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 151, Fox Girl_l Chapter 151: Chapter 151, Fox Girl_l Translator: 549690339 | End conversation. The skeleton, who had gone to deliver goods to the troll territory, returned once again. Several wooden boxes filled with Warfire Coins were piled at his feet. Under the restrictions of the Trade Alliance rules, even the quick-tempered trolls adhered to the agreement. ¡°Sir, the total transaction amount this time is 510,000 Warfire Coins. The Trade Alliance will deduct 2% tax, leaving 499,800 Warfire Coins,¡± said the skeleton merchant. Damn it! This Trade Alliance, deducted a whopping 10,000 of my Warfire Coins as tax. This is a quicker way to make money than robbery. ¡°Well, good job. Arrange for someone to deliver them to the Lord¡¯s Mansion. My maid, Eira, will tell you where to put them.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The skeleton merchant and his men, carrying the heavy boxes, headed towards the Lord¡¯s Mansion. The structure of the Trade Alliance is much like the e-commerce platforms of the past. It connects all the original producers and facilitates rapid transactions. In this chaotic world, the genius who came up with the idea of establishing such a platform deserves praises. After dealing with the orders and getting a decent understanding of the Trade Alliance¡¯s functions, Fang Hao began looking at the blueprints he had just bought from the Trade Alliance. ¡°Iron Claw Rat Nest Construction Blueprint (Green)¡±, ¡°Black Iron Kite Shield Production Blueprint (Blue)¡±, ¡°High-speed Hardwood Shortbow Production Blueprint (Blue)¡±, ¡°Black Iron Battle Axe Production Blueprint (Green)¡±, and ¡°Apprentice Mage Robe Production Blueprint (Green) . These blueprints were chosen by Fang Hao from a myriad of items, based on their potential usefulness and his capability to gather the needed materials. As for the other blueprints and items, he can buy them whenever needed. ¡°Iron Claw Rat Nest Construction Blueprint (Green): Wood 100, Hay 1100, Trace of the Forest 3.¡± Selected the construction in the empty space. A green light appeared, and a building resembling an animal den appeared before his eyes. ¡°Ironclaw Rat Nest¡± ¡°Type: Special Building¡± ¡°Available Recruitment: Iron Claw Rat¡± ¡°Iron Claw Rat: Mist-Cloaked Crystal 1¡± (Description: Ironclaw Rats can be recruited from this building. Their sharp front claws can break through soil and rocks.) Wow! A new recruitment material has appeared. I bought this blueprint because I had enough materials for construction, but didn¡¯t expect a new material to appear for recruitment. It¡¯s called the Mist-Cloaked Crystal. I can¡¯t recruit for now, but through the introduction, I can learn about some of the abilities of the Ironclaw Rat. It should be similar to a pangolin, capable of using its front claws to break the ground. Digging tunnel or mountain, it should come in handy. After viewing the building blueprints, Fang Hao proceeded to the equipment blueprint column. ¡°Black Iron Kite Shield Production Blueprint (Blue): Cast Iron Block 40, Iron 5, Metal Parts 2, Thick Leather 5.¡± ¡°High-speed Hardwood Shortbow Production Blueprint (Blue): Hardwood 5, Metal Parts 3, Thick Leather 2.¡± ¡°Black Iron Battle Axe Production Blueprint (Green): Hardwood 3, Cast Iron Block 5, Metal Parts 3, Leather 5.¡± ¡°Apprentice Mage Robe Production Blueprint (Green): Cotton Cloth 4, Spun Yarn 5.¡± These are the four blueprints that Fang Hao can use and currently needs. The High-speed Hardwood Shortbow even happens to be a blue quality blueprint, suitable for equipping the newly recruited skeleton archers. According to the quantity of troops, he began to manufacture each equipment. A dense array of equipment was produced, filling up every inch of the surrounding open space. After production, Blood Hunter was called over to arrange for the soldiers guarding the territories to replace their equipment in batches. All the equipment that was taken off, which had reduced durability, would be repaired by the blacksmith. The skeleton merchant would then take them to the territories for sale. Fortunately, many buildings at the village level had opened markets. Whether it was the gear that was taken off or newly produced items, there was no worry about offloading sales. Earning a substantial amount of Warfire Coins is only a matter of time. Next morning. Fang Hao just woke up from his bed. As he sat up, he noticed that the sound-transmitting shell on his bedside table had received a new message. This was not the shell he had left with the Bronze Bull, but the one the slave trader had given him when he bought slaves last time. The point was that when there were slaves available, Fang Hao could be contacted immediately. Picking the shell up and placing it to his ear, he heard the voice of the orc slave trader. ¡°Human friend, I have a new shipment of goods and will be staying at Mamm Market for two days. If you are interested, you can come and take a look. As an old friend, I can guarantee you a discount,¡± said the Orc. His oily tone still made one feel uncomfortable all over. These slave traders were truly hardworking. The fight with the Skullcrusher Tribe had just ended, and they were already rushing to do business at Mamm Market. Fang Hao didn¡¯t have anything lined up for today, so he could go to Manim Market. Also, he could ask Bronze Bull about the intel on the Skullcrushers. Walking out of the room and finishing breakfast, he brought Anjia with him, hopped on the Bone Dragon, and flew directly to Fireblade¡¯s affiliated city. From there, he rode a horse to Manim Market. The only reason for taking this inconvenient route was because Mamm Market was still open to the various orc tribes. Fang Hao was counting on the market to make some money for him, so naturally, he had to consider the impact of the undead on the market. When they arrived at Manim on horseback, the bull-headed guards looked at him in awe. ¡°Sir¡­ Sir¡­¡± The bull-headed guard came forward to take the reins of his horse. ¡°Good morning. Is Tellock there?¡± Fang Hao dismounted and asked. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Let him know that I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± As the bull-headed guard went to deliver the message, Fang Hao, with Anjia by his side, went directly to the spot where the slave trader was parked. From afar, the Orc slave trader, who was dressed in expensive clothing and jewels, spotted Fang Hao. After a slight pause, a smile appeared on his face. ¡°Human friend, you have come just in time. Somebody just showed interest in these slaves. Had you come a little later, you would have missed this opportunity,¡± the Orc slave trader said, rubbing his hands together as if he had already sold everything. Fang Hao did not believe the slave trader¡¯s words at all. If you regard the Orc in front of you as a simple-minded creature only capable of shouting and killing, you are bound to be taken advantage of. He won¡¯t hesitate to cheat you to death and take all your money. ¡°Alright, whether I want to buy or not, let¡¯s take a look at the merchandise first,¡± Fang Hao cut him off. ¡°True, true. Let¡¯s look at the goods first,¡± the Orc immediately responded. Entering the stinking warehouse once again, the greasy rags on the iron cages got removed. This revealed the slaves held within the cages. When the slaves appeared, Fang Hao was slightly taken aback. The slaves brought by the trader this time were not the usual rabbitmen, but a new species. ¡°Human friend, I figure you must be bored with rabbitmen by now, so this time I brought you something different,¡± the slave trader explained, observing Fang Hao¡¯s reaction. He was worried that this human might not like what he saw. If Fang Hao declined, his trip would have been in vain. Through the greasy railings of the cage, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on the weeping figure coiled up in the corner. She was noticeably different from the rabbitmen. She had a pair of ears akin to those of a canine, a fluffy, brown tail curled up in her lap. The moment the oily cloth covering was torn down, she looked horrified as she stared at Fang Hao. ¡°This is not a rabbitman, right?¡± Fang Hao pointed at the girl in the corner. The girl cringed again, obviously frightened. -Ah, you are indeed smart, my friend. This is a member of the Foxmen Tribe. I met an Orc army on the way who had just dealt with a Foxmen Village. I thought you might need her, so I bought her at a high price..¡± Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter 152, New Slave Joins _1 Chapter 152: Chapter 152, New Slave Joins _1 Translator: 549690339 Hearing the slave trader¡¯s words, Fang Hao was at a loss for words. Damn, he can really talk up his product. I¡¯m not blind. Can¡¯t I see the characteristics of these two races? ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that all the slaves have been trained? These have just been captured. Won¡¯t there be any issues?¡± Fang Hao looked at the slave trader. The rabbitmen he had purchased last time had a blank expression, clearly accepting their status as slaves. However, these fox ladies in front of him were crying and frightened, clearly just captured. If he bought them, and they acted out, it would be too much for him. ¡°No, my friend,¡± the slave trader walked to the iron cage and struck the bars with an iron rod in his hand. ¡°Shut up. Anyone who dares to cry will be fed to the dogs.¡± The roar and the clinking sound of the iron rod made the fox ladies shudder, biting back tears. ¡°As you can see, although the fox people are a group of weak orcs, they are still quite intelligent. They know if they should choose to stay with you, or be eliminated. The slave contracts are complete, there won¡¯t be any issues.¡± The orc slave trader professed with conviction. He had captured these fox ladies just to sell them to Fang Hao, just like he had done with the rabbit people. With just a few of them, it was not worth it for the slave trader to transport them to human cities for sale. If Fang Hao didn¡¯t purchase them, they would be at a loss, and the fate of these fox ladies would not be good. ¡°What¡¯s the price of fox people?¡± Fang Hao hesitated. ¡°Look, we are old friends. I cannot give you a high price. The price is the same as the rabbit people. 10 Warfire Coins each.¡± The slave trader said. He had sold 40 rabbit people to Fang Hao earlier. After bargaining, they were sold at 10 Warfire Coins each. After returning, the slave trader had recalculated the price several times. He found that it was more profitable to sell it to Fang Hao than transporting it to a human city to sell. So, while selling other slave orcs, he had also brought along the freshly-captured fox ladies and directly contacted Fang Hao. ¡°Okay, get the contracts. I¡¯ll take all of them,¡± Fang Hao said directly. The slave trader was immediately overjoyed, ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯ll fetch them right away.¡± He went to the side room, fetched a few slave contracts, and handed them to Fang Hao. From now on, the fox ladies before him had a new master. A human who came with a female orc hero. ¡°Okay, everyone come out and follow your master. You can enjoy a full meal,¡± the slave suggested, continuously clanging the cage to urge the unwilling slaves to come out. The five brown-tailed fox ladies just stood there blankly, with their heads down, unable to raise their gaze to Fang Hao. ¡°Okay, stop crying, follow me. I¡¯ll give you food first,¡± Fang Hao said to all of the slaves. After speaking, he led the fox people out of the warehouse. He headed towards the direction of the Clan Leader¡¯s hall. When he arrived at the Clan Leader¡¯s hall, the Minotaur guards respectfully greeted him. ¡°Sir, the Clan Leader is waiting for you inside.¡± ¡°Alright, get them some food first,¡± Fang Hao looked at the five slaves following him. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± The Minotaur guard immediately followed Fang Hao¡¯s instructions. He entered the hall. Bronze Bull Talok was polishing his battle axe. Seeing Fang Hao and Anjia come in, he immediately put down his weapon and bowed, ¡°Lord.¡± Bronze Bull is a purple hero. Among the heroes, he is considered to be a high-ranking battle hero. But in Fang Hao¡¯s hands, he is but a small part of his forces. Having him would allow for an additional commanding hero, but not having him wouldn¡¯t affect the situation at all. ¡°Alright, has there been any news from Skullcrusher?¡± Fang Hao asked, sitting down on a seat at his side. Bronze Bull did not sit back on his seat as the Clan Leader, but instead sat on a chair at the side. He said seriously, ¡°Sir, I have already arranged for people to explore the Frostwind Mountains for information, but they might not have arrived yet.¡± Today was the second day after the battle with the Skullcrusher Tribe. The people he had arranged were still on the road, they hadn¡¯t reached Frostwind Mountains, let alone gathered any information. ¡°That¡¯s right. By the way, the Merit Training Ground has been built in the territory. If your clansmen need to advance their hero level, they can go to the main territory.¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Bronze Bull¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed as he immediately said, ¡°That¡¯s great. Establishing the Merit Training Ground can motivate my clansmen to improve and increase the number of heroes in the territory.¡± The presence of a Merit Training Ground can greatly influence a faction. Having a Merit Training Ground will attract Tenth Order soldiers from neighbouring cities to become heroes. Those aspiring to become heroes also require the Merit Training Ground for their upgrades. Therefore, the existence of a Merit Training Ground not only cultivates more heroes but also attracts other talents to join. ¡°Well, as for advanced materials, you and your clansmen need not worry. I¡¯ll prepare them for you,¡± said Fang Hao casually. There aren¡¯t many heroes who can be promoted within the territory. Nelson, Anjia, Bronze Bull. And the materials needed for the trial can be purchased from the Trade Alliance. The cost is bearable, so there¡¯s no need to fuss over it with the heroes. Letting them prepare on their own would only hamper their growth. ¡°Thank you master, the Minotaur clan is immensely grateful to you.¡± Bronze Bull stood up and paid his respects again. At the same time, Fang Hao also received a system prompt. [Bronze Bull ¨C Tellock, has increased his loyalty towards you by 20 points, current loyalty is at 85.] Bronze Bull¡¯s loyalty has finally improved. If it were to improve, it improved by a straight 20 points, reaching 85 points. This loyalty is already quite high, and he will be more obedient to Fang Hao¡¯s commands. ¡°Alright, 1 won¡¯t bother you anymore. If there is anything, get in touch using the Sound-transmitting Shell. I¡¯m going back first,¡± Fang Hao stood up. ¡°Alright, master.¡± Before leaving Manim Market, Fang Hao went to the tavern. In addition to getting some condiments, he also got a single map. [Map: Cave Camp] [Category: Single Map] (Description: A map drawn by a travelling merchant, recording the path and terrain of the Cave Camp.) Manim Market just opened, and this is the only blueprint in the store. Last time, the unknown cave blueprint that was obtained from the tavern, because it was on the west side of Manim Market, Fang Hao had Bronze Bull send someone to scout it first. After confirming the message, he could explore it. When Fang Hao left Manim with the purchased slaves, Bronze Bull arranged a minotaur guard for protection. Primarily to ensure that Fang Hao was safe and won¡¯t face any danger here. He returned to the territory without any obstruction. The scene that had been performed several times repeated itself again. When the slaves saw the dense Undead Army, except for two who fainted, the remaining three hugged each other and wept bitterly. Having seen this repeatedly, Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother to explain or comfort them anymore. He left them crying there. When the team entered the city, Eira, along with a group of maids, came out to greet them. On seeing a few fainted fox people on the cart, everyone looked somewhat peculiar. But thinking about their own experiences, they understood why this happened. ¡°Eira, explain the rules in our territory to them and tell them about the work they¡¯ll do in the future. They can rest today and begin work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood, master.¡± Replied Eira softly. They had to specially instruct the new Fox people about the territory and tell them where they can and can¡¯t go. Especially the undead region, a single misplaced step could turn them into skeletons. Fang Hao left everything to Eira and started making stone slabs at the warehouse location. [Stone Slab: Stone Material 3.] The stone slab was a reward obtained from fighting the Stone Element previously. It had been busy previously, so the construction of the stone slab was pushed till now. The function of the stone slabs is simple, they serve as the paving stones for outdoor roads. Currently, the ground inside the territory is all made of compacted earth. It wasn¡¯t that Fang Hao arranged manpower to deliberately fix it, but rather it was packed down by hundreds of thousands of skeletons every day. That was why the ground was ripe for paving with stone slabs. Now, some tasks can be undertaken by the bought slaves, so the paving of stones can proceed normally. The production quantity is set to 100. [Hundred-fold amplification triggered, Ston Slabs obtained: 10100..] Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Chapter 153, Desolate Battlefield_l Chapter 153: Chapter 153, Desolate Battlefield_l Translator: 549690339 After lunch, Eira continued showing the newly added slaves around the territory. Fang Hao was contemplating his afternoon plans when he was alerted to a private message in the Book of Lords. It was from Dong Jiayue. It had been a while since he heard from her; after she was injured and received a curative potion from him. ¡°Brother Hao, I have finished exploring the ancient tomb. I¡¯ve obtained some Shadowstones and set them aside for you.¡± Dong Jiayue said. Fang Hao opened up the designated trade page and saw the traded Shadowstones. There were quite a few, 49 in total. Fang Hao put up several weapons, and they concluded their trade. ¡°What¡¯s in the ancient tomb? Any exceptional bodies?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, there was a body in a bronze coffin. Don¡¯t worry, Brother Hao, I had it completely burned, there¡¯s no danger.¡± Dong Jiayue reassured him with a serious tone. She thought Fang Hao was concerned for her safety, worried that the corpse in the tomb might turn into an undead and attack her. ¡°Ah, it was burned? Was anything left? Even bones would be fine.¡± ¡°Well, no. Brother Hao, just tell me what you need next time, I¡¯ll keep an eye out for it.¡± Dong Jiayue caught on to his hint. Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°I have a building here for the undead, the remains of the strong can be useful.¡± ¡°Oh! I didn¡¯t know that. Would ashes work? I can have someone collect the remaining ashes now, would that be useful?¡± Dong Jiayue continued. She was grateful for Fang Hao¡¯s help, and since he had saved her life with a treatment potion, she thought of him as her lifesaver and wished she could repay him in some way. ¡°No need for that, just save any powerful creatures¡¯ bodies safely for me next time.¡± Fang Hao advised once again. ¡°Oh yes, Brother Hao, I have a map here called the Desolate Battlefield which I can¡¯t explore, so I¡¯ll give it to you too.¡± Dong Jiayue remembered a newly acquired map. After opening the trade page again, he saw the map Dong Jiayue had placed up for trade. They carried out the trade, and the map appeared in Fang Hao¡¯s possession. [Map: Desolate Battlefield] [Type: Single-page Map] (Description: The once thriving city has become a burial ground. Five hundred thousand commoners and over tens of thousands of soldiers have died. The land was stained red with blood, bodies scattered throughout the mountains and fields.) Gathering from the description, it was likely a dangerous place on the map. Dong Jiayue had just recently managed the ancient tomb near her territory. If she led her troops to conquer the Desolate Battlefield, it would likely be a monumental task. She might suffer injuries, or her troops might suffer heavy casualties, leaving her with a skeleton crew. Therefore, she didn¡¯t want to take any risks now or in the future. It would be better to give the map to Fang Hao, who was ranked first in the region. Perhaps he might figure out a way to conquer it. Fang Hao stored away the map. The location on it was to the northwest of his territory, quite a considerable distance away. Looking at the description of the Desolate Battlefield stirred some interest within Fang Hao. According to the description, this used to be a battlefield where hundreds of thousands of people perished. The entire landscape, engulfed in death, had become a wilderness. If this location hadn¡¯t been desecrated, there was certainly an abundance of ¡®Shadowstones¡¯. Thereby resolving the shortage of Shadowstones and the inability to upgrade and construct undead buildings. He would certainly explore it, but not right now. It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid of the danger of the Desolate Battlefield, but that the location shown on the map was far away. Leading an undead army there would not be easy. Once the undead army was mobilized, they would likely be attacked by other creatures along the way. It would be a hassle. Fang Hao¡¯s strategy was stability. His advantage was clear, as long as he developed steadily and became the top power in this region, surpassing the other native powers was only a matter of time. ¡°Okay, thank you. I will consider exploring it when I am able.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Okay, Brother Hao, if I find any good items in the future, I will keep them for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Since Dong Jiayue was limited in the number of times they could talk, after a couple of pleasantries, they disconnected the call. Fang Hao thought for a moment and sent another message to Zhang Bin. He directly shared the location of the Desolate Battlefield with Zhang Bin. ¡°Zhang Bin, arrange for people to explore this area. Just map out the route that¡¯s necessary.¡± Fang Hao sent the message. Zhang Bin was now one of Fang Hao¡¯s City Lords, or one could say, the mayor of a dependent city. The city he was currently managing was Li Teng¡¯s former city. It was located to the west of Fang Hao¡¯s main city and relatively closer to the Desolate Battlefield. ¡°Received, I will arrange for it immediately.¡± Shortly after came Zhang Bin¡¯s second message, ¡°Boss, can you send some horses? The attached village¡¯s wheat transportation is too inefficient with manual labor.¡± Zhang Bin¡¯s current city was far superior to his previous one. Without worrying about food and clothing, all he had to do was coordinate the farmers, deploy troops to protect the city and villages¡¯ safety. Of course, Zhang Bin was smart enough to know that everything wasn¡¯t his, but Fang Hao¡¯s. When Fang Hao asked him to be the mayor, he became the mayor. Without Fang Hao, he couldn¡¯t even do a farmer¡¯s job well. Therefore, he didn¡¯t slack off in his duties. He was afraid of making mistakes, which might affect his current position. ¡°Okay, I will arrange for someone to deliver them to you later. Also, keep an eye out for silkworms while surveying nearby villages.¡± Fang Hao instructed. At the same time, in the Book of Lords, he unlocked the authority for Zhang Bin to construct a [Stable], ¡°Understood, Boss.¡± After finishing the conversation with Zhang Bin. Fang Hao turned to a maid and said, ¡°Call the Blood Hunter.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, Master.¡± The bunny maid hopped away to summon the Blood Hunter. Shortly after, there was a ripple in the air outside the door. The Blood Hunter landed in front of the Lord¡¯s Mansion, flapping his huge bat wings. He entered, bowed, and asked, ¡°Master, what are your orders?¡± ¡°Zhang Bin¡¯s territory needs some horses. Transport to of them over to him.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± There weren¡¯t many horses in the territory, the majority were breeded in the Pigmen Village. In the beginning, he would transfer 10 of them, and then bring over more from the Pigmen Village later. The Blood Hunter left the mansion and headed towards the stables. He commanded the skeleton soldiers to secure the horses to his back. Despite the horses in the territory not fearing the undead, this still caused much chaos. Eventually, 10 horses were securely tied to the dragon¡¯s back. Amidst the terrified neighing of the horses, they ascended the sky and flew towards the city where Zhang Bin was. Just as Fang Hao was exiting the mansion, he looked up to see the bone dragon flying overhead and heard the neighs of the horses. His eyes widened. Damn, there aren¡¯t many horses in the territory, don¡¯t kill them off. After the Blood Hunter left. The skeleton merchant, Doujin, came knocking again, ¡°Lord, here are two orders. Would you like to take a look and see if you want to fulfill them?¡± [Order: Beautiful Corpse Coffins x 100] [Order] [Requirement: Beautiful Corpse Coffins x 100] [Trade Possibility: 10,000 Warfire Coins, Blood Clan Influence +10] Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Chapter 154, Skullcrushers Shock 1 Chapter 154: Chapter 154, Skullcrusher¡¯s Shock 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª Even without the Blood Clan¡¯s insignia, Fang Hao had guessed that this was related to the Blood Clan. The Undead, it seems, demand coffins either in stone or in bronze, covered in complex incantations, designed to better preserve their mortal bodies. The kind of grave that focuses on comfort and luxury is only demanded by the Blood Clan, who have a luxurious need for life. From this, one can perceive the fundamental difference between the Undead and the Blood Clan. The Blood Clan has a long life, but still remains engrossed in worldly pleasures. However, the everlasting Undead seem to transcend all boundaries. After achieving immortality, they lose all worldly desires. Whether or not to do something completely depends on its value, not on the pleasure it would provide. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and started examining the production category. As expected, he found blueprints for the Beautiful Corpse Coffin ¨C he had remembered having it. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to your place.¡± Having stated this, he headed towards the Trade Alliance building, followed by Doujin. Upon receiving the order, Fang Hao began his crafting process in the warehouse. ¡°Beautiful Corpse Coffin: hardwood planks 12, leather 6, cotton 5, fine cloth 6.¡± Fine cloth is produced during tailoring, albeit at a low rate. During these times, the work of 101 tailors has accumulated a significant amount of fine cloth in the stockroom, just enough to meet today¡¯s production requirement. Production count: 1. Hundred-fold amplification triggered, received 101 Beautiful Corpse Coffins.¡± One by one, the glossy black coffins appeared in the warehouse, scattered randomly throughout. He handed the order to a Skeleton Merchant, who vanished along with all too coffins, embarking on a journey to the Blood Clan¡¯s base. Just as the Skeleton Merchant, who had been dispatched to the Blood Clan, left, a message from the Book of Lords popped up. It was a private message from Zhang Bin, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s no need to rush. Can we not use the Bone Dragon for carriage next time? The horses are now on the ground, completely spent, vomiting and panting heavily [image].¡± Accompanying the message were multiple pictures. All ten horses were seen kneeling on the ground, the area beneath them a total mess. A few farmers were trying to comfort the horses but judging by the conditions, it would take quite a while before they could get back to work. Fang Hao hadn¡¯t expected this kind of reaction from the horses. He was uncertain whether the Bone Dragon had spooked them, or if they had not taken well to their first flight. Either way, unless time was of the essence, he figured he should not use Bone Dragons for horse transportation in the future. Alright, let the horses rest for the day and assess their conditions before putting them back to work.¡± Left with no other choice, Fang Hao decided to give the horses a day off. ¡°Okay.¡± After exchanging a few words, the Skeleton Merchant who had gone on the delivery expedited his return. Armed with 9800 Warfire Coins and increased reputation with the Blood Clan. ¡°Sir, the Blood Clan was very satisfied with the quality of this batch of goods. They will place specific orders directly with us in the future, and we need to ensure the quality of goods,¡± the Skeleton Merchant informed. ¡°That¡¯s good, there won¡¯t be any issue with the quality.¡± With the system overseeing production, there were simply no issues with quality. There were no defects, no best products, all goods are made to a uniform standard. If they¡¯re satisfied now, they will naturally be satisfied in the future. ¡°Alright, sir.¡± Having completed the order, Fang Hao returned home, pockets heavier by 9800 Warfire Coins. Meanwhile, at the Skullcrusher Tribe=¡¯¡±¡¯> Seated on his throne reigning over his tribe with a powerful and heavy breath, Skullcrusher Shah emitted an aura akin to a roaring wind box. Below him, a group of orc leaders waited, their heads lowered, hearts filled with anticipation. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that all 300,000 troops under Chief Amiri are dead¡¯ Not a single one managed to escape?¡± Shah asked grimly, chilling the atmosphere in the hall further. It had been days since the 300,000 orc army had set out to fight the Undead. Without any news of victory, they dispatched scouts to investigate. The news that came back today was that they had found the battlefield, but not a single orc warrior had survived the massive battle. They wondered what kind of force could annihilate their courageous 300,000 orc army without leaving a single survivor to tell the tale. ¡°Great Chief, we found traces of the battle. The ground is soaked with blood, but strangely, we could not find any bodies or even limbs of our fallen orc warriors,¡± reported the scout, swallowing hard. The scene had been difficult to put into words. The earth was awash with blood, flowing through the crevices in the rocks, staining both the ground and rocks a crimson red. They couldn¡¯t find any remnants of the orc¡¯s encampment other than the traces of blood, neither tents nor bodies were left. Only the dark red ground and scraps of flesh mixed into the dirt bore witness to the battlefield that had been. ¡°How is the City of Undead? What has happened?¡± Skullcrusher Shah asked further. ¡°To the west of the battlefield, we saw a city controlled by the Undead, housing a large undead army. It seems like they formed the first defensive line in response to our protocol,¡± the scout swallowed again. ¡°Great Chief, we specifically went to visit the Bronze Bull. His market is still operational. It seems that he did not participate in the fight.¡± Boom!!! Hearing this, Shah slammed his fist down, breaking the stone table in front of him in half. He roared, ¡°Tellock, how dare he.¡± ¡°Great Chieftain, we should not delay. Let the priest resurrect Amiri to find out exactly what happened,¡± advised an orc. Indeed, this was not a time for anger. With an entire army of 300,000 wiped out, they were not facing an ordinary opponent. They needed to gather information quickly to respond. Shah sat back down, chest pulsing violently. He ordered, ¡°Bring the Priest here.¡± ¡°Yes, Great Chieftain.¡± Soon, an orc Priest, dressed in a long robe, arrived. He leaned on a root staff, bowed slightly-a form of salutation. ¡°Great Chieftain, you summoned me?¡± ¡°Priest, Amiri has fallen in battle. You are needed at the altar to resurrect him,¡± Shah replied, his tone noticeably softer with the clergyman. ¡°Amin is dead? How did he die?¡± the priest asked, taken aback by the news. Amiri, leading an army of 300,000 orcs, could obliterate not just the Wind Mountain Ranges, but any area he set his foot on. Yet within days of his departure, news of his fallen status had returned, barely believable. ¡°We are curious too. We can only wait for Amiri to resurrect and reveal the truth,¡± said Shah helplessly. The loss of a 300,000-strong army is a significant blow for the Wind Mountain Ranges no matter what. It¡¯s hard enough to gather an army of this magnitude, but the defeat would inevitably weaken his standing. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s proceed to the altar,¡± the Priest declared, leading the way. Everyone followed him to the altar, where the orc Priest began the ritual. However, as time passed, sweat trickled down the orc Priest¡¯s forehead, his expression becoming more and more strange. After a long while, the orc Priest returned to Shah and reported, ¡°Great Chieftain, Amiri is in the same situation as Kent. His soul is bound and unable to be resurrected through the altar.¡± Shah¡¯s expression darkened even further. This meant that Amiri¡¯s death had a direct connection with the undead. ¡°Wake his soul. I need to ask him some questions,¡± ordered Shah. ¡°Understood.¡± The Priest returned to the altar, and an image of Amiri gradually appeared on it. ¡°Amiri, how did you die?¡± ¡°Great Chieftain, the undead had too many troops, including high-ranking units like bone dragons and skeleton trolls. The orc army had no power to resist,¡± Amiri¡¯s soul showed a painful expression. The crowd started talking immediately upon hearing his words. Bone dragons¡­. They had only heard of this type of undead units in legends, and to have them here was shocking. Shah was also surprised but quickly recovered. ¡°Amiri, do you have any other intelligence?¡± ¡°The strength of the undead army is too great, and the orc tribes that had promised to be our vassals were also conquered. If we continue this fight, Great Chieftain, the odds are against us,¡± He said, his form starting to blur and ¡¯ eventually faded away. The whole room fell into silence, with everyone¡¯s eyes falling on Shah. Once the war began, it won¡¯t end easily. Even if Shah wanted to back down, would the advantageous undead agree? Shah took a deep breath and descended the altar in large strides. ¡°Assign scouts, I need more, detailed information.¡± Within the territory. Fang Hao stood in front of the Lord Stone Tower, preparing to upgrade the building. The materials for upgrading the Lord Hall to level six were ample; all that was left was to upgrade it. Upgrade. In an instant, the Lord Stone Tower was enveloped in light, which died down after a moment. [Level 6 Lord Stone Tower] [Belonging to the Lord: Fang Hao] [Ability: Production/Collection +3%, Troops Movement +3%, All Attributes +2%.] [Existing Buildings: Level 5 Underground Cemetery¡­., Level 5 Stable.] (Note: Core building of the territory.) [Materials required for upgrade: Hard Resilient wood 5200, Stone Bricks 7000, Iron 700, Metal Parts 520.] After upgrading the Lord¡¯s Hall to level six, two additional bedrooms were added, and the original rooms also expanded in size. From the outside, it now resembled a small castle.. Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Chapter 155, Unknown Camp_l Chapter 155: Chapter 155, Unknown Camp_l Translator: 549690339 Expanding the Stone Tower was just one part of it. What Fang Hao was even more interested in was the attribute enhancement of the Stone Tower at Lord Level 6. Compared to Level 5, all attributes increased by 1%. After upgrading the Stone Tower, Fang Hao continued to upgrade other buildings such as the [Warehouse][Wall][Arrow Tower]- all buildings that could be upgraded without the use of Shadowstones, raising them all to Level 6. He was trying his best to enhance the overall strength of his domain. With all the buildings upgraded. He had dinner, drank a couple of warm fruit wines under the moonlight, returned to his room and had a good night¡¯s rest. Early next morning. He woke up to bright sunshine. After his daily morning workout, he began to continue today¡¯s work. ¡°Good morning, my lord.¡± Eira came up to him. ¡°Morning, why didn¡¯t you sleep a bit more?¡± Fang Hao greeted Eira in passing. Eira was always up early. Even if breakfast wasn¡¯t served so early, she still maintained the habit of rising early. This presented a stark contrast to the lazy Anjia. ¡°My lord, I¡¯ve just assigned work to the newly joined fox ladies. One of them is in charge of handling the lord¡¯s cellar, and the rest are all responsible for the sanitation within the domain.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, a fox lady came out from the stairway to the cellar in the Lord¡¯s Hall. She was already dressed in a maid¡¯s outfit and carrying a piece of cloth. Both her ears and tail were snow white. She was a white fox. When she was bought, all the other foxes were filthy, so he didn¡¯t even notice this white fox. Seeing Fang Hao and Eira chatting, the fox lady stuttered, trying to retreat, but it seemed a bit conspicuous. She had no choice but to keep her head down and walked over with some apprehension. ¡°My Lord, Sister Eira.¡± She greeted the two of them proactively. ¡°Well, good morning. Work hard, but don¡¯t forget to eat breakfast.¡± Fang Hao said. The other maids didn¡¯t dine with Fang Hao and the others. They had specific meal times. If they missed it, they would have to wait until noon to have lunch. ¡°Oh, thank you, my lord. Then I¡¯ll go ahead with my work.¡± Then she walked away with her tail swinging, head down. Watching the retreating fox lady, Fang Hao helplessly looked towards Eira. Did he really scare others that much? ¡°My Lord, we have a new order.¡± Doujin just came over. Joining the Trade Alliance was indeed good. There were new orders every day, automatically making money. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see what new order we have this time.¡± Fang Hao said. Doujin passed over the order. [Order] [Demand: Silver Lined Silk Alchemy Robes 10 pieces.] [Gain: Warfire Coins 10000, Enlightening Potion 1, Alchemy Guild Influence +10.] Goodness! Aside from the Warfire Coins, they also paid with an Enlightening Potion. Although he couldn¡¯t see the properties of ¡®Enlightening Potion¡¯ based on the order alone. He could guess a bit based on its name alone. After all, the reason he could learn magic now was that he drank a potion called ¡®Enlightening Magic Power Potion¡¯. The problem was, he didn¡¯t have the blueprint for the Silver-Lined Silk Alchemy Robe. ¡°Doujin, we don¡¯t have the blueprint for this order. Does the Trade Alliance Shop sell it?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°My lord, I specifically checked before coming over and none were on sale. If needed, we could issue an order and we might acquire the blueprint by chance.¡± Doujin proposed. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can go back first. Let me know if there are new orders.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Doujin left. After a busy morning, Eira had also prepared breakfast. After breakfast. A group of pigmen arrived at the dominion with various tools. ¡°My Lord.¡± The pigmen saluted. The team was not led by Bolton, but another middle-aged pigman. ¡°Well, Petty should have told you the purpose of calling you here. You guys don¡¯t need to work, just direct the skeletons to pave the stones according to the map.¡± Fang Hao said to all the pigmen. Yesterday, Fang Hao had made a large number of paving stones. In addition to those inside the dominion, he also intended to connect the two affiliated cities and one affiliated village. The pigmen didn¡¯t need to work, they just needed to direct the road construction. If the skeletons were left to lay the stones, who knew where they would lead the road to. ¡°Rest assured, my Lord, we guarantee to fulfil the task.¡± The pigmen assured loudly. Connecting roads was not a difficult task, and besides, they didn¡¯t need to do the work. It¡¯s much more relaxed than staying in the Pigmen Village. ¡°Good, I have a map here. You all check it and then you can start working.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Next, the pigmen began to get busy with the skeleton laborers, starting to pave the territory¡¯s ground. After assigning work to the pigmen. Fang Hao began to gather his troops. According to the plan, he was going to explore the newly acquired map [Cave Camp] today. After being integrated with the map of the Book of Lords, the map¡¯s location also appears in the large map. The location this time is to the south and slightly east of the territory. Further south of Shadowwind Castle. After making sure that fifty thousand troops were waiting outside the territory, Fang Hao returned to his room and directly cast God¡¯s Presence. The large troop force left the territory in a mighty manner, heading towards the direction of the target point. Fang Hao controlled the Skeleton Warrior, laying on a cart, with his black iron knight¡¯s sword and black iron kite shield next to him. The soldiers¡¯ overall equipment had been upgraded, and the outdated ones were sold through various channels. Along the way, the army advanced halfway. Stomp, stomp, stomp!! Just when Fang Hao was bored, fiddling with the dirt in the shield¡¯s crevice with his skeletal finger, the sound of dense horseshoes came from the front. They weren¡¯t attacked by the skeleton army, proving that they were the cavalry scouts sent out. ¡°Fang Hao, we caught a spy ahead, who looks like a lookout.¡± Anjia¡¯s voice rang out from the front. Anjia rode a strong horse, with a man bound tight on the horse¡¯s back. His face was full of bruises, and his left eye was so swollen that only a slit remained. ¡°My lord, my lord, I am not a spy, I am not a spy,¡± the man defended loudly. The man was thrown in front of Fang Hao. Looking at the undead in front of him, whose pupils burned with Soul Fire, the man trembled slightly. But it must be said, he still had some courage and didn¡¯t show any other strange behavior. [Human warrior (Tier 4)] ¡°So who are you?¡± Fang Hao looked at the man in front of him and asked. This was already deep in the forest, without even a proper road. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t appear here, especially alone. ¡°I¡¯m a merchant from a nearby city, waiting for my caravan nearby. My lord, if you would let me go, I am willing to reward you accordingly.¡± The man indeed had some courage, facing Fang Hao and the thousands of undead around him and the Bone Dragon, he managed to calm down quickly. He answered the question while trying to negotiate his release. ¡°What kind of merchant, what do you primarily sell?¡± The man quickly answered after hesitating a bit, ¡°Cloth.¡± ¡°Where are you going to transport the goods with your caravan?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. The man looked at the troop and seeing that the undead army was coming from the north, he immediately answered: ¡°To the east, my lord, there are many Orc Tribes there. They can¡¯t make cloth, and we transport it there to make a profit.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Fang Hao said something and then asked, ¡°There is a camp ahead, is it from your convoys?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The man answered reflexively, then quickly changed his words,¡± No, I don¡¯t know about any camps.¡± Fang Hao carefully looked him up and down and said, ¡°Alright, how much are you willing to pay for your life?¡± ¡°My lord, I will give you all the money I have, at least too gold coins.¡± The man said. ¡°Untie his rope.¡± A skeleton pulled out the iron sword from its waist and cut all the hemp ropes binding the man. As soon as the ropes were loosened, the man took out all the money from his body voluntarily. The gold coins he was mentioning were not Warfire Coins, but a type of common currency made by humans. It was stamped with a king wearing a crown. The exchange ratio between human currency and Warfire Coins is roughly 3 to 1. The workmanship of human currency is better than Beasthead Gold of the Orcs, and its value is also higher. ¡°My¡­my lord, that¡¯s all I have.¡± The man nervously stole glances around. Fang Hao nodded his head, accepting all the gold coins he had given, ¡°Okay, you may leave.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord.¡± The man staggered to his feet and darted straight into the forest. As the man¡¯s figure disappeared, Anjia looked at Fang Hao with a puzzled face. ¡°He is not a merchant. His hands are full of calluses, do you think he got them by handling cloth?¡± Anjia reminded Fang Hao. She thought Fang Hao didn¡¯t seem like a fool, but it was also possible. ¡°Of course, I know.¡± ¡°Then why did you let him leave?¡± Anjia asked curiously. She was a hero and bound by some contracts, so she couldn¡¯t intervene in Fang Hao¡¯s decision, but she just couldn¡¯t understand why Fang Hao would do it that way. ¡°He¡¯s from that camp. I let him lead us there and check out what these people are doing.¡± After finishing, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Anjia, you lead the team.¡± After saying that, the soul fire that burned in the pupil of the skeleton warrior was extinguished, and it lit up again in the pupil of the Skeleton Giant Bat that followed the cart. The bat wings flapped, chasing after the man who had departed.. Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Chapter 156, You Are the One without a Chapter 156: Chapter 156, You Are the One without a Brainl Translator: 549690339 The giant bat followed the man from a distance and led them to the foot of a mountain. At the foot of the mountain was a deep cavern, and the disorderly traces of human activity were apparent outside. Bang! The man kicked over the iron pot in front of the cave and yelled, ¡°Stop fucking hiding; pack your things and leave quickly.¡± Rumble!! A group made up of orcs and humans rushed out of the cave, carrying all sorts of weapons. ¡°Poker, have you lost your mind? You were supposed to keep a lookout and wait for the ransom. What are you yelling about?¡± A beast-like orc, carrying a studded mace, roared aloud. He expressed his anger and dissatisfaction at Poker¡¯s unauthorized return. ¡°Screw the ransom. There¡¯s an undead army coming from the north, thousands strong. You¡¯re still thinking about money when we¡¯re about to lose our lives,¡± Poker continued to shout. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that old man care for his daughter¡¯s life? He dared to bring an army?¡± ¡°I told you, they are coming from the north, the undead. What the hell is in your head? Hurry up and pack. Take the girl as well, let¡¯s dodge this batch of undead and think about the ransom afterwards.¡± Poker rushed into the cave and brought out a little girl. The little girl¡¯s hands were tied, and her eyes were blindfolded. ¡°Alright, quickly pack your things, leave the useless stuff, take all the valuables.¡± Everyone started moving, taking out all the valuable items. ¡°Where are we running to?¡± ¡°To the east.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The bandit group started fleeing towards the east. And behind their group, the skeleton giant bat continued to observe their movements. After a few minutes. Listened to the footsteps, Poker looked terrified at the silver-haired woman blocking their path, and the undead cavalrymen behind them. How could this be? How did they know our escape route and alter it? Thud thud thud!! Dense footsteps caused a minor trembling of the ground. The White Bone Army approached in an orderly manner, encircling this small group of just over 40 men. ¡°Ho-how could you¡­¡± Poker¡¯s face turned pale. He then quickly realized, ¡°You deliberately let me go¡­ to track me¡­¡± ¡°Well done, Poker. As promised, the ransom will be paid to you as compensation.¡± A voice resonated from within the undead army, it was the skull with blue flames in its eye sockets. Poker was slightly taken aback, trying to infer the meaning of the skeleton¡¯s words. In a rage, he yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t trust him, they¡­¡± Thud! A muffled sound interrupted Poker as a spike from a mace penetrated his skull. Unbelievable was etched in Poker¡¯s eyes. He gave a confused gaze towards his rear, looking at the large orc holding the mace. ¡®You, you idiot¡­¡± Poker died, his eyes still wide open, filled with terror and disbelief. ¡°Damn, he even dared to betray us. I hate people who call me brainless.¡± The Orc flicked the blood bead off the mace and spat on the corpse. Then, he turned towards Fang Hao and coldly said, ¡°Humph! Your number doesn¡¯t matter. As long as this little girl is in my hands, I dare you to take any action. If she dies, I would like to see how you explain it to Tavek.¡± The orc was holding the little girl, arrogantly taunting. Gloating that he wasn¡¯t afraid because he had a hostage. ¡°I don¡¯t know Tavek. How could you threaten the undead with a human?¡± Fang Hao countered. The orc frowned slightly and shouted, ¡°Bullshit, wasn¡¯t it Tavek who asked you to save his daughter? You just promised to give Poker the ransom money. Do you think you can deceive me with your dreams?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know Tavek, and I was only bluffing you just now based on your conversation.¡± ¡°Impossible.¡± The orc could not accept this fact. He turned and looked at his companions, ¡°Don¡¯t believe him. It was Poker who betrayed us, that¡¯s why I killed him. It has nothing to do with him always giving me nicknames.¡± The moment his companions turned, they involuntarily took a step back. ¡°Kill him!!¡± Seeing the orc turned his back towards him, Fang Hao immediately gave the order. The skeleton archers who had been steadily aiming all this while, let go of their bowstrings. The bowstrings oscillated, and the air echoed with a high-frequency hum. The next second, thud thud thud! Arrows pierced the back of the orc who turned back towards Fang Hao. It looked like a standing porcupine before collapsing onto the ground. At the moment the orc fell, all the skeletons launched an attack on the other kidnappers. The number of kidnappers was too small, not creating any significant trouble. Just after a brief confrontation, they were overwhelmed by the undead. After the battle, they started to clean up the battlefield. Fang Hao then approached the little girl hostage. Her hands were tied, and her eyes were covered. ¡°We¡¯re not the kidnappers, and we won¡¯t hurt you. I¡¯m going to remove the rag from your mouth to ask you a few things,¡± Fang Hao tried to make his tone as calm as possible, but the rasp of the undead still sounded unsettling. The little girl nodded, behaving very obediently. Fang Hao removed the cloth from her mouth, and the girl indeed didn¡¯t scream or shout. ¡°Where is your home? Is Tavek your father?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°I live in Pruell City, my father is Tavek, he¡¯s a cloth merchant. He¡¯ll pay you a handsome reward if you¡¯re willing to take me home,¡± the little girl said in a steady manner. Wow! This child is extraordinary, not only calm but also very astute. At the same time, Fang Hao realized why Poker had claimed to be a cloth merchant. It turned out the girl who¡¯d been kidnapped was the daughter of a cloth merchant, so that¡¯s what they thought of when lying. ¡°I live in a city to the north. Do you know how to get to your city?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. He usually relied on the map when he was traveling. If he didn¡¯t have her exact location on a map, even if he wanted to help, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t find the place. ¡°Yes, my father took me to many places, I have a good sense of direction. Just let me survey the surroundings, and I can find the way,¡± the little girl said. ¡°Alright, then you follow me back first, prepare a bit, and then I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the little girl obediently agreed. Falling from the kidnapper¡¯s hands into someone else¡¯s, the little girl had no other choice. Fortunately, the person who was talking to her was willing to communicate and appeared quite friendly. The girl¡¯s hands were untied, but her eyes were still covered, and she was told not to remove the blindfold, or Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t take her home. The girl agreed and sat quietly, waiting. After the battlefield was cleared, everyone started taking the girl back home. At noon, Pruell City welcomed two new guests. The sun was blazing, the air somewhat warped from the heat, and pedestrians squinted because of the glaring sunlight. A man and a woman riding horses entered the city. The man was a young human, sitting tall on his horse, hands tightly clasping the reins, chest thumping like a victorious knight. But what really drew attention was his attire. He wore a mage¡¯s robe with a bright silver metal armor outside, a knight¡¯s iron sword at his left side, a ruby-encrusted magic wand on his right, and a dazzling golden dagger on his belly. What was this? A knight? A mage? A mage knight? Well, doesn¡¯t seem like anyone heard of that profession before. Looking at the woman behind him, she was from the Beast Clan, in leather armor, and had a pair of tiger¡¯s claws hanging at her waist. While Pruell City does not discriminate against the Beast Clan, it is still a human city, and seeing members of the Beast Clan, aside from merchants, was rare. There was a human little girl sitting in front of the woman. She kept pointing here and there, like a guide, introducing the city to the Beast Clan girl. ¡°Hey! Isn¡¯t that Tavek¡¯s little girl? I heard she was kidnapped, and he was raising ransom money recently, right?¡± ¡°Yes, my wife¡¯s younger brother¡¯s cousin works for Tavek, he told me that Tavek¡¯s little girl was kidnapped.¡± ¡°Tavek must¡¯ve secretly hired mercenaries to get her rescued.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right, my wife¡¯s cousin said that these days Tavek was about to sell off his property to raise the ransom. He never mentioned hiring mercenaries.¡± ¡°Are you daft? They¡¯d definitely keep it a secret. If your cousin knew, the kidnappers would too.¡± The two strode into the city. They were coming in with Tavek¡¯s missing daughter, even after verifying their identities and intentions at the city gate, they still drew the attention of the patrolling soldiers. ¡°Both of you, please state your purpose..¡± Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Chapter 157, Holy Snow Silk l Chapter 157: Chapter 157, Holy Snow Silk l Translator: 549690339 [Human Warrior (Fifth Order)] The patrol guards were all in uniformed equipment, standard leather armor adorned their bodies, and longswords hung at their waists. Behind them, several soldiers held weapons similar to long spears. The leader of the patrol didn¡¯t draw his sword from his waist, it seemed he was merely conducting a simple interrogation. ¡°I ran into a group of bandits in the wilderness and rescued this child from them, then brought her to find her father,¡± Fang Hao stated his purpose straightforwardly. The patrol captain turned to look at the girl behind him. The girl spoke up, ¡°Yes, this man and woman saved me.¡± The patrol captain nodded and said, ¡°Well, sir, the residential area is straight ahead, it¡¯s best if you dismount.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao immediately got off his horse and removed the Starfire Wand hanging from the side of the horse. ¡°Best of luck to you.¡± The patrol captain said and then left with his men. After the patrol captain had left, there came the sound of hurried footsteps from ahead. A nicely-dressed, well-built man was rushing over with a group of people. His expression was slightly agitated. ¡°My daughter, my daughter¡­ It¡¯s all my fault, I should have taken better care of you so that you wouldn¡¯t have been kidnapped by the bandits.¡± The man remorsefully embraced the girl. Without need for any introduction, it was clear that this man was Tavek. ¡°Father, I¡¯m alright, these siblings rescued me.¡± Compared to the man filled with self-condemnation, the girl was much calmer. Tavek took his eyes off his daughter and looked back at Fang Hao and Anjia. He bowed in gratitude, ¡°Tavek thanks you for rescuing my daughter and I will forever remember your kindness.¡± A servant beside him then presented a satin box, opened it up, revealed a box full of gold coins. 2000 pieces. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate to accept. Along the way, he had heard some talks from other residents, knowing the ransom demanded by the bandits was absolutely more than 2000 gold coins; otherwise, the ransom would have been gathered by now. ¡°It was merely lending a hand.¡± Fang Hao replied politely, then continued, ¡°I heard Mr. Tavek is a successful cloth merchant. I¡¯m quite interested in this area, would it be possible to learn from Mr. Tavek?¡± Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Tavek was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected a man in full armor like Fang Hao to show an interest in the cloth business. ¡°Um, how should I address you both?¡± Tavek asked again. ¡°My name is Fang Hao, this is my bodyguard Anjia.¡± Fang Hao introduced. ¡°Oh, Mr. Fang Hao, how about I take you to my cloth factory for a visit? If there¡¯s anything that piques your interest, feel free to ask me any questions.¡± Tavek thought for a moment and then said. ¡°That would be great.¡± ¡°Please come this way.¡± The group climbed onto a carriage that Tavek had prepared and headed to his cloth factory. As an experienced merchant, Tavek had a sharp eye. He had some guesses about the identities of the young man and woman in front of him. Although Fang Hao was dressed as a warrior, the combination of a Mage¡¯s robe and an iron armor seemed a bit odd. With his smooth skin, he doesn¡¯t look like a seasoned fighter. With an attractive female bodyguard following him, he could easily be mistaken for a rich young man fantasizing about knightly adventures. Taking into account the fact that he had brought a well-equipped army to rescue his own daughter. This further implied that Fang Hao¡¯s family must possess a significant military force. Otherwise, they would not entrust such a delicate young master with command of an army. As a merchant, establishing a relationship with a person like Fang Hao is certainly not a bad idea. The factory was situated in a corner of the city. Inside the vast premises, workers could be seen performing a variety of tasks like spinning and weaving clothes. ¡°From raw materials to spinning, processing, the whole process may not be difficult, but it does require a rather complex set of procedures.¡± ¡°Nowadays, the best-selling fabric among the nobles is silk. From silkworm farming, harvesting, it all requires expert personnel even for rearing, even environmental factors may lead to the demise of the silkworms, leading to total investment losses.¡± Tavek introduced while leading the pair around the factory. Being in the business, Tavek had a way with words, and wanting to build a rapport with Fang Hao, he was especially detailed in his explanation. They toured the factory for a long time and gained a lot of insights. Just as they were leaving the factory, some silk was brought over by the workers. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, I can see you¡¯re really interested in this business. This is our finest silk; thank you for saving my daughter.¡± Tavek carried the silk towards Fang Hao. [Holy Snow Silk] [Type: Silk] (Description: Textiles made from silkworms, highly sought after by nobles and royalty.) The silk in his hand was as white as snow, smooth and delicate to the touch, had a good hand feel. ¡°I appreciate it, Mr. Tavek.¡± Without refusing, Fang Hao took the silk and placed it directly into his bag. ¡°No need for formalities.¡± ¡°Mr. Tavek, I was actually intending on buying the blueprint of the silk making machine and some silkworms from you for rearing. Would that be possible?¡± Upon climbing onto the carriage, Fang Hao brought up this topic again. Tavek furrowed his brows slightly. It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid of Fang Hao encroaching on his business. To make a business out of cloth production and sell it, it¡¯s not as simple as having a few spinning machines. What surprised him was the speed at which Fang Hao made decisions. A sewing machine? Starting right from silkworm farming? ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, you¡¯re my friend, and I am naturally willing to sell to you. However, this business requires a large initial investment and progress is slow. It might not be as simple as it seems.¡± Tavek advised on the side. ¡°No worries, Mr. Tavek, please go ahead and sell them to me, I¡¯ve got everything under control.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll have someone prepare it all and pass it to you when it¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Tavek.¡± The carriage slowly made its way back into the city. Fang Hao declined Tavek¡¯s dinner invitation, stating that he would pick up the blueprint and the silkworms at Tavek¡¯s mansion when he was ready to leave. It wasn¡¯t that Fang Hao couldn¡¯t enjoy the food outside, but that he had other plans. Before leaving, he planned to visit the city¡¯s pub to look for single-page maps that he could buy. After all, his progress depended on these camp bases, where he could open treasure chests and obtain various blueprints. After bidding farewell to Tavek, Fang Hao and Anjia went straight to the pub. Although it was already afternoon, it wasn¡¯t yet the pub¡¯s peak time, and there weren¡¯t many customers inside. Behind the counter was a busty barmaid, moving about seductively, joking with the customers. ¡°What can I get you?¡± The barmaid returned to the counter and asked in a soft voice. ¡°I¡¯ll have a beer, Anjia, what about you?¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°A beer. A large one.¡± Anjia took a seat next to Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, coming right up.¡± The barmaid started preparing their drinks, her eyes never stopped observing the man-woman pair. With the beers placed before them, she asked out of curiosity, ¡°I heard you two saved Tavek¡¯s little girl.. Who were the bandits?¡± Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: Chapter 158,12 Deadly Weapons - Part 1 Chapter 158: Chapter 158,12 Deadly Weapons ¨C Part 1 Translator: 549690339 A tavern has always been a place of a motley crowd, where you could learn many secrets about the city. Many people come for a drink and to hear some rumors and stories. ¡°I just happened to come across them, a duo of humans and orcs, I don¡¯t remember who they were,¡± Fang Hao replied, taking his beer. There was no secret about it, nor was there any need for confidentiality. ¡°A human and orc pair?¡± The proprietress, arms folded across her chest, started recollecting people fitting this description. Suddenly, her eyes brightened, ¡°Is there an orc with a mace as his weapon? Not very sharp-witted.¡± Damn, she figured it out. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s expression, the proprietress knew she was right. ¡°It must be them, they came by recently, said they were part of a mercenary guild, tried to find out about a lot of things around here.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, after all, I just arrived here. Maybe we are talking about the same person,¡± Fang Hao replied. As a customer in the distance flagged her for a drink, the proprietress left a plate of sliced meat in front of them before leaving. ¡°On the house, come back again sometime.¡± With that said, she left to serve other customers. Fang Hao sipped his beer, his gaze falling on the notice board nearby. The Human Clan¡¯s tavern notice board was different from the ones at the Tauren Tavern. In addition to posting single-page maps, there were also details about various activities happening at the tavern. For example, late-night exotic dance performances. This was not Fang Hao¡¯s misinterpretation; it was explicitly mentioned as an exotic dance performance. I just wonder if the generously endowed proprietress is the performer. Returning his attention to the maps. There were two: [Bandit Camp] and [Pond Monster]. [Map: Bandit Camp] [Category: Single-page Map] [Description: Map drawn by a traveler, detailing the route and the terrain of the bandit camp.] ¡°Why, planning on a taking out these bandits?¡± The proprietress walked back, seeing Fang Hao examining the maps on the notice board. ¡°Just looking, how come there are bandits? Aren¡¯t the city guards supposed to deal with them?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. The city guards seemed reliable, which questions the existence of bandits nearby. ¡°Who knows, people did organize against them a couple of years ago, but when the troops arrived, they ran. When they¡¯re outnumbered, they lose. It¡¯s been like this for years, now nobody bothers anymore. As long as the bandits don¡¯t attack the city, everyone is fine,¡± the proprietress said, preparing some food. ¡°How many are they?¡± ¡°A few hundred, or so I¡¯ve heard from customers. You aren¡¯t thinking of engaging them, are you? They¡¯re not the stupid type. Don¡¯t go off doing something foolish,¡± the proprietress cautioned. ¡°I¡¯ll take these two maps, how much will it cost?¡± ¡°You¡¯re seriously going? Do you have a death wish?¡± the proprietress asked in amazement. ¡°I won¡¯t be going myself. I know a group of mercenaries, I¡¯ll ask if they¡¯re interested,¡± Fang Hao found an excuse for himself. Seeing that Fang Hao didn¡¯t seem impulsive, the proprietress didn¡¯t say anymore and replied, ¡°A map costs 5 gold coins. Oh right, the bounty on the bandits was announced by the City Lord. If successful, you can take the bandit leader¡¯s head to the City Lord¡¯s mansion and exchange it for gold.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not bad.¡± Fang Hao pulled out 10 Human Clan gold coins, handed them to the proprietor, and then casually picked up the two maps. The tavern began to fill up with more and more patrons. While the proprietress went to tend to her customers, Fang Hao thought about finishing off his last beer and leaving. He¡¯d then go and collect the blueprints that Tavek had prepared for him, and head back to his territory. Just as he was about to get up. A middle-aged man in a gray robe appeared on a wooden platform to one side of the tavern. He took a large swig of his beer, smacked his lips, and announced loudly, ¡°Tonight¡¯s story: The Bloodthirsty Countess, Hilda Ford.¡± The appearance of the middle-aged man silenced the noisy tavern in an instant. Everyone quietly sipped their drinks, waiting for the man¡¯s upcoming story. The man didn¡¯t keep his audience waiting and began his preamble. ¡°Hilda was the daughter of a member of the kingdom¡¯s council. Born into privilege, by the age of 21, Hilda had become more beautiful and smart. She helped her father solve problems and assisted the city¡¯s poor in childbirth. In her eyes, there were no differences between nobles and commoners.¡± ¡°She loved children, and every time she saw a child¡¯s smiling face, Hilda smiled too, dreaming that one day, she too would have a lovely baby with her fiance.¡± ¡°However, this kind-hearted countess had a peculiar hobby: collecting various weapons, including 12 finely crafted swords.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed upon hearing this. 12 finely crafted swords? This reminded him of Little You¡¯s task ¡ª to gather 12 Swords of Absolution. It can¡¯t be such a coincidence, can it? The story continued. ¡°¡­Suddenly, the beautiful and kind Hilda was bewitched by a demon. She lay in a blood-covered bed, surrounded by the corpses of 12 children, killed by 12 swords.¡± ¡°Soon, Hilda¡¯s actions were exposed, and her brutal killings incensed the entire city. Overnight, the beautiful and kind countess became a bloodthirsty demon.¡± ¡°The townsfolk nailed her alive to a post in the pillory, and 12 swords pierced her body as punishment for the lives of the children she¡¯d killed.¡± Clap, clap! The middle-aged man gently clapped, pulling the crowd out of the story. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the story of the Bloodthirsty Countess.¡± Wow! As the story ended, the tavern once again began buzzing. People sighed at the twist in the tale. Of course, it¡¯s a story, no one would actually believe it¡¯s true. ¡°Wasn¡¯t her father a council member? Would commoners dare to kill the daughter of a council member?¡± ¡°You! Can¡¯t you just enjoy a story? Do you really think it¡¯s all true? It¡¯s made up! Have you ever seen a countess be a midwife for the common folk?¡± ¡°True.¡± The storyteller, the middle-aged man, clapped again, saying loudly, ¡°Today is not just for stories. As for Hilda¡¯s father, we¡¯ll discuss him in another story. Some say Hilda was caught up in a conspiracy against her father. Because of what Hilda did, her father lost his position as a council member and was ultimately killed on his way out of the city.¡± The patrons continued to question loudly, pointing out loopholes in the story. To prove it was just a story. ¡°All right, I have proof.¡± The middle-aged man clapped lightly, and a servant came forward with a gorgeously crafted dagger. The man held the dagger gently in his hands as if it was a priceless treasure. He said, ¡°This is one of the twelve lethal weapons that Hilda had collected, and it was this weapon that eventually killed its mistress. Now, if anyone wants to buy it as a collector¡¯s item, for a thousand gold coins, you can own a weapon once possessed by the countess.¡± Spit! When he finished speaking, many people spat out their beers, drenching their companions with a spray of beer froth. Just when we thought you were here for the story, turns out you¡¯re a peddler. ¡°You think we¡¯re fools? You make up a story, then try to sell us a broken dagger for a thousand gold coins? Only fools would fall for that.¡± The reproof had hardly resonated when the voice of a bidder rang out, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± Everyone froze, turning to look at the male and female pair who¡¯d placed the bid.. Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 159, Level 6 Silkworm Raising Rooml Chapter 159: Chapter 159, Level 6 Silkworm Raising Rooml Translator: 549690339 | Damnit! Fang Hao cursed himself for making the bid at the wrong time. Facing the gathering gazes, he maintained a calm demeanor. He spoke softly, ¡°The story was well-told, and the short sword has quite a flashy design. It could make for a good addition to my collection.¡± In other words, I¡¯m not short on cash and I¡¯ll buy it merely because I like how it looks. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s expression, the crowd started whispering among themselves. Gradually, everyone came to know that it was he who saved the cloth merchant¡¯s daughter in the city and received a hefty reward for it. Yes, he has money, but even the wealthy shouldn¡¯t spend so casually. Spending a thousand gold coins for a short sword after just hearing a story doesn¡¯t seem like a smart decision. ¡°Is there anyone else who wants to increase the bid? This is a former collection of a countess and the only one available.¡± The middle-aged man continued to remind loudly, trying to push the audience into raising their bids. ¡°I suggest you stop repeating yourself, otherwise this gentleman might reconsider and you¡¯ll end up not selling it at all,¡± a nearby drinker spoke up, causing a round of laughter to ripple through the crowd. Everyone present knew that these sales methods usually involved selling flashy yet useless items, even if it was once collected by a Countess. Such items would only appear in the auctions of the nobility. How could they end up here? The middle-aged salesman scanned his eyes over the crowd back and forth. Looking at the mocking drinkers below and then at the young man who had made the bid in the distance. Clutching the short sword in his hand, his palm was drenched with sweat. Damn it! If he had known, he would have started with a higher asking price to earn more. But in the end, no one else raised the price. According to the rules of the tavern, if someone bids the final price, then the short sword is his. The middle-aged man brought the short sword over to Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s yours now. Even though you only spent 1,000 gold, I have to emphasize that this short sword is not a forgery,¡± the middle-aged man stated. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Fang Hao responded with a smile, taking the short sword from him. The design of the short sword was remarkably ornate. Made entirely from an unknown metal, the sword shone bright white. The finely crafted patterns decorated on it made this short sword appear less like a weapon and more like a piece of art. [Pardon Short Sword (Purple)] [Type: Short Sword] [Damage: Tier Three] (Description: A sword that killed its own master. Rumor has it that anyone who wields this sword will die in agony.) As soon as Fang Hao held it in his hand, all the properties of the short sword were revealed before his eyes. A purple sword, but damage only classed as tier three. It seemed that the value of this item was more for collecting, rather than practical use. ¡°Sit down for a drink, my treat.¡± Fang Hao invited the middle-aged man who was about to leave. The man frowned at Fang Hao but still took a seat. The tavern keeper served him a large mug of beer. Fang Hao then asked, ¡°Did the Countess really kill twelve children? How did she steal them away from their parents?¡± The man took a sip of beer before answering, ¡°I heard she used some sort of drug to sedate the parents before stealing the children away to kill.¡± ¡°Heard it?¡± ¡°What else can I say? The story of the countess was from forty to fifty years ago. You don¡¯t actually believe I was alive back then, do you?¡± The man touched his own face. Fang Hao furrowed his brows but didn¡¯t press the matter further. It seemed that the man before him was merely a narrator of the story, not a witness. Therefore, the authenticity of the story was up for debate. ¡°You mentioned that the countess had a total of twelve collections. Are the rest in your possession too?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°No, I got this one by chance,¡± the man replied while slightly shaking his head. ¡°Do you know the whereabouts of the rest? I¡¯m somewhat interested in these collections.¡± The man looked at Fang Hao again, this young stranger seemed quite wealthy. He had indeed priced it too low. With a somewhat dissatisfied expression, he finished the beer in his mug in one go, then slid it to the tavern keeper, ¡°Another one, on his tab.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t mind. A second mug of beer was brought to the man. The man then moved closer and spoke in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the others, but the lord of this city has one. If you¡¯re capable, you could try getting it.¡± City Lord? So he¡¯s the ruler of this city. If possible, it could be beneficial to get in touch with the city lord of Pruell, either for future developments or to obtain his collection. After that, Fang Hao chatted with the middle-aged man for a while longer. When it was about time, he got ready to leave. After paying for the drinks, he pulled out another gold coin and placed it in front of the man, ¡°Have a good drink.¡± The middle-aged man didn¡¯t get up. He merely waved his hand slightly, ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± After leaving the tavern and receiving the items he wanted from Tavek, he immediately left Pruell City. He needed to return to his territory before dark. This trip to the Human City was fruitful. [A blueprint for a silk spinning machine, two maps of wilderness strongholds, a short sword of absolution, 500 breeding silkworms and 500 units of silkworm cocoons, two bottles of high-quality wine, and a goose feather pen with a golden tip.] Fang Hao paid for the spinning machine blueprint, the silkworms, and the silkworm cocoons. Maintaining a good relationship with Tavek is key. If silk can generate a market, he will probably buy ready-made silk cloth directly from Tavek. It will take some time to raise silkworms. Given Fang Hao¡¯s wealth and the reserve of Warfire Coins, he is much wealthier than Tavek, the cloth merchant. The wine and goose feather pen were Tavek¡¯s insistence. Unable to decline, he accepted them. The two left the city and made their way to the Skeleton army¡¯s campsite; they began to return to their territory under heavy escort. By the time they got back, it was dark. As soon as the two dismounted, Eira came out of the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower to welcome them. ¡°My Lord, Anjia, welcome back.¡± ¡°Yes, Eira, see if any of the maids know anything about silkworm rearing. If so, ask her to come to the silkworm room,¡± Fang Hao said directly. Raising silkworms requires some experience. If any of the maids know how, then they should be assigned to do it. If not, he would have to arrange for the versatile Skeleton to rear the silkworms, but this type of work doesn¡¯t reflect the labor efficiency of the tirelessly working Skeletons. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± Eira replied and quickly left. Arriving at the silkworm room. Looking at the level-one wooden hut in front of him. Since there were no silkworms in the past, the silkworm room has always been kept at level one without any upgrades. Now that he has silkworms, he needs to provide these delicate creatures with a good living environment. He upgraded the silkworm room straight to level six and placed the 500 silkworms inside. [Level six silkworm room] [Type: Building] [Ability: Breeding +1%, Silkworm Cocoon Production +2%.] (Description: The silkworm room provides a basic environment for silkworm rearing.) [Upgrade required: 2800 wood, 1050 stone, 1000 straw, 550 leather, 420 hemp rope, 12 natural gems.] There¡¯s no special effect when the silkworm room is at level one. After being upgraded to level six, it acquired building¡¯s additional attributes. At this time, Eira came over with two female Rabbitmen maids. ¡°My lord, these two know how to rear silkworms,¡± Eira explained. The two maids, dressed in maid outfits, hurriedly bowed, ¡°My Lord.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re familiar with silkworm rearing?¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord. Our Rabbitmen Village sold silkworm cocoons to the humans before, so we know how,¡± one of the maids answered. Not all the Rabbitmen in the village come from the same place, but their fate is almost the same. Their villages could not protect themselves adequately and were eventually wiped out. ¡°Good, then you two will be in charge of the silkworm room. When there are more silkworms, I will build new silkworm rooms and appoint apprentices for you to teach them how to breed silkworms,¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°As you wish, my lord,¡± the two readily agreed. The Rabbitmen¡¯s bodies were not as sturdy as other orcs¡¯, but they were adept at thinking and learning. Naturally, they knew that possessing unique abilities in the territory was more valuable than cleaning every day. Even if one day the lord doesn¡¯t need so many servants, he would not abandon them. So, when they were assigned the task of managing the silkworm room, they were delighted. After leaving the silkworm room, Fang Hao went to the tailor shop again. The Skeleton tailors were busily working as usual. Recently, Soye, the captain of the Skeleton Tailors, successfully finalized another set of clothes in Fang Hao¡¯s mind: a sailor suit. All the Skeleton tailors were working hard on it. ¡°Good evening, my lord,¡± Seeing Fang Hao approaching, Soye quickly stood up to greet him. ¡°Good evening, Soye..¡± Chapter 160 - Chapter 16o: Chapter 16o, Little Yous Promotion _1 Chapter 16o: Chapter 16o, Little You¡¯s Promotion _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°My lord, the sailor outfits are being rushed through production. They can be distributed soon.¡± Soye thought Fang Hao was coming to inquire about the outfits. ¡°Ah, no rush on that. I wanted to discuss something about silk,¡± Fang Hao said as he took a seat close by. ¡°Oh? Have you got some silkworm cocoons, My lord?¡± Soye asked. ¡°Yes, the silkworm house has started raising silkworms. The warehouse also has some silkworm cocoons. I am now planning to make a silk loom. When it¡¯s ready, you can arrange for it to be used.¡± After he had spoken, Fang Hao immediately opened the Book of Lords, found the blueprint for the silk loom, and started crafting. [ioo-fold amplifying trigger, 101 Silk Looms obtained.] Loom after loom appeared before him, each being stacked on an empty plot of land. ¡°Very well, My lord, I will arrange it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The amount of cocoon and silk brought back from Tavek was not significant. There was no rush, either. This visit was but to inform Soye about the development of silk production. So that he could be clued up and prepared. With a steady supply from the silkworm house, there wouldn¡¯t be any unnecessary panic. After bidding Soye farewell, Fang Hao arrived at another dwelling. He gently knocked at the door, calling out, ¡°Little You, are you there?¡± This was the house that Fang Hao had built for Little You. During the day, Little You would generally stay in the room, and would only go out for walks at night. Or she would go find Soye to talk about topics in clothing design. Now, as darkness began to set in, it should have been time for Little You to become active. And sure enough, after Fang Hao finished calling her, Little You peeked out through the wall. Seeing Fang Hao, her entire figure floated out of the wall. ¡°Lord.¡± Little You lifted her skirt and bowed slightly. ¡°Hmm, Little You. I went to another city today and got a decent dagger, do you want to take a look?¡± He said pulling a Misdeed Dagger from his backpack. The moment the dagger appeared, Little You furrowed her brows. As if some enchanting magic power was emanating from the dagger, attracting her gaze, she became slightly captivated in the moment. ¡°Little You?¡± Fang Hao softly called out. The next second, a beam of light dispersed from Little You¡¯s body, and her level began to rapidly increase. [Little You the wandering spirit (Rank 5)] Little You¡¯s current power directly jumped from Rank 3 to Rank 5. This was the first time Fang Hao had come across leveling up by purely laying eyes on an artifact. If it hadn¡¯t been for a passing skeleton showing no reaction whatsoever, he might have thought he had acquired a divine artifact. An artifact that could upgrade a unit by just glancing at it. ¡°Lord, what¡¯s its name?¡± Little You¡¯s gaze returned to normal as she asked. ¡°Misdeed Dagger, is there a problem?¡± Fang Hao asked. It seemed that Little You still hadn¡¯t recovered her memory, or else she wouldn¡¯t have asked him the name of the dagger. ¡°Images seem to surface in my mind, as though it belonged to me at some point.¡± Little You eyed Fang Hao warily, ¡°My lord, you know something. You intentionally brought this back for me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then decided against concealing anything. He told Little You about the happenings and the middle-aged man who sold him the dagger at the tavern. He didn¡¯t mention anything about the character attributes and the task. Discussing these things with locals was difficult, as they would have had a hard time understanding. Instead, it would lower the credibility of the story. ¡°So am I to think that, in the past, I had killed twelve children? But, I don¡¯t remember ever wanting to hurt anyone.¡± Little You didn¡¯t seem to accept the story. Despite being a spirit, she found it hard to accept that she may have been so brutal in the past, no matter what the reasons. ¡°The story, huh? Storytellers tend to add unbearable elements to stories for certain purposes, so they are often not entirely truthful.¡± ¡°Will it be hard to collect the remaining 11 weapons?¡± Little You asked. ¡°I am looking for information as we speak, and I will try my best to collect them if I get any leads.¡± Little You nodded, then bowed once again, ¡°Thank you for telling me all this, My Lord.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let this burden you. The past is past, what¡¯s ahead is what matters.¡± ¡°Yes, My lord, you are right.¡± [Your loyalty with Little You, the wandering spirit, increased by 5 points. Current Loyalty: 95 points.] Little You¡¯s loyalty increased quickly. This time, Fang Hao brought her the dagger and gave her the story straight which lead to another 5-point increase in loyalty, bringing it to 95. ¡°Okay, I should head back now. The Trade Alliance has a new building set-up. You can go chat with them, don¡¯t stay cooped up in your room as always.¡± ¡°Okay, take care, My lord.¡± He returned to the Lord¡¯s Manor, had dinner, and went to bed. The next day, early morning. A slight disturbance beside him woke Fang Hao from his sleep. ¡°Eira,¡± Fang Hao called out. The morning sun had risen outside the window, bringing golden light into the room. Eira was sitting on the edge of the bed, bending over to pick up clothes thrown on the floor and dressing herself neatly. ¡°Master, it¡¯s still early; you can sleep a bit more.¡± ¡°Ah! It¡¯s not early, I¡¯ve got important things to do today.¡± Fang Hao sighed, getting up as he did so. Eira showed a smile, then began helping Fang Hao get dressed. After getting dressed and freshening up, he walked out of the Lord¡¯s Manor. Shielding his eyes from the glaring sunlight, he yawned again. ¡°What a beautiful day.¡± Outside, the maids had already started their day¡¯s work and were greeting him as he appeared. ¡°My lord, the store has restocked, among which there is a ¡®Silk Alchemical Gown Blueprint¡¯. Captain Doujin asked me to inquire if you wish to purchase it?¡± A skeleton merchant walked over, and after bowing, spoke. ¡°I thought you said there were no new goods yesterday, so how come there are some today?¡± ¡°Ah, well, My lord, the Trade Alliance store restocks empty slots on the second day. It just so happens we have this blueprint today,¡± the skeleton merchant replied. If you had purchased a product or an item was removed for some reason, the empty space would be restocked the next day. ¡°Oh, is the order still available?¡± ¡°Yes, no one has taken the Alchemical Gown order.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s go take a look.¡± With the skeleton merchant in tow, Fang Hao walked towards the Alliance structure. Upon pushing the doors open, he saw that Doujin was already at the counter waiting. ¡°My Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, Doujin, go ahead and buy the Alchemical Gown blueprint,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Very well, My lord.¡± Doujin took the blueprint and handed it over to Fang Hao. [Silk Alchemical Gown Blueprint (Blue): Leather 5, Thick Leather 3, Mithril 3, Silk 15.] (Description: Special outfit for Alchemists, can shorten the time consumed during alchemy.) Good. All the materials are ready. ¡°Doujin, take up the order for the Alchemical Gown. We have enough materials,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Very well, my lord.¡± Doujin opened the mailbox behind him and took out the order. After Fang Hao signed his name on it, the order acceptance was completed. [Order] [Demand: Silk Alchemical Gown 10 pieces.] [Exchange: 10000 Warfire Coins, 1 Enlightening Potion, and 10 Influences in academy..] Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Chapter 161, Pond Monster l Chapter 161: Chapter 161, Pond Monster l Translator: 549690339 An order like the Alchemist¡¯s Robe is, in a sense, rarely accepted by anyone. The process of making silk is complicated and time-consuming from the start. Natives don¡¯t have the Book of Lords, so they have to start slowly. Besides, orders from the Alchemy Guild are scarce. Making 10 items in one go, combined with the complexity, no one would accept this order nowadays. If Fang Hao weren¡¯t interested in the Enlightening Potion, he likely wouldn¡¯t be so persistent in taking this order. He started manufacturing directly after entering the blueprint into the Book of Lords. The quantity was set to 1. [The hundred-fold amplification trigger, you obtained 101 Silk Line Alchemist Robes.] [Silk Line Alchemist Robe(Blue)] [Category: Silk Garments] [Defense: Level 1 Defense] [Ability: Alchemy success rate+1%, alchemy time reduction 2%.] (Description: Alchemist¡¯s exclusive clothing, it can reduce the time consumed in alchemy.) Upon seeing these attributes, Fang Hao understood the function of the Alchemist¡¯s Robe. Alchemy is not always successful; there is indeed a success rate. Doujin arranged for a Skeleton merchant, planning to deliver 10 robes. ¡°Wait, ask them if they need more robes when you deliver them, and if they need them, they can place orders directly with us next time, otherwise, the remaining 90 will be left in our hands.¡± Fang Hao instructed. The biggest function of these robes is alchemy, and they are clothing. There are always future orders. When the time comes, it is better to sell the rest by specifying himself. ¡°Alright, sir, I got it.¡± The Skeleton merchant said, taking the order and the goods and prepared to leave. After breakfast, Fang Hao continued with the next plan. He opened the map from the Book of Lords and started to check it. He got two maps from the tavern in Pruell City yesterday. He planned to pick a closer one for exploration and strategy. Compared with the local residents, the transmigrators like them have some differences. The locals usually shy away from dangerous places. But the reward mechanism of the chest gave the transmigrators a reason to take risks. The greater the danger, the greater the return. As long as they go explore and take risks, there will be rewards when they return. The two maps were respectively [Mountain Bandit Camp] and [Pond Monster]. After comparing the locations, he found that the Mountain Bandit Camp was on the southwest side of Pruell City, whereas the Pond Monster was on the north side of Pruell City ¡ª in between his own territory and Pruell. So it was easier to explore. ¡°Anjia.¡± Fang Hao called. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Get ready. We have a new map, let¡¯s go explore together.¡± ¡°Where are we going? Is it the two maps we got yesterday?¡± Anjia asked curiously. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s called the Pond Monster. The enemy might be in the pond, take more archers and spear soldiers,¡± Fang Hao suggested according to his assumption. He didn¡¯t have any underwater combat troops. Although Skeletons don¡¯t need to breathe, it wasn¡¯t clear if they could fight underwater. If the pond was deep and the enemy was lurking in the water without coming out, they would be difficult to deal with. So, it¡¯s best to prepare as much as possible. ¡°Okay.¡± Anjia agreed and then went out to arrange for the accompanying troops. Ten minutes later. Five Bone Dragons, a thousand Skeleton Trolls, and fifty thousand Skeleton Soldiers assembled outside the territory. After Fang Hao returned to his room and applied ¡°God¡¯s Presence¡±, the large team set off, heading towards the pond. As they approached the south, the forest became more extensive. Fang Hao¡¯s previous explorations were mostly inclined around the north and east of the territory, where there were several Orc Tribes. Villages often disappeared during battles. Fang Hao was lying in the car, leading the army to advance rapidly. Many humans villages were seen along the way. After discovering such a large undead army, they hurriedly returned to their villages, closed the village gates, and watched the movement of the undead from a distance. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t care about these ordinary villages. Without changing the route, he tried not to disturb the lives of the natives. Two hours later. The team finally approached the location of the pond. ¡°Stop advancing,¡± Fang Hao said, standing on a cart. The team stopped, and Anjia rode over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there, I¡¯ll use the Giant Bat to scout the situation.¡± ¡°Forget it, let me go. What if it¡¯s not strong? I¡¯ll get rid of it by myself. It¡¯ll save us the trouble,¡± Anjia said. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s be safe. Wait for my news. You¡¯ll be the main force in the battle later, so no need to rush.¡± Anjia pouted, but still agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao canceled God¡¯s Presence and took over one of the accompanying Skeleton Giant Bats. Once the soul flame was ignited in the pupil of the Skeleton Giant Bat, several Skeleton Giant Bats flew towards the pond with him. In the dense forest, he saw a large pond. A stream poured water into the pond from a river, and there was another river that led the water to the west. Fang Hao guided several Giant Bats to hover over the pond, looking for the monster mentioned on the map. The air was sticky and humid, and the green leaves on the tree branches were covered in dripping water droplets. The environment was quite suitable for plant growth. Many mottled grey boulders, covered with moss and various colorful fungi, were also scattered around the pond. Whoosh! Just when Fang Hao didn¡¯t find anything, he suddenly felt something attacking. ¡®He hurried to check, but found no creature attacking him. An illusion? Fang Hao was a bit confused. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! Then, he felt the change in the airflow again. He controlled the Giant Bat to look back, and was abruptly shocked. What¡¯s happening? Apart from himself, there were five Giant Bats. Where did they go? Did they fly away? Were they attacked? Even if they were instantly killed, there should be some bones dropping around, right? How come there were no traces at all? Whoosh! The next second, he finally understood what happened to those Bats. He saw a grey stone below opened its huge mouth, a long, crimson tongue, like a sharp arrow, wrapped around the Skeleton Bat he was controlling and dragged it into its mouth. Fang Hao woke up in bed. Everything happened too quickly. As he sat up in bed, his heart was still pounding. After taking a sip of water, he lay back down and woke up amid the stationed Skeleton army. When the Soul fire was ignited, Anjia came over. ¡°How was it? Any danger inside?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous. There¡¯s a stone that eats people.¡± Fang Hao said. Everything happened too fast, and he didn¡¯t even see the name of the monster. ¡°What is it, a Stone Element?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a stone that opens a big mouth and extends its tongue so long, eating all the Giant Bats I brought.¡± Fang Hao said, trying hard to describe. He even made a slide to make Anjia understand what he had just seen. ¡°A Giant Lizard? A Giant Lizard hunts food that way..¡± Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 162, Please, Spare the Living—1 Chapter 162: Chapter 162, Please, Spare the Living¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 After communicating with Anjia. Fang Hao ordered the army to continue advancing. Although they had not learned specific information about the enemy, they knew their target was the creatures camouflaged as boulders. No matter how strong these creatures were, under the onslaught of tens of thousands of undead, even a pool of water would be drained dry. Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia, mounted the Bone Dragon. They once again soared above the pool of water. ¡°Those boulders.¡± From the back of the dragon, Fang Hao pointed towards the strange stones below, which were covered in fungi. The strange stones varied in size, the largest being five to six meters long, and the smallest only the size of an ordinary stone. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything unusual.¡± Anjia, looking down at the strange stones, couldn¡¯t detect anything abnormal. However, just as her words fell. Whoosh! A crimson tongue shot up from below, enveloping the ribcage of the Bone Dragon, attempting to pull it into its mouth. ¡°Damn, trying to eat the Bone Dragon, aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll burst!¡± Fang Hao cursed inwardly. Three or four more tongues sprang out, attacking the airborne Bone Dragon. The Bone Dragon, gigantic in size, was not a mere match for the Skeleton Giant Bats. Facing the entangling tongues, it merely wobbled a bit and then quicky dragged the strange stones along the ground below. The massive jaws parted wide, revealing the name of the creature to Fang Hao. Speckled Giant Toad (Tier 7) So, it was a toad. No wonder the tongue was so long. Seeing that the giant toads below were not letting go, Fang Hao instructed: ¡°Dragon Breath.¡± The Bone Dragon dived, swooping down and unleashing a deadly breath into the mouth of the toad attempting to pull it in. A black energy beam directly poured into the giant toad¡¯s mouth. The giant toad¡¯s body rapidly inflated and exploded with a bang, scattering bones and flesh all around. No good. This way, all their bones would be blown away. ¡°Don¡¯t exhale into their mouths, breathe over all the strange stones around the pond,¡± Fang Hao ordered. Several Bone Dragons began circling in the sky, their deadly breaths starting to clear the giant toads disguised as stones. Facing Tier 10 Bone Dragons, the giant toads¡¯ tongue attacks were utterly ineffective. The giant toads, dragged around the ground by the Bone Dragons, presented a terribly disheveled sight. The Speckled Toads, with their grey skin, weren¡¯t actual stones but simply camouflaged as such. Engulfed by the fatal breath, their flesh melted and fell off, and even the surrounding vegetation quickly wilted. Once the Bone Dragons had almost finished cleaning up, the skeleton infantry began their task, clearing the remaining giant toads around the pond. ¡°Fang Hao, do you think we can eat the mushrooms on the backs of these giant toads? They don¡¯t seem poisonous,¡± Anjia said, stepping on a dead giant toad and studying its mushrooms. Fang Hao jumped down from the Bone Dragon, glancing at her, ¡°Have I mistreated you? Or have I starved you? Do you really need to research whether the mushrooms are poisonous or not?¡± There was no shortage of food in their territory, in fact, one could say it was surplus. There were hardly any living people in Fang Hao¡¯s main city now, so food was the least of their worries. ¡°But what if we¡¯ve discovered a new ingredient? ¡°Forget it, leave such a formidable task to Eira,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°That works too, shall we gather some for Eira to take back?¡± ¡°No! leave the living people of the territory alone.¡± ¡°Uh, okay, then I¡¯ll return to the fight.¡± The battle was still ongoing. One after another, Speckled Giant Toads leaped out of the pool, battling with the undead army surrounding them. There were simply too many undead. Even though the Speckled Giant Toads could drag ordinary undead skeletons into their mouths. But their overwhelming numbers, dense without a single gap, could choke all of them to death. Furthermore, the Undead warriors were not just waiting to die. They were carrying out their orders to kill, fearlessly. The Giant Toad¡¯s most significant advantage was stealth. It depended on camouflage, striking its prey by surprise. However, if an adversary was prepared, or if the enemy was much stronger than the Giant Toad, the attacks would seem monotonous. The Giant Toad had shifted from fighting on the pond¡¯s edge to shrinking back into the water, making its last stand. Arrows and magic missiles were ceaselessly shot into the pond. The lifeless body of the Giant Toad started to surface. The pond had become a sanctuary for the Giant Toad, greatly prolonging the duration of the battle. The fight lasted more than two hours. And was finally drawing to a close. ¡°Clean up the battlefield, pick up all the fallen equipment, gather the Giant Toad¡¯s corpses, and look for treasure chests,¡± Fang Hao began giving out orders for the final operation. This pond had been occupied by the Giant Toad. Various beasts and Warcrafts could still be seen while they continued their journey. In this place, in this pond area, no insect chirps or birdcalls could be heard. It was this environment that led to the proliferation of so many Giant Toads. The Undead army dispersed, collecting all their fallen comrades¡¯ weaponry and equipment. The Giant Toad¡¯s bodies were also loaded onto carts, awaiting transport back. After a thorough search, the battlefield cleanup was completed, but not one skeleton had brought back a treasure chest. What¡¯s going on? This isn¡¯t right. The entire battlefield had been covered, so many skeletons were searching, the chances of any area being overlooked were slim. In the end, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell onto the location of the central pond. If anything was missed by the Skeleton soldiers, it would surely be at the bottom of this pond. ¡°Go, some of you go down and see if there are any valuables¡±, Fang Hao instructed a nearby skeleton. Following commands, the skeleton plunged directly into the water. In no time, some severed seagrass floated to the surface, then a gold treasure chest bobbed up. It was indeed underwater. Once the chest was reeled in, Fang Hao immediately chose to open it. [You obtained: Blueprint of Giant Toad Leather Knee Trousers (Green), Blueprint of Giant Toad Leather Work Boots (Green), Blueprint of Giant Toad Leather Belt (Green), Blueprint of Giant Toad Leather Gloves (Green), Spring Water Markings x5, Natural Essence x3, Mist-Cloaked Crystal x5.) Well, that¡¯s something, a Giant Toad armor set. An armor set usually comes with set attribute bonuses, but the late appearance of this one left Fang Hao somewhat unsatisfied. Close combat foot soldiers had already replaced their leather armor with metallic ones, greatly enhancing their survivability on the battlefield. Mages had their Mage robes, only the Skeleton archers didn¡¯t have specific attribute-enhancing armor. He now only hoped that if there were set attributes, they would cater to archer classes. If not considered as a set and not having unique attributes. Then this set of gear is of no use to Fang Hao. [Giant Toad Leather Knee Trousers: Leather x5, Thick Leather x3, Thread x2, Metal Parts X3-] [Giant Toad Leather Work Boots: Leather X3, Thick Leather x4, Thread x3, Cast Iron Pieces x2, Metal Parts x2.] [Giant Toad Leather Belt: Thick Leather x3, Thread x2, Metal Parts X2.] [Giant Toad Leather Gloves: Thick Leather x2, Thread x4, Metal Parts xl.J He reviewed the detailed properties of the gloves. [Giant Toad Leather Gloves] [Category: Gloves] [Defense: Level two defense] [Set effect: Increases movement speed by 1%, increases gathering/production speed by 2%. (This effect can stack with other equipment bonuses.)] (Description: A pair of suitable gloves can make work more efficient..) Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 163, Physical Strength Enlightening Chapter 163: Chapter 163, Physical Strength Enlightening Potion_l Translator: 549690339 Seeing the attributes of the set, Fang Hao realized he had misunderstood the Toad set. It was not ordinary armor, but a shield for the labouring people, a creator of wealth. Whether it was a 1% improvement in movement speed, or a 2% increase in production and gathering. Both greatly improved work efficiency. This set of armor, one could say, was quite decent. Once back, replacing the armor of the laborer Skeletons and the farmers in Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, could increase some work efficiency. After looking at the Toad set, he continued to examine the materials behind. The Traces of Spring Water and the Essence of Nature did not need to be examined, both were materials he had before. The key was the [Mist-Cloaked Crystal], This material had appeared in the blueprints of the Iron Claw Rat¡¯s nest he had purchased before and belonged to the recruitment materials. However, to which faction it specifically belonged, he guessed it might be that of the Elf Clan. After all, this name sounded closer to nature. [Mist-Cloaked Crystal] [Category: Crystal] (Description: A special material owned by the fairy faction, used for recruiting soldiers and constructing buildings.) Fairy? It was not the Elf Clan, but the Fairy faction. That being said, the name ¡®Mist-Cloaked¡¯ seemed quite fitting for fairies. In Fang Hao¡¯s mind, an image inexplicably surfaced, in a dim street corner. A petite figure, with two transparent wings like a dragonfly, passionately kissing an orc. Fang Hao hastily shook his head, shaking the unpalatable image from his mind. After packing up all the spoils of war, Fang Hao waved his hand and gave the order to return. Emerging from the dense forest, the sun was already slanting towards the horizon. It should be around three or four in the afternoon, and the large troop began to return. Along the way, those villagers who had just come out to work ran back to their village, the village gate was closed and they watched the passing Undead army from a distance. Unsure what these undead were doing, they had just passed by in the morning, why were they returning in the afternoon? Could there be an undead stronghold nearby? Everyone grew anxious. The team approached the territory. Fang Hao then dismissed his God¡¯s Presence state and walked out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Eira and a few rabbit maids were out drying washed curtains, they all broke into smiles seeing Fang Hao come out. ¡°Master, you¡¯re awake, did we have a good bounty today?¡± Eira asked softly. Every time Fang Hao led the soldiers out, they would always haul back a big pile of loot. ¡°This time was okay, but the harvest wasn¡¯t too big.¡± Fang Hao shook his head. Was there a harvest? Yes, but not a big one. Some blueprints for making leather armor are no longer the main equipment of the troops in his territory. His present haul, for someone who had seen a lot, wasn¡¯t very exciting. ¡°Now the territory is very safe, there¡¯s no rush.¡± Eira smiled consolingly. ¡°Eira¡¯s right.¡± Fang Hao also broke into a smile. Before long. The fully loaded team entered the city gate, and Fang Hao went to meet them. ¡°Here you go.¡± Anjia tossed him various blueprints, along with some rare materials. He caught them and entered all the blueprints into the Book of Lords. [Speckled Toad at Level 7,124. in quantity, do you wish to slaughter?] The sudden prompt made Fang Hao pause. I¡¯m going, this toad can actually be slaughtered. Yes! [Slaughter completed, obtained Meat 148800, Leather 34500, Beast Bone 14200, Speckled Mushroom 75, Gnome Mushroom 22, Ghost Mushroom 5.] Several trucks full of corpses were all processed. Their flesh and bones were separated and automatically stored in the warehouse. Once all the slaughter was complete, Fang Hao instantaneously felt some regret. There was no shortage of food in the territory, would it be better if he had all these transformed into Skeleton Toads instead? It was too late to regret now, seeing the prompt, he subconsciously chose confirm. But it didn¡¯t matter, there was plenty of toad corpses left that were hit by the Bone Dragon¡¯s breath of death, the flesh of these had already fallen off and naturally were not included in the default slaughter range. Besides, this slaughter produced many types of fungi. It couldn¡¯t be that they could actually be eaten, right? He was having trouble accepting the idea of eating toad meat, and he had very little faith in these mushrooms being edible. [Speckled Mushroom] [Category: Fungi] (Description: Commonly grown in marsh regions or special environments, contains toxins, mainly used for alchemy materials.) I knew it. This thing definitely can¡¯t be eaten. Who would eat a mushroom that grows on the back of a toad? ¡°Alright, throw the carcasses and bones of these gigantic toads into the transformation pool,¡± Fang Hao directed to his skeleton workers. The skeletons, who had been pushing a cart, left, and Fang Hao decided to craft the gigantic toad armor set first. He opened the Book of Lords, initiating a private chat with Zhang Bin. He asked, ¡°How many farmers do you have in your city and the affiliated villages?¡± Zhang Bin replied quickly, likely because he was also leafing through the Book of Lords. ¡°Boss, I counted when I arrived. There are 75 people in the city, and a total of 842 people in the two affiliated villages. Do you want me to count the soldiers too?¡± Zhang Bin replied. Fang Hao was about to ask why there were so few people, but immediately understood. The population in a village-level domain isn¡¯t that large to begin with. The Pigmen Village only had two to three hundred people, so having 842 people in two human villages was already quite a lot. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make some clothes for them. You can distribute them later.¡± ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Zhang Bin responded. Fang Hao ended the chat and opened the crafting tab in the Book of Lords. He adjusted the crafting amount for the gigantic toad set to 70. He selected to craft. [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, obtained Gigantic Toad Knee Pants 7070] [Hundredfold Amplification triggered, obtained¡­.] Light filled the cave as the gigantic toad sets rained down. There were currently 5000 skeleton laborers in his domain, the remaining 2000, excluding those assigned to Zhang Bin, were in the Pigmen Village and Bullman Village. Both villages had labor units, so distributing them would be considered an allocation of domain benefits. ¡°Call for the Blood Hunter,¡± Fang Hao called to a vixen maid. After the maid dressed up, her fluffy tail was revealed, making anyone who saw it want to stroke it. ¡°Ah, master,¡± the vixen yelped in surprise, dropping her head timidly when she heard Fang Hao call her. They¡¯d just arrived in the domain and everything was unfamiliar and scary to them. ¡°Run an errand for me, call for the Blood Hunter, tell him I¡¯m looking for him,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Master, I don¡¯t know who Blood Hunter sir is,¡± the vixen whispered with her head bowed low. ¡°He¡¯s the one with pointed teeth and huge bat wings on his back.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± she replied. The Blood Hunter¡¯s appearance was very distinctive, in the entire domain, he was the only one with a pair of huge bat wings. He always came and went by flying, it was hard for him to not draw attention. While the vixen was off to find the Blood Hunter, Fang Hao uploaded 900 sets of the four-piece set directly to Zhang Bin¡¯s designated trading column. Although Zhang Bin had already become one of Fang Hao¡¯s city lords, to carry out a quick trade via the Book of Lords, they still needed to list the items for exchange as before. There wasn¡¯t any special way to do it. Luckily, this wasn¡¯t too troublesome. As long as the other party listed an item, the trade would be automatically completed. ¡°Damn, Boss, you¡¯re amazing. Adding labor attributes, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen equipment that does that,¡± Zhang Bin sent a message. ¡°It¡¯s a bit late today, you can deliver them to the affiliated villages tomorrow,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Got it, Boss. First thing tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll deliver them personally. I¡¯ll also check on their work.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The call ended. At this moment, the Blood Hunter descended from the air. ¡°My Lord,¡± The Blood Hunter saluted. ¡°Mm, these are the armors made for the skeleton laborers. You take care of distribution. The remaining pieces should be sent to Pigmen Village.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord. 1¡¯11 handle it right away.¡± The bat wings spread again and he flew away.¡± After arranging for the labor units to change their equipment, Fang Hao returned to the Trade Alliance. In the morning, he accepted an order for an alchemy robe. In addition to the reward of 10,000 Warfire Coins, there was also an Enlightening Potion for stamina. He was quite interested in this potion. Last time, he was able to learn magic with the help of the Magic Enlightenment Potion. He headed straight to the Trade Alliance, where Doujin was arranging work for the remaining skeleton businessmen. The window gradually darkened, ¡°Lord,¡± the few skeleton businessmen present bowed slightly. ¡°Mm, Doujin, any new orders?¡± Fang Hao asked, sitting at the counter. No new orders have been received, Lord,¡± Doujin replied. ¡°Oh, is the order for the Alchemy Robe from this morning finished?¡± It¡¯s finished. The Warfire Coins have been sent to the Lord¡¯s mansion and given to Miss Eira. This is the Stamina Enlightening Potion,¡± Doujin said, bending over to retrieve a potion from under the counter and placing it in front of Fang Hao. [Stamina Enlightenment Potion] [Category: Potion] [Effect: Obtain robust constitution. (Repeat use of Enlightenment Potion will replace the effect of the original potion, previously learned skills will be automatically canceled.)] (Description: An Enlightenment potion made by the Master Alchemist. Can awaken potential within the body, greatly increasing physical stamina.) This isn¡¯t fair.. Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Chapter 164,1 am going to have hotpot todayl Chapter 164: Chapter 164,1 am going to have hotpot todayl Translator: 549690339 This isn¡¯t reasonable. Fang Hao frowned at the information that the Enlightening Potions could not be used simultaneously. So, the Enlightening Potion would retain only the effect of the most recently used potion. And after using it, all the previously learned skills or related abilities will disappear automatically. Fang Hao has learned several skills, such as Fire Arrow, Mist Wrap, and Summon Spirit, etc. They definitely cannot be overridden like this. Besides, who says mages can¡¯t have a strong physique? Didn¡¯t Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings wield both a magic wand and an iron sword? ¡°My lord, is there a problem?¡± Doujin asked curiously, seeing Fang Hao sitting there grinding his teeth. ¡°Nothing major, it¡¯s just that I can¡¯t use this hard-earned potion,¡± Fang Hao sighed and carefully put the potion away. Even if he can¡¯t use it, other transmigrators can. It could be exchanged for some good items. ¡°Oh, my lord, you¡¯re fretting about this, huh. Enlightening Potions are there to stimulate human potential, not enhance it, and thus they can¡¯t be used simultaneously,¡± Doujin explained. Fang Hao was a little surprised, ¡°You know all this?¡± ¡°Understanding the uses of merchandise is fundamental to a merchant, isn¡¯t it,¡± Doujin replied casually. ¡°You have a point.¡± ¡°By the way, my lord, when I sold the alchemy cloaks this morning, I mentioned the surplus cloaks to them. They said they have used up this order and would be placing an exclusive order with us next time,¡± Doujin said. ¡°Great, at least we won¡¯t have a surplus of cloaks that we don¡¯t need,¡± Fang Hao, strapping his backpack to his back, said, ¡°Alright, you guys keep at it, I¡¯ll head back first.¡± ¡°Godspeed, my lord.¡± At dinner. Eira brought up a steaming pot filled with sliced meat and various vegetables. It was hot pot, which Fang Hao had casually mentioned, and Eira had prepared dinner based on the information in his words. ¡°Master, is the taste the same as the hot pot you mentioned?¡± Eira asked eagerly. The hot pot was boiled with water and seasoned with specially made condiments, giving it a red color. The steaming hot mist and the roiling soup filled the room with a delicious aroma, titillating the taste buds. Gurgle! Watching mesmerized, Anjia¡¯s stomach started to grumble. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, Anjia, you try some too, and stop drooling.¡± Fang Hao was the first one to pick up the chopsticks, dipped a slice of meat into his bowl, and after it cooled down a bit, put it directly into his mouth. A spicy, tender taste flooded his mouth. ¡°Wow! Eira, you¡¯re amazing, this is even tastier than I imagined,¡± Fang Hao praised loudly. With Eira¡¯s seasoning and the inherently excellent taste of the Demon Beast Meat, the mimic hot pot was even more delicious than the real thing. ¡°Really? I¡¯m glad you like it, master,¡± Eira said, her face breaking into a blissful smile. ¡°Eat quickly, or Anjia will finish it all.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Anjia grumbled, protesting while stuffing her face. Now, all three of them used chopsticks to eat, and even the newly joined maids began imitating them gradually. It wasn¡¯t something Fang Hao asked them to do. These maids saw the three of them doing so, and started doing it themselves, also because sometimes Eira talked about it, so they all started to imitate. While everyone started to dig in, Fang Hao opened his Book of Lords to check the chat channel. ¡°I¡¯m not short of meat, but I¡¯m out of salt, my mouth tastes so bland it¡¯s like eating bird food, I¡¯m feeling weak too.¡± ¡°Ha, do you really feel weak because of lack of salt, I don¡¯t want to call your bluff.¡± ¡°Same here, even my sweat tastes salty now, I wish I could eat meat while licking my sweat.¡± ¡°Good idea, are there any ladies interested in mutual licking, please don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯m a gentleman, only forced to do this by the current situation.¡± ¡°I did switch some salt with a nearby village, if you need any, exchange 500 basic units, to special resource units, I will provide you some.¡± ¡°Bloody hell! You¡¯re daylight robbery! Are you selling salt or gold here.¡± ¡°Exactly, you could sell it cheaper, then exchange more from the village, it¡¯s a win-win.¡± Fang Hao looked at the chat in the channel and was a bit bemused. He had always left the issue of food to Eira, and as they developed, their condiments were not limited to salt anymore. He wondered how so many people still couldn¡¯t afford salt. ¡°Eira, is it hard to prepare the base sauce for this hot pot?¡± Eira, who was eating, lifted her head and said, ¡°Not hard at all. I made a small barrel of it. Just a spoonful is enough for each meal. My lord, you may take some with you when you are traveling outside. This way, you can also enjoy the hot pot on the go.¡± The process of making hotpot is the simplest and most convenient among all dishes. Once the water is boiled, slices of meat can be added for consumption. If these seasonings are included, it¡¯s both convenient and delicious. ¡°Eira, after dinner, you break down the amount of seasoning used today into separate portions. If Eira makes it this tasty, it would definitely do well in the market.¡± Fang Hao suggested. Eira seemed a little confused, responding, ¡°Master, do you plan on selling these? They¡¯re difficult to sell ¨C even the large tribes only accept salt.¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Fang Hao replied confidently, ¡°If they sell well, Soye will get you some new clothes.¡± ¡°Really, great!¡± Eira almost jumped with joy. After Eira was done with her task, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and activated the camera function. He took a number of photos from different angles of tonight¡¯s meal, captioning, ¡®After a busy day, this delicious hotpot takes all the fatigue away.¡¯ Send! Instantaneously, the entire regional channel erupted once again. ¡°The big shot must be trolling; why else would he send photos of hotpot at this time?¡± ¡°Damn, I¡¯ve been here for over twenty days and haven¡¯t even tasted salt. Yet, Fang Hao is enjoying a hotpot.¡± ¡°Envy, jealousy, and hatred! This is even more envious than seeing Fang Hao¡¯s healthy legs in his pictures.¡± ¡°This is not logical. Are the big shot and us even in the same world? Why is there such a huge gap?¡± ¡°I want to eat hotpot too, Fang Hao, are you selling the base ingredients? I want to eat hotpot.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t require the base ingredients, just leave me some soup after you¡¯re done with the hotpot.¡± ¡°I want some too.¡± Reading the atmosphere in the channel. Fang Hao continued in the chat, ¡°Stock of this condiment is limited. I¡¯ll sell them in the channel and the market. If you have special items to trade, feel free to message me privately.¡± Eira divided the hotpot base into more than 40 portions. For the people in the channel, it wasn¡¯t much. Despite that, unable to do other, he could only offer that much for sale. ¡°Big shot, how do we trade? I¡¯m running low on salt. I¡¯ve been feeling dizzy every day.¡± Fang Hao thought for a bit, then replied, ¡°I¡¯ll put up 10 portions. 5 units of rare resources each.¡± ¡®Wow, that¡¯s only 5 portions for the entire channel. Big shot, this is hunger marketing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too little!¡± Fang Hao honestly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have many either, these condiments are not essential. If you¡¯re not in a hurry you can wait, the price will go down once I have more stock.¡± The chatter in the channel quieted down immediately. The condiments were different from the Rejuvenation Spring ¨C its price was still 10 units of rare resources. Those who were buying the Rejuvenation Spring were either injured or dying and didn¡¯t care about spending some resources. However, the condiments were different ¨C skipping a meal wouldn¡¯t kill anyone. 5 units of rare resources instantly deterred 90% of the people. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll wait until the price drops.¡± ¡°Me too, I¡¯ll to venture out with my soldiers tomorrow to see if there are any villages where I can exchange for salt.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been tiptoeing around for half a month, can¡¯t I eat something decent? I don¡¯t care, I want to eat hotpot today no matter the cost.¡± ¡°I also want one, it¡¯s just 5 units, it would be a treat for my soldiers.¡± One after another, individuals who had resources at their disposal started placing their orders. There were too few portions available, they sold out as soon as they were listed. Those who missed out started complaining in the channel. Ding! At this moment, a private message sounded in the Book of Lords. It was a lord named Tian Zhiyong. Fang Hao remembered him. Once, he had sold him a blueprint, after producing it, the man exchanged materials for another one. He was pretty shrewd. ¡°[Four-legged Terrestrial Lizard Flute] Big shot, no dilly-dallying, trade for 5 units of Rejuvenation Spring, 1 portion of hotpot base.¡± Tian Zhiyong said. [Four-legged Terrestrial Lizard Flute] [Category: Shepherd¡¯s Flute] (Description: The first time blown, a four-legged terrestrial lizard is summoned. After a successful summons, each subsequent blow summons the four-legged terrestrial lizard to its side. (For the initial summon, ensure it is at an accessible location).) What on earth is this? A mount? Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 165, Four-Footed Giant Lizard 1 Chapter 165: Chapter 165, Four-Footed Giant Lizard 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°What¡¯s the deal, does it summon a type of soldier or a mount?¡± Fang Hao asked in response. Tian Zhiyong replied, ¡°It¡¯s a mount, but it also has strong attacking abilities; its strength is around level 5.1 didn¡¯t dare use it. My men got injured, and I had to sell it out of necessity.¡± Tian Zhiyong is always bold and cautious. Recently, close to his territory, he discovered a group of Lizardmen wearing strange clothes. This group looked like a caravan, yet also resembled a group of pilgrims. In any case, he discovered these Lizardmen, and they found his territory as well. Tian Zhiyong did not want to provoke this group. However, after villagers who had been working outside for two consecutive days went missing, he began to suspect the Lizardmen. After arranging several soldiers to investigate, they confirmed the Lizardmen¡¯s campsite as well as the obviously tortured bodies of villagers. Tian Zhiyong felt that something was not right. What were these Lizardmen up to? If they were just camping and resting, he would consider compromising despite his fury over the death of two villagers, prioritizing the safety of his entire territory. But if the Lizardmen were waiting for reinforcements, that would be trouble. Tian Zhiyong thought again and again, planning a big move, either wiping out these Lizardmen or risking everything in a gamble ¨C if he lost, he would abandon the city with his men. So, after he had decided, he began to formulate a detailed plan. The numbers on both sides were roughly equal, but the ranking of the Lizardmen¡¯s soldiers exceeded his own. Head-to-head combat wouldn¡¯t win him victory. To triumph, he would have to resort to some special tricks. He led his soldiers to set up a large number of traps on hidden paths. Then, after feigning defeat in an attack, he lured the Lizardmen, who were as crazed as if they¡¯d been injected with chicken blood, to the trap to start the fight. After a gruesome battle, Tian Zhiyong won, but the casualties were heavy. Half of his troops had died. The remaining men, including himself, had come back to the territory injured. Out of desperation, he picked valuable items from the spoils of war to exchange. Of course, the hotpot seasoning was added after opening the Book of Lords and seeing people chatting. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve seen the giant lizard before. It¡¯s huge and can serve as a mount as well as a transport for goods. It also has fighting capabilities,¡± Tian Zhiyong continued to explain. Compared to Fang Hao, Tian Zhiyong was more eager to finalize this trade. After all, the injuries can¡¯t wait. Who knows if these Lizardmen have reinforcements, or a few escapees might launch a surprise attack. Fang Hao pondered, ¡°I already have a mount, your shepherd¡¯s flute won¡¯t be of much help to me.¡± He had horses and a Bone Dragon in his territory. For short distances to the Orc or human city, he would ride a horse. If the journey was long, he would ride the Bone Dragon. He didn¡¯t find your giant lizard particularly interesting. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Tian Zhiyong¡¯s heart tightened. He had made a few deals with Fang Hao before. They were not familiar, but he had some understanding of Fang Hao¡¯s personality. If he said he didn¡¯t need this thing, it wasn¡¯t him bargaining, he really didn¡¯t need it; he had something better on hand. Don¡¯t, boss. I still have injured people waiting for treatment in the territory. How about three units of Rejuvenation Spring? I also got a saddle for the giant lizard, I¡¯ll give them to you together,¡± Tian Zhiyong was genuinely anxious. Fang Hao confirmed the quantity of the Rejuvenation Spring, which was enough. So, he agreed directly, replying: ¡°Alright, put it on the shelf.¡± ¡°All right, thanks, boss.¡± Soon, Tian Zhiyong put his items on the designated area. One was a Four-legged Giant Lizard Flute, and the other was a Giant Lizard Saddle Blueprint. Fang Hao, as agreed, traded using three units of Rejuvenation Spring and a piece of hotpot base. The three units of Rejuvenation Spring could be used for healing, and the hotpot base could enable Tian Zhiyong and his subordinates to have a simple celebration and a good meal. After completing the trade, a shepherd¡¯s flute and a blueprint for a giant lizard¡¯s saddle were added to Fang Hao¡¯s inventory. Tian Zhiyong added again, ¡°Thank you, boss. If you need anything in the future, just let me know.¡± After that, they both ended the chat immediately. Given their current situation and the distance between them, such a statement was more of a courtesy. After filing away the saddle blueprint, Fang Hao walked out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion with the shepherd¡¯s flute. It was mentioned on the flute that the summoning has to be done at a reachable point for the Four-legged Giant Lizard. He was not sure if the city could be considered a reachable point. So, he planned to go outside the city and blow the shepherd¡¯s flute there. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Anjia asked as she saw Fang Hao going out. See.¡± Fang Hao casually waved the shepherd¡¯s flute in his hand. ¡°A whistle?¡± The shepherd¡¯s flute wasn¡¯t a slender flute. It was more like a finely crafted wooden whistle and only slightly bigger than an Orc¡¯s Wolf Tooth Necklace. It could be hung around the neck, worn on the waist, or if you had pockets sewn into the sides of your clothes, it could be tucked in there. ¡°It¡¯s a shepherd¡¯s flute. It summons a mount,¡± Fang Hao said. Oh, a horse flute. I know about these, you can use them to call a horse over,¡± Anjia replied with sudden realization. Horses¡¯ flutes were more commonly used by humans. Orcs also used them but not as often. However, you could occasionally see them in Orc City. ¡°Sort of, but it¡¯s a giant lizard, very fierce. Want to come see?¡± Fang Hao teased with a child-tempting expression. Anjia frowned at him and instinctively replied, ¡°You¡¯re not scared, are you?¡± If you¡¯re not coming, never mind.¡± After saying that, Fang Hao walked off briskly. Anjia giggled, put her arm around his shoulder like an elder brother, and followed him out. Outside the territory, under the city gate. Fang Hao blew the shepherd¡¯s flute directly. After the crisp sound of the flute, peace returned. ¡°Where¡¯s the giant lizard?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, it can¡¯t be ¡­¡± Before Fang Hao could finish his sentence, a quick and heavy sound of running came from afar. A giant figure appeared in the dim forest. It knocked over several skeletons working along the way and charged excitedly towards them. Its lizard-like appearance was massive, as big as a full-grown elephant. Just as Anjia readied herself for battle, preparing to give it a punch, the giant lizard stopped. It looked at them excitedly. ¡°Four-legged Giant Lizard (Level 7)¡± ¡°Camp: Lizardmen¡± ¡°Racial Traits: Living creatures, docile, color-changing skin.¡± ¡°Skills: Stable Movement.¡± ¡°Innate Abilities: Intermediate Strength Mastery.¡± ¡°Docile (Passive): Docile in character, does not actively attack any targets.¡± ¡°Color-Changing Skin (Passive): After remaining stationary for 30 seconds, it will enter a stealth mode (cannot move).¡± (¡°Description: Every giant lizard that becomes a mount is strictly trained by the Lizardmen¡¯s Beast Tamers since childhood. When running, it is as fast as a Shadow Leopard but much steadier.¡±) ¡°Whoa, cool. It¡¯s handsome.¡± Anjia went ahead and slapped the giant lizard¡¯s thigh.. Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 166, There is a Unfortunate Guy_l Chapter 166: Chapter 166, There is a Unfortunate Guy_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao gazed at the enormous size of the giant lizard, surprised. Even though it was named as a giant lizard, he didn¡¯t expect it to be so enormous. It resembled a rhino the size of an elephant, but with the head and scales of a lizard. Despite its enormity, it was still dwarfed by the bone dragon, which made it easier to accept its size. Upon closer observation, the head shape of this giant lizard shared some resemblance with the bone dragon. ¡°Let¡¯s ride that one around.¡± Anjia seemed eager. After summoning such a creature, it would indeed be a big miss not to ride it around a bit. ¡°Wait a moment, I need to create a saddle.¡± He opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint that he just saved. ¡°Giant lizard cargo saddle blueprint: Hard rigid wood ¨C 20, Leather ¨C 350, Thick leather ¨C 150, Iron ¨C 80, Metal parts ¨C 50.¡± Create 1. ¡°A hundredfold multiplication triggered, received 101 Lizard Cargo Saddles.¡± A hundred and one saddles appeared instantly, stacking up on the side. Fang Hao commanded the skeletons to keep one and store the rest into the warehouse. The giant lizard¡¯s saddle was indeed different from the bone dragon¡¯s transport saddle. There were two seats near the neck of the giant lizard that could accommodate two passengers simultaneously. Moreover, there was a larger space on its back. A platform made of hard rigid wood, which could be used to tie up goods, was built on the back. This was indeed very advantageous. If the giant lizard died, Fang Hao could summon more skeleton giant lizards. Once equipped with a saddle, they could effectively replace the carts. It could also resolve the problem of transportation through rivers and dense jungles. He fitted the saddle onto the giant lizard. With a small leap, Anjia was up on the back of the giant lizard. ¡°Do you prefer the front or the back seat?¡± She asked Fang Hao, who was still on the ground. ¡°Whatever you like is fine with me.¡± ¡°Then you sit in the back, it¡¯s more comfortable there,¡± Anjia said seriously. Fang Hao climbed up the rope ladder onto the giant lizard¡¯s back and joked, ¡°You better stop talking, you¡¯re a bad influence.¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®bad¡¯?¡± Anjia asked, turning around. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s take a spin around before the city gates close,¡± Fang Hao sidestepped the topic and urged her to move on. ¡°Okay.¡± With a flick of the reins, the giant lizard took off, running at a fantastic speed around the territory like a bolt of lighting. Fang Hao sat behind while Anjia let out wind-facing shouts of joy. The giant lizard was indeed a good mount. It ran faster than a galloping horse and was much smoother in movement. Even with the wind howling in their ears, the ride was not as bumpy as riding a horse. This was indeed an excellent mode of transportation for delivering goods. The more he thought about this, the more Fang Hao wanted to turn the giant lizard into a skeleton so he could summon more of them in the future. However, this was just wishful thinking; he wouldn¡¯t really slaughter the giant lizard and throw it into the conversion pool. After taking a lap around the territory, the giant lizard stopped in front of the city gates. ¡°Ah¡­it¡¯s¡­it¡¯s¡­not bad¡­it¡­runs¡­pretty¡­smoothly,¡± Anjia stammered, obviously winded from the excitement. Fang Hao rolled his eyes at her impatiently. The two of them led the giant lizard into the city and asked the skeletons to build a separate shed for it. A normal stable would not be large enough to accommodate this creature. After settling in the newly summoned giant lizard, Fang Hao returned to the Skeleton Conversion Field area. The conversion of the speckled toad was already done. ¡°Skeleton Giant Toad (Tier 5)¡± ¡°Faction: Undead¡± ¡°Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerable to Light, Amphibious.¡± ¡°Skills: Powerful Leap.¡± ¡°Innate Abilities: Intermediate Water Mastery.¡± ¡°Amphibious (Passive): Can move freely on land and underwater.¡± ¡°Powerful Leap (Active): Leap high into the air to attack the enemy, each meter increase in jumping height adds 5% damage.¡± (Note: The Skeleton species converted from corpses still retain their traits and attack methods from when they were alive.) Looking at the attributes of the skeleton giant toad, Fang Hao felt somewhat disappointed. He had not imagined the toad to have an ability to simply jump and smash enemies, but rather he hoped that the skeleton giant toad could build a highly efficient air defense system. Just like when the bats were led over the pond and wiped out in the blink of an eye. Now, with only one powerful leap skill, his idea of building an aerial defense system was thoroughly shattered. ¡°Alright, you all go and wait outside the city.¡± Fang Hao ordered. A few dozen skeleton giant toads jumped out of the city gates. After dealing with everything, Fang Hao finally returned to his room. The next day, early in the morning. Fang Hao woke up from his dreams. He then began to exercise around his territory because he had spent most of his time lying on his bed. Lying down while sleeping, lying down while fighting with God¡¯s Presence. If this continued, his body would deteriorate. If God¡¯s Presence didn¡¯t require spiritual power, he would rather drink the enlightening potion to augment his physique. After breakfast, he confirmed with Doujin that there were no new orders, then Fang Hao began to prepare his plans for the day. He still had a blueprint that he had bought from the pub in Pruell City. ¡°Bandit Camp¡±. It was located to the southwest of Pruell City. He learned from the pub¡¯s owner that this band was quite infamous; the nearby cities and villages had found no effective way to deal with them. These bandits would abandon their hideout and escape whenever they got word of Pruell City¡¯s organized attempts to exterminate them. They would return after the attempt was over and look for new sites to rebuild their lairs. As they didn¡¯t have any fields to cultivate, their livelihood depended on looting. After breakfast. Fang Hao returned to his room, unleashed God¡¯s Presence, and then lead his troops out of the territory, towards the bandit camp. For this bandit extermination mission, he only took a hundred bone dragons filled with five-tiered skeleton trolls as he had to pass Pruell City. The bone dragon was the fastest among Fang Hao¡¯s troops. It could fly high above the ground without attracting as much attention as a land army. Even if they had to bypass Pruell City, it wouldn¡¯t consume too much time. A hundred bone dragons soared into the sky and started moving swiftly towards the bandit camp. Two hours later. The bone dragons finally reached the vicinity of the bandit camp. From afar, they saw a camp built with trees. Although it seemed small from high above, that was merely an optical illusion due to the distance. In reality, this bandit¡¯s nest of such a size was quite significant. It was even nearing the size of Manim Market. Within this camp, numerous wooden houses were built and a relatively tall brick building stood in the center, which was likely the core building. In the corner of the camp, looted resources were stocked up along with a few hostages suspended in the air. Fang Hao, thanks to his good eyesight, could see one of them wearing modern tracksuit. ¡°Damn, another unlucky soul.¡± Fang Hao muttered. He then slapped the back of the bone dragon and ordered, ¡°Get closer and prepare the Dragon Breath.¡± Upon receiving the order, the bone dragon dove down and swiftly approached the camp, followed by a hundred bone dragons behind it, also preparing for the Dragon Breath.. Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Chapter 167, The Faceless Ones Hut (Seeking recommendation tickets...)._i Chapter 167: Chapter 167, The Faceless One¡¯s Hut (Seeking recommendation tickets¡­)._i Translator: 549690339 100 bone dragons swooped down, blanketing the bright sky. The sunlight passed through the gaps in their bones, casting huge shadows as they dived down with the golden glow of their barley husks. The bandits in the camp looked up at the sky, rubbing their eyes involuntarily when they saw the dazzling undead bone dragons. When they realized that this was not an illusion, and that indeed hundreds of bone dragons were rapidly approaching, chaos immediately ensued across the territory. Roar!! A few death breaths enveloped the bandits who had not had time to run into the houses. Struggling in agony, they turned into skeletons. These bandits were not high in rank, most were only Tier 1 or Tier 2, and the slightly more powerful were only Tier 4. Those with high ranks were recruited by various cities and would not gather together to become bandits in the mountains. The bone dragons circled above the camp, their huge claws ripping open the roofs, spewing black beams at the people hiding inside. The suppression of their levels, it was like a massacre. The brutal and fervent bandits were utterly helpless, transforming into skeletons one after another. In a corner, A hapless victim who had been hanged, at this moment, widened his eyes, watching the horrifying scene unfold before him in terror. What¡¯s happening? Wyverns made of bones were hunting the scrambling bandits. The merciless bandits who had cruelly murdered his villagers were just as helpless as ants. If it weren¡¯t for the worn-out foot cloth stuffed in his mouth, he would¡¯ve derided those bandits enthusiastically. You¡¯re the ones who loved to bully people, right? Now someone¡¯s bullying you, right? Nothing but a bunch of shameless thieves. Within the camp, the breaths of the bone dragons wiped out a large number of bandits. Then the bone dragons began to lower their flying altitude, and the skeleton trolls on their backs leaped down and continued to clean up the remaining bandits. The bandits had long been terrified by the onslaught, they had no power to resist. They were killed one by one under the axe of the skeleton trolls. ¡°Lord Undead, Sir Undead, we surrender, we surrender.¡± From the stone brick building at the center of the camp, out came five people. Three humans and two orcs. Another mix of humans and orcs. Their outfits were obviously different from ordinary bandits, more refined and better-off. Without guessing, one could tell that they were the leaders of the bandits. Fang Hao jumped down from the dragon¡¯s back, his gaze falling on the five people. [Human Bandit Warrior (Tier 4)] [Orc Bandit Warrior (Tier 5)] [Human Bandit Leader (Tier 7)]¡­ ¡°Sir Undead, we surrender, there must be some misunderstanding here. Please stop the attack.¡± The five of them knelt directly on the ground, speaking loudly. They just plundered nearby villages and some passing merchant caravans. They were not ones to provoke the undead, they even rarely went to orc territories for fear of provoking the crazy, reckless orcs. They were utterly confused by the undead¡¯s attack, not knowing how they had offended them. ¡°The leader comes to talk.¡± Fang Hao said. [Human Bandit Archer (Tier 4)]. Among the five, an archer was reluctantly pushed forward and walked up to Fang Hao. ¡°You think I am an idiot, don¡¯t you?¡± Fang Hao cursed angrily. Even if he could not see their attributes, he could still tell from their movements that this was a scapegoat. Fang Hao walked to the real leader, angrily kicked him twice, and gave the order, ¡°Kill everyone except him.¡± At his words, everyone was stunned. Then they were beheaded amidst their loud pleas, their heads rolling to the side. The leader¡¯s forehead was shining with drops of sweat, which trickled into his eyes, causing a tickling sensation. That was close. If the scapegoat was believed, he would undoubtedly be beheaded too. Swallowing nervously, he hurriedly said, ¡°Sir Undead, whatever orders you have, I¡­ I will carry them out with all my might to the letter.¡± As he spoke, beads of sweat kept pouring down. Fang Hao gave him a cold glance and said, ¡°Tie him up and take him away later.¡± Having said that, he went directly into the stone house behind him to see if there were any spoils of war. The stone house somewhat resembled a level 4 lord¡¯s wooden house. Inside the hall were piles of seized goods, including fabrics and a few Warfire Coins. This encampment housed a considerable number of people, but it was not wealthy, even rather poor to say the least. ¡°Clear out everything from the room,¡± ordered Fang Hao. The Troll Skeletons got to work, stooping to carry various items from the room outside. This time he came with the Bone Dragon and a full complement of Troll Skeletons, only picking up things he needed or items of value to bring back to his territory. In the bandit leader¡¯s master bedroom, Fang Hao noticed a golden chest. After opening it, rewards appeared. [Received: Blueprint for the Faceless¡¯s Hut, Blueprint for a City Wall, Blueprint for an Iron Sword, 5 Soul Crystals, 72 Warfire Coins.] It¡¯s over. There were repeating blueprints. The only absent blueprint was indeed for the Faceless¡¯ Hut. [Faceless¡¯s Hut (Purple): 550 Hardwood, 300 Stone Bricks, 220 Iron, 80 Metal Parts, 2 Traces of Chaos, 2 Traces of Divinity.] (Description: We are everywhere, We know everything.) It is a purple blueprint again. It seemed that the level of the chest reaching gold was due to this Faceless¡¯ Hut. In addition to the Faceless¡¯ Hut, he¡¯d had blueprints for the City Wall and the Iron Sword quite a while ago. He¡¯ll see if anyone in the channel doesn¡¯t have them and sell them off. In the corner of the camp, The humanoid figures were still hung on wooden stakes, like spectators who had bought tickets to watch an epic on an imax screen from a distance. This was definitely more thrilling than watching it in a movie theater, it was a fully immersive experience. When they saw the Undead issuing orders to execute the bandit leaders on the spot, they felt a sense of bitter revenge inside. As for the leader who wasn¡¯t killed, they were not worried at all. These Undead had killed so many people, how could they possibly spare a leader¡¯s life? While the Undead were spreading out to scour the camp for goods, they began to contemplate ways to escape. The men started to give one another side glances, communicating with their eyes on how to get free. Just as they began to struggle, trying to swing themselves, an Orc girl came walking over with a few gigantic Skeletons. The men promptly feigned death. The ropes were still swinging slightly. ¡°Let them down,¡± ordered Anjia. The Troll Skeleton raised its axe and cleanly severed the rope suspending the men. Thump, thump, thump! Ugh!! The sound of their falling bodies rang out sharply, followed by muffled moans of pain from the men pretending to be dead. Anjia pulled the rag from the mouth of the man in the tracksuit and said, ¡°Come with me.¡± The man still lay on the ground, pretending to be just a corpse. Thump! Anjia gave him a kick, sending him flying two meters away. The man shrieked in agony as though he¡¯d been hit in the chest by a hammer. ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time,¡± Anjia said coldly. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± The men saw what had happened and immediately got up eagerly, appearing completely subservient. Anjia snorted coldly and brought them before Fang Hao. ¡°So, how did you get captured by the bandits?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s husky voice rang out, his question directed at the man in the tracksuit standing to the side. The man was dressed in a blue tracksuit, with skin that was somewhat tanned, likely from exposure to the sun. Clad in glasses, the lens in the left frame was missing, leaving behind the slightly deformed frame. Faced with the questioning from a skeleton, the man was a little flustered. His legs involuntarily wobbled as he stuttered, ¡°Sir, my village is nearby¡­ the bandits attacked us¡­ and we were taken here.¡± After thinking for a moment, he knelt on the ground with a thud and said, ¡°Thank you, sirs, for saving us¡­ When I return, I will definitely erect a tablet for you and keep burning incense day and night..¡± Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Chapter 168, Give Them a Shout _1 Chapter 168: Chapter 168, Give Them a Shout _1 Translator: 549690339 | Fang Hao looked at the man in front of him, unsure whether to call him smart or dumb. This is another world where the undead don¡¯t engage in such practices. ¡°Alright, with the energy you have to beg, focus on developing in the future.¡± Fang Hao glanced at the impossible-to-carry pile of broken beds and cabinets, ¡°After I leave, these will be yours. Whatever you can use, take it.¡± ¡°Huh? Ah.¡± The man responded subconsciously, but seemed a bit confused. What¡¯s going on? Leaving things for him? Are the undead so loving and kind? Even giving humans benefits and warmth. ¡°You can¡¯t use these?¡± ¡°I can, I can. Thank you, Lord Skeleton, I mean, Lord Undead.¡± The man hurriedly expressed his thanks. ¡°Alright, just wait here.¡± Fang Hao said. The rest of the task was simple. Skeleton, the troll, secured the fabrics, money boxes, and some jewelry he intended to take on the dragon¡¯s back. The corpses of several fourth and fifth-tier bandits were piled together. A breath of death from the Bone Dragon turned the bodies into a pile of white bones. After wrapping them all in beast skins, a large bag was also suspended behind the Bone Dragon¡¯s military saddle. The whole operation left the man staring dumbfounded. After everything was prepared, Fang Hao remounted the Bone Dragon and addressed the spectacled man below, ¡°Don¡¯t leak anything about the undead, otherwise I may have to visit your territory tomorrow.¡± ¡°Ah! Yes, yes, yes. My memory¡¯s been pretty bad recently. I don¡¯t know anything about the undead.¡± The man, rubbing his temples, replied. ¡°Bury the dead bodies here to prevent infection.¡± ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao responded, lightly tapping the Bone Dragon¡¯s neck. The enormous dragon wings unfolded, carrying all of the Bone Dragons away. Only the man and villagers under him were left, their legs went soft and they collapsed to the ground. The heart they were holding up finally eased. By noon. The Bone Dragon returned to the camp with the large group. The battle had only taken the whole morning from start to finish. Skeleton asked the troll to categorize the spoils of war and place them in different spots. The bones of several fourth and fifth-tier victims were thrown into the Transformation Pool. Anjia jumped off the dragon¡¯s back and brought the dizzy bandit leader, who had been hanging behind the Bone Dragon, down. ¡°What to do with him?¡± Anjia didn¡¯t understand. Everyone else was killed, so why was he brought back? ¡°Lock him up for now. After we have lunch, let¡¯s make a trip to Pruell City.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Anjia, holding the constantly begging bandit, headed towards where the Gnolls were previously imprisoned. There was an iron cage there, guarded by a skeleton. Fang Hao directly went to the military area and planned to build the House of the Faceless on a vacant plot. The name itself sounded quite mysterious ¡ª Faceless ¡ª does that mean they have no face? He opened the Book of Lords and directly chose the House of the Faceless. A purple light flashed and ten minutes later, the building was complete. It really was a small stone house, and the door had an insignia that looked like two crossed hooks. The building came with its own symbol, which did have some resemblance to the Trade Alliance. [House of the Faceless] [Category: Special Building] [Ability: Information order 2.] (Description: We are everywhere; we know everything.) Oops, another miscalculation. Fang Hao thought that the troop recruiting from the House of the Faceless was called Faceless. But now it seems more like an intelligence agency. Entering the room, it was not very large, with a counter and behind it, a young blonde woman stood. ¡°Greetings, my lord.¡± The woman gave a slight bow. ¡°So, you¡¯re the staff of this place then?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, my lord, I serve as a guide, answering some of your questions, and after this, no one else will appear here.¡± The woman responded with a smile, albeit a somewhat stiff one. ¡°Alright, then tell me what this place can do.¡± The woman opened the mail chute behind the counter and took out two orders. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s not as difficult as you might think. In the future, if you need any information, you just need to fill out the order with the required information and put it in the mailbox.¡± This operation was similar to how the Skeleton Merchant took product orders, Fang Hao understood as soon as he listened. ¡°Free of charge?¡± ¡°My lord, you¡¯re really humorous. Of course, there will be a certain fee. After the order is sent, it will be evaluated for price within ten minutes. Once you pay, the agreement is complete.¡± The woman maintained her smile throughout. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then continued asking, ¡°What are the success rate and veracity of the information? How do you evaluate them?¡± Information is not a tangible thing. The authenticity and reliability of information are very hard to grasp. If a fake piece of intelligence is sent over, it could potentially endanger lives. ¡°My lord, rest assured. The Faceless One has always had a very high credibility.¡± ¡°And, are there times when you can¡¯t find out?¡± ¡°Yes, often. The higher the demand for information, the more difficult it is. If we can¡¯t complete it, we will directly inform you of the failure. We won¡¯t fabricate information.¡± ¡°Is the money refunded in those cases?¡± ¡°We refund up to 20%.¡± Damn, what a rip-off. Through their conversation, Fang Hao understood the use of the Faceless One¡¯s cottage. It¡¯s simply an intelligence agency, similar to the Intelligence Bureau. They charge fees based on the information you want to inquire. They then arrange personnel to investigate the information. Being able to develop to its current scale, the credibility of the information should not be low. ¡°My lord, do you have any other questions?¡± The woman asked again. ¡°One final question, how often can orders be placed?¡± ¡°The new orders will be mailed in five days, and of course, the number of orders will remain at two; they are not cumulative.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand, thank you for your explanation.¡± ¡°My pleasure, sir,¡± the woman took out a teleportation scroll and slowly disappeared from the screen after bowing. Fang Hao sat in his chair and didn¡¯t immediately leave. He had wanted to write about the Frostwind Mountains Skullcrusher Tribe in the information form, but eventually gave up. Ever since he wiped out the 300,000-strong Skullcrusher army in one fell swoop, the threat from Skullcrusher had decreased significantly. Bronze Bull has arranged for some spies to enter the Frostwind Mountains for information gathering. Rather than sending in the information immediately, it would be better to wait for the information to return so he can fill the form accordingly. This was far better than writing about something unknown. After thinking about it, he left the information hut and it was time for lunch. After lunch. Fang Hao, with Anjia, carried the tortured bandit leader on his back, heading to Pruell City. Looking at the map and seeing they were about to enter the sight range of Pruell City, Fang Hao ordered the quadruped giant lizard to stop. Fang Hao took out a pocket made of leather from his backpack and said, ¡°Kill him and chop off his head.¡± Anjia felt stunned when she took the knight¡¯s sword, while the bandit leader cried and begged for mercy. Thump! The longsword fell, and a head rolled to Fang Hao¡¯s feet. He picked it up by the hair and put it into the leather bag, tightening the bag opening. ¡°Did you take him for a ride just to bring him here and kill him?¡± Anjia asked curiously. ¡°Otherwise? The bounty by the Lord of Pruell City can be collected by exchanging the leader¡¯s head. It¡¯s the height of summer, carrying around a head is troublesome. It¡¯s better to kill him here,¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°How much money will you get as a reward?¡± Anjia¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the bounty. ¡°1000 gold coins, which is about 300 or so Warfire Coins,¡± Fang Hao said as he hung the bag with the head on the side of the giant lizard, and the two of them climbed back onto the lizard to continue their journey. The sight of Pruell City was very good. Seeing a giant creature rapidly approaching from afar, the lookout tower soldiers alerted their comrades, who began to assemble. The archers climbed the city walls, arrows ready to draw. The keen-eyed soldiers spotted the two riders on the giant lizard¡¯s back as it approached. News of Fang Hao saving the cloth merchant Tavek¡¯s daughter had spread in the city, and some soldiers recognized the two riders. When the giant lizard reached the city, Fang Hao looked at the heavily armed soldiers and the guard captain. ¡°What¡¯s up? Are we going to war?¡± The guard captain looked up at Fang Hao sitting atop the lizard, then at the giant lizard underneath him. ¡°Sir, is this your mount?¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t it cool?¡± ¡°Heh, cool, very cool,¡± the guard captain swallowed his saliva. Based on its size, it seemed that the giant lizard in front of him was at least a sixth or seventh-level Warcraft. Should this type of Warcraft be described as cool instead of dangerous? ¡°Sir, I¡¯m afraid your mount needs to stay outside to avoid any unnecessary danger,¡± the guard captain said. Fang Hao dismounted and lightly stroked the giant lizard¡¯s neck scales, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s very gentle.¡± ¡°Lie down, stand up, give them a roar.¡± Roar! The giant lizard lifted its upper jaw and let out a roar. Copious amounts of saliva sprayed from its mouth, soaking a soldier standing in front of it. ¡°Ugh,¡± the soldier leaned against the wall, retching. ¡°No, well, this¡­¡± Fang Hao looked a bit embarrassed, not sure what to say. Looking at his subordinate and then back at the two riders, the captain became more determined, ¡°Sorry, sir, but we can¡¯t let your mount into the city. We have a specialized area for depositing mounts, and we have prepared fodder if it eats fodder.¡± Of course, these were small things, and Fang Hao was not going to pick a fight over whether they would allow his mount into the city or not. ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao patted the giant lizard¡¯s head, ¡°Be good, take a nap, we¡¯ll go back after we¡¯re done.¡± He led the giant lizard to the designated area and tied it to a wooden stake. The giant lizard immediately closed its eyes and lay down on the straw-covered ground. Having resolved the issue of the mount, Fang Hao and Anjia smoothly entered the city. Without any stop along the way, they headed directly to the central structure of the city, the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Guards in uniform outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion stopped the two of them. ¡°This is the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. What business do you have here?¡± The guard¡¯s voice was stern, and his eyes flitted warily over the weapons on the duo. ¡°I saw the bounty set by the City Lord at the tavern, so after killing the bandit leader, I came to collect the reward.¡± Fang Hao lifted the increasingly reddening bag in his hand. The bag contained the head of the bandit leader. ¡°The bandits¡¯ bounty has been pending for many years, and you two managed to get it?¡± The guard¡¯s face was full of disbelief. Fang Hao didn¡¯t look strong, and the robe over the iron armor was even weirder. As for Anjia, she was a girl, so the guard didn¡¯t believe they had the ability to eradicate the bandit camp. ¡°What kind of talk is that? I could take on ten of you single-handedly!¡± Anjia retorted. ¡°How dare you make trouble in front of City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡­¡± The guard shouted when he was contradicted, looking very authoritative in discharging his duties. Fang Hao stopped Anjia who was about to retort, and directly unbuckled the bag. Wa-la-la! Fang Hao directly held up the head of the bandit for the guards to see. A large amount of blood dripped onto the ground. The flesh on the neck of the head was still fresh, indicating that it was very recently cut. ¡°Based on your tone, you should have seen the bandit leader. The head is here, you can confirm whether we are capable or not.¡± He pushed the head right in front of the guard. With a pale face and fear written all over it, the guard recoiled two steps in the face of the unyielding gaze from the head. But he was certain in his heart. If the bandit leader doesn¡¯t have a twin brother, then the head in front of him must be the leader of the bandits they have been trying to capture unsuccessfully for so long.. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Chapter 169, Mitigating Crime with Sword_l Chapter 169: Chapter 169, Mitigating Crime with Sword_l Translator: 549690339 The City Lord¡¯s Hall was spacious and bright. A censer filled with burning incense was placed on the wooden table in front of them, emitting wafts of fragrant scent. The blue curtains were drawn to shield from the glaring afternoon sun. The bandit¡¯s head had been taken away by the guards, and now Fang Hao and Anjia were waiting for the arrival of the City Lord of Pruell City. They had been waiting for twenty minutes. Fang Hao was killing time by reading the Book of Lords, whereas Anjia was getting a bit restless. She was mumbling to herself, criticizing the City Lord for being too arrogant and fantasizing about bringing the Bone Dragon here to raze his house tomorrow. Thump, thump, thump! The sound of footsteps was growing louder, accompanied by the noise of armor friction from the corridor, steadily becoming more distinct. Immediately thereafter, a man wearing a blue embroidered robe, escorted by two guards, walked in. The man seemed to be approaching fifty. His hair was slicked back, and his thick beard was neatly groomed. His brow was slightly furrowed as his eyes scanned over the two young individuals seated in the sitting room. This was Cyril, the City Lord of Pruell City. [Heavy Arrow ¨C Cyril (Blue Level 5 Hero)] Upon entering, Cyril flashed a friendly smile and cordially said, ¡°So you two youngsters are the heroes who defeated the bandit leader.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord, these two indeed brought the head.¡± One of the guards replied. During the twenty minutes that Fang Hao and Anjia had been waiting. The stewards of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion had been investigating Fang Hao and Anjia by visiting Tavek, a cloth merchant, and a tavern. From Tavek and his young daughter, they learned about Fang Hao¡¯s considerable army possessions. As well as his authority over the army. Although the merchant¡¯s daughter was blindfolded at the time, she could still hear a lot. Tavek also provided some of his speculations. For instance, Fang Hao could potentially be the young master of a large clan, who, relying on his interest, could easily establish a factory and mobilize a large number of people within his family. Similar information was heard at the tavern, where he spent 1000 Gold Coins on a short sword simply because it was aesthetically pleasing. Such signs led Cyril to guess that Fang Hao was indeed a young master from a significant family. This was why his opening remark was typical flattery between nobles. ¡°My Lord.¡± as a courtesy, Fang Hao rose to his feet with a smile. Anjia gave them a sidelong glance, standing up albeit somewhat reluctantly. ¡°Haha, good, good. Please sit, there¡¯s no need to be so formal.¡± Cyril nodded in approval and took his seat at the head of the table. Fang Hao accordingly returned to his seat. Servants poured them some wine and served some local pastries that Fang Hao had never seen before. They must be specialities of Pruell City. ¡°My name is Cyril, and I¡¯m the City Lord here. May I have your names?¡± Cyril asked, pretending to be ignorant. ¡°Fang Hao. This is my bodyguard, Anjia.¡± Fang Hao introduced themselves. ¡°Oh, I see. So, Mr. Fang Hao, could you tell me how you discovered the bandits and how you managed to eradicate them?¡± Cyril leaned forward slightly, looking as though he was eagerly anticipating a story. Fang Hao gave a slight smile. Making up stories wasn¡¯t hard. ¡°May I ask whether you¡¯re familiar with Mr. Tavek?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a local cloth merchant. What does this matter have to do with him?¡± ¡°The day before yesterday, I was adventuring in the forest with my family¡¯s army and happened to rescue Mr. Tavek¡¯s real daughter. After returning the girl to Mr. Tavek, I visited the tavern and notice the bounty on the notice board. So, I took the soldiers¡­¡± ¡°¡­ I do not know which village those bandits had plundered, but it turned out they had just returned to their camp when my men completely wiped them out. Their heads were then brought here.¡± The best stories always mix truth with fiction. Incorporating familiar people or objects into your narrative would make it more believable. Tavek and the bounty at the tavern. Regardless of whether the other party previously knew about Fang Hao, these two elements would significantly increase the credibility of the story. After hearing Fang Hao¡¯s silver-tongued tale, Cyril took a sip from his wine glass. However, his eyes kept flicking back to Fang Hao and Anjia. The story was very well-rounded and exceedingly plausible. He became increasingly certain that Fang Hao indeed had a strong backup. The bounty posted at the tavern was merely for show for the civilians. 1OOO Gold Coins wasn¡¯t even close to enough to mobilize an army to eliminate bandits, or else the bounty wouldn¡¯t have remained unclaimed for so long. Fang Hao accepted it, and he succeeded. It seemed his family must be looking for opportunities to hone this young master¡¯s skills, and money was a trivial matter. ¡°My Lord? Lord Cyril?¡± Fang Hao called out softly as he saw Cyril staring blankly, holding his wine glass aloft. Fang Hao thought to himself, ¡®Does this old man have an illness? Why is he staring blankly like that?¡¯ ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Cyril turned his head and told a guard standing beside him, ¡°Bring the reward.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± A guard left to fetch the bounty. ¡°By the way, Mr. Fang Hao, which city do you live in? What does your family do¡­¡± Cyril began to ask casually. Fang Hao responded with fabricated stories, stating that his city was located northwest of Pruell City and his family ran a variety of businesses. While they chatted, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell upon a weapon displayed in a showcase in the hall. It was a rapier with a dazzlingly white blade and hilt that caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention early on. ¡°Lord Cyril, this weapon is beautifully crafted.¡± Fang Hao got up and naturally walked over to the rapier. ¡°Of course it is; it¡¯s an excellent piece of my collection.¡± Cyril said. ¡°May I¡­¡± Fang Hao asked if he could pick it up for a closer look. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Fang Hao grasped the hilt with one hand and lightly supported the blade with the other, lifting the rapier from its stand. [Swords of Absolution (Purple)] [Type: Rapier] [Damage: Level 3 Damage] (Description: A rapier that has killed its own master. Legend says that whoever possesses this sword will suffer agonizing pain leading to death.) Just as suspected, it was a Sword of Absolution. The information he had gotten from the tavern¡¯s storyteller was correct. The City Lord did indeed possess a Sword of Absolution. ¡°The allure of this sword lies not in its appearance but the story behind it.¡± Cyril also came over and stood by Fang Hao¡¯s side. Not wanting to reveal that he already knew the tale, Fang Hao could only ask, ¡°Oh? What¡¯s the story?¡± ¡°There are twelve identical swords in total, and they belonged to a well-known lady countess¡­¡± Cyril started narrating a story similar to that of the tavern¡¯s storyteller. Although there were some differences, the main plotline was the same. Clang! At that moment, the guard, who had left to fetch the bounty, returned. In his hands was a wooden box clinking with 1000 shiny Gold Coins of the Human Clan. ¡°My Lord, I¡¯ve brought the bounty.¡± The guard announced. ¡°Hmm.¡± Cyril turned to Fang Hao. ¡°That¡¯s your bounty, count it.¡± Fang Hao took the coins but did not bother to count. Instead, his eyes remained on the rapier as he bluntly inquired, ¡°1 am very fond of this rapier. I wonder if Lord Cyril would be willing to part with it? Of course, we can negotiate a price..¡± Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Chapter 170, Event Mission Courage of a Common Man Chapter 170: Chapter 170, Event Mission ¡®Courage of a Common Man1 (Seeking recommendations¡­)_1 Translator: 549690339 The Swords of Absolution were said to bring misfortune to their owners. This rumor had been circulating for a long time, but many people still didn¡¯t believe it. Could such a beautifully crafted piece really bring that much disaster? Cyril was one of them, he was a City Lord and a hero, in his dictionary only the weak and frail were unfortunate. But as he aged, he began to realize another issue. Besides being bullied for being weak, illness could also bring misfortune. His only son had recently contracted a strange illness, which was making him lose weight rapidly, and no good solution had been found so far. He began to delegate the administration of the city to his subordinates, dedicating himself to finding a cure for his son. Today, when Fang Hao asked about the Swords of Absolution, the rumor came to his mind along with thoughts of his son. ¡°Do you like this sword? Are you not afraid it could bring you misfortune?¡± Cyril asked curiously. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m giving it away. I suppose it shouldn¡¯t count if I just pass it on.¡± Fang Hao replied directly. He had also seen the mention of misfortune in the properties of the sword. If it were any other time, even if he didn¡¯t believe in such things, he wouldn¡¯t risk it. But he was just completing Little You¡¯s task, and he would pass it on to Little You as soon as he bought it. Fortunate or unfortunate, what did it have to do with him? Besides, Little You was a ghost, and the task itself also involved the sword, so the concept of misfortune didn¡¯t apply. Cyril was momentarily stunned, this sword was actually meant for his enemies. ¡°How much are you willing to pay?¡± Cyril asked for the price directly, seemingly intending to sell it. Fang Hao pushed the money box that had just been delivered to him forward, ¡°1,000 gold coins. I didn¡¯t bring any extra money this time. What do you think, City Lord?¡± Cyril didn¡¯t answer immediately, but his fingers drummed rhythmically on the back of his chair. The exquisite sword certainly wouldn¡¯t go for less than 1,000 gold coins, and if displayed in some large auction houses, it could fetch an even higher price. But who would buy it? His son was sick again and he was thinking of just selling it. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s yours now.¡± Cyril agreed immediately. ¡°City Lord Cyril, you are straightforward.¡± Fang Hao also sighed in relief. He exchanged the bandit bounties for the task item. They were all settled, but Fang Hao did not hurry to leave. Instead, he looked at Cyril again and said, ¡°City Lord Cyril, I wonder what formalities I need to go through if I want to open a shop in Pruell City?¡± ¡°A shop? What kind of shop?¡± Cyril asked curiously. ¡°A restaurant, or a store that sells some civilian utensils.¡± Fang Hao answered. It¡¯s not a good idea to sell weapons and gear in the city. These were sold to official forces from all over the place, no one would allow the residents of their city to freely buy blades and bolts, which would disrupt the order of the city. This was not a game where players could freely buy and sell equipment once they entered the city. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, just report to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion when you¡¯re ready to open your shop.¡± Cyril replied. ¡°Alright, thank you, City Lord.¡± Fang Hao thanked him. His goal for today had been achieved. After chatting with Cyril for a while as a transition, he got up and left the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. He went to the tavern to check if there were any new maps, and then he directly left Pruell City. Outside the city, the Giant Lizard was still lying there, occupying a whole horse stable by itself. A large crowd was far off, all pointing and talking about the Giant Lizard. Some mischievous children wanted to pick up stones and tease it, but were stopped by the adults, and their bottoms were heavily smacked. Fang Hao walked over, lightly patted the Giant Lizard¡¯s body, ¡°Time to get up, we have to go home.¡± The Giant Lizard opened its eyes and flexed its body. It lay down again, allowing Fang Hao and Anjia to easily mount it. Under the stare of many residents, the Giant Lizard quickly began to run, kicking up dust as it went. When they returned to the fiefdom. Fang Hao dismounted the lizard, lightly patted it twice on the neck, and the Giant Lizard obediently went off to its dwelling. A vehicle that could park itself is a dream for many. As soon as Anjia got down, she complained that she was hungry and went to find Eira. On the other hand, Fang Hao took the newly purchased Swords of Absolution to Little You¡¯s place again. This time, before he even knocked, the door was opened. ¡°Lord.¡± Little You greeted. ¡°Hm, you haven¡¯t rested during the day, have you?¡± Fang Hao sat down and asked. Little You usually stayed dormant during the day and went out at night, strolling around the fiefdom, or going even further and returning before dawn. With Little You¡¯s abilities, there wasn¡¯t much she could do to help Fang Hao, so after scouting Skullcrusher¡¯s whereabouts last time, she hadn¡¯t been given any more tasks. ¡°Not yet.¡± Little You replied. ¡°Right, I got another Swords of Absolution this time, 1¡¯11 give it to you.¡± Fang Hao gave the Swords of Absolution to Little You. As soon as she accepted it, a flash of light burst from Little You¡¯s body. And her tier was upgraded again. [Wandering Spirit ¨C Xiao You (Tier 7)] She had risen from 3rd tier to 5th tier when she got the Swords of Absolution last time. This time, she was promoted from the 5th tier to the 7th tier. If this continues, wouldn¡¯t Xiao You become a hero once all 12 swords were collected? And possibly a high-grade hero at that? ¡°How are you feeling, Xiao You? You okay?¡± Fang Hao asked the bewildered Xiao You. Xiao You turned around and spoke softly, ¡°Master, I¡¯m fine. I just saw some images that might be related to my past.¡± Fang Hao was also curious. ¡®Would you mind sharing what you saw?¡± he inquired. ¡°It was all fragmented, I saw myself participating in a swordsmanship competition, I saw myself wearing the church¡¯s clothing, delivering a baby for a pregnant woman, it was all very chaotic,¡± Xiao You detailed her just-seen vision. A swordsmanship competition, and delivering babies. The past Xiao You seemed to have known a lot more. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it too much. Don¡¯t let these things disrupt your current life,¡± Fang Hao stood up and ordered. Collecting all 12 Swords of Absolution is a task in Xiao You¡¯s attributes, and it will continue. Becoming a hero will also be a good thing for Xiao You. She can get on with life, instead of being just an unranked undead wandering spirit. Therefore, while collecting the mission items, maintain a calm attitude and avoid problems. ¡°I understand, Master. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xiao You placed the sword in the cabinet and bowed again. Fang Hao nodded and returned to his lord¡¯s mansion for a meal. Upon returning to the lord¡¯s mansion, Eira had already prepared dinner. Fruit wine, meatloaf, and a kind of food similar to pizza with vegetables and minced meat in it. The taste was actually quite good. Even if there were no side dishes, this pizza could serve as a dinner. ¡°Eira, how is the preparation of the hotpot base material going?¡± Fang Hao asked while eating. ¡°Master, I have already taught the method to the other two maids. When the time comes, we three will make the sauce together. It will be faster.¡± Eira answered. In fact, Eira was still somewhat baffled by Fang Hao¡¯s request. Even if he liked this type of sauce, there was no need to make so much, right? ¡°Ah, once the sauce is ready, I plan to open a hot pot restaurant in Pruell City. I¡¯m sure it will be a hit,¡± Fang Hao stated. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why you asked the old man about opening a shop earlier,¡± Anija realized. She looked up with an expression realizing his secret. Opening a hotpot restaurant was an idea that Fang Hao came up with yesterday. If you ask what¡¯s the most convenient and addictive food, it¡¯s hotpot. Besides, it¡¯s easy to make. It doesn¡¯t require any skilled chefs, just prepare the base material, and then throw whatever you want into the pot. If I put together a team of bunny and fox maids then, it¡¯s bound to be a hundred percent popular. ¡°Will the people of Pruell City also use chopsticks!¡± Eira asked softly while gnawing on her meatloaf. Oh no! They probably don¡¯t. Of course, chopstick is the necessary utensil for eating hot pot. If it was hand picked, there would be no need for meat. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we can make some training chopsticks. Their usage is similar to tongs. People will get used to them,¡± Fang Hao quickly came up with a solution. Training chopsticks for children are connected at the top so they¡¯re easy to use. It¡¯s just like using tongs. After using it twice, people will get the hang of it. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems,¡± Eira nodded in agreement, her bunny ears flapping slightly. Fang Hao also felt there were no issues. Simple base material, tasty flavor, and add to that a couple of barrels of Troll Brew. The cost wouldn¡¯t be too high. If it were successful, the income is quite desirable. No matter how you look at it, there wouldn¡¯t be any issues. Even if the hotpot restaurant didn¡¯t work out and couldn¡¯t be opened, he could just change it to a general store. Selling bathtubs, agricultural tools, or some other merchandise. Either way, there¡¯s no way to lose. ¡°Hmm, if everything goes well, we can open chain stores in each city. We¡¯ll call it ¡®Eira Hot Pot Restaurant¡¯,¡± Fang Hao declared outright. Eira¡¯s cheeks flushed immediately, ¡°Come on, who names a restaurant after their name,¡± she protested. ¡°How about combining it with the characteristic of our city, call it ¡®Bone Hot Pot Restaurant¡¯ or ¡®Undead Hotpot Restaurant¡¯?¡± Fang Hao brainstormed for a store name while frowning. Anjia cracked a joke while eating, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s for the living?¡± Everyone chatted and laughed together while eating. Just then, the system prompt rang again. [Random Event: Courage of a Common Man (Accepted).] [New function of the Book of Lords: Team-up Function.] [Team trial mission will launch in ten hours. A maximum of three people can form a team for the trial. (This trial is a Lord¡¯s trial, and heroes or troops under command cannot accompany.)] [Team-up Status: maximum of three team members, members will be automatically teleported to team leader¡¯s territory to gather.] [Event Countdown: 9 hours and 59 minutes.] [Good luck¡­.] Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 171> Routine Competition Chapter 171: Chapter 171> Routine Competition Champion_l Translator: 549690339 The alert sound suddenlymade Fang Hao pause in his actions. The compulsory task had ended, and lots of people were speculating about when the event task would appear. Some said half a month, others said even longer. But it came sooner than anyone had anticipated. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, switched to the regional channel, and saw everyone discussing the event task. ¡°Damn, it came so early, even earlier than the 7-day compulsory task.¡± -What does this task mean? We can¡¯t bring our troops? What¡¯s the point without troops? Are they asking me to fight on my own?¡± ¡°The task is a trial for the lord. They won¡¯t let you bring in troops, otherwise, they might as well give you planes and tanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone, this isn¡¯t a compulsory task. Those who fear danger don¡¯t have to participate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say, but if everyone else participates and you don¡¯t, the gap between you and others will keep growing. You¡¯d be screwed.¡± ¡°Yours truly, 28 years old, have a green knight¡¯s sword and a green suit of armor, looking for a team to join. ¡°I have one green suit, just graduated from physical education school, I have great stamina. Any brothers want to form a team?¡± ¡°Any big shots willing to take me in? I¡¯ll give you a green helmet afterwards.¡± ¡°Who the hell would dare to take you in after you offer a green helmet¡­¡± After a short discussion, most people began to send out team recruitment messages, hoping to find reliable teammates. Fang Hao was also feeling rather uneasy. Without his heroes and the Skeleton army, about 80% of the strength of his territory would be gone. Without these two, his small amount of combat power would probably have been wiped out on the first day by the wolf pack. This trial task could be said to be very unfriendly. They were not allowing the lords to bring their troops, but it was a trial of personal abilities. While he was thinking, new information suddenyl came from the Book of Lords. ¡®¡ö[Blueprint unlocked: Merchant Caravan carriage blueprint (Green).]¡± A new blueprint had been unlocked, and it was a green carriage blueprint. Upon reflection, he realized that this must have been acquired by Zhang Bin. Zhang Bin¡¯s Book of City Lord was essentially a duplicate of the Book of Lords. Once he acquired a blueprint, it would automatically unlock for Fang Hao. If Fang Hao acquired a blueprint, however, it would not unlock for him. Ding! A private chat alert sounded, and Zhang Bin sent him a message. ¡°Boss, we cleared out some wild boars today and got a green blueprint. Did you get it?¡± upon seeing it, Zhang Bin seemed to be really hard working, he came back so late. -Was it for the Merchant Caravan carriage? Yes, I received it,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°By the way, boss, are we participating in this trial task?¡± Huh? Zhang Bin also received the task alert? That would mean that this task was not limited to the lords, but all transmigrators could participate. Otherwise, Zhang Bin wouldn¡¯t have received this system message. ¡°Do you want to participate? You¡¯re not afraid of danger?¡± Fang Hao responded. In terms of combat power, Fang Hao could summon spirits, had a purple Starfire Wand, was well-equipped, and had all necessary skills. He still had some combat power. But Zhang Bin, on the other hand, being an ordinary person, was no different from a regular villager. ¡ö¡öBoss, we have you! And if we don¡¯t participate in this task, we¡¯ll be left behind by others,¡± Zhang Bin argued. Fang Hao thought and agreed with him. This task certainly wasn¡¯t a death march. They could have just arranged a large scale monster invasion. That would be much quicker! Most likely, it was a chance for the transmigrators to improve their own abilities. To participate in this task, strong teammates were also extremely important. Fang Hao stood up and looked through the cabinet in his study. He took out the Strengthening Potion he got a few days ago. In the chat, he sent Zhang Bin the Strengthening Potion, and said ¡°Here is the ¡®Strengthening Potion¡¯, we¡¯ll exchange later. Use it tonight and get used to it.¡± ¡°Ah? Do I drink this or apply it externally?¡± Zhang Bin hesitated. Could he just drink the medicine? What if something went wrong? There were no doctors here. -You drink it. It can enhance your stamina. You will understand once you drink it,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°I¡¯m good, boss. You can keep it. I have pretty good stamina, really,¡± Zhang Bin tried to explain. ¡°There is nothing to worry about. I¡¯ve taken it too. It enhances your abilities. Become familiar with it tonight and be prepared for tomorrow¡¯s challenge,¡± Fang Hao continued. When he was about to take the Strengthening Potion, he, too, was somewhat uneasy. He had a lot of hesitation before he braced himself to drink it after asking Nelson¡¯s opinion. It was a normal attitude. A person can¡¯t always consider the immediate situation. Drink it today, and the chances of winning tomorrow will be better. Otherwise, when you meet danger in tomorrow¡¯s challenge, and decide to drink it then, it would be too late. ¡°Alright, I understand, boss.¡± Zhang Bin finally agreed. Fang Hao immediately put the Strengthening Potion in the Trade section, and Zhang Bin simply put up 10 units of wood to complete the trade. After discussing for a while, they ended the chat. Immediately after ending the chat, the private chat notifications came one after another. They were all inquiries about teaming up with Fang Hao, and he rejected them all. Fang Hao was hoping to latch onto someone stronger, why would he let others latch onto him? ¡°Brother Hao, do you need me to take you?¡± The Friend Notification popped up and it was from Dong Jiayue. -Are you going to participate as well? Have your injuries healed?¡± Fang Hao asked. He had previously received quite a few Shadowstones from Dong Jiayue. In order to ensure that she would continue to provide him with Shadowstones, Fang Hao had provided her with considerable support. From materials and tools to weapons and equipment. Even when she was injured, he gave her his only Healing Potion. In short, their relationship was very good. When the Qinglong Trade Union was cursing Fang Hao in the chat and even threatening to retaliate against anyone who spoke in support of him, everyone else shut up. Only Dong Jiayue stood up in the chat to curse back at them. She did not back down at all. Eventually, this war of words only ended when Fang Hao chopped off Li Teng¡¯s head. To some extent, among the lords, the relationship between Fang Hao and Dong Jiayue could be said to be very good, even better than that between Fang Hao and Zhang Bin. ¡ö¡öI¡¯m healed. I was already fine when I gave you the Shadowstones and the map last time,¡± Dong Jiayue confidently replied. ¡°You¡¯re going to participate in this trial? It¡¯s not compulsory, you don¡¯t have to do it,¡± Fang Hao said. Not to belittle women, but in terms of natural strength, men indeed have some advantages. This trial was no small matter, a misstep could cost a life. In the face of Fang Hao¡¯s distrust, Dong Jiayue started rifling through her closet and found an ID in an old bag that she hadn¡¯t used for a long time. She took a picture and sent it. She had brought this with her when she transmigrated. ¡°Looking down on me? [Image: National Women¡¯s Martial Arts Routine Champion],¡± Dong Jiayue sent. Fang Hao looked at it and frowned, ¡°Routines? Aren¡¯t they all fake? ¡°What¡¯s fake? I¡¯m real. I¡¯m way too good,¡± Dong Jiayue returned, her tone dripping with indignation. Honestly, Dong Jiayue was indeed impressive. While Fang Hao grew from having a hundred times the force, Dong Jiayue earned her stripes the hard way. The only person who dared to lead peasants down into the tombs on the second day after transmigrating was probably her. ¡°You really want to go?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, then we are a team of three. I¡¯ll call you when we form the team tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay..¡± Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 172, The Predicament of Er Lan Ha_l Chapter 172: Chapter 172, The Predicament of Er Lan Ha_l Translator: 549690339 The next day, early morning. Fang Hao woke up early from his sleep. Today is the trial day, and he couldn¡¯t afford to slack off. After freshening up, he assigned Blood Hunter and Eira to maintain the normal operation of his territory during his absence. The two agreed and nodded, reminding Fang Hao to be safe. After all, there isn¡¯t an established order nor a royal succession in the territory. Everything falls on Fang Hao himself. If anything happens to him, the order and balance of the entire territory would collapse instantly. At the dining table, Eira, dressed in a black and white maid outfit, served breakfast. There were toast, steaks, and a bowl of vegetable soup. ¡°Master, please return as soon as you finish,¡± Eira knelt beside him, ladling the vegetable soup into a bowl and placing it in front of Fang Hao. Fang Hao understood her worries. He gently touched her long ears, comforting her by saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just minor battles, there¡¯s no danger.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Eira answered, still looking somewhat worried. After breakfast, Fang Hao started to prepare his equipment. An Apprentice Magic Robe, weapons were Starfire and Iron Knight sword, and a Light Feather dagger attached to his waist. ¡°Zhang Bin, make me a team,¡± Fang Hao sent a message. ¡°Oh,¡± Zhang Bin replied, and soon he sent a team invitation. [Zhang Bin sent you a team invitation. Do you accept?] Accept. The Book of Lords emitted a light that enveloped Fang Hao, disappearing from his original spot. When he opened his eyes again, he was already in Zhang Bin¡¯s city. Flat ground and busy residents. Compared to Fang Hao¡¯s City of Undead, this place resembles a medieval city, filled with life. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re here,¡± Zhang Bin exclaimed, striding over. Zhang Bin looked different from the last time Fang Hao saw him. His upper body was bare, revealing his wheat-colored skin and bulging muscles. Fang Hao cast aside the Knight¡¯s sword and iron armor in his hands, curiously asking, ¡°What are you doing? A fitness coach?¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhang Bin scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. Last night, after a long mental struggle, he gritted his teeth and drank the Strength Enlightening Potion Fang Hao had given him. After some painful muscle twisting, he was surprised to find that he had become stronger. He now had a chest and abs, and he could easily wield the Knight¡¯s sword. Early in the morning, he went out for morning exercises bare-chested, also taking the opportunity to show off his muscles to the residents. ¡°Add Dong Jiayue to the squad,¡± Fang Hao said directly. ¡°Aah, a girl, boss, you¡¯re amazing,¡± Zhang Bin never let go of any opportunity to flatter. After adding her, a light appeared, and a charming figure appeared before the two men. The girl was in her early twenties. She was wearing Orc¡¯s iron armor and a modern long-sleeved blouse underneath, her hair tied in a ponytail, standing there stylishly. She held a metal helmet in one hand and a War Spear in the other, pointing diagonally toward the ground. The girl slightly opened her eyes, a glint of fierceness flashed through them when she made eye contact with the two. Good lord, this Dong Jiayue must be a female knight. Dong Jiayue scanned the two and her gaze finally fell on Zhang Bin. It has to be said that the current Zhang Bin was really eye-catching, with his bare muscular body and a Knight¡¯s sword looking majestic in his hand. On the other hand, Fang Hao was sitting on the side, continuously fanning himself. He looked like an old man watching over the community. ¡°Brother Hao,¡± Dong Jiayue walked straight up to Zhang Bin and called out. Zhang Bin was taken aback, then quickly responded. ¡°Boss, Miss Dong is looking for you,¡± Zhang Bin stepped aside. Having realized she had mistaken the identities, Dong Jiayue¡¯s face instantly reddened. She walked up to Fang Hao again and said uncertainly, ¡°Brother Hao?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Fang Hao nodded, then said to Zhang Bin, ¡°Zhang Bin, go fetch her some equipment. We¡¯re setting off soon.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± The Orc Iron Armor on Dong Jiayue was given to her by Fang Hao. Although it was decent, no one could predict the enemy in the upcoming battle. It would be better to switch to a better set of gear. This would also raise the overall quality of the team. ¡°Brother Hao, you¡¯re really impressive!¡± Dong Jiayue sat down next to him, somewhat unsure of what to say to her lifesaver. ¡°Not bad indeed, your territory has also developed quite well recently, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Fang Hao asked in return. The two could chat casually in the channel, but they seemed to be at a loss of words after meeting in person. They chatted casually for a bit. Zhang Bin walked over with the iron armor and iron sword, himself having changed into an Iron Armor, Iron Kite Shield, and Iron Knight Sword. ¡°Miss Dong, please change your equipment, it¡¯s almost time,¡± he said. ¡°Oh, okay, thank you Zhang Bin,¡± Dong Jiayue replied. ¡°No need to thank me, these are all from the boss,¡± Zhang Bin explained. Dong Jiayue took off the Orc Iron Armor and replaced it with a superior Plate Armor. As she was wearing clothes underneath, she didn¡¯t need to go to a separate room to change. Fang Hao also started preparations for the task at hand. The three of them rested for about half an hour before the prompt appeared. [Historical Battle: Eiranha¡¯s Predicament] [Task Description: Help Eiranha out of her predicament.] [Trial Mission Transfer Countdown: 3, 2,1.] The light engulfed them and in the next second, the sound of chaos and crying filled their ears. ¡°These damn undead.¡± ¡°My son, my son¡­¡± The three of them appeared on the second floor of a tavern, in a private room. Through the gaps of the windows, they could see women and children gathered in the hall. It seemed the city was under attack, and everyone was seeking refuge here. Knock, knock, knock! The door was knocked. The voice of a man came from outside the door, ¡°Gentlemen, the captain is requesting your presence.¡± The three looked at each other, realizing the story had begun. The door opened. ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Please follow me.¡± Walking down a hallway in the tavern, they were led to the last room. The door opened. Inside sat a few well-equipped officers looking at a map, discussing strategies loudly. Upon seeing them enter, the officers stopped talking. [Human Warrior (Tier 4)] Just hit tier 4. As Fang Hao thought, without the need to lead any troops, the transmigrator would not be given a challenging mission. ¡°Take a seat,¡± the middle-aged officer, seemingly the captain, spoke first. The three sat down. ¡°There are many good things about this village, but it¡¯s not the right time for you to be here,¡± the captain said. ¡°Captain, what happened here? Do you need our help?¡± Fang Hao asked, steering the conversation to the point. The captain nodded, ¡°Last night, a large number of undead attacked the village. The situation is dire now, and I am sorely understaffed. I¡¯ve asked the three of you here, hoping we could recapture the village together.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°In the northern part is our armory. If we can regain control of the armory, it will greatly aid the overall situation.¡± ¡°Alright, give me a map..¡± Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 173, Suit Warehouse (Seeking Chapter 173: Chapter 173, Suit Warehouse (Seeking Recommendation Tickets¡­)_1 Translator: 549690339 Leaving the tavern, the trio quickly moved north. Villagers were coming and going, treating the wounded, and transporting supplies to the front line. No wonder the tavern hall was filled with only women and children; the men were all outside helping. ¡°Boss, you know the most about the Undead,¡± whispered Zhang Bin. ¡°What¡¯s there to know? The intelligence of the Undead isn¡¯t high, so there¡¯s not much to discuss,¡± replied Fang Hao. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®knowing the most¡¯? By the way, does the Undead architecture in Brother Hao¡¯s territory have anything to do with our current mission?¡± Dong Jiayue curiously chimed in, connecting the dots in her mind. ¡°No, don¡¯t make wild guesses. I¡¯m one of the good guys.¡± The trio¡¯s feet didn¡¯t stop moving as they continued to follow the map. At this point, there was no trace of any villagers around them, only the abandoned wooden houses remained. Clang! In the silent alleys, a sudden noise rang out ¨C something had fallen. The trio¡¯s hearts tightened as they immediately turned towards the source of the noise. Several rotting zombies had spotted them and were slowly advancing towards them. Rotten Corpse (Tier 1) Toxic Decaying Corpse (Tier 3) It was a rotting corpse. Fang Hao exhaled in relief, thinking to himself, the Undead don¡¯t take the blame for the soldiers of the Eternal Night. Swish, swish, swish! The three of them drew their weapons in preparation for battle. In Fang Hao¡¯s hands, Starfire pointed towards the Toxic Decaying Corpse as a fiery magic arrow materialized. Swoosh! The sound of it tearing through the air rang out, and it instantly pierced through the body of the Toxic Decaying Corpse. The arrow exploded, creating a burning effect. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s not dead,¡± Zhang Bin, clutching his shield, said with a solemn expression. A Toxic Decaying Corpse, just from hearing its name you could tell that it was poisonous. Getting close wouldn¡¯t be wise. ¡°No problem.¡± The trio retreated a few steps, and another fire arrow was formed, once again hitting the Toxic Decaying Corpse¡¯s head. When the fire arrow exploded, the corpse¡¯s body also exploded instantly, scattering green dust. ¡°Backup, don¡¯t get poisoned,¡± Fang Hao continued. The trio turned and ran, creating some distance, and waited for the remaining corpses to inch closer. Soon, the close-quarters combat began. The weapons of the Rotting Corpses hack at Zhang Bin¡¯s kite shield, causing a loud echoing noise. Zhang Bin and Dong Jiayue, with their weapons in hand, dodge and begin to counterattack. Fang Hao stood at the back, launching one fire arrow after another, slaying the unintelligent undead. He didn¡¯ t summon any ghost servants. The existence of a ghost servant was only 30 minutes, after which a long cooling period would follow. There weren¡¯t many creatures around at this point, so there was no need to summon ghost servants yet. Soon, when the last of the rotting corpses had its head blown apart by one of Fang Hao¡¯s fire arrows, the battle ended. ¡°That was really thrilling,¡± Zhang Bin said, flicking the blood droplets off his knight¡¯s sword. This was his first time actually fighting against the Undead. He was somewhat excited after the battle. As for Dong Jiayue, she seemed much calmer, this wasn¡¯t her first encounter with the undead creatures. There was an ancient tomb near her territory, and battles against the undead in the tomb were quite common. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see if there are any spoils of war,¡± Fang Hao ordered. Apart from the Tier 3 Toxic Decaying Corpse, the rest were all Tier 1 common rotting corpses. They moved slowly and weren¡¯t very smart. These undead creatures, without any unified command, had little effective combat power. Therefore, they weren¡¯t hard to deal with. Zhang Bin took a quick look around and announced, ¡°Boss, there¡¯s nothing here.¡± Roar!! The moment his voice fell, a roar echoed from the front again, and one by one, rotting corpses emerged from the uninhabited houses. They began moving towards the trio. A new round of combat started again, with the trio covering for each other as they pushed aggressively towards their target. A large number of corpses fell, their blood staining the ground a dark red. In a wooden house just a stone¡¯s throw away from the military supply warehouse. The trio sat on the ground, recovering their expended stamina. At this moment, Fang Hao was finally experiencing firsthand what it was like to be besieged until exhaustion. The enemy was not strong, yet their numbers were endlessly wearing him out. Luckily, there was still time to recover their strength, otherwise, the three of them would have to retreat back to the tavern where the Erlanha soldiers were located, wait until they¡¯ve rested before continuing the fight. While regaining their strength, the three of them peered through the gaps in the window to check out the situation outside. Around the armory, a large number of Rotten Corpses had gathered. Javelin Zombies of Level 2 and Rotten Corpses of Tier 3 were also mixed in. They roughly counted them to be around 300. ¡°Boss, there are too many of these Rotten Corpses; I¡¯d be exhausted even if they just stood there and let me kill them,¡± said Zhang Bin in a low voice. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s rest a little longer.¡± Fang Hao cracked open a bottle of Mental Potion and drank it down. His strength was almost back to full. Fang Hao then slowly got up from the ground. ¡°Should we break out?¡± asked Zhang Bin. ¡°Wait a minute, I¡¯ll weaken them first.¡± Fang Hao stood by the window, began to conjure a spell; Starfire in his hand shot through the broken wooden window, aiming at the unsuspecting group of Rotten Corpses across the street. Suddenly, the sky darkened. A huge shadow enveloped the heavens. Zhang Bin and Dong Jiayue looked up in surprise. A massive Fireball, like a descending meteor, was hurtling down rapidly. The landing spot was a place where the Rotten Corpses were most densely packed. Boom!! There was a tremor as if the earth and mountains were shaking. The flat ground was hammered into a huge crater, and the soil and rocks, like flying shrapnel, knocked down the Rotten Corpses around the edge. Spit! The three crawled up from the ground, spitting out the dirt from their mouths. ¡°Boss, that skill of yours is too ferocious.¡± Zhang Bin said while wiping the mud off his face. ¡°Get rid of the ones on the edge that aren¡¯t dead, and then we can enter the warehouse.¡± Fang Hao commanded. ¡°Alright.¡± The two, hearing Fang Hao¡¯s command, rushed out of the house towards the scattered Rotten Corpses. Backed by Fang Hao¡¯s occasional skill shots from the distance, they exterminated all the enemies on the outskirts. After the fight was over, they cleaned up the entire area completely. The armory was a warehouse made of stone bricks. Perhaps for security, only thin ventilation openings were left at the top of all four walls. Forget about people, even a mouse would find it difficult to get inside. Hence, they had to clear the monsters at the front gate to enter the armory. Squeak! Accompanied by the sound of the door, the three completely pushed open the armory door. Sunlight shot in through the thin openings, illuminating the room. A row of weapon racks displayed all kinds of weapons and armor. But they were covered in dust, showing that no one had used them for a very long time. No wonder the armory was the first to be overrun. ¡°Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s something good.¡± Fang Hao said. The three immediately scattered and began to rummage around, ¡°Boss, there are so many weapon blueprints here.¡± [Iron Sword Blueprint] [Wooden Bow Blueprint][Iron Arrow Blueprint]¡­ Apart from these white blueprints, there was also a set of green leather gear. [Erlanha Guards Helmet Blueprint (Green)][Erlanha Guards Thick Leather Armor Blueprint (Green)][Erlanha Guards Bracers Blueprint (Green)][Erlanha Boots Blueprint (Green)]. Aset. A full set of blueprints. [Erlanha Guards Thick Leather Armor (Green)] [Type: Defense Chest Armor] [Defense: Level 2 Defense] [Set Effect: Increased Movement Speed by 2%, Reload Speed Increased by 2%, Morale Recovery Enhanced by 20%. (This effect can stack with other equipment.)] (Description: Armor particularly made for the Erlanha elite guards.) The armor¡¯s individual attributes are wearable by any soldier. But the set attributes provide a boost to reload speed. In other words, this set of equipment is more suitable for archers. Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 174, Doomsday Terror Wolf__l Chapter 174: Chapter 174, Doomsday Terror Wolf__l Translator: 549690339 ¡°These¡­¡± Holding the blueprints, Fang Hao turned to Dong Jiayue on one side. If it were only him and Zhang Bin, he would have claimed these blueprints directly, with Zhang Bin able to unlock them himself. But this time Dong Jiayue also contributed a lot. If it weren¡¯t for his special Starfire skill, Dong Jiayue would have killed the most. Not consulting her about this felt like hoarding equipment. But he had a hundredfold amplification effect. He was more suitable for keeping these blueprints than Dong Jiayue. ¡°Brother Hao, you keep them. Just make a few sets for me later,¡± Dong Jiayue said generously. After all, Fang Hao had also helped her a lot. Especially just now, he had given her a new set of armor. She realized that she had not benefited as much from daily adventuring with her troops as she had from associating with Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, tell me how many sets you want when the time comes.¡± Fang Hao put away the green set without hesitation. The white blueprints were selected by Dong Jiayue, who chose a few that she didn¡¯t have, and added them to the Book of Lords. After collecting the blueprints and realizing that there were no more good items. Zhang Bin went straight to the roof from the second floor, raising the flag of ¡®Erland Ha¡¯. The captain of Erland Ha¡¯s guard would know that this place had been taken when he saw the flag, and he would come with his soldiers to retrieve the equipment for a counterattack. [Stage mission completed, reward: Human Clan influence +100,3 healing potions, 2 magic potions.] [Special Team Reward, choose one from three.] [Stamina Enlightening Potion][Magic Power Enlightening Potion][Blue Steel Curved Blade (blue)]. (Selection countdown: 59¡­58¡­J There was even a reward for completing the stage. Two enlightening potions and a blue piece of equipment. ¡°Let¡¯s pick a Stamina Enlightening Potion for Dong Jiayue,¡± Fang Hao said. Fang Hao had taken the Magic Power Enlightening Potion, and Zhang Bin the Stamina Enlightening Potion. Only Dong Jiayue had taken neither. They didn¡¯t particularly need these two, so they could give Dong Jiayue the enlightening potion to enhance her strength. ¡°That¡¯s not right,¡± Dong Jiayue said. ¡°Alright, Zhang Bin, select the enlightening potion for her.¡± The rewards could be chosen and distributed by the team leader, and Zhang Bin was the leader of this team. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Bin directly chose the Stamina Enlightening Potion and handed it to Dong Jiayue. She held the potion with her petite hands, repeatedly thanking: ¡°Thank you, Brother Hao, and thankyou, Brother Bin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, drinkit now,¡± Fang Hao said. Dong Jiayue had no hesitation and had learned about the enlightening potion while traveling so she knew it was a potion that altered her physique. She opened the cap of the bottle and drank it down in one gulp. As soon as she swallowed, Dong Jiayue¡¯s face turned red and her forehead began to bead sweat. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Fang Hao looked at Zhang Bin. After all, Zhang Bin had also taken a Stamina Potion before. ¡°It¡¯s okay. When changing your physique, your muscles will feel some stimulation,¡± Zhang Bin answered. As expected, a pained expression appeared on Dong Jiayue¡¯s face. Fang Hao helped her sit down and rest. After about five minutes, Dong Jiayue¡¯s complexion returned to normal. She stood up and moved her body around. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°It feels very good. I¡¯m full of strength,¡± Dong Jiayue answered. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! At that moment, hurried footsteps could be heard from outside. It was Erland Ha¡¯s guard team arriving. The middle-aged captain burst into the armory first, nodded at the three of them, and then loudly ordered: ¡°Give all able-bodied villagers armor and weapons. Fast¡­ everyone, get moving.¡± The captain roared loudly, everyone silently got to work, taking out and distributing the weapons and gear to the soldiers and able-bodied villagers. The armory was extremely busy, but everyone was silent ¡°Thanks to you three for all your help. The undead have already gathered at the second line of defense, they are numerous, it¡¯s going to be a deadly battle.¡± The captain came over, thanked them simply, and then explained the situation they were facing. The sudden attack of the undead had caught the village by surprise. All of the guards rapidly assembled, managed to save all of the survivors, and set up a second line of defense. Now, aside from some children and the elderly, all men and women were on the battlefield. This was a battle where it was either life or death. ¡°What can we do?¡± Fang Hao asked. The captain looked towards the south and slowly said: ¡°Join us in the counterattack. If there¡¯sachance,run away. This isnotyour battlefield. If you get a chance, escape.¡± The system had given them the identity of travelers passing through Erland Ha village. These three travelers had already fought this long for them, they had already helped plenty. ¡°We can win. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Fang Hao assured him seriously. ¡°We must win.¡± 10 minutes later, everyone arrived at the second line of defense. Various items and wooden stakes were built into a barrier over a person high. The soldiers were defending against the unceasing attacks of the rotten corpse undead with this circle as their base. ¡°Guard squad form the first battle line, everyone else follow behind us. When the gates are opened, we surge out like a dagger piercing these undead¡¯s backsides, killing our way straight to the city gates and reclaiming control.¡¯ The captain roared, setting the battle deployment. Only a few guards responded, the rest of the armed villagers remained silent. ¡°Get ready, open the gates.¡± The gates opened, the captain cried out, ¡°Charge! Everyone, weapons in hand, dashed out, their iron spears striking the corpses, forcing back the undead several meters. Then it was a melee, living against undead. Fang Hao stood on the city wall, and after casting two Flame Arrows, began to summon spirits. Elemental energy gathered, and three Wood Element spirits appeared beside Fang Hao. Two were called forth by the skill, but with the Element Codex page¡¯s enhancement, an additional spirit was added. The Wood Element appeared and immediately used Entangle. Vines grew at the feet of the undead, binding them in place. Then the spirit¡¯s arms turned into vine whips, launching an attack on the enemy. Whipping sounds echoed. The villagers¡¯ desperate fight turned the tide of the battle. Large numbers of undead fell, and the humans started to have the upper hand. Just as everyone started to see hope, a wolf¡¯s howl came from afar. Howl!! Everyone looked up. A huge wolf-like creature stood on a rooftop in the distance, howling at the sky. A terrible gash was open in its rotten body, the head and abdomen, and rotten flesh was hanging off its broken bones. Eerie black mist rose from its body, and its eyes shone with a ghostly green light. [Doomsday Terror Wolf (Level 7)] Upon seeing the information of the Terror Wolf, the expressions on the faces of the three instantly changed. A level 7 creature was far beyond their ability to handle, let alone they had already fought for so long. After howling, the Terror Wolf¡¯s green glowing eyes looked down at the fighting people. Through the eyes of the wolf. Fang Hao saw cruelty, cunning, and an anticipation of playing with prey. He was sure that this severely rotten Terror Wolf indeed possessed its own intelligence. Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 17 5, Turning back the spear _1 Chapter 175: Chapter 17 5, Turning back the spear _1 Translator: 549690339 | The undead wolf, which fed on rotting flesh, was looking down at the guards below. Even the most battle-hardened warriors, involuntarily shivered and took two steps back when the Doomsday Terror Wolf focused on them. The highest-ranking guard, the captain, was only at a level 4. However, the Doomsday Terror Wolf on the roof, not only was a level 7 but also had traits of the undead. ¡°Boss, this won¡¯t be easy.¡± Zhang Bin took a few steps back to join Fang Hao¡¯s side. Zhang Bin looked ragged, his whole body was covered in thick blood, and his metal plate armor had a few noticeable scratch marks. Fortunately, his spirits weren¡¯t too dampened, and he was uninjured. ¡°If we don¡¯t kill it, we won¡¯t be able to clear the level. Preserve your energy and look for an opportunity to strike.¡± Fang Hao instructed in a hushed tone. This was a test, it wasn¡¯t possible to run away at every chance like the captain of the guards suggested. To clear the level, they either had to kill the Terror Wolf or get killed by it. ¡°Alright.¡± Said Zhang Bin. Dong Jiayue also slightly nodded in agreement. Awoool! The Doomsday Terror Wolf let out another howl. The rotten corpses below attacked like mad. ¡°Attack!¡± The captain of the guards wiped off the fresh blood on his face and yelled. ¡°Attack, attack.¡± All the guards charged forward, once again clashing with the wildly attacking rotten corpses. The Doomsday Terror Wolf pounced downwards, tackling a guard to the ground. It ripped off and swallowed the guard¡¯s head in one bite. Chunks of flesh hung from its exposed sternum, and the bloody head fell through its wide-open belly and rolled to the side. This bloody and brutal scene sent chills down everyone¡¯s spines. But after killing one target, the Terror Wolf didn¡¯t pause for even a second and pounced on another guard. It crunched down on the guard¡¯s bones and in one bite, the guard¡¯s head was gone. The massive figure of the Terror Wolf, like a mad bull, selected targets on the battlefield. Bang! The captain of the guards, holding his shield, repelled the Terror Wolf which was about to bite the next target. The body of the Terror Wolf flew sideways, its head shaking from the impact. Looking at the human who had hit it, its eyes filled with a cold murderous intent. ¡°I¡¯ll hold it off! You guys clear off the rotten corpses,¡± the captain yelled again. ¡°Yes.¡± The rest of the team, including Fang Hao and others, began to kill the rotten corpses with even greater vigor. They needed to clear the small monsters as fast as possible, then assist the captain to kill this Terror Wolf. Time was tight, everyone attacked without holding anything back. Fang Hao launched a barrage of arrows, killing rotten corpses one by one. His wooden spirit servant also charged into the enemy, turning its hands into vines to skewer the bodies of the rotten corpses. The number of rotten corpses was gradually decreasing. But the captain of the guards had reached his limit. The Terror Wolf swung its massive paw. Bang! Like a gigantic hammer hitting the ground, a dull thud echoed. The captain was flung off, sprawling on the ground awkwardly. Naturally, the Terror Wolf wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. It leapt up, pounced on him, and its sharp teeth went for his head. In a moment of peril, it appeared that their most powerful warrior was about to be killed. Fang Hao didn¡¯t have time to think. He pointed his lefthand at the Terror Wolf and shot out a Flame Fireball, which was engulfed in flames. The Flame Fireball wasn¡¯t one of Fang Hao¡¯s skills; it was a skill bestowed by a Flame Ring. He had obtained this ring from Shadowwind Castle and hadn¡¯t used it much. Yet today, as soon as the cooldown period was over, he immediately released fireballs, alternating with his fiery arrows to attack targets on the field. Bang!! The Flame Fireball hit the Terror Wolf¡¯s body directly, instantly setting its remaining fur on fire. The captain took this opportunity to roll to the side, creating distance between him and the Terror Wolf. The successful rescue of the captain of the guards also drew the Terror Wolf¡¯s attention. A pair of ghostly green eyes stared at Fang Hao, its shriveled tongue coiling in its mouth. In the next second, ignoring the humans around it, it charged straight towards Fang Hao¡¯s location. Like a runaway car, it knocked all the guards along the way into the air. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m here too.¡± Zhang Bin took a step forward, sinking his weight, hiding his whole body behind the Buckler Shield and directly blocking Fang Hao. It¡¯s not about loyalty, but once Fang Hao dies, his good days would also come to an end. Bang! In a loud noise, Zhang Bin¡¯s whole body flew back like a kite with its string cut, fell to the ground, vomiting a mouthful of fresh blood. Even so, he managed to block the attack of the Terror Wolf. The three Wood Spirits also seized this opportunity to shield Fang Hao. Vines grew from the ground, entwining themselves around the wolf¡¯s limbs. ¡°Zhang Bin.¡± Fang Hao, keeping his eyes on the Terror Wolf, called out loudly. ¡°It¡¯s OK, it just hurts a bit.¡± Zhang Bin said, taking out a bottle of healing potion and gulping it down. Ensuring that Zhang Bin was alright, Fang Hao continued to stare at the Terror Wolf. His left hand¡¯s Magic Wand once again conjured fire arrows, targeting the Terror Wolf. The remaining guards also moved forward and began to attack the Terror Wolf. ¡°Brother Hao, retreat.¡± Dong Jiayue shielded Fang Hao, her spear pointing forward. Fang Hao slowly retreated, getting a proper distance for attacking. Pffpffpff! After the rotten corpses were cleaned up, the Terror Wolf was besieged by everyone. Spear, sword, arrows, magic, all fell densely on its body. Pff! In the chaos of battle, Dong Jiayue tightly gripped her spear, launching a fierce attack. The spear was straight as a line, its cold light blooming, and the tip swiftly pierced the Terror Wolf¡¯ s pupil in an instant. The Terror Wolf, which was unaware of pain, let out a painful howl at this moment. After sweeping the guards in front of him aside, it rushed directly towards Dong Jiayue. Seeing the Terror Wolf charging at her, Dong Jiayue turned to run. Seeing the human who wounded it trying to escape, the Terror Wolf leapt high into the air to pounce on its target. Dong Jiayue turned her head slightly, saw the wolf pouncing, eyes flashed with fierceness. Twisting her waist and swinging her arm, she thrust her spear forward in a turning motion. The spear continued its unstoppable momentum, piercing through the Terror Wolf¡¯s mouth, lifting it high up, suspending it on the spear. The rest of the group immediately rushed forward, launching an assault on the struggling Terror Wolf. The spear shook, pulled out smoothly as blood gushed out. Carrying with it the smell of a decaying corpse. The giant body of the Terror Wolf lay on the ground. After a couple of twitching movements, it could no longer get up. It was completely dead. The guard captain glanced at the wolf corpse, picked up his sword, and beheaded it. Making sure it could never come back to life, he began to organize help to retake control of the city wall¡¯s defense. The trio of Fang Hao sat on some wooden stakes to the side. They glanced at each other, still afraid of the recent death encounter. The Level 7 creature had nearly wiped them out. If Dong Jiayue hadn¡¯t taken the Enlightening Potion, with insufficient power and stamina, whether they could kill the Terror Wolf was an entirely different matter. ¡°Zhang Bin, are you ok?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°I¡¯m fine, this potion really works, it doesn¡¯t hurt once I drank it.¡± Zhang Bin said from one side. ¡°Dong Jiayue, what about you?¡± Fang Hao looked towards Dong Jiayue. The previous strike was splendid and cool, just like in the movies, killing the charging Terror Wolf. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Brother Hao, you can just call me Jiayue, you don¡¯t need to call my full name every time.¡± Dong Jiayue said. Surviving a near-death experience had brought the three of them closer. ¡°Alright, rest a bit, there might still be danger.¡± Fang Hao had just finished speaking when the guards had already successfully reclaimed the city walls. The moment the city gates closed, the three of them received a system prompt. [Historical Battle: The Predicament of Erlanha Completed.] [Reward Released: Frost Armor Skill Scroll, Skull Face Skill Scroll, Enchantment Elixir, Apprentice Magic Robe, Apprentice Magic Wand.] Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 176, Face of Death (Please recommend...)" 1 Chapter 176: Chapter 176, Face of Death (Please recommend¡­)¡± 1 Translator: 549690339 | Phew! It¡¯s over, finally over. The three of them sat on the ground, letting out a breath of relief. ¡°Time to return in 3,2,1.¡± The light shone once again, and the figures of the three disappeared from their original spot. When Fang Hao reappeared, he was back in his own territory. He opened the Book of Lords and contacted the other two. Upon learning that they had all returned safely to their own territories he relaxed. ¡°Master.¡± Eira emerged from the Stone Tower of the Lord¡¯s Manor, spotted Fang Hao, and paused in surprise. She didn¡¯t know when he had returned. ¡°Yes, Eira, I¡¯m a bit hungry. Prepare something for lunch. Oh right, have someone prepare bathwater too.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± During the trial, time didn¡¯t exactly stand still, but it certainly moved at a different pace. The battle in Elenha Village took about seven or eight hours, and they eliminated hundreds of rotten corpses. But upon their return, it was just past noon, only three or four hours had passed. Eira went to prepare lunch, and Fang Hao began to review the rewards he had received. The rewards for the trial were all skills or apprentice-level equipment. They leaned towards enhancing individual capabilities. The skill scrolls were Frost Armor and Death¡¯s Visage. ¡°Do you wish to learn the skill Frost Armor?¡± Do you wish to learn the faction legion skill Death¡¯s Visage?¡± Learn. The two scrolls turned into dazzling light, directly penetrating Fang Hao¡¯s body. Frost Armor Type: Water Elemental Skill Description: When cast, it forms a defensive armor, adding 35% of your spiritual power to your defense, and any magic cast (except fire magic) will carry a frost effect. Fang Hao cast it immediately. A surge of energy rose, forming a light blue protective layer around him. It felt as though he was wearing a coat made of blue glass After inspecting the Frost Armor, he moved on to the second skill. Death¡¯s Visage (Passive) Type: Undead Legion Skill Description: Every time a soldier under your command dies, all soldiers are motivated to fight, increasing their attack and defense by 1% (stacking up to Damn, this legion skill is powerful. Given how many soldiers he has, just getting trampled to death during battles could easily stack up to too. To stack up to 100% is pretty much a piece of cake. Doesn¡¯t it mean that he could sacrifice 100 low-level soldiers to exchange for a 100% increase in both attack and defense for tens of thousands of soldiers? By then, the combat strength of his soldiers will have reached terrifying heights. It¡¯s a shame that there¡¯s a cap at too, if there weren¡¯t, it would be perfect. Imagine stacking up to 100,000 attack power. Even a regular Skeleton Warrior could one-shot kill members of Dragon Clan. In any case, even with the limit at 100, this skill is quite a powerhouse. It can increase the combat power of the whole legion. Enchantment Elixir Type: Elixir Ability: Increases the speed of skill casting by 2% permanently. Description: A magical elixir blended with the blood of tyrants, which will enhance your understanding of magic upon absorption. Another incredible item. After drinking it, it increases the speed of skill casting. In layman¡¯s terms, it reduces the casting time. This elixir is very important for mages, as good as obtaining a powerful skill. The remaining Apprentice Magic Robe and Apprentice Magic Wand don¡¯t need further inspection since they are just green beginner equipment. When the time comes that the Undead Mage¡¯s equipment breaks, replace them with these two. ¡°Zhang Bin, what skill did you get?¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, asking Zhang Bin. The rewards for equipment should all be beginner level, it¡¯s mainly about which skills they¡¯ve obtained. ¡°Iron Wall, a skill that can increase my defenses and block effects, and a legion skill, Hold The Line, which increases the army¡¯s defenses and counterattacking ability during defensive battles. It feels like I¡¯m just being slapped around with a I these defense skills. Boss, am I heading down a dead-end road?¡± Zhang Bin replied. Whether it¡¯s Iron Wall or the legion skill Hold The Line. They both sound like defensive skills. Interpreting them as getting-beaten-up skills aren¡¯ t too far off either. ¡°Tanks in games are the most powerful profession, a real man¡¯s calling,¡± Fang Hao consoled. ¡°Well, my physique is getting better and better.¡± After ending the chat with Zhang Bin, Fang Hao opened a private chat with Dong Jiayue. He found out that Dong Jiayue was also rewarded with two skills. One increases her attack speed; the other, a legion skill, increases troop¡¯s attack speed by 20% and attack power by 5%. It¡¯s somewhat similar to Ore¡¯s Blood Rage, temporarily increasing mobility and burst power. After chatting with the two, today¡¯s trial seemed to have finally come to an end. ¡°Master, your bathwater is ready.¡± A maid approached. ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao responded and headed towards the lord¡¯s mansion. Bathing here wasn¡¯t as simple as in modern times. Someone had to boil the water and then pour it into the bath. Entering the bathroom. He took off his clothes, stepped into the bathtub, and a wave of comfort made him feel slightly sleepy. Just as he was enjoying the moment, he heard the door being opened. A pair of soft hands landed gently on Fang Hao¡¯s shoulders from behind, before starting to slowly massage him. When she leaned her head around, Fang Hao saw that it wasn¡¯t Eira who had walked in. It was the white fox maid who had been assigned to tidy up the basement of the lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°Why is it you?¡± Fang Hao asked reflexively. The maid looked somewhat panicked and hastily replied, ¡°Eira is cooking and has asked me to assist you with your bath.¡± ¡°Oh, okay. Go to the door and get the blue elixir from my bag,¡± instructed Fang Hao. He suddenly thought of the Enchantment Elixir he hadn¡¯t taken yet. This elixir was better consumed early. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The fox-girl complied and retrieved the elixir from his bag beside them and handed it to him. Having a similar experience before, he didn¡¯t overthink things, uncorked the bottle, and swiftly gulped it down. The cool liquid slid down his chest and into his stomach. First came a chill, then a wave of pain that engulfed his whole body. His abdomen was like it had become a ball of fire, and his skin turned red instantly as though he was a cooked crab. ¡°Master, are you alright?¡± The fox-girl asked softly. ¡°Hot, too hot.¡± Even though Fang Hao knew this was the effect of the elixir, he still felt quite uncomfortable. He immediately stood up from the bath, letting his bare skin be exposed to the air. Seeing this scene and hearing Fang Hao¡¯s groans, the fox-girl¡¯s face turned bright red, and she slowly started to undress in her shyness. After she was completely naked, she lowered her head and walked over to Fang Hao¡¯s side. ¡ã When Fang Hao turned around and saw the fox-girl¡¯s condition, he was slightly shocked. She was now even redder than he was. ¡°I didn¡¯tmean that,¡± said Fang Hao. With blushing cheeks, the fox-girl confessed, ¡°Master, I¡­ I¡¯m not very good at this.¡± This,¡­ Though the effects of the elixir didn¡¯t last too long, it left Fang Hao hot and bothered. An hour later, with the fox-girl¡¯s aid, Fang Hao put on fresh clothes and they both exited the bathroom together. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 177, Orange Meatfist_l Chapter 177: Chapter 177, Orange Meatfist_l Translator: 549690339 Meanwhile. The Coldwind Mountain Range. After Fang Hao annihilated an army of 300,000, the entire Coldwind Mountain Range was in a state of high tension. Tribes near the edges of the mountain range were in constant fear, fearing that the undead army would ruthlessly slaughter them as the first victims. The Skullcrusher Tribe¡¯s Chieftain¡¯s Hall. Sitting in his chair with a sullen face, Skullcrusher Shah said, ¡°That¡¯s the situation, so I would like the Bloodthroat Tribe to join us in eliminating this potential threat.¡± In the center of the hall sat a giant almost five meters tall, playing with two human skulls covered in residue. This giant was from the troll, Bloodthroat Tribe. [Meatfist ¨C Kaius (Orange Tier 3 Hero)]. Once, the name of the Bloodthroat Tribe was known throughout the region, synonymous with cruelty and terror. The former clan leader of the Bloodthroat Tribe was extremely bloodthirsty, with the Slaughter God as the tribe¡¯s sole totem. Any prisoners or slaves from any forces would be taken by him to the altar to be sacrificed to the great Slaughter God. No matter who they were or what status they held, they were all his offerings. But the trolls, no matter how strong they were, relied solely on their own bloodline and a trend of rapid rise. When they managed to anger both elves and dragons at the same time, a war that spanned the entire region rang out. The forces of the Dragon Clan and the Elf Clan, with overwhelming strength, crushed the Bloodthroat Tribe. Only a small number of trolls retreated into the resource-scarce mountains to barely survive and reproduce. With the passing of centuries, the Bloodthroat Tribe slowly regained strength, and the present clan leader was still powerful, worshipping the Slaughter God. ¡°Shah, you really are a waste, defeated by a force that has just started to develop?¡± The voice of Kaius was rough and sounded like a giant beast¡¯s roar. In the orc hall, such a taunting insult to a great chief¡­ Caused Shah¡¯s expression to darken, but the Skullcrusher Tribe indeed lacked the strength to defeat the undead and was facing various internal problems at the moment. He had no choice but to bow his head to the troll standing before him. He forced a small smile and said, ¡°The Skullcrusher Tribe can¡¯t compare to the Bloodthroat Tribe. If it were an ordinary opponent, I wouldn¡¯t have turned to the Bloodthroat Tribe.¡± Shah¡¯s words contained some flattery, but it was quite effective for the trolls who usually believed in the supremacy of strength. Upon the serious expression of Kaius, a slight smile surfaced. ¡°You are right indeed. So, tell me, what can I gain by helping you?¡± Shah¡¯s heart leapt with joy. This big guy was really quite simple-minded, and he was already somewhat persuaded with just a few words. ¡°Chief Kaius, we will split the spoils of war seven to three, with the Bloodthroat Tribe taking the larger share,¡± said Shah. Kaius chuckled, ¡°Hmph, do you see my Bloodthroat Tribe as free fighters?¡± ¡°Then, Chief ¡®Kaius¡¯, how would you like to split?¡±, asked Shah with a frown. ¡°Shah, if I did not help you, the undead would attack you within ten days. By then, forget about spoils of war, even the survival of Skullcrusher is uncertain,¡± said Kaius. At this¡­ Shah¡¯s expression darkened even more. Regardless of personal strength or the overall strength of the tribe¡­ He had to get the Bloodthroat Tribe¡¯s help, as the Skullcrusher Tribe might really cease to exist otherwise. ¡°Chief Kaius, just say it directly, under what conditions would you be willing to deal with those undead?¡± Turning his eyes, Kaius said directly, ¡°All the spoils of war are mine. In addition, you must prepare 300,000 Warfire Coins as a reward for this operation. Don¡¯t be in a hurry to refuse, Shah. I¡¯m fully capable of wiping you out, then eliminating the undead.¡± Such a direct provocation¡­ Immediately turned the atmosphere in the entire hall sincere. A few orc warriors at the entrance were slowly inching their hands towards their weapons at their waist. The moment Shah gave an order, they would launch an attack on the troll, no matter that he was a powerful hero. Phew! Shah took a deep breath, suppressing the rising anger in his heart and finally agreed. ¡°Okay, I agree with you, but it will take me some time to gather that money. I can only pay you after we have defeated the undead.¡± ¡°Fine, that¡¯s settled then. Arrange for a scout to collect information and provide me with a copy. We can attack from two directions simultaneously. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult to eliminate an undead force that has just gotten started,¡± said Kaius, standing up with a solemn tone. His mighty body was like a small hill, and his armor made a loud noise as he moved. ¡°Okay, the scouts have already been dispatched. I¡¯ll send the information over to you as soon as I receive it.¡± ¡°Hurry up your people. I¡¯m really looking forward to crushing those bony guys,¡± Kaius rubbed the skull accessory in his hand. ¡°It will be soon.¡± Without further ado, Kaius bent down and walked out of the orc hall. After lunch, Fang Hao filled his empty stomach. He glanced at the regional channel and found it unusually quiet today, without anyone speaking. Fang Hao even suspected whether the trial task was too difficult and if all these people had failed the trial. ¡°Eira, have you heard of the Enlightening Potion?¡± After the meal, Eira brought a plate of fruit. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it. It¡¯s a potion often used by humans. Supposedly it allows ordinary people to become warriors too, but it¡¯s rarely seen among beast clans,¡± Eira replied softly. Beast clans excel in combat. They are naturally warriors. Like the beast clans with demon bloodlines and minotaur clans, all are natural- born warriors. The weak are soon eliminated by the tribe. Therefore, there is really no need for them to research these kinds of auxiliary potions. Moreover, the price of a potion is not low itself, and they are hard to come by. ¡°Can you use it?¡± Fang Hao asked. Fang Hao¡¯s idea was simple. The Enlightening Potion could change a person¡¯s constitution and, battle or no battle, it could make a person healthier. Even though Fang Hao drank the Magic Potion himself, he was still able to clearly feel the changes happening to his body. He became immune to insects, and his constitution was enhanced. In the future, when he gets hold of potions, can he prepare some for Eira and others? It would enhance their physical strength and give them some self-defense capability. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it should work. I¡¯ve heard of beastmen buying potions before,¡± Eira also picked up a fruit and gently took a bite. ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao nodded, not saying much more. Bang! Just then, the door was pushed open forcefully, and Anjia walked in carrying a silver treasure chest. She tossed it directly at Fang Hao¡¯s feet and said, ¡°Quick, open it and see what¡¯s inside. Maybe there¡¯s something good.¡± Fang Hao looked at the chest on the ground then glanced at the dusty figure of Anjia. I was wondering why I didn¡¯t see Anjia at lunch. Turns out she was out adventuring again. ¡°Are there still monster strongholds within our territory?¡± Fang Hao asked with some disbelief. With so many soldiers now and a wide patrol range, why would there still be monster strongholds? ¡°No, I rode a giant lizard out, I went far. There are three bear carcasses outside, you should butcher them too.¡± Anjia answered indifferently. What an adventurer, she even had a giant lizard prepared for her expedition. Without saying anything else, Fang Hao directly opened the chest. [Obtained: Iron ax blueprint, Leather Necklace blueprint, Natural Gems X2, Warfire Coins X31.] The iron ax blueprint was a duplication, he could sell it in the channel later. Seeing the second blueprint, Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. [Leather necklace] [Category: Necklace] [Defense: Tier 1 defense] (Description: Surely no one actually thinks this is a defense item?) [Leather necklace: Leather xl, Metal parts xl, Yarn X2.] Ah, this¡­. Are there really blueprints for such a thing? ¡°How is it? Anything good?¡± Anjia asked while eating a fruit. ¡°There is something, quite practical.¡± Fang Hao silently put the blueprint away. ¡°I knew my luck was good. I¡¯ve never opened a chest that didn¡¯t have something good.¡± Anjia boasted. ¡°Thank you, then, forbringing me such good luck.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Just work hard and don¡¯t mess up our territory.¡± Anjia continued. ¡°Hey, watch your words!¡± In the afternoon, Fang Hao began crafting the ¡®Erlanha Guardian Set¡¯, equipping the archers within his territory. He later accepted an order in the Trade Alliance building, replenishing the needed supplies. Amidst the hustle and bustle, it was already night time. During dinner, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, and the number of people in the channel suddenly increased. It seems that they only managed to complete their trial tasks by night. ¡°I was tasked with a Murloc, and it¡¯s not small at all. Fish head with big bulging eyes, and it can even fight on land. I¡¯m allergic to seafood, and though I won, I¡¯m suffering an allergic reaction now.¡± ¡°My mission was an orc attack on a village. Even though they were all Tier 1 orcs, many people died. It was too brutal.¡± ¡°You¡¯re both lucky, the leader of my team is a dumbass. He chose awards without any regard to others, choosing only what he could use. And he called himself the damn savior! Savior my ass.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really unfortunate for you. What¡¯s your name? Say it, so we all know to avoid you.¡± ¡°Indeed, I hate those types of people who take all the equipment rewards for themselves.¡± ¡°His name is Xie Yuan Fei. Remember him; don¡¯t let him be the team leader, even if you are teamed up.¡± ¡°What the hell, why are you slandering me? You didn¡¯t mention any of this when we met, but now you¡¯re smearing my name from behind. Are you sick or what?¡±¡± As soon as the name was mentioned, the person called Xie Yuan Fei couldn¡¯t sit still and came out swearing. ¡°You think I had a choice? You¡¯re the team leader, who knows if we¡¯ll return to your territory when it all ends. Who knows what you¡¯d do, you don¡¯t deserve to have teammates.¡± ¡°I also want to report someone. He hid during the fight and one of my teammates died. His name is¡­¡± It seems that the transmigrators¡¯ first collaboration wasn¡¯t very successful. Soon after, many people began to name and shame each other¡¯s teammates. There was a heated debate in the channel. The next day. Pruell City. A sharp blade was pressed against Fang Hao¡¯s throat. He laid back, a bitter soap scent filling his nostrils. That razor was diligently scraping at the stubble on his chin. The barber had the expression of a focused sculptor, carefully adjusting the beard and hairstyle of the well-dressed young man. It took about 20 days being here to finally find a place where he could get a haircut. And they even offered a free beard trimming service. Though on his chin, only sparse stubble had grown. ¡°Is this your first time here, sir?¡± The barber casually asked while working. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my first time here.¡± ¡°Are you visiting relatives?¡± Each city wasn¡¯t really that large. Though not everyone knew each other, it was easy to spot outsiders. Obviously, the young man¡¯s appearance and attire revealed his status as an outsider. ¡°No, I live in a nearby city and thought I¡¯d come over to do some business,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Oh? Doing business here? What line are you planning to enter?¡± The barber asked with interest. ¡°Catering.¡± The barber blinked in surprise, then quickly grasped the meaning of the word ¡®catering¡¯, saying, ¡°You look like an educated person. The pubs in the city do a good business. Everyone likes to go there for a drink. But I worry it would be hard for you to succeed.¡± ¡°The shop I¡¯ll be running is mainly for dining, selling alcohol comes second,¡± Fang Hao answered. The barber didn¡¯t continue his line of questioning, clearly showing he didn¡¯t believe the business would succeed. Seeing his silence, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Is there a place here where I can buy orc slaves?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The barber instinctively glanced at the orc girl patiently waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s haircut to finish. ¡°They occasionally appear, but it¡¯s been a while since the last time. Those orc slave merchants would bring some humanoid orcs and sell them to rich nobles at a high price.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying something like bunny girls are popular around here?¡± Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 178, Is This a Dragon? _1 Chapter 178: Chapter 178, Is This a Dragon? _1 Translator: 549690339 Cough! Cough! The hairdresser gave a slight cough and coyly responded, ¡°Perhaps, every batch of Rabbit Clan girls that arrive here gets sold out.¡± After a final touch-up to his hairstyle, the hairdresser used a linen cloth to brush away the hair bits from Fang Hao¡¯s neck. ¡°Alright, sir,¡± the hairdresser lightly patted his shoulder. ¡°Mhm.¡± Fang Hao stood up, bent over and brushed off the hair bits on his head with his hand. It seemed there wasn¡¯t a hair washing service here, so he would have to wash it himself later. He paid the hairdresser and left the house with Anjia. ¡°Why did you cut it so short?¡± Anjia asked on the way. ¡°Huh? Doesn¡¯t it look good?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that, the nobles all keep long hair, you should learn from their dress codes,¡± Anjia suggested. ¡°I¡¯m not a noble, and their hairstyles are not cool at all.¡± As they walked through the streets, they saw a pub open for business. It was still morning. The pub had to prepare for business early, even though it wasn¡¯t open yet. Upon entering the pub, the bartenders were tidying up the tables and cleaning up the mess left from last night. The barmaid was standing at the bar counter, stretching her arms above her head in a big yawn. Her curvaceous figure fully revealed in this moment. ¡°Ah!¡± Accompanied by a lazy moan, it almost made people bleed from the nose. This early morning stimulation, one can¡¯t help but wonder about the health of the pub owner. After yawning, the barmaid noticed Fang Hao¡¯s entry. While wiping the counter, she posed seductively, ¡°Coming this early, are you here for a drink, or for a chat?¡± It wasn¡¯t drinking time yet. There were quite a few men who would come early to chat with her. Fang Hao took a seat on a nearby chair and said directly, Chat. The pub owner revealed a smile, her forearm rested on the counter, ¡°Come on, I like strong young ones like you.¡± Damn! ¡°Which street in Pruell City is good for business?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. ¡°Huh?¡± The barmaid paused, what she¡¯d expected to be flattery sounded like a business talk, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Open a shop,¡± Fang Hao replied. If you want to run a business, this street is the best,¡± The barmaid picked up the cloth and continued cleaning the counter. Pruell City was not big, with a population of around ten thousand. And the busiest street was this commercial strip where the pub was located. Although it was the busiest, it was only compared to the other streets. This street was home to various commercial shops, making it the gold mine of the town. ¡°How about the shop opposite? I see it¡¯s for sale,¡± Fang Hao continued asking. ¡°You sly boy, is that why you came sneaking to me?¡± The barmaid turned around and leaned on the bar, lightly tapping Fang Hao¡¯s forehead in an affectionate manner. Her loose neckline fell down, revealing a large part of her ample bosom. A pub was a good place to acquire information. Regardless of local residents or transitional travelers, they would all stop by the pub. Alcohol loosens tongues, and people say more than they intend. The patrons might not care, but the owner always hears some intriguing news. Just like the last time when the barmaid asked Fang Hao about who the bandits were. Back then, she simply answered: a group of orcs and humans. From this, she deduced the orc with a spiked hammer and impaired intelligence. In short, if you want some information, the pub is a great place to start. Fang Hao glanced at her busty chest, and thought to himself if he should educate the locals on bras to expand the women¡¯s market. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re beautiful and kind. Of course, you¡¯re the first one that I thought of,¡± Fang Hao praised. To get things done, you need to make the other party feel good about themselves. ¡°Haha, sly boy,¡± The barmaid laughed and scolded, but found herself liking the handsome young man in front of her, who was also wealthy. She walked around the counter and sat next to Fang Hao, lowering her voice, ¡°That shop is not good to buy from, why do you think it¡¯s still not sold out in this street?¡± ¡°Huh? Is there a reason? Is it haunted?¡± He didn¡¯t know if it was due to the Undead faction, but when he heard there was a problem with the shop, the first thing that came to his mind was: it¡¯s haunted. The image of wandering spirits rampaging about in the room popped into his mind. ¡°What haunted? Stop nonsense,¡± the barmaid lightly hit his arm, ¡°The shop owner offended someone. The shop can¡¯t be operated and can¡¯t be sold.¡± ¡°Who did he offend?¡± The barmaid¡¯s lips were close to his ear as she cautiously said, ¡°The son of the chief of internal affairs.¡± Outside Pruell City. A man with zits on his face, eyes fixed on the giant lizard in the stable. Repeatedly making a ¡®hissing¡¯ sound, he circled the stable several times. ¡°What the hell is this thing?¡± The zit-faced man cursed. Several underlings closely followed the zit-faced man, dressed in linen shirts, iron swords hanging around their waists. They didn¡¯t look like city guards, but their uniforms were identical. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s a giant dragon, has to be a giant dragon.¡± One of the underlings stepped forward to suggest. Smack! The zit-faced man smacked the underling on the back of his head, scolding, ¡°Are you blind? Since when are a dragon¡¯s legs this short? And does it look this dumb to you? How would it fly without wings?¡± The beast in front of them did indeed possess some traits similar to the rumored dragons. But it wasn¡¯t a dragon; it looked more like an enlarged crocodile. The underling shrank back, ¡°Boss, I was just joking with you, just trying to lighten up the atmosphere.¡± ¡°By making me look like a damn fool?¡± The zit-faced man cursed again, unstrapping the iron sword from his waist and poking the giant lizard with the sheath. The giant lizard opened its eyes, sending the zit-faced man scrambling backward. He tripped and fell flat on his backside. But the giant lizard gave no reaction, glancing at him before continuing with its nap. The underlings helped the zit-faced man up, who then said, ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s surprisingly tame. Go on then, bring it back. I always wanted to be a Dragon Knight.¡± ¡°Boss, I thought you said it wasn¡¯t a dragon.¡± ¡°Shut up and do as I say,¡± the zit-faced man retorted, kicking the underling harshly. The underling, driven away, carefully approached the giant lizard, slowly reaching a hand towards the rope tied to the stake. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A rebuke sounded from behind them, startling the underling who was trying to untie the rope and causing him to tremble. Everyone turned their heads to see the patrolling captain of the guards approaching. The zit-faced man retorted disdainfully, ¡°Mind your own business, or else I¡¯ll let lose a few punches and you¡¯ll get beaten up for nothing. ¡°This giant lizard is the pet of a guest of the City Lord. If you don¡¯t want to get in trouble, best not to mess with it,¡± the guard captain warned, though he didn¡¯t step forward. So it was a giant lizard. The zit-faced man and his underlings finally figured out the creature before them. ¡°I am just following the city rules. Leaving such a large thing around, it could attack people. Let me take it away for now. If the owner has any grievances, they can take it up with me at my place,¡± the zit-faced man declared. Having finished speaking, he gestured a signal to his underlings. Once again, they began to untie the rope tied around the stake. It looked as if they were determined to take away this massive giant lizard. Just as they had freed the rope and were about to move the giant lizard¡­ A woman¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°I would advise you not to disturb it. Should it attack, you will surely die here.¡± The zit-faced man looked over, noticing a white-haired beast-eared girl coming out from the city. Her figure and face resembled a charming, beautiful leopardess, giving off a unique vibe. ¡°A beast-woman, a female orc? What are you doing in Pruell City? the zit faced man¡¯s eyes surveyed up and down. ¡°What I¡¯m doing here is none of your concern. I am the owner of this giant lizard. I will take good care of it, you may leave now,¡± Anjia retorted. ¡°Heh, and how do you prove this giant lizard is yours,¡± the zit-faced man shot back while placing hands behind his back, signaling his underlings. The underlings glanced at each other, their hands slowly reaching for the iron swords at their waists. Anjia observed their movements, a cold smirk on her face. ¡°Attack!¡± the zit-faced man ordered. just as the underlings drew their swords, intending to tease them a little, they saw an afterimage of a bodies passing in front of them. Thump! A punch from the beast-woman landed on the zit-faced man¡¯s face. As the zit-faced man fell to the ground, the beast-woman swiftly followed, her fist raining down like droplets of rain, continuously striking the man in the face. The frequency of her punches left no time for the zit-faced man to cry out in pain. There was only the sound of her fists hitting their mark. The guard captain was somewhat surprised by the beast-woman¡¯s strength but still urged, ¡°Enough! You¡¯re going to kill him!¡± Anjia stopped and eyed the approaching guards coldly. The captain immediately halted, explaining, ¡°We didn¡¯t touch this giant lizard, and we¡¯re not with those guys. Don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± Anjia wiped fresh blood off her fist onto the zit-faced man¡¯s body. ¡°They were the ones who drew their swords first. You saw that, right?¡± ¡°I did, and I¡¯ll report it as such,¡± the captain swallowed hard. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Chapter 179, Dont Spit While Speaking Chapter 179: Chapter 179, Don¡¯t Spit While Speaking (Seeking Recommendation Tickets¡­)_1 Translator: 549690339 The guards surrounded the tavern. The barkeepers, already preparing for the opening, paused their work. All they could do was sit on the side, watching guard captain and Fang Hao converse not far away. ¡°That¡¯s how it happened. Although I¡¯ll testify for you, he is, after all, the son of the Steward. How things will progress is still uncertain.¡± The Guard Captain said as he sat in a wooden chair, explaining everything that had just occurred. Clatter! Not far away, the landlady dropped the coarse ceramic cup she was wiping and quickly bent down to pick it up. She had just reminded everyone that if the shop across the street offended a high-ranking person, like the Steward¡¯s son, it wouldn¡¯t be able to open or sell. Fang Hao had barely left the house when this happened; he had punched the Steward¡¯s son. Now it would be difficult not to offend them. The sudden noise only caused the pair in conversation to glance over before they resumed their topic. ¡°How is it usually resolved?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Hard to say. The City Lord, due to some reasons, has given over many matters to the Steward. Hence his son¡­¡± The Captain trailed off, ¡°You get what I mean, right?¡± ¡°Hmm, I understand,¡± Fang Hao nodded in response. Not long after, a summon from the City Lord arrived. Fang Hao and Anjia were escorted in the direction of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. On the way, Anjia curiously asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we run?¡± ¡°Run? Why should we when we¡¯re in the right? And the City Lord isn¡¯t as powerful as you, so there¡¯s nothing to fear,¡± Fang Hao whispered back. Cyril, the City Lord, was only a blue, rank-five Hero. If they were to fight, it was uncertain whether Cyril would beat Anjia. ¡°I¡¯m worried about your safety,¡± Anjia insisted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve brought a Teleportation Scroll. By the way, is the Steward¡¯s son badly injured?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good enough.¡± After crossing the street, the two arrived at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. In the grand hall. Besides City Lord Cyril, whom they had met before, there was also a tall and thin middle-aged man with curly hair. ¡°City Lord,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Please have a seat, Mr Fang Hao.¡± Fang Hao, along with Anjia, sat on the side. ¡°My Steward claims that your guard attacked his son. I would like to understand the situation better,¡± Cyril began without any indication of bias. ¡°Yes, but the cause of the incident was indeed the Steward¡¯s son trying to take my mount. Even after my guard advised him against it, he drew his longsword,¡± Fang Hao explained. Bang! The thin Steward¡¯s expression turned red, and he slammed his hands on the table, staring at Fang Hao as he began to berate him. ¡°Talking nonsense, you savage country bumpkins dare to attack public officials within Pruell City. You really have the nerve¡­¡± His words were abruptly cut off. A beautifully crafted white knife, fashioned like a sword hilt crowned with a tree, was already pressed against his throat. ¡°Speak politely, and if you spit at me again, I¡¯ll make a hole in you,¡± Fang Hao said grimly. The Steward obviously didn¡¯t come here reasoning. Of course, Fang Hao preferred a simpler approach. ¡°Enough. Both of you sit down,¡± City Lord Cyril spoke up again. The Steward slowly retreated a short distance before continuing: ¡°City Lord, he dared to brandish a weapon here. This is unforgivable.¡± Cyril frowned at him, cursing internally that he was blinded by rage. Could he not see how frightened Fang Hao was? His relaxed demeanor suggested he was perfectly at home. Fang Hao¡¯s identity had always been a mystery, but the fact that he had eradicated a long-established bandit camp in one day confirmed that he had a significant military force behind him. Could he even touch Fang Hao? Would he go to war with a city for the sake of his troublemaking son? Is it possible? ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve inquired about the incident. Both parties are at fault. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to treat your son later, and let¡¯s consider this matter closed,¡± Cyril said directly. There was no mention of who was right or wrong; it was glossed over. The Steward frowned and was about to protest when he saw the warning in Cyril¡¯s gaze. All the resentment had to be swallowed down. Grinding his teeth, he said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen to the City Lord. We¡¯ll let this matter rest.¡± ¡°Haha, great. Mr Fang Hao, what do you think?¡± Cyril turned to Fang Hao. ¡°After all, we are in Pruell City. Attacking someone is a bit too much.¡± ¡°We heed the City Lord¡¯s advice,¡± Fang Hao responded with a small smile. What everyone was worried about was resolved so swiftly. Cyril had been tactful¡ªthere were no discussions of right and wrong. Everyone was at fault. Lets the matter rest, and no one should bring it up again. Of course, Fang Hao was quite satisfied with the result since the person that got beaten up wasn¡¯t him. Still enraged, the Steward stormed off. Fang Hao stayed back and continued, ¡°City Lord, I¡¯m interested in a shop and want to settle down. How much would it cost?¡± ¡°Sure, which one are you interested in?¡± Cyril asked curiously. ¡°The one across Rose Tavern on Commercial Street.¡± ¡°Oh? There¡¯s still an unclaimed shop on that street? Seems like you¡¯re lucky.¡± Cyril exclaimed, surprised. ¡°Perhaps.¡± That shop had offended the Steward¡¯s son and had been unoccupied for two years; nobody dared to buy it. The landlady had just mentioned this to him earlier, but now it was fine. The offending party had been dealt with by Anjia, so there were no concerns about causing offense anymore. ¡°You there.¡± Cyril called out. A retainer came over, ¡°City Lord.¡± ¡°You assist Mr. Fang Hao in processing the shop.¡± ¡°Alright, Mr. Fang Hao, miss, please follow me.¡± The retainer led the two out and proceeded with the shop documentation. The price was astronomical, making him consider whether he should build a city and profit from housing development. This was too lucrative. Once the paperwork was complete, they had to deliver the payment to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion within three days. Afterward, they could collect the deed to the property and officially become the owners. The two continued their conversation as they exited the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Within the Tavern. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, he won¡¯t return.¡± Abarkeeper said while rearranging tables and chairs, discussing the recent events. ¡°He¡¯s been at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion for quite some time. I bet his head has been chopped off already.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. He¡¯s a wealthy foreigner. That despicable guy only dares to bully the native townsfolk but not those from out of town,¡± another worker chimed in. ¡°Only the living separate the rich and the poor,¡± the barkeeper continued. Creak! The door opened again, and the glaring sunlight streamed in, causing everyone to squint. Fang Hao sat back down at the bar, and Anjia also took a seat. The barkeepers were dumbfounded, glancing at each other. Even if he was unharmed, he certainly made a speedy return. ¡°Did you sort it out?¡± The landlady was equally surprised. Everyone in the city knew that the Steward¡¯s family was even more annoying than ruffians. Returning so quickly suggested that these two youngsters were not ordinary people. ¡°It¡¯s resolved,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°You haven¡¯t finished the story of this bounty.¡± Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Chapter 181, White Steel Fire Gun_l Chapter 181: Chapter 181, White Steel Fire Gun_l Translator: 549690339 | Given the current situation, choosing someone to manage the shop is not an easy task. The undead cannot be arranged to work in human cities, and most of the maids can¡¯t even count. When the money is too little it¡¯s manageable, but when the amount increases, it becomes hard to handle. It¡¯s fortunate for Fang Hao that White Fox possesses the attributes of a merchant, and has once been responsible for selling goods in the village. This should be sufficient for running the shop temporarily. ¡°Master, what kind of shop is it?¡± White Fox whispered. ¡°A restaurant.¡± Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, White Fox¡¯s face turned pale instantly, ¡°Master, my cooking is mediocre, I fear it might..might harm you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to cook, just manage the shop and keep the accounts in order.¡± ¡°Oh, ok, Master, I will do my best.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, you can get busy now. When you¡¯re free, I¡¯ll show you around the shop.¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± White Fox replied before leaving the room. Fang Hao also stepped out of the City Lord Mansion. And was immediately greeted by Doujin. Normally, Doujin is a skeleton merchant and seldom leaves his post unless something special happens. ¡°Greetings, Lord. Good afternoon!¡± Doujin hastily walked up, tidied his clothes, and gave a slight bow. ¡°Good afternoon, Doujin.¡± ¡°Lord, we have received an order that needs your approval.¡± Doujin took out a Trade Alliance order from his pocket and presented it to Fang Hao. [Order] [Requirements: Black Gunpowder 50,000 units.] [Exchange deal: 5,000 Warfire Coins, White Steel Firegun, and +10 Influence with Dwarfs.] Fifty thousand units of black gunpowder. What are the Dwarfs planning? Blowing up a mountain or going to war? They can produce black gunpowder themselves, but still need to make such a large purchase from outside. There must be significant matters happening among the dwarves. The money offered doesn¡¯t seem much, but the reward includes a White Steel Firegun, which is rather appealing. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to your place,¡± said Fang Hao. The two went to the Trade Alliance building. Fang Hao directly signed his name on the order. Having accepted the order, Fang Hao once again headed to the warehouse. He opened the making page in the Book of Lords. [Black Gunpowder: Saltpeter 2, Sulphur 2, Wood 1.] (Each 100 units of black gunpowder requires one wooden barrel.) There is quite a large stock of saltpeter and sulphur in the warehouse. Besides the ones sold in the channel, the remaining stocks were mostly obtained from mining ores and have been accumulated unknowingly. Make 500 units, 50 barrels. Confirm production. After the glow, 50 barrels filled with black gunpowder appeared in front of Fang Hao. Fang Hao immediately checked around the warehouse, making sure no open fires were present. Otherwise, his territory might be blown to heavens. There isn¡¯t really any place with open fire inside his domain. The lighting was provided by Nightstone lamps. Cooking stoves were in the residential area, not here. Fang Hao handed over the order to the waiting skeleton merchant. He said, ¡°Tell the dwarfs when you see them, if they need anything in the future, they can directly order from us.¡± After finishing his sentence, he felt that something was off, so he corrected himself, ¡°I mean, we can provide items of stable quality, but the items received in trade should ideally be blueprints.¡± ¡°I understand, Sir. Anything else you want to mention?¡± The skeleton merchant stood waiting. Fang Hao was keen on trading with the dwarfs, but he didn¡¯ t have many blueprints that the dwarfs needed. This had become the obstacle. ¡°Nothing else.¡± ¡°Alright, I will go to deliver the goods now, Sir.¡± The skeleton merchant said, then disappeared with the barrels filled with gunpowder. After sending off the skeleton merchant, Fang Hao continued with his next plan. Fang Hao asked the maid to call the Blood Hunter over. Soon, Blood Hunter, with its giant wings spread, landed in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Sir.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao handed him the map from the Book of Lords, ¡°There¡¯s a mountain range here. I need you to explore it.¡± The place where Fang Hao was pointing was the location given by the innkeeper lady. However, Fang Hao had never explored this area before, and it was still covered in mist. He was not interested in the love story mentioned by the lady, but the idea of a tomb seemed quite tempting. ¡°What do you mean, Lord?¡± The Blood Hunter asked curiously. ¡°The distance to that place is too far, using God¡¯s Presence would put a lot of strain on me. You¡¯ll fly on the bone dragon and look for a tomb, or an entrance to a tomb.¡± It was already approaching dusk when he decided to scout around the mountain range. It wasn¡¯t his intention to find the tomb the same day, but rather to get a feel for the place first. The view from the sky was good; he could take in the entire mountain range at a glance, and it was definitely easier to spot any odd structures from above than from within the dense foliage. It also helped him prepare mentally. ¡°Lord, when should we leave?¡± ¡°Now, I¡¯ll activate God¡¯s Presence.¡± Fang Hao returned to his room, and outside, the eyes of a skeleton warrior suddenly lit up with a gloomy blue soul fire. At the front of the Lord¡¯s mansion, a bone dragon lowered its body, waiting for Fang Hao to come out. Stepping on the ribs of the bone dragon, Fang Hao directly climbed aboard and settled into position at the rear. The bone dragon flapped its wings and soared into the sky, heading toward the mountain range. If ranked by speed from all potential mounts available within his territory, the bone dragon would come first, followed by the giant lizard, with the third and fourth places taken by the skeleton wolves and skeleton horses. The ordinary skeleton infantry came up last. When it came to visiting human cities, he utilized the giant lizard as the undead species could not appear before humans. If there were no concerns, the bone dragon was faster and steadier. The bone dragon broke through the clouds, and the wind whistled in their ears. He wished he had not washed his hair first; he wondered if riding the bone dragon would blow his hair to a mess. After flying for approximately half an hour, they were close to the target mountain range. Dropping below the clouds, they could get a clearer view of the entire mountain range. The landlady had described it as a range of mountains, but there were only three peaks. It would only feel like a range if one were to trek on foot into the mountains. To Fang Hao, this place seemed more like hilly terrain, with lofty elevation and steep slopes. However, when compared to the location of the Tomb of the Dragon, it was still lacking. The mountain peaks soared high, occasionally adorned with a sparse tree or two. ¡°This should be the place, let¡¯s fly lower and see if there¡¯s anything unusual or any entrances to a tomb,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Alright.¡± Blood Hunter gently tapped on the neck of the bone dragon, asking it to fly lower and start circling around the mountain. Circle after circle, yet they found nothing suspicious. Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed gradually. No wonder the landlady mentioned so many people had come looking for clues, but all had returned empty-handed. Could this bounty have been a prank by bored mercenaries? How much food did they have to eat to think of such a prank? Dusk fell and the sunset cast a soft glow on the lone peak. Night approached, but they found nothing. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Finding nothing, they had no choice but to retreat for now. Blood Hunter nodded and commanded the bone dragon to begin their return journey. ¡°Lord, even if a powerful warrior¡¯s tomb was built here, it would be within the mountain, not easily found,¡± Blood Hunter suddenly spoke during their journey back. His words prompted Fang Hao to rethink. Indeed, whether it be the ancient tomb Dong Jiayue mentioned, which appeared due to a mountain collapse, or Little You¡¯s underground tomb, it would be difficult to find these places unless there was an accident. Who would build the entrance of a tomb easily discoverable, as if it were a person¡¯s front door? What was he thinking? In the mountain¡­ Fang Hao began to contemplate new strategies. With a sudden slap to his thigh, he realized he did have a way to explore within the mountain. After giving Blood Hunter a brief instruction, he immediately deactivated his God¡¯s Presence. The moment he stepped out of his room, he noticed a long-handle fire gun laid out on the table in the hall. The wooden handle, adorned with a floral pattern, glistened against the length of the gun. [White Steel Firearm (Green)] [Category: Firearm] [Damage: Level 4 Damage] (Description: A ranged weapon developed by dwarves to compensate for their lack of long-range offensive capabilities.) Amazing! Seeing the attributes, Fang Hao exclaimed in awe. The green level weapon had already achieved level 4 damage. The orange Light Feather Dagger and the purple Swords of Absolution only had level 3 damage. Reaching level 4, it was already the most damaging weapon in his territory. It¡¯s a pity there was only one, if it could be mass-produced, the combat power of the shooters could be doubled. After playing with it in his room for a while, Eira had prepared dinner. The three of them slowly sat down and began their meal. Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: Chapter 182, Little Iron Claw__l Chapter 182: Chapter 182, Little Iron Claw__l Translator. 549690339 I Night fell, a gentle breeze stirred. The Nightstones in the territory began to emit a soft glow, casting a faint halo over the land. Having finished his dinner, Fang Hao stepped out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion once more. He stretched his body and headed straight to a building. [Iron Claw Rat Den] [Type: Special Building] [Can Recruit: Iron Claw Rat] [Iron Claw Rat: 1 Mist-Cloaked Crystal] (Description: This building can be used to recruit Iron Claw Rats, whose sharp forelimbs can break open soil and rocks.) Fang Hao had purchased this building from the Trade Alliance, but he had never recruited from here before. There was a good chance the graveyard was in the mountain this time. It was the turn of these little guys to contribute. Last time he killed the Speckled Toad in the pool, he obtained five Mist-Cloaked Crystals, which met the recruitment conditions. Select five. Recruit. [A hundredfold amplification triggered, Iron Claw Rat recruitment number 5O5-] 505 fluffy iron Claw Rats appeared out of thin air. They formed circles around Fang Hao and stared at him unblinkingly with their large eyes. The Iron Claw Rats had brown fur and a size comparable to that of a mature pangolin. They had sharp snouts, developed forelimbs, and two sharp claws. [Iron Claw Rat] [Camp: Fairy] [Racial Characteristics: Living Creature, Keen Scent, Burrow.] [Keen Scent]: Underground, they can determine direction or find food buried in the soil relying on their sense of smell. [Burrow]: Can easily break open rocks and soil. (Description: The Flower Fairies have found a way to cultivate plants. They trained Iron Claw Rats to break through hard ground, allowing plants to grow better.) Rustle! Rustle! Rustle! While Fang Hao was checking the properties of the Iron Claw Rats, a rustling sound came from a nearby place. Under the soft light, an Iron Claw Rat¡¯s sharp forelimb had broken open the newly laid stone slab, and it was digging down vigorously. A large amount of dirt had already piled up into a small mound behind the rat. This kind of action spread like an infection, one by one, the Iron Claw Rats began to act. They extended their claws to the stone slab below and started to dig. ¡°Stop, stop digging the ground,¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. All the Iron Claw Rats instantly stopped their actions and craned their necks, continuing to stare at Fang Hao with wide eyes. Each of them looked like people gathered around to watch a village brawl. It felt like a spectacle. Fang Hao was dumbfounded at this moment. Holy cow, these little guys won¡¯t rip up his territory overnight, will they? ¡°Master, what¡¯s this? So cute!¡± Eira walked over from a distance, picked up an Iron Claw Rat, and rubbed it against her face. Fang Hao was about to warn her about the dangerous claws, but he found that while the sharp claws could easily break through the ground, they didn¡¯t hurt people. The Iron Claw Rats were also docile and allowed Eira to rub them. Rustle! Rustle! Rustle! ¡°Stop!¡± Fang Hao once again shouted in the direction of the sound. Ignoring the rats on the ground, they once again stared at him with wide eyes. Rustle! Rustle! Rustle! ¡°Don¡¯t dig.¡± Fang Hao turned in another direction. ¡°Eira, go fetch Blood Hunter,¡± Fang Hao, eyeing the surrounding Iron Claw Rats, told Eira. ¡°Oh.¡± Eira responded, putting down the Iron Claw Rat in her arms, and hurried off towards Blood Hunter¡¯s residence. Soon, Blood Hunter arrived to find Fang Hao and a group of Iron Claw rats staring at each other. ¡°Sir, what is happening here?¡± Blood Hunter curiously asked. On this late-night, why was the lord not sleeping but staring at these small creatures? ¡°Blood Hunter, you might have to work a little harder tonight¡­ Fang Hao explained his plans to recruit Iron Claw rats. He continued: ¡°These little guys are too energetic, they could dig up the whole site in one night, so you should take them to the mountains we just visited to dig there and see if there really is a grave inside. Although Fang Hao had built separate houses for Fireblade and Blood Hunter. However, undead don¡¯t require rest, they usually spend their time hunting and patrolling with their troops. ¡°All right, sir, you rest assuredly, I will take care of them.¡± Blood Hunter affirmed. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao continues to instruct the maids to bring tubs. Then he said to these little guys: ¡°Alright, five of you go into each tub, get moving.¡± The Iron Claw rats understood the order, but didn¡¯t quite grasp the number 5. Some tubs were empty, while others were packed full. Fang Hao and his team had to pick each one out and divide them into each tub. Once all the Iron Claw rats were in the tubs, and an adequate amount of Skeleton Trolls were called over, they sat on the Bone Dragon¡¯s back, each carrying a tub in their hands. The moment the Bone Dragon flew away, Fang Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief. His territory¡­ was safe for the time being. Actually, the Iron Claw rats were not a threat per se. As can be seen from the introduction, the Iron Claw rats could assist in planting crops. But they needed to be watched over and directed. If left unattended, the consequences could be severe. For now, let these Iron Claw rats start digging in the mountain. Later, Fang Hao can send them to Zhang Bin¡¯s location, so the farmers from the village can raise them and they can help loosen and break up the soil, a pretty decent idea. Alright, with these little special beings all handled, Fang Hao could finally sleep in peace. He returned to his room, took a quick glance at the regional channel. Then fell soundly into sleep. The next morning. After a simple washing, Fang Hao walked out of his room. The same daily routine of morning runs, push-ups, all to further strengthen his physique. Ah! Why can¡¯t one drink the Strength Enlightenment potion after drinking the Magic Enlightenment potion? Aren¡¯t we all aiming for all-rounded development? Why can¡¯t I have it? While running, Fang Hao grumbled about not being allowed to drink the strength-enhancing potion, harboring deep resentment. ¡°My lord, my lord.¡± Dressed in his custom-made clothes, Soye called out to him. ¡°Ah? What happened, Soye?¡± Wiping his sweat, Fang Hao asked. ¡°My lord, there is a huge problem I found with the design you gave me, I want to discuss it with you before beginning the production.¡± Soye explained. ¡°Oh, okay, what¡¯s the problem?¡± The two sat down, and Fang Hao curiously asked. Soye pulled out the draft with the design and said, ¡°My lord, the stockings you mentioned, I see no use in them. Using Holy Snow Silk, such a good material, to make something to only keep feet insulated, and it won¡¯t even provide proper protection or warmth. I believe it¡¯s an immature design. Since this was a design proposed by Fang Hao, Soye allowed some leeway. She only deemed it as an immature design and not a failed one. ¡°No Soye, you should not focus on its protective quality or how warm it keeps you, but its beauty and charm enhancement. Just like a crown of a king, do you think it has any purpose apart from treating headaches? None. The same goes for stockings¡±, Fang Hao said. Who would use stockings as a defense? They must be easy enough to tear open by hand when necessary. But if produced successfully, it could definitely capture the market within the lord¡¯s channel. If possible, Fang Hao is even considering entering the market of domestic nobility since nobles who always seek novelty would more readily accept these new things. ¡°Sir, how can a pair of socks be compared to a crown?¡± Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 183, Coffins in the Mountainside Chapter 183: Chapter 183, Coffins in the Mountainside (Seeking for Recommendations¡­)_1 Translator: 549690339 The two sat on the bench, discussing the issue of silk stockings for a long time. Soye believes that silk stockings are useless, and using the finest silk in the territory for them is a waste. Ordinary wool can offer enough warmth. Fang Hao, however, does not agree with this. Even though Holy Snow Silk is rare, it currently serves no other purpose. Moreover, they can also purchase Holy Snow Silk from Tavek, the cloth merchant, so there¡¯s no need to be frugal to an extreme extent. The two debated for a long time before Soye finally agreed to make two sets first to see if there is a market for it. If there is, they will continue production, and if not, they would stop it early. Fang Hao agreed with this conclusion. The stockings have a market, but to penetrate the market of this world¡¯s nobility, an opportunity and effective advertising are needed. Having persuaded Soye, Fang Hao went back to the lord¡¯s mansion. Just after breakfast, the Blood Hunter flew down from the sky on a Bone Dragon. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Well, how is it?¡± Fang Hao asked. Last night, the Blood Hunter led 505 Iron Claw Rats to the mountains to search for ancient tombs. His return this morning probably meant he had news. ¡°My lord, we have located the tomb passage.¡± The Blood Hunter quickly said. Upon hearing this, Fang Hao was delighted and quickly asked: ¡°Can you confirm what treasures are in there?¡± ¡°My lord, I had the Iron Claw Rats widen the entrance area, but haven¡¯t yet explored it.¡± Oh. Fang Hao was truly a bit too anxious. Considering the size of the mountain, being able to find the tomb was already quite lucky. ¡°Good, tally up the forces and prepare to set off,¡± Fang Hao promptly commanded. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Based on past experiences and Dong Jia Yue¡¯s exploration of an ancient tomb, such tombs would likely be filled with lots of monsters. To be prepared, it¡¯s better to take sufficient manpower. If they faced any creatures, they could just try to overwhelm them with their superior numbers. Returning to his room, he entered a state of God¡¯s Presence. The Blood Hunter also prepared an ample number of troops, and the army began heading toward the mountain. This time the expedition was led by Fang Hao and the Blood Hunter, with Anjia staying behind to guard the territory. A hero must be left in the territory, and since the Blood Hunter was more familiar with the mountain, Anjia was the one left behind. When leaving, Fang Hao ordered Anjia not to leave the room no matter what, even if just to sleep in or play, and take care of the territory. Anjia pat his chest, assuring him that he would handle things responsibly. The army advanced in a southwest direction, cutting through the forest and rivers along the way. Despite this, it still took them three to four hours before they could barely make out the rough mountains. Many Skeleton Trolls were patrolling, surrounding the entire mountainous area. There wasn¡¯t a single human daring enough to approach and search for the ancient tomb that was mentioned in the bounty anymore. The Blood Hunter led the way, reaching midway up the mountain. At this point, a large hole with a diameter of one meter had been dug, slanting downwards. Looking down the hole, it felt as if you were gazing into an abyss that was dark and profound. Ah! Ah~~, Ah~~. Fang Hao called out once, and his voice was returned by echoes, indicating that there was indeed a massive, empty space below. ¡°Glowstones, rope ladder.¡± Fang Hao said. The skeletons behind him brought out the prepared glowstones. They dropped the rope ladder straight down the hole, and after a few seconds, they heard a thud, the sound of the ladder hitting the ground. After confirming that there were no problems, Fang Hao proceeded to descend down the rope ladder with the Skeleton Warriors. They landed. Under the soft glow of the light, Fang Hao could finally make out the area under his feet. The cavity in the mountain was as large as a football field, with uneven walls that were marked with special patterns. The patterns were no longer complete, but you could vaguely make out the sun, an army with religious characteristics, and the depiction of the extermination of a creature with large bat wings. This was different from the typical mural in ancient tombs, which often depicted the life story of the tomb owner. Could this not be an ancient tomb but a relic instead? ¡°My lord, it seems we are quite lucky. We have directly entered the tomb.¡± The Blood Hunter said from a distance. Fang Hao circled the area with a glowstone in hand. Apart from the dark corridor leading deeper into the tomb, behind them was a giant bronze door. The bronze door was carved with complex patterns. In the middle was a keyhole that was almost blocked by rust. From the direction of the bronze door, it was clear that the hole they dug had bypassed this door and led straight into the interior. Otherwise, they would still need the key to the bronze door, which would be a hassle. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue. This place isn¡¯t very comfortable,¡± Fang Hao said. The team began to assemble, making their way inward along the narrow corridor. The deeper they went into the mountain, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Every few meters along both sides of the mountain walls, there were lamp stands, no one knew how long they had been extinguished, or if they could be relit. Fang Hao made no command to start a fire. He remembered from watching TV shows and reading novels that there might be gases inside that would explode upon contact with open flames. He did not know, nor did he remember. In any case, the Nightstone was still usable now, there was no need to tempt fate. Upon passing through the corridor, the path abruptly widened. Just as they stepped out, Fang Hao stopped abruptly. This was an open space about five to six meters wide with a height of over ten meters. The two stone walls were carved into stone beds, stacked on top of each other like bunk beds, stretching all the way to the top of the room. Each stone bed was occupied by a body, wrapped in burial cloth. Some of the cloth on the bodies had decomposed, leaving only some ragged pieces and dark traces on them. If Fang Hao had skin, it would surely be tingling at this moment. ¡°Lord, it seems this really is an ancient tomb.¡± ¡°Yes, and it¡¯s a mass burial site,¡± Fang Hao said in a low voice. Fang Hao turned to the Skeleton Warrior beside him and said, ¡°Go take a look inside.¡± The Skeleton Warrior received the order and started moving, wielding its weapons. As it gradually advanced inside, a creaking sound could be heard from the stone beds on both sides. Looking up, the bodies on the stone beds began to sit up one after another, tearing off the wrappings around them and picking up the weapons by their sides. Even though he had already anticipated that these fellows would rise, he still gasped in surprise when the bodies truly began to sit up. ¡°Prepare for battle,¡± Fang Hao immediately issued the command. The Skeleton Warrior who had gone in to scout returned to the group, and the team readied themselves for combat. [Corpse Ghost (Tier 4.)] Boom, boom, boom! One after another, corpse ghosts leaped down from the stone beds. The corpse ghosts living on the upper levels fell and broke their leg bones, falling haphazardly. Regardless, they were crawling towards Fang Hao to initiate an attack. ¡°Attack!¡± Fang Hao gave the command, and both groups clashed instantly. The corpse ghosts were of Tier 4, but had no defense, their bodies adorned with pieces of cloth painted with various symbols. Skeleton Warriors under Fang Hao, albeit only Tier 2, had high-quality equipment. Knight¡¯s sword, falcon shield, and all-round total body armor. This significantly enhanced the strength of the team. In the battle, the Blood Hunter also exhibited extraordinary combat capabilities. It glowed with a crimson light, wielding a knight¡¯s sword in hand, killing a great number of corpse ghosts. And the slain corpse ghost instantly turned into a pile of mud. Not one bone was left behind. Boom! When the last corpse ghost was wiped out, the chamber fell silent once again. However, the danger was not over. At the central location directly ahead of the team, a stone bed was placed. On it lay a corpse whose muscles looked dried-up. The corpse was wearing a set of golden metal armor, and beside the stone bed lay a metal two-handed heavy sword. The corpse just lay there on the stone bed, undisturbed by the intense fight that just happened. ¡°Is this one actually dead?¡± Many of the stone beds on both sides were indeed filled with the dead, bodies that never woke up. While the one before them looked fierce, it might really be dead. Just when Fang Hao was puzzling over this matter. Creak, creak, creak! The dried corpse on the stone bed slowly started to sit up. A faint blue light ignited in its hollow eyes. ¡°Damn liars, they all deserve to die¡­¡± A hoarse, grating voice emerged from the dry corpse¡¯s mouth. Then, those blue eyes of fire looked over to the undead team not far away. ¡°You all deserve to die,¡± The dry corpse cursed, as it picked up the giant sword from the stone bed. [Stone Mound Leader (Tier 10)] What a stroke of luck, it¡¯s a BOSS fight. Fang Hao looked at the Stone Mound Leader dragging the giant sword, gradually advancing towards them. He said, ¡°How about sitting down and discussing this? You seem like a cultured person, why don¡¯t we resolve this peacefully?¡± Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 184, Valor Must Kill 1 Chapter 184: Chapter 184, Valor Must Kill 1 Translator: 549690339 , ¡ª The Stone Mound Leader advanced step by step, dragging the huge sword in his hand. He was moving closer little by little in the dimly lit tomb passage. The iron sword scraped the ground, emitting a harsh friction sound. Fang Hao saw that he was a hero, fearing that if he killed him there would be no corpse left, so he tried to communicate. They were all undead, perhaps he could offer safe conduct, it was also a way of victory without fighting. Clearly, the other party didn¡¯t think so, he appeared ready for a desperate fight. Since he didn¡¯t appreciate kindness, there was no need to hold any loyalty towards people like him. ¡°Take him down.¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The bowstring trembled, and one arrow after another whistled out from the back row. Facing the dense shower of arrows, the Stone Mound Leader did not hide or evade, he let the arrows strike him. He paused briefly at his feet, then pushed forward despite the rain of arrows. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s tough!¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. The archers had limited quantity, their arrows seemed to have little effect on the Stone Mound Leader. The wounds left by the arrows appeared like shots to dried meat, not a drop of blood seeped out. As the Stone Mound Leader approached, the close-combat troops began to attack. Skeleton Warriors, holding black iron shields, surrounded the Stone Mound Leader, using shield strikes in turns to try to daze him. Whoosh! Then, a dark red glow sparked on the great sword of the Stone Mound Leader. He put all his strength into a sweeping strike. Creak! Creak! The solid shields broke instantly, and the Skeleton Warriors in front were instantly cut in half. ¡°He¡¯s so fierce,¡± Fang Hao thought, startled, ¡°Blood Hunter, take him down.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The Blood Hunter spread his huge wings and jumped straight onto the roof then dived directly at the Stone Mound Leader. The Stone Mound Leader¡¯s blue eyes suddenly looked up at the sky at the Blood unter, letting out a resounding roar, ¡°Frauds, you damn bats!¡± He thrust his heavy sword upwards, aiming right at the Blood Hunter. The Blood Hunter retracted his wings, flipped his body to dodge the attack, and thrust his longsword directly at the Stone Mound Leader¡¯s skull. Unable to stop his sword swing, the Stone Mound Leader lowered his head. Clang! The Blood Hunter¡¯s longsword hit the iron helmet, ringing a loud noise. Hatred was all over the Stone Mound Leader¡¯s eyes. He swung his heavy sword again forcefully, creating a whistling wind. stone ^ds on both sides shattered under the force, debris scattering all The Blood Hunter¡¯s body was light, his bat wings granted him high mobility He flew about like he was on a wire, leaving deep bone-exposing scars on the Stone Mound Leader. After all, there was a significant gap in their levels of power, the Blood Hunter was a blue hero, his overall attributes were much higher than the Stone Mound Leader. But it was also clear that the Stone Mound Leader had a very solid foundation. Although he was not a hero, he was still able to hold his own against the Blood Hunter til now. Boom! At that moment, a skeleton warrior managed to daze the Stone Mound Leader with his shield strike. AU the troops took the opportunity to attack vigorously. Just a second before he regained consciousness, the Blood Hunter swung his longsword, decapitating the Stone Mound Leader. As the Stone Mound Leader¡¯s head fell, his entire body broke down in an instant, scattering like sand. ¡°Ah! What a waste,¡± Fang Hao sighed. He just wanted to have a good chat, but it ended up at this stage, not even leaving a corpse behind. ¡°Search, see if there is anything good in this area,¡± Fang Hao ordered. AU the skeletons scattered instantly, even the Corpse Ghosts lying on the stone beds were brutally dragged down to search for valuables. Soon, various spoils of war were collected. Besides a few rusty weapons and several grimy human gold coins, they also found a key, 142 death traces, and 75 shadowstones. These shadowstones were spread out on the stony bed, collecting them took some effort. My lord, we found a treasure chest here.¡± Behind the stone bed where the Stone Mound Leader had been lying, they found a silver treasure chest. Fang Hao walked over and decided to open it directly. [Acquired: Scroll of Heroic Strike Skill, Blueprint for the White Steel TWo- Handed Sword, Courage Medal, 12 Blood Stones, 44 Warfire Coins.] The quality of this silver chest was quite high. Not only did it contain a blueprint, but also a skill scroll. [Heroic Strike (Active)] [Category: Warrior Skill] [Level: Level 3 Martial Skill] [Effect: 40% chance to break armour and inflict damage.] (Description: A powerful warrior, breaking through all obstacles with a single swipe, decapitating the enemy.) Darn it¡­ A warrior skill, isn¡¯t this just pointless for me. He threw the skill scroll into his backpack and continued checking the next weapon blueprint. [White Steel Two-Handed Giant Sword (Blue): 2 Iron Blocks, 2 White Steel Ingots, 1 Hard Resilient Wood, 1 Thick Leather.] A blueprint for a blue two-handed giant sword. The materials listed were missing the white steel ingot, and there were no undead soldiers proficient in using a two-handed giant sword. As for Zhang Bin¡¯s great sword infantry, they were not as useful as any undead. Living creatures have more things to consider. If any aspect is not taken care of, morale decreases and battlefield desertions may occur. Undead don¡¯t need to consider so many things. Simply charge in and attack. [Courage Medal] [Category: Medal] [Effect: Slightly enhances the carrier¡¯s strength and inspires troops, increasing morale by 2%.] 5 (Description: Like faith, let courage be unwavering.) Medal of Courage¡­ Both the medal¡¯s name and description¡­ It all doesn¡¯t seem very fitting for the undead. Since when did the undead start singing praises of courage? Right, to become undead does indeed require great courage. Fang Hao hasn¡¯t prepared himself yet to overcome this inner conflict. Otherwise, I too would become undying. The remaining rewards are Blood Stones and Warfire Coins, which Fang Hao has obtained long ago, and thus didn¡¯t look at them closely. But from the rewards of these blood stones, it can be inferred that this indeed has something to do with vampires. Gathering all the loot, he arrived at the far end of the space. Here was another door, a bronze gate engraved with intricate designs. Fang Hao took out the key dropped by the leader of the Stone Mound and inserted it directly into the keyhole. With a hard twist and a click, the lock opened. It really was the key to this door. ¡°Push.¡± The skeletons behind him moved forward and started to push the huge bronze door open together. With a sharp noise, the bronze gate slowly opened. Behind the bronze door was a wide space, and at a glance, one could see the enormous bronze door of the next room. On both sides were densely laid stone beds for the corpse ghosts. But at the end of the room, it wasn¡¯t a huge stone bed, but four giant bronze coffins leaning against the wall. The bronze coffins were old and stained, and the engravings on top had rusted away, obscuring their full shapes. But Fang Hao was certain that the enemy would be inside these coffins. Once someone gets close, they would awaken from the coffins and start fighting. Everyone was standing outside the door, and Fang Hao began to think. Should I go back and bringa couple of barrels of gunpowder to blast them away all at once? y No way. If the cave collapses, all our efforts would be wasted. Even if the Iron Claw Rats worked themselves to death, they wouldn¡¯t be able to clear such a large space. We have to fight head-on. ¡°AU archers, get into steady aim mode,¡± Fang Hao ordered immediately. [Steady Aim] is an archer skill. Wien in steady aim mode, attack power increases by 20%, and accuracy by After all the archers were in position, Fang Hao tugged at a nearby skeleton warrior. ¡®Go, take a walk around inside.¡± Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Chapter 185, Dusk Banqueters_l Chapter 185: Chapter 185, Dusk Banqueters_l Translator: 549690339 With the Skeleton Warriors stepping into the next area, the Corpse Ghosts on the stone beds began to sit up one after another. Pitter-patter, like dumplings dropped into boiling water, they jumped down from the stone beds in search of the culprit who disturbed their rest. ¡°Fire!¡± Fang Hao immediately ordered to fire, and arrows like a rainstorm poured into the room ahead. They hit the freshly landed targets. Even though this attack was effective, the number of Corpse Ghosts was significant, and they began to launch a crazy counter-assault. ¡°Skeleton spearhands, move forward, raise your shields.¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The Skeleton Spearhands in the rear moved forward, the kite shields in their hands were raised before them, forming a solid wall. Long spears protruded from the gaps between the shields, pointing at the incoming enemies. The second line was made up of Skeleton Warriors, with their knight swords firmly gripped in their hands, waiting for the ensuing battle. This time, Fang Hao did not bring any Skeleton Mages. Apart from the slow speed of the Skeleton Mages, he did not expect to encounter such a large number of enemies. Bang bang bang!! The fearless Corpse Ghosts crashed into the shields, pierced by the long spears, like dry cured meat, not a single drop of blood was spilled. The Corpse Ghosts roared in rage, swinging their weapons, hitting the shield wall again and again. The skeletons behind, stepping over the bodies of their fallen companions, broke through the shield wall. They began to fight with the Skeleton Warriors in the rear. Neither side felt pain, nor feared death. The Undead¡­ it¡¯s so damn scary. The battle between the undead lasted almost an hour. When the Blood Hunter¡¯s longsword shattered the last Corpse Ghost, the battle finally came to a pause. The Skeleton Warriors on Fang Hao¡¯s side also suffered heavy losses. Fang Hao glanced at the four unopened copper coffins in the distance and said to Blood Hunter, ¡°You take our men back to a safe area first, I¡¯ll go back and bring Anjia and the others here.¡± The Blood Hunter¡¯s combat style was marked by extremely high mobility. In this narrow tomb, his combat power was greatly diminished. Despite not struggling against the Stone Mound leader, he was delayed for a considerable amount of time before killing the enemy. The presence of four copper coffins ahead foreshadowed the possible appearance of one or two heroic enemies, which would be difficult to deal with. Although Fang Hao wasn¡¯t worried in his God¡¯s Presence state, Blood Hunter had already changed from a vampire to a skeleton and could indeed die if killed again. It would be safer to bring Anjia and Fireblade along. ¡°Okay, sir.¡± Blood Hunter, without showing any dissatisfaction, begins to command the remaining troops to pull back to the previous area. Meanwhile, Fang Hao, exits his God¡¯s Presence state and wakes up on the bed in his room. He takes a sip of fruit wine placed beside his bed, and leaves the room. Downstairs in the main hall, Eira was conducting culinary training with several maids. The maids listened attentively, their big eyes round with interest. ¡°Master.¡± The maids hurriedly greeted him. Fang Hao nodded, asking, ¡°Where is Anjia?¡± ¡°She is at the backyard. Shall I call her?¡± Eira answered. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go find her myself. You all just continue your work.¡± ¡°Alright sir.¡± Exiting from the back door of the lord¡¯s house, here was a courtyard. The courtyard was not a part of the mansion, but a beautiful little garden filled with flowers blooming around the Rejuvenation Spring, maintained by the maids and carrying a scent of floral fragrance. Although birds did not dare to approach here, a lot of butterflies were still seen flying in the courtyard. Stepping into the courtyard, he saw Anjia practicing boxing with a sandbag on a lawn not far away. Sweat trickled down her neck, revealing her fit body that had a unique beauty to it. When Anjia saw Fang Hao, she put her punching to a halt, ¡°Have you finished over there?¡± ¡°No, I ran into a bit of trouble and need you to come with me.¡± answered Fang Hao. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Anjia, wiping off her sweat, agreed readily. ¡°Alright.¡± Anjia returned to her room for a quick gathering, then waited outside. Fang Hao went back to his room to re-enter the God¡¯s Presence state. The two of them mounted a Bone Dragon and flew towards the city where Fireblade was. After much detour, they returned to the location of the ancient tomb in the mountains. The three of them followed through the excavated tomb passage, meeting up with the Blood Hunters. New skeleton soldiers had been replenished in the tomb passage, replacing the fallen ones. ¡°It¡¯s those four copper coffins up ahead, we¡¯re not sure what kind of enemy is inside, so we need to be cautious.¡± Fang Hao briefed Anjia and Fireblade. With three heroes now, Fang Hao was quite confident. Even if there were four enemy heroes inside, he still had a large number of undead soldiers, enough to overwhelm them. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Fireblade responded. Anjia, on the other hand, folded her arms and didn¡¯t say much. Next, after Fang Hao had arranged the battle formations, he let a skeleton approach the copper coffins. The closer the skeleton got. A series of ¡®thump thump¡¯ knocking sounds rang from the copper coffin, as if someone inside was hammering against the sealed coffin lid. ¡°Prepare for battle.¡± Fang Hao ordered. All the skeleton archers entered a steady shooting stance, aiming their arrows at the trembling copper coffins. The skeleton archers were arranged by Fang Hao on both the open ground in the middle and the stone beds reaching the ceiling on either side, each filled with numerous archers. The plan was to make sure that as soon as the bodies inside the coffins showed themselves, they would be greeted with a special welcome. The trembling of the copper coffins grew more intense. Bang! With four loud bangs, the coffins were pried open, revealing the vicious monsters inside. [Dusk Banqueters (Level 10)] They still retained a human like form, their blazing red eyes emitting a bloodthirsty glow, and their twisted lips revealing sharp fangs. They were dressed in exquisitely embroidered gowns, which had become tattered and weathered over the endless ages. These were four real Blood Clan soldiers, not the undead they encountered outside. Fang Hao let out a sigh of relief. They were merely four Level 10 soldiers, not hero units. ¡°Ah¡­ugh!¡± The Dusk Banqueters let out an unseemly howl from their dry throats. While they were still adjusting their bodies, Fang Hao gave the order. ¡°Fire!¡± Swoosh! Swarms of arrows, with a whistle in their flight, headed straight for the four targets. Bang bang! The four figures that had just stepped out of the coffins were instantly shot back into them, their bodies riddled with arrows. ¡°Reload, free fire.¡± Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!! Hail of arrows fell like rain, continuously striking the bodies of the four targets. Until the arrows covered the coffins completely, making it impossible to see or hit the bodies buried underneath. ¡°They¡¯re not dead, are they?¡± Anjia asked from the side. Clattering! As soon as Anjia finished speaking, the four bodies within the mound of arrows shakily stood up again. ¡°Fire.¡± Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!! No sooner had they risen than they were shot back down into the pile of arrows. Fang Hao again signaled to stop firing and watched the targets from afar. Clattering! ¡°Fire.¡± Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!! It wasn¡¯t until the arrow supply was running low that Fang Hao turned to the three heroes at his side. ¡°Try not to cause too much damage. We need the bodies intact.¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Okay.¡± The three heroes moved swiftly, charging toward the four figures struggling to get up. Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Chapter 186, Withered Heart (Vote for recommendation please.)_l Chapter 186: Chapter 186, Withered Heart (Vote for recommendation please.)_l Translator: 549690339 With the addition of the three heroes, the pace of the battle was quickening. The Blood Hunter, leading the charge with outstretched bat wings, pierced through an enemy¡¯s body with a longsword before they could emerge from the pile of arrows. Fireblade and Anjia followed closely behind, with Fireblade¡¯s flaming longsword and Anjia¡¯s Tiger¡¯s Claw, they killed the enemies filled with arrows. The whole battle was not as tough as Fang Hao had imagined. It was even much easier than facing a group of Corpse Ghosts. There was no loss of personnel. Four bodies were pulled out from the pile of arrow shafts. This time, unlike the Corpse Ghosts, they did not disintegrate into ashes but were completely preserved. ¡°Clear the battlefield and collect all the arrows,¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The skeleton warriors began working, collecting the arrows. The arrows embedded in the bodies of the four Blood Clan members were also removed, leaving dense wounds and dark, viscous red blood seeping out. They quickly cleaned up the battlefield. Soon, the spoils of war on the battlefield were collected. Weapons used by Corpse Ghosts, human gold coins, keys. 102 Death Traces, 3 Bloodstones, and 85 Shadowstones. This was quite a decent harvest. With these Shadowstones, he could upgrade the buildings of the Undead faction when he went back. A golden treasure chest was then discovered and brought to Fang Hao. He opened the treasure chest. [Obtain: Fortress blueprint, bronze coffin manufacturing blueprint, noble cane sword manufacturing blueprint, 12 Bloodstones, and 117 Warfire Coins.] The harvest from the golden treasure chest was substantial. Building blueprints and production blueprints also appeared. Among them was a blueprint for a bronze coffin, which meant he was one step closer to conducting funerals. Viewing blueprint properties. [Fortress] [Category: Building Blueprint] (Description: Fixed military facilities that can be built in key places of strategic passes and frontier cities for stationing troops and setting up checkpoints.) [Construction requirements: 3000 units of wood, 2000 units of stone, 1500 stone bricks, 500 iron, 120 metal parts.] The purpose of a fortress doesn¡¯t need much explanation. The city where Fireblade is stationed is currently serving the function of a fortress. It is garrisoned with a large number of troops, guarding against the Skullcrusher Tribe in the northeast and also protecting the Bronze Bull¡¯s Manim Market. If there is an attack, that will be the first battlefield. If Manim comes under attack, it can also provide rapid support, rather than having to rush from the main city. Therefore, the use of a fortress is very important. Even without any attacks, a fortress can also serve as a checkpoint to the main city, inspecting teams going to and from the main city, increasing internal security in the territory. This building blueprint can indeed be very practical. [Bronze Coffin for Nurturing the Dead (Purple): 10 copper, 5 copper plates, 10 hard-resistant wood, 6 thick leather, 20 cotton, 10 fine cloths, 2 Death Traces.] (Description: A special coffin made by the Eternal Night Clan to better preserve bodies under special circumstances, and nourish its user¡¯s spiritual power.) This isn¡¯t the first time Fang Hao has acquired a coffin for nurturing the dead. The one he obtained this time was a copper coffin, which also consumes a large amount of material. It can be used under special circumstances. Just as he thought, in the sunless cavity of this mountain, wooden coffins would have rotted away long ago. [Noble Cane Sword (Blue): 2 hard-resistant wood, 3 iron, 3 cast iron blocks.] (Description: Be wary of the canes in the hands of hypocrites, or another hole might appear on your body.) Not bad. It¡¯s a blue weapon, and it does not require much material. After storing the spoils of war, Fang Hao and the others continued on to the next bronze door. He turned the key and directly opened the door. As the door opened, the Nightstones in everyone¡¯s hands began to dim gradually. This was a more spacious area. There was no stone bed from the previous area, nor any enemies and coffins. Above the space was a round copper mirror, tilted downwards. Carved around the mirror were patterns resembling sunlight, and on those patterns were four pieces of Solar Essence. The copper mirror was shining a beam of sunlight on a stone platform standing in the center of the space. Atop the stone platform was a shriveled, gray-white heart. Surrounding the space were walls covered in painted designs. There was no copper door leading to the next space. Presumably, this was the final space in the ancient tomb. ¡°Damn, what in the world is this now?¡± Fang Hao cursed. The current scene was more bizarre than simply having two enemies standing in front of them. The sun shining on a heart? After so many years, the copper doors were covered in rust, even air-dried meat should have turned to dust by now. ¡°What, what is that?¡± Anjia craned her neck, straining to see what was ahead. ¡°It looks like a heart.¡± Fang Hao guessed. ¡°Who could be so cruel to dig out a person¡¯s heart and then leave it hanging like that?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t respond to Anjia, instead he summoned another skeleton and said, ¡°Walk around the room.¡± Upon receiving the instruction, the Skeleton Warrior casually strolled around the room with its sword and shield, then returned to Fang Hao¡¯s side. Not a single movement occurred in the room, neither enemies nor traps made an appearance. ¡°Walk around two more times.¡± The skeleton went in again, made two more laps around the room. In the meantime, Fang Hao also had him tap on the walls, or move around some of the burial accessories. Everything was still quiet; not a single change had occurred. Could it be that there was no guardian assigned to this tomb? After several checks, with no changes discovered, Fang Hao finally gave more orders. ¡°Do not touch the heart, but take out all the other burial objects.¡± All the skeleton soldiers outside the room entered and began removing the burial objects. Time had eroded the cloth and paintings, but some gold and silver articles were still well preserved. Fang Hao went to the side to examine the designs on the wall. The appearance of the Blood Stone and the warriors from the Blood Clan confirmed a certain connection with vampires. However, the raised patterns drawn on the walls depicted human life and rituals. Agriculture, weaving, as well as other everyday activities. It wasn¡¯t as if the Blood Clan didn¡¯t do these things, but in the overall design, a dazzling sun had been painted at the top. If this were a place occupied by the Blood Clan, why would they deliberately show daylight and the sun? This puzzled Fang Hao. Crack! Just as Fang Hao was earnestly analyzing the contents of the raised drawings, a crisp sound came from above. Fearing a collapse, Fang Hao quickly looked in the direction of the sound. In the center, one skeleton was standing on the shoulders of another, a huge round copper mirror now in its hands, and it was striving to dig out the Solar Essence next to the mirror. Fang Hao¡¯s heart tightened. He immediately looked nervously at the heart on the stone platform in the center below. Thump!! That shriveled heart twitched slightly. So did Fang Hao¡¯s. ¡°Quick, get out, Anjia, get out first,¡± Fang Hao shouted loudly. As a living creature, Anjia, in certain situations, was easier to harm than the undead. Everyone hastily left the room. Meanwhile, outside the door, the bodies of the four ¡°Twilight Revelers¡¯ who were already dead began to shake violently. Thick, syrup-like blood gushed from their wounds, flowing towards the heart in the chamber. Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 187, Heart Task_l Chapter 187: Chapter 187, Heart Task_l Translator: 549690339 The blood seemed to be drawn by some force, transforming into a river of blood, rushing towards the heart in the center. By the time Fang Hao noticed the anomaly, four bodies had already withered, shattered into a fine sand. When all the blood currents were swallowed by the heart, the original shriveled, gray heart also started to grow increasingly red, full, and robust. Thump! Thump! Thump! The heart began to beat intensely, like a youthful heart, filled with strength. ¡°It¡¯s a bit scary.¡± Anjia peeped over again. ¡°It¡¯s¨Cokay.¡± Fang Hao wanted to comfort Anjia, only to find that his own voice was trembling slightly. Everyone stood at the doorway for a while, watching the heart beating ceaselessly, but showing no other changes. ¡°I¡¯ll go and check, seal up the door if anything strange happens,¡± said Fang Hao. No chest was found in the whole room. But a powerful organ might bring him extra gains. As for why he had to go in himself, the reason was simple. He was in the state of God¡¯s Presence, he could afford to die, and more importantly, he could see the information of the items. Whether the heart was peculiar or not could only be detected when he approached it. Several heroes nodded, and Fang Hao boldly approached the heart on the stone platform. As he got closer, Fang Hao also checked the information about the heart. [Revival Heart] [Category: Organ] [Effect: Consumption of heart blood can transform you into a vampire.] (Description: That night, the cunning City Lord hosted a grand ball, inviting all the noblemen and wealthy merchants in the city to taste his treasured wine. The red wine, faintly giving off a fishy smell, turned them into fanged creatures under the moonlight.) [Task: Beating Heart (Accepted)] (Description: Find the complete body, and there is a chance to recruit a Dark Gold level hero.) Good heavens, dark gold level. Fang Hao nearly gasped in surprise. Wait, is dark gold higher or is orange higher? Aren¡¯t they both the same color? It seems that dark gold is a bit higher. He would have the chance to ask Nelson when he went back. After the excitement, Fang Hao began to analyze the task information. According to the task description, he needs to help this heart find the remaining body. That is to say, this dark gold level power was dismembered and buried in different places. Thinking about it this way, it seems that the dark gold level isn¡¯t too powerful after all. He was even dismembered. This mission was the second task that Fang Hao took outside of the system. The first one was Little You¡¯s unfinished business, requiring the collection of 12 Swords of Absolution. He has only collected two so far, and now there¡¯s another task to collect body parts. Each task is weirder than the last. Of course, these tasks have no time limit and don¡¯t seem to carry any penalties. If it doesn¡¯t work out, Fang Hao will go back and let Nelson seal the heart directly into the viscera jar to see if it triggers any special attributes. ¡°All clear, no danger,¡± Fang Hao called out, ¡°Continue to move things out. Also, take the heart back.¡± All the skeletons came back in, continued to move the burial accessories out. The heart was directly thrown into a pottery jar for easy transportation. When Fang Hao crawled out of the cave, the sky was becoming increasingly dark. The sun has slowly sunk below the horizon. Exploring the ancient tomb actually took a whole day. Once everything was ready, Fang Hao ordered to start the journey back. Outside Pruell City. Clop! Clop! The rapid sound of horse hooves rang out. A mercenary entered the city just before the city gate was closed. Ignoring the guard¡¯s muttered warnings, he left his horse behind and headed straight for a room on the second floor of the inn. After taking a couple of deep breaths, he gently knocked on the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± A low voice came from inside the room. ¡°It¡¯s me, Lyle.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, revealing five well-equipped, burly men sitting inside. These men weren¡¯t locals but mercenaries who had arrived here not long ago. The bounty for locating the ancient tomb at the tavern was issued by these people. ¡°Any news?¡± A man with a large beard asked in a deep voice. They had been here for three days already, without getting any news at all. Neither they nor anyone else had any information about this ancient tomb. ¡°Yes.¡± Lyle picked up a pottery cup from the table and took a sip. All eyes instantly held their breaths, and everyone stared at Lyle, asking, ¡°Who found it? Is the location reliable? Has that person been killed?¡± Lyle¡¯s task was to monitor whether anyone had discovered the entrance to the ancient tomb while out and about. If discovered, and the rumor confirmed, he would kill the person to prevent the information from leaking out. Of course, even if Lyle made a mistake and the discoverer came to claim the bounty, the approach would be the same. Leave no survivors. ¡°It¡¯s pretty strange, you won¡¯t believe what I saw: an army of undead, at least tens of thousands of them.¡± Lyle took another sip of water and continued, ¡°They moved the funerary objects away, heading north.¡± ¡°Why would there be any undead here, Lyle? Are you trying to deceive us and keep everything for yourself?¡± Another man said in a deep voice. ¡°Screw you! If I wanted to deceive you, would I still come back? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to take the stuff inside and run away?¡± Lyle retorted loudly. Although this man was just talking, deep down, he didn¡¯t believe Lyle would lie. But the idea of such a large force coexisting with the many human settlements here was hard to accept. ¡°You said they moved the funerary objects?¡± An aged voice resonated from within the room. An old man clad in fancy clothes, leaning on a cane, walked out. The mercenaries nearby immediately gave up their seats for the old man to sit and converse. ¡°Yes, Mr. Eifu, I saw the undead pushing carts loaded with many funerary goods.¡± Lyle replied respectfully. The old man pulled-out a key from around his neck, expressing confusion, ¡°The key to the tomb is with me, how did they get in?¡± All eyes were on Lyle, waiting for him to provide a plausible answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know, the number of undead was too large. To avoid being noticed, I only followed from a distance.¡± Lyle replied. The old man nodded. Lyle had no reason to deceive him. Even if he wanted to trick him, he wouldn¡¯t make up something as unbelievable as an undead army. ¡°Did you spot anything special among the funerary items?¡± Old Eifu asked again. ¡°Something special? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Like corpses¡­¡± All the mercenaries looked puzzled. Was Eifu hiring them to look for bodies in the ancient tomb? It was quite hard to understand. ¡°Mr. Eifu, I didn¡¯t see any corpse. After all, the distance was quite far and they were all undead. Even if there were corpses, it would be difficult to notice.¡± Lyle continued. Old Eifu nodded, paused a moment, and said, ¡°We¡¯ll go up the mountain tomorrow to take a look. If we still can¡¯t find what I¡¯m looking for, we have to be prepared to deal with the undead.¡± The mercenaries looked grave. They were used to walking a tightrope with death, but didn¡¯t have any aspirations for suicide. They weren¡¯t fans of dealing with tens of thousands of undead creatures. The bearded mercenary took a deep breath and said, ¡°Mr. Eifu, you should tell us the secrets of this tomb now. You promised us eternal life and wealth.¡± Gazing directly into Old Eifu¡¯s eyes, ¡°If you don¡¯t reveal what you know today, I¡¯ll opt out of this mission. You only need to pay me for the distance I¡¯ve travelled.¡± Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Chapter 188, Black Thorn_l Chapter 188: Chapter 188, Black Thorn_l Translator: 549690339 The Eternal Night Monarch¡­ The mercenaries wore solemn faces. They had dealt with plenty of strange occurrences in their money-making endeavors. Among them were those who had dealt with the Blood Clan. The term ¡®Eternal Night¡¯ was something they were all too familiar with as it signified the Blood Clan. In the same way, they were not averse to the idea that the price of immortality would be to become a vampire. In their treatment of the weak, they were no kinder than the Blood Clan. ¡°Mr. Eifu, can I?¡± The mercenary with the big beard looked at the notes on the table. He asked if he could take a look at their contents. Old Eifu nodded slightly, he had brought it out so that everyone would believe his words. The man with the big beard picked up the notes, carefully undoing the thin hemp rope tied around them. The notes were so old that they were afraid they would crumble if they handled them too roughly. As the notes were opened, their content was revealed. These were the notes of a commander. The first few pages told of his day-to-day life: which girl he fell in love with at what age, and the day he confessed his feelings, only to find the girl playing a game with a nobleman, bearing their buttocks. At what age a traveler came to town and he began to learn swordsmanship. Another year, a beautiful girl came to town. She was so beautiful that she enchanted everyone. Compared to this beauty, the girl who had exposed herself before the noble looked like a lustful village girl. The men of the city, overnight, became rivals in love. In the latter half of the notes, at the age of 40, the author became the city¡¯s commander and could potentially advance to become a hero. He planned to work until spring, then resign and go to a city with a Merit Training Ground to attempt to advance. In his final year, he led his soldiers in defense of the city while the city was preparing to celebrate the New Year. The old city lord had sent bottles of grape wine to each household, including theirs. The notes end here and a few pages remain blank. It was only after turning three pages that they saw new content. Damned old man, he deceived everyone. My soldiers started to shed their skins, revealing the flesh beneath. He turned us all into damned monsters. In the last layer of the notes, there was a hand-drawn map. This commander asked his friends, according to the map, to find and rescue him. ¡°What does this prove?¡± The man with the big beard passed the notes to the next person, then asked a question himself. A single notebook, and the contents did not mention the method to achieve immortality. What could it say? Old Eifu continued, ¡°The commander¡¯s friend was just a merchant. He returned to the city under the guise of a traveling merchant. The once old and should- have-been-dead city lord looked increasingly young, like a gentleman of thirty or forty years. His friend, the commander, had truly disappeared.¡± ¡°During his few days¡¯ stay in the city, members of his team started disappearing one after another. Carrying all his goods, he left the city under the noon sun on a deserted street.¡± ¡°Later, the merchant continued to pay attention to the matter, gathering a lot of information, including the monarch and the key.¡± The mercenaries turned towards Old Eifu. ¡°Mr. Eifu, are you the merchant in the story?¡± Old Eifu was a merchant, and a wealthy one at that, so people naturally associated him with the character in the story. ¡°No.¡± Old Eifu continued, ¡°This is a story of my great-grandfather.¡± ¡°So you believe this story?¡± The man with the big beard asked. If it had been any day before today, whether the story was true or false, as long as Old Eifu was willing to pay, they were willing to play along with him. But now, with the implications of fighting against the undead and the secret of immortality, they wanted to get a clear answer before proceeding. ¡°The key, the ancient cemetery, they have all been verified, haven¡¯t they?¡± Old Eifu retorted. The mercenaries looked at each other. ¡°Mr. Eifu, shall we visit the ancient cemetery tomorrow?¡± The man with the big beard asked quietly, his attitude reverent again. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go and see tomorrow.¡± Old Eifu got up and returned to his bedroom. ¡°Don¡¯t let this out, or we¡¯ll be in bigger trouble.¡± ¡°Alright, then we won¡¯t disturb your rest.¡± After everyone said goodbye, they left the room, closing the door behind them. On the way back, Fang Hao dismissed his God¡¯s Presence. Sitting on the bed, he first contacted Zhang Bin. ¡°Zhang Bin, are you there?¡± ¡°Boss, your orders.¡± Zhang Bin¡¯s reply was as prompt as always. ¡°I¡¯m going to have the Blood Hunter send you a kind of animal called Iron Claw Rat. It can help the farmers to loosen the soil. When you get them, distribute them among the villagers and have them care for the animals separately.¡± ¡°Oh, alright. How many will there be?¡± ¡°505. Once you get them, distribute them to the villagers. Keep an eye on them, these little guys like to dig holes.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh, okay.¡± Zhang Bin was a bit confused, but he agreed anyway. As the conversation ended, Fang Hao left the room and went downstairs. He hadn¡¯t eaten all day and he was hungry. ¡°Master, just a moment, dinner will be ready soon.¡± Eira showed a sweet smile. ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao gave a reply and then walked straight out of the castle. As soon as he stepped out of the main entrance, he saw Nelson sitting silently on a bench, waiting. A skeleton orc stood beside him. ¡°Scholar Nelson, you¡¯re out of seclusion, huh.¡± Fang Hao immediately approached. After offering his respects, Nelson introduced, ¡°My lord, this is Black Thorn.¡± The Skeleton Hero behind him stepped forward, dropped to one knee and said, ¡°BlackThorn pays respects to the Lord.¡± Fang Hao understood. So, the commander of the 300,000 Orcs army is known as Black Thorn. [Black Thorn ¨C Amiri] Now, he could only be called Black Thorn. [BlackThorn (Fifth-Level Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Template: Blue] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light] [Army Talent: City Defence, Infantry Commander, Ranged Attack Commander] [Skills: Camping, Thorns, Torture, Conversation with the Dead] [Innate Abilities: Advanced Defense Mastery, Intermediate Tactics Mastery, Intermediate Command Mastery, Intermediate Single-Handed Weapon Mastery] [City Defense]: For units under his command in defensive battles, morale is increased by 5%, and defence is increased by 1%. [Camping (Passive)]: Efficiency of setting up camp or building fortifications for units under his command is increased by 20%. [Torture (Passive)]: He is proficient in torture, causing the morale of the tortured to drop to zero. [Thorns (Active)]: Causes 50% skill damage to the target. [Conversation with the Dead (Active)]: Grants a corpse the illusion of life, a brief return to life, allowing it to answer questions. (Prerequisites: The corpse must have a mouth, and cannot be undead.) [Description: Product of the Immortal Corpse Witch, not confirmed by the God of the Undead, this hero cannot advance] The attributes of Black Thorn were a bit weird. He didn¡¯t seem like a leading hero, but rather like an executioner who was suited for torture. I¡¯m glad I won that battle. If I fell into his hands, could it have been good? I would have been tortured to death. ¡°Alright, you get up for now, and when the team returns, I¡¯ll give you a task.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Black Thorn stood up and respectfully stepped aside. Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Chapter 189, Pure Blood Clan (Seeking Recommendation Tickets. )_1 Chapter 189: Chapter 189, Pure Blood Clan (Seeking Recommendation Tickets. )_1 Translator: 549690339 Nelson and I had a little chat together, and the returning army also entered the territory. There wasn¡¯t much of a body to transform this time, but we got quite a few gold and silver utensils. They are being delivered to the warehouse cart by cart. The weapons dropped by the Corpse Ghosts could be repaired by the blacksmiths and sold at a good price. Most importantly, we achieved a lot in terms of blueprints and rare materials. Blueprint scrolls include: [Scroll of Heroic Strike Skill] [Fortress Construction Blueprint] [White Steel Two-Handed Sword Manufacturing Blueprint] [Bronze Corpse Rearing Coffin Production Blueprint] [Noble Wand sword Production Blueprint]. Rare material types include: [Death Trace 244] [Blood Stone 27] [Shadowstone 160] [Wriggling Spine 1]. Only one Wriggling Spine was dropped by the three Dusk Banqueters; the rest belonged to Corpse Ghosts, and couldn¡¯t be dropped. I took the backpack that Anjia handed over and took in all the blueprints. ¡°By the way, Mr. Nelson, we found a heart in the ancient tomb. Should we keep it or get a better deal by making it a viscera jar?¡± Fang Hao suddenly thought of the dark gold hero¡¯s heart. If the sealing of the viscera jar can obtain a strong skill, it¡¯s not out of the question to consider it. The heart was still stored in a pottery jar and was carried back by a skeleton. ¡°Let me take a look,¡± Nelson replied. The skeleton held the pottery jar, and Fang Hao and Nelson looked inside it. The heart was still beating, and it was quite strong. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Nelson asked. Fang Hao retold the whole story to Nelson, even how he got the information in the human city, in detail. Nelson nodded slightly after listening and thought for a moment. ¡°Lord, do you want to make it a viscera jar?¡± ¡°Can I first see what will happen?¡± Fang Hao asked. The heart has a special mission. Fang Hao wants to see what properties it would have if stored in a viscera jar. If the attributes are good, he won¡¯t do the mission. If the attributes are average, he may keep the heart for the mission. It all depends on which one would bring the greatest benefit. ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t advise you to make it a viscera jar. This will bring a disaster to the territory,¡± Nelson whispered. He spoke lightly, but Fang Hao could hear the severity of the problem. A heart he picked up will bring disaster to the territory? Is his hundreds of thousands undead army vegetarians? ¡°What do you mean, please be frank,¡± Fang Hao frowned. ¡°Ordinary Blood Clan members do not have such strong vitality. This heart possesses the purest power of the Blood Clan. It must belong to someone very close to the Blood Clan ancestor. Sealing it is like making a time bomb. Once discovered, the Blood Clan will retaliate,¡± Nelson said seriously. The Blood Clan has a strict hierarchy, not everyone with fangs and bat wings are recognized by the Blood Clan. They have their own clans and inheritances. But no matter which clan, they all share a common Blood Clan ancestor. This heart, being related to the Blood Clan ancestor, also marks the seriousness of the matter. Even if Fang Hao can offend any local power, he cannot offend this one. Besides, he has a second option, to complete the mission of the heart. One is to make a friend, and the other is to make an enemy. After Nelson¡¯s introduction, Fang Hao felt it would be better to set aside racial differences and help each other. ¡°Okay, then keep this heart with you for now, see if there¡¯s a way to help revive it,¡± Fang Hao chose to do the heart mission. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Nelson took the pottery jar with the heart in it. After all, a beating heart placed in the Lord¡¯s Mansion is really scary. Leaving it with Nelson avoids a lot of hassle. After sorting everything out. Eira came to inform him that dinner was ready. After dinner, Fang Hao upgraded the [Underground Cemetery], [Burial Grounds], [Undead Hallway], [Undead Mage Tower] all to level 6. They caught up with the level of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. After everything was processed, Fang Hao returned to his room and went to sleep. The next morning. Fang Hao sat up, got out of bed and left the room. Eira was always an early riser, ¡°Master, Sir Doujin came to see you this morning.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Doujin is a Skeleton Merchant; if he¡¯s looking for him, it¡¯s most likely because he has a new order. Walking out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion, he headed straight for the Trade Alliance building. Doujin was standing at the counter, assigning tasks to the other Skeleton Merchants. ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a new order?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, sir, today we received two orders from the dwarves.¡± ¡°Two, both from the dwarves?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Last time, Fang Hao received 50,000 units of gunpowder. This time, there are two more orders. One order was for black gunpowder, the second was an order for white steel fire guns. [Order] [Request: 5000 units of Black Gunpowder] [Trade gains: 500 Warfire Coins, White Steel Plating Manufacturing Blueprint, Dwarf Influence +10] [Order] [Requirement: 2000 White Steel Fire Guns] [Trade gains: 200000 Warfire Coins, Dwarf Influence +10] What are the dwarves up to? They can¡¯t really be at war, the requirement for equipment and gunpowder is too large. Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter too much to him. ¡°Doujin, we can¡¯t produce the white steel fire guns, we don¡¯t have a blueprint,¡± said Fang Hao. He also wants white steel fire guns. Even at the green quality, these are Tier 4 damaging. They¡¯re quite fierce. But he doesn¡¯t have one. ¡°Sir, you have an order you haven¡¯t filled in, it¡¯s about to expire. If you do not also need something else, you can fill in the white steel fire gun. Maybe someone will sell the blueprint,¡± Doujin reminded. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Fang Hao slapped his forehead. The Trade Alliance sends two orders every seven days. Last time, he filled in the Undead Soldier-type building blueprint, but he has not received it yet. There¡¯s one left that he hasn¡¯t used. If he doesn¡¯t use it, it will expire. It will be overwritten. ¡°Oh, then write down the white steel fire gun.¡± He really doesn¡¯t have anything else to write. Even if he gets it and lacks the materials, it will still be an extension of the blueprint. ¡°Alright, sir.¡± Doujin said, wrote the white steel fire gun production blueprint on the order, and then put it into the mail tube behind him. Next, Fang Hao collected the black gunpowder order and produced 5000 units of black gunpowder in the warehouse. The Skeleton Merchant took the goods and the order and disappeared. Fang Hao then began to get busy with his own matters. After breakfast. Two Bone Dragons descended from the sky, and 12 Tier 4 Great Sword Infantry descended from them. They looked a bit pale. Their eyes occasionally glanced at the passing skeletons. ¡°Lord.¡± The Great Sword Infantry recognized Fang Hao and immediately came forward to salute. ¡°Yes, have you eaten breakfast?¡± Fang Hao asked. These people were transferred from Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. Today, they are going to Pruell City to handle the opening of a shop. He needed some manpower to escort the carriage, so he transferred these people over. ¡°We have eaten, Sir.¡± The Great Sword Infantry answered respectfully. ¡°Alright, wait a little longer. Once everything is ready, we will set off.¡± Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Chapter 190, Bounty on Undead 1 Chapter 190: Chapter 190, Bounty on Undead 1 Translator: 549690339 1 ¡ª The Great Sword Infantry carefully stood aside. Fang Hao then opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the Merchant Caravan Cart¡± in the creation list. ¡®Merchant Caravan Cart: Wood 200, Hemp Rope 70, Leather 50, Iron to, Metal Parts 12.¡± The caravan cart blueprint was obtained by Zhang Bin from last time¡¯s wild boar clearing. Fang Hao recorded it. Production Quantity: 1. Production. toox Amplification Triggered, 101 Merchant Caravan Carts obtained.¡± One cart after another appeared out of thin air, scattered around the vicinity. The merchant caravan cart was bigger and more stable than a flatbed cart, and there was a leather canopy above the wagon box. It could carry more goods and provide shade from the sun and the rain. Alright, load up the barrels of wine and dining utensils from the warehouse and we¡¯ll set off soon.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± AU the Great Sword Infantry sprung into action, loading all the necessary items onto the carts. Once everything was ready, the large convoy set off again, heading towards Pruell City. Three hours later. The caravan finally entered Pruell City. The unfamiliar convoy and the attractive bunny girls and fox girl maids attracted a lot of attention. People gathered on both sides of the road, whispering to each other. ¡°Little White, do you remember this road? From now on, you will be in charge of the stores here.¡± Fang Hao sat in a caravan, speaking to the fox-tailed Little White who stood beside him. Little White was a maid with a business talent, alongside her were 10 rabbit-girl maids. They were responsible for the store. Tier 4 Great Sword Infantry was brought along for security. After all, it¡¯s a legitimate business, they needed people to guard if drunkards harassed the maids or if anyone caused trouble. The defensive commander of Pruell City was only a Tier 5, assigning a Tier 4 as security should be enough. I remembered, Master. Rest assured, I will not disappoint you.¡± Little White clenched her fist, making a promise. ¡°Good, I trust you.¡± The convoy stopped in front of the store, and Fang Hao went to the Lord¡¯s Mansion to handle the paperwork with the money box. Upon paying, he received the deed to the place. From then on, the store belonged to Fang Hao. The store¡¯s doors were opened, revealing the dusty floor and furniture inside. After giving instructions, everyone started cleaning. Fang Hao stood outside and there was no place for him to intervene. He was not very strong himself, as long as he didn¡¯t add to the chaos, it was fine. Right then, the tavern owner from across the street walked over. ¡°Did you really buy this place?¡± The owner came closer. ¡°Yes, from now on we are neighbors. Please take care of me.¡± Fang Hao smiled. The owner once again sized up the young man. He was really wealthy, this shop cost tens of thousands of gold coins, and he bought it without a second thought. He also brought a large group of people to clean it. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± ¡°We¡¯re opening a restaurant,¡± replied Fang Hao. ¡°Just food?¡± queried the owner. ¡°Ah, and some drinks, but mostly food.¡± The owner shook her head when she heard this, whispering, ¡°You won¡¯t make much money that way. You could run a hotel, guests would eat at your place. How many people would come for food alone?¡± These words were from the owner¡¯s years of experience running a tavern. She ran a tavern and sold some dishes to go with the drinks, but it would be hard to make a living selling just food in this place. Unless what you¡¯re serving is so delicious that people couldn¡¯t stand not to eat it for two days, just like alcoholics couldn¡¯t live without alcohol, otherwise, it would be hard to break into the market. ¡°Well, let¡¯s try it first. If it¡¯s not working, I¡¯ll sell daily necessities,¡± Fang Hao said nonchalantly. The owner glared at him helplessly, wealthy people really are hard to deal with. ¡°Come on, sit at my place for a while. You can¡¯t keep standing here, can you?¡± The owner walked towards the tavern. Her slim waist and round hips moved gently as she left. It was hard not to take a second glance. Fang Hao couldn¡¯t stand there all the time, so he followed the owner into the tavern. Sitting at the front desk, he suddenly noticed that the bounty on the wall had changed. The quest to search for the ancient tomb has been replaced with a quest to find the undead gathering place in the north, and the reward amount has also been increased to 5,000 Gold Coins. Seeing this quest, Fang Hao squinted. Pruell City was three hours north, in the correct direction, you could find his territory. ¡°Damn.¡± Indeed, damn. Those mercenaries must have lost their minds, claiming there are packs of undead in the north.¡± The owner was standing behind the counter muttering to herself. ¡°You didn¡¯t believe them, but you still posted their bounty?¡± Fang Hao asked. Ah! They paid for it, I couldn¡¯t refuse the money, could I?¡± The owner poured a glass of beer and pushed it over. ¡°What kind of people are these mercenaries? What does it matter to them if there are undead in the north?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°Who knows, they said there was an ancient tomb before, and this morning they changed it to the undead.¡± The owner complained. If they didn¡¯t pay a decent amount, she would have refused to post their quest. The credibility was low, and it was causing the reputation of the tavern to decline. ¡°Are they staying here?¡± ¡°They rented a few rooms on the second floor, quite the rich folk, they eat and drink well when they arrive. The old man they¡¯re protecting is obviously wealthy.¡± The owner¡¯s eyes were quite keen, she could see the ins and outs of what was happening. ¡°I want to post a bounty too, what¡¯s the fee?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Sure, it¡¯s one gold coin for five days, and you can¡¯t post it for less than five days. If the bounty is completed, the tavern will take 10% of the reward, but that¡¯s after the bounty is completed.¡± The owner said while cleaning the table. ¡°Okay, then post ¡®Looking for information on Swords of Absolution, too Gold Coins per piece of information.''¡± Fang Hao took out 5 gold coins from his pocket, ¡°Let¡¯s start with 25 days.¡± ¡°Alright, you write it.¡± ¡°Will you write it for me? My handwriting is not good,¡± Fang Hao said. The owner put down the cloth in her hand and stood in front of the notice board, writing down the bounty posted by Fang Hao. Thump! The tavern door was pushed open roughly. Six well-equipped mercenaries, escorting an old man, walked into the tavern. The group was silent, only saying one sentence when they approached the owner, Prepare lunch for seven people, send it to our room.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll send it up when it¡¯s ready.¡± Without uttering another word, the group headed straight to the second floor. ¡°Mercenaries?¡± Fang Hao asked quietly after they left. The owner nodded, and then started to prepare lunch for the mercenaries. When they came in, Fang Hao got a good look at these mercenaries. All six of them were Tier 6 or 7, quite high-ranking among humans. Watching them go upstairs, Fang Hao¡¯s expression darkened. It seemed these people could not be left alone. They must have discovered the skeletons in his territory, if they kept messing around, it would cause a lot of trouble for him. After bidding the owner goodbye, he left the tavern. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 191, Death Investigation ! Chapter 191: Chapter 191, Death Investigation ! Translator: 549690339 | In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly. Having left Little White in charge of the shop, Fang Hao returned to his territory with Anjia. As soon as they dismounted, Doujin approached. He said, ¡°Sir, here are the blueprints obtained this morning. The Warfire Coins have been handed over to Miss Eira.¡± Doujin handed over two blueprints. They were the blueprint for the manufacture of ¡°White Steel Plate¡± rewarded from the order, and the blueprint for the ¡°White Steel Handgun¡± obtained from the order he placed. The manufacturing type blueprints are easy to come by. Orders placed in the morning are filled by the afternoon. Contrarily, not a single person has given him Undead architectural blueprints in response to his first order. Fang Hao received them and recorded them in the Book of Lords. ¡°White Steel Plate: 2 White Steel Ingots.¡± White Steel Ingots are required. Following the model of cast iron production. White Steel Ingot seems unlikely to be something crafted from a blueprint, but rather, something produced using a furnace. ¡°White Steel Handgun: 1 White Steel Plate, 2 White Steel Ingots, and 3 Metal Parts.¡± (Description: A common weapon for gunmen. Simple manufacturing process makes it suitable for mass production.) Despite its green-quality, the White Steel Handgun provides Tier A damage. Such an unprecedented damage, if equipped to Skeleton Archers, could imperatively double their power. Forming a Skeleton Gunner regiment would not only be formidable, but also very cool. The material demand isn¡¯t high either, all that¡¯s missing now are White Steel Ingots. ¡°Doujin, does the Trade Alliance have blueprints to produce White Steel Ingots?¡± Fang Hao turned to Doujin. Such universally-used construction, utilized by all races, shouldn¡¯t be hard to get, right? ¡°Not yet, but I¡¯ll keep an eye out. I¡¯ll buy it directly should such blueprint appear.¡± Doujin replied. ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao, left without other options could only hope the Trade Alliance replenishes the blueprint next time. Or, if there¡¯s a way to procure White Steel Ingots in nearby human cities, buying the finished product would also work. Doujin turned and left, while Fang Hao returned to his manor. Upon returning to his room, and placing the Starfire Wand on the weapon rack, he noticed the Sound-transmitting Shell had logged a new message. Fang Hao had two shells in his possession. One was given by the slave trader to notify him of when to buy slaves. The other Sound-transmitting Shell was reserved by Fang Hao for the Bronze Bull, to inform him whenever there is news from the Skullcrusher Tribe. The shell that currently held a message was the one that carries the news transmitted by Bronze Bull. He held the shell up to his ear, and instantly, Bronze Bull¡¯s deep voice carried through. ¡°Lord, we¡¯ve captured two spies from the Skullcrusher Tribe. We found a map of our layout on them, and they are being sent to the city where Sir Fireblade is stationed.¡± The Sound-transmitting Shell could store only limited information. The content was brief. They¡¯ve captured two spies planted by the Skullcrusher Tribe. He didn¡¯t mention much else. Fang Hao could only re-don his armor that he had just taken off and leave the manor. He beckoned Anjia and Black Thorn, mounted the Bone Dragon, and flew over to the city where Fireblade was stationed. It was about a thirty-minute journey. The Bone Dragon was already hovering over the city. This erstwhile human territory had been converted into a temporary fortress. Undead patrolled densely outside the city day and night. There were countless checkpoints on the road to the main city. Unless one decided to take a massive roundabout, it would be difficult to bypass the checkpoints and directly attack the main city where Fang Hao resided. The Bone Dragon landed, and Fireblade and Bronze Bull came forward to pay their respects. ¡°Lord.¡± The city was filled with a multitude of Undead skeletons standing on standby like terracotta warriors, neatly arranged. On one side, several Tauren warriors were huddled in the corner, guarding something. Fang Hao dismounted from the Bone Dragon and asked directly, ¡°Where are the spies?¡± ¡°Over here, sir, follow me.¡± Bronze Bull led the way to where the Taurens were standing guard. In the corner, two mutilated corpses lay openly exposed under the sun. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s these two.¡± Bronze Bull pointed out the bodies. ¡°Dead?¡± ¡°Yes. The guards found them drawing a map. There was a fight when we tried to capture them, so they were killed,¡± Bronze Bull explained. He wanted to capture them alive, but they had entered a state of Blood Rage, and since they were in the Manim Market, they had to be killed for safety reasons. So now, the best they could do was to gather as much information as possible. ¡°Where is the map you mentioned?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°Here it is.¡± Bronze Bull brought out a map. The map crudely marked the Manim Market, the location of the Fireblade¡¯s base city, and some checkpoints around it. Though rudimentary, the positions of each checkpoint were quite detailed. It was clear that these two had been investigating the area for some time. Bronze Bull was also feeling somewhat apprehensive. Fang Hao had instructed him to dispatch people to spy on the Skullcrusher Tribe. But instead of gaining information about the Skullcrushers, they had caught spies lurking in Manim who had detailed maps. If these were the spies they had caught, who could guarantee that there weren¡¯t others? He was afraid that Fang Hao would blame him and that it would impact the interests of the Tauren Tribe. In recent times, the Tauren Tribe had received significant support from Fang Hao ¨C various weapons, city infrastructure, the roads had all been paved with stone slabs. Even if it rained, they didn¡¯t need to worry about muddy roads anymore. The Manim Market had improved considerably from before, and this improvement would continue as long as Fang Hao was willing to support them. ¡°My Lord, I am responsible for this, I¡­¡± Bronze Bull began to speak. ¡°We will discuss your matter later.¡± Fang Hao put away the map and called out softly, ¡°Black Thorn.¡± Black Thorn, the newly joined skeleton hero, who had been following behind Fang Hao, stepped forward, ¡°My Lord.¡± He was dressed in a suit of metal plate armor, with a black iron knight¡¯s sword around his waist. Both Bronze Bull and Fireblade took a closer look as they had never seen him before. ¡°Interrogate them. Ask about the plans of the Skullcrushers, their troop strength, and the like.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± After Black Thorn completed his statement, he began to draw strange runes around one of the bodies. The Tauren showed expressions of uncertainty. When Fang Hao said ¡®interrogate¡¯, did he mean to interrogate the corpse? How could one interrogate a dead man? Soon, Black Thorn completed the rune drawing, ¡°My Lord, I am ready, I need the blood of two warcrafts.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Bronze Bull, arrange it.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Bronze Bull agreed and gave the order to his subordinates. Soon, two unicorns were brought over. In front of the runes, the throat of the unicorn was slit with a sword, and the fresh blood flowed along the runes, merging into the first body. Whoo! The dead body sat up instantly, sitting in place with a somewhat vacant look. Whoosh!!! The surrounding Tauren retreated several steps in an instant, looking at the suddenly sitting body with some fear. ¡°Where is this, who are you?¡± The revived orc asked with bewilderment. ¡°You are already dead, nowyou need to answer my questions.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The orc replied stiffly. ¡°How many spies has the Skullcrusher tribe deployed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I only know about the two of us.¡± ¡°What other plans does the Skullcrusher have against the undead?¡± Black Thorn stared into the orc¡¯s eyes and asked quickly. ¡°The Great Chief has contacted the Troll Tribe, planning to join the Troll Tribe and¡­.¡± Bang! The next instant, the body exploded, splattering blood and flesh everywhere. Fang Hao¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°Bring another two unicorns over.¡± Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 1 Chapter 192: Chapter 192, Buying Intelligence (Seeking Recommendation Tickets, Seeking Subscriptions¡­¡­.. ) 1 Translator: 549690339 The information obtained from the first corpse wasn¡¯t plentiful. However, some vital information was revealed. The Skullcrusher Tribe was still eager to wage war, having contacted a Troll Tribe to cooperate in launching a continuous attack on Fang Hao¡¯s territory. This news hardened the heart of Fang Hao who was planning to live a peaceful life for a few days. Their willingness to cooperate meant they have strength superior to the previously 300,000 strong force to deal with Fang Hao¡¯s Undead Army. This time, a one-horned sheep and a dying wild boar were transported. Both were thrown in front of the second corpse and the bloodletting began. Whoosh! The second corpse sat up again, with a bewildered look in his eyes. ¡°You are already dead, now answer my question, which Troll Tribe has the Skullcrusher Tribe contacted?¡± Black Thorn directly asked. The corpse answered, ¡°It is the Bloodthroat Tribe on the other side of the mountain.¡± ¡°What powerhouses are in the Bloodthroat Tribe?¡± I m not sure, but I¡¯ve heard that the chieftain of the Bloodthroat Tribe is an orange hero.¡± The blood in the rune began to rise like steam, and the resuscitated ore¡¯s body also began to swell like a balloon. ¡°Apart from the orange chieftain, who are the other heroes in the Bloodthroat Tribe?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°How many troops will the Skullcrusher dispatch?¡± Black Thorn¡¯s questioning pace was accelerating. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°How many troops does the Bloodthroat Tribe have?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The orc¡¯s body was already like a balloon, and his facial features began to deform. Black Thorn continued to ask, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the full name of the Bloodthroat chieftain?¡± ¡°Meatfist-Kaius.¡± Bang! With a muffled sound, the orc¡¯s body exploded, and the scattered flesh fell from the sky like raindrops. ¡°Sir, all questions have been asked,¡± Black Thorn saluted once again. ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s go inside and chat.¡± In the hall, Fang Hao was sitting in the main seat, with a few heroes below. With the exceptions of the Blood Hunter and Nelson, the remaining characters were all present. These two spies did not knowa lot of information, and moreover, some things were hearsay from within the Skullcrusher Tribe. The authenticity of the information needs verification. However, the matter of the Skullcrusher Tribe aligning with the Troll Tribe is 99% true. Because with the current strength of the Skullcrusher, it is impossible to compete with Fang Hao. The only way to fight is to seek external aid. And the Troll Tribe on the other side of the mountain would be their aid. It seems that his territory has once again entered a tense state of war preparations. ¡°Tellock, what news have your spies returned to you?¡± Fang Hao looked at Bronze Bull. Since the enemy¡¯s spies have come in, his spies should have sent back some information, right? ¡°Sir, few pieces of information about the scattered tribes in the Frostwind Mountains and the map have been sent back, but there is not much information about the Skullcrusher Tribe,¡± Bronze Bull stood up and replied. The Skullcrusher Tribe has united the major and minor tribes of the Frostwind Mountains. A small tribe may have a few hundred people, while a large one may have a few thousand. It¡¯s not like Fang Hao, where almost all of his forces are concentrated near a few major cities. Moreover, the roads in the mountains are rough and the environment is harsh, making it very difficult to draw up a map. Then do you know about the Bloodthroat Tribe of the Trolls?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them, they are a troublesome tribe,¡± was the response. ¡°Tell me what you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only heard some stories that the Bloodthroat Tribe used to be powerful and had attacked this continent. They were later siege attacked by the Dragon Clan and the elves, and almost completely annihilated, with only a small number able to hide inside the mountains,¡± Bronze Bull said. He didn¡¯t know much, after all, it¡¯s not an incident from his time. What he heard was passed down from the older generation, and the authenticity of not just the information but even the story couldn¡¯ t be confirmed. ¡°From that point, it¡¯s very probable that the opposing Clan Leader being an orange hero is true,¡± Fang Hao rubbed his chin. ¡°Very likely.¡± ¡°Just now the corpse mentioned the mountain range of the Bloodthroat Tribe which mountain range was it talking about?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡¯ Bronze Bull replied, ¡°It¡¯s called the Bloodshed Mountain Range, and it actually belongs to the same mountain range as the Frostwind Mountain Range, but because the mountain range is too long and has been occupied by different forces, it is divided into the Frostwind Mountain Range and the Bloodshed Mountain Range.¡± Fang Hao took out the Book of Lords and opened the map. Point it out to me on the map.¡± Bronze Bull pointed on the map and easily located the mountain range. In fact, Fang Hao had been to the Bloodshed Mountain Range before, where the Tomb of the Dragon was located. It was full of jagged rocks and indeed a barren land. Located north of the Pigmen Tribe, if the Trolls attacked from there, he would really need to make careful arrangements. Otherwise, they would be direct at his doorstep. Hmm, Bronze Bull, you go back and keep an eye on gathering information Fireblade keep an eye on patrolling and be careful of spies arranged by Skullcrusher,¡± Fang Hao instructed. At present, both sides are in a stage of gathering information. It¡¯s not yet time to deploy troops on a large scale or to close the market. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the two men replied. After discussing the plans for the future, Fang Hao returned to his territory with the two heroes. He returned to his territory. He took Eira along with him to visit the Information Guild. The Information Guild was an intelligence agency, where he could buy the information he wanted in exchange for money. Upon entering, the place was empty. Fang Hao walked to the counter, opened the mailbox and took out the information form from within. ¡°Eira, write ¡®Frostwind Mountains Skullcrusher Tribe¡¯ on this, and write their recent war plans and numbers of soldiers in the content box,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Eira took the pen from the counter and started to fill out the form as Fang Hao instructed. Fang Hao brought over a second form. ¡°Write ¡®Bloodshed Mountain Bloodthroat Tribe¡¯ on this, and fill in the content box with hero levels, war plans, and numbers of soldiers.¡± Eira filled out the second form as well. Fang Hao threw the two forms into the mailbox and silently waited for two to three minutes. Clang! There was a noise from the mailbox. When he opened it, there was a metal tag inside. It read ¡®500¡¯. This meant that these two pieces of information would cost 500 Warfire Coins ¨C the price was rather steep. Arrangements were made to prepare 500 Warfire Coins, which were all stuffed into the mailbox in one go and the lid was replaced. When he opened it again, there was nothing inside. This way, the operation should be considered complete, and an agreement reached between the two parties. All he needs to do is arrange for someone to wait here and inform him when the results come in. ¡°Eira, arrange for a maid to watch here. Once there¡¯s information in the mailbox, have her bring it over to me,¡± Fang Hao commanded as the two of them were leaving the Information Guild. He was just unsure when they would deliver the information. It shouldn¡¯t be collected on a monthly basis ¨C by the time the war¡¯s over there won¡¯t be any message yet. ¡°Understood, Master,¡± Eira nodded her head. Night fell. Under the cover of night, a Bone Dragon soared towards Pruell City. The Blood Hunter¡¯s Dark Deception allowed the Bone Dragon to blend into the darkness, evading all the guards, And easily entered the airspace above Pruell City. Fang Hao extended his withered finger, pointed towards a room on the second floor of an inn from a distance. The Blood Hunter nodded slightly, leapt from the Bone Dragon, spread out his huge bat wings, and directly dived into the second floor. ¡°Who¡¯s there, ah ¡­ help¡­¡± Following which, the sounds of fighting and wailing emerged from the room. Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 193, Old Yifus Diary 1 Chapter 193: Chapter 193, Old Yifu¡¯s Diary 1 Translator: 549690339 j 3 ¡ª Fang Hao sat on the back of the Bone Dragon, listening to the screams emanating from the tavern where the lights had been extinguished. If it weren¡¯t for the affairs of the Bloodthroat Tribe, there wouldn¡¯t have been any urgency in killing them. But given the threat that had emerged in the north, he couldn¡¯t afford to have potential hazard lurking in the south. Thus, it was their misfortune to provoke Fang Hao at this time. The killing cry only lasted for 5 minutes, then a Blood Hunter carrying an old man leapt out of the window. The gigantic bat wings flapped, landing on the Bone Dragon that was hovering mid-air. 5 Only by now, candle lights arose from the first floor of the tavern, with the bartender¡¯s voice raising queries. ¡°Sir, is it this old man?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s head back.¡± The Blood Hunter gently patted the neck of the Bone Dragon, which then set off m the direction of their territory. The City Lord¡¯s Hall. Fang Hao sat on the White Bone Throne, under which an old man in pyjamas knelt, still in shock. 1 ¡°You, you¡¯re the young man from the tavern this morning.¡± The old man immediately recognized Fang Hao. ¡°Your eyesight is commendable.¡± Fang Hao praised, continuing, ¡°The bounty you issued has caused me quite a bit of trouble. I want to know how you came to know about the ancient tomb, and why you issued the bounty?¡± Old Yifu looked around. Aside from a Beast-ear Hero, the entire hall inside and out was filled with White Bone Undead. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m Yifu. My great-grandfather left behind a diary and a key. The bounty for you was a misunderstanding ¨C the mercenaries I hired discovered the whereabouts of your team and issued the bounty.¡±The old man¡¯s body slightly trembled, not out of fear, but from excitement, a kind of zeal. Without waiting for Fang Hao to reply, he continued, ¡°Lord of the Undead, I offer my loyalty and everything I have, in exchange for your allegiance.¡± Old Yifu kneeled on the ground, his forehead touching the floor. Now he had figured it out. The one before him wasn¡¯t any common young man, but rather, a magnificent undead. The human form he had seemed to be merely an illusion. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be sitting on a throne made of bones, commanding legions of the undead beneath him. When Fang Hao heard the old man¡¯s words, he slightly furrowed his brows and turned to look at Nelson. What¡¯s going on? Had he encountered a believer of the God of the Undead? Or was the old man just obsessed with bones and overly excited? Nelson, sensing Fang Hao¡¯s questioning gaze, whispered in his ear, ¡°His life force is already exhausted. He wants to become immortal.¡± Fang Hao nodded to show that he understood. ¡°Immortal¡± was how the undead referred to the act of becoming undead. This old man was too old, even the finest ginseng wouldn¡¯t help him live long. That¡¯s why he was so desperate to find a way to prolong his life, be it becoming a member of the Blood Clan or the Undead, as long as he could continue his existence. ¡°Show me the diary and the key,¡± Fang Hao spoke. Old Yifu took out an age-old notebook from his pocket and handed it to the Beast-ear Hero nearby. She then passed it over to Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, the key was used this morning. We went to the ancient tomb and used the key on the first bronze door. When we found it couldn¡¯t be pulled out, we left it there,¡± explained Old Yifu. Fang Hao perused the notebook, taking a quick look at two pages. It did indeed contain some information about the ancient tomb. ¡°So, you are searching for this ancient tomb in order to find a way to prolong your life?¡± Fang Hao closed the old notebook. ¡°Yes, I dare not deceive you, sir.¡± Old Yifu was still respectful. ¡°Do you know where the rest of the tomb owner¡¯s remains are?¡± ¡°Huh? Other remains? I don¡¯t know,¡± Old Yifu shook his head. Could it be that the body in the ancient tomb is not whole but fragmented? Fang Hao nodded once more, and said, ¡°Fine, take him away.¡± Although the old man was cooperative, he was no easy puzzle either. Moreover, bringing him back yielded no useful information. The diary was the only thing he had gained. Once he had the time, he would carefully read through the contents to understand the story within. ¡°No no, sir, give me a chance to serve you, I don¡¯t want to die, sir, I am willing to give you all my fortune, I have many slaves in my manor, who can serve as sacrifices for you,¡± Old Yifu shouted loudly. death65156¡±16 f¡ãr the andent tOmb WaS due t0 his sense of ^Pending Now that he had come into contact with the undead, he was even more unwilling to die at this moment. Fang Hao looked at the old man who was hoarse from yelling, shook his head slightly and said, ¡°Alright, take him to the Transformation Pool. Afterward you will be undead and serve me.¡± A look of joy spread across Old Yifu¡¯s face, and he stopped shouting and struggling. He stood up gracefully, bowed, and willingly followed the skeleton towards the Transformation Pool. After the old man left, Nelson and the others each returned to their own dwellings. Under the light of the Nightstone lamp. Fang Hao began to carefully read through the diary again. From beginning to end, apart from a few missing pages in the middle, he understood the rest. The City Lord in the story was indeed a ruthless character. Fearing death and wanting to transform into a member of the Blood Clan he was fearful of being discovered and harmed by the people in the city. He simply turned all the people in the city into the Blood Clan. This City Lord must have planned this long ago. Everything he had done was in preparation for the last step¨Cdelivering wine door-to-door. By the time all the city¡¯s inhabitants had transformed, any remaining stragglers wouldn¡¯t matter. ¡°Amazing,¡± Fang Hao commented. He also noticed a line in the diary. ¡®Damn Chester, damn liar.¡¯ Chester must be the City Lord¡¯s name, so it appears he didn¡¯t gain nothing After reading through the entire diary, Fang Hao returned to his room and fell into a deep sleep. The following day, after breakfast. A Bone Dragon landed straight in Pigmen Village, causing a commotion. When they saw Fang Hao and Anjia on the dragon¡¯s back, a Pigman immediately went to notify Clan Leader Petty of the Pigmen Clan. ¡°Lord, I did not know you were coming in person,¡± Petty hurried over to greet them. Normally, Fang Hao would only use God¡¯s Presence to communicate, rarely visiting in person. One reason was the distance, another was a safety issue. Who knew what peculiar things could happen in this world, threatening his life. ¡°Come, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Once they entered the Clan Leader¡¯s hall, a Pigman brought over some fruit wine. Petty, curious, asked, ¡°My Lord, do you have any instructions for us?¡± If Fang Hao had come in person, naturally, it must be to convey something important. ¡°How many Orc villages are there from the north of the village to the Bloody Mountain Range? How strong are they?¡± Fang Hao asked. Petty paused, estimated roughly in his head, and replied, ¡°The northern villages are scattered and we have limited interactions with them. There are about ten villages or so, and they are said to be at war during this period.¡± That¡¯s just the way with the Orcs. Today there might be ten nearby villages, and tomorrow due to raids that number might be reduced to five. Then wandering tribes could move in, and the number of villages would increase again. This was the constant cycle, war and migration never ending. As the Pigmen Village now had the protection of the undead and was currently focusing on low-profile development, it had been a long time since it had any dealings with the other villages. Therefore, it was quite hard to ascertain a precise number. ¡°Try to gather all the Clan Leaders from those villages. Since we are all neighbours, it¡¯s about time we got acquainted.¡± Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 194, Investigating the Murderer_l Chapter 194: Chapter 194, Investigating the Murderer_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Really?¡± Petty saw that Fang Hao wasn¡¯t joking. But getting to know the neighbors didn¡¯t seem like something Fang Hao would say. ¡°Yes, and time is of the essence. Ideally, we should have these people together by tomorrow,¡± Fang Hao emphasized. Petty¡¯s expression turned serious. It seemed something significant was about to happen. ¡°Sir, may I know the reason?¡± With Fang Hao¡¯s character, his sudden concern for the area around Pigmen Village must mean something has happened. ¡°I can tell you, but don¡¯t disclose it to anyone else,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°I understand, Sir.¡± ¡°Have you heard of the Bloodthroat Tribe in the Bloody Mountain Range, north of the Pigmen Village?¡± Fang Hao asked. Petty shakes her head, ¡°Sir, the Pigmen Village relocated here. We are not very familiar with the surrounding area.¡± ¡°Well, the Bloodthroat Tribe is a Troll Tribe, and they might attack us. To ensure safety, I want to eliminate any potential risks, including scattered tribes north of the village,¡± Fang Hao explained. Petty¡¯s expression turned grimmer. She had never expected that the Troll Tribe would attack from the north of the village. In that case, the village would be the first to get involved. ¡°Si-Sir, what should we do?¡± Petty was momentarily flustered, the first thought that crossed her mind was to relocate the village. Or maybe hide until the battle was over. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯re not at the point of warfare yet. For now, try to summon all the clan leaders from the north.¡± ¡°Alright, Sir, I will take care of it right away.¡± Petty nodded in agreement. Having given instructions, Fang Hao stepped out of the Clan Leader¡¯s hall, whilst Petty started contemplating the reasons to summon these Clan Leaders. Since they barely interacted on regular days, inviting them for dinner seemed unrealistic. She needed to think of a reason enticing enough to draw them over. After leaving the Clan Leader¡¯s hall, Fang Hao headed straight to the center of the Pigmen Village. He brought out the Book of Lords and turned to the construction section. [Tower of the Fallen (Purple): 3350 hardy wood, 4500 stone bricks, 1200 iron, 120 Death Traces, 30 Shadowstones.] The Tower of the Fallen was a blueprint that Fang Hao had previously won as a reward. At the time, he was short of Shadowstones, so he didn¡¯t construct it. Now that he had obtained enough Shadowstones from the Blood Clan tomb, he could finally start building. Having chosen a suitable location, he immediately began the construction. A purple beam flashed, and a towering structure emerged before his eyes. [Tower of the Fallen (Purple)] [Category: Undead Structure] [Ability: Enhances the range of God¡¯s Presence.] [Description: A special structure for the Undead Faction, can be built in cities/villages within your territory, it enhances the range of God¡¯s Presence.] The Tower of the Fallen resembles a modern communication signal tower. It transmits signals to farther locations. Previously, Fang Hao had to use God¡¯s Presence in the Pigmen Village to control troops at the edge of the Bloody Mountain Range. Now, with the Tower of the Fallen, he can use God¡¯s Presence from his territory, without needing to go to the Pigmen Village himself. ¡°Lord, the people getting in touch with the other clan leaders have already left. We should have their replies by this afternoon,¡± Petty walked over and whispered. ¡°Hmm, what reason did you give?¡± To gather these guys, a compelling reason was needed. ¡°The right to excavate a large mine. Pigmen Village has found a mining area which we lack the resources to mine by ourselves. We need the cooperation of the other villages, who we will partner with must be negotiated in person, Petty calmly explained. It was indeed a good idea. In this region, mining was both profitable and plausible. ¡°Can you confirm the time?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°Tomorrow noon, at Pigmen Village.¡± Seeing Petty¡¯s worried expression, Fang Hao said, ¡°Good, you don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯ll arrange for the negotiations.¡± ¡°Alright, Sir.¡± After settling things in the Pigmen Village, Fang Hao and Anjia once again mounted the Bone Dragon to return to their territory. After lunch. Fang Hao and Anjia swapped their mode of transportation to a Giant Lizard and headed for Pruell City. The moment they entered the city, Fang Hao felt a palpable tension enveloping the area. The number of guards had significantly increased and their patrols had become more frequent. As they passed the tavern, they noticed it was closed, with guards stationed all around it. It was clear that the events of the previous night had caught the City Lord¡¯s attention. ¡°Master.¡± Upon their arrival at the shop, Little White saw Fang Hao and came out to greet him. The cleaning-up process was progressing quickly. That day was committed to the renovation and repairs of the exterior walls. ¡°What happened over there?¡± Fang Hao pointed to the tavern. ¡°I heard someone died in the tavern opposite us, not just one, but several. Guards have been here several times since morning, asking questions,¡± Little White replied. The maids didn¡¯t know what Fang Hao had done. All they knew was that people died across the street, and they had nothing to do with it. ¡°Didn¡¯t any eyewitnesses see the murderer?¡± Fang Hao looked towards the direction of the tavern. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but based on the circumstances, it seems the identity of the murderer is unknown, otherwise the guards wouldn¡¯t still be investigating, Little White continued. If the culprit¡¯s identity was known, action would have been taken immediately. Instead, they¡¯re still door to door asking for information, indicating that the murderer is not certain. ¡°I see,¡± Fang Hao nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. Just then. A team of guards approached from afar. They stopped in front of Fang Hao and said, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, Lord Cyril would like to see you.¡± Fang Hao raised an eyebrow. He just entered the city and they came to invite him. Seems the City Lord has been waiting for him. Could they have discovered that he was the one responsible for the murder last night? It was impossible unless the old man could predict the future. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I have business with the City Lord anyways,¡± said Fang Hao. Under the escort of the guards, they were able to enter the City Lord¡¯s mansion unimpeded. In the council chamber, City Lord Cyril was seated at the head, waiting. ¡°City Lord,¡± Fang Hao greeted with a smile. Fang Hao was pretty certain that the City Lord knew nothing about his involvement in last night¡¯s murders. So he no longer felt worried. City Lord Cyril returned the smile and replied, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, have a seat.¡± Fang Hao and Anjia took their seats to one side. ¡°There was some trouble at a tavern in the city last night. Have you heard, Mr. Fang Hao?¡± Cyril asked directly. Fang Hao frowned and replied, ¡°I heard from my staff when I entered the city. Have they caught the criminal?¡± ¡°Not yet. I wanted to ask how many servants did you leave in the city last night and how powerful are they,¡± Cyril stared into Fang Hao¡¯ s eyes as if to ascertain the truth of his words. Without hesitation, Fang Hao immediately replied, ¡°Twelve Tier 4 infantry, the rest are Tier 1 Orc maids. You surely don¡¯t believe I did it, City Lord? I¡¯m a businessman. I dislike conflict.¡± Cyril scrutinized Fang Hao¡¯s expression but found nothing out of order. He then said, ¡°Hmm, then it seems the mercenaries¡¯ deaths were due to some internal feud.¡± Even though mercenaries have a legal status, they are often involved in unethical practices. Many mercenaries are simply bandits under a legitimate name. The likelihood of their deaths resulting from retaliation is higher than casualties on duty. It appeared that Cyril, unable to get to the bottom of it, attributed the murders to a feud between the mercenaries. Fang Hao did not want to dwell on this topic with him. He cut in, interrupting Cyril¡¯s train of thought. ¡°By the way, Lord Cyril, do you have any white steel ingots available here?¡± Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 196, No Mans Land and Scale Armor_l Chapter 196: Chapter 196, No Man¡¯s Land and Scale Armor_l Translator: 549690339 The Bone Dragon was flying through the clouds, the sound of the wind roaring in its ears. From this high up, the city below seemed as tiny as a matchbox, its busy inhabitants looking like hardworking ants. Soon, the Bone Dragon had drawn close to the estate of the Wolf Mercenary Group. The outline of the city was visible, as were some bustling crowds. Upon closer inspection, however, Fang Hao noticed something strange about the property. This wasn¡¯t just a simple estate. Clearly, it was a city that a city lord had upgraded to the third tier. The central area had the city lord¡¯s mansion, civilian dwellings, armies, and even second ¨C tier city walls that had been constructed. Could it be that this Wolf Mercenary Group was established by another transmigrator? Almost immediately, Fang Hao dismissed this thought. He saw that on the open space in front of the city lord¡¯s mansion, several men were skinning and butchering a beast manually. If the lord of this place were still alive and free, he would not resort to such primitive butchering methods. It seemed that the mercenary group had seized this area a long time ago and made it its base. As for the city lord¡¯s fate. It was not hard to guess. Fang Hao hoped that the lord had managed to escape, instead of falling into the hands of these brutes. ¡°Ready the Dragon Breath, and let¡¯s end the battle quickly.¡± With a roar, the Bone Dragon folded its wings and descended straight down from the clouds. A hundred Bone Dragons rapidly closed in on the city below. As the dragons spread their wings again and flew over the city, they let loose beams of black energy, signaling an attack. Poorly numbered and without a hero among them, this was a battle with a foregone conclusion for the enemy. The Bone Dragon circled above the territory. Gigantic Skeleton Trolls dismounted from its back and began cleanup operations. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t kill the rest. Tie them all up,¡± said Fang Hao. Fang Hao needed to bring a few back to City Lord Cyril to prove that he had indeed crushed the Wolf Mercenary Group. In the ensuing clean-up, six members of the Wolf Mercenary Group were left alive. One of these was the leader of the mercenary group, a level six warrior. He was rather high level. ¡°Sir, did the Wolf Mercenary Group somehow offend you? We can talk things out, it¡¯s negotiable,¡± pleaded the leader of the Wolf Mercenary Group while kneeling. He had felt uneasy all day, and it turned out his worries were well-founded. ¡°Where is the original owner of this city?¡± Fang Hao asked. They were all in this transmigration business together. If the city lord had been held hostage, he could at least try to rescue him. The leader of the mercenary group glanced around and promptly replied, ¡°I think you¡¯re mistaken. This is the base of our mercenary group. Who are you looking for?¡± Clearly, the city lord wasn¡¯t in the hands of the Wolf Mercenary Group. Whether he had managed to escape or had been killed by them, there was no point enquiring further. All he could do was speculate. Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask anything else. Instead, he instructed the Skeleton Trolls, ¡°Watch them. Kill anyone who tries to escape.¡± The Skeleton Trolls closed in around the six men, lowering their heads to maintain a vigilant gaze on them. With this matter settled, Fang Hao entered the mansion of the seized city. The Wolf Mercenary Group was quite affluent. A box was filled to the brim with gold coins, silk cloth, gold and silverware, and more. The haul here was much more substantial than the one from the bandit camp they had cleaned out a few days ago. ¡°Hey! This sword looks quite a lot like the one you bought recently,¡± exclaimed Anjia, suddenly holding up a silver longsword. Without even examining its properties, its material and design alone evoked the image of the Swords of Absolution that Fang Hao had bought a couple of days prior. ¡°Let me have a look,¡± Fang Hao said, taking the longsword from Anjia. ¡°Swords of Absolution (Purple)¡± ¡°Type: Longsword¡± ¡°Damage: Tier Three¡± ¡°Description: A longsword that killed its own master. Legend has it that whoever obtains this sword will endure unbearable torment til death.¡± What an unexpected find! Another of the Swords of Absolution was here! ¡°Really?¡± Anjia asked curiously. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯d better search thoroughly. These guys were loaded,¡± Anjia suggested, excited to embark on her treasure hunt. She ransacked every box and overturned every rug to see if there were valuable items hidden underneath. All valuables were gathered and placed in the courtyard. In a room on the second floor, they found a silver treasure chest. Perhaps due to limited manpower or some other reason, the chest was only silver-tier. They opened it immediately. ¡°Acquired: Blueprint for the White Steel Scales Plate Armor, 2 Hero Hearts, 5 Soul Crystals, 21 Warfire Coins.¡± ¡°White Steel Scales Plate (Blue): 3 Iron Blocks, 2 White Steel Ingots, 5 White Steel Sheets, 5 Thick Leathers.¡± ¡°Description: A protective covering made of overlapping scales. A single piece of armor protects the entire body.¡± This is great! The blue-tier quality ensured a defense standard of at least tier three. It was also a suitable replacement for the current Plate Armor worn by Fang Hao. He continued inspecting the next item. ¡°Hero Heart.¡± ¡°Category: Hero Equipment¡± ¡°Description: A proof of one¡¯s achievements to be acknowledged as a hero, only with a Hero Heart, can one undergo the test at the Merit Training Ground.¡± There was already a Merit Training Ground in his domain. The Merit Training Ground provided trials for advancing ranks, applicable to troops of rank 10 or higher, and heroes. As for the Hero Heart, it was the proof necessary to participate in these trials. Of course, it was also sold in the Trade Alliance¡¯s shop, albeit quite expensively. With all the items secured, Fang Hao then left the building. All the goods had been organized and collected outside the building. The collection included furniture, furs, and even coins, silks, golden and silver jewelry, and more. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s bring these people and head back.¡± The Bone Dragon dropped some cumbersome furniture and furs off near a village. Carrying the remaining valuables, they returned to the clouds and began their journey back home. As dusk was falling¡­ Within Pruell City¡¯s city lord¡¯s mansion, City Lord Cyril was looking at the six bodies laid flat on the ground. ¡°They¡¯re all dead?¡± One could tell that these people had surrendered from the bindings on their bodies. However, Fang Hao had brought back corpses instead of captives. If these were six living men, and City Lord Cyril publicly declared their crimes and hung them from the gallows, they would have been a stronger statement than six dead bodies. ¡± I had originally planned to bring them in alive, but as soon as we got close to the city, they started yelling, claiming that you had slandered them and that your son¡¯s injury had nothing to do with them. I was worried about damaging your reputation, so regrettably I had to bring back their bodies instead,¡± Fang Hao explained regretfully. These six men had seen Fang Hao¡¯s undead army. To avoid causing trouble, Fang Hao naturally wouldn¡¯t let them fall into the hands of City Lord Cyril alive. He provided an excuse corresponding with the fabricated story he had provided earlier to the lady boss. ¡°Right, someone, prepare a horse-drawn carriage for them, and transport the white steel ingots from the army warehouse to them,¡± ordered Cyril. Immediately, a guard acknowledged his order, ¡°Sir, miss, please follow me.¡± ¡°Until next time, Lord Cyril,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile as he followed the guard out. Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 197, Disaster Song-Hilda_l Chapter 197: Chapter 197, Disaster Song-Hilda_l Translator: 549690339 In front of the military supply warehouse, the giant lizard lay on the ground. Batch after batch of white steel ingots were loaded onto the carrying saddles under Fang Hao¡¯s watchful eye. Thankfully, the lizard was enormous. Otherwise, they would need two horse carts to transport all these steel ingots back to his territory. [White Steel Ingots: 1510 Units.] Apparently, Cyril¡¯s 1500 estimate was not exact. The actual total was 1510 ingots loaded on the giant lizard. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, this is your bounty. Please count it,¡± said a soldier, approaching him. There was no need for that. The quantity was already displayed. ¡°No need, I can take these away now, right?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Of course. They¡¯re yours now,¡± the soldier responded. Fang Hao nodded and led the giant lizard away. While passing through the city center, they had to slow their pace significantly. They gradually moved forward, blending in with the crowd. By the roadside, the members of the Fire Wolf Mercenary Group were hanged high on a gallows. On the platform, an official was loudly reading out their crimes and the murder that had occurred in the city the previous day. When the citizens heard that those who had died had been the result of a vendetta between mercenaries, they started a commotion, discussing it privately. Despite the commotion, the official kept on loudly proclaiming the crimes of the deceased and the nobility of the City Lord. ¡°Do you think the citizens will believe it?¡± Anjia whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Most people probably will, just like Cyril said. The citizens are more likely to trust the City Lord rather than the mercenaries,¡± Fang Hao replied. He wasn¡¯t sure if the citizens would believe it. Certainly, many would suspect that this was City Lord Cyril¡¯s revenge against the Fire Wolves. However, this didn¡¯t matter. Noone would demand justice for those who died. After all, they had committed enough evil deeds. After passing a shop and inquiring about anything unusual, the giant lizard departed from Pruell City, rushing towards its territory. By the time they returned to their territory, the sun was still setting. After instructing the skeletons to unload the steel ingots into the warehouse, Fang Hao headed to Little You¡¯s residence with the Censure Longsword. ¡°Good evening, Lord,¡± Little You greeted. ¡°Hmm, today we eradicated a group of murderous thugs and found a Censure Longsword. This should be a good fit foryou,¡± Fang Hao said, handing over the sword. The moment Little You touched the sword, her body emitted a blinding light. Immediately after, Fang Hao received a system prompt. [The unit under your command, Wandering Spirit, has successfully been promoted to a Hero Unit (Incomplete Matter mission, no requirement for Hero Evaluation).] [Disaster Song-Hilda (Green Level 2 Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Template: Green] [Race Features: Undead, Ethereal, Vulnerable to Light Attacks.] [Skills: Soul Possession, Dark Void, Incomplete Matter, Shadow Stealth.] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Combat Mastery, Intermediate All Weapon Mastery.] [Shadow Stealth]: Becomes one with the shadows. (Including, but not limited to object shadows, living creatures¡¯ shadows.) (Note: They are confined here, neither eating nor sleeping, continuously experiencing the pain close to death.) Seeing Little You¡¯s stats, Fang Hao frowned. Little You even had a name now, exactly the one named after her in the story¡ª a female countess. After becoming a hero, she reached Green Level 2 Hero. The skill Shadow Stealth was unlocked, and her innate ability was all weapons mastery. Shadow Stealth seemed like an ability of an assassin from the games he used to Play- Striking a critical blow while invisible. Little You¡¯s skill was similar¡ªit could hide in the shadows, gather information, and assassinate, making it very useful. Imagine a figure suddenly emerging from a shadow and stabbing a sword into your back. That would be a completely unpredictable attack. Who could guard against their own shadow? All Weapon Mastery was a rarity. It was Intermediate level, meaning she had some knowledge in all the weapons but none in which she was particularly strong. The only drawback was the title ¡°Disaster Song¡±. The prefix didn¡¯t sound very auspicious and was not as pleasant as ¡°Doujin¡±. ¡°Lord, I have become a hero.¡± Little You spoke calmly. It seemed as if becoming a hero was just an ordinary matter, with no emotional changes. Fang Hao looked at her and noticed changes as well. Little You¡¯s body was now nearly solid, no longer a transparent phantom floating in the sky. She now resembled a person more closely. The illusory clothes she used to wear had also disappeared, leaving her standing naked in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Little You, you¡­ do you want to put on something? Even though this is your right,¡± said Fang Hao. Following Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, Little You finally noticed the subtle changes to her body after becoming a hero. She quickly retreated back to her room, donned a linen gown, and walked back out. Being able to wear clothes suggested that Little You could also wear equipment now, right? ¡°Lord, I apologize for my earlier appearance,¡± Little You apologized. ¡°Yeah, it seems you¡¯ve chosen a name for yourself. Do you want us to call you Little You, or Hilda? We¡¯ll respect your choice.¡± ¡°Little You.¡± ¡°Okay, Little You. Since you can now wear equipment, will there be any problems when you use Shadow Stealth?¡± Fang Hao suddenly thought of this issue. When you use Shadow Stealth and merge into the shadows, wouldn¡¯t it be a problem if your equipment suddenly fell to the ground? The enemy would notice, wouldn¡¯t they? Or would she have to come out naked to assassinate, which wouldn¡¯t be very serious? If the deceased remained excitedly engorged at the time of death, it would also affect their reputation. ¡°Let me try,¡± Little You replied, disappearing into the darkness, her body seeming to melt like ink. In the next moment, Little You appeared behind Fang Hao, gently tapping him on the shoulder, ¡°Lord?¡± Fang Hao turned around to find Little You still clothed in her long linen gown. It proved that Little You¡¯s equipment would also be affected by her ability, eliminating the possibility that she would vanish, leaving her equipment behind. ¡°Hmm, tomorrow we¡¯ll have Soye prepare a few sets of everyday clothing for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir. I like the black and white dress that Eira and the others wear. Could you get me one?¡± ¡°Sure, you can ask Soye for it yourself.¡± Fang Hao was curious. It seemed that the girls in his territory liked maid outfits a lot. He decided to ask her what else she needed so he could prepare it in advance. Previously, Little You was a pure spirit, so many of the furniture, carpets, etc., were of no use to her. She didn¡¯t even need to open doors, as she could simply float through them. Now, however, she was almost corporeal. After chatting with Little You for a while, Eira¡¯s dinner was ready. After dinner. Fang Hao went directly to the Trade Alliance building. Doujin was still busy arranging work, and skeletons merchants were moving around the shop. ¡°Sir.¡± The group of Skeleton merchants bowed respectfully. ¡°You guys continue with your work, don¡¯t mind me.¡± Fang Hao sat down at the counter and asked Doujin, ¡°Is the order for the Steel Firearm still available?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Bring it out and let¡¯s sign it. The materials are ready. Also, check if there are any blueprints for Firearm bullets,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Wait a moment, sir. Let me check.¡± Doujin took out the order, then opened the counter behind him to check for the blueprints. Fang Hao took the order and double-checked it. [Order] [Requirement: 2,000 Steel Firearms.] [Trade Alliance Earnings: 200,000 Warfire Coins, +10 Dwarf Influence.] After confirming the order information, Fang Hao signed his name, making the order official. ¡°Sir, there are blueprints for Firearm bullets.¡± [Firearm Bullet (50) (Green Grade): Cast Iron Block xl] The blueprint this time was for 50 firearm bullets, consuming one block of cast iron. It was quite reasonable, not consuming the materials on a 1:1 ratio. After purchasing and collecting the blueprint, Fang Hao took the order to the warehouse. [Steel Firearm: White Steel Plate xl, White Steel Ingot X2, Metal Components X3.] (Description: A commonly used weapon for firearm squads. It has a simple manufacturing process and can be mass-produced for equipping.) Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Chapter 199, Building a Fortress and Blowing up the Mountain l Chapter 199: Chapter 199, Building a Fortress and Blowing up the Mountain l Translator: 549690339 After breakfast, Fang Hao, accompanied by Black Thorn and twenty Bone Dragons carrying Skeleton Trolls, headed towards the edge of the Bloody Mountain Range. After about an hour¡¯s journey, they finally reached their destination. First, they rode the Bone Dragons to fly over the mountain range, carefully observing the area. ¡°My Lord, if you wish to attack the Bloodthroat Tribe you mentioned, this is their only way,¡± Black Thorn said, pointing to the map as the Bone Dragons landed. The map showed the nearby mountain ranges. The area was surrounded by towering mountains. The only path lay under their feet, which was also the path they took to get to the Tomb of the Dragon last time. There was another way, which was the secret tunnel inside the mountain they used when exiting the Tomb of the Dragon. Fang Hao had already sent people to acquire black gunpowder to block that passage. ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, flipping to the construction page. He found the blueprint for the [Fortress]. [Level 1 Fortress: Wood 3000, Stone 2000, Brick 1500, Iron 500, Metal Parts 120.] He chose to build it between the two mountains. With a flash of light, a fortress was built. He quickly upgraded the fortress to level six. [Level 6 Fortress] [Category: Defensive Structure] [Ability: Stronghold] [Stronghold: The building defense durability increases by 1%.] [Upgrade Required Materials: Tough Wood 3000, Brick 5000, Iron 3200, Metal Parts 500.] Upon reaching level six, the fortress gained the Stronghold ability, increasing its durability by 1%. It wasn¡¯t much, but hopefully, it would be enough to withstand the Troll¡¯s attack on the battlefield. To Fang Hao, the fortress resembled a medieval castle, with thick walls connecting the two mountains to form a defensive barrier. In the center of the city wall was a massive, heavy gate to ensure regular passage. The top of the wall was more than 5 meters wide, suitable for positioning archers, mages, or various defensive weapons. The interior could house barracks, civilian houses, weapon shops, and there were no restrictions on what could be built. It was not much different from a small city. Wait a minute! Fang Hao slapped his forehead. Since all these can be built, then Arrow Towers and Defensive Magic Towers should also be buildable. Once again, he opened the Book of Lords and built Arrow Towers and Defensive Magic Towers. With a flash of light, the two types of defense towers appeared. Having upgraded the Arrow Towers and Magic Towers on the city wall to level 6, all that was left was to arrange the corresponding soldiers. ¡°Black Thorn.¡± ¡°My Lord,¡± Black Thorn came over. They both stood on the city wall, looking into the depths of the northern mountains. ¡°What else do you think we need to prepare if we are to hold off the Trolls here?¡± asked Fang Hao. Black Thorn had city defense skills and had spent years leading an orc army before his death, so he should have plenty of experience. Fang Hao hoped that Nelson had not wiped out this aspect of his knowledge. Black Thorn stood beside him, thought quickly and said, ¡°My Lord, trolls have strengths in size and power. The height of this wall is enough for defense, but we also need to delay the speed of Trolls getting close to the wall to increase the time for attack.¡± ¡°Should we build some obstacles? But they can easily be destroyed. I fear they won¡¯t hold out for long,¡± pondered Fang Hao, shaking his head self-denyingly after bringing up the possibility of obstacle construction. He had experience with Ogres and was aware of some of their combat techniques and physical strengths. They were strong and tough. Unless their vital spots were attacked, even being pierced would not have a big effect on them. These mass-produced obstacles worked well against human-sized units. They could also impede Trolls, but the effect would be much smaller. ¡°No, my Lord, I was thinking of a trench that would be difficult for Trolls to cross to slow their advance,¡± explained Black Thorn, looking down below, ¡°but I¡¯m afraid the project may be quite large.¡± This is the Cold Wind Mountain Range. Even the ground beneath one¡¯s feet is hard rock. If the fortress wasn¡¯t constructed using blueprints, it would be quite difficult to even excavate the foundation with human labor. Digging dirt and chiseling rock are two different degrees of labor. And besides, the enemy¡¯s attack is imminent. Digging a large pit to obstruct the trolls, Black Thorn fears there isn¡¯t enough time. But Fang Hao feels that this proposal is pretty good. Who says the project is too large? He doesn¡¯t feel that it is. ¡°This proposal is good. You study the location and length of the traps, I¡¯ll go call people,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Black Thorn agreed and walked down the city wall to plan the position of the traps and their depth and width needed to obstruct the trolls. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and contacted Zhang Bin. ¡°Zhang Bin, are you there?¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re up so early.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up soon. Bring all the Iron Claw Rats over. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± After that, Fang Hao ended their chat. Not long after, the Blood Hunter flew over on the Bone Dragon. As soon as they landed, huge Skeleton Trolls jumped off the back of the Bone Dragon. They were clutching barrels of explosives. ¡°Master, where should these explosive barrels be placed?¡± the Blood Hunter asked. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Fang Hao led the Blood Hunter to a mountain tunnel that led to the outside world. The explosive barrels were thrown inside. After a loud boom, the tunnel collapsed, entirely sealed off. ¡°Blood Hunter, go to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory and bring him and the Iron Claw Rats here,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The Blood Hunter left again on the Bone Dragon, heading for Zhang Bin s territory. About two hours later. When the Bone Dragon returned again, Zhang Bin had brought a group of Iron Claw Rats with him. As soon as the wooden barrel was put down, the Iron Claw Rats instantly scattered, craning their necks to get a good look at Fang Hao, whom they hadn¡¯t seen for several days. Fang Hao also curiously inspected the Iron Claw Rats. These little guys had changed a lot since he first saw them. Some had rings around their necks, some wore leather safety helmets, and some even had fitting clothes. In any case, each one was different, but were all adorable in their own way. ¡°Boss.¡± Zhang Bin walked over. By now, he was used to riding the Bone Dragon and nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. ¡°Is this an animal beauty contest?¡± Fang Hao looked towards the Iron Claw Rats, their necks stretched out, full of curiosity. ¡°Oh, they were distributed to the residents house by house, right? Everyone added some markings to their Iron Claw Rats to make them distinguishable,¡± Zhang Bin explained. All the Iron Claw Rats look similar, so the residents were afraid they wouldn¡¯t recognize their fattened rats. So they each added distinguishing marks: hats, collars, and some even shaved their fur off their hindquarters. ¡°Alright, you command them. Dig the traps according to Black Thorn¡¯s plan. The sooner it¡¯s done, the sooner we can finish work,¡± Fang Hao pointed at Black Thorn. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Zhang Bin directed the Iron Claw Rats out and started digging traps in the ground according to the plan. Soil and rocks flew up. The sight of over 500 Iron Claw Rats digging was indeed spectacular. At this moment. Two more Bone Dragons descended from the sky. Anjia leapt down from one dragon, with Petty following behind her. The second dragon carried nine Orcs, who were thrown down from its back. Upon landing, they immediately fell to their knees, weakened. ¡°Here, these are the slave contracts. There were a total of nine tribes, we¡¯ve just defeated four of them,¡± Anjia handed over a stack of Slave Contracts. Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 200, Information on the Faceless_l Chapter 200: Chapter 200, Information on the Faceless_l Translator: 549690339 Under Fang Hao¡¯s guidance, Petty used the excuse of discovering a large iron mine. He called over all the clan leaders of the orc villages to the north. By early this morning, they had all gathered in Pigmen Village. Of course, due to the temperament of the orcs, they wouldn¡¯t discuss the mining rights peacefully. As soon as they arrived, they were already shouting and fighting. Some even brought their troops, intending to occupy Pigmen Village and use the inhabitants as slave laborers. At the height of the chaotic scene, when Petty was sweating profusely, Anjia, yawning, led her undead army to surround all the orcs. At this point, the orcs who had been shouting about killing everyone realized they had been deceived by the pigmen. There was no mine, it was all a ruse to lure them here. After Anjia killed a few disobedient clan leaders, the whole field fell into silence. They all silently signed their slave contracts. Their detachments were then dismissed, and the clan leaders were taken to Fang Hao. Fang Hao took the slave contracts and immediately stored them in the Book of Lords. He was brought nine, but he heard that four were killed, he was somewhat surprised. ¡°That many were killed.¡± ¡°There was no choice. They wouldn¡¯t behave if I didn¡¯t kill a few,¡± Anjia said helplessly. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao muttered in response, turning his attention back to the orc clan leaders kneeling beside him. They were indeed very obedient. It was most effective for Anjia to administer them. ¡°According to orcish tradition, you are now my slaves. I can decide your lives or deaths, but I can also protect you from harm by other races.¡± The nine orcs remained silent, just kneeling with their heads bowed. ¡°A massive troll army will attack from the north soon. I need all of you to stop fighting amongst yourselves and unite to fight against the troll army. After we succeed, you will continue to live in your respective villages, and I will protect your safety as your lord,¡± pronounced Fang Hao loudly. You could say the orcs are greedy, or that most of them are simple-minded. If Fang Hao didn¡¯t deal with this situation first, these orc tribes that he didn¡¯t even feel like interacting with would, like silly roebucks, come trotting up to harass you. Oriented to see what you¡¯re doing here, whether they could mess with you a bit, steal something good. They wouldn¡¯t have the foresight to consider that if they couldn¡¯t resist the trolls, their own villages would also be plagued. ¡°Are you all mute? Speak up!¡± Fang Hao was getting a little angry. ¡°No, no. We will follow master¡¯s commands,¡± a furry orc said. ¡°Just call me Lord.¡± ¡°Okay, Lord.¡± ¡°BlackThorn!¡± Fang Hao called lightly. BlackThorn approached, ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± ¡°These people are your responsibility now. Assign them tasks, don¡¯t let them idle,¡± instructed Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± After the Bloody Fortress was established, Fang Hao chose to leave Black Thorn as the city¡¯s defending hero. Apart from the orc soldiers who were being mobilized to head to the fort, many more undead were also on their way here. They would be here in time to withstand the troll¡¯s attack. The problem wasn¡¯t too big, Fang Hao still had the bone dragon. Undead, flight, dragon breath, he had all the advantages. He shouldn¡¯t be overrun by the trolls. As for that orange troll hero, As long as he depleted the enemy¡¯s troops, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to surround and kill him. Leaving everything in Black Thorn¡¯s hands, Fang Hao and Anjia returned to their territory. The bone dragon just landed, when a rabbit maid ran up anxiously. She said, ¡°Master, there¡¯s a message from the Faceless House.¡± Fang Hao paused, then quickly headed towards Faceless House. Indeed, there were two letters on the counter. He opened one, it was information from the Skullcrusher Tribe. [Three hundred and twenty thousand orc troops, three orc heroes, set off early this morning, the route map is uncertain [Map].] Looking at the number of three hundred and twenty thousand orcs, Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed again. Was the reproduction rate of orcs this strong? They had wiped out an army of three hundred thousand last time, and this time they had gathered three hundred and twenty thousand again. Where did they get so many soldiers from? Following the normal marching speed, they would reach the vicinity of the territory in about three days, and if there was a boost in the marching attribute in the orc army, it would be faster. Having finished the first one, Fang Hao continued to open the second one. [Four hundred and eighty thousand troll troops, two troll heroes, set off, Blood Ridge route.] Fang Hao¡¯s heart tightened involuntarily. The troll race was naturally not of low rank, and their number turned out to be four hundred and eighty thousand. Would they be going all out to exterminate him? Did all men, women, and children from their homes join? ¡°Go and call Scholar Nelson.¡± Fang Hao said. Soon, Nelson walked over, ¡°Lord, what are your orders?¡± Fang Hao handed him the intelligence in his hand, saying: ¡°The orcs and trolls have set out, and battles are expected to take place the day after tomorrow.¡± Nelson took over the intelligence and started to look at it seriously. The development speed of Fang Hao¡¯s territory had always been fast. As long as they continued to develop steadily, becoming the top power in this area was only a matter of time. Therefore, both Fang Hao and Nelson have been improving their territories in a peaceful way, rather than at the cost of looting like the orcs. Now these two savage tribes have launched an attack regardless of everything, and if they cannot resist, the advantage they once held will shatter instantly. ¡°How does the lord want to arrange it?¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said: ¡°Obviously, the focus should be on the Blood Ridge where the trolls are, and the east where the Skullcrusher attacks will be relatively easier. Fireblade and Bronze Bull will defend the east side, while the rest will focus on dealing with the Troll Tribe.¡± Nelson slightly nodded and said: ¡°Lord, you need not worry too much, with the current troop strength and reserve resources of the territory, there isn¡¯t a major problem.¡± The total strength of the territory¡¯s army was around 700,000, and the stock of [Wriggling Spine] in the warehouse was more than 110,000. As long as this battle was fought normally, there would be no problems. At most, it would be a problem of how many troops were lost. The most crucial point was that Fang Hao must not die unless the enemy carried out a decapitation action and succeeded. Otherwise, this battle would not be lost. Even if Fang Hao died, they had to ensure that his body was preserved for Nelson to directly perform the conversion ceremony. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s hope so.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, ¡°Scholar, I will recruit some troops later, and you immediately take your troops to Bloody Fortress to enhance the defense of the fortress.¡± ¡°I obey the lord¡¯s command.¡± Nelson saluted again. After a brief chat, Fang Hao felt more settled in his heart. Nelson was right, even if the enemy was an Orange Combat Leader, the stock of [Wriggling Spine] in his own warehouse was very sufficient. Now, the battle might not necessarily be a bad thing. It was better to root out all hidden dangers as soon as possible. Nelson went back to the Viscera Museum to prepare to go to Bloody Fortress. Fang Hao directly went to the barracks to recruit troops, today he had to gather all his forces to defend. The first stop was the Skeleton Conversion Field. The unlocked troop types were [Skeleton Beast (Tier l)][Skeleton Soldier (Tier l)][Skeleton Wolf (Tier 2)][Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 3)][Skeleton Warrior (Tier 4)][Skeleton Minotaur (Tier 4)][Skeleton Troll (Tier 5)][Bone Dragon (Tier 10)]. The Tier 4 Skeleton Warrior was converted from a Tier 6 human bandit. [Skeleton Warrior: Wriggling Spine 4, Death Trace 1, Soul Crystal 1.] It required the consumption of Death Trace and Soul Crystal. And the Skeleton Warrior itself did not have special skills, it was not a big factor in an army of hundreds of thousands. Fang Hao was not planning on recruiting. This time, he still wanted to recruit the Tier 3 [Skeleton Giant Bat] and Tier 4 [Skeleton Minotaur], Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 203, War Begins (Vote for recommendation )_1 Chapter 205: Chapter 203, War Begins (Vote for recommendation )_1 Translator: 549690339 The dwarf orc returned to his tent and started to put on his armor. The potential for success in tonight¡¯s surprise attack was quite high. As long as it could succeed tonight, or even just cause some chaos in the undead army, he would be greatly rewarded. ¡°When the time comes, who dares to look down upon me? Once I become a commander, you will be the first ones I¡¯ll send to their death.¡± The dwarf orc grumbled while wearing his last piece of armor. Unbeknownst to him, his shadow was slithering, gradually shaping into a female human figure. The next moment, the shadow behind him covered his mouth, followed by a sharp pain at his neck. The dwarf orc¡¯s eyes filled with terror as he felt his neck being sliced open. He fought hard, pulling out his weapon and swung it behind him in an instant. Clang! However, his weapon only hit the ground beneath him. There wasn¡¯t a shadow of any person. A torrent of blood gushed from his throat. He clung to it, crying for help loudly. But his body was getting colder and stiffer until he finally collapsed in a pool of his own blood. Twenty minutes later, the orc camp was thrown into chaos. The orc hero, who had just been dispatched for a surprise attack, had his throat slit open in his own tent. This was a really big deal. Shah raged, commanding all the orcs to conduct a night-time search to find the enemy who was hiding in their camp. However, the culprit had already left the scene and brought the news back. The city. The night was deep. At the sudden dripping sound by the bed, Fang Hao, who was having trouble sleeping, opened his eyes. Using the light from the Nightstone, he saw that it was a message from Fireblade on the Sound-transmitting Shell. Was it possible that the orcs were launching an attack tonight? Thinking this, he immediately brought the shell closer to his ear to hear Fireblade¡¯s voice. ¡°Received news, Bloodthroat and Skullcrusher will launch an attack tomorrow. Skullcrusher might use flying troops to take a detour and attack the mam city.¡± The message was brief, but the information it conveyed was significant. Fang Hao lay in bed and, using God¡¯s Presence, and in the next second, he was in the city where Fireblade was stationed. Upon entering the City Lord¡¯s residence, he found that Little You was also there. ¡°Fireblade, give me a detailed account of the news.¡± Fang Hao asked. Fireblade looked at Little You, ¡°My lord, the news came from Little You. Let her tell you.¡± Without understanding, Fang Hao turned to look at Little You. ¡°My Lord, tonight I infiltrated Skullcrusher¡¯s camp and heard Bloodthroat relay a message to Skullcrusher. They will be launching an attack on the fortress tomorrow, and¡­.¡± Little You relayed all she had heard and seen to Fang Hao. Besides the surprise attack, she didn¡¯t find out much about their strategies. And as the leader of the flying troops was assassinated by Little You, the surprise attack might have been cancelled. Fang Hao nodded after listening to Little You¡¯s report. The orcs weren¡¯t completely brainless, at least they realized that the Bone Dragon was deployed in the main battlefield rather than the main city in the rear. Although this analysis and countermeasure might not be wrong, it didn¡¯t have any effect on Fang Hao. In the main city, there were two Bone Dragons and 500,000 undead soldiers, with 200,000 of them being archers. Even if they were to bypass them, they wouldn¡¯t be able to perform a decapitation strike. Of course, what Little You did was right. If the dwarf hero had any special abilities, it would be better to kill him early to avoid trouble later. ¡°Fireblade, you command here, and Little You, don¡¯t run around.¡± Fang Hao instructed them. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± they answered. Fang Hao deactivated his God¡¯s Presence and sent this message to Bloody Fortress. Next day, early morning. Dawn just broke and Fang Hao received another message from the Sound- transmitting Shell. Pasted on his ear was BlackThorn¡¯s voice, ¡°My lord, the Troll Army is launching an attack on the fortress.¡± As expected, the attack was launched today. Fang Hao lay back in bed, activated his God¡¯s Presence, and in the next second, he was in the Bloody Fortress. He went up to the city wall and looked northward to see a dense crowd of trolls, wielding all sorts of weapons and charging towards them. The ground was trembling, and the whole mountain pathway was filled with the strange roars of the trolls. ¡°My lord, the battle is about to begin.¡± Black Thorn came over. ¡°Yes, you are to command.¡± Fang Hao handed over the command to Black Thorn. All preparations were left to Black Thorn, for he might not be more experienced when it came to warfare. ¡°As you command, my lord.¡± Black Thorn walked to the top of the wall again, gauging the distance of the enemy¡¯s attack. The shaking beneath his feet was becoming more violent, and the trolls were getting closer to the fortress. ¡°Archers ready.¡± Black Thorn ordered. A side-beastman immediately raised a banner with a bow and arrow painted on it. Later, hundreds of thousands of Skeleton Archers behind the wall aimed their arrows in the air. This wasn¡¯t because the Skeleton Archers could understand the banner, but because there were several beastmen standing among them. The beastmen relayed the corresponding orders based on the commands from the flag. This was also due to the vast numbers, for even with tens of thousands of people, you can relay commands through shouting or chain reactions. But for these endless troops, individuals were less feasible for command and instead, teams had to be utilized. Black Thorn watched as the enemy drew nearer. ¡°Fire arrows.¡± The flags changed, a red flag now appearing beside the bow and arrow one. ¡°Firearrows!¡± ¡°Fire arrows!¡± ¡°Fire arrows!¡± The orc below who was tasked with delivering orders shouted in unison. Woo! A whistling sound reminiscent of the wind sounded. Concentrated arrows shot towards the sky, flying over the fortress walls and cascading down like a dark cloud onto the trolls that were advancing. The troll army¡¯s equipment wasn¡¯t uniform, some were armed with shields, others simply brandished a war axe. Phew phew phew!! In an instant, countless trolls were torn into porcupines and collapsed in masses. The trolls began raising their shields. Those without shields would carry the corpses of their fallen comrades, using them to block the next wave of arrows. Black Thorn observed the spectacle before him. ¡°Fire arrows!¡± ¡°Fire arrows!¡± ¡°Firearrows!¡± ¡°Firearrows!¡± Whoosh! The second round of arrows whistled out again, reducing the number of enemies with such concentrated range. The third round, the fourth round. The rain of arrows continued. Boom! Upon reaching a certain distance, the trolls began to retaliate. Despite still being some distance away, the trolls used their strength to throw their flying axes, war spears, and iron chains. A variety of chaotic weapons flew towards the men in the fortress, killing a large number of skeletons in an instant. With the skeletons¡¯ deaths. A grey mist rose from all soldier types. This was the effect of Fang Hao¡¯s military skill [Face of Death]. Whenever a soldier under his command dies, all other soldiers would enter a state of combat frenzy, boosting their attack and defence by 1%, stacking up to 100 points at most. The number of those who just perished in that wave had surpassed a hundred. ¡°Notify the mountain, roll the stone.¡± The flag changed once more, and figures emerged on the sides of the mountain holding axes, severing the ropes restraining the rolling boulders. Giant stones slid down the mountain, crushing all below into a pulp. The trolls braced themselves against one trap after another, continuing their relentless assault. Boom! Then, the troll leading the front plunged downwards as the ground underneath gave way. In the massive pit, sharpened wooden stakes perforated their bodies. But the obstinate vitality of the trolls maintained their lives, leaving them to emit continuous agonizing howls rather than dying immediately. The commander of the troll tribe had an exceptionally ugly look on his face. Since when had the Undead Clan started setting such cunning traps? On this path, they had encountered one trap after another. But trolls are not fools, they would not use their lives to fill up these traps in front. The boulders and log that had just rolled down were then put to use. With shields raised against the incessant rain of arrows from the sky, they directed the soldiers to throw the boulders and logs into the pit to level the path. The path cleared, the trolls proceeded to close in while being wary of the traps, launching their offensive. Having run out of axes, they picked up stones from the ground for a counterattack. With the strength of the trolls, the stones they threw were as dangerous as cannonballs. Black Thorn stood on the city walls, overseeing the fight below. Despite the continuous effect of the traps and extensive casualties of trolls. Within this mountain path, trolls remained in large numbers, stretching all the way back to the end of visibility. ¡°Bone Dragon.¡± The flag changed again. The Blood Hunter, on the back of the Bone Dragon, soared high into the sky above the mountain path. ¡°Dragon breath!¡± The Bone Dragon made a steep dive, its gaping maw gathering white and black death energy. Roar!! Tens of black rays of death light poured down onto the densely packed troll troops in the narrow path. Large groups of trolls writhed in agony as their flesh peeled off rapidly, revealing their white bones. ¡°Well done.¡± The Blood Hunter gently patted the Bone Dragon in praise. Just as they were preparing for the second wave of dragon breath. Suddenly, whoosh! A giant crossbow bolt whizzed over, dragging a long metal chain. Boom!! The bolt smashed through the Bone Dragon¡¯s ribcage, perforating its body. In the next second, the metal chain tautened abruptly, yanking the Bone Dragon downwards with tremendous force. Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 204, Bloodthroat Legion l Chapter 206: Chapter 204, Bloodthroat Legion l Translator: 549690339 Blood Hunter was taken aback. She turned to where the giant crossbow bolt had come from. Within the ranks of the trolls, tarpaulin was being lifted, revealing the massive crossbows beneath. On top of the crossbow beds, metal crossbow bolts as thick as arms were set. The trolls slammed their hammers on the levers, bang, bang, bang! The crossbowstrings sang out and the bolts flew towards the bone dragons like cannonballs. The bone dragons swiftly evaded, but two were still hit, the bolts shattering their bones and piercing their spines. The heavy chains grew tighter, dragging the two bone dragons towards the ground. No matter how they struggled, they couldn¡¯t escape the chains, crashing to the ground. As the bone dragons fell into the center of the troll army, they were attacked from all sides. The bone dragons swung their claws and breathed out dragon breath, taking swathes of trolls with them, but they still couldn¡¯t resist the onslaught. Under the besiegement of the trolls, they eventually turned into three massive skeletons. ¡°Retreat.¡± Seeing the trolls load the crossbows again, Blood Hunter commanded the bone dragons to fall back for now and reassess the situation. On the fortress walls. The last scene caused Fang Hao to abruptly stand. The bone dragons were prized assets in Fang Hao¡¯s domain, losing one meant having one less. Now, two had fallen at once, it felt like his heart was bleeding. Glancing at the distant crossbow beds, he clenched his teeth in anger. [Dragon Locking Crossbow Bed (Rank 8 Equipment)] Damn it! This was indeed a weapon used for dealing with dragons, how did these bare- chested creatures come into possession of such a thing. At the rear of the Bloodthroat Tribe. The legion commander hurriedly headed towards the rear, approaching an exceptionally tall troll. It was the chieftain of the Bloodthroat Tribe, Meatfist ¨C Kaius. ¡°Chieftain, the bone dragons have been driven back by the crossbow beds and our troops have reached the city walls, but our casualties are also severe,¡± the legion commander reported cautiously. Kaius wore a gloomy expression, the skull he was tightly holding in his hand crushed into dust out of rage. He had initially thought the bone dragons would be their biggest obstacle but he didn¡¯t expect the enemy¡¯s numbers to be so high. Although the fortress was obstructing his view. The density of the few rounds of arrow showers was enough to cause apprehension. ¡°How¡¯s Shah doing on their end? Those damned things gave us false intel, there¡¯s no way there are only three or four hundred thousand undead.¡± Kaius said, grinding his teeth. Shah told him there were only three or four hundred thousand. Divided between two fronts, it should not pose much of a threat. The only threat was the undead¡¯s bone dragons. But now, the density of their arrows was far beyond just four hundred thousand. If it weren¡¯t for the legion already initiating an attack, he would¡¯ve destroyed the Skullcrusher first before continuing to fight against these undead. ¡°There¡¯s still no news from Skullcrusher¡¯s side. If they stick to the agreement, they should¡¯ve launched the attack by now,¡± the legion commander said. ¡°Hmph! Them?¡± Kaius sneered, ¡°Once this isover, I¡¯ll personally skin Shah alive.¡± ¡°Chieftain, what do we do next¡­?¡± the legion commander asked tentatively. Kaius stood up, stretched out his bones, and ordered coldly: ¡°Inform the Bloodthroat army, prepare to attack with me.¡± ¡°As you command, Chieftain.¡± The legion commander receiving the order quickly relayed the message. The ragtag trolls, who only knew how to shout and yell, were just the ordinary tribes within the Bloodthirst Mountain Range. They were the vanguard¡ªthe cannon fodder or pioneers. Kaius hadn¡¯t put much thought into the fortress ahead. The undead¡¯s fortress wasn¡¯t much sturdier than the thin walls of the human clan. However, with more than half of the vanguard dead or injured without even getting to touch the walls, Kaius was getting anxious. Even though the trolls were savage, they were still living beings. Failing on their very first step out of the Bloodthirst Mountain Range would greatly affect their morale. So, he planned to lead his own legion, the true warriors of the Bloodthroat Tribe, to demolish the city walls. Crushing the brittle skeletons beneath their feet. Soon, the warriors of the Bloodthroat army walked up. ¡°Bloodthroat Army, prepare to attack with me. Destroy the undead city walls ahead.¡± Kaius commanded loudly. ¡°Yes, Chieftain.¡± ¡± Blow the war horn.¡± The Legion Commander took out the tribal horn and blew it directly. As the trolls approached the city wall, the mage corps led by Nelson began to launch their attack. Black magic missiles were thrown into the ranks of the trolls. The missiles exploded, causing even the most sturdy trolls to be affected by the blast. Their limbs were scattered everywhere, and the negative effects of magic quickly spread throughout the ranks. This made the morale of the raging charging trolls drop rapidly. By this time, the sun was directly overhead. The battle had been going on for about five or six hours. Many trolls had already fallen, their thick, red blood accumulated on the path, forming puddles of blood. Just then¡­ A resounding horn sounded in the distance. Everyone paused. The War Horn. It¡¯s been five or six hours, yet the War Horn blew again? Around the corner of the mountain front, a well-equipped troll army was approaching in orderly fashion. These trolls were noticeably different from the ones before. They were fully covered in armor, and each one held a matching large machete in their hands. In the ranks, the sight of one exceptionally robust troll caught everyone¡¯s attention. [Meatfist ¨C Kaius (orange level three hero)]. As expected, the chieftain of the trolls was an orange-tier hero. ¡°Arrows, fire!¡± Black Thorn roared again. Another hail of arrows appeared, raining down on the advancing troll army. The rain of arrows poured into the troll army¡¯s formation. Even though these trolls were well-equipped, they couldn¡¯t withstand such a dense rain of arrows. Many troll soldiers fell dead in their tracks. The troll army kept advancing quickly. This is when the merit of short-to-medium-range firelock soldiers revealed itself. Under Petty¡¯s command, they continuously targeted and killed threatening opponents. Basically, when they aimed at a troll, tens of firelocks would fire simultaneously, instantly turning the targeted troll into a sieve. Orcs from behind then passed forward a firelock loaded with good bullets to replace the fired ones. As Petty located another target, all firelock soldiers fired in unison. Ten such teams, formed of orcs as target selectors and skeleton shooters, were aimed at the rapidly approaching Bloodthroat Corps. ¡°Charge.¡± Kaius in the ranks screamed loudly. The troll army began to charge forward rapidly, impacting directly onto the city wall, shaking the earth and mountains. All remote troops began to attack the trolls under the city, and the magic defense tower released black lightnings. Throwing axes, war spears, arrows, magic missiles, they danced in the sky of the mountain path. They formed a big net, covering the entire battlefield. ¡°Make way.¡± Kaius roared. The trolls in front made way. Kaius arrived under the city gate, stored energy, and punched out forcefully. Bang!! With an explosive blast, the reinforced city gate splintered, creating a large hole. The entire connecting wall began to shake violently. Kaius squinted and punched out a second time after gathering strength. Bang! With a loud rumble, the city gate shattered. A troll beside him rammed his body into it, knocking the entire city gate to the ground. The trolls roared with excitement and rushed towards the city gate. The moment all the trolls saw the endless White Bone Army behind the city gate, their cheers of joy ceased abruptly, replaced by silence and shock. What the hell, how could there be so many undead? Even killing all the people on this continent couldn¡¯t muster such a large White Bone Army. At this moment, bannermen on the city wall hoisted daggers and red banners. ¡°Attack!¡± Roar! Instantly, the White Bone Army sprang into action, like a rising tsunami, sweeping towards the troll army. Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 205, Clamp and Attack on the Cold Chapter 208: Chapter 205, Clamp and Attack on the Cold Wind Mountain Range (I¡¯m not slacking off, this is Chapter 4000.) _2 Translator: 549690339 The trolls operating the siege weapons were assailed, but there were simply too many giant bats. The giant bats enveloped the trolls, and by the time they separated, the trolls had been reduced to scattered skeletons. ¡°Break the equipment.¡± The Blood Hunter swung his longsword, shattering the contraption. They needed to eliminate all the siege weapons before the other trolls could provide support. Soon, the outraged roars of the trolls echoed around them, but by then, the Blood Hunter and his skeleton giant bats had already completed their task and began to retreat. The Blood Hunter returned to camp, remounted a dragon, and with the rest of the dragons, took back to the sky. They dove back into the depths of the Bloodthroat troll army from behind, spewing forth their deadly breath. Columns of dark energy swept through the troll ranks, swathes of trolls started dying, leaving behind fields of bone. Kaius, his fists swinging, threw out punches that erupted in a fan of shockwaves. Swaths of undead transformed into shattered bones under the might of his fists, scattering around. Yet, countless more undead surged forward without rest. Even after slaughtering tens of thousands of them, the number of skeletons didn¡¯t seem to decrease. Meanwhile, his own Bloodthroat warriors were falling in droves under the assault of the undead and bone dragons. Seeing his warriors dying in front of him and facing the endless undead army, Kaius knew he had failed. Faulty intelligence had led him to underestimate the undead force. Despatching the encroaching undead with his fists, he roared, ¡°Everyone, follow me and retreat, back to the Bloodfang Mountains.¡± Having already been considering retreat, the trolls responded to the command of their chieftain with a chorus of angry shouts. They fended off the undead¡¯s onslaught while falling back towards the Bloodfang Mountains. The horde of the undead still pursued relentlessly in close heel, pushing, trampling, entangling with the trolls. Determined to trap them all. ¡°My Lord, the troll army has retreated. They have suffered significant losses in this battle.¡± Black Thorn approached Fang Hao to report. ¡°Hmm. Pursue them appropriately, clean up the battlefield, and transport the troll corpses back to our territory for conversion,¡± Fang Hao instructed. They did not know the terrain and roads within the Bloodfang Mountains. The skeletons, if scattered, would be no match for the trolls, hence only a moderate pursuit was necessary. The overall layout of the battlefield was good. Many trolls were killed by traps and roadblocks before they could breach the walls. The most significant loss came from the deployment of the ¡°Dragon-Locking Ballista¡±. Fang Hao had never expected that such a device could possess the power to pull dragons down from the sky. Two of his bone dragons were lost. Bone dragons were unlike common soldiers. With no dragon crystals available, every loss was irreplaceable. Even the death of tens of thousands of skeleton soldiers did not hurt as much as the loss of those two bone dragons. ¡°Understood, my Lord,¡± Black Thorn nodded in acknowledgment. Next would be the repair of the city walls and gates, and summoning the skeleton army back. If Fang Hao was present in person, he could use the Book of Lords to repair the buildings. However, as he was only in ¡®God¡¯s Presence¡¯ state, he could only rely on- He agreed and began organizing for the repair of the city walls, and also to call back the skeleton army that had gone to attack. The battle at the Bloodfang Mountains came to an end. Fang Hao deactivated his ¡®God¡¯s Presence¡¯ state and woke up in his room. By then, the sun had started to set. It was about four to five o¡¯clock. The rumbling of his stomach triggered a wave of hunger. ¡°Eira, prepare some food,¡± Fang Hao called out as he opened the door. ¡°Alright,¡± the reply came from downstairs. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and contacted Zhang Bin. ¡°How¡¯s the situation on your end, Zhang Bin?¡± Fang Hao asked. Zhang Bin replied promptly, ¡°Boss, the battle has ended. All orcs were killed in the fight, and we managed to capture a wounded orc hero. Hilda says she assassinated the flying squadron leader last night.¡± Hilda was Little You. Since Zhang Bin was a transmigrator, he could see the names of the heroes, thus referring to her as Hilda. Once a melee starts, it makes survival almost impossible. Especially with the undead army, which only considers their order to kill enemies fulfilled when the enemies are completely dead. If it weren¡¯t for the injured orc not participating in the battle, he probably would have died under the skeletons¡¯ wild attacks by now. ¡°Is he seriously injured? Which rank of hero is he?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°He¡¯s a level five green hero. His throat has been cut, making his voice a bit hoarse, but he seems to be alright according to his current state,¡± Zhang Bin answered. ¡°Hmm, keep an eye on him. I¡¯ll swingby later.¡± ¡°Alright, boss.¡± After the battle, Zhang Bin was totally submissive to Fang Hao. Those surviving in the channel were all somewhat capable, but none of them had such a large army. While others were still flaunting their green equipment, Fang Hao had already begun large-scale conquests. He ended the chat. Fang Hao went downstairs to eat. The mealtime fell in between lunch and dinner. ¡°Master, did the battle go smoothly?¡± Eira, who was familiar with Fang Hao, dared to ask this question. ¡°It went smoothly, we¡¯ve already won. The maids don¡¯t need to clean the undead area tonight. There will be corpses for conversion, so they won¡¯t get scared,¡± Fang Hao replied casually while eating. People in this era were actually more resilient than he had imagined. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been hard for them to survive here. ¡°Alright, thank you, Master.¡± Eira smiled and expressed her gratitude on behalf of the maids. Being able to meet Fang Hao was indeed their good fortune. They were well-fed and lived in a better environment than their previous villages. Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: 206 Chapter 210: 206 Translator: 549690339 Fireblade, Bronze Bull, and Clipper stepped out. They started reorganizing their troops. Skeletoncrusher Shah¡¯s two large-scale military offensives had practically drained the Coldwind Mountain Range. Moreover, with the absolute numbers advantage held by the Undead Army, they could easily seize control of the Coldwind Mountain Range. ¡°Boss, that Clipper guy, is he a Goblin?¡± Zhang Bin asked. ¡°No, I¡¯ve seen Goblins before, they are more spirited than him.¡± ¡°So, is he a Goblin?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a possibility.¡± Fang Hao quickly opened the attribute panel to check Clipper¡¯s characteristics. [Clipper-Kenji (Green Tier Five Hero)] [Faction: Orc] [Template: Green] [Racial Traits: Living Creatures, Cunning, Fiend] [Legion Skills: Vanguard] [Skills: Boulder Toss] [Inherent Skill: Intermediate Flight Mastery] [Cunning]: This unit enjoys employing tactics like setting traps and ambushing to achieve victory in combat. [Fiend]: This unit possesses fiendish bloodline. [Vanguard]: This unit leads flying troops, increasing their flight speed by 10%. [Boulder Toss]: Tossing boulders from a higher position is a low-cost but efficient strategy. [Description: Never show kindness to a fiendish orc ¨C it will only cause them to underestimate you and provoke you at every chance.] Damn! This hero is so useless. Among his heroes, this one has to be the most useless. Being able to throw stones made him a hero? Surely he must have pulled some strings during the trial examination. ¡°Boss, is he a Goblin?¡± Zhang Bin asked, quite interested in this green-skinned dude. ¡°No. He¡¯s said to be an orc who possesses a fiendish bloodline,¡± Fang Hao replied. Even orcs have different bloodlines now. The one with the gaping mouth and tusks was said to carry a demonic bloodline, now here came one with a fiendish bloodline. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s less interesting. I thought he was a Goblin.¡± ¡°Btw, just stay here for a few days while Fireblade and his men attack the Coldwind Mountain Range. You will return when they are about done,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow your plan, boss,¡± agreed a compliant Zhang Bin. Once done with his business here, Fang Hao left again with Anjia and Little You, heading straight back to the main city. It was a dim night when two convoys carrying corpses and war prizes from the battlefields both successfully returned. All the corpses were thrown into the Transformation Pool for recycling. Aside from the mountainous heap of equipment loot, the most significant gain was 324,4.58 vertebrae. Death count from their own troops was being tallied, but it was still over four million combined with the newly gained vertebrae. Their army strength almost reached an unimaginably horrifying level. ¡°Lord,¡± Nelson approached, trailed by two orc heroes¡¯ bodies and one troll hero¡¯s body. ¡°Scholar Nelson, you¡¯ve worked hard this time,¡± Fang Hao commended him. ¡°It¡¯s my duty,¡± Nelson replied. Fang Hao smiled faintly and glanced at the three corpses behind him, asking, ¡°Are all these three heroes?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord. I need to take these bodies back as soon as possible for dehydration and spells. Otherwise, they won¡¯t keep well in this season,¡± Nelson explained. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you, scholar.¡± Nelson nodded slightly and ordered the skeletons to carry the three bodies into the Viscera Museum. Once all the affairs were taken care of, Fang Hao returned to the Lord¡¯s mansion. Perhaps because they had won the battles, the dinner was more lavish than usual which caused the already non-hungry pair to eat more. Fang Hao patted his stomach and sighed. The world was truly boring, devoid of even a phone and thus, incapable of streaming videos. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Master?¡± Eira curiously asked when she heard the sigh. ¡°Nothing, just feeling a bit bored, it¡¯s all fighting and killing every day.¡± ¡°What was Master¡¯s life like before? Tell Eira about it.¡± Eira sat nearby, propping up her petite head. ¡°It was a life fit for a king, not bragging, but there was a square thing this big where you could see people singing and dancing, even play games inside.¡± Fang Hao described some modern things that were fairly novel. Considering it as a story for Eira. ¡°Singing and dancing? Eira can do it too, Eira can sing for Master.¡± Eira excitedly said. ¡°Eira can sing and dance?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Eira blushed and added, ¡°It¡¯s just a hobby, nothing too amazing, but if Master wants to watch, Eira can perform for you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Eira blushed even more, closed the main door of the Lord¡¯s Mansion, then began to grace on the dance floor with her singing in the center of the hall. Black and white maid outfit, a pair of upright bunny ears, her bare pale feet tapping the rhythm, swaying in dance. Eira picked up the pace as she danced, forgetting that she was performing for Fang Hao, her movements fluttered like butterflies yet her body was as flexible as a snake, presenting a wholly graceful and lithe form. Once the song ended, Eira was flushed and perspiring. With a swift twirl, she came to Fang Hao¡¯s side and fell into his arms, ¡°Did Master enjoy the performance?¡± A sweet scent wafted into Fang Hao¡¯s nostrils. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± ¡°Then come listen to Eira sing in Master¡¯s room at night.¡± Eira¡¯s rosy small tongue lightly grazed Fang Hao¡¯s earlobe. Damn it! Eira¡¯s small gesture made something stir in Fang Hao¡¯s heart. ¡°Considering the time, why don¡¯t you come sing to me in my room the whole night.¡± Fang Hao held onto Eira¡¯s small hand, and headed towards the bedroom on the third floor. The next morning. Fang Hao woke from his sleep. He first invoked God¡¯s Presence, checking on the Bloody Fortress and Zhang Bin. With nothing wrong, and the development there proceeding smoothly, he removed God¡¯s Presence and went down to wash up. Ding! Suddenly, a private chat prompt appeared on the Book of Lords. ¡°Brother Hao, are you there?¡± It was from Dong Jiayue. Fang Hao suddenly remembered that Dong Jiayue was still under siege from two lords. ¡°Yes, how¡¯s the situation over there?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Brother Hao, those two bastards have amassed over a thousand men and started attacking my territory. My soldiers¡¯ loyalty is dropping rapidly, and I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t hold out much longer.¡± Dong Jiayue seemed urgent. She was a grown woman, and she knew full well what would happen if she fell into those two men¡¯s hands. She had passed numerous tests and survived countless risks. She simply refused to be killed by these two good-for-nothings. She had no one to rely on but to put her last hopes on Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll give you a Blank Map. Record your territory¡¯s location on it then give it to me. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to rescue you.¡± Upon saying that, Fang Hao placed a Blank Map right onto the designated trade slot. She quickly exchanged something randomly for the Blank Map, marked down her location, and traded it back. Fang Hao added the map to the main map, and Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory was displayed. It was quite a distance from his own. ¡°Take this, it can cause a lot of damage but be aware of the range. This is a [Stainless Steel Fire Gun], don¡¯t end up hurting yourself.¡± Fang Hao also put the Fire Gun, along with some bullets and gunpowder, onto the designated trading slot. ¡°Okay, thank you, Brother Hao.¡± After Dong Jiayue said that, she went quiet. Fang Hao stepped out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. ¡°Go bring Blood Hunter here.¡± Before long, Blood Hunter landed beside Fang Hao. ¡°Blood Hunter, this is the map. Go to this territory and rescue a human woman named Dong Jiayue. The enemy is a group of over a thousand human soldiers. Kill them all, leave no survivors.¡± Fang Hao took out another new Blank Map and copied the route onto it. Blood Hunter took the map, ¡°Understood, my Lord, should I bring this Dong Jiayue back?¡± ¡°No need, she¡¯s in danger now. Just gather your men and set off immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Blood Hunter took three Bone Dragons, each loaded with Skeleton Trolls, then soared towards Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory. Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 208, The Bitchy Teddy (Extra 3) 1 Chapter 212: Chapter 208, The Bitchy Teddy (Extra 3) 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª ¡°Brother Zhou, keep giving the order to attack. The sooner we take this down the happier you¡¯ll be,¡± the tall, skinny man said. What he was after was the city. It was hard to imagine, that a young girl could manage to upgrade her territory to such a level. ¡°No no, what if she commits suicide or disfigures herself? Then the city would be yours and I¡¯d get nothing.¡± Zhou Chengming immediately waved his hand, stopping the skinny man who was about to issue the attack order. ¡°What do you suggest then?¡± the man asked, frowning. ¡°Let me try talking to her. Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush,¡± Zhou Chengming said. With that, he took a few steps forward and said to the closed doors and windows of the lord¡¯s mansion, ¡°Miss Dong, why put yourself in this position? We re all just trying to survive; if you join me in managing a city, we¡¯d share the pressure. I would truly care for you.¡± Zhou Chengming stood out front, loudly expressing what he believed to be sincere words. Even in the presence of the tall, skinny man and over a thousand soldiers, he didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of shame. However, after he finished speaking, there was still silence inside the lord¡¯s mansion. Without Dong Jiayue¡¯s response, it felt as if the mansion was empty. Brother Zhou, it¡¯s time towrap up,¡± the skinny man urged. Zhou Chengming spoke again, ¡°Miss Dong, deep down you need a man too. You wouldn t really want to marry an indigenous person, would you? They never bathe, and it would be hard to find common ground with them.¡± Bang! Suddenly, there was a loud noise from the lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s window. In the next second, Zhou Chengming felt a pain in his ear and a warm stream flowing down his cheek. Only when he touched it subconsciously did he realize that his left ear was gone, his hand covered in bright red blood. Only then did Zhou Chengming realized what had happened and let out a sharp scream. Rolling and crawling, he retreated, shouting, ¡°She has a gun, she has a fucking gun.¡± The skinny man chuckled at Zhou Chengming¡¯s reaction. That¡¯s what you get for being horny all the time, now your head almost got blownapart. Missing an ear and half of his face covered in blood, Zhou Chengming looked quite terrifying. It must be an ancient musket, if it were a modern gun, we probably wouldn¡¯t have enough men to face her,¡± the skinny man analyzed. Just now, he saw a gun pointing out from the window cracks and the black smoke rising after the gunshot. ¡°Who cares what it is, attack now, catch that harridan for me,¡± Zhou Chengming growled, his face distorted in hate. The skinny man continued, ¡°She has a musket. Her reload speed should be slow. Everyone, kill all the people, but try to take the female lord alive.¡± Whoosh! At the order, all the soldiers started to attack the lord¡¯s mansion. The attack on Dong Jiayue and her ambush were not orchestrated by Zhou Chengming. But rather by the skinny man. His territory was not in a good location. After several trials, he barely escaped death. When he saw Dong Jiayue¡¯s city and Zhou Chengming¡¯s sexual tendencies, he formed a plan. He privately convinced Zhou Chengming and tricked Dong Jiayue into a second meeting. However, he hadn¡¯t expected that Dong Jiayue could really fight. She managed to break out of the trap they set. They saw that vengeance was inevitable, and so they exhausted all their soul crystals to recruit enough soldiers to attack this territory. The allocation was simple. The skinny man wanted the city, and Zhou Chengming wanted the woman. Now that they had infiltrated the city, all that was left was to bring Dong Jiayue out and hand her over to Zhou Chengming. Both were seeking different things, but their alliance was quite fragile, they couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes at this point. Inside the lord¡¯s mansion. Dong Jiayue fired another shot. After killing an enemy who jumped through the window, she hung the musket on her back and drew the longsword on her waist. The lance was not very practical in the room, she had to resort to a sword. Fighting against the enemies rushing in. When the lower floor was compromised, they retreated to the second floor, swinging their swords and ending the lives of their enemies. But there were too many enemies, and they didn¡¯t stop coming in. Several of them hid in a room and blockaded the door. The soldiers sat on the floor covered in blood, their eyes beginning to look at Dong Jiayue somewhat strangely. This wasn¡¯t some evil thought, but rather, their loyalty had decreased a lot, and they began to have thoughts of running away. Heave! Dong Jiayue sat on the floor, taking a deep breath. She loaded the musket with gunpowder and bullets. Looking at the door that appeared to be breaking down, she put the muzzle against her own head. Her hands were trembling, and she felt cold all over. ¡°Brother Hao, you must take vengeance for me,¡± Dong Jiayue closed her eyes. Just as she was about to pull the trigger. Outside the window, there was a commotion and panic; there were shouts and screams, the soldiers outside the door had left. Dong Jiayue paused, hurriedly moving the muzzle away from her head. In a trembling hand, Bang! A gunshot rang out, the bullet flew past her temple, hitting the wall behind her. She had almost killed herself. Dong Jiayue quickly threw down the gun in her hand and looked down from the second-floor window. In her view, several white bone dragons were circling the air, and large skeleton trolls were jumping off the backs of the dragons, chasing the fleeing human soldiers. Dong Jiayue stood stupefied by the window, watching the undead slaughter human soldiers. She remembered what Fang Hao had said, that he had sent an undead hero and told her not to be afraid, as he would not harm her. So, this was the undead force Fang Hao had sent to save her. ¡°Lord, there are undead outside,¡± one of the soldiers next to her also saw what was happening outside. His voice was trembling. Humans have an innate fear of the undead, just as everyone is afraid of death. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, these are reinforcements that I called for. They won¡¯t harm us and we have won this battle,¡± Dong Jiayue wiped the blood off her face, forcing a smile. She raised her arm, hailed her victory. The soldiers did not join her in the chant, but their loyalty and morale improved a bit. Soon. A knock came from outside the door on the second floor. Is that Miss Dong Jiayue? The Lord asked me to save you. There¡¯s no danger outside now, you can come out,¡± The voice outside was courteous, but the hoarse tone made it sound less safe. Dong Jiayue reloaded her musket and moved the furniture blocking the door. She opened the door and walked out. Standing outside was a large skeleton hero with a pair of large bat wings behind him. ¡°You must be Mr. Blood Hunter,¡± Dong Jiayue asked, suppressing her fear. ¡°Yes, please come with me,¡± he said before leading the way down. In the open space outside the lord¡¯s mansion, knelt the skinny man, Zhou Chengming, and hundreds of human soldiers. When the two saw the undead hero helping Dong Jiayue out, they guessed that these were Dong Jiayue¡¯s reinforcements. They immediately began pleading for their lives, ¡°Miss Dong, we were wrong, we were blinded, please forgive us this time.¡± Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 210, Lightning Speed 1 Chapter 214: Chapter 210, Lightning Speed 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡® ¡ª Having visited the Trade Alliance headquarters once before, the second visit wasn¡¯t as novel. The two casually chatted along the way, heading towards the official store of the Trade Alliance. Subconsciously, they glanced into a gloomy alley as they passed by. Today it seemed ordinary, without any lovers heatedly engaged. Upon reaching the shop¡¯s entrance, Fang Hao pushed the door and entered. It was still crowded inside. Customers were talking, resting or selecting their purchases. Anjia wasn¡¯t interested in all this, so she sat in a chair nearby. Fang Hao approached the counter, the well-dressed goblin attendant looked up at him. ¡°Fellow human from the Undead Clan, did you finally save up enough money?¡± The goblin¡¯s voice squeaked. Fang Hao was taken aback; it seemed like this was the same goblin attendant from his last visit. ¡°Well, I saved some, just unsure if it¡¯s enough to buy something I like.¡± Fang Hao smiled. 1.5 million is quite significant, but may not be a large sum here. There¡¯s always something here that will pique your interest, nudgingyou to earn more. The goblin attendant reread Fang Hao, somewhat amazed. Just how long had this human member of the Undead Clan joined the Trade Alliance? One week, or was it two? Anyway, it wasn¡¯t over a month. It was rare to hear someone so new casually claim that they had saved some money to spend here. ¡°Look here, which one do you fancy? I can get it for you to inspect thoroughly.¡± The goblin attendant pressed a button on the counter, presenting a wide array of products. Shimmers in purple, gold, and dark gold caught their eyes. Fang Hao inspected each one. Then he pointed at the counter, ¡°These here and these two. Please allow me to check them out, thanks.¡± Behind the goblin was a small ladder. He climbed it and fetched the items for Fang Hao to see. ¡°How did you end up joining the Undead?¡± Asked the goblin casually. ¡°A twist of fate. Over there, I¡¯m not really part of the Undead, and Orcs and I live in the same city.¡± Fang Hao glanced over at Anjia, whispering this. The goblin pondered a moment, and then shook his head, ¡°Can¡¯t comprehend it, this the first time I¡¯ve heard of humans, orcs, and the undead living together.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just muddling along, counting down the days.¡± ¡°What you said just now reminded me of my grandfather¡¯s words. He often said that as time goes on, we should do what we like.¡± ¡°Seems like your grandfather lived a meaningful life.¡± ¡°No, he eventually died in prison because he was caught peeping at women bathing.¡± Wow, this¡­ ¡°You¡¯ve got a weird sense of humor.¡± Fang Hao gave an awkward smile. The goblin shrugged, seeming to imply it was true. Fang Hao continued to examine the brought over items. [Mountain Crasher Tiger¡¯s Claw (Purple)] Category: Tiger Finger Strength: Level Five Damage Ability: Explosion (Description: Who the hell put explosives in this? My finger¡­) Price: 4.00,000 Warfire Coins. What is this? My finger would be blown off? That¡¯s a bit frightening. He thought the price was acceptable and planned to buy it as a gift for Anjia, but it doesn¡¯t seem a good idea now. [Death God Potion] Type: Potion Ability: Death God¡¯s Lie [Death God¡¯s Lie: When you receive a fatal blow, you enter a state of false death, and your body slowly heals itself (Undead, Constructs are unable to use this. If important organs are lost, the potion¡¯s ability cannot take effect). (Description: Drink it early, who knows if your lover has already bought a huge insurance policy on you.) Price: 980,000 Warfire Coins. This Death God potion, it feels pretty good. It¡¯s like having an extra life. If you suffer a fatal injury, you enter a state of fake death and then gradually recover. This potion truly feels like it defies the heavens. [Organ Gun Production Blueprint (Orange): Sturdy wood 300, Fine iron 5oo, Fine iron ingot 150, White steel plate too, White steel ingot 80, Precision parts 15, Traces of the Wind 3, Essence of Destruction 3.] (Description: A four-barrelled cannon invented by the dwarven engineer. Its powerful attack power can break down an entire enemy army in a single round of fire.) [Price. Three million five hundred thousand Warfire Coins.] The dwarves have never disappointed Fang Hao. Even doubt that the dwarves have entered the industrial stage, with cars running everywhere on the ground and planes flying in the sky. After seeing the Dragon-lock Crossbow last time, he recognized the power of machines. So he chose to look at a machine blueprint. The price is truly high, the introduction is nice, but he can¡¯t afford it. The last item. [Viscera jar (Purple)] [Category: Magic Container] [Ability: Lightning Speed] [Lightning Speed: Increases basic bullet-changing speed by 50%, basic agility by 30%] & ¡¯ (Description: These odd and dangerous creatures live under the waves, they have ancient lineage but live in the darkness of the world. If your fleet passes this place and the crew disappears in the blink of an eye, do not look for them. Go back to your room and lock the doors and windows until the sun rises the next day.) [Price: One million and two hundred thousand Warfire Coins.] Fang Hao is interested in the [Death God Potion] and the [Viscera Jar], After using the Death Potion, he can save his life once under the circumstance where the opponent does not kill him, it¡¯s quite a good thing for him. No one would feel redundant about having more means to save their own lives, and Fang Hao was the same. However, the Viscera Jar with Lightning Speed capability has a greater effect on him, it can increase the speed to reload bullets by 50%. If in the future the blunderbusses are assembled in large quantities, it would directly solve the problem of ammunition filling. Of course, even an increase of 50% in base speed would not be enough to compete with the speed of bows and arrows. The use of the Viscera Jar is great in this aspect, its attributes are effective on builder armor units. That is to say, all shooters, whether they are blunderbusses or bows, will have a 50% enhancement, and you can try any combination then. 111 take this, is it one million and two hundred thousand?¡± Fang Hao took out the corresponding amount of Warfire Cards and placed them on the counter. The Goblin clerk glanced at the Warfire Card, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He¡¯s really rich, this kid must have a gold mine near his territory. He took the Warfire Card and asked, ¡°What about the others, don¡¯t you like them?¡± ¡°The others don¡¯t help me much, I¡¯ll take a look when there are new goods next time.¡± Fang Hao hugged the Viscera jar in his arms. The Goblin clerk returned the remaining items to the shelf. You make money quite fast, do you have any tips?¡± the Goblin asked. There¡¯s no secret, just take orders and sell goods.¡± Fang Hao casually replied. Heh, you ¡®re the fastest money-maker I¡¯ve ever seen. Just a few days and you¡¯re buying goods here.¡± I m rich, born with a silver spoon.¡± Fang Hao gave a small smile. The Goblin seemed to believe him, ¡°Seems like choosing a good life is also a skill, I¡¯m Moru, what¡¯s your name, undead lad.¡± ¡°Fang Hao.¡± Fang Hao answered. Being constantly referred to as an ¡®undead lad¡¯ really wasn¡¯t pleasant to hear. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember it.¡± Moru tapped his head. ¡°I won¡¯t disturb you anymore, I¡¯ll sit over there.¡± Sure.¡± Moru snapped his fingers, and a waiter carried two drinks to the seat where Anjia was sitting. Thanks.¡± Fang Hao thanked him and walked toward Anjia¡¯s spot. In a corner. A woman was sitting in front of a wooden table. Her gaze followed Fang Hao closely, until he sat down in the distant seat. A crystal ball sat in front of the woman, her seaweed-like golden curls falling on her chest, she wore a light blue backless, high-slit dress, exposing a large area of her fair back. As she sat down, the dress clung tightly to her body, a charming crevice visible between her round buttocks. She hesitated a moment, picked up her crystal ball, and walked towards Fang Hao¡¯s position. Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 211, The Witch and the Missing Person Notice 1 Chapter 215: Chapter 211, The Witch and the Missing Person Notice 1 Translator: 549690339 The woman stood up, her waist twisting, her rear undulating. She walked straight to the vacant spot at Fang Hao¡¯s table and sat down. Sir, is this your first time here? Would you like some fortune telling? It¡¯s free for the first time.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes sparkled seductively, her voice soft. Fang Hao frowned slightly, curiously looking at the woman. The woman¡¯s attire radiated sensuality and allure, a blue backless dress, a light blue hood on her head, a golden veil made of fine threads concealing her face. But through the veil, it was evident that she was a very beautiful woman. Are such transactions allowed here?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. He remembered that the skeleton merchant, Ruer, had mentioned when he first brought him here that girls from different races offering their services can be found in the tavern, their prices vary from to to too Warfire Coins. The woman in front of him claimed to be a fortune teller, but her outfit looked more like a provocative costume. Perhaps he could take some inspiration from this, to discuss new clothing styles with the tailor Soye when he returned. Observation, learning, and practice are the key elements of innovation. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, the woman was taken aback, believing he was referring to her fortune-telling business, she replied softly, ¡°Of course, as long as it doesn¡¯t violate the rules here. Would you like to try, sir?¡± ¡°How do I try?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Just place your hand on the crystal ball.¡± Fang Hao raised his hand, reaching for the crystal ball on the table. But as soon as his fingers touched it, Fang Hao instantly pulled them back, and his other hand reached for the short sword at his waist. The Light Feather short sword was pinned at his waist. The moment his hand touched the crystal ball there was a clear burning sensation from the sword, which was now gradually subsiding. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sir?¡± The woman asked curiously. Fang Hao scrutinized the woman more carefully. Firstly, she was not a Hero, he did not see any notification about her. Although the Light Feather short sword appeared to be a weapon, its main function was more like a protective charm. It has a special skill [Blessing], which prevents the holder from suffering from any negative states. Previously, Fang Hao believed these negative states referred to things like low morale, slow movement, and etc. Now it too encompassed defense against certain fortune-telling spells. I don¡¯t need any fortune-telling, please don¡¯t disturb us,¡± Fang Hao said frankly. The sudden change in Fang Hao¡¯s demeanor made the woman furrow her brows. Sir, don t be so quick to refuse, it¡¯s merely an entertaining fortune-telling game,¡± the woman gently persisted. ¡°Please¡­¡± Fang Hao gestured for her to leave. The mysterious woman with snow-white skin seemed more and more suspicious to Fang Hao as she came forward on her own initiative. With no choice left, the woman stood up to leave. Just as she stood up, she stumbled, crying out as she fell towards Fang Hao. Thump! Just before she was about to fall into Fang Hao¡¯s arms, Anjia kicked her in the crotch, causing the woman to tumble several meters away. ¡°Get out!¡± Anjia shouted angrily. Clink! The commotion here drew the attention of the bystanders. The goblin¡¯s sharp voice echoed angrily, ¡°Dare to cause trouble here, you guys really have quite the nerve.¡± The woman brushed off the footprint on her dress, her eyes became a bit sharper. She smiled at the crowd, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just playing a joke with some friends.¡± Hmph! You all know the rules here, I don¡¯t care what your reasons are, if you dare to cause trouble here, you¡¯d better be prepared to face the consequences,¡± the goblin warned loudly. Yes, we understand,¡± the woman looked deeply at Fang Hao, then turned and ascended the stairs to the second floor. Fang Hao and Anjia didn¡¯t plan to stick around either, they got up and left the store. In a room on the second floor, near to the street. The woman watched through the window as Fang Hao and Anjia disappeared into the distance. She sneered quietly, ¡°Transmigrator, the number one in the region, huh. Your information should be worth quite a bit.¡± The woman went back to her desk and recorded all the information she had gathered about Fang Hao. She stamped a black cross-shaped seal on the document. As Fang Hao and Anjia exited the Trade Alliance store, the burning sensation from the short sword at his waist was completely gone. Perhaps ordinary fortune telling could also be considered a negative state, but he was glad that the short sword really could protect him. Holding the viscera jar adorned with bright runes, Fang Hao said, ¡°That woman just now didn¡¯t seem like a good person.¡± ¡°Yet, you were staring at her butt the whole time.¡± ¡°I was gathering design inspiration for Soye, besides, isn¡¯t what she¡¯s showing off meant to be seen by everyone?¡± Fang Hao said, righteous. ¡°Hmph,¡± Anjia turned up her nose. As if to say, ¡°I¡¯ll believe you when pigs can fly.¡± The two stopped again, in front of them was a local tavern. Standing at the entrance, one could hear the clamor inside. Let s go, sit for a bit,¡± Fang Hao suggested. The tavern is a great place. Whether it¡¯s the Orcs¡¯ or the Humans¡¯, one can always obtain some adventure maps. Perhaps they could get some here as well. As the two of them pushed open the door, a strong smell of alcohol and noise rushed in. Not many people were out on the street, yet this place was filled with drinking clientele of various races. As soon as they entered with the viscera jar, the tavern fell into a brief silence. Everyone¡¯s eyes fell on Fang Hao and the viscera jar in his arms. Fang Hao took a seat near the counter. ¡°What¡¯ll you have?¡± The tavern owner was a human in his 40s with a burly figure. ¡°Two beers, and some snacks,¡± Fang Hao stated. Alright, our smoked meat is famously delicious, it¡¯s your first time here, would you like to try some?¡± The owner suggested. ¡°Sure, one serving.¡± He was already here, what¡¯s a little more? The owner nodded and began preparing the drinks and snacks for Fang Hao. Fang Hao turned his attention to the notice board by his side. Instead of single-page maps, there were a few wanted posters. Some were looking for the queen¡¯s necklace, a physician that could cure unusual diseases, but the last one made Fang Hao squint. [Person Search Notice: Giovanni Hamilton (Blood Clan)] [Initiator: Hamilton Family] [Offer for clues: 50,000 Warfire Coins, 100 Blood Clan Influence Points.] On the search notice, there was a portrait of the person. Fang Hao looked at Anjia, and she looked back, shock in her eyes. ¡®Giovanni Hamilton¡¯ was the Blood Hunter, currently transformed into a skeleton hero by him. It was unexpected that his family actually valued him enough to post a bounty. A vampire sleeping for several years should be a normal thing, yet after just over a month, they have started looking for him. ¡°Hmm, seen this person? Providing a clue could earn you a huge bounty, and with the guarantee of the Trade Alliance, you don¡¯t have to worry about them backing down on the payment,¡± the owner said as he brought two beers over. I ve never seen him, I was just curious that missing persons notices could be posted here,¡± Fang Hao posted the search notice back on the notice board. ¡°Yes, searches for people, items, sometimes even troop hiring notices can be found here,¡± the owner explained. ¡°Aren¡¯t vampires sleeping for several years normal? Is there a need to post a missing person notice here?¡± ¡°Who knows, perhaps they received some news, maybe something happened to him. The Hamilton family is notoriously protective, anyone involved with them is in for some bad luck,¡± the owner spoke. Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 213, Save My Girlfriend l Chapter 217: Chapter 213, Save My Girlfriend l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao had once discussed the use of the Enlightening Potion to boost physical strength with Eira. Although it was rare among the Orc Clan, some Orcs attempted to acquire it through various channels. In other words, the potion also worked for the Orcs. Now, he had five potions in his hand, ready to give to Eira and some maids who needed to go out of the city. Not only would it help in self-defense, but it would also improve their physical constitution. ¡°Master, this is very valuable.¡± Eira whispered. Orcs buying potions from the Alchemist Guild must be expensive, and it wasn¡¯t guaranteed they could purchase it even if they had money. Although Fang Hao treated them well, it was still a master-slave relationship. ¡°It¡¯s not so precious. There will be some tingling after drinking it. That¡¯s a normal reaction, don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Fang Hao handed the potion to Eira. The latter carefully received it and held it in the palm of her hand, ¡°Master, can I really use it?¡± ¡°Why not? Drink it up quickly. In the future, every maid will get a chance to drink it. It¡¯s good to improve your physical constitution.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Alright, thank you, Master.¡± Eira thanked him, then directly opened the potion bottle and drank it. After drinking the potion, Eira¡¯s exposed skin quickly turned red and felt hot. She also started to look pained. ¡°Sit down immediately.¡± Fang Hao said. Eira sat down beside him, breathing heavily. After a while, the unnatural redness on Eira¡¯s skin slowly faded, returning to its original whiteness. Her figure also improved, and the clear lines of her waist were visible. Fang Hao checked Eira¡¯s attributes. ¡°Eira ¨C Rabbitmen Clan (Tier 2)¡± She had jumped directly from Tier 1 to Tier 2, and more importantly, the Enlightening Potion seemed to have opened a door. It allowed her to understand occupational knowledge more quickly and efficiently. Just like when Fang Hao drank the Magic Potion, he could sense elements. ¡°Eira, how do you feel?¡± Fang Hao asked again. Eira moved her body a bit and smiled, ¡°Master, I feel stronger than before.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded then looked at the other maids nearby, their faces filled with envy. He said, ¡°The rest of you wait. When I gather more potions you will get some too. The ones I have now are to prioritize those maids that need to go out.¡± The maids who had to go out were ones like Little White, who ran the stores. Even though he had arranged for soldiers to protect them, it was still better if they had some capabilities of their own. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The maids nodded obediently. As the Lord, Fang Hao naturally had the right to distribute these things. If he said he would give them later, he would. After all, there was no need to commit to anything when dealing with slaves. ¡°Yeah, you guys shouldn¡¯t idle around and gossip all day. Go and learn something from Anjia.¡± Fang Hao continued. Natives and recruited soldiers were different. Natives could improve their rankings and strength and even learn skills through study and practice. However, soldiers recruited by the lord through buildings couldn¡¯t. They were more like fixed templates that needed structures to reach different stages to improve the soldiers¡¯ ranking. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Ding! Just then, a private chat notification came from the Book of Lords. Since Fang Hao had put a large amount of his items on sale, people could search for what they wanted to buy, and few people contacted him through private chat anymore. Other than Dong Jiayue and Zhang Bin. Sometimes when people wanted to ask him something, they @Fang Hao first and then told him what was happening. Fang Hao thought it was Dong Jiayue again, but it turned out to be a stranger named Fu Lei. ¡°Fang Hao, I¡¯m Fu Lei, my territory is south of Pruell City. Could you help me? I¡¯m at my wit¡¯s end.¡± Fang Hao frowned at Fu Lei¡¯s introduction, reminiscent of a job interview. How did he know that Fang Hao was near Pruell City? ¡°Hmm, Fu Lei, what trouble have you encountered, and how do you know I¡¯m nearby?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Fang Hao, I bought your hot pot base last time. I saw your hot pot restaurant in Pruell City. Your territory must be nearby.¡± Fu Lei explained. Fang Hao slapped his head, having forgotten about that. ¡°Tell me what trouble you¡¯ve encountered. If I can, I¡¯ll help.¡± Fang Hao responded. ¡°Here¡¯s what happened¡­¡± Fu Lei is a freshman. In the sudden ¡®Lord¡¯s War¡¯ event, he discovered that the lord of the neighboring territory was his classmate. They helped each other, and their relationship progressed quickly, soon becoming a couple. Young love was fervent. They wanted to spend time together every day. After some discussion, the female classmate moved to Fu Lei¡¯s territory to co-manage it. Buying Fang Hao¡¯s hot pot base, no matter the cost, was all to give her a good meal. Fu Lei¡¯s territory had a lake, and he also obtained blueprints of a fish pond. On usual days, he would sell fish in the channel to exchange for the resources he needed. Late he discovered Pruell City while exploring around his territory. He had taken the fish he had caught to Pruell City to exchange for daily necessities. Because of his sales, he met a minor noble named ¡®Bernard¡¯ and occasionally helped him with some things, earning some money. This time, he brought his girlfriend with him for her to experience the outside world. However, he didn¡¯t expect Bernard to be attracted to his girlfriend. He directly took her away. No matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t change anything. W ith no other options, smelling a familiar scent, he found the ¡®Refreshing Catch¡¯ hotpot restaurant. He contacted Fang Hao as his last hope. ¡°The noble in Pruell City? The City Lord?¡± Fang Hao recalled. There was no noble in Pruell City. It seemed that he wasn¡¯t as wealthy as Fang Hao was. ¡°Not really, I heard his father is an important official in town. Anyway, everyone in the city is quite afraid of him.¡± Fu Lei said. Fang Hao thought about it for a while, ¡°Is this the man who always has a full-face acne and always says ¡®zi zi¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Do you know him? That¡¯s great. Say something for me to save my girlfriend.¡± Fu Lei clung onto his words like a lifeline. ¡°I don¡¯t know him. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve beaten him up before, so I have some impressions.¡± Seeing this message, Fu Lei was dumbfounded. It was not about the beating, but his girlfriend might indeed be difficult to save. Since Fang Hao had a grudge against Bernard, he might not be willing to speak for him. He couldn¡¯t attack Pruell City anyway, so what could he do? He regretted being so stupid to bring her out for a stroll. ¡°Is there really nothing you can do? I beg you, I can work like a cow or a horse for you. Please save my girlfriend. I have a fish pond in my territory that can produce fish. I am willing to make my territory your subsidiary territory. Please save my girlfriend.¡± Fu Lei sent a very long message. From the text, Fang Hao could clearly see his desperation. ¡°Fu Lei, even if I hurry over now, it will take time. Do you understand?¡± Fang Hao said. By the time Fang Hao got there, Bernard might have already finished his business. Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 214,1 Dare to Start a War, Do You? _1 Chapter 218: Chapter 214,1 Dare to Start a War, Do You? _1 Translator: 549690339 ¡°I know, boss, as long as you can rescue my girlfriend, nothing else matters.¡± Fu Lei replied. Fang Hao didn¡¯t expect, this kid takes his relationships seriously. ¡°Well then, go to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and find City Lord Cyril, tell him you¡¯re one of my people, and ask him to protect your girlfriend.¡± Fang Hao thought for a while and repeated his instructions, ¡°Stay calm and resolute, don¡¯t mention anything else, understood?¡± ¡°Understood, boss, I¡¯m going right now.¡± Fu Lei closed the Book of Lords and staggered off toward the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Two hours later. Fang Hao, bringing Anjia, arrived at Pruell City. He walked straight into the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. City Lord Cyril sat in the main seat, with the Home Minister and the Young Man with Acne sitting on his left, and a pair of black-haired and black-eyed young man and woman standing on his right. The male had a buzz cut and was rather thin, while the female was slightly chubby and wore glasses, looking quite reserved. Everyone here had Western features, so without question, the two were Fu Lei and his girlfriend. The two stood there with their heads lowered, like students being punished. The chubby girl, her face stained with tears, sobbed from time to time. Fang Hao sat down grimly in the empty space in front of the two, and before Cyril could speak, he said, ¡°Your Excellency, is there something that I¡¯ve done to offend you that such problems keep arising?¡± City Lord Cyril had originally planned to smooth over things with his smiling face, but upon seeing Fang Hao¡¯s expression, his smile immediately faded, and he said solemnly: ¡°What do you mean by that, Mr Fang Hao?¡± ¡°I¡¯d also like to know what this means, I just come to Pruell City for a visit and someone seizes my woman, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Fang Hao asked coldly. What happened to Fu Lei was one thing, but Fang Hao was truly disappointed in this city. He had originally thought that human rules and regulations would be more perfected, but it turned out to not necessarily be any better than the orcs¡¯. What was happening in front of him was as shameless as public robbery of a woman. ¡°It¡¯S just a misunderstanding. To say that we¡¯re kidnapping her is a bit extreme. My son just invited her over to his mansion. Didn¡¯t we send her back safely?¡± The Home Minister calmly explained. For his son¡¯s mistakes, he had his own interpretations. Fang Hao sneered, his gaze then shifted to Anjia, who was sitting with a leg perched on the other, looking amused. ¡°Anjia, how many garrison troops are in our territory?¡± Fang Hao suddenly asked. ¡°Huh? Half a million in the main city, why?¡± Hearing this number, the faces of Cyril and the Home Minister changed immediately. The residents of Pruell City amounted to only around ten thousand people, so when Anjia mentioned half a million garrison troops, it seemed an impossible number. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze swept over Cyril and then landed on the Home Minister, ¡°I can tell you now, if I decide to kill you and your damned son, you won¡¯t live to see tomorrow¡¯s sun. So stop testing my patience, understand?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? This is Pruell City, do you dare to start a war?¡± The Home Minister retorted. ¡°Start a war? City Lord Cyril, do you think making this decision is right?¡± Fang Hao sneered, looking at Cyril. Cyril¡¯s face was equally ugly, he hadn¡¯t expected the situation to escalate this much. Moreover, the Home Minister¡¯s behavior was a great disappointment to him. Could war be declared so casually? Due to his son forcibly taking a woman on the streets, considering declaring war with the neighboring city, this would likely be greatly disapproved by the soldiers in the city. Cyril¡¯s face darkened as he scanned the room. ¡°Bring him in.¡± Two guards entered from outside, ¡°Your Excellency. ¡°Bernard has forcibly taken a woman in broad daylight, lock him in the dungeon for further investigation.¡± Cyril stated solemnly. ¡°No, no, City Lord Uncle, he¡¯s just a fishmonger, not¡­¡± The Young Man with Acne panicked as the guards escorted him out, loudly pleading for mercy. ¡°Take him away.¡± The guards dragged him out. ¡°Your Excellency, what is the meaning of this? The matter hasn¡¯t been thoroughly investigated yet, and you¡¯ve already begun making arrests,¡± The Home Minister protested loudly. ¡°I will arrange for an investigation later. You¡¯ve been busy lately, so take a break and stay out of the city affairs for a while,¡± Cyril continued. At these words from Cyril, the Home Minister went pale. He knew exactly what this implied. Although he hadn¡¯t directly dismissed him from his position, it reflected the intention, and if he displeased Cyril again, he might lose his position. Given his family¡¯s reputation, once dismissed, they are likely to be killed. Sweat trickled from his forehead, ¡°I understand, Your Excellency. Cyril nodded, turning to Fang Hao again, ¡°Mr Fang Hao, are you satisfied with this outcome? Similar issues will not occur again in the future, and you will be able to conduct normal business in the city.¡± ¡°I¡¯m satisfied. Let¡¯s all remain peaceful and prosperous. Some things, I also don¡¯t want to make unnecessarily complicated.¡± Fang Hao finally showed a smile. ¡°Haha! Good, let¡¯s put this matter behind us. I will arrange for an investigation into Bernard, you can rest assured about that,¡± Cyril said. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded. After today, Cyril would likely lightly punish the Young Man with Acne, which was something Fang Hao could anticipate. The Young Man with Acne has not really provoked him, so it was not necessary to escalate things to the point of war. Teaching him a lesson so he dares not act recklessly, Fang Hao felt that it was not worth his trouble to meddle any further. After leaving the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Fu Lei dashed over to Fang Hao, knelt down in thanks, ¡°Thankyou, boss, thank you for saving us.¡± Fu Lei¡¯s girlfriend, named Xin YaoYao, wore glasses and was not overweight, but she had a round face. She too knelt down beside him, wiping away her tears as she expressed her gratitude. Fang Hao was quite well-known, and was recognized within the regional channels. ¡°Enough, get up. You two are quite lucky to have each other¡¯s company after crossing worlds,¡± Fang Hao said. Once they stood up, Fu Lei handed over the Book of Lords, ¡°Boss, if you hadn¡¯t saved YaoYao, I would not have wanted to continue living. You¡¯ve saved our lives, so we would like to become your affiliated territory.¡± The couple had agreed on this matter before; If Fang Hao could help save YaoYao, they were willing to become his affiliated territory. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s first take a look at your territory.¡± Fu Lei¡¯s territory location and development level were still unclear. The only thing they knew was that it was located to the south of Pruell City. If his territory had nothing appealing and not even contiguous, Fang Hao did not plan to make him his affiliated territory. ¡°Ok,¡± Fu Lei nodded in agreement. The group left the city gate, with Fang Hao and Anjia seated on the giant lizard, while Fu Lei and Xin YaoYao were placed on the cargo rack at the back. Although they sat on a hard wooden board, the ride was quite smooth on the giant lizard, and there was no need to worry about any bumps on the road. About an hour after departing from Pruell City. They finally arrived at Fu Lei¡¯s city. A Level 4 city. ¡°Boss, please follow me..¡± Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 216, Blood Clan Castle_l Chapter 220: Chapter 216, Blood Clan Castle_l Translator: 549690339 Immediately afterwards, Fang Hao established the ¡®Tower of the Fallen¡¯ in Fu Lei¡¯s territory. This would extend his casting range of God¡¯s Presence to the south. After finishing all the constructions and reminding Fu Lei not to leak any information about him to others, Fang Hao left on a giant lizard with Anjia. The incorporation of Fu Lei¡¯s territory would add a new dish to the menu of the territory. Back in Pruell City, Fang Hao headed straight to the shop. The hot pot restaurant was filled with heat, the temperature was quite high. Each table of diners were sweating while eating hot pot, which led to a high consumption of drinks. ¡°Master,¡± Little White greeted him cheerfully. ¡°How was the business today?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. He could tell that the business was pretty good. Although there were less customers in the morning, the number gradually increased in the afternoon. ¡°There¡¯s more and more customers. The rich people in the city treat hot pot as their staple food and come here every day,¡± Little White said excitedly. ¡°You¡¯re doing great, here are some rewards for you,¡± Fang Hao took out three bottles of the Enlightening Potion and handed them to Little White. ¡°I only have three here. You guys divide it. Whoever doesn¡¯t get one, I¡¯ll give it to you next time.¡± The shop had six bunny maids and Little White. Besides serving, the bunny maids were also responsible for preparing side dishes and cleaning utensils. But he only had four bottles in his hand, one of which he planned to give to Petty, the Pigmen Clan Leader, as a reward for integrating the Orc Clan last time. ¡°Okay, thank you, Master,¡± Little White delightfully accepted the potion, planning to use it after the shop closed. ¡°Oh, Little White, I thought of a theme event, what do you think?¡± ¡°What kind of theme event?¡± ¡°An ocean-themed event. Since the rich people here are willing to come, we¡¯ll introduce a seafood pot, paired with naval uniforms, it¡¯s bound to attract quite a few people.¡± ¡°Ah? Would that work?¡± Little White wasn¡¯t sure. No one, not even Little White or anybody in Pruell City, had ever seen the ocean. A seafood pot can be provided, but she had never heard or seen what a naval uniform looked like. ¡°Arrange a time for the event, we¡¯ll roll out some combo meals,¡± said Fang Hao, recalling the marketing strategy he¡¯d use for his restaurant before, and sharing it with Little White. Little White listened for a while before nodding. ¡°Okay, Master, I¡¯ll arrange it and we¡¯ll launch the event within the next two days.¡± ¡°Good, you guys have worked hard. I¡¯ll have someone bring the new clothes to you tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hard at all,¡± Little White said, her face full of smiles. Leaving the shop, Fang Hao went to the pub again. Seeing no maps or blueprints, he didn¡¯t stay long. As dusk approached, the two returned to the territory. Fang Hao established a territory channel using the Book of Lords. Fang Hao, Zhang Bin, Fu Lei¡ªthey all appeared in the channel. ¡°Zhang Bin, this is a new member, Fu Lei.¡± ¡°Hey! Boss, is this a new channel? There¡¯s no limit, Fu Lei, I¡¯m Zhang Bin, nice to meet you.¡± Zhang Bin was in sales before, his EQ.and eloquence were quite high. ¡°Hello, Brother Bin, I just became a city lord under the boss, I look forward to your guidance.¡± ¡°No problem, no problem!¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°Fu Lei, trade me three fishes. Send one to Zhang Bin as well.¡± ¡°Okay, boss.¡± Seeing Zhang Bin calling Fang Hao boss, he followed suit. Soon, Fu Lei¡¯s fishes were traded over. One was cooked by Eira and the remaining two were given to the other maids to taste. He had plenty of meat and staple food here, the only thing missing was fish. There was a river not too far from the territory, but the fish in the river were small, and he had not arranged for anyone to catch them. Now that they had a fishing area, they could finally taste its bounty. Dusk descended. In the southeast of the territory sat the Crescent Heights. This was the domain of the Hamilton clan, perpetually shrouded in fog, devoid of sunlight. In the grand hall of the Blood Clan¡¯s castle. A middle-aged man with brown hair sat on the throne. His face was a ghastly pale, and his thin body clad in black embroidered formal wear, a stench of blood permeated around him. He was the Clan Leader of the Hamiltons, the Red Duke ¨C Clement Hamilton, a formidable 9th-level Orange Hero. Of course, in private, people preferred to call him the Deceiver, or more simply, a Fraud. The Blood Clan residing in Crescent Heights held a negative opinion towards him, but that did not diminish his power. As long as he could keep living, the advancement to a Dark Gold Hero was merely a matter of time. The Red Duke cast his gaze over all the Blood Clansmen present and revealed his sharp fangs as he asked, ¡°Has that disappointing descendant of mine been found? I have been missing him so much.¡± The Red Duke¡¯s voice was magnetic and gentle, like a noble longing for his descendants. But the room remained silent, only the occasional sound of swallowing echoed. Everyone in the room knew the Red Duke too well; his longing was far from simple. A Blood Clansman stiffly forced a smile and replied, ¡°Your Grace, we are actively searching for Young Master Giovanni through all possible means. We should hear something soon.¡± Giovanni was not the Red Duke¡¯s offspring but his nephew. They stopped aging after their transformation into Blood Clansmen. Giovanni was always a troublemaker, but obtaining formidable power only intensified his antics. From Dwarfs to Humans, anywhere he could reach, he had caused trouble and for years his family had to clean up his messes. Later, the extend of his wreaking havoc grew so large that it nearly triggered wars between several forces. The Red Duke personally intervened and disciplined Giovanni, which suppressed his antics for several years. This time, he had gone missing without any trace. The Red Duke was so anxious to find him, not due to genuine concern about his safety, but because Giovanni had a book of the Blood Clan in his possession, which recorded the secrets of the ancestors of the Eternal Night Clan. Hearing that his subordinate hadn¡¯t received any updates for several days. The Red Duke¡¯s face gradually darkened, with red light radiating from his body. In a cold voice, he said: ¡°Do you know the consequences of deceiving me?¡± The words of the Red Duke made all the Blood Clansmen present change their expressions. They did not doubt the Red Duke¡¯s cold-bloodedness and brutality. Even for their kin, he would show no trace of family sentiment once they challenged his authority. ¡°Your, Your Grace, you misunderstand. We have assigned numerous of our own to this task and even issued missing person notices with the Trade Alliance and the Faceless. I believe we should hear something soon. Please grant us a bit more time,¡± a Blood Clansman hastily explained. ¡°Hmm? Not even the Faceless have news? Has Giovanni disappeared into thin air?¡± The Red Duke raised an eyebrow, now somewhat intrigued. No one could escape the watchful eyes of the Faceless. Even if they accepted the task, it was hard to believe that there were no updates whatsoever. Unless Giovanni had disappeared without leaving a trace. ¡°Yes, Your Grace, there should be news of young Master Giovanni soon.¡± No one present cared about Giovanni¡¯s life or death. They just wanted to complete the Red Duke¡¯s assigned task, what the Red Duke care about was the book in Giovanni¡¯s possession. ¡°Hmph! You¡¯d better finish the task I assigned to you, otherwise the consequences¡­ you should understand.¡± The Red Duke, his eyes glowing red, swept over all the Blood Clansmen present. ¡°Yes, we dare not.¡± Step,step,step! At this moment, hurried footsteps echoed down the stone corridor behind them. A Blood Servant walked in briskly, bowed, and said, ¡°Your Grace, a letter has arrived from the Faceless¡¯ hut.¡± Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 217, Occupying the Cold Wind Mountain Range l Chapter 221: Chapter 217, Occupying the Cold Wind Mountain Range l Translator: 549690339 Hearing the blood servant¡¯s words, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Just as they were discussing the issue of the Faceless¡¯s hut, the information was delivered. Whether or not there is definitive information, it proves that they are trying hard to investigate the matter. ¡°Bring it over.¡± The blood servant handed over the letter. The Red Duke held it in his hands, carefully examining it. Gradually, the Red Duke¡¯s expression became increasingly gloomy, his eyebrows furrowed. Everyone observed the Red Duke¡¯s expression and knew that the information in the letter might not be good news. After the Red Duke finished reading the letter, he casually put it aside and said, ¡°It says Giovanni is already dead.¡± ¡°What? How is that possible?¡± everyone found it hard to believe. Once a blood clan member grows bat wings, they possess strong mobility. Unless they court death and cause trouble in places where creatures with the power of flight reside, it is difficult for ordinary human cities to confine Giovanni, especially with the support of the Hamilton family. The most likely case is negotiation, not outright execution. ¡°The message says someone saw an undead creature with bat wings, which highly resembled Giovanni. It¡¯s highly likely that Giovanni is dead and has been transformed into an undead,¡± the Red Duke continued. ¡°Then¡­ so Odys did this?¡± a blood clan member asked. Odys, the Skeleton King, is the top undead king in this region. Only he possesses the ability to transform troops and dares to provoke the Hamilton family. ¡°No, it¡¯s not Odys.¡± The Red Duke shook his head slightly. ¡°The letter mentions two locations: north of Pruell City and the orc¡¯s Manim Market.¡± ¡°I remember that the young master Giovanni really has a manor in the north of Pruell City,¡± a blood clan member whispered. Another blood clan member said, ¡°My Lord Duke, I will arrange for the thin- blooded members to investigate these two places immediately to trace the whereabouts of Master Giovanni.¡± ¡°No, the orcs are waging war over there, we shouldn¡¯t send anyone there yet. Who is currently the city lord of Pruell City?¡± the Red Duke responded calmly, showing no effect from the news of Giovanni¡¯s death. Even if the Red Duke didn¡¯t take the scattered orcs into consideration, he did not want to provoke these simple-minded creatures. Those who know nothing but fighting all the time are tiresome to handle. Negotiations with them are not as simple as getting into a fight first. Furthermore, thin-blooded members are human-bred blood clan scouts who can withstand the sun. They can blend into human society much easier than orcs. ¡°My Lord Duke, a man named Cyril. He is a very mediocre city lord in terms of both strength and management.¡± The Red Duke pondered, no impression of this man in his mind. The Crescent Heights, managed by the blood clan, requires its affiliated human villages to pay an adequate blood tax monthly. This policy has maintained peace between the two races over the decades by eliminating the need for the blood clan to hunt in human cities. With the Red Duke having slept for an extended period, he naturally lost track of the human personnel¡¯s switches in the city. ¡°Mediocrity might be a good thing for us. Arrange for a thin-blooded member to investigate the matter in Pruell City, I want sufficient information,¡± the Red Duke said sternly. ¡°Yes, my Lord Duke. I¡¯ll handle it immediately,¡± a blood clan member said. The Red Duke nodded. Whether it¡¯s to find clues about Giovanni¡¯s disappearance or investigate the sudden appearance of an undead force near their territory, it¡¯s all worth sending scouts for detailed investigations. If there indeed is a rising undead force with no particular background. He would immediately lead his troops to extinguish this undead force, retrieve the book of the Blood Clan, and eliminate undead forces from the land. ¡°Go to the Blood Kiln and choose two young humans, send them to my room.¡± The Red Duke slowly rose and quietly instructed. ¡°Yes, my Lord Duke.¡± The blood servant nodded and went to the Blood Kiln to select tonight¡¯s snacks for the Duke. The next day, early morning. Fang Hao opened his eyes and yawned lazily. At his side, Eira, like a kitten, was nestled in Fang Hao¡¯s arms, looking at herself with a face full of smiles. ¡°Good morning.¡± Eira turned over, sitting up straight on Fang Hao, and spoke in a charming voice, ¡°Master is lazy, sleeping in till this time.¡± Her smooth skin and charming voice stimulated Fang Hao¡¯s senses. To be stimulated like this first thing in the morning was honestly too much. Just then, the sound-transmitting shell on the bedside table suddenly emitted a prompt, indicating that a message had been received. Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed. It was the sound-transmitting shell he had left for Fireblade and Bronze Bull. He gently patted Eira to stop her fussing, turned over and placed the shell near his ear to listen. Soon after, Bronze Bull¡¯s deep voice could be heard from within the shell. ¡°Master, we have occupied the Skullcrusher Tribe. The Coldwind Mountains, under the persuasion of the ritualist, have all agreed to surrender. Kenji has been arranged to wait for you at the city where Master Zhang Bin is stationed.¡± This soon? According to normal marching speeds, it would take at least three days. How could they occupy the Skullcrusher Tribe in just two days? Upon further thought, it soon made sense. Undead and Orcs are not the same. Even with their good stamina, Orcs still need to set up camp. Even when vigorously marching during the daytime, it would still require more than three days. But the Undead do not need it, they march and fight day and night. Moreover, with ¡®Clipper-Kenji¡¯ leading the way, their march would surely be faster than usual. The only one who would require rest would be Bronze Bull. But it seemed like Bronze Bull didn¡¯t rest much either, following the army all the way to the Skullcrusher Tribe. ¡°Does Master have any tasks?¡± Having already dressed, Eira curiously asked. ¡°Yes, I need to go out soon. Prepare breakfast, something simple will do.¡± Fang Hao also got up. ¡°Alright.¡± Eira went downstairs to prepare breakfast, while Fang Hao started washing and doing a quick morning workout. After a round of running, Eira¡¯s breakfast was ready. Having breakfast. Fang Hao, dragging a still sleepy Anjia, boarded the Bone Dragon. With the other two Bone Dragons loaded with Skeleton Trolls, they took off into the sky. Picking up Clipper-Kenji in the city where Zhang Bin was stationed, they headed towards the Coldwind Mountains, the location of the Skullcrusher Tribe, under his guidance. Upon entering the Coldwind Mountains, the temperature dropped dramatically. Mist wrapped around them in the sky, mountains crumbled, and paths twisted and turned. Occasionally, a dense forest would appear, surrounded by scattered villages. Compared to the outside, resources here were definitely scarce. Under Kenji¡¯s command, the Bone Dragon arrived over the Skullcrusher Tribe. A dense undead army had surrounded the tribe. The Bone Dragon descended, and Fireblade and Bronze Bull came forward to greet them. ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Yes, how is the situation here?¡± As Fang Hao dismounted the Bone Dragon, he asked. ¡°After the army arrived here, their ritualist didn¡¯t put up much resistance and even convinced the rest of the scattered tribes in the Coldwind Mountains to surrender.¡± Fireblade explained as they walked. ¡°Where are they now?¡± ¡°All the clan leaders and chieftains are in the main hall, waiting for your arrival.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s go see.¡± Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 219, Cold Wind Sand Table t Chapter 223: Chapter 219, Cold Wind Sand Table t Translator: 549690339 Upon seeing the information about the Smelting Furnace, joy sprang into Fang Hao¡¯s heart. Now he could produce White Steel Ingots, which meant his blueprints for the White Steel equipment could be mass produced and inventoried. The overall attributes of his army could also be significantly enhanced. [Forge Blower (Green): Hard Resilient Wood 5, Thick Leather 5, Metal Parts 4.] (Description: A simple wind generation device, pumps air into the smelting furnace for iron forging.) He had seen the blower on TV. It was used to stoke the fire, making it burn brighter. It was part of the equipment for the smelting furnace. Only the last blueprint was left. [Beast Head Heavy Shield (Blue): Hard Resilient Wood 1, Cast Iron 5, White Steel Plate 2, White Steel Ingot 2.) (Description: A heavy shield designed for orc heavy infantry. Its outstanding defense power also increases the burden of the soldier.) Fang Hao had seen this Beast Head Heavy Shield in its final form. He had seen it in the pile of items left after a battle. A round shield, carved with a large image of a beast head. It was rather intimidating. With the material he had at present, he could make it and arm the infantry with it. Upon finishing looking at the blueprints, Fang Hao continued to check the inventory of the Skullcrusher Tribe. This look startled him. There were a lot of ores inside the warehouse. Among them, the reserve of stone was 2 million and iron ore also reached a reserve of more than 200,000. There was also copper, silver, even saltpeter and sulfur, all had a large reserve. This reinforced Fang Hao¡¯s initial idea. The Frostwind Mountain Range had rich mineral resources, which solved the ore demand for his territory. At this moment, Shaman Clyde came over. ¡°Lord, I have arranged it. I¡¯ve reduced the number of tribes to 100, but the merger and relocation of the tribes will take a few days.¡± Fang Hao nodded and said, ¡°You just need to handle this. Just call me lord like the others, you don¡¯t have to call me Great Chief.¡± The title of Great Chief should be a term of respect in the tribe. Although it sounds powerful, the heroes in his territory were getting more and more numerous, and it would be confusing if they all had different ways to address him. It¡¯s better to uniformly call him the Lord, which also conforms to the identity given by the Book of Lords. ¡°Okay, Lord.¡± Clyde immediately changed his address. Fang Hao gestured to Clyde to sit down and asked with curiosity, ¡°I killed Shah, don¡¯t the people here hate me?¡± He glanced at the orcs not far away from the hall. Once they knew that Fang Hao would not make things difficult for them, the tension on their faces gradually disappeared, and they were chatting together, waiting for the tasks assigned to them later. ¡°My Lord, it¡¯s just like this in the Frostwind Mountain Range. If anyone among them surpassed Shah, they would have killed him and taken his place.¡± Clyde slightly lifted his head and looked at Fang Hao, ¡°The only difference is you are a human.¡± The rules here are all about the survival of the fittest. If anyone surpasses Shah, they could be the Great Chief and make new rules. The only difference is that Fang Hao is a human and the army he controlled is the undead. This confuses the orcs who usually don¡¯t like to think. ¡°I plan to let you manage here, what do you think?¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Lord, with my current energy, it is hard to manage such a large group.¡± Clyde sighed in response. Even if Clyde was a hero, his body had entered the decline stage. Even if he had the idea, he was a little powerless. ¡°I will arrange for someone to come and preside, you will continue to be a Shaman here, assisting in management.¡± Fang Hao said after a thought. Clyde was a purple hero after all. As a spiritual leader of the orcs, the Shaman could solve many problems. ¡°I am ready to serve you, my Lord.¡± Clyde got up and slightly saluted. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, took out a purple hero contract, and handed it to Clyde. The Hero Contract was purchased at a Trade Alliance shop. ¡°Sign it.¡± Even though Clair had shown enough sincerity and had helped him persuade the clan leaders in the Frostwind mountain range. But Fang Hao still wanted him to sign this contract. People¡¯s hearts can change little by little with time, place, and events. Only a contract can always bind them, preventing them from harming oneself. As the contract was presented, Clair also did not hesitate, directly stamping his handprint on it. Before Fang Hao arrived, the Bronze Bull had already spoken to him about the contract. He was already psychologically prepared and thus showed no significant hesitation. Light emerged from the contract and immersed itself into Clair¡¯s body. The contract was fulfilled. [Shaman-Clair, current loyalty to you is 60.] Indeed, Clair¡¯s loyalty was only 60, even lower than the Bronze Bull forced into allegiance by him. [Shaman-Clair (Purple Rank III Hero)] [Faction: Orc] [Template: Purple] [Race Traits: Living creatures, Altar Believer, Blood Rage.] [Legion Talent: Beast Clan Elder, Totem of Faith.] [Skills: Magic Affinity, Electroconvulsive, Weakness, Toxic Fog, Nest of Vipers.] [Innate skills: Advanced Magic Mastery, Advanced Tactical Mastery.] [Altar Believer (Passive)]: Operate hero altars to resurrect hero units without consuming materials (once every 7 days). [Blood Rage (Passive)]: Increase attack strength by 5% after entering combat. [Beast Clan Elder (Passive)]: This unit presiding over the Beast Clan area is less likely to encounter riots, taxes +5%. [Totem of Faith (Active)]: All friendly forces (Orcs) receive a buff, morale +2%, physical damage +3%. [Magic Affinity (Passive)]: Permanently increase this unit¡¯s magic power. [Electroconvulsive (Active)]: Discharge lightning from fingers, inflicting 130% spell damage, lightning can jump and hit up to two additional enemies. [Weakness (Active)]: Makes target enemy weak, decreasing all attributes. [Toxic Fog (Active)]: Summons poison fog in a designated area to continuously harm targets. [Nest of Vipers (Active)]: Summons 10 magic venomous snakes to attack enemy units. (Description: Shaman is better at thinking than Orcs, he thinks in the dark, guiding the clan through difficulties.) Although Clair has several seemingly good skills, their effects in legions¡¯ battles are not significant. The only two Fang Hao finds useful are [Altar Believer] and [Beast Clan Elder]. One allows free usage of the hero altar every 7 days to resurrect fallen heroes. And another one increases the stability of the Orc Tribe. This prevents riots and increases tax revenue. He is a domestic affair-oriented hero of the Orc Clan. As long as Clair is in Frostwind City, he won¡¯t need to worry about the Orcs rioting. ¡°Clair, there should be a connecting road between here and the Bloody Ridge, right?¡± Fang Hao looked at Clair again. The Frostwind and Bloody Ridges are part of the same mountain range, but since the range is so long and spans several territories, they are named separately. Since it¡¯s the same range, there must be a connection. He must pay attention to this, whether for defending against the Trolls, or for future counterattacks. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Clair stood up and shouted, ¡°Bring the sand table over.¡± Several Orc guards immediately acted, pushing a sand table, over 7 meters long and 5 meters wide, into the middle of the hall. ¡°Sir, it would be clearer to look at it here.¡± Clair invited Fang Hao. Several people ascended the steps to the giant sand table. [Detailed Sand Table (Frostwind Ridge).] [Frostwind Ridge Sand Table recorded, it can be viewed in the Book of Lords- Map Page.] Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 220, Platinum Treasure Chest _1 Chapter 224: Chapter 220, Platinum Treasure Chest _1 Translator: 549690339 As soon as he approached the sand table, a system prompt suddenly appeared. Fang Hao immediately opened the Book of Lords and flipped to the ¡®Map¡¯ page. Sure enough, on the map page, the entire Frostwind mountain range area was fully illuminated, showing the terrain, winding paths, which fully matched the information on the sand table. This brought an instant joy to Fang Hao¡¯s heart. You see, maps require manpower to explore. Initially, when Fang Hao just traversed here, he made use of the God¡¯s Presence skill every day, exploring the territory nearby with his men, and then cross-referenced the map to re-explore the unlit areas when he returned. Now that he has incorporated the sand table, this task was saved, and the entire Frostwind mountain range map was automatically unlocked. And it¡¯s very clear. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Lord?¡± Clair seeing Fang Hao lost in thought, asked quietly. ¡°Eh, nothing, just go ahead.¡± Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords, refocusing his gaze on the sand table. ¡°Alright, Lord.¡± The sand table is huge, Clair picked up his crutch, and pointed from east to west along a road inside the mountain. ¡°Lord, this road cuts through the entire mountain range.¡± He pointed out at a point in the middle, ¡°Frostwind Mountain Range and Bloodthirsty Mountain Range use this as the boundary and do not interfere with each other.¡± It appears that the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range occupies more locations and has a better living environment. One of the major reasons is that the Bloodthroat Tribe is stronger and has an orange hero stationed there. ¡°So you mean, if those trolls want to attack Frostwind Mountain Range, this is the only route they¡¯d take?¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, Lord, all the other paths are rugged mountain trails, at most a few hundred people can pass. If a war breaks out, this is the only road,¡± Clair answered. Fang Hao nodded, thinking that he should also establish a fortress here later for defense against the trolls. Once internal stability is achieved in the Frostwind Tribe, based on the locations of the two forts, attack can be launched on the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range, and this threat can be completely removed. ¡°Talk about the mines, I see here contains a large amount of mineral reserves, there must be many mines, right?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Yes, there are a total of 72 mining sites, but the tribes have had constant disputes in the past, plundering each other, and not many mines can continue production,¡± replied Clair. ¡°Hmm, we¡¯ll compile them all later, arrange specific villages for mining, and stabilize efficiency,¡± Fang Hao nodded. There are actually 72 locations, the ores here are really rich. As long as mining is stable, there will no worries for the ores needed in the territory. ¡°Alright, Lord. The Frostwind Mountain Range used to supply mineral resources in exchange for other resources. If we stop fighting for mines and destroying facilities, the output can at least double,¡± said Clair, standing next to Fang Hao. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the supply part. They don¡¯t have to worry about it. As long as they do their jobs, they can eat well and wear warm,¡± Fang Hao understood what Clair wanted to convey. Previously, the resources here were used for exchange. They used ores to exchange for other necessary resources such as food and daily necessities. Fang Hao would arrange these, and they only needed to finish their work. ¡°Thank you, Lord. As long as these needs are met, they won¡¯t cause any trouble,¡± said Clair. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, and looked at Fireblade. ¡°Fireblade, Clip.¡± ¡°Lord.¡± The two came over. ¡°You two will lead the army to this place. I will establish a fortress here, and you two will be responsible for defense,¡± Fang Hao pointed to the junction of the Frostwind Mountain Range and the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range on the sand table. ¡°Yes, Lord,¡± the two nodded in agreement. Fang Hao looked at Shaman Clair, ¡°Let¡¯s go, you come with me first. I¡¯ll send you back after the fortress is built.¡± ¡°Oh, alright, Lord.¡± Fang Hao, with Clair and Anjia, left the chieftain¡¯s hall. The three of them rode the Bone Dragon towards the boundary. In half an hour, they had already reached the boundary. There were not only jagged rocks here, but also a sizable wind vent. The strong wind made people lean, and they had to strive against the wind step by step. ¡°Lord, this is the boundary. Shah has considered establishing a fortress here, but it is very difficult to walk normally here, let alone constructing a fortress that can block the path,¡± said Clair loudly. But the ¡®whoo¡¯ sound of the wind next to his ear made it a bit unclear to hear. Fang Hao cast Frost Armor, with stones occasionally blown up by the strong wind hitting the armor, emitting blue ripples. He opened the Book of Lords, went straight to the construction area, and found the [Fortress], [Fortress: Wood 3000, Stone 2000, Cement 1500, Iron 500, Metal fittings 120.] He directly chose to build. The light fluctuated, and a fortress was erected to block the wind vent. As the three moved forward with force, their bodies suddenly lightened, almost falling to the ground. Clair had never seen such a situation where a fortress can be constructed in the blink of an eye. His face looked excited, mumbling words like ¡°gift¡± and ¡°miracle,¡± and he knelt down to Fang Hao again. Loyalty also directly rose by 10 points. Fang Hao asked him to get up and started to upgrade the fortress, and build defense arrow towers and magic defense towers. ¡°Clair, arrange some orcs to come here later to listen to Fireblade¡¯s commands for joint defense,¡± Fang Hao instructed after the fortress was built. ¡°Alright Lord, I will arrange it properly,¡± replied Clair. About half an hour later, Fireblade led a large group over. Of the over 1 million undead soldiers who have been assigned to the Frostwind City, over 200,000 have been left behind, and the rest have all been brought here. ¡°Fireblade, you stay and guard this place as do you, Pliers. Listen to Fireblade¡¯s orders,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°I will definitely listen to Fireblade¡¯s commands. Lord, does this make me a commander now?¡± Pliers, recovering quickly from his injuries, asked with a voice less raspy than before. ¡°A commander?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°Yes, someone who can command a few people,¡± Pliers explained eagerly. This little green-skin wants a title so bad. ¡°Fine, if you do a good job and prove yourself, the Skeleton Giant Bats will be under your command,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°No, my lord, I mean the Orcs. Can I command a few Orcs?¡± Pliers hurried to clarify. What¡¯s so great about commanding skeletons? He simply hoped to have a team of Orcs under his command to deploy as he wished. ¡°That depends on your efforts. Do a good job and I¡¯ll give you an entire army to command.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord, thank you.¡± Pliers quickly expressed his gratitude, grinning from ear to ear. It¡¯s feasible for Pliers to command a part of the flight troops. However, his abilities are really quite low. If he aspires to command a large army, I¡¯m afraid it might be somewhat problematic. But I shouldn¡¯t discourage his ambitions, hence, my words at present. After naming this place Frostwind Fortress (East), Fang Hao and his party returned to Frostwind City. They strolled around their territory, and led by Shaman Clyde, arrived at Frostwind City¡¯s industrial district. Several warehouses had been built here, which were filled with a large number of ores. Not far away was a smelting furnace factory, especially used for processing ores. ¡°Lord, ordinarily we have Orc blacksmiths working here, forging weapons and smelting iron ores,¡± Clair pointed at the cold factory and quietly explained. This factory had been shut down ever since the Shah¡¯s defeat and the occupation by the Undead Army. ¡°Hmm, arrange for operations to be resumed when the time comes,¡± Fang Hao said. He massively increased the production of all kinds of tools in the warehouse and increased the number of smelting furnaces to 200. Regardless of whether it¡¯s too much or not, it definitely can¡¯t be too few. Later, he would recruit some Skeleton Blacksmiths to be assigned here, turning this place directly into a blacksmithing factory. After touring the city, they returned to the Chieftain¡¯s Great Hall. Just then, Anjia was directing a skeleton to bring out boxes and boxes filled with Gold Coins. ¡°Warfire Coins: 787580, Beasthead Gold: 2254.580.¡± So much money! Fang Hao¡¯s eyes began to flash with the gleam of gold. ¡°Save 500,000 Beasthead Gold, and load the rest onto the Bone Dragon,¡± Fang Hao ordered. Frostwind City being a native city, factories and mines would require paying wages to their workers, all settled through Beasthead Gold. Therefore, some needed to be saved. Likewise, Fang Hao would open some shops here, which could earn back the money, thus forming a cycle. ¡°Oh,¡± Anjia responded, and then pointed to a skeleton at the back row, ¡°There¡¯s a White Iron treasure chest there. Go and see what good stuff there is.¡± ¡°White Iron?¡± Fang Hao paused and then it hit him, it must mean silver. If it is a Silver Treasure Chest, that would indeed be disappointing. Capturing the Frostwind Mountain Range was the biggest battle Fang Hao had ever fought since he passed through this world. With nearly 800,000 enemy soldiers in a single rally and his own deployment crossing over 500,000, he couldn¡¯t merely receive a white silver chest as a reward. ¡°Bring it.¡± Fang Hao beckoned. Two skeletons from behind brought over a massive, bright white metal chest. ¡°Platinum Treasure Chest.¡± Oh my god! Fang Hao shot an annoyed glance at Anjia, is this what you call White Iron? Is there such a shiny iron? This was the fifth level of treasure chests after Wood, Black Iron, Silver, and Gold, and should be superior in comparison. Without further hesitation, Fang Hao directly chose to open it. Bright flashes of light fluttered, and item after item appeared before Fang Hao. ¡°Acquired: Jewelry Shop Construction Blueprint, Deceptive Statue Construction Blueprint, Storm Fine Iron Helmet Blueprint (Blue), Storm Fine Iron Chest Armor Blueprint (Blue), Storm Fine Iron Full Finger Gauntlet Blueprint (Blue), Storm Fine Iron Boots Blueprint (Blue), Stone Seat Black Iron Street Lamp (Blue), Dragon Tooth Necklace (Purple), Hero Recruitment Scroll (Orange), Beast Tooth Stone 182, Warfire Coins 510.¡± Fang Hao carefully inspected his prizes from the treasure chest. The Platinum Treasure Chest reward was indeed plentiful. Also, this confirmed that the Platinum Treasure Chest was more advanced and higher quality than the Gold one, with more and better rewards coming out. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes landed first on the orange scroll. ¡°Hero Recruitment Scroll (Orange).¡± It¡¯s actually an orange scroll. Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 221, Volume of the Orange Hero (Seeking Recommendations...)! Chapter 225: Chapter 221, Volume of the Orange Hero (Seeking Recommendations¡­)! Translator: 549690339 The last Hero Recruitment Scroll I received was for Nelson. He was my first hero, summoned purely by fate, a Nelson of the orange template, with no tier requirement. This time, the recruitment scroll guarantees an orange template, a reassuring safety net. [Hero Recruitment Scroll (Orange)] [Category: Recruitment Scroll] (Description: Upon use, a random orange template hero can be recruited.) There¡¯s no faction requirement this time, I¡¯m not sure what kind of hero it will summon. I hope it doesn¡¯t yield any bizarre species or factions. Anyway, I am about to have my second orange hero, which is good news. I suppress my excitement and decide to put away the recruitment scroll for now. It¡¯s too crowded here, I¡¯ll use it when I return to the main territory. While Anjia is directing the skeletons to load the gold coins onto the dragon¡¯s back, Fang Hao continues to examine the remaining blueprints. [Level 1 jewelry shop: 550 wood, 800 stone, 300 leather, 220 hemp rope 120 iron, 50 metal parts.] Now that I have already acquired a Tailor Shop and a Blacksmith¡¯s Shop. I no longer simply think that this kind of shop only sells jewelry. It should work similarly to a tailor¡¯s shop, allowing you to recruit craftsman-like professions focused on crafting jewelry. As for its exact function, I will find out after building it when I return. [God of Deception Statue: 550 wood, 1500 stone, 5 Natural Gem, 2 Essence of Magic, 2 Enchanting Essence.] (Description: The God of Deception will bless the ruler of the land, granting the ¡®Deception and Trickery¡¯ to those with ulterior motives.) With the construction of the first two statues, building another statue isn¡¯t so extraordinary anymore. But this time, it¡¯s different. The Harvest Statue and the Slaughter God Statue blessed the land, whereas the Deception Statue blesses the ruler of the land himself. Based on the content, it sounds more like the leader of a fraudulent organization. Doesn¡¯t look like a good guy. There¡¯s one more thing that leads Fang Hao to speculate. The rewards from a place often have something to do with the region, leading to the God of Deception Statue here in the Orc territories¡­ Could it be that some people here worship the God of Deception? It¡¯s a little confusing, but Clair should pay special attention to this later, don¡¯t want any trouble to arise because of this. Continue to check the next item. [Storm Fine Iron Open Face Helmet (Blue)] [Category: Helmet] [Defense: Tier 3 Defense] +15o/EffeCt: AttaC1< P¡ãWer +3<>/0¡¯MaXimUm HMlth P¡ãWer +5¡ã/o¡¯ Ski11 Success Rate (Description: The favorite armor of rough warriors, rumored to guarantee victory in battles when worn.) A blue set armor, it¡¯s a pretty good piece of equipment. Especially with the set attributes, attack power, health, skill success rate, these are all very important attributes. Especially since the equipment of the infantry is currently very random, consisting of different sets of blue and green, this will help unify their equipment and improve overall combat power. [Stone Throne Lamp Post: 100 wood, 50 stone, 20 iron, 10 cast iron blocks 1 glass lampshade.] (Description: The sun can¡¯t be this low, it¡¯s the lantern with a glass cover.) We have glass now? If it¡¯s possible to make glass, the first thing Fang Hao would do is to make windows, which would help in rainy and wintry weather. [Dragon Tooth Necklace (Purple)] [Category: Necklace] [Effect: Close-range Attack Power +5%, Stamina Recovery +io%] (Description: A necklace as powerful as the Dragon Clan, it will bring you a strong physique and power.) The Dragon Tooth Necklace is not a real dragon tooth. It¡¯s about the size of a pinky finger, in the shape of a canine tooth, and made of material similar to jade. The name ¡°Dragon Tooth¡± is probably given by the maker himself. ¡°Anjia!¡± Fang Hao called out. ¡°Ah.¡± In the distance, Anjia was standing on the dragon¡¯s back, tying the cash boxes with hemp rope. Although Anjia doesn¡¯t have many places to spend money, she also loves wealth. She always scrupulously scavenges a place, more thorough than anyone else. ¡°This is for you.¡± Fang Hao threw the necklace in his hand over to her. Anjia took it with both hands and took a look at the Dragon Tooth Necklace. ¡°Forme?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Fang Hao nodded. Holding the tooth-shaped pendant that was as smooth as jade, Anjia looked at it for a while before beaming joyfully as she put it on her neck. ¡°Thank you.¡± [Fighter-Tooth Anjia¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 10, the current loyalty is 97-] Anjia¡¯s loyalty abruptly increased by 10 points, just 3 short of reaching 100%. Fang Hao has been giving her food and clothes, unexpectedly, it was the necklace that increased her loyalty by to points. All the money was secured onto the dragon¡¯s back. After giving a few words to Clair, Fang Hao, alongside Anjia and Bronze Bull, left Frostwind City. Here, Clair would initially manage everything and wait until Nelson made a new hero and then the new hero would be sent here. The Bone Dragon soared into the sky, flying towards Fang Hao¡¯s territory. On the way, they dropped Bronze Bull into the city where Zhang Bin was located, and then sent Zhang Bin back to his original city. The addition of Frostwind City added a new problem ¨C food. Zhang Bin had to be sent back to expand the farm and increase output. By the time they returned to their territory, it was already dark. Thus, the day ended. Eira had prepared a lavish dinner for them. As Anjia began describing Frostwind City to Eira, Fang Hao had no chance to interrupt, he could only eat his meal while passing time watching the regional channel. ¡°Damn! A group of folks came by during the day, they looked like soldiers from a nearby city, came to levy some tax. They blabbered about a lot of things.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just bash him up then and there, and yelled, ¡®are you blind, see who you¡¯re messing with¡¯?¡± ¡°They¡¯re just trying to extort protection fees, better to just pay it and keep the peace.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare refuse. They came with hundreds of people, all equipped with those badass kind of equipment. Thankfully, they gave me a certificate after I paid ¨C no need to pay again for half a year.¡± ¡°Yours isn¡¯t too bad then, your territory is near human cities, you can get some protection.¡± Yeah¡­ I do envy you. I also want to pay some money, and develop slowly.¡± ¡°Hey, let me interject here¡­.¡± ¡°Go ahead, but gently¡­.¡± ¡°Seriously, I recruited a blue-level hero in the field today. He came with a training skill that can train archers into rangers.¡± ¡°Damn, are you about to take off.¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re awesome. Is the archer a male or female hero, can you bang them?¡± e Male, not sure if you can bang until loyalty reaches 100.¡± ¡°Boss, you must be the first one to have a hero in this region, haven¡¯t heard of anyone else.¡± ¡°Who says? You guys forget? There was a point ranking at the end of the first 7-day trial. Fang Hao was ranked first and was awarded a Hero Recruitment Scroll, from the name, it should be used to recruit a hero.¡± ¡°Right, remember Fang Hao once took a photo, there were a pair of white legs in the corner, must be the hero he recruited.¡± ¡°Case cracked, Fang Hao has recruited a female hero.¡± ¡®Spread the word, Fang Hao married a female hero.¡± ¡°Spread the word, Fang Hao is a female¡­.¡± ¡°Hold on! Weren¡¯t we talking about me recruiting a hero? Why did you bring up Fang Hao? Can I just show off a bit?¡± ¡°No need to show off, you¡¯re quite alike.¡± Fang Hao looked at the regional channel and almost spit out his food. Why does every conversation have to involve him? From everyone¡¯s chat, it seems most people are still unfamiliar with heroes. Maybe there are some like Fang Hao, who recruit heroes discreetly, but they are certainly in the minority. Closing the Book of Lords, he finished all the food in his bowl. Leaving the two ladies to continue eating, he took the Hero Recruitment Scroll and went outside. Standing in the open space in front of the lord¡¯s mansion. [Do you want to use the Hero Recruitment Scroll? A random Orange Hero can be recruited upon use.] ¡°Use it!¡± Next, the recruitment scroll in his hand emitted a faint light and slowly scattered like burning paper. The next moment, a complex array appeared on the open space in front of him. Under the shroud of orange light, a figure gradually rose from the ground. [Successful recruitment, Ancient Blade ¨C Dimitrija (Orange Tier 8 Hero)] Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 122, Lizardman Hero (Additional for Matthew Chapter 226: Chapter 122, Lizardman Hero (Additional for ¡®Matthew01 reward )_1 Translator: 549690339 Seeing the name in the prompt, Fang Hao was taken aback once again. It was rare to see a title of four words, even Nelson only had a title of two words. The orange light grew increasingly dazzling and a tall figure gradually became clearer. When the light dissipated, revealing Demitrija¡¯s figure, Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed again. Before him stood not a human as he had expected, but a towering Lizardman. He was nearly two meters tall, his blue skin clearly showing the shine of his scales. He was dressed in a set of golden armor, one hand held a golden helmet, and the other leaned on a metallic longsword. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± the Lizardman broke the silence first and knelt on one knee, accompanying the sound of clashing armor. ¡°Welcome aboard, Demitrija,¡± Fang Hao quickly smiled and helped him up. [Ancient Blade ¨C Demitrija¡¯s loyalty towards you has increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 95.] That high? His loyalty was so high right after joining. It seemed that neither the heroes nor the slaves he had bought had such high initial loyalty. ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty,¡± the Lizardman rose again. ¡°Just call me sir, the territory is still under construction, and we need everyone¡¯s joint effort.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The Lizardman said, then moved aside and stood guard without saying a word. Fang Hao also opened the Book of Lords, checking his attributes. [Ancient Blade ¨C Demitrija (Orange Tier 8 Hero)] [Faction: Lizardmen] [Template: Orange] [Racial Traits: Living Creatures, Cold-blooded, Underwater Breathing, Scale Armor.] [Legion Talent: Tactical Camouflage, Rune Guardian, Two-Handed Sword Commander.] [Skills: Misty Sky, Heretical Mark, Fanatic Belief, Ancient Saint¡¯s Blessing, Fierce Slash, Sweeping.] [Innate Abilities: Domain Command Mastery, Advanced Two-Handed Sword Mastery, Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Religious Belief.] [Cold-blooded]: Cold-blooded creatures, stamina and spirit increase by 15%. [Underwater Breathing]: This unit can breathe normally underwater. [Scale Armor]: Natural armor, defense is increased by 25%. [Tactical Camouflage]: This unit leads troops. When stationary, it can enter stealth camouflage mode. [Rune Guardian]: This unit leads troops, and any buff effect is increased by 10%. (This effect includes, but is not limited to, equipment, treasures, runes, beliefs, viscera jars, and other items and magic.) [Two-Handed Sword Commander]: Leading units with two-handed swords, attack power is increased by 25%. [Misty Sky (Active)]: Spews out a piece of mist, covering a designated area. Friendly units in the mist have their magic resistance increased by 20, and health recovery increased by 25%. [Heretical Mark (Active)]: Actively marks the target, causing 10% additional damage. [Fanatic Belief (Passive) ]: Attack speed increases by 15%. [Ancient Saint¡¯s Blessing (Passive)]: Blessing from the Ancient Saint. This unit is not affected by any negative conditions. [Fierce Slash (Active)]: Strikes the enemy, damage bonus of 150%, 15% chance to cause knockback. [Sweeping (Active)]: The longsword sweeps, causing a 140% damage bonus to a large range of enemies in front. (Description: The Lizardmen gradually exited the center stage of the world, but their past glory and strength could never be erased.) As always, the orange heroes were powerful. Among his attributes, in addition to various powerful skills, also revealed a sense of religion. ¡°Demi¡­trija, have you had dinner?¡± Fang Hao was still a little unfamiliar with the name. He had to check the Book of Lords after uttering the first two syllables. ¡°Sir, you can just call me Demi. I haven¡¯t eaten yet,¡± Demitrija answered from the side. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have someone prepare a meal for you. Then, I¡¯ll give you a tour of the territory to help you get acquainted.¡± Fang Hao was about to ask Eira if there was anything to eat, then turned back to ask again, ¡°Demitrija, do you eat meat or vegetables?¡± ¡°Sir, my diet is the same as a human¡¯s, without much difference,¡± Demitrija replied again. ¡°Alright.¡± Just as Fang Hao was about to take a step, Anjia came rushing out from inside, followed closely by Eira. The two of them playfully rushed out, stopping in their tracks at the sight of the Lizardman clad in golden armor standing at the door. They stared fixedly at the Lizardman. ¡°What¡­what in the world is this?¡± Anjia murmured. ¡°This is Demitrija, from the Lizardman tribe, a new member of our heroes.¡± Fang Hao turned to Demitrija and said, ¡°Demitrija, this is Eira, the head maid, and this is Anjia, who is also a hero in the territory.¡± ¡°Miss Eira, Miss Anjia.¡± Demitrija greeted them proactively. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Demitrija.¡± Eira responded. Anjia, on the other hand, was captivated by his equipment, finding his glittering golden attire fairly flamboyant. ¡°Eira, see if there¡¯s anything left to eat, prepare something for Demitrija.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Fang Hao then turned to Anjia and said, ¡°Anjia, why don¡¯t you show Demitrija around the territory, and introduce him to the Blood Hunter while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anjia agreed, and then began to lead Demitrija away. Once he had seen to these matters, Fang Hao strolled off to the side. He planned to make use of the time before he slept to build from all the construction blueprints he had, and understand their properties and functions. Standing in front of an empty plot of land, Fang Hao promptly opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the jewelry shop. [Level 1 Jewellery Shop: Wood 550, Stone Material 800, Leather 300, Hemp Rope 220, Iron 120, Metal Parts 50.] Construct! With a flash of light, a small hut slowly took shape. Five minutes later. A wooden shop stood before Fang Hao. [Level 1 Jewellery Shop] [Recruits available: Goldsmith] [Goldsmith: Wriggling Spine 1] (Note: Can recruit the relevant troop type in this building, engage in iron forging and weapon repair.) [Upgrade requires: Wood 1500, Stone 1700, Leather 700, Hemp Rope 220, Iron 20, Metal Parts 40.] As expected! Just like the tailor shop and the blacksmith shop. The building could recruit functional troops, and since it¡¯s called a jewelry shop, the goldsmith¡¯s task must be making jewelry. Usually, when a building reaches level five, it will gain additional properties. Having enough resources, Fang Hao straight away upgraded it to level 5. [Level 5 Jewellery Shop] [Recruits available: Goldsmith] [Goldsmith: Wriggling Spine 1] [Ability: Craftsmanship Expertise.] [Craftsmanship Expertise: Processing Accuracy +5%.] (Note: Can recruit the relevant troop type in this building, engage in the crafting and repairing of jewelry.) [Upgrade requires: Wood 5500, Stone 6500, Hard Resilient Wood 600, Stone Bricks 800, Iron 50, Metal Parts 220, Perfect Essence 4.] Fang Hao had also figured out a characteristic of the buildings. The buildings gain a new attribute after reaching level 5. The period from level 1 to 4 is just a transition, the building only gains effects after reaching level 5. After upgrading, the next step was to recruit a goldsmith. The job title sounded pretty fancy, so Fang Hao hoped it would not disappoint him. [Goldsmith: Wriggling Spine 1, Recruit?] Recruit. [Hundredfold Amplification Activated, Recruiting 101 Skeleton Goldsmiths.] A flash of light, and out stepped 101 Skeleton Goldsmiths. The Goldsmiths were tall and thin, with leather bags filled with various goldsmithing tools hanging from their waists. ¡°Greetings, Master.¡± The group of Goldsmiths saluted as one. Chapter 227 - Chapter 223, Skeleton Goldsmith (Extra update for Star Barons reward.)_1 Chapter 223, Skeleton Goldsmith (Extra update for ¡®Star Baron¡¯s¡¯ reward.)_1 Translator: 549690339 The eyes of the goldsmith, burning with the azure soul flame. ¡°Well, welcome to the team.¡± Fang Hao looked at the lead skeleton, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°My Lord, my name is Luke.¡± The leading skeleton goldsmith replied. ¡°Great, Luke, you are now the team leader of the goldsmiths. Any tasks will be given to you and then you will allocate them.¡± Fang Hao, as usual, selected a team leader. This also made it convenient for him to supervise, without having to remember so many names. ¡°Yes, master, we are at your service.¡± [Skeleton Goldsmith Luke¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 85.] ¡°Um.¡± Fang Hao nodded, and started to check the goldsmith¡¯s attributes. [Skeleton Goldsmith (Tier 1)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Features: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerable to Light.] [Skills: Fine Repair, Precision Manufacturing.] [Fine Repair: Repairs jewelry, restoring durability.] [Precision Manufacturing: Specializes in the creation of small precision crafts.] [Innate Skills: Level One Goldsmith Mastery] (Note: From clothes accessories to weapon ornaments, everything involves the works of goldsmiths. Integrating art into life and filling life with art is what every craftsman pursues.) The role of a goldsmith is to produce various crafts. Be it rings, necklaces, insignias that nobles adore, or a king¡¯s crown, all come within the scope of a goldsmith¡¯s work. ¡°Repair these two pieces.¡± Fang Hao removed the Mindful Necklace and Flame Ring. He had been wearing these two items for a month, so today is a good time to get them fixed. ¡°Okay, my Lord, they will be repaired by tomorrow morning.¡± Luke responded. ¡°Alright, you take a look around the territory and see what needs to be done, then report back to me,¡± Fang Hao continued. There were over a hundred of them, they can¡¯t just sit around doing nothing. They had to see what needed to be done so the tasks could be assigned properly. ¡°Understood, my Lord.¡± After delegating tasks, Fang Hao built houses for the skeleton goldsmiths, told them they could rest, and scheduled their working hours. After receiving an increase in loyalty from a group of goldsmiths, Fang Hao left them. He was now left with three construction blueprints. They were for the Hero Altar, Smelting Furnace, and God of Deception Statue. He first arrived at the statue area. He chose to build the statue of God of Deception two meters away from the Slaughter God Statue. A blue glow emerged which gradually formed an outline that was somewhat robust. When the glow dissipated, there stood a tall thin man holding a mask. [God of Deception Statue (Blue)] [Types: Special Building] [Effects: Success rate of speech +30% (advantage), extra +10% for the opposite sex (this effect only works for the leader of the power)]. (Description: The God of Deception has blessed the territory¡¯s leader and gives ¡®deception and cunning¡¯ to those with ulterior motives.) The God of Deception actually only provides one effect. The ability to express oneself eloquently. In the future, regardless of what you say, the credibility given by the listener towards you will increase by 30%, it also has an extra effect on those of the opposite sex. So, it¡¯s like this world¡¯s godfather of deceivers. When the deceiver becomes a god, that is quite impressive. You can say this is the most useless statue in Fang Hao¡¯s territory. There are either skeletons or contract-bound heroes and slaves in the territory. Who would he deceive? Does typing in the regional channel count as speech? Otherwise, this statue would be totally useless. Even if it¡¯s useless, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t dismantle it. It was the third statue. As long as he builds one more statue, he will meet the prerequisites of the Wish Fountain blueprint. Then, he could make a wish in the Wish Fountain and get the materials he needs. Right now, he wants Dragon Crystal so he could increase the number of bone dragons to an intimidating number, so no one dares to annoy him. After building the statue, Fang Hao moved on. He chose to build the Hero Altar two meters to the left of the Merit Training Ground. [Hero Altar: Hard Wood 5500, Stone Bricks 5000, Iron 2200, Traces of Prayer 20, Divine Trace 10, Perfect Essence 30.] The Hero Altar was built amidst a golden light. [Hero Altar (Orange)] [Types: Special Building] [Ability: Resurrect.] [Resurrect: Living Traces 1, Mithril 20, Faction Materials 20, Warfire Coins 2000. (Conversion, Creation, Summoning, etc. hero units cannot be resurrected.)] [Resurrect]: It can resurrect hero units of this faction. (Souls that are forbidden or destroyed cannot be resurrected.) (Description: Here, you can resurrect your brave subordinates. Of course, there are always some ways in this world to imprison and destroy your soul. Therefore¡­ beware of those who manipulate the dead.) With this built, fallen heroes can be resurrected in the future. The last building left was a Smelting Furnace. Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan to build this in his territory. He planned to cluster furnace factories in Frostwind Mountain Range, and in the next couple of days, he planned to recruit a large number of skeleton blacksmiths to work in the factories in Frostwind City. Within his territory, only the blacksmith who repairs and forges equipment was needed. After all the hustle and bustle concluded, it was late. Anjia and Lizardmen hero had strolled around the territory a large circle, covered each area within the territory. ¡°My Lord¡± Seeing Fang Hao, Demitrija saluted again. ¡°Okay, there¡¯s nothing special in the territory. Just keep in mind not to disturb Scholar Nelson when he¡¯s working in the Viscera Museum after closing hours,¡± Fang Hao said softly. ¡°Understood. I will respect the rules of the territory.¡± Demitrija replied. Demitrija¡¯s reply was very bland. It made Fang Hao look at him again, because he seemed to have no curiosity or fear about the many undead in the territory. ¡°Did you have contact with the undead before?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°No, my Lord.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel curious about the undead here?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Not really,¡± Demitrija pondered his words, ¡°Inheritance and continuation are all different ways to continue to guard our beliefs. If the day were to come when I am to die, I might choose to become undead too, to continue my duty.¡± I see. Is the faith of the Lizardman so unwavering? ¡°Well, perhaps you¡¯re right,¡± said Fang Hao as the two of them reached a spot not far from the Lord¡¯s Mansion, ¡°I will build a mansion for you here. There are Nightstone chandeliers and furniture in the warehouses.¡± Fang Hao flipped the Book of Lords, built a house and upgraded it to level six. When reaching level 5, the wooden house was already upgraded to a two-story stone building. ¡°How is it? Is that the architectural style over at your place?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Thankyou, my Lord. I only remember that the place I lived was quite damp and most of the buildings were made of stone bricks,¡± Demitrija replied softly. ¡°Okay, go in and take a look. If you need anything, you can move it in. You should also get some rest early.¡± Demitrija nodded, took his weapon, and walked directly into the house. Chapter 228 - Chapter 224, Reward for Escorting the Caravan _1 Chapter 224, Reward for Escorting the Caravan _1 Translator: 549690339 The next day, in Pruell City. The streets of Pruell City are unusually bustling today. The hot pot restaurant has launched a seafood-themed event. On a simple wooden stage, rabbit-maids sing and dance, showcasing their talents. Even if it isn¡¯t particularly professional, few commoners in this era have seen professional performances. The main attraction is the lively and active atmosphere. From early morning, the entrance of the hot pot restaurant was crowded with people, layer upon layer, watching the performance. Even when the City Lord announced new policies, fewer people gathered than now. Even if they weren¡¯t eating hot pot, they came to watch the show. Inside the restaurant. All the seats are filled, and the customers are tasting the newly launched seafood pot. ¡°How do you feel, is the effect alright?¡± Mr. Fang Hao stood in front of the counter. Behind the counter, Xin YaoYao was wiping sweat and said while keeping accounts: ¡°Yes, Fu Lei has gone to fetch goods again, there are too many customers, and we can¡¯t sustain this kind of demand every day.¡± Xin YaoYao is Fu Lei¡¯s girlfriend. This time, she also came to the restaurant to help with accounting tasks. In the past, Fu Lei would bring fish to sell in the city, and by the time the sun set, he might not have sold all of them. He would need to take it back and dry it into dried fish. Now, Fu Lei has returned for the third time to restock goods. If this continues, even if the restaurant makes more money, it won¡¯t be able to keep up with the demand for fish. ¡°Today is the peak day, the number of people will slightly increase, it will gradually decrease in the next few days.¡± said Fang Hao. He was very clear about this. The population of Pruell City is limited, and most of its inhabitants are just after novelty. In the next few days, the number of people eating fish hot pot will slowly decrease. After all, most people are commoners and occasionally look to enhance their lives. ¡°By the way, boss, several nearby villages have recently been attacked by wild animals. Fu Lei wants to seize this opportunity to help the villages eradicate the beasts and then incorporate them as subsidiary villages.¡± Xin YaoYao said. The nearby villages she mentioned were small villages near the freshwater lake. All rely on fishing for a living. If they could be incorporated as subsidiary villages, it would also increase the production of freshwater fish. ¡°That¡¯s fine, be careful, if the villages don¡¯t want to join, don¡¯t force them.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said. ¡°Alright, when Fu Lei comes back, I¡¯ll tell him.¡± ¡°Hmm, okay, you get busy, I¡¯ll go sit in the tavern across the road.¡± ¡°Alright boss.¡± The temperature in the restaurant was too high, so when they came out, both his and Anjia¡¯s foreheads were covered with sweat. After wiping sweat off, he headed directly towards the bar across the street. Upon entering the bar. The landlady was leaning on her chin in a daydream-like state. Seeing them enter, she only had a quick glance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, not in a good mood today?¡± Fang Hao sat down in front of the bar. The landlady gave him a white-eyed glance, and said, ¡°Did you come here specifically to mock me?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Hmph, as your restaurant is getting more and more popular, look at my bar, there is not a single person.¡± The landlady complained discontentedly. She also brought a few bartenders from her bar to try the hot pot. It indeed was delicious and unlike any food they had ever eaten before. It seemed addictive. As soon as they smelled the fragrance wafting from the restaurant across the street, they couldn¡¯t help but salivate, wanting to eat it again. And today, Fang Hao¡¯s restaurant has launched a seafood-themed hot pot event. Those rabbits have been singing and dancing all morning. It attracted many customers, making the landlady envious. Add to that, her bar business was getting worse, she felt angry whenever she saw Fang Hao. ¡°It is still morning, and this is not the peak time for your bar.¡± Fang Hao comforted softly. ¡°Sigh! Even at night, there aren¡¯t many customers. My bar is nearing its end.¡± The landlady sighed. She looked somewhat depressed, but still used a rag to wipe her hands and poured two cups of beer for them. What could she say? The restaurant that Fang Hao ran was truly delicious and attracted most of the city¡¯s people. Besides, Fang Hao¡¯s restaurant has restored the original price of its drinks, and she has appropriately reduced her prices, but she still can¡¯t compete. What could she say? She couldn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to close his restaurant to take care of her, could she? ¡°If things don¡¯t take a turn for the better, you could consider helping me.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. This time, the innkeeper didn¡¯t argue but sat down to ponder. It seemed that the tavern was indeed having a hard time. Fang Hao didn¡¯t say anything else and turned his eyes to the announcement board on the side. There were no new maps today. But there was a new bounty. Beneath his Swords of Absolution bounty, there was a new listing. [Bounty: Escort Caravan] [Task: Escort the city¡¯s cloth merchant to Lyss City.] [Requirements: A team of 10 mercenaries.] [Reward: 200 Gold Coins.) ¡°Is this bounty offered by Tavek?¡± Fang Hao asked the innkeeper. ¡°Yes, I heard that he¡¯s planning to transport goods out of the city tomorrow, but he hasn¡¯t found a suitable escort team yet.¡± the innkeeper replied, softly. ¡°I remember Tavek being quite wealthy and having his own trade caravan, why is he hiring mercenaries now?¡± Tavek was indeed the city¡¯s cloth merchant. Fang Hao had rescued his daughter from kidnappers and thus, knew Tavek. In Fang Hao¡¯s recollection, he had his own trading caravan and did business between the various nearby cities. He wondered why Tavek was now posting bounties in the tavern. ¡°That, I¡¯m not sure. Perhaps, he has more goods this time, or perhaps there are other dangers on the road.¡± The innkeeper replied listlessly. ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao finished the beer in his hand, got up and left the tavern with Anjia. The pair headed straight to Tavek¡¯s residence. After giving notice of their visit, they quickly met with Tavek. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, Miss Anjia.¡± Tavek greeted them with a smile. ¡°Mr. Tavek.¡± The three of them sat down in the drawing room, and a servant brought over refreshments and pastries. ¡°I saw the bounty you posted at the tavern, Mr. Tavek. It mentions the need to hire a small team of 10 mercenaries.¡± Fang Hao directly cut to the chase. Tavek was slightly taken aback, having not expected Fang Hao to approach him about this matter. He nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s not just one team. Any group that can field 10 men can join. If there are more people, the bounty will increase accordingly.¡± ¡°I remember Mr. Tavek has his own trade caravan. Why do you suddenly need so many people?¡± Fang Hao asked, taking a sip from his wine cup. ¡°Ah!¡± Tavek sighed heavily, looking distressed, ¡°I ran into some troublesand lost a lot of men and goods. This time, I must transport the goods to Lyss City, so I had no choice but to hire mercenaries. I¡¯m hoping that having more people will prevent any chaos.¡± Tavek didn¡¯t spell it out, but one could more or less guess what happened. His caravan must have encountered danger, suffering heavy losses, and was unable to complete this delivery. But Tavek had to deliver the goods, which is why he posted the bounty at the tavern. However, due to the recent incident with the Fire Wolf mercenary group, the city lord had started to investigate and control the mercenaries. Many mercenary groups had left Pruell City to seek opportunities in other cities. This left Tavek unable to find a suitable team in the short term. ¡°Where is Lyss City located, do you have a map?¡± Fang Hao asked quietly. Tavek was startled but then a joyful look appeared on his face. He was well aware of Fang Hao¡¯s strength. If he could persuade Fang Hao to escort his caravan, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about its safety. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Tavek motioned for a servant to bring the map. With the map spread out, Fang Hao learned the location of Lyss City. Lyss City was to the south of Pruell City. Although it was also a border city, it was not very close. Fu Lei¡¯s fishing village was located in between the two cities. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, if you¡¯re willing to escort us, I¡¯m willing to pay you double the original fee.¡± Tavek¡¯s voice was filled with hope. Fang Hao considered this. It would be a chance to accompany Tavek to another human city. This would help him in understanding the surrounding forces, as well as aiding his development hereafter. He looked up at Tavek again, ¡°I can agree to escort your caravan, but I¡¯m afraid the compensation will need to be changed.¡± ¡°Oh? What would you like, Mr. Fang Hao?¡± ¡°Holy Snow Silk, and the young silkworms that can be cultivated.¡± Chapter 229 - Chapter 225, Repairing the Silver Necklace_l Chapter 225, Repairing the Silver Necklace_l Translator: 549690339 | Upon hearing that Fang Hao requested for Holy Snow Silk worm larvae, Tavek looked at him suspiciously. Hadn¡¯t Fang Hao given up on raising silkworms yet? Were the silkworms he had purchased from him last time not dead yet, or were they already dead, and he still persisted? But these were not what he had to consider. Fang Hao had a decent team that was more than capable of protecting his caravan safely. He was clear about this, so since the other party wanted to exchange his reward for silkworm larvae, he could accept this condition. ¡°Alright, since Mr. Fang Hao desires it, I naturally won¡¯t be stingy, let¡¯s use the Holy Snow Silk worm larvae as a reward.¡± Tavek said loudly, slapping the table heavily. The Holy Snow Silk was the best silk Tavek had, specifically sold to nobles and wealthy merchants everywhere. For others, he would only sell the finished cloth and not the silkworm larvae to avoid cultivating a competitor. But Fang Hao was different, obviously an outsider who knew nothing. Even if he passed on the entire set of procedures to him, it would be hard for him to achieve anything in a few years. The greater possibility was that once his interest waned, he would give up. Therefore, Tavek was not worried about Fang Hao at all, but the silkworm larvae were equally precious, even more valuable than gold coins. But there was no other way, he really needed help at this time. ¡°When do we set off?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Early tomorrow morning, at the gate of Pruell City.¡± ¡°Good, I will bring people over at that time, and we can set off together after gathering.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After settling on a departure time, the two sat down and started chatting casually. The Minister of Internal Affairs had recently been networking everywhere, hoping to leverage his connections and have the City Lord release his son. However, it seemed like the City Lord was determined to convict his son this time around. He was still being held in jail with no one allowed to visit him. These days, the townsfolk were all discussing this matter. They were cheering in private. Finally, this tyrant has been caught. After chatting for a while, Fang Hao and his partner left Tavek¡¯s mansion. Around three or four in the afternoon, Fang Hao and his partner returned to their territory. As they dismounted from the giant lizard, they just so happened to see Demitrija returning from patrol. Taking off his helmet, his blue lizard head was revealed. ¡°My lord,¡± Demitrija greeted respectfully. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s right, tomorrow I have a task to deal with. You and Anjia come with me, and leave Blood Hunter in charge of patrolling the territory,¡± Fang Hao remembered the task of escorting the caravan tomorrow. The effect of patrolling around the territory was actually not that great. With a garrison of five hundred thousand undead, no creature dared to approach. Even the wild beasts had moved their nests, seeking new places to live. ¡°As you command, my lord,¡± Demitrija nodded in response. ¡°Hmm.¡± Having bid farewell to Demitrija, Fang Hao returned to the lord¡¯s mansion. As soon as he reached the third floor, he saw that Eira was cleaning his room. His room was the only one Eira was allowed into, and he had her arrange things like washing and drying regularly. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back,¡± Eira stepped forward to help him remove the leather armor he was wearing. When Fang Hao went to Pruell City now, he no longer wore the heavy metal armor, but wore a piece of leather armor over his mage robe, in case of special circumstances. ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Oh, master, when I was cleaning the study, 1 saw a broken pendant. Do you want to send it to Mr. Luke for repair?¡± Eira asked softly. ¡°Luke? Oh right, the new goldsmith.¡± This name was somewhat unfamiliar, but he quickly recalled that this was the skeleton goldsmith he had recruited yesterday. Fang Hao then asked, ¡°Which pendant?¡± He didn¡¯t remember having any broken pendants. He only had one Mindful Necklace, which he retrieved this morning. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it for you to have a look,¡± Eira quickly fetched a pendant that was rusty all over and brought it over. [Silver Pendant] [Type: Necklace] (Description: A common, almost worthless pendant, but it holds all the thoughts of a father. You can sell it, or return it to Grigorya.) There was originally a small mechanism in the middle of the pendant, and with a gentle press, the outer shell would open. Revealing Grigorya¡¯s name inside. But now the shell was gone, completely becoming two separate parts. The mam body was full of rust and seriously corroded. This was something Fang Hao had found on a body in the field. At that time, he felt it was probably a task, so he kept it till now. If it weren¡¯t for Eira reminding him, he would have almost forgotten about it. ¡°Alright, let Luke take a look. Don¡¯t worry about refurbishing it¨Cjust fix the cover,¡± Fang Hao said. Looking for Grigorya might be a long shot. He¡¯d take it one step at a time; keep it after it¡¯s fixed, maybe it¡¯ll come in handy in the future. ¡°Okay,¡± Eira took it and went to look for Luke. Fang Hao changes into a comfortable outfit and steps out of the lord¡¯s mansion once more. He heads straight to the blacksmith¡¯s shop. ¡°Sir, how may I assist you?¡± Skeleton Blacksmith Kulyn takes the initiative to approach, a forging hammer in his hand. ¡°Well, nothing, you guys carry on. I¡¯m here to recruit some help. The blacksmiths are all busy now, as the big battles with Skullcrusher and Bloodthroat have yielded a lot of equipment. The blacksmiths are working overtime, repairing and selling what they can, remelting irreparable items into cast iron strips. Fang Hao¡¯s arrival isn¡¯t to assign them new work. Rather, he intends to recruit enough blacksmiths and assign them to the furnace factory in Frostwind City to replace the orcs who lack blacksmithing skills. [Blacksmith: Wriggling Spines io, Recruit?] Adjust the recruitment to 10. Recruit. [ioox Amplification Activated, Recruiting 1010 Skeleton Blacksmiths] A dazzling light flashes, revealing over a thousand blacksmiths. They all turn to look at Fang Hao. ¡°Greetings, my lord.¡± All pay their respects to Fang Hao. ¡°Hmm, welcome everyone. This time, I¡¯ll assign you to work in the factories in Frostwind City,¡± Fang Hao says loudly. ¡°As you command, my lord.¡± Fang Hao calls for Anjia and arranges for the Skeleton Blacksmiths to ride on the Bone Dragon. ¡°Hand them over to Clair, that shaman will do.¡± Fang Hao instructs Anjia. Due to the Hamilton family issuing a missing person¡¯s notice, Fang Hao has been wary of letting the Blood Hunter appear in public. So, he delegates the tasks to other heroes. This time is no different, as he gives the job of leading the group to Frostwind City to Anjia. ¡°Got it, leave it to me.¡± Anjia thumps her chest to assure him. ¡°Um, okay, be careful on the road. Come straight back after the job is done. Don¡¯t go wandering off.¡± ¡°Alright, are we done now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Anjia pats the Bone Dragon¡¯s back and takes off into the sky with over ten more Bone Dragons, heading towards Frostwind Mountain. By dusk, Anjia returns, having passed the Skeleton Blacksmiths onto Clair. The next day, early morning. Fang Hao, Anjia and Demitrija arrive outside Pruell City. Tavek¡¯s trade convoy has already tied down its goods, the caravan looking like a long dragon, making its final adjustments. Besides Fang Hao, Tavek¡¯s own men, and a few mercenary squads are there. ¡°Mr Fang Hao.¡± Tavek goes up to meet them, his gaze lingering a bit on Demitrija. A Lizardman¡­. Not just Tavek, but everyone present looks at them, their gaze on Demitrija. ¡°Mr. Tavek, this is my guard, Demitrija.¡± Fang Hao specifically introduces him. ¡°Oh, Mr. Demitrija, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Mr. Tavek.¡± The two men exchange greetings. Tavek continues to look at Fang Hao, then around curiously, asking, ¡°Mr Fang Hao, where are your soldiers? It¡¯s getting late. We should prepare for departure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged it, they will join us en route,¡± says Fang Hao. ¡°Ah?¡± Tavek is somewhat confusedby Fang Hao¡¯s words. He arranged for people not coming from his territory, but joining en route? Thump, thump, thump! Just as Tavek is about to inquire further, a rustling sound of armor rubbing comes from behind. A human swordsman and his three companions approach. The leading man is in his 40s, robust with a thick beard. ¡°Mr. Tavek, who are these people?¡± The man¡¯s voice is deep. ¡°Captain Godwin, this is Fang Hao and his guards. They are going with us this time as guards for the trade convoy,¡± Tavek introduces. Godwin scans the three with an unhappy face, pausing for a few seconds on Demitrija. Sternly, he says, ¡°Mr. Tavek, I think there¡¯s no need for these individuals. The Iron Blood Mercenary Group is more than capable of ensuring the safety of your convoy.¡± ¡°The more the merrier,¡± insists Tavek. Godwin glances at the three again, then tells Tavek, ¡°Mr. Tavek, perhaps there¡¯s a need for us to have a serious discussion.¡± With that, he pulls Tavek aside and they start speaking in low voices. ¡°This Godwin seems to be not so friendly towards us,¡± says Anjia, hands on her hips. She is already planning to teach the other party a lesson. ¡°More than unfriendly, there¡¯s somethingfishy about him,¡± Fang Hao remarks, then, he makes arrangements in the Book of Lords, asking Fu Lei to arrange some more people, to wait for them en route. Chapter 230 - Chapter 226: Black Swallowing Black 1 Chapter 226: Black Swallowing Black 1 Translator: 549690339 The attitude of the other party aroused doubt in Fang Hao¡¯s heart. When the mercenaries accepted the mission, they earned money for providing escort services. In other words, the fees they should receive had been agreed upon with Tavek tn advance. Whether his own group joined or not, it would not have any impact on them. The rejection they are now displaying is rather strange. In no time, Tavek, while informing the troops to set off immediately, came over. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, the journey is long, so we should set out now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± It seems that Tavek was not swayed by the other parties1 words and insisted that Fang Hao and his two companions stay. The convoy started moving. Like a long dragon, the mercenaries and Tavek¡¯s guards surrounded the goods at the center and progressed southward along the main road. Demitrija was riding a giant lizard, while Fang Hao spread a thick fur blanket on the back of his goods shelf, lying on it and checking the regional channel. Although he didn¡¯t talk much in the group, he enjoyed watching everyone else chat. It felt as if they were living in a modern society, carefreely chatting away randomness. After about two hours of travel, they passed by Fu Lei¡¯s city. 50 heavy sword infantry joined the procession. They were allocated to carriages and were on guard duty. In the Iron-Blood Mercenary Group¡­ A mercenary spurred his horse, catching up with their leader Godwin in front. After checking his surroundings, he spoke in a low voice, ¡°The number of troops increased by 50 all at once, and one of our members recognized the man. He is the one who saved Tavek¡¯s daughter. The profitable shop in the city was opened by him too.¡± Godwin looked back at the giant lizard and continued, ¡°Do you know anything about the background of the female orc and the lizardman?¡± ¡°Not really clear, only know that the female orc is the human¡¯s bodyguard, and it¡¯s the first time we encountered the lizardman.¡± The mercenary paused before continuing, ¡°Boss, all 50 of those people are very well-equipped. I¡¯m afraid there would be casualties if we fight them.¡± Shut up!¡± Godwin scolded him quietly, glancing warily around him, ¡°I have a plan. Once we¡¯ve established our campsite tonight, inform Gray Bear about this. We¡¯ve agreed on a 70-30 split, and we¡¯re taking Tavek¡¯s head.¡± When the 50 well-armed heavy swords infantry joined, Godwin¡¯s heart also tightened. He had initially thought his plan was exposed, and these people were here to counter him. Seeing that they began to escort the convoy later, he realized he had nothing to worry about, but the addition of these people forced him to change his original plan. ¡°Alright, boss.¡± The mercenary nodded, slowed his horse, and returned to his guarding position. The caravan headed south. The soldiers took a quick bite on their way during lunch. Night fell, and the guards and mercenaries began to camp. They had to spend the night here, praying that no nearby beasts would wander over. Even if they did, they hoped the beasts had already had their fill, and not come over while famished. After setting up a simple defense, the tents began to be raised. The caravan provided food, but they could also eat their own food. A pot was set up, and Fang Hao tossed the hot pot base into it. Soon, the aroma filled the air. He didn¡¯t add many seasonings, only those gathered around him could smell it. They didn¡¯t have to worry about the smell attracting nearby beasts. At this point, Anjia walked over. She sat down next to him, and said in a low voice, ¡°You guessed right. Someone from the Iron-Blood Mercenary Group has left the camp and headed east. He didn¡¯t ride a horse. I can set off now and bring him back.¡± Hearing Anjia¡¯s words, the hand Fang Hao used to place the meat into the pot paused for a moment. His guess turned out to be right. The mercenary group did have a special purpose. ¡°Anjia, put the meat into the pot first. Also, don¡¯t let outsiders approach the tent.¡± Fang Hao gave an instruction before diving directly into a nearby tent. He opened his backpack and pulled out a skeleton bird about the size of a palm. [Skeleton Sparrow (Tier 1)]. This was a bird species converted by the territory. It looked somewhat like a sparrow on Earth but now it has been transformed into a skeleton. Opening a crack in the tent, he placed the Skeleton Sparrow outside. God¡¯s Presence was then used directly. [God s Presence target, the Skeleton Sparrow, Compatibility 98%]. The compatibility with this combatless converted species was really high, directly scoring 98%. The next moment, soul fire emerged from the Skeleton Sparrow¡¯s eyes. It flapped its wings and flew in the direction where the mercenary had left. About twenty minutes away to the east of the campsite. This was a dense forest with a camp enclosed by a wooden fence. The Skeleton Sparrow kept a distance while following the mercenary all the way to this camp. As soon as the mercenary approached, he was noticed by the guard post. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°lam from the Iron-Blood Mercenary Group. Our leader sent me over to discuss a collaboration with Boss Gray Bear.¡± The mercenary hurriedly explained his purpose for coming. He was afraid that he would be shot with an arrow if the person above didn¡¯t recognize him due to the darkness. From the Iron-Blood Mercenary Group? Just wait there.¡± The guard post informed him, asking a companion to watch over him and turned around to find his own boss. Before long, a woman in brown armor climbed onto the wall but didn¡¯t order to open the camp gate. ¡°lam Gray Bear. Speak your business here.¡± The woman said loudly. ¡°Boss Gray Bear, our leader informed me that he is escorting a fat lamb and passing by here. If you¡¯re interested, we can do a 70-30 split.¡± The mercenary said loudly. A 70-30 split, with him putting the 7 first, it meant that his side would take 70%. Heh! Softie Godwin has a good heart? He must have bumped into a tough nut to crack.¡± Gray Bear sneered. Yes, originally, our leader planned to swallow everything. But a group of 50 people suddenly joined midway. Our leader doesn¡¯t want to have casualties, which is why he asked for Boss Gray Bear¡¯s help.¡± The mercenary still kept his voice high as he continued speaking. ¡°And then you will push the responsibility to us at Gray Bear, with your Iron- Blood Mercenary Group having an excuse to wash your hands of it.¡± For a mercenary group to rob its employers, it¡¯s a grave matter. Without even considering others¡¯ retaliation, if word got out, the Iron-Blood Mercenary Group would be doomed. By teaming up with a bandit stronghold, they could push the blame onto the stronghold, and they would just need to lay low for a few months. That could indeed allow them to shirk their responsibility. ¡°Boss Gray Bear, the merchant Tavek has brought a lot of silk. If you ¡®re interested, I can return and complete my task.¡± The mercenary spoke directly. Hearing about the silk, Gray Bear appeared to be somewhat moved. Silk was known as ¡®soft gold¡¯, it was very valuable. Eventually, Gray Bear was convinced. She said, ¡°Alright, I accept this mission. Maybe in the future we can partner more often on such endeavors, and everyone can make some profits.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss Gray Bear thinks just like our leader.¡± ¡°Good, when I gather my manpower, I will follow you to wipe out the caravan.¡± The camp gate opened, and the mercenary entered the fortress, waiting for them to assemble their forces. Fang Hao ceased God¡¯s Presence. He walked out of the tent, and said solemnly, ¡°Demitrija, Anjia, prepare yourselves. Take everyone and wipe out the Iron-Blood Mercenary Group completely, leave no one behind.¡± Chapter 232 - Chapter 228, City Lords Wife_l Chapter 228, City Lord¡¯s Wife_l Translator: 549690339 Suddenly, a dense fog spread out from both sides of the dense forest. Just as Gray Bear and the others were frowning in thought, the fog had already covered the team. The thickets within the forest webbed, their canopy covering the sky. The darkness of the night coupled with the fog greatly limited the bandits¡¯ field of vision, allowing them to see only about a meter ahead. ¡°Boss, this doesn¡¯t look good,¡± one of the bandits whispered. Gray Bear was well aware of this, and roughly grabbed the mercenary that was leading the way, growling, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The mercenary slightly stumbled from being pulled by Gray Bear, touched the helm on her head and said, ¡°Boss Gray Bear, perhaps it¡¯s just a regular fog; our Ironblood Mercenary Group does not harbor any other thoughts.¡± She was completely clueless about what had occurred too. In her opinion, mist forming amid the woods was a pretty normal occurrence. However, just as she finished speaking, From both sides of the team, there came a ¡®rustle¡¯ sound. It seemed as though something had rushed out from the woods. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°We¡¯re under attack.¡± Successions of screams echoed from all around the team. These were swiftly followed by the sounds of a skirmish, and the shrieks of the bandits. The color drained from Gray Bear¡¯s face; she realized they¡¯d been ambushed. ¡°Followme,¡± she said. Upon saying this, she moved towards the location from which the sounds of combat were coming. But she had only taken a few steps forward when cries from her own people sounded out from behind her. Her team had been entirely surrounded and was under a siege attack. ¡°Everyone, gather around me, quick!¡± Gray Bear roared. Hearing her command, her people began converging towards her from every direction. In the meantime, people like Demitrija and Anjia also managed to pinpoint the exact location of this team¡¯s leader. The result of the mist magic deployed simultaneously by Demitrija and Fang Hao was much greater than they anticipated inside the windless woods. Demitrija¡¯s ¡°Misty Sky¡± released a fog that obstructed vision, while also providing magic resistance and 25% physical recovery to allies within the fog. And Fang Hao¡¯s ¡°Mist Wrap¡± casted on the enemies directly reduced their morale by 15%. The combination of these spells sent the bandits into complete disarray in an instant. Upon enveloping the entire battlefield with their fog, Demitrija led a team of nearly a hundred people straight through the dense shrubbery towards the bandits on the fringe. Without making a sound, they were like phantoms of the forest, charging like a spear toward their enemy. The bandits raised loud prayers and calls for assistance. However, cloaked by the fog, their comrades were too terrified to run after hearing the screams. Only after hearing Gray Bear¡¯s voice did they finally gather direction and began converging on Gray Bear. The surrounding battle cries steadily intensified. Demitrija shook off the fresh blood from her longsword and gazed frostily, through icy vertical pupils, at Gray Bear¡¯s position within the fog. ¡°All clear here,¡± Anjia, leading her group from another side, joined Demitrija. They had, in the shortest amount of time, eradicated the bandits around the edges, cutting down the bandits¡¯ numbers significantly. ¡°Alright, get ready for the final battle,¡± Demitrija softly said. Everyone hurriedly sorted their equipment and tightly gripped their weapons. ¡°Charge!¡± Demitrija raised her longsword and led the charge into the depth of the fog, towards where Gray Bear and her people had gathered. ¡°Charge! Charge!¡± The team closely followed her, roaring in fury. The two groups eventually collided harshly within the fog, opening up their battle. Gray Bear used her shield for defense while swinging her battle-ax with the other hand. Now that she at least knew who her enemies were, she was still disadvantaged. As the fight raged on, Gray Bear¡¯s manpower steadily decreased; scarcely more than twenty were left, still bitterly struggling. Meanwhile, the tall lizardman on the opposing side cut down their comrades¡¯ lives with her sword like the grim reaper. If things continued this way, everyone was in danger of dying here. ¡°Boss, we can¡¯t hold out anymore,¡± someone said. With a serious look on her face, Gray Bear realised the extraordinary strength of the lizardman. If this keeps up, they could all die here. He gritted his teeth, shoved aside the enemies before him, and yelled: ¡°Raise the whip¡­¡± ¡°Raise the whip¡­¡± The surrounding bandits echoed. Immediately after, all the bandits turned and ran, some even dropping their weapons, running towards the distance. They scattered in all directions, fleeing to different places. Demitrija and the others killed a few of the bandits who were forcefully kept behind, but they could only watch as the rest escaped into the distance. ¡°Don¡¯t chase. Clean up the battlefield, and we¡¯ll get on our way in a bit.¡± Tavek said from the back of the party. These bandits were quite hard to get rid of. They understood the nearby terrain better than anyone, and once the battle turned against them, they would scatter in all directions. ¡°Listen to Mr. Tellock, clean the battlefield, everyone else set up a fire for cooking. We all rest along the way.¡± Fang Hao said loudly. By now, the sky was starting to brighten. All of them, exhausted, started to get moving. Some cleaned up the battlefield while others began to make a fire for cooking. As the sun rose, the party set out once more. Last night¡¯s battle had left all the soldiers utterly exhausted, but it wasn¡¯t time for rest yet. At the edge of the forest, those bandits who had escaped were still peering from afar. Observing the movements of this party. Thankfully, the Ironblood mercenaries had died, their horses distributed to the others, allowing everyone to rest on horseback, even managing to catch a quick nap. In the carriage. Fang Hao was panting heavily. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, without you, I can¡¯t even imagine what would have happened to the convoy.¡± Tavek said. Even though the incident had passed, he still felt somewhat shocked. Reflecting on the subtle actions of the Ironblood Mercenaries, everything made sense now. He underestimated their greed; for money, they would sell out their own employer. ¡°As of now, I am also the convoy¡¯s guard, it¡¯s what I should do.¡± Fang Hao responded. ¡°No, it¡¯s not the same, you saved all our lives.¡± Tavek spoke again. ¡°No worries, we¡¯re friends, we should help each other!¡± Fang Hao leaned lazily against his chair, ¡°By the way, how long until we arrive at our destination? If we continue pushing this hard, the soldiers won¡¯t be able to keep up if there¡¯s more danger.¡± ¡°Soon, the party can¡¯t stop, we will arrive at Lyss City before dusk. If we stop we¡¯ll have to spend another night in the wilderness.¡± Tavek replied. No wonder Tavek was in such a hurry. Aside from fear of the Gray Bear staging another attack, they also had to get into Lyss City before dusk. Otherwise, they¡¯d have to spend the night outside the city, which would be even more dangerous. ¡°Alright.¡± The two men chatted a bit in the carriage, then leaned back in their chairs, closing their eyes. At dusk. The party finally arrived at Lyss City. The towering Arrow Towers, the endless city walls, all of these demonstrated that this place was even busier than Pruell City. When the group of merchants, their guards covered in blood, pulled up with their goods, it drew the attention of the city guards. Tavek had to get out of the carriage and explain the situation for a long time, he also showed various credentials before they allowed the caravan into the city. Everyone was allocated a room and guards were positioned. Fang Hao, exhausted, lay on the bed and immediately fell asleep. Two hours later, a servant woke Fang Hao again. Tavek changed him into a set of noble clothes and led him to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. At night. When the two of them arrived at the mansion, the gorgeously decorated hall was already filled with many people. Like Tavek, they were all dressed appropriately and acted politely. They greeted each other with smiles, but secretly spat and cursed when they passed by each other. ¡°The City Lord¡¯s wife has arrived.¡± At this moment, the attendant¡¯s high- pitched voice echoed in the hall. With this shout, the hall instantly quieted down. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the staircase on the second floor. Fang Hao, yawning, glanced around the room. What the hell? Aren¡¯t we supposed to be having dinner? Isn¡¯t this a banquet? Chapter 233 - Chapter 229, Bone Textile Store (4000 words chapter.)_l Chapter 229, Bone Textile Store (4000 words chapter.)_l Translator: 549690339 | From the staircase on the second floor, a voluptuous woman in her 30s emerged, gracefully maintaining her appearance despite her age. Her burgundy-colored long hair fell in loose waves on both sides of her carefully dressed in a red gown, wrapped around tightly, accentuating her feminine curves. She walked down the stairs, her face adorned with a slight smile. ¡°The City Lord of Lyss City must be unwell,¡± Fang Hao thought, ruminating on the appearance of the slowly descending City Lord¡¯s wife, concluding with a sense of certainty. But that didn¡¯t seem right. With potions available to improve physical health and Lyss City being large, acquiring some should not be a problem to maintain her health. In that case, the City Lord seems to be enjoying a life of luxury. ¡°Has everyone arrived?¡± asked the City Lord¡¯s wife. She scanned the crowd, her gaze ultimately settling on Fang Hao in the corner. All of them had their heads bowed, except for him who was staring straight at her. Feeling slightly embarrassed at being caught, Fang Hao smiled awkwardly and pretended to be interested in the hall¡¯s decor. ¡°Ma¡¯am, everyone has arrived,¡± a servant gently replied. ¡°Mmhm.¡± The City Lord¡¯s wife advanced to the front of the hall, gracefully ascending the platform. She addressed the crowd, ¡°Before the winter arrives, I will be representing Lyss at the Federal Conference. You are all renowned cloth merchants in the city. I hope you will present satisfactory designs. Similarly, the selected merchant will be exempt from city taxes for a year.¡± As soon as the City Lord¡¯s wife finished speaking, all the cloth merchants in attendance exhibited eager expressions. Whether it was presenting designs that pleased the City Lord¡¯s wife or obtaining a year¡¯s worth of tax exemption, both were important for businesspeople in the city. If the City Lord¡¯s wife wore their dress at the conference, it would be an intangible endorsement. Business would be without a hitch for several years. More interestingly, their boutique could become famous in other cities, expanding the business further. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin. I¡¯m sure none of us want to linger till midnight.¡± The City¡¯s Lord wife stated. ¡°To start, the first merchant: ¡®Weston Bruce¡¯.¡± announced the servant. A chubby man stepped forward with a smile, presenting his design draft along with a prepared clothing model. ¡°Lady Rebecca, this is our latest design: ¡®Rose Knight¡¯. The material we used ¡± He rattled on enthusiastically about everything from raw materials to his design philosophy. He spun a tale that gave meaning to the dress, primarily in shades of red. Then came the second shop. A somewhat effeminate man approached, swaying his hips as he walked. If it hadn¡¯t been for his mustache, Fang Hao would have assumed he was cross-dressing. After the effeminate man had finished showcasing his design, the City¡¯s Lord¡¯s wife nodded her acknowledgement, seemingly somewhat impressed. Then came the third and fourth, each presenting their designs one after the other. ¡°Choosing a dress requires such a fanfare?¡± Fang Hao asked quietly, his hand on his stomach. They were staging a commercial bid all for selecting a dress. This group really does not have much to do, he concluded. ¡°All the cloth merchants prepare for this every year. If selected, their business could double in the next few years,¡± Tavek whispered in explanation. Choosing the dress has become a tradition among cloth merchants. Even if they were not selected this time, they would immediately start preparing for the coming year, hoping to seize back what they lost. This became a focal point of comparison among cloth merchants. Their sales no longer mattered; gaining Lady Rebecca¡¯s approval became the industry¡¯s goal. Once Lady Rebecca made her choice for the year, ladies officers from every noble circle would flock to the selected shop. Business would boom. ¡°Have you ever been chosen?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m still trying, still trying¡­,¡± Tavek said, wiping his sweat. ¡°What about this year? We risked our lives to get here and you hold the village¡¯s hopes.¡± Tavek¡¯s face grew even sweatier, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Seeing the state Tavek was in, Fang Hao understood it was a fraught outlook. After observing the first few designs, Tavek seemed to have lost confidence. It seemed like this year, too, was about only participation. Soon, it was Tavek¡¯s turn. He presented his design with his companion by his side, showcasing his proposed dress for the City Lord¡¯s wife. The combination of brown and blue colors, a fitted waist, and puffy skirt seemed pretty appealing. However, all the designs were rather similar, with only minor modifications made in colors, embroidery, and frills. There wasn¡¯t any breakthrough approach. Even after Tavek had respectfully presented his offering and returned, the City Lord¡¯s wife remained expressionless and continued observing the next merchant¡¯s introduction. ¡°How did it go?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°We shall strive harder next year,¡± Tavek sighed heavily. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°Can you make a design sketch?¡± What he referred to was the draft in the merchant¡¯s hand, outlining a figure¡¯s shape and clothing outline on paper. ¡°Yes, I can.¡± ¡°Then make one for me. I want to participate with my store,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°You have a store?¡± ¡°Just established. It¡¯s called Bone Textile Store. Quick, make one according to my description¡± The two huddled together, and Tavek opened his toolkit, starting to create a design as per Fang Hao¡¯s instructions. Time ticked by. Rebecca, the City Lord¡¯s wife, sitting on the stone platform, felt disheartened as she surveyed the merchants below. These were the most renowned cloth merchants in the city and its surrounding areas, yet none had presented a design that satisfied her. Chapter 234 - Chapter 229, Bone Textile Store (4000 words chapter.)_2 Chapter 229, Bone Textile Store (4000 words chapter.)_2 Translator: 549690339 She needed to represent Lyss City at the council, a time when city developments and power struggles were most prominent. Though the clothing one wears might seem trivial, it truly reflects the development status of a city. In any occasion, first impressions are incredibly important. However, the designs submitted this year were no different from previous ones. Stacks of valuable fabrics were manipulated to tell glamorous stories filled with profound meanings. Every year was the same, and though she had grown accustomed to it, a sense of disappointment still nestled in her heart. just as Rebecca was about to settle on a passable design, she noticed two people whispering among the crowd. It was the young man who had been looking directly at her earlier. As everyone raised their heads to watch the stage introduction, he was still engrossed with his head buried in his work. What was he studying? Why did he always stand out from the crowd? After the last cloth merchant finished his presentation, he stepped down. All eyes were on the City Lord¡¯s wife, waiting for her to select the fabric store that would be chosen for the day. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, the City Lord¡¯s wife pointed at the young man and asked, ¡°You¡¯re also a textile merchant? Do you have any work to show? Everyone followed her gaze to see Fang Hao just raising his head. Fang Hao coughed lightly, striking a pose and speaking in a pinched voice, ¡°City Lord¡¯s wife, I am a cloth merchant, and I have brought my work for today.¡± Originally, he intended to introduce his work normally. But after seeing the City Lord¡¯s wife unconsciously nodding at two effeminate men¡¯s presentations, Fang Hao decided to sacrifice his dignity for the sake of his art. Only then did he display this behavior. ¡°Since you¡¯re also a merchant, come up and discuss your work. You wouldn¡¯t want to leave just like that, would you?¡± Rebecca asked. ¡°Yes, City Lord¡¯s wife.¡± Holding his design sketch, Fang Hao trotted onto the stage, swaying his hips dramatically. His exaggerated movements were hard for anyone to ignore. Only Fang Hao himself seemed to become more and more engrossed, his pointed finger waving gently. Fang Hao stepped onto the stone platform and presented his design sketch. The sketch was designed in a four-grid layout. The page was divided vertically into two halves ¨C the left side showcasing the overall clothing design and the right side split evenly into three smaller sections. The first section featured jewelry such as necklaces and earrings. The second section displayed belts and decorations. The third section showcased stockings and high heels. When he unfolded the sketch for all to see, Rebecca¡¯s eyebrows perked up. She had finally seen something different from previous designs. ¡°Ahem! Clothing is never a standalone item, it¡¯s like someone¡¯s face. Even if they have nice features, if you pair them with an odd mustache, it will look strange,¡± Fang Hao explained. There came a cold sneer from the audience. However, most people looked down, smirking to themselves. ¡°So, I opted for an overall coordination, from the formal dress to the jewellery, even down to the socks and shoes ¨C everything was matched to highlight a third of City Lord¡¯s wife Rebecca¡¯s beauty,¡± Fang Hao elaborately spoke. The dress in his design sketch was unlike others¡¯. It didn¡¯t have a vast base sweeping the floor. in design, it was bold and daring: a blue off-shoulder figure-hugging gown. The hem was asymmetrical, further highlighting a woman¡¯s long legs and the layered design concept. Looking from the front, it was a miniskirt that barely reached the thigh, revealing the whole thigh. At the back, however, it featured irregularly stitched patterning on the train, trailing down to the floor. This¡­ The whole room fell silent. Everyone stared, wide-eyed, at the design introduced by the unfamiliar man on stage. It wasn¡¯t about whether it looked good or not anymore. You wanted the City Lord¡¯s wife to wear such a short skirt, shorter than the ones worn by the women surviving on their looks in taverns. What did this imply? ¡°Bring that copper mirror over here,¡± Fang Hao told one of the servants at his side. The servant, practically motionless, glanced at the City Lord¡¯s wife. Seeing her nod slightly, he brought over the copper mirror from the corner. ¡°City Lord¡¯s wife Rebecca, please stand in front of the mirror,¡± said Fang Hao. Rebecca was somewhat tempted. After all, this was the most innovative and daring design she had seen. Under Fang Hao¡¯s hypnotic words, she found herself unconsciously standing up and making her way to the mirror. Fang Hao flashed a small smile and set the design sketch aside so that Rebecca could see both her reflection in the mirror and the design in his hand. He pointed and explained, ¡°The neckline features a strapless off-shoulder ? design that highlights your attractive collarbones and your lovely neckline. He moved the design sketch to her waist, ¡°The waistline cinches in, fully showcasing your beautiful figure.¡± He then placed it at her legs, ¡°And the hem of this dress, Lady, it perfectly outlines your sexy curves. I have been in the dress design industry for many years, and I have yet to see legs as stunning as yours.¡± His explicit compliments caused Rebecca to feel a little flushed. This young man was good with words, and in front of so many people, he had praised her from head to toe. After taking a deep breath, Rebecca returned to her seat and began to contemplate. These years, there hadn¡¯t been any breakthroughs in gown design, and even if they were given another two years, probably they would still present the same styles. Looking around at everyone, her gaze finally landed back on Fang Hao, ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°Fang Hao, City Lord¡¯s wife,¡± Fang Hao responded with a squeeze in his throat. ¡°You¡¯re a cloth merchant too? What¡¯s your store called? ¡°Bone Textile Store.¡± Everyone froze. What a name! It didn¡¯t sound like a place that dealt with the living. ¡°Very well. This year, we shall go with the Bone Textile Store as the design, but the length of the skirt needs to be adjusted,¡± said Rebecca. Chapter 235 - Chapter 229, Bone Textile Store (4000 words chapter.)_3 Chapter 229, Bone Textile Store (4000 words chapter.)_3 Translator: 549690339 | The faces of all the cloth merchants below the stage turned helpless, as they actually lost to a youngster who suddenly popped up. They had nothing to say about their loss. The opponent¡¯s design indeed had some flaws, however, they could all be modified. Overall, it was more innovative and daring than theirs. Even though they lost this time, it was okay, as they had learnt new layout methods and bold skirt designs from the competitor. They would use these next year, and then, these would become theirs. ¡°Alright, Mrs. Rebecca, we can decide on some details later,¡± said Fang Hao. Rebecca nodded slightly and said, ¡°Okay, the people from the Bone Textile Store should stay back. Others can return for now. Your businesses in the city can continue operating as usual, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Rebecca,¡± replied the rest of the people, bowing before they left the hall. Even Tavek, left the hall, waving his hand to signal Fang Hao at the door. Meaning he would wait at the door. The hall was left with only Fang Hao, Rebecca, and some female servants. ¡°How long have been running your fabric store?¡± asked Rebecca. ¡°It¡¯s a century-old store, passed down undyingly,¡± Fang Hao replied softly, his throat felt somewhat uncomfortable. ¡°Where do you live? I haven¡¯t heard of it before?¡± Rebecca continued to ask, showing some interest in the young man in front of her. He didn¡¯t have the courtesy of a businessman and was quite unfamiliar with the rules here. ¡°I live to the north of Pruell City. It¡¯s my first time visiting Lyss City with Tavek¡¯s cloth merchant,¡± Fang Hao replied truthfully. Rebecca nodded, and she continued to say, ¡°I am very satisfied with the clothing design, as for the remaining jewelry and that pair of white stockings, would you need me to contact the jewelry merchant for their fabrication?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s proposal was a full-package offer, from head to toe. If the clothing was fixed, what about the others? Time waits for no one. ¡°No, I will complete those. All Mrs. Rebecca has to do is provide me with the detailed body data. I will provide the jewelry and stockings as well,¡± Fang Hao single-handedly took all the tasks upon himself. This surprised Rebecca even more, she stressed, ¡°Are you sure you can complete all of these on your own?¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t joke about it here.¡± ¡°Well, then come tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll give you the data then. I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me,¡± Rebecca solemnly said. Fang Hao smiled and nodded, watching Rebecca go upstairs. He left the City Lord¡¯s house. Tavek was still waiting at the door. ¡°So? How did it go?¡± Tavek anxiously asked. ¡°It¡¯s settled. I¡¯ll come get the measurements tomorrow,¡± said Fang Hao, walking out and speaking at the same time. ¡°You really did succeed. My goodness.¡± Both of them got into the carriage and headed to their accomodations. On the way, Tavek kept mumbling about some details in the design. The next day, in the morning. After lunch, Fang Hao went to the City Lord¡¯s house again. After he stated his purpose, a maid led him straight up to the second floor. The maid knocked lightly on the door and said, ¡°Mrs, Mr Fang Hao is here.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Sir, please.¡± The maid opened the door, indicating for Fang Hao to step in. Walking into the room, the golden rays of wheat filled the room through the window. In the middle of the room, on a grayish-blue sofa, lay a completely naked Rebecca. A blue blanket concealed the significant parts of her body. By the side of the sofa, there was a partially completed oil painting with paint that hadn¡¯t dried yet. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s stunned look, Rebecca¡¯s eyebrows tightened instantly. ¡°Ahem! Mrs. Rebecca, such habits could easily lead to wrinkles. You have to ensure regular rest if you want to maintain the youthfulness of your skin,¡± said Fang Hao as he coughed and walked into the room. Rebecca¡¯s eyebrows relaxed again. She stretched lazily on the sofa. Chapter 236 - Chapter 230, Faint Bloodedl Chapter 230, Faint Bloodedl Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao walked into the room and sat down on a chair at the side. He sat upright, hands folded together and resting on his thighs. He was playing a somewhat gentle role, while openly gazing at the prosperous body in front of him, with skin as fair as a young girl¡¯s. ¡°You have researched skincare?¡± Rebecca turned around, her long hair falling and revealing sharp ears. A flicker of interest sparked in Fang Hao¡¯s mind. An elf? An elf being a ruler in a human city was beyond Fang Hao¡¯s expectations. But all these didn¡¯t matter to him much, as he was merely a passing cloth merchant. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯ve researched it. Skincare is necessary, though, maintaining sufficient moisture in the skin is essential, and normal rest hours are most critical,¡± Fang Hao recalled a facemask commercial he once saw on TV. ¡°Hehe, it seems you know quite a lot,¡± Rebecca said with a faint smile. ¡°Just some random, useless knowledge,¡± Fang Hao responded with a slight smile, ¡°Madam, regarding the measurements¡­¡±. Rebecca stood up, casually wrapping a blue blanket around her body. ¡°After considering it last night, I think it¡¯s best for you to do the measurements, as this gown is very different from the usual types.¡± Rebecca highly valued the gown. The chosen cloth shop would receive a year of tax exemption in the city, aimed at encouraging the continual innovation of these shops. Designing an outstanding gown was the ultimate goal. However, no satisfactory work had been produced in the past few years. Fang Hao was the first one to break the fixed concept of gowns. ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao got up and took out his measuring tools. These tools were borrowed from Tavek, initially intended to make himself look more professional. He didn¡¯t expect that Rebecca would need him to measure personally. He took out a tape measure, moved it close to the front of Rebecca¡¯s body. The blue blanket was just wrapped under her armpits, seemingly tied over her prominent twin peaks, revealing clear crevices. ¡°Madam, please raise your arms,¡± Fang Hao spoke softly. Rebecca raised her arms, and Fang Hao wrapped the tape measure around her chest, gently applying pressure to create a round indentation. Fang Hao turned around and recorded each measurement onto the side piece of paper. Two contrasting attributes filled Rebecca; the status of the City Lord¡¯s wife and her aloof expression gave an impression of dignity and elegance, even somewhat cold. However, her figure and appearance conveyed splendor and maturity. Once Fang Hao had recorded all the measurements, Rebecca sat back in her position. ¡°When can I see the template?¡± Rebecca asked. Creating the outfit required several steps. And a few fitting sessions were needed. ¡°I will try to have a fitting for you within a week, but the distance is quite far, so it might take up to two weeks,¡± Fang Hao calculated the time in his mind and replied. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Rebecca continued, ¡°Have you thought about opening a shop in the city? With your ideas, perhaps you might be welcomed in the nobility circle.¡± ¡°lam considering it, but as I just came to Lyss City and am unfamiliar with some rules and procedures, it may take some time to open a shop.¡± Lyss City is not like Pruell City, which has only one commercial street. No market research needed; simply opening a shop on this street is the best location. However, Lyss City is many times larger than Pruell City, with a larger population, consisting of commoners and nobles. Wanting to open a shop indeed requires thorough consideration. Of course, opening a shop is a must, whether it¡¯s a hot pot restaurant or a cloth shop. It just needs careful planning. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this. As long as you can complete the gown according to the design, I can help you with the shop matters, and the reward is still valid- ¨C a year of tax exemption,¡± Rebecca said with a smile. As the City Lord¡¯s wife, she could certainly make this decision. Supporting one shop in such a massive city was no big deal; in fact, it could hardly be counted as a small task. ¡°Thankyou, Mrs. Rebecca,¡± Fang Hao expressed his gratitude. The two continued talking, making some modifications to the details of the gown. Only when Fang Hao left did Rebecca lean back onto the sofa, drifting off to sleep. Stepping out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao cleared his throat. Anjia, waiting outside the gate, saw Fang Hao coming out and rushed over. ¡°If you didn¡¯t come out, I was about to break in.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. We were just discussing normal matters,¡± the two walked out. Fang Hao finally didn¡¯t have to keep his voice down anymore. ¡°Tavek said he would return to Pruell early tomorrow morning, and advised you to settle all matters today,¡± Anjia, who was following behind, said. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Where do we go now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s visit the local tavern,¡± Fang Hao suggested. Lyss City was bustling, with carriages moving side by side in the center of the roads and numerous shops on either side, now beginning to conduct their business as usual. Not to mention, some empty areas on both sides of the road were also filled with many vendors, some displaying their goods on quilts and others hawking their wares loudly. Fang Hao and his companion stopped in front of a tavern on the street. They pushed the door open and walked in. At this time, the shop was already filled with quite a few drinkers who were sipping their drinks and chatting idly. Fang Hao sat down at the counter, his gaze directly falling onto the notice board at the side. It was densely filled with several bounties, but there wasn¡¯t a single adventure-type map. As for the contents of the bounties, most were petty affairs within the city. ¡°What can I get you?¡± the tavern owner asked. ¡°Beer, please. Does your shop have any specialties? Bring us two side dishes,¡± said Fang Hao. They were going to solve the issue of their lunch right here. ¡°For both of you, our steamed chicken and meatballs are really popular. If you¡¯d like to take something with you, I¡¯d recommend our smoked ham- guaranteed to be to your satisfaction,¡± the tavern owner estimated their appetites and suggested. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll have the steamed chicken and meatballs, and please prepare a serving of the smoked ham for us to take away,¡± replied Fang Hao The decision was made as they were setting off early in the morning, and some smoked ham would make a nice snack on the road. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll prepare them right away,¡± the owner¡¯s face was full of smiles. Before long, the beer and meatballs were served, and only the steamed chicken was still being prepared in the kitchen. ¡°Boss,¡± Fang Hao whispered. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± The boss approached him, smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any single-page maps here? I mean locations that some trade caravans discover on the way,¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Usually yes, but recently a lot of merchants have been coming around, so Mistress Rebecca ordered the removal of some dangers along the way and the maps were taken down.¡± They didn¡¯t do a good job cleaning up ¨C on the way, we were threatened by the Gray Bear Bandits. Of course, the Gray Bear didn¡¯t originally intend to rob Tavek¡¯s caravan, but they just got confused by the Iron Blood Mercenary Corps. In the end, they ended up being wiped out by Fang Hao. ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Hao was about to speak when a thud came from the side. He turned his head and saw an old man who has overturned his chair, stepped on the fallen chair, rolled up his sleeves, and exclaimed, ¡°Look, this is the mark left by the vampire biting me.¡± The old man was disheveled and reeked of alcohol, pulling up his sleeves to his tablemates. ¡°Hodge, stop bluffing. Vampires bite necks, not arms and hey, isn¡¯t this ¡®mark¡¯ just you not bathing? Even vampire teeth can leave a pattern?¡± a fellow drinker commented loudly after glancing at his arm. The others at the table burst into hearty laughter. Hodge examined his arm, muttered to himself, ¡°Must have been too long since I last bathed, can¡¯t really see it now.¡± He spat on his arm and started scrubbing vigorously. ¡°Alright, alright, stop disgusting us. We believe you, ok? Continue your story from when you survived and you killed the vampire with the silver needle,¡± a drinker said, and discretely moved a bit further away from him. Old Hodge picked up his chair again, sat back down and said, ¡°I stabbed the vampire right in the throat with my silver needle, and you know what¡­?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I saw clearly that the puncture wound didn¡¯t heal as fast. Blood poured out from the wound. It lost too much blood, allowing me to chop its head off,¡± stated Old Hodge matter-of-factly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you stabbed it to death with a sword? Now you say you chopped off its head?¡± ¡°Eh? Did I? Well¡­ I drank too much and can¡¯t remember clearly. Anyway, I found out that vampires are afraid of silver. So, I designed a silver cone-shaped arrowhead. It must be effective against vampires.¡± ¡°Did you end up using it?¡± ¡°Of course, I did. Our Human Clan¡¯s position today is largely due to my contributions.¡± ¡°Ha ha¡­ Well, on behalf of mankind, I thank you.¡± The others joined in the laughter. As Fang Hao was eating the steam chicken that had just been served, he asked curiously, ¡°Has he really killed vampires?¡± The boss glanced over at Old Hodge, ¡°Do you think he looks like someone who¡¯s killed a vampire? If you count killing mosquitoes, then probably.¡± Uhh,¡­ After finishing their lunch, the duo grabbed their takeout smoked ham and left the tavern to return to their lodging. The next day, Tavek¡¯s caravan left Lyss City to return home. This time, they didn¡¯t encounter any trouble on the road. After two days of traveling, the caravan finally arrived at Pruell City. Rose Tavern. Fang Hao sat in front of the bar looking somewhat serious. Many unfamiliar faces showed up in the tavern today, those people sat in the corners of the shop, wearing robes and hoods. [Faint Blood (Tier 3)]. Members of the Blood Clan¡­ This name inevitably makes people think of vampires. Chapter 237 - Chapter 231, Giantstone Tomb_l Chapter 231, Giantstone Tomb_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°What¡¯s their background?¡± Fang Hao hinted toward the pallid blood member. ¡°Not sure, he showed up this afternoon, wearing a hat in broad daylight.¡± The landlady answered quietly without looking up. The pallid blood member showed up shortly before Fang Hao did. ¡°What are they here for?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°No idea, he asked me about the undead up north earlier, it scared me to death.¡± The landlady replied, patting her chest. Ever since the mercenary died in her shop the last time. Despite the City Lord claiming the Fire Wolf Mercenary Group was behind it, there were still rumours that they had provoked the undead from the north and were killed as a result. Now, the landlady trembles at the mere mention of the undead. Her shop had just reopened, and suddenly a bunch of weird people showed up, asking about the undead. ¡°Could they be heretics, acting all mysterious.¡± ¡°Maybe, they smelled of blood when I got close. Avoid contact with them at all costs. Heretics are all madmen.¡± The landlady continued to wipe the empty wine glass in her hand. Fang Hao touched his chin, occasionally casting glances at those people. The Blood Clan was inquiring about the undead again. It seemed that the Blood Clan had received news about the Blood Hunter turning into a skeleton. But they didn¡¯t launch a direct attack, so they likely received the news through a third party and didn¡¯t know much about the undead¡¯s territory. These people were likely scouts or spies. ¡°Are they going to stay here? Just sitting there chilling, bad for business.¡± Fang Hao spoke again. The tavern was usually a bustling place, where everyone would cheer even if someone was singing or getting drunk. But now, their mere presence silenced the entire tavern. Fang Hao¡¯s restaurant had already hit their business pretty hard in the past few days, and these people made the tavern seem even quieter. ¡°I asked, they won¡¯t be staying here. They¡¯ll leave when the city gates close at night.¡± The landlady spoke again. ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± Fang Hao said, estimating the time of these people¡¯s actions in his heart. Having gleaned almost all the information about the pallid blood member, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze once again fell on the notice board. During his absence in the past few days, two bounty notices had appeared, the ¡°Well Ghost¡± and the ¡°Nearby Danger¡±. [Bounty: Well Ghost] [Task: Eliminate the monster appearing in the well.) [Requirements: None.] [Reward: 5 Gold Coins.] The reward was just 5 gold coins, which seemed rather meagre. Even the cost of mobilizing manpower would exceed this reward, let alone potential injuries and casualties during combat. He moved on to the second one. [Village Trouble] [Task: Resolve the village¡¯s trouble.] [Requirements: None] [Reward: 15 Gold Coins.] This one didn¡¯t even specify the task and the reward wasn¡¯t much either. ¡°Why did you post these two bounties with such low rewards?¡± Fang Hao looked at the landlady again. It cost money to post a bounty in the tavern. The reward money wouldn¡¯t even cover the cost of posting in the tavern. ¡°Nearby villages posted these bounties. We help however we can. What else can we do?¡± the landlady said helplessly. ¡°The City Lord¡¯s Office doesn¡¯t intervene?¡± ¡°Humph! If they did, these villagers wouldn¡¯t have to post bounties in the tavern. Pruell City is getting worse by the year.¡± The landlady sighed helplessly. ¡°Tell me where these two villages are located. I¡¯d like to take a look when I have time.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Alright.¡± The landlady pointed out the locations on the map to Fang Hao. After chatting with the landlady for a bit, Tavek arranged to deliver the promised caterpillars of Holy Snow Silk. There were one hundred in total, ready to be cultivated back at home. This was the most Tavek could offer at the moment. Fang Hao didn¡¯t haggle, for the fabric of his formalwear still needed to be purchased from Tavek. Over the next week, they would create the prototype for Rebecca¡¯s dress and have her try it on. After chatting with the landlady, Fang Hao instructed Little White and the others not to roam outside at night and to stay safe. Then he rode the giant lizard and returned to his territory. By the time the three of them returned to the city, it was already late. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Eira came out to greet them with a group of maids. Fang Hao knew they were worried and smiled, ¡°No worries, our trip was smooth.¡± He handed the box containing the caterpillars to Eira, ¡°Eira, here are the caterpillars of the Holy Snow Silk. Take them to the sericulture room.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Eira took the box and headed to the sericulture room carefully. Anjia followed Eira discussing what to eat that night. Just as Demitrija was about to leave, he was stopped by Fang Hao. ¡°Demitrija.¡± ¡°Sir, what are your orders?¡± Demitrija asked. ¡°Some thin-bloods have come to the city, they¡¯re scouts from the Blood Clan, it¡¯s very likely they¡¯ll come to the territory tonight to gather information, once you and the Blood Hunters discover any traces, kill those people immediately.¡± Fang Hao stated directly. Living beings weren¡¯t particularly useful to him while the dead demonstrated potential value. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Demitrija responded, then proceeded to head towards the outskirts of the city. Once Demitrija had left, Fang Hao returned to the City Lord hall. He sat down and said to the maid: ¡°Call for Soye, Coulon, and Luke.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± In no time, Skeleton Tailor Soye, Blacksmith Coulon, Goldsmith Luke came in one after the other. Fang Hao indicated the three of them to sit down at the wooden table. ¡°This is a commission I got from Lyss City, we¡¯ll need you all to divvy up the work.¡± The design blueprint was placed on the table for each of them to have a look. ¡°Sir, the design for this dress is rather splendid, who¡¯s the mastermind behind this?¡± Soye admired the blueprint with full of praise. ¡°Oh dear, it¡¯s nothing much. I merely dabbled a bit and somehow caught the eye of the Lady City Lord of Lyss City. They then placed an order with us.¡± Fang Hao casually replied. ¡°And, these stockings, she approved of them too?¡± Soye keenly focused on the drawing of the stockings on the blueprint, asking further. When it came to stockings, there were significant disagreements between Fang Hao and Soye. Soye disapproved of using Holy Snow Silk to make stockings, considering it a wastefulness. They had argued several times, but, even now, with the stockings being acknowledged by the other party, it remained hard for him to comprehend. ¡°Yes, she did. We¡¯ve already got the measurements for the Lady City Lord, do you guys see any obstacles in crafting them?¡± Fang Hao looked at the three of them. The trio placed the blueprint on the table and came together to thoroughly examine it. In fact, Fang Hao was uncertain deep down. If he disclosed the blueprint he made on a whim and at the end they cannot finish it, he¡¯d become a laughing stock. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be any problem. All the textile techniques can be accomplished.¡± The trio assured him. ¡°Sir, the materials for the gown¡­¡± Soye once again asked. ¡°We purchased top-quality fabric from the cloth dealer and it¡¯s already been delivered to the warehouse. If there¡¯s anything more you guys need, do let me know, I¡¯ll have the rest sent from their end.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange for a team to get started straight away.¡± Soye acknowledged. The tailor¡¯s main job was for garments and stockings, hence there was almost no problem on this part. The bulk of the work would undoubtedly fall on the goldsmith. Intricate designs must be engraved on the minuscule clasps and then adorned with gemstones. It looked stunning to the eye but the process was quite complex. Fortunately, there were many goldsmiths within the territory which meant plenty of hands to divide the work and speed up the process. Having confirmed that none of the trio had any issues, Fang Hao could finally breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Well, I am planning to launch a brand to sell our works. This is just the first step, and it¡¯s crucial, so I hope you can all work a bit harder in the coming days to make it as perfect as possible.¡± Fang Hao spoke gently. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The three nodded their heads, left the room immediately, and went back to their respective places to begin work. Once the trio left, Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up the fruit wine brought over by the maid and gulped it down If the brilliant gown that he had bragged about now had to be retaken because the three of them had deemed it unachievable, he would have been mortified. Although he had not handed any collateral to Rebecca, future expansions into Lyss City may become a bit difficult. He would undoubtedly be labeled as a scammer. Just as he relieved his tension, the skeleton merchant Doujin walked in. He bowed and said, ¡°Lord, the response to the Trade Alliance order you had submitted before has come. This is the responded blueprint.¡± Doujin handed over a building blueprint. Fang Hao was delighted to hear the news. He took over the blueprint and noticed that the information was labeled[Giant Stone Tomb]. [Giant Stone Tomb (Blue) : 1,200 sturdy wood, 3,500 stone materials, 4,000 stone bricks, 500 leather, 450 ropes, 200 cast iron pieces, 120 metal parts, 5 shadowstones.] (Description: Now, this Giant Stone Tomb buried deep underground is filled with noisy and violent undead.) It seemed like a pretty powerful military building. ¡°Lord, a new order sheet is in place, if you need anything, you can write a new order in alliance.¡± Doujin said again. Orders are updated every seven days, two each time. Since he had big plans for the next few days, it was time to refill the order. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave you to your work.¡± Doujin bowed and took his leave. With Doujin gone, Fang Hao left the City Lord¡¯s mansion to construct the newly acquired[Giant Stone Tomb]. Chapter 238 - Chapter 232, Negotiating Terms with the Undead?_l Chapter 232, Negotiating Terms with the Undead?_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao went straight to the Undead area. Inside the conversion field, the bodies from the battle two days ago were being continuously transformed day and night. He chose an open area and selected ¡®Build¡¯. A blue light lit up, slowly constructing a tomb at his feet. When the light faded, a tomb entrance appeared in front of Fang Hao. It was made entirely out of stone, the dark entrance leading deep underground. Giant Stone Tomb [Category: Building] [Recruits: Barren Tomb Guard] [Barren Tomb Guard: Wriggling Spine 4-1 (Description: This Giant Stone Tomb buried deep underground is now full of noisy and violent undead.) [Prerequisite for Upgrade: Lord¡¯s Stone Castle.] [Requirements for Upgrade: Hardwood 2200, Stone 5500, Stone Brick 5000, Leather 1000, Rope 950, Cast Iron 400, Metal Parts 220, Death Trace 2, Shadowstone 10.] The prerequisite for building upgrade is the Lord¡¯s Stone Castle. The current title of the lord¡¯s mansion is Lord¡¯s Stone Tower. Affirmatively, the next level will be the Lord¡¯s Stone Castle, and thus it can continue to rise to the next level. The type of soldier that could be recruited is the Barren Tomb Guard, which doesn¡¯t sound like a regular army. Which regular army would guard a barren tomb? However, from the expense of 4 Wriggling Spines, it can be inferred that it¡¯s a Tier 4 type of soldier. It is also the highest level of soldier available in the buildings of Fang Hao¡¯s own camp. He decided to recruit one to try it out. He set the quantity to 1 and selected ¡®Recruit¡¯. [100-F01d Amplification Triggered, Recruited 101 Barren Tomb Guards.] Crack! 101 tall skeletons wearing ragged robes appeared before Fang Hao. These skeletons were exceptionally large. The skeleton soldiers he had recruited before were about the same height as him, around 1.8 meters tall. But the Barren Tomb Guards before him were half a head taller than him. [Barren Tomb Guard (Tier 4)] [Camp: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.] [Skills: Slash, Armor Break.] [Fixed Skills: Advanced Strength Mastery, Intermediate Defense Mastery, Intermediate Two-handed Sword Mastery.] [Slash]: Performs a slash on nearby units, increasing physical damage by 100%, and has a chance to cause a knockback effect. [ Armor Break]: This unit deals extra damage to ¡®Inanimate Armor (Shields, Armor)¡¯. (Description: Whether they were powerful warriors in their previous life or ¡®Awakened¡¯, they wield massive weapons and tirelessly hack at their targets. Even the strongest enemy can hardly escape death.) Here it is, the giant sword warrior. Fang Hao began to suspect that these Barren Tomb Guards were heavy infantry after their death. Even the description praised them positively. Perhaps the once Heavy Sword Legion had made many military exploits in this world. Similarly, the appearance of the two-handed sword soldiers also solved a problem Fang Hao had been worried about for a long time. That is the command issue of Demitrija. Demitrija has a bonus command for heavy sword soldiers and also has the ability of Legion Stealth, which can be said to be quite powerful when combined. Before the Barren Tomb Guards appeared. He had planned to let Demitrija command the human heavy infantry. When ambushing the Gray Bear Bandits in the dense forest, Fang Hao found a serious problem. That is, human soldiers can hardly achieve total stillness under [Tactical Camouflage]. Demitrija can, even without blinking once in that state. But the human legion is incapable of doing so. They can stay invisible briefly, but should someone merely scratch their buttocks after ten minutes, the invisibility would be interrupted. So in that night¡¯s battle, they had to hide in the thick woods at a distance, instead of utilizing the tactic of ¡°camouflage¡±. The appearance of the Barren Tomb Guards has perfectly solved this problem. These skeletons on standby are as still as stone statues. Forget about maintaining invisibility for a few tens of minutes; they could do so for a month without a problem. This more or less solved the military unit issues of Demitrija. Fang Hao proceeded to open the Book of Lords, and produced a Storm Armor suit and a White Steel Great Sword for the Barren Tomb Guards. Once everything was in place, he sent them out to be deployed by the Blood Hunters. The night fell. A few figures lurked within the depths of the darkness, a kilometer outside the territory, observing the territory from afar. They frequently pulled out papernote and pen, scribbling down their findings. ¡°Make sure to note down the location of the checkpoints, and the count of the troops. A small mistake could get us all killed.¡± ¡°Captain, our Duke demanded we investigate Giovanni and find out who¡¯s in charge here. But there are too many undead forces here. It¡¯s impossible to get close.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. We have plenty of time. Stick around a few more days, and the leader of this place is bound to show himself. If we¡¯re able to bring back valuable news, we¡¯ll officially become part of the Blood Clan.¡± Once the prospect of becoming a part of the Blood Clan was brought up, each of them looked hopeful. ¡°Correct! We follow the captain¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Alright, you go to the east, you to the west. Just make sure not to alarm those skeletons. We¡¯ll regroup here in the morning and head back to that tavern in Pruell City to compile our findings.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± They all quickly scattered off in different directions once the words were spoken. On a tree branch above¡­ A skeletal Grey Sparrow observing everyone¡¯s movements. As the everything went dark, the soul fire within its pupils extinguished. It took to the air, flying towards the direction of the territory. Fang Hao got up from his bed, massaging his temples. Spotting the Blood Clan hidden in the darkness was indeed a challenging task. If not for the group¡¯s chat, Fang Hao might have failed to identify them. He rolled out of bed and left his room. Meanwhile, in the main hall, Demitrija, Anjia, and Blood Hunter were waiting in silence. Upon seeing Fang Hao descend the stairs, he got up and asked, ¡°My Lord, have you discovered the trace of the Blood Clan?¡± ¡°Yes, there were five altogether. Two were approximately in the south. The other three were here and here. I want the three of you to ride the Bone Dragons, capture all of them and bring everyone here without losing a single one.¡± Fang Hao pointed out the locations on the map. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± The three of them mounted the Bone Dragons and each flew in the direction assigned to them. Twenty minutes later¡­ Four bodies lay on the floor of the Great Hall, along with one trembling Pale Blood. ¡°You¡¯re pretty lucky, you know. The other four are dead, and you are still alive. I just wonder if you treasure this luck.¡± Fang Hao stood before the Pale Blood, addressing him lightly. The Pale Blood lifted his head to meet Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, his pupils constricting sharply. He¡¯d seen this human during the day. He had some faint recollections in the tavern. ¡°If you swear to let me go, I will tell you whatever you want to know,¡± the Pale Blood responded unexpectedly calmly. He understood why Fang Hao had kept him alive. The other four were dead, and he remained alive. He was the only remaining source of information. This was his ace in the hole, and he knew he must use it well. ¡°Did the Hamilton family send you here?¡± Fang Hao asked the Pale Blood. The man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He just kept his mouth shut. It seemed he wouldn¡¯t reveal any information unless Fang Hao agreed to his terms. ¡°You¡¯re the first person to dare to negotiate with the undead,¡± Fang Hao commented, unsure of whether to admire his bravery or deride his foolishness. At this moment, the sound of the Bone Dragon landing came from outside. Black Thorn strode in. Chapter 239 - Chapter 233, Well Ghost_l Chapter 233, Well Ghost_l Translator: 549690339 Black Thorn was in heavy armor, a black iron knight¡¯s sword hung at his waist. He strode in and bowed, ¡°Sir, you were looking for me?¡± ¡°Yes, today we caught a few scouts from the Blood Clan near the territory. They¡¯ve been killed. Inspect them,¡± Fang Hao pointed to four corpses lying in the center. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Black Thorn checked the bodies and said, ¡°Sir, I need 8 living creatures.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Outside the main hall. Underneath the bodies, Black Thorn drew complicated array patterns. Two unicorns were brought over to the array for their blood to be drained. Their dark red blood was drawn towards the dead bodies as if pulled by some force. The next second, the corpses abruptly sat up. The only surviving pale-blooded person was terrified and sat paralyzed on the ground, his face full of horror. Undead things were just too frightening. The body sat up again, a puzzled look in its eyes. Black Thorn looked at it and said, ¡°You¡¯re already dead, answer whatever I ask you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Where are you from? What do you intend to do?¡± ¡°We are scouts from the ¡®Hamilton¡¯ family, here to investigate the disappearance of ¡®Giovanni¡¯.¡± As soon as he began to speak, the pale-blooded person¡¯s body visibly began to inflate, and Black Thorn quickened his questioning. ¡°How many of you are there? Have you sent a message? ¡°Five people, no, haven¡¯t sent¡­.¡± Bang! This pale-blooded person¡¯s body exploded instantly. Without hesitation, Black Thorn continued to draw the second rune. Once the two living creatures were bled, the second corpse sat up again. ¡°Where is the Hamilton family located? How did you find out ¡®Giovanni¡¯ was here?¡± ¡°The Hamilton family rules a place called Crescent Heights. How we found out about Giovanni, I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°In other words, Giovanni¡¯s information was not discovered by scout, but obtained through other channels.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hamilton family, how many combatants can be mobilized. ¡°Unsure, perhaps tens of thousands.¡± Bang! This pale-blooded person exploded again. Afterwards, Black Thorn continued to interrogate the remaining two corpses. He learned some things about Crescent Heights and the Hamilton family. Crescent Heights is a territory ruled by the Blood Clan, with many subservient villages. Aside from labor, the villagers serve as reserves for the Blood Clan. They have to pay a blood tax in due time, and some are captured and kept in blood kilns, exclusively for the consumption of those from the Blood Clan. Those pale-blooded people live relatively well because they serve the Blood Clan and are not exploited too greatly. He also found out that the clan leader of the Hamilton family was the [Red Duke ¨C Clement Hamilton]. The pale-blooded couldn¡¯t state the rank of the Red Duke, but it was certain he was an orange level hero. The founder of the Crescent Heights system. After hearing the news, Fang Hao sat down on the side again. Luckily, he discovered the Blood Clan¡¯s first investigation, and killed them before any information they gathered left the area. Truthfully, an orange level Blood Clan hero didn¡¯t particularly worry Fang Hao. The Blood Clan¡¯s strength lay in their blood-sucking, conversion of the Human Clan, and control of corpses. Blood-sucking wouldn¡¯t be a threat to a skeleton. Then, it shouldn¡¯t have the ability to suck bone marrow, right! ¡°Alright, clear this area. Kill this one and throw him into the transformation pool.¡± Fang Hao continued. He didn¡¯t plan on keeping the surviving pale-blooded person alive. He didn¡¯t kill him before in the hopes that Little You could use [Possession] for a deception operation similar to before. But upon learning the enemy was orange ranked, Fang Hao abandoned this plan. Orange heroes all have their own special abilities. And they are powerful. If Little You is discovered, she won¡¯t even have a chance to escape so there¡¯s no need to take this risk. The surviving pale-blooded guy wanted to beg or say something. But as soon as he opened his mouth, a longsword pierced his body. Blood flowed from his chest and his life rapidly drained away. He fell weakly, feeling himself being dragged away and thrown into a pile of corpses. The next day. The morning was grey, it was a bit overcast. Fang Hao got up in the morning and left his room. The maids had already started their work, and Eira was preparing breakfast. Everything was as usual. After breakfast¡­ Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia and Demitrija, set off again and arrived at the southern side of his territory. Located between his land and Pruell City, a river more than ten meters wide blocked the road. They needed to cross a wooden bridge underfoot to get through. But the river wasn¡¯t deep, and the current wasn¡¯t too strong; they could also wade through to the other side. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the Fortress. He chose to build it on the north side of the river, next to the wooden bridge. Light rose and faded again, and by then the fortress was already built. A line of walls extended for tens of meters along the bank. From now on, this would become a checkpoint leading to his territory. Woosh! A few Bone Dragons fell from the sky. Fifty Tauren warriors descended from their backs, quickly approaching Fang Hao. ¡°We greet the Lord,¡± the Tauren greeted him respectfully. ¡°Hmm, Terry, you¡¯ve grown much stronger recently,¡± said Fang Hao to the leading Tauren. These Tauren were all from the Bronze Bull clan, and the leading Tauren, Fang Hao recognized him. His name was Terry, an eighth tier Tauren warrior. He was the most promising Tauren in the Tauren Clan to become a hero. Bronze Bull valued him highly, and he had a certain prestige within the clan. ¡°Thank you, my Lord. I¡¯ve been eating well recently, so I¡¯ve gained some weight,¡± Terry said, scratching his dirty braids sheepishly. ¡°Haha, keep up the good work. I¡¯ve prepared the Hero Heart for you. Come and upgrade to hero status at the main city when you reach the tenth tier,¡¯ Fang Hao patted Terry¡¯s arm. The muscles on the arm, were exaggeratedly developed. It was like hitting a hard rock. ¡°Thank you, my Lord. I won¡¯t let you down. I promise to live up to the chief¡¯s expectations,¡± Terry promised loudly. ¡°Yes, all of you must keep improving as well. Any of you who reach the tenth tier can go to the main city for assessment. I will provide the materials and equipment. All you need to do is put in the effort,¡± Fang Hao told the other Tauren. ¡°Thankyou, my Lord,¡± all the Taurens thanked him in unison. The Tauren were quietly pleased with the wisdom in their Chieftain¡¯s past decision. Ever since they supported Fang Hao, their village has been getting better and better. While they were chatting¡­ More Bone Dragons descended. Fourteen Great Sword Infantry came down from them. They passed the Tauren and quickly approached Fang Hao. ¡°My Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, come with me for a while later. After returning, you¡¯ll stay here and follow the orders of Captain Terry,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± The Great Sword Infantry turned their gaze on Terry. ¡°Captain Terry.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Terry agreed with a nod. After getting acquainted with each other, Fang Hao continued to establish the defense tower and houses for the fortress. By then, they could live here. When he gets back, Fang Hao would arrange for a large number of skeleton soldiers to come over. They would widen the river, making the fortress¡¯s wooden bridge the only passageway. It would make the fortress more effective as a checkpoint. Having dealt with the fortress¡­ Terry began to arrange guard duty. Fang Hao, on the other hand, led the fourteen Great Sword Infantry in the southwest direction. Yesterday, he had picked up two bounties at the tavern. One was the ¡°Well Ghost,¡± and the other was ¡°Village Trouble¡±. Compared to the second ¡°Village Trouble,¡± the name ¡°Well Ghost¡± was more detailed. From the name, it was clear that some monster had appeared in the well. So, they were going to the village of the ¡°Well Ghost¡± this time. After half an hour¡¯s march¡­ They saw a village in the distance. The village looked desolate, as if it had been abandoned for a long time. The village gate was wide open, and apart from an old man squatting at the entrance, there wasn¡¯t a soul in the village. The team approached. ¡°Old man, we came from Pruell City. We heard there¡¯s a bounty out here.¡± The old man gazed at Fang Hao¡¯s team with a somewhat muddy eyes. ¡°Yeah, are you here to collect taxes or to help?¡± the old man asked. ¡°To help.¡± Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on the old man¡¯s face. His wrinkles piled up, resembling the bark of a tree. Chapter 240 - Chapter 234, Hell Room_i Chapter 234, Hell Room_i Translator: 549690339 | The old man cracked a smile, though unsightly, it was significantly kind- hearted and simple. His eyes swept over the giant lizard and lizardman, asking Fang Hao, ¡°Are you the leader?¡± He perhaps mistook Fang Hao for a mercenary leader. ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Hao nodded and continued to ask, ¡°Old man, are you the only one left in the village?¡± Fang Hao surveyed the village again, yet didn¡¯t spot a single soul. ¡°I just came here to check if anyone has shown up, I¡¯ll return in the afternoon. I¡¯m now living in the neighboring village; no one can live here.¡± The old man hastily explained. ¡°That serious?¡± ¡°Indeed, many people died, and the city¡¯s officials just ignored us. If it weren¡¯t for the fear that the other villages might also suffer, we would have overlooked this place as well.¡± The old man continued. It seemed that the villagers had already evacuated. They each found new homes in different villages, abandoning this one entirely. To the villagers, coupling the simple and quick nature of the solution was a relief. ¡°Old man, could you tell us more about the monster? The more detailed the better.¡± Fang Hao inquired. ¡°Okay.¡± The old man squatted down by the wall and began to recite his tale. Since the existence of the village, this well had always been there; the villagers depended on it for water. However, who would have known that half a month ago, Someone discovered that mud was frequently left at the well, and it had a foul smell. The well is a crucial place. Because it directly affects the health of the villagers, they take it very seriously. At first, they thought the village children were messing with it, so they collectively beat some of the mischievous children. Despite their efforts, the mud reappeared the next day. That¡¯s when the villagers realized something was wrong, so they started to keep watch at night. When night fell, strange noises began to emanate from the well. A bold villager went to inspect it. A dark shadow emerged from the well, swallowing the villager whole. Afterward, a humanoid monster started attacking the other villagers. Young and strong villagers organized to expel the monster, but instead, many of them died doing so. They reported the situation to the nearby city, but no one cared about their life or death. With their water source occupied and becoming increasingly dangerous, People slowly began to move out, and the village became deserted. Is it a ghost? A ghost that swallows a person whole?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Normally, a ghost would refer to an undead. Even Nelson, an undead of an orange grade, doesn¡¯t eat people. Consuming people sounded more like the actions of a wild beast or monster. ¡°No, it¡¯s more like its entire chest cavity opened up and it swallowed a grown man whole.¡± The old man recalled the scene, his face gradually growing fearful. Fang Hao looked at Anjia and Dimitrija, both shook their heads slightly. They couldn¡¯t deduce what kind of monster the old man was describing. ¡°What about its attack mode?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°What is an attack mode?¡± ¡°Um, I mean, how it attacks. Does it have any long-range moves?¡± ¡°It just swings its arms and swallows people. I haven¡¯t witnessed anything else. No professional came to deal with it, so whether or not it has any other long- range moves, I wouldn¡¯t be sure.¡± The old man pondered for a bit, but couldn¡¯t provide a clear answer. All battles with the monster occurred at night, discernible only by moonlight. Upon seeing it consume a person, everyone just focussed on fleeing. Nobody had the mindset to study its attack methods. ¡°Alright old man, lead us into the village for a look.¡± Fang Hao prompted once more. The old man hesitated a bit, gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I can lead you in and show you where the well is. The rest is up to you to handle. This village is uninhabited now. If you can¡¯t handle it, you¡¯ll have to wait for the City Lord to send troops.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Escorted by the old man, the group entered the village. The deserted village was somewhat desolate, with baskets, furniture and collapsed buildings scattered throughout, roof beams and bricks strewn all over. ¡°That¡¯s the well, I can only take you this far.¡± The old man pointed out, his body beginning to tremble slightly. There was indeed a well in the direction he pointed at. The stone-brick well was overrun with weeds and mud. The scattered debris and various equipment gave off a strange feeling, like everything was being dragged towards the well. It was like water gushing out after opening a floodgate, swirling towards the direction of the well. ¡°Alright old man, you can go back to the village. If we handle the situation we¡¯ll send someone to inform you.¡± Fang Hao said to the elderly man. Oh, okay.¡± The old man agreed and scurried away as if making his escape. Everyone was watching the well, waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s command. Clearly, this matter had nothing to do with them, and meddling in this would just invite trouble. It could even result in their lives being endangered. ¡°What do we do?¡± asked Anjia. ¡°No rush,¡± replied Fang Hao. He opened his backpack and out flew the Skeleton Sparrow, flapping its wings. Watch me,¡± Fang Hao climbed up the cargo rail on the back of the Giant Lizard and lied down, invoking God¡¯s Presence. A Soul Fire ignited in the pupils of the Skeleton Sparrow, flying towards the direction of the well. It circled around above the well. Apart from the abundance of silt and debris, no other anomalies were found. Looking down into the well, the water was calm with no signs of anything unusual. Fang Hao controlled the sparrow, retracting its wings and diving straight into the well. The sunlight shone in, preventing it from being too dark. Halfway through the flight, the sparrow spread its wings, hovering in the air. On the wall of the well, there was a large crack. Behind the crack was not mud or bricks, but a dark void, another space. Broken bricks still had the same accumulation of silt and weeds as the well. It seems that the creature the old man was talking about must have emerged or escaped from this crack. With a I¡¯m-not-afraid-to-die attitude, Fang Hao flew into the aperture. As his vision gradually adapted to the darkness, he could slowly make out the situation inside the cave. This was a long stone passageway. Precisely hewn stone walls, grey and worn, water marks clearly visible. Moving forward. He entered a room, the walls were illuminated by Nightstones, brightening the space. But Fang Hao¡¯s inner feelings grew heavier. This was a room, a room constructed of human skulls. Fang Hao felt as if he had entered a hellish fear, his body piercingly cold. In the center of the room was a stone desk, on which were decomposing paper scrolls, a rust-green lantern, and several unidentifiable objects. Someone had lived here before. What kind of person would live in such a place, a room built of skulls? It was outright sinister. A Soul Fire flickered in his pupils, Fang Hao suppressed his astonishment and continued the search for his target monster. Mud traces could still be found on the stone slabs beneath him, continuing all the way to a large ceramic jar next to the stone desk. ¡°Could it be this ceramic jar?¡± Fang Hao wondered to himself. But that didn¡¯t seem right. If the ceramic jar was the monster, he should be able to see its name. The fact that its name wasn¡¯t displayed meant it wasn¡¯t his target. Could it be inside the ceramic jar? According to the old man¡¯s description, the creature could open a cavity in its body and swallow an adult human whole. How could it possibly hide in a ceramic jar? While thinking, he flew towards the ceramic jar. The sparrow stood on the stone table, looking down into the ceramic jar from above. Inside the jar, it was pitch black and seemed like some liquid was slowly writhing around. Fang Hao peered intently into the jar, trying to make out what was inside. Woosh! A dark shadow surged out from the mouth of the jar, enveloped the sparrow like a giant net and swallowed it whole before retracting back into the ceramic jar. Outside the well, on the back of the Giant Lizard, Fang Hao suddenly sat up, ¡°Holy crap! That scared me to death.¡± With his left hand clutching his chest, he tried to calm his racing heart. Chapter 241 - Chapter 235, Dirty Monster (seeking recommendation, Chapter 235, Dirty Monster (seeking recommendation, subscription¡­)._1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao suddenly woke up, startling the few people guarding him. The infantrymen immediately drew their weapons and assumed combat stances. Their eyes were warily fixed on the well shaft. With one hand, Anjia effortlessly jumped onto the back of the giant lizard, steadying a panic-stricken Fang Hao. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked. ¡°The Skeleton Sparrow is dead,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°What enemy, did you get a clear look?¡± ¡°I saw it, a mud monster!¡± The monster in the jar killed the Skeleton Sparrow face-to-face. In the last moment, Fang Hao managed to get a clear look at its name. Filthy Mud Monster (Tier 9). The mud had become a monster. This world was weirder than ¡®Journey to the West¡¯. How could mud possibly become a monster? ¡°What on earth?¡± Anjia didn¡¯t understand. ¡°It¡¯s a Filthy Mud Monster, a tier 9 type of soldier,¡± Fang Hao explained again. ¡°What is that?¡± Anjia had never seen nor heard of it before. At this moment, Demitrija walked over and explained, ¡°It¡¯s a type of mud monster, created by energy disturbances. They typically stay in dark, damp places to multiply, feeding on dissolvable creatures. It¡¯s tough to deal with.¡± It seemed Demitrija had some understanding of these creatures. ¡°Can our people kill it?¡± asked Fang Hao. He wasn¡¯t interested in how it was formed he could figure that out later. What he needed to consider right now was whether they could handle it. ¡°It¡¯ll be difficult. Due to the characteristics of the mud monster, melee combat will be ineffective. Our soldiers are likely to suffer casualties,¡± Demitrija analyzed. Demitrija, an orange hero, was giving such an assessment to a lowly monster; this said a lot about this mud monster. It was not as simple as its name suggested. ¡°What about ranged attack?¡± ¡°That would be significantly more effective than cutting and hacking, Demitrija nodded solemnly. All the heroes present had rich combat experience, a quality that could not be matched by Fang Hao¡¯s petty wits. Since Demitrija had said that close combat would lead to casualties, Fang Hao decided he would call in some ranged forces instead. Besides, the current arrangement of his forces was not his preferred battle style. He still preferred to crush the enemy with overwhelming numbers. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back to the fortress first,¡± Fang Hao immediately ordered. The team left the village and headed back to the fortress. Fang Hao once again used God¡¯s Presence to possess one of the Skeleton Warriors in the main city and began to tally the number of people. The continuous transformation of corpses in the Skeleton Conversion Field in the past few days had pushed the stationed population in the mam city to over 600,000 people. He summoned 30,000 archers, 20,000 undead mages, and 50,000 melee soldiers. After defeating the mud monster, these 100,000 soldiers would be stationed in the fortress and wouldn¡¯t need to return to the main city. Half an hour later, the undead army arrived at the fortress. ¡°Anjia, Demitrija, change your appearances, we don¡¯t want to be noticed by the villagers nearby,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Even if the local humans spotted the undead army, they would likely run away in fear. However, if Anjia or Demitrija were recognized, it would be difficult to explain, potentially causing various troubles. ¡°Alright.¡± Both of them agreed, throwing on gray cloaks. Demitrija¡¯s cloak was larger than Anjia¡¯s in order to hide his massive tail. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set off,¡± Fang Hao commanded, returning to the headquarters of the fortress, using God¡¯s Presence and following the troops. Before long, the army arrived back at the village. The scene was as they had left it in the morning, nothing had changed. ¡°Demolish any obstructive houses and fences,¡± Fang Hao ordered once again. The Skeleton Trolls swung their battle axes, reducing the basic houses to ruins in a few thumps, allowing everyone to clearly see the well shaft. All the soldiers were arranged according to the plan, ready to commence battle. Fang Hao changes the target of ¡®God¡¯s Presence¡¯, controlling the gray sparrow to retreat back into the crevice in the well. This time he doesn¡¯t look at the mouth of the jar, he just charges forward. He knocks over the pottery jar directly. The jar falls to the ground, shattering with a crack. A puddle of gray, thick, sticky black slime inside the jar begins to wriggle slightly. After a brief moment of confusion, it hurries toward the gray sparrow, the perpetrator of the destruction. At the mouth of the well, the gray sparrow bursts out. Everyone is nervously watching the opening. If the mud monster doesn¡¯t come out, they¡¯ll have to start digging the ground. Suddenly. The crevices between the bricks at the mouth of the well begin to moisten from the water stains. Viscous black mud emerges from the cracks at the mouth of the well, bit by bit it merges into a large, writhing, rolling humanoid made of mud. Like a wax figure melting at a high temperature, large globs of mud continually fall off and regather. ¡°Attack!¡± Fang Hao calls out without any hesitation. If it weren¡¯t for the mud being difficult to attack while it¡¯s in the crevices, he would have ordered the attack sooner. Now it isn¡¯t too late, after he gives the order. Those who have long been positioned start initiating their attacks. Whoosh! Whoosh! The sound of arrows whistling through the air is like a fleet of warplanes flying by- Accompanied by a roaring sound. Tens of thousands of magic spells and arrows launched a crazy attack on the mud monster at the center. The scene is grand and somewhat daunting. Demitrija stands aside, swallowing hard. Even he, a Tier 8 hero with an orange aura, would probably be instantly turned into ashes in the face of such a dense attack. Boom! Magics and arrows densely hit the just formed mud monster. Thump. With a muffled sound, the form of the mud monster instantly bursts, mud spraying like raindrops. The small lumps of scattered mud still squirming on the ground, the next second, start slithering like snakes, rushing toward the rear troops. Filthy Mud Monster Variant (Tier 5) The name of the mud monster changes, and its rank is also downgraded. The small mud monsters wriggle their bodies, rolling over grass, coins, and debris on the road. While attacking nearby enemies, their bodies gradually enlarge as they gather more material. ¡°Focus on killing the enemies around you first.¡± Fang Hao shouted. Anjia and Demitrija also issue the same orders. Magics and arrows once again converge to attack the approaching mud monsters, killing them all. But those that have grown larger and have reached a certain size. Will still explode again, splitting into countless mud monster variants. If Fang Hao didn¡¯t have that many troops, it would be quite hard to completely kill these mud monsters. Even if the nearby city sent an army to struggle against them, it would be hard to kill them and it could even cause the mud monsters to keep expanding, threatening the nearby villages and cities. The battle went on for over an hour, and the mud monster finally dissolved into a puddle of water stains. But the village is gone, it was as if the whole village had been bombed, leaving it in ruins. ¡°Is it dead?¡± Fang Hao looked at Demitrija. The latter nodded slightly and said, ¡°The mud monster¡¯s intelligence is not high so if it didn¡¯t continue its attack, it must be dead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± Fang Hao also sighed in relief. He did do a good deed for the nearby villagers. ¡°Alright, everyone start cleaning the battlefield and collect all the usable arrows.¡± The skeletons started to clean the battlefield. Fang Hao and the other two then went to the well, looking down into it. The water in the well remained calm, with no changes inside the well. ¡°Bring the rope ladder over and let¡¯s widen that hole a bit.¡± Chapter 242 - Chapter 236, Demon Space_1 Chapter 236, Demon Space_1 Translator: 549690339 The rope ladder was lowered into the well. Just as Anjia was preparing to go down the well, Fang Hao grabbed her, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I want to go down and see if there¡¯s anything good. What if you miss something because you¡¯re too careless?¡± Anjia replied, her expression filled with uncertainty. ¡°You better stay here. There might still be dangers down there. You and Demitrija should stay up here and direct the skeletons to search properly. I¡¯ll go down and check,¡± Fang Hao told her. Something about the cave below seemed quite eerie. The walls were built with skulls. Despite living amongst skeletons, the sight still made Fang Hao unsettled. There might be strange things down there, which could affect Anjia. Fang Hao decided he wouldn¡¯t let her go down. After all, there wasn¡¯t much down there anyway. ¡°Are you sure you can handle it alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve checked with the skeleton ash sparrow before. It¡¯s just an empty cave with a stone table in the middle. I¡¯m not blind. I won¡¯t miss anything,¡± Fang Hao assured her. ¡°Alright, be thorough in your search,¡± Anjia finally agreed and moved away from the well¡¯s opening. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Fang Hao descended the rope ladder, stopping at the crevice. He dislodged some of the stone bricks on either side of the crack, bent over, and crawled in. Being his third time, the shock and fear had mostly worn off. After making sure there were no clay monsters in any of the earthenware jars, he began to search in earnest. The skulls on either side of the cave wall appeared fused with the wall itself. Even up close, nothing could be discerned from them. He threw the decayed items from the stone table to the ground. However, an item from underneath the heap caught his eye. [Demon¡¯s Codex Fragment] [Category: Codex Fragment] [Ability: Demon¡¯s Space] [Demon¡¯s Space: A small magic space created with the ¡®Interdimensional Gate¡¯ technique, allowing the storage of items at any time. (Living creatures and Undead units are not storable.)] (Description: A fragment of the Demon¡¯s Codex. Collect all fragments to complete the full Codex.) A fragment appeared. This was the second fragment Fang Hao had collected, the first was an [Elemental Codex Fragment] that increased his spell power. And now he had gotten a Demon¡¯s Codex Fragment. Whoever left these items behind had the strange habit of tearing up books. The ability that the Demon¡¯s Codex Fragment would grant made Fang Hao¡¯s heart race. A Demon¡¯s Space, a small magic space, allowing the storage and retrieval of items at any given time. This was essentially a Space Ring or a miniature universe within a sleeve. With this, he can utilize the Demon¡¯s Space to carry items anywhere. If the space is large enough, he wouldn¡¯t need to carry many wagons on future marches. He would be able to store everything. It could even potentially increase his marching speed. This item was a very pleasant surprise. The gloomy cave in front of him didn¡¯t seem so ominous anymore. Bidding farewell to Anjia, Fang Hao moved deeper into the cave. He tucked the Codex Fragment safely away and continued his search. In the corner, he found another gold treasure chest. Ever since he saw a platinum chest, gold no longer stirred his emotions. He opened it directly. [Well Building Blueprint, Ring of No Regret (Purple), Demon¡¯s Blood, Warfire Coin 82, Demon Stone 5.] [Well: Wood too, Stone 1100, Iron 50, Metal Parts 12.] (Description: The well can satisfy the need for water.) There was nothing interesting about the well blueprint, so he decided to inspect the second item instead. It was a purple-tier item. [Ring of No Regret (Purple)] [Category: Ring] [Ability: When worn, it reduces the damage inflicted on troops by ¡®Light Magic¡¯ by 2%.] (Description: Everyone has their own worth and a standpoint shouldn¡¯t divide right from wrong.) The attributes of the ring made Fang Hao¡¯s heart race. The Ring of No Regret¡¯s effect was very much needed by him. If he ever clashed with the forces of Light Magic, this ring would have a significant effect. How come he always seems to be on the side of the villain? Wherever there are traces of undead or demons, he always seems to find something good. [Demon¡¯s Blood] [Type: Blood] (Description: A drop of demon blood sealed inside something like amber. You can try to ingest it, but the consequences are unpredictable.) He had in his hand an amber-like stone, with a drop of blood sealed within. As he gently swayed it in his hand, the blood swirled within. His collection of strange and mysterious things had just expanded. This was the second time that Fang Hao had discovered the blood of a supernatural creature, following the vampire heart. Even the phrase ¡®extremely useful¡¯ in the description offered no clue on how to utilize it. You could drink it, though nobody knew what effects it might have. And so, who would dare to take a sip? Anyway, it¡¯s something gained, better put it away for now. The last two items are Warfire Coins and Demon Stone. Warfire Coins, needless to say, are now the general currency, and the Demon Stone must be the recruitment material for the Demon Clan. [Demon Stone] [Type: Ore] (Description: Rare ore required for the construction of Demon clan buildings.) As I thought. He stuffed everything that could be taken away into the backpack. Exiting the cave, he climbed out of the well using the rope ladder. ¡°Did you find anything good?¡± Anjia asked excitedly. ¡°Yes, very useful. Below was a stone cave of the Demon Clan.¡± Fang Hao patted his backpack. Anjia, looking at the empty backpack, was about to go down and search for herself. It took Fang Hao some persuasion to dissuade her from going down. ¡°Collect some rocks nearby and seal the cave entrance.¡± Fang Hao instructed the skeletons standing by. By now the village had turned into ruins. There were rubble everywhere, not difficult to find. No idea if the villagers would return but it¡¯s better to have the cave sealed. What was seen inside was truly terrifying. When everything was over, Fang Hao started to return home with the majority of the troops. On the way back, Anjia left the team and headed to a village in the south. As they neared the village on horseback, the image of the Orc attracted many villagers¡¯ attention. Anjia looked around and spotted an old man chatting with others under a big tree nearby. As she approached, the old man also saw her. ¡°It¡¯s you, the girl from this morning.¡± The old man said smilingly, his face full of wrinkles. ¡°The problem in your village has been solved, there is no need to worry anymore, but avoid living there, all the houses have collapsed.¡± Anjia blurted out. The village had turned into ruins amid the warfare. It would be more convenient to rebuild a village than to go back and live there. ¡°The monsters, have they been, eliminated?¡± The old man asked in shock. ¡°Eliminated.¡± Anjia uttered, then turned her horse around to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± The old man called Anjia halt. ¡°What else?¡± The old man fumbled in his bosom. He took out a wrapped cloth, unlayered it to reveal five gold coins. ¡°This is the reward, the reward from the bounty.¡± The old man handed it over. Anjia spared a glance, looked at the village again, ¡°Never mind, you just focus on living properly. If there¡¯s any trouble, post a bounty in the tavern.¡± ¡°Thank, thank you, can you tell me your name?¡± ¡°Anjia.¡± ¡°And the black-haired young man?¡± ¡°Fang Hao.¡± Leaving behind a sentence, Anjia rode away. Only after Anjia had left did the villagers gather. With several voices asking questions at once. The old man, smiling broadly, told everyone that the monster that destroyed the village was dead, someone had avenged the dead villagers. The grand army was returning to the fortress in a mighty tide. Fang Hao took the backpack from the skeleton¡¯s hand, and as he took out the fragment of the Demon Book, the system prompt echoed again. [Fragment detected, [Fragment of the Demon Book], would you like to record it?] Just like the Fragment of the Elemental Book, the Book of Systems could record it, so he didn¡¯t have to carry a single page around everywhere, risking losing it. Record it. The fragment of the Demon Book turned into a flash of light and flew into the Book of Lords. Fang Hao immediately opened the Book of Lords, which now had a new page, named [Demon¡¯s Space]. The name of the ability derived from the Demon¡¯s Book. On the page, on the right was a model of an empty room, and on the left, several columns of tables. How should he operate this? He approached a wooden table, thinking about receiving it. The wooden table still remained before his eyes and was not stored in the Demon¡¯s Space. Was it not working? Fang Hao tried again, touching the wooden table, and again attempted to receive it. The wooden table disappeared into thin air, and the next second, it appeared inside the room model on the page. Chapter 243 - Chapter 237, The Trouble in the Village_l Chapter 237, The Trouble in the Village_l Translator: 549690339 After the recent test, Fang Hao had figured out the operation method of the Demon Space. He couldn¡¯t store items away in the void simply by thought; he needed to touch them. This point is quite consistent with the characteristics of the Book of Lords, whether it¡¯s devouring another person¡¯s Book of Lords or recording scrolls, they can only be achieved through physical touch. The method for storing items was exactly the same. The storage space didn¡¯t specify its size. However, based on the wooden table he put in, he could roughly infer that it was a rectangular space that was about five meters long and four meters wide. It was somewhat similar to the space where he put the desk in the Demon Stone cave earlier, and the dimensions were also not far off. In short, it was a small room of about 20 square meters, with a height of nearly 3 meters. He could arrange what he wanted to store in there. But living creatures and troops could not be stored inside. If it were possible to do so, using this feature for kidnapping would be very convenient. ¡°My Lord, the defense has been arranged, and 100,000 troops will be left here under Terry¡¯s command,¡± Demitrija walked over and said. Terry followed behind her and promised at the same time: ¡°Rest assured, my lord, I will definitely guard the fortress well.¡± ¡°Well, I believe in you, Terry,¡± said Fang Hao. Having assigned all tasks, Fang Hao and the others began to return to their territory. The sky was not yet dark, but it was about three or four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Considering the journey back, it would probably be dinner time. When they returned to the main city, Eira had already prepared dinner. As they sat together eating, Anjia was still passionately recounting the scenes of their epic battle with the Mud Monster. The scene was magnificent, almost like a battle between immortals. Fang Hao widened his eyes. If he hadn¡¯t been there at the time, he would have almost believed that she battled the Mud Monster for so many rounds. Demitrija, on the other hand, was silent. She didn¡¯t expose Anjia, instead, she seemed to enjoy listening. Ding! At this moment, a private chat notification sounded from the Book of Lords. When he opened it, it was a message from Zhang Bin. They now have a ¡®territory channel¡¯. Chatting within the channel does not consume chat counts. However, both Zhang Bin and Fu Lei still used private chat when discussing management matters of the city with Fang Hao. Of course, this was a good thing, it still maintained the secrecy of each city within the territory. ¡°Boss, I negotiated with two affiliated villages today,¡± Zhang Bin said. The inclusion of the Frost Wind Mountains had made the food supply in the territory suddenly tense. After enquiring Shaman Clyde, according to Clyde¡¯s words, each tribe had enough reserved food to last a month. If they did not provide them with food within a month, the Frost Wind Mountains would revert back to its original state of infighting, with tribes robbing food from one another. Fang Hao had his eyes on the mineral resources of the Frost Wind Mountains and had promised to provide them with food. So he would do his best to honor that. He had already asked the merchant Tavek to contact food traders and at the same time, Zhang Bin was also scurrying around for food, doing his best to recruit affiliated villages. ¡°You did well,¡± Fang Hao praised him, but he didn¡¯t have anything to reward him with. ¡°Hehe, thank you, boss,¡± continued Zhang Bin. ¡°Oh, by the way, boss, I promised to station troops in the village, but the number of troops in the city is not enough.¡± This was the issue Zhang Bin was concerned about. They were short of troops, and Fang Hao had not given him the authority to recruit. ¡°Oh, alright. I¡¯ll go over tomorrow morning and recruit some troops for you, and also swap out the equipment,¡± Fang Hao replied. The types of troops available in Zhang Bin¡¯s territory were quite singular. He could only recruit Militia and Heavy Sword Infantry. The city¡¯s co-defense could use the Undead troops that Fang Hao had left for him. But those stationed in the affiliated villages couldn¡¯t use Undead troops. That would easily cause panic. If you accepted a village as an affiliate today, then stationed some undead there, the next day the village might be empty. All the villagers had run away. That would be a problem. So, what was needed was for troops of the human faction to be stationed there. Fang Hao¡¯s blueprint transformed into an Undead blueprint, making it impossible for Zhang Bin to unlock and construct. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t disturb your rest then,¡± Zhang Bin politely said. ¡°Hmm, you should rest early as well. Your health is the most valuable capital,¡± replied Fang Hao. ¡°Understood, boss,¡± Zhang Bin affirmed. Ending the chat with Zhang Bin, Fang Hao continued his meal. Listening to another one of Anjia¡¯s stories, seemingly about her childhood fights with the children from the Orc Clan¡­ The next day. After breakfast, Fang Hao rode the Bone Dragon to recruit some heavy sword infantry for Zhang Bin. They were to be stationed in the affiliated village, to strengthen its defenses. Upon his return, Fang Hao continued his inspection throughout the land. Looking to see whether there were any places that needed his attention. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, whether it was the skeleton craftsmen or the skeleton merchant Doujin. Each fulfilling their own duty. After his round, Fang Hao began to prepare his plan for the day. In his hand, he still held the map accepted from the tavern. It marked the location of a village. The [Demon¡¯s Book Fragment] from yesterday gave Fang Hao a pleasant surprise. He hoped that today¡¯s village would provide another decent reward. Summoning Anjia and Dimitrija, they set off immediately. Upon stopping at the fortress, they enlisted 10 heavy sword infantry, and continued towards their destination. The village was located to the west of Pruell City. The road was somewhat indirect, even without any burdens, it still took nearly an hour to reach. From a distance, the outline of the village was visible. Villagers were coming in and out of the village gate, and there were even guards standing watch on the city wall. It somewhat resembled a small mountain stronghold. The guards on duty became alert upon spotting Fang Hao¡¯s party. The village gate slammed shut immediately, and more guards climbed onto the city wall. ¡°It seems like we¡¯re not very welcome,¡± Fang Hao quietly remarked upon seeing the situation. ¡°They¡¯ve even set their arrows. It¡¯s more than just unwelcome,¡± Anjia glanced at the people on the wall. At this point, more and more people gathered on the defensive wall until a burly man wearing heavy armor stepped forward. His gaze swept over Fang Hao¡¯s party, which was out of their shooting range. ¡°Who are you?¡± someone on the defensive wall shouted. ¡°Tell them we received a reward notice in the village. Apparently, there s trouble here and we¡¯ve come to help,¡± Fang Hao instructed. A heavy sword infantry soldier stepped forward and loudly proclaimed, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be tense, we received a reward notice from your village at the tavern. We¡¯ve come to help.¡± The infantryman¡¯s words caused a brief turmoil among the villagers on the wall. Although their discussion couldn¡¯t be heard, their anger was evident. Soon, someone from the village shouted back, ¡°Oh! Thankyou for that, but we can handle our own troubles. Our village isn¡¯t in a condition to receive guests, so please, be on your way.¡± Despite their words, the arrows remained drawn on their bows. They were on full alert of Fang Hao¡¯s party. ¡°Alright, tell them we¡¯re backing off,¡± Fang Hao looked deeply at the people on the city wall and added. The infantryman shouted, ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t bother you any longer.¡± Upon ending his words, the party turned and started heading back. Along the way, Anjia voiced out, ¡°Those people don¡¯t seem like villagers, they reek of banditry.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Hao felt the same about those people. ¡°Dimitrija, what do you think?¡± Fang Hao asked Dimitrija. Dimitrija, who seldom spoke, stated, ¡°My lord, there were three individuals on the city wall clad in different types of heavy armor. They most likely belong to different factions. Their gathering in such a disarray aligns more with Miss Anjia¡¯s description of bandits.¡± Distinctively assorted protective gear gathered within a single party. This could only indicate that such a group were either robbers or bandits. ¡°It seems the trouble mentioned in the reward notice has already entered the village ahead of us.¡± Chapter 245 - Chapter 239, Recruitment Token_1 Chapter 239, Recruitment Token_1 Translator: 549690339 Half an hour ago. When Fang Hao and his team had cleaned up the bandit camp, a silver treasure chest was thrown by Skeleton directly in front of Fang Hao. He chose to open it right away. [Received: Fortress building blueprint, Whitesteel dagger crafting blueprint (blue), Leopard herding flute, 4 Soul Crystals, and 22 Warfire Coins.] The loot was average. A fortress building blueprint and whitesteel dagger crafting blueprint came out. He already had a fortress that he built and it had played a significant role in battle. What he got now, he could sell to others when he got back. He continued inspecting the Whitesteel Dagger. [Whitestone Dagger (blue): 2 Hardwood, 2 Whitestone ingots, 1 Thick leather.] It was nothing special. Moreover, in Fang Hao¡¯s territory, he still didn¡¯t have any soldiers proficient in using daggers. It could only count as an addition to his collection of blueprints. He put away the items he got, and Demitrija walked over with big strides. ¡°My lord, all the bandits in the camp have been taken care of, not a single one escaped.¡± ¡°Good, all we have to do now is wait for those bandits to return.¡± According to the conversation Fang Hao had overheard earlier, the bandits would return to camp after they finished their raids, bringing loot and captives with them. All they had to do was wait here for them to return. ¡°My lord, I¡¯ll go arrange the men, in case their scouts arrive first.¡± ¡°Good, you go arrange.¡± Demitrija took his orders and left, taking a group of soldiers with him. Meanwhile, Anjia also came back with some men. They carried the spoils from their search. These bandits fled, but they brought quite a few nice things, in addition to some gold and silver jewelry and a small box of coins. There were over 3 thousand in total. ¡°These guys are not as rich as Frostwind City,¡± Anjia said, somewhat unsatisfied. ¡°How can a small place like this compare with Frostwind Mountain Range,¡± Fang Hao responded. Skullcrusher Shah had been raiding the Frostwind Mountain Range for many years to accumulate his wealth. How could these bandits compete with that? ¡°True, but look at this, it appears to be a map.¡± Anjia handed over an old map. [Map: Mysterious Stable] [Type: Single-page Map] (Description: A single-page map marked with a special location. You can attempt an adventure. There might be unexpected gains.) It was indeed a map. ¡°Where did you find it?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°In that central room over there. It should be the bandit leader¡¯s bedroom,¡± Anjia pointed toward a location behind her. There was a two-story wooden building there, the largest structure in the simple camp. It was also where the leader lived. ¡°It¡¯s a map. We can check this place out once we finish up here,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Good.¡± After the search of the camp was completed. Fang Hao¡¯s team waited at the camp for the bandits to return. Time slowly passed, and Fang Hao finally heard the boisterous laughter of the bandits coming from the bottom of the mountain. The forests were full of twisted roots and shady canopies. It made the skies appear even more gloomy as dusk fell. Looking down the mountain road, Fang Hao saw a long line of wagons approaching up the mountain. Among the wagons filled with goods, there were villagers, hands bound, walking like slaves. Standing in front of the camp entrance and looking at Fang Hao with surprise. ¡°You guys are really slow, any slower and I would have gone back for dinner,¡± Fang Hao said slowly. Clang!! Two bandits were startled and stumbled, their weapons clashing against the wagon, creating a dull sound. ¡°You¡­ you were waiting for us?¡± The bandit leader asked incredulously. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that someone would be waiting for them after a successful raid. Awaiting him weren¡¯t women and wine, but a white-boned skeleton that could converse with him. ¡°Otherwise, I expect no one else would come here,¡± Fang Hao replied. The bandit chief swallowed, his eyes sweeping subtly over his underlings. Plucking up courage, he asked, ¡°What do you want with us?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just killing,¡± was the reply. No sooner had the words left his mouth than an uncanny transformation emerged in the hushed woodland. A swarm of undead arose like ghosts along the roadside, brandishing their weapons and pouncing on the bandits like wild beasts. ¡°Pick up your weapons and fight, now!¡± ¡°Kill these undead or none of us will survive!¡± ¡°Gather around me, quick! Gather around me!¡± The undead charged ferociously, plunging directly into the bandit ranks. After only a brief encounter, tens of bandits lay sprawled in pools of blood. The bandit leader was shouting out orders loudly, but on the mountain road chaos reigned and more bandits fell into bloody heaps. Amidst the mournful wails, the undead stabbed them further. The bandits circling around their leader formed a small defense ring. They resisted the brutal assault, but judging from the situation, they were only stalling their inevitable death. The leader and his group were pressed hard by the undead, retreating with each step. They defended desperately, with people continuously falling. The leader, looking at Fang Hao who was spectating from the stairs, shouted: ¡°What the hell do you want? If you want slaves, I can give you all these slaves. But don¡¯t push us too far, otherwise you won¡¯t benefit either.¡± Although he¡¯d never seen an undead before, he¡¯d heard about them. If you were to ask what an undead wants, the first thing he thought of was that they needed living people as sacrifices for some evil rituals. Fang Hao cast a glance at the bandits but did not respond. The battle continued; sparks occasionally flew between clashing weapons, jingling melodies ringing ceaselessly. The chaotic slaughter on the road didn¡¯t affect the villagers whose hands had been tied. Once they observed that the tall undead wielding giant swords only attacked those bearing weapons, they cautiously began to retreat downhill. After they retreated bit, they found that none of the battling parties paid them any mind. Thus, they broke into a run downhill. No one would wait here till the end of the fight, because regardless of who won, neither side would benefit them. In the blink of an eye, all the villagers had fled. As the villagers left, Demitrija emerged from the dense woods, and again massacred a large number of bandits with a sweeping longsword. ¡°You were the one who visited the village this morning, I saw you, lizardman!¡± the bandit leader shouted. Demitrija looked at the remaining bandits, speaking solemnly: ¡°Come on, this is your last chance.¡± Shock flashed through the bandit leader, his previously wavering eyes now radiating determination and sharpness. This was his last chance. ¡°I¡¯m going down fighting you!¡± With a loud shout from the leader, he raised his longsword aiming for the lizardman¡¯s neck. That spot was not covered by armor, as long as he hit it, the lizardman would be killed by his hand. However, he had underestimated his opponent. The heavy long sword was as nimble as a one-handed sword in the lizardman¡¯s hand. With a bit of effort, he parried the bandit leader¡¯s stroke, his blade cutting across the bandit leader¡¯s throat. Piping hot blood spurted out, and the bandit leader slowly fell to his knees, his face reflecting his disbelief. ¡°Sir, all the bandits have been completely wiped out,¡± Demitrija reported to Fang Hao. ¡°Good, clean up the battlefield and bring all the spoils of war back.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The soldiers began to clean up the battlefield. Apart from the dead bandits, there were many items looted from the village still scattered around. Since the villagers were all gone, they had no choice but to take away these items. ¡°Sir, take a look at this,¡± Demitrija handed over the items in his hand. It was a small token found on the bandit leader. The token was made of an unknown material that somehow felt like metal but lacked the metallic texture. There were five pieces in total. Each piece was etched with the same character ¨C ¡°Purple Scale¡±. [Recruitment Token (Purple Scale)] [Type: Item] (Description: The wilderness spawns different astonishing points and facilities at random. They are filled with both risks and opportunities. A Recruitment Token can be used to recruit special troops at designated facilities.) Huh? Fang Hao suddenly thought of the special map he had just obtained. Chapter 247 - Chapter 241, Blood Clan Plan_l Chapter 241, Blood Clan Plan_l Translator: 549690339 It has been half a month since Giovanni¡¯s incident. From his initial disappearance, to the posting of missing person notices, word only arrived a few days ago from the No-face¡¯s hut. I sent five scouts to investigate the undead territory mentioned in the intel. Many days have passed but not only have we not received any intel, but none of the scouts have returned either. The Red Duke¡¯s patience is wearing thin. ¡°Your¡­ your Grace, there must have been some mishap. I will immediately dispatch additional personnel to gather information.¡± The Blood Clan member in charge of intel started to panic. ¡°Hmph! Take some time to reflect on your mistakes.¡± The Red Duke snorted coldly, then ordered his men, ¡°Take him to the dungeon to reflect on his mistakes.¡± ¡°Your Grace, give me another chance. I won¡¯t make another mistake, I swear.¡± As the Blood Clan member pleaded loudly, two Blood Servants walked in. The silver hooks in their hands pierced his collarbone and they dragged him towards the dungeon. The dungeon was a place for Blood Clan criminals. The wound caused by the silver hook could not heal, forcing this Blood Clan member to endure agonizing pain and continuously bleed in the dungeon until the Red Duke remembered this person existed. The pitiful screams of the Blood Clan member grew distant and the grand hall fell into an eerie silence. Only the heavy scent of blood lingered in the air, causing the remaining Blood Clan members in the room to continually gulp nervously, their eyes glowing red. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan? You¡¯re not as useless as him, are you?¡± The Red Duke glanced around at the others. The Blood Clan, too, was under strict surveillance by the living creatures. The slightest movement from them would immediately attract attention from the surrounding living creatures. That¡¯s why he needed information ¨C he needed to know exactly how many troops would be required to eliminate the undead and retrieve the book belonging to the Blood Clan ancestors. Alongside, he had to avenge his nephew¡¯s death too. Hearing the Red Duke¡¯s question, all the Blood Clan members fell silent, some unwilling to take on the responsibility. ¡°Your Grace, I have a few good scouts under my command. Why don¡¯t I take up the task and be sure to bring you the information?¡± a Blood Clan member suggested. He still wanted to send out scouts. The Red Duke glanced at him but didn¡¯t give his approval. The undead have raised their guard, making scouts virtually useless. There¡¯s a high probability that they¡¯re waiting with a trap for more of his forces to walk into. ¡°Any other suggestions?¡± the Red Duke continued to ask. Everyone fell silent for a moment. Then, a tall, thin man stepped forward. ¡°Your Grace,¡± he began after a slight bow. ¡°Hmm? Fielding, what are your thoughts?¡± The Red Duke turned to the thin man, raising his eyebrows slightly. Fielding was acting as an official merchant in the Blood Clan. He was responsible for the purchasing and selling of commodities within the territory, hence holding a certain status among the Blood Clan. Moreover, the Red Duke wouldn¡¯t assign him troublesome tasks. ¡°Your Grace, I feel like the other party is already aware of something. Sending more scouts might not be very effective.¡± Fielding suggested lightly. The Red Duke nodded, agreeing with Fielding¡¯s opinion. ¡°Right, go ahead and share your thoughts.¡± If Fielding was speaking up now, it suggested that he had other ideas in mind. Moreover, these ideas seemed to be more reliable than sending out scouts. Fielding cleared his throat before seriously remarking, ¡°Your Grace, have you ever considered incorporating Pruell City into the Blood Clan¡¯s rule?¡± Whoosh! As soon as he finished speaking, the room exploded into an uproar, even the Red Duke on his throne furrowed his brows. The implication behind this remark was clear to everyone ¨C if word got out, it could instigate a war between the Human Clan and the Blood Clan. ¡°Explain your idea.¡± The Red Duke did not reveal his stance but asked for further explanation. Fielding smiled faintly, ¡°Your Grace, the City Lord of Pruell City, Cyril, reached out to me a while ago.¡± ¡°Oh? Interesting.¡± This piqued the Red Duke¡¯s and everyone else¡¯s interests. ¡°Yes, Cyril has a son who was gravely injured two years ago and still has not recovered. He fears his son might not live much longer, and he has been searching for a cure these past few years.¡± Fielding shared just enough but did not elaborate any further. But everyone in the room understood what Fielding meant. A father who had been searching for a cure for the past two years. The reason why he would reach out to Fielding was most likely related to his son¡¯s condition. ¡°What does this have to do with the undead?¡± the Red Duke asked. ¡°Your Grace, the undead territory lies north of Pruell City. If we can control Pruell City, we can gather intel on the undead more effectively, even if war breaks out, we can deploy troops from Pruell City instead of Crescent Heights.¡± Fielding continued to explain. The Red Duke leaned on his chin and went deep into his thoughts. Contacting Pruell City was a huge risk. If successful, the Blood Clan would reap immense benefits, however, if it failed or information leaked, it might instigate a new war between the two clans. But¡­ it was worth a shot. ¡°Fielding.¡± The Red Duke spoke softly. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Handle this matter. If the negotiations fail, kill this Cyril. Make sure this doesn¡¯t leak.¡± The Red Duke ordered, his tone serious. ¡°Yes, your Grace.¡± The Red Duke continued to look at the people below, and reminded them coldly, ¡°Whoever dares to leak this, you know the consequences.¡± ¡°Yes, we understand.¡± The next day, early morning. Fang Hao woke from his sleep. The golden morning light streamed through the window, a bit too dazzling. He sat up in bed and stretched out lazily. The weather today seemed pretty fine. After getting up, and quickly freshening up, he headed downstairs. Eira was preparing breakfast. Seeing Fang Hao, she greeted him, ¡°Master, why didn¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡± ¡°I¡¯m already well-rested, so I got up.¡± ¡°By the way, master, Scholar Nelson brought a skeletal hero this morning. He¡¯s waiting for you at the entrance of the Viscera Museum.¡± said Eira. ¡°Nelson came out?¡± ¡°Scholar Nelson asked me to relay this, and then he returned to continue his work.¡± continued Eira. ¡°Okay, I will go and take a look.¡± Exiting the City Lord¡¯s mansion, he headed straight towards the Viscera Museum. Standing at the museum¡¯s entrance was an Orc skeletal hero. The hero¡¯s skeleton was robust, even as a skeleton, he resembled a formidable bear. Coming closer, Fang Hao saw the skeletal hero¡¯s name. [Skullcrusher (Purple Tier 9 Hero)] It seemed that Nelson¡¯s first creation was Skullcrusher ¨C Shah, the former Great Chief of Coldwind Mountain. Now, he could only be referred to as Skullcrusher. ¡°I greet the City Lord.¡± Skullcrusher kneeled on one knee and bowed his head. ¡°Welcome to join us, Skullcrusher.¡± Fang Hao supported him to stand up. ¡°Thankyou, my lord.¡± ¡°Alright, first, go to the warehouse and retrieve your equipment. Later, I¡¯ll take you to Coldwind Mountain and you¡¯ll manage that place on my behalf.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Chapter 248 - Chapter 242, Unexpected Guest (Seeking Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets...) ! Chapter 242, Unexpected Guest (Seeking Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets¡­) ! Translator: 549690339 Skullcrusher headed to the warehouse to retrieve his ¡®in-life¡¯ gear. These equipment were stored in the weapons warehouse as long as they were not broken, with no one touching them. Skullcrusher¡¯s gear consisted of a set of purple heavy armor and a spiked long-handled war hammer. It was from this that he derived his name, Skullcrusher. Fang Hao used this time to inspect Skullcrusher¡¯s attributes. [Skullcrusher (Purple Ninth Rank Hero)] [Camp: Undead] [Template: Purple] [Racial traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to light magic.] [Legion Talent: Berserk, Tyrant, Heavy Infantry Commander.] [Skills: Belief in Strength, Shatter, Frenzied Hammering, Fury of the Berserker.] [Innate abilities: Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Command Mastery, Advanced Hammer Mastery.] [Berserk]: The units led in battle, after killing or assisting in killing an enemy, their strength will increase by 1%, lasting for 5 seconds, this effect can stack up to 15 times. [Heavy Infantry Commander]: Infantry defense +20%. [Tyrant]: The morale of the units led in battle, -20%, all attributes +5%. [Belief in Strength (Passive)]: All physical damage +20%, self-inflicted non-physical damage -5%. [Shatter (Passive)]: Damage to inanimate armor (armor, shields) +15%. [Frenzied Hammering (Active)]: Frenziedly swing the war hammer at the target, causing 100%/120%/140%/160%/200% of physical damage. [Fury of the Berserker (Active)]: Enter a state of fury, all attributes +20%, ignore any diminishing effects, ignore pain. (Description: The product of The Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead, this hero cannot be promoted or advanced.) Skullcrusher¡¯s attributes are pretty decent. Overall, he is a military general who is adept at combat. However, during his previous stint managing Frostwind Range, he had turned it into a region ripe with internal strife. Despite having a unified system, he allowed mutually plundering practices. As long as one did not mess with the Skullcrusher Tribe, regular tribute punctually every month sufficed. This led to chaos within Frostwind Range, with many mines unable to operate normally. Now that Skullcrusher¡¯s memory had been modified, he had 100% loyalty to Fang Hao and his domain. It likely wouldn¡¯ t pose much of a problem when the time came to deploy him at Frostwind Range. He was both acquainted with the place and had deterrence power. ¡°Master, Sister Eira asks you to come for breakfast,¡± a maid walked over. ¡°Okay,¡± Fang Hao agreed, and he set off for the lord¡¯s mansion. After a quick breakfast. Fang Hao, along with Anjia, Demitrija and Skullcrusher, mounted the Bone Dragon. Once everything was ready, the Bone Dragon flew towards the sky, heading for Frostwind Range. Within Frostwind City. When the Bone Dragon landed, Shaman Clyde led a group of Orcs to welcome them. Upon spying Fang Hao¡¯s entourage and the skeletal hero, he quickly recognized Skullcrusher¡¯s identity. ¡°Chieftain Shah¡­.¡± Clyde¡¯s face changed, while the others, stunned, fell to their knees in fear. It seemed that Shah¡¯s terror had deeply infiltrated into the hearts of all here. Though it was a skeleton, the body size and gear it wore was exactly the same as what Skullcrusher Shah had used. Everyone could ascertain that this was Skullcrusher Shah after death. Skullcrusher looked indifferently at the people kneeling before him and said, ¡°First, meet Lord Fang Hao.¡± Although Skullcrusher¡¯s memory was modified, not all of it had been wiped clean. ¡°Oh, oh.¡± Everyone quickly turned to pay homage to Fang Hao, ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Alright, how are the mines¡¯ reopening coming along?¡± Fang Hao strode into the chief¡¯s hall and took his seat directly at the head. The rest of them also sat down on their respective spots on both sides. This time, an Orc stood up cautiously, his eyes sweeping over Fang Hao and Skullcrusher carefully, ¡°My Lord, the mines are gradually resuming operations, but the tribes seem somewhat hesitant, they¡¯re not very proactive.¡± ¡°Oh? What doubts?¡± Fang Hao curiously looked at him. ¡°This,¡­, I boldly surmise, it should still be an issue of the treatment you promised, it¡¯s only my guess, just a guess.¡± As the Orc finished his sentence, sweat began to bead on his forehead. Fang Hao had promised them some special treatment. For instance, they did not need to provide monthly contributions and beauties, but just complete their monthly mining tasks. They would also provide some basic necessities and even food for the tribes in the future. The ¡®doubts¡¯ he referred to were probably doubts about whether Fang Hao, a human controlling an undead army, would really honor his promises. ¡°Skullcrusher.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord,¡± Both of them looked at Fang Hao in unison. ¡°You¡¯ll personally take care of this later. Arrange for people to open pubs in the villages where the mines are located, and depending on the need, provide free drinks.¡± After some thinking, Fang Hao ordered. Giving out free drinks, combined with Skullcrusher¡¯s intimidation. These actions would serve as a reminder to these Orcs. They had no rights to choose. They work and drink, and Fang Hao would be responsible for covering the essential needs. Or they could return to the rule of Skullcrusher ¡ª same tasks, no more ease. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Skullcrusher replied. Fang Hao looked at the Orc who spoke earlier, ¡°This should resolve the problem, right?¡± ¡°Problem? There¡¯s no more problem.¡± Fang Hao nodded and turned his attention to Clyde, ¡°Clyde, is the foundry progressing smoothly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going very smoothly. The factory is running normally, and the output is very steady. I¡¯ve also arranged accommodations for the blacksmiths. Everything is normal,¡± Clyde assured. ¡°Good, what about the fortress that Fireblade is guarding?¡± ¡°Orcs have also been arranged to provide auxiliary work, my lord.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao continued looking at everyone, ¡°Are there any other issues to raise?¡± ¡°No more.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao rose and walked toward the door. He brought Skullcrusher and a few others to the warehouse and made 101 Troll fermenting barrels. ¡°Skullcrusher, these are Troll fermenting barrels. Pour in clean water and fruits, and it will ferment into fruit wine. Deliver these to the cities where the mining pits are.¡± Fang Hao explained. ¡°Understood, my Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, now you stay here and manage these Orcs properly. If you need anything, notify me.¡± Fang Hao patted Skullcrusher¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yes, my lord. I will bear the heavy responsibility authorized by my lord.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Having finished his instructions to Skullcrusher, Fang Hao mounted his Bone Dragon again to check on Frostwind Fortress. After exchanging a few words with the stationed Fireblade, he returned to the main city. It was gradually getting late when he returned from Frostwind Range. Riding the Bone Dragon had shortened the journey. Yet, the distance was exceedingly great, requiring several hours of travel back and forth. On returning to the lord¡¯s mansion, Eira brought up the prepared dinner. With four dishes and a soup, it was quite lavish. Just as Fang Hao began eating, he heard the system notification. [Random Event: Uninvited Guests (Accepted)]. [Task Description: In ten hours, all surviving lords¡¯ territories will welcome a group of uninvited guests. They bear either good or ill intentions. Please prepare yourself.] [Event Countdown: 9 hours, 59 minutes.] [Wish you good luck¡­] Chapter 249 - Chapter 243, Three Tasks at the Same Time_l Chapter 243, Three Tasks at the Same Time_l Translator: 549690339 Upon hearing the system prompt, Fang Hao knit his eyebrows. A random event had appeared again. After the ¡°Lord conflict¡± and ¡°Heroism¡± events, this was the third type of random event, named ¡°unexpected visitor¡±. According to the task description, it seemed that soon a group of outsiders would appear nearby his territory. Whether they come with hostile or friendly intentions, it wasn¡¯t certain. It might not necessarily lead to a battle. Just as Fang Hao was about to check out everyone¡¯s reactions in the regional channel, another prompt appeared. [Event generated: Rebellion] [Random enemies for the event have spawned. Thirty thousand rebel forces will appear near your territory. They are equipped with fine armour and have rigid discipline, planning to seize your city in one fell swoop.] [Good luck¡­] Unfortunately, the enemy generated was rebels. [Subordinate Territory tasks generated: ¡°Bandits descending from the mountain¡± and ¡°Passingtravelers¡±] [You may choose to complete them from the main city or separately.] Interesting, the tasks also appeared for him as well. For any normal force, it would be a safe method to divide their efforts. But it was not necessary for Fang Hao. Zhang Bin¡¯s and Fu Lei¡¯s areas were mainly focused on agriculture, their combat power was not strong. With his ample combat force, whether it was rebel forces or bandits, they could hardly pose a threat. Furthermore, ¡°Passing travelers¡± didn¡¯t seem like a combat event. There might be some special harvest. He made a direct choice for the main city to complete it. [Event tasks confirmed: Rebellion, Bandits descend from the mountain, and Passing travelers] [Event Countdown: 9 hours 58 minutes 23 seconds.] [Good luck¡­] Ding! At that moment, a message from Zhang Bin came through in the territory channel. ¡°Boss, did you really accept all these tasks yourself? Fu Lei also remarked, ¡°Thankyou, boss.¡± These event tasks were dangerous. Even though the ¡°Passing travelers¡± didn¡¯t sound like a combat event, who could be certain whether they come with good intentions? ¡°No problem, these fights are easy. You guys just focus on managing your territories.¡± ¡°Alright, boss. Thank you.¡± After the two of them expressed their gratitude again, Fang Hao was essentially lifting the burden off their shoulders by taking all the fights on himself. He closed the territory channel and reopened the regional channel. As expected, everyone was discussing the same event. ¡°What do you guys think if I abandon my city and run away, then come back after the event time passes, would it be considered a success or a failure?¡± ¡°Success! Ahem, a friend of mine did so during a ¡®Nature¡¯s Revenge¡¯ event. He waited till the event time ended, the enemies disappeared automatically. When he came back, although there were fewer resources inside the territory and some damage to the buildings, he succeeded.¡± ¡°Oh, thanks pal, I got it.¡± ¡± [Image] What the heck is Undead patrolling? Are Undead coming to mine tomorrow? What should I do with Undead, talisman or cross, who knows?¡± ¡°It should be a cross, right? Things like a talisman are to deal with hopping zombies, right? Maybe prepare some garlic too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve encountered Undead before, the cross didn¡¯t work, speaking from personal experience.¡± ¡°You up there have experience, can you share how to deal with them?¡± ¡°How would I know, I ran off with my people, not having a direct confrontation with them.¡± ¡°You can ask Fang Hao, his merchants are all Skeletons, they should be kind of Undead.¡± ¡°Right, right, right! @Fang Hao, Boss, my territory will have Undead tomorrow, can you help me check if Undead have any weaknesses?¡± Good grief, they really @ed him. What unique features could Undead have? There are many different kinds of Undead. After thinking for a bit, Fang Hao decided to reply: ¡°Undead fear Light magic. If you were to get your hands on some, it should be very effective. ¡°What? I¡­ I drink strength potions, and there¡¯s nowhere to get Light magic. Do you have any other methods?¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°Low-level Undead aren¡¯t very intelligent. Setting up some traps or obstacles tonight could be very effective.¡± ¡°Thankyou, I¡¯m impressed with you boss! I¡¯ll dig some traps right away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m dealing with bandits, boss Fang Hao, do you have any tips or methods? ¡°Boss, how should I deal with Orc Brutes? A lot of people started asking Fang Hao for advice. Even though they might have had their own plans, they wanted to hear ideas from Fang Hao. It seemed as if he had a guidebook to clear the stages. After briefly offering everyone some advice, he didn¡¯t say much else. The reason why he was able to develop to his current state was not because he had a powerful brain, but because of his unique characteristic that gave him a hundredfold increase in troop summoning. There are some things he didn¡¯t understand and if he spoke about them, he might mislead others. He disconnected from the regional channel, devouring the last bite of his meal. Coming into the hall, he ordered the maid to summon the Blood Hunter. It wasn¡¯t long before the Blood Hunter walked in. ¡°Lord, you called me?¡± ¡°Yes, later, you¡¯re going to patrol around the territory and see if any special buildings have appeared.¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Alright, Lord, I¡¯ll set out now.¡± ¡°Okay, be thorough, and report back to me if you find anything.¡± Fang Hao reminded him again. ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± Blood Hunter hurried out of the lord¡¯s hall and mounted the Bone Dragon to fly toward the exterior of the territory. One hour later. Blood Hunter, mounted on his Bone Dragon, landed in front of the lord¡¯s hall. He quickly walked into the hall and reported, ¡°Lord, I found two camps. They had complete sets of buildings but were completely empty.¡± just as expected, this was similar to the last ¡®Nature Punishment¡¯ task. The buildings would appear at the release of the task. Once the task countdown ended, the enemies mentioned in the task would appear. ¡°Where are the camps located and how large are they?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°The camp on the north side is larger, it could accommodate an estimated 10,000 people. The camp on the east side is a bit smaller, looking more like a small village.¡± Blood Hunter responded. ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao nodded. It seemed the size of the camp was directly related to the number of people. The task notification mentioned 30,000 rebels, so they must be at the northern camp. The smaller one should comprise of bandits, with a likely smaller number. Fang Hao looked at a maid. ¡°Go and get Demitrija and Anjia for me.¡¯ ¡°Yes, Master.¡± There were four heroes within the main city. Nelson, Blood Hunter, Anjia, and Demitrija. Since Nelson was engaged in making the remaining skeleton heroes, he was unable to participate in tomorrow¡¯s event task. Therefore, he had to assign some tasks to the remaining three heroes. When the maid came back, she was followed by Demitrija, and Anjia also came downstairs from upstairs. They sat down on the seats located on one side. Fang Hao began, ¡°Two camps have appeared on the north and east of the territory. Tomorrow morning, enemies will appear and launch an attack on the territory.¡± ¡°Lord, what do you suggest we do?¡± ¡°Demitrija, you¡¯re responsible for the larger camp on the north side. Arrange troops to surround them, and don¡¯t let a single one escape,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Yes, Lord,¡± Demitrija nodded, indicating that he understood. Fang Hao then turned towards Anjia, ¡°Anjia, you are responsible for the camp on the east side, and Blood Hunter will guard the city.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them also nodded one after another. At night, Demitrija and Anjia, taking advantage of the darkness, went to observe the two abandoned territories, planning out their setups. The next morning. ¡°Anjia, wake up, we have tasks to complete today.¡± Fang Hao yelled from the doorway. After shouting several times, there were still no responses from the room. ¡°No one¡¯s here? That can¡¯t be,¡± Fang Hao thought, bafflingly, and pushed the door open. Upon opening the door, he saw Anjia laying sideways on the bed. Her white hair was spread out like clouds. She wore a loose vest on her upper body, and her firm buttocks were covered by tight shorts. Well, everyone had risen to action, but here she was still sleeping. Smack! A crisp sound echoed through the room. Startled awake, Anjia clutched her bottom and gritted her teeth. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Chapter 250 - Chapter 244, Male Technician (Seeking Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets...) ! Chapter 244, Male Technician (Seeking Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets¡­) ! Translator: 549690339 ¡°What am I doing? Do you know what time it is? Who promised me they would wake up early today?¡± Fang Hao retorted. ¡°Ah!¡± Anjia suddenly remembered that she had been assigned a task for today. As she dressed herself, she said, ¡°You could have just woken me up, why did you hit me?¡± ¡°Well, I could have if you didn¡¯t sleep like a log. You wouldn¡¯t even know if the house collapsed.¡± Fang Hao replied through gritted teeth. ¡°Hehe, I was wrong. What are we having for breakfast?¡± Anjia stuck out her tongue, rubbing her bottom as she headed towards the door. By the time the two of them got downstairs, Eira had already prepared breakfast. Fortunately, there was enough time to finish their meal. After breakfast¡­ Demitrija and Anjia, leading 100,000 and 20,000 soldiers respectively, headed towards their assigned camps. Demitrija was responsible for the eastern front, assigned to handle a 30,000- man rebel army. With his 100,000 soldiers and several bone dragons, they should easily overrun the rebels. The only problem was that this camp was not dismantleable; otherwise, the human wave tactic would be even more effective. As for the bandits that Anjia was responsible for¡­ Though the prompt did not indicate the number of enemies, considering the size of the camp, it was probably just a few hundred men. With Anjia¡¯s 20,000 soldiers, it should be more than enough. Twenty minutes later, Fang Hao used his God¡¯s Presence to follow Demitrija to the camp. The close-range troops had surrounded the camp several times over, the long- range troops were perched on the wall, and the bone dragons were peeking into the camp, ready to unleash their death breath at any moment. The camp was like a giant bowl, waiting for the appearance of the rebels inside. As time ticked by¡­ [Random event triggered: Rebel Raid, Bandit Invasion, passing travelers reaching near your territory.] With the announcement of the prompt, a large flash of light suddenly appeared on the empty ground within the camp. The rebels, wearing chainmail armor and triangular iron helmets, began to appear within the camp. On the platform, a general held up his knight¡¯s sword and immediately shouted out, ¡°Our scouts have news, there¡¯s a territory to the south, as long as we seize¡­ seize¡­¡± His passionate speech was cut short as his facial expression suddenly changed. The rebels present also went pale. Unbeknownst to them, the camp walls were already filled with fully-armed undead, their hands holding bows and magic wands, as they watched them intently. Above the walls, several bone dragons peered down, curiously watching. What¡¯s going on? Why was their camp surrounded by the undead? They felt like rabbits trapped in a cage, being watched by a hunter. The undead didn¡¯t give the rebels much time to think or react. With the shout of ¡®Attack!¡¯, all of the undead commenced their assault. The bone dragons exhaled black energy beams, instantly turning the rebels they passed over into skeletons. The archers and mages on the wall also began their attacks. A rain of arrows and magic missiles poured down upon them. Like a giant black net, the camp was enveloped. ¡°Quick, find cover, hurry, don¡¯t just stand there!¡± The general immediately dove into a wooden hut, shouting orders. He didn¡¯t understand what was happening, but there was no time to think. The first thing was to get his soldiers to cover, to avoid the concentrated attacks. There were bodies scattered all around the camp; limbs flew under the bombardment of magic missiles. Blood dyed the ground dark red, forming streams that flowed outwards. The general gritted his teeth as he watched everything unfold. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer. If he allowed the undead to clear out most of the rebels, there would be even less chance of breaking out. He yelled to the remaining rebels hiding amongst the buildings, ¡°Look for shields! Follow me out; this is our only chance, we can avenge our brothers later!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The rebels responded. Everyone began to look for shields, using anything that could be used as a shield. Tables, chairs, or even the armor of their fallen comrades. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Shield formation.¡± The people from nearby rooms quickly gathered together, bringing their shields to create a barrier against the arrows coming from all directions. The rebels, after all, had a better quality than bandits. At the leader¡¯s command, they could quickly form a formation. The arrows rattle against the shields as they make their way to the camp gate. More rebels join along the way, increasing the size of the turtle shell formation, trampling on the ground as they rush towards the camp gate. ¡°Hang on, we¡¯re almost out,¡± the leader encouraged the troops. All the rebels persevered and moved forward. When everyone finally stepped out of the camp gate, they stopped dead in their tracks, faces ashen! Outside the territory, circles upon circles of undead armies surrounded them, densely packed and endless. The next second, a black light swept through the shield formation, turning everyone into white bones. Next, the melee soldiers entered, catching the rebels hidden in corners and houses and killing them. The battle lasted just over an hour before ending. The skeletons started to clean up the battlefield, collecting equipment, arrows, and wriggling spines. Thump thump! The door is gently knocked, followed by Eira¡¯s calling voice ringing in the ears. ¡°Master, Master¡­¡± Fang Hao dispelled his God¡¯s Presence and sat up in bed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Eira.¡± ¡°Master, the Blood Hunter captured a few people who claim to have only been passing through during the interrogation,¡± Eira said softly. Eira¡¯s words reminded Fang Hao of the third random event. He had overlooked this. If they were just ordinary merchants or travelers, they would probably have been taken out by the undead as soon as they got close. If the Blood Hunter had not found them, these people would probably have avoided the undead area and left directly. ¡°Oh? Take me to see.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Eira led Fang Hao out of the lord¡¯s mansion. In the middle of the courtyard, a few people were guarded by undead and knelt on the ground with their heads in their hands. ¡°Sir.¡± The Blood Hunter saluted. ¡°Yes, what happened?¡± ¡°While on patrol, I found these people acting suspiciously. It¡¯s a time of high alert, so we brought them back.¡± The Blood Hunter glanced at the people kneeling on the ground. ¡°Sir, we were just passing through this place. We didn¡¯t have enough food and were looking for a nearby city to get some,¡± a human man explained hastily. Fang Hao turned to look at the man. [Human Technician (Tier 3)]. Technician? A male technician¡­ hmm, does this world also have a physical therapy industry? Not all of the technicians were human; there were also dwarves and elves. But they were all male, especially the dwarf technician, whose short stature was emphasized by a beard that seemed bushier than his hair. They all looked travel-worn, which did indeed support their claim of being travelers. ¡°Surrender all your weapons. You can rest in the city for a while. I will have someone prepare food foryou,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Thankyou.¡± After sharing a glance, they laid their weapons aside. ¡°Sit down and chat. Food will be prepared for you shortly, and then you can leave. They are my guards and won¡¯t harm you,¡± Fang Hao explained. The technicians stood up and sat down gingerly on a bench nearby. Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°My name is Ram, and these are my companions,¡± the leading technician said. ¡°Oh, where are you headed, and how did you end up here?¡± ¡°We were on our way back to our city. We didn¡¯t know there was a city here, and that¡¯s how we ended up wandering in.¡± Chapter 251 - Chapter 245, Structure Blueprint l Chapter 245, Structure Blueprint l Translator: 549690339 The maid served the technicians some fruit wine. They took large gulps of it with gratitude. From their reactions, food seemed even more scarce than they had initially let on. ¡°Prepare them some food first. We¡¯ll set off once they¡¯re full.¡± Fang Hao instructed the maid. ¡°Yes, master.¡± After acknowledging his order, the maid went to prepare food. ¡°We appreciate your kindness, sir, but we have not yet asked for your name.¡± Ram leaned forward, a sign of respect. ¡°Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Oh, Mr. Fang Hao, we will forever remember your kindness.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to. It was just a small gesture,¡± Fang Hao replied, displaying a modest smile to indicate they didn¡¯t need to fret over it. The group chatted casually. Gradually, the technicians, who initially had been quite reserved, struck up more conversations with Fang Hao. They asked why the skeletons would obey his commands. Fang Hao could only explain that it was a part of his abilities- to make skeletons obey, instead of causing them to indiscriminately attack living creatures, like the rank-and-file undead. The maids came back with the food; the men thanked them and began to eat voraciously. From his conversations with Ram, Fang Hao gathered some information. The technicians had just come back from the underground mine in the south of the territory. They hadn¡¯t brought enough provisions for the return journey. They had traded for some food on their way through villages, but it was not sufficient for them to make it back to their own city. Luckily, they ran into Fang Hao, who provided them with food and was also willing to prepare supplies for the remaining part of their journey. After finishing the food in his bowl, Ram wiped his hands on his clothes. He thanked Fang Hao once again and then whispered something to his companions. Fang Hao did not interrupt them and quietly awaited their decision. The technicians took a long time to discuss. Eventually, Ram smiled at Fang Hao and after wiping his hands once more, reached into his worn-out leather bag to bring out large parchment. ¡°Once again, we thank you for your hospitality and assistance, Mr. Fang Hao. We spent all our money on food from the villagers. With this blueprint, we wish to show you our gratitude,¡± Ram said, while reverently handing the blueprint to Fang Hao. From Ram¡¯s demeanor, it was clear that he valued the blueprint highly. ¡°Very well, I accept your gift,¡± Fang Hao said, without any hesitation, as he took the parchment from Ram. The blueprint was huge, even when spread out, it still spanned more arm lengths. [Received: Complete Blueprint for Stone Monster Armors.] [Stone Monster Armor Blueprint: Basic Head Part Blueprint, Head Stone Armor Blueprint, Basic Torso Part Blueprint, Torso Stone Armor Blueprint, Basic Arm Part Blueprint, Arm Stone Armor Blueprint, Basic Leg Part Blueprint, Leg Stone Armor Blueprint.] Impressive. The whole set is recorded on a single large blueprint. Now Fang Hao understood that Ram and his companions were not simply cobblers. He¡¯d acquired the Stone Monster Armor Blueprint early on, and only now did he receive the blueprints for individual parts. In addition, each individual part came with its own separate blueprint. If he hadn¡¯t received the full set of blueprints from Ram, it could have taken ages to collect them all separately. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao,¡± Ram continued, ¡°this blueprint records a lot of knowledge about built-in bodies. If you are not interested in it, it can still serve as a valuable collector¡¯s item.¡± Constructing a built-in body involves knowledge from various fields and requires systematic learning; however, even more than that, it requires talent. Given Fang Hao¡¯s age, it would be too late for him to delve into it now. Regardless, the blueprint alone, as a collector¡¯s item, is quite valuable. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ram. I like this item very much. Which direction is your city? I can arrange for my soldiers to escort you there,¡± Fang Hao proposed, growing more curious about their identities. When Ram and the others caught sight of the undead out of the corner of their eyes, they were quick to wave off the offer with a hasty, ¡°No, no, we¡¯U find our way.¡± ¡°That works too. Eira, prepare some extra food and water,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, master,¡± Eira replied. They packed the food and water onto the technicians¡¯ cart, enough for their remaining journey. Besides, they were just characters from a random event quest. Once the event timer ran out, they would disappear anyway. After their rest in the city, Ram and his companions bade Fang Hao farewell and left the territory. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, thank you once again for your help. I hope we will have another chance to meet,¡± said Ram in parting. ¡°We will, Mr. Ram,¡± Fang Hao replied, waving goodbye. After sending off Ram and the others, Fang Hao returned to his territory. He recorded the blueprint in his Book of Lords. Of the three tasks, this was his biggest gain. Speaking of which, Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed in concern. Demitrija had already returned with the soldiers after clearing up the battlefield. Why hadn¡¯t Anjia returned yet? Hopefully, nothing went wrong¡­ With this in mind, he hurriedly headed back to his room to manifest his presence onto the soldier Anjia brought with her. After successfully casting God¡¯s Presence, Fang Hao was stumped by the scene before him. Where on earth was this? Wasn¡¯t this the fortress between his territory and Pruell City? Had Anjia led the soldiers here? Looking around, he spotted Anjia near the entrance of the fortress. He quickly approached her and asked, ¡°Anjia, why did you lead the soldiers here? Is the bandit camp cleared already?¡± Anjia might be mischievous, but she always carried out the tasks assigned to her seriously. This was the first time she had acted like this. ¡°Cleared it up, and look, they¡¯re not still there?¡± Anjia pointed towards the ditch in front of them. Following her gesture, Fang Hao saw hundreds of robust men with various tools, dredging the river. ¡°You brought them here¡­ to dig a river?¡± Fang Hao was stunned. Increasing the depth and width of the river was a measure Fang Hao had formerly considered to make the wooden bridge in front of the fortress the only point of entry. Initially, he had planned to have the skeletons doing the digging, but he hadn¡¯t had time to supervise it due to his other commitments. Anjia, however, had remembered this and even brought the bandits from the quest to serve as laborers. ¡°Murdering them seemed like a waste. Why not put them to work,¡± Anjia explained. Fang Hao was left speechless. Although he had brought the thousands of rebels to work, the quest was only for 12 hours. Once that time was up, they¡¯d automatically disappear without needing to be fed, and the work would also be completed. It seemed like a win-win situation no matter how he looked at it. ¡°They appeared, and you just brought them over here?¡± Fang Hao asked, intrigued. Anjia sat down on a box beside the river, watching over the bandits as they worked diligently. ¡°Not exactly,¡± she replied. ¡°They were more aggressive when they first appeared, shouting and yelling, saying they outnumbered me and wanted to fight me one-on-one.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then I just beat up their boss and their second-in-command. After that, they became more obedient,¡± Anjia explained casually. She pointed towards the burly man in sturdy iron armor, with a bruised face, in the distance. That seemed to be the boss she referred to. ¡°Alright, just keep an eye on them. Make sure they don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Fang Hao nodded and deactivated his God¡¯s Presence. Now that he had confirmed Anjia was safe¡­ Fang Hao started to go through the blueprint he¡¯d received. If the materials to build the armor are available, he could try building some Stone Monster Armors to enhance his combat power. [Stone Monster Basic Head Part: Iron 5, Cast Iron 2, Metal Parts 12, Precision Parts 8.] Chapter 253 - Chapter 247, Seventh Level Lords Mansionl Chapter 247, Seventh Level Lord¡¯s Mansionl Translator: 549690339 | This piece of equipment is not bad. It¡¯s called a Coin Purse, in fact, it¡¯s an enhancement item. If you put 5 Gold Coins in it, you can increase your attack power by 5%. Seeing Fang Hao staring at her coin purse, Anjia pitifully said: ¡°I got it, and I¡¯ve watched them work all day, it¡¯s really hard.¡± Her tone and expression were like a child who had been robbed of candy. It¡¯s rare to see such an expression on Anjia¡¯s face. Fang Hao took out five gold coins and put them directly into the coin purse, reminding her: ¡°This is your New Year¡¯s gift, don¡¯t use it for gambling.¡± Seeing Fang Hao giving her money, a smile instantly appeared on Anjia¡¯s face. ¡°I stopped playing that a long time ago, I¡¯m learning to play chess with Nelson now.¡± While eating, Anjia asked: ¡°By the way, what does New Year¡¯s gift mean?¡± She always hears some strange words from Fang Hao. ¡°It means you can¡¯t spend this money, it¡¯s to ward off bad luck, and bring good fortune.¡± Fang Hao casually explained. ¡°Oh, then what should I do if I want to buy something?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you pocket money?¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Anjia chuckled and continued to eat. The next day, early in the morning. Fang Hao got up early, left his room and began to wash up. Just as he stepped out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion, maids flocked to greet him. Speaking of maids, with the development of the territory and the increase in buildings. And his later plans to open a shop in Lyss City, He was starting to run short of maids. Whether they were rabbit maids or fox maids, Fang Hao was quite satisfied. They were attractive and obedient. Most importantly, they learned quickly. Whether it was learning to cook with Eira or helping at the tailor shop, they were able to learn quickly and apply it to their work. Similarly, the maids also liked Fang Hao¡¯s domain. No more hunger, no more living in greasy cages. Fang Hao had provided them with everything necessary for life, and he hadn¡¯t turned out to be as terrifying as the human nobles in the rumors. This place was better and more comfortable than any other place they had lived in. Even, Fang Hao had become the ideal choice for all the maids. They hoped that one day, they would be chosen by Fang Hao to become personal maids like Eira. Fang Hao took a simple tour around the territory. He started his daily aerobic exercises with running, push-ups, and practicing the combat techniques he had learned in the past few days. After training from start to finish, he was starting to break a sweat. After finishing his exercise, Eira was still preparing breakfast. Standing in front of the Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao noticed that the materials needed to upgrade the Lord¡¯s Mansion were already gathered. It was time to further upgrade the Lord¡¯s Mansion. [Level 7 Stone Tower: 5200 Hardwood, 7000 Stone Bricks, 700 Iron, 520 Metal Parts.] The materials required for a level 7 Stone Tower are starting to be replaced with higher-level materials. Upgrade! The Lord¡¯s Stone Tower was engulfed in light, gradually increasing its size bit by bit. After about twenty minutes, the light dissipated, and the upgrade was complete. [Level 7 Lord¡¯s Stone Tower] [Owned by Lord: Fang Hao] [Abilities: Production/Collection+3.5%, Troop Movement+3.5%, All Attributes+2%] [Existing Buildings: Level 6 Underground Cemetery¡­, Level 6 Stable. ] (Note: Core building of the territory.) [Materials Required for Upgrade: 8500 Hardwood, 11000 Stone Bricks, 950 Iron, 750 Metal Parts,1200 Roof Tiles.] The Great Hall of the Lord has expanded further based on the original design. It¡¯s starting to resemble a Western stone castle. If I want to upgrade from level 7 to level 8, a new construction material called Roof Tiles is required. He had seen roof tiles in his original world, but he had not encountered them in this world. If he wanted to upgrade to level 8, acquiring roof tiles would be his next goal. After upgrading the Lord¡¯s Stone Tower, he continued to upgrade the other buildings in the territory to level 7. The aim is to maximize the overall strength of his territory. ¡°Good morning, my Lord.¡± At this moment, Doujin came from behind and greeted politely. ¡°Good morning, Doujin.¡± Fang Hao greeted back with a smile. Now, his territory had undead, orcs, lizardmen, and of course, humans like Fang Hao himself. Everyone lived together in this city, which was unexpectedly harmonious. As the Goblin Clerk once said, it was unheard of for these different races to coexist in one city peacefully. ¡°My Lord, I have an order that requires your assistance,¡± Doujin stated his purpose. ¡°Oh? What order?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Doujin handed over the order in his hand. [Specific Order] [Requirements: 1000 Troll Heavy Armor, 1000 Troll Iron Helmets, 1000 Troll Combat Boots, 3000 Hatchets.] [Trade Exchange: 510,000 Warfire Coins, +10 Troll Influence.] It was an order from the Trolls. The same order had been made before, sold to the Trolls once. When the specific order came up again, it was certain that it was the same Troll Tribe that bought the equipment the last time. ¡°There isn¡¯t enough equipment in the warehouse, do I need to make some?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go to the warehouse.¡± The two went to the Trade Alliance building and accepted the order. Then they went to the warehouse to make the equipment ordered by the Trolls. After they were done making them, a skeleton merchant took the troll equipment to deliver. After chatting with Doujin for a bit more and finding out there were no special matters, he left the Trade Alliance building. ¡°Master, Eira is calling you for breakfast.¡± A rabbit maid ran over, her ample bosom swaying significantly. Fang Hao was worried that the inertia of the up-and-down movement would trip her over. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Don¡¯t run and fall,¡± Fang Hao warned. ¡°Master, we¡¯ve drank the potion. Eira advised us to exercise more and enhance our physical strength so that we can help you better,¡± the Rabbit Maid adjusted her breath as she explained. So she was running to exercise and just happened to notify Fang Hao on the way. ¡°Did you drink the stamina potion?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. In recent times, the Trade Alliance had taken two orders from alchemists. Some of the potions that were received were also gradually distributed to the maids. Fang Hao had some impression of the rabbit maid in front of him. She was a little over 1.5 meters tall. Even when she was a slave and poorly fed and clothed, she maintained a chubby face. She had a baby face. Her big ears were fluffy and white like those of a lop-eared rabbit. ¡°Yeah, how about that, Master? Can you see how much stronger I¡¯ve become?¡± The maid brandished her fist at him. Fang Hao didn¡¯t see any noticeable difference. But he knew that Soye had to make undergarments for the maids. Just being bare like this, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but worry about whether it would affect their normal development. [Orc Warrior (Tier 3)]. Checking her attributes again, it turned out she had indeed reached Tier 3. In terms of rabbit maids, her progress was relatively fast. Truly, appearances can be deceiving. ¡°Impressive, keep up the good work. Just don¡¯t overdo it, and take care of yourself.¡± Fang Hao gently rubbed the rabbit maid¡¯s head as he headed towards the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Chapter 254 - Chapter 248, Mother and Horse (Please subscribe ) 1 Chapter 248, Mother and Horse (Please subscribe ) 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Breakfast has been eaten. Just after breakfast, Soye brought the sample costume she¡¯d just finished crafting. The sample was a blank prototype made for fitting before the final product. ¡®Blank¡¯ doesn¡¯t refer to the fabric necessarily being white, but to the initial style, which is checked for fitting. While fitting the sample, the fabric, lace, and buttons can still be adjusted. The sudden completion of Soye¡¯s costume forced Fang Hao to revise his plans or the day. He decided to lead his team directly to Lyss City to have the city lord¡¯s wife try on the sample attire. Speeding up the costume-making process was also part of his plan to open a shop in Lyss City soon. Having decided to head toward Lyss City, Fang Hao summoned Eira and Blood Hunter. After giving instructions about matters in his territory, he then left the area with Anjia and Demitrija. At the southern fortress, they mounted swift, purple-scaled horses with a company of 20 heavy sword infantry. At this time, the storage feature of the Book of Lords played an important role. All the equipment for the entire team was packed by Fang Hao into the storage space. & This greatly minimized exhaustion on the journey. The main reason why Tavek¡¯s trade convoy took two days last time was due to the slow pace of the loaded cargo. ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡± With a wave from Fang Hao, the team quickly hit the road. Demitrija and Fang Hao rode on a giant lizard, while Anjia was on her own purple-scaled horse, whom she named Purple Thunder. She didn¡¯t know if it might share a name with some hero in the future. The speed of the convoy was extremely swift, with the sound of horses¡¯ hooves and the whistling wind in their ears. In just a few minutes, glancing back, the fortress was already out of sight. Demitrija was controlling the giant lizard, while Fang Hao was seated at the back. He opened the Book of Lords, planning to kill time by checking the regional channel. As soon as he opened it, he noticed a new private message. He had been too busy before to see it. Mr. Fang Hao, the trolls have sent you a designated order. Kindly manufacture it when you see it.¡± The speaker was Xu Yang, the city lord who had helped him connect with the trolls. The message was sent an hour ago. It should¡¯ve been around the time when Doujin sent the order. After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao replied: ¡°Just saw it. The order has already been completed.¡± Xu Yang¡¯s response was quite prompt. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, we have received the goods.¡± ¡°Do the trolls have such high consumption? They placed an order just recently, how are they ordering so many equipments again?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡¯ Same type of equipment, the same quantity. ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t remind me. The trolls lost a battle awhile ago and a lot of tribe members died. Now there¡¯s quite a bit of chaos among the troll tribes, all of them are stockpiling equipment. There seems to be a risk of internal strife.¡± Xu Yang said a lot, full of worry. If the trolls start an internal war, he too would be at risk. He was already in a precarious position, depending on the troll tribe as their slave leader. If the situation gets out of hand, he would end up in trouble. Xu Yang¡¯s words, reminded Fang Hao of the Bloodthroat Mountains. Last time, the Bloodthroat Tribe had led an attack on him with the help of other troll tribes. They lost over a hundred thousand trolls there. This situation seemed similar to Xu Yang¡¯s description of the troll tribes. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t directly ask if the trolls were the same ones from the Bloodthroat Mountains, as Xu Yang might not be reliable. After some thought, he decided to just say, ¡°Well, be careful. Tell the trolls that I have many other supplies for sale. If they are willing, they can buy it from me.¡± ¡°Oh, alright. I¡¯ll pass your message to the trolls.¡± After ending his chat with Xu Yang, Fang Hao kept this matter in mind. In the future, he could pay attention to Xu Yang¡¯s situation. If there indeed are problems within the Bloodthroat Mountains¡­ He could take the opportunity to launch a counterattack. By doing so, he could remove this unstable element once and for all. On the road, a lord in a plaid shirt stroked his handsome steed. The grey mane was a bit scruffy, but he continued to caress it contentedly. He had bought it from a travelling merchant and spent 50 Warfire coins on it. He knew the merchant had charged a high price, but he bought it nonetheless and was very pleased. Now, he was riding his horse, leading his soldiers to hunt in the woods ahead. The lord in the plaid shirt pulled out the Book of Lords, sending a photo he had just taken of his beautiful horse to a district channel. Seeing the admiration pouring in on the channel, the smile on his face grew wider. ¡°Wait.¡± The lord suddenly halted the advance of his troops. ¡°My Lord, what¡¯s the matter?¡± asked a curious soldier. ¡°The scenery around the bend is nice, take a picture of me there. Just aim it at me and press there.¡± He then situated his horse on the side of the road and struck a handsome pose. Thump, thump, thump! Just then, the sound of galloping hooves came from behind. As the group turned to look in surprise, several purple horses, followed by a whooshing sound of wind, rushed by. They were as beautiful as sapphires, tall and imposing, exceptionally beautiful when running. The lord in the plaid shirt was mesmerized, while his own horse was startled. With a whinny, it reared its front legs. Throwing him off and causing him to tumble to the ground in an embarrassing The soldiers quickly calmed the horse and helped him up. Snatching the Book of Lords, the lord in plaid took several photos of the retreating purple horses. Straightaway, he posted them on the district channel, ¡°[ImageJPurple horses, like a bolt of purple lightning, they¡¯re too fast.¡± Within the district channel. ¡°Did you take these with a landline phone? Dare to make it blurrier.¡± ¡°Is this a Kylin? Or some warcraft, what kind of horse is this strong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a horse, it passed right by me, aside from being purple and huge, just like any other horse.¡± The lord in plaid emphasised. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you take a frontal shot?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t catch up to them, they were already this far by the time I got to take a photo.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s a horse, it¡¯s definitely a special breed. I also want such an attractive horse.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my second wish after a beautiful female companion, a purple horse.¡± ¡°Has the person above considered a purple female horse? Two wishes in one.¡± ¡°Damn, you¡¯re smart.¡± ¡°I¡¯d accept a centaur, but not a pure horse.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really picky.¡± Closing the district chat, the soldier led the scared horse over. ¡®My Lord, it¡¯s already calmed down. We can take a photo now.¡± The lord in plaid glanced at the direction where the purple cavalry had left and shook his head slightly, ¡°No need, nothing interesting here to take.¡± Fang Hao paid no attention to the chat in the channel. By dusk, Fang Hao and his group finally arrived at Lyss City. The purple-scaled horses were heaving heavily, their bodies drenched in sweat. They had travelled non-stop, and even the endurance-strong purple-scaled horses were starting to get tired. After showing their travel documents to the city guards, they went directly into the city. After checking into a hotel, Fang Hao and Anjia hurried straight to the Lord¡¯s mansion. It was not late yet, much earlier than when Rebecca had summoned all the merchants last time. She shouldn¡¯t be asleep yet. Mr Fang Hao, the lady is attending an important banquet tonight, I will convey your message to her.¡± At the front of the Lord¡¯s residence, a servant announced. Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Chapter 249, Drunkard Swindler_l Chapter 255: Chapter 249, Drunkard Swindler_l Translator: 549690339 Standing in front of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao looked at the respectful servant. His timing couldn¡¯t have been worse, Rebecca had actually gone to a banquet. Well, people in this era didn¡¯t have mobile phones to keep them occupied, and there wasn¡¯t much else to entertain them at night. Nobles tended to host a lot of banquets and dances. ¡°Will she be back tonight?¡± Fang Hao asked again. If everything could be settled tonight, he could return to his own territory in the morning, making full use of his time. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure when the lady will return. You might want to stay the night in the city. Maybe the lady will send someone to notify you tomorrow.¡± The servant maintained a polite smile. It seemed impossible to see Rebecca tonight. Even if she returned, it would be late at night, and the chances of her seeing him would be slim. ¡°All right, please pass along a message when the City Lord¡¯s wife returns, Fang Hao courteously said. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± With Anjia, he left the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. The sky had already turned dark. A few residents were returning home, making the streets somewhat desolate. ¡°So, where are we headed next?¡± Anjia curiously asked. The journey had been quite taxing. ¡°We¡¯ll sit for a while at the tavern.¡± ¡°All right.¡± The two came to the tavern and walked straight in. A wave of alcohol and noise hit them in the face. ¡°Here again, what¡¯ll you have?¡± The tavern owner came over. It seemed that he had some impression of the two. ¡°Beer, meatballs, and a plate of smoked meat,¡± Fang Hao casually ordered. ¡°All right, just a moment.¡± Wiping his hands, the tavern owner went to the kitchen to prepare the food. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on the notice board nearby. On the notice board, besides the typical residents¡¯ bounties, there was a map hanging. The last time he came, there were no maps because the Lyss City army was hunting down bandits along the road. He seemed to be in luck today. [Map: Mountain Fortress] [Category: Single-page Map] (Description: Map drawn by an adventurer, recording the Mountain Fortress¡¯s route and terrain) ¡°interested in the map? It¡¯s three gold coins. You can take your team and test your luck,¡± the tavern owner said, bringing the beer to them. The snacks they ordered from the kitchen also slowly arrived. ¡°Only one map?¡± ¡°This one was brought in yesterday. Maps of some bandit hideouts were cleaned out by the Lyss Army,¡± the tavern owner replied. ¡°That¡¯s good. With the bandits cleared, it¡¯ll be safer for the residents and traveling merchants.¡± Lyss City¡¯s management was far stricter than that of Pruell City. Pruell City did not have much of a solution for the bandits and wasn¡¯t keen on dealing with them. They tended to leave the matter to mercenaries. On the other hand, Lyss would do a clean sweep each year, controlling the number of bandits. This was beneficial for the residents and the nearby subsidiary villages. The tavern owner gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Bandits are like rats. They run, when you chase them and bite when you turn your back. That¡¯s just how it is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. I¡¯ll take the map, and I¡¯ll pay you when I settle the bill.¡± ¡°No rush, enjoy your meal.¡± After the tavern owner handed the map to Fang Hao, he went off to attend to other customers. Fang Hao and Anjia chatted quietly while eating their dinner. ¡°Based on this scar alone, doesn¡¯t it deserve a drink on your part? Not far from their table, a shabby drunkard was speaking loudly. ¡°Give it up, Hodge. Last time you said it was a vampire bite, now it¡¯s turned into a scar from a knife wound,¡± a co-drinker sarcastically asked, while others watched the fun. Hodge came everyday, telling strange and peculiar stories or bragging about himself. Everyone knew these were all fabrications, but it was just the cost of a drink, so they usually played along. But today, Hodge had been sitting in the tavern for too long, and no one was willing to keep buying drinks for him anymore. ¡°It¡¯s because I had too much to drink. I have contributed to mankind. Without us, the vampires would have wreaked havoc, sucked the blood of the living by now,¡± Hodge grumbled, as if he was the one who was wronged. ¡°Oh, stop. Lookatyou¡­.¡± Fang Hao watched the bickering men in front of him and recognized the bedraggled Old Hodge. The last time he came with Anjia, this bleary-eyed old drunk was boasting about how he had killed vampires and created a type of arrow that was extremely useful for killing vampires. However, judging from the attitudes of others, it seemed that Old Hodge was merely an old drunk who was good at boasting. Unexpectedly, he met him again this time, still tipsy and staggering, shouting loudly. ¡°Get him a drink, put it on my tab,¡± said Fang Hao. Following Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, the innkeeper handed a beer to Hodge and brought it over. Not far away, Hodge took the beer and looked at the young man who bought him a drink. He staggered over. ¡°Kid, have we met before?¡± Hodge reeked of alcohol, which even masked his body odor. ¡°We met once before when you were telling your story about getting bitten by a vampire,¡± said Fang Hao with a smile. ¡°Right-right, are you interested in my story? I can show you my wound. Hodge unbuttoned his collar and exposed his shoulder. Fang Hao gave a wry smile, ¡°Last time you said it was your arm. ¡°Right-right, it was my arm.¡± ¡°Your left arm.¡± ¡°Right-right, left arm.¡± Hodge rolled up his left sleeve again, paused for a moment and said, ¡°Kid, do you doubt what I said? ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s just a story, the truth doesn¡¯t really matter. ¡°But it¡¯s not a story. Those monsters who have abandoned their beliefs have already forgotten that they were humans once, who knows how many they have killed,¡± said Hodge, sitting next to Fang Hao and drinking heavily. ¡°They once were humans?¡± ¡°Who knows, I¡¯ve never seen the real Blood Clan. Those who we kill and those that kill us, are all transformed monsters.¡± This reminded Fang Hao of the ¡®Twilight Reveler¡¯ he learned from the stories. They themselves were humans, but treated becoming part of the Blood Clan as their goal. ¡°So, it¡¯s true that you kill vampires?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! How do you think I got this wound? ¡°You modified arrows that can effectively kill vampires?¡± ¡°Yes, the blood of those guys has changed, and they are extraordinarily sensitive to silver, just like those¡­ cough, cough! You two are still young, you shouldn¡¯t listen to this stuff.¡± Hodge stopped speaking. ¡°Do you have a blueprint? Let me see.¡± Hearing Fang Hao asking for the blueprint, Old Hodge was stunned once again. He had not expected that this kid knew his stuff and knew how to use blueprints to verify the authenticity of his stories. He patted his chest and said: ¡°I do have it, I designed and improved it myself. I just worry you won¡¯t recognize its value.¡± ¡°Where is the blueprint?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it. I¡¯ll give it to you next time.¡± Hodge pushed his beer glass towards the innkeeper, ¡°Bring another round, put it on his tab.¡± The two argued about the blueprint for quite some time. ¡°Buuurp! Kid, you¡¯re alright. Next time you come, I¡¯ll bring the blueprint for you so you can learn something.¡± Then, belching, he staggered away. Fang Hao watched him walk away. It seemed that he had indeed met a fraudster who had conned several rounds out of him. ¡°Should I go out and beat him up?¡± Anjia glanced at the empty street through the window. If she went out now and found a quiet place, no one would know who was beating whom. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s just a few drinks.¡± After settling the bill with the innkeeper, Fang Hao ordered some smoked meat to put in his storage space and returned to his inn room to rest. The following morning. The sunlight streamed in through the window, waking Fang Hao up. He used his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight and sat up. Knock, knock, knock! From outside the door came the voice of an inn attendant. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, we received a message from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. They request your presence.¡± It seemed Rebecca wanted to see him. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Chapter 250, Buying a Store (Please subscribe. Chapter 256: Chapter 250, Buying a Store (Please subscribe. Translator: 549690339 The servant relayed the message and then left immediately. Fang Hao got up and did quick grooming. He took out the prepared clothes from the Book of Lords. After all, he was going to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. He had to dress up decently. After grooming, he went to the next room, woke up the sleepy Anjia, had dinner in the first-floor hall, and then headed to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. The City Lord¡¯s mansion, the back courtyard. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s just ahead.¡± The City Lord¡¯s mansion¡¯s servant led the way in front. The two went along the flower-lined path, gradually entering deep into the courtyard. Past the path, there was a beautiful pond in front of them, with beautiful flowers clustering around the pool, butterflies and birds circling and fluttering around, and they wouldn¡¯t be frightened even if someone passed by. Rebecca was sitting on a white rocking chair next to the mirror-like pool, reading a book in the sunshine. The rocking chair was rocking, the white gauzy skirt, and fair bare feet, gently following the ripples. Who could resist such a woman? ¡°Madam, Mr. Fang Hao has arrived.¡± The servant spoke softly. Rebecca put the book aside and looked at Fang Hao. ¡°Did you arrive last night?¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs Rebecca.¡± Fang Hao answered with a smile. Rebecca stood up, bare feet touching the grass, and said, ¡°The sample dress has been completed? Let me see, I hope your design has perfectly come to life.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Fang Hao took out the sample dress and stood aside. A maid came forward and undressed Rebecca. The fair and full-bodied figure was exposed, full of charm. Fang Hao smiled, looking openly and uprightly, took in the sight with great pleasure. She put on the sample dress. Rebecca walked to the edge of the pool, looking at her reflection in the water, carefully observing. The blue gown, tightly wrapped around her body, showed off the beautiful lines of a woman¡¯s body. Her beautiful neck, full, tender arms like lotus roots, were bare from the sleeveless dress, even though there was not any jewelry, it was already amazingly beautiful. The tight gown raised her full breasts, extraordinarily full. The round buttocks made the slight tightness at the waist stand out, showing off the curvy waist-to-hip lines. Especially the daring miniskirt design in front, matched with white stockings, added a few sexy points to the dignified and elegant lady of the city. She had originally intended to make some suggestions, but seeing the dress reflected in the water. She was afraid that her lack of expertise would affect the effect of the dress. This was only a sample dress, and she was already very satisfied with it. She noticed that Fang Hao was also looking at her, and she turned around with a smile and asked, ¡°How about it? Are there any needed modifications?¡± Compared to herself, she trusted Fang Hao¡¯s opinion more at this time. ¡°It¡¯s perfect, Mrs. Rebecca. It makes you even more enchanting.¡± Fang Hao praised. Rebecca¡¯s usually reserved face turned a little red, she rolled her eyes at the young man with black hair in front of her and laughed again, ¡°I have to be careful then, don¡¯t let your preferences change, or I¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± There was a cloth merchant in town with a great design concept. This merchant had a man¡¯s body but a woman¡¯s heart. He loved everything about women, including handsome men. The previous times, the dresses were designed by this merchant for Rebecca. Fang Hao just smiled and did not offer further explanation. At this time, a servant holding a large mirror came over and stood it on the grass. Rebecca was looking at herself in the mirror while casually saying, ¡°I heard that you opened a restaurant in Pruell City.¡± Fang Hao was slightly baffled, it looked like Rebecca had arranged for someone to investigate him. At the same time, he also started to feel nervous, wondering if his ¡®effeminate¡¯ act would be exposed. But soon this worry was dismissed, as if he was exposed, Rebecca would have shown some reaction. She probably just asked some merchants or someone about him and did not conduct a detailed investigation. Acting as a cloth merchant, he wouldn¡¯t have been investigated by a spy. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How¡¯s business?¡± Rebecca was asking casually, just like chatting about everyday matters. ¡°Not bad, there are quite a few customers.¡± ¡°You are quite an imaginative young man,¡± Rebecca praised. Fang Hao, being so young, not only designs clothing that is novel and bold, but also runs a successful restaurant. ¡°Thank you for your praise, Mrs. Rebecca. If I open a shop in Lyss in the future, I hope you will give me your advice,¡± Fang Hao replied politely. ¡°Of course. I can see that you are a capable young man, and Lyss welcomes capable people,¡± Rebecca continued. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am. I was wondering if there are any shops for sale on the business street. If there are, I would like to take a look today,¡± Fang Hao said directly. The sooner he could open a shop, the better. He didn¡¯t want to continue to delay. Rebecca looked at Fang Hao with curiosity, taking her gaze away from the mirror. She had not expected him to be in such a rush, wanting to look at shops today. ¡°Someone,¡± Rebecca called out softly. A maid hurried over, ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°Yes, check if there are any shops for sale on the business street.¡± ¡°Yes, madam,¡± the maid agreed and quickly left. As the lady of the City Lord of Lyss, Rebecca had conveniences that Fang Hao did not have. No matter how cunning the merchants were, even if they had great courage, they would not dare to provoke the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, especially a woman. Seeing the maid leave, Fang Hao thanked her again, ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Rebecca.¡± ¡°No problem, it¡¯s just a small matter. I also hope that you can open a shop in Lyss City as it will be more convenient,¡± Rebecca said with a smile. The two continued to chat about fashion design. Before long, the maid returned. After bowing again, she said: ¡°Madam, there is a shop on the business street that has registered the sale with the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.¡± ¡°Well, take him to see it later,¡± Rebecca said. She was very satisfied with Fang Hao¡¯s sample clothes, which put her in a good mood. She naturally wanted to help Fang Hao with this small favor. The maid helped her take off the sample dress, folded it gently, and handed it to Fang Hao. ¡°Goodbye, Mrs. Rebecca, the finished dress will be delivered to you as soon as it is made,¡± Fang Hao said softly. Rebecca nodded and smiled, then lazily sat back in her rocking chair. The maid led Fang Hao out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Outside, Anjia, who had been waiting all along, was eating a pastry she had bought from a street vendor. When she saw Fang Hao, she quickly followed. ¡°Where are we going now?¡± ¡°To look at the shop.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your throat? It sounds so strange,¡± Anjia asked curiously. Fang Hao glanced at the maid who was averting her gaze, made a few hand signals to Anjia, urging her to stop talking. The maid led them to a carriage and headed to the business street. They passed many streets. There were many people coming and going on the business street, and there were many shops lined up, as well as numerous street vendors. The carriage stopped in the central area, and the three of them got off. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, this is the registered shop. It used to be a very successful tavern,¡± said the maid. The building in front of them was a three-story stone building. All the shops on this street had a unified design and structure. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t it continue to operate?¡± ¡°Because of some special reasons, the owner of the shop was arrested, and the shop is now being sold by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion,¡± the maid took out a key and opened the door to the shop. Both Fang Hao and Anjia entered the shop for inspection. The items in the shop had been cleared out, and the floor was littered with stuffs. He pulled out a poster-like sheet of paper from the cluttered counter. On it was a colorful image of a naked woman. She was posing in a provocative style. It seems that the business that this shop was running previously was quite diverse. ¡°I will take this shop.¡± Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Chapter 251, Underground Intelligence Stationl Chapter 257: Chapter 251, Underground Intelligence Stationl Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao¡¯s swift agreement took the maid aback. Even though she had followed her mistress¡¯s orders and brought this young textile businessman to view the store, she had never actually expected him to make a purchase. This location was on one of Lysis¡¯s three bustling commerce streets, and the prices of the stores had been inflated to exorbitant levels. Even as a personal maid to the City Lord¡¯s wife, with a job that many envied, she would have to work without spending a penny until she was over 500 years old to afford a shop here. This was assuming house prices would not rise. ¡°Is there any paperwork needed?¡± Fang Hao asked again. The startled maid quickly recovered her composure and asked again with a confirming tone, ¡°Sir, are you sure you wish to purchase this shop? The price recorded by the Mansion of the City Lord is 700,000 gold coins.¡± When she mentioned the price of 700,000, her voice trembled slightly. This number was terrifying. Only established traders or families could afford to set up a shop here with such an amount of money. ¡°Is there a discount?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure about that. Maybe you could inquire with the lady.¡± the maid replied. ¡°You guys accept the Warfire Card, right?¡± ¡°We do.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go. Take me to handle the procedures.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± As Fang Hao left the shop with Anjia, the maid only realized what had happened after a moment and quickly followed them out. Could this young textile merchant really be this wealthy? Just such a casual glance, and he decided to buy? She had seen many rich nobles and businessmen, but she had never seen anyone like Fang Hao, who could spend tens of thousands of gold coins so swiftly and indifferently. The trio went back to the carriage and headed to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion¡¯s property registry to purchase the title deed to the shop. From now on, this shop belonged to Fang Hao. The maid¡¯s job was finished, and there was no need for her to lead the way anymore. After making a slight bow, she bid Fang Hao and Anjia goodbye. Back at the shop, he used his own key to open the door. This was his second shop. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± said Anjia, kicking a wooden cup on the ground with the restlessness of a hyperactive child. A series of clanging sounds rang out. ¡°Hotpot restaurant, let¡¯s start making some money back.¡± He answered. Unlike the fashion and accessory industries, opening a hotpot restaurant was simple and showed quick results. All he needed was a clean storefront, bring in the stockpot that Eira had prepared, and they could officially open for business. Given the scarcity of food in this era, hotpot was popular among people. Even the common folks could afford it, and it tasted great. ¡°Makes sense.¡± Clang Clang Clang!! The sound of the rolling wooden cup reverberated, as if it had rolled down a staircase. Both of them exchanged a glance then walked towards where the wooden cup had flown. At the back of the staircase, they discovered an entrance leading downwards. The wooden cup had fallen down from there, producing the clattering sound. The entrance was dim. It should be the shop¡¯s basement or storeroom. Fang Hao pulled out a ¡®Nightstone Lantern¡¯ from the Book of Lords and stretched it into the entrance of the basement. The soft light from the nightstone illuminated the basement. It was cold, spacious, and carried a hint of moldy smell. After confirming that there was no danger, he completely opened the cover and stepped down the wooden stairs into the basement. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± Anjia complained as she covered her nose. Indeed, there was a moldy smell. ¡°It was probably the wine cellar of the tavern before.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve said it, I don¡¯t feel like drinking for a month.¡± Anjia said. He hung the lantern on the ceiling, illuminating the surrounding space. This place was indeed a wine cellar. There were traces of wine barrels being moved away. Upon a cursory search here, he unexpectedly found five bottles of [ ¡®Essence of Wine¡¯], yielding an unexpected gain. ¡°Fang Hao, there¡¯s a Trade Alliance mailbox here!¡± Anjia exclaimed from a nearby area. A Trade Alliance mailbox? ¡°Where are you?¡± Fang Hao asked. Anjia came out and led Fang Hao to a small room sealed by a hidden door. The cabin was small, in the middle of which stood a wooden table and a black mailbox bearing a sickle hook pattern. This was not the symbol of the Trade Alliance but that of the No Face Cabin. In other words, this place was ostensibly a tavern but also served as an intelligence agency of the No Face Cabin. It relayed the information gathered. Perhaps what the maid had mentioned about being captured, was also related to this. After all, every power would buy intelligence from the No Face, but also resented them. ¡°Is it the Trade Alliance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the No Face Cabin, an information trading agency,¡± explained Fang Hao. All the items in the desk had been removed, leaving only debris scattered all over. However, Fang Hao still managed to dig up a charred letter, with only a corner left intact. The letter read: Capture the transmigrator, send to¡­ The rest had been burnt off. But these few words, were enough to make Fang Hao frown. The term ¡°transmigrator¡± was understood only by their circle. Even if the natives knew they were outsiders, they would not use this term. It was either mentioned by the transmigrators themselves or understood by some special means. Instantly, Fang Hao was reminded of the witch with a crystal ball he had met before. Magic and the Undead both exist, so the methods to search memories would not be too strange. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Anjia, seeing Fang Hao frowning, asked softly. ¡°No big problem, call our people to come over and tidy up a bit first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them climbed up the stairs and called over the heavy sword infantry, who were on standby in the inn, to remove all the useless waste from the shop. The next day. By dusk, Fang Hao and his party returned to Pruell City. The Enjoyable Hotpot Restaurant was somewhat desolate today. Although it was dinner time, there was not a single customer in the restaurant. ¡°Why isn¡¯t there anyone?¡± Fang Hao asked. Little White looked gloomy and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, master, I don¡¯t know what happened today, suddenly no one showed up.¡± The bunny maids on the side also lowered their heads. ¡°You said ¡®suddenly¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, the number of people who came from yesterday afternoon started to decrease, and today even not a single guest came.¡± Little White replied. This was somewhat strange. In this era, for a shop to suddenly lose customers. Unless someone was poisoned to death in the shop, otherwise this situation should not occur. ¡°Do you know the reason?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, let me go and ask at the tavern across the street, if no customers come, you guys can take a break earlier.¡± Fang Hao consoled them. ¡°Oh, okay, master.¡± After leaving the restaurant, Fang Hao headed straight to the Rose Tavern across the street. Just like his hotpot restaurant, there were no customers in the tavern either. The landlady sat dejectedly. ¡°Why is today so quiet?¡± Fang Hao took a seat at the counter. The landlady glanced at him and heaved a heavy sigh. But she still got up and placed two glasses of beer in front of Fang Hao and Anjia. ¡°It will probably be quieter in the future.¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± The landlady glanced around warily before whispering, ¡°They say there¡¯s going to be a war. The whole city¡¯s worried. Who¡¯s in the mood to drink?¡± ¡°War? Stop kidding, we couldn¡¯t even wipe out the bandits, who are we going to fight?¡± Fang Hao couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. Previously, both the bandits and Fire Wolf Mercenaries were eliminated by Fang Hao. And now if someone is saying that the small town of Pruell is going to war, he didn¡¯t believe it at all. The landlady looked at Fang Hao, saying solemnly, ¡°To fight the undead up north. As of this morning, all the wealthy and powerful people have left. Only those who can¡¯t leave remain in the city¨Cthose who have nowhere else to go.¡± Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Chapter 252, Mountain Fortress_l Chapter 258: Chapter 252, Mountain Fortress_l Translator: 549690339 Hearing the landlady¡¯s words, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed. The undead in the north. Wasn¡¯t that him? He had set up a fortress between himself and Pruell to prevent any interference between them. He had done enough already and now this ¡®Cyril¡¯ was plotting something against him. ¡°Why? Has Cyril lost his mind?¡± Fang Hao directly mentioned the name of the city lord and cursed. His words instantly induced a tense expression in the landlady and others, not relaxing until they realized there were no other people present. Even behind closed doors, they dared not insult the current city lord. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t know, but several people came to the city yesterday, they might be related.¡± ¡°What kind of people?¡± ¡°They are very similar to those who wore hoods in broad daylight last time, all of them look like cultists.¡± said the landlady. Blood Clan! Fang Hao knew the cultists the landlady was referring to were those pale- blooded individuals. Although they could walk under the sun, they had begun to detest sunlight, always wearing huge hoods to cover their bodies. The Blood Clan, because of Giovanni¡¯s matter, had dispatched scouts to investigate him. But, what does all this have to do with Pruell City, and what role does Cyril play in it? ¡°Did you mean what you said last time?¡± The landlady suddenly turned around, her eyes looking straight at him. ¡°Huh? What words?¡± Fang Hao was abruptly interrupted from his thoughts. ¡°I can¡¯t continue operating my tavern, I can help you.¡± The landlady¡¯s expression was somewhat bitter. After operating it for so many years, she didn¡¯t expect there would be a day she couldn¡¯t continue. ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s store in Lyss City was in the process of hiring staff, she would be a good candidate. ¡°I have quite a lot of people.¡± The landlady glanced at the bartender and the kitchen staff on the side. Upon encountering Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, the bartenders respectfully bowed. ¡°They can come along too.¡± Fang Hao nodded. Everyone was overjoyed in their hearts. Fang Hao was a wealthy heir, by aligning with him, they didn¡¯t have to worry about the tavern¡¯s business anymore. Anyway, Fang Hao would pay them. Just when everyone, including the landlady, breathed a sigh of relief, Fang Hao spoke again. ¡°However, as the team leader, I need you to sign a slave contract with me, to ensure that you will not betray me.¡± This¡­ The smile on the landlady and the bartenders¡¯ faces vanished instantly. They had seen slave contracts before, slave traders would always bring out contracts when selling slaves. To ensure that the slaves would not harm their masters. Similarly, once you signed it, you had to obey the other party¡¯s words, even if they asked you to do something against your will. ¡°Are you serious? I¡¯m just going to help you run the shop.¡± said the landlady in surprise. She had to sign a slave contract just to work a shift. This was indeed a bit too much. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I need someone I can completely trust.¡± Fang Hao said helplessly. He couldn¡¯t disclose his secret, especially after discovering the Faceless Ones¡¯ cabin beneath the tavern yesterday. He had to be more careful. ¡°Alright, it seems we can¡¯t cooperate.¡± The landlady said with a bitter smile. She had refused Fang Hao. She wasn¡¯t willing to sell herself just for this minor matter. Meanwhile, she pondered over Fang Hao¡¯s words. Fang Hao was a wealthy heir, his family must have some strict rules. Nobles often have strange rules that they couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°It¡¯s okay, even if we can¡¯t cooperate, we are still friends, you can come to me if you encounter any difficulties.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Hmm.¡± After finishing his pint of beer, Fang Hao left the tavern with Anjia. Returning to the shop, Fang Hao took all the maidservants and soldiers, closed the shop, and headed back to their territory together. By the time they returned to the territory, the sky was already dim. After eating dinner prepared by Eira, Fang Hao took the sample clothes to the tailor¡¯s shop. Rebecca was pleased with the sample clothes, and minor modifications could be incorporated in the production of the finished product. Meanwhile, the goldsmith was in the process of making the matching jewelry. Everything was already in order, so there was nothing for Fang Hao to do. He simply had to wait for the finished product and present it to Rebecca. The next day, early in the morning. After breakfast, Fang Hao, Anjia, and Demitrija rode on the bone dragon. Following them, ten more bone dragons, loaded with skeleton trolls and the Barren Tomb Guards, soared into the clouds, heading south. Today they were going to the Mountain Fortress, a new location on Fang Hao¡¯s recently acquired map. The name ¡°fortress¡± sounded much better than any cave or cavern. Fang Hao hoped he would find some useful items there. In the clouds. They didn¡¯t need to worry about the villages below, and flew in a straight line to the fortress. Looking at the map, the Mountain Fortress was located to the east of Pruell City and Lyss City. The journey took two hours. The team had already arrived over the uninhabited mountain range. The bone dragons descended, gradually approaching the target location. They could see the remnants of stone brick buildings. As they continued onwards. Fang Hao saw this time¡¯s destination ¨C the Mountain Fortress. One could say, this fortress wasn¡¯t hard to find. There was a large downward entrance between the rocks. In front of the entrance, they could see piles of white bones, residual blood stains, and a large iron pot brewing food. There were, however, no signs of life. The bone dragons landed in front of the entrance and everyone dismounted. ¡°What kind of creature uses such a large pot?¡± Anjia asked. She didn¡¯t notice how large the pot was until they landed. The pot was so tall, Anjia just managed to reach its midpoint. ¡°We¡¯U find out when we go down, those guys must live here,¡± Fang Hao glanced at the depth of the entrance. The stone staircase at the entrance went downward, flanked by neatly carved rock faces on both sides. It seemed like a good place to live. ¡°Demitrija, you¡¯ll lead the team. Anjia, we¡¯ll follow behind,¡± Fang Hao said and cast Frost Armor on himself. Due to the distance, Fang Hao did not invoke God¡¯s Presence. Coming here personally reduced the consumption of spiritual power, but it also exposed him to danger. ¡°As you command, my lord,¡± Demitrija acknowledged and turned to the skeleton soldiers, ¡°Skeleton trolls to the front, Barren Tomb Guards to the back. Prepare to enter the cavern.¡± Splash! The skeletons, adjusting their formation, began to march into the cavern. As the team ventured deeper, nightstone wall lamps that emitted a soft glow began to appear on the sides of the cavern, illuminating the corridor. Whoosh! Snoring! From not too far away, snoring resembling thunder was heard. On a platform ahead, a towering troll was fast asleep on a beastskin rug. His snot bubble expanded and contracted with his snores. Cyclops Troll (Eighth Level). Demitrija signaled the skeleton team to stop. The entire team froze instantly as if they were statues. Demitrija drew the longsword from his belt and slowly approached the sleeping troll. Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Chapter 253, Gemstone l Chapter 259: Chapter 253, Gemstone l Translator: 549690339 Demitrija swiftly approached the sleeping giant troll. Clenching his longsword high above his head. Thud! His blade sliced across the troll¡¯s throat, and with a pop! The snot bubble popped, and the troll¡¯s head rolled off. Blood gushed out, and the troll¡¯s eyes widened as it watched its body increasingly move away. ¡°Master, we can continue on,¡± Demitrija quietly said, stepping on the rolling head. This proved that the location might have once been a fortress. But now it was occupied by these one-eyed trolls, their lair. ¡°Hmm, continue forward. There should be more trolls below,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes.¡± Demitrija waved his hand again, and the skeleton troops continued to move forward. The stone steps went on, leading downwards where all sorts of weapons and armor were strewn about on the platform. The size of the equipment indicated they were meant for humans. It seemed that quite a few humans had arrived here before Fang Hao and his crew. However, their outcomes were not very good. After walking down for a few more minutes, they saw the end of the stairs leading to a suddenly vast stone wall. A hall must be just ahead. Simultaneously, in the hall, they could faintly hear the boisterous voices of trolls. Demitrija looked at Fang Hao, who gave a slight nod. Demitrija took a deep breath. Light blue energy gathered around his neck, and then he breathed out a thick mist that rapidly spread out. This was Demitrija¡¯s incredibly useful skill, ¡®Misty Sky¡¯. The mist was most effective in enclosed places, lasting for an extended period. The sudden appearance of the mist created considerable chaos amongst the trolls below, as angry roars echoed. ¡°Why is there fog all of a sudden? I can¡¯t see.¡± ¡°Enemies! Grab your weapons and get ready for battle.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my weapon? Who has seen my weapon?¡± ¡°Ouch! This is a wall, ouch! This is also a wall¡­ Damn it, I¡¯m trapped.¡± The trolls were in utter chaos. Fang Hao and the rest observed from the stairs, hearing the loud yells of the trolls but not one managed to find the correct path and storm out. ¡°Kill!¡± Without further waiting, Demitrija issued the command to his skeleton soldiers to charge into the mist. He swung his sword and severed a troll¡¯s leg, sending the creature sprawling forward. ¡°Ah!¡± Just as the giant troll cried out in pain, Demitrija swiftly switched his sword and stabbed up from below into its chest. A generous amount of blood sprayed out. It was so close that the troll could clearly glimpse the face of his enemy. With its last breath, it called out, ¡°They are lizardmen, they are lizardmen.¡± However, its words were immediately corrected by other trolls, ¡°They are undead, I saw them clearly, they are white bones.¡± The trolls were arguing while fighting. The entire hall was in as much chaos as a marketplace. In the center area. A one-eyed troll, clad in heavy armor, swung his giant metal wolf fang club around. The whining wind it created cleared the surrounding fog slightly. But the clarity was temporary. Once the wind passed, the fog would again obscure his vision. Whoosh! Whoosh! With another swing, the fog diminished, and a golden-armored figure suddenly appeared before him. From the large tail exposed from behind the figure, it was clear it was a lizardman. ¡°Despicable reptile, you think relying on these lowly tactics will allow you to defeat us?¡± The troll roared with rage and swung his black metal wolf fang club directly at the lizardman. Clang! A sharp metallic ringing resounded. A wave of force rapidly spread from the lizardman at the center, causing the layers of fog to churn. The immense rebounding force left the troll¡¯s hands numb. He could not believe that despite his superior strength and size, he was directly confronted by a small lizardman. ¡°You cannot possibly defeat me with strength,¡± the troll roared, lifting his Wolf Fang Club to smash down on the lizardman again. But as the Wolf Fang Club fell, the lizardman pivoted on his feet and evaded the head-on strike by leaning to the side. The Wolf Fang Club hit the ground heavily. The longsword in the lizardman¡¯s hand flicked upwards instantaneously, a cold gleam cutting through the troll¡¯s wrist. Clang!! The Wolf Fang Club and both arms fell to the ground together. The troll wanted to shriek, to roar. But the moment he opened his mouth, the lizardman leaped high again, driving his longsword through the troll¡¯s mouth. He whimpered in agony. Twenty minutes later, the mist began to gradually dissipate. The fight in the hall was nearing its end. When Demitrija finally killed a one-eyed troll, the battle completely ended. Fang Hao descended the steps and started to survey the space. The walls on both sides were neatly chiseled, with animal skin mats used by trolls for sleep and some messy living utensils lying around. It seemed that the trolls had been settled here for a long time. In the central area of the hall, a makeshift wooden table was set up with small cloth bags on it. There were as many as twelve. Fang Hao walked forward, ¡°Open the sacks.¡± A Barren Tomb Guard stepped forward, placed his white steel giant sword diagonally against the wall, and picked up a sack to open. He poured it onto the table. Clang! A ruby the size of a thumb fell onto the table and rolled around. [Ruby] [Category: Ore] (Description: An otherwise useless ore that is used to attract mates.) Assured that there was nothing dangerous or nauseating in the sacks, Fang Hao touched each one, finding them hard. He opened each one and shook out their contents onto the table; indeed, they were all multicolored gemstones. Have trolls started studying gemstones too?¡± Anjia came over from behind. The dress of the one-eyed troll was still very simple. A fur simply wrapped around the body served as clothes. It was somewhat reminiscent of ancient western clothing styles, where hanging a curtain on the body was considered being dressed. ¡°They bagged the gemstones separately, it looks like they were planning to sell them outside.¡± Fang Hao had collected all the gemstones. What they were planning to do was no longer important. Now these were his. The goldsmiths had arrived at the stage of selecting gemstone jewelry. He could bring these back for them. Thud! With a muffled sound, two skeleton trolls carried a silver chest and threw it at Fang Hao¡¯s feet. Blood was accumulating on the stone chamber floor. When they threw the chest down, the bright red blood splattered everywhere. Open it! [Acquired: Giant Wolf Fang Club Blueprint, 22 Troll Stones, 78 Warfire Coins.] There was a burst of light, but the rewards were somewhat scant. There was only one blueprint, but 22 Troll Stones were awarded¡ªenough to recruit a Skeleton Troll. [Giant Wolf Fang Club (Green)] [Category: Wolf Fang Club] [Damage: Tier Three] [Ability: Heavy Strike] [Heavy Strike: The weapon is heavy, and each attack will double the damage.] (Description: Who doesn¡¯t like a huge stick?) Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: Chapter 254, Hot Spring (Seeking Chapter 260: Chapter 254, Hot Spring (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions¡­)¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao had seen the last two items before, so there was nothing for him to scrutinize. He collected the blueprint and stored the Troll Stone and Warfire Coin in his storage space. ¡°My Lord, we need you over here.¡± Dimitrija called from a distance. Fang Hao and Anjia walked over and looked where Dimitrija was pointing on the ground. There was a stone wall on the ground, with lots of fresh blood that was flowing down into a crevice by the corner of the wall. A drainage outlet? Fang Hao quickly discarded the idea. This didn¡¯t fit the function of a drainage outlet. A crevice like this could easily be blocked by debris. It could be the gap between the mountain and the secondary construction, or there could be another space behind the stone wall. ¡°Check it and find a way to open it.¡± Fang Hao commanded. Everyone scattered and started looking for a way to open the stone door. Click! With a slight effort from Dimitrija, a faint sound was heard from the wall lamps nearby. Then, the sound of gears and chains turning echoed. The stone door in front of them was slowly opening. Unexpectedly, this was a mechanical trap. When the stone door was fully opened, it revealed still more downward-leading stone steps. The dark descending steps seemed to lead to an underground abyss. The dust scattered from the opening of the stone door suggested that the Trolls who lived here before were probably unaware of this mechanism. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and take a look. The Trolls have been living up here for so long, so there shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem.¡± Fang Hao said softly. Dimitrija nodded, reorganized the team, and began to descend step by step. As the team continued downwards, they didn¡¯t encounter any danger. After five or six minutes, they saw another huge plateau. Unlike the Troll¡¯s plateau, this place was stacked with large amounts of old, damaged weapons and armor. Dust covered the weapons, and plants growing out of the cracks in the bricks were climbing up the rotting weapon racks. It seemed like this place was more like an underground weapon depot. Dimitrija wanted to inspect closer. Splash! The sound of bones clashing echoed as scattered skeletons slowly rose from the ground, forming Skeleton Warriors, picking up the rusty, curled weapons on the ground. [Skeleton Warrior (Tier 4)] Sigh! Seeing only ordinary skeleton soldiers, Fang Hao was relieved. These familiar adversaries made him feel somewhat safe. ¡°Dispatch them quickly.¡± Fang Hao commanded. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Dimitrija drew his sword and led the warriors into battle. The fight didn¡¯t last long; all the skeletons on the battlefield were soon wiped out. The team then started collecting the rotten weapons for the blacksmiths to recycle and remake once they were back. There was another silver treasure chest in the corner. Fang Hao opened it without hesitation. [Obtained: Blueprint to Troop Hiding Cave Construction, 12 Shadowstones, 93 Warfire Coins.] [Level One Troop Hiding Cave] [Category: Special Structure] [Maximum Occupancy: 10,000.] [Construction Requirement: 1500 Wood, 3200 Stone, 52O Iron, 80 Metal Parts.] (Description: Able to hide troops here to achieve strategic purposes.) A troop hiding cave¡­ This seemed like an excellent structure. The undead were his main force, but he also had to consider the impact on living creatures. If he set up troop hiding caves in places where his forces were stationed, a large number of soldiers could be stationed inside. He could solve a lot of problems with this. After collecting piles of weapons and equipment, Fang Hao tried to pull the overhead wall lamp with a tentative mindset. Click! The familiar sound of the mechanism echoed again. It¡¯s still there¡­ Dimitrija and Anjia also turned their gaze to the direction of the stone door. As the stone door slowly opened, a wave of damp and warm air rushed out. ¡°Continue to explore the next floor, and we¡¯ll clean up these armors on our way back.¡± Fang Hao said, looking down at the passageway leading to the next level. ¡°Alright.¡± Dimitrija gathered the team, and everyone headed down to the next level again. Halfway down, the stone walls on both sides began to change. They were no longer the original smooth stone walls, but rugged mountain walls instead. The road also became more difficult to traverse. They continued downwards until finally, a half-excavated underground palace appeared before everyone. In the middle of the palace was a large natural pool, bubbling up constantly with heat. A group of [Skeleton Warriors] rose from the ground, their hundreds of skulls turning stiffly to stare at Fang Hao and the others at the entrance. Then, the skeletons let out silent roars and raised their weapons, charging at the entrance. ¡°Attack!¡± Dimitrija yelled, leading the Skeleton Trolls and Barren Tomb Guards into the fight. Fang Hao held his magic wand tightly. Bright lights flashed, and three Wooden Guardian Spirits materialized before him. As soon as the Wooden Guardian Spirits appeared, they used the [Entangle] skill. Countless vines sprouted from the stone crevices, ensnaring the enemy skeletons¡¯ ankles and binding them in place. Dimitrija and Anjia also took advantage of the opportunity, striking down a large number of enemies. The battle lasted almost an hour. The stairs they defended were filled with bones, as if they were standing on a mountain of bones, regaining their Strength. Fang Hao now experienced how annoying the Undead¡¯s tactic of sheer numbers could be. Even though they weren¡¯t high-level, they didn¡¯t give you a chance to breathe. Constant attacks, constantly charging forward. ¡°My lord, all enemies have been eliminated. There are no more enemies.¡¯ Dimitrija asked a Skeleton Troll to scout ahead, and no other enemies emerged. They emerged victorious in this battle, yet Fang Hao¡¯s side also suffered significant losses. Of the more than 100 skeleton soldiers they brought, only 30 or so were left. ¡°Good. Clean the battlefield. This should be the last level.¡± Fang Hao ordered. This level was obviously half-completed, so it must be the last. ¡°Clean the battlefield and clear the road.¡± Dimitrija ordered loudly. The skeletons began to move, pushing the bones blocking the way to one sidel and clearing a path. Fang Hao descended the stairs but didn¡¯t get near the steaming pool of water. He didn¡¯t want to take any risks without casting God¡¯s Presence. Before long, a Skeleton Troll carried a golden chest in front of Fang Hao. Not bad, a golden chest this time. Open! [Obtained: Hot Springs Blueprint, 2 Hero Hearts, 1 Blue Hero Token, 24 Shadowstones, 205 Warfire Coins.] He got a blueprint for a hot spring. Fang Hao once again looked at the pool next to him. Was this a hot spring? Not sure why the undead would need a hot spring. No wonder those skeletons had moss all over their bones. Perhaps, given some time, mushrooms would even grow on them. ¡°Alright, get all the Nightstones from the walls, gather the spoils and let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Fang Hao called loudly. Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Chapter 255, Gray Bear Mountain Village l Chapter 261: Chapter 255, Gray Bear Mountain Village l Translator: 549690339 | As directed by Fang Hao, the skeleton warriors removed the Nightstones from the cave walls and gradually retreated to the second level. They continued to gather all the decayed equipment on the second level, finally withdrawing to the first level where the cave entrance was located. The bodies of the one-eyed trolls still lay on the ground, the cave was pervaded with the heavy scent of blood. ¡°Dispose of the bodies and bundle them up to take back.¡± The skeletons lifted the bodies of the trolls and piled them up outside the cave. The bone dragon bathed the bodies in its death breath, the flesh falling off and leaving ¨C a pile of white bones. Fang Hao¡¯s storage space was filled with weapons and equipment. A large part of the loot would need to be carried back by the bone dragon. All the spoils of war were packed carefully, and everyone climbed onto the dragon¡¯s back. The bone dragon flapped its wings and flew towards their territory. The bone dragon flew quickly. However, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell down below where he saw a fortress, as small as a matchbox. This was the stronghold of the Gray Bear. As a skeleton, he had been led to this place by the mercenaries. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes flickered, and he immediately formed a plan in his mind. With a gentle pat on the bone dragon¡¯s neck, it immediately changed direction. Folding its wings, it swooped down swiftly. Inside the Gray Bear fortress. In the leader¡¯s hall, Gray Bear was sitting in a chair with a grim face. Across from him was a robust man dressed in heavy armor. This man was the leader of another bandit camp, commonly referred-t to as the ¡®Spirit Wolf¡¯. The origin of this moniker was a story spread among the bandits. He was supposedly the emissary of the Death God in the human realm, and anyone who regarded him as an enemy would suffer endless torture, even after death. Of course, Gray Bear didn¡¯t believe this. Bandits and robbers would all give themselves ferocious names just like his own ¡®Gray Bear¡¯, and rumors of his ability to transform into an enormous bear when angered. All of which was to terrorize the villagers and bandits in the mountains. ¡°You¡¯re full of shit! Who the hell told you that my forces are insufficient and that the fortress is indefensible?¡± Gray Bear swore from his chair. ¡°Humph! Gray Bear, don¡¯t push your luck. I¡¯ve generously proposed a marriage alliance. We can manage this fortress together. If I take over, you and the fortress will still belong to me,¡± the man sullenly replied. The news of Gray Bear fortress¡¯s ambush on the merchant fleet¡¯s had already spread. All the bandits who had lost their footing due to the Lyss army¡¯s encirclement had their eyes on this fortress. In the past few days, spies from various bandit groups had shown up and were observing the situation in Gray Bear¡¯s territory. ¡°Take over? You?¡± Gray Bear sneered disdainfully, but his heart was filled with apprehension. He was well aware of the situation in the fortress. In the event of a fight, his side was doomed to lose. But he couldn¡¯t bear to give up his fortress, especially not to the man in front of him. No matter how dire the situation, he couldn¡¯t bear losing to such a man. Boom! The man slammed his fist on the table and roared, ¡°I didn¡¯t come here for your opinion. I want to be the bandit leader of this area, the Wolf King¡­.¡± The man had his own ambition. He wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to combine all the scattered bandits and become the leader of all the bandits in the region. Startled by the man¡¯s sudden outburst, Gray Bear involuntarily reached for the weapon at her side. The man squinted at her, saying coldly, ¡°This is your last chance, either agree or die here¡­.¡± Gray Bear noticed that the man¡¯s henchman was already close to the door outside. The moment she said ¡®no¡¯, that henchman would immediately charge out and order an attack. Gray Bear¡¯s gaze darkened. She felt tricked by this man. The newcomers she had taken into her fortress these past few days, they all must have been the man¡¯s embedded spies. They were here for these negotiations. Gray Bear¡¯s eyes flickered rapidly, ¡°Damn you¡­.¡± However, before she could finish, there was a sudden, fearful cry of chaos from outside. ¡°It¡¯s a bone dragon¡­.¡± ¡°The undead are coming, hide!¡± The door was kicked open and a bandit stumbled in. ¡°Boss, the undead are attacking us, we need to hide.¡± Gray Bear and Dark Wolf shared a glance, hastily stepped outside, and saw massive bone dragons landing around the stronghold. Large undead soldiers perched on their backs. Their leather bags filled with white bones. What on earth was happening? The bone dragon¡¯s colossal white claw crushed the wooden fence of the stronghold. A dark-haired human swept his gaze over the bandits below, speaking in a chilly voice, ¡°If you wish to live, bring out your leader.¡± The hiding bandits¡¯ gazes simultaneously snapped to their leader¡¯s hall. Gray Bear swallowed, glancing at Dark Wolf next to him, ¡°The stronghold is yours, you go.¡± ¡°Shit! Don¡¯t talk nonsense, they¡¯re looking for you.¡± ¡°Go on, we¡¯re all familiar with each other, you¡¯re a man, aren¡¯t you? Let me go-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, we¡¯re not that close.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fixed on the leader¡¯s hall in the middle, spotting Gray Bear hiding inside. He spoke coldly, ¡°Gray Bear, do you wish to die?¡± As her name was spoken out loud, an invisible pressure suddenly enveloped Gray Bear. It felt as though an unseen hand squeezed her heart mercilessly, making every beat a struggle. ¡°Boss, ask him what he wants,¡± a lackey on the side pulled Gray Bear¡¯s sleeve. Gray Bear jolted awake, forcefully suppressing the anxiety in her heart, asking, ¡°Sir, what do you need me for?¡± ¡°A week ago, you raided my convoy. How should we settle this matter?¡± Fang Hao stared straight at Gray Bear. The latter frowned, recalling the events of a week prior. No, the only fight a week ago was robbing a textile merchant, and they had lost more than half their men then. They hadn¡¯t had any engagement with the undead. ¡°Sir, we haven¡¯t¡­¡±. ¡°I give you an opportunity, submit to me, and I will spare your lives,¡± Fang Hao cut straight through Gray Bear¡¯s defenses. Gray Bear got the hint. Whether she robbed an undead convoy a week ago wasn¡¯t important anymore, the man in front of her had no intention of hearing her explanation. His goal was making her and her men submit to him. Gray Bear hesitated. This was different from bandits vying for control of the stronghold. The oppression brought by the undead was even stronger, the fear of death lingering in her. There were over eighty of them left. How many could break through the ten bone dragons and the towering skeleton warriors on their backs? Probably very few. She glanced at the ¡®Dark Wolf next to her, who promptly avoided her gaze. Instead of letting the other bandits claim her stronghold, it would be better to bet on the undead. ¡°Sir, my men and I are willing to submit to you. We hope you won¡¯t make things difficult for us.¡± Gray Bear knelt on one knee, laying down her weapon on the ground. ¡°Good!¡± Fang Hao dismounted his bone dragon, with Anjia and Demitrija standing guard on either side. ¡°Sign this, this place will serve as a transit station on the way to Lyss City. The safety of the caravans on this route will also be your responsibility.¡± Fang Hao found a blank Slave Contract in the Book of Lords. Gray Bear looked at Fang Hao, then at Anjia and Demitrija. When her gaze landed on Demitrija, she shrank back. It was indeed the same caravan from back then, she had a deep impression of this lizardman from their encounter in the mist. Bloody Iron Mercenary Corps, they¡¯ve led her to her doom. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Gray Bear quickly bit her fingertip and pressed it onto the Slave Contract. The contract¡¯s light enveloped Gray Bear, binding her actions with rules. [Human Warrior Reed, current loyalty: 65.] Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Chapter 257, Practicing Swimming 1 Chapter 263: Chapter 257, Practicing Swimming 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ã ¡ª The hot spring pool spans roughly twenty square meters and although it does not bubble, it emits waves of heat. Whether the fishes can survive in it is uncertain, but it should make a delicious broth. After all, it¡¯s made from Rejuvenation Spring Water, which has the taste of mother¡¯s milk. ¡°This is a hot spring. You can soak in it after dinner; it¡¯s not only good for your health, but also has beauty benefits.¡± Fang Hao ruffled Anjia¡¯s hair. Anjia swat his hand away, remaining curious about the hot spring. I m going to try it.¡± She abruptly declared, ready to undress. Let¡¯s finish dinner first.¡± Fang Hao once again deflected her curiosity. After dinner, Fang Hao inspected his stock of materials. He had ample resources to construct the Rejuvenation Hot Spring. Enough for not just one, but ten. He discussed the location with the female servants. They chattered away for a while before deciding on an empty place within the living quarters to set up the hot spring. He reminded them of the hot spring¡¯s benefits, encouraging them to soak often. The female servants had already started their physical training after taking their potions. The Rejuvenation Hot Spring considerably assisted them by improving their physical constitutions. [Nancy of the Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 5 points, current loyalty 98.] [Mami of the Rabbitmen Clan¡¯s loyalty to you increased by to points current loyalty 95.] [A member of the Foxmen Tribe¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 5 points, current loyalty 90.] All the maids¡¯ loyalty increased considerably, practically all above 90. Those who had taken the potions were close to reaching a loyalty of too. After attending to the rabbitmaid¡¯s hot spring, Fang Hao sought out Demitrija again. ¡°Sir, I would appreciate a private hot spring if possible.¡± Demitrija stood straight at his side. Although Fang Hao initially intended to separate the bath by gender, he didn¡¯t anticipate Demitrija wanting a separate one. As Fang Hao¡¯s orange rank battle hero, such special treatment could be granted. ¡°Alright, can it be built behind your dwelling?¡± Demitrija nodded. Demitrija had a distinct residence. Despite the house not being as grand as the manor, it was separated from the maids¡¯ quarters. Both of them went behind Demitrija¡¯s house where a stone-brick hot spring emerged. ¡ã [Loyalty of your Ancient Blade ¨C Demitrija increased by 2 points, current loyalty too.] ¡¯ ¡¯ [Loyalty of your Ancient Blade ¨C Demitrija reached too points, and will not be affected by any negative statuses such as deception or betrayal.] ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Once again, Demitrija expressed his gratitude. He took off his stiff armor, armed with his longsword, and walked in. Bringing a sword into the bath? Isn¡¯t there a risk of injuring himself? Without arguing more, Fang Hao turned to leave Demitrija¡¯s abode. The moment he left, he heard the sounds of ¡®Ho, Ha¡¯ and the swirling of sword energy assaulting the distance. Was he training? Confused by the customs of the Lizardmen, Fang Hao just shook his head. Once constructing the hot springs was finished, he went back to building the Rejuvenation Spring Well, as he still had to sell Rejuvenation Spring Water normally the next day. After managing everything, dusk fell. Everybody was enjoying the hot springs, so naturally, Fang Hao wanted to experience its effect too. The moon hung high as the Nightstone scattered a soft glow. Stripping off all of his clothes and donning a fur blanket, he stepped into the pool. The warm spring water immersed his body, filling him with comfort. It was as if every pore opened up, receiving healing from the Rejuvenation Spring Water. Fang Hao felt a sense of transcendence. The longtime fatigue he had been feeling vanished in an instant. Indeed, hot springs have benefits for both body and mind. He leaned his body against the corner with his head resting on the edge of the pool, closing his eyes to rest. At this moment, he heard Anjia¡¯s voice in the distance. ¡°Hey! Eira, why are you coming out in those clothes?¡± ¡°Ah! What¡¯s wrong, isn¡¯t this outfit nice to look at?¡± It s not that, it just feels kind of strange. Isn¡¯t that tight outfit uncomfortable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± As they continued talking, their voices got closer. With the back door opened, Eira and Anjia walked in hand in hand. Eira was dressed in a black bunny-girl outfit, her cleavage appearing to burst through the split front, and her white legs exposed to view. Anjia donned a sailor outfit, showcasing her athletic figure. ¡°I knew it, you sneaked here for a soak on your own.¡± Anjia wore a knowing expression. Master!¡± Eira stood at the side of the pool, her face flushed. Cough, Cough! Fang Hao coughed lightly, saying, ¡°Come in for a soak, I¡¯ve had hot springs built for the other maids as well. Let¡¯s just soak together, the three of us.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Eira thanked him and slowly entered the water. Anjia, on the other hand, had already jumped in excitedly and made a splash in the pool. The pool was several meters wide, and Anjia swam back and forth eagerly, continuously cheering and shouting. Eira sat opposite, her face was slightly flushed, and her eyes were discreetly cast towards Fang Hao. Fang Hao was also watching her. Under the moonlight, Eira was hazy and beautiful. ¡°What made you decide to put on this outfit today?¡± Fang Hao asked softly. ¡°I wanted to surprise you, Master.¡± As Eira stood up, she stepped out from the water. The spring water soaked her entire body, causing her bunny-girl outfit to cling tightly to her figure, showing off her curves. Fang Hao sat at the bottom of the pool. Eira sat by his side, her body pressed closely against his. Bit by bit, her arm and thigh edged against Fang Hao¡¯s. Using the chat as a distraction, she slowly settled herself in Fang Hao¡¯s arms. ¡°Ah''¡±After a ¡°ft gasp, her entire body flushed crimson in an instant. Hearing Eira¡¯s surprised cry, Anjia looked back, ¡°What are you doing in his arms?¡± ¡°Nothing, I just fell over.¡± ¡°Oh, Fang Hao, can I practice swimming here?¡± Anjia turned to ask Fang Hao again. Yes, but you¡¯re only allowed to swim on your side.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Do you want to add some difficulty, like swimming in the fog?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao extended his hand, releasing the Swirling Mist, covering the entire hot spring area. The fog blocked the view, only the vague sound of Fang Hao¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Eira, do you want to learn to swim? I¡¯ll show you how to flutter your legs.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Under the brightly lit quiet moon, the sound of crashing waves echoed. The next day, early morning. As always, Fang Hao woke up on time. Yawning and rubbing his still groggy eyes. Another new day. Getting out of bed, he put on his clothes but noticed a message stored in the Sound-transmitting Shell on the bedside table. It was from the slave trader. He put the shell to his ear, and the somewhat greasy tone of the slave trader filled his ear. ¡°Oh, my best friend, I haven¡¯t contacted you for a long time. This time, I brought some new slaves and will be staying at the Manim Market for two days. I am sure that you will find a slave that satisfies you among them.¡± The slave trader used the same old rhetoric every time, believing that Fang Hao always bought his slaves because of it, and always enjoyed doing it. After listening, he put the shell back down, got dressed, and immediately left the room. Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Chapter 258, The Slave Who Sold Himself 1 Chapter 264: Chapter 258, The Slave Who Sold Himself 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Eira was already preparing breakfast as he made his way down the stairs. The maids had also started their chores. ¡°Good morning, master,¡± the busy maids greeted. ¡°Good morning,¡± Fang Hao glanced toward the kitchen. ¡°Make breakfast simple, Eira, I have to go out later.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± As Fang Hao came downstairs, he was also mulling over the information relayed from the slave trader. Upon careful consideration, he decided to make a trip to the Manim Market to observe the development of Bronze Bull, and also to increase the number of maids. The demand for maids was growing as businesses in Lyss City began to move forward. Local shop assistants could simply not compare to the efficiency and obedience of these maids. Soon, breakfast was served. Anjia was woken up by Eira and brought downstairs, just as Demitrija came in. After a quick meal, Fang Hao, with both of them on the Bone Dragon, headed straight for Tauren City. Tauren City was initially Zhang Bin¡¯s city, later shifted to the west by Fang Hao. It¡¯s now managed by Bronze Bull. Fang Hao then directly renamed it as Tauren City. As the Bone Dragon landed, Bronze Bull with a few Tauren guards approached to greet them. My lord,¡± Bronze Bull saluted, his bull¡¯s eyes looking curiously at Demitrija. ¡°Hmm, this is Demitrija, a newly joined hero. Say hello to each other,¡± Fang Hao introduced briefly. Both of them nodded in acknowledgment, considered as their greetings. Walking straight into the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao sat down and asked, ¡°How¡¯s everything recently? Any difficulties?¡± ¡°No, my lord, everything is going smoothly. The business in the Manim Market is also getting better. Many villages are coming here for trade,¡± Bronze Bull replied. The Manim Market improved significantly compared to before. Bronze Bull also analyzed that a significant part of the reason was the accelerated construction in Manim. The roads were smooth, the market area was classified, food stalls were set up, and not just anyone could lay out a cloth anywhere to sell their goods. All these changes caught the eye of other villages. The fame of the Tauren Clan was rising, and more people were willing to do business here or exchange what they needed. ¡°Good, this is a positive sign. But it¡¯s just the beginning of the plan. I intend to turn Manim into a business city for the Orcs,¡± commented Fang Hao. Business city? Manim is already an orc market, how is it supposed to be constructed? Bronze Bull was a bit puzzled about Fang Hao¡¯s plan, but still, he didn¡¯t ask further. It¡¯s a good thing for him and his tribe if Fang Hao is willing to invest resources in the Manim Market. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Bronze Bull responded. Fang Hao thought for a while and continued: ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll manage Tauren City.¡± He opened the Book of Lords, looking for the ¡°City Transfer¡± function. ¡°Should ¡®Tauren City¡¯ be transformed from a subordinate city to an original city? After the transformation, the ¡®acting governor¡¯ will not be able to use the functions of the City Lord¡¯s Book (including but not limited to recruitment, upgrading, production, etc.), but the city¡¯s buildings and soldiers will be preserved.¡± City transfer is something Fang Hao hasn¡¯t attempted. Gazelle Bull has been doing well, and there has been no new city lord found to take over this place, so he might as well give it to Bronze Bull. Transform! ¡°Transfer successful!¡± ¡°You can ¡®here¡¯ name the city, the city lord¡¯s mansion can set up the ¡®deputy governor¡¯, and you can check the information of the governor in the Book of Lords at anytime.¡± Next, Fang Hao wrote ¡°Tauren City¡± in the city name field and ¡°Bronze Bull ¨C Tellock¡± in the Governor¡¯s field. ¡°Settings completed!¡± ¡°Tauren City¡± ¡°City Level: Level 5 Original City¡± ¡°Attributes: Tax +10%, Tauren breed +5%, Ranching +5%¡± (Description: A city with attributes can bring all kinds of benefits, accelerating the city¡¯s construction and development.) As the subordinate city became an original city. It also gained special attributes. The attributes should be based on the race of the appointed governor, not based on Fang Hao¡¯s faction. An original city can be upgraded. However, it cannot use the Book of City Lord. Simply put, if Fang Hao wants to upgrade, he needs to make a trip personally using the Book of Lords. If it¡¯s a regular subordinate city, the city lord can use the Book of City Lord to upgrade. ¡°Thankyou, my lord,¡± Bronze Bull saluted again. He didn¡¯t understand exactly what Fang Hao has done, but he guessed it had to do with the same mysterious power as before. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s take a look outside,¡± Fang Hao stood up and headed outside. A group of heroes followed him into the city center, where they were received by a dense line of skeleton soldiers on both sides. Here were stationed a million undead, acting as the first barrier, defending the east side of the main city. While on standby, these undead would stand still like terracotta warriors, rigid in rows. Even if there were white marks of bird droppings sticking to the helmets of two soldiers, they still did not move. Fang Hao thought for a while, then reopened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the Troop Hiding Cave. [Level 1 Troop Hiding Cave] [Type: Special Building] [Maximum Capacity: 10,000.] [Construction Requirements: Wood 1500, Stones 3200, Iron 520, Metal Parts 80.] (Description: Soldiers can be hidden here to achieve strategic objectives.) He chose an almost suitable location and chose to build. A glowing illusion rose from the ground. After it dissipated, a stone stair leading underground appeared in front of several people. Fang Hao took out a piece of Nightstone and went downstairs to take a look. It looked quite like a parking garage in the previous world. A Level 1 Troop Hiding Cave could accommodate 10,000 soldiers. Fang Hao attempted to upgrade the Troop Hiding Cave. [Level 2 Troop Hiding Cave: Maximum Capacity 20,000.] [Level 3 Troop Hiding Cave:¡­ 40,000.] [Level 4¡­.] [Level 5 Troop Hiding Cave: Maximum Capacity 100,000.] When it reached Level 5, the maximum capacity was already 100,000. After discussing with Bronze Bull, Fang Hao built eight Troop Hiding Caves under the training ground of Tauren City, leaving behind the soldiers who continued to patrol, and the rest all went into the Troop Hiding Caves to standby. After dealing with matters regarding Bronze Bull, Fang Hao did not stay for long. Escorted by the Tauren soldiers, Fang Hao and his party arrived at the Manim Market in the afternoon. The Orc Market was as bustling as ever. Many orcs were shouting loudly to sell their goods. Seeing Fang Hao, a human, and a lizardman, they immediately came forward to peddle their goods. Fang Hao did not pay attention to these people and walked straight towards the warehouse where the slave traders usually stayed. Warehouse area. The slave trader held a hand of cards, cursing lightly: ¡°Another crap hand, is it my damn luck stepping in dog shit, such bad luck.¡± A pair of eyes started to scan around, intending to find an excuse to stop playing and avoid losing the last few coins he had. Searched for a reason, then saw a human walked in from the entrance. Slam! He threw away the cards he held, and shouted excitedly: ¡°Oh, my godsend has arrived¡­¡± Without any hesitation, he dipped his finger into his cup, smeared some liquor, tidied his fur, and strode toward Fang Hao. ¡°Dear friend, welcome to your arrival.¡± The slave trader rubbed his hands, his face full of joy. ¡°Looks like you were playing cards, I hope I didn¡¯t interrupt your luck!¡± Fang Hao kept walking and casually said. Even the best luck can¡¯t stop me from entertaining my best friend.¡± Fang Hao smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s see your goods this time.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± The slave trader led the way ahead, and they quickly arrived in the warehouse. Just as they entered the warehouse. A beast clan girl was sitting on a wooden box eating an apple with her legs crossed. The sudden arrival of people startled her a little. She met eyes with the crowd, showing a slight embarrassment. ¡°Should I go back into the cage?¡± After saying that, she crawled back into her cage, reached out through the bars, and snap! With a crisp sound, she locked the door. This¡­ This series of operations made Fang Hao somewhat baffling. The beast girl was about 1.2 meters tall, like a young girl who hadn¡¯t grown up yet. Brown hair, a pair of beast ears. Unlike Anjia, this girl¡¯s upper body was close to that of a human. Outside of her brown shorts, her bare legs were covered in soft fur. Her feet were bare, and her sharp fingertips were like beast claws. When sitting cross-legged, one could see the black pads under her feet. ¡°She¡¯s a slave too?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s a slave. She stopped us on the road and sold herself.¡± Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: Chapter 259, Blackfoot Tribe_l Chapter 265: Chapter 259, Blackfoot Tribe_l Translator: 549690339 Selling oneself to a slave trader, that¡¯s a first. ¡°How about taking a look at the slaves I¡¯ve brought this time?¡± the slave trader suggested. ¡°Okay.¡± The cover was pulled back, revealing 21 female rabbits and foxes in the cage. These slaves cower in the corner, peering timidly outside. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take them all.¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get the paperwork for you.¡± The slave trader grinned with delight. He knew that as long as he brought female members of the beast clan, Fang Hao would definitely purchase them all. The cage opened, and the rabbit and fox people were led out, heads low, not daring to look forward. ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t have to be so downcast. You should be excited about having such a tall and handsome master.¡± The slave trader spoke loudly, tossing a few flattering comments to Fang Hao. The Slave Contracts were handed over, and Fang Hao took them all. He was about to leave with these slaves. Crack! A crisp sound suddenly came from a cage nearby. Everyone looked over, only to see a member of the beast clan girl in the cage extending her small hand with long claws, unlocked the heavy lock with one poke. She bent down and crawled out of the cage, sidled up next to Anjia, and looked at her closely. ¡°You¡¯re Anjia, I remember your hair color.¡± Hearing this, everyone furrowed their brows, turning questioning eyes towards Anjia. Anjia was equally puzzled, ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lorrey, we used to fight when we were kids. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve beat up too many people, I can¡¯t remember.¡± Anjia gave up trying to recall immediately. Lorrey¡¯s lip twitched. She shot a glance at Fang Hao and excitedly asked Anjia, ¡°You really went to a human city? Is there someone willing to take you in?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not sheltering, it¡¯s joining.¡± While the two were talking, Fang Hao walked over. When he got close, he saw the attributes of the Beast Clan girl. [Beast Clan Warrior (Tier 9)] It was hard to believe that this girl, who was only three feet tall, was at Tier 9- Just one more tier and she could undergo the hero¡¯s ordeal. ¡°You two know each other?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two of them answered differently. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Fang Hao asked Lorrey. She didn¡¯t look like a slave, freely coming in and out of the cage like it was her own house. Lorrey eyed Fang Hao, then looked at Anjia, and asked, ¡°Are you a City Lord?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± Fang Hao replied. Lorrey¡¯s big eyes blinked rapidly, and she said, ¡°Really? You took in Anjia, so can our village attach to your city? ¡°Village?¡± ¡°Yes, our village is migrating, and we need a reliable city to rely on.¡± Lorrey said excitedly. ¡°How many people are in your village?¡± ¡°More than 2001 would say.¡± ¡°Joining me requires signing the Slave Contract, you¡¯d better think it over.¡± ¡°Do we have to sign for everyone in the village?¡± ¡°No need, just signing the village head or the clan leader will do.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°If we attach ourselves to your city, will you provide us with security? And what do human villages do?¡± Lorrey continued to ask. It seems that Lorrey didn¡¯t have much resistance to the signing of the contract by Fang Hao. ¡°Do you know how to farm?¡± ¡°Err, we know a little¡­¡± ¡°What about breeding?¡± ¡°Um, someone in the village knows how.¡± ¡°What are your specialities?¡± ¡°Err¡­ We are very good at hunting, we can catch lots of prey. Ugh¡­ Fang Hao looked at Lorrey¡¯s height of three feet. What kind of hunting could you do? Catching rabbits? Fang Hao thought about Lorrey¡¯s characteristics. It seemed that she was very good at lock picking, and her small figure could play the part of a thief. But it seemed that he didn¡¯t really need a thief. However, this beastman girl named Lorrey had already reached Tier 9 and was about to be upgraded to undergo the hero¡¯s trial. There are many beast clan affiliated villages in the territory, so there was no harm in adding one more village. Fang Hao thought to himself, while Lorrey looked a bit nervous. She seemed to think that the human city lord was not very satisfied with her and her tribesmen. ¡°My friend, do not underestimate them because of their sizes. In the beast clan, the Blackfoot Clan are excellent scouts.¡± The slave trader chimed in at this time. He had his own understanding of the characteristics of all races. He also knew what points buyers would pay attention to. The Blackfoot Clan. Fang Hao looked at Lorrey¡¯s black beast feet. ¡°Okay, if you are willing to join us, you can move your village here,¡± Fang Hao said to the hopeful Lorrey. ¡°Okay.¡± Upon hearing this, Lorrey breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°First, you sign a contract with me, and when the village comes, have your village leader sign another contract,¡± Fang Hao said. Lorrey blinked her eyes, glanced at Anjia who on her side, and nodded, ¡°Okay, I trust my judgment.¡± A Slave Contract was handed over, and Lorrey directly pressed her handprint on it. Everything was decided between Fang Hao and Lorrey, while the slave trader silently stood to the side. ¡°Oh, how much for her?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°We¡¯re friends, so you just need to pay her food for this period of time, no other fees needed,¡± the slave trader said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, one piece of Beasthead Gold should be enough. Fang Hao took out a piece of Beasthead Gold and paid the slave trader. Apparently, the slave trader was keen to get rid of Lorrey, who he couldn t control, as soon as possible. With the contract signed, Fang Hao could now view Lorrey¡¯s attributes. [Lorrey (Tier 9)] [Faction: Beast Clan] [Unique Traits: Living creature, Obstacle Avoidance, Cat Feet] [Skills: Graceful Landing, Raise Sharp Claws, Hunt the Weak] [innate Skills: Intermediate Combat Mastery, Intermediate Stealth Mastery] [Obstacle Avoidance]: Small and agile body, good at avoiding obstacles, not easily affected by traps. [Cat Feet]: Can walk in narrow places without making sound. [Graceful Landing]: When falling from a high place, it can reduce 50% of the impact. [Raise Sharp Claws]: Can make the nails very sharp, increasing the attack power by 50% and climbing speed by 30%. [Hunt the Weak]: Deals 100% damage to enemies who are fleeing. (Description: For a long time, the Blackfoot Cat Tribe has changed the beast clan¡¯s the concept that body size determines power.) The Blackfoot Cat Tribe, more like forest scouts or thieves than warriors. Skills like Obstacle Avoidance and Cat Feet give them excellent abilities for stealth and ambush. They can¡¯t necessarily beat a regular beastman in a head-on fight. Moreover, their own bodies are quite small to start with. After viewing Lorrey¡¯s attributes, Fang Hao returned to Tauren City with the slaves he had purchased. When Lorrey saw the Bronze Bull address Fang Hao as the lord, she realized that Fang Hao was more than just the lord of a city. The prosperous Manim Market was only a part of Fang Hao¡¯s territory. This made Lorrey excited, silently praising her own sharp eye for making a wise decision. Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Chapter 260, Despite the Lack i Chapter 266: Chapter 260, Despite the Lack i Translator: 549690339 | Bronze Bull prepared food for the newly purchased slaves. In their anxiousness, the slaves carefully ate their food, constantly observing their new master, as well as Bronze Bull and Anjia. Bronze Bull was different from Anjia. He held high prestige among the Orcs. Since the new master had received Bronze Bull¡¯s approval, he wouldn¡¯t be too cruel, would he? That¡¯s what all the slaves were thinking. At the other end of the table, Fang Hao continued to look at Lorrey curiously, asking, ¡°When will your tribesmen arrive, do I need to arrange for someone to pick them up?¡± The attributes of the Blackfoot Cat Tribe were quite good. Making it an affiliated village would be a good decision. sitting in the chair, swinging his legs back and forth, Lorrey said, ¡°Can I go and have a look at your territory first, to familiarize myself with the road?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Hao Fang signed the slave contract without worrying about his secrets being discovered. ¡°How did you sell yourself to the slave traders?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The slave trader mentioned that Lorrey had stopped the slave trading team and sold himself. ¡°Aha! I planned to go to the Human-like City, but I didn¡¯t know the way. I heard that these guys were going to sell slaves to humans, so I decided to follow them.¡± Lorrey seemed to have everything within his plans. Well, Fang Hao didn¡¯t probe further. This Lorrey, his mind works just like Anjia¡¯s. After all the rabbit girls and fox girls filled their stomachs, the large group began to return. When they saw the outline of the main city and the massive undead armies from afar. Historically, this scene happened again. The rabbit and fox girls either fainted or huddled together in fear. At this point, Lorrey was on all fours, arching his back, his entire body¡¯s hair standing on end. He turned to jump out of the carriage. But as soon as his hind legs started to push, Anjia grabbed his neck and firmly pressed him onto the ground. No matter how he struggled, he couldn¡¯t break free. The caravan directly passed through the undead army and entered the city. Eira came out with the maids to greet them, and seeing the faces of the terrified rabbit and fox girls at the back of the carriage, she also felt a bit used to the sight. ¡°Okay, Eira, take them to familiarize themselves with the place, and tell them the rules of the territory.¡± Fang Hao stepped off the carriage. ¡°Yes, master.¡± Eira replied with a smile. Eira was the head maid, and she would also be in charge of assigning jobs to the new maids. Meeting them beforehand also had its benefits. ¡°What about me?¡± Lorrey didn¡¯t know where to go. The slave contract had been signed, and he couldn¡¯t even run. ¡°You can go and take a look at the territory as well,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Oh,¡± Lorrey jumped off the carriage and followed Eira and the others. Everyone dispersed, each busy with their own tasks. Fang Hao went back to his mansion, took a sip of fruit wine served by the maid, and started to recover from his journey. After resting for a while, he left the mansion again, preparing to go to the tailor and the goldsmith to check on their progress. On the way, a tall Skeleton Troll passed by. This Skeleton Troll had only one eye in the middle of his forehead. It must be the one-eyed troll that was transformed yesterday. Checking its attributes. [Skeleton One-eyed Troll (Rank 7)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light, Lack of Vertical Sense.] [Skills: Fleshless Body, Multiple Attacks, Giant Club.] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Mastery in Combat, Intermediate Mastery in Defense, Advanced Mastery in Blunt Weapons.] [Lack of Vertical Sense]: Perception -30%. [Fleshless Body]: (Passive Skill) Physical damage taken reduced by 35%. [Multiple Heavy Strikes]: (Active Skill) Initiates two giant club strikes. [Giant Club]: (Active Skill) Hits target, damage increased by 25%, causes knockback and knockdown effect on small targets. (Note: Skeleton soldiers transformed from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods of their past life.) It turned out to be a Rank 7 unit. Fang Hao further investigated a few other transformed one-eyed trolls. They were all Rank 5 except for this one who was Rank 7. It seemed that among the one-eyed trolls that his party had killed, there was a minor leader. It¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t pay attention at the time and killed it without realizing it. There¡¯s not much to say about the properties of the Skeleton Cyclops Troll. The skills mentioned the giant club, which implies blunt mastery, hinting to equip it with a Wolf Fang Club weapon. One of the racial characteristics noted an absence of intuition, with target perception decreasing by 30%. This didn¡¯t make much sense. After all, it had become undead and had hollow eyes. A lack of perception reducing by 30% seemed unjustifiable. But the properties were generated this way, and there was nothing he could do about it. After reading the properties of the Skeleton Cyclops Troll, Fang Hao continued on to the tailor to chat for a while. By the time he returned to the Mansion, Eira also came back bringing along a group of new maids. The worries on her face seemed much less, but her gaze towards Fang Hao was still evasive. ¡°Master, should I prepare dinner?¡± Eira asked. ¡°Yes, have their rooms been sorted out?¡± ¡°Everything has been arranged, and we have enough rooms,¡± Eira answered. ¡°Then go prepare the dinner, let them get used to the surroundings today, and we¡¯ll arrange work for them tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Eira went to prepare dinner, while the new maids were ushered to warehouse to get their supplies. From now on they would live here. In the Mansion¡¯s main hall. Lorrey was holding a cup filled with fruit wine, taking a careful sip. He asked,¡± You won¡¯t really turn us into skeletons, will you?¡± ¡°If you¡¯d like to become a skeleton, I can make that happen,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°No, no thanks.¡± Lorrey quickly shook his head and continued, ¡°If my tribe comes here, will you make things difficult for them?¡± His own fate was sealed after signing the contract. If this wasn¡¯t a right decision, he wouldn¡¯t bring his tribe here. ¡°As long as they follow the rules within my territory, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you, and you will get support and protection,¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°Just like the Chieftain Bronze Bull?¡± ¡°The Bronze Bull Tribe is just one among many. In my territory, nearly two hundred Orc Tribes need to obey the rules here.¡± To this point, his territory was no longer the little village it was initially. It now included the Orc Tribes in the Frost Mountain Range, with a count exceeding two hundred. ¡°Oh, then I need to consider,¡± Lorrey was still a bit cautious. ¡°You can. Live here for a few days to get used to it.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you,¡± Lorrey gave thanks. It seemed that Fang Hao was not as domineering as he had expected. Clip-clop, clip-clop! While the two were chatting, a rush of hoofbeats sounded outside the door. Then, a heavy infantry soldier led a man with a sack over his head inside. He stepped forward and stated, ¡°Master, this man claims to be from Rose Tavern and requests to see you. General Terry has sent him here.¡± Terry and his heavy infantry were stationed at the fortress on the southern side of the main city. This bartender had gone to the fortress today, specifically stating he had urgent news for Fang Hao. Concerned that it might be something critical, Terry dispatched his men to escort him here. For the sake of avoiding unnecessary trouble, he had been brought in with a thick sack over his head, like a captured enemy. ¡°Take off his hood, let me ask him,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The heavy infantry pulled off the sack, revealing a red-faced bartender. The sack was removed. The bartender could now see his surroundings. The wide, illuminated hall; the shining Nightstone chandelier; and the heavy, graceful silk curtains. The bartender blinked his eyes to bring his vision into focus. There were Orcs and Lizardmen stationed on both sides of the hall. To the side, a maid in a black and white dress was cleaning up. What¡¯s going on? Was he brought to the Royal Palace? ¡°Not busy at the tavern today?¡± The bartender followed the voice upward, seeing a familiar face smiling at him from the throne atop the stairs. It¡¯s Fang Hao, yes, he was here to find Fang Hao. ¡°Fang Hao, my sister has been kidnapped. She said only you could save her.¡± Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: Chapter 261, The Transferred Villagers_l Chapter 267: Chapter 261, The Transferred Villagers_l Translator: 549690339 The tavern keeper shouted, reflexively stepping forward. The heroes fixed him with a cold stare and he immediately stepped back. This place looked even more luxurious than the City Lord¡¯s manor in Pruell City, which intensified the awe in the tavern keeper¡¯s heart. Even a fool could tell that Fang Hao was not the ordinary rich second generation they had imagined. Fang Hao sat on the bone throne, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. He had invited the tavern¡¯s proprietress to assist him, but she had refused each time. Entrusting the tavern keeper to seek help now seemed out of character for her. ¡°What happened? Talk me through it in detail.¡± Fang Hao asked. He was quite familiar with the proprietress who had previously provided him with a lot of intelligence. While Fang Hao would help wherever possible, what he would help with depended on the circumstances. ¡°This is the situation. Bernard came to the pub with his men this morning and took the boss away, accusing her of theft. We waited until dusk and the boss sent a message via a courier, mentioning the cultists and asked us to find you.¡± The tavern keeper took out a crumpled piece of paper from his clothes as he spoke. The maid took the note and handed it over. The writing on it was tiny, comprising of just two simple sentences. ¡®We are under the control of the cultists, go find Fang Hao.1 Cultists? Upon mention of cultists, Fang Hao thought of the pale-skinned man with the massive hood. ¡°Who is Bernard? Are you guys stealing stuff?¡± Fang Hao asked again. He found Bernard¡¯s name familiar, but couldn¡¯t remember at the moment. ¡°Bernard is the son of the former Minister of Domestic Affairs. Our pub cherishes its reputation and we would never steal. It¡¯s clearly a pretext Bernard is using.¡± The tavern keeper said furiously. Upon hearing that Bernard was the son of the Minister of Domestic Affairs, Fang Hao realized who he was. The pimpled man, Anjia had beaten up before who was locked up by City Lord Cyril was now presumably released. Now that Bernard has captured the proprietress; it could be because she had provided Fang Hao with a lot of information and he was venting his anger on her. ¡°What about the cultists? Why are they being mentioned?¡± Fang Hao continued. The term ¡®cultists¡¯ was a nickname the proprietress coined for the pale-skinned people, because wearing a hood in broad day light made them look like cultists. ¡°In recent days, many hooded people have appeared in the city. When Bernard arrested her, there were a few of them present. The proprietress named them cultists.¡± The tavern keeper continued. Fang Hao didn¡¯t speak, but he made his conclusion. It seemed that Cyril has chosen the wrong path. The Blood Clan obviously had some form of collaboration with Pruell City, openly appearing before the residents, having been clearly recognized by City Lord Cyril. The Blood Clan had been targeting Fang Hao. Even if this didn¡¯t involve the tavern, he would have investigated upon hearing the news. He needed to see what the Blood Clan and Cyril were up to. ¡°What do you hope I would do to rescue her?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Ah? I, I don¡¯t know.¡± The tavern keeper shook his head in bewilderment. ¡°So where have they kept your boss?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t keep her in the city. After the city gates closed at dusk, they escorted her away, headed southeast.¡± ¡°They took her away?¡± ¡°Yes, I followed them for a while before I came here.¡± The tavern keeper continued. It took an hour to reach the fortress from Pruell City. And another significant amount of time to get here from the fortress. If the delay continued, they might go somewhere where they could not be found. ¡°Go call the Blood Hunter.¡± Fang Hao instructed a maid. ¡°Yes, master,¡± the maid ran off. ¡°Do you have guts?¡± Fang Hao looked at the tavern keeper again. Thinking that he was going to be asked to do something dangerous, he hurriedly shook his head. ¡°No, not much.¡± ¡°Then put on the sack.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The tavern keeper, not quite understanding, put the sack over his head anyway. Before long, the skeletal hero Blood Hunter walked in. With his large bat wings folded, he strode forward and said, ¡°My lord, you were looking for me.¡± The innkeeper, bag still over his head, stood helplessly in the middle of the hall as the Blood Hunter walked past him. Through the loose gap of the bag, he could see a pair of iron boots walk by, and above the boots at the bare ankle was chilling white bone. His heart shivered, his body trembling violently. What is going on? How many races has Fang Hao gathered here? Lizardmen are one thing, but why are there undead too? Fang Hao looked at the Blood Hunter and said, ¡°Blood Hunter, I need you to investigate a group of people. They departed from Pruell City and headed southeast. I suspect they are heading towards the Blood Clan¡¯s Crescent Heights. Check it out for me.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The Blood Hunter didn¡¯t waste words. Upon receiving the order, he turned around and left. He left the Lord¡¯s Mansion, mounted the Bone Dragon and flew southeast. After giving instructions, Fang Hao again turned to Lorrey, who was shaking his legs and enjoying the show, and said, ¡°Lorrey, I have a task for you. If you complete it well, I¡¯ll build a house just for you.¡± Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Loney¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords map and pointed it out to Lorrey. ¡°This is Pruell City. Go and find out for me what the city lord is up to.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lorrey agreed immediately. The heavy infantry soldier left with the innkeeper and Lorrey, while Fang Hao began to mobilize his forces, waiting for their reports. Southeast of Pruell City, on a flat open space. A group of five hundred people huddled together for a short rest. This group, composed of villagers and lower-class residents, was the first batch of human residents to be relocated from Pruell City. Cyril had struck a deal with the Blood Clan. They would gradually move the residents to Crescent Heights to become subjects under the rule of the Blood Clan. These villagers lived in remote areas or were thieves and criminals arrested under various charges; even if they suddenly disappeared, it would be hard for others to notice. When night fell and the masked ¡®guardians¡¯ removed their hoods to reveal crimson eyes, the people realized something was wrong, but it was all too late. But now they could do nothing but hope for a miracle. On the side, two men were sitting. The older, middle-aged man was thin, his eyes emitting the same red light as the Blood Clan, while the younger man looked no different from a human, his brows revealing a hint of ruthlessness, occasionally scratching a pimple on his face irritably. These were the former minister of internal affairs of Pruell City and his son, Bernard. ¡°Father, I also want to become a Blood Clan member, then I can have power,¡± Bernard said. He was somewhat envious that his father had become a Blood Clan member. The minister, his gaunt face rather serious, replied, ¡°The business in Pruell City still needs you. Wait until you¡¯re old, around my age, then you can become a member of the Blood Clan.¡± According to City Lord Cyril, once transformed into a Blood Clan member, they couldn¡¯t appear in the city. After considering his father¡¯s words, Bernard decided he was right and didn¡¯t push the topic. ¡°That brat Fang Hao closed shop today. Otherwise, I would capture all his bunny girls and torment them.¡± Bernard was fuming, slapping his thigh in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Even Cyril is wary of Fang Hao¡¯s strength. Our priority is handle the Blood Clan¡¯s affairs well. A chance will come to deal with that brat.¡± The former minister spoke calmly, his eyes still focused on the front. ¡°You¡¯re right, father.¡± Bernard agreed before cursing again, ¡°It must have been that bitch from the bar who told Fang Hao something. That¡¯s why he took his people and left. Damn, I¡¯m going to teach that bitch a lesson.¡± After he finished speaking, Bernard stood up and headed towards the group in the back. The former minister didn¡¯t try to stop him. The lives of these people who were being taken away weren¡¯t significant anymore. They were to be gifts for the Blood Clan, their lives and deaths already decided. Bernard found a resting woman in the crowd. He kicked her down and started tearing off her clothes amid her screams. Slap! Bernard slapped the woman across the face and growled, ¡°Shut up, you bitch! Scream one more time, and I¡¯ll kill you.¡± The woman stopped struggling, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and said, ¡°Not here, let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± ¡°Hahaha, alright!¡± Victorious laughter ringing out, Bernard dragged the woman towards a nearby bush. Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Chapter 262, The Plan of Pruell City_l Chapter 268: Chapter 262, The Plan of Pruell City_l Translator: 549690339 | The villagers on the side wanted to stop him, but after the faint-blooded one bared his fangs, they helplessly crouched back down. Now everyone was like a lamb, no one could guarantee whether they would be the next to die. The woman was roughly dragged into the nearby woods. She did not resist but stumbled behind Bernard. Having walked all the way from Pruell City up until this point, her legs were numb and her feet were throbbing in pain. But she dared not stop. Those who could not move or slowed down, had already died tragically on the road. In full view of everyone, their throats were torn open by fangs, their bodies were thrown on the wagons, and the journey continued. She didn¡¯t know where she was going, nor did she understand why they would be carrying the bodies after killing them. She had heard the conversation between father and son just now, and knew she was the target of Bernard¡¯s displaced anger. The woman stumbled along, being dragged towards the woods. The woods were dark. She knew what was about to happen, and also knew that next would be her only chance of escape. If she didn¡¯t seize this opportunity, there would never be another chance to escape. About five or six meters from the camp, Bernard stopped. He forcefully pushed her forward. ¡°What are you going to do next? No one will say anything if I kill you.¡± Bernard sneered. Just like a hunter playing with his prey, allowing the prey to try to please himself before killing. The woman¡¯s eyes quickly changed and she unpinned her hair, actively took off her upper clothes to reveal her voluptuous body. Bernard stood by and watched with an ever deepening smile on his face. The feeling of power was just too good, even better than when he was in Pruell City. Bernard pushed her to the ground, pinned her under himself, ¡°Hahaha, let me see what taste you have.¡± The woman didn¡¯t speak, wrapping her arms around Bernard¡¯s neck. Excitement made Bernard pant, the rose of the civilian area was the dream lover of many drunks. Now wasn¡¯t she also a plaything, wantonly trying to please him. As Bernard caressed the smooth thighs, lifted up the long skirt and was about to go further, Suddenly, a trace of pain came from the back of his neck. Then, hot blood trickled down his neck, dripping onto the breasts of the woman beneath him. Bernard frowned and touched his neck. He felt a steel nail had penetrated his neck. Bernard realized something, and fear began to appear in his eyes. He wasn¡¯t a member of the Blood Clan yet, such an injury was enough to cost him his life. Exhausting his strength, Bernard pushed away the woman wrapped around him and turned to run towards his father. He still had a chance, as long as he got back to his father, the Blood Clan would surely have a way to heal him. Just as Bernard was about to turn and leave, How could the woman let go of this chance? Like a crazed panther, she pounced on Bernard, knocking him down. Her left hand tightly clasped his jaw, and with her other hand she pulled out the steel nail from his neck, stabbing it repeatedly into his throat. Squelch, squelch, squelch!! As more and more blood spurted out, Bernard struggled weakly and then became motionless. The woman collapsed to the ground, completely devoid of energy. Even from this distance, the smell of blood caught the attention of the Blood Clan up ahead. They started calling out Bernard¡¯s name and walking towards them. The woman was tired, watching the Blood Clan get closer, she revealed a smile. Dying along with Bernard, it seemed worth it. She closed her eyes, waiting for death to come. She could only hope that death wouldn¡¯t be too painful. Just as death approached and the Blood Clan bared their fangs at her, Whoosh! Thud! Suddenly, the sound of an object piercing the air came from above. A red dot of light, accompanied by a long tail flame, exploded in the sky above the campsite. The fiery orange glow illuminated the entire area. It was a signal flare, a device passed down from the Dwarfs¡ªpractical and easy to make. Just as everyone was looking up at the sky in confusion. Woosh woosh woosh!!! Immediately, the sound of tearing through the air resonated as giant wings blotted out the sky, crossing overhead. Skeletons of the Undead leapt down from the winged creatures, dueling with the Blood Clan, whose eyes glowed an eerie red. Clip-clop clip-clop clip-clop!!! From behind the woman came the sound of trotting horse hooves. A Human Clan knight appeared first, decapitating a fanged member of the Blood Clan as he passed. Following him were more Human Clan knights, their backs bearing giant swords. Although she didn¡¯t recognize these individuals, their armor and giant swords reminded her of the warriors Fang Hao left behind at the hot pot restaurant. Did Fang Hao arrive? The battle ended in just ten minutes. The Skeleton Warriors quickly evacuated the battlefield, and the heavy sword infantry entered immediately afterward. ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t panic. We are humans, here to rescue you. Let¡¯s take a headcount now, and everyone can go home soon,¡± they shouted in unison, ensuring every human present could hear them clearly. When everyone had quieted down and panic subsided. The infantry began counting the number of people and made the final adjustments. ¡°Lad, are you with Miss Anjia?¡± an old man asked, seeming to recognize one of the heavy sword infantrymen. The infantryman looked at the elderly man, asking curiously, ¡°Do you know me, old man?¡± ¡°When a creature disturbed the well in our village last time, you were here. I remember,¡± the old man replied. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you, old man. Don¡¯t worry, our lord knows about this incident. You all can return home and resume your peaceful lives,¡± the infantryman continued. ¡°Oh, thank you,¡± the elderly man thanked them. ¡°No problem.¡± The elderly man re-entered the crowd, the remaining people immediately gathered around to ask about the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know these people. They were the ones who got rid of the monster in our village last time. Everything will be alright,¡± the elderly man reassured everyone. With someone who had recognized the party, everyone¡¯s panic was significantly alleviated. No one asked about the undead incident. Instead, everyone gathered their strength preparing to move on. After a while, the infantrymen shouted again, ¡°Alright, follow me back now. The smell of blood here could easily attract other vampires.¡± At the mention of vampires, everyone¡¯s tension rose once again. Helping each other up, they started following the group back from where they came. At this moment, the landlady came out from the forest, donning clothes pulled off Bernard, stained entirely with blood. She followed the group, starting their return journey. Meanwhile, in Pruell City, inside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. City Lord Cyril sat in his seat, by his side sat a middle-aged man in a neatly tailored suit. Below them, both sides were filled with dignitaries and wealthy merchants from all over the city. ¡°As I¡¯ve described, Mr. Fielding will be in charge of this operation. As long as you agree to this plan, you will have the opportunity to become a member of the Blood Clan and attain eternal life,¡± City Lord Cyril spoke softly. He chose to cooperate with the Blood Clan, but Pruell City couldn¡¯t openly betray the Human Clan. That would lead to war, and he wouldn¡¯t benefit from it. Therefore, he needed some supporters to help him complete this plan while maintaining a human identity on the surface. When they retire behind the scenes, they can transform into the Blood Clan, escaping death and disease. This plan was very tempting. The people present, who had enjoyed an affluent life, were troubled by the shortness of life. At this moment, Cyril could act as a mediator, allowing them to become part of the Blood Clan when they grew old, stirring everyone¡¯s interest. ¡°Alright, since City Lord Cyril leads the way, I¡¯m willing to join this plan,¡± a voice finally broke the silence. Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: Chapter 263, Federation Agreement l Chapter 269: Chapter 263, Federation Agreement l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Alright, I agree too.¡± A voice chimed in, quickly followed by a chorus of agreements from the others present. Those in agreement had already taken over half the room. The people sitting here were all smart. Once Cyril had voiced his plans, he¡¯d already made all the necessary preparations. There was no room for disagreement. Those who disagreed would probably not even make it out of this room alive. ¡°Mr. Fielding, do you have anything to add?¡± Cyril turned to the Blood Clan member, Fielding, beside him. Fielding sat by the City Lord, the implications clear to everyone in the room. In the future, Cyril would only hold the title of City Lord of Pruell City. Significant decisions would follow the will of the Blood Clan. Under the candlelight, Fielding¡¯s skin was terrifyingly pale. With a slight smile, exposing his fangs, he said, ¡°Distribute the Sacred Blood to everyone. This is a reward from the Duke to all of you. You will not become Blood Clan, but you can possess some of their power.¡± A young man emerged from the backstage, holding a golden goblet filled with red liquid. The appearance of the young man immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. They recognized him; the gravely ill son of City Lord Cyril. He was completely recovered now, generously distributing the liquid from his goblet to all present, with a smile on his face. ¡°The Sacred Blood gifted me the power to reincarnate. It feels excellent. You all should be grateful to my father, and to Mr. Fielding,¡± said the young man. The people in the room nodded in agreement, even though the eerie undertone of the young man¡¯s grin sent chills down their spines. People held their goblets, the scent of blood brimming from them. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, everyone? The City Lord has prepared a banquet for you all.¡± Fielding smiled, looking at the crowd. This blood wouldn¡¯t turn people into Blood Clan, but it was a perfect way to control them. Once consumed, it would gradually transform them into pale-bloods, inciting severe addiction. After drinking it, they would develop a dependency. This was why the Blood Clan never worried about pale-bloods running away or betraying them. Urged on by Fielding, everyone drank the blood wine from their hands. The blood-red liquid slid down their throats, inundating their bodies with agonizingly potent energy. Drinkers covered their throats, issuing painful screams. The cries of anguish continued for several minutes. Eventually, people staggered back to their feet; the liquid that previously smelled strongly of blood now tasted sweet, with some even licking the residue from their goblets. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Fielding laughed uproariously. What he saw before him was eerily similar to a past event. On a similar night, the City Lord had gathered all the nobles in the city to drink this liquid. He remembered how he had lost his voice for several days after the initial scream before gradually recovering. However, these people had only transitioned into pale-bloods, they had not genuinely become Blood Clan. ¡°Mr. Fielding, what¡¯s next?¡± Cyril asked calmly. ¡°We should celebrate the eternal life that all of you will soon have,¡± Fielding responded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go, everyone. The banquet is ready,¡± Cyril stood and headed towards the dining room. The rest of the people, having lost their initial fear, felt empowered and satisfied. They followed Cyril towards the dining room. Simultaneously, a skeletal bird fluttered its wings on a narrow vertical window, quietly departing. In a secret forest outside Pruell City. Fang Hao had deactivated his God¡¯s Presence mode and sat up. After stepping out of his tent, he found an undead army fully equipped and ready for battle. They had been stationed there for over an hour, waiting for Fang Hao to awaken and give orders. ¡°Sir, Lorrey has returned with a large bundle of things.¡± Demitrija had been guarding the tent the whole time. Fang Hao had sent Lorrey to investigate the City Lord, which was essentially giving her a task. He had the power to raze Pruell City, whether they had evidence or not was no longer important. As long as he was sure that Cyril posed a threat to him, he had the power to eliminate him. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Over there.¡± Demitrija pointed. Fang Hao nodded and headed in the direction of Lorrey, with Demitrija following closely behind, providing close protection. From a distance, he saw Lorrey and Anjia browsing through something. In front of them, a ridiculously large bundle. ¡°There¡¯s nothing valuable here,¡± Anjia commented. ¡°What are you talking about? This isn¡¯t worth anything?¡± Lorrey retorted. ¡°How much can this be worth? Have you seen anything of real value?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just too demanding.¡± Fang Hao walked up to them and asked, ¡°Lorrey, did you find anything?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lorrey exclaimed, as if shocked. All her fur stood up; only when she realized it was Fang Hao did she slap her chest in relief. Truth be told, with the undead army all around, she was understandably nervous. ¡°Yes.¡± Lorrey dumped everything from the bundle to the ground with a clatter. ¡°I went to the City Lord¡¯s study and bedroom and brought everything back.¡± Fang Hao surveyed the scattered items. For a moment, he thought that she had emptied Cyril¡¯s home. He picked out a few items from the assortment. There was nothing related to the Blood Clan, but a file caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. [Hundred Cities Federation Agreement]. The topic of the human federation was not new to Fang Hao, and he was quite curious. Opening the file, he began reading intently. After a thorough reading, he gained some understanding of the federal system of the humans. The humans¡¯ city-states are established by means of contract. According to these contracts, city-states in a region would form a powerful alliance to jointly resist the harm of foreign races to humans. It was this federal structure that gave humans some say here. Those who agree to become members of the federation sign this contract, proving their identity and agreeing to the laws set by the federation. Reading the line stating that the federal system won¡¯t intervene in changing City Lords, Fang Hao smiled. This meant that once Fang Hao seized the city, as long as he elected a City Lord according to the federation¡¯s regulations, the federation wouldn¡¯t interfere with Pruell City¡¯s affairs. That was good news, saving him a lot of potential trouble later on. ¡°How was it? Was it helpful?¡± Lorrey, crouching on one side, asked hopefully. ¡°Pretty good,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°My house¡­¡± ¡°You can build one.¡± ¡°Yay¡­ Thank you.¡± Lorrey cheered. [Lorrey¡¯s loyalty to you increases by 5 points, current loyalty is 75.] Lorrey¡¯s loyalty rose by 5 points, a significant increase. Fang Hao gave a faint smile, then stood up and said to Demitrija and Anjia, ¡°Get ready. Tonight, we will capture Pruell City.¡± Their eyes lit up instantly. Fang Hao was finally taking action on Pruell City. Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Chapter 264, Do You Think Im Here as a Chapter 270: Chapter 264, Do You Think I¡¯m Here as a Guest? _1 Translator: 549690339 The night in Pruell City was unusually quiet. Apart from the scattered starlight in the sky, the entire city was almost entirely in darkness. On the city walls were a few sporadic torches, but there were few guards to be seen. In the quiet night. The Bone Dragon transported some directly inside the city walls. Anjia and Lorrey killed the guards and directly opened the tightly shut city gate. A flood of Undead poured into the city, prowling through the dark streets, rushing in the direction of the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Inside the City Lord¡¯s mansion, the banquet went on. They were discussing future development, thinking about what pretext they could use to better transport the lower-class residents to Crescent Heights. The city of Pruell belongs to the outer edges of the Federation. Even if something happened here, as long as the City Lord didn¡¯t report it, the Federation would hardly notice anything. As long as everyone was careful, concealing things for a few years would not be a difficult task. This was the reason why Cyril and the Blood Clan dared to take risks. ¡°Haha, we will have to rely on Mr. Fielding¡¯s assistance in the future.¡± Cyril began. Fielding smiled slightly and nodded gently. Just as everyone was toasting and flattering each other. Excited cries and shouts of killing came from outside the door. Boom!! The banquet hall¡¯s door was forcibly pushed open, and a large number of guards and pale-blooded individuals retreated back into the room in disorder. ¡°City Lord, the Undead have invaded.¡± A guard cried out loud. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! A hail of arrows poured in from outside the door. Some guards were struck by arrows and died on the spot. Cyril¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and his face instantly turned cold. Turning over the long table, he and the others hid behind it, defending themselves against the arrow attack. ¡°Who¡¯s the intruder?¡± Cyril asked the guard who had just fled into the room. ¡°They¡¯re undead, a lot of undead.¡± The guard¡¯s face was as white as a sheet, he was still in shock. From inside the room, the situation outside was not visible. Only countless arrows came pouring in, through the windows and front door. Undead? Upon hearing the word ¡®Undead,¡¯ Cyril looked toward Fielding. As the Blood Clan had the ability to control the Undead, he naturally thought of them. Fielding¡¯s brow was also furrowed as he asked the pale-bloods who had just escaped. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The pale-blood responded, ¡°Sir, skeleton Undead, a lot of skeleton Undead.¡± Upon mentioning skeletons, Fielding thought of the Undead territory to the north. Had they received some news and deliberately come to attack here? What a coincidence. ¡°City Lord Cyril, these are skeleton Undead, not associated with the Blood Clan. We should think about how to deal with them rather than anything else.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± During their conversation, another batch of guards were struck by arrows and died. Blood flowed like a creek as the people who had drunk the blood of the Blood Clan started to have red eyes, salivating at the sight of blood. The arrow attacks continued for half an hour. The entire banquet hall was filled with arrows, bodies shielded by arrow shafts littered the ground. ¡°Cease fire!¡± Suddenly a familiar voice came from outside the door. Cyril frowned, trying to recall where he had heard that voice before. As the arrows from outside ceased, a mass array of Undead soldiers surged into the hall, surrounding the group hiding behind the center table. The faces of Cyril and everyone else instantly turned pale. Confronted with this unequal military force, no strategy could change anything. Thud thud thud!! Footsteps rang out, the Undead before them made a path. A young man with black hair, accompanied by a beast-eared girl and a lizardman, appeared before them. ¡°City Lord Cyril, how come you didn¡¯t invite me to your banquet? I love a lively scene.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Fang Hao!¡± said Cyril, his face turning colder, followed by a loud questioning, ¡°You dare to collude with the Undead and attack human cities.¡± Demitrija placed a wooden chair behind Fang Hao. Fang Hao sat down, looking directly at Cyril, ¡°Colluding with the Undead is better than you colluding with the Blood Clan and selling out your citizens, isn¡¯t it?¡± This Everyone present changed their expressions instantly. They had only learned about the Blood Clan¡¯s plan tonight, after hearing Cyril¡¯s explanation. How did Fang Hao know? And he spoke with such confidence. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? The Blood Clan..¡± Cyril maintained a consistent expression. Fang Hao turned towards another direction, a tall man with pale, sallow skin. [Dusk Banqueter (Tenth Order)]. ¡°What do you say, Mr. Fielding?¡± Fielding revealed a slight smile, ¡°I assume you must be the lord of the northern Undead territory. I didn¡¯t expect you to be human.¡± Fielding was calm, as calm as if he was complimenting a noble. ¡°Mr. Fielding is indeed clever.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t deny anything and continued asking: ¡°I¡¯m curious, what price did you pay to persuade a human City Lord to join you?¡± The hall suddenly fell silent. Most of the gazes fell on a young man standing next to Cyril. The young man¡¯s appearance was much like Cyril¡¯s. Considering his gaunt appearance as if recovering from a major illness, Fang Hao instantly understood. The innkeeper had once mentioned that Cyril¡¯s son was critically ill and feared to not live for many years. ¡°A great father, but an incompetent City Lord, huh? Cyril, your story could be written into a novel. Maybe someone would like to read it.¡± Fang Hao continued to speak. Despite Fang Hao¡¯s sarcasm, Cyril did not exhibit any anger. He had foreseen the criticism when he made this choice. Even the people below might be cursing him for betraying his duty as a City Lord for his son. ¡°Fang Hao, this has nothing to do with you. Pruell City is mine, it belongs to the humans. Please leave.¡± Cyril spoke again. ¡°Do you think I brought so many people here just to be a guest?¡± Fang Hao sneered. Cyril attempted to speak several times but was at a loss for words. Fielding, the Dusk Banqueter, was constantly thinking of countermeasures in his mind. Seeing the two silent, he took the opportunity to speak softly, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, it seems we have misunderstood each other. We mistakenly regarded you as our enemy. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, I hope your territory and Crescent Heights can maintain peace.¡± Playing the role of a merchant within the Blood Clan, Fielding was both cerebrally sharp and articulate. Considering the present situation, he gave an appropriate response. He didn¡¯t want to die here. ¡°Indeed, I did kill Giovanni.¡± Fang Hao declared. ¡°What?¡± Fielding frowned deeply. A second later, he got over his surprise. The matter of Crescent Heights was known to Fang Hao. As were all the other things that occurred due to the investigation into Giovanni. His opponent knew everything; he wasn¡¯t going to survive. Fielding¡¯s eyes slightly wavered. Asking for peace was no longer a possibility. The only hope left was to capture Fang Hao and use this human as a chip to secure his escape. After a quick exchange with Cyril, the latter gave a slight nod. ¡°Kill!¡± With a cold hum, Fielding pushed off the table with two hands. His body instantly pounced towards Fang Hao. Meanwhile, Cyril picked up a dead guard¡¯s longsword and shouted, ¡°Break out!¡± Everyone counterattacked towards the direction of the main door. Thud! Demitrija¡¯s longsword pierced through Fielding¡¯s mouth, exiting from the back of his head, and pinned him to the overturned table. The remaining individuals engaged in a melee with the undead. The scene was filled with chaos, blood flowed on the ground, and the stench of blood filled the air. The battle had no suspense. When Cyril and others died, the room fell silent again. ¡°Clean up the battlefield. Anjia, go and bring Tavek here.¡± Fang Hao commanded softly. The deep night set in. Everyone in line with Fang Hao¡¯s instructions, tied the loose ends. Fang Hao went directly to the City Lord¡¯s Great Hall. The moment his bottom touched the City Lord¡¯s throne, the system prompt appeared again. [Pruell City has now become your affiliated city. You may ¡®rename¡¯ the city here and control all resources of the tribes and villages.] Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Chapter 265, Supporting the City Lord 1 Chapter 271: Chapter 265, Supporting the City Lord 1 Translator: 549690339 1 ¡¯ ¡ª The appearance of the system prompt confirmed that ¡®Pruell City¡¯ had become a subsidiary city of Fang Hao. He had thought of many possibilities, but he never expected to occupy this human city in this way. He also didn¡¯t expect Cyril to swear allegiance to the Blood Clan, treating its residents as livestock and offering them as gifts to the Blood Clan. In short, Pruell City is now his. He doesn¡¯t plan to change the name, at least it¡¯s not the time to change it at the moment. [Pruell City] [City Level: Grade five Original City] [Properties: Food production +3o%, textile +5%, Human proliferation +io%.] (Description: A city with properties can bring various different buff effects, accelerating the city¡¯s construction and development.) Pruell City is only level five, and the increase in properties is not particularly remarkable. [Unlocked Blueprint: Factory construction blueprint, Infantry training camp construction blueprint (Human Clan), Archery range construction blueprint (Human Clan), Cavalry training camp construction blueprint (Human Clan), Blacksmith shop construction blueprint (Human Clan), Tailor shop construction blueprint (Human Clan).] A lot of blueprints have been unlocked. Aside from the textiles factory blueprint, Fang Hao had already obtained the others a long time ago. The difference was in the limit of the race. After giving these blueprints and their permissions to Zhang Bin and Fu Lei, they can start constructing the corresponding buildings. [Textile Factory] [Category: Building] [Ability: Textile +io%, Material saving +5%.] (Description: Building a standard factory will facilitate the processing and manufacturing of the textile raw materials.) [Construction materials required: 2200 Wood, 4500 Stone, 1200 Hardwood, 880 Stone Brick, 200 Iron, 120 Metal parts.] Tavek had a textile factory and had even taken Fang Hao to visit it before. He previously thought it was a large-scale factory constructed casually and didn¡¯t expect it to have its blueprint and attribute enhancements. As Fang Hao was analyzing the blueprint, The scene was also cleaned up, with the bodies of the Blood Clan and humans separately piled up. Lord, does this Blood Clansman need to be executed immediately?¡± Demitrija came over carrying Fielding and threw him on the ground. The Blood Clan had a strong healing ability. Even though Fielding had been impaled through the back of his skull with a longsword, he was not dead but rather in a near-death state. His injuries, however, were slowly recovering. If Fielding was safe enough, he could recover in a day. ¡°Tie him up for now, he may be useful later,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± Demitrija agreed, tying up Fielding. Fearing his injuries would heal too quickly, he once again stabbed him with the longsword twice. While the two were speaking, Anjia had walked in with Tavek. However, Tavek currently looked a little distressed, his face was dusty and tired, not resembling the appearance of someone who had just left his home. Fang Hao glanced at Anjia, suspecting that Anjia had beaten him up before bringing him here. ¡°When I went to his house, his family said he was arrested yesterday morning I brought him out of the jail,¡± Anjia explained. Fang Hao nodded, indicating he understood. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, what, what¡¯s happening?¡± Tavek¡¯s legs were trembling a bit. With a large number of Undead gathered outside the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, if it hadn¡¯t been Anjia grabbing his collar, his legs would have given out and he wouldn¡¯t have been able to walk. ¡°City Lord Cyril collaborated with the Blood Clan, attempting to turn Pruell City into a mole for the Blood Clan among humans,¡± Fang Hao pointed at Fielding on the ground. Tavek looked over at the fallen Fielding and swallowed hard. This news, it¡¯s safe to say, was hard to believe. But the man on the ground indeed exhibited the characteristics of the Blood Clan, and Fang Hao had no reason to deceive him. ¡°Then¡­what about City Lord Cyril?¡± Tavek continued to ask. ¡°I killed him, his body is over there.¡± Thud! Tavek¡¯s legs gave out, and he slumped onto the ground. Anjia stepped forward, lifted him up, and tossed him onto a nearby chair. ¡°Tavek, Cyril is dead, and now Pruell City is under my control. I plan to support you as the new City Lord, to manage Pruell City,¡± Fang Hao announced. The situation in Pruell City was somewhat unique. The original stability needed to be maintained. He needed a familiar and reputable figure among the city residents to serve as the City Lord. After giving it some thought, the only person he knew was Tavek, a merchant in the city. With a number of factories in the city providing numerous jobs for the residents, he certainly held some prestige. ¡°Ah¡­me? Mr. Fang Hao, you must be kidding,¡± Tavek felt this joke wasn¡¯t funny at all. ¡°Tavek, this is no joke. By daybreak, some of the residents will return they¡¯re the residents I saved from the Blood Clan,¡± Fang Hao looked earnestly at Tavek, and continued, ¡°I need someone to stabilize the situation, so the city residents ¡¯ do not panic.¡± Tavek fell silent. He was aware of the changes in the city these days. Some perceptive merchants have already begun to move their assets. But his roots were in Pruell City, leaving was not an option. Only yesterday morning, when Cyril arrested him on baseless charges, did he realize the gravity of the situation. Everything Fang Hao was saying now synchronized perfectly with his experiences. Fang Hao had saved him more than once, he had no reason to deceive him. But the Undead outside seemed no more benign than the Blood Clan. At least the Blood Clan retained a human appearance, while the Undead were left with stark white bones. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, what should I do?¡± After much thought, Tavek decided to commit. Fang Hao had saved his daughter, and him as well. If he wanted his assets or Pruell City, he could easily have them, without having to go through all this trouble. ¡°It¡¯s simple, I need you to sign a contract with me. I will support you to become the City Lord, manage this city well, and continue with your fabric business ¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°But will the others agree to me becoming the City Lord?¡± Tavek asked worryingly. ¡°You¡¯re referring to Cyril¡¯s supporters? They¡¯re all dead. Those who remain, as long as they don¡¯t want to die, won¡¯t object,¡± Fang Hao declared nonchalantly. Tavek swallowed, his face filled with disbelief. It seemed that not only Cyril was dead but also many of the city¡¯s elites. After some contemplation, Tavek finally agreed, ¡°Alright, I trust Mr. Fang Hao.¡± The Slave Contract was signed by both. The initial loyalty level of Tavek was 85 points, which was relatively high. Then, the two discussed subsequent plans. As the sun began to rise, all the Undead swiftly retreated from the city to prevent panic among the residents. Tavek left. According to the plan, he began to take over the city guards, went to the prison to free other magnates who had been imprisoned by Cyril, and convinced them to accept him as their new City Lord. Fang Hao continued to the residence of the deceased City Lord Cyril. All valuables that could be taken away were moved outside, to be carted away later. y In Cyril¡¯s room, Fang Hao found his target, a golden chest. He opened it. ¡°Obtained: Blueprints for Military Warspear (Blue), Military Round Shield (Blue), Hardwood Cavalry Bow (Green), Nightfall Silk Spinning Machine, Hardwood Double Bed, Hardwood Screen, Leader¡¯s Fortress Command Chair 22 Soul Crystals, and 202 Warfire Coins.¡± Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Chapter 266, Nightfall Silk_l Chapter 272: Chapter 266, Nightfall Silk_l Translator: 549690339 The rewards in the treasure chest were plentiful. [Military War Spear (Blue): Iron Spear 1, Hard-resilient Wood 1, Cast Iron Block 1, Thick Leather 1.] (Description: An upgraded version of the military war spear, improving its firmness and attack power.) The military war spear seemed to be an improved version of the ordinary iron spear. In terms of materials, it also required the iron spear as a material, with the remainder being advanced materials. Luckily, it was a blue-graded equipment, so the damage would at least be level three or above. Now, it can be used to replace the equipment of the skeleton spearman, enhancing its combat power. Moving on to look at the second item. [Military Circular Shield (Blue): Small Iron Shield 1, Cast Iron Block 1, Metal Parts 3, Thick Leather 1. ] (Description: An upgraded version of the military circular shield, greatly enhancing the defense capability of the army.) Just like the military war spear, the military circular shield also required a small iron shield in its materials. It was improved to significantly enhance the attributes of the existing equipment. After storing both these blueprints, I moved on to examine the third blueprint. [Nightfall Silk Loom: Hard-resilient Wood 5, Thick Leather 2, Iron 2, Cast Iron Block 1, Metal Parts 5, Enchanting Essence 1.] (Description: High-quality fabric can be produced through the loom.) Remarkably, it was a silk loom with a name. The Holy Snow Silk was the signature product of Tavek. His textile industry was able to survive thanks to it supporting it. The quality of the silk indeed gained the recognition of the nobility. Now the Nightfall Silk Loom appeared. Judging from the materials and its introduction, it should be a high-quality silk. In the future, you can let the skeleton tailors make it, check the properties, and then sell it to the nobles and rich people. The subsequent [Hardwood Double Bed Blueprint] and [Hardwood Screen Blueprint] require no special inspection. The double bed has a two-layer design, and the screen is used for partitioning in home furnishings. It divides a whole space into segments. Lastly, there was the [Commander Throne of the Fortress]. [Category: Throne] [Ability: The fortress unit¡¯s total attribute +2%.] (Description: A qualified commander needs to make bold actions at the appropriate time.) This Commander¡¯s Throne was not bad. Fang Hao had already established three fortresses, along with several subsidiary castles. Once it¡¯s made and distributed, it can increase the overall strength of all regions. All blueprints were collected, and the soul crystals and warfire coins were also stored in the storage space. As he walked downstairs, he saw Anjia and Lorrey struggling to carry a huge box out. ¡°What are you carrying?¡± asked Fang Hao. Anjia pulled down the cover cloth on the box, revealing the golden coins within. As expected, after every battle, Anjia was always able to find places where the opponent had hidden their gold coins, like a sniffer dog. Now, there was an addition to the team ¨C Lorrey, with his face flushed in excitement. ¡°Alright, leave it to me.¡± With a touch, Fang Hao directly put it into his storage space. [Warfire Coins 117242, Gold Coins 545547.] ¡°Fang Hao, I think the chandelier and curtains here are good, I want to take them back to decorate my room,¡± Anjia said. ¡°I want it too,¡± Lorrey also chimed in. Fang Hao looked up. Indeed, the chandelier was quite beautiful and the curtain fabric was thick and magnificent. ¡°Then hurry up, it¡¯s not good if people come later,¡± Fang Hao urged. ¡°Alright.¡± Anjia, along with Lorrey, began to act, taking down the items they had chosen to take away later. Time gradually passed by. Tavek, along with a few people, returned to the Lord¡¯s Mansion once again. Leading the way, he slightly bowed to Fang Hao, ¡°City Lord, everything has been arranged.¡± Tavekhad gathered the city¡¯s remaining influential people, telling them about Fang Hao and the situation in the city of Pruell. After persuading everyone to support him, he began to arrange for people to take over the city gate and announce the change of the city lord to the public. ¡°Alright, from now on, the city of Pruell is in your hands. You don¡¯t have to worry about the Blood Clan, I will take care of that,¡± said Fang Hao. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, everyone present heaved a sigh of relief. Fang Hao¡¯s willingness to take on the Blood Clan was far better than them having to face the Blood Clan themselves. Otherwise, even if Tavek was to talk sweetly, they would not have the courage to confront the Blood Clan. Eventually, they would just have to sell their assets and go live in other cities of the Human Clan. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fang Hao. We will take good care of Pruell City,¡± Tavek once again responded. At this moment, Tavek seemed to change a lot. From a businessman, he was gradually turning into a city lord. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± When Fang Hao finished speaking, he took Anjia and others out of the City Lord Mansion. From then onwards, this place will be handled by Tavek and the rest. Firstly, they need to stabilize the situation in the city and then consider the subsequent issues. ¡°Farewell, Sir,¡± everyone bowed as they respectfully watched Fang Hao leave. When he walked out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, it was already morning. Passing by the execution platform, they saw a crowd of citizens gathered. On the high platform, the Blood Clan¡¯s Fielding was hung high on the gallows. The rising sun was gradually scorching his skin into dark coals. It was likely that he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive till noon, and he¡¯d be roasted alive by the sun. A leading official loudly announced that City Lord Cyril had unfortunately perished in a battle against the Blood Clan last night. Hearing this news, the public didn¡¯t show much reaction, silently listening. City Lord Cyril rarely dealt with the city¡¯s affairs, which led to a sense of distance from the ordinary people. Shifting all the blame to the Blood Clan, The leading official loudly announced that Tavek had become the new city lord and decreed several tax reduction policies, solvering more employment positions. These events closely related to people¡¯s lives caused some commotion among the public, who started discussing privately. Fang Hao and the others watched from a distance for a while, and then turned around to leave. The citizens didn¡¯t show much reaction to the change in leadership. This was good news for Tavek. Walking to the commercial street, they noticed that the Rose Tavern was already open. He suddenly recalled that he didn¡¯t know whether the landlady had safely returned. Walking straight into the tavern, He saw the landlady, her face pale, discussing something with the bartender. She seemed to have just returned. Seeing Fang Hao walk in, the bartender respectfully bowed to him. Even with a tired face, the landlady managed to squeeze a smile, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, it¡¯s good you¡¯re back,¡± Fang Hao gently comforted. ¡°Uh-huh, I¡¯m already fine, after all, you¡¯re here aren¡¯t you?¡± The landlady continued. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Fang Hao slightly smiled and joked. Fang Hao sat down, and the landlady returned to the counter to pour beer for them. ¡°Did Cyril die?¡± The landlady started. She had also been to the gallows earlier and heard that Cyril had died. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s dead,¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°Hmm,¡± the landlady nodded. In fact, she had figured out everything that had happened. Cyril had colluded with the Blood Clan and had been wiped out by Fang Hao in one fell swoop. That was the truth. ¡± I am planning to open a hot pot restaurant in Lyss City, do you want to come and help me?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Chapter 267, Rose Beauty__l Chapter 273: Chapter 267, Rose Beauty__l Translator: 549690339 This time, the landlady agreed quickly. So swiftly that it seemed she had been waiting for his proposition all along. Fang Hao was taken aback, while the landlady revealed a triumphant smile. The circumstances were clear. Fang Hao had showcased a power that surpassed her understanding, Pruell City would even listen to his commands from now on. If she continued to linger over this small tavern, it wouldn¡¯t be a wise decision. Moreover, it was her who initated asking for Fang Hao¡¯s help last night. ¡°You¡¯re not going to back out, are you?¡± Seeing Fang Hao looking somewhat astonished, the landlady asked. ¡°No, I¡¯m just surprised at how quickly you agreed,¡± Fang Hao replied, regaining his composure. ¡°So, what¡¯s the fuss about it? You saved me yesterday and naturally, I¡¯ll now have to ally myself and my folks with you.¡± The landlady once again revealed a smile. ¡°That sounds good, but we still need to sign a contract.¡± ¡°Sure, later on¡­¡±. The landlady was about to tease Fang Hao, but she swallowed her words at the sight of Anjia and the Lizardman nearby. Fang Hao nodded, found a blank slave contract in the Book of Lords, and passed it to her. The landlady prickled her finger and pressed her print on it. The radiance of the contract tunneled into her body, signifying the official completion of the contract. [Winnie¡¯s loyalty towards you: 92 points.] Good lord, the loyalty was directly at 92 points. It was second only to the loyalty level that Lizardman Demitrija had upon recruitment. [Winnie (Tier 1)] [Faction: Human] [Racial Traits: Living creatures, Learning, Rose Beauty. ] [Skills: Brewing, gossiping.] [Innate abilities: Elementary combat mastery.] [Rose Beauty]: This unit is more likely to attract customers when opening a shop. [Brewing]: Has a profound understanding of brewing, able to make fine wines. [Gossiping]: Tends to pay attention to things conversed amongst customers. (Description: With both wisdom and beauty, Winnie is highly popular among the civilians, not only for her reasonably priced, high-quality wines but also for her exceptional bust¡­. in these times of hardship, Winnie is possibly a good companion you could ask for. Of course, it is all for the children.) Fang Hao had always called her the landlady, the landlady. Now only did he came to know that she was called Winnie. Furthermore, Winnie also seemed to have quite good attributes. Although not combat-focused, she was good at both operating a business and brewing. [Rose Beauty] could attract more customers, and her brewing skills were perfect for running a tavern. However, a regular tavern would find it hard to compete with the long- established ones in Lyss City. It would be better to focus on hot pot as the main attraction. Looking at the final description, Fang Hao glanced subconsciously at Winnie¡¯s abundant bosom. He thought to himself, who isn¡¯t a child at heart? ¡°So now, are we on the same side?¡± Winnie asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then, may I visit your territory?¡± Winnie asked gently, a smile on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to rest?¡± Fang Hao asked in return. Winnie looked somewhat tired having not slept all night. While he did not mind bringing her along to see the main territory, the journey would still take several hours. ¡°No problem, I want to have a look at your place,¡± Winnie firmly stated. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Fang Hao got up and led the group outside. Winnie also stood up, left a few instructions with the bartender, and followed Fang Hao out of the tavern. The group together left Pruell City, mounted the Giant Lizard. Heading towards the territory. Two hours later, the party returned to the territory. Despite having mentally prepared herself, Winnie¡¯s legs gave way at the sight of the city surrounded by endless Undead Skeletons. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble. It wasn¡¯t a city, it was more like hell. The Giant Lizard entered the city and stopped at the lord¡¯s mansion. Everyone dismounted the Giant Lizard, and Fang Hao took all the spoils of war from storage space, arranging for people to move them to their respective places. Anjia and Lorrey left cheerfully, holding their chosen chandeliers and curtains. Turning around, Fang Hao saw Winnie¡¯s face pale white, she was hesitantly still on the Giant Lizard. ¡°How was it? I thought your courage was quite big?¡± Fang Hao helped her down. Winnie barely managed to get off the Giant Lizard, still needing support to keep herself upright. Her courage was indeed greater than that of ordinary people, but not to this extent. She was already demonstrating good mental strength by not fainting at the sight of hundreds of thousands of Undead gathered. Fang Hao still had his own affairs to look after, so he called a maid over, and said, ¡°Take her for a tour around the city and give her a briefing. ¡°Yes, master,¡± the maid answered, supporting Winnie. After regaining some of her strength, Winnie followed the maid away. She had already signed a contract with Fang Hao with no chances of alteraton thereafter. All she could do now was to accept the reality in front of her as soon as possible. Fang Hao entered the main hall of the lord¡¯s mansion and sat down on the throne. Demitrija also took a seat nearby. ¡°Call for the Blood Hunter,¡± Fang Hao commanded one of the maids. The maid agreed and went out. Soon, the Blood Hunter landed in front of the door fluttering his huge Bat Wing and walked in with great strides. ¡°Sir, you called for me?¡± Blood Hunter greeted respectfully. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Take a seat, let¡¯s discuss the matter of the Blood Clan.¡± There were many heroes in the territory, but few of them stayed in the main city. Nelson was still producing Skeleton Heroes, and the only ones left to discuss with were Demitrija and Blood Hunter. As for Anjia! It would be better to protect oneself. Inviting her to discuss matters felt like announcing overtime right after work, she would be disheartened. Fang Hao continued speaking after Blood Hunter had taken his seat. ¡°The Blood Clan¡¯s occupation of Pruell City this time- to a large extent- is targeted at us. I¡¯d like to hear your opinions on how this matter should be dealt with going forward.¡± Both of them had been involved in last night¡¯s incident involving the Blood Clan. Demitrija and Fang Hao were responsible for occupying Pruell City. The Blood Hunter was tasked with rescuing the residents who were taken away, and all of them had returned to the city this morning. The operation was fairly smooth on the whole. All the Blood Clansmen had been wiped out and their bodies thrown into the conversion field. The corpse of the hero Cyril had also been sent to the Viscera Museum, awaiting Nelson¡¯s treatment in order to be turned into a Skeleton Hero. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, Blood Hunter pondered before saying, ¡°Sir, Crescent Heights will not rest until they have retaliated for sure. I believe we should establish a fortress at our border to prevent the Blood Clan¡¯s next move.¡± Fielding¡¯s public execution, considering the Blood Clan¡¯s temperament, would most likely lead to a radical reaction. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, then looked at Demitrija and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your opinion, Demitrija?¡± Demitrija replied straightforwardly, ¡°Sir, I believe we should initiate an attack on Crescent Heights before they strike back.¡± Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Chapter 269, Arranging the Trade Caravan_l Chapter 275: Chapter 269, Arranging the Trade Caravan_l Translator: 549690339 Lorrey was wearing a simple bra top and shorts. Her chest was slightly raised, looking small and rounded. ¡°Lorrey, come on, let¡¯s see who can swim faster,¡± Anjia called out loudly from the water. ¡°No, no, I¡¯ll just sit here for a while,¡± Lorrey said quietly, stealing a glance at Fang Hao. ¡°What¡¯s the point of sitting here? Let¡¯s have a race,¡± said Anjia. Lorrey still shook her head, like a student who had just transferred to a new school. Fang Hao was sitting on the side, casting a helpless look at Anjia. The reason he built three hot springs in his territory was to enjoy them alone, without the crowd. Now, Anjia had brought her best friend to join them. And she wanted to hold a swimming competition. He could only hope that the number of Anjia¡¯s friends wouldn¡¯t continue to increase, otherwise this place would be more crowded than the public areas. Fang Hao stood up and left the hot springs. ¡°You two have fun, be careful, the poolside is slippery, be careful not to trip and fall,¡± Fang Hao reminded them. ¡°Where are you two going, aren¡¯t you going to join us?¡± asked Anjia. ¡°You two enjoy yourselves,¡± Fang Hao replied, leaving with Eira. No sooner had he closed the door behind him than he heard the two of them laughing. As well as discussing the rules for winning the swimming competition. ¡°This is quite nice, it keeps the city from being so dull,¡± Eira said with a smile. With Anjia, the lively treasure, the atmosphere in the territory had changed a lot. It wasn¡¯t so gloomy anymore. ¡°Yeah, youth is great,¡± Fang Hao murmured, leading Eira back to their room to rest. The next day, early in the morning. A gentle shake of his arm brought Fang Hao gradually awake from his dreams. Opening his bleary eyes, he saw Eira already dressed, smiling at him. ¡°Eira, you¡¯re up early,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Master, don¡¯t we have important matters to attend to today?¡± Eira asked, frowning and massaging her slightly dry and sore throat. Right, today was packed with arrangements. Eira helped him dress after he sat up in bed. After washing up, he walked straight out of the lord¡¯s mansion. Outside. The maids had already started their work, and Winnie sat on a long bench, watching the busy maids and the occasional undead passing by. She even saw a maid instructing a towering undead to move goods. The undead were more obedient than pets, absolutely compliant. All of this left her a bit overwhelmed. What was going on here? How could the undead and the living have reached such a state of coexistence? ¡°Winnie, you look well,¡± Fang Hao remarked lightly on seeing her. Calling her the innkeeper was no longer appropriate, using her name seemed more fitting. Winnie looked much better than she did the day before. Her face was rosy, her skin glowing. And she was in great spirits, she must have rested well the night before. ¡°Lord, I think it¡¯s the effect of the hot spring, it¡¯s very comforting,¡± Winnie replied. Last night, the maids went to the hot spring together, having a chat. She had followed them. When she soaked in the hot spring, her entire body felt light as though floating, dispelling all the fatigue instantly. She had a good sleep when she returned to her room later. Plus, the food here was also excellent. It made her start to envy the maids here. The life here was even better than hers as the innkeeper. To be honest, if it wasn¡¯t for the large number of undead here, she wouldn¡¯t want to leave. ¡°Yes, the hot spring can alleviate fatigue and enhance physical fitness. You can soak more when you have time,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± At this moment, a maid driving a carriage approached. ¡°Master, are five carriages enough?¡± the maid asked softly. ¡°Enough, go and call some skeletons, go to the warehouse and load the opening equipment onto the carts.¡± Fang Hao continued to instruct. ¡°Yes, master.¡± The maid then led the carriages to the warehouse. His assignment for Winnie to go to Lyss City was not to open the shop directly. Cleaning up, renovating, and getting the signboards made all required some time. Only when all these tasks are completed, will the shop be officially opened. ¡°I¡¯ve already bought the shop, you go and renovate it as soon as possible, 111 arrange manpower at that time.¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯ve been to Lyss City as well, three days should suffice to renovate the shop.¡± Winnie replied, clearly familiar with this process. ¡°Alright, once preparations are made, you may begin your journey. There¡¯s no need to worry about the road, I¡¯ve already arranged for assistance along the way.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh, okay, sir.¡± Soon, the carriages loaded with goods were ready to depart. ¡°Okay, set off as soon as possible and be careful on the road.¡± Fang Hao instructed. Winnie nodded and directly climbed onto the carriage. The maid would send Winnie to the southern fortress, where heavy swordsmen would escort her to Lyss City. When Winnie left, Fang Hao returned to his room. He had to notify Gray Bear to arrange for a meeting with Winnie. Winnie¡¯s convoy is different from Fang Hao¡¯s. Due to the large amount of goods, they had to rest overnight on the way. And Gray Bear1 s hideout became the transit point for their journey, the place to rest overnight. Camping in the wild was too dangerous. In addition to wandering bandits, the night was when wild animals were most active. Lying in bed, he used the spell, God¡¯s Presence. Having established the Tower of the Fallen in Gray Bear¡¯s camp, he could easily cast his spell over it. The next second, Fang Hao¡¯s consciousness arrived in the skeleton grey sparrow left to Gray Bear. A ghostly blue flame rose up in the grey sparrow¡¯s pupils. This was a bedroom. The room was simply decorated but clean. It didn¡¯t look like the room where a bandit leader would live. And at the window of the room, Gray Bear supported herself on the ground, her naked body tensed, showing off her sturdy figure, counting as she moved up and down, ¡°1274,1275,1276-¡± Sweat dripped from her wheat-colored skin, each time she dropped down, the weight on the front of her chest hit the ground and was compressed and changed shape. Fang Hao didn¡¯t expect that Gray Bear would place the skeleton grey sparrow directly on the bedside. Was she treating it as a pet? ¡°Gray Bear!¡± Fang Hao called softly. Deep in concentration doing her push-ups, Gray Bear furrowed her brow, glanced towards the direction of the door and finding nothing out of place, continued. Cough cough! Fang Hao coughed lightly, turning the gray sparrow¡¯s body to the side, before speaking again, ¡°Gray Bear, I have something to discuss with you.¡± By now, Gray Bear really listened, flipping her body over instantly, grabbing ahold of a large blade at her side, tightly gripping it in her hands. ¡°Who¡¯s there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me Fang Hao. I¡¯m currently using this skeleton grey sparrow to communicate with you, no need to stress.¡± Fang Hao immediately responded. Gray Bear frowned, looking at the grey sparrow on the bedside table. She didn¡¯t quite understand why the stupid undead grey sparrow was suddenly relaying Fang Hao¡¯s voice. However, since the grey sparrow was left by Fang Hao, it should be some kind of undead spell. She casually wrapped a sheet around her body and said: ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°A merchant caravan has departed from Pruell City, arrange for someone to meet them. The person in charge is called Winnie, make sure not to get it wrong.¡± Fang Hao, turning his attention back, began speaking. ¡°What else?¡± Gray Bear continued to inquire. ¡°Rest at your place for a night, and then escort them to Lyss City the next day.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After Fang Hao finished speaking, the Soul Fire in the pupils of the skeleton grey sparrow went out. The grey sparrow returned to its original state, standing dumbly on the bedside cabinet. Gray Bear squinted her eyes, ensuring Fang Hao had left, then promptly placed the skeleton grey sparrow into a box after some thought. Feeling it was inappropriate, she took it back out and returned it to its original position. Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Chapter 271, Ruined Temple_l Chapter 277: Chapter 271, Ruined Temple_l Translator: 549690339 The news from the Faceless Cottage answered two questions raised by Fang Hao. The first referred to the military strength of the forces on the Crescent Heights. Having an army of 50,000, the number might not be completely accurate, but it wouldn¡¯t deviate much. Such a quantity of troops was not significant in Fang Hao¡¯s eyes since the forces he stationed at various strongholds were all above a million. The numerical disparity between the two sides had already determined the opponent¡¯s defeat. What was truly worrisome was the Red Duke, Clement, who as the leader of the Blood Clan on the Crescent Heights, had reached the power of the 8th order of orange rank five years ago. Fang Hao worried that he might have advanced to even higher ranks now, possibly becoming a dark gold-level hero. If he had reached the dark gold level, that would be somewhat difficult to deal with. The second piece of news indeed confirmed Fang Hao¡¯s speculation. The Red Duke and the ¡®Chester¡¯ referred to in the notes were indeed the same person. Clement was the name he adopted after becoming a member of the Blood Clan. The intelligence also mentioned that a temple had been set up southwest of Pruell City, and a map was included with it. Using the Book of Lords, the map was collected, and the location of the temple was instantly displayed on the larger map. It was indeed southwest of Pruell City, though the location was somewhat off. ¡°Alright, the Faceless Cottage won¡¯t have anything for the next few days, you may take a few days off.¡± Fang Hao said to the maid. There was no point in her sticking around, as it would only update a few days after the order had been used. ¡°Thankyou, my Lord.¡± ¡°By the way, go find Demitrija and tell him to wait for me at the Lord¡¯s Mansion.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± The maid agreed and went to find Demitrija. She then left the Faceless Cottage. Fang Hao en route passed by the Trade Alliance to take a look. By the time he returned to the Lord¡¯s Mansion, Demitrija was already waiting in the hall. ¡°My Lord, do we have news of the Blood Clan?¡± Demitrija stood and asked. Fang Hao nodded, handing over the intelligence letter sent by the Faceless Cottage to Demitrija. The latter took it and began to scrutinize it carefully. ¡°My Lord, I am willing to lead the troops to the Crescent Heights,¡± Demitrija stood and declared. The letter mentioned that the enemy only had 50,000 troops. This number was simply incomparable to the forces within his lordship territory. ¡°Alright, tell me what you need, and I will prepare it for you when the time comes,¡± Fang Hao said. He had Demitrija come over because he had decided on an attack plan. Even if the strength of the Red Duke was still uncertain, his approach has never relied on personal strength to win. Human-wave tactics are his core strategy. No matter how strong the opponent¡¯s individual strength is or how capable their strategic mind might be, he simply overwhelms with sheer numbers and piles up bodies on the enemy¡¯s side. Demitrija pondered for a moment, and told Fang Hao what he needed to prepare. ¡°Alright, I will have everything ready for you when the time comes,¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and continued, ¡°The second piece of intelligence mentioned a temple. I suspect it has something to do with that heart. Arrange some people, we will go check out the temple first.¡± Today, Demitrija could not leave, so they might as well explore the temple first. With Demitrija present, their strength would be significantly improved. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Demitrija agreed and left. Half an hour later. Ten Bone Dragons, fully loaded with Barren Tomb Guards, were standing by at the entrance of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Fang Hao with Anjia, Lorrey, and Demitrija, all boarded the Bone Dragon. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Fang Hao commanded. At the command of the Bone Dragon, it sprung up into the sky and flew towards the direction of the temple. Fang Hao still remembered the clue ¡®The City Lord and the Tomb Dweller¡¯ he acquired back at the tavern. The landlady narrated an emotionally touching love story. It originally seemed that the City Lord had built a tomb in the mountains for his lover. But who would have thought, through the description of the items and the records in the diary, the course of the story was just the opposite. This City Lord, who is now the Red Duke, had gained the trust of his Blood Clan lover, killed her in a special way, and used his lover¡¯s blood to turn himself and all the town¡¯s people into the Blood Clan. He then dismembered her body and buried it in various locations. While exploring the ancient tomb, he obtained a beating heart and received a task. To help the owner of the heart find the rest of his body for a chance to earn the loyalty of a dark gold-level hero. That¡¯s why Fang Hao used an order separately to inquire whether the Red Duke had any construction work done since this might be part of the follow-up task related to the heart. The Bone Dragon flew in the sky, quickly approaching the location of the temple. The howling wind was in his ear, and through the clouds below, one could see the matchbox-sized human villages and the ant-like hustling villagers. After over an hour of flying, they were already nearing their destination. As they dived, they saw the abandoned temple in front of them. The position of the temple was very conspicuous; nothing grew within a range of a hundred meters centered around the temple. The soil seemed to have lost its nutrients and was dry and loose. However, just a hundred meters away dense forest grew lushly. This stark contrast was particularly distinct from the sky. ¡°Damn! This temple isn¡¯t poisonous, is it?¡± Fang Hao muttered. Seeing the Bone Dragon rapidly approach, he quickly patted the Bone Dragon, prompting it to change direction and land within the dense forest a hundred meters away. The ten Bone Dragons landed, and Fang Hao led a few people off the dragons. They observed the temple from afar. The temple was built of stone bricks, its design somewhat resembled the architectural style of ancient Rome. Looking inside through the entrance, one could see the deity idols being worshipped inside. ¡°There¡¯s someone over there,¡± Anjia suddenly said. Following in the direction Anjia pointed, they saw a middled-aged man dressed like a villager carrying a wild pig from behind the temple. He must be a hunter from a nearby village. He passed through the empty section of the temple without encountering any poisoning situation like Fang Hao had imagined. ¡°Anjia, come with me.¡± Fang Hao led Anjia out of the dense forest and followed the villager. ¡°Brother¡­,¡± Fang Hao called out. The hunter turned around in confusion, his face showing caution as he put down the wild pig and drew the dagger at his waist. ¡°You calling me?¡± The hunter furrowed his brows and asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Hao looked at the hunter¡¯s actions but didn¡¯t approach him. He directly asked, ¡°Brother, I want to ask what god is worshipped in this temple? Is it effective?¡± ¡°Which village are you from? I¡¯ve never seen you before,¡± said the hunter. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m from Pruell City.¡± ¡°Pruell City?¡± The hunter exclaimed in surprise. They were far from Pruell City. For a normal person, it would probably take a day and a night to reach here. ¡°Yes, we came here to see if the temple really works.¡± It seemed that the two were young and didn¡¯t look like they were lying, so the hunter put away the dagger in his hand and said, ¡°You¡¯ve run so far to find a temple. It seems like something happened at home.¡± Jesus! Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Chapter 273, Life-Claiming Walking Dead_l Chapter 279: Chapter 273, Life-Claiming Walking Dead_l Translator: 549690339 Thud! Thud! Thud! Arrows shot out from the holes in the wall, whistling as they flew. The six Barren Tomb Guards who were in the front couldn¡¯t dodge in time and were instantly hit by the arrows. Their bodies flew out like kites with broken strings. They were pinned to the opposite wall. One of the Barren Tomb Guards had his skull smashed, three had their neck and spine bones broken, died instantly, their bones scattered all over the floor. The other two Barren Tomb Guards had their metal plate armor pierced by the arrows. They had been hit in the rib cage and shoulder bones. They were not dead, but their combat power had been weakened. They only brought 10 soldiers in total. This one trap took out half their forces. From the perspective of the Gray Sparrow, Fang Hao saw everything that happened. When he used the sparrow to scout ahead, it was in flight and never triggered any traps. It was only now that he realized there were traps. Thud, thud, thud! There was no time for everyone to think. From inside the stone coffin at the end, there was the sound of violent knocking. Bang! Then, amidst the loud noises. The sealed coffin lid was lifted by a great force, five figures quickly sat up from inside the coffin. At this moment, Fang Hao saw the information of the enemy inside the stone coffin. [Life Claiming Walking Dead (Tier 8)]. The undead who sat up from the coffin moved their bodies stiffly. Their bodies were highly rotten, the areas where the flesh was lost even revealed ghastly white bones. These looked more like the zombies Fang Hao had seen before. Perhaps a more advanced kind! Putting on the still-tattered armor, the Walking Dead stiffly turned their heads and set their eyes on Fang Hao and his team. Then, they took out longswords from their coffins and walked out of their stone coffins slowly. ¡°Are there any more traps below?¡± Demitrija asked again. ¡°Yes, there should be a trap in the middle there.¡± Lorrey pointed to a stone slab in the middle of the hall. If one stooped down to look, they would see that this stone slab was about five millimeters higher than the floor. Crack! Lorrey had just finished speaking. The Life Claiming Walking Dead that just got up, dragged its feet, wobbling and stepped on the protruding stone slab. Zing! Zing! Zing! Three arrows as thick as javelins shot out from one side again. They pierced two of the Walking Dead who had walked over and hung them on the far wall. ¡°Uh¡­there aren¡¯t any more now.¡± Lorrey said. Demitrija nodded and directly commanded, ¡°Attack, kill them.¡± Upon receiving the order, the Barren Tomb Guards drew their longswords and charged at the three remaining Walking Dead. The two completely different undead began a fierce battle. The fight did not last for too long. The three Walking Dead were slain, and the other two who were hung on the wall by the traps were also killed by the passing guards. All enemies were eradicated and the whole place instantly became quiet. At the end leading to the next level, a Barren Tomb Guard brought up a silver treasure chest. But Fang Hao was currently a skeleton sparrow, so he was a bit powerless regarding opening the treasure chest. ¡°Bring the chest up, and replenish some manpower.¡± Fang Hao flapped his wings and said. There was no rush to open the treasure chest. A silver chest didn¡¯t bring much joy. It would be fine to open it all together at the end. Two Barren Tomb Guards moved the silver chest outside. Their forces were also replenished to 15 men at the same time. After handling everything. Demitrija ordered to move on to the third level of the underground palace. ¡°Wait!¡± Fang Hao suddenly called out, stopping the advancing team. He landed on Lorrey¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°Lorrey, do you know a lot about traps?¡± He suddenly remembered that Lorrey¡¯s skills seemed to have something to do with traps. ¡°Just okay!¡± Lorrey said. ¡°On the next level, you go first to see if there are any traps. Be careful, and if you¡¯re not sure, come back first.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Lorrey¡¯s battling skills were average. She was brought along this time because she had already reached tier nine. Fang Hao wanted her to participate in some battles in order to quickly advance to tier 10 and undergo the Hero Trial. However, Fang Hao didn¡¯t expect Lorrey to detect the trap before Demitrija did. ¡°OK, leave it to me,¡± Lorrey agreed eagerly and confidently. ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t take unnecessary risks if you are uncertain,¡± Fang Hao instructed from behind. ¡± Don¡¯ t worry,¡± Lorrey was the first one todescending to the third level. About three minutes later. Lorrey came back, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve placed a helmet in front of each mechanism; be careful when you go down.¡± As they descended the stone steps. They discovered four metal helmets laid out on the third-floor ground, which indicated that there were mechanisms behind these helmets. These helmets were just worn by the Life Claiming zombies, and Lorrey had collected them to use here. The third-floor hall was noticeably smaller. There were three stone coffins in front. One of the helmets was placed not far from the coffins. Fang Hao was somewhat surprised when he looked at Lorrey. This young girl was good, she was quite capable. From their previous experience in the ancient tomb, the enemy inside the coffin would be alerted if someone neared it. Lorrey was busy for quite some time on the lower level, and she was actually able to evade the enemy inside the coffin, she was truly skillful. ¡°Let¡¯s start,¡± Fang Hao whispered. Demitrija nodded, leading the Barren Tomb Guard around the traps on the floor, approaching the coffins. Thump, thump, thump!! When they reached a certain distance, the stone coffins issued a dull knocking sound. The lids of the coffins sprang up, and three figures suddenly sat up. [Twilight Reveler (Tier 10)]. They¡¯ve appeared! As expected, they were the Twilight Revelers. That suited the characteristics of the Blood Clan! Otherwise, Fang Hao would constantly feel like he had come to the wrong place. The Twilight Revelers rose from the coffins, their furious scarlet eyes fixed on Fang Hao¡¯s party. But the next second. The Twilight Revelers emitted painful screams as their bodies began to visibly wither at a rapid pace. Their skin shrunk to reveal sharp teeth. Their whole bodies, looking as though they had undergone a ¡®dehydration¡¯ process, appeared horribly terrifying. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Lorrey wiped the sweat off her forehead. The temperature here was too high. It was as dry and stifling as inside a steamer. ¡°It probably has to do with the formation pattern embedded with Solar Essence on the wall,¡± Fang Hao suggested. The formation pattern on the walls was similar to the one in the ancient tomb that illuminated the ¡®pulsating heart¡¯. The formation pattern should be the cause. The mummy-like ¡°Twilight Revelers¡¯ slowly emerged from their coffins, picked up the weapons beside them and let out another hoarse roar. ¡°Attack, kill them,¡± Demitrija directly commanded. The 15 Barren Tomb Guards obeyed the order, descended the steps, and rushed towards the Blood Clan. The battle began. The Barren Tomb Guard and the Blood Clan entered melee combat. Even though the Barren Tomb Guard had the numerical advantage, there was still a significant disparity in their tiers. Several guards attacking one person did not seem to be of much effect. Not wanting to drag out the fight, Demitrija drew his longsword and descended the steps. Right in front. Was a tall male Blood Clan. Despite his current terrifying appearance, his black embroidered tuxedo still hinted at his noble status. His weapon was a ceremonial sword, the sharp blade having pierced through the skull of the Barren Tomb Guard in front of him. As the Barren Tomb Guard perished, its bones and equipment scattered on the ground. Next, he turned his attention to the Lizardman approaching him slowly, and the little orc standing behind him who was just under four feet tall. The desire for blood made him instinctively stick out his tongue, licking his now distorted lips. ¡°Cough¡­, I¡¯ve never tasted¡­, the flavor of a Lizardman and an Orc,¡± the Blood Clan uttered, the tearing sensation in his voice nauseating. Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Chapter 275, Caterpillar Race_l Chapter 281: Chapter 275, Caterpillar Race_l Translator: 549690339 As the copper mirror on the ceiling was removed, the bat wings tn the stone coffin were quickly regaining their blood color. No longer shrivelled and pale. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lorrey jumped onto the stone coffin, and Demitrija also came over. They were late comers, only hearing a brief explanation from Fang Hao about the ¡®beating heart¡¯ on their way. ¡°Bat wings, part of the beating heart,¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°That¡¯s quite scary.¡± Lorrey hugged his shoulders, shivering slightly. The two bat wings gradually regained their blood color. They fluttered from time to time, as if they were about to fly. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Fang Hao reassured. The funeral items were all transferred out. ¡°Tie up the bat wings and take them out. Also, take all the Solar Essence and Nightstone on the walls,¡± Fang Hao instructed further. The Barren Tomb Guards commenced action. They began to extract the Solar Essence and Nightstone from the walls. They also entered the stone coffin, binding the fluttering bat wings with ropes, to prevent them from taking flight after leaving the tomb, else they would have to arrange for someone to give chase. Once everything was done on the fourth floor, they moved back to the third floor to gather the items. Outside the underground palace. Under the shade of a large tree, Fang Hao was still in the state of God¡¯s Presence. Lying down with his eyes closed on the grass. Behind him, in the dense forest, were the stationary Bone Dragon and the remaining Barren Tomb Guards. At the moment, Fang Hao¡¯s shirt was pulled up high, exposing his smooth, fair stomach. And Anjia, with her hands propping up her chin, was lying nearby with great interest. ¡°Go on, go on, you¡¯re almost at the finish line. Don¡¯t lose heart, Little Green, there¡¯s still a chance for a comeback,¡± she cheered. In response to Anjia¡¯s cheers. A green and a white caterpillar were racing on Fang Hao¡¯s belly. The white caterpillar took the lead, gradually nearing the finish line. The green caterpillar lagged behind, though after a couple of prods to its butt with a twig, it picked up pace, seemingly about to overtake the white caterpillar. The race was nearing its thrilling finale. The white caterpillar was leading, with the green one following closely. Who would emerge victorious? Just as the two caterpillars were neck and neck, about to reach the finish line. The Barren Tomb Guards emerged from the entrance of the underground palace, lugging various items. Fang Hao, lying on the ground, also twitched his eyelids slightly. Anjia was startled, hastily picking up the two caterpillars and tossing them aside. Fang Hao opened his eyes to find his stomach feeling a bit cold, then saw his armor undone, and the underlying clothes pulled up high. There were also two wet streaks on his belly. ¡°What happened?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°Eh? What do you mean?¡± Anjia sat up straightaway, feigning ignorance. ¡°Why did you lift up my clothes?¡± Fang Hao also sat up, checking his trousers. ¡°Oh! The weather is too hot, I saw you sweating and was afraid you would have a heatstroke,¡± Anjia explained. Fang Hao gave her a glance, not believing her ridiculous explanation. Buttoning up his clothes, he said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve dealt with everything in the underground palace. After Demitrija and the others come out, you can arrange for the tomb entrance to be blocked, to prevent any passing villagers from falling into it.¡± ¡°Okay, got it,¡± she replied. Soon, Demitrija and his men came out through the entrance of the underground palace. The various trophies and funeral items were piled up on both sides. Anjia ordered the Barren Tomb Guards to prepare stones to block the entrance once everyone was out. Taking this opportunity, Fang Hao decided to open the treasure boxes. This time they got two treasure boxes in total. One was silver and the other was gold. He first came to the silver box and opened it. [Obtained: Blueprint for White Steel Two-Handed Sword, Blueprint for Courtyard Stone Wall, 5 Shadowstones, 12 Blood Stones, 72 Warfire Coins.] The blueprint for the white steel two-handed sword is a duplicate. The last time I got it was in the Blood Clan¡¯s ancient tomb, and now it¡¯s from this silver chest. Check the second blueprint. [Courtyard Stone Wall Blueprint (Yanmi): 10 Wood materials, 30 Stone materials, 20 Stone Bricks.] (Description: A wall that guards against gentlemen but not against thieves, can block the view.) It¡¯s a good idea to erect this wall in the backyard of the lord¡¯s mansion. Although there are not many people in the territory, the open-air hot spring is still a bit embarrassing. No need to introduce the Shadowstone and Blood Stone. I didn¡¯t expect that opening a treasure chest would yield rare materials of two factions. I put the blueprints away, store the materials in the storage space, and continue to the gold treasure chest. Open it. [Obtained: Blueprint for Fine Carved Stone Plate, Blueprint for Exquisitely Carved Sun Array Stone Slab, Blueprint for Heavy Black Iron Repeating Crossbow Bolt, Blueprint for Nobleman¡¯s Cane Sword, 45 Blood Stones, 258 Warfire Coins.] The gold treasure chest gives quite a lot of items. A whole lot of them. [Fine Carved Stone Plate: 2 Stone Bricks.] (Description: Stone plate made of stone bricks, suitable for indoor and outdoor use.) In the Book of Lords, the blueprint for ordinary stone plates has already been unlocked. Each stone plate is made from 3 stones. And now, this fine carved stone plate should be an upgraded version of the ordinary stone plate, it requires two stone bricks to make. Comparatively speaking, the ordinary stone plate is still more cost-effective in terms of materials. Now, the streets of various cities, as well as the main roads connecting the cities, are all being paved with stone plates. Fine carved stone plates are more suitable for indoor use or on special occasions. [Exquisitely Carved Sun Array Stone Slab: 1 Fine Carved Stone Plate, 1 Mithril, 1 Solar Essence.] (Description: Complete array pattern, imbuing the temperature of the sun into the finely carved stone plate.) Exquisitely carved stone plate? Fang Hao quickly flips through the Book of Lords. Sure enough, he found the consumption requirement of an exquisitely carved stone plate in the material needed for the Stone Monster¡¯s stone armor. Now that two blueprints require an exquisitely carved stone plate, he should pay attention in the future, or directly place an order in the Trade Alliance for acquisition. The exquisitely carved sun array stone slab is actually not difficult to understand. Just now, stone plates carved with sun array patterns can be seen on the walls of the cave. Although Fang Hao did not have a chance to touch it, Lorrey had complained that the heat emitted by the stone plate was not low. By winter time, it can serve as a heater, or it can be paved on the floor to become geothermal heat. Such practical and useful items are quite neat. [Heavy Black Iron Crossbow Bolt: 5 Hardwood, 3 Iron, 2 Cast Iron, 1 Metal Component.] (Description: A crossbow bolt commonly used for ballista type weapons.) Obviously, this is the kind of bolt shot out by the mechanism. Although it¡¯s called a crossbow bolt, its length and thickness is more similar to a war spear, or perhaps a javelin. But it must be used in conjunction with a weapon. I¡¯ve gotten the blueprint for the [Nobleman¡¯s Cane Sword] before, so getting it now is considered a duplicate. I¡¯ll sell it in the channel when the time comes. After reading all blueprints, I collected them all using the Book of Lords. Looking at the ongoing fill-up team not far away, I scratched my belly. After a while. ¡°It¡¯s done, all filled up,¡± Anjia came back with her people. The original temple has been leveled, and the fragments and statues have been thrown into the pit and covered with soil. In less than two days, even the marks of the fresh soil on the ground will disappear. As if the temple never existed. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go back.¡± Everyone climbed onto the bone dragon and began to return to the territory. Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Chapter 276, its this long! _1 Chapter 282: Chapter 276, it¡¯s this long! _1 Translator: 549690339 By the time he returned to the estate, it was already about three or four in the afternoon. After dismounting from the Bone Dragon, Fang Hao ordered, ¡°Throw these corpses into the Skeleton Conversion Field, and send this bat wing to the Viscera Museum.¡± The Barren Tomb Guards began to move as per his orders. The harvest this time had been quite smooth. Fang Hao had obtained what he wanted, but he was still one body short of completing his final task. There was no need to guess which organ it was. Only the body was left. However, he still hadn¡¯t found any clues for the last body part. ¡°Master, your lunch is ready,¡± Eira said as she walked over. ¡°Hmm, good.¡± Fang Hao returned to the main hall, and Eira served the prepared lunch. The lunch was a bit simple, but he was rather hungry after being busy all morning. ¡°Eira, I realized today that Fang Hao is quite pale,¡± Anjia commented after recounting their temple adventure, speaking casually. Uh-huh! Fang Hao cleared his throat. Eira narrowed her eyes and looked at the two of them, curiously asking, ¡°How did you find out?¡± ¡°I discovered it in the woods, while playing with a caterpillar,¡± Anjia casually replied. Pfft! Fang Hao started choking on his fruit wine, covering his mouth. Did they just give him a nickname so quickly? ¡°A caterpillar?¡± ¡°Yeah, it was this long, soft, and felt nice to touch,¡± Anjia demonstrated with her hand. Although Fang Hao was a seasoned individual, he had a hard time keeping a straight face against Anjia¡¯s words. He said, ¡°Uh! Anjia, don¡¯t cross the line, that¡¯s personal attack.¡± Caught off guard, Anjia asked, ¡°What personal attack?¡± She looked at Eira again, ¡°Eira, have you seen a caterpillar before?¡± Eira¡¯s face instantly blushed, and her big ears started turning red as well, ¡°Ah? I, I haven¡¯t seen one.¡± ¡± Then I will catch one for you next time.¡± ¡°Catch?¡± ¡°Yeah, I caught two today, one white and one green. They were really fun to play with, always arching forward.¡± ¡°Ah? Caterpillar.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Haha! I¡¯ve seen it, there are lots of them on the trees,¡± Eira laughed out loud, her cheeks still flushed. Fang Hao sighed heavily. He suddenly felt an itch in his belly. This brat, she actually played with caterpillars on his belly, that¡¯s too over the line. He would take the chance to teach her a lesson when the opportunity arises. Their lunch time ended amidst the girls¡¯ giggling and laughing. Just as he stepped out of the mansion, Many orcs were seen walking over from a distance. Earlier in the morning, before going to the temple, Fang Hao used God¡¯s Presence to contact Petty, the Pigmen clan leader. He asked her to send troops to the main city in the afternoon. This group was the orc squad arranged by Petty. The squad was led by Bolton, an old acquaintance from the Pigmen clan. Dressed in metal plate armor and carrying a longsword at his waist, Fang Hao hadn¡¯t seen Bolton in a while. He looked much sturdier than before. ¡°Lord,¡± Bolton quickly saluted. The Orcs behind him also knelt to salute. These Orcs were from various large and small Orc villages in the north of the territory. After being unified by Fang Hao, they began to coexist peacefully. The Pigmen Village, as the first village to affiliate with Fang Hao, had also gained some status among the Orc villages in the north. ¡°Hmm, you all have had a hard trip, everyone can get up,¡± Fang Hao nodded and said. The Orcs stood up, still standing respectfully to the side. This place is not their little village. The hundreds of thousands of Undead outside the city made it impossible for them to relax, leaving their hearts in suspense. ¡°Lord, what should we do on this visit?¡± Bolton asked. ¡°Well, wait a moment.¡± Fang Hao finished speaking, and called a maid, ¡°Go and call Demitrija.¡± ¡°As you wish, Master.¡± The maid ran towards Demitrija¡¯s residence. After a while, Demitrija came over wearing armor and holding a longsword. Only then did Fang Hao say to the Orcs present: ¡°This is Demitrija, a strong orange Level 8 Hero. This time you will follow his command and participate in a certain-to-win battle. After returning, I will reward you according to your performance.¡± The Orcs¡¯ mouths fell open when they heard that the Lizardman before them was a Level 8 orange Hero. The highest level they had heard of was Skullcrusher from the Coldwind Mountain Range. But he was only a Level 9 purple hero. He simply can¡¯t compare with the Lizardman in front of them. Moreover, Fang Hao promised to reward them when they returned. Expressions of joy appeared on their faces. They were informed before they left that they would participate in battle. Now Fang Hao¡¯s promise is a pleasant surprise. And the reward promised by the Lord must be satisfactory. Even the most destitute Pigmen Village became the best among all villages after Fang Hao¡¯s support. The living conditions here are much better than those of the large Orc tribes. If they accomplish something and receive Fang Hao¡¯s support, their own villages could benefit and get even better. The Orcs immediately changed their posture, respectfully saluting Demitrija, ¡°We¡¯ve met Sir Demitrija, and we¡¯re willing to followyour orders.¡± ¡°Alright, follow me, and I will explain the battle arrangements to you.¡± Demitrija began to give his final instructions. These Orcs were not here for battle, but to act as messengers. With such a large number of Undead soldiers, commands need to be issued in group form. ¡°Yes, Sir Demitrija.¡± The Orcs followed Demitrija and left. Demitrija left with the Orcs. Fang Hao was not idle, either. He needed to go to the barracks and prepare the troops required by Demitrija for his expedition. He first headed to the Burial Grounds for recruitment. There are currently two kinds of troops in the Burial Grounds: Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Spearmen. Both types of troops are Level 2. Although the level is low, the battlefield also requires a combination of different troop types. There could be cases of one type of troop countering another. Moreover, with plenty of Wriggling Spines in his possession, he doesn¡¯t lack expendable resources. ¡± [Recruitable: Skeleton Warrior, Cost: 2 Wriggling Spines, Do you want to recruit?]¡± He set the recruitment number to 1000. ¡± [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 101,000 Skeleton Warriors]¡± A large variety of lights flashed, and 100,000 Skeleton Warriors filled up the open space in front, rooftops, and large areas within the territory. After seeing this situation many times, there was no surprise anymore. After asking the Skeleton Warriors to stand by outside, Fang Hao continued to recruit Spearmen. ¡°[Recruitable: Skeleton Spearman, Cost: 2 Wriggling Spines, Do you want to recruit?]¡± The number was still set to 1000. ¡°[Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 101,000 Skeleton Spearmen]¡± Again, a large group of Skeleton Spearmen appeared. They were also ordered to wait outside the door. After recruiting troops from the Burial Grounds, Fang Hao proceeded to the Giant Stone Tomb, Archery Range, and Undead Mage Tower. Troop recruitment was carried out in separate batches. ¡± [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 202,000 Barren Tomb Guards]¡± ¡± [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 202,000 Skeleton Archers]¡± ¡± [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 202,000 Undead Mages]¡± A total of 800,000 soldiers, an imposing army, assembled outside the territory. Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Chapter 277, Clues of the Body 1 Chapter 283: Chapter 277, Clues of the Body 1 Translator: 549690339 7¡ª Atop the city gate. Fang Hao and Demitrija were looking at an undead army of 800,000 outside the city. The macabre skeletal troops stretched as far as the eye could see. The orcs who were once full of confidence and waiting to be rewarded for their achievements now stood with soft legs, unable to hold themselves up. Only with great effort, dragging and pulling, were they able to barely stand in their small teams under their charge. ¡°My lord, there are not enough orcs,¡± Demitrija said. Hmm, in a moment, I¡¯ll have the bone dragon bring over more manpower¡± Fang Hao too noticed the lack of orcs. After deliberating for a while, they both descended the city wall. Upon reaching the vast open space outside the city, Fang Hao began to create equipment for the soldiers. [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, acquired Stormfine Iron Open Helmet 4.04.000.] [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, acquired Military War Spear 101000.] [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, acquired Erland Guardian Thick Leather Armor 202000.] [One hundred-fold amplification triggered, acquired High-speed Hardwood Shortbow 20200.] [¡­, acquired Whitesteel Two-handed Heavy Sword 20200.] [¡­, ¡­Wood Root Magic Wand¡­.] [¡­.] Under the boost of hundred-fold amplification, pieces of equipment piled up on the surrounding open space. The bone dragon would then distribute them to designated soldier types for equipping. Through this equipment production process, Fang Hao noticed a problem. The equipment of melee troops and long-range troops were becoming increasingly unequal. Melee troop¡¯s equipment had basically been upgraded to blue quality throughout. Their offense and defense had reached Tier 3. However, the equipment for long-range troops were relatively behind. Apart from the High-speed Hardwood Shortbow, the Erland Guardian thick leather armor set and the undead mage¡¯s Wood Root Magic Wand and robe were still of green quality. Their offense and defense ratings were only of Tier 2. The ranged troops, in every battle, exerted a high combat power. It seems Fang Hao would need to gradually replace the equipment of ranged troops next, so as not to allow a huge disparity in the quality between melee and ranged equipment. They were kept busy until dusk. The army of more than 800,000 only gradually finished the equipment exchange by then. Fang Hao had the bone dragons shuttle back and forth several times, bringing in a large number of orcs. Demitrija started the troop drill. After watching for a while, Fang Hao felt there was nothing for him to do and silently left. Back at the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Eira was preparing dinner. Anjia was following Eira around, telling stories she had heard from some unknown source. Just as they were about to sit down, a rushing hoofbeat sound was heard from outside the door. A heavy sword soldier dismounted and deposited a body with a sack covering its head outside the door. ¡°My Lord, a corpse was sent over from Pruell City. They claimed it to be Blood Clan Fielding,¡± The heavy sword soldier saluted and said loudly. Blood Clan Fielding, convicted for the assassination attempt on a human city lord, had been hung exposed to the elements for three days. Under the sun¡¯s exposure, his body had dried up. If Fang Hao did not need it, Tavek would directly have given the order to cremate the corpse to avoid the back-and-forth transport of it. What s the situation at Pruell City?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The heavy sword soldier answered, ¡°Sir Tavek says all is going smoothly. Cyril¡¯s death has not caused any upheaval in the city.¡± Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fine, you may return. I will have someone handle the corpse.¡± ¡®Yes, my Lord.¡± The heavy sword soldier mounted his horse once more and left the territory. The corpse of Fielding was still left outside the door. Passing maidservants carefully avoided it. Fang Hao was just about to order someone to throw the corpse into the conversion field when he came up with a new plan. After dinner. A bone dragon landed in front of the Lord¡¯s Mansion, and Black Thorn dismounted. ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve acquired a corpse of a Blood Clan member. I need you to help me interrogate him and glean some useful information,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°I am at your service.¡± The two men proceeded to the open land where the corpse was laid. Black Thorn began drawing array markings and Fang Hao had someone bring two cattle. As the blood flowed along the array and collected in the body. Fielding, who had been dead for several days, sat up momentarily, his eyes hollow. ¡°Sir, please begin your questioning,¡± Black Thorn said. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, asking directly, ¡°Fielding, how many troops are there in Crescent Heights?¡± Fielding, his face charred, replied, ¡°Around 60,000. Crescent Heights hasn¡¯t done a troop count in a long time, so I don¡¯t have exact figures.¡± ¡°What level of power has the Red Duke reached?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Has he broken through to the Dark Gold level?¡± ¡°No.¡± At this point, Black Thorn gave Fang Hao a look. Signaling to Fang Hao that Fielding¡¯s condition could only answer one last question. Where did the Red Duke hide his lover¡¯s body when he was still a human Citv Lord?¡± Fielding¡¯s swollen body faltered slightly, seemingly surprised that Fang Hao would ask this question. But he still answered without hesitation. ¡°At the bottom of Lake Tanho in Crescent Heights.¡± ¡°Point out the location to me.¡± Just as Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, Fielding¡¯s body burst with a bang. Blood and flesh scattered everywhere. Sir, have you obtained the information you wanted?¡± Black Thorn asked. Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords, ¡°Yes, Fielding held a high position in Crescent Heights, the information is quite useful.¡± This inquiry of the corpse made the previously uncertain information much more concrete. The cavalry force stands at around 60,000. No specific information had been obtained about the Red Duke¡¯s tier. But he was at Tier 8 five years ago, and he still hasn¡¯t reached the Dark Gold level now, so he¡¯s probably at Tier 9 or 10. There isn¡¯t much difference from Demitrija¡¯s Orange Tier 8. Most importantly, Fang Hao obtained the final clue about the location of the beating heart¡¯s last body part. At the bottom of Lake Tanho in Crescent Heights. Although he didn¡¯t know the exact location of Lake Tanho, with its name and location in Crescent Heights, he would have no trouble finding it. ¡°Sir, are you planning to go to war with the Blood Clan?¡± asked Black Thorn. When the Bone Dragon arrived, Black Thorn saw the newly assembled army awaiting orders outside the city. In conjunction with the recent interrogation of the Blood Clan, it could be inferred that a war was imminent with the Blood Clan. ¡°Yes, this time we will take the initiative to attack Crescent Heights. We need to tighten our defense on the northern fortress, in order to prevent the trolls from taking advantage of the situation,¡± said Fang Hao. Black Thorn was a skeleton hero created by him. With 100% loyalty, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t afraid of him leaking the next plan. On the contrary, Black Thorn brought up an important point which reminded Fang Hao of the Troll fortress in the north. He must increase the defense to prevent any problems during this time. Sir, rest assured, I¡¯ll arrange everything as soon as I return,¡± said Black Thorn, nodding solemnly. ¡°Good, thank you for your hard work, Black Thorn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty, sir.¡± Afterwards, Black Thorn had nothing else to do. After saluting, he mounted the Bone Dragon and flew back to his base at the Bloody Fortress. After dismissing Black Thorn, Fang Hao called for Demitrija and informed him of the information obtained from the interrogation. It would help him get prepared. After handling everything, it was already late at night. Fang Hao returned to his room and immediately fell asleep. Meanwhile¡­ Crescent Heights, Blood Clan Castle. The Red Duke¡¯s face was full of rage, fuming with anger. ¡°Where is he? Where is Fielding?¡± The Red Duke roared, like a bloodthirsty, mad beast. Traveling from Crescent Heights to Pruell City on a known route takes two days. According to the plan, three days ago a group of residents from Pruell City should have arrived in Crescent Heights to serve as blood slaves. But until now, not only the blood slaves had not arrived, but even Fielding had gone missing. Even though the Red Duke did not want to think about it, he knew that something must have gone wrong. Most likely, something bad had happened to Fielding. Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Chapter 278, The Furious Red Duke_l Chapter 284: Chapter 278, The Furious Red Duke_l Translator: 549690339 Upon the throne. Veins protruded from the Red Duke¡¯s face, his features twisted grotesquely like a devil emerging from the abyss. ¡°I asked you a question, why weren¡¯t the planned people delivered?¡± The Duke¡¯s voice echoed eerily, sending a chill running down one¡¯s spine. Under the Red Duke¡¯s rage, the remaining members of the Blood Clan trembled in fear and awe. Having gained power, the Red Duke had become increasingly ruthless. Throughout Crescent Heights, no one dared to stand against him. ¡°Your Grace, this matter has always been handled by Fielding. There may have been some mistakes,¡± one of the vampires spoke. The plan to subvert Pruell City had been exclusively handled by Fielding as per Red Duke¡¯s strict orders against interference. Hence, they were not exactly clear on how the plan was progressing. Now that Fielding had messed up and the Red Duke was questioning them, they felt wronged and frustrated. Humph!! With a cold humph, the Red Duke vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of the speaking vampire in the blink of an eye. He gripped the vampire by the throat, sank his sharp fangs into the neck, and greedily drank the blood. Terror danced in the vampire¡¯s eyes as he struggled to plead for mercy, but no sound came out of his mouth. His body quickly withered and he eventually went limp as if drained of all strength. His body was carelessly tossed aside. Thump! Thump! Thump! Emulating this painful scene, the remaining vampires fell to their knees, their faces pale and legs shaking. They realized the Duke¡¯s mood today was terribly unstable. He had killed one of their own just because of Fielding¡¯s failure. Even with the presumed death or disappearance of the young master, ¡®Giovanni,¡¯ the Duke had never displayed such intense emotions. Maybe a full meal had eased the Red Duke¡¯s temper somewhat. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear excuses, I want accurate information,¡± the Red Duke said coldly, his gaze sweeping across everyone present. The hall fell into silence for a moment. Another vampire spoke up, ¡°Your Grace, my men found signs of a struggle on the way and a human corpse in a thicket of bushes. It seems that the blood servants we were escorting were robbed in transit.¡± The Red Duke raised an eyebrow, they were robbed? Who would rob people on that road? ¡°Did you find any corpses of half -bloods?¡± the Red Duke returned to his seat. No, the crime scene was spotlessly cleaned. Everything that could be taken was taken by the perpetrators. The human body found was presumably forgotten in the thicket or missed in the dark,¡± the vampire replied. ¡°Good, you did well,¡± the Red Duke offered some casual praise. ¡°Thankyou, Your Grace.¡± The Duke¡¯s gaze swept across the room again, ¡°Who has information about Fielding?¡± he asked. Once again, silence filled the hall. Regarding Fielding, or rather, regarding Pruell City, it was as if a dark hole had swallowed any possible information about the place. Despite their number, no one had any leads. The Duke¡¯s expression turned furious again as he let out an exasperated sigh. He turned to a nearby Blood Servant, ¡°Go check the Faceless¡¯s cottage. There should be a message by now.¡± ¡°As you wish, Your Grace,¡± the Blood Servant departed swiftly to check the news from the Faceless¡¯s quarters. Yesterday, the Duke sent a message from the Faceless¡¯s dwelling and by today, he was expecting new news. The wait wasn¡¯t long. The servant returned swiftly with an envelope, respectfully presenting it to the Red Duke, ¡°Your Grace, there¡¯s a message.¡± The Duke took the envelope and began reading. It read, ¡®Fielding attempted to assassinate City Lord Cyril of Pruell City and was executed and left in the sun for days.¡¯ Bang!! Upon seeing this message, the Red Duke slammed his fist onto his armrest. How could Fielding attempt to assassinate Cyril? But instantly another thought crossed his mind, someone else must have discovered their plot, killed Cyril, and framed Fielding for it. This made things a lot simpler. Pruell City would focus their attention on the Blood Clan and wouldn¡¯t dig deeper into who was really behind it. ¡°Enough, everyone prepare for an attack on the Undead territories,¡± commanded the Red Duke flatly. The Book of the Blood Clan had to be retrieved. Since the route through Pruell City was blocked, and he was losing his patience, he decided to wage a war and simply snatch back the Book of the Blood Clan. As for who was responsible for Fielding¡¯s death and disrupting their plan, all he had to do was to wait and see who ascended as the new City Lord of Pruell City, and the truth would reveal itself. ¡°As you wish, Your Grace,¡± all the vampires responded in unison and, little by little, started to leave the room. Quiet returned to the Blood Clan¡¯s hall. But the Red Duke, resting his chin in contemplation, seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. The Blood Servant stood silently waiting at his side, not daring to make a sound. After a long while, the Red Duke reopened his eyes and commanded,¡± Prepare the carriage, we are going to Tanhoor Lake.¡± ¡°As you command, Your Grace,¡± the servant swiftly left to prepare the carriage. Once everyone was gone, silence again filled the hall. However, the Red Duke couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of growing terror. He had had a nightmare during his daytime slumber. In his dream, the people he had killed were seeking revenge while he constantly begged for mercy. The woman who used to believe everything he said, didn¡¯t trust him this time. The woman gouged out his heart. The black heart spilled a thick, black fluid, and emanated a repulsive odor. The next second, she tightened her grip, crushing his heart. That was why he was inconsolably irritated today. Fielding¡¯s death was only a small part of it. More so, it was a persistent fear etched into his heart. He was scared that the woman might return and kill him outright. ¡°Your Grace, the carriage is ready,¡± the servant reported. The Duke abruptly stood up but just as quickly sighed and sat back down, ¡°Never mind, I won¡¯t go. Double the number defenses at Tanhoor Lake, not allowing anyone or anything to approach.¡± ¡°As you wish, Your Grace,¡± said the servant. The next day, early in the morning. Fang Hao, awakened by the noise outside, stretched lazily. He rolled out of bed and after a quick wash, he immediately left the lord¡¯s manor. Today, the entire fief was abuzz with activity. Food and weapons had been loaded onto the wagons and the Orcs were doing a final check. ¡°My lord!¡± Demitrija greeted Fang Hao upon seeing him approach. Today, according to plan, was the day Demitrija set off for Crescent Heights. The journey, despite a well-defined route, would still take two to three days. ¡°Demitrija, this is the Sound-transmitting Shell which you can use to contact me from the fief. Be careful of the Red Duke, and if you encounter any danger, use the Bone Dragon to return immediately,¡± Fang Hao handed over the shell, instructing him. The shell was borrowed from Fireblade last night. Since Fireblade was guarding the Frostwind Fortress and currently faced no immediate threats, it was decided to give the shell to Demitrija first. ¡°Rest assured, my lord, we shall be victorious in this battle,¡± Demitrija confidently claimed. The contrast in forces was large, eight hundred thousand against sixty thousand. Demitrija was confident of his victory. ¡°Good, I look forward to your victorious return.¡± Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: Chapter 279, Blueprint of a Kiln for Pottery 1 Chapter 285: Chapter 279, Blueprint of a Kiln for Pottery 1 Translator: 549690339 An overwhelming army of 800,000 undead left their territories in a grand display. They headed towards Crescent Heights. Fang Hao stood on the ramparts, watching the army gradually march away. For this war against Crescent Heights, he had handed over command to Demitrija. As his territory grows stronger, there is less need for his constant involvement in battles. Furthermore, the heroes understood combat and leadership better than he did. He remembers the time he first arrived. He had to personally lead the troop to clear out the beast lair and drive off the wolf pack. Now, he just needs to issue the mission and the heroes will arrange the manpower to complete it, he just needs to rest easy as a lord. When he returned to the lord¡¯s mansion, Eira had prepared breakfast. As soon as he woke up, she helped to prepare various tools that needed to be taken along. Having busied herself until now, hunger arose from her belly. Breakfast was served. And Eira specially made a seafood platter and placed it in front of Fang Hao. Using chopsticks, she picked up a piece of food that looked like an oyster, dipped it in some sauce, and put it in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Master, ahh-! Eat more, it¡¯s good for your body,¡± Eira whispered. With the existence of Fu Lei¡¯s fishery, the dining table often contains fresh seafood for everyone. And with the assistance of Fang Hao, the output of the fishery increased exponentially. New varieties of seafood were even added. Calling it seafood isn¡¯t accurate, it should be lacustrine products. Fang Hao took a bite and found the taste to be truly good. Eira crammed the remaining pieces into Fang Hao¡¯s mouth, a satisfied smile appeared on her face. When Anjia came down for breakfast and saw only the sauce remaining on the plate, she was indignant and questioned whether they had been secretly eating good food behind her back. Fang Hao and Eira put on innocent faces, accusing her of overthinking. They sat down to eat. Ding! The Book of Lords transmitted the sound of a private message. He initially thought it was from a familiar person, but it turned out to be a stranger named Qiu Zhi Shang. Well, the name sounded quite impressive. Mr Fang Hao, I noticed you¡¯re buying tiles, right?¡± Upon reading the message, Fang Hao was slightly startled. These past few days, due to the issues with the Blood Clan, he almost forgot about the tiles. Although he hasn¡¯t announced his intent to purchase tiles in the regional channel, he has mentioned his priority to exchange tile producing blueprints in various exchanges of information. If there were special needs, they could also exchange privately. ¡°Yes, if you have tile production blueprints, you can let me know what you need, and if I have them, we can exchange,¡± Fang Hao replied. After sending the message, his heart was filled with joy. Finally, there was a lead for obtaining tiles, a necessary material for upgrading a level 8 Stone Tower. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, you misunderstood my words. I indeed have tile production blueprints, but I want to sell you completed tiles.¡± Qiu Zhi Shang said. Qiu Zhi Shang was indeed rather fortunate, he had recently welcomed a group of displaced persons to his village. After accepting them, the displaced persons provided him with information about a pottery factory relic. Having obtained two tile kiln blueprints after clearing the relic, he decided to sell one after collecting the other. However, when he discovered the region¡¯s number one player, Fang Hao, was purchasing tiles, he knew his opportunity to get rich had arrived. He didn¡¯t want to trade blueprints, but rather directly sell completed tiles. As a must-have material for main city upgrades, he knows they would sell. He plans to sell to Fang Hao first and then to other lords who reach the required level later. As the only one with a production line, Qiu Zhi Shang will be able to earn a lot of resources and possibly become overnight rich. If utilized well, surpassing Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t be impossible. ¡°So how do you want to trade?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Well, Mr Fang Hao, one piece of white equipment for one tile, and five tiles for one piece of green equipment,¡± Qiu Zhi Shang stated. Looking at the price quoted by the other party, Fang Hao was taken aback. He was unsure if the man knew that upgrading from the lord¡¯s level 7 Stone Tower to level 8 required 1200 tiles. With his trading method, I would have to give him 1200 pieces of white equipment. Even if Fang Hao has a hundredfold amplification, by the time he upgrades to levels 9 and 10 or even higher, wouldn¡¯t that completely drain him? This is more than just having a big mouth. This is like swallowing the Milky Way. ¡°Mr Qiu, you¡¯re quite the joker. Tile isn¡¯t even worth much, certainly not this price.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not how it works in this world. The price of an item can only be defined by its scarcity, not its original value,¡± Qiu Zhi Shang continued. Fang Hao thought for a moment and continued: ¡°Exchanging a tile for a finished weapon wouldn¡¯t be sustainable business.¡± Even if Fang Hao was willing to buy it, other people wouldn¡¯t be able to afford it. ¡°Hehe, Mr. Fang Hao, you sell tens of thousands of pieces of equipment every day. This wouldn¡¯t put you out of business, and to maintain the number one spot in your region, you naturally have to spend a little more.¡± He was explicitly trying to rob Fang Hao because he knew he was rich. ¡°Can I confirm the information on your blueprint?¡± ¡°Of course, [Clay Oven Blueprint].¡± After Qiu Zhi Shang sent this, a triumphant smirk crossed his lips. The look on the other person¡¯s face indicated that he was planning a large expenditure, placing a significant order. However, when Fang Hao¡¯s message came through, it left him taken aback. ¡°Mr Qiu, I need to think about it.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s there to think about¡­¡±. Qiu Zhi Shang was still persuading him, but Fang Hao simply closed their chat. Fang Hao understood Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s intentions. Most people would do the same. But Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s actions were somewhat excessive. Knowing that Fang Hao was selling a lot of equipment in the regional channel, he proactively hiked up the prices which was unacceptable to him. You can fool me, but you can¡¯t poke my nose and treat me like a fool. After breakfast. Fang Hao went directly to the Trade Alliance. Doujin was at the counter writing something. Seeing Fang Hao walk in, he put down his work and said, ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, good morning Doujin,¡± Fang Hao sat down at the counter. ¡°Give me a purchase order.¡± ¡°Of course, my Lord.¡± Doujin said as he took an order form from below the counter. ¡°Write down [Clay Oven Construction Blueprint],¡± instructed Fang Hao. Doujin nodded, picked up a goose feather pen by his side, and wrote the corresponding name on the order form. The order needs the exact and accurate name. After filling it in, the Trade Alliance would set the price based on your needs not an arbitrary price. The Trade Alliance has its rules. ¡°My Lord, I¡¯ve written it down. We still have one order form left, with the due date approaching,¡± Doujin continued. Ehm, Doujm, do you know how to make a Fine Carved Stone Plate?¡± Fang Hao asked. 6 Doujin apologized: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my Lord, but I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Uh, then write down Sound-transmitting Shell instead. See how many we can ask for the highest,¡± Fang Hao planned to write the Sound-transmitting Shell on the last order. ¡°My Lord, I suggest writing five. This number won¡¯t cause too much of a delay.¡± ¡°Okay, write it down.¡± After chatting with Doujin a bit more, Fang Hao left the Trade Alliance building. He returned to the lord¡¯s mansion. A Tauren warrior arrived on a fast horse. With muscular physique, a silver treasure chest strapped to his back with hemp rope. ¡°Lord, the Chieftain asked me to bringyou this treasure chest and also the maps collected from the tavern.¡± The Tauren dismounted and put the treasure chest on the ground. He then pulled out two single-page maps from his thickly furred chest. ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve worked hard. Sit down and rest fora while,¡± Fang Hao took the maps, placing them on a table nearby. He would collect them when the sweat on them dried a bit. A maid brought some fruit wine. The Tauren thanked her respectfully and drained the glass. He opened the treasure chest. [Received: Black Iron Round Leather Knife Blueprint, Black Iron Curved Battle Axe Blueprint (Green), Unicorn Sheep Fishing Rod Blueprint, Beast Tooth 12, Warfire Coin 72.] Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Chapter 281, Undead versus Undead_l Chapter 287: Chapter 281, Undead versus Undead_l Translator: 549690339 | The Bone Dragon landed, scattering a pair of grazing deer. Several people jumped off from Bone Dragon¡¯s back, Fang Hao quickly scanned the mountain wall. ¡± It should be nearby, look for a cave or something.¡± This was the location indicated on the map. However, no caves were seen. The two women nodded, spread out to the left and right, and began to search along the mountain wall. Soon, from tens of meters away, came Anjia¡¯s shout, ¡°Fang Hao, see if this is it.¡± Hearing the shout, Fang Hao and Lorrey walked over. Below the cliff in front of Anjia, there was a pitch-black mountain cave sloping downwards. The entrance of the cave was large, about five meters in height, and the width was also three or four meters. The entrance was covered by climbing vines; if not intentionally searched, passing by, it would be difficult to find this cave. ¡°This should be it.¡± Fang Hao looked inward along the vines; inside it was pitch black, the visible range was very limited. ¡°Clear the vines.¡± Fang Hao stepped back a few steps, the Giant Skeleton behind him stepped forward. Several axes swung down, the entangling vines at the entrance were cut off and scattered on the ground. The position of the cave entrance was completely exposed. ¡°I¡¯ll use the Grey Sparrow to check inside first.¡± Fang Hao took a Skeleton Sparrow from his backpack and jumped back onto the Bone Dragon¡¯s back. Before using God¡¯s Presence, he couldn¡¯t help but warned, ¡°You two don¡¯t be mischievous, especially you, Anjia.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Anjia pouted her lips, showing her dissatisfaction with Fang Hao¡¯s remark about her. Fang Hao leaned back on the dragon¡¯s seat and immediately used God¡¯s Presence. The soul fire glowed ghostly blue in the skeleton sparrow¡¯s eyes. It flapped its wings and flew into the cave. As the sparrow moved deeper, the cave grew darker. The supporting beam skeletons within the cave had rotten and broken; old mining tools had been left behind, the wooden handles had disappeared, leaving only the severely corroded metal parts. It continued to move deeper in. After advancing about ten meters or so. Dry bones began to be scattered on the ground, and when the sparrow got close. Clatter Clatter! The dry bones stood up, transforming into a Skeleton Warrior. The Grey Sparrow evaded the Skeleton Warrior¡¯s attack, and continued to fly deeper into the cave. As it moved further in, there were more and more Skeleton Warriors, the cave was filled with them in front. Fang Hao had no choice but to control the Grey Sparrow to turn back and fly out of the cave. Discharged God¡¯s Presence. Anjia asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Prepare for battle, a large group of Skeletons are about to come out.¡± Fang Hao stood up and hurriedly stated. As soon as his words fell. From within the cave, the dense sound of footsteps and the sound of metal hitting the cave walls echoed. ¡°Prepare for Dragon Breath!¡± Fang Hao jumped down from the dragon¡¯s back, but he felt no urgency in his heart. He was too familiar with Skeletons. He had seen everything, even on a larger scale, so he did not feel any fear facing these wild little Skeletons. The Bone Dragon lay on its belly, pointing its head at the dark cave. The footsteps grew closer, and then they saw a large number of Undead dragging their feet, holding corroded weapons, and stepping towards them. ¡°Dragon Breath!¡± Fang Hao lightly slapped the huge body of the Bone Dragon. Roar! The Bone Dragon¡¯s abdomen rose high, and the next second, a black beam sprayed from its mouth into the cave. The vast energy filled the cave. Under the black light, the bodies of the Skeletons shattered like sand and scattered all over the ground. Not the slightest resistance. This was the first time Fang Hao had seen the Bone Dragon use ¡°Death Breath¡± against the Undead. When used against living creatures, it would peel off the flesh and turn them into a pile of bones. It seemed now, when used against the Skeletons, it was equally effective. No bone residue was left behind. After the breath. The inside of the cave resumed tranquility instantly. After waiting for two or three breaths, scattered footsteps could be faintly heard from within the cave. There must be a few that managed to escape. ¡°Giant Skeleton, surround the entrance, freely attack whatever comes out.¡± Fang Hao quickly deployed. The Giant Skeleton began to move in accordance with the command. In front of the cave, they left a space of about two meters. Then, in a concave formation, they surrounded the cave entrance. Just as they finished their preparations, the skeleton from inside the cave stumbled out, holding high its broken mining tools. It had just emerged from the cave entrance. From both left and right, two large Wolf Fang Clubs fell. Thud, thud!! With the heavy thud, the first one that came out turned into bone dust on the ground due to shattered skeleton. Soon, a second skeleton emerged. Thud, thud!! Two thuds again, the second one also met a swift death. Third, fourth¡­ After the sixth, the cave suddenly went quiet. Fang Hao peered inside the cave. There was ash everywhere .along with fallen weapons. ¡°A few of you follow me, the rest stay here on standby.¡± Fang Hao pointed out about thirty-odd Skeleton Trolls and took out some Nightstone lanterns from his storage space. He hung them on the ribs of the four Skeleton Trolls. ¡°What about us?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°You and Lorrey guard me outside,¡± Fang Hao replied, ¡°If something difficult turns up, I¡¯ll give you further orders.¡± From what he could see, the mines were filled with low-level skeletons that the Skeleton Trolls could handle. Plus, the mine didn¡¯t look very stable. If it collapsed, they¡¯d be in danger. ¡°Alright then.¡± This place was a ruin; there was nowhere for Fang Hao to comfortably lie down. He ended up sitting back on the dragon¡¯s saddle and cast God¡¯s Presence spell. Controlling a skeleton sparrow, he ordered it to land on a Troll¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go into the cave.¡± The Skeleton Trolls entered the cave in an orderly formation. As they continued deeper, the cave grew darker. The Skeleton Trolls carrying the lanterns illuminated the surroundings with the halo of the Nightstones in their ribcages. ¡°Collect all the Shadowstones on the ground,¡± Fang Hao ordered. Ahead, Shadowstones began to appear. Wherever there were undead, Shadowstones were usually found. As they passed the Shadowstones, the Skeleton Trolls bent down to pick them up. Spotting a Troll bent over, Fang Hao noticed something off. ¡°Wait, clear that area on the ground,¡± Fang Hao commanded again. The Skeleton Trolls swiftly cleaned the spot Fang Hao pointed out, clearing away the broken rocks. Below was a thin, long, metallic track. Railway tracks? Fang Hao flapped his wings and landed on the track. Looking back along the track, he spotted the exposed rails along the path. It seemed this was indeed a mine and they had even set up a track for a minecart. The Coldwind Mountains had countless mines, but even with manual labor they hadn¡¯t constructed railways or minecarts. This mine seemed to have more advanced facilities. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue.¡± Fang Hao returned to the troll¡¯s shoulders. The group resumed its march. As they progressed deeper, two diverging paths appeared in front of them. Each path had inscriptions carved on top, but they were now illegible. Fang Hao pondered for a moment. He decided to stick to the rule of men taking left and women right. ¡°Take the left.¡± The Skeleton Trolls went down the left path. After walking for several meters. Their vision suddenly widened. Perched on a Troll¡¯s shoulder, Fang Hao entered deeper into the mine. This was a very spacious cave, about the size of three or four basketball courts. The railroad tracks on the ground were exposed. He saw severely damaged mine carts filled with ores. Whoosh!! Just as Fang Hao was about to order his men to collect the ores, they heard a strange noise from the front. Countless skeleton warriors stood up, holding rusty iron swords with tattered armor. Their gear was far superior compared to the skeletons they had defeated at the cave entrance. Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chapter 283, Giant Spider Shooter_1 Chapter 289: Chapter 283, Giant Spider Shooter_1 Translator: 549690339 The skull trolls began to gather various spoils of war after the battle. Weapons, equipment and various ores were collected and transported outside. Fang Hao patiently waited on the side. Soon, among the spoils being transported out, he saw a golden treasure chest carried by a troll. This brought him a sigh of relief. He was worried that he would end up empty-handed, not even securing a treasure chest. God¡¯s Presence status was cancelled. Anjia and Lorrey woke up from the dragon¡¯s back, hadn¡¯t gone off to play, but sat chatting nearby. Seeing Fang Hao awake, they directly asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Not bad. There¡¯s quite a substantial gain.¡± Fang Hao answered. He was quite satisfied with this battle. Besides acquiring a golden treasure chest, the most important thing was this mine. A mine from which Mithril could be extracted was not something one would easily come upon. Now that the enemies in the mine are eliminated, he could arrange for people to mine the Mithril. Preparing in advance for the development of his magic legion. ¡°Oh.¡± Anjia gave a simple reply. During their chat, the skull trolls from the mine brought out the spoils one after another. The troll holding the treasure chest came directly in front of Fang Hao, threw the chest onto the ground, and left. Fang Hao descended from the Bone Dragon and promptly opened the chest. [You¡¯ve obtained: Blueprint for the creation of Death Whisper Wand (Blue), Blueprint for White Steel Ore, Blueprint for Mine Tracks, Blueprint for Mine Cart, 32 Shadowstone, 202 Warfire Coins] Seeing the items inside the chest, A smile emerged on Fang Hao¡¯s face. Not only did a mage¡¯s wand appear, but the remaining were all blueprints for mining equipment. All these were useful blueprints for him. [Death Whisper Wand: Requires Hardwood 3, Fine Iron 1, Essence of Magic 3, Mithril 5, Death Trace 1.] (Description: The whispers of the deceased fill the ears of the spellcaster, speaking of death and cold, awaiting your arrival.) Wow! This wand seems rather ominous. Luckily, the mage legion in the territory are all undead. Whether you whisper or not, it won¡¯t affect undead spellcasters. A blue wand to replace the current green one. It can enhance the attack power of the undead mage legion. He continued to examine the remaining blueprints. [White Steel Ore Pick: Requires Hardwood 1, White Steel Ingot 2, Thick Leather 1.] [Mine Track: Requires Wood 5, Iron 5, Cast Iron Block 3.] [Mine Cart: Requires Wood 12, Iron 15, Cast Iron Block 8.] These three blueprints are easy to understand. Although they are not equipment blueprints. They are necessary for mining, especially the mine track and mine cart. Adapting them to the mine can significantly improve mining efficiency, easing the workload of the miners. Their value is not any lesser than a blue equipment blueprint. Mine tracks are calculated by the meter. Having a hundred-fold amplification, Fang Hao is not worried about material consumption. When he gets back, he will produce these and distribute them to all the mines. All blueprints were thoroughly checked. Using the Book of Lords, all were collected. From the two piles of spoils of war, everything except for the rocks was stored in his storage space. ¡°Alright, use these rocks and block the entrance,¡± Fang Hao pointed to the entrance of the cave. The skull trolls resumed work and sealed off the cave entrance entirely. This mine will definitely be arranged for mining. But not right now. It is quite a distance from here to Manim Market. It¡¯s a wild idea to consider mining from such a vast distance. The best approach is to set up an affiliated village near the mine, similar to the Pigmen Village, or have people establish a village, then start mining the cave. It didn¡¯t take long for the entrance to the mine to be completely sealed. Fang Hao continued to open the map and looked for the location of the next ¡°Spider Forest¡±. ¡°Where are we going next?¡± Anjia asked curiously, her arm draped on Fang Hao¡¯s shoulder. Her soft touch was apparent on his arm. ¡°We still have some time, we can make another trip to the Spider Forest,¡± Fang Hao said casually. ¡°Great! Let¡¯s hurry up and start then. It would be nice to finish early and eat dinner.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I finding the location right now!¡± Fang Hao replied a bit grumpily. After determining the direction, the group remounted the Bone Dragon. They flew directly toward the Spider Forest. The distance wasn¡¯t far. After approximately three to five minutes of flight, they already arrived at the objective location on the map. Below the cloud layer was a dense forest. On the dense tree canopy were numerous white spider webs. Like a huge white gauze, covering the entire forest. If they flew at a slightly lower altitude, they could even see little green spiders with white spots on the webs, weaving and crawling. Just as everyone was peering down with furrowed brows. There came a violent shaking from the forest below. One by one, strange spider creatures climbed to the treetops. This kind of spider had a human body, and their lower body was a giant spider. They had spider legs and a huge, bloated abdomen. It was not a human riding a giant spider; the two were one and the same. Fang Hao had heard of centaurs. This was his first time seeing a half-human spider. ¡°What the hell is that? It¡¯s so ugly!¡± Fang Hao frowned and said. Before anyone could answer. The spider shooters below began to attack the Bone Dragon in the sky. Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!! A flurry of arrows were shot into the sky. ¡°Attack, Dragon Breath!¡± Fang Hao immediately commanded. The Bone Dragon swooped down, and its death breath swept across the dense spider pack below. Wherever it passed, the flesh of the human-shaped giant spiders melted away and fell off. Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!! The forest obstructed the view, shooting out white spider silk, attempting to pull the circling Bone Dragon out of the sky. But, the tenth-order Bone Dragon, with its superior power and attributes, easily broke the spider silk. It continued to circle, spewing death breath towards the ground. The black energy column did not start a major forest fire. However, the strong energy of death, wherever it passed, made the trees wither instantly and the spider web canopy became tattered and torn. One would think that in another two or three rounds. This spider nest would be completely eradicated. Just as the eleven Bone Dragons were circling in the sky, preparing for the third breath. The human-shaped spiders on the tree canopy, tied a flax cloth to one end of their longbow, and vigorously waved it in the sky. ¡°They have surrendered.¡± Anjia said. ¡°Surrendered? How can you tell?¡± ¡°Tying a cloth to a weapon, according to Orc customs, is a signal of surrender.¡± Anjia explained. ¡°Are the spiders also considered orcs?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Anjia shrugged her shoulders. No matter if they belong to the orcs or not, but what can be confirmed is that these spiders are at least a wise race. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t know about surrendering. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then cast God¡¯s Presence again, using the lame skeleton grey sparrow to fly down. The opponents did not attack, they just watched the approaching skeleton grey sparrow with vigilant eyes. As he neared the forest, Fang Hao said, ¡°I accept your surrender. Let your leader, with all your people, leave the forest and go to the open area on the west. You have ten minutes, or else we will continue the attack.¡± Having said that, the skeleton grey sparrow turned around and flew back. Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 284, the Spider Fateweaver_1 Chapter 290: Chapter 284, the Spider Fateweaver_1 Translator: 549690339 Ten minutes later. A swarm of spiders, anthropomorphic giant spiders emerged from the dense forest. With the thick canopy no longer blocking their view, all types of spiders were exposed to Fang Hao. There were many spiders. Despite being repeatedly ravaged by the breath of death, there were still thousands of them. The spider swarm split into two forms. One was normal spiders, about the size of a washbasin. The other was the anthropomorphic giant spider, a combination of humanoid and giant spider, making them roughly the size of a large bear. Under the surrounding multitude of spiders, a large figure came from behind. She was a woman with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a spider, green-skinned with black markings, and was about the size of an elephant. Her legs, as sharp as blades, moved with an elegant gait. The woman moved between the two armies. Looking at the white-haired beast-eared girl already waiting ahead, she spoke softly, ¡°My Lord, you¡­¡±. The spider woman slightly bowed, but the silver-haired girl cut her off before she finished speaking. The silver-haired girl pointed at her own shoulder. On it, a lame, skeletal, ash-colored sparrow was perched. ¡°It¡­ It¡¯s your leader?¡± The spider woman widened her eyes in disbelief. Anjia nodded. Fang Hao was also sizing up the spider woman in front of him. [Spider Fateweaver (Rank 10)] Truth be told, Fang Hao didn¡¯t like spiders, especially their many legs and large abdomens. Although the woman in front of him had a pleasing appearance, the body of a spider still made him uncomfortable. What surprised Fang Hao was that this woman was actually a rank ten unit. If she participated in the Hero Trials, she could advance to a hero position. Noticing that Anjia didn¡¯t seem to be messing with her, the Spider Fateweaver turned her attention to the lame skeletal sparrow on Anjia¡¯s shoulder, slightly bowing, she said, ¡°My Lord, we meant no harm, we hope to conclude this conflict peacefully.¡± ¡°Are you the leader?¡± Fang Hao asked. Hearing the skeleton ash sparrow suddenly speak, the Spider Fateweaver showed a surprised face. One could clearly see her swallowing hard. ¡°Yes, yes, my Lord.¡± The Spider Fateweaver responded. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Domina, my Lord.¡± ¡°Good, Domina. My followers and I were passing through, but your people attacked us. How do you think we should resolve this?¡± Fang Hao asked sternly. Just when they arrived over the forest. Indeed, it was an anthropomorphic giant spider wielding a bow and arrow that launched the first attack on them. ¡°My Lord, this was a misunderstanding. Recently, a despicable pack of Gnolls attacked us, and my subordinates mistook your group for them in their nervousness,¡± Domina explained. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear the reasons. I want to hear how it¡¯s going to be handled.¡± ¡°We can offer compensation,¡± Domina quickly replied. The rank ten Bone Dragon had already surpassed their capabilities. Even Domina had only advanced to rank ten the previous year, and the ranks of the remaining members of her tribe weren¡¯t high. Most of them relied on the cover of the dense forest and their numerical superiority. However, when facing eleven rank ten Bone Dragons, which were aerial units. Their spider nest had become a target. They could do nothing but let themselves be attacked by the enemy, while their own webbing and arrows were as weak as stones thrown by a child. After more than half of her tribe died, she had no other choice. The only option left was to surrender, even if it meant paying a heavy price. ¡°I don¡¯t need your compensation, you only have one choice which is to surrender. I will continue to let you manage this forest, and also give you the opportunity to advance to a hero position,¡± Fang Hao directly shattered all her illusions. Domina tried to turn back and return to her swarm of spiders. However, Anjia was one step ahead of her by blocking her way back. Anjia¡¯s hands were already fitted with metal Tiger¡¯s Claws. ¡°You ¡­ ¡± Domina¡¯s face turned unsightly in an instant, staring at Fang Hao coldly, ¡°Are you robbers?¡± ¡°At least I, as a robber, am willing to give you a choice. So, make your choice.¡± The Bone Dragon slowly formed an encirclement, surrounding all the spiders. Under the passive skill [Dragon¡¯s Might], some spiders were paralyzed, falling to the ground and starting to twitch. Domina looked at everything in front of her, her face gloomy. After a moment of silence, she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I agree to submit. Let my people go.¡± ¡°Good, it¡¯s in both of our interests to go with the flow.¡± Fang Hao turned around and flew to the rear, ¡°Follow me, sign the contract and you can all go.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Arriving behind the line of Skeletons, Fang Hao deactivated his God¡¯s Presence state. Surrounded by the skeleton trolls, he found a blank Slave Contract in the Book of Lords. ¡°Just press a handprint,¡± said Fang Hao. Domina looked at the human surrounded tightly by the trolls and frowned, ¡°Who are you? I have to sign a contract with you, not your leader?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who was just speaking with you; it was merely a magic trick,¡± said Fang Hao, opening his palm. The grey sparrow that was a skeleton with one leg just now landed directly. Domina was now confused; she couldn¡¯t understand why Fang Hao and his group would suddenly appear. They were spotted by a Queen Giant Spider on guard and a battle broke out. She even felt a bit regret. She shouldn¡¯t have come out for any ceasefire negotiations. Now, the contract had to be signed whether she liked it or not. With a gloomy face, Domina pricked her finger and lightly pressed it onto the contract. Light merged into Domina¡¯s body, the contract was complete. [Domina¡¯s Current Loyalty: 43] Damn, only 43. Good thing I made the contract, otherwise, with normal submission, she would definitely have found a way to kill me. Soon after, another message from the affiliated villages came. [Webweaver Nest has voluntarily become your affiliated village. You can confirm in the Book of Lords.] Fang Hao promptly opened the Book of Lords. Chooses to confirm. [Webweaver Nest has become your affiliated village. You can rename the village ¡®here¡¯, and allocate all the resources within the village.] No need to rename, the name Webweaver does sound pretty good. How come this name seems more suitable for a garment shop than my own ¡®Bone Textile Store¡¯? Webweaver Nest Position is very close to the Mithril Mine. Once there, using it as the location for mining and storage of the Mithril Mine wouldn ¡®tbeabadidea. [Blueprint Unlocked: Queen Giant Spider Nest Construction Blueprint.] [Queen Giant Spider Nest: Wood 2200, HardWood 1500, Flexible Leather 850, Spider Silk 765, Rich Essence 1.] (Description: The sense of security brought by the nest can accelerate the reproduction speed of the Queen Giant Spider, constantly hatching spider babies.) Queen Giant Spider? Fang Hao glanced at the stern-faced Domina in front of him. Could it be referring to her? She¡¯s that fertile? ¡°Okay, are you satisfied now?¡± Domina said coldly. ¡°Alright, let your people go. Take me to your forest.¡± Only then did Fang Hao walk out from behind the trolls. He couldn¡¯t afford not to; at this moment, Fang Hao was genuinely vulnerable. If the hero died, he could resurrect him at the Hero Altar. If he died, then it was truly game over. So, out of necessity, he had to be cautious about everything he did. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re in charge here now.¡± Domina turned her head and started walking towards the forest on her sharply pointed legs. Fang Hao followed her, bringing his crew along, while also checking Domina¡¯s attributes. [Spider Fateweaver (Rank 10)] Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Chapter 285, Webweavers Camp_l Chapter 291: Chapter 285, Webweaver¡¯s Camp_l Translator: 549690339 [Spider Fateweaver (Level 10)] [Alignment: Spiderling Sprite] [Racial Traits: Living creatures, Sunlight Sensitivity, Spider Walk, Spiderling Spellcasting] [Skills: Multiple Attacks, Stepping Longsword, Venom Spray, Catastrophe Spell] [Innate Skills: Intermediate Combat Mastery, Intermediate Stealth Mastery, Intermediate Magic Mastery, Advanced Action Mastery] [Sunlight Sensitivity]: Under sunlight, this unit¡¯s attack is at a disadvantage, with all attributes reduced. [ Spider Walk]: This unit can climb on difficult terrains, including but not limited to ceilings, trees, cliffs, and other special terrains. [Spiderling Spellcasting]: The Spider Fateweaver is a natural spellcaster, capable of casting spells like[Venom Spray][Disaster Spell]without learning and mastering them, and possesses a strong ability to learn magic. [Multiple Attacks]: Being multi-legged gives this unit innate capabilities to initiate multiple attacks. [Stepping Longsword]: The tough steppers are comparable to the sharp longsword, causing piercing damage to the target unit. [Venom Spray]: Sprays venomous foam, causing venom damage to the units in front. [Disaster Spell]: Targets a maximum of five creatures, releasing the Disaster Spell, causing the target units to enter a weakened state, increasing damage taken by 20% when attacked. (Description: They were repelled by the ¡®living creatures,¡¯ driven into the depths of dark territories, becoming hermits and hunters, wandering alone or leading giant spiders near their dens.) Domina¡¯s attributes are quite decent. Even though she isn¡¯t a hero, she¡¯s not far from one in terms of attributes. Particularly the skill! Spiderling Spellcasting] ¨C she naturally knows two spells and has strong magic learning capabilities. When training her, one could lean more towards magic. But the[Multiple Attacks]and[Stepping Longsword]also give her decent melee capabilities, making her a good candidate as a melee mage. Fang Hao and the others returned from behind. Domina glanced at her worried clansmen and said, ¡°Alright, the matter is resolved. Everyone, return back to the dense forest, back to your posts.¡± Swish! The spiders and the Spiderling Sprites followed the command and returned directly into the dense forest. [Spiderling Archer (Level 5)]. [Spiderling Warrior (Level 4)]. [Giant Spider Hatchlings (Level 1)]. Fang Hao quickly scanned the names of several spider people around him. The levels of the spider people were basically at level 4 and level 5. After scanning several, he did not discover any that had broken through to level 6. And in the spider horde, the most abundant was the Giant Spider Hatchlings. As big as a washbasin, there were hundreds and thousands of them. It seems that a complete professional system and division of work have evolved here. Although they are called Spiderling Sprites, they were no different from a normal human city. They all belong to the command group, only differing in their appearances. Fang Hao and the others followed Domina into the dense forest along the main road. The environment of the Spider Forest was well preserved. Sunlight penetrated through the leaves, casting a warm orange glow. If it were not for the white spider webs covering the trees on either side, and the Giant Spider Hatchlings crawling on the web watching them. Perhaps it would be a good time to admire the natural scenery and enjoy the beauty of the forest. Continuing along the path. The position of the Webweaver¡¯s camp is now visible. A wooden wall five to six meters high, the top of which was a white dome woven by white spider webs. At this moment, countless Giant Spider Hatchlings were repairing the spider web that had just been torn open by the Dragon Breath. In front of the camp was a huge ancient tree. The trunk was as sturdy as a round table, and the canopy was lush. It was wrapped in white spider web, like a large cotton candy standing there. On the spider webs of the ancient tree, human-shaped prey wrapped in silk threads hung like white mummies, constantly writhing and struggling. It seemed they were still alive. Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. The scene before him was a tough one to forget. Monsters that hunt intelligent species, considering humans and orcs as reserves of food. ¡°What are these?¡± Domina glanced at the old tree. Her voice was still cold, ¡°Some gnolls who thought we were easy to bully. If it weren¡¯t for them, the nest wouldn¡¯t be on alert, nor would¡­¡± Domina didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but from the look she gave Fang Hao, he could understand her meaning. If it weren¡¯t for the alert state, the spider archers wouldn¡¯t have rashly shot arrows at the Bone Dragon, thus escalating the situation to what it was now. Fang Hao did not say much. He came here for the map. Even if the spider archers hadn¡¯t shot those arrows, this battle could not have been avoided. Moving his gaze away from the ¡®mummies¡¯ on the old tree, Fang Hao continued to follow Domina into the camp. Traces of death remained around the camp. Yet, the sight in front of them was still spectacular. White spider webs covered the entire camp, like suspension bridges linking all the different-sized spider nests together. The arrangement was neat and orderly, giving an aesthetic close to that of postmodern architecture. ¡°This place is beautiful,¡± Fang Hao commented. Domina did not respond and continued to lead the group forward. At the center of the camp was a house made of spider silk and wood, suspended in the air by white spider webs. Judging by its size, this should be the leader¡¯s hall. The group treaded on the path woven by spider webs and entered the house. The house was sturdy and didn¡¯t sway as imagined. There were no chairs. Domina just lowered her enormous body to the ground, her gaze toward Fang Hao and his companions. ¡°Enough, you¡¯ve seen this place, nowit¡¯s time you explained what you want,¡± Domina said coldly. ¡°Domina, you should understand your situation. A bit of basic respect will make things easier for you and your kin,¡± Fang Hao reminded lightly. Domina¡¯s attitude likely had to do with her low loyalty rating. But, Fang Hao felt he should remind her to recognize her situation. Being called by a proper title was a minor matter, but if she were to disobey his orders in the future or attempt some artifices, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill her. Then he¡¯d transform her into an obedient undead to continue working for him. ¡°Then, what should I call you?¡± Domina¡¯s expression changed subtly. ¡°Sir or, Lord would defuse our relationship considerably.¡± ¡°Alright, my lord. Now that you¡¯ve seen my place, could you tell me what you want us to do?¡± Domina said. She used honorifics, but her tone remained indifferent. ¡°Nothing much, I plan to develop a mine to the south and I¡¯ll need your assistance,¡± Fang Hao leaned leisurely back against the spider-silk wall, which didn¡¯t stick to him. ¡°Develop a mine? Where is it?¡± Domina expressed her surprise. ¡°The mine does exist. I can show it to you then. Will your kin be capable of developing it?¡± Fang Hao looked at Domina. The spider swarm was somewhat similar to Fang Hao¡¯s undead. Both had rapid methods of producing troops to gain an advantage. The difference was that the undead transformed Skeletons, while spiders relied on their mothers to reproduce. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Domina furrowed her brows. She turned to look at her own massive spider body and said, ¡°You want us to mine ore? That kind of work isn¡¯t suitable for us to do.¡± Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Chapter 287, Ransacking the Camp_l Chapter 293: Chapter 287, Ransacking the Camp_l Translator: 549690339 In the shouts of battle, the Gnolls launched their attack. They stretched out their battle line, lining up like a long, horizontal dragon. As long as they set aflame the forest, their mission would be complete. The fire would wipe out those damned spiders. As they drew closer to the dense forest, the Gnolls yelled in frenzied excitement. At a hundred meters distance from the forest, they could even see the tense figures of the spiders within. However, the attacking Gnolls suddenly felt a shadow fall over the sky. Looking up curiously, they saw several gigantic Bone Dragons blotting out the sky, swooping down towards them. Bone Dragons? The Gnolls rubbed their eyes. Were they seeing things? How could they see a pack of Bone Dragons flying towards them? When they opened their eyes again to confirm, they found that it wasn¡¯t a hallucination, but several Bone Dragons really were flying towards them. The Gnolls¡¯ roars changed from excitement to screams of terror. Roar!! The Bone Dragons swooped down, releasing a beam of black energy. The long, thin battle line became the Bone Dragons¡¯ target. The Dragon Breath of death swept across the battle line, turning the affected Gnolls into white skeletons amidst agonizing struggles. The Gnoll formations devolved into panic. Under the might of the Bone Dragons, the morale instantly plummeted. They outright dropped their weapons and scattered in all directions. After one round of Dragon Breath, the Bone Dragons couldn¡¯t unleash a second round. Yet, they swooped around to the rear of the Gnolls, blocking the Gnolls¡¯ escape route. Meanwhile. In the forest, Domina also received the order transmitted by the Skeleton Sparrow. She immediately led her troops out of the forest and slaughtered the fleeing Gnolls. On the Gnoll¡¯s rear. The four Gnolls carrying the palanquin had gone weak at the knees, and the Gnoll Clan Leader fell directly from the palanquin. Scrambling up awkwardly, he immediately tried to run in the opposite direction. He didn¡¯t understand why Bone Dragons would appear here and he didn¡¯t have time to ponder over it. His only thought now was to run, to run as far as he could. But the next moment, Bone Dragons fell from the sky, and several tall White Bone Warriors jumped down from them. They directly blocked the Gnoll¡¯s escape route. Spiderlings came killing from the front, while the Undead came from the rear. The Gnolls were truly caught between a rock and a hard place. The battle ended. In the battlefield, there were only two to three hundred Gnolls left. Their hands and feet were bound by white spider silk, kneeling down obediently on the ground. The captured Gnolls had looks full of terror and confusion. With their intelligence, they totally couldn¡¯t understand the current situation. Spiderlings, Orcs, Undead, all gathered together, and they were taking orders from a human. What on earth was going on? Why would these races be gathered together? ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill them?¡± Domina strode over, asking. As for these damned Gnolls, Domina wished she could kill them all on the spot. Or kept them as food for the Queen Giant Spider. Fang Hao glanced at her but didn¡¯t explain anything. His gaze fell on a Gnoll in the middle, who was wearing blue jeans and a golden watch on his wrist. ¡°Bring him over.¡± The Skeleton Troll stepped forward, picked up the Gnoll leader, and threw him in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Are you the leader?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Uh, no, not uh, not me.¡± The Gnoll hastily denied it. ¡°Not you? Alright, then kill him.¡± ¡°No, no, I am, I am the leader.¡± The Gnoll leader quickly corrected. Fang Hao gave a cold huff, warning, ¡°If you have any brains at all, don¡¯t try to play games with me. Or else, you know the consequences.¡± The Gnoll swallowed hard, then nodded, ¡°Yes, yes, I understand.¡± ¡°How many are left in your camp?¡± ¡°Over a hundred people.¡± This time, the Gnoll answered promptly. ¡°You¡¯re lying¡­.¡± ¡°No, no, it¡¯s true. We brought nearly everyone out this time deal with the spiders, leaving only a few behind to guard the camp,¡± the Gnoll said hastily. He was terrified that Fang Hao might kill him without listening to his explanation. Or worse yet, hand him over to those spiders, which would ensure an even more gruesome death. Fang Hao nodded, it didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. ¡°Where did you get the pants and the watch?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on the watch on its wrist. The golden metal watch strap should have fetched quite a price in the society of yore. The Gnoll glanced at its own pants, wiped the beads of sweat from its forehead, and said, ¡°I stole them from a human.¡± ¡°And the human?¡± ¡°You mean, that human?¡± The Gnoll swiveled his eyeballs, and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know, he ran away.¡± Fang Hao did not continue questioning. The chance for a human to escape after even his pants were stolen was slim. Considering the Gnolls¡¯ behaviour, the fate of the human was probably grim. Even now, transmigrators die every day from a variety of fates. Such events were no longer novel. What everyone needed to do was ensure that they had enough strength to survive. ¡°I need you to convince the remaining Gnolls to surrender, can you do this?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The Gnoll felt a bone-chilling fear as the human asked this calmly. Just now, when talking about the looted human belongings, he could clearly feel this human was contemplating killing him. ¡°Yes, yes I can.¡± The Gnoll nodded urgently, kowtowing on the ground. Fang Hao nodded and said in a low voice, ¡°Domina.¡± ¡°Sir.¡± Domina stepped forward. Her tone remained calm, but she addressed him respectfully now. ¡°Keep these Gnolls under guard, I want them alive, understand?¡± Fang Hao reminded. Domina¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, her expression somewhat hesitant. ¡°Did you understand my order!¡± ¡°Yes, sir, they will be safe,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, stood up from his stone seat, ¡°Bring him with us, to the Gnoll camp.¡± After the group mounted the Bone Dragon, the Skeleton Troll lifted the trembling Gnoll leader. The Bone Dragon shot into the sky, flying towards the Gnoll camp. Five minutes later. They arrived at the Gnoll¡¯s camp. It resembled a ramshackle refugee camp, yet its scale was still considerable. It fitted the potential size of a thousand Gnolls. The Bone Dragon landed in front of the camp. The Gnoll leader loudly shouted, ¡°Open the gate, we have guests.¡± The camp¡¯s gate opened and the Gnolls left behind peeked their heads out, puzzlingly looking at the towering undead beside their leader. Didn¡¯t the leader lead a team to clear out the spiders? Why did he come back with so many undead? ¡°Sir, please¡­.¡± the Gnoll leader groveled and flattered. He acted like a spinelessly loyal lackey. ¡°Have all your men come out and gather at the gate,¡± Fang Hao commanded. ¡°Ah? Oh!¡± The Gnoll leader began calling his tribe members to assemble outside. Very soon! The remaining Gnolls gathered outside the gate in tight bondage and were taken into guard. ¡°Anjia, take some people and raid the place. Take all valuables,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The Gnoll camp was like a refugee camp. It was unlikely they had many valuable things. ¡°Yay!¡± Anjia cheered, scurrying into the camp alongside Lorrey. The Skeleton Trolls began to knock down the shanties inside the camp. Leather and metal were carried out, along with various supplies that were piled up outside the gates. Meanwhile, Anjia and Lorrey came out carrying a silver treasure chest. Throwing it at Fang Hao¡¯s feet, they ran back into the camp to continue scavenging. Fang Hao opened it directly. [You¡¯ve acquired: a production Blueprint for the Black Iron Bone Cutter, a production Blueprint for the Black Iron Cage, 18 Beast Teeth stones, 75 Warfire Coins.] Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 289, Tavern Drunkard 1 Chapter 295: Chapter 289, Tavern Drunkard 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Approaching, the Gnoll leader was brought in. Domina pulled out the Slave Scroll and they signed the Slave Contract. The power of the contract bound them both. Domina¡¯s cold face softened, the Gnoll leader behaving even more obediently. He quietly kneeled, silent beside them. ¡°Alright, I will take you two to the mine now.¡± Fang Hao said, leading the way out of the nest. Domina and the Gnoll silently followed him. The Bone Dragon landed in front of the mine. Even though Domina has eight legs, she still staggered and trembled as she descended from the dragon¡¯s back. It took her a while to recover before she could barely stand up again. This is the mine I was talking about. You two will be responsible for the mining, maintaining both progress and output.¡± Fang Hao pointed ahead. Even though the mine entrance was blocked by stones, the outline could still be seen. ¡°Moving the workers won¡¯t be an issue, but we currently lack mining tools.¡± Domina said, her brow furrowed in concern. Spiderlings were not adept at making tools, let alone Gnolls. Squatting on the side, he was still not accustomed to the aftermath of flying high on the bone dragon. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about tools, I will prepare them for you. Once the area is developed, you can start mining right away.¡± ¡°Alright, I have no issues then.¡± Domina nodded. The plan discussed between the three was simple. The Mithril Mine would be developed, the Gnoll would be in charge of mining, and Domina would be responsible for safety and logistics. Having discussed everything and not being able to think of any additional issues, what came next was straight to the point. Fang Hao used the Book of Lords to produce the necessary mining tools. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, obtained 101 mining carts], [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, obtained 505 flatbed carts], [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, obtained 1010 White Steel Mining Picks]. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, obtained 1010 Mine Tracks], When the light faded, a large number of items appeared in front of everyone. Domina and the Gnoll, they looked as though they had seen ghosts, their faces displaying utter astonishment and their mouths wide open. To them, the tools that appeared out of thin air, was no less than a god¡¯s grace. And the quantity was so substantial. [Domina¡¯s loyalty towards you has increased by 10 points, current loyalty is 63.] Domina¡¯s loyalty has increased by 10 point. It has risen past 60. Returning to the Webweaver encampment, as the sun was about to set, night was approaching. Fang Hao, along with Anjia and the others, climbed onto the Bone Dragon, intending to return to his territory. ¡°Domina, I¡¯ll leave a Bone Dragon for you. Once you¡¯re done with the mine, ride the Bone Dragon to the main city for hero assessment.¡± Even if Domina was still somewhat cold towards him, The contract between them still existed, Domina could officially become a hero. It would be beneficial for both the territory and the guarding of the mine. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Domina¡¯s expression momentarily lit with excitement as she stepped forward to lay a hand on the Bone Dragon¡¯s body and looked up at Fang Hao, ¡°You, do you have a Merit Training Ground?¡± The matter of becoming a hero, had always been a concern for Domina. The long-lasting battle with the Gnolls this time was a consequence of transporting wealth to the Orc City. Knowing that Fang Hao had a Merit Training Ground, she felt a surge of excitement for a moment. ¡°Yes! When you come then, I¡¯ll arrange an assessment for you.¡± Thank you, sir.¡± After thanking him, Domina awkwardly said again, ¡°Sir, I do not have a Hero Heart.¡± I will prepare that for you. The same goes for your people, those who can attain the tenth rank can come to the main city for ascension.¡± Fang Hao looked at the other Spiderlings and said calmly. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Domina expressed her respect with a bow. [Domina¡¯s loyalty towards you has increased by 10 points, current loyalty is 73.] Domina¡¯s loyalty has once again increased. ¡°Alright, you guys go back to your duties, and make sure the mine starts operations within two days.¡± The tools needed for the mine, including bags for the ore and mine carts, have been made. All that¡¯s needed now is manpower to start mining. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± As everyone bowed, Fang Hao patted the neck of his Bone Dragon and soared into the sky, flying towards his territory. Meanwhile¡­ In Lyss City, inside a tavern. The moon was rising, and the tavern was at its most bustling. The tavern hall was filled with patrons, drinking beer and talking loudly about gossip and women. Bang! Suddenly, the tavern door was pushed open forcefully. The loud noise caused all the patrons to instinctively look over. Entering was a woman. The woman had broad shoulders and long limbs. Her wheat-colored skin was covered in a brown leather armor. After she rushed in, people thought that the woman was scantily clad. The patrons¡¯ eyes greedily swept over the woman¡¯s chest and the exposed midriff outside the armor. Even m the dim light, one could see the muscular lines of her abdomen and a half-exposed bear head tattoo on her waistline. This woman was different from the ones they usually encountered, emitting an aura of wildness. Gulp! The patrons swallowed their saliva. At this time, a woman coming to the tavern was not a wise decision, but it was enough to arouse the passion of the half-drunk patrons. Some wanted to tease her. But when the woman stepped over the threshold and revealed the dried blood on her chest armor and the long knife at her waist, all the men high in spirits immediately shut their mouths and returned their attention to their drinks and conversations. The woman walked in, followed by several burly men with unfriendly expressions. ¡°What will you have?¡± the owner asked. This was Lyss City, known for its good order. Most people who came here were to drink, not to cause trouble. ¡°Beer, and some side dishes,¡± the woman said. Alright, wait a moment,¡± said the owner, and began preparing food for them. The beer was brought up, and the woman took a sip before she asked in a low voice, ¡°Does the owner know somebody named Hodge? I have a message from a friend of his. They said he often comes here to drink.¡± As she spoke, she patted her backpack. Hearing the woman¡¯s words, the owner was slightly stunned. No one would believe such a claim, and Hodge was a known alcoholic here. If he had a friend, he would chatter about it for days. Considering their appearances, they seemed less like messengers and more like debt collectors looking for Hodge. ¡°Don¡¯t know him,¡± the owner replied tersely and moved on to his chores. The woman continued to drink, saying no more. Bang! As they were eating and drinking, something happened at an inward table. A chair was kicked over, and a staggering old head stood straight up on the table. He loudly boasted, ¡°Look here, this is the scar I got when I fought with a vampire, and it is also the most precious medal of my life.¡± The table was shaking, and the old man wavered on his feet, nearly falling down. ¡°Hodge, you¡¯ve had enough to drink today, go home,¡± another patron tried to persuade him. ¡°Why go home,¡± Hodge pushed away the person who was trying to help him and continued, ¡°Is there anyone else willing to buy a drink for the human hero, the great vampire hunter!¡± No one at the other tables paid any attention to him. No one else was willing to pay for his booze. ¡°Give him a drink, put it on my tab.¡± Suddenly, the woman at the counter spoke. Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Chapter 290, No Resentment Towards King Zhoul Chapter 296: Chapter 290, No Resentment Towards King Zhoul Translator: 549690339 The woman¡¯s words drew the attention of everyone in the tavern. The tavern owner sighed helplessly. The inevitable had happened. Old Hodge, upon hearing the woman¡¯s words, staggered over. He looked the woman¡¯s group up and down and casually settled down in a chair nearby, ¡°Last time, just the last time, it was in this spot, a guy with a fresh face, was fascinated by my adventures, and invited me for a few drinks.¡± ¡°Are you Hodge?¡± the woman asked directly. ¡°Burp! Everyone here knows me, the human hero, Hodge.¡± A beer was placed before Hodge. The tavern owner discreetly signaled him. But Hodge, his gaze never left the pint. When the beer was served, he gulped down a few mouthfuls. ¡°So, you really do have a blueprint for dealing with the Blood Clan?¡± the woman continued. Hodge, taken aback: ¡°Burp! Indeed I do. I remember the last bloke who sat here asked the same question.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal. I¡¯ll treat you to a few more drinks, and you pass me the blueprint,¡± proposed the woman. ¡°Deal, at least one more pint, no, five, no, at least ten.¡± The woman took out a wad of cash and tossed it on the counter, ¡°Ten pints for him.¡± It was clear to the tavern owner that this woman was no ordinary patron ¨C her clothing and demeanor suggested that she was not a mere mercenary. More likely, she was a bandit from the woods. ¡°Miss, he¡¯s an alcoholic who comes here every day boasting about this and that. Don¡¯t take him seriously. Here, take your money back,¡± replied the owner, pushing the cash back towards her. Worried that Hodge would start some trouble. ¡°Give him ten pints, use the remaining money for some bar snacks, salty ones,¡± the woman commanded in a deep voice. The owner, resigned, pocketed the money and brought Hodge ten pints of beer. Soon, the ten pints were gulped down by Old Hodge. As soon as the beer was down his gullet, the woman continued, ¡°According to the agreement, can you give me the blueprint now?¡± Burp! ¡°Hahaha, very well, but, but this time, I, I didn¡¯t bring it along. I¡¯ll give it to you the next time we meet.¡± Hodge said and staggered out of the tavern. The woman and her entourage exchanged glances. They followed closely behind and also exited the tavern. The owner shookhis head in resignation, ¡°It looks like poor Hodge has angered the wrong person.¡± When Fang Hao returned to his territory, the night had already enveloped the land. The Bone Dragon descended in the city, and Fang Hao leapt off its back. ¡°Send the bodies to the Skeleton Conversion Field, and carry all these gold and gemstones to the underground basement of the city lord¡¯s mansion,¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The Skeleton Trolls leapt off the dragon¡¯s back and went about their tasks according to Fang Hao¡¯s instructions. The bodies were those who had died in battle. Struck by the Bone Dragon¡¯s death breath, they had turned into white bones. They were actually quite easy to transport. There wasn¡¯t much hope for the Gnolls to be transformed into anything useful. The real question was whether any of the Spider Aberration had useful abilities after transformation. Upon returning to the City Lord¡¯s mansion, Eira came out to meet them. ¡°Master, was everything smooth today?¡± Eira asked with a smile. ¡°Yes, it was not only smooth but also quite rewarding.¡± Fang Hao smiled and sat down into the chair in the hall. The Skeleton Trolls carrying chests full of coins and gemstones came in. Eira looked surprised, ¡°Wow, there¡¯s so much.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Eira, is dinner ready?¡± Anjia rushed in. ¡°It will be ready shortly, please wait here.¡± After saying this, Eira went back into the kitchen to continue her preparation. Soon, a sumptuous dinner was served. Due to their late return, Lorrey missed the usual dinnertime with the maids. They all sat together at the dining room table. No sooner had they started eating than the two of them began recounting the day¡¯s adventures. Eira sat in the middle, between them, listening with keen interest. It seemed, they should bring Eira and the others out for a stroll sometime. Being cooped up in the territory all the time was dull. You could tell how much she loved the stories Anjia and Lorrey were telling. While the three of them were engrossed in their conversation, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to pass the time. He switched to the regional channel to see what everyone was chatting about. ¡°[BlackIron Single-handed Axe (Green),] a green-quality axe, a powerful weapon for combat. Those interested, make an offer.¡± ¡°The number of units proficient in single-handed axes is so few, yet you¡¯re selling it so expensively.¡± ¡°Unless there¡¯s a special unit, the normal ones using battle axes are just burdens. The attack speed is too slow.¡± ¡°The battle axe isn¡¯t selling, huh? Look at the pickaxe Fang Hao¡¯s been trying to sell for over a month, how many has he sold?¡± ¡°Damn, the way you talk, I¡¯m starting to lose confidence¡­maybe I should lower my price?¡± ¡°How much for the Black Iron Single-handed Axe? How many do you have?¡± Suddenly, someone voiced a question. Fang Hao recognized the man asking. It was Xu Yang, the man who had connected him with the troll business. ¡°4 units of iron or an equivalent amount of resources each. I have 12 in stock, if you need them, I can work overnight to make them for you.¡± ¡°Deal! Let¡¯s talk more in private.¡± Their conversation ended, likely continuing privately to discuss pricing. Xu Yang¡¯s intent to buy equipment gave Fang Hao pause for thought. He was subject to the trolls and acted more like a slave leader, mining resources for the trolls or assisting with other tasks. The trolls didn¡¯t even allow him to recruit troops. If Xu Yang is now buying these axes, he could be buying them for the trolls, or maybe something else is going on. The axe is quite similar to a lumberjack¡¯s axe, which is used to gather resources. Perhaps he plans to store some weapons, using their similar appearance as a front. If it¡¯s the second reason, something might have happened among the trolls. Or maybe the trolls¡¯ power is decreasing, giving Xu Yang a chance to strike back. With these thoughts, Fang Hao observed as the channel¡¯s chat continued. ¡°I cleared a bandit camp with some NPCs yesterday and got some equipment. They¡¯re already listed for sale, anyone interested can check it out. Very good prices!¡± ¡°Damn, you¡¯re clearing bandit camps now? The bandits in my territory still come down to collect protection money.¡± ¡°I also joined the natives¡¯ attack, I couldn¡¯t have done it alone.¡± As others continued their chat, Fang Hao closed his Book of Lords. After dinner, he comfortably soaked himself in a hot spring. The rejuvenating effect of the Rejuvenation Spring, eliminating all his fatigue. After returning to his room, he could enjoy a good night¡¯s sleep. He leaned back in the corner of the pool with his head resting on the edge, closing his eyes to rest. The sound of the door opening. Light footsteps approached him. F ang Hao opened his eyes and saw fox ¨C girl Little White walking in with a fruit platter in her hands. She sat down by the pool, carefully laying Fang Hao¡¯s head on her lap. She picked up a piece of fruit with her delicate fingers and led it to Fang Hao¡¯s mouth. In a gentle tone, she said, ¡°Master, I¡¯d like to discuss the hot pot restaurant¡¯s plan, so I can prepare accordingly.¡± The hot pot restaurant in Pruell City had been closed for several days. She knew that the owner of the tavern across the street had joined their territory. And she had already led her team to manage Lyss¡¯s shop. This sudden sense of urgency rose in Little White¡¯s heart. With his eyes closed, resting on her soft thigh, Fang Hao thought for a while before saying, ¡°You can return to Pruell City tomorrow, I will arrange accommodations for you in the city, and improve your living conditions.¡± Cyril and the followers of the city¡¯s elite, after taking Fielding¡¯s Sacred Blood, were all killed by Fang Hao. The numerous estates they left behind were at Fang Hao¡¯s disposal. This happened to be convenient for him to arrange accommodations for Little White and the rest. So they wouldn¡¯t have to stay at the shop all the time. ¡°Oh, thank you, Master.¡± Little White¡¯s face beamed with happiness as she fed another piece of fruit into Fang Hao¡¯s mouth. It seemed like Fang Hao had no intention of replacing her. He must have follow-up plans. ¡°Mm-hmm, Pruell is still too small. I plan on opening shops in various Orc cities after we resume operations. You¡¯ll be responsible for dealing with that,¡± Fang Hao mumbled as he chewed. The Orc area was not so chaotic after Fang Hao unified it. He planned to open hot pot restaurants in cities like Manim Market and Frostwind City, with high population mobility. Of course, this was just a preliminary idea. Whether Orcs would accept the taste of hot pot still needed market testing. In any case, Anjia, Eira, and the fox and bunny girls seemed to like it. ¡°Yes, master, I¡¯ll work hard.¡± Little White promised exuberantly. Her master still valued her, entrusting future business to her. Secretively, Little White glanced around before looking again at the resting Fang Hao. Her face turned red as she came closer. Fang Hao suddenly opened his eyes. Little White looked at him with a soft gaze, with a triumphant smile in her eyes, Sigh! Can one blame King Zhou? Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Chapter 291, Choosing Real Estate_1 Chapter 297: Chapter 291, Choosing Real Estate_1 Translator: 549690339 The next day, early in the morning. Fang Hao awoke from his sleep, looking at Little White who was still sound asleep beside him. He lightly moved his leg which was resting on his waist. He tapped lightly on Little White¡¯s hip twice, causing her to slowly open her eyes. ¡°Mtnm¡­¡± ¡°Time to wake up, we¡¯re going to Pruell City today.¡± Perhaps due to the closing of the store, Little White, who had taken a few days off in the territory, got up even later than Fang Hao. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Little White instantly woke up. She had actively sought out Fang Hao yesterday, asking him when he would reopen the store. Yet, she fell into a deep slumber today, sleeping even deeper than her master. She sat up and helped Fang Hao get dressed before putting on her coat. She opened the door, stealthily peeped her head out to check, and then quickly ran out. Fang Hao stretched leisurely. After a simple wash, he too left the room and went downstairs. Eira was preparing breakfast. She did not react unusually to Little White, who had just run down from upstairs. ¡°Good morning, Master,¡± Eira greeted him with a smile. Fang Hao yawned and gave a faint smile to Eira, who had a sweet smile. He thought for a while and said, ¡°Eira, keep breakfast simple and notify the maids that they will have the day off. I will take you all to Pruell City for a stroll and buy some things you like.¡± Pruell City had already become a subsidiary city of Fang Hao. It wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to take the maids out for a stroll and to relax a bit. Being cooped up on the grounds all the time, surrounded by undead creatures, he hoped they wouldn¡¯t develop any psychological problems. What if they became gradually distorted? ¡°Really? Can we all go?¡± Before Eira could answer, the two rabbit maids responsible for cleaning let out a gasp. They were very excited about Fang Hao¡¯s plan to take them out for fun. ¡°You can all go, but don¡¯t run around when we get there. If you get lost, there¡¯s no one to find you,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Yay! Thank you, Master!¡± The maids cheered. Eira also smiled faintly and said to the maids, ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t need to clean here. Go and spread the news, so everyone can get ready. We will depart after Master finishes his breakfast.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The maids happily rushed out of the lord¡¯s manor. After breakfast, Fang Hao manufactured 101 merchant wagons directly. Little White directed the skeletons to move the condiments and utensils from the warehouse onto the wagons. The other maids, under Eira¡¯s organization, put on their best clothes, waiting to head to Pruell City together. Fang Hao stood aside, watching Eira, Anjia, and others chatting. Soon, Little White had finished preparations on her side as well. All necessary items had been loaded into the wagons. She quickly walked over and said softly, ¡°Master, Sister Eira, everything here is ready. We can set off now.¡± ¡°Okay, get in the carriage.¡± Fang Hao greeted, and all the maids got on the wagons. The convoy then left the territory and headed towards Pruell City. Two hours later, The caravan arrived at Pruell City. The sudden appearance of several rabbit and fox girls, fair-skinned and adorable, caused quite a stir in the city. The maids, with Eira in the center, were excitedly shopping around. Residents gathered on both sides of the road, looking at these vibrant beast girls. For awhile, The maids were shopping at the front, and many followed behind to watch the bustle. Inside the city lord¡¯s mansion of Pruell City, Fang Hao sat on a beautifully carved wooden chair, with Anjia sitting next to him. Across from him was the current City Lord, Tawik, who used to be a well- known cloth merchant in the city. ¡°Sir, the city has now returned to normal, and the news of my appointment as the city lord has also been sent to the Federal Conference. I estimate that it won¡¯t take long for news to come back,¡± Tawik said. His lifelong wish had always been to expand the family¡¯s textile business. Unexpectedly, Fang Hao had directly placed him in the position of City Lord, shifting his responsibility from managing textile trade to governing an entire city. With his increasing understanding of Fang Hao, Tavek grew more and more in awe. It was certain that Fang Hao possessed powerful armies of humans, Orcs, and the Undead. Villagers returning from the Blood Clan even mentioned that their rescuing army included a large amount of Dragon-Type Troops. All this information made Tavek tremble inwardly, but he also felt blessed to have made friends with Fang Hao. ¡°As long as everything goes smoothly, it¡¯s good. I¡¯ve already arranged for our army to launch an attack on Crescent Heights. You need to strengthen the city¡¯s defense to prevent the desperate Blood Clan from taking any retaliatory actions,¡± Fang Hao said calmly, picking up a cup of fruit wine from the table. Fang Hao was quite satisfied with Tavek1 s efficiency. He had managed to present the collusion between the Blood Clan and Cyril as an ordinary change of power. He had also gained the trust of the other power holders in the city, who were supportive of him becoming the City Lord. ¡°Understood, I will immediately arrange to strengthen the number of city defenses,¡± Tawik assured him. After finishing his statement, Tavek gestured to his attendant who brought a small-scale sandbox model of Pruell City, showing the streets and buildings. Although it wasn¡¯t the kind that could be included in the Book of Lords, you could clearly tell the location of each building. Tavek continued, ¡°Sir, these are 12 vacant mansions in the city, how would you like to deal with them?¡± The source of these mansions was the houses left vacant after Fang Hao killed Cyril¡¯s followers. The owners were all the city¡¯s elite and their houses naturally stood out, deserving the label of mansions. ¡°This one looks pretty good,¡± Fang Hao pointed at a mansion near the City Lord¡¯s residence. This mansion had a courtyard and was sufficiently spacious to accommodate the maids. ¡°Great choice, sir. This mansion used to be the residence of the minister of internal affairs and is now vacant,¡± Tavek complimented. No wonder the house was so large. It used to belong to the minister of internal affairs. ¡°Fine, I will take this one and you can sell the rest,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Having obtained the keys to the mansion. Fang Hao and Tawik continued their conversation for a while before Fang Hao finally left the City Lord¡¯s residence. After leaving the City Lord¡¯s residence. Fang Hao went to the ¡®Scoop of Delight¡¯ shop and met up with Little White. The three of them proceeded to the newly acquired mansion. After passing through many streets, they arrived at the affluent district. The streets were cleaner here and the passersby were dressed much more elegantly. They reached the past residence of the minister of internal affairs. In front of the towering mansion¡¯s gates, Little White gaped at the sight. She knew Fang Hao was arranging a place for them to live, but she did not expect it to be so grand. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary affluent district. It was the center of power in Pruell City. A short distance further, one would arrive at the City Lord¡¯s residence. ¡°Mas¡­master, are we staying here?¡± Little White asked, visibly shocked. ¡°Yes the daily necessities inside should be complete. Later, you all can divide the rooms among yourselves.¡± Fang Hao took out the key, unlocked the door, and pushed it open to reveal the large courtyard inside. Fang Hao nodded in satisfaction. It was indeed a great place. Of course, it still couldn¡¯t compare to his City Lord¡¯s residence. Commencing his inspection, he entered the mansion and climbed the stairs. All the furniture was still in the mansion, Tavek seemed to have just evicted the mansion¡¯s inhabitants and didn¡¯t pillage the items within. ¡°Fang Hao, take a look at this.¡± In one of the rooms, Anjia called out to him. This room contained a desk and a bookshelf, seemingly the study room of the former minister of internal affairs. In Anjia¡¯s hand, she was holding a beautifully crafted curved sword. ¡°Let me see.¡± Fang Hao walked over. Anjia handed him the curved sword, and the weapon¡¯s attributes appeared as soon as it landed in Fang Hao¡¯ s hand. [Absolution Curve Sword (Purple)] [Type: One-Handed Sword] [Damage: Third-Order] (Description: A curve sword that has killed its former master. Rumour has it that anyone who possesses this weapon will suffer until death.) Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Chapter 292, Hero - Giant Wall_l Chapter 298: Chapter 292, Hero ¨C Giant Wall_l Translator: 549690339 Following the Swords of Absolution: the dagger, the rapier, and the longsword, this was the fourth Sword of Absolution. By its appearance, Fang Hao initially thought it was a saber. After seeing its attributes, he realized that the name was the Absolution Curve Sword. Fang Hao didn¡¯t have much knowledge about weapons. As far as he could see, there didn¡¯t seem to be much of a difference between a curve sword and a saber. ¡°Is this the one you were collecting?¡± Anjia asked from the side. She wasn¡¯t particularly interested in these crafts, but knowing that Fang Hao was looking for them, she helped to look out for them. ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t expect to find another one here.¡± He indeed hadn¡¯t expected the Minister of the Interior to have a Sword of Absolution in his collection. It seems that he should mention it to Tavek to keep an eye out too. If he could find more Absolution series weapons, it would be a good addition to his collection. He put the weapon away. Little White, blushing, came over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Master?¡± ¡°Nothing, thekey isforyou. You guyswill live here from now on.¡± Fang Hao said, tossing the key to Little White. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Around three or four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Fang Hao started the journey back with the maids. Along the way, the maids were still excited, discussing about shopping in Pruell City. Sharing the items they bought in town. Loaded with bundles, it was a wild consumerist sight. Probably, the shops in Pruell City were dumbfounded, not knowing where these naive yet wealthy women came from. The carriage drove into the city. Eira lightly clapped her hands, ¡°Alright, everyone should rest well tonight, we have to get back to work tomorrow.¡± The maids all stopped, softly responding, ¡°Yes, Sister Eira.¡± Upon his return to the lord¡¯s mansion, Fang Hao¡¯s steps slightly faltered. In front of the Lord¡¯s mansion, stood a tall skeleton giant. Even bigger than an ordinary giant, with long arms. [Giant Wall (Blue 7th Order Hero)]. As expected, it was another hero created by Nelson. When they were simultaneously fighting with Bloody Mountain Range and Cold Wind Mountain Range, they retrieved three hero corpses. A Giant, and two Orcs. The one in front was the second one made by Nelson, a Skeleton Giant Hero. ¡°I greet you, Lord, and I am ready to serve you.¡± The Skeleton Hero kneeled on one knee and lowered his forehead. Even kneeling down, his height was not much lesser than Fang Hao¡¯s. Named Giant Wall, it must be related to his height. ¡°Stand up, welcome to the team, Giant Wall!¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Thankyou, my Lord.¡± ¡°Well, retrieve your former equipment from the warehouse, then go to the barracks. You are now in charge of the Skeleton Giants.¡± ¡°As you command, my Lord.¡± Giant Wall nodded and walked towards the warehouse. Once Giant Wall left, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to confirm the loyalty level. [Giant Wall¡¯s loyalty to you has reached too], [Your minion, Giant Wall, has a loyalty to you of 100, free from experiencing any negative emotions such as deceit, betrayal and so on.] Loyalty is still at 100. Full level loyalty as soon as he was created. He continued to check Giant Wall¡¯s attributes. [Giant Wall (Blue 7th Order Hero)] [Allegiance: Undead] [Templates: Blue] [Racial Characteristics: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light], [Legion Talent: Iron Wall, Infantry Commander, Giant Troll Shield Formation]. [Skills: Fleshless Body, Multiple Attacks, Huge Club, Stone/Axe Throw], [Inherent Abilities: Intermediate Battle Mastery, Advanced Defense Mastery, Advanced Blunt Weapon Mastery, Advanced Shield Mastery], [Iron Wall]: The army led by this unit will have +15% Defense. [Infantry Commander]: When this unit commands infantry units, all attributes +5%. [Troll Shield Formation]: When this unit leads Troll form units (including trolls, transformed trolls, skeleton trolls), the army gains additional shield proficiency, with extra defense +5%. [Stone/Axe Throw]: When the ranged weapon is a stone or axe, increase range by +10%, accuracy by +9%, additionally, the stone inflicts blunt damage, and the flying axe inflicts + 5% damage to lifeless defensive equipment. (Description: A product of the Immortal Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead, this hero cannot level up or advance.) Pretty standard. Attributes aren¡¯t too outstanding, just seem to be an upgraded version of the skeleton troll. The most useful aspects are the hero¡¯s army skills, increasing the corresponding attributes when leading an army. In particular, there¡¯s the Troll Shield Formation skill. The troll units he leads can directly equip shields, forming a shield formation. Entered the Lord¡¯s Mansion, sat down in a chair. Felt a bit thirsty, subconsciously glanced around the empty hall. Recalled that he had given the maids a day off. Even Eira was outside with the other maids, sharing the items they bought today. Picked up a water cup, filled it with fruit wine from the cellar. When he came back, he found that the tailor, Soye, was already waiting in the hall. Next to Soye, on the table, was a piece of black, silky fabric. ¡°My Lord.¡± Soye stood up, slightly bowing in courtesy. ¡°Soye, what brings you here today?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile as he took a seat next to him. ¡°My lord, this is the newly made ¡®Nightfall¡¯ silk. I brought it for you to have a look.¡± Soye held up the piece of black silk and handed it to Fang Hao. Fang Hao took it. It felt silky smooth right away. The quality of this Nightfall silk is not inferior to Tavek¡¯s prized Holy Snow Silk. The delicate and smooth feeling of it is very comfortable to touch. However, what Fang Hao liked most was the subtle pearlescent light on the silk. It looked just like a dazzling starry sky at night. In Fang Hao¡¯s view, the expressive quality of Nightfall silk is even better than Holy Snow Silk. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous.¡± Fang Hao commented with praise. ¡°Surely, it¡¯s beautiful. The production of Nightfall silk will play a big role in your next plan to open a shop.¡± Soye said. Fang Hao had mentioned his plan to open a clothing store to Soye. In Lyss City, making a dress for the City Lord¡¯s wife was also a way to pave the way for the fabric store. ¡°Indeed, Soye, you arrange for mass production. The newly made Nightfall silk takes priority in making a set of black stockings. As for the size, just follow Mrs. Rebecca¡¯s measurements.¡± Fang Hao thought a bit before speaking. ¡°Such good silk, also for making stockings?¡± ¡°Make one set first, then make other things once mass production is underway.¡± Soye nodded, not saying much more. Even though he couldn¡¯t understand the purpose of stockings, they did achieve a good effect in Rebecca¡¯s custom-made dress. So, in his garment-making philosophy, he wouldn¡¯t be too stubborn. ¡°Okay, understood, my lord. I¡¯ll arrange the work when I get back. If there aren¡¯t enough hands, you¡¯ll need to recruit more workers.¡± Soye stood up and said in a low voice. ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao nodded. Soye bowed again, held the Nightfall silk in his arm, and left the room. After dinner. Fang Hao had a quick soak in the hot spring before returning to his room to rest. The night was quiet, and Fang Hao was sleeping deeply. ¡°Master¡­¡± Suddenly, a slight shaking came from his arm, and Fang Hao¡¯s eyes snapped open. In the moonlight, a figure was seen kneeling by the bed. Fang Hao instantly woke up, his heart pounding. ¡°Master, it¡¯s me, Eira.¡± Eira quickly said. Phew! Fang Hao let out a sigh of relief, speaking with displeasure, ¡°Eira, if you¡¯re going to come, come earlier. This time is a bit late.¡± Eira¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly. She glanced at Fang Hao¡¯s bare chest, explaining, ¡°Master, a guard has rushed over from Lyss, said following your instructions, he brought the blueprint for dealing with vampires. He is waiting in the hall.¡± ¡°What! The person has returned?¡± Fang Hao immediately got up. Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Chapter 293, Solid Silver Blueprint 1 Chapter 299: Chapter 293, Solid Silver Blueprint 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª The night was deep. In the Lord¡¯s Hall, a weary, weather-beaten swordsman sat. At that moment, frantic footsteps echoed up the staircase. Setting down his cup, the swordsman stood to wait. Seeing the Lord descending from the second floor, he bowed immediately, and saluted, ¡°Greetings, My Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve worked hard,¡± said Fang Hao softly. ¡°I dare not delay your plans, here is the blueprint I brought back.¡± The swordsman handed over the blueprint he held. Eira stepped forward to take it, passing it to Fang Hao. [Hard Silver Sand Blueprint] [Hard Silver Block Blueprint] [Hard Silver Arrows Blueprint (Green Rank)] [Hard Silver Single-handed Sword Blueprint (Green Rank)]. A total of four blueprints. [Hard Silver Sand (10): 1 Iron Block, 1 Silver Ore.] (Description: Increases hardness of silver through blending.) [Hard Silver Block: 1 Iron Block, 5 Hard Silver Sand, 2 Silver Ore.] (Description: A hard silver block, produced after numerous tedious steps.) [Hard Silver Arrows (10): 1 Tough Wood, 1 Iron, 1 Hard Silver Block.] (Description: Arrow mixed with ¡®silver¡¯, the arrowhead shines brightly but due to the softness of silver, it is not feasible for reusing.) [Hard Silver Single-handed Sword: 2 Iron Blocks, 2 Hard Silver Blocks, 1 Thick Leather.] (Description: A gorgeous silver single-handed sword, not suited for extended combat.) Two blueprints for materials, and two blueprints for weapons. Especially the hard silver block, it can surprisingly be produced. If the hard silver block also requires a forge for processing, even the upcoming battlefield would be over by now without much being made. Both weapon blueprints are green rank and are related to silver. However, given silver¡¯s softness, even after multiple hardening processes, it remains impractical for battlefield use according to the descriptions. If not for its special effect against the Blood Clan. Otherwise, weapons would not be made from such a metal, which is not durable and more expensive to produce than iron swords. ¡°Good, you have worked hard.¡± Fang Hao turned to Eira, ¡°Eira, find him a place to stay, let him rest in the fief for the night before returning.¡± The fief has many empty rooms, so there¡¯s no worry about accommodation. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Thankyou, My Lord,¡± Following Eira¡¯s departure, Fang Hao collected the blueprints he had received. It was already late at night, he could only wait until the next morning to begin production and deliver to Demitrija. Dawn! Fang Hao jolted awake from a drowsy slumber as the sound of a horn echoed in his ear. This was the signal of a received message from the Sound-transmitting Shell. Rolling over to look at the head of his bed, indeed, Demitrija had sent a message. As he held it to his ear, he heard Demitrija¡¯s voice. My Lord, the army has reached the border of Crescent Heights and has begun to set up camp. We plan to launch an attack on the Blood Clan tomorrow.¡± The message was brief but conveyed all the necessary information. Demitrija led the troops for two days and two nights. Since the undead army could march day and night, the progress was faster than a conventional army¡¯s marching speed. According to the original plan. After reaching the destination, Demitrija would first set up a camp. Then, using the camp as a base, he would launch an attack on the Blood Clan. The construction of the camp is also to facilitate the transportation of supplies. In this way, the army will not become isolated, forced to charge forward only. Fang Hao sat up, dressed, and immediately left the Lord¡¯s Mansion. The reception hall on the first floor. The maids had finished their day off yesterday and resumed work. But it could be seen that they were still in a good mood. Good morning, Master.¡± The maids smiled and greeted him. Hmm, good morning.¡± Just as Fang Hao was about to leave the Lord¡¯s Mansion, he stopped and said to one of the maids, ¡°Go fetch the Blood Hunter, tell him to meet me outside the fief.¡± ¡®Oh, alright.¡± The maid nodded and ran off to fetch the Blood Hunter. Outside the fief, on the open land. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and began to produce the blueprints he had acquired yesterday. First, he used the one hundred-fold increase feature to make [Hard Silver Sand] and [Hard Silver Block], After finishing the production of these two items, he continued with the production of Hard Silver Arrows and Hard Silver Single-handed Swords. [Hard Silver Arrows (10): 1 Tough Wood, 1 Iron, 1 Hard Silver Block.] Production Quantity 5000. [One Hundred-Fold Increase Triggered, Received 5050000.] 1 quantity equals 10 Hard Silver Arrows. With the effect of the one hundred-fold increase, the quantity of arrows reached 5 million. Crash! A dazzling light appeared, revealing a vast number of hard silver arrows scattered across the open land. Fang Hao picked up one. The arrowhead of the hard silver arrow was exceptionally bright, revealing delicate patterns. It looked much better than the ordinary black iron arrow. He waved over a team of skeletons to bundle up the scattered arrows. Fang Hao continued with the production of the hard silver single-handed swords. [One Hundred-Fold Increase triggered, received 101,000 Hard Silver Single- handed Swords.] A batch of swords again appeared before his eyes. Scattered messily on the ground. Whoosh! At that moment, the Blood Hunter swooped in, his giant bat wings allowed him to land from a distance. At the city gate, the newly-recruited hero, Bulwark also walked over. Seeing Bulwark¡¯s current attire, Fang Hao understood the origin of his name. Bulwark held a large iron shield in his hands. The height of the shield was about five to six meters, and it was three to four meters wide, just like half a city gate. ¡°My Lord, you wanted to see me?¡± The Blood Hunter looked at the equipment scattered all over the ground and asked quietly. ¡°Hmm, Demitrija has reached the border of Crescent Heights and established a temporary camp.¡± Fang Hao stepped out from the pile of equipment. ¡°My Lord, what do you mean?¡± ¡°You excel at leading flying troops, I plan to recruit another batch of air units for you to command. Together with Demitrija, take over Crescent Heights as soon as possible,¡± Fang Hao stated his intentions. A fief must always have a hero to guard it. Skeleton heroes were the best candidates for city defense. They lack personal emotions and put the benefits of the fief and Fang Hao first. Anjia was there to act as Fang Hao¡¯s personal bodyguard and would follow him around. And although Little You had also been promoted into a hero, she mostly did not appear during daytime hours and was not adept at commanding troops. Not to mention Nelson, Fang Hao felt like he hadn¡¯t seen him for a month now. He was afraid that the old man would collapse from overwork. Now, with the addition of Bulwark, the Blood Hunter could be sent to support Demitrija. Having one hero commanding so many troops, there would inevitably be some areas that are neglected. Alright, my lord, I understand. I will depart immediately once preparations are made,¡± The Blood Hunter immediately nodded in agreement. ¡°Hmm, you manage to tidy these arrows and single-handed swords, and then take them all with you when you leave. I will go recruit some flying soldiers.¡± Striding over the arrows scattered on the ground, Fang Hao went into the fief. ¡°Alright.¡± The Blood Hunter began to command the skeletons to continue cleaning up the equipment scattered all over the ground. It would take a long time to tidy so many arms. Fang Hao returned to the fief and went straight to the [Skeleton Transformation Field]. In the transformation field, only four types of flying troops had been unlocked so far. [Skeleton Sparrows (Tier 1)] [Ostrich Beasts (Tier 3)] [Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 5)] [Bone Dragon (Tier 10)]. Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Chapter 294: Imminent (Seeking Chapter 300: Chapter 294: Imminent (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions )_1 Translator: 549690339 The Skeleton Sparrow has no attack power. Fang Hao used to utilize it due to its small size and high compatibility for reconnaissance. [Ostrich Beast (Tier 3)]. This type of soldier appeared very suddenly. By the time Fang Hao discovered it, it had already been transformed into a skeleton troop. It looked like a combination of a chicken, ostrich, and a lizard. On receiving the command to attack, it would frantically flap its wings, run towards its target, and peck ferociously. It has wings but it can¡¯t fly. The only advantage is that it runs very fast and can cover a great distance in the blink of an eye. Fang Hao pondered for a while, where did it come from? In the end, considering the timing and the size, Fang Hao inferred that it was probably the food the Cyclops Troll cooked during the operation in the Mountain Fortress. It was brought back by the skeletons, and eventually, it was turned into the Ostrich Beast. However, neither the Skeleton Sparrow nor the Ostrich Beast was Fang Hao¡¯s target. He only wanted to recruit the Skeleton Giant Bat. The amount of Blood Stone in the warehouse was not much, only 127 stones. They were obtained from exploration and also from exchanges within the regional channel. [Skeleton Giant Bat Recruitment: 3 Wriggling Spines and 1 Blood Stone]. Recruiting quantity: 127. Confirm recruitment. [Hundred-fold magnification triggers, recruiting 12,827 Skeleton Giant Bats.] Over twelve thousand Skeleton Giant Bats landed on the open ground around. Their hollow eyes uniformly gazed at Fang Hao down below. ¡°Alright, standby outside the territory.¡± Whoosh! More than ten thousand zSkeleton Giant Bat, flapping their wings, flew outside the territory. After recruiting the Skeleton Giant Bats, Fang Hao returned to the outskirts of the city once again. As for the tier 10 Bone Dragon. Fang Hao would like to recruit it, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have any Dragon Crystals. Upon arriving outside the territory, a massive number of Skeleton Warriors were still bundling arrows. The quantity of arrows was too vast, even with a large number of skeletons, it would also take some time. ¡°Blood Hunter, it¡¯s up to you to arrange the Bone Dragons in the territory,¡± Fang Hao said. There were 70 Bone Dragons in the territory. The rest were stationed in the fortress and the affiliated cities. Looking at the number of arrows, it seems that even if the Bone Dragons transport them, it will require multiple trips. ¡°Alright, My Lord,¡± the Blood Hunter agreed upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words. Fang Hao stayed for a while as well, instructing the skeletons to sort out the scattered equipment all over the ground. When Blood Hunter left. It was already noon. Fang Hao looked at the sundial in front of the Lord¡¯s Castle, which was simply made from his own wooden stick and small round iron shield, and compared it with his wristwatch which showed 12 o¡¯clock. His method wasn¡¯t precise, and the sundial wasn¡¯t made standard. But these were good enough. He needed a rough estimate of time, more for timing purposes. After lunch. The maids prepared a fruit platter. Fang Hao and Eira chatted while eating. At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside. The skeleton merchant Doujin walked in. He bowed slightly, ¡°Good morning, Lord, Miss Eira, and Miss Anjia!¡± Despite being a skeleton, Doujin was a polite gentleman who greeted each person in the room. Eira immediately got up, greeted back with a smile, and left the room with the rest of the maids to attend to their chores. ¡°Sit, Doujin,¡± said Fang Hao. Doujin didn¡¯t sit down, but instead handed Fang Hao a blueprint. ¡°My lord, the order you placed previously has a seller now. This is the construction blueprint for the [Pottery Kiln],¡± Upon hearing Doujin¡¯s words, Fang Hao was delighted. What he was lacking to upgrade the Lord¡¯s Castle to level 8 was pottery. Once the Pottery Kiln was built, they could start producing pottery for the castle¡¯s upgrade. Fang Hao took the blueprint and stored it. ¡°Hmm, how has your business been recently?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Doujin sat down on a chair nearby, his walking stick placed upright in front of him, ¡°My lord, business has been very good recently, especially the large consumption of the Trolls¡¯ hatchet. In the past three days, we have sold 50,000 hatchets. When you have time, we need you to restock the inventory.¡± Hearing this, Fang Hao frowned slightly. The trolls are mass-purchasing weapons in a short period of time, it seems like there really is some trouble brewing there. I remember Xu Yang mentioning the potential for internal conflict among the trolls. Also, a couple of days ago, Xu Yang was buying battle axes on the regional channel. Now, it seems there¡¯s a high likelihood of chaos occurring in the troll regions. When that time comes, I should remind Black Thorn to be careful in the Blood Mountain range. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll restock from my warehouse when the time comes, don¡¯t worry about that,¡± said Fang Hao with a nod. ¡°Sir, if there¡¯s nothing else, I should head back.¡± ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡± After Doujin left, Fang Hao started to examine the blueprint for building a pottery kiln. ¡°Pottery Kiln: requires 2200 wood, 1800 stone, 800 stone bricks, 350 iron, 120 metallic accessories, and 1 Red Flame Essence.¡± (DescriptiomUsed for firing pottery in a building.) The construction materials required aren¡¯t high-end. Aside from the Red Flame Essence, the other materials are quite common. He leaves the lord¡¯s mansion and heads to the industrial zone on the outskirts of his territory. There, he has built a lumber factory, a stone processing plant, and a series of tanning racks. All raw material processing happens here. Fang Hao selects a location and starts building. Little by little, lights converge to form the shape of a pottery kiln. Twenty minutes later, a stone-brick pottery kiln is standing before him. ¡°Pottery kiln¡± ¡°Staff: 0/3¡± ¡°Rawmaterial: Clay¡± ¡°Produces: Pottery tiles, rough pottery cups, jars, and bowls.¡± (Description: Used for firing pottery in a building.) ¡°Upgrade prerequisite: Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle¡± ¡°Upgrade requires: 3200 hardwood, 3500 stones, 2200 stone bricks, 500 fine carved stones, 500 cast iron, 350 metallic parts, and 2 Red Flame Essences.¡± Looking at the introduction of the pottery kiln, Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows raised. There are quite a few products that it can produce. Apart from pottery tiles, there are also rough pottery cups, bowls, and jars. Currently, all the cups and bowls in his territory are made of wood. It would be a good idea to manufacture some pottery wares not only for his territory but also to send to the shops. With that in mind, Fang Hao constructed another four pottery kilns. He assigned the skeleton laborers to operate them. Four of them would be producing tiles, and the last one would be producing pottery utensils. In the afternoon, Fang Hao rode the Bone Dragon to the Pigmen Village, where he installed a white steel mine blueprint, mine rails, and mine carts for the mine there. Then he headed to the Bloody Fortress, where he talked to Black Thorn about the troll situation. He advised him to reinforce the defenses to prevent the trolls from stirring up trouble during this period. After he had finished everything. It gradually began to get dark. It felt like he hadn¡¯t done much in a day, but it was already this late. After a quick dinner, he headed for the hot springs. While in the hot springs. Fang Hao was resting his head on Eira¡¯s round and lovely thigh while enjoying the fruits that were occasionally popped in his mouth. Today, Anjia and Lorrey were out playing, so there was no swimming competition. The two of them had a rare quiet moment. While enjoying Eira¡¯s massage, Fang Hao checked the regional chat. ¡± I¡¯ve got women in my domain now, and things are going well, it¡¯ s just a matter of time.¡± ¡°Does the guy above have any physical defects? Why is it just a matter of time?¡± ¡°When the time comes, could you take a photo?¡± ¡°Gosh! I¡¯m envious, I have two women in my group of refugees, but they both have husbands.¡± ¡°As a lord, confiscating your daughters-in-law should be no problem, right?¡± ¡°Damn¡­ seems like there¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°For sale: [Forest Tri-corner Hat (Green)]. A green leather headpiece suitable for archers. If interested, place your bid.¡± ¡°I took a look, the hat the guy above is trying to sell is green. I bet you won¡¯t be able to sell it.¡± ¡°Green is actually quite clean, it¡¯s love that dirtied it.¡± Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Chapter 295, Attack on Radiant Moon_l Chapter 301: Chapter 295, Attack on Radiant Moon_l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Green was initially very clean, it got contaminated by love.¡± ¡°Damn, the dude upstairs sure is cultured.¡± ¡°[Forest Triangle Hat (Green)], only three left, those who are interested better act quick, only three left.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy, but let it be clear, it¡¯s for my troops, not for me.¡± ¡°Troop: I¡¯m, like, really grateful for you¡­¡± ¡°Anyone interested in this pretty good looking [Comaran Silver Dining Knife]? Its handle is adorned with intricate floral engravings. I¡¯m looking to trade it for 5 Soul Crystals.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind, mate? Apart from its appearance, it serves no purpose and you actually think of trading it for 5 Soul Crystals.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a collectible, an artifact, don¡¯t you get it?¡± ¡°Soul Crystals can be used to recruit troops and save lives, what can your fancy artifact do, help trim toenails?¡± ¡°I kind of agree, plus we don¡¯t live the Western lifestyle. We use chopsticks and you want to charge such a high price for a dining knife.¡± ¡°Will you sell that Silver Dining Knife for 1 Soul Crystal?¡± Suddenly, someone interjected. ¡°Deal, let¡¯s exchange.¡± ¡°What the hell! Someone was actually willing to buy it.¡± ¡°Indeed, there are so many rich guys in this channel.¡± Ding! While Fang Hao was idly browsing through the regional forum, he received a private message. He opened it to find a message from Deng Bin, the lord he gets his flax from. A large patch of flax-fields lies outside Deng Bin¡¯s fiefdom. When Fang Hao was buying flax, the two decided to cooperate, with Fang Hao trading resources for Deng Bin¡¯s flax. Their cooperation had been going pretty well until then. ¡°Is the great lord Fang Hao here? Just wanted to ask, is there a high demand for flax from your side?¡± Demand? Fang Hao was planning to set up a textiles shop and had also increased the number of Skeleton Tailors. One could say, the supply of flax was stable. But, why would Deng Bin suddenly ask him this? Does he plan to raise the price? Just as Fang Hao was about to hit send on his reply ¡®The demand for flax is average¡¯, he got another message from Deng Bin. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, I¡¯ve gotten into some trouble on my end. If your demand for flax is high, I¡¯d like to discuss a change in the way we trade it.¡± Getting this message, Fang Hao understood what Deng Bin was hinting at. He deleted his unfinished message and replied, ¡°What happened? Is there anything I can do to help?¡± ¡°Bandits have discovered my fiefdom and we¡¯ve already had a few skirmishes. I want to trade you flax for some equipment.¡± Deng Bin¡¯s fiefdom was in a good location. After trading flax with Fang Hao, his resources kept steadily increasing. He would exchange anything he needed with flax from Fang Hao. Sometimes, reselling those goods would earn him even more. But recently, a large group of bandits had stumbled upon his fiefdom. They had already had a few clashes which cost Deng Bin many lives. The bandits had now surrounded his castle, stopping his villagers from gathering resources. They were stuck in the castle, slowly eating away the food stored in the granary. After waiting for two days without the bandits showing any signs of leaving, Deng Bin decided it was worth a try. He¡¯d been buying a lot of soul crystals from the channel. His troop count was now up to 500. Once he gets some more equipment from Fang Hao, he was ready to take on the bandits. If he wins, he loses nothing and could even try to occupy the bandit camp. If he lost, he¡¯d be done for anyway, and the equipment and fiefdom wouldn¡¯t matter anymore. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the equipment in the channel?¡± asked Fang Hao. There were tens of thousands of pieces of equipment listed by Fang Hao in the regional channel. These were either his troops¡¯ old gear or repaired loot. Wasn¡¯t that enough for Deng Bin? ¡°Lord Fang Hao, that¡¯s what I wanted to talk about. I don¡¯t have many troops, so I absolutely need to have an advantage in equipment. So, I¡¯m looking to exchange flax for 500 high-quality pieces of equipment. I promise to sell you flax at half the previous price from now on, what do you think?¡± Maybe it was because they¡¯d chatted a lot. Deng Bin¡¯s this message was quite long. But he explained everything clearly. Since the bandits outnumbered him, in order to win, Deng Bin needed to have better equipment. That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t make use of the white and green equipment available in the channel. So, he thought of this method to try his luck with Fang Hao. Fang Hao didn¡¯t reply immediately. He was considering the equal exchange, and the possibility of buying flax at half the price from now on. If they could strike up a long-term partnership, Fang Hao was willing to part with the equipment. But Fang Hao was doubtful about the truth of Deng Bin¡¯s words. It¡¯s possible that for some reason, Deng Bin no longer wanted to work with him and was trying to trick him into giving his equipment for free. ¡°I can accept your terms. But how do I know I can trust your words?¡± Fang Hao replied bluntly. The other party fell silent. After several minutes, another message came in. ¡± [Image]This is me, we¡¯re in the same area, we¡¯ll inevitably meet, if I deceive you, you can kill me when we meet next time.¡± Fang Hao clicked on the image. It was a photograph taken from the Book of Lords. Standing beneath a torch was a person, short fair hair in a short-sleeved shirt, their exposed left arm marked with colorful tattoos. Even though they were dressed neutrally, one could still tell it was a woman. It seemed that she was not someone one could mess with even before crossing the worlds. ¡°Tell me what kind of equipment you need, in detail, so that I can send it to you.¡± The other party stated that they could be killed if they were dishonest. What else could he say? ¡°Alright, thankyou, boss, I¡¯ll remember this favor. 500 sets of armor, 300 spears, bows and arrows¡­¡± As Deng Bin spoke, Fang Hao set up an offer trade with the equipment she required. The transaction was completed quickly, and Fang Hao received a lot of flax. As agreed, the price of any flax sold by Deng Bin in the future would decrease by 50%. Provided she survived. To Fang Hao, it was a favorable deal. The next day. Finishing his morning workout, Fang Hao saw that it was already past 8 a.m. Pulling Anjia from under the covers in the bedroom, they went downstairs for breakfast. Having finished breakfast. He took Anjia and headed towards the Frostwind Mountains. The Bone Dragon landed in Frostwind City. ¡°Lord.¡± The Skeleton hero, Skullcrusher, and the Orc Shaman, Clyde, came out to greet them. ¡°Hmm, Skullcrusher, take me around the mines.¡± Fang Hao was still sitting atop the Bone Dragon. The purpose of Fang Hao¡¯s visit to the Frostwind Mountains today was to replace some equipment in the various mines. In addition to the white steel mining drafts, minecarts and railways have also been made to increase the efficiency of the mines. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Skullcrusher got on the Bone Dragon and pointed out a mine. The Bone Dragon soared into the sky, heading in the given direction. They began creating minecarts and railways one mine at a time. On the other hand. The border of the Crescent Heights, where the Undead had recently established a massive camp. A 700,000-strong Undead army was already ready for departure, and the Orc messengers were already scattered among the ranks. ¡°Commander Demitrija, the army is ready and can depart at any time.¡± The Blood Hunter landed beside Demitrija and spoke softly. Demitrija looked up at the sky, and then at the thick fog within Crescent Heights. Crescent Heights was shrouded in clouds and fog all year round. Even during the day, the sunlight was dim under the cover of the clouds and fog. ¡°Depart.¡± Demitrija ordered. The signal flags were raised high, and the large troops set off. Stepping into the fog, the road was relatively smooth. The dense fog made the environment somewhat damp. The tree trunks were covered in fungus, like tumours growing after an illness. The rocks were also covered in green moss. As they delved deeper, Demitrija became aware of a problem. The fog was getting thicker, and the farther they went, the harder it was to distinguish directions. He needed a guide. A guide who was familiar with the local terrain. Rustle!! Suddenly, the sound of rustling leaves came from the shrubs ahead. The next second. A figure jumped out from the shrubs. Barely had they steadied themselves when they saw the Undead army staring at them. After standing dumbfounded for a couple of seconds, they immediately turned around and fled. ¡°Catch him!¡± Commanded Demitrija nonchalantly. Whoosh!! The Blood Hunter spread his bat wings and shot out in an instant. He pushed the fleeing individual to the ground, and with a dagger, he pried open the person¡¯s mouth, inspecting their teeth. Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 296, Kong Yong _1 Chapter 302: Chapter 296, Kong Yong _1 Translator: 549690339 Two hours ago. Crescent Heights, Burnes Village number four. The management system of Crescent Heights differs from the outside world. Every Blood Clan member is responsible for their own village. The villagers are more like slaves raised by the Blood Clan, having to complete assigned tasks and pay blood-tax on time. If other Blood Clan members cross the boundary to seize population or collect blood they are not entitled to, this could lead to conflict. Burnes Village number four. This is the fourth village managed by Blood Clan member ¡®Burnes1. Inside a simple dwelling. ¡°Captain, this girl won¡¯t last much longer.¡± says a pale-blooded individual wearing a heavy hood. In front of the pale-blood, lies a pale, thin girl. She is in a deep coma due to excessive bleeding. But the pale-blood continues to draw blood, letting fresh red blood fill the containers. The pale-blood referred to as the captain looks up at the unconscious girl. He then glances to the side where two withered corpses lie. These were the girl¡¯s parents, who had also had their blood forcibly drained until they died. The captain just looks at them, and calmly says, ¡°Since she¡¯s like this anyway, just drain her until she dies. The castle needs corpses. We can send her there when the time comes.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do as the captain says.¡± says the pale-blood, as he continues to draw blood from the girl. BANG! Just then. The door is forcefully swung open, and a young man bursts in. He glances at the two corpses on the floor. His gaze then lands on the two pale-blood and the unconscious girl. ¡°Kong Yong, have you had enough of your life, don¡¯t you see we¡¯re working here?¡± The pale-blood are the Blood Clan¡¯s guard dogs and the enforcers of Crescent Heights. Nobody here would dare to provoke them. ¡°Sir, if we keep drawing, she will die. I will make up for whatever is missing.¡± says Kong Yong, rolling up his sleeve. ¡°Get lost! Your turn will come soon.¡± The pale-blood curses, before resuming his work. At the sound of the curse, Kong Yong¡¯s gaze narrows. He gives a signal to one of his remaining militia members while silently drawing the silver dinner knife concealed at his waist. The dinner knife had been sharpened to a sharp point, razor-edged. In the next second, he leaps at the captain, covering his mouth. The dinner knife pierces his neck. The silver dinner knife cuts through the skin, causing the Pale-blood¡¯s neck to swell and rupture. Kong Yong stabs again and again, turning the pale-blood captain¡¯s neck into a bloody mess. On the side, the militiaman is already engaged in a brawl with another pale-blood. Kong Yong quickly steps forward. He stabs the dinner knife into the pale-blood¡¯s heart. Both pale-bloods are dead, the room reeking of thick blood. Luckily, the village houses are separate, so they wouldn¡¯t attract other pale-bloods for now. Kong Yong, out of breath, hears the rustling noises outside the door. He takes a deep breath and says, ¡°You clean up here, I¡¯ll go explain to the villagers. We must leave before dark.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Walking outside, a number of villagers have already gathered. They look pale and quite perturbed as they watch Kong Yong. The village is small, with not many inhabitants. A lot of them must have heard the screams of the pale-blood just now. ¡°Everyone listen to me. This time, the Blood Clan wants to reduce the number of villages. They plan to drain everyone¡¯s blood and kill us all. Maji¡¯s parents are already dead in the house, you all can go in and see.¡± Kong Yong sits down and starts to speak. None of the people below actually go to check, they just stand there in silence. Kong Yong continues, ¡°I have already found a way out. Before dark is our only chance. Everyone, follow me and we¡¯ll go live in the city of humans.¡± ¡°Can we really get out?¡± a villager asks. ¡°Yes, I wouldn¡¯t joke about my own life. Everyone, goback and pack your things. I¡¯ll go confirm the route again, and come back at noon to lead you all out.¡± Kong Yong¡¯s gaze hardens and he warns in a cold voice, ¡°Please watch each other. If anyone snitches to the Blood Clan, none of us will make it.¡± The villagers hesitate for a moment. But he still didn¡¯t have any other options, so he could only agree and nod his head. Kong Yong slung his backpack over his shoulders, opened the large map in the Book of Lords and started walking towards the border. He pressed onward. He could feel the mist becoming increasingly thin. He should be nearing the edge now. Thinking about finally leaving this damned place, his steps lightened considerably. He dutifully leaped over the shrub in front of him, covering great distance in one single jump. However! As soon as he landed, the color drained from Kong Yong¡¯s face. A dense force of white bone soldiers had blocked his way. What the damn hell was happening? He instantly turned around and started running. But after only two steps, a formidable force knocked him down. A chilling dagger pried his mouth open and a bony finger started probing his teeth. ¡°Human, and not a thin-blooded one either.¡± The Blood Hunter casually tossed Kong Yong in front of Demitrija. The disoriented human on the ground was in his twenties and had been thrown around mercilessly by the Blood Hunter. Demitrija looked at the human on the ground and said: ¡°I ask, you answer. If you answer well, I will let you live.¡± The sight of a Lizardman slightly startled the human, causing him to take two steps back. However, compared to the seemingly infinite army of white bones, a single Lizardman wasn¡¯t so terrifying. The human nodded, indicating that he understood. ¡°What is your name?¡± Demitrija asked. ¡°Kong Yong.¡± While answering, Kong Yong¡¯s pupils suddenly constricted. [Ancient Blade ¨C Demitrija (Orange Tier 8 Hero)] And the Bat Wing Skeleton that had been probing his teeth was also a hero. [Blood Hunter (Blue Tier 5)] What the hell was going on? He had only seen green hero templates shared in the district channel before. But now, two heroes had appeared at once. And the Lizardman leading them was an orange tier hero. ¡°Alright, Kong Yong, why are you here?¡± Demitrija continued to interrogate. Kong Yong carefully assessed his chances of escaping, before honestly answering: ¡°I am trying to escape this mist.¡± ¡°So, you live here?¡± ¡°Yes, I live in a nearby village. The Blood Clan recently increased the blood tax, and many villagers have already died from excessive bloodletting. I am hoping to find a way out,¡± Kong Yong explained. To the transmigrators, who were more adaptable in their mindset, The Blood Clans who sucked human blood, seemed a lot less fearsome compared to these Lizardmen and undead. ¡°Good! Kong Yong, I can sense your bravery. If you were born in a human city, you would have been a righteous warrior, or perhaps even a hero,¡± Demitrija said. Kong Yong furrowed his eyebrows at the sudden praise from the Lizardman. ¡°Kong Yong, we need a guide right now, someone who can show us the way.¡±, said Demitrija before Kong Yong could say anything. Kong Yong, who had just stood up, lost his balance upon hearing the words. A skeleton immediately supported his arms from behind. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± Swallowing his saliva, Kong Yong asked quietly, ¡°Are you looking to cause trouble for the Blood Clan?¡± ¡°Yes, a lot of trouble.¡± Kong Yong remained silent for a moment before raising his head, ¡°Fine. I can guide you. But first, help me rescue the villagers. Once darkness falls, the Blood Clan will kill them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s acceptable. With you here, we can distinguish between villagers and blood slaves.¡± After glancing around, Kong Yong hesitated before asking, ¡°Could I have a sword, just for self-defense?¡± Demitrija handed him a gleaming silver one-handed sword. The continuous bloodletting had kept Kong Yong weak for a long time. The weight of the sword felt like a burden in his hand. ¡°Alright, Kong Yong, now show me where your village is and where the Blood Clan is located.¡± Kong Yong nodded and pointed in the direction. Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Chapter 297, Flourishing Branches and Leavesl Chapter 303: Chapter 297, Flourishing Branches and Leavesl Translator: 549690339 With Kong Yong as the guide, they quickly bypassed dangerous terrain, accelerating their journey. About ten minutes later, the army halted in the woods on the west side of the village. ¡°My lord, that is the village I told you about. The ancient castle behind it is the residence of the Blood Clan¡¯s Burnes, it¡¯s guarded by the Dhampirs,¡± Kong Yong explained. Ahead was a small village. And beyond the village, a castle¡¯s silhouette could be seen through the fog. If the Blood Hunter still retained memories from the past, he would find this castle identical to his own Shadowwind Castle in its architectural style. The situation in the village was dire. Someone had leaked information to the Dhampirs. Now all villagers had been gathered at the central area of the village. On the ground, two bodies lay. One of the corpses was the only surviving militiaman who had followed Kong Yong when he abandoned his territory. Seeing this scene, Kong Yong clenched his fists, an unquenchable anger burning within. The man who vowed to slaughter the Dhampirs and rescue the villagers from the vampires was teary-eyed. Even though he had witnessed so many deaths, he still couldn¡¯t come to terms with this reality. Demitrija glanced at Kong Yong, ¡°Do you know the person on the ground?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kong Yong gritted his teeth. Without saying much, Demitrija immediately ordered, ¡°Bolton, lead your men to rescue the villagers. The rest will storm the Blood Clan¡¯s castle ahead.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone acknowledged. The undead army rolled out of the forest, barreling towards the castle. Bolton led his small undead squad to surround the village and rescue the villagers. The Blood Hunter unfurled his bat wings, leading a swarm of Skeleton Giant Bats into the sky, charging forward. With the help of the Dark Deception skill, he navigated through the thick fog. Arriving over the castle, he swooped down. The blade in the Blood Hunter¡¯s hand swung out, instantly slaying two Dhampirs. The Skeleton Giant Bats following closely behind swarmed like a plague. They enveloped all Dhampirs around the castle. When they dispersed again, all that was left of the Dhampirs were their picked- clean, bone-white skeletons scattered on the ground. The battle was over in a flash. Hundreds of Dhampirs were wiped out cleanly. Demitrija and his troops arrived. They walked straight into the castle, ascending to the third floor via the staircase. The third floor¡¯s bedroom was dimly lit. The windows were sealed shut with thick curtains. In the middle of the room, there was an exquisitely designed corpse-raising coffin. The coffin lid was tightly closed. It seemed the soundproofing here was excellent. Despite hundreds of Dhampirs being killed outside, ¡®Burnes¡¯ inside remained undisturbed, still resting. Demitrija gestured. Two Barren Tomb Guards stepped forward, one on each side of the coffin lid. With a simultaneous exertion of force, the coffin lid was prized open. The moment the vampire inside opened his eyes, swish! Demitrija¡¯s sword came slashing down. The vampire¡¯s head and half of the coffin fell, rolling into a corner. ¡°Move the body out,¡± Demitrija ordered as he sheathed his longsword and walked downstairs. Vampires possessed a strong vitality. Despite decapitation, it wasn¡¯t dead yet. It stretched out its arms, flailing and thrashing around. A Skeleton Warrior next to it drew its argent short sword from its waist, hacking at the squirming body several times. Only then did it slowly quiet down. Outside the castle, the rescued villagers were gathered in an open area. When they saw the two coffin halves being carried out, along with the casually held head of ¡®Burnes¡¯ by a skeleton, everyone¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief and fear. The vampire was dead. They had never thought that even a vampire could be killed. Demitrija looked at the chaotic and sickening crowd below, ¡°Bolton.¡± Bolton immediately rushed forward, ¡°Lord Demitrija.¡± ¡°Guide these villagers out and set up a camp for them at the back of our base, anyone who dares to try to leave or send word to the Blood Clan will be executed on the spot,¡± Demitrija loudly declared. Upon hearing the words ¡®executed on the spot¡¯, the already frightened villagers began to tremble even more. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Bolton took the order and began to lead the villagers away. The villagers left. Demitrija did not plan to halt his troops either. In the combat strategy, he and Fang Hao had a fixed time arrangement. ¡°Kong Yong, you did a great job this time.¡± Demitrija praised him openly. Kong Yong had already calmed his emotions, the death of Burnes and the Blood Feeders were considered as a revenge for his militia. ¡°Thank you, my lord. I know of few other locations of Blood Clan¡¯s castles, I could lead you there.¡± Kong Yong had never thought that killing the Blood Clan could be this simple. The undead army he guided had, in the blink of an eye, killed the mighty Burnes. It was as simple as killing a chicken. ¡°No rush!¡± Demitrija shook his head and continued, ¡°The extermination of the Blood Clan is not the priority right now. I need you to guide me to somewhere else.¡± ¡°Sir, I might have limited knowledge, but I can definitely guide you anywhere I¡¯m familiar with,¡± Kong Yong reassured him. ¡°Tanho Lake!¡± Upon hearing the name, Kong Yong momentarily froze. The Book of Lord¡¯s map did not include Tanho Lake, but he knew of its location. Because it was a place strictly prohibited by the Blood Clan. Anyone who approached it, none have returned alive. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Demitrija noticed the tension in Kong Yong¡¯s expression. ¡°My lord, that place is a land of death. The Blood Clan has strictly forbidden anyone from approaching it. Everyone who has ventured in has died,¡± Kong Yong explained, his voice trembling a bit. ¡°Are there Blood Clan soldiers there?¡± Tanho Lake, as a vital part of the ¡®beating heart¡¯ mission. It was quite reasonable that the Red Duke had stationed heavy troops there. If nothing was there, it would indeed be worrisome about the authenticity of the intelligence. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Nobody who got close came back alive,¡± Kong Yong replied. Demitrija nodded. He firmly said, ¡°Show me the way. When we get there, you can stay at the back of the troop.¡± Kong Yong took a deep breath and pointed out a direction. The undead army continued to march forward. The undead army steamrolled everything in their path. The ancient castles they encountered along the way were conveniently raided by the undead, eliminating all the Blood Clan and the Blood Feeders inside. After approximately twenty minutes of travel. The army finally arrived at their designated location. The fog was growing thicker, and the dampness in the air had started causing the accompanying orcs to cough violently. The dim light could no longer penetrate the dense fog, as if it was already deep into the night. Ahead was a thick forest, through the gaps in the trees, one could see the rippling surface of a lake. There was no sign of any enemies, and there were no traces of any wildlife. ¡°Is the fog always so dense here?¡± Demitrija asked. ¡°Yes, when you enter this place, it¡¯s hard to tell day from night.¡± Kong Yong answered. Looking at enormous trees ahead, through the dense branches and leaves, there lay the murky sky above. As if being engulfed in the gloom, a feeling of danger surged in their hearts. ¡°The signal flares!¡± Demitrija demanded sternly. Someone in the back of the team ignited a signal flare. Whoosh! The signal flare exploded in the air, casting an orange glow illuminating the surroundings. The next second. Two bright red dots suddenly lit up among the dense branches and leaves. Four, six¡­ Countless red dots appeared, filling the entire forest, all looking at the intruding undead army. The fleeting light also allowed everyone to see the situation ahead clearly. This wasn¡¯t a lush vegetation. Instead, gigantic bats hung all over the barren trees. ¡°Bats, archers get ready.¡± Whoosh! A rustling sound came from ahead, fluttering wings of hanging bats began to take flight, leaving only tall dead trees in what was once a lush forest. Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 299, Little Yous Mission_l Chapter 305: Chapter 299, Little You¡¯s Mission_l Translator: 549690339 At the eerie bottom of the lake, the glow of the Nightstone gradually dimmed. An image of a young girl on the iron coffin seemed all too lifelike. This made the atmosphere even more bizarre and terrifying. Demitrija, along with the Barren Tomb Guard, swam forward to inspect. There were no more threats. The iron coffin stood erect at the bottom of the lake, its base connected with four metal chains. The chains secured the coffin to the boulders around it. To take the coffin out, the chains had to be broken. Red Duke had really gone to great lengths to prevent this coffin from being taken away. Leaving aside the forces he placed outside, the depth of the lake alone was enough to prevent most living creatures from approaching the iron coffin. The intelligent races of Crescent Heights were mostly humans and orcs. Even heroes would have a hard time reaching such a depth and trying to salvage the heavy iron coffin with their physical strength. Unfortunately, Red Duke underestimated one thing. He did not take into account the appearance of the transmigrators and Fang Hao¡¯s undead faction. Even without Demitrija¡¯s involvement, it was only a matter of time before Fang Hao could salvage the iron coffin from the depth of the lake. Demitrija tugged at the heavy metal chains, unsheathing the long blade at his waist and swung at the chains. Clang, clang, clang!! The four chains snapped as ordered, and the surface of the lake was disturbed by the resulting waves. Soon enough, Demitrija came back up to the surface. ¡°How was it?¡± Blood Hunter, who had moved forward, asked. ¡°Prepare the ropes down there.¡± Ropes were thrown into the lake one after another. Demitrija picked up one end and sunk back into the lake. He tied up the iron coffin and the bodies of the four enormous fishes with the ropes. On the lakeshore, Dozens of ropes penetrated the surface of the lake, with skeleton warriors waiting for the final signal. When Blood Hunter saw the signal conveyed by the ropes, he ordered the ropes to be pulled. Under the combined efforts of thousands of skeleton warriors, the heavy, two- meter-high iron coffin was gradually hauled out of the water. They dragged it to the lakeshore, leaving a trail of wet mud. Demitrija quickly followed it out of the lake/> He glanced at the scene and ordered, ¡°Fall in, return to camp.¡± The skeletons lifted the iron coffin and the four huge fish, and the army began to retreat the same way they came. On the way, the corpses of the dead bats were collected, and all the corpses and valuable items in the looted castles were taken away. The army left the mist and returned directly to the camp. At 6 pm, Fang Hao and Anjia returned to the main city. They had spent the entire day in the Frostwind Mountains, creating production tools for the various mines. Fortunately, they had Bone Dragon to serve as their mount, otherwise, it would have been difficult to complete the journey across the treacherous mountain terrain even in five full days. Upon returning to the city lord¡¯s hall, the maid served fruit wine. Sitting in the chair, he let out a deep breath. But as soon as he had sat down, Little You quietly stepped into the city lord¡¯s mansion. She slightly bent her legs, lifted her long skirt, and curtsied slightly, ¡°My Lord.¡± Two days ago, when Fang Hao got the Absolution Curve Sword, he went to give it to Little You but found that she was not in her room. So, he left the curved sword on the tea table in her living room. It seemed that she had come back and found the curved sword. As expected, the Disaster Song-Hilda (Green Tier 4 Hero). Little You¡¯s rank had indeed risen from Level 2 to Tier 4. For other heroes, leveling up is quite difficult, but for Little You, it¡¯s as simple as drinking water. As long as she acquires a weapon from the Absolution series, she can level up. This method of leveling up, however, seems somewhat unscientific. ¡°Hmm, I didn¡¯t see you the day before yesterday,¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. Little You rarely leaves her room on usual days. Fang Hao always thought she was hiding in her room and didn¡¯t want to come out. It wasn¡¯t until the day before yesterday that he found out that Little You was actually not at home. ¡°My Lord, I had gone to a few orc villages in the north. It was nice there, and I made a few friends,¡± Little You sat down and answered nonchalantly. Little You¡¯s image has become very close to that of a living creature. A pretty girl, especially in her manners and behavior, she resembles an elegant noblewoman. Her property is, however, still marked as undead. It seems her recent trips to the orc villages have been successful. She even made a few friends. Although the undead lack emotions, her willingness to make friends and interact with others is not a bad thing in Fang Hao¡¯s eyes. Especially since Fang Hao had previously advised her to go out more and not to stay cooped up in her room all day. After thinking for a while, Fang Hao continued: ¡°Since you¡¯re willing to interact with humans, I¡¯ll assign you a task.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Little You¡¯s eyes lit up. In the past few operations, Little You had taken the initiative to find Fang Hao. She had asked why he didn¡¯t assign tasks to her. Now that Fang Hao was taking the initiative to assign her a task, she was delighted. ¡°Pruell City in the west is now a subordinate city of our territory, and I¡¯ve appointed the cloth merchant Tavek as the City Lord. I¡¯m worried the Blood Clan will seek revenge on him. You go and protect him for a few days,¡± Fang Hao briefly explained the situation. This territory isn¡¯t afraid of retaliation from the Blood Clan. Apart from the butterflies in the backyard garden, not even a bird can fly into the territory. It¡¯s like a no-fly zone. The primary target for revenge would be Tavek. The Blood Clan¡¯s invasion had put Demitrija under pressure, which might provoke them to harm Tavek. ¡°My Lord, I don¡¯t know this City Lord Tavek,¡± Little You frowned in response. Little You¡¯s facial expressions now have no difference from humans. ¡°I¡¯ll write a letter for you. You take it to the City Lord¡¯s mansion, and Tavek will come to see you,¡± Fang Hao thought for a while, but it seemed he was not very proficient in the script of this world. He changed his words: ¡°Take the letter and an object. He will confirm your identity.¡± ¡°Okay, my Lord, I will ensure the safety of the City Lord,¡± she replied. A maid brought a blank sheet of paper. Fang Hao dictated the letter and Little You penned it down. He returned to his study and took out the gold-tipped quill that Tavek had given him before. He handed both the letter and the quill to Little You, ¡°You can leave tomorrow morning. I¡¯m just worried about the Blood Clan¡¯s revenge.¡± It was getting late now, and according to the customs of Pruell City, it seemed it would be time to close the city gates. ¡°Understood, my Lord,¡± Little You bowed slightly and then left directly. Little You left. Eira served a sumptuous dinner. Smelling the savory aroma, Anjia and Lorrey ran in and sat down waiting for dinner. Previously, Lorrey used to eat with the maids. But since last time when he had dinner at the Lord¡¯s mansion, he starts coming over whenever there¡¯s a chance. He doesn¡¯t talk, just sits quietly aside, waiting for the meal. Today¡¯s dinner was still very rich, including steak, vegetable soup, and a new dish developed by Eira. It was called Baked Shrimp in Sheep Milk, which seemed easy to make and tasted quite good. Everyone started to enjoy their dinner. Halfway through the meal. Whoo!! The Book of Lords emitted the sound of a blowing conch. Fang Hao immediately opened the storage space of the Book of Lords, and sure enough, the Sound-transmitting Shell had sent back a message. When he was heading towards the Cold Wind mountain range, he was worried that he would not receive Demitrija¡¯s message and put the Sound-transmitting Shell into the storage space. He would check it from time to time. Unexpectedly, the Book of Lords was able to release the notification sound of the Sound-transmitting Shell. He took out the Sound-transmitting Shell, put it to his ear, and heard Demitrija¡¯s voice. ¡°My Lord, we attacked Crescent Heights today. We killed 5 of the Blood Clan and hundreds of hemotropes, rescuing nearly two thousand villagers. As planned, we dredged up an iron coffin from Lake Tanho and have arranged for a Bone Dragon to send it back to your territory.¡± After hearing Demitrija¡¯s message. Fang Hao was delighted, slapping his thigh, ¡°Good!¡± Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 300, Red Dukes Counterattack l Chapter 306: Chapter 300, Red Duke¡¯s Counterattack l Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ouch! What are you doing?¡± Anjia was eating and she rubbed her thigh. ¡°Um, nothing. Just a little excited.¡± ¡°Excited? Why are you smacking my thigh?¡± They had a quick dinner. Fang Hao headed straight to the Trade Alliance store. Skeleton Merchant Doujin was in a meeting with other merchants. Seeing Fang Hao approach, he gave a brief explanation, allowing the skeleton merchants to disperse and attend to their affairs. ¡°Good evening, my Lord,¡± Doujin greeted with a bow. ¡°Good evening. Doujin, was there any update on the Dark Gold Heroic Contract that I mentioned last time?¡± Sitting at the counter, Fang Hao got straight to the point. Demitrija¡¯s side was making smooth progress. An Iron Coffin had been found at the bottom of Tanho Lake. According to the information collected, this coffin should contain the last part of the heart mission. Using the Bone Dragon for transport, it was expected that the coffin would arrive at the main city by tomorrow morning. It would be better to have a Heroic Contract when the Dark Gold-tier hero was resurrected. ¡°Not yet, my Lord.¡± Doujin pondered and said again, ¡°My Lord, these high- level scrolls are hard to come by.¡± Fang Hao understood this. Forget about Dark Gold, there weren¡¯t even any in Orange for sale so far. ¡°Has the latest order come in?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. But immediately he dismissed the thought. Even if an order was placed, it was likely no one would sell them. Moreover, since the Iron Coffin would arrive tomorrow, there wouldn¡¯t be enough time. ¡°Yes, do you wish to fill one, my Lord?¡± Doujin asked. ¡°Not right now.¡± Fang Hao shook his head. After chatting with Doujin for a while, he left the Trade Alliance Hall. He returned to his manor and went to the backyard for a hot spring bath. Night fell. The Crescent Heights, in front of Tanho Lake. The Red Duke gazed at the drag marks on the shore from where the Iron Coffin had been hauled out. His eyes turned a deeper shade of crimson. Even with the evidence right in front of him, he refused to believe that someone could so easily haul away the Iron Coffin at the bottom of the lake. Splash!! At that moment, a member of the Blood Clan emerged, head first, from the lake. ¡°Your Grace, there is nothing on the lake bed except a few broken iron chains.¡± The final flicker of hope in the Red Duke¡¯s mind was extinguished by these words. The Iron Coffin was gone. ¡°What happened exactly?¡± The Red Duke bent over, eyes crimson as he lost his composure. In his rage, he resembled a wild beast that had lost its logic. Behind the Red Duke, all the members of the Blood Clan bowed their heads, trembling uncontrollably, not daring to speak. No one knew what had happened. Tanho Lake had been cleaned out completely. Aside the missing inhabitants, even the valuable items in the nearby castles were gone without a trace. Just as the Red Duke was about to unleash his fury and kill someone. A Blood Servant rushed over. ¡°Your Grace, there¡¯s a camp beyond the mist. It¡¯s filled with undead soldiers. They must be the ones who stole the treasure from the lake,¡± he reported. Most of the Blood Clan had no idea what lay at the bottom of the lake. They only knew that this was a treasure that the Red Duke held dear. ¡°Undead?¡± Endless rage flared up in the Red Duke¡¯s eyes. This anger was not only towards the undead but also towards the fear that came from knowing his secret had been exposed. The fear deep in his heart. If that woman was alive, the ways she might torment him¡­ This fear made him want to leave right away. To leave Crescent Heights, to hide away. No! I still have a chance. Over such a short distance, the Iron Coffin might still be recoverable. As his sharp nails dug into his own palm, the ensuing pain forced him to calm down. The Iron Coffin must be recovered. Viscous blood dripped from the palm of a hand, the smell of blood making the Blood Clan members nearby swallow hard. Cold eyes turned to the Blood Servant, a voice coldly asked, ¡°How many of the undead are there?¡± ¡°According to the Palebloods, a large fog has risen from the camp, and innumerable undead can be seen outside the fog. There most likely are hundreds of thousands, but these undead don¡¯t seem to be of a high rank.¡± The Blood Servant answered, head bowed, daring not look into the Duke¡¯s eyes. Hundreds of thousands. At the mention of this number, everyone present felt a wave of shock. What did this imply? At least it represented the total force of a region. Even when humans and dwarves teamed up to attack the Blood clan in the past, the number only approached two hundred thousand. Red Duke narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and then looked at the Blood Clan members behind him again, ¡°Gather all of your people and attack the undead at midnight.¡± ¡°Duke, the enemy¡¯s manpower is overwhelming, I fear we may fall into their trap if we attack now,¡± a member of the Blood Clan ventured to speak softly. The enemy commanders would certainly anticipate a retaliation from the Blood Clan at night endif they were not fools. Weren¡¯t they walking into their own deaths then? Moreover, this kind of immediate counterattack was not an intelligent strategy. Huh!! No sooner had the man finished speaking, the Red Duke¡¯s figure appeared before him. His throat was gripped in one hand, while the other hand directly ripped out his tongue. Blood sprayed from his mouth. ¡°I said attack at midnight. Did you hear me?¡± The Red Duke repeated slowly, stressing each word. If he was not currently short-staffed, the Red Duke would not have hesitated to kill this over-talkative person. The Blood Clan member, his tongue ripped out, nodded his head fearfully. After being thrown out, he immediately ran into the lake, looking for his tongue he had lost. The Red Duke scanned everyone present again and reminded, ¡°At midnight, bring all your people and take over the undead¡¯s camp in one fell swoop. If we win this time, I¡¯ll offer you the opportunity to be promoted to heroes.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± This time, no one dared to disagree, they all unanimously agreed. Midnight! Within the fog. The Red Duke held a crimson giant sword in his hands, staring coldly at the distant camp. No one would have thought that an undead army, would cross Pruell City and have built such a large-scale camp in just one day. And they already led an army to kill several members of the Blood Clan, and stole the iron coffin from beneath the lake. The Red Duke, possessed longer life and strength greater than normal humans. He enjoyed all that he had and did not want to lose it. Therefore, he must win this battle and recapture the Iron Coffin before those damned undead can proceed with their next plan. ¡°Your Grace, the number of troops have been tallied. There are fifty thousand armed peasants, forty thousand rotting corpses, twenty thousand pale-bloods, ten thousand ferocious bats, three thousand bloodthirsty wolfbats, and three hundred Blood Clan members,¡± reported the Blood Servant, who was kneeling next to the Red Duke. The collected forces could be said to have come from Crescent Heights in full strength. Had Red Duke not been hurrying to retrieve the iron coffin. Using the thick fog within the highland, they could have slowly dealt with the enemy. The former human allied army had not gained any advantage in the fog and eventually had to sign a peace agreement. ¡°Have there been any changes in the enemy¡¯s numbers?¡± The Red Duke asked aloud. ¡°No new messages have been sent yet.¡± The Blood Servant answered. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the attack.¡± ¡°Attack!¡± The Blood Servant shouted loudly. Armies commissioned by Crescent Heights, under the pressure of the Blood Clan, began to move forward. Armed peasants holding distributed shields and iron swords walked up front. Behind them were Palebloods and the Blood Clan members, their eyes crimson red. They gradually approached the camp up ahead. ¡°Let the ferocious bats take action.¡± The Red Duke ordered again. Whoosh! The ferocious bats, at tier three, flew to the sky. Their bodies, pitch black, eyes crimson red. Round metal bombs were tied to their short hind limbs. Under the cover of night, they quickly flew towards the undead camp. Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 301, Full Coverage—1 Chapter 307: Chapter 301, Full Coverage¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 At midnight, darkness engulfed the land. Ten thousand ferocious bats, flew swiftly towards the Undead camp under the cover of night. Each ferocious bat carried a black round bomb. This bomb, known as the fire oil bomb, was a miniaturized, improved version of the fire oil tank. Although its power was reduced, it was easier to carry. There was no need for any special equipment to throw it. This was one of the Red Duke¡¯s tactics for fighting against larger numbers with fewer forces. The ferocious bats, carrying fire oil bombs, would recklessly crash into the enemy ranks once they reached overhead. When the bombs shattered, they would explode and ignite all units in the vicinity. And once this fire oil was ignited, it was challenging to extinguish. The more Undead Skeletons they could set on fire, the more intense the fire would become. The forces at the rear would hence experience less pressure. Of course, the outcome of the battle and the success of retrieving the iron coffin still relied on the infantry troops behind. Therefore, while maintaining a certain distance from the ferocious bats, the infantry continued to move forward. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The ferocious skeletons got closer and closer to the Undead from above; they were only 300 meters away. Whoosh! Suddenly, a flare shot up into the sky and exploded. The bright light illuminated the sky. Whoosh! Following the flare, the sound of arrows piercing the air rang out. The night was thick, making it hard to see the arrows. But the whistling sound of the arrows reached the ears of the Red Duke and the others in the distance. Bang! The first ferocious bat was shot down and fell from the sky. The fire oil bomb under its feet exploded violently, and flames rose from the ground. Subsequently, under the heavy rain of arrows, ferocious bats kept falling from the sky. As they hit the ground, they ignited fierce fires. The volley of arrows was so concentrated that there was no need for precise aim. Even if they couldn¡¯t hit the bats, they could easily shatter the fire oil bombs under them. Each fire oil bomb exploded in the air, raining down a cascade of flames. The night was lit up in a shade of orange. The Blood Clan at the rear watched the bats falling from the fire rain like dumplings in a bewildered manner. They couldn¡¯t help swallowing nervously. More than ten thousand ferocious bats carrying fire oil bombs didn¡¯t even reach the air above the enemy camp. They were almost completely wiped out. If just one fire oil bomb were to fall into the enemy camp, it might cause a little panic, wouldn¡¯t it? As expected, the enemy was fully prepared, and it seemed they were just waiting for them to come and offer up their lives. The Red Duke to one side had a gloomy expression. Staring at the already dead vanguard, his face betrayed no emotion. At this point, there was nothing he could do. Even if he knew it was a trap, he had to walk into it. He had to retrieve the iron coffin from the enemy¡¯s hands. The dark mass of Blood Clan soldiers, under the urging of the Blood Clan, tried to form a coherent line as best as they could. Along the way, villagers whose legs had given out kept rejoining the ranks under the coercion of whips and batons. They were 4.00 meters from the camp. The Blood Clan furrowed their brows in confusion. What was going on? At this distance, it was well within the range of archers and mages. Why wasn¡¯t the enemy launching long-range attacks? ¡°Duke, the enemy may be running low on arrows,¡± a Blood Clan member stepped forward and voiced his suspicions. The Red Duke glanced at him, silently cursing his foolishness. The enemy¡¯s leader had calculated everything so precisely ¨C time and place, ail arranged so appropriately. How could they make such a basic mistake? But the Red Duke did not refute him. Letting his subordinates think the enemy was a fool could boost morale to some extent. ¡°Charge, prepare to scale the city!¡± the Red Duke commanded dispassionately. ¡°Yes.¡± The Blood Clan officer stepped back, loudly relaying the order. ¡°Prepare the siege ladders, charge.¡± The troops launched their assault upon receiving the order. The camp¡¯s wall was approximately four meters high. Since it had been hastily constructed, there were no spikes around it. The armed villagers and weaker members of the Blood Clan reached the wall. They began to set up the siege ladders. The second wave of troops at the rear were slow-moving dead bodies. They dragged their stiff bodies, edging ever closer. The Undead camp. Inside the commander¡¯s tent. Commander Demitrija was polishing his longsword. The tent flap was thrown open. The Blood Hunter strode in, ¡°Commander Demitrija, the Blood Clan army has reached the foot of the city.¡± Demitrija nodded, rose to his feet, and walked outside. Defeating the Blood Clan wasn¡¯t difficult. The real challenge was how to intercept the escaping Blood Clan after the victory. As Fang Hao intended, the Blood Clan would be completely annihilated here. If too many of the Blood Clan escaped, they would pose a serious threat to human cities. At least for the past few decades, Crescent Heights and the Human Federation had maintained a peace treaty maintained through willful blindness. ¡°Fire the signal flare and prepare to finish this,¡± Commander Demitrija said quietly. ¡°Yes, Commander.¡± The two walked out of the tent. The Blood Hunter conveyed the next steps down the chain of command. Commander Demitrija headed towards the city wall. Soon after, a second flare was launched from within the Undead encampment. It shot straight into the sky and exploded with force. Shortly after, another flare was launched from the center of the camp. It traveled straight upwards before exploding in the sky. On the flanks and rear of the battlefield, dense ranks of undead soldiers were concealed in the dark forests. These undead stood as motionless as statues. When the Orc within the undead ranks looked up at the sky and saw the exploding flares. They instantly rose from the ground. ¡°Forward!¡± they roared. With loud commands, the Orcs led the Undead army toward the battlefield. At the base of the city walls. The siege ladders had already been set up against the walls. The Pale Blood members, grunting in hoarse roars, urged the armed villagers to start scaling the walls. Suddenly, A flare exploded in the air. Immediately after, a torrent of arrows and magical missiles rained down upon them. Covering the battlefield like a rain of arrows. Each magic missile trailed a tail of flame through the night, exploding amidst the crowds. The already chaotic formation started to see mass casualties. Even with the Blood Clan personally urging them forward, they were unable to get anyone onto the walls. Just as their assault seemed to have wholly stalled, The closed gates of the Undead encampment slowly began to open. Everyone paused, taken aback. What was happening? Why were they voluntarily opening their gates? The next moment! Skeleton Warriors, wearing heavy armor and carrying beast-head shields, charged out in an alarming number. Forming an impregnable steel shield wall at the gates. Rushing directly into the Blood Clan¡¯s ranks and entering into fierce combat. Not far away, The Red Duke stood, his face cold. Although he could not guess the other party¡¯s intentions, he had the uneasy feeling of being manipulated. This feeling was very unsettling, extremely unsettling. Just as he was ready to personally join the battlefield, Two figures made their way up the fortress walls of the Undead encampment. A tall golden-armored warrior, and an undead with Bat Wings. He was too familiar with the second figure. Giovanni. The fact that his own nephew had been converted into a skeleton was true after all. Could it be that Giovanni had leaked the news about the iron coffin? Damn that bastard! ¡°You all continue to attack, I will go and kill their commander,¡± The Red Duke said coldly. Without listening to opinions from others, lie spread his huge Bat Wings and took off in the direction of the Undead camp. Not long after the Red Duke left, Large groups of Undead soldiers began to appear around the Blood Clan¡¯s forces. They began to encircle and slaughter the Blood Clan. The difference in numbers made it impossible to generate effective combat power. In the blink of an eye, the entire army was utterly defeated. The Red Duke flapped his large Bat Wings, And in an instant, he arrived above the Undead camp. Just as he stopped mid-air, a torrent of arrows came whistling up from below. The Red Duke huffed coldly, His bat wings flapped with force, and before him, it was as though a sound wave had exploded. The incoming arrows exploded before him, turning to dust. After glancing at Giovanni, who had now become a skeleton, his gaze fell on the Lizardman in golden armor. ¡°Where is the iron coffin? Hand it over to me, and I can forgive the actions of today,¡± he said. Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 302, The Woman in the Upright Coffin_l Chapter 308: Chapter 302, The Woman in the Upright Coffin_l Translator: 549690339 Commander Demitrija gazed calmly at the Red Duke above him. ¡°The Iron Coffin? It¡¯s in the camp. Whether or not you can take it away depends on your ability.¡± The Red Duke¡¯s eyes narrowed instantly. A burst of blood-colored energy surged from his body into the bloody heavy sword in his hand. As the blood-colored energy enveloped the heavy sword, he swung it down violently. Whoo! A blood-colored sword light slashed towards Demitrija. Demitrija quickly retreated, dodging the blow. Boom! A loud rumble. The entire city wall was shaking violently. The blood-colored sword light left a few meters long crack directly on the wall. ¡°It seems that you haven¡¯t reached the Dark Gold level yet.¡± Feeling the power of the Red Duke, Demitrija spoke calmly. ¡°Seeking death!¡± The Red Duke¡¯s face turned even colder. He swooped down and his heavy sword once again sliced down. Demitrija blocked with his longsword, with a reverse twist of his wrist, he stabbed out fiercely again. The two of them then started a fierce battle on top of the city wall. Blood Hunter walked down the city wall. He joined the main force below, which was finishing up. The entire battlefield had been surrounded by the well-concealed undead army. A solid barrier made up of heavy shields was gradually closing in from all sides, slowly shrinking the encirclement of the Blood Clan¡¯s troops. The enemy had no will to fight, and no chance to escape. A Tenth-Rank Dusk Banqueter tried to break through the defense line, only to be cut down by the flurry of sword blows in the next second. The encirclement continued to shrink, and the remaining Blood Clan soldiers were herded together. ¡°We surrender, quickly, drop your weapons, we surrender.¡± A Blood Clan cried out loudly, urging his comrades to drop their weapons. As soon as this Blood Clan spoke, he immediately drew the attention of others. Some Blood Clan, loyal to the Red Duke, shouted, ¡°The Duke orders us to fight to the death, anyone who dares to surrender knows the consequences.¡± ¡°End of what? Look at the situation now, will that old liar have a chance to save you? Even if faced with death, are you addicted to being a dog?¡± The Blood Clan retaliated harshly, his tongue sliding uncontrollably out of his mouth as he spoke. Upon hearing these words, everyone looked up. An endless mass of the undead. Even if the Red Duke could kill the opposing commander, it would be difficult to save them. Moreover, considering the Red Duke¡¯s personality, the most likely scenario is that he would abandon them and retreat into the mist of Crescent Heights. The two began to argue. One side proposed to surrender, but the other side believed that even if they dropped their weapons, the enemy might not spare them. At that moment, Blood Hunter came over from behind. Looking at the mixed crowd of village Blood Clan, fewer than ten thousand, he said, ¡°Kill all the enemies who have weapons.¡± As soon as his words were spoken. The skeletons narrowing the encirclement showed no reaction. The Blood Clan, however, saw hope, dropped their weapons with a rustle, and knelt on the ground begging loudly for mercy. The undead began to bypass the surrendering enemy. Immediately, some people came up from behind and tied up all the surrendering people. The sun gradually rose. The duel between the two orange heroes on the city wall still had no victor. The Red Duke couldn¡¯t kill Demitrija. And Demitrija had no good solution against the flying Red Duke. The two remained in a stalemate until now. The Red Duke glanced at the sun. With some resentment, he swept his eyes over the camp and returned to the mist of Crescent Heights, filled with rage. After the Red Duke left, Demitrija also descended the city wall. ¡°Clean up the battlefield.¡± The skeletons began to move and start cleaning the battlefield. ¡°Commander Demitrija, there are many Blood Clan and half-blooded among these people ¡ª how should we deal with them?¡± Blood Hunter asked. Once the Blood Clan and the half-blooded are transformed, it¡¯s very hard for them to return to normal. ¡°Put them in confinement first, we can decide based on the Lord¡¯s intentions later.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Early morning. Fang Hao was still woken up by the Sound-transmitting Shell. He sat up with a stupor from the bed and held the shell close to his ear. ¡°My Lord, last night we engaged the Blood Clan in direct combat. The Red Duke escaped. We captured thousands of people. All remaining enemies were killed. We will lead the attack on Crescent Heights during the day.¡± Hearing this news, Fang Hao¡¯s mood instantly improved. The Red Duke, an orange hero of the Blood Clan, had the advantage of flight. It was really difficult to keep him. But the fact that all the remaining Blood Clan were either captured or killed was definitely good news. The force at Crescent Heights was already scant, and now there were probably not many hands left inside. Fang Hao was in high spirits. He put on his clothes and went straight out of the room. Eira was preparing breakfast and waved hello with a smile as she left. Standing in front of the main castle, he glanced at the time. It was 6:4.0 in the morning. After making a round around the territory. He had just returned to the main castle when he saw a Bone Dragon slowly descending, carrying a huge metal vertical casket. Thud! The vertical casket hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust. The two-meter-high casket, carved with the face of a young woman, gave off an eerie vibe. After a night¡¯s transportation, the casket was still covered in mud and water traces. ¡°Deadly Embrace (Silver Casket)¡±. Deadly embrace, a silver casket. The casket had a name. How elegant. Moreover, this was not the iron casket that Commander Demitrija mentioned. According to the description, it was made of silver. However, considering the properties of silver, it should also contain other metals like iron to increase its hardness. After a round of observation, there was nothing more to see. He called over a maid, ¡°Get a couple of Skeleton Trolls here to carry the silver casket out of the territory.¡± ¡°Oh, alright, master,¡± she said. The maid shuddered at the sight of the silver casket before quickly leaving. Fang Hao woke Anjia up to ensure she would be there to protect him. Sitting on the White Bone throne, he directly deployed the spell ¡°God¡¯s Presence¡±. The next second, Fang Hao¡¯s spirit descended upon a Skeleton Warrior patrolling outside the territory. Barely taking in the surroundings, he saw the maid instructing two tall Skeleton Trolls to move the silver casket outside. Fang Hao began the final part of his plan. Half an hour later. A makeshift awning had been erected above the silver casket. Skeleton Warriors formed a tight shield formation around it, layering up several circles. Even though the quest indicated that if he helped her gather her body, she would be highly loyal to him. But without the constraint of a hero contract, Fang Hao was still nervous. He surely couldn¡¯t capsize in the gutter here. But as things stood, he couldn¡¯t back out now. ¡°Open the casket!¡± Fang Hao commanded. Two Skeleton Trolls picked up their hatchets, bang! bang! Two loud noises, and they directly broke the restraining chain. Applying a slight force to the opening. Creak!! A piercing noise sounded as the silver casket slowly opened like a door. As it gradually opened. Fang Hao saw the scene inside and felt a slight tension. The inner wall of the casket was filled with protruding silver spikes, indicating when the casket was closed. These spikes would pierce the body. With the casket fully open, a woman¡¯s naked body full of bloody holes was revealed. Her skin is ghostly pale and wrinkled, just like a drowned body that had been fished out of the water. The woman appeared very youthful. She didn¡¯t look any older than her early 20s. Of course, Fang Hao knew that the Blood Clan had a long lifespan and he could not judge her age by her appearance. The woman had a slim figure, her eyes firmly shut. In addition to the numerous holes made by silver spikes all over her body, there was a fist-sized hole at her heart. ¡°Bring that heart over here,¡± Fang Hao commanded. The throbbing heart was then brought over. As it drew near to her body, the heart began to beat faster and louder. When Fang Hao¡¯s skeletal hand held the heart near the gaping hole at the woman¡¯s chest. The flesh of the body and the heart began to reconnect. New blood vessels and muscles were growing visibly, and finally, delicate skin began to cover the hole in her chest. At the same time, the holes in her body began to heal up. The pale skin regained its color. The woman transformed from a drowned corpse to a beautiful young woman. The next second. The woman lying on the ground suddenly opened her eyes. The moment she opened her eyes. The sky instantly turned dark, and a cloud filled the sky, blocking the sun. ¡°Damn, don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m going to capsize now,¡± Fang Hao¡¯s heart tightened. Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 303, Crazy Woman 1 Chapter 309: Chapter 303, Crazy Woman 1 Translator: 549690339 The moment the woman opened her eyes. A curtain of black was drawn across the sky. Dark clouds, thick like cotton wool, covered the entire sky. The Soul Fire dancing in Fang Hao¡¯s pupils, a sudden sense of dread rose in his heart. Before he could make further arrangements. The woman on the ground abruptly stood up. Her eyes swept over everything, finally settling on the half-open metallic vertical coffin beside her. ¡°Ah!!¡± She let out a roar, her hands incessantly summoning taunts of blood-red spears. She threw them at the vertical coffin. Like a beast out of control, venting her inner rage. Accompanied by piercing metallic noises, the vertical coffin was totally destroyed. Until the flat ground deep down had turned into a massive pit. Fang Hao watched the wildly raging woman. While retreating to a safe distance, he ordered his army to pull back. Fortunately, she vented all her anger on the coffin, not affecting the undead army nearby. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias (Dark Gold 5th Rank Hero)]. Indeed a Dark Gold rank hero. A stunningly beautiful, madwoman of Dark Gold level. After a long time. The naked woman slowly calmed down. Huge bat wings detached from the territory and flew towards the woman, connecting with her pale back. The bat wings stretched out, enveloping her exposed body. Fang Hao tossed a piece of clothing to the woman from a distance. ¡°You can vent a bit more, there¡¯s still plenty of time.¡± The woman draped the clothing over herself, retracting her bat wings. Her cold eyes gazing at the low-ranking skeleton with a Soul Fire before her. Where is the human?¡± The woman¡¯s voice was pleasing but ice-cold. Fang Hao was taken aback. He looked down to confirm his current appearance. How did she know about the human? You are talking about the human?¡± ¡°A human, I could often sense his presence.¡± The woman looked at the skeleton again, ¡°So, did you guys kill him?¡± Fang Hao looked at the woman, not responding directly. The only thing he had in the realm was that pulsating heart. He had stored that heart in the Viscera Museum. He often checked on it, to prevent any changes in the heart that might endanger his domain. Could she sense his presence too? He hoped she hadn¡¯t also heard his plan to turn her heart into a Viscera Jar. This woman had a terrible temper. ¡°Does it make any difference whether he¡¯s dead or alive? He¡¯s just a human.¡± ¡°Indeed it doesn¡¯t.¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°In accordance with our agreement, you have to help me build the realm.¡± The woman turned around, looked at the towering city behind her, furrowed her brows slightly, ¡°Your realm?¡± The skeleton before her seemed not of high rank. Besides having a soul, he shared no difference with the dull Skeleton Warriors beside him. Even their attire was the same. Since when could a low-ranking Undead build a city of such scale? ¡°My realm.¡± Fang Hao confirmed. The woman thought for a moment, finally nodding, ¡°Fine, I did take that oath. But I have some personal matters to attend to. I can help you build the domain after that.¡± Personal matters, it was clear that she wanted to take revenge on the Red Duke. Given the way the Red Duke treated her, any one who survived would likely have vengeance as their first task. This was just as well for Fang Hao. This was exactly what he wanted to see. Due to the race barrier, it would be tough for Damitrija to kill the Red Duke. If the woman were to take on this task and hunted the Red Duke, then his biggest problem ahead would be resolved. Alright, but I would like you to join the realm before you handle your personal matters. This should fulfill our agreement and won¡¯t take too much time,¡± Fang Hao continued. The woman thought for a moment and found the skeleton made sense. She agreed, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Great, I will take you to the Lord¡¯s Hall. There will be a set of clothes for you as well. You wouldn¡¯t want to go out like this,¡± Fang Hao led the woman through the dense Undead army, into the city. The woman curiously looked around the city. She was amazed by the number of the undead army and the scale of the city. Fang Hao saw the woman curiously examining her surroundings, so he took on the role of a tour guide, giving her a brief introduction to the territory. This allowed her to quickly adapt to her new environment. They arrived directly in front of the Lord¡¯s mansion. Fang Hao withdrew his God¡¯s Presence and awakened from the White Bone Throne. The woman stepped into the Lord¡¯s mansion. Seeing Fang Hao on the throne, her eyes narrowed instantly. In the next instant, she stepped lightly, her figure quick as lightning. Extending her sharp claws, she reached for Fang Hao¡¯s face. Bang! A dull noise resounded. In front of the White Bone Throne. Time seemed to stop. The woman caught a punch from a young orc girl at her side, while her teeth clenched onto a tiny sword that had been thrust from the shadows. Everything had happened too quickly. Fortunately, his two heroes were prepared. Seeing the woman take the initiative, Fang Hao¡¯s expression immediately became serious. But one thing was clear, the woman did not intend to deliver a fatal blow. Otherwise, she would have employed the magic she had used on the ¡®Silver Coffin¡¯. ¡°You keep your word, help me build the territory,¡± said Fang Hao. The woman, now in close proximity, kept her gaze fixed on the young man before her. ¡°You¡¯re that skeleton?¡± ¡°You can sit down, and we can chat.¡± Fang Hao remained calm, but his heart began to pound furiously. The woman retreated and sat down at a position on the left side, her flaxen gown revealing a tantalising curve. Anjia stood beside Fang Hao, and Little You¡¯s sword retreated back into the shadows. ¡°So, you¡¯re the human who resurrected me,¡± the woman spoke again. ¡°Yes, I caught a group of tomb robbers, and that¡¯s howl found your heart.¡± Fang Hao explained that he found the map through tomb raiders. This explanation was easier for her to understand, and also concealed his own grave-digging activities. The woman didn¡¯t say much, and didn¡¯t carry on with this topic. ¡°You are human, leading a group of undead?¡± The woman turned the conversation towards Fang Hao. ¡°Not only undead, but also humans, orcs, lizardmen.¡± Fang Hao picked up a glass of wine and took a sip. ¡°Strange territory.¡± ¡®According to our agreement, the territory now also contains the Blood Clan doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Humph!¡± The woman snorted coldly, clearly understanding the message behind Fang Hao¡¯s words. She stood up and moved to the middle of the room. Her movement instantly put everyone on high alert, and Fang Hao almost instantly activated his Frost Armor. I, Rolana Ann Tobias, am willing to serve you, my lord.¡± The woman courteously bowed, once more baring her difficult-to-conceal body. [Darkgold-ranked hero, ¡®The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias¡¯, pledges her loyalty to you, do you accept?] Accept! Without a Hero contract, it seems that heroes are added this way. ¡°Welcome to the team, Rolana,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. He now had a Dark Gold -ranked hero. However, his smile froze the next second. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias¡¯ current Loyalty towards you is 23]. Damn it. This is dangerous. Rolana returned to her seat, crossing her legs to cover the vital areas. ¡°Come here,¡± Fang Hao called softly. A maid cautiously peeked her head out. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Prepare some clothes for Rolana.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The maid swiftly glanced at the strange woman before turning and leaving. Shortly after, the maid returned with the clothes. She carefully placed them on the side and then immediately left. There¡¯s a separate room over there; you can try them on and see if they fit.¡± Fang Hao pointed to a room on the first floor that was being used as a bathroom. Ever since they got the hot spring, the bathroom had been barely used. Rolana picked up the clothes and went into the room. Fang Hao took this opportunity to check Rolana¡¯s attributes. With the Dark Gold-ranked hero, he wondered if there¡¯d be any surprises. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias (Dark Gold 5th rank Hero)]. Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 305, The Male Lords Dream 1 Chapter 311: Chapter 305, The Male Lord¡¯s Dream 1 Translator: 549690339 ¡ª Kong Yong was rooted to the spot. He crossed paths with the skeleton carrying the treasure box. For the past few days, he had assumed that this undead army was an existing power in this world. But now, he was beginning to harbor doubts. Could these troops belong to another transmigrator? He knew a bit about the development of other lords from the chat in the channel. Even if they were progressing well, they surely wouldn¡¯t be able to reach this scale. As Kong Yong mulled over this, something caught his eye. Could the appearance of the treasure box be because of him? Had him joining the army resulted in the appearance of this treasure box? Suddenly, the possibility seemed plausible. With that thought in mind, Kong Yong didn¡¯t rush to leave, but stood dutifully to one side. While he was filled with anticipation, he also waited. He planned to step forward and open the treasure box once these natives failed to do so. Bang!! The platinum treasure box was thrown next to Demitrija. The Blood Hunter spoke, ¡°Commander Demitrija, the army is defending Blood Castle. Shall we notify the lord to come over?¡± Capturing the castle meant they had successfully occupied Crescent Heights. According to the plan, Fang Hao would come over to acknowledge his new territory after its safety was confirmed. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll notify the lord right now.¡± Demitrija took out a sound-transmitting shell and quietly relayed the message. Meanwhile, Kong Yong, who had heard the entire conversation, was stunned. So, this army did belong to a lord. But who could command such a large force? Kong Yong thought hard, examining the troops¡¯ equipment and comparing it to the information disclosed during normal days. The only person who fit the bill was Fang Hao, who had a strong presence and reputation in the area. This was because the equipment Fang Hao sold was in the tens of thousands, sufficient to fulfill the troops¡¯ requirements. However, the equipment Fang Hao sold was mainly green and white, while the undead soldiers here were equipped with blue items. Moreover, who could recruit Lizardmen, these powerful orange heroes? The thought was almost unimaginable. If the community channel knew about these orange heroes, it would definitely cause a frenzy. Whew!! While Kong Yong was admiring and observing the Lizardman, an Orc rushed in running the whole way. In his hurry, he tripped on the steps, stumbling and bumbling. ¡°My lord, a strange woman came to our camp and asked specifically for Commander Demitrija. As soon as she arrived, she¡­¡±, the orc spoke, his expression uneasy. The orc was responsible for guarding the territory outside the fog. The orc¡¯s sudden arrival took Demitrija and the others by surprise. If they hadn¡¯t heard about the strange woman, they might¡¯ve thought the Red Duke had brazenly invaded their base in broad daylight. ¡°What did she do?¡± ¡°She slaughtered all the imprisoned Blood Clan and the Blood Diluters,¡± the orc said in a rush. About forty minutes earlier, a woman riding a Bone Dragon arrived at the camp outside the fog. Upon her arrival, she asked for Demitrija, and went directly to the place where the Blood Clan was detained as if she knew the way. When the Blood Clan members, who had been quiet previously, saw the woman s face, they pleaded for mercy in fear. However, the woman slaughtered all the detained Blood Clan as if she was possessed. The Dusk Banqueters of the 10th tier, were easily crushed under her hands like she was killing a sparrow. It was only after her rampage that she stepped on the sticky blood and inquired about the battle situation in Crescent Heights. Noticing the unusual circumstances, the orc hurried to Blood Castle to notify Demitrija and the others. After listening to the orc¡¯s account, Demitrija¡¯s face turned somber. The undead army¡¯s lack of aggression towards the woman revealed their hatred for the Blood Clan. Blood Hunter, you stay here, I¡¯ll go back to the camp to check¡­¡± Before he could finish, a woman¡¯s icy voice echoed from the corridor connecting to the hall, ¡°Are you Demitrija?¡± Everyone looked towards the end of the corridor where a vague female figure was visible. The next second, that figure had already arrived in the hall, sitting on the central throne. ¡°Who are you?¡± Demitrija eyed the woman warily, his hand subtly moving towards his sword. ¡°Where¡¯s Chester? I hope he is not dead by your hand,¡± the woman stated. Chester was the name he used during his human days as the Red Duke. The others weren¡¯t quite clear on this, but Demitrija and the Blood Hunter knew about it. Demitrija noticed the woman¡¯s leather armor and the hard silver single- handed sword strapped to her waist. Taking into account the woman¡¯s appearance at this time. He had some speculations about her identity. ¡°The Red Duke ran away, abandoned the castle and ran. As to where he ended up, we have no clues yet,¡± Demitrija replied calmly. ¡°Ran away? Ha! That¡¯s just like him,¡± the woman sneered. ¡°We suspect he¡¯s still hiding in the fog, we¡¯re currently arranging manpower to search for him.¡± Leave his affairs to me, you don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Are there any members of the Blood Clan still alive?¡± Demitrija glanced at the Blood Hunter, who replied affirmatively, ¡°There are two left, they led the way to the Blood Castle and are imprisoned outside.¡± Bring them in,¡± the woman commanded again. The Blood Hunter turned questioningly to Demitrija. Not to the assertive woman in front of him. Demitrija nodded and the Blood Hunter went out to bring the remaining two Blood Clan members up. When the two Blood Clan members were escorted into the hall and saw the woman on the throne. Their red pupils instantly contracted. They started shaking uncontrollably. They knew this woman¡¯s face all too well. With trembling voices they fell to their knees and said, ¡°Madam Rolana, it was all Chester¡¯s doing, we are also victims.¡± Rolana gracefully rose from her seat and walked over to the two men. She mildly crouched down to look into their faces, ¡°The old town, such nostalgic memories. You two have lived long enough, it¡¯s time for you to die.¡± As she got closer, a flash of her sword passed by, cutting across both men¡¯s throats. Two heads fell to the ground with blood spurting. ¡°You came all this way just to kill them?¡± Demitrija seemed confused. ¡°It¡¯s done. I will take care of Chester¡¯s matter,¡± Rolana flicked the blood off her sword and spoke. ¡°You can find him?¡± Rolana stood up and walked towards the exit, ¡°I can. You guys don¡¯t need to worry about this matter. Also, inform Fang Hao when the time comes.¡± Demitrija remained silent and followed the woman. After leaving the Blood Castle Hall, Rolana jumped off the castle wall, a Bone Dragon arrived with a roar, carrying the woman flying towards the south. In the Blood Castle. Kong Yong leaned against a wall, his legs shaking. Beneath him was the head of a Blood Clan member, eyes filled with fear, staring dead at him. He gently kicked the severed head aside. Trying to avoid the dead man¡¯s gaze. Not because he was afraid, but because of what had just happened. He admired the imposing orange Lizardman hero, and then suddenly a dark gold hero appears. Her aloof persona and stunning beauty. Both aspects were what every male lord aspired to have. And before she left, the woman casually mentioned Fang Hao. He didn¡¯t think it was a coincidence. So, these heroes and armies are all Fang Hao¡¯s?¡±; Good Lord, did they all transmigrate here on the same day? Is Fang Hao a favored son of heaven? ¡°Kid, why¡¯re you sitting here? Dinner is served and there won¡¯t be anything left if you wait any longer,¡± an orc warned him, patting Kong Yong¡¯s shoulder forcefully. A forceful tap that caused him to sway a bit. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Kong Yong got up and swiftly walked away. It was more important to eat than be envious of others now. The next day, at 3 in the afternoon. Fang Hao, along with Anjia, flew directly to the Blood Castle on a Bone Dragon. Without Rolana¡¯s speed boost, they flew for half a day and overnight to reach the destination. The moment the Bone Dragon landed, Demitrija and the Blood Hunter immediately came forward to greet them. ¡°Lord,¡± they all saluted. ¡°Hmm, Demitrija, Blood Hunter, you¡¯ve done very well. You fought a wonderful battle,¡± Fang Hao praised. ¡°Thankyou for your compliment, Lord,¡± Demitrija followed Fang Hao from behind. Everyone entered the Blood Castle Hall. Fang Hao stepped on the soft carpet and sat down on the throne in the center. The system prompt appeared once more. [Blood Castle has now become your subordinate city, where you can ¡®rename¡¯ the city. You have control over all resources of the tribes and subordinate villages.] Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 306, Boss Kong Yong_l Chapter 312: Chapter 306, Boss Kong Yong_l Translator: 549690339 | The emergence of system notifications. It signified the official designation of ¡®Blood Castle1 as Fang Hao¡¯s subsidiary city. Crescent Heights was no longer under the domain of the Blood Clan. It became a part of Fang Hao¡¯s territory. When he first arrived, he disliked the damp and cold atmosphere of the place, fearing the people living here were susceptible to rheumatism. He wasn¡¯t sure if the lingering mist was a natural phenomenon or a result of a spell. He planned to keep the city¡¯s name as it was, as he wasn¡¯t skilled at city-naming. Checking city information. [Blood Castle] [City Level: Six level-Urban] [Attribute: Rotten Corpse conversion+25%, Ferocious Bats breeding+35%] (Description: A city with attributes can bring various different enhancement effects, speeding up the city¡¯s construction and development.) Blood Castle was a level six city. But its attributes, in Fang Hao¡¯s eyes, were of no use. He had no intention of transforming rotting corpses. Although both the rotten corpses and skeletons were undead, the skeletons were obviously cleaner and wouldn¡¯t produce a strong stench during summer. Fang Hao had yet to encounter Ferocious Bats. They must have appeared in the battles. But, they held no significant attraction for him. Fang Hao thought for a moment, deciding to let it be for a few days until Rolana returned, then listen to her opinions. If it doesn¡¯t work out, he would consider transforming the city into a subsidiary city for the transmigrators. [Unlock Blueprints: Corrupt Land Construction Blueprint (Blood Clan), Wolfbat Nest Construction Blueprint (Blood Clan), Collapsed Bat Nest Construction Blueprint (Blood Clan), Blood Knight Camp Construction Blueprint (Blood Clan), Pale Blood Camp Construction Blueprint (Blood Clan), Blood Prison Construction Blueprint] Quite a number of blueprints were unlocked. Apart from the Blood Prison Construction Blueprint, the rest were blueprints of the Blood Clan. These could only be constructed in a Blood Clan city. [Blood Prison] [Category: Underground Structure] [Ability: Fortification +20%, Torture Pain Sensitivity+30%] (Description: A solid yet terrifying playground, anytime a new guest arrives, excited howls resound.) Good heavens. The description was a bit scary. It seemed like a place where a serial killer held their captive. There was no place to imprison captives within his territory. Past prisoners were kept in iron cages and surrounded by numerous skeleton soldiers. If the prisoner was of high rank, they would be surrounded by several more layers of cells. After he returned, he would construct the Blood Prison. In case enemies or criminals appeared, it could serve as a prison. As for cruelty, there was no need to show mercy to enemies. Fang Hao finished checking the city¡¯s attributes quickly. People also started to fill up the hall. Among them, besides Demitrija and the Blood Hunters, there were orcs from various villages who had participated in the battle. Today was not only the day Fang Hao took over Blood Castle, but also the day for post-battle rewards. ¡°You fought a splendid battle, beating down those self-proclaimed noble Blood Clan members who think they¡¯re invincible,¡± Fang Hao stood up and began speaking. The heroes remained as composed as ever. But the orcs were clearly excited. They remembered Fang Hao¡¯s promise of rewards before they set out for battle. ¡°Demetrija, as the general commander, you have led effectively. Once you return, receive ten thousand Warfire Coins,¡± Fang Hao spoke. Demetrija was recruited by Fang Hao using a hero recruitment scroll. His loyalty was high. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hide anything from him and gave him anything useful from his territory. Now he could only reward him with money. ¡°Thankyou, sir.¡± Demetrija expressed his gratitude. The orcs below upon hearing the figure ten thousand, erupted into a noisy commotion. This number was exorbitant enough to drive them all mad. Even one thousand or five hundred would be enough to buy their entire village. Everyone¡¯s expectation turned into excitement. They wondered how much they would receive when it was their turn. If they could get ten Warfire Coins, they could go to the slave trader and buy a beautiful orc woman of demon bloodline. That strong body, those thick leg hairs. It was simply a sight to behold. Observing the sudden pandemonium, Demitrija turned around to take a look. The whole room instantly fell silent, even the orcs¡¯ breathing became softer. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Blood Hunters, as deputy commanders, you are rewarded five thousand Warfire Coins. In addition, the territory will fund you to equip a set of purple grade equipment.¡± As a skeleton hero, the Blood Hunters didn¡¯t have many places to spend their money. However, once they developed self-consciousness and once the territory developed further, they would have places to spend money. Most importantly, it was to get them new equipment. ¡°Thankyou, sir.¡± After giving a salute, the Blood Hunters stepped back. Fang Hao turned his attention back to the remaining orcs below. He smiled and said, ¡°Everyone else who participated in this campaign also made invaluable contributions. Each person can receive a reward of 1000 Beasthead Gold. Your villages will also receive priority support and funding from the territory.¡± Fang Hao finished speaking, and the orcs began to count with their fingers. According to a one-to-five ratio. That would be 200 Warfire Coins. In an instant, the Great Hall resounded with cheers from the orcs. 1000 Beasthead Gold. When they returned to their village, they would be richer than their village chief. How could they not be excited? Outside the Blood Clan Hall. Kong Yong was standing on an open-air terrace, leaning against the wall. Looking below, he saw the orderly undead army. After two days of interaction, he was no longer afraid of the undead army. Instead, he was somewhat envious of having such an army. ¡°Ah, if only this army was mine, I could level these vampires,¡± Kong Yong muttered. He opened the Book of Lords and focused on the densely packed, regimented army below before taking two pictures. He had no idea how the other lords had developed. But not one of them could have amassed an army of this scale. Selecting a picture taken from a high vantage point, giving a view suggesting absolute control, He directly sent it to the regional channel. With thecaption:¡± [Picture JAwaken, my faithful servants. Carry out your unending duty with your undying loyalty.¡± ¡°Damn it, what¡¯s going on? Why are there so many undead?¡± ¡°Oh god, I think the boss got caught and sacrificed to the undead.¡± ¡°Is this picture real? Why are there so many undead and based on the angle it seems like it¡¯s reviewing troops, could it be a hidden boss?¡± ¡± Definitely, boss Kong Yong, we are all on the same side. When the time comes and you come across my territory, please don¡¯t attack.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, boss, just tell us what you want when you come. Please don¡¯t be hostile.¡± Looking at the rolling messages, a smirk appeared on Kong Yong¡¯s face. Being called ¡®boss¡¯ by others felt really good. While Kong Yong was enjoying the moment, a strong pat on his shoulder caught him off guard. Ouch! Kong Yong shuddered in fright. Turning back, he saw a tall orc. ¡°Uh, sir, is there something?¡± Kong Yong asked with a slight smile. ¡°Lord Fang has called you over, there¡¯s probably a reward for you.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you, I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Kong Yong quickly headed towards the great hall. Beyond his excitement at receiving a reward, He was also looking forward to meeting the region¡¯s number one player. Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 307, The Heavenly Tent Treasure Box —1 Chapter 313: Chapter 307, The Heavenly Tent Treasure Box ¡ª1 Translator: 549690339 | Kong Yong was following closely behind an orc. As he approached the hall, his heart began to race fiercely. Fang Hao had a high reputation in the local channel, but he was notorious. The man named Li Teng had his head chopped off by Fang Hao and posted in the channel. At that time, he himself was so scared that he had his own territory. Past the corridor was a spacious, bright hall. The hall was filled with orcs. Kong Yong¡¯s heart was pounding. He looked up to see a black-haired young man sitting on the throne in the center. So young. Judging by appearances, he was probably younger than himself. ¡°Speak,¡± the orc reminded him. Oh.¡± Kong Yong quickly came to his senses, took two steps forward to the center of the hall, and bowed ceremoniously, ¡°Greetings to the Lord.¡± This situation was clearly not the right place to address Fang Hao casually. On his throne, Fang Hao looked down at Kong Yong. When rewarding the others, Dmitrija specifically mentioned Kong Yong. In the whole battle, the fight ended so quickly, and the exact locations of all the ancient castles were found. The map in Kong Yong¡¯s hand had been crucial. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao looked down at Kong Yong. ¡°Kong Yong, you made significant contributions to the fight against the Blood Clan. You deserve a reward.¡± He could naturally identify Kong Yong¡¯s identity as a transmigrator, but that was another matter. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Kong Yong was instantly delighted. ¡°Thank you, my lord. The villagers of Crescent Heights thank you for your life-saving kindness.¡± It¡¯s not just that he helped Fang Hao. It could also be said that Fang Hao¡¯s army wiped out the Blood Clan, saving him and his villagers. Fang Hao nodded, finding Kong Yong to be quite intelligent. ¡°Alright, you will receive the same reward as everyone else: 1,000 Beasthead Gold. I can convert it to Warfire Coins for you and provide some equipment support,¡± Fang Hao announced. Kong Yong didn¡¯ t respond, but he was carefully weighing his decision. 200 Warfire Coins and some equipment support. Perhaps it would enhance the strength of his territory a notch. But his territory had been abandoned for a long time, and its resources had been depleted after several ¡®missions¡¯. He had nowhere to use this money and equipment. Was he supposed to live in a human city with this money? After the money ran out, find another village and sustain himself through farming? As Kong Yong quickly thought, he made up his mind. ¡°My lord, I don¡¯t need this money. I have a small territory, and I would like to come under your protection,¡± Kong Yong said. Plucking wool once was not as good as holding onto this strong thigh. With an army of tens of thousands, who could resist? If his territory could get Fang Hao¡¯s support, it could continue to develop. Fang Hao was not surprised. As long as Kong Yong wasn¡¯t foolish, he would likely make this choice. ¡°Alright, I agree,¡± Fang Hao nodded. Kong Yong¡¯s face brightened, ¡°Thankyou, my lord.¡± He nonchalantly lifted the Book of the Lords and handed it up. Anjia took it and handed it to Fang Hao. [You can devour the Book of Lords (level one)]. Kong Yong¡¯s Book of Lords turned into a light and integrated into Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. [Devouring successful, your Book of Lords is currently level 5, the need for leveling up is 2/10.] The last time he devoured Fu Lei¡¯s Book of Lords, the level reached 5,1/10. Now it has become 2/10. The privileges of the fifth level of the Book of Lords have not changed at all. It didn¡¯t unlock any blueprints. [You have obtained the decision power of Kong Yong¡¯s territory.] [Occupy/Abandon] [Occupy: Will become your subordinate territory, it can continue to develop.] [Abandon: Will gain 50% -80% of the resources of this territory, and this territory will be abandoned.] Occupy! [You occupied the territory and it automatically became a subordinate city.] [You can set up ¡®deputy governors¡¯ in the Book of Lords.] After choosing to occupy. The location of Kong Yong¡¯s territory also appears on the map in the Book of Lords. Indeed, it is in the center of Crescent Heights. Looking at the building level, a level-three lord¡¯s wooden house. Just level three. Needless to say, this territory probably doesn¡¯t have any resources left. In the position of deputy governor, he filled in Kong Yong¡¯s name, and a Book of the City Lord split directly away. At the same time, it was returned to Kong Yong. ¡°How many villagers were saved?¡± Fang Hao asked Dmitrija. ¡°My lord, a total of more than two thousand people. They took the battlefield during the counterattack by the Blood Clan,¡± Dmitrija replied. Such a vast region only had slightly more than two thousand people left over. But Fang Hao didn¡¯t say much else. The battlefield is the place that decides life or death. ¡°Kong Yong, I¡¯m entrusting these two thousand villagers to you. Arrange for all the villages to resume production. Can you do that?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, lean handle it.¡± ¡°Good. I will assign these two thousand people to you then. Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± I understand, my lord. I will definitely live up to your trust.¡± Kong Yong¡¯s tone was firm. He also had his own ambitions, but unfortunately, his territory was seized by the Blood Clan as soon as it reached level three. Now was his chance to rebuild. It wasn¡¯t only about not disappointing Fang Hao, but also about surviving better. Alright, you can leave. Later, I will arrange for someone to co-defend your territory.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Kong Yong thanked him, retreated little by little and left. ¡¯ Before leaving, Fang Hao spoke again, ¡°By the way, don¡¯t disclose the matter of the territory casually. Some things that get revealed are not good for either of us.¡± Kong Yong¡¯s heart tightened as he recalled the photos he had uploaded showing off earlier. Cold sweat gradually appeared on his forehead. ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Go.¡± Kong Yong bowed again before leaving. According to his plan, he found those villagers. Many of the villagers from Crescent Heights were familiar to him. This time, leading them to rebuild their homeland, he was full of confidence. He could finally be a lord again. No, the term now would be City Lord. With Kong Yong gone, the commendation ceremony was over. The orcs returned to their positions, their faces still excited. They were discussing how to spend the money. The hall quieted down. Accompanied by the rolling sound of wooden wheels, a sand table was pushed to the center of the hall. This was a sand table of Crescent Heights. A layer of mist shrouded the sand table. Watching from here, the mist wasn¡¯t thick. One could clearly see the forests, lakes, and the positions of each Blood Clan castle recorded on it. [Detailed Sand Table (Crescent Heights)] [Crescent Heights sand table recorded, can check the overall map of Crescent Heights on the Book of Lords ¨C Map page.] Once the Book of Lords was opened again, the overall map of Crescent Heights could be checked. And it was the high-definition version without mist. ¡°My lord, do you find this useful?¡± Blood Hunter asked, bringing over a beautifully carved wooden box. The wooden box was exquisitely made, and the box was carved with gorgeous gold patterns. [Canopy Treasure Box (Purple)] [Category: Sand Table Prop] [Ability: Misty Canopy] [Misty Canopy: Release the Misty Canopy centered on the sand table, covering the surrounding area in the mist.] (Description: A fantastic treasure box, sought-after by those who loathe sunlight.) Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 308, Unclean Magnet_l Chapter 314: Chapter 308, Unclean Magnet_l Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao somewhat bewilderedly examined the properties of the Skydome Treasure Box. He casually opened the lid. The fog in the sand table was sucked into the box like a vortex. Simultaneously, the mist enveloping Crescent Heights quickly dissipated. Dazzling sunlight covered the entire land. ¡°So, it can be used this way.¡± Once the mist was all taken in, Fang Hao closed the wooden box. This operation was beyond Fang Hao¡¯s expectations. There were magic tools specifically for the sand table. This was much more useful than his own ¡°Swirling Mist¡± and Demitnja¡¯s ¡°Misty Sky¡±. The whole area was covered and it lingers all year round. If you say it¡¯s not a treasure, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t believe it. He tossed it into the storage space and continued to a treasure chest not far away. ¡°Platinum Treasure Chest¡±. Open. ¡°Obtained: Blueprint for Nightwalker Chestplate (Blue), Blueprint for Nightwalker Gloves (Blue), Blueprint for Nightwalker Helmet (Blue), Blueprint for Nightwalker Boots (Blue), Windswift Thick Leather Horse Mask (Blue), Sturdy White Steel Horse Armor (Blue), Bloodthirsty Longsword (Purple), Unclean Magnet Talisman (Orange), 255 Blood Stones, 742 Warfire Coms. A bright light flashed. Nearly blinding him. This time, the equipment was plentiful, the only disappointment was that there was no orange hero recruitment scroll like last time. An orange hero could greatly increase the power of his territory. But it was still good, the quality of the Platinum Treasure Chest was guaranteed. He checked the blueprints and equipment he¡¯d gotten. ¡°Nightwalker Chest Plate (Blue)¡± ¡°Category: Chest Plate¡± ¡°Defense: Level 3 Defense¡± ¡°Set Effect: Attack Power +2%, Skill Success Rate +10%, 20% increased Movement Speed in the dark, harder for enemies to detect.¡± (Description: Those who hide in the dark have already shown their sharp fangs.) The Nightwalker set, judging by its properties, was suitable for use by the Blood Clan. But Fang Hao had no Blood Clan soldiers at his disposal. The only Rolana is a Dark Gold Hero, and whether she would choose this set of clothes is still uncertain. In any case, he collected it first. If soldiers suitable for night operations appear in the future, they can be equipped accordingly. ¡°Windswift Thick Leather Horse Mask: 3 leather, 2 thick leather, 2 linens, 5 threads, 3 metal parts, 1 trace of wind.¡± (Description: A headgear made of thick leather that is sturdier than an ordinary horse mask and can utilize the power of wind.) The horse mask, a type of horse armor. The use of horses for travelling within the territory is limited to heroes and himself. They usually rely on Bone Dragon for transportation. But regular soldiers still primarily use horses, so the horse mask was useful. When equipping a large number of cavalry, it will come into use. At present, the skeleton cavalry in his territory are primarily responsible for patrol tasks. Moving on, there was still more horse armor. ¡°Sturdy White Steel Horse Armor: 12 leather, 8 thick leather, 15 linens, 8 cast iron pieces, 12 white steel ingots, 10 metal parts.¡± (Description: White steel horse armor made to improve defense. While providing good defense, the downside is that it¡¯s a bit too heavy.) Horse Armor, not much to introduce here, also prepared for future cavalry. The cost for this horse armor is a bit high though. Enough to make quite a few white steel two-handed swords. After looking over the blueprints, the next few items were finished equipment. ¡°Bloodthirsty Longsword (Purple)¡± ¡°Category: One-handed Sword¡± ¡°Damage: Level 5 Damage¡± ¡°Effect: Each enemy defeated increases attack speed by 1%, up to 10 stacks.¡± (Description: You are unaffected, just haven¡¯t tasted the sweetness of the fresh blood of living creatures.) Very good. In Fang Hao¡¯s view, weapons like this that stack effects with each enemy killed are quite good. When used well, they can play a critical role. Just in time, the Blood Hunter used a longsword. And on top of that, he had promised to make him a set of equipment. Isn¡¯t this weapon right on time? ¡°Blood Hunter, take a look at this sword, see if it suits you.¡± Fang Hao handed the Bloodthirsty Sword to the Blood Hunter. The latter respectfully took it, waving it about a bit in his hands. The sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air echoed. ¡°Very good, my lord.¡± The Blood Hunter replied. ¡°Then this weapon is yours,¡± Fang Hao said. Blood Hunter immediately replaced the one-handed sword at his waist, ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°Hmm, you deserve it.¡± After giving the weapon to Blood Hunter, Fang Hao continued to look down. [Unclean Magnet Talisman (Orange)] [Category: Talisman] [Skill: Wound healing +70%] (Description: Eternal Night made an unclean divine power into a talisman, and will forever guard his friends.) The talisman looks more like a pendant. A simple black chain, connected to a blood-red crescent-shaped jade pendant. It looks pretty good and feels warm to the touch. The most important thing is the ability attached to the talisman. +70% of wound healing effect, but it¡¯s unclear how effective it is. He hung the necklace around his neck, and put the original Mindful Necklace into the storage space. Of course, the attributes of the Mindful Necklace are still good, allowing him to use God¡¯s Presence. He plans to wear these two interchangeably, wearing the talisman when going out and wearing the Mindful Necklace when using God¡¯s Presence. The blood stones and Warfire coins behind, Fang Hao also put directly into the storage space. Fang Hao finished looking at the spoils. Anjia also came back with a box. Fang Hao looked at the box, in addition to the Warfire coins and gold coins, there were many gold and silverware, gemstones, and some jewelry. This batch of Blood Clan led by the Red Duke was originally an aristocracy among the Human Clan. They are particularly fond of luxurious items. Naturally, there are many good things. ¡°I think the decorations here are good, why don¡¯t we take them all back? Anjia looked at the gorgeous chandelier overhead and was eager to try. It was good that Lorrey didn¡¯t come along. Otherwise, if she discussed with Anjia, they might just have dismantled it on the spot. Fang Hao thought for a while and shookhis head, ¡°It¡¯s enough to rake in these money, leave these alone.¡± This place is probably where Rolana lives. In the future, she is likely still to live here. If everything is moved out, if her loyalty drops, it will be difficult to handle. ¡°Alright,¡± Anjia didn¡¯t say much. There were too many things scavenged within the territory. Maids¡¯ rooms are equipped with chandeliers, and many are stored in the warehouse without a place to use. Moving these back won¡¯t be of much use. Fang Hao saw that all matters were handled. He continued to give instructions: ¡°Demitrija, Blood Hunter.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The two responded. ¡°Blood Hunter, you will garrison here for a few days and be responsible for the transportation of spoils. Demitrija, you go back with me,¡± Fang Hao thought for a while and gave instructions. Bats and corpses of the Blood Clan, along with furniture moved out from those Blood Clan castles, all need to be returned. This would take some time. With Rolana¡¯s addition, Fang Hao not only increased the strength of his territory but also had an additional sense of crisis. After all, the loyalty is not high and there are no restrictions on the hero¡¯s covenant. Who knows if she will freak out and leave him. Having Demitrija nearby could also increase a certain sense of security. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the two answered in unison. Afterwards, Fang Hao continued to wander around the Blood Castle. After delegating all the tasks, he returned to the territory with Anjia and Demitrija. He didn¡¯t stay in Crescent Heights for long, most of the time was wasted on the road. When the three of them returned to the territory, it was already the afternoon of the next day. After dinner, Fang Hao ran a comfortable hot spring bath, then went straight back to the room to rest. He slept straight through until the next morning. After washing up, he came outside to breathe in the fresh air. After stretching his body, Fang Hao started his morning run around the territory. He was too busy these two days, even the morning workout was delayed. He felt his physical strength was declining more and more. When he jogged down to the wall of the Lord¡¯s mansion, he saw two bunny maids, bending over and peering into the crevices of the wall. The hem of the maid¡¯s dress hung down, outlining the round contour of their buttocks. Fang Hao was also curious about what they were looking at. He stopped and came behind them, and heard a shorter bunny maid whispering, ¡°I don¡¯t know who is so perverted to build a wall here.¡± ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t see anything when I came here last night,¡± said the taller maid. Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Chapter 309, Slaying the Master 1 Chapter 315: Chapter 309, Slaying the Master 1 Translator: 549690339 | ¡ª ¡°No worries, I brought tools. I¡¯ll dig a hole right here, hehe¡­¡± chuckled the dwarf rabbit. ¡°Dig one for me too, but don¡¯t make it too big. We don¡¯t want it to be easily discovered.¡± 7 ¡°Got it,¡± came the reply. Fang Hao was standing behind them, listening to their risque laughter. These two rabbits¡­they behaved like peeping toms. As the two of them truly began to dig into the wall, Fang Hao quietly cleared his throat. Ahem-Aheml! The two rabbits, with their butts sticking out, froze. ¡°Did I hear Master¡¯s voice? You check.¡± ¡°I dare not. You check.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s turn around together.¡± They slowly turned around. Upon seeing Fang Hao, indeed, standing behind them, they flushed and stood straight up. Their tools were quickly hidden behind their backs. Fang Hao recognized the two rabbit women. One of them had left a deep impression on him. She was around 1.5 meters tall, with a baby-face and white floppy ears. Most notably, her exaggerated chest size was unforgettable. The other rabbit woman was tall and slender with handsome features. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± asked Fang Hao sternly. ¡°Ah? Oh, nothing, just strolling¡­¡± responded the large-chested rabbit woman. ¡°Right, we¡¯re just taking a walk, Master,¡± echoed the other woman. Fang Hao looked at the two with resignation. They had learned to lie. He lightly tapped each of them on the head. ¡°Focus on leveling up, don¡¯t spend all your time playing.¡± ¡°Okay, Master,¡± they both responded as they hurriedly left. After the two women left, Fang Hao resumed his morning workout. After concluding his morning workout¡­ Eira had prepared breakfast. Knowing that Fang Hao had a hard time on the road last night, she prepared an abundant meal this morning. There were five dishes, and some ingredients that were good for the body. Ding! Suddenly, the Book of Lords sounded off with a private chat notification. Upon checking, Fang Hao saw it was from Deng Bin who had traded equipment with him a few days prior. Aband of bandits had invaded Deng Bin¡¯s territory, and after several encounters, she had suffered significant losses. To combat the bandits, Deng Bin swapped a batch of equipment from Fang Hao, offering flax as the bargaining chip. It¡¯s been two days since their trade ¨C it seemed that Deng Bin was victorious. ¡°Thanks for your support with the equipment, everything is resolved now. We can continue our flax trade,¡± said Deng Bin. It seemed that eliminating the bandits greatly improved her mood. ¡®I¡¯m glad to hear that. Now that the threat is over, you may want to consider expanding your flax growing. I plan to increase my purchases in the future ¡± replied Fang Hao. Deng Bin was a reliable person. Despite her mafia-like appearance, their transactions had been smooth so far. Fang Hao was more than willing to cooperate with her ¨C it was a stable deal without much hassle. Additionally, Fang Hao¡¯s demand for flax was increasing. Besides the typical flax clothing, flax fabric began to feature among other equipment crafting materials. For instance, the horse mask and armor he acquired yesterday required flax linen and spun thread. Fang Hao speculated that future item crafting would possibly involve a large quantity of flax linen and spun thread. Therefore, he planned to increase his flax purchase significantly. Moreover, according to their agreement, future flax prices would be halved. After Fang Hao sent his message, there was a brief silence on the other end. After a couple of minutes, Deng Bin responded. ¡°Big brother, if you promise to buy all my flax, I can arrange for a large-scale planting.¡± Deng Bin¡¯s idea was quite simple. She could plant the crops, but Fang Hao had to buy all the produce. She didn¡¯t want to be stuck with an unsaleable surplus. Sure, arrange for the planting. I¡¯ll buy everything,¡± Fang Hao agreed. While others might worry about an excess of flax, Fang Hao certainly did not. Forget about his hundreds of skeleton tailors. Flax products were very marketable in the channels and orc areas. For the moment, his worry was more about not having enough flax, rather than having too much. ¡°Great, big brother, I trust you. I¡¯ll arrange for planting right away.¡± Cooperating with Fang Hao had been nothing but beneficial for Deng Bin. She could even gather the resources she needed through her flax trades. ¡°Yeah, go ahead. Don¡¯t forget to develop your armed forces,¡± advised Fang Hao. ¡°Okay, thanks big brother.¡± Deng Bin expressed her sincere gratitude. Meanwhile, the villagers and soldiers around Deng Bin erupted into cheers upon hearing word of the flax planting agreement. In the future, flax crops would provide them with better livelihoods. After ending the chat with Deng Bin, Fang Hao grabbed breakfast and glanced at the regional channel. The atmosphere in today¡¯s channel was a little tense. After observing for a while, he finally understood what everybody was discussing. Apparently, a lord had posted in the channel last night saying that the loyalty of his militiamen had dropped to 32 points. He mentioned that the atmosphere in his territory had become quite strange, and he felt like his subordinates might kill him. Today, however, people noticed his absence. Someone added the lord as a friend and confirmed that his private chat had disappeared. When they searched for the lord, they received the message that this person did not exist. It was basically confirmed that this lord had died the previous night. This news caused quite a stir. Everyone knew that low loyalty could lead to the negligence and defection of subjects. However, this was the first time there was actual evidence of subjects killing their lord due to low loyalty. What the lord did to make loyalty drop to 32 points was no longer important, because he was dead. He had become a negative example to others, highlighting the importance of subject loyalty. In other words, if loyalty drops too low, one must be prepared for the worst. Watching everyone¡¯s discussion in the regional channel¡­ Fang Hao felt a slight tremble in his hand that was holding the wine glass. He rushed to the page that displayed the loyalty level. ¡°The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias, current loyalty towards you: 25.¡± It was indeed still 25 points. Someone else was killed at 32 points, and his was only 25. Fang Hao began to question whether recruiting this Dark Gold hero was a wise decision after all. Though he had no reason to provoke her. However, her past was somewhat tumultuous. What would he do if she was mentally unstable or had mood swings? Seems like he needed to be a little more careful. After breakfast, Fang Hao stepped out of the lord¡¯s mansion. The warm sunlight brought comfort to his entire body. The sun was definitely more pleasant. He wondered how humans survived in Crescent Heights. After stretching his body, Fang Hao made his way to the Undead building area. He opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the Blood Prison. The Blood Prison was a blueprint unlocked after capturing the Blood Castle. It was just perfect as there was no place to imprison criminals in his territory. He selected an appropriate spot on the vacant land to the east for the prison. Location was crucial for imprisoning criminals. The Blood Prison was positioned right within the Undead region. Even if any prisoner escaped, they would face an onslaught from the undead army. ¡°Level One Blood Prison: 2500 Wood, 3000 Stone, 350 Iron, 200 Cast iron blocks, 150 metal parts, 1 trace of violence.¡± (Description: A sturdy and chilling playground. Every time a new ¡®guest¡¯ arrives, excited wails echo from within.) Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 310, Domina Arrives_l Chapter 316: Chapter 310, Domina Arrives_l Translator: 549690339 Commence construction. Light surged up in an instant. After ten minutes. The light dispersed, and a semi-underground dungeon appeared in front of Fang Hao. The construction itself was built underground. The top protruded ten centimeters above the ground, with two narrow windows at the front and back. These windows allowed for ventilation and brief exposure to sunlight. Construction completed. Fang Hao went down the stairs into it. The dim corridor was lined with individual cells, four in total. Constructed from stone walls and metal iron bars, it looked very robust. Escape would be extraordinarily difficult with guards posted. In each cell, various torture instruments were hung; there were iron shackles, whips, and some tools with uses that Fang Hao knew, even though he didn¡¯t know their names. Though the Blood Prison was only Level 1¡­ There were no actual prisoners in his territory, so there was no rush to upgrade it. Upgrades would be made when necessary. After a quick inspection, Fang Hao left the Blood Prison. After arriving back at the castle. The sky overhead abruptly darkened. A giant Bone Dragon arrived over the territory and dove straight down. With a gust of wind, it landed in front of the castle. Following that, the massive spider body, the Spider Fateweaver ¨C Domina, climbed down from its back. Domina was a demon spider, and her body was quite sizable. The upper half of her body resembled a woman, while the giant spider form of her lower half was still dreadfully unsettling. ¡°L-Lord,¡± Domina stumbled as she staggered forward. Her sharp spider legs clacked against the stone pavement. The normally flat, solid ground was left with pockmarks and cracks as if it had been punctured by a sharp sword. ¡°Domina, have you been drinking?,¡± Fang Hao curiously asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s my first time riding a Bone Dragon. I¡¯m a bit dizzy,¡± Domina replied. Her massive body then lay directly on the ground. Ah, it seemed she was experiencing the aftereffects of flying on the Bone Dragon. Fang Hao and his maids had experienced similar sensations of weakness in their limbs during their first ride on the Bone Dragon. ¡°You should take a moment to recover.¡± After a brief rest, Domina was back to normal. She got up again and moved around slowly in a clacking manner. She controlled her strength carefully so she wouldn¡¯t fracture the pavement. It was like she was wearing high heels and walking across a floor. ¡°Master, I have brought a gift for you,¡± Domina removed a giant white silk cocoon from the back of the Bone Dragon. The white cocoon was elongated and oval, wrapped in cobweb silk. Fang Hao frowned slightly at the sight of the cocoon. Had they captured a person along the way and brought him here like this? The person inside must be suffocating. Before Fang Hao could ask, Domina cut open the silk with her sharp legs. A crashing sound rang out! Along with the torn silk, a large pile of gold coins and gemstones fell onto the ground. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Fang Hao relieved when he realized there wasn¡¯t a person inside. He hadn¡¯t expected Domina and her group to use this method to transport money. ¡°Master, we¡¯ve had some deals with nearby villages and saved some gold coins,¡± Domina said, looking at Fang Hao with hopeful eyes. Fang Hao glanced at the coins on the ground, then back at Domina. He understood what she was thinking. He nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll accept it. You won¡¯t need to worry about the Hero Test either. I have it all planned out.¡± He turned his head to look in the distance. The maids were hiding behind the door, curiously peeking over here. They were filled with fascination and wariness at the sight of this giant spider woman. ¡°Move the money into the castle,¡± Fang Hao directed. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± one of the maids responded. They proceeded to transport the cocoon money-bag, teeming with coins and gemstones, together. Fang Hao turned back to Domina, asking, ¡°Do you want to rest a bit or start the Hero Test right away?¡± ¡°If possible, I¡¯d like to take the Hero Test,¡± she answered. ¡°Alright, come with me.¡± Fang Hao led Domina to the Merit Training Grounds. As they walked, he casually explained the architectural style and characteristics of the city to her. Domina stared in awe at the grand scale and order of the city, much like how Fang Hao felt when he first saw the spider-web dwelling that she had constructed. They passed through the city to its center. Various statues, the Merit Training Ground, and Hero Altar had been erected here. They stood in front of the Merit Training Ground. Domina was at Tier 10, and if she passed the Hero Test, she would officially become a Hero. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Fang Hao took out a Hero Heart and a hundred Warfire Coins from his inventory. The Merit Training Ground was designed for Hero Tests and upgrades. Since its establishment, Fang Hao had learned quite a bit about it. The training ground was only for Heroes; weapons and armor couldn¡¯t be brought in. This rule prevented people from getting ahead by relying on their equipment. Domina¡¯s face reddened slightly, whether from nervousness or excitement, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°I¡¯m ready, Master.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin. Stay calm,¡± Fang Hao advised, as he took two steps back. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Domina stepped into the training ground. A gentle light enveloped her, and in the next second, her entire body disappeared from Fang Hao¡¯s sight. At the same time, Fang Hao received a system notification. [The ¡°Merit Training Ground¡± in the main territory is conducting a Hero Test.] Another notification arrived. However, there were no options or further instructions. It seemed the notification was merely informative. Time ticked away. Fang Hao checked his watch; twelve minutes had passed. He couldn¡¯t help but worry. Would she fail? According to Domina, she had been at Tier 10 for some time and had fought a few battles with the Gnolls. She shouldn¡¯t fail. After another five to six minutes, another announcement came. [Military unit the Spider Fateweaver has successfully completed the Hero Test and has been promoted to Hero unit Fateweaver ¨C Domina.] [Slave Contract has been automatically upgraded to Hero Contract.] Seeing these notifications, Fang Hao let out a sigh of relief. Domina had succeeded. A green light appeared from the altar again. Domina¡¯s figure reappeared in front of Fang Hao, but this time, she wasn¡¯t a massive spider but a tall woman standing two meters tall. Her long, slender legs and buttocks were wrapped in black, chitinous armor that extended up to her upper body, covering her rather voluptuous chest. On her smooth back were four pairs of black spider legs. They were slim, glossy, and sharp as a sword at their ends. ¡°Master, I successfully ascended to be a Hero and didn¡¯t let down your expectations,¡± Domina, now kneeling on one knee, said with a joyful face. This was not only because she had met Fang Hao¡¯s expectations¡­ But she had also fulfilled her long-held ambition. [Loyalty of Fateweaver ¨C Domina towards you increased by 5 points, current Loyalty: 78.] Upon successfully becoming a Hero, her Loyalty also rose by 5 points. Loyalty was incredibly important. Even though a Hero Contract was already in effect. [Fateweaver ¨C Domina (Green Tier 7 Hero)] Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Chapter 311, Strange Hobby _1 Chapter 317: Chapter 311, Strange Hobby _1 Translator: 549690339 [Fateweaver-Domina (Green Level 7 Hero)] [Faction: Spiderling Goblin] [Racial Traits: Living Creature, Sunlight Sensitivity, Spider Magic, Chitin, Dual Form.] [Legion Talent: Shaman Commander, Spider God Devotee.] [Skills: Multiple Attacks, Longsword Legs, Deadly Toxin, Webbing, Venom Spray, Curse.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Combat Mastery, Advanced Stealth Mastery, Advanced Magic Mastery, Advanced Action Mastery.] [Sun Sensitivity]: In the sunlight, this unit is at a disadvantage, with all attributes reduced. [Spider Magic]: This unit is a natural spellcaster, capable of casting spells like [Venom Spray] and [Curse] without needing to learn or master them, and possesses a strong ability to learn magic. [Chitin]: This unit has innate chitin, hastening the dispersion of negative effects and enhancing its own magic resistance. [Dual Form]: This unit can freely transform between a ¡®human form¡¯ and a ¡®arthropod form¡¯. [Shaman Commander]: This unit, leading a goblin army, gets all attributes +15%, Magic resistance +5%. [Spider God Devotee]: Every time a unit of this unit¡¯s army dies, it automatically transforms into two Giant Spider Hatchlings, which continue to fight alongside it. [Multiple Attacks]: ¡®Human form¡¯ causes multiple physical damages, ¡®Goblin form¡¯ causes multiple physical damages, with additional toxin damage. [Longsword Legs]: Sturdy legs tough enough to compare with sharp longswords, inflict piercing damage on the target unit. [Deadly Toxin]: The damage caused by the ¡®goblin state¡¯ attack will be unable to be healed by ¡®Potions¡¯ and ¡®Healing Spells¡¯ for a certain period. [Webbing]: The ¡®goblin state1 can release a magic spider web, causing slowing and binding effects on units along the way. [Venom Spray]: Release venomous foam to inflict venom damage on frontal units. [Curse]: Targets up to five creatures, releasing curse, making them vulnerable and causing an extra 20% damage when attacked. (Description: They were rejected by ¡®living creatures¡¯ and were driven into the depths of the dark territory, becoming hermits and hunters, wandering alone or leading Giant Spiders lurking near their lairs.) Domina¡¯s attribute has not changed significantly. The most notable points are the added legion skills and dual status. Transformed from a Spiderling Goblin, it can take on a human shape. When in between human and spider goblin, the effects of the skills are slightly different. So far, it seems that the skills are a bit stronger when in ¡®spider¡¯ form. By then, it¡¯ll be up to Domina how to use them. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. ¡°Pretty good. I feel stronger than before.¡± Domina also revealed a smile. It seems the most significant changes are in her attributes, besides her skills. A rank 10 soldier, can¡¯t be compared to a hero anyway. ¡°Let¡¯s go, rest in the lord¡¯s mansion. I have had some clothes prepared for you.¡± Fang Hao continued. Domina nodded. She kind of liked the splendid clothes that the maids wore. Now that Fang Hao mentioned giving her some, she naturally accepted. He led Domina back to the lord¡¯s hall. A maid immediately brought in some fruit wine. Fang Hao told the maid, ¡°Prepare two sets of clothes for her.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The maid evaluated Domina and quickly departed. The territory has been getting stranger recently, with a woman who always seemed to be under a cloud coming the day before yesterday, and a spider person arriving today. When the maid left, Fang Hao spoke again. ¡°How¡¯s the mine? Are those Gnolls behaving?¡± Domina was holding the fruit wine, her back legs gently tapping on the rough clay cup. She didn¡¯t understand how it was made and why it could hold water. ¡°Oh, they were not very obedient before, but after I fed some of the troublemakers to the Queen Giant Spider, they¡¯ve become much more disciplined.¡± Domina casually responded. Well, she fed the gnolls directly to the spiders. ¡°What about the leader of the Gnolls? Didn¡¯t you sign a Slave Contract with him?¡± Fang Hao asked further. She had directly let her sign a contract with the Gnoll leader at that time. They should be able to keep those Gnolls in check. ¡°After signing the contract, that guy¡¯s authority dropped considerably. Now he serves more like a supervisor,¡± Domina quietly answered. In other words, After the Gnoll leader signed the Slave Contract, his prestige plummeted. He is no longer recognized as a leader by the other Gnolls. His current role is more like a foreman or overseer. He is responsible for discussing the Gnolls mining the ore. ¡°Is the mining operation stable now?¡± Domina nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s steady now, my lord.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s what I wanted.¡± The mines near the Webweaver camp are very important to Fang Hao. Mithril that can be mined there is a very scarce material. It needs to be mined steadily. If the efficiency of mining can¡¯t be guaranteed, he would consider letting the skeleton workers do the mining. While the two are chatting, The maid who was preparing the clothes came in. She brought several sets of clothes in her hands, including maid outfits, everyday linen dresses, leather armor, and a one-handed sword. The maid put the clothes aside, cautiously glanced at Domina, and quickly exited the room. ¡°Domina, you try them on and see if they fit,¡± Fang Hao pointed to the clothes. ¡°Oh, of course, my lord.¡± Domina agreed, picked up a beige linen dress, and started to put it on. Her body entirely covered by chitin, she didn¡¯t need to go to the changing room. The beige top was put on, and the black limbs on her back pierced through the garment. Her two-meter height made the top somewhat short, like a women¡¯s midriff-bearing outfit. ¡°My Lord, how do I wear this?¡± Domina asked, somewhat embarrassed. The corset and leather armor were in the wrong order, Piled on her, it looked bulky. Fang Hao sighed, stood up, and walked over. He looked at the punctured linen top and reluctantly shook his head. A perfectly good piece of clothing was pierced full of holes. Wasn¡¯t this just wasting resources? He took all the clothes from her arms and tucked the sword under his arm. ¡°You aren¡¯t supposed to put all these clothes on at once, these are put together as a set, and these are another set for you to change into,¡± Fang Hao explained. As he was speaking, he put clothes into sets and placed them on a chair nearby. Thump! The moment he turned around, the sword under his armpit smacked against Domina¡¯s chitin-covered butt. A crisp sound echoed as if hitting flesh. Fang Hao instantly stiffened, looking up to find Domina frowning back at him. ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡­.¡± [Fateweaver ¨C Domina¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 2 points, the current loyalty is 80.] Huh? Why did it go up by two points? Fang Hao curiously looked at Domina, then at the place he¡¯d hit. He turned back around, This time, he hit Domina¡¯s backside with the sword even harder. Thump!! An even more resonant sound came, Domina¡¯s body froze slightly, and the black spider legs on her back tightened, trembling slightly. [Fateweaver ¨C Domina¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 2 points, the current loyalty is 82.] Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Chapter 312, Visiting Someones House in the Evening 1 Chapter 318: Chapter 312, Visiting Someone¡¯s House in the Evening 1 Translator: 549690339 Fang Hao looked at Domina in surprise. She stood still, wearing a slightly short top, seemingly waiting. Fang Hao subsequently fell silent. Why would patting her behind increase loyalty? This seemed utterly unrelated. Did he just discover a bug for boosting loyalty? The thought had barely crossed his mind when Fang Hao discarded it. If this method could indeed enhance loyalty, he should have noticed it long ago among his comrades. Noticing Domina bend her upper body slightly with her rear end slightly raised¡­ Fang Hao used his hand to give it a solid pat. Smack!! That was louder, and left Fang Hao¡¯s hand feeling hot. This bug shell was like smacking on the sturdy leather, so hard. [Fateweaver ¨C Domina¡¯s loyalty to you increased by 2 points, current loyalty is 84.] As expected, increased another two points. ¡°Domina, do you enjoy this?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Domina¡¯s face blushed slightly, ¡°Not bad, my Lord.¡± Well, alright then. It seemed that Domina in her human form did have some peculiar tastes. Just as Fang Hao was about to raise Domina¡¯s loyalty straight to 100 points. There was a sound of hurried footsteps from outside. Whoosh!! A tall and short figure burst through the door, skidding a couple of meters into the center of the hall. ¡°Fang Hao, hand me the Shepherd¡¯s Flute, we¡¯re going to the river.¡± Anjia shouted excitedly. Following her was the Blackfoot Cat, Lorrey, nodding his head in agreement. Before Fang Hao could reply. Their gaze fell on Domina, eyes fully locked on the sharp limbs growing on her back. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°This is Domina, the one you met last time,¡± Fang Hao explained. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Uh¡­ Before Fang Hao could reply, Domina introduced herself. ¡°Miss Anjia, we met at the Webweaver camp. You even complimented that my house looked pretty.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you!¡± Anjia realized. ¡°Why did you transform into this? Those things on your back look cool.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss Anjia.¡± Anjia glanced at their strange stance and asked curiously, ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Fang Hao put the short sword aside and said, ¡°Domina just learned how to transform into human form. You could show her how to wear these clothes.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Anjia took on this task, and she and Lorrey began helping Domina put on her clothes. In no time, Domina was dressed. However, the back of the dress required holes for her limbs. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s on. Now give me the Shepherd¡¯s Flute,¡± Anjia demanded, extending her hand. ¡°Where are you two going to play in the river? Are you nuts? Isn¡¯t the hot spring enough for you both?¡± Fang Hao said sternly. ¡°Oh come on, it¡¯s just the river to the north of our territory. It¡¯s not that deep.¡± Fang Hao handed her the Shepherd¡¯s Flute with a word of caution. ¡°Be careful and don¡¯t be reckless, especially you, Lorrey. Be more cautious, stop coming back covered in injuries every time.¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Anjia grabbed the Shepherd¡¯s Flute and rushed out with Lorrey. The hall was once again left with only Fang Hao and Domina. Domina was now wearing a maid¡¯s dress. The long black skirt matched the black bug shell on her legs, looking like she was wearing a pair of leather pants. Given Domina¡¯s attributes, the long skirt was quite suitable for her ability to switch between two forms. If she wore pants and then transformed into a spider, it would ruin the pants, but a skirt doesn¡¯t present such a problem. Fang Hao glanced at Domina, thought for a moment, and then picked up the iron sword next to him. Upon seeing this, Domina made the first move and leaned on the table in front of her. In the afternoon, Domina, holding a large package, mounted the Bone Dragon. Fang Hao used a brutal method to directly raise loyalty to 90 points. Although Domina still preferred this method after it reached 90, her loyalty didn¡¯t increase anymore. It¡¯s getting late. Domina returned to the Webweaver camp, finishing this ¡®game¡¯ after a few hours¡¯ journey. As for whether Domina has other quick ways to improve loyalty, it can only be studied next time. After Domina left, the maids¡¯ topics were still about the Spider Woman. They were very curious about the spider form that suddenly turned into a human. Dinner was served. The goldsmith, Luke, sought Fang Hao again. He held several pieces of jewelry that he had made previously for Rebecca, the wife of the city lord of Lyss City. The craftsmanship of the goldsmith is even more complicated. 101 goldsmiths, after such a long time of work, had only just produced trial samples. The two had a simple exchange and Fang Hao remembered what Luke had sought to advise him. The next day. Early in the morning, as the sky was beginning to light up and night was slowly fading away, Fang Hao opened his eyes and began to wash. According to the plan he had made with Luke the previous night, he would take the goldsmith¡¯s trial samples to Lyss City, For Rebecca to try on. Eira had already started preparing breakfast. Fang Hao went to Anjia¡¯s room, woke her up, and once again confirmed that slapping her bottom was not a bug to raise loyalty. After a simple breakfast, Fang Hao, together with Anjia and Demitrija, mounted the Bone Dragon. The Bone Dragon¡¯s legs powered and headed towards Gray Bear stronghold. By 10 o¡¯clock in the morning, the three arrived at Gray Bear stronghold. They switched to the swift Purple-scaled horse, and arrived at Lyss City by dusk. The location of Lyss City was Enjoyable Hotpot Restaurant. ¡°My Lord,¡± Winnie, the lady boss, and the bandit Gray Bear, both bowed in unison. They were somewhat surprised by Fang Hao¡¯s sudden arrival. ¡°Hmm, when can it be the opening?¡± Fang Hao sat down on a chair nearby. This house was originally a tavern. After being purchased by Fang Hao, it was planned to be turned into a hotpot restaurant. Winnie had been renovating this place for several days, according to her own promised time, it should be about time for opening. ¡°The sign can be hung up tomorrow. As long as the ingredients and staff are in place, we can open for business,¡± Winnie answered. ¡°Good, arrange it as soon as possible. I will inform others to collaborate with you,¡± Fang Hao nodded. Understood, my Lord,¡± Winnie also revealed a smile. This shop was much bigger than her tavern. And Lyss City was even larger, with a greater population. It was enough for her to showcase her skills. After dinner. Fang Hao washed up again and put on a set of prepared formal attire. He went directly to the lord¡¯s house. This time, Rebecca didn¡¯t attend any dances. He followed a maid and stopped in front of a room. The maid knocked lightly on the door, ¡°Madam, Mr Fang Hao is here.¡± ¡°Let him come in.¡± The door opened, and Fang Hao walked in. This was a study room, a desk in the middle of the room, and four bookshelves against the wall, filled with a variety of books. There were also several exquisite paintings on display. Rebecca, wearing a casual long dress in light blue, was writing something at the desk. When Fang Hao came in, she merely briefly glanced up. ¡°Do you always like to visit other people¡¯s homes at night?¡± Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Chapter 313, Five Corpses l Chapter 319: Chapter 313, Five Corpses l Translator: 549690339 Rebecca spoke with a slight hint of resentment, and there was a hint of fatigue in her face. Fang Hao didn¡¯t care about her blame. ¡°Ah! There¡¯s nothing I can do, the client won¡¯t provide board and lodging, I am leaving first thing tomorrow and can only save one day¡¯s food and lodging costs.¡± A slight smile appeared on Rebecca¡¯s face at Fang Hao¡¯s teasing. She rolled her eyes at him. He made it sound as if she had mistreated him, and was saddling her with the matter. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re not just here to complain about the food and lodging fees today, are you?¡± Rebecca asked about Fang Hao¡¯s intentions. Fang Hao didn¡¯t want to waste too much time. He opened his backpack directly and took out all the jewelry inside. During the journey, these items were stored in a storage space. Here, in order not to cause trouble, they were put into the backpack. ¡°The accessories for the dress are ready, I came here today to let you try them on, once we confirm they¡¯re good, I¡¯ll then proceed with the final production.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Rebecca said with some surprise. Jewelry is different from clothing. Jewelry making, metal melting and engraving, are all very time-consuming tasks. One piece of jewelry worn by nobles is invaluable, not just for craftsmanship and materials. It also includes the time consumed by the process. ¡°I have many craftsmen working for me, so the piecework production is a bit quicker.¡± Fang Hao explained indifferently. There are 101 gold carvers in his territory. Not only are they numerous, but their craftsmanship is also extremely close to each other. There would not be a big difference in their skills. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see how it turns out then?¡± Rebecca stood up, a look of anticipation in her eyes. She had high hopes for Fang Hao¡¯s design. Throughout these years, his works provided the only innovation and breakthrough. She ordered a maid to bring a full-length mirror. Rebecca emerged from behind her desk and stood in front of the mirror. Seeing that the maid had no intentions of helping her, Fang Hao stood up, picked up the jewelry on the side, and stood behind her. As soon as he approached her, he could smell the faint fragrance from Rebecca. Her light blue leisure dress could not hide her graceful figure, the collar of her dress was a deep V, revealing her enticing cleavage. Fang Hao put the blue necklace inlaid with blue gemstones around her neck. The white neck and the blue necklace made from sapphires complemented each other very well. With Rebecca standing in front of the mirror, she was subtly swaying from side to side, looking at herself in the mirror. She nodded subconsciously. Even though it was just a fitting, and many steps were still incomplete. However, the overall effect of the set of accessories was already on display, exuding a feeling of lavish elegance. A pleasant feeling welled up in her heart, and a smile appeared on her face. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Fang Hao, staring at her. She struck up a conversation, ¡°Did you hear, there¡¯s been quite a commotion in Pruell City recently.¡± Lyss city and Pruell city are neighboring cities, so they pay close attention to each other¡¯s news. ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± Fang Hao responded casually. ¡°Cyril has participated in many Federation battles and made outstanding contributions to humanity, so it¡¯s unexpected that he died at the hands of the Blood Clan.¡± said Rebecca with a hint of sigh. Tavek was elected as city lord. He had reported the situation of Pruell city to the Federation. He attributed the death of Cyril to an attack by the Blood Clan and provided some evidence. It seems that Rebecca had also received the news, otherwise, she would not have mentioned Cyril. Rebecca continued to put on her bracelets and earrings, her smile becoming more radiant. How beautiful! She couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in her mind. ¡°Will humans go to war with the Blood Clan?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. If humans started a war directly with Crescent Heights over this matter, it would indeed be troublesome. Then humans would directly attack Crescent Heights, wouldn¡¯t that mean his stationed army would have to fight? ¡°It¡¯s difficult! Even though there is a formal agreement between humans and the Blood Clan, some Blood Clan can¡¯t control themselves and frequent attacks on humans still happen.¡± Rebecca gave Fang Hao a glance, ¡°The murderer has already been executed by Tavek, the Federation should issue a warning to the Blood Clan, the likelihood of war is small.¡± Fang Hao nodded but didn¡¯t say anything. It would be better if there was no war. When the warning arrived at Crescent Heights, he would have his people accept it and it would pass. That would save him a lot of trouble afterward. Now that all the accessories were fitted, they made Rebecca look even more regal and dignified. ¡°I really like them, these accessories are very creative and beautiful.¡± Rebecca happily nodded. She wished she could wear the custom-made dress alongside the set of jewelry right now. ¡°I¡¯m glad you like them, sowhen I get back, I¡¯ll arrange for the final pieces to be made.¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Okay, start making them.¡± Rebecca removed the jewelry with a bit of reluctance. Fang Hao took the jewelry from her and packed them all away. After the jewelry fitting session was over. Fang Hao was just about to leave. Thump, thump, thump!! Just as he was about to say goodbye to Rebecca, hurried knocking sounds were heard from outside the door. The door opened. A guard dressed as a warrior walked in and gave Fang Hao a wary look. ¡°Madam, the guard team is back and they have brought back several corpses, they¡¯re asking if you would like to take a look.¡± On hearing the guard¡¯s words, Rebecca¡¯s expression turned serious instantly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s take a look.¡± Then, she completely forgot about Fang Hao as she briskly followed the guard out of the room. Fang Hao stood awkwardly in place. He couldn¡¯t stay here, so he had no choice but to follow them out. Walking down the long corridor together. In his mind, he thought that after leaving the lord¡¯s mansion, he would say goodbye to Rebecca and then head back to where he was staying. However, after hearing what the guard reported back, Fang Hao developed an interest in the case. Despite the guard speaking in a low voice. He still heard about the abduction of a special group of people. As he left the lord¡¯s mansion and was planning on continuing to follow them, He was stopped by the guards. Without saying much, Fang Hao simply nodded and went straight out of the lord¡¯s mansion courtyard. He glanced in the direction Rebecca left and went straight back to the inn where he was staying. After leaving the lord¡¯s mansion, Fang Hao went back to the inn with Anjia. He gave Anjia a simple explanation before lying down on the bed. The Skull Ash Sparrow beside him, after the Soul Fire lit in its pupils, flapped its wings and flew out the window under the cover of darkness. Using the night as cover, it flew back to the sky above the lord¡¯s mansion. The lord¡¯s mansion had a tight defense. In addition to the guards on duty, there were also many hidden sentries. Using the direction Rebecca left, Fang Hao began to search. Soon, he found a brightly lit, large building. Entering through a narrow vertical window at the top, he spotted Rebecca. She was standing below, surrounded by guards. When Fang Hao¡¯s gaze found five corpses laid out on the ground, his heart pounded fiercely. The grey-brown body bag had been opened. Exposing the bodies that had been dead for quite some time. All over the bodies were densely packed wounds that had turned into bloody scabs, revealing they suffered intense torture or abuse before death. The corpses were both male and female, of different ages. But they had one thing in common. Black hair. Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 314, Donating to the Temple_l Chapter 320: Chapter 314, Donating to the Temple_l Translator: 549690339 Looking at the bodies below, a sudden sense of danger welled up in Fang Hao¡¯s heart. He had no idea where Rebecca had gotten these bodies. But the physical features of the bodies told him that they were all transmigrators like himself. Damn it. Fang Hao cursed inwardly. Someone was capturing transmigrators and subjecting them to some form of execution and torture. Down below. Rebecca was having a conversation with a captain of the guard. From the stern looks on their faces, it was clear they were discussing something serious. The hall was not lit by Nightstones, but by lit candles. Under the dim candlelight. Fang Hao flew from the top and hid behind a flag hanging against the wall. At the same time, he overheard the conversation between the two. ¡°Did you not capture anyone?¡± Rebecca¡¯s voice was tinged with anger. ¡°No, it seems our actions were discovered. There was nothing left when we arrived,¡± the soldier¡¯s voice was subdued, but his suppressed anger was still detectable. ¡°Damn it.¡± Rebecca cursed. She took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Are these the only bodies?¡± ¡°There¡¯s another person who¡¯s heavily wounded and unconscious. We¡¯ve sent them to the temple, but it¡¯s uncertain if they can be saved.¡± the guard spoke in hushed tones. Hearing that there was a survivor, Rebecca¡¯s expression improved considerably. If this survivor could wake up, they might provide some useful information. After a brief moment of contemplation, Rebecca continued, ¡°Keep this information confidential. Have someone guard him. No one else is allowed to approach him except for me.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± The two ended their conversation. Rebecca turned to leave without giving a second glance at the five bodies on the ground. Fang Hao lingered behind the flag for a while. Seeing no other leads, he controlled the skeletal sparrow to fly back to the window he had entered from. The candlelight cast a large, dark shadow on the wall. Before the soldier could turn around to look, the sparrow had already flown out the window, disappearing into the night sky. Withdrawing from his avatar state, Fang Hao woke up in his room at the inn. Sitting on the bed and gazing at the star-studded night sky, he remained silent for quite some time. The next morning¡¯s dawn. Fang Hao woke up from his bed. Demitrija had already fed the horses, and Anjia had packed some food for the road. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving today. Anjia, come with me for a little while.¡± Fang Hao stepped outside at a leisurely pace. The two were taken aback, surprised by Fang Hao¡¯s decision. The sudden change of plan suggested that something unexpected had come up. ¡°What happened? Aren¡¯t we going back? The food here is so bad¡­¡± Anjia grumbled quietly. A snort from the innkeeper echoed from inside the inn. ¡°We¡¯ll go back first thing tomorrow morning. Get ready to eat now,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh.¡± The two agreed, and made their way back into the inn. After breakfast. Fang Hao took Anjia out of the inn. Strolling along the main road, Fang Hao bought some unfamiliar fruits. Seeing that no one was looking, he quickly put them in his storage space. Anjia held some snacks in her hand and continued walking while stuffing her mouth full. She also kept talking non-stop. The two walked along the main road and gradually came upon a grand temple. Watching from a distance, they saw residents entering and exiting freely, with no guards stopping them. They continued up the stone steps. There was a round flower bed. Acolytes wearing religious robes were busily doing their work. Acolytes were believers from various human cities. They came to the temple to act as messengers of God, receiving donations and faith from believers. But whether the gods would hear the voices of the people was debatable. Perhaps if your prayers weren¡¯t answered, your faith wasn¡¯t devout enough. The temple housed two statues of gods. The God of Light and the Goddess of Harvest. It seemed that most living creatures of different species had a significant number of believers in the Goddess of Harvest. ¡°Sir, howmay I assist you?¡± A young woman wearing an acolyte¡¯s robe approached. Fang Hao examined her attributes. Just an ordinary person, with the attributes of a Tier 1 farmer. The acolytes are non-clergy personnel who assist with various tasks within the Temple. Most of these acolytes are women who possess knowledge related to midwifery and healing skills. ¡°I¡¯m a new cloth trader from Lyss City,¡± Fang Hao slowly walked forward with the woman acolyte curiously following behind him. ¡°About me, well, I have a peculiar¡­,¡± he began. ¡°Oh, are you here for treatment?¡± said the woman acolyte, realizing his point. ¡°My peculiar thing is that I have money¡­and I plan to donate to the Temple to affirm my faith,¡± Fang Hao finished his talk in one go. Hearing about the temple¡¯s donation, the acolyte¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. People like Fang Hao are most welcomed at the temple. Having faith is important, but the best part is their willingness to donate money. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. Please come in, I¡¯ll immediately call our High Priest,¡± the acolyte hurriedly said. She led Fang Hao into a building next to the temple. It was a clean and tidy corridor with individual rooms on both sides. In one of them, there were four guards standing by the door. ¡°Is there some important person here?¡± Fang Hao asked. The acolyte glanced at the guards and whispered, ¡°The person brought in last night appears to be from a significant family. I heard that their injury is quite severe.¡± ¡°Did they not die?¡± ¡°Huh? If they died, wouldn¡¯t they have been carried away already? Why would they still be here?¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Fang Hao agreed. The acolyte guided them to a separate room, asked them to wait a while, and went out to find the Priest she mentioned. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bring Skeleton Grey Sparrow with him. No matter how brave he was, he didn¡¯t dare to bring the Skeleton Grey Sparrow into the temple. Fang Hao casually strolled down the corridor, apparently appreciating the temple, his eyes occasionally glancing towards the guarded room. When the guards threw him a wary look, Fang Hao casually walked back to his room. After a while, the door opened, and an elderly crone came in. Leaning on her tree-root cane, she seated herself across from Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, I heard that you intend to donate to the temple?¡± the old woman asked. [Temple Priest (Tier 10)]. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed; surprisingly, she was Tier 10. ¡°Do you have the final say here?¡± Fang Hao curiously asked. ¡°I¡¯ve been in charge here for a long time, so naturally, my word carries weight,¡± the old woman nodded. Despite her age, her voice didn¡¯t hold any fluctuations. Fang Hao nodded. It seemed a Tier 10 Priest was the strongest force in this temple. It should be legit, there was no Temple in Pruell City. As Pruell City¡¯s neighbor, the fact that Lyss City had a Tier 10 priest in their temple was quite impressive. ¡°Alright, I wanted to ask, what kind of donations does the Temple accept?¡± ¡°Are you a trader? Many traders would donate items they produce. Of course, we also accept gold coins,¡± the old woman continued. The Temple did not discriminate against donations. Whatever you¡¯ve got, they¡¯ll take it. Donating your products was fine, giving them cash so they could purchase what they needed was also acceptable. ¡°I¡¯m a cloth merchant. Does the temple need clothing?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a long time since the temple received a clothing donation,¡± the elderly priest immediately answered. ¡°One more thing, if I added some advertisements on the donated clothing, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem, would it?¡± Fang Hao suddenly had a new idea and asked for confirmation. ¡°What is an advertisement?¡± the old priest asked, slightly furrowing her eyebrows. Fang Hao pointed to his chest, ¡°well, here, there¡¯d be the name of our cloth store printed, showing that these clothes are made by us.¡± ¡°That would be fine,¡± the old priest nodded. ¡°Oh, then could you count how many people are there in the Temple and give me the clothing styles? After I get back, I¡¯ll arrange for the clothes to be made,¡± Fang Hao said. This time, the idea of donating clothing came to Fang Hao on the spot. By then, both officials from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the Temple would wear clothes from his cloth shop. Probably, his cloth shop¡¯s name would be known across the city overnight. It just depended on when the cloth shop would be officially started. ¡°Okay, wait a moment, please. There are not many people in the temple, so it won¡¯t take long to count,¡± the old priest said with a hint of a smile visible on her weathered face. ¡°Can I take a tour around the Temple?¡± ¡°Of course, you can.¡± The two of them went out together. Just as they stepped into the corridor. Suddenly, a terrified wail came from ahead. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve told you all already, let me out, let me out.¡± Following that, a person dashed out, shoving aside the guards. He charged out of the room towards them. Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: Chapter 315, Cunning Gambler_1 Chapter 321: Chapter 315, Cunning Gambler_1 A young man barreled past the guard in front of him and dashed out of the room. He ran down the corridor and shrieked, in a fit of hysteria, ¡°I told you, let me out, let me out.¡± Stumbling all the way, he ripped open his fresh wounds. Blood started soaking through his linen robe. He barged through all the people blocking his way. However, as he passed by Fang Hao, his pupils dilated abruptly and he staggered, falling to the ground. Fang Hao tried to step forward to help, but was blocked by Anjia, who shielded him behind her. The young man, drained of energy, looked at Fang Hao and said, ¡°They are coming after us, those maniacs, get out of here, hide quickly¡­¡± ¡°Who are they you¡¯re talking about?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Them, get moving, they¡¯re all madmen, they kill, they kill¡­¡± The man¡¯s speech was incoherent. When Fang Hao asked who they were, his eyes were full of fear. ¡°Who are they? What did they ask when they captured you?¡± The man was still gripped by panic, his gaze was vacillating, looking around surreptitiously. He kept repeating words like escape, they are devils, they are lunatics. At this moment, the guards from behind caught up. They helped the man up and took him back to the room he was in before. Under the guards¡¯ orders, the gathering crowd quickly dispersed. The corridor grew quiet again. Only Fang Hao, Anjia, and the old, crone-like priest were left. ¡°What happened to that man just now?¡± Fang Hao asked the old woman. The old woman eyed Fang Hao and said slowly, ¡°He¡¯s a patient sent from the City Lord. It seems he¡¯s involved in some violent incidents, but I¡¯m not sure of the details, we in the Temple only look after their treatment.¡± ¡°So, he¡¯s not in a lethal condition?¡± Fang Hao followed the old woman, walking ahead. ¡°His life is not in danger, he¡¯s just been shocked and needs some time for recovery.¡± The old woman replied. Fang Hao nodded slightly, deciding not to ask further. Last night he saw five bodies, perhaps he knows more than the old woman does. This was not a simple case of violence, but someone was capturing transmigrators to interrogate and murder them. The old woman assigned some assistant priests. She took Fang Hao for a tour around the Temple. Soon, the Temple staff¡¯s number and uniform style were also delivered. Temple uniforms always have specific religious symbols, but they do not fall within the category of equipment blueprints. They cannot be mass produced and need tailors for processing. By the time they left the Temple, it was already three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Fang Hao had a haircut, then strolled through the other commercial streets. He looked to see if there were any shops for sale and evaluated which ones had better business. By the time he finished strolling along the commercial street, it was already getting dark. Anjia felt that the food at the inn was not good, so they decided to eat in the tavern instead. Upon pushing open the tavern door, they were met with an onslaught of noise. Fang Hao took a seat at the bar. The tavern owner also walked over, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve been here.¡± It seemed the owner still remembered Fang Hao. ¡°Just occasionally coming here for improved dining.¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. He didn¡¯t mention that he had just arrived in Lyss City. ¡°What do you plan on having today?¡± The owner wiped his hands with a rag. Fang Hao looked at Anjia, ¡°Order whatever you want to eat, just don¡¯t order too much.¡± Anjia began ordering, while Fang Hao turned his attention to the notice board on the side. The notice board in the tavern. It has always been an important source for obtaining maps. The rewards on the notice board are all local trivial matters. However, two single-page maps caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. [Map: Bandit Camp] [Map: Chaotic Stone Forest], Fang Hao casually plucked them off the board and immediately started studying them. [Map: Bandit Camp/Chaotic Stone Forest] [Type: Single-page Map] (Description: A map drawn by a traveling merchant, recording the route and terrain of unknown ruins.) There was nothing special about either of the two maps. A single-page map that recorded the place. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll take these two maps.¡± Fang Hao said to the boss. The boss was busy on the side, just looked back and nodded. Indicating Fang Hao should put them away by himself. Fang Hao directly removed the two maps and put them into his backpack. Once he returned, he would record them using the Book of Lords. Not long after. The beer and ordered dinner were also served. The two chatted while devouring their food. Bang! At this moment, the tavern door was forcibly pushed open. Several strapping men walked in aggressively. The noisy tavern quieted down instantly. The burly men stood at the entrance, scanning the room. Their gaze finally stopped at the corner of the tavern. They stepped forward briskly, From under the table, pulling a thin, dark-skinned man. ¡°Lai, Lai Gou boss, why are you all here?¡± The thin dark man smiled fawningly, his eyes dodging. Slap! The strong man called Boss Lai Gou slapped him across the face and said, ¡°Less fucking bullshit, the boss asks you when you¡¯re going to pay back the money.¡± ¡°Give me a few more days leeway, as long as you give me a few more days, I¡¯ll soon have the money.¡± The thin dark man said with his face covered. ¡°You¡¯ve already got plenty of time; boss said if you don¡¯t refund today, we¡¯ll break your leg as interest first.¡± Lai Gou said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t, boss, give me two more days, and I will definitely get the money.¡± The man fell to his knees and begged loudly. Lai Gou apparently had heard enough of his excuses and lifted him up and walked out. The tavern was silent. Only the sound of pleading and dragging on the floor, knocking over tables and chairs. When the strong men took the thin, dark man out, the tavern became noisy again. Everyone acted as if nothing had happened, the drinkers drank, and the braggers bragged. The boss, wiping his hands, returned to the counter. ¡°What just happened?¡± Fang Hao asked the boss in a low voice. The boss¡¯s gaze was still towards the door, ¡°This guy likes to gamble, but he¡¯s very lucky. Every time he leaves the city, he can pick up a not-so-small gemstone, sell it to the jewelry shop, and take the money to gamble.¡± ¡°Pick up gems? Where did he pick them up?¡± Fang Hao was shocked. He could pick up gemstones. ¡°If I knew where to pick them up, I wouldn¡¯t be running this tavern anymore. I would be out picking up gemstones every day.¡± The boss filled up the wine for a nearby customer and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t disbelieve. This is true. He has shown off his gems in this tavern more than once, this big, wrapped in a brown leather bag.¡± The boss gestured to describe the size of the gemstone. Hearing the boss¡¯s description, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed instantly, and something occurred to him. ¡°So, he hasn¡¯t been able to get gems lately, and can¡¯t pay his gambling debts, right?¡± Fang Hao verified again. ¡°Yeah, it looks like he¡¯s not going to keep one of his legs.¡± The boss nodded, confirming Fang Hao¡¯s thoughts even more. If all the details were connected, it would not be difficult to know where the gambler got his gemstones. ¡°Just take it away, doesn¡¯t the city care? I see the security here is pretty good.¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Those people just now are all Lei Li¡¯s men, who dares to manage, besides, an IOU is also impossible to manage.¡± The boss wiped the table. ¡°Lei Li is very powerful?¡± ¡°Boss Lei Li is the boss of the underground area of Lyss City, you mustn¡¯t provoke him.¡± The boss leaned in and reminded in a low voice. ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Hao acknowledged. After dinner, the two also packed some food for Demitrija. When they left the tavern, it was already a bit darker. There were also considerably fewer pedestrians on the street. Walking down the road to the hostel. A carriage slowly drove past them. As they passed by, the face of the coachman made Fang Hao frown slightly. The captain of the City Lord¡¯s guard. It was him who had gone with Rebecca to check the body last night. ¡°Follow the carriage to see where it¡¯s going.¡± Anjia nodded and rushed towards the direction of the carriage. This was a street within the city, and the carriage was not fast. It was not difficult to follow. Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Chapter 316, Important Information^ Chapter 322: Chapter 316, Important Information^ The night was silent. In a two-story building near the civilian area. The room was still brightly lit. A young man lay on the bed, looking haggard. From time to time repeating, ¡°Let me go, let me go.¡± Squeak! The door was opened, and Rebecca, flanked by guards, walked in. With a slight frown, she looked at the man in front of her. In a softened tone, she said, ¡°You are safe now, tell me who abducted you.¡± Hearing Rebecca¡¯s voice, the man in the sickbed abruptly stopped his repetition. His gaze was fixed intently on the several people in the room, howling, ¡°What the hell do you lunatics want to know? We are humans too, why do you treat us like this?¡± Faced with the man¡¯s howling, Rebecca frowned and looked at the guard beside her. The latter gently shook his head, indicating that he hadn¡¯t done anything to this man. ¡°I saved you. Now, I need you to tell me what happened so we can apprehend those people,¡± Rebecca continued. Perhaps Rebecca¡¯s words were effective. The man¡¯s emotions gradually stabilized. ¡°You saved me?¡± ¡°Yes, I am Rebecca, the wife of the City Lord of Lyss City. I will arrange for someone to ensure your safety, so you don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Rebecca moved two steps closer, sat down on a chair nearby, ¡°I need you to tell us more details.¡± After a moment of silence, the man slowly began to speak. ¡°Some people are capturing us.¡± ¡°You? You mean your team?¡± ¡°Yes, we come from the same place. Those people captured us and forced us to reveal everything we knew,¡± the man said, lowering his head. ¡°Everything? Like what?¡± ¡°How we got here, why we ended up here, what we used to do, everything was of interest to them,¡± the man fell into memories, gradually becoming fearful. Rebecca frowned and looked at the guards behind her. She found it hard to understand why they would capture them just to ask such questions, rather than seeking out important intelligence. Even the location of a treasure or some aristocratic secrets would be more valuable than knowing where they came from or what their former jobs were. ¡°What are they doing with this information?¡± Rebecca asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. They would jot it down in a notebook as if they were collecting some sort of intelligence,¡± the man continued. ¡°One last question, did you recognize any of them, or see any distinguishing features?¡± Rebecca pressed on. ¡°I don¡¯t know any of them.¡± The man took a covert glance at the people in the room and shook his head. ¡°Alright, I understand now. Rest easy, there won¡¯t be any danger here,¡± Rebecca stood up and walked out. ¡°When can I leave?¡± The man suddenly asked as she was leaving. ¡°When you have recovered more, you can leave,¡± Rebecca replied, and walked out of the room. Once the man¡¯s emotions have stabilized further, they will need to inquire further. After Rebecca left, the room fell silent again. Due to the commotion at the temple during the day, Rebecca had him moved to a new location. The night darkened, and the man gradually fell asleep. A nightmare awoke the man, who wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. But he saw a skeletal bird standing by the window. The hollow pupils, flickering with a faint blue light, were staring at him. The man shuddered violently, his mouth wide open, looking terrified. The Skeleton Sparrow said, ¡°Don¡¯t shout. I¡¯m from Earth too, we¡¯ve met before in the day.¡± Burp! The next second, the man rolled his eyes and passed out. A long time passed before the man slowly came to. ¡°I told you, we¡¯ve met before. Why get so worked up?¡± The Skeleton Sparrow asked. The man opened his mouth wide, as if his throat was jammed, and stammered without uttering a word. ¡°So, does this mean I¡¯m dead?¡± The man seemed to suddenly make sense of it all. ¡°You¡¯re not dead. We met during the day at the temple, you warned me to watch out for those people, I purposely came to see if you were in any danger,¡± Fang Hao said softly, detailing as much as possible to help the man recognize his identity. ¡°But why do you look like this?¡± The man was in a state of confusion. ¡°It¡¯s just some minor magic tricks, you don¡¯t need to worry about them.¡± The Skeleton Grey Sparrow jumped onto a table nearby, continuing to inquire, ¡°Who exactly captured you, and why do they want to capture us transmigrators?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I don¡¯t know them, but they seem to be very interested in us. They meticulously recorded all the information they managed to extract.¡± ¡°What value do these things hold for them?¡± ¡± I don¡¯ t know, but they care about it a lot.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know those people, do you have any details about the group they¡¯re associated with, or any identifiable symbols?¡± pressed Fang Hao. Rebecca only asked if there were any distinctive facial features of the person. It seemed that she knew some of the intelligence, but was just not aware of the specific identities of the group. Fang Hao had no choice but to ask more detailed questions. The kidnapping of transmigrators hung over his heart like an ominous sword. Humankind persecuting its own kind; everyone could potentially be the culprit, enhancing the sense of danger. After a moment of contemplation, the man suddenly perked up and said, ¡°I recall the wax seal they used for passing messages, it seemed to resemble two intersecting scythe blades. It¡¯s very familiar, it¡¯s reminiscent of a game logo I once played.¡± Fang Hao was stunned on the spot, his heart slightly shocked, ¡°Two intersecting scythes, when looked at from the front, does it looks like a hood?¡± The No-face¡¯s hut. This symbol was the identifier of the No-face. That said, there were two possible interpretations. Someone may have posted a task through the No-face¡¯s hut, with the intention to collect information about transmigrators. Alternatively, the No-face themselves might be thinking that transmigrators have information worth mining, hence they¡¯re gathering it. ¡°Yes, indeed, do you know them? Are you familiar with them?¡± The man appeared somewhat thrilled. ¡°I don¡¯t know them personally, but I¡¯ve heard of them.¡± Fang Hao paced back and forth, ¡°Isn¡¯t there anyway to track them down?¡± ¡°I previously used the Book of Lords to seek help from my friend, passing two photographs which might hold some clues.¡±, the man suddenlyremembered. ¡°Where is your Book of Lords?¡± ¡°It was taken by them long ago, but I¡¯ve sent it to my friend, his name is Gao Lin.¡±, the man mentioned. ¡°Okay, and you were saying, you are¡­¡± ¡°Ren Jun.¡± Just as Fang Hao was about to ask further, noises from outside the room interrupted him. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Fang Hao immediately flew back to the windowsill, instructed, ¡°You can relax now, Rebecca will ensure your safety. After you get out, do not go back to your territory, head to the Enjoyable Hotpot Restaurant, I will arrange for someone to rendezvous with you there.¡± Following his words, the Skeleton Grey Sparrow flew off out the window, disappearing into the night sky. Click! The door was slightly ajar, two guards popped their heads in to take a peek. ¡°Who were you talking to?¡± The guards entered the room, igniting the candle that was off to one side. The man was sitting on his bed, staring blankly out the window in silence, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, how did you hear me talking? Was I talking in my sleep?¡± Once the guards had completed a full scan of the room without discovering any sign of others, one of them muttered to himself, haunted by what had just happened. They then shut the door behind them and left. The room was once again engulfed in darkness. The man was gazing at the window, in the direction where the Skeleton Grey Sparrow had flown off to. From the regional channel, only one person could open a hotpot restaurant. The next morning arrived. Fang Hao and his associates woke up early. They opened the city gates and rode a swift purple-scaled horse to leave Lyss City. They switched to the Bone Dragon at Gray Bear¡¯s stronghold. By 5 P.M., the trio returned to their territory. As they arrived at the lord¡¯s mansion, they saw a skeletal hero waiting for them, seated upright in silence on a long bench. ¡°Black Sword, it¡¯s an honor to meet you, Lord.¡± The skeletal hero kneeled on one knee and spoke. [Black Sword (Blue Tier 7 Hero)]. This was the last one out of the three hero corpses obtained after the battle between the Mountain Range of Chillwind and the Mountain Range of Bloodshed. Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Chapter 317, Black Sword Hero_1 Chapter 323: Chapter 317, Black Sword Hero_1 In the battle against the Frostwind Tribe and Troll Tribe, Fang Hao had obtained three hero corpses. Nelson created an Orc Skeleton Hero ¡°Skullcrusher (Purple 9th rank hero)¡± and a Troll Skeleton Hero ¡°Giant Wall (Blue 7th rank hero)¡±. Right now, the third and the last of the three was in front of him. ¡°Black Sword (Blue 7th rank hero)¡±. ¡°Welcome to join us, Black Sword,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Black Thorn and Black Sword were two generals who had previously served Skullcrusher. ¡°Thankyou, my lord,¡± Black Sword rose to his feet, his tone relaxed. ¡°Didn¡¯t Sir Nelson come out?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°Sir Nelson is still working and didn¡¯t come out,¡± Black Sword replied. Right! Fang Hao remembered, Nelson was still preparing City Lord Cyril¡¯s corpse, the former City Lord of Pruell City. He was also a hero, who was killed by Fang Hao when conspiring with the Blood Clan. ¡°Ah, Black Sword, you can go to the storage area and see if your equipment is there. If not, pick some useful ones,¡± said Fang Hao. These heroes had their equipment when they were alive. Much of it would be left undisturbed in storage. But who knows, if they were severely damaged, the blacksmith might have melted them directly into iron blocks. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Black Sword agreed and turned to walk towards the storage area. Fang Hao opened the hero attributes to check. ¡°Black Sword (Blue 7th rank hero)¡±. ¡°Faction: Undead¡±. ¡°Template: Blue¡±. ¡°Race Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.¡± ¡°Legion Talents: Insensitivity to Pain, Infantry Commander, Sword and Shield Instructor.¡± ¡°Skills: Pain Slash, Toughness, Slamming, Furious Slash.¡± ¡°Innate Skills: Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Shield Mastery, Advanced Command Mastery, Advanced One-Handed Weapon Mastery.¡± ¡°Insensitivity to Pain¡±: For every 15% reduction in health, the morale of the troops led by this unit will increase by +50%, and attack power +5%. ¡°Infantry Commander¡±: Attack power of infantry troops increases by 8%. ¡°Sword and Shield Instructor¡±: All attributes of Sword and Shield units increase by 5%. ¡°Pain Slash (Active)¡±: Strike the target heavily, causing severe bleeding injury. The wound ignores any healing effects for a certain period, including but not limited to ¡®healingmagic¡¯, ¡®bandaging¡¯, and ¡®healing potions¡¯. ¡°Toughness (Passive)¡±: When the unit¡¯s health goes below 35%, the skill cost is reduced by 50%. ¡°Slamming (Active)¡±: Bash the enemy with the shield, causing 50% damage, with a chance to stun. ¡°Furious Slash (Active)¡±: Swing the sword in a furious slash, causing 75% additional damage. (Description: A product of the immortal Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead, this hero cannot level up or advance.) A modest infantry template. It has no particularly outstanding features, but no major weaknesses either. Among the legion skills, ¡°Insensitivity to Pain¡± is relatively good. For every 15% reduction in the health of the troops under his command, their morale would increase by 50%, and attack power by 5%. While it wouldn¡¯t be too significant for a single battle, it could very well mean the difference between victory and defeat. An increase in morale by 50% signifies that this troop will never collapse and run away due to morale, as long as they participate in combat. But most of the soldiers in his territory were undead creatures who had no concept of morale. It¡¯s a useful skill, but not greatly useful in his case. The remaining skills were all damage boosting skills, nothing special. Before long, Black Sword returned. He was wearing a suit of metal armor, and in his hand was a black sword and shield. Fang Hao instructed him to find Giant Wall first, and planned to assign him tasks later. Entering the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Eira was preparing dinner. Fang Hao sat down, and a maid brought fruit wine. After resting for a while, he directly opened the Book of Lords and typed ¡®Gao Lin¡¯ in the name search bar. Survivor Ren Jun secretly took photos using the Book of Lords and sent them to his friend, named Gao Lin. Confirm the search. The next moment, more than too people named Gao Lin appeared. This left Fang Hao stumped. He had overlooked the problem of people having the same name. It wasn¡¯t a good idea to question each person individually, and he also had a limited number of times he could use the chat function. Directly, he added a note in the exchange column, ¡®Gao Lin, the friend of Ren Jun, please contact me¡¯. This was a dull, yet rather effective method. Having rested for a while, Eira brought dinner up. Lorrey scampered in from outside the door and silently sat down. He didn¡¯t say anything, just waited patiently for dinner. Then it was time for Anjia¡¯s performance. She started telling stories of what happened in Lyss city to both Eira and Lorrey. From the gamblers who ran up their tab at the tavern to the lunatic who rushed out of the temple, every story was told in details. They both listened with great interest. After dinner, The skeleton tailor Soye and the dwarf jeweler Luke walked into the hall one after another. Fang Hao simply explained to them what happened on his trip to Lyss City, and then gave them each their assignments. Dwarf jeweler Luke would finalize the production of Rebecca¡¯s jewelry. Meanwhile, Soye would arrange for extra staffing to work on the temple¡¯s clothing. They were to be sure to add the brand name and LOGO of the ¡® Bone Textile Store¡¯. Just the thought that clothes from the temple would carry a brand name with bones in it was sure to cause quite the sensation. Perhaps overnight, the whole city would know of his store. Having dealt with everything, the sky was gradually getting dark. After a comfortable hot spring bath served by Eira, He returned to his room to rest. Worn out from the two days in Lyss City, he fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed. Early the next morning, Fang Hao woke up as usual. After a simple clean-up, he walked right out of the room. Following his morning jog, Eira¡¯s breakfast was ready. After breakfast, Fang Hao took Anjia and boarded the Bone Dragon, leaving the territory. At 10 AM, The Bone Dragon arrived above Zhang Bin¡¯s city. After landing in the open ground, Fang Hao could see busy residents and the operating advanced mills. He was surprised that Zhang Bin had built twelve advanced mills. Did he have such a demand? ¡°Boss.¡± Zhang Bin hurriedly walked over with two guards. Anyway, he was a city lord, so having two guards was normal. ¡°Hmm, your place is far busier than mine.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. In terms of actual age, Zhang Bin was older than Fang Hao. But Zhang Bin always called him ¡®Boss¡¯, Fang Hao had listened to it so much that he was now used to it. ¡°Boss, there is no comparison between the two, don¡¯t joke around.¡± Zhang Bin laughed heartily, scratching his head. He led Fang Hao and his companion into the city lord¡¯s hall where servants brought wine. Zhang Bin spoke directly, ¡°Boss, there are a total of 12 subordinate villages to the city, all of which are developing agriculture. The problem now is transportation and the defense of the farmland in the villages.¡± Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Chapter 318, Photo Clues (Please subscribe and recommend.) 1 Chapter 324: Chapter 318, Photo Clues (Please subscribe and recommend.) 1 Even under Fang Hao¡¯s protection, Zhang Bin was still working hard. Back on Earth, he was a salesman. Upon arriving in this world and becoming a city lord, it was as if he had found his niche. With all the oratory skills he had acquired in his lifetime, he persistently persuaded neighboring towns and villages to become his affiliated villages. The villagers were honest and simple, and they needed someone powerful to depend on-someone who could help them get rid of the wild beasts and the bandits who often came down from the mountains. Thus, one by one, they agreed to his proposition. Zhang Bin¡¯s city now had the most affiliated villages among all the cities owned by transmigrators. One day when Fang Hao came by to visit, Zhang Bin opened up about the difficulties he was facing. ^Let¡¯s go, take me to see some of the nearby villages,¡± Fang Hao said, standing ¡°Alright, I will arrange for our transportation immediately,¡± Zhang Bin responded. Soon enough, Zhang Bin, accompanied by Fang Hao and a few soldiers, left the city on horseback. The group headed towards nearby villages. ¡°There have been incidents involving the capture of transmigrators lately. Be careful when you go out,¡± Fang Hao said casually to Zhang Bin as he held the reins. ¡°Capture transmigrators?¡± Zhang Bin was slightly taken aback. The term ¡®transmigrators¡¯ was likely unheard of by the indigenous people. ¡°Yes, in Lyss City, I met a man named Ren Jun, who happened to be one of the survivors,¡± Fang Hao began, recounting the basic events concerning Ren Jun and the Faceless Cottage. It wasn¡¯t certain whether the Faceless Cottage was the one behind it all, or whether someone had bought the information. This could have led to the Faceless Cottage capturing and torturing transmigrators. Either way, it was better to be cautious. Hearing that people had died, Zhang Bin¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Living in this world was hard for everyone, and now with an intelligence organization prying into the secrets of transmigrators, it made him nervous. It seemed that even their fellow human beings were rejecting them. After more than an hour, the group arrived at a village. It was the village closest to Zhang Bin¡¯s city. Ahead of them was a wooden wall surrounding the village. Outside, there were vast fields. In the fields, villagers dressed characteristically were hard at work. ¡°Lord City Master, what brings you here?¡± An old man quickly came out from the village, looking thrilled. ¡°Just came to see how everyone is doing. Do you need anything in the village? How¡¯s life treating everyone?¡± Zhang Bin asked with a smile. Zhang Bin asked these questions with a smile but didn¡¯t mention Fang Hao. This was part of their agreement. Fang Hao didn¡¯t need to be introduced. His role was just to observe. ¡°All¡¯s well, nothing lacking in particular. Lots of goodwill on your part,¡± the village head welcomed them into the village. Turning to Zhang Bin, the village head said, ¡°My daughter isn¡¯t that young anymore. She¡¯s been talking a lot about you lately, wondering why you haven¡¯t come by. She¡¯s been down in the dumps.¡± ¡°Oh? Well, I¡¯ve been pretty busy lately.¡± Zhang Bin¡¯s face went red immediately. He threw a quick glance at Fang Hao and laughed awkwardly. After hanging around the village for a while, they moved on. They visited three other villages and returned to the city in the afternoon. Fang Hao then went directly to the Heavy Sword Infantry Training Ground to recruit soldiers. ¡°Heavy Sword Infantry: 4 Soul Crystals, 20 Food.¡± Recruitment count: 20. Triggering Hundredfold Amplification, recruiting 2020 Heavy Sword Infantry.¡± A light appeared, as two thousand hefty heavy sword infantry men stood before Fang Hao. ¡°Greetings, sire,¡± they saluted in unison. ¡°Alright, you will be under City Lord Zhang Bin¡¯s command from now on,¡± Fang Hao instructed. The heavy sword infantry turned their gaze towards Zhang Bin, saluting once again, ¡°City Lord.¡± ¡°Alright, you guys go to the warehouse and get your equipment. I¡¯ll assign you your tasks later,¡± Zhang Bin told them. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After the heavy sword infantry left, Fang Hao continued to the Archery Range to recruit archers. ¡°Militia Archer: 2 Soul Crystals, 10 Food.¡± Recruitment count: 20. Triggering Hundredfold Amplification, recruiting 2020 Militia Archers.¡± Soon, another group of two thousand archers appeared in front of Fang Hao. As before, they were handed over to Zhang Bin for management. With all matters dealt with, they returned to the City Lord Hall. ¡°I will get the Orcs to come over later to pave the roads for you, so don¡¯t worry about that, ¡°Fang Hao said. Zhang Bin¡¯s face brightened, ¡°Thankyou, Boss.¡± ¡°Right, when the food you ¡®ve prepared is ready, arrange for it to be sent directly to the Windy Mountain Range. The demand over there is still quite big.¡± The Windy Mountain Range used to trade the ores they mined for food and daily necessities. Fang Hao has been in control of the Windy Mountain Range for a month now. Initially, the food was bought from the grain merchants of Pruell City and transported to the Windy Mountain Range. Now that Zhang Bin¡¯s production has stabilized, and Tavek has become the City Lord of Pruell City. Gradually, their own production began to meet the food needs of the Windy Mountain Range. But the cooperation with the grain merchant continues. ¡°Got it, Boss,¡± Zhang Bin confirmed confidently. ¡°Also, come up with a way to make the villagers accept the Undead. They can help with development.¡± Oh, alright. I¡¯ll think of something.¡± After chatting with Zhang Bin for a while and handling all the matters. Fang Hao returned to his territory on the Bone Dragon with Anjia. After dinner, as night fell. Eira assisted him into the hot springs, and he enjoyed the enveloping warmth. Ding! At that moment, a private chat notification from the Book of Lords appeared. Opening it revealed a message sent by Gao Lin. This was already the fifth person named Gao Lin that contacted him today. The previous few were all frauds. Fang Hao, bro, I know Ren Jun. Did something happen?¡± ¡°Ren Jun said he sent you some pictures before. Could you send them to me?¡± Fang Hao asked, testing the waters. It still wasn¡¯t clear whether this person was the Gao Lin he was looking for. ¡°Yes, here they are, [picture][picture][picture]. Is Ren Jun still alive?¡± Gao Lin quickly sent the pictures and asked. Fang Hao opened them one by one, revealing a dim room with a figure wearing a hooded mask. The pictures were real, but all the faces were covered, making it impossible to identify anyone. It seemed this person was authentic. ¡°He¡¯s alive, his Book of Lords was stolen, but he¡¯s fine,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Oh, thank you, bro.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two shared a couple of simple sentences before the conversation ended. Fang Hao magnified each of the three pictures, carefully inspecting the details. Hopefully, he could find some clue that would lead to a breakthrough. Even knowing which direction to go for further investigation would be a good start. Suddenly. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes widened as he quickly enlarged the second picture. The pixel quality of the Book of Lords was excellent. Even after enlarging it dozens of times, it remained clear. In the lower right corner of the image, there sat a man carrying items. Clad in a black robe with a mask on, what caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention was the piece of skin that peeked out between the collar and the mask as the man bent down to pick something up. The skin was twisted and knotted, likely scars or disfigurements from an injury. This reminded Fang Hao of one character. Lai Gou! The strong man who had stormed into the tavern in Lyss City and beaten up the gamblers, he had the same type of scars on his left face and neck. After thinking for a while, Fang Hao said to Eira, ¡°Go and get Little You.¡± ¡°Yes, Master,¡± answered Eira, and she walked out. A moment later. The shadows nearby started to squirm, and Little You¡¯s figure gradually appeared. y ¡°Master, you called for me?¡± Shit! Fang Hao jumped in surprise. He glared at Little You, ¡°Little You, could you maybe use the door next time?¡± ¡°Oh, okay, Master,¡± Little You replied softly, seemingly not taking the advice to heart. Little You, the reason I called you is to assign you a task.¡± Little You¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Yes, Master. Please instruct.¡± ¡°Go to Lyss City and capture a man for me. I want him alive.¡± Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Chapter 319, Orc City Merchant—1 Chapter 325: Chapter 319, Orc City Merchant¡ª1 First, Fang Hao explained the situation of ¡®Lyss City¡¯ to Little You. Then he opened the Book of Lords and showed her the pictures. However, it was not possible to print photographs at the moment, otherwise he would have printed a copy for Little You to take with her. ¡°Sir, am I to bring this person back?¡± Little You pointed to the figure in the lower right corner of the photo. ¡°Yes, judging from the wound around his neck, it must be Lai Gou. Find a way to bring him back.¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°I understand, sir. I will definitely accomplish the task,¡± Little You assured him loudly. ¡°Well, leave tomorrow and take care.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± Having said that, Little You disappeared back into the shadows. After Little You was gone, Eira came back. Kneeling at the side, she softly massaged Fang Hao¡¯s body with her gentle hands. ¡°Master, Millie has now reached Tier 4.¡± Eira suddenly spoke. Millie was that petite, white lop-eared rabbit maid. At just one and a half meters tall, she had displayed an unfathomable combat prowess after taking the strength potion, which was a stark contrast to her height. Incredibly, she had reached Tier 4 in such a short period of time. Fang Hao had a deep impression of her; just two days before at the thermal springs, he had caught her digging holes in the wall. Never taking her mind off playing, she was still able to improve at such a rapid rate. ¡°It seems she truly has some talent,¡± Fang Hao was surprised. Fang Hao had asked his maids to take the strength potion not because he had hoped that they could enhance the combat power of his territory. After all, there were no shortage of troops in his territory. With millions of troops, adding one or two combat maids wouldn¡¯t have much of an effect. The main reason for them to take the potion and train was for them to be able to protect themselves in the future when they left his territory. Otherwise, with their power, they would be in great danger. Unexpectedly, there was actually one among them with distinct talent, improving her strength at such a quick pace. ¡°Master, Millie¡¯s improvement has been slow staying in the territory. If there are any external training tasks available, could we let her experience the outside world to help control her playful nature?¡± Eira softly suggested. Fang Hao understood Eira¡¯s point.please visit ¡± sitestorys(.)c0m ¡± maybe y0u will enj0y the captivating sh0rt st0ries. The Rabbitmen Clan had not inherited the sturdy physique of the orcs, and rarely produced strong warriors. As such, they had been oppressed within the orc community. Seeing Millie¡¯s rapid improvement this time, Eira saw hope and wanted to tram her well. Of course, Fang Hao was also willing to train these obedient maids. Also, the rules of the Slave Contract were there. If he could train one or two of them into heroes, then he would make a huge profit. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll check if there are any safe tasks for her to try when the time comes,¡± said Fang Hao. The moment Fang Hao finished speaking, Outside the walls behind them, someone suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Great!¡± ¡°We¡¯re done for, run!¡± Then came the hurried sounds of footfalls retreating away. Fang Hao sat up, surprised at the direction the footsteps were fleeing. Meanwhile, Eira merely sat by, smiling. Early the next morning, Fang Hao woke up from his sleep, stretching his body before sitting up on the bed. He looked at the watch on the bedside table; it was already 6:30 in the morning. After dressing and washing up, Just as Fang Hao was about to leave his room, he suddenly heard the sound of the Sound-transmitting Shell. He opened the storage space of the Book of Lords to check. It was a message from Bronze Bull. Picking up the Sound-transmitting Shell to his ear, the voice of Bronze Bull emanates, ¡°Sir, an Orc merchant convoy has arrived at Manim Market from ¡®Tasgo City¡¯ and wishes to establish a shop in the market. Fang Hao had heard of Tasgo City before. It¡¯s an orc city to the east of his territory, it was where ¡®Domina¡¯ the Spiderwoman had planned on promoting herself to a hero. It¡¯s a major orc city in the nearby region. Fang Hao had also considered reaching out to the orc city, but the reckless character of the orcs¡­ Had caused him to further delay his plan. Unbeknownst to him, the other party¡¯s merchant team had already arrived at Mannim Market and started doing business on his territory. After storing the Sound-transmitting Shell back into his storage space, he left his room. He informed Eira to keep breakfast simple, then woke Anjia, who was still sleeping on the second floor. After breakfast. Fang Hao, along with Anjia and Demitrija, rode on the Bone Dragon to Bronze Bull City. From there, they changed to horses and headed straight to Mamm Market. Upon arrival at the Chieftain¡¯s hall. One could see a large carriage parked outside, pulled not by horses. But by two rhinoceros of elephantine size. The giant rhinos were quite docile and stood peacefully, while a Tauren guard was preparing fodder for them. Fang Hao took a look and walked straight into the Chieftain¡¯s hall. Bronze Bull was sitting in the middle, and sitting by his side was a robust orc in fancy clothes and several orc guards. Seeing Fang Hao enter, Bronze Bull got up. ¡°Ahem! Mr. Fang Hao, this is Mr. Matva from ¡®Tasgo City¡¯,¡± Bronze Bull also introduced the orc merchant on the side, ¡°This is Mr. Fang Hao, our partner in running Manim Market.¡± Telling the world Manim Market has been occupied by humans may not be beneficial. Thus, Bronze Bull announced Fang Hao as a partner to avoid any complications. Orc ¡®Matva¡¯ twisted his gold thumb ring, his eyes assessing the three newly arrived strangers. Human, Orc, Lizardman. A peculiar combination. After listening to Bronze Bull¡¯s introduction, Matva also got up and said, ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Fang Hao, I am Matva. May you be strong and wealthy.¡± Matva followed a human custom, which was quite fitting for a businessman. ¡°Please sit down, Mr. Matva. I heard you came here intending to open a shop in Manim Market, what kind of shop do you plan to open?¡± Fang Hao asked straightforwardly. ¡°Our ¡®Bahrs¡¯ Merchantry mainly sells weapons, armour, slaves, some leather goods, and blueprints for props,¡± Matva replied. The Rahrs Mercantile is the official merchant guild of ¡®Tasgo City¡¯ and is quite famous. Initially, Orcs had no interest in trading, even believing that trading was just accumulating wealth for others and thought plundering was quicker. However, the Rahrs Merchantry gradually changed the orcs¡¯ mindset. Having Tasgo City as its backing, it quickly rose by accumulating vast wealth. The Rahrs Merchantry had set its sights on Manim Market. Because, Manim Market¡¯s growth had been too rapid. Even the villages around ¡®Tasgo Orc City¡¯ sent people to Manim from a great distance for trade. This is what Rahrs Merchantry valued, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t go to such lengths to set up a shop in this remote place. ¡°Oh, but Manim Market has its own weapon shop,¡± Fang Hao looked at Bronze Bull. The latter also nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, Manim has its own weapon shop. If ¡®Rahrs¡¯ Merchantry opens a shop here, there might be a conflict. The weapon shop in Manim Market sold equipment made by Fang Hao. It mainly sold white and green equipment, which was easy for Fang Hao to make and was a good way to accumulate wealth quickly. Just from the sales of weapons, nearly ten thousand Warfire Coins were credited to his account every week. ¡°Haha! You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I have seen the scale of the weapon shop here. There¡¯s not much variety; I don¡¯t think we will have a conflict, Matva said. Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 321, Human-face stone statue_i Chapter 327: Chapter 321, Human-face stone statue_i 10 o ¡®clock in the morning. Ten bone dragons, loaded with skeleton soldiers, landed in the territory of the gray bear. The gray bear led the backbone of the camp to welcome them. Curiously peering at the back of the bone dragon. Fang Hao and the lizardmen did not appear. Instead, on the dragon¡¯s back, were Anjia and a skeleton hero holding a black sword and shield. ¡°Miss Anjia, are you leading the team this time?¡± The gray bear said respectfully. Anjia supported herself with one hand and jumped down from the back of the bone dragon, ¡°Fang Hao is in command, he just didn¡¯t come.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh.¡± The gray bear responded subconsciously. How can someone who didn¡¯t come command us? Immediately after, Anjia opened her backpack. A skeleton sparrow engulfed in blue soul fire flew to Anjia¡¯s shoulder. It looked at the gray bear. ¡°How are the preparations?¡± The skeleton sparrow spoke up. The gray bear immediately understood what she meant by command. He immediately replied: ¡°Sir, everything is ready, we can set off at any time.¡± Outside the stronghold, torches, ropes, and handcarts were ready, along with close to a hundred of his men, ready to set off at any time. Fang Hao nodded. The gray bear, a former bandit, was efficient in his actions. He informed the gray bear of the location of the Chaotic Stone Forest, and the two groups began to act separately. The gray bear led his men to go first, while Fang Hao and his team would organize all the handcarts and tools they brought, to be carried by the bone dragons. After the tasks were assigned. The gray bear and his men set off from the stronghold in full strength. They pushed straight through the dense forest towards the target location. ¡°Boss, did you ever go to the territory of the lord, I heard it¡¯s awesome, several times better than even Pruell City.¡± A small fry kept walking, talking. The gray bear gave him a look, ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°I heard it when Miss Winnie was talking to the bartender. She said the living conditions are good, the environment is good, there are even hot springs that can whiten skin, everything over there just sounds perfect.¡± The small fry replied. A few days ago, the gray bear and his men escorted Winnie and others to Lyss City. ¡¯ Although they traveled together, there was virtually no interaction between them. Gray bear and Winnie, apart from work needs, basically stayed with their own teams. ¡°I haven¡¯t been there, but the place is full of undead, how could the environment possibly be good.¡± The gray bear stated his speculation. ¡°The boss has a point, it¡¯s full of undead, how could the environment be good.¡± Another one chimed in. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with undead, it¡¯s not like you have to sleep with them. What does it have to do with the environment?¡± ¡°How could the environment where the undead live be the same as where humans live?¡± ¡°Who told you that the lord lives with the undead? Humans can live in the city while undead live in caves, right?¡± The two pushed forward, their words getting increasingly heated. It seemed like they were on the verge of coming to blows. Whoosh! Suddenly, an arrow precisely hit the ground at the gray bear¡¯s feet. The arrow impacted the ground, its shaft trembling. Everyone instantly stopped, scattered around, and hid behind the massive trees. ¡°I don¡¯t know who¡¯s ahead, but I¡¯m Gray Bear passing by, please let us pass.¡± Gray Bear leaned against the large tree and said loudly. At the same time, he peeked from behind the tree towards what lied ahead. He could see three archers in the trees. There were also some people in the bushes below. ¡°So it¡¯s Gray Bear, look at this, it seems like family doesn¡¯t recognize family!¡± A boisterous laughter sounded as a man, clad in iron armor and leather boots stepped out. From the looks of his attire, he was similar to a bandit or a robber, wearing a hodgepodge of equipment. A few more fully equipped men followed the man. ¡°Who are you?¡± Gray Bear didn¡¯t come out, but asked vigilantly. ¡°lam Momu. Our stronghold has been destroyed, and I have formed a group with some of the brothers who were left without a place to go,¡± said Momu loudly, thumping his chest as he spoke. That¡¯s the way with bandits. If they¡¯re wiped out, they regroup. If one boss falls today, a new one will spring up tomorrow. As long as they can recruit a dozen or so followers, they dare to declare themselves boss. Gray Bear eyed Momu up and down, not showing much concern for him. She said bluntly, ¡°Now that we are acquainted, I¡¯m in a hurry, so Boss Momu let us pass.¡± She did not want to stay and tussle with Momu here. If things were delayed, Fang Hao would indeed settle accounts with her. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not really convenient today, guys don¡¯t you agree?¡± Momu shouted out. ¡°Yes!¡± From behind the bushes came a chorus of voices, seemingly from over a hundred men. The look on Gray Bear¡¯s face turned grim, ¡°Momu, we¡¯re just passing through. Let us go, and you can continue to ambush your next prey. It¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not simple¡­ You, Gray Bear, seem to have a particular destination in mind. Why not take us along? We might get a share of the loot too,¡± Momu replied. Gray Bear¡¯s face turned even darker. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t give Momu a second thought. But if she fought him now, not only was he prepared, but she also couldn¡¯t afford to waste much time. Just as she hesitated. Whoosh- Whoosh-! A massive shadow swept over them. Right after that, the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps came from behind. There was the Black Sword, holding a dark shield, rushing over quickly with his skeleton soldiers. Seeing Gray Bear standing still, Black Sword looked baffled. ¡°Gray Bear, why are you stopped here?¡± ¡°Lord Black Sword, these people are blocking the way, demanding a toll,¡± Gray Bear eyed Momu and his men not far away. Black Sword glanced at Momu, who was slowly backing off. Splash! The skeleton soldiers had already encircled the bandits. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s nothing, Gray Bear¡­ you can go. The road doesn¡¯t belong to anyone, anyone can pass,¡± Momu¡¯s legs started to tremble and he spoke hurriedly. Undead, near three meters tall, holding magic wands, Momu knew they were beyond his reach. He wasn¡¯t sure why Gray Bear was addressing the undead as ¡®Lord¡¯, but he did know that his recently regrouped group was no match for these creatures. Moreover, those whooshing past in the sky seemed to be of the undead as well. Looking at Momu and his men in the distance, with his hollow pupils, Black Sword casually uttered, ¡°Killthem.¡± Roar! The skeleton troll charged directly into the crowd, swinging its weapon at the bandits. These men were just a bunch of fugitive bandits gathered together with little to no coordination, thus they barely posed a threat. When they heard the undead were about to strike, some turned and ran. Those who stayed behind had no combat power at all. Amid painful cries, the battle ended in about five minutes. ¡°Keep moving,¡± Black Sword ordered. ¡°Okay.¡± Gray Bear nodded. Without giving the dead bodies a second glance she led her people onward. After another half hour¡¯s journey. By the time Gray Bear and Black Sword arrived, Fang Hao and the others were already waiting at the entrance of the Chaotic Stone Forest. Ahead was a stone path leading to the mountain wall. The hard path was lined with randomly placed human-shaped stone pillars. They varied in design and stood about two meters tall. Some stood alone while others were clustered together. It reminded Fang Hao of the human-faced stone statues on Resurrection Island that he had once seen on television. Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Chapter 322, Rolling Stone Sphere (Ask for Chapter 328: Chapter 322, Rolling Stone Sphere (Ask for Subscriptions, Asking for Recommendations¡­)_1 The stone statues were about two meters tall, with large heads and short, stout bodies. The limbs and body were clearly distinguishable. Fang Hao stared at these stone statues without being able to discern any information from them. Were they not monsters? Fang Hao had seen Stone Elements and Stone Monsters before. He had encountered the Speckled Toad that could camouflage itself as a rock, but he had never seen these stone creatures with large heads and short, stout bodies. Even though he could not probe their attributes now, Fang Hao did not think these were mere ordinary rocks. He did not rule out the possibility that this might be a disguise. When the Speckled Toad disguised itself as a rock, he also could not probe its attributes. Only when it moved or attacked, could he identify it. Just at this moment, Gray Bear and Black Sword, leading their troops, arrived from not too far away. The undead troops were in okay condition. The mountain bandits trailing behind Gray Bear, with their clothes wide open and weaponry hanging loosely on their bodies, were panting heavily like deserters. ¡°Sir, we encountered some mountain bandits on the way and were delayed,¡± Gray Bear explained, panting slightly. Fang Hao, standing on Anjia¡¯s shoulders, nodded slightly. ¡°You can rest a while,¡± Fang Hao told Gray Bear. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Gray Bear thanked him, then turned to his men and ordered, ¡°Rest on the spot, stay alert.¡± Afterwards, he also returned to his ranks. Fang Hao then turned to Black Sword and asked softly, ¡°Black Sword, have you ever seen these stone creatures?¡± Black Sword glanced at the stone statues ahead and shook his head, ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve never seen similar stone creatures.¡± Neither Anjia nor Black Sword had seen them before. It seemed that they were either not monsters, or they were some rarely seen ones. ¡°Alright, form up. We¡¯ll go in and check soon,¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± This time, they brought along 10 Bone Dragons and 67 undead soldiers. Among them, 20 were Skeleton Warriors, 27 Skeleton Trolls, 10 Skeleton Archers, and 10 Undead Mages. For such outdoor enemies, in fact, just 10 Bone Dragons were more than enough for clearance. Unless it was like last time in the Troop Hiding Cave, where they needed to infiltrate deeper into the cave, and the dragon breath of the bone dragons could not reach the enemy. Only then would the subsequent troops need to fight. Black Sword began directing the undead soldiers, and they quickly formed into ranks. Without any need for Fang Hao to remind him, Gray Bear also urged his men to put on their armor properly and try to form into neat rows. ¡°Advance!¡± Black Sword gave the order, and the undead soldiers began to move forward. Into the valley, the iron boots trampling on the hard ground echoed with a rhythmic clatter. When they were about 5 meters away from the stone creatures, the whole team came to a halt without stepping into the Stone Forest. ¡°Did those stone creatures just move?¡± Anjia suddenly asked. Simultaneously, a clamor arose from the mountain bandits at the back of the team. Some said they saw the stone creatures turn their heads. Fang Hao looked in the direction pointed out by Anjia and also noticed something amiss. Previously, the stone creatures, with varying appearances, now each had their faces turned towards his direction. As if observing his party. It seemed like there was something wrong with these stone creatures after all. ¡°Bone Dragons, Dragon Breath.¡± 5 meters away was just within the range of the death breath attack. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s command, ten Bone Dragons formed a fan-shape facing the stone creatures. Their slim necks stretched forward, starting to condense the death breath. Roar! Ten black pillars of light swept directly toward the assembled stone creatures. Bang, bang, bang!! The stone creatures in front instantly exploded into tiny fragments. And the stone creatures behind, while they did not explode, began to vibrate. Their white stone eyes moved up and down, revealing pitch-black pupils. Then, their bodies began to move. Each one curled up into a huge stone ball and began to roll towards their ranks. ¡°Form shield wall,¡± Black Sword ordered loudly. The Skeleton Warriors erected their ¡®Beast-head Heavy Shields¡¯ in front of them. Shield overlapped shield, forming a formidable iron wall. Bang, bang, bang!! Dozens of stone balls rolled swiftly down the mountain path, overturning the sturdy shield formation. Bursting into the ranks behind. They transformed again into large-headed stone men, swinging their stone fists and smashing at the undead soldiers. [Gray Stone Man (Rank 8)] [Gray Stone Man (Rank 7)] At this point, Fang Hao could also see the properties of these stone men. According to their size, they are basically at the level of Rank 7 and 8. The hands and feet of the Gray Stone Men can be used as weapons, continuously smashing at the surrounding targets. In an instant, a few archers and mages were injured and killed. ¡°Archers and mages, fall back. Skeleton Trolls, surround them.¡± Fang Hao commanded loudly. The Skeleton Archers and Undead Mages, upon receiving the command, began to run backwards, pulling up a considerable distance to continue attacking. The Skeleton Trolls, following Fang Hao¡¯s instructions, three or four surrounded and attacked one Gray Stone Man. In their hands, the axes and wolf fang clubs they held caused sparks to fly upon contact with the body of the Gray Stone Men. Fang Hao roughly counted. The number of Gray Stone Men was 74, and the Stone Forest under the cliff had already been emptied. ¡°Anjia, go help them,¡± Fang Hao said softly. ¡°Okay.¡± Anjia agreed, and instantly darted out. Coming in front of a Gray Stone Man, she punched out. Bang!! A dull sound rang out, and a powerful force exploded. Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the Gray Stone Man¡¯s abdomen, sinking in directly. The Gray Stone Giant glanced at his abdomen, raised his fist, and smashed towards Anjia. The sound of the wind breaking whistled through the air. Anjia squatted, skillfully dodged a strike by using her nimble body. Leaping up from the ground, she kicked out her right leg, like a heavy iron whip, hitting a Stone Man¡¯s head directly. Boom!! The next second, the Stone Man¡¯s entire head exploded in an instant, and its body turned into rubble. Having wiped out the Stone Man in front, Anjia didn¡¯t pause at all. She continued darting towards the next Stone Man. The [Fond of Fighting] attribute excites Anjia, causing her to wear an excited smile. Upon reaching the next Stone Man, her fists rained down like a storm. Bang, bang, bang!! The Stone Man¡¯s body quickly exploded, forming pits. A sweeping kick severed the Stone Man¡¯ s legs, causing the body to lean forward and fall. Anjia seized the opportunity, quickly turning her body around with an elbow strike, shattering the Stone Man¡¯s head once again. Again, she rushed towards another enemy. The Gray Bear and others stood far away, watching stupefied as Anjia rapidly moved on the battlefield, shattering the stone with her fists. They could not help but swallow. In their opinion, among the guards by Fang Hao, this orc girl should be the weakest. But to their surprise, she now exhibited a combat power far beyond their expectations. And she seemed a little crazy. Even the Black Sword Skeleton Hero didn¡¯t demonstrate the combat level and rhythm that Anjia was showing. ¡°Boss, can a fist also hit stone?¡± one of the followers asked in a low voice. The axes and wolf fang clubs made clanging sounds when they hit the Stone Man. But they had never seen someone smash dents into stone with their fists. ¡°Stop talking nonsense,¡± Gray Bear glared at his followers, then redirected his attention to the battle. Bang! With the stomp of the Bone Dragon, he crushed the last active Gray Stone Man. The site immediately fell silent. These Stone Men were more difficult to deal with than ordinary creatures. After they had turned into stone balls, like bowling balls, they knocked down all targets along the way. If these stone balls could be recruited, that would be a good way to break through the enemy formations. ¡°Clean up the battlefield.¡± Black Sword ordered, and the Undead Soldiers began to act. They collected the items dropped by the Gray Stone Men and the equipment of their fallen comrades. Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Chapter 323, Shape-shifter Monster i Chapter 329: Chapter 323, Shape-shifter Monster i ¡°My Lord, these are the items dropped by the stone people.¡± Black Sword respectfully brought them over. [Trace of the Earth 22, Trace of Combat 15, Essence of Destruction 5, Abyss Essence 3.] The Gray Stone Man and the Stone Element are similar; after death, they drop some rare materials. The value of these materials is much higher than ordinary equipment. ¡°Is Anjia okay?¡± Fang Hao looked at Anjia. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Anjia shook her fists. Fang Hao nodded and glanced at the Tiger¡¯s Claw in Anjia¡¯s hand. When there is a chance, he should also switch Anjia¡¯s equipment to better ones. ¡°Gray Bear, how¡¯s the situation on your side?¡± Fang Hao shouted towards the back of the team. There were casualties among Gray Bear¡¯s people, and they were treating their wounds. ¡°My Lord, it¡¯s not a big problem, a few people are injured.¡± Gray Bear said loudly. The main combat was done by the undead troops and Anjia, so these bandits only assisted. Therefore, they only had minor injuries, and no one was killed. ¡°Alright, you guys stay here as guards, and notify us if something happens.¡± Fang Hao said directly. Taking Gray Bear and his people was not meant to let them participate in combat. These bandits could hardly unleash any combat power. If the next map [Bandit Camp] was not on the way, Gray Bear and his people wouldn¡¯t have been included. ¡°Oh, okay, my Lord.¡± Gray Bear nodded repeatedly. He was somewhat glad that they were not asked to go in, and they wouldn¡¯t have to fight later. Having given instructions to Gray Bear, Fang Hao ordered to move on. After extinguishing the Gray Stone Man, the front instantly became empty. They crossed the area where the Gray Stone Man was. The large team trampled the ground and continued forward. Upon reaching the mountain wall, they could see strange symbols, or rather, characters, carved on it. As a transmigrator, Fang Hao should be able to understand most of the characters of various races in this world. But he couldn¡¯t recognize any characters on the wall. It might be just some special symbols, or these characters may not belong here. Walking along the mountain wall, the symbols gradually transformed into bas- reliefs depicting some kind of ceremony, even if some places had been worn out and even become indistinguishable. From what was preserved, it was still recognizable that living creatures were offering tributes and conducting some grand ceremony. The last scene of the bas-relief was that the ceremony was successful. A god with large wings was summoned¡­? The bas-relief was a bit rough, only a humanoid figure with large wings could be identified. ¡°Fang Hao, if those stone people turned into stone balls and rolled down here, wouldn¡¯t they knock us all over?¡± Anjia looked at the narrowing path and imagined. ¡°Whose side are you on?¡± Fang Hao said unhappily. This was regretting that the stone people hadn¡¯t utilized their potential, right? ¡°Hee hee, those stone people are a bit dumb, but they¡¯re quite cute.¡± You fought the hardest against them, but you still say they¡¯re cute.¡± Fang Hao and Anjia chatted low. The team continued to move forward. At the end of the bas-relief, there was no more path to go forward, instead, a square hole neatly chiseled appeared. It looked like a door frame, or the entrance to a tomb passage. ¡°You wait outside, and I¡¯ll take two people in to check¡± Fang Hao said directly. He chose a few skeleton warriors and was about to enter the cave. As soon as one foot stepped in, a shout came from behind. ¡°Fang Hao, something happened behind.¡± Everyone turned around and saw Gray Bear was walking over quickly. He said to the Black Sword next to him, ¡°Fang Hao, more of those stone people have appeared behind, you go and check.¡± Hearing Gray Bear¡¯s words, everyone was stunned. ¡°Gray Bear, are you talking to me?¡± Black Sword asked in confusion. On the contrary, Fang Hao ordered directly: ¡°Kill her.¡± Crash! The first to act were the skeleton warriors around, they lifted their swords and slashed at Gray Bear. Gray Bear quickly dodged with wide eyes, looking at a skeleton bird that can talk, startled. Swipe! Black Sword also acted instantly, drawing a slender cut on Gray Bear¡¯s chest with his black longsword. Instead of blood, a thick black sludge flowed from the wound. Seeing that blood didn¡¯t flow from the wound, everyone was even more certain that the person in front of them was not Gray Bear. ¡°Kill her, quickly.¡± Fang Hao urged again. The skeletons surrounded ¡®Gray Bear¡¯ and started attacking. The shape-shifting enemy, it seemed, did not have high attack power, and its combat power was only at the level of level seven or eight troops. Being surrounded by undead skeletons, the enemy was quickly killed. It transformed into a black human-like corpse without facial features, and then the corpse slowly melted and disappeared. [Shape-shifter Monster (Level 3)]. Before death, Fang Hao saw its name. It was called the Shape-shifter Monster. The biggest feature should be changing into the appearance of the enemy to confound them. But its rank was not high, and its combat power was also average. It didn¡¯t last long under the siege of the undead skeletons and died directly. ¡°What kind of monster was that?¡± Anjia came back and asked softly. ¡°It¡¯s called a Shape-shifter Monster, it can mimic people.¡± Fang Hao replied softly. When it transformed into Gray Bear, the attributes that Fang Hao saw were also Gray Bear¡¯s. This can be said to be very powerful. Whoever has this ability, will not fear being recognized when stealing things in the future. ¡°Black Sword, bring Gray Bear and his people here, it seems we¡¯ve encountered enemies good at disguising.¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Black Sword left with a few skeleton soldiers. Fortunately, there was only one such shape-shifting enemy. And just now, the flaw was very apparent. It actually mistook Black Sword for Fang Hao, and Gray Bear himself never called Fang Hao by his real name. After a while, Gray Bear and his underlings were brought over. ¡°My Lord, what happened?¡± Gray Bear asked curiously. ¡°Nothing, we found an enemy that¡¯s good at changing into others, be careful.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh, okay, my Lord.¡± Gray Bear and the others still didn¡¯t quite understand what had happened. Fang Hao pointed to a few skeleton trolls, and began to walk into the cave. Inside the cave was a staircase corridor extending downwards. The width of the stairs was limited, but it could still allow two skeleton warriors to walk side by side. The corridor had been reinforced, the walls along the way were also engraved with similar bas-reliefs. Along the way, there was a carved-out room in front. The scene in the room caused the Soul Fire in Fang Hao to tremble. The rectangular room of about 20 square meters was surrounded by walls made of skulls. A demonic room. This was identical to the room under the well in the village. Equally gloomy and terrifying, it was just like stepping into purgatory. In the middle of the room was a table made of stone. There was a golden treasure chest on the tabletop. ¡°Go check if there¡¯s danger.¡± Fang Hao said. A skeleton warrior walked into the room and circled it, then brought the golden treasure chest out directly. Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Chapter 324, Lame and Lai Gou l Chapter 330: Chapter 324, Lame and Lai Gou l The skeleton warrior swaggered out. No danger or surprises occurred. If the guardian of the demon room in the well last time was a mud monster, then the guardian of this room should be the shape-shifter monster we just met. It could be said that the characteristics of the shape-shifter monster are even more dangerous than the mud monster. It can take on the appearance of a companion, disrupting your thinking. Just imagine, your trusted partner being your enemy, what a terrifying thing that would be. That shape-shifter monster just now must have heard someone shouting Fang Hao¡¯s name and mistaken the black sword for Fang Hao. It was thus easily exposed by everyone. Seeing the skeleton warrior come out smoothly with the treasure chest, without triggering any danger or mechanisms. Fang Hao flapped his wings and flew into the room. Last time, he obtained pages from the Book of Demon in the demon¡¯s room. He wondered if he would find any this time. He carefully searched all the objects in the room. Apart from some rusted metallic utensils in his eyes, there were no valuable items. Nor did he find pages from the Book of Demon. ¡°Let¡¯s go, leave here.¡± Fang Hao flew back to the shoulder of a skeleton warrior. Upon receiving the command, all the skeletons left the cave. Outside the cave. Everyone was waiting. When they saw Fang Hao return, Anjia asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation below? Did you find any good stuff?¡± ¡°Just a simple stone room, I¡¯ve brought everything that can be taken out.¡± Fang Hao looked at the treasure chest next to him. ¡°Should I go in and search it again? You¡¯re not very observant,¡± Anjia said, somewhat unsure. ¡°You¡¯re joking, there¡¯s nothing to search. Arrange for people to collect stones to block the entrance.¡± Fang Hao directly ordered. The demon¡¯s room always gave off an ominous and eerie feel. Evenif Anjia wasn¡¯t afraid, Fang Hao didn¡¯t want her to godown there. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Anjia waved at several skeletons and began to collect rocks to block the cave entrance completely. Fang Hao continued to fly to Grey Bear¡¯s team. ¡°Grey Bear, when did we first meet?¡± Fang Hao asked. Gray Bear was taken aback, failing to grasp Fang Hao¡¯s meaning. But he still replied, ¡°Lord, are you referring to when my men and I ambushed your business caravan? I was misled by the mercenaries of the Ironblood Corps and didn¡¯t mean to make a move on you.¡± ¡°Indeed, Grey Bear, gather your men, interrogate them one by one with Black Sword, to prevent any remaining shape-shifter monster.¡± Although Fang Hao thought that there was only one monster guarding the demon stone chamber, he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure there wasn¡¯t a second one. The shape-shifter monster could imitate human appearance, but luckily it could not read the memories of the person it was imitating. As long as he individually questioned them, he could easily identify it. ¡°Understood, Lord.¡± Grey Bear finally understood Fang Hao¡¯s intention- to confirm his identity. He immediately gathered all his subordinates, interrogating them one-on-one. In a camp, there were only so many people. It was like a small village, everyone was familiar with each other and could easily find out if there were any outsiders. About half an hour later. The cave was completely blocked, and everyone on Gray Bear¡¯s side had been interrogated without any issues arising. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set off and head for the bandit¡¯s camp. The sooner we finish, the sooner everybody can rest.¡± Fang Hao ordered again. The large group once again set off towards the second map location, the ¡°Bandit Camp¡±. At 3:20 p.m. In front of a low cave on the outskirts of Lyss City. ¡°Leader Lai Gou, this is the cave where I always seem to find gems. You promised me that if I found this place, you would erase my debt,¡± a limping man told the muscular man in front of him. Lai Gou looked into the cave seriously. The cave was pitch black, with visibility covering only one or two meters. ¡°Enough with the nonsense, is there any danger inside?¡± Lai Gou cursed and asked the man to get to the point. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I only picked a one or two near the cave entrance. I was afraid of danger, so I never dared to go in.¡± The limping man¡¯s voice trembled. Lai Gou glared at him. He was really a waste. They hadn¡¯t even entered, and he was already scared to this extent. Many people were aware of his knack for finding gems. If anyone else could do the same, they would have been rich by now. Who would live like him! ¡°Prepare the torches,¡± Lai Gou said. The junior behind him ignited a torch and handed it to Lai Gou. The light of the fire flickered, reflecting on the cave walls, resembling a shape-shifting beast. ¡°Go in, you lead the way,¡± Lai Gou picked up the limping man and threw him in front of the cave. The limping man¡¯s face became ghastlier, with beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. ¡°Lai Gou, yo-you promised, I only need to lead you to the cave entrance¡­¡± Lai Gou kicked the limping man into the cave. ¡°Speak again, and even your current good leg will be broken.¡± A few people entered the cave, lighting up its cavernous belly with the glow of their torches. As they ventured deeper, an oppressive atmosphere gripped the group, making them all nervous. ¡°La-Lai Gou, you¡¯ll stick to your word about the gem, right?¡± The limping man took small steps forward, speaking in trembling tones. ¡°Shut up,¡± Lai Gou scolded. If there were any monsters in here, speaking would draw their attention. ¡°B-but I¡¯m scared. You know me, as long as I talk I won¡¯t be so afraid,¡± the limping man said in a whining and shaking voice. ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Look, there is a gem over there,¡± the limping man suddenly exclaimed. Two meters ahead of them on the ground, in the middle, lay a ruby the size of a little finger. The expressions of Lai Gou and his men instantly lit up. There really were gems here. They were going to be rich. Lai Gou picked up the gem, wiped it with his clothes, and checked it was indeed a gem before joyfully putting it into his pocket. ¡°Keep moving forward. Fellas, we are going to be rich,¡± Lai Gou whispered, urging them to move forward. They reached the end of the cave, where there was a wide-open space. The open space was very flat and clean. There were no beasts as they had imagined, no bodies or animal bones. Nor were there any piles of gems. There was nothing, just a normal cave. ¡°What happened? Where are the gems?¡± Lai Gou turned around and found that the limping man was standing far away, trying to extinguish the torch in his hand. ¡°What are you doing? Get him back here,¡± Lai Gou said. Seeing Lai Gou¡¯s men walking towards him, the limping man hurriedly extinguished the torch, yelling anxiously, ¡°I led them here. You can come out now. Please, come out.¡± Hearing the limping man¡¯s cry, Lai Gou and his men instantly got nervous. At this time, they also realized that they had fallen into a trap and been deliberately led here. They pulled out the weapons at their waists and prepared for battle. But the open space was just so big, where could any other people be hiding? A few breaths later, nothing had happened yet. Lai Gou chuckled, ¡°It seems that your partner isn¡¯t following the plan, huh?¡± Whoosh! He had barely finished speaking when a sound came from behind him, the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh. He quickly turned around and saw that the man holding the torch in their team had been slashed across the neck. He slowly fell onto the ground. At this moment, everyone saw the enemy, a woman with a slim figure. Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Chapter 325, Demon Mask_i Chapter 331: Chapter 325, Demon Mask_i A shapely woman appeared behind the group unnoticed. The men had no idea when she had arrived. Her slender waist and feminine aura helped diffuse the tense atmosphere significantly. ¡°So you brought a bitch to deal with us?¡±, sneered Lai Gou, tossing his cleaver nonchalantly. It was clear that the woman had come prepared, blocking the only exit. However, could one woman possibly be a threat to his side? Are you Lai Gou?¡± she asked calmly. ¡°Why? Looking for me?¡±, Lai Gou passed his torch to his henchman, rubbing his pockmarked scar, ¡°Know me from somewhere? Speak up, at least I¡¯d know who you are.¡± While Lai Gou and the woman were talking, one of his henchmen, unseen by the woman due to Lai Gou¡¯s shielding body, was slowly stretching his crossbow and loading the arrow. ¡°Duck!¡± the henchman shouted. Lai Gou instantly bent down. Wham! The crossbow string twanged, and the released bolt flew towards the woman with a whistling sound. All this happened so suddenly. But the woman¡¯s figure seemed to dissolve like scattered ink and disappeared. The bolt passed through where she had just stood, shooting through the tunnel and beyond. ¡°What the hell, where did she go?¡±, Lai Gou and his men blanched, realizing they were up against a formidable opponent. As they panicked, shadows began to stir. A blade flashed out from the darkness, skewering a henchman through his chest. ¡°There you are.¡± The men lunged at the shadow, only leaving traces of their swords on the cave walls. The henchman impaled on the sword slowly fell, already lifeless. The battle was far from over. The dimly lit cave became the woman¡¯s battleground. The men kept falling, struck at vulnerable parts of their bodies. Each strike was lethal. ¡°Run, run out quickly.¡± Lai Gou yelled in panic, starting to flee. The remaining two henchmen followed, throwing their torches on the ground and running out in desperation. Thud! A man fell as the woman lunged from the shadow. Lai Gou felt the woman was right behind him and swung his blade around. But all he heard was his own henchman screaming. Looking back, there was neither the woman nor her shadow, only his blade slicing through his henchman¡¯s belly. Blood was gushing from the wound. ¡°Boss, take me¡­ take me with you.¡±, clutching at his wound, the henchman pleaded with Lai Gou to leave with him. ¡°Damn it! Crazy bitch!¡±, cursed Lai Gou as he stumbled along in his effort to flee. Now the daylight could be seen at the mouth of the cave. Just a few dozen meters and he would be outside. The horses were tied outside. Once he got out, he could escape far away from the crazy woman. As Lai Gou sped towards the exit, he felt a sudden warmth at his ankle and fell forward. As he tried to get up to continue fleeing, pain shot through his foot. That¡¯s when he noticed his foot had been slashed by the woman, probably severing his Achilles tendon and disabling him. ¡°Please, don¡¯t kill me. I can give you¡­¡±, he began. Bang! A dull sound followed by a heavy blow at the back of his neck. His eyes rolled back and he blacked out. The cacaphonic clamoring in the cave subsided. The woman dragged Lai Gou towards the exit. After a while, a limping man staggered out of the cave. Lai Gou and the woman were gone. Only a money bag sat on a stone by the entrance. It was the agreed reward from the woman. Frantically looking around, the limping man picked up the money bag and hobbled away. Elsewhere, Fang Hao¡¯s team had arrived at the second map location, ¡°Bandit Camp¡±. Ten Bone Dragons circled the not-so-large camp. Their gigantic, ashen heads peeked over the wooden walls, looking down at the terrified bandits below. Bang! The camp gate was roughly swung open and Gray Bear strode in, tailed by bandit underlings and dozens of skeletal soldiers. ¡°Who is the boss here?¡± Gray Bear roared. The bandits in the camp all hid in their respective rooms, peeping through the cracks of their doors. ¡°Gray Bear, you¡¯re breaking the rules,¡± came a man¡¯s voice from the room in the center of the camp. Gray Bear followed the source of the voice and found its owner. The man wasn¡¯t tall, but he was built like a tank. ¡°Skin Monkey, so you¡¯re the one who set up a camp here,¡± Gray Bear sneered. Skin Monkey has been a notorious bandit for a long time, not lacking capable followers. A month ago, Lyss City began its campaign to purge bandits in the surrounding mountains, and their base was destroyed, losing more than half of their forces in the process. Fortunately, the scattered bandits in this area were quickly regrouped, and a new team was formed here to establish a new camp. ¡°Gray Bear, what is the meaning of this, what¡¯s going on with these undead?¡± Skin Monkey asked coldly. Gray Bear didn¡¯t answer Skin Monkey¡¯s question but continued to speak, ¡°Skin Monkey, bandits can only get so far. This place will just be swept clean by the military again by this time next year.¡± This statement was not only for Skin Monkey but also for those hiding in the rooms. What good would establishing a camp do now? By this time next year, it would still be cleared by the army of Lyss City. ¡°Oh? Does Gray Bear have a better idea?¡± ¡°My camp is now affiliated with Pruell City and belongs to an official village. If you follow me, we will no longer have to keep hiding,¡± Gray Bear bellowed. Whisper! The crowd began to murmur, speaking softly among themselves. ¡°So you¡¯re here to poach my people, but Gray Bear, if you¡¯re going to make up an excuse, make a good one. With these undead claiming affiliation with a human city, do you think we¡¯re idiots?¡± Skin Monkey responded loudly. Both of them were leaders. Despite his disadvantage, Skin Monkey was quite defiant against Gray Bear. Just as Gray Bear wanted to explain further, Fang Hao and Anjia walked over. ¡°Why bother with him, Black Sword, bring him out,¡± Fang Hao gave a direct order. Yes, Master,¡± Black Sword complied. He made his way to the leader¡¯s hall straight away and kicked Skin Monkey out dragging him to their feet. [Human Warrior (Tier 6)]. Skin Monkey was only Tier 6, not as high as Gray Bear. ¡°I¡¯ll give you to the count of three to submit or I¡¯ll kill you,¡± Fang Hao said flatly. Hearing the Skeleton Bird talk, Skin Monkey¡¯s face instantly changed. Before he could react, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Alright, time¡¯s up, kill him.¡± Black Sword immediately raised his longsword, ready to strike. ¡°I¡¯ll submit, I will submit¡­.¡± skin Monkey wailed in panic, afraid that the sword would cut him down. ¡°Gray Bear, have him sign the slave contract. If anyone doesn¡¯t toe the line, kill him,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Anjia took a blank slave contract from her bag and handed it to Gray Bear. He took it and promptly had Skin Monkey sign. This time, Skin Monkey was quite obedient and did not utter a single word. With this, Gray Bear gained two more leaders under his command. One was Dark Wolf, now called Dog, and the other was Skin Monkey. Afterward, things were much simpler, and all the bandits submitted. The camp was also dismantled, with everyone moving to Gray Bear¡¯s village. All the money and materials from the bandits¡¯ hideout were taken away; almost a hundred carts were filled with goods. Fang Hao and his group got away with money and a black iron treasure chest. Night fell. Anjia and Black Sword, riding the bone dragon, returned to their territory. The spoils this time weren¡¯t significant, besides some gold coins from the bandits, there were just two treasure chests. A golden treasure chest and a black iron chest. Fang Hao, as a kneeling gray bird, could only bring the chests back for him to open. Standing before the two chests, Open the black iron chest. [Received: Axe Blueprint, Black Iron Scythe Blueprint, Animal Collar Blueprint 12 Warfire Coins.] ¡¯ Black Iron Scythe and Animal Collar were blueprints that he did not have. Continued to open the golden chest. [Received: Demon Mask (Orange), Glay Rolling Stone Skill Scroll, 3 Essence of the Abyss, 102 Warfire Coins, 8 Demon Stones.] Orange equipment. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes lit up in an instant. Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Chapter 327, Bitten_l Chapter 333: Chapter 327, Bitten_l Rolana¡¯s first words revealed the purpose of her visit. The Sky Vault, a purple sand table artifact, could enshroud a certain area of territory with perpetual mist. The mist that had engulfed Crescent Heights, the Blood Clan¡¯s territory, was the effect of the Sky Vault. Seeing its effect first-hand, Fang Hao had directly taken it. He didn¡¯t expect Rolana to ask for it. ¡°I do have it. With the commotion at the Blood Castle, I just decided to take it,¡± said Fang Hao. After speaking, he took out the Sky Vault from his storage space and tossed it to Rolana. The Sky Vault was indeed a rare treasure. But after taking it back to his place, Fang Hao hadn¡¯t found a use for it, so it had been sitting around like a collector¡¯s item. Even if he acquired an intricate sand table in the future, it wasn¡¯t certain he would utilize the box to shroud the city in perpetual darkness using the mist. At the very least, he wasn¡¯t fond of living in darkness for years at a time. Rolana could make better use of it. Rolana caught the box and directly pocketed it without saying much. Her expression was still cold. ¡°Have you taken care of your business?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. At the same time, he glanced outside. He didn¡¯t see the Red Duke¡¯s corpse with her. ¡°It¡¯s taken care of,¡± said Rolana matter-of-factly. ¡°Sowhat about the Red Duke?¡± Fang Hao continued. She wouldn¡¯t still feel sentimental about him and let him go, right? If she could let him go after all this, that would mean her intelligence was simply lacking. He¡¯d have to arrange for someone to kill the Red Duke. At the mention of the Red Duke, a murderous crimson aura instantly spread from Rolana, causing the temperature in the room to drop dramatically. After hesitating, she replied coldly: ¡°Dead.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Fang Hao nodded. He certainly preferred the Red Duke was dead. Otherwise, given the Duke¡¯s cunning nature, he could become a problem. Thinking about it, Fang Hao asked in a probing manner, ¡°Where did the Red Duke die?¡± Rolana raised her eyebrows, ¡°Does it matter?¡± ¡°Considering the Blood Clan¡¯s impact on the Human Clan, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to handle it,¡± Fang Hao made up a quick excuse. Rolana seemed to have forgotten his order to bring back the Red Duke¡¯s corpse to create a Skeleton Hero. Or, perhaps, she hadn¡¯t even taken it to heart to begin with. ¡°Hmm,¡± Rolana snorted in response. After a moment¡¯s silence, she said, ¡°He is in a cave located in a valley on the east side of Crescent Heights. He¡¯s deader than dead; that much you can be sure of.¡± ¡°Do you know the valley¡¯s name?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°No.¡± ¡°How far away?¡± Rolana¡¯s brows subtly furrowed, ¡°Not far, about a kilometer away.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Fang Hao stroked his chin, keeping these details in mind. Once Rolana left, he would send someone to check the valley on the eastern side, to see if they could find the Red Duke¡¯s corpse. This, after all, was an Orange Hero. Once turned into a Skeleton Hero, the overall strength of his territory would increase substantially. He hoped that Rolana hadn¡¯t destroyed the Red Duke completely. Fang Hao gave a noncommittal reply and the room fell quiet again. Rolana still sat there, showing no signs of leaving. ¡°Ahem! Rolana, have you eaten yet? You could have something here if you want,¡± Fang Hao tried starting a conversation. Maybe there was a chance to grow closer to his Dark Gold Hero, a chance to increase her loyalty. ¡°Give me some human beings. I need to rebuild the Blood Castle,¡± Rolana suddenly interjected. This statement startled Fang Hao. She was demanding humans from him? He knew a bit about the human situation at Crescent Heights. Under Red Duke¡¯s rule, the humans were essentially food storage for the Blood Clan. Not only did they have to live in perpetual darkness, they had to pay a blood tax. Many died from excessive blood extraction. Now Rolana was asking him for humans, which made him immediately suspicious. Even if he was trying to improve her loyalty, he would not offer humans to be drained by the Blood Clan. ¡°I have left over 700,000 undead soldiers for you in the Blood Castle, enough for you to get the reconstruction work done, and without complaints,¡± Fang Hao said with a smirk. Reconstructing the Blood Castle. 700,000 skeletons, you have ample to erect a new castle. What else could you ask for in the name of population? ¡°I need living people as well. I wouldn¡¯t want the citizens of the castle to be just myself and a group of motionless undead,¡± Rolana insisted. This¡­ Fang Hao¡¯s expression turned stern. He directly rejected the proposition: ¡°Rolana, I am quite willing to help you rebuild the Blood Castle and live the life you want, but this particular demand of yours for living beings, I can¡¯t agree to it.¡± ¡°Oh? Why not?¡± Rolana didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, she was curious. ¡°Because of the Red Duke¡¯s reign, the human beings living in Crescent Heights became reserve food. I won¡¯t agree to send humanity back to Crescent Heights, and hand them to you to manage.¡± Having said that, Fang Hao decided not to hold back anymore. ¡°You think I would suck their blood?¡± Rolana frowned slightly, slightly stunned. Then, a faint smile appeared on her cold face. Before Fang Hao could ponder the reason for her smile, Rolana suddenly disappeared from her place and the next second she was right in front of him, her glossy lips aiming for Fang Hao¡¯s neck. The nighttime made Rolana¡¯s attributes even stronger. Everything happened too fast. Fang Hao was startled, blocked with his left arm, and in a blink of an eye, pulled out the Light Feather Short sword from his waist, aiming directly at Rolana¡¯s lower ribs. If he could land a hit, The length of the Light Feather Short Sword would be enough to pierce her heart. But, although Fang Hao was ready, Rolana¡¯s reaction speed was just as quick, and she caught the incoming short sword. And the next moment, she bit Fang Hao directly on his forearm. The pain of the bite made Fang Hao¡¯s face even more gloomy. Fang Hao kicked towards Rolana¡¯s chest and pale blue elemental energy began to converge, Frost Armor protected his body. However, this kick was nothing but air. Rolana had already returned to her seat and gracefully sat down. At this moment, Demitrija and the others rushed in, alerted by the maid who had seen the two of them fighting and had gone to fetch the other heroes. The moment the heroes barged in, they immediately protected Fang Hao. ¡°Rolana, how dare you lay a hand on me!¡± Fang Hao stood up abruptly, shouting angrily. The atmosphere in the room immediately tensed. He had gone to the trouble of reviving this woman and helping her. Fang Hao was truly angry. If Rolana were really ungrateful, he would kill her on the spot, even at the cost of the territory¡¯s loss. Becoming a vampire? He might as well accelerate the transformation ceremony and become undead himself. Faced with Fang Hao¡¯s accusations, Rolana didn¡¯t change her expression. Even though Demitrija and the other heroes had drawn their weapons, she still sat calmly in her chair. Her long, slender legs were crossed as she counter-questioned, ¡°Attack you? When did I ever attack you, my Lord?¡± Fang Hao frowned. He opened his clenched fist to reveal a bite mark on his forearm. There were two clear rows of tooth marks, but no blood hole as he had imagined. What the hell? No fangs? ¡°Lord, how could you distrust me so much? Or should I say, what are you afraid of?¡± Rolana counter-questioned. It seemed Rolana had always been aware that Fang Hao didn¡¯t trust her, or to be precise, watchful of her. ¡°If a vampire suddenly lunged at you, you¡¯d probably be startled too!¡± Fang Hao defended himself. The main reason Fang Hao didn¡¯t trust her was because she didn¡¯t trust him. How could a hero whose loyalty level never increases and who has great strength not be daunting? ¡°Only those vampires who have been transformed are dependent on blood. You are in the lordship position and you still don¡¯t know this?¡± Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Chapter 328, Lai Gou _1 Chapter 334: Chapter 328, Lai Gou _1 The Eternal Night Clan, had stolen the power of eternity. Similarly, as punishment, they were ostracised by the living creatures, forsaken by the gods. Even though eternal, they would only live in darkness and solitude. In order to thrive better in the old castle, the Eternal Night Clan began to require dependents and servants, giving their blood to those living creatures who craved eternal life. Transforming them into the long-lived Blood Clan. And the price of this extended life, is the dependence on blood, it can also be called bloodthirst. The Blood Clan began to prey on humans, thus affixing them with the title of vampires. And it is believed that, all members of the Blood Clan drink the blood of living creatures. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t understand these things, he couldn¡¯t distinguish which ones were vampires and which were not. The media he had contact with, suggested that all vampires drink blood. In his territory, the only one who might have an understanding was probably Nelson, but Nelson worked in the Viscera Museum. Otherwise, one could ask about the validity of these things. ¡°So you bit me just to prove all this?¡± Fang Hao sat back down on his chair. But his heart was still uncontrollably pounding violently. Everything had happened too quickly, it also proved that when facing a hero like Laurana alone, Fang Hao had no strength to resist. ¡°Otherwise, would you believe me if I told you?¡± Laurana¡¯s tone remained steady. She¡¯s crazy! Fang Hao cursed in his heart. Even if Laurana said she didn¡¯t drink blood, Fang Hao still wondered whether her fangs were retractable. But after calming down and thinking about it, Laurana had no need to lie to him. Even if she went to prey on humans, it would be hard for him to stop her since his two orange heroes can¡¯t fly. Can¡¯t fight the one who can fly, so what could he do? Can I take it that you simply wanted more activities in Blood Castle, therefore needed population?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°You can think of it that way, Crescent Heights once had a substantial population too.¡± She¡¯s really afraid of loneliness. Fang Hao rubbed the spot where her teeth had marked, and began to think. Laurana had no reason to lie to him, right now they still maintained the relationship of a lord and a hero. If Laurana didn¡¯t have the idea to use humans as a food reserve, then he could develop Crescent Heights. Otherwise, this vast expanse of land, with only Blood Castle and Kong Yong¡¯s small village was actually a waste of land. What¡¯s more, he needed the land for cultivation to increase the grain production. The Heaven¡¯s Curtain, what¡¯s your plan? Humans need sunlight, the thick fog would shorten their lifespan.¡± Fang Hao said again. ¡°I can make the fog cover only the sky above Blood Castle, you don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Fang Hao nodded his head, there didn¡¯t seem to be a problem with that approach. ¡°Last point.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Laurana said plainly. Since only vampires depend on blood, you cannot develop the Blood Clan at will, at least discuss it with me first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Good, I agree to this, and will arrange for the population to move into Crescent Heights as soon as possible.¡± After all the negotiations, Fang Hao finally agreed. Crescent Heights is vast, and the village and castle are ready to use. When the time comes, he could move the population there and the existing buildings can be put into use directly. Laurana stood up and gave a small bow, ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias¡¯ loyalty to you has increased by 1 point, the current loyalty is 26.] The loyalty had increased, but it had always been going up by 1 point at a time, when in all hells would he finally increase loyalty significantly. 26 was still quite risky. Fang Hao didn¡¯t show much reaction to Laurana¡¯s bow, but he heaved a sigh of relief in his heart. This madwoman, like a lunatic, was either good or bad without any in- betweens. ¡°Laurana, now that you¡¯re planning to go back to Blood Castle, tell me what you might need so I can get my people to prepare it,¡± Fang Hao said, reclining in a more comfortable position. He thought to himself, once he could take care of her needs, she would finally leave his place. Back to her Blood Castle. Oh,¡± Laurana¡¯s eyes darted over to Eira, giving her several glances before responding softly, ¡°I don¡¯t need anything from Blood Castle, I just need some clothes towear.¡± Fang Hao immediately understood her hint, no wonder her gaze kept drifting towards the maid. ¡°Fine, Eira, please prepare some changes of clothes for Laurana. Include a variety of styles in the ones you wear,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Oh, alright, master,¡± Eira agreed, promptly heading to the clothing storeroom. Soon, Eira returned with two other maids. They each carried a stack of neatly folded clothes in their arms. ¡°Miss Laurana, these are the clothes we have prepared for you. They are different styles and there are extras for you to change into,¡± Eira put the clothes on a side table next to Laurana. Great, thank you,¡± Laurana thanked her with a smile. It seemed Laurana was much kinder towards Eira than she was towards him. Once the clothes were packed up, Laurana didn¡¯t plan to stick around any longer. She saw Fang Hao yawning several times. She stood up and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Upon hearing her, Fang Hao immediately stood up to send her off, ¡°Take care on your way. If there¡¯s anything, just send a message through the Blood Hunter, you don¡¯t need to go back and forth.¡± Laurana gave him a noncommittal glance. She left the mansion, unfolded her giant bat wings, and flew directly into the sky. A bone dragon circled the air and then quickly sped off with Laurana. With Laurana gone, Fang Hao sighed a breath of relief. He had finally sent this crazy woman away. After sending off several heroes, Fang Hao left the hero ¡®Giant Wall¡¯ behind. He roughly explained to him where the Red Duke had died. He asked him to take some troops to look for the body, and if they found it, to bring it back. If not, then to just forget about it. ¡®Giant Wall¡¯ agreed, and summoned a few skeleton soldiers to ride the bone dragon to the valley where the Red Duke had died. Having done all that, Fang Hao also went back to his room to rest. The next morning. As the sky gradually brightened, there was a gentle knock at his door. Following it was Eira¡¯s voice, ¡°Master, Miss Hilda is back and she¡¯s brought a prisoner.¡± Fang Hao opened his eyes at that moment, dumbfoundedly staring at the ceiling. His brain still hadn¡¯t fully woken up. It took him a while to understand Eira¡¯s words. Hilda was Little You. It seemed that Little You had returned with Lai Gou. He sat up, put on his clothes, and left the room. Eira, who had been standing at the door waiting for a response, was about to go in when Fang Hao emerged. ¡°Eira, where¡¯s Little You?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°She has been sent to the Blood Prison,¡± Eira replied. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to take a look.¡± After a quick wash, he walked out of the mansion and headed straight to the Blood Prison. Blood Prison. The dim underground was filled with a cold aura. In the first room of the Blood Prison, a sturdy man was hung up high by iron fetters. The man¡¯s face was covered with twisted scars, it was the man he had been looking for, Lai Gou. ¡°Sir.¡± Little You saluted. ¡°Hmm, Little You, you¡¯ve worked hard,¡± Fang Hao replied. Hanging Lai Gou, hearing the sounds of conversation, slowly opened his eyes. Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Chapter 329, Spy Plan_1 Chapter 335: Chapter 329, Spy Plan_1 Their conversation helped to rouse Lai Gou from his stupor. Gradually, in his daze, he was able to make out the two figures before him. He saw the woman who had attacked him, as well as the dark-haired man beside her. His pupils abruptly constricted when he managed to identify the man¡¯s face. He was instantly alert. This was a man he had noticed before. In the tavern, with an orc girl accompanying him. With black hair and black eyes, he had caught his attention instantly. Noticing the man¡¯s gaze on him, Lai Gou closed his eyes again, feigning unconsciousness. ¡°Is he still alive?¡± Fang Hao asked after checking Lai Gou¡¯s condition. ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± Little You responded. They both noticed the eyelids of Lai Gou rolling under them as they spoke. He was clearly awake already, just pretending to be unconscious. Fang Hao turned his back, calling two skeleton warriors over from outside the Blood Prison. He commanded them to pick up the whip conveniently provided in the Blood Prison. ¡°Help him fully awaken,¡± Fang Hao said. The skeleton warriors stepped forward, their stiff arms swinging the whip onto Lai Gou¡¯s body. Crack,crack!! With the crisp sound of the whip echoing through the room, Lai Gou screamed from the pain before the third lash had even landed. Upon opening his eyes, he saw two towering white skeletons punishing him. His pupils widened in disbelief. Even the whip lashing against him was temporarily forsaken for a scream. Once the shock subsided, the surging pain all over his body prompted Lai Gou to beg, ¡°Stop! Stop! Just tell me what you want.¡± Despite this, the skeleton warriors didn¡¯t pause, continuing to shower blows on him, leaving a trail of lacerations oozing blood on Lai Gou¡¯s body. Only when Fang Hao felt it was enough did he have the warriors stop. The two skeletons stood at attention to the side. Fang Hao seated himself across from Lai Gou, massaging his forehead. ¡°Lai Gou, just talk. If you do, you might feel better,¡± he said. Blood-stained and head drooped, Lai Gou questioned, ¡°What do you want me to say? If I have upset you, I¡¯ll make amends, I¡¯m willing to compensate.¡± Running a gang and kidnapping people, were Lai Gou¡¯s most polished skills. He knew well enough that being stubborn would only hurt himself. ¡°You¡¯ve seen a lot of people like me, haven¡¯t you? If you manage to offend me, wouldn¡¯t I become your next captive?¡± Fang Hao stated calmly. At these words, Lai Gou felt a pit in his stomach. How did this man know he had been planning to capture him? He was after a particular group of individuals. The most noticeable common feature among this group was their black hair and black eyes. He started plans to kidnap Fang Hao after accidentally spotting him in the tavern. However, by the time he rounded up his men, Fang Hao had already left Lyss City. And now, he had fallen into Fang Hao¡¯s hands. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met before,¡± Lai Gou feigned confusion. ¡°Hit him!¡± The pair of skeletons on standby immediately moved to action, wielding their whips for another round of merciless lashes. The properties of the Blood Prison provided a 30% increase in the feeling of punishment pain. As such, the punishment Lai Gou was currently undergoing was significantly more painful than anticipated. With each echoing snap of the whip, Lai Gou¡¯s expression became progressively distorted. He roared, ¡°Enough, I¡¯ll speak! What exactly do you want to know?¡± Fang Hao signaled the skeletons to stop once again. ¡°Why do you want to capture us transmigrators?¡± Lai Gou¡¯s face darkened drastically. He didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to know this much. Why would he know that? It shouldn¡¯t be possible. ¡°I like it when people play tough. If you spilled the beans too early, I wouldn¡¯t have an excuse to torture you,¡± said Fang Hao casually. He then turned to the skeletonsagain, ¡°Hithim.¡± With that, Fang Hao walked out of the Blood Prison, leaving the skeletons to do as they were told. The bodies of the five transmigrators still loomed in his mind. Ripped flesh and unrecognizable faces. Just the sight of their wretched state was enough to send chills down his spine. Even though Fang Hao did not see transmigrators as having any special privileges, he could feel the fury in his heart. Abducting and torturing people just for information collection? Transmigrators are humans too, how could they be treated this way. If anything, he hoped that Lai Gou could hold back a bit and not reveal too much too soon. Breakfast was eaten. When Fang Hao returned, the sound of whipping was still going on, but Lai Gou seemed as lifeless as a dead dog, hanging limply in mid-air. The ground under him had turned into a pool of blood. Fang Hao signaled the Skeleton to stop and went forward to examine. The breathing had become very weak and death seemed not far off. Fang Hao took out the Unclean Magnet Talisman from the storage space and directly put it around his neck. A faint blood-colored glow enveloped Lai Gou. His split-open flesh began to mend visibly, slowly healing. This was the first time Fang Hao had seen the effect of the talisman, he didn¡¯t expect it to be this strong, visibly healing at a noticeable rate. He put away the Unclean Magnet Talisman. Soon after, Lai Gou slowly woke up. Seeing Fang Hao sitting in front of him, his body shook violently, and with a crying voice he asked, ¡°What exactly do you want? Why are you treating me like this?¡± ¡°Why capture transmigrators?¡± Fang Hao reiterated his earlier question. After a brief silence, Lai Gou replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about transmigrators. The orders from above asked us to capture people with black hair and black pupils.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®above¡¯? Who are you referring to?¡± ¡°My, my, my boss.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your boss? Give me a name.¡± Fang Hao reminded coldly. He was not very familiar with these gangsters. The tavern owner had mentioned some gang-related incidents to him before, but he hadn¡¯t given it much thought. He hadn¡¯t taken much note. ¡°Lei Li, he¡¯s the one who asked me to do it. I have no idea what would happen after capturing them.¡± Lai Gou said, somewhat agitated. Betraying his boss was a grave matter. If the truth gets out, he would be killed by Lei Li. But if he doesn¡¯t spill it, he would die right now. ¡°What about the others? Mention everyone you know.¡± Fang Hao continued, this time etching the name Lei Li in his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t know the others, everyone¡¯s appearance is always concealed, I have no idea who these people are. But I am certain that they are from Lyss City.¡± Lai Gou answered swiftly this time. Fang Hao stared intently at Lai Gou. Since he had already betrayed his boss, the likelihood of him lying afterwards was low. It seemed that the people of the Faceless Cabin always concealed their identities from each other when they met, out of fear of exposure. ¡°As for those who took part in the abduction, tell me everything you know.¡± Fang Hao continued. Even if it was a transmigrator. For Lai Gou to abduct someone and keep them alive all by himself would not be an easy task, there had to be accomplices. ¡°Alright.¡± Lai Gou spouted several names. Fang Hao¡¯s shadow squirmed, and Little You appeared. She took a pen and paper and wrote down all the names Lai Gou had given. ¡°Tell me about all the interrogation locations you¡¯re aware of.¡± Fang Hao questioned finally. Without any hesitation, Lai Gou recited all the places he knew. Getting the information he wanted, Fang Hao appointed the Skeleton to guard the Blood Prison. He and Little You then left the Blood Prison. Lai Gou couldn¡¯t die yet, he had to be kept in the Blood Prison. Further questioning was still required for any information needed in the future. Back at the lord¡¯s hall. Fang Hao called down Demitrija, Anjia and a few others. He recounted every detail of the interrogation to them. With the future development of the territory leaning towards Lyss City, the threat posed by the Faceless Cabin could not be ignored by Fang Hao. ¡°What¡¯s your plan, My Lord?¡± Dimitrija looked towards Fang Hao. ¡°The development plan for Lyss City is unchanged. At the same time, I am thinking of assigning someone to disguise as Lai Gou to investigate all of the ¡®Faceless¡¯, including Lai Gou¡¯s boss, Lei Li.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and let out his plan. ¡°Disguise?¡± Everyone looked confused. Fang Hao took out the demon mask, and said, ¡°Disguise!¡± Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Chapter 330, Human Trafficking_l Chapter 336: Chapter 330, Human Trafficking_l Fang Hao had no intention of capturing Lei Li just yet. It could be confirmed from Lai Gou that more than just Lei Li resided in the house of the Faceless, including the elites from all sides of Lyss City. That was also the means through which the house of the Faceless obtained information from all sides. Capturing Lei Li would not be difficult. However, once something happened to Lei Li, the Faceless house would definitely notice. At that time, it would be much more difficult to deal with others. Therefore, he planned to bide his time and fully investigate these people before dealing with all of them in one fell swoop. Naturally, this idea was challenging, but not impossible. ¡°This is a demon mask. It can change a person¡¯s appearance to that of a target, but it cannot be worn by living creatures. I am thinking of choosing someone from the undead,¡± Fang Hao explained the function of the demon mask. The power of the demon mask was rather strong, but the fact that living creatures could not wear it was a limitation. Luckily, there was no mention of the undead, otherwise, no matter how good the mask was, it would only be a collector¡¯s item. ¡°My lord, I am willing to accept this mission.¡± The towering figure ¡®Giant Wall1 spoke. It belonged to the undead troll, towering in stature and equipped with a shield like a city gate. During meetings, the shield must be kept outside and only collected when leaving. ¡°Um¡­ Giant Wall, I understand your intentions, but this mission may not suit you,¡± Fang Hao gently refused. Both physique and personality did not quite match Fang Hao¡¯s requirements for the job. Black Sword, who had been dispatched by Fang Hao to find the Red Duke¡¯s corpse, had not returned yet. Among the undead in his territory, only Giant Wall remained. ¡°My lord, I am fit to do it. I am, after all, a more suitable candidate for gathering information.¡± At this moment, Little You suddenly spoke up. Yes, Little You was also a hero of the undead as well. Although she hardly differed from humans, she was still considered as undead in their faction. Her skills also retained the characteristics of a wandering spirit. ¡°Little You, are you sure you can handle it?¡± Fang Hao sought her confirmation. Little You was indeed suitable. The other undead, once they removed the mask, would immediately reveal their skeleton form. They would cause panic and draw attention in a human city. This would not happen with Little You. Even in her normal form, she could move about in a human city. As long as she didn¡¯t get close to the temple, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°I have no problem.¡± Little You replied. ¡°Try it. See if it has any effect on you. Don¡¯t overdo it; take it off if you can¡¯t handle it,¡± Fang Hao handed the mask to her. Little You took it, and immediately put it on her face. The next second, the mask transformed into mud-like substance, enveloping Little You¡¯s entire body. Gradually, she appeared exactly like Fang Hao. The dressing style, even the short sword at the waist, became identical. Seeing this, everyone, including Fang Hao, was shocked. They were all very familiar with Fang Hao. The current Little You looked just like Fang Hao. And the one sitting on the White Bone throne was also Fang Hao. The people looked back and forth between the two Fang Hao¡¯s for a long while, but couldn¡¯t spot any differences. ¡°My lord, like this?¡± Little You looked down at her own body. But her voice still sounded like a woman. ¡°Do you feel anything?¡± Fang Hao stood up and walked down from the throne. Even Fang Hao could not see Little You¡¯s information now. Not only could this mask change appearances, but it could also deceive transmigrators. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m wrapped up. It¡¯s a bit uncomfortable,¡± Little You answered. However, this time her reply was in Fang Hao¡¯s voice, not the feminine voice from before. ¡°Are there any negative effects?¡± ¡°No,¡± Little You answered. It seemed that this mask was genuinely suitable for Little You. ¡°That¡¯s good. Then, I will leave this mission to you. Don¡¯t rush to Lyss City, get to know Lai Gou¡¯s habits and the people around him better first, so you are prepared,¡± Fang Hao thought for a while and then instructed. In addition to looking like him, she also needed to understand Lai Gou¡¯s past habits. She mustn¡¯t let Lei Li or those around him notice anything. Otherwise, no matter how identical the appearance, they would get exposed. ¡°Understood, my lord. I will take care of it.¡± Little You said, bowing slightly. While the two stood side by side, the crowd could only distinguish who was Fang Hao and who was Little You through their conversation. ¡°Well, it¡¯s all up to you now, be careful¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Little You bowed once more and slowly backed away. As she moved backward, her disguise dwindled revealing her true face. She headed directly out of the lord¡¯s mansion and made her way to the Blood Prison for further interrogation of Lai Gou. The matter was now left to Little You. The meeting ended there. As for the subsequent progress, they would have to wait and see how Little You performed. If this path turned out to be a dead end, he didn¡¯t mind resorting to the use of force to eliminate everyone who knew too much. After having lunch. Fang Hao activated God¡¯s Presence and possessed the Skeleton Gray Sparrow. Along with Anjia, he once again headed towards Gray Bear¡¯s Camp. With a deployment of dozens of Bone Dragons, 67 Skeleton Trolls also descended. ¡°Lord, Miss Anjia.¡± Gray Bear came forward with his men to meet them. He wondered why the two of them were visiting again. Maybe there was another task for them. ¡°Yes, Millie, come over.¡± Fang Hao, controlling the Gray Sparrow, flew down and shouted towards the dragon¡¯s back. A petite maid with a doll-like face hopped down and stood by his side awkwardly, ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Gray Bear, this is my maid Millie. I want you to keep her with you for a while and let her participate in some actions.¡± Fang Hao introduced Millie to Gray Bear. Last time, Eira had suggested him to let Millie gain some experience outside. Fang Hao deliberated and found that there were no appropriate places around his territory. But as he was visiting Gray Bear¡¯s Camp this time, it was a perfect opportunity to bring her along. Upon listening to Fang Hao¡¯s instructions, Gray Bear frowned and looked at Millie. A short bunny girl possessing overly developed breasts; such a creature was typically seen in a nobleman¡¯s bed. Since when did such a creature take part in the battlefield? ¡°My Lord, you¡¯re not jesting, right?¡± Gray Bear asked directly. This place was a bandit camp, not a creche. ¡°Millie is quite talented. In just one month she advanced to Tier 4. She just lacks combat experience. You can guide her, but also make sure she is safe.¡± Fang Hao continued. Gray Bear was surprised at Millie¡¯s pace of progress. The advancement to Tier 4 within a month without any combat experience was out of the ordinary. Millie hid behind Anjia and warily watched Gray Bear. The people here didn¡¯t seem very friendly to her. ¡°Alright, my lord.¡± Gray Bear agreed and said to Millie, ¡°Stick with me from now on and get adjusted to the environment here.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, Mr. Gray Bear.¡± Millie replied in a low voice. ¡°Just call me Gray Bear.¡± He corrected. ¡°Okay.¡± She responded. Fang Hao, seeing them getting acquainted, proceeded to explain his intention for the day, ¡°Which bandit bases are there around the village?¡± Gray Bear was taken aback. During their last visit, Fang Hao had cleared out the newly established camp of the Monkey Bandits. Was there a need to clean up again this time? The frequency of these clean-ups surpassed even that of the army of Belisis City. ¡°My lord, we¡¯re running out of space in the camp.¡± Gray Bear suggested in a low voice. ¡°No need to worry about that. I¡¯m currently developing a new area and am short of hands. Any prisoners will be taken back by me.¡± Fang Hao replied. It was clearly impossible to forcibly take people from the existing villages. However, these wandering bandits were indeed good candidates. Understanding Fang Hao¡¯s intention, Gray Bear nodded. There were indeed quite a few bandits in the vicinity, and the camp had spotted some scouts nearby. This implied that these bandits were planning an attack. It was indeed a good opportunity to use Fang Hao¡¯s help to eliminate these bandits. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Gray Bear responded. One of his subordinates brought over a map of the nearby area and Gray Bear marked the positions of several bandit bases for Fang Hao. Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Chapter 332 - Understanding Women_l Chapter 338: Chapter 332 ¨C Understanding Women_l Rebecca¡¯s cheeks turned slightly pink. She felt embarrassed being bluntly praised for her body by a young man. Even though this man was a ¡°woman at heart¡±. ¡°It seems you understand women pretty well,¡± Rebecca whispered. Fang Hao¡¯s designs were bold, to the point where they clashed with the conventions of the time. Yet, these styles easily captivate women¡¯s hearts. Conventional corseted ball gowns can be stifling and lacking in allure. Even if a woman has a perfect figure, it can hardly be shown off under such clothes. Fang Hao¡¯s designs beautifully showcase women¡¯s figures and beauty by eliminating all the intricate workmanship. ¡°Of course, I understand better than those disgusting men. Why should a woman keep her well-kept skin and well-maintained figure to herself? Who came up with those ball gowns that look like huge covers put on oneself?¡± Fang Hao said, standing up and twirling a finger. He did not forget the role he was playing. If Rebecca found out that his mild demeanor was a disguise, and that he had looked at her body multiple times, she would probably be furious. Hence, he had to keep playing his role. He was not at a loss anyway. ¡°You do have your own perspectives,¡± Rebecca looked at him in surprise. She somewhat agreed with him. But given her status, there were some things she couldn¡¯t say. ¡°Of course, why should we listen to those men all the time? Women can hold up half the sky,¡± Fang Hao declared indignantly. Rebecca sighed lightly when she heard this. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll reserve these two dresses. How much?¡± Rebecca decided to buy them outright. ¡°The first set is 240 gold coins, and the second set is 270 gold coins. Of course, this is the price for you. When the shop officially opens for business, the price will increase by 30% to 50%.¡± Fang Hao revealed a smile. This price was set after Tavek gave him an understanding of the market prices. Among the dresses in the fabric shop, this price was quite high. However, if it were sold to nobles, this price would just be an average one, not considered high. If your product is too cheap given its quality, it will not be appreciated. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll take them,¡± Rebecca called her maid to bring the gold coins. She paid Fang Hao the full amount without any down payment and asked, ¡°The production won¡¯t take too long, will it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you can trust the efficiency here,¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. After finalizing the purchase of the dresses, Fang Hao discussed some minor modifications with Rebecca. The embroidery patterns on the cheongsam were altered, and the waist part was made a little looser. After hashing out the details, Fang Hao did not immediately choose to leave. Instead, he asked Rebecca, ¡°By the way, Mrs. Rebecca, are there any shops or houses for sale recently? I would like to see if there is anything suitable.¡± This was one of his purposes for coming. Purchasing a house through the City Lord¡¯s Mansion would be more cost- effective, and would also save him the trouble of dealing with multiple parties. As for purchasing a shop, he planned to open a fabric shop. As for the house, aside from his own living arrangements, Winnie and the others would be staying there too. Fang Hao had no plans to put his maids in the commoner district or the employee dormitory. Apart from potential threats, Lyss City was not all that safe either. There were quite a few gangs, and the rabbit girls attracted attention. A location near the affluent district would be safer. ¡°Someone.¡± Rebecca called softly. ¡°Madam.¡± A maid pushed the door open. ¡°Take him to check if there are any suitable houses and shops on record. If he likes any, sell them to him at the price set by City Lord¡¯s Mansion,¡± Rebecca commanded generously. ¡°Alright, madam.¡± The maid looked at Fang Hao, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, please come this way.¡± Uh After saying goodbye to Rebecca, Fang Hao left with the maid. Property Registry Office. With the guidance of the maid, Fang Hao checked the list of shops and houses on record. They didn¡¯t have a suitable shop, but there was a mansion that looked rather good. It was located in the affluent district and very close to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. The security and environment were all quite good. It had a courtyard and enough rooms for the maids from the hotpot restaurant to live in. ¡°This one isn¡¯t bad. I¡¯ll take it.¡± The maid at his side was somewhat surprised at the speed of Fang Hao¡¯s purchase. Is this decision made just by a glance? After the payment was made, a maid from the City Lord¡¯s Estate led Fang Hao and Anjia straight to the mansion they had purchased. It was not far from the City Lord¡¯s Estate. After about a five-minute walk, they arrived at the house. Once the main door was opened, a courtyard full of flowers, greenery, and a fish pond was revealed. Fang Hao led Anjia inside, directly passing through the courtyard into a three- story building. The rooms were somewhat messy, traces of a quick search and a hurried tidy- up were apparent, but the furniture was still in place and wall decorations were intact. ¡°Has there been a burglary here?¡± Fang Hao asked. The maid from the City Lord¡¯s Estate, who was standing at the door and had not entered, smiled and replied upon hearing his question, ¡°This is likely the result of a guard¡¯s search. Sir, there is no need to worry about this.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Fang Hao responded. Search! This word suggested that the maid might know something. ¡°Why did the original owner of this house leave everything behind?¡± Fang Hao prodded further. ¡°Sir, due to some special circumstances, this house was put up for sale by the City Lord¡¯s Estate,¡± the maid replied. There could only be two reasons for the City Lord¡¯s Estate to put a house up for sale. Either the house was consigned for sale by the City Lord¡¯s Estate. Or the owner was jailed for a crime, and the house was confiscated. Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask any more questions, given that the guard had searched the place, it must be the latter. He proceeded to survey every room in the house with Anjia, climbing the staircase. Apart from the main building where Fang Hao would stay, there were also several other buildings nearby. There were plenty of rooms, more than adequate to accommodate the maids working in the shop. After a full round of inspection, Fang Hao was quite satisfied. They could have Winnie and the others move in today. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, if there are no other issues, I will take my leave.¡± The maid spoke up. ¡°Right, thank you.¡± The maid nodded slightly and left the house, before climbing into a carriage and departing. As dusk approached, Fang Hao and Anjia returned to the hot pot restaurant. They informed Winnie and the others about their purchase of the house. Once the shop closed, they could move to their new home. Upon hearing they were moving into the rich district, Winnie and the maids were thrilled. In any case, living there was much better than living in the shop. The hot pot restaurant remained open while Fang Hao went straight to the tavern. He sat down at the front desk, his eyes landing on the bulletin board nearby. ¡°What can I get you?¡± asked the tavern owner enthusiastically. Fang Hao casually ordered a few dishes before curiously inquiring, ¡°Are there no new rewards or maps today?¡± Lyss City was such a large city, with presumably more merchants passing through. So why were there so few newly posted rewards and single-page maps? ¡°Are you looking to undertake some rewards?¡± the tavern owner asked curiously. The tavern owner was observant. Fang Hao had come a few times and had always purchased maps, and the owner had noticed this. ¡°Yes, I like to venture out with a group of people to do some exploring,¡± Fang Hao gave his reason. ¡°In that case, I have a suggestion you might want to hear.¡± ¡°Oh? What suggestion.¡± ¡°The City Lord¡¯s Estate has issued a new regulation, controlling the adventure rewards outside the city. You might want to form a mercenary group and take up reward tasks over there.¡± ¡°The City Lord¡¯s Estate controls those too?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard that, because of the high mortality rate in reward tasks and occurrences of people posting fake rewards to lure and kill others, the City Lord¡¯s Estate decided to enforce control.¡± Fang Hao listened, it seemed to make sense. City Lord Estate¡¯s control would ensure the authenticity of the rewards. ¡°Any kind of mercenary can take it?¡± ¡°Not those bandit mercenaries, but those who need to be filed with the City Lord¡¯s Estate.¡± Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Chapter 333, Night Investigation of No-faces Base_l Chapter 339: Chapter 333, Night Investigation of No-face¡¯s Base_l Fang Hao didn¡¯t exactly have a good impression of mercenaries. Whether it¡¯s the ones he had come into contact with, or the stories he heard from others. The profession of a mercenary was quite similar to that of bandits. Especially the last time, when he escorted the ¡®Tavek¡¯s caravan¡¯, the Iron- blood Mercenary Corps had even betrayed their employer to the bandits. They had struck a deal with Gray Bear, who was still a bandit at the time. Planning to collude from inside and out to rob the caravan, and then share the spoils. Luckily, Fang Hao discovered the plot in advance last time, otherwise the entire caravan would have been in danger. So, at heart, Fang Hao didn¡¯t like the profession of a mercenary. ¡°Are tasks only given to the mercenary corps?¡± Fang Hao asked again. The tavern keeper revealed a smile, realizing that Fang Hao was from out of town. He explained, ¡°That should be the case. An area near the city¡¯s east gate is specifically designated for assigning tasks to the mercenaries. You can check it out when you¡¯re there.¡± The east gate! Lyss City was much larger than Pruell City. Moreover, every time Fang Hao arrived, he would enter from the north gate. He had never been to the east gate. ¡°In the future, will there still be adventure bounties in the taverns?¡± Fang Hao continued his inquiries. ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure about that. That will depend on what the City Lord¡¯s mansion says. I don¡¯t know the specifics either since all I got was hearsay from the customers,¡± the innkeeper replied with an awkward smile. ¡°Alright, thank you, innkeeper,¡± Fang Hao thanked with a smile. Being an innkeeper, he was always quite hospitable to the patrons. To attract regular customers, he would occasionally share some inside news. However, incessant talkers like Winnie were a minority. Soon, the food and drinks were served. The two of them stopped talking and started eating. The sky became increasingly darker. At that time, the tavern door was pushed open, and a staggering figure walked in. Fang Hao recognized him. It was Old Hodge, who had bragged about his encounter with a vampire. However, his left eye still had a blue bruise on it. It seemed like he had been involved in a fight. Old Hodge glanced around the tavern, his gaze finally resting on Fang Hao and the beast-eared girl. He hiccuped due to the alcohol, and staggered over, ¡°Young man, how about buying me a drink?¡± He was direct, without any formalities. Although Old Hodge¡¯s stories were rather exaggerated, the blueprint he gave Fang Hao as proof made it clear that he did indeed have a fight with a vampire. However, Fang Hao suspected that Old Hodge was probably a part of the logistic team or a blacksmith, rather than a frontline fighter. This could explain why the location of his wounds constantly changed with each telling of the story. It was likely that the wounds he talked about were actually suffered by the frontline members, and he was borrowing them to show off. Regardless, the blueprint from Old Hodge did prove to be somewhat useful in the battle of Crescent Heights. Therefore, Fang Hao didn¡¯t mind expressing his gratitude to this drunkard. ¡°Of course, how many drinks are you planning to have?¡± asked Fang Hao, with a slight smile. Old Hodge¡¯s eyes brightened up. He hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Hao would ask how many drinks he wanted. ¡°Ten drinks, what do you say?¡± Old Hodge looked at Fang Hao anxiously, fearing that he might have been too greedy and scare his benefactor away. ¡°Alright, bring him ten drinks. And some more appetizers,¡± Fang Hao agreed readily. Old Hodge was thrilled, he grinned, revealing his two missing yellow teeth, and praised Fang Hao for his potential. The tavern keeper shook his head, resignedly preparing the beer for Old Hodge. Being targeted by Old Hodge wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasant thing. ¡°Did you get into a fight with someone? How did your eye get a bruise?¡± Fang asked casually. ¡°What, a fight? I just tripped and fell a couple of days ago when I was drunk. I am not afraid of the Blood Clan, so why would I be afraid of that woman?¡± Old Hodge defended himself. ¡°A woman?¡± Fang Hao looked puzzled. Was he beaten up by a woman? ¡°No, no, I tripped over a woman and fell down,¡± Old Hodge quickly explained. ¡°Oh, then you should drink less. That¡¯s quite a fall that you had,¡± Fang Hao did not expose him. Of course, he also suspected that the bruise was probably given to him by Gray Bear. Although Gray Bear had claimed that he got the blueprint in exchange for treating Old Hodge to twenty glasses of alcohol. However, pounding him and snatching the blueprint was more consistent with Gray Bear¡¯s character. ¡°So, young man, what story would you like to hear from me today? I have a wealth of experience, which you young people couldn¡¯t possibly attain,¡± Old Hodge loudly boasted. He treated Fang Hao like his admirer. ¡°Anything, any story will do,¡± said Fang Hao. Bang! Old Hodge slammed his cup on the table, stood up, and began to recount his story of dealing with the Blood Clan. His emotions were high, and his words were impassioned. He even portrayed himself as brave and fearless. As he walked out of the tavern, the night was deep and dark. Fang Hao looked at his watch, it was already 9 pm. Old Hodge still had three glasses of beer left and was still in the tavern, gesticulating wildly as he recounted his encounter with the Blood Clan. He walked straight back to his place. The house was brightly lit, and Winnie had already arranged for the maids to clean up the rooms for Fang Hao and Anjia. The original bedding had been replaced with new ones. Fang Hao left a few words with Anjia, and then went straight to his room. if o¡¯clock at night. Fang Hao opened his backpack and took out the Skeleton Sparrow inside. He cast God¡¯s Presence and transferred his consciousness into the Skeleton Sparrow. He flew out the open window and headed towards the outskirts of the city. From Lai Gou, Fang Hao learned the locations of the three faceless men. The first location was a manor on the outskirts of the city to the west. According to Lai Gou¡¯s description, the owner of this manor was one of the faceless men, and inside the manor, there was a secret passage that led to the hiding place for the faceless men and a place for interrogating the victims. The manor wasn¡¯t too big, but it was elegantly constructed. He could faintly see people on guard, and lookouts hiding in the shadows. Fang Hao flew around the manor and slipped in through an open grid window. The inside of the building was dimly lit. He could barely hear the sound of respiration from various rooms. Fang Hao continued his search and soon found the hidden passage. Following it down, he arrived at an underground chamber. This place was a stark contrast to the luxurious manor above. It was dark and damp, with a faint hint of blood in the air. Fang Hao inspected the cells in the secret chamber and saw a man hanging in one of them. The man had been tortured and was hanging there like a corpse. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest indicated that he was still alive. So this was another person who had been interrogated. However, this golden-haired man didn¡¯t seem to be a transmigrator. Cough,cough! Just when Fang Hao was about to leave, the unconscious man began to cough violently and slowly opened his eyes. When he saw the Skeleton Sparrow perched on the iron bar, staring right at him. The man¡¯s body jerked violently, causing the chains to clatter. However, he adapted quite fast. He calmed down quickly. ¡°I must be dead,¡± the man murmured weakly. ¡°You¡¯re not dead, but you¡¯re close,¡± the Skeleton Sparrow spoke. Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Chapter 334: Mission Hali l Chapter 340: Chapter 334: Mission Hali l The man convulsed suddenly upon hearing the skeleton sparrow speak. Pain radiated from his injuries, spreading throughout his body. It seemed death was not far off for him. Seeing the man too weak to speak, Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°Who are you and how did you end up here?¡± He was here to investigate the matter about the transmigrator, but what he found was a native resident held captive. The blonde man glanced at the Skulled Sparrow, before he answered, ¡°My name is Browning. I¡¯m a painter in the city.¡± ¡°A painter?¡± Fang Hao examined the man carefully, his gaze falling on his hands, ¡°Why did they capture you?¡± ¡°For some special formula for paint pigments,¡± the man answered, enduring the pain. Having a conversation with an undead before dying wasn¡¯t so bad after all. Fang Hao nodded, that made sense. The Faceless Ones¡¯ Den, eager for intelligence, would stop at nothing. They would not only infiltrate various power structures, but also extract information by way of kidnappings and interrogations. That¡¯s why their asking price was always high. They bore significant risks for each piece of intelligence; if things went sideways, they would be wanted and hunted down. ¡°Alright, you take rest now.¡± The Skulled Sparrow uttered those words, and without waiting for a response, it flew away through the iron bars, disappearing into the night. The iron jail cell descended once more into silence; the man still hanging there. A bout of dizziness washed over him. The man suddenly couldn¡¯t tell if he had truly talked to a skeleton sparrow, or if it was a hallucination before his death. Fang Hao directly flew out of the estate. He checked out the second location that Lai Gou had mentioned, a general store in the commoner¡¯s district. And the third location, an abandoned warehouse. These two locations could also be confirmed as interrogation sites of the Faceless Ones, but they were empty. Fang Hao made a round and took his leave. la.m. Rebecca, dragging her weary body, returned to her study. The matter of the Faceless Ones was giving her a headache. They were like a malignant tumor, relentlessly corroding Lyss City. Rebecca had long sought to eradicate the ¡®Faceless Ones . However, the opposing side always managed to get word in advance and would destroy evidence and evacuate their personnel. Several attempts later, there hadn¡¯t been much progress. Repeated failures were driving Rebecca to frustration. She leaned tiredly against her chair and sighed. The trail of the Faceless Ones had gone cold again, leaving her unsure of where to strike. Dragging her body upright, she was about to go through the documents delivered today. But she noticed a folded piece of paper weighted down by a quill on her desk. Rebecca¡¯s brow furrowed instantly. She knew her habits well; she never folded her paper. The wrinkles on a neat piece of paper disturbed her. So, why was this paper on her desk? She opened it casually, revealing the crude handwriting, which read, ¡°One kilometer west of the city, there is a fruit plantation that serves as a base for the Faceless. In the southern wing of the main floor, there is a basement that holds a captive painter.¡± This¡­ Upon reading the information on the paper, Rebecca rose abruptly from her chair. Her wary eyes scanned the room for any lurking dangers. Someone had delivered this paper to her desk-it was hard to believe, even terrifying. If someone could deliver this message, they could also take her life. At this moment, Rebecca¡¯s anxiety spiked and she struggled to control it. After several moments, when nothing untoward happened and the room remained silent, Rebecca slowly resumed her seat, her attention returning back to the paper in her hand. The details of the location were described very clearly, even the positions of the secret passages and the occupations of the people imprisoned were laid out. This could be someone sending me a message, or a trap set by the Faceless. Rebecca took a deep breath, her complexion returning to normal as she regained the demeanor of the City Lord¡¯s wife. In a serious tone, she commanded, ¡°Summon someone. ¡°Madam!¡± A maid opened the door. ¡°Ask the captain of the guard to come. I have something to discuss with him.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± The maid agreed and quickly departed. Before long, a member of the guard team entered the room. Rebecca handed him the piece of paper in her hand. The next day, Fang Hao woke up early. Winnie and the others had already gone to their shop. After a quick wash, Fang Hao and Anjia left the mansion. Crossing numerous streets, they arrived at the eastern gate area of Lyss City. This place was notably different from the town¡¯s commercial street. It was a standalone area. And was starkly distinct from the rest of Lyss City. Down the road, scattered here and there, were mercenaries clad in armor and carrying weapons. Some had simply laid out a cloth on the ground, selling some spoils of battle they had obtained. This sight reminded Fang Hao of the ¡®Manim market¡¯ at the Bronze Bull. The atmosphere was similar. ¡°Fang Hao, I want to eat that.¡± Anjia pointed at a stall not too far away. Fang Hao looked in its direction. A man dressed like a mercenary was selling a food item that looked like grilled lizard. ¡°Smoked dragon meat, very delicious smoked dragon meat. Only two portions left.¡± The man selling the food was shouting loudly. Despite his hawking, no one stopped to buy. Moreover, the half-meter-long lizard, slightly charred on the outside, didn t look at all appetizing. ¡°Do you want to eat it? It looks good.¡± Anjia said as she was about to walk over. Fang Hao quickly stopped her, surprised. ¡°Which eye of yours sees this as something edible?¡± ¡°Since they¡¯re selling it, it must be delicious,¡± Anjia stated her reasoning. Telling her it wasn¡¯t good to eat apparently wasn¡¯t going to work. Cough cough!! Fang Hao cleared his throat, pointing at the sign on the stall [Smoked Dragon Meat, Tasty and Affordable]: ¡°It says here, orcs can¡¯t eat it, they¡¯ll get diarrhea.¡± Anjia rolled her eyes at Fang Hao. Irritated, she said, ¡°The sign says ¡®Smoked Dragon Meat, Tasty and Affordable¡¯. If you don¡¯t want me to eat it, just say so. Why do you translate eight characters into nine? Not only are you insulting my literacy, but you also believe that I can¡¯t count.¡± ¡°Just joking with you, let¡¯s not eat this. I¡¯ll buy you something else delicious.¡± Fang Hao gave an awkward smile. Anjia snorted but didn¡¯t continue on the topic. They moved on and arrived at the mission hall. It was a three-story building renovated from an inn. Upon entering the hall, they saw a few scattered mercenaries chatting in small groups. As Fang Hao approached the front desk, a guard dressed in the standard uniform of Lyss City looked up at him. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao.¡± The guard directly addressed him by his name. ¡°Do you know me?¡± The guard quickly explained, ¡°Oh, I was just transferred from the City Lord¡¯s mansion. I¡¯ve seen you before.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ve been promoted. Congratulations.¡± Fang Hao congratulated with a smile. ¡°Um, thankyou, thankyou.¡± The guard¡¯s smile was somewhat bitter. This was not a promotion, he had been demoted. Someone had sent a letter to Lady of the City Lord¡¯s mansion last night. Although the content was unknown, their group of guards was implicated as a result. All had been transferred away from the City Lord¡¯s mansion. He considered himself to be fortunate for being assigned here. ¡°By the way, I heard that the City Lord¡¯s mansion is assigning tasks. I came to see if there are any suitable ones for me to take on.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Ah? You are here to take on tasks?¡± The guard was taken aback, ¡°But you¡¯re a cloth merchant, why would you come here to take on tasks?¡± Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Chapter 335, Half-Demon l Chapter 341: Chapter 335, Half-Demon l The Mission Hall is a special building established by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Its role is to regulate reward tasks and adventure maps. By banning their circulation among ordinary citizens, the number of deaths can be reduced. The guards looked at Fang Hao in surprise, unable to comprehend why a cloth merchant would ever need to borrow a mission here. These tasks all carry some risk, and even the city¡¯s army is reluctant to venture recklessly. ¡°What¡¯s the issue?¡± Fang Hao inquired softly. ¡°Oh! Mr. Fang Hao, don¡¯t make a jest. You run a very successful business; you needn¡¯t take on tasks here,¡± the guard politely replied. In his opinion, gaining recognition from Rebecca meant that one was already a prominent businessman in the city. Given his age, Fang Hao might not be a wealthy merchant, but he wouldn¡¯t need to take on such dangerous tasks to make a living either. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I have some workforce available, and I plan to take on some missions,¡± Fang Hao replied seriously. The guard looked at him earnestly, realizing that he wasn¡¯t joking. He explained, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, if you wish to accept a mission, you are required to register your team here.¡± ¡°Alright, no problem.¡± said Fang Hao, following the guard to the side. ¡°Please state the name of your team and the names of the three individuals in charge. From now on, every mission will be reported to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Of course, in case of any issues, these individuals will be held responsible,¡± explained the guard while pulling out a registration form. In Fang Hao¡¯s view, this method was much better than the tasks handled in the pub area. As the tavern owner had mentioned, the reliability of rewards and single-page maps wasn¡¯t high, and the level of danger was also impossible to measure. It was easy to come across false information, leading to casualties. ¡°Name the team as ¡®Bone Knights¡¯, and the people in charge are Fang Hao, Anjia, and Demitrija,¡± Fang Hao responded as required. The team name was just a codename. It could be a mercenary group, a knight group, or any other kind of team. As long as the name didn¡¯t coincide with the official forces of the city. The guard took note of everything, and registered the three individuals in charge in detail. If this team were to face any issues in the future, the responsibility would fall on these three individuals. ¡°Wait a moment, Mr. Fang Hao. It will be ready shortly,¡± said the guard before walking towards the counter with the registration form. In a short while, the guard returned. ¡°Sir, your registration is complete. Here are the current tasks, you may choose up to three,¡± said the guard as he pulled out a pile of single-page maps from beneath the counter. Lyss City had about seven or eight taverns at least. Usually, single-page maps were sporadically distributed among them, and each tavern would only have one or two maps at most. But now that the maps were centralized in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, their quantity was significant. ¡°Thank you.¡± Fang Hao took the maps and began examining them one by one. Most of the maps near Lyss City contained information about roaming bandits and their hideouts. Upon reaching the end, two maps caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. [Wilderness Cemetery] [Mushroom Valley]. [Map: Wilderness Cemetery] [Category: Single-page Map] [Notes: An abandoned cemetery, presumably inhabited by dark creatures. Presence of undead and undying creatures cannot be ruled out.] (Description: A map drawn by a traveling merchant, outlining the route and terrain of the Wilderness Cemetery.) [Map: Mushroom Valley] [Category: Single-page Map] [Notes: The valley is filled with unusual fungal plants, exact details are yet to be identified.] (Description: A map drawn by a traveling merchant, outlining the route and terrain of Mushroom Valley.) Both maps came with notes. It appeared that the City Lord¡¯s Mansion had already dispatched individuals to perform preliminary investigations. They confirmed the information and then issued the tasks. This aspect was admirable, at least it allowed one to have preliminary knowledge of the type of enemies or information when taking on tasks. Instead of taking troops over and exploring on their own. ¡°I¡¯ll take these three tasks.¡± Fang Hao pulled out these two maps and another one about the bandits. The guard glanced at them and reminded, ¡°Sir, these two tasks are quite hazardous, are you sure you want to take them on?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll register these for you. After completing the tasks, you may report back here. Your team¡¯s level will be recorded accordingly, and you will be able to take on higher-level tasks,¡± explained the guard. ¡°Ok, thank you.¡± After recording the details, Fang Hao promptly put the maps away. The evaluation of the team¡¯s level didn¡¯t particularly benefit Fang Hao. What he wanted were the chests after the adventure. Having completed his purpose here, he exchanged a few words with the guard before turning and leaving the hall. The area outside the Mission Hall was still bustling with activity. Moreover, more people had set up stalls to sell materials or items obtained by their teams. The entrance to the Mission Hall had transformed into a miniature marketplace. Fang Hao and his companion didn¡¯t rush to leave but casually strolled along the set-up stalls. The items to be sold were laid out in front, for anyone passing by to see. The pair strolled down the path. They stopped in front of a stall, ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡± The owner of the stall was a man of average build, he wore leather armor and squinted while observing people. ¡°Which item are you asking about?¡± the owner inquired. ¡°How much for these red and green gemstones?¡± Fang Hao picked up the Red Flame Essence and Nature Essence, tossing them casually in his hand. ¡°Diamonds, my ass! These are essences,¡± the owner retorted. ¡°Right, how much are these essences?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°10 gold coins each. I can give you a discount if you buy more.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your price if I take them all? If it¡¯s reasonable, I¡¯ll buy the whole lot,¡± Fang Hao proposed. ¡°All of them? This isn¡¯t a place for kids to joke around,¡± the middle-aged man warned. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not joking. It depends on your price.¡± The middle-aged man fell silent, mentally calculating the cost before stating his price, ¡°There are 6 in total, 55 gold coins for all.¡± ¡°Alright, deal.¡± Fang Hao took out 55 gold coins and handed them to the owner, promptly storing away the six essences. Essences were rather rare materials, even in the trade sector, essence materials didn¡¯t appear often. So as long as the price was reasonable, a little more or less didn¡¯t matter. After walking around a bit more, Fang Hao bought some materials he was interested in while Anjia ended up with several kinds of snacks in her hand. Thankfully, upon Fang Hao¡¯s insistence, she didn¡¯t buy the smoked dragon meat. Just as they were about to depart, Someone bumped harshly into Fang Hao¡¯s shoulder. A figure cloaked in a hood, carrying a large package, walked inside. It seemed like they were planning to set up a stall to sell their goods. [Half-demon Alchemist]. Fang Hao casually glanced over and spotted a rather strange title. Half-demon? Alchemist? Both terms were enticing on their own, and when linked together, they left Fang Hao standing dumbfounded. ¡°What happened? Did he steal something from you?¡± Anjia traced Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, also looking at the figure under the hood. ¡°Let¡¯s follow him and take a look.¡± Fang Hao turned and started to discreetly tail the hooded figure. As expected, the hooded figure found an empty spot, spreading out a beige linen cloth. They started to bring out the items they intended to sell. Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: Chapter 336, Body Strengthening Potion l Chapter 342: Chapter 336, Body Strengthening Potion l The cloaked man paused momentarily, looking at the two standing before his spread out display. Just as he finished setting up his wares, these two had already showed up. Subconsciously, he adjusted his hood slightly, speaking softly, ¡°What can I do for you two?¡± From his voice, he seemed to be a young man under the cloak. Probably not much more than twenty years old. ¡°Not much! Just curious about what you¡¯re selling?¡± Fang Hao casually replied. ¡°Oh, these are just a few small potions that I¡¯ve concocted,¡± The cloaked man responded nonchalantly. He then began to take out his concocted potions from his bag. And displayed them on the linen cloth in front of him. Unlike the glass bottle potions made by the Alchemist Guild, the cloaked man¡¯s potions were packaged in crude pottery jars. They looked like potions concocted by some amateur. Some passing mercenaries glanced at his potions briefly and then turned to leave. Potions could certainly save lives, but they also posed some risks. Given the same ingredients, potions might turn into poison depending on the alchemist¡¯s mix ratio. Who would dare to gamble with their lives, especially in a life-or-death situation? Fang Hao picked up a bottle casually to inspect. [Physical Enhancement Potion] [Category: Level 2 Potion] [Effect: Enhances physical strength] (Description: Physical Enhancement Potion created by alchemist, can enhance physical strength when taken, no usage requirements.) Seeing the potion¡¯s properties, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes lit up slightly. The crude pottery bottle felt rough and uneven in his grasp, but the potion¡¯s properties were quite exceptional. He had always envied Zhang Bin and the others for their Enlightening Potions, that endowed them with exceptional physique. Especially after Rolana¡¯s recent attack on him, he realized his own inadequacies. If he ever faced an enemy, his ability to defend himself would be quite limited. Mages were still at a disadvantage in close combat. However, this Physical Enhancement Potion that he held didn¡¯t have any user requirements which meant that even he could use it. Fang Hao held the potion in his hand, not interjecting or interrupting him. When the man finally took out all of his six potions, each one was quite crudely packaged. [Physical Enhancement Potion] [Seal Potion] [Magic Power Potion] and 3 [Healing Potions]. [Seal Potion] [Category: Level 2 potion] [Effect: Underwater breathing+10 seconds.] (Description: Physical strength enhancement potion created by Alchemist, can enhance physical strength when consumed, no usage requirements.) The Seal Potion must fall under the category of special potions. Those adventuring near Lyss City would seldom encounter situations requiring underwater exploration. The remaining potions were for healing injuries and restoring magical power. Fang Hao had seen these before. The cloaked man only had six different potions, but based on their properties, they were all up to the standard of enhancement potions. They were in no way inferior to those produced by the Alchemist¡¯s Guild. ¡°Do you need anything, sir?¡± The cloaked man asked in a soft voice as he looked down. He noticed that Fang Hao had not moved, but remained standing, selecting items from his spread out goods. ¡°Are these all made by you?¡± Fang Hao squatted down to ask. The cloaked man tugged his hood lower again. ¡°Yes, sir. They may look a bit rough, but I can assure you their effects are similar to regular potions.¡± The cloaked man was well aware that his potions didn¡¯t look that appealing, and paled in comparison to those sold by the Alchemist¡¯s Guild. ¡°How much are they?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°The Life Potions and Magic Potions are 50 gold coins each, and the remaining level 2 potions are 200 gold coins each,¡± The cloaked man replied somewhat hastily. He seemed like a first-timer in potion selling and was visibly nervous. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll take them all. Please pack them for me,¡± Fang Hao stated directly. ¡°Ah! Ah? You¡¯re taking them all?¡± The cloaked man looked up in surprise, meeting Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, before quickly lowering his head again. However, in that one fleeting moment, Fang Hao saw a young man under the cloak. Still, half of his face was of a strange dark red color. It looked like the scale of some red phosphoric serpent he had seen before ¡ª mildly disturbing. ¡°Yep, if you have any stock, I can buy it all¡±. Fang Hao stood up, shaking his slightly numb legs. Given the price of alchemy potions, this one was unbelievably cheap. Without the ability to check attributes, Fang Hao would never have dared to buy such a cheap, simply packaged potion. Even if its praises were sung, he wouldn¡¯t dare to drink it. But as a transmigrator, he could check its attributes and, as such, relieve this concern. The effects were all labeled, there was no chance of buying poison. ¡°Oh, okay, thank you very much for your generosity.¡± The cloaked man hurriedly turned around, pulled out a linen bag and put all six potions inside. Fang Hao took out 600 gold coins and handed them over when he received the bag. ¡°By the way, if you still sell potions in the future, I¡¯d like to continue dealing with you.¡± Fang Hao did not leave right away. The cloaked man froze. With his head slightly lowered, he seemed to hesitate, ¡°Sir, while I can make potions, the materials are difficult to come by. It may take some time before I can produce new potions.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then said, ¡°In that case, there is an Enjoyable Hotpot Restaurant in the city, which I own. As long as you can deliver the potions to the restaurant, they will buy them at a fair price.¡± ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s your shop.¡± He had seen the rabbit girls performing in front of it yesterday, it was quite a lively scene. ¡°You can also make some higher-level potions. I will purchase them at their cost price when the time comes.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Alright, sir,¡± the cloaked man slung his backpack over his shoulder, thanked Fang Hao, and quickly left. Fang Hao watched him as he went. For such a strictly managed place as Lyss, it¡¯s surprising that a half-demon expert in alchemy lives there. Really surprising. After spending another day in the city. The next morning. Fang Hao left Lyss and set up a few Troop Hiding Caves in a grey bear village along the way. He rushed back to his territory by dusk. After dinner, the skeleton merchant, Doujin, entered the hall. ¡°Lord.¡± Doujin bowed slightly, holding a parcel. ¡°Hmm, Doujin, have a seat and speak.¡± Fang Hao smiled. Instead of sitting, Doujin handed the parcel to Fang Hao. He said, ¡°My lord, these are the Sound-Transmitting Shells you ordered from the Alliance. The deal was finalized yesterday.¡± It had been several days since he had placed the order for the Sound-transmitting Shells. If Doujin hadn¡¯t reminded him, he would¡¯ve almost forgotten about them. Fang Hao took the parcel; there were five Sound-transmitting Shells inside. ¡°Oh, good. Has anything been going on with the Trade Alliance lately?¡± Fang Hao asked casually. ¡°Everything is smooth, my lord.¡± Doujin replied. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good!¡± The two chatted for a while, then Doujin left the hall. Now, Fang Hao was alone in the hall. He took out the Body Enhancement Potion he bought today, stretched his body, opened the cap, and gulped it down. The cool liquid slid down his throat. He could feel his body starting to heat up, then prickling, and finally unbearable pain. It felt as though countless iron spikes were piercing his flesh. He writhed for a while on the White Bone Throne, but the pain gradually faded. A sense of strength pervaded his body. Pulling off his shirt, he revealed his well-defined muscles. Just as Fang Hao was admiring his physique. The system notification suddenly sounded. [Random Event: Path of the Brave (accepted).] [Book of Lords Function Unlocked: Team-up Function.] Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Chapter 337, City Lord Dong Jiayue l Chapter 343: Chapter 337, City Lord Dong Jiayue l [Random Event: The Path of the Brave (Accepted).] [Book of Lords Function Unlocked: Team-Up Function.] [Team trial task begins in ten hours, with a maximum of three people allowed per team for the trial. (This trial is a ¡®Lords¡¯ trial, heroes and troops not allowed to come along.)] [Team-up Status: Maximum of three people per team; team members will be auto-transported to the team leader¡¯s territory.] [Event countdown: 9 hours 59 minutes.] [Good luck¡­.] The sudden alert caught Fang Hao off guard. It had already been a while since the last event task. He had not expected a new team-up event task to be triggered all of a sudden. Based on previous experience. Team tasks can be understood as one type of test trial given by the system for ¡®transmigrators¡¯. Getting through the trial could result in rewards such as potions or skill-based equipment. While facing risks, it also gave an opportunity to enhance one¡¯s own capabilities. Ding! The private message alert on the Book of Lords rang: it was a message from Dong Jiayue. ¡°Brother Hao, are we teaming up again for this one!¡± He hadn¡¯t been in touch with Dong Jiayue for quite some time. Looking at the tone of her message, it seemed she was in good spirits. ¡°Sure, it¡¯ll be you, me, and Zhang Bin. Get yourself ready, and let me know if you need anything in advance,¡± Fang Hao agreed straight away. The last team trial experience they had had together was a synergy. Dong Jiayue, who appears to be a frail young woman in particular, exhibited battle prowess that was entirely contrary to her physical appearance. At the end of the last task, she even managed to kill the Doomsday Terror Wolf boss with a single lance thrust. In terms of her combat power and battle tactics, she ranked higher than both Fang Hao and Zhang Bin. ¡°Alright, Brother Hao, we¡¯ll meet up tomorrow then,¡± Dong Jiayue said. ¡°Sure, see you tomorrow.¡± Ending the chat with Dong Jiayue, Zhang Bin reached out almost immediately, and he asked about the team arrangement for tomorrow as well. Besides Fang Hao, who already had exposure to the Alchemist Guild, for the majority of the other Lords, team trials serve as their only chance to improve themselves. If missed out, the next opportunity could be at an uncertain date. Fang Hao told him that the team line-up hadn¡¯t changed, and advised him to get ready too. After notifying Zhang Bin, The territory¡¯s communication channel started buzzing. Fu Lei: ¡°Boss, any plans for the team task?¡± It appeared that Fu Lei also wanted to become a teammate of Fang Hao¡¯s. With Fang Hao¡¯s strong combat power, it would certainly make him feel safer. Fang Hao spoke bluntly, ¡°I already have a fixed team. You can team up with Kong Yong, and see if there are other suitable candidates.¡± With a team limit of three, not everyone could be included. ¡°Oh, got it, I will need to rely on Brother Kong then,¡± Fu Lei acknowledged. ¡°I¡¯m not any big deal. Let¡¯s just support each other. Find someone we both know to join us. It¡¯s safer than having a stranger on board,¡± Kong Yong also sent a message. Following that, the two of them began discussing their team for tomorrow¡¯s task. Fang Hao observed their chat for a while, Then he exited from the channel, had a hot spring bath, and went to bed. Waking up at 6 A.M. the following day, Fang Hao had breakfast and began preparing the equipment necessary for the task. For weapons, he chose the Starfire Wand, the Black Iron Knight one-handed sword, and a Light Feather short sword. The armor was a full suit of leather under a robe of magic. He didn¡¯t pack any heavy metal armor this time. In the storage space of the Book of Lords, besides several life-saving potions, there were also several sets of alternative equipment. Just in case of any special circumstances. Having ensured everything was in order, Fang Hao called Demitrija and Anjia. He informed them about his absence to prevent them from panicking because of his sudden disappearance. At sharp 7 A.M., Fang Hao used the Book of Lords to send a message to Zhang Bin. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s form the team!¡± ¡°Sure, boss.¡± Zhang Bin responded instantly. Following that, a system prompt appeared before his eyes. [Zhang Bin has sent you an invitation to his team. Do you accept?] Accept! Fang Hao was enveloped in a soft glow; when he opened his eyes next, he found himself in the city manned by Zhang Bin. All the roads in the city had been converted to stone pavement. They had also constructed flower beds on either side of the roads. It had improved significantly since the last time Fang Hao visited. ¡°Boss!¡± Zhang Bin came forward with a smile on his face. ¡°Great, send Jia Yue the invitation now,¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°OK, boss.¡± Zhang Bin then opened the Book of Lords and sent a team invitation to Dong Jiayue. In a short while, a ray of light appeared before them. Once the light faded, Dong Jiayue appeared before them. Dong Jiayue was wearing full metal armor, one hand holding a helmet while the other was carrying a war spear. She had a dagger on her waist and the box of Steel Fire Muskets she had received from Fang Hao on her back. It appeared she had also made ample preparations for this task. ¡°Brother Hao, Brother Bin, you both seem to be doing well,¡± Dong Jiayue greeted them with a smile as she stood before them. She then noticed the changes in Zhang Bin¡¯s city. She exclaimed, ¡°Brother Bin, your place has changed so much! You even have paved roads, and what are those tall buildings?¡± Like a curious child, Jia Yue was looking around with wide eyes. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a flour mill for grinding grains,¡± Zhang Bin answered cheerfully while standing by the side. The feeling of being looked up to was not bad at all. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re amazing,¡± Dong Jiayue exclaimed. On her side, she had received support from Fang Hao¡¯s skeleton trolls and also had two subsidiary territories. Her development could be said to be smooth. However, compared to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, her place seemed like a poor countryside village with fewer inhabitants. The two were in entirely different phases. After listening to Zhang Bin, Jia Yue shifted her gaze to Fang Hao. She was aware that Zhang Bin¡¯s territory was a subsidiary city of Fang Hao¡¯s. If a subsidiary city could be developed to this extent, wouldn¡¯t the main city be even more impressive? She still remembered her agreement with Fang Hao that she would become a subsidiary city of his during the next team trial task. ¡°Brother Hao, you¡¯ve become more handsome lately,¡± Jia Yue greeted Fang Hao as she moved closer to him. Fang Hao, who was caught off guard, touched his face subconsciously, ¡°Really? Could be that I washed my face today.¡± ¡°Hehe! Yes, you¡¯ve indeed become more handsome. Brother Hao, remember you promised you¡¯d cover me before? You haven¡¯t forgotten that, have you?¡± she then changed the subject. Fang Hao remembered what she was referring to very well, he reminded her, ¡°Keep this in mind, once you swallow the Book of Lords, you will no longer be a lord.¡± ¡°Stop the nonsense, hurry up, the task is about to start,¡± Dong Jiayue urged. Oh,¡­. When Fang Hao received the Book of Lords (Level 2) from Dong Jiayue, a system prompt appeared again. The Book of Lords, owned by Dong Jiayue, turned into a beam of light and integrated itself into Fang Hao¡¯s own Book of Lords. [Swallowing was successful, the current Level of your Book of Lords, is 5, upgrade requirement 5/10.] [You have obtained the decision-making authority of Dong Jiayue¡¯s main city and two subsidiary cities.] Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Chapter 338, City Lords Dream 1 Chapter 344: Chapter 338, City Lord¡¯s Dream 1 [Occupy/Abandon] [Occupy: It will become your subordinate territory that can continue to develop.] [Abandon: You will obtain 50% ¨C 80% of the territory resources, and this territory will be abandoned.] Occupy! [You have occupied this territory and automatically become a subordinate city.] [In the Book of Lords, you can appoint an ¡®Acting Governor¡¯.] After choosing to occupy- He filled in Dong Jiayue¡¯s name directly as the governor. Then, a Book of City Lord split off and was handed into Dong Jiayue¡¯s hands. After consuming Dong Jiayue¡¯s Book of Lords, surprisingly, no new blueprint was unlocked. On the contrary, Dong Jiayue received a string of system prompts on her side. They were all the blueprints that Fang Hao made public to subordinate city lords. Dong Jiayue had a beaming smile on her face, her decision was indeed correct. She had expertly managed to shear the wool off Fang Hao. Another hour has passed. The system prompt appeared again. [Historical Event: Battle of Nesburg] [Mission Description: Help the young ¡®Mullen¡¯ become a City Lord.] [Trial Task Transport Countdown, 3,2,1.] The light enveloped the three of them, and the next second, they appeared in a tent. Outside the tent were a rowdy set of voices engaging in conversation. The three glanced at each other and peeked out from a slit in the tent. The sky was gloomy, as if it might rain at any moment. Outside the tent, a well-equipped team was resting. After a rough estimate, there were around 200 people. They didn¡¯t seem to intend to set up camp, probably planning to continue after their rest. Thump Thump Thump! I Footsteps were heard outside the tent, and Fang Hao let the tent down. Then, a voice came from outside the tent. ¡°Gentlemen, Young Master Mullen requests your audience.¡± The three of them opened the tent. ¡°Lead the way.¡± A soldier led the way with the trio following behind. The trio was led to a tent in the middle of the camp and stopped. ¡°Master Mullen, your guests have arrived.¡± A young voice came from inside the tent, ¡°Come in.¡± They opened the tent and walked in. The ground in the tent was covered with a few rugs, and two people were sitting on them. One was an officer clad in iron armor, and the other was a chubby young man in a purple nobleman¡¯s robe. The officer was a burly middle-aged man with a brown beard, giving off a calm and stable aura. He glanced at the trio and gave a slight nod as a form of greeting. [Human Warrior (Tier 7)] The officer had the strength of Tier 7. The chubby young man was naturally the ¡°Young Master Mullen¡± the soldier had spoken of. His robe was tight around his chubby figure, forming ring after ring of folds. It was quite comical to look at. ¡°Young Master Mullen.¡± Having been chosen as the team leader, Zhang Bin is tasked to trigger some missions. ¡°Ah, come sit, my name¡¯s Mullen, and this is Commander Hoyle. What may I call the three of you? Thanks to you all this morning, our troop avoided the mountain bandits¡¯ ambush.¡± Mullen¡¯s overly familiar manner invited the three to sit. So, the middle-aged man was Hoyle. ¡°My name is Zhang Bin, these are Fang Hao and Dong Jiayue.¡± Zhang Bin also introduced himself. From what Mullen just said, they could infer the scenario before their arrival. They had helped the troop avoid the mountain bandits¡¯ ambush and had been moving together since then. ¡°It¡¯s obvious that the three of you are very skilled, much more so than my guards. This time, I¡¯m here to take on the position of the City Lord of Nesburg. I¡¯ll definitely make sure to express my gratitude to you all.¡± said Mullen, thumping his chest and thus causing his flesh to wobble. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to you, Lord Mullen,¡± Zhang Bin thanked him. Their mission this time was to help Mullen become the city lord, so they would naturally follow Mullen all the way. Leaving the team midway, or the death of Mullen, would both result in mission failure. ¡°To be honest with you all, my father has several sons, but due to some reasons, he doesn¡¯t prefer me, so he assigned me the territory on the borders,¡± Mullen began to explain on his own. The three listened; noblemen usually have numerous offspring. For those profligate nobles, they even had a large number of illegitimate children. With so many sons, property distribution has always been an issue. Everyone wants a larger share. And Mullen claimed that his father didn¡¯t favor him, which led the trio to suspect it was due to his size. With many sons, anyone would prefer the talented ones and wouldn¡¯t like their successor to be a tier-1 person who was fat as a ball. Seeing the three were silent, Mullen continued, ¡°But I believe, though I may be inferior in combat skills, I am not worse than others in abilities. I will become an excellent city lord someday. My city will be more prosperous, with more residents leading a better life, than those of those foul-mouthed scoundrels¡¯. Then they will see who is the real pig.¡± The three didn¡¯t think that the chubby boy in front of them would say such words. But it also made some sense. Not everyone possessed the talent for martial arts. Like those rabbit women who had taken the enlightening potion, some leveled up quickly, while others did not show significant effects. Going out to fight and risking their lives were tasks naturally done by their subordinates. All he needed to do was to become an excellent city lord, rather than a qualified warrior. Everyone needs to find their own position. Being a good city lord doesn¡¯t have much to do with tiers. This was something Fang Hao understood deeply. The reason his territory could expand rapidly was thanks to his soldiers and his heroes. He had been acting as a lord who commanded from behind. Assigning talented people to positions where they could shine was, too, a kind of ability. ¡°Young master Mullen, you will become an excellent city lord.¡± Zhang Bin continued to say. ¡°That¡¯s also what I think, and I am fully prepared for it.¡± Mullen said confidently, patting his backpack. They chat for a while. ¡°Young master Mullen, I think it¡¯s time for us to depart,¡± said Hoyel, the regiment commander, standing up. ¡°We need to ensure that we enter the city before dusk, otherwise we¡¯ll have to stay in the open field for another night.¡± ¡°Alright, Commander Hoyle,¡± Mullen agreed swiftly. Hoyel walked out of the tent and began to give orders loudly. The resting soldiers began to act, tidy up the place, and set off for their destination about 20 minutes later. Perhaps not many people were willing to hear Mullen talk about himself. All along the way, Mullen kept drawing back the curtain of the carriage, telling the three about his past. He talked about how his brothers mocked him, and how he would counterattack once he became a great city lord. As the team continued to move forward, the sky grew darker and darker. Fluffy dark clouds merged with the horizon, covering the entire land. ¡°Speed up! As long as we pass through the forest ahead, we can see the ¡®Fortress of Nesse¡¯,¡± Hoyle shouted loudly, urging the team to speed up, as the rain was about to come. The gloomy weather and exhausting journey made everyone very irritable. No sooner had the order to speed up been given, than the team stopped abruptly. Fang Hao looked towards the front and saw an overturned carriage blocking the way. Dense forests lined both sides of the road, making it impossible for their carriages and wagons loaded with heavy goods to pass. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s time for the fight plot,¡± Fang Hao said, looking at the carriage blocking the way ahead. ¡°Yes, how could it just happen that the goods were overturned here?¡± Zhang Bin agreed. ¡°Go, tell Hoyle that it might be an ambush,¡± Fang Hao ordered. Zhang Bin nodded and headed towards the front of the team. Fang Hao and Dong Jiayue quickly joined Mullen by his carriage. Zhang Bin and Hoyle whispered to each other. Hoyle¡¯s face darkened progressively, and he ordered the team to turn around, intending to leave the forest. Swish! Just as the team moved, an arrow shot out from the dense forest and hit the carriage with a metallic clang! The next second. Swish, swish, swish!! Arrows rained down on them one after another. Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 339, Is Everything Worth It_l Chapter 345: Chapter 339, Is Everything Worth It_l The sudden shower of arrows startled everyone. Just as Fang Hao and his comrades had guessed, they were ambushed. Arrow after arrow shot out from the woods. ¡°Defend! Overturn the carts, block the arrows!¡± Hoyle commanded loudly. The guards raised their shields while also toppling the carts laden with supplies, blocking the barrage of arrows. Whoosh! Whoosh! Before they could set up defenses, another hail of arrows shot out from the dense forest on the other side. A large number of guards were hit by the arrows, howling in pain as they fell into pools of blood. The rest quickly took cover in the center of the carts. Fang Hao and his two companions were even more prepared than the others. The moment the arrows were fired, they quickly found cover, avoiding the incoming arrows. ¡°Boss, this mission ain¡¯t going well,¡± said Zhang Bin, leaning against their cover with a serious look. Fang Hao nodded. Considering the intensity of the enemy¡¯s arrow fire, the number of enemies definitely exceeded their own. Another group of guards had just fallen. They were clearly at a disadvantage. ¡°Wait, where¡¯s Mullen?¡± Fang Hao suddenly realized that the main character of the mission was missing. The three immediately looked towards the noble carriage five meters away. The originally luxurious carriage was now full of arrows, looking like a giant porcupine. Simultaneously, Mullen¡¯s heart-wrenching screams could be heard from the carriage. ¡°Commander Hoyle, save me, I¡¯ve been shot in the thigh, it hurts¡­¡± Damn, this fat man didn¡¯t get down. Mullen¡¯s cry for help lured enemies from the forests on both sides. Yet another barrage of arrows rained down on the noble carriage. Even the sturdy carriage began to collapse and fall apart under the onslaught. Boom! Boom! Boom! ¡°Ah! Ah¡­¡± Mullen screamed loudly in fright. Upon hearing Mullen¡¯s cries, Hoyle cut off the rope connecting the horses with a single slash of his sword called two guards, and lifted a flipped cart for cover, advancing to the front the carriage. The two carriages formed a ¡®low wall¡¯, each blocking incoming attacks from one side. Bang! Kicking open the carriage door, he dragged out the flailing and wailing Mullen from the carriage. Then he continued to use the cart for cover, returning to the group with Mullen. Commander Hoyle demonstrated his extraordinary determination, rescuing Mullen quickly and without hesitation. After putting Mullen to one side, he immediately instructed the group to set up defensive positions. After the shower of arrows would come close combat. ¡°How are you, do you have any healing potions?¡± Dong Jiayue approached with her bandages ready. There was an arrow in Mullen¡¯s thigh and another in his arm. Perhaps because he was fat and had a massive amount of blood, he was now completely dyed red with his own blood. It was a rather scary sight. He was the mission target and he could not die here. Yes, I only have two bottles, I was worried about facing danger on the road, so Shut up and drink the potion,¡± Dong Jiayue sternly interrupted, bandaging Mullen¡¯s wounds. Meanwhile, Fang Hao, hidden behind the cart, had summoned his Frost Armor, cloaked in a pale blue aura. His second spell, Swirling Mist, was also ready. As the Magic Wand radiated light, A thick mist spread around them, blocking the enemies¡¯ vision. The incoming arrows instantly decreased by a large extent, Greatly relieving the pressure on everyone. Some warriors even took advantage of the mist to drag over their wounded companions. Hoyle, the commander, looked at Fang Hao in surprise and merely gave a slight nod without saying anything more. ¡°Boss, let¡¯s hit them with a ¡®Meteor Smashing into Earth¡¯,¡± Zhang Bin said softly, noticing the effect was good. He was referring to the innate skill, Starfire, of the Starfire Wand. It could summon a meteor to attack a specific region, causing an explosion. Starfire was indeed powerful, but it had clear drawbacks: slow formation and high consumption. Fang Hao also wanted to hit them hard and send them packing right then and there¡ªa one-way ticket to the afterlife. He was just about to open up the Magic Potion, drink it and release Starfire. Suddenly, Hoyle said, ¡°Prepare for hand-to-hand combat, they¡¯re about to make their move.¡± All the soldiers drew their longswords from their waists, waiting, their faces serious. At this time, Fang Hao and the others also noticed that the arrows from both sides had stopped. Without needing confirmation, they could hear rustling from the bushes around them and footsteps steadily closing in. Fang Hao immediately switched the spell he was consolidating from Starfire and summoned Wood Element Spirits instead. With a flash of light, three Wood Spirits appeared before them. The footsteps were getting louder, close enough to reach them. Fang Hao pulled out the knight¡¯s sword from his waist and tightly gripped the wand in his other hand. Zhang Bin and Dong Jiayue also took out their weapons, preparing to face the impending attack. ¡°Kill!¡± With the first enemy getting past the wagon barricade, the battle cry rang out. ¡°Release ¡®Entanglement¡¯,¡± Fang Hao commanded. The three Wood Spirits released the skill, ¡®Entanglement¡¯, in three different directions. Vines grew from the ground, binding the enemies¡¯ feet, stopping them from advancing. This presented the guards with an opportunity to counterattack. Going past the wagon, they attacked the immobilized enemy. Bang! Fang Hao¡¯s fire arrow formed and immediately hit an enemy who was pouncing towards them. The enemy flew backward, knocking over his companions behind him. His other hand, gripping the knight¡¯s sword, relentlessly slew enemies, reaping their lives. The three stood back-to-back, killing the charging enemies. The combined effects of the Wood Spirits¡¯ Entanglement and the Swirling Mist gave their side a significant advantage. After a fierce fight, the size of the enemy forces significantly dwindled. When the last enemy was slain, the battle was declared over. The mist had considerably dissipated. Mournful groans from the wounded could be heard all around. ¡°Treat the wounded. All enemy wounded are to be executed,¡± Hoyle commanded coldly. All the soldiers, weary as they were, sprung back into action. Those enemies who were still alive were executed, one by one. ¡°Lord Mullen, are you okay?¡± Fang Hao squatted down and asked Mullen. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Are all those men dead? Bandits again?¡± Mullen sat on the ground, still dazed, but managed to ask. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°Judging by their attire, they don¡¯t seem like bandits. They look more like the city guard from a nearby city.¡± Upon hearing this, Mullen¡¯s expression quickly became anxious. The city guard from a nearby city had ambushed them, waiting for their movement. The identity of this group would not be too hard to guess. ¡°Why is everyone opposing me becoming City Lord, not giving me even one chance.¡± There was a sense of defeat in Mullen¡¯s voice. ¡°Every successful person in the past had to go through trials. This might be your trial. Now that we¡¯ve come this far, you must become the City Lord. Otherwise, it would not honor the soldiers who died escorting you,¡± Fang Hao leaned over and encouraged him, fearing that he may give up his chance at becoming City Lord. Mullen lifted his head, looking at the severely wounded and decimated troop of soldiers. Out of two hundred men, only dozens were left. ¡°Is all of this worth it?¡± ¡°That depends on whether you can become an excellent City Lord,¡± Fang Hao responded, grabbing a Magic Potion and drinking it. Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Chapter 340, Freeze l Chapter 346: Chapter 340, Freeze l Mullen looked at the rough clay bottle in Fang Hao¡¯s hand, opened his backpack, and took out a glass bottle with an elixir. ¡°Drink this!¡± Mullen said. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t seriously injured, but he had consumed a considerable amount of magical power. After examining the healing potion in Mullen¡¯s hand, he shook his head and gave a signal to Hoyle. Hoyle was the leader of this team, and in the future, Mullen would rely more on Hoyle¡¯s protection. He was not far away, dressing wounds while commanding the soldiers to take action. The cost of producing the healing potion was pretty high, so it was difficult for ordinary soldiers or leaders to own such a potion. Mullen immediately understood Fang Hao¡¯s intention, and quietly said, ¡°Thank you, Commander Hoyle, for saving me just now.¡± At the same time, he handed over the healing potion he held in his hand. Hoyle turned around and looked at Mullen somewhat surprised. He didn¡¯t expect Mullen to express gratitude. When he saw Fang Hao sitting next to Mullen, it seemed that he understood something. ¡°Thankyou, young master Mullen.¡± Hoyle softly expressed his gratitude, received the potion from him, and turned back to continue commanding the clearance of the battlefield. The injured parties had been bandaged up, but the team still couldn¡¯t stop moving. They needed to reach the city before dusk. Otherwise, the heavy night rain would claim the injured¡¯s lives. The team set off again, helping each other and moving towards the fortress city. The horses and carts had been damaged in the recent battle, so Mullen could only follow them with his injuries. Fortunately, after taking the healing potion, his injuries had significantly improved. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, I didn¡¯t expect you to be a mage.¡± Mullen quickened his pace and walked beside Fang Hao. ¡°Just some basic magic.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°How did you manage to cast three types of elemental magic?¡± Mullen seemed to have recovered from the recent danger, and started to make conversation again. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a formal magic teacher, so I had to learn various basic magic piecemeal. I got to where I am because of this incidental learning.¡± Fang Hao expressed this in a way that was easy to understand. He naturally didn¡¯t have a magic teacher. The skills he had learned had all been from the scrolls he randomly got and studied by himself. He seldom used magic in his daily life, and he didn¡¯t consider himself proficient. But in Mullen¡¯s eyes, he was close to being a genius. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, once I become a qualified city lord, I will find you a formal teacher for magic study.¡± Mullen said. ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao did not say much and smiled in agreement. After the task was done, they would leave this place. They wouldn¡¯t wait for Mullen to become a city lord or for him to find a magic teacher for Fang Hao. The team continued moving forward. Mullen went and chatted with Zhang Bin for a while. He returned to Fang Hao and excitedly said, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, do you also have a city?¡± He must have learned from his conversation with Zhang Bin that Fang Hao also had a territory. ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t hide the fact. Although what he had was not a city, but a territory. It was much larger than his father¡¯s. After getting confirmation from Fang Hao, Mullen began rummaging through his backpack. He took out a notebook with a brown leather cover from inside and handed it to Fang Hao, ¡°This is for you. It will be helpful for your future city management.¡± Fang Hao was surprised and took it instinctively. (Mullen¡¯s City Lord¡¯s Summary] [Category: Special Item] [Effect: City Law and Order Governance +5%, Population Fertility +5%, Food/Industrial Production +5, Military +2%.] (Description: Learning and reflecting on the ¡®previous generation¡¯s¡¯ efforts will bring you closer to your set goals.) An item? Fang Hao casually flipped through the notebook. The densely packed words on the pages recorded decisions and feats of successful lords and city lords. It was filled from cover to cover. ¡°Did you write all this?¡± Fang Hao asked in astonishment. This notebook unexpectedly had many properties. If it were to be rated, it would probably be a purple level treasure. ¡°I copied it from books. After reading many books, I recorded what I felt was useful.¡± Mullen replied with an awkward smile. ¡°So, if you give it to me, what will you do?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°I have memorized it. I¡¯ve gone through it countless times on this journey. I hope it will be of help to you.¡± Mullen said confidently. It looks like the preparation that Mullen had mentioned previously referred to this notebook. Mullen didn¡¯t know Fang Hao¡¯s background, but at least he himself was of noble birth and had the chance to look at those books. Fang Hao had already shown the talent of a mage, but didn¡¯t even have the opportunity to find a magic teacher. The city he managed was probably a small peripheral city. This notebook could possibly make up for the lack of knowledge Fang Hao had. All these were Mullen¡¯s assumptions, and they seemed quite accurate. ¡°Okay, thank you. I¡¯ll take it then.¡± Fang Hao directly accepted the notebook. This summary of the city lord was a good treasure. Its effect was quite similar to his own White Bone Throne. It would take effect once placed in the territory, and didn¡¯t need to be an equipped item. On passing through the dense forest, They could see the silhouette of a city in the distance. That was their destination: the Nasborg. After traveling for ten more minutes, they found a river several meters wide before them. A stone bridge, four meters in width, connected the banks. On the other end of the bridge, they could see soldiers waiting in strict formation and roadblocks and checkpoints set up. Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Chapter 340, Freeze_2 Chapter 347: Chapter 340, Freeze_2 The identities of these people were not difficult to guess. Their armor and attire matched those of the people who ambushed them just moments ago. Them gathering here now was an obvious sign of their intentions. They wanted to stop them from crossing the stone bridge. ¡°Ask about the situation!¡± Hoyle signaled to a soldier at his side. Understanding, the soldier stepped forward and shouted, ¡°We are a merchant caravan on the way to Nesborg, please let us pass.¡± A man came out from the back of the group and shouted back, ¡°Stop playing dumb, you¡¯re not crossing this bridge.¡± Hoyle stopped the soldier from continuing the conversation. He came to Mullen and said, ¡°Young Master Mullen, it seems the nobles of Nesborg are not very welcoming towards us. There will be a battle on the bridge. Be careful¡±. Mullen¡¯s gaze held more resolve than before. ¡°Commander Hoyle, I¡¯ll be careful,¡± he replied. Just like Fang Hao said, they had already come this far. There was no turning back for him. Either he entered Nesborg and became its city lord, or he died here. Hoyle nodded, ¡°Line up!¡± The soldiers began to organise, preparing to attack the stone bridge. The fighters raised their shields, forming an impenetrable wall of steel. Both sides lacked in long-range attacks, but the enemy still had the upper hand in numbers. One mistake could lead to their defeat in battle. ¡°Advance!¡± Hoyle ordered. The convoy formed a tidy square, moving forward steadily and in unison. In front of them was a well-fortified wooden roadblock, behind it, more enemies. The convoy continued to advance, reducing the gap between them to 5 meters. Fang Hao stood in the third row, flanked by Zhang Bin and Dong Jiayue. His Starfire Wand glowed with a light yellow aura. ¡°Scatter!¡± Fang Hao barked. The soldiers in the front two rows quickly retreated to the sides, leaving a gap of more than two meters in the middle. At the same time, Fang Hao¡¯s magic conjured the Glay Rolling Stone. A boulder two meters in diameter appeared in the middle. Fang Hao pointed his wand forward, and the Glay Rolling Stone sped towards the enemy line. Thump, thump, thump! The roadblocks along the way were crushed one by one, and the enemy formation was instantly shattered under the impact of the rolling stone. The enemy¡¯s formation was crushed, and many were thrown off their feet, causing many casualties. ¡°Charge! Break through their lines,¡± Hoyle bellowed. The soldiers charged forward with their shields up, slamming into the enemy lines. They swung their weapons fiercely at the enemy. The skirmish lasted for more than twenty minutes before it finally began to wind down. The stone bridge was piled high with bodies, the ground turned red with blood. Blood seeped through the cracks in the bridge, dribbling into the river. [Stage Reward: Human Clan Influence +100, Healing Potion 3, Magic Potion 1.] [Special Team Reward: Choose One.] [Fire Protection Potion] [Enlightening Potion] [Thunderburst Battle Axe (Blue)]. (Selection countdown: 59¡­ 58¡­.) The stage reward appeared. [Fire Protection Potion] [Category: Potion] [Effect: Fire resistance +10% (Duration 15 seconds).] (Description: A potion crafted by the Alchemist, consumption can enhance resistance to fire elemental.) This was the first time Fang Hao had seen the Fire Protection Potion. Although it boosted fire resistance, it came with a time limit making it a consumable item. Given the potion¡¯s properties, it wasn¡¯t much help to Fang Hao. If any real danger were to come, he would rather rely on his Skeleton Warriors than risk using this kind of resistance-boosting potion. Yet he feared that there might be more to the plot. It might be possible that Mullen would need to use the potion. ¡°Boss, which one should we pick?¡± Zhang Bin asked as he approached. ¡°Pick the first one, just in case there¡¯s a special plot twist later,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhang Bin immediately agreed, choosing the first option. The Fire Protection Potion appeared in his hand and was handed over to Fang Hao. Fang Hao accepted the potion right away. After a brief rest, the team hit the road again. Who knows what the time is now? Drizzle started to fall from the sky. In front of them stood the towering wall of Nesborg City. The soldiers on the city wall wore armor similar to the enemies they encountered on the way. Now, Mullen had reached Nesburg. The people in the city also lost their best chance to kill Mullen. The death of the lord¡¯s son at the hands of bandits on the road and in the city are two different matters. No one dares to lay a hand on Mullen in full view of the public. If Mullen dies in the city, all the nobles of the city will be implicated. Hoyle stepped forward and showed his identity to the guards. This severely wounded team slowly entered the city. Countless eyes were fixed on Mullen. The latter maintained his composure, his body already soaked with sweat. ¡°I always feel like their gaze at me is not friendly,¡± Mullen said in a suppressed voice to the side. Fang Hao certainly noticed those looks. Since Mullen had already entered the city, it also means that these people didn¡¯t have the courage to act immediately. Of course, it doesn¡¯t rule out the possibility that they will use other means. ¡°It¡¯s normal for the city¡¯s nobles to be unwelcoming to you, but you should also be careful of those who are unusually kind,¡± Fang Hao said softly. ¡°Okay, I will.¡± The team went straight to the city lord¡¯s mansion. Hoyle arranged for the guards and took over the defense of the city lord¡¯s mansion. When Mullen sat on the city lord¡¯s throne, the three of them received a system prompt. [Historical Event: Battle of Nesburg completed.] [Reward Distribution: Freeze Skill Scroll, Mental Enhancement Potion, Forgotten Scholar¡¯s Robe (Blue), Storm Wand (Blue).] According to the experience from last time. The appearance of the system prompt means that the task has been completed. [Return countdown, 3, 2,1.] Fang Hao nodded at Mullen on the throne. The light appeared again, enveloping the figures of the three of them. The next second, they disappeared on the spot. When Fang Hao opened his eyes again, he was back in his own territory. Eira heard the noise and came out of the City Lord Mansion, ¡°Master, you¡¯re back, do you need me to prepare lunch?¡± ¡°Yes, please prepare it.¡± The time in the trial space does not sync with this one. He looked at his watch, it was one forty in the afternoon. While Eira went to prepare lunch, Fang Hao began to check his rewards. [Do you want to learn the Skill: Freeze?] Yes. The scroll turned into a ray of light and went straight into Fang Hao¡¯s body. [Freeze] [Type: Water Magic] [Level: Tier 3 Magic] [Ability: Condenses water elemental magic to attack enemies in a small range, causing an extra 50% freeze damage, and entering a frozen state. ] After reading the skill introduction, Fang Hao was slightly pleased. Finally, he had a second attack skill. Not only does it provide control, it also deals freeze damage, which can greatly enhance his own combat strength and self-defense ability. Even if he can¡¯t beat the opponent, freezing them and running away is a good method. Fang Hao raised his hand, cast [Freeze] on a passing skeleton warrior. A cold breath ran along his palm, hitting the target skeleton. The next second, the skeleton warrior and the leather in his arms were instantly wrapped in ice, frozen in place. About three seconds later. The ice shattered, the skeleton warrior stood with his knight sword, searching for his target in confusion. ¡°I slipped, there¡¯s no enemy, go back to work.¡± Fang Hao said. The skeleton warrior put away his sword, picked up the fallen leather and carried on delivering it to the warehouse. After testing the Freeze skill, Fang Hao felt rather satisfied. He continued to check the remaining three rewards. [The Forgotten Scholar¡¯s Robe (Blue)] [Type: Armor] [Defense: Level 1 Defense] [Effect: Magic Condensation +2%, Magic Attack +2%.] (Description: An old-style mage¡¯s robe. Although the style is a bit outdated, the quality is still good.) The blue mage robe is perfectly suited for his own use. What a shame it¡¯s not a blueprint, otherwise he could equip the undead mage group. [Storm Wand (Blue)] [Type: Wand] [Damage: Tier 3 Damage] [Effect: Air Magic Condensation +5%.] (Description: Wand born in the storm.) He was even awarded a blue-quality wand.. Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: Chapter 341, Level 8 Manor House_i Chapter 348: Chapter 341, Level 8 Manor House_i The blue wand had pretty good attributes. The mainstream gear within the channel was still in the category of green equipment. Some green equipment could sell for a respectable price in the regional channels. This blue wand was genuinely a decent reward. However, compared to his Starfire Wand, both the attributes and supplementary skills were far inferior. It seemed that this wand could only be given to the Undead Mage to use. It was a pity that only one was rewarded, not a Blueprint. Next, he looked at the final item of reward, a Mental Enhancement Potion. He had recently been introduced to enhancement potions. The physical enhancement potion he had purchased from a half-demon alchemist, which had enhanced his body upon consumption. In today¡¯s task, he had demonstrated melee capabilities, which had always been a challenge for him before. Examine the attributes. [Mental Enhancement Potion] [Category: Level 2 Potion] [Effects: Enhances mental capabilities.] (Description: Body enhancement potion created by an alchemist. Upon consumption, it enhances the mind. No usage requirements.) Indeed, it was a Level 2 potion. Fang Hao didn¡¯t immediately consume it; he was about to have dinner and didn¡¯t want to consume such a stimulating potion before his meal. In a short while, Eira called him to eat. The luxurious spread allowed Fang Hao to feast to his heart¡¯s content. After lunch, at 2 in the afternoon. Blackfoot Cat ¨C Lorrey, was stealthily peeking out from behind the door. ¡°Lorrey, are you looking for Anjia?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. Lorrey stepped out from behind the door and said somewhat shyly, ¡°No, could have some of your time, sir? I have something to discuss.¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± Fang Hao was slightly surprised. Every time Lorrey came, she would go out to play with Anjia; it was different this time. Come in and talk, then.¡± Fang Hao invited her in. Lorrey walked into the hall and took a seat on a chair. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Well¡­ Sir, do you still remember my tribe¡¯s migration? You promised to help us establish a village.¡± Lorrey answered while looking down and playing with her fingers. Of course, Fang Hao remembered this matter. The reason why Lorrey had come here was to help her tribe find a stable place to live and rebuild their village. The agreement between her and Fang Hao was that he would help establish a village for her people within his territory, and provide them with shelter. However, after arriving here and seeing the bone-white Undead scattered across the mountains and fields, Lorrey felt that she had stepped into a pitfall. Since then, she never mentioned the matter of her tribe. Neither did Fang Hao. Lorrey has been living in the territory for half a month, running all over the place with Anjia every day. She had also gained some understanding of Fang Hao¡¯s character. Today, she finally decided to speak to Fang Hao about bringing her tribe over. To find an appropriate place to establish a village. Lorrey had already come once in the morning, only to find that Fang Hao was not there. I remember. So, do your people want to come over?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°No.¡± Lorrey answered with her head down: ¡°Sir, do your promises about establishing the village still stand?¡± ¡°Of course, the territory is vast. There is plenty of room for you to establish a village.¡± Fang Hao answered. Inside the territory, there was large expanses of desolation. Fang Hao had no objections to the Lorrey Tribe moving in, especially since they did not have many people. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s answer, Lorrey¡¯s face instantly lit up with joy, ¡°Oh, thank you so much, Lord. Can I go and bring my tribe over in a few days?¡± ¡°Sure, is it a long journey? If it is, you can ride the Purple-scaled horse or the Bone Dragon back.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said. The orc territory was not very safe. What was an orc village today could become a bandit camp by tomorrow. So Fang Hao was a bit worried about Lorrey¡¯s safety. Riding the Bone Dragon was relatively safer, as the risks along the way could largely be avoided thanks to its ability to fly amongst the clouds. Upon hearing she could use the Bone Dragon, Lorrey instantly showed a delighted expression, ¡°Really? I can ride the Bone Dragon back?¡± ¡°Of course, but don¡¯t lose the Bone Dragon.¡± ¡°Absolutely, absolutely.¡± Lorrey quickly assured. Inside, she was already thinking about how prestigious it would be to ride the Bone Dragon back. ¡°Can I set off today then?¡± Lorrey asked again. ¡°Sure, be careful on the road.¡± ¡°Oh, can I take Anjia along with me?¡± Lorrey asked again. ¡°No.¡± There was no room for negotiation. Whenever those two were together, the danger increased significantly. This was more dangerous than encountering a robber on the road. Seeing that Fang Hao¡¯s expression had turned serious, Lorrey immediately backed down, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be off.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Lorrey left the hall and directly ran towards the Bone Dragon. Along the way, she flaunted to the rabbit maids she encountered that she was allowed to ride the Bone Dragon alone. After seeing off Lorrey, Fang Hao satisfyingly soaked himself in the hot springs. He also took the Mental Enhancement Potion. The next day, early morning. Fang Hao woke up from his sleep. Eira was curled up like a little kitten in his arms, with her arm around Fang Hao and her fair and round leg resting on his body. He wanted to move the leg that was pressing against him, but Eira was quicker. She turned over and sat directly on top of Fang Hao, her cheeks immediately reddish as she cooed in a seductive voice, ¡°Good morning, sir.¡± Clad in a bunny-girl outfit that was half off, she exposed her perfect figure. ¡°So energetic first thing in the morning.¡± Fang Hao glanced at her. Eira¡¯s face turned red, and her body wriggled slightly. She retorted, ¡°Not as energetic as you, sir!¡± At 7 o¡¯clock, Fang Hao and Eira left the room. The maids had already gotten up and started their work. Seeing Fang Hao coming out, they greeted him with smiles. After breakfast. Fang Hao called everyone out from the Lord¡¯s Mansion. This included Anjia, who hadn¡¯t completely woken up yet. The materials for upgrading the Lord¡¯s Mansion were ready, and Fang Hao planned to proceed with the upgrade immediately. [Level 8 City Lord¡¯s Stone Tower: Hardwood 8500, Stone Blocks 11000, Iron 950, Metal Parts 750, Brick Tile 1200.] Start the upgrade. Once the upgrade was confirmed, light enveloped the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Twenty minutes later, the light dispersed and the Level 8 City Lord¡¯s Stone Tower appeared before everyone. The main structure of the Lord¡¯s Mansion was expanded, and the original flat roof was changed to a tile-slanted roof. A round tower was added to the left side. The hexagonal cone-shaped tile top of the tower reminded Fang Hao of the pointed roof of the Magic Academy from Harry Potter. [Level 8 City Lord¡¯s Stone Tower] [Owner: Fang Hao] [Abilities: Produce/Collect +3.7%, troop movement +4%, all attributes +2.5%] [Existing Buildings: Level 6 Underground Cemetery¡­, Level 6 Stable.] (Remark: Core building of the territory.) [Materials required for upgrading: Hard Wood 10500, Stone Block 16000, Iron 1100, Metal Parts 900, Brick Tile 1800..] Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: Chapter 342, Wilderness Cemetery l Chapter 349: Chapter 342, Wilderness Cemetery l The Level 9 Lord¡¯s Stone Tower required an increased quantity of materials once again. The rest was somewhat sufficient, but there was still a shortage of tiles. When the time came, the number of kilns would be increased to boost the production of tiles. Eira and Anjia immediately went to visit the upgraded lord¡¯s residence, while Fang Hao continued upgrading the other buildings to Level 8. After being busy for a while, it was already 9 o¡¯clock. Returning to his room, Fang Hao began to prepare his next plan. He lied on the bed and cast God¡¯s Presence. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself on the skeleton of a gray bear. It was the same bedroom as before. But now the room was empty. The skeleton was secured in place with a thin hemp rope to prevent it from flying around. Fang Hao called towards the door a couple of times but nobody entered. So he untied the hemp rope from his leg and flew out of the open window. It didn¡¯t take long for Fang Hao to spot the figure of the gray bear. At this moment, it was sitting on a stone step, and in front of the gray bear, Millie was brandishing the weapon in her hand. Sweat was dripping down her forehead, it seemed she was practicing. Fang Hao flew straight down to the gray bear¡¯s side and asked, ¡°How is Millie doing?¡± Hearing the sudden voice, the Gray Bear immediately became alert. However, upon seeing the skeleton, its tense expression relaxed. It replied, ¡°Millie is very talented, but she is somewhat frivolous. She only trains when being watched.¡± This was also why Eira asked Fang Hao to arrange tasks for Millie. In the main city, Millie was the most playful one. ¡°Okay, get ready. There will be a task soon.¡± After saying this, he deactivated God¡¯s Presence. At noon. Ten bone dragons descended from the sky. This time, the team was led directly by Black Sword, with Fang Hao again using God¡¯s Presence on the skeleton. ¡°Lord, Black Sword.¡± Grey Bear greeted them. Fang Hao, controlling the skeleton, flew down, ¡°Grey Bear, those are your new equipment, a total of too sets of armor. Check them and give them out. The rest will be sent to you next time.¡± The bone dragons held huge bundles, which contained the complete [Storm Fine Iron Set). The Storm Fine Iron Set was a blue armor set. Not only was each part a tier-three armor, but it also had a good set effect. It boosted attack, life, and the success rate of skills. Grey Bear was not unfamiliar with the Storm Fine Iron Set. During previous battles, Skeleton Warriors wore this dark metal armor. It was something they had always admired. The equipment dropped by the dead Skeleton Warriors during battles was quietly collected by them since Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask for it. Only Grey Bear and some key members of the stronghold had the privilege to wear it. The others could only envy, hoping that more Skeleton Warriors would die in the next battle. This time, Fang Hao directly sent too sets, and more will be sent in the future. Everyone showed excited expressions.. ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± Grey Bear immediately thanked and arranged for the Storm Sets to be distributed. There were just that many people in the stronghold, so priority was given to those who would be sent on tasks. After the equipment was taken away, Grey Bear continued to ask, ¡°Are there any tasks this time, my lord?¡± Recently, tasks for the stronghold have been increasingly frequent. ¡°This time, we need to go to a place called Wilderness Cemetery. You organize some people. We will set off immediately.¡± Fang Hao instructed. This time, he led the team to complete one of the two field missions called [Wilderness Cemetery] that were accepted from the Task Hall. The map didn¡¯t provide much information, only that it might be haunted by wandering undead creatures. Fang Hao was familiar with the undead, understanding of each of their skills. ¡°Master¡­¡± At this point, Millie came over and called out softly. ¡°Well, I saw you training this morning. Have you made any progress?¡± Asked Fang Hao. ¡°Yes, Grey Sister took me hunting last night, and I killed a grey wolf myself I¡± Millie raised her head, somewhat proud. Fang Hao thought it was funny. Millie had already reached Tier 4. Killing a normal beast was not difficult at all. Killing a wolf was like slaying a dragon for her. ¡°Then you have to work harder. When you reach Tier 6 or Tier 7,1 will assign you some new tasks.¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Really, what kind of tasks? Are they difficult?¡± Millie was still eager to try. ¡°Whether it¡¯s difficult or not depends on how skilful you are. At that time, you can also lead a team. How prestigious would that be to have a group of subordinates behind you.¡± Fang Hao said as if he was deceiving a child. ¡°Really? Then, master, can I have more people then? I want to be a bandit.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®be a bandit¡¯¡­¡± Soon, Grey Bear finished preparing on his end. One hundred underlings equipped with new armor were ready. Dozens of carts and some tools that may be used were also ready. Once everything was ready, Fang Hao gave the order to move towards the location on the map. The people here, like Grey Bear, were very familiar with the terrain. When they were bandits before, they had traversed these places countless times. After walking through several dense forests and traveling for about two hours. The team finally approached the destination of this mission, the ¡°Wilderness Cemetery¡±. In front of them was an ancient stone castle, its walls were dim, its doors and windows severely rotted, and odd-colored flowers bloomed from the vines crawling on its walls. In front of the stone castle was a rectangular open space. In the hollow there was an array of old and broken tombstones, densely packed like a low stone forest. They had encountered some wild animals along the way, but the closer they got to this place, it was as if it was a forbidden area with no wild animals at all, even the woods on both sides were void of any chirping of insects or birds. It was eerily quiet. Fang Hao stood in the distance, observing the scene in front of him. He was reminded of the Shadowwind Castle of the Blood Hunter. It too was a stone castle, with rotten corpses set up outside to guard it. But the two were not on the same scale; the Shadowwind Castle only had about a hundred or so tombstones, while this place had thousands. ¡°Gray Bear, are you familiar with this place?¡± Fang Hao turned his head to look at Gray Bear, who appeared serious. Gray Bear frowned at the cluster of tombstones in front of him, while Millie looked somewhat pale, clinging tightly to Gray Bear¡¯s arm. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, Gray Bear nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never been here, but I¡¯ve heard some stories about this place.¡± ¡°What kind of stories?¡± Gray Bear recalled and said in a solemn tone, ¡°Bandits once set up a camp here and were attacked by monsters. The camp suffered heavy losses and ultimately had to relocate, so this area is now off-limits to the bandits.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all? Isn¡¯t there any information about the type or number of monsters?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear about that; my camp has always stayed away from here.¡± Gray Bear shook his head. Gray Bear¡¯s camp seldom had contact with others. They were at a certain distance from this area, and the information he had received were mostly unofficial news. He couldn¡¯t even remember the source of the information anymore. At this time, however, the ¡®Monkey¡¯ standing behind Gray Bear suddenly spoke up. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve heard some things too, not sure if it would be of any help.¡± Monkey wriggled his way through. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°I heard that there used to be an orphanage run by the church there. Then for unknown reasons, everyone died there. Some people say that this place is cursed, those who approach would attract misfortune and death,¡± Monkey said in a low voice. His eyes occasionally darted towards the stone castle in the distance. Hearing Monkey¡¯s explanation, Fang Hao had a thought. He looked again at the stone castle not far away, on the mottled wall, he indeed could identify some symbols related to the temple. Without a doubt, it was a temple building. But it was once an orphanage, so then all these densely packed tombstones¡­ ¡°How long has this place been abandoned?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Monkey thought for a moment and then answered, ¡°At least over 30 years.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure how many years it had been abandoned, but he made an approximate estimate based on his age and the time when he heard this rumor. ¡°Any monsters inside?¡± ¡°Not sure.¡± Monkey glanced at the grey sparrow skeleton. He wanted to say that if there were, they would be undead, but he held his tongue. He figured it was best to say less, as his life was still in their hands. Fang Hao nodded his head, without asking anything more. No matter how much he asked, they would still eventually need to go in. ¡°Go on, scout out the path,¡± he said. As it was the usual rule, Fang Hao had the Skeleton Warrior on the side go in and scout the road. The Skeleton Warrior received the command without the slightest hesitation. It stepped directly into the cemetery, It walked around the entire area, even stepping on two coffins along the way. But there were no rotten corpses that appeared as expected, the whole cemetery just had the Skeleton Warrior walking back and forth. Could it be that it had been so long that the undead in the coffins had all rotted away? Wild undead won¡¯t do, for the embalmment was not up to par. ¡°Okay, come out,¡± Fang Hao said. The Skeleton Warrior swaggered out and returned to its original position. ¡°Black Sword, go in. Gray Bear, take your people along too.¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The two nodded and agreed. The Skeleton Soldiers started to form a tidy line and directly walked into the cemetery. Still no danger appeared, Fang Hao started calling for people to collect Shadowstones along the way. There were quite a few Shadowstones in this area. Just what he needed. The team continued to approach the ancient castle unhindered, if there were no enemies outside, then they were likely inside the castle. Whoosh!!! Just as the team was near, a loud rushing sound came from inside the castle. The next second, Boom boom boom!! One by one, figures came rushing out of the castle gate and from the windows upstairs, jumping into the line and brandishing their long claws, launching an attack. ¡°Ghoul (Tier 5)¡±. The team was immediately thrown into chaos, and Fang Hao could see the attributes of the monsters that sprang out clearly. The ghouls resembled humans closely with bluish-green skin, sharp ears and fangs, and their tongues were long like a snake¡¯s letter. They were almost as tall as the Skeleton Troll, with their arms reaching past their knees, their palms were exceptionally large, with sharp, elongated nails growing on them. These long nails reminded Fang Hao of Wolverine.. Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Chapter 343, Such an Ugly Monster_i Chapter 350: Chapter 343, Such an Ugly Monster_i Many ghouls jumped down from the second and third floors of the ancient castle. They directly leaped into the rear of our formation. Their enormous hands and sharp fingertips served as their weapons. They brandished them at the enemies before them. Growls rang out from their mouths, reminiscent of wild beasts. Even though the ghouls broke into the ranks, the undead at close combat units still faced them. The ranged archers and mages maintained a safe distance from the front line. ¡°Gray Bear, take your men to protect the archers and mages,¡± the Black Sword commanded after severing a ghoul¡¯s hand, yelling at Gray Bear. Gray Bear¡¯s subordinates are mostly of tier 3 or 4, but they still employ the fighting style of mountain bandits in battle. Despite being fierce, their combat power in this kind of battle was inferior to the skeleton soldiers. Seeing the ghouls directing their attacks to the rear line, he ordered Gray Bear to protect the back. Without hesitation, Gray Bear shouted loudly, ¡°Hold back these monsters!¡± The bandits stood in front of the rear line, forming a human wall. They obstructed the ghouls who were charging towards the back. Only about twenty ghouls had rushed out of the ancient castle. Thankfully, the number was not overwhelming. Boom! The shield held by Black Sword knocked a charging ghoul out of the air. The entire body fell to the ground, and he promptly plunged his sword into it. Although pinned to the ground, the ghoul was still alive, its claws sparking against Black Sword¡¯s armor. Spurt! With one more stroke, he decapitated the ghoul and its struggling body gradually lost its strength. Black Sword continued to go after the next ghoul. This dead ghoul, however, was cannibalized by its own kind. Its limbs and skull were quickly devoured by the ghouls. Fang Hao felt a bit nauseous watching this and urged, ¡°Black Sword, pick up the pace and stop them from consuming the bodies. They can heal their wounds with that.¡± Black Sword nodded. He urged the skeleton soldiers to hasten the pace of the battle. As the number of ghouls massively decreased, Gray Bear and his men began to initiate attacks instead of merely defending. Millie, with her flushed small face, was following Gray Bear, attacking an isolated ghoul. She stood beside the ghoul, her stature only reaching its waist. Hiss! The claws of the ghoul scraped against the iron armor, making a harsh noise. Millie¡¯s body instantly flew backward. She was thrown over two meters away but quickly struggled back to her feet. Wiping the mud off her face, she rekindled her resolve and rushed out once again. She quickly returned to Gray Bear¡¯s side and resumed the besiegement. ¡°Aim for its vital part, these creatures have a tremendous recovery power,¡± Gray Bear kindly reminded her. Vital part? Millie tilted her head, looking at the towering blue monster before her. She directly aimed a thrust towards the ghoul¡¯s buttocks. Spurt! Her sword went in astonishingly smoothly. Without any resistance, she submerged the most of her blade into it. Aaaah! The ghoul let out a painful howl, and with a swipe of its claws, it again threw Millie several meters away. Even the sword in her hand stayed embedded in the ghoul. The battle finally came to an end. Fang Hao began giving orders to clean up the battlefield. It seemed the ghouls didn¡¯t belong to the undead, as their bodies didn¡¯t disappear after death, but remained intact. However, several bodies had been cannibalized by other ghouls, making it difficult to piece them together. It doesn¡¯t matter if we couldn¡¯t reconstruct them. The main objective was to unlock the soldier type. The team took a brief rest, during which the bandits had some casualties. Gray Bear was directing his men to collect the bodies of their fallen comrades. ¡°How are you doing?¡± said Fang Hao as he turned to Millie, who was quiet. She looked somewhat disheveled, her face covered in dirt, and several clear scratches were seen on the chest plate of her armor. I¡¯m fine,¡± was all she said. Having been bought from slavers, Millie had seen just as much death as anyone else. ¡°Okay,¡± Fang Hao nodded, continuing to instruct Black Sword, ¡°Organize people to enter the old castle. Gray Bear, stay and guard outside, inform us if something comes up.¡± ¡°Understood, sir,¡± they both responded. The skeleton soldiers began entering the Stone Castle. The inside of the Stone Castle was rather dim, with deteriorated furniture, carvings of the temple on the walls, and a metal chandelier that had fallen off. Despite all wooden furniture rotting away, you could still tell that the place resembled a church, based on the traces left behind. The long, evenly arranged benches, and the podium on the elevated platform directly ahead. ¡°Move up to the next floor, be careful,¡± whispered Fang Hao, patting a skeleton soldier on the shoulder. They encountered no danger on the first floor and began ascending the second. The number of rooms on the second floor was plentiful. A few of them were like dormitory rooms. The decaying single beds could still be made out. From the size of the beds, one could infer that this was, indeed, an orphanage, as Monkey had once said, and was inhabited by children. Upon reaching the third floor, it appeared to be the residence of the church staff. There wasn¡¯t much to find except for a few rusted metallic objects. ¡°Sir, there is no enemy.¡± After Heijian went through each room, he spoke up. There are no enemies, nor treasure chests. How could that be possible? It is understandable that the enemies have been eliminated, but the absence of treasure chests is simply impossible. ¡°Move everything we can carry out and search again thoroughly,¡± Fang Hao commanded. ¡°Yes.¡± The skeleton soldiers began to act, moving all the items in the Stone Castle out. Fang Hao stood by the window on the first floor. As he watched the skeleton soldiers bustling in and out, he thought about what could have possibly been overlooked that led to the absence of treasure chests. Crack! Suddenly, a clear, crisp sound came from the front. Looking up, Fang Hao saw two skeletons dismantling a podium on the steps. As the podium was moved, a square slab underneath it could be seen slowly rising. With the slab¡¯s elevation, an opening slowly appeared on the ground above the podium. A burst of excitement welled up in Fang Hao¡¯s heart. Indeed, there was a place that had been overlooked. ¡°Heijian, we have a situation. Send men over,¡± Fang Hao said as he himself flew over. It was a two-meter-wide underground passage. The entrance was pitch black. Only the smooth stone walls on both sides and the stone steps leading downwards can be seen. ¡°Sir, what¡¯s wrong?¡± At that moment, Heijian quickly walked over. He asked questioningly, but also noticed the entrance leading underground. ¡°Did you bring the Nightstones?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Yes.¡± Every time they ventured out, Fang Hao made ample preparations. Expecting caves or dark places, he would have the heroes carry Nightstones. Heijian took two Nightstones from his package. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go down and check.¡± The two Nightstones were hung on the necks of the two leading Skeleton Warriors. The downward passage was only two meters wide. With two Skeleton Warriors leading the way, two at a line, Fang Hao and Heijian took their positions at the third row, and began their descent. As they continued downward, the passage grew darker. The Nightstones¡¯ glow became more brilliant. On the stone walls on both sides, sunken lampposts started to appear, but they were all too corroded to be lit. They continued downward. About three minutes later, the path widened abruptly. This was a simple room ¡ª or a prayer room, to be exact. In the middle of the room lay a rotten hide carpet. Traces of dangling religious idols were left on the wall facing the room. What¡¯s going on? Fang Hao was somewhat puzzled. This building was originally a temple. Why would there be a prayer room underground? Glug! Glug! Just as Fang Hao was pondering, a sound much akin to something wriggling suddenly came from a corner of the room. Even in his current skeletal state, he felt startled. If he had skin, it would without a doubt be crawling right now. ¡°Heijian, did you hear anything?¡± Fang Hao said in a low voice. ¡°I hear it. It¡¯s in that direction,¡± Heijian replied, pulling out his sword and pointing towards a corner. Skeleton soldiers rapidly descended the steps, spreading out in the room and waiting for the target to appear. ¡°Miss Adeline, are you here to pick us up? It¡¯s so dark and scary here.¡± Suddenly, a voice resembling a nighttime cat¡¯s mournful wail sounded from the corner. After one sentence finished. ¡°Miss Adeline, are you here?¡± ¡°Miss Adeline, we really don¡¯t like it here!¡± ¡°Miss Adeline, did you bring us human meat? We¡¯re very hungry!¡±¡­ A succession of sharp and irritating voices echoed simultaneously from the comer. At least more than ten different voices were calling for Miss Adeline. Damn it! Fang Hao cursed under his breath. How could that corner possibly fit so many people? Who s there? Come out,¡± said Heijian, who, as an Undead, was devoid of fear. His Longsword was pointing directly at the deep, dark corner. ¡°It¡¯s not Miss Adeline.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like Miss Adeline.¡± ¡°It¡¯s outsiders. What did Miss Adeline say we should do if outsiders came in? It¡¯s been so long, and I¡¯ve sort of forgotten.¡± ¡°I remember, I remember. Miss said we should¡­ eat them.¡± Right, eat them. I really like human flesh, especially mine.¡± ¡°Eat him, quickly.¡± The conversation in the corner was getting faster. Right after that, the wriggling sounds quickly approached. The next second, a monster that looked like a pile of flesh appeared under the glow of the Nightstone from behind a pillar. Fear Devourer (Tier 7). The Fear Devourer was a nearly two-meter-high heap of meat. The clumps of flesh were full of eyes and mouths. It wriggled forward like a Mud Monster, its bloated body propelled by several mouths biting the ground. ¡°What on earth is that thing?¡± Fang Hao cursed once again. The Fear Devourer appeared quickly but halted its attack. ¡°What are these? Why are they so ugly?¡± They re skeletons. After we eat those people, we will turn into this.¡± ¡°But why are they standing? It¡¯s so scary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a monster. A monster has come in.¡± The many mouths began speaking on the heap of flesh.. Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Chapter 344, Si Duos Arm ! Chapter 351: Chapter 344, Si Duo¡¯s Arm ! ¡°I know, these are the undead, I¡¯ve read about them in a book.¡± ¡°They¡¯re dead people, they¡¯re too terrifying, why are they here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s run.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t run. If we leave, Teacher Adeline will be angry.¡± ¡°Then what should we do, these guys are too repulsive.¡± ¡°Kill them, just like those people who intruded before, I wonder if their bones would taste good.¡± ¡°Okay, I want to eat bones!¡± The Fear Devourer stood in place, its eye on the chunk of meat, incessantly scanning the skeletons and constantly chattering. Just like children discussing a problem, they argued back and forth. In the end, they reached a unanimous decision, to devour these strange bones. Fang Hao watched with a frown. Through the Fear Devourer¡¯s conversation, he could also infer some information. Apparently, a teacher named Adeline asked this Fear Devourer to hide within this secret room underground. This Temple Orphanage was really not so simple. The Fear Devourer wiggled it¡¯s body and began to launch an attack. Without any hesitation, Fang Hao immediately gave the order, ¡°Attack, kill it.¡± The skeleton warriors that had already spread out started to launch an attack on the Fear Devourer. ¡°Spit acid!¡± One of the Fear Devourer¡¯s mouths said. Plop! The rest of the mouths, took a deep breath and spat out a green, sticky liquid at the encroaching skeletons. Blinding spit. It was the Fear Devourer¡¯s method of attacking enemies. Targets that were hit would immediately be blinded. This would last for a while. Such an attack was particularly effective in narrow, underground spaces. There was simply nowhere to avoid it. In the blink of an eye, the blinding spit was sprayed onto the skeleton warriors. But, the bodies of the skeleton warriors only paused for an instant before they continued to attack the Fear Devourer. The undead in themselves were immune to these negative statuses. Without eyes to begin with, they don¡¯t have to worry about being blinded or not. ¡°Why are they still approaching?¡± ¡°These skeletons aren¡¯t afraid of our attacks.¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re not scared.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s eat them.¡± The Fear Devourer quickly reached a conclusion and wriggled towards a skeleton on its left. Like a pile of meat, it instantly crushed the skeleton warrior underneath it and began chomping away, making ¡®crunch crunch¡¯ sounds as it chewed the bones. But with the Fear Devourer¡¯s bloated body, it wasn¡¯t eating fast enough. That gave the remaining skeletons time to attack. They surrounded the Fear Devourer, swinging their weapons to chop at the gigantic piece of meat. ¡°Ah¡­ it hurts, ah!¡± The mouths on the Fear Devourer¡¯s body were still feasting on the skeleton underneath it while making painful moans due to the attacks. The Fear Devourer¡¯s body displayed its incredible toughness. The Black Iron Knight¡¯s Sword could cut across their bodies, but the wounds it made were not that deep. But there were still a lot of skeleton warriors, they circled around and hacked away. When the Fear Devourer ate a skeleton, fresh meat grew new mouths, but they were skeleton mouths, unable to speak. Thump thump thump! The Fear Devourer pounced on another skeleton and continued to eat. The remaining skeleton warriors surrounded it and launched a frenzy of attacks. A series of blows made mincemeat out of chunks of the Fear Devourer¡¯s flesh. ¡°These bones don¡¯t taste good.¡± ¡°It hurts so much, my eyes have been cut off.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t win, let¡¯s run. When the teacher returns, we¡¯ll kill these ugly creatures.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s run, the exit¡¯s over there.¡± Half of the Fear Devourer¡¯s body had already been severely maimed, its eyes and mouths hanging down from the shredded flesh, looking incredibly terrifying. Seeing that these skeletons were not afraid of death and knowing it couldn¡¯t finish them off, the Fear Devourer decided to run away. It quickly wriggled towards the opening. ¡°Black Sword, stop it, don¡¯t let it get outside.¡± Fang Hao ordered. There¡¯s no way he could let it escape. If it gets out of here, and successfully flees, it¡¯s likely to cause serious problems. Considering its trait of growing new mouths and eyes every time it swallows someone, it would be even more troublesome when it grows bigger. And a lot of people would die. Black Sword nodded, his foot tapped the ground and instantly blocked the Fear Devourer¡¯s path. With one swing of his sword, he slashed a large chunk of flesh off the Fear Devourer. The Fear Devourer¡¯s body twisted and all of its mouths let out painful screams. The vibration shook the underground slightly. ¡°I will kill you, I have to kill you.¡± ¡°It hurts so much, quickly kill them, quick.¡± ¡°Charge through this ugly creature, once we get out we can find something to eat.¡± Like a mad beast, the Fear Devourer launched itself at Black Sword, trying to swallow him or push past him to get away. Thump! The Black Sword¡¯s shield collided with the Fear Devourer. He once again pushed the bloated flesh back into the middle of the skeleton warriors, causing another round of attack. More and more mouths were cut and shredded, the chunk of meat now shrunk to half the height of a man. ¡®You damned undead, Teacher Adeline will revenge for us.¡± ¡°Right, Teacher Adeline will take revenge for us, she will hang you up, peel your skin off, then take your skulls.¡± ¡°Stop talking, I don¡¯t want to remember these.¡± The remaining three mouths cursed at Black Sword. They firmly believed that their Teacher Adeline, mentioned in their conversations, would revenge for them and kill Fang Hao and the others. ¡°Alright, after death, you won¡¯t feel hunger and fear anymore.¡± Fang Hao suddenly spoke. At Fang Hao¡¯s words, the three constantly talking mouths abruptly stopped. All eyes simultaneously turned to Fang Hao. ¡°Really? So, you won¡¯t be lonely?¡± one of the mouths suddenly asked. ¡°No, I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh, okay then!¡± The Fear Devourer ceased its random squirming. Fang Hao nodded, and the black sword beside him swiftly swung its blade once more. ¡°Truth be told, I don¡¯t particularly like Ms. Adeline. I¡¯m merely afraid of her.¡± All three mouths shut up, the writhing flesh mass slackened. It looked like a deflated doll. The black sword bent over, pulling out a white orb from the rotten flesh. The orb was thumb-sized, containing a grayish vapor within its translucent surface if one looked closely. The grayish mist roiled slightly within the sphere as it was agitated. [Forgotten Soul] [Category: Special Material] (Description: A lonely, despairing soul, lost in the darkness.) The soul inside? Fang Hao looked at the transparent orb in the black sword¡¯s hand. ¡°Black Sword, you hold onto it for now. Get some men to scour around here and take away anything that can be moved,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The black sword began directing the skeletons into action. The secret chamber wasn¡¯t vast. But the illumination from the Nightstone was limited, requiring close inspection. Soon, Fang Hao saw a skeleton warrior emerge from the shadows, holding a chest of gold. So, the chest was hidden here. Fang Hao stood to one side. Seeing that the chest had been found, he nodded approvingly. Just as he was about to follow the skeleton soldier out, another voice from Black Sword came from the corner. ¡°Lord, there is another secret room over here.¡± Fang Hao was taken aback, another secret room? With a flap of his wings, he headed for where Black Sword¡¯s voice was coming from. In the dim corner, an even secret door opened in the smooth wall. The material of the door was the same as the nearby stone wall, making it hard to spot when closed. The door opened to reveal another small room. ¡°You go in and check,¡± Fang Hao uttered to the skeleton who had a Nightstone hanging around its neck. The skeleton took large steps into the room, illuminating the small space. It was a room even smaller than the previous one, with a metal chair in the middle. One could see iron chains and leather straps on the chair. One side of the wall had a workbench which contained assorted jars and utensils. To Fang Hao, it seemed like a combination of an interrogation and experimental room. It was apparent that the secret room was well sealed, with its contents relatively well preserved. The wood and leather items had only a minor sign of rot. Hold on, take a look at what¡¯s in that bundle¡±. Fang Hao called out to the pacing skeleton. On the workbench of the secret room. A linen-wrapped object lay, looking like an arm from its shape. The linen wrapping was moldy and rotten, but the item inside was still intact. The skeleton warrior acted on command. Moving forward, it unwrapped the linen cloth to reveal the item. Sure enough, it was a white bone arm. It was a left arm of a creature. The arm bone was excellently preserved with a lustrous, like jade. Under the illumination of the Nightstone, one could see patterns engraved on the bone. Seeing as no danger presented itself, Fang Hao flew in as well. He landed beside the white bone arm. [Arm of the Chalice (Orange)] [Category: Alchemical product] [Ability: Purification, Healing] (Description: An arm covered in alchemical symbols, retains some of its powers from its previous life, might have a special use.) Chalice? Is that a person¡¯s name, or a title? Fang Hao was unsure. But judging from the retained abilities, the original owner¡¯s identity had some association with the church. Although its function was still unclear, anything with an orange rating was, without a doubt, quite exceptional. Once he gets it back, he¡¯ll let Nelson have a look. Maybe it could be attached to one of the skeletons. Once he finished examining the arm, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Black Sword, search around in here. Anything that can be moved, take it out. Also, wrap this arm up and bring it along.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Black Sword affirmed again. The skeleton warriors began to remove the items upstairs, and Fang Hao too followed them out. Outside of the old castle. Gray Bear and the others were still on their guard. From outside, they could hear sharp cries coming from beneath them. Without a doubt, they knew Fang Hao ran into a new creature inside. Listening to the sounds of battle, this new monster was not an easy foe. They didn¡¯t go in; they stood at the entrance, ready to face any enemy that might emerge. As footsteps drew nearer, they all grew tense. Just as Gray Bear was about to order an attack. A skeleton soldier emerged carrying a chest, a little gray bird perched on its shoulder. Only then did people release a sigh of relief. Seems like the danger below was taken care of.. Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: Chapter 345, Deomn Doll (Looking for recommendations, subscriptions. Chapter 352: Chapter 345, Deomn Doll (Looking for recommendations, subscriptions. ¡°Chief, everything went smoothly?¡± Gray Bear approached Fang Hao for an inquiry. ¡°Yes, we encountered a monster. Do not approach the tunnel, in case there are any poisonous gases,¡± said Fang Hao. The basement was not very spacious. In the fight, the Fear Devourer spewed its saliva more than once, which lingered in the basement for a while. While the undead were not afraid, it was uncertain whether Gray Bear and his men would be affected. It would be very foolish to get poisoned after the fight was over. Hearing Fang Hao mentioning the presence of poison below, the bandits instantly stepped back several steps. ¡°Alright, load everything you can take onto the cart and get ready to depart,¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t say much more. ¡°Yes.¡± Soon, everything that could be moved out was piled up in the open space outside Stone Castle. After a simple inspection, everything that needed to be taken was loaded onto the cart, and everyone began to return. Returning to Gray Bear¡¯s village, Fang Hao thought for a moment and said to Gray Bear: ¡°In the next few days, I¡¯ll send the skeleton soldiers over here. You are responsible for accommodating the skeletons in the Troop Hiding Cave.¡± Currently, missions around Lyss City have begun to increase in frequency. It¡¯s a bit of a hassle to transport the soldiers with the Bone Dragon every time. Fang Hao planned to station an undead army in Gray Bear¡¯s village without alerting the nearby villagers during the night. Fang Hao could just use God¡¯s Presence to appear on the battlefield for future battles. ¡°Well, boss, how many troops are you planning to send?¡± Gray Bear asked further. ¡°At least more than 100,000 troops.¡± ¡°100,000?¡± Gray Bear exclaimed in surprise. Even Lyss City might not have a force of 100,000 troops. Did Fang Hao have that many undead at his disposal? ¡°Yes, by that time, arrange them into the Troop Hiding Cave. If you stay careful, there should be no problem.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Once Gray Bear recovered from the shock, he nodded in agreement. Once everything was assigned, they secured the spoils of the battle onto the Bone Dragon. And then they began the return journey to their territory. Fang Hao canceled God¡¯s Presence. Checking the time, it was already three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. After quickly eating something, Black Sword also returned with his troops. The loot from this fight was a golden chest; he didn¡¯t know what kind of spoils it contained. ¡°My Lord.¡± Black Sword respectfully handed over the booties from the fight: a Forgotten Soul, a Shadowstone, and the Arm of Chaplain. Aside from Shadowstone, which he was familiar with, he wasn¡¯t sure what the other two were for. Fang Hao received them and continued, ¡°Well, send all these iron implements to the blacksmiths to melt down.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Black Sword agreed and began directing the skeletons to transport the iron tools and damaged equipment brought back this time to the blacksmith¡¯s shop for smelting and repair. As Black Sword left, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze returned to the golden chest at his feet. He opened it. ¡°Obtained: A blueprint for a Zealous Faith Assistant Priest Robe (green), a blueprint for an Oathbreaker Wristlet (blue), a Demon Doll Note, 17 Soul Crystals, 23 Demon Stones and 202 Warfire Coins.¡± Looking at the rewards in the chest, Fang Hao was slightly stunned. A single chest contained both human Soul Crystals and demonic Demon Stones. He had never seen such a situation before. It seemed that the temple was also somewhat connected to demons. He continued to look at the first piece of blueprint. ¡°Zealous Faith Assistant Priest Robe: Linen cloth 5, spun yarn 5, leather 3.¡± (¡°Description: A dedicated outfit made for devout assistant priests.¡±) Assistant priests are not orthodox priesthood personnel and are mainly responsible for assisting in the temple. The first person Fang Hao met during his previous visit to the temple in Lyss City was an assistant priest. From their attributes, they belonged to the category of ordinary villagers. Only the elderly priest, who had reached Tier 10, was likely to have some powers of the priesthood. He had also committed to donating clothes to the temple; he wondered if this could serve as an alternative. It would be much more convenient if he could produce them directly, compared to what the Skeleton Tailor could make. He would make one later and compare it with the blueprint from the temple. If they were similar, he would mass produce them himself. After all, they were for donation, what else could he ask for. He continued to examine the second item. ¡°Oathbreaker¡¯s Wristlet: Leather 1, Thick leather 1, Linen cloth 2, spun yarn 5, Mithril 2.¡± (¡°Description: She! Kneeling on thorns, devoutly praying to the endless abyss.¡±) The ¡°she¡± in the description was probably a member of the orphanage in the temple. She broke her faith and transformed the orphanage into the ghostly place it is now. In Fang Hao¡¯s opinion, blind belief in anything was wrong. If you abandon your belief, and then they get angry, it¡¯s not worth it. He continued to examine the final item, the ¡°Demon Doll Note¡±. This book is not a blueprint, but a slightly crumpled notebook. ¡°Demon Doll Note¡± ¡°Type: Special Item¡± (¡°Description: Abook recording the method of making a demon doll. If the materials are collected, a demon doll can perhaps be recreated.¡±) Fang Hao frowned slightly. Lately, why do he keeps getting notes? Did he look like a book lover? Carelessly flipping open a page, the pages were filled with hand-drawn diagrams and dense lines of text. Apparently, the author of the notebook had a high level of drawing skills, and the accompanying illustrations were complete. The page he was reading clearly recorded. The method of making a demon doll¡¯s head. Fang Hao took a quick glance. It mentioned that the basic material was the skull of a hero, and on top that an alchemist skilled in demon alchemy would engrave runes. Below that were alchemical runes that Fang Hao couldn¡¯t see, let alone translate. The last line also clearly recorded that the higher the hero¡¯s rank, the better the quality of the skull after death. The stronger the demon doll made will be. Seeing this note, Fang Hao was dumbfounded. This author was too amazing. Whether it¡¯s the puppet doll or any other alchemical creation. They weren¡¯t perfected in one go, it always required countless experiments, and the gradual accumulation of knowledge from countless failures. Only then, could the production method be perfected. Where did this author get so many hero bones for his experiments? Suddenly, Fang Hao spotted the ¡®Arm of the Priest1 nearby, so the person in that secret chamber had already started the production process according to the records from the notes. Fang Hao continued to flip through the book, noticing a small curse experiment recorded on the final two pages. ¡®Fear Devourer¡¯ production. Damn!! So the Fear Devourer from the orphanage was also made according to the method in the book. It seems the requirements for the Demon Doll are too high, and very hard to fulfill. This person, disguised as an orphanage worker, created the ghastly Fear Devourer. He carefully packed away the ¡®Demon Doll Notes¡¯. Fang Hao went directly to an open space, intending to create the two blueprints. To see their style and attributes. ¡®Zealous Faith Assistant Priest Robe: Linen Cloth 5, Thread 5, Leather 3.¡¯ Produce 1. ¡®100-fold amplification triggered, received 101 Zealous Faith Assistant Priest Robes.¡¯ A flash of light, and 101 Assistant Priest robes appeared before his eyes. Fang Hao picked one up to examine it. ¡®Zealous Faith Assistant Priest Robe¡¯ ¡®Category: Robe¡¯ ¡®Defense: Level 1 Defense¡¯ ¡®Effects: Movement Speed +2%, Bandaging +10%, Midwifery +15%.¡¯ (¡®Description: A specialized garment made for the devout assistants of faith.¡¯) Oh¡­ These bonuses are actually pretty substantial, improving not just movement speed, but also bandaging and midwifery skills. Looks like it¡¯s really practical. ¡°Go get Soye.¡± Fang Hao said to a maid nearby. ¡°Yes, master.¡± The maid happily hopped off to find Soye, the tailor. Meanwhile, Fang Hao started to create the second blueprint. ¡®Oathbreaker¡¯s Bracers: Leather 1, Thick Leather 1, Linen Cloth 2, Thread 5, Mithril 2.¡¯ Produce 1. ¡®100-fold amplification triggered, received 101 Oathbreaker¡¯s Bracers.¡¯ ¡®Oathbreaker¡¯s Bracers¡¯ ¡®Category: Bracers (cannot stack with glove attributes)¡¯ ¡®Defense: Level 1 Defense¡¯ ¡®Effects: Magic Recovery +5%, Magic Attack +10%.¡¯ (¡®Description: She! Knelt on the thorns, praying devoutly to the endless abyss.¡¯) Turns out it¡¯s equipment for mages. That¡¯s great! The equipment of the mages in the territory has always been lagging behind. Right now, with these bracers, which are indeed extraordinary items, possessing magic recovery and magic attack effects. They can be used to equip the Undead Mages of the territory. Fang Hao put on one of the bracers, just as Soye¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Sir, you wanted to see me?¡± ¡°Yes, look at this priest robe. Is it the same as the one you tailored for the temple last time?¡± Fang Hao picked up one and handed it to Soye. The newly made robes and bracers were scattered all around him. Soye took it and inspected it carefully, ¡°Please wait a moment, sir. I did make a tailored piece already. I¡¯ll bring it here to compare.¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead!¡± This undead tailor was still as efficient as ever, having crafted a finished garment within a few days. Soye returned before long. In his hand was the finished temple outfit. Upon comparing, the two designs were the same, but batches made by Fang Hao didn¡¯t have the pattern of the temple on their backs; they were blank. ¡°Can this pattern be added?¡± Fang Hao asked. Soye nodded, ¡°It can be added. If we¡¯re only adding the pattern at the back, it can be completed quickly.¡± ¡°Alright, after I have crafted the robes, you assign someone to add both the temple pattern and the Bone Textile Store logo to it.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Great, now they could finish quickly. ¡°Yes, master.¡± ¡°By the way, there isn¡¯t any problem with Rebecca¡¯s cheongsam and evening dress, is there?¡± Fang Hao suddenly thought of the dresses Rebecca had requested. ¡°Progress has been smooth.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± After their discussion, Fang Hao crafted another 200 sets of Assistant Priest Robes and handed them to Soye for him to take back and add the patterns. Meanwhile¡­ Bloodthirst Mountains, Rockhead Tribe, the Clan Leader¡¯s hall. In the hall built of boulders and logs, five big Trolls and a man clad in armor were sitting. The Troll in the central throne was Bagath, the clan leader of the Rockhead Tribe. He was a blue-tier, 6th grade hero. Clothed in a ¡®Troll Heavy Armor¡¯ suit, his forehead painted with white stone powder. The Rockhead Trolls would paint their eyebrows with a kind of white stone powder, as a testimony to their steadfast will. Even though this display of will seemed laughable to outsiders, it was deeply rooted in the hearts of the Rockhead Tribe members and had cemented them as the second largest Troll tribe in the Bloodthirst Mountains. The strongest competitor to the Bloodthroat Tribe. But that was all relative, because in terms of resources, the Rockhead Tribe simply couldn¡¯t fight the Bloodthroat Tribe. However, everything had been pretty peaceful until their failure against the Undead. Since then, various Troll tribes had started to harbor discontent for the Blood throat Tribe. Bagath saw an opportunity and began contacting several other relatively powerful tribes in secret. He planned to overthrow the rule of the Bloodthroat Tribe. Bagath and the other four clan leaders had already assembled an army, planning to march against the Blood throat Tribe the very next day. ¡°It¡¯s settled then, go back and gather your forces. At that time, we will overthrow the Bloodthroat Tribe in one fell swoop.¡± Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: Chapter 346, Bottom-Dwelling Giant Fish_1 Chapter 353: Chapter 346, Bottom-Dwelling Giant Fish_1 In the Bloody Mountain Range, the Bloodthroat Tribe has always been the leader of the Troll Tribes. Especially since ¡®Meatfist ¨C Kaius¡¯ advanced to Orange-grade Hero and took up the position of the Bloodthroat chieftain. The oppression of the other troll tribes below has become increasingly severe. The tribes have been dissatisfied for a long time, but they dare not speak out. However, the failure of the Undead War has completely pushed the tribes beyond their tolerance. Now they are determined to overthrow the Bloodthroat Tribe. ¡°Chieftain Bagath, Kaius has already reached the level of an Orange-grade Hero. I am afraid that no one can confront him directly.¡± A Troll leader spoke. Meatfist Kaius is the strongest troll in the Bloody Mountain Range. In a direct confrontation, no one could stop him. On hearing these words, Bagath¡¯s expression remained calm. He replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ve received news that Kaius will leave the Bloodthroat Tribe soon. When that happens, we¡¯ll strike and wipe out the Bloodthroat Tribe first. Then, together, we¡¯ll deal with him. No matter how strong he is, all alone, he can¡¯t cause much trouble.¡± ¡°Oh? Kaius is going out, is the information reliable?¡± The other Trolls were stirred. ¡°The information came from the Faceless One, it should be reliable.¡± Bagath continued. ¡°Oh¡­ well, that¡¯s an option.¡± ¡°You people don¡¯t need to worry too much. Without absolute certainty, I would not take this risk. As we agreed, once we overthrow the Bloodthroat Tribe, there will be no leading Tribe and no need to offer tributes on time.¡± Bagath glanced at everyone. There were not a few branches of the Troll Tribes. The other four people present were the leaders of large tribes. Small tribes didn¡¯t qualify to participate in the battle plan. Upon hearing Bagath¡¯s words, the others nodded in agreement. They too were afraid that if the Bloodthroat Tribe were overthrown, Bagath could become the next tyrant. ¡°Naturally, since Chieftain Bagath has gone to such lengths, we will follow your command.¡± A troll thought for a moment and was the first to speak. ¡°OK, remember what we said. If anyone backs out in the battlefield, don¡¯t take it personally if I¡¯m not polite.¡± Bagath warned coldly. ¡°Indeed, indeed!¡± The four troll leaders nodded repeatedly. While the Trolls discussed, Xu Yang sat quietly on the side. He was attached to the Bagath Tribe, acting as a contractor. He led his villagers to extract various resources for the Trolls. During this period, Xu Yang has done a lot for Bagath, gradually gaining his trust. He was allowed to attend this meeting as an observer. Xu Yang kept quiet all the time, appearing somewhat distracted, but he took notes of the plan. He knew that his relationship with trolls wouldn¡¯t last long. Once he lost his value, or if the battle against the Bloodthroat failed, he would be the first to die. So, he was planning to seize this opportunity to escape from the Bagath Tribe¡¯s control with his people. The best-case scenario would be to pioneer beyond the Bloody Highlands and live in a human city. ¡°OK, let¡¯s set the plan for now and launch an attack on Bloodthroat when the time comes.¡± Bagath then turned to Xu Yang, ¡°Xu Yang.¡± When Bagath called him out, Xu Yang shuddered slightly. ¡°Ah! Chieftain Bagath, your orders?¡± ¡°Well, ramp up resource extraction. I need food for fifty thousand men.¡± ¡°Yes, Chieftain Bagath, I¡¯ll find a way.¡± Xu Yang respectfully replied. Internally, though, he had already cursed Bagath¡¯s ancestors for eight generations. Food for fifty thousand people, don¡¯t you even use your brain, can I possibly manage that? But Xu Yang had no choice. Recently, the situation in the Bagath Tribe had become increasingly tense. Given the Trolls ate people and he dared not refuse the command. ¡°OK, everyone, go back and prepare!¡± The crowd exited the chieftain¡¯s hall in Bagath Tribe and Xu Yang walked back silently. He knew he had to bring forward his escape plan. In his territory. After eating dinner, Fang Hao received a message from Bronze Bull. The people who went to ¡®Tasgo Orc City¡¯ had returned, bringing the latest news. Fang Hao used his God¡¯s manifestation to appear in Tauren City and listened to the Tauren¡¯s recounting of Tasgo City¡¯s situation. ¡°My Lord, Chieftain! There are many people in Tasgo City, and the law and order are not bad.¡± The Tauren began. Tasgo City is located to the east of the territory, even farther than the ¡®Webweaver Camp¡¯. Opening a shop in Tasgo implies risks of brigands along the way. ¡°What are the requirements for opening a shop?¡± Fang Hao crossed his skeletal fingers and held them against his chest. ¡°None really, you can purchase a shop, and then choose what to sell.¡± ¡°Can I sell weapons and equipment?¡± ¡°Yes, weapons and equipment are hot commodities in the city. I saw some tribes coming in wagons to buy in bulk. The city does not prohibit that.¡± The Tauren thought for a moment and continued. Pruell City and Lyss City had explicit prohibitions on selling ironware. Even mercenaries faced strict control over crossbows. Let alone the selling of weapons, and large-scale weapon sales. But Orc cities are open to that. Weapons and equipment are hot commodities. ¡°Good. Bronze Bull, you are responsible for the shop. Weapon shop, tavern, clothing store¡ª¡ª find a good location for the shop and set it up as soon as possible.¡± Fang Hao decided after an instant thought. ¡°Yes, my lord, but about the problem of the brigands on the transport route¡­¡± Bronze Bull brought up again. The transportation route is lengthy, and there might be many troubles. ¡°I¡¯ll think of a solution for that, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Fang Hao already had a preliminary plan in mind. Between Tauren City and Tasgo City, there was a Spider-Woman¡¯s camp. By then, safety concerns can be handed over to Domina, or the Webweaver camp can be used as a transit station. The Bone Dragon would transport goods to the Webweaver camp and then to Tasgo City. ¡°I understand, Master. I¡¯ll depart for Tasgo City tomorrow to handle the shop details,¡± Bronze Bull nodded. ¡°Good, if anything comes up, keep in touch using the Sound-transmitting Shell.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± After talking to Bronze Bull, Fang Hao deactivated God¡¯s Presence. The evening outside was already very dark. After a quick dip in the hot springs, he returned to his room for rest. By morning, Fang Hao had finished his morning practice. He called for several skeletons to clean up the rooms in the three-story tower, then had four beautifully carved bookshelves moved in. The tower was a newly added structure in the Level 8 Lord¡¯s Mansion. Fang Hao had a look around. The room was hexagonal and had good lighting. In the past few days, he acquired several interesting books, so he planned to transform this room into a study. In the future, any noteworthy books or notes would be stored here. That way, he wouldn¡¯t misplace them and struggle to find them when he needed them. After bustling about, the bookshelves and desk were moved into place. Once all the books were categorized and arranged, the room gave off a scholarly vibe. If he could get a few oil paintings from Rebecca one day and place them in the room, it would look even more like a study. Sitting at the desk, he picked up And read through the notes of the Demon Dolls he had obtained yesterday, interpreting the translated text and illustrations. The notes contained a lot of alchemical terminology, and Fang Hao could understand about half of it while guessing the rest. His head started to throb. Soon, Eira called Fang Hao downstairs for a meal. At nine o¡¯clock, Fang Hao and Anjia arrived at Fu Lei¡¯s fishing village while riding the Bone Dragon. Despite being called a fishing village, it had reached the standard of a Level 5 city, not in any way inferior to Pruell City. From the air, the Bone Dragon dropped the Skeleton Giant Fish into an open area in the city center. ¡°Skeleton Bottom-Dwelling Giant Fish.¡± Bottom-Dwelling Giant Fish are large fish, even bigger than sharks, guarding the iron coffins underwater in Crescent Heights. After Demitrija killed them all in the lake, their bodies were thrown into the conversion field. Today, Fang Hao went to check the conversion field. He saw four giant fish skeletons flopping around next to the conversion field. Who knows how many days they had been shaking like that. ¡°Boss, what is this?¡± Looking at the four gigantic skeleton fish on the ground, Fu Lei¡¯s eyes widened. In the morning, Fu Lei had sent a private message to Fang Hao. Due to the opening of the hot pot restaurant in Lyss City, they were running out of fish supplies on his end. He could probably hold out for five more days at most, after which there would be a supply outage, and he would only be able to sustain the supply for one city¡¯s hot pot restaurant. He had just mentioned this in the morning, and the next moment, Fang Hao had sent him several Giant Skeleton Fish. This can¡¯t be a shark caught somewhere, right? It¡¯s enormous. ¡°Skeleton Fish,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Yes, I know it¡¯s a Skeleton Fish, but what¡¯s its use?¡± Fu Lei was taken aback and took a few steps back while watching the wriggling skeleton fish. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, you¡¯ll understand in a moment,¡± Fang Hao said. Several Skeleton Blacksmiths came from behind and unloaded fishnets with metal frames from the Bone Dragon. They used prepared metal clips to reinforce the fishnet in the hollow chest of the Skeleton Fish. This made the Skeleton Giant Fish into a net that could catch fish. As the first one was completed, Fu Lei understood Fang Hao¡¯s idea. This type of Skeleton Fish would swallow fish into its abdomen, where the fish would be caught in the fishnet, and then brought ashore. ¡°Boss, I can¡¯t believe you thought of this!¡± Fu Lei couldn¡¯t help but give Fang Hao a thumbs-up. Even if others could think of this idea, it would be very difficult to carry out. Finding such large fish was challenging, and turning them into skeletons was impossible. ¡°Let¡¯s try it out first. If it works, I¡¯ll get you a hundred more from my side,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Okay, then the supplies should be fine,¡± Fu Lei wiped the sweat from his forehead. In no time, the four Skeleton Giant Fish had their fishnets installed in their bellies. Every time they opened their mouths, they swallowed the fish into their bellies, where the fish were caught in the fishnet. ¡°Lift it onto the cart and transport it to the lake to see its effectiveness.¡± It took several people to lift the Skeleton Fish onto the cart. Shaking their Skeleton Giant Fish, they hurried towards the lake. As soon as they entered the lake, the four giant fish freely swam into the water. They quickly sank to the bottom of the lake. Not long after, their bellies were filled with fish, and they swam back up again. The efficiency was impressively fast. Seeing this, Fu Lei was overjoyed. With the addition of the Skeleton Fish, his work had become a lot easier. After solving the problem here, Fang Hao returned to the main city. The next day. Ten Bone Dragons, fully loaded with skeletons, returned to the Gray Bear tribal settlement. Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Chapter 347, Fungal Canyon (Looking for Chapter 354: Chapter 347, Fungal Canyon (Looking for recommendations, subscriptions¡­). 1 The bone dragon descended from the sky. Gray Bear had already prepared for its arrival. Not far away stood 100 bandits, clad in Storm Iron heavy armor, their stout figures formed an intimidating force. They even looked somewhat like a regular army. ¡°Lord, Str Black Sword,¡± Gray Bear greeted, leading the group to welcome them. While he greeted, his gaze fixated on the enormous parcel on the dragon¡¯s back. Everyone remembered Fang Hao mentioning that more equipment would arrive later. Fang Hao noticed their gazes and knew what they were looking at, ¡°Distribute the equipment and let¡¯s set off soon.¡± Right away, sir,¡± Gray Bear replied cheerfully and signaled his men to unload the equipment. Once the preparations were about complete, Fang Hao brought out his map, and the troop set off again in majestic array, heading towards today¡¯s mission location¡ªMushroom Valley. According to the map, a type of fungus was growing in this valley. People needed to clear them away. After a two -hour journey, they were close to the valley. It wasn t far from the cave where they had encountered the cyclops Troll. Many dangerous creatures inhabited this rarely visited area. Sir, it should be here,¡± Black Sword pointed out. They all stood before the valley, looking at the passageway ahead. The terrain was peculiar; the concave C-shaped rocky walls of the valley perfectly blocked the sunlight from above. In the dim light, the rugged rocks were covered with all kinds of ¡®mushrooms¡¯ which seemed to shun the light. The darker the place, the denser they grew. There were all kinds of mushrooms. Fang Hao saw at least five or six different types. Some mushrooms were taller than a person, umbrella-shaped, with drooping tendrils growing upon them. Others were shorter, possessing black holes akin to human eyes. ¡°Sir, these mushrooms are very dangerous,¡± Gray Bear suddenly pointed out. ¡°You know them?¡± The distance was still too far to see the names of the mushrooms, but it seemed that Gray Bear was familiar with them. ¡°Sir, these mushrooms were common in the past. The dark ones with human-like eyes are known as ¡®Little Petty¡¯. They would spew a poisonous gas when threatened or attacked, and inhaling the gas could cause poisoning and even death. Plus, if living creatures die from inhaling this gas, their bodies quickly decompose, providing nutrients for the emergence of new mushrooms.¡± ¡°The slender ones we call ¡®Little Widows¡¯. They make soft noises when approached, and shriek loudly if one gets closer. The noise is unbearable, even if one covers their ears.¡± The ones with tendrils would lash out at any creature that draws near.¡± It seemed that these mushrooms were not hard to encounter, as the bandits not only understood their attack methods but also had nicknames for them. ¡°How did you handle these mushrooms back then?¡± Fang Hao asked. We mostly let them be. If we had to deal with them, we would try using fire.¡± Ah¡­okay¡­ One reason bandits are hard to root out is that they scamper all over the place and are familiar with their surroundings. They would run away at the first sign of danger. If someone pursued them, they would lead those people to dangerous areas. Like a group of mushrooms that could release poisonous gas for instance. ¡°Do they affect the undead?¡± Uh¡­ I m not sure,¡± Gray Bear seemed to remember something and continued, ¡°Some people say that a part of these plants is used as alchemy materials, and there are folks who specialize in collecting them.¡± Alchemy materials? So these things were alchemy materials. Without saying much, Fang Hao ordered the troop to move closer. When they got nearer, Fang Hao was able to check the attributes of the mushrooms. [Poisonous spores] [Screaming mushroom] [Droopbeard Mushroom]¡­ Their names were displayed but no levels were indicated. Go in and try it!¡± Fang Hao ordered to a skeleton. The skeleton warrior, weapon in hand, strode towards the group of mushrooms. When he was about two meters away, The Screaming mushroom started to tremble slightly, emitting a soft whimpering sound. The skeleton warrior didn¡¯t stop, and in the next second, the Screaming mushroom let out a sharp shriek that echoed through the valley. Immediately after, like a chain reaction, all the mushroom creatures began to tremble. The Poisonous Spores spewed out their gray toxic fumes from their hollows, the Droopbeard Mushrooms began brandishing their tendrils, sweeping them towards the approaching skeleton. Thud Thud Thud!! The skeleton warrior held up his shield, and the tendrils lashed onto the shield. Meanwhile, the skeleton warrior had already reached the Screaming mushroom up front, and slashed at it with his blade. With one slash, he nearly split the Screaming mushroom in half, letting out an even sharper shriek. However, it had no effect on the skeleton warrior. Outside the valley, Fang Hao and the others watched what was happening in front and nodded to themselves. It seemed that these mushrooms primarily affected living creatures, and their effects on the undead were not significant. Just when Fang Hao thought that this was the mushrooms¡¯ final line of defense, something unusual occurred up ahead. A rotting cyclops Troll rose from the mushroom covered ground. A black mushroom was growing from its eye on the forehead, and the rest of its body was covered with various kinds of fungi. It appeared that this corpse had become a source of nutrients for the fungi. Splash! Following the Troll, all the corpses in the circle of mushrooms rose up, their bodies full of fungi, turning them into mobile combat units. The mushrooms on their bodies continuously released poisonous gas and shrieks. ¡°Moving turrets!¡± Despite the weird situation, the threat they posed was minimal. The standing corpses numbered only a little over ten, and the poisonous gases and noise emitted by the mushrooms posed no threat to the undead soldiers. ¡°Grey Bear, take your men and retreat out of the valley, Black Sword, attack! ¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Yes!¡± The two immediately took action. Grey Bear led his men to the rear while Black Sword rallied his forces, preparing to strike the valley. The archers and mages launched the first attack. Arrows and magic missiles flew towards the guild of mushrooms. Struck by the attack, the mushrooms started to shake constantly, spewing toxins, and emitting shrill noises. In no time, the entire valley was filled with gray poisonous gas. Undeterred, the undead warriors stride into the gas and launched an attack on the fungal corpses and mushrooms. The single-eyed troll, who boasted of strong power, still retained some combat abilities after being infested by a mushroom. Swinging his Wolf Fang Club, he forced the skeleton warriors to keep retreating. Black Sword advanced and knocked over the troll by pushing his shield directly, then severed the troll¡¯s head with his sword. The troll¡¯s head fell off, but the mushroom it carried was still emitting poisonous gas. Black Sword swung sword again, chopping the mushroom in half. In the valley, the undead soldiers quickly eliminated the clusters of mushrooms. Cleanup work conducted slower than expected. The number of mushrooms was just too vast, growing together in big and small clusters. The clearing took three hours. Only then did it gradually near completion. The entire valley was littered with chopped up fungal flesh. The skeletons were rummaging through the lean meats, looking for any loot that could be gathered. ¡°Sir, we found a treasure chest inside,¡± said Black Sword. Two skeletons carried out a silver treasure chest. They placed it in front of Fang Hao. Other than the treasure chest, the dead mushrooms also dropped several types of plant rootstocks. [Spore Cap][Long Neck Rootstock]¡­ According to the description, all these had some toxicity and could indeed be used as alchemy materials and herbs. Fang Hao ordered to pile up all the mushrooms and set them on fire. Such fungi, if left to grow, could indeed be dangerous. If any living creature gets close, it could easily become the mushroom¡¯s nutrients. All cleared, Fang Hao gave the order to retreat. End God¡¯s Presence. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Black Sword and the Bone Dragon returned to the territory. The accompanying skeleton soldiers did not follow back, but all stayed in Grey Bear¡¯s village. The treasure chest had been placed at Fang Hao¡¯s feet and the fungal materials had been sent to the warehouse. The gains from this time were average. Just a silver treasure chest. Open it! [Gain: Meat Field Blueprint, Demon Eye Mushroom Seeds 12, Divination Mushroom Seeds 6, Wild Grass Seeds 8, Fire Scale Grass Seeds 5, Honey Grass Seeds 3, Mist-Cloaked Crystal 2, Warfire Coins 78.] Seeing a long list of rewards, Fang Hao furrowed his brow slightly. It seemed that there weren¡¯t many useful blueprints. [Meat Field: Wood Materials 800, Stone Materials 4.00, Hemp Rope 350, Living Creature Corpse 2, Trace of the Earth 1.] (Description: Some fungi can grow rapidly and stably on any corpse, and rotting bodies are the best nutrient supply.) Damn! What kind of strange thing is this? Seeing the introduction of the meat field, the image of the bodies infested with mushrooms comes to Fang Hao¡¯s mind. It made his heart feel uncomfortable. [Demon Eye Mushroom Seed] [Category: Seed] (Description: Can cultivate Demon Eye Mushroom, a collection item for alchemy and medicine.) [Wild Grass Seed] [Category: Seed] (Description: Can plant wild grass, a collection item for alchemy and medicine.) Whether it¡¯s mushroom seeds or plant seeds, both are closely related to alchemy. Once he cultivates some alchemists in his territory in the future, he won¡¯t have to worry about materials anymore. When it comes to mushroom cultivation, Fang Hao thinks of a suitable place to plant them, Crescent Heights. Rolana has a Canopy Treasure Box, which is actually suitable for mushroom growth. It seems that he¡¯ll have to visit Rolana in the next few days, taking care of his subordinate heroes and get the plantation started. The Mist-Cloaked Crystal doesn¡¯t need an introduction, it¡¯s a material of the fairy faction. Night fell, and the blue sky was adorned with countless stars. The stars in this world were surprisingly plentiful, covering the entire sky. Thump! Thump! Thump!! Fang Hao, who was standing at the window, had his room door gently knocked. ¡°Master, Sir Boulder has returned and is waiting for you in the hall,¡± Eira¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Boulder is back? Fang Hao had assigned Boulder to find the Red Duke¡¯s corpse; it had been a few days already. He wondered if the Red Duke¡¯s corpse had been found. Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Chapter 348, Praising the Beautiful Miss_l Chapter 355: Chapter 348, Praising the Beautiful Miss_l The Blood Castle occupies the entire Crescent Heights, with only around 60,000 troops under its control. If the Human Federation wished, they could easily snatch Crescent Heights from the hands of the Blood Clan. But the Human Federation has never done so. Under pressure, they even signed a peace treaty. The main reason for this situation was the Red Duke, who defended Crescent Heights. A ninth-level orange hero was enough to deter everyone from touching Crescent Heights. It¡¯s not that the Human Federation doesn¡¯t have the capability to annihilate Crescent Heights, but unless it was absolutely necessary, no one would want to provoke an orange hero. The Red Duke, who is adept at hunting humans, could single-handedly exterminate the majority of the human leaders. Even if Fang Hao¡¯s undead army could easily break into Crescent Heights, they still couldn¡¯t defeat the Red Duke. If Rolana hadn¡¯t resurrected him, he would have suffered the Red Duke¡¯s vengeance. Of course, this was also why Fang Hao valued the body of the Red Duke. Upon learning that Rolana had killed him, he immediately arranged for a search. In the lord¡¯s hall, Giant Wall quietly sat on one side, waiting silently. There was an item wrapped in linen under his foot, with the outline of a skull faintly visible. Upon seeing Fang Hao descending from the staircase, he stood up to salute, ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao sat down in front of the Bone Throne, ¡°So, what did you find?¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, Giant Wall¡¯s towering body knelt down on one knee. Lowering his head, he said in a tone full of shame, ¡°My lord, we have searched for several days and found only some remnants of the Red Duke. The rest is still missing.¡± The search for the body was not progressing well. Although the location Rolana gave was accurate, finding scattered remains in the mountains was almost as difficult as finding a sunken ship in the sea. Even if there were bone dragons to search from the air. Giant Wall and the Undead soldiers had searched day and night for several days before finding some remnants. Hearing Giant Wall¡¯s words, Fang Hao¡¯s excited heart instantly cooled by half. ¡°Giant Wall, stand up. Let¡¯s take a look at what you have found,¡± Fang Hao sighed, and said. The loyalty of the skeleton hero originated at 100%, there¡¯s no chance of laziness or deception. Therefore, if Giant Wall said they couldn¡¯t find it, then they really couldn¡¯t. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Giant Wall stood up. He unwrapped the item at his feet which was wrapped in linen, revealing the shriveled body parts inside. This was the result of the Blood Clan being exposed to the sun, just like the case of ¡®Fielding¡¯ who had been executed. In the cloth package, one could distinguish a shriveled skull, a palm, some scattered bones, and a pair of intact bat wings. It seemed that Rolana really hated the Red Duke and had torn him apart. Just with these few parts, neither Nelson nor the Skeleton Conversion Field could perform the conversion. Fang Hao sighed slightly. It seemed that all the trouble had been for nothing. On second thought, this was better. He had to consider Rolana¡¯s feelings too. Who knew if the Red Duke showed up again as a skeleton hero, whether Rolana would go mad and tear him apart again. Since the corpse was not found in full, he had given up on the idea of creating a hero. Then again, Fang Hao looked at the skull and bat wings on the ground and his eyes lit up again. Unable to be made into a skeleton hero, these complete parts are not useless. The last time he got the Deomn Doll note, he happened to see the method of making skulls. Although he didn¡¯t have much interest in Deomn dolls, it seemed that they could only be used as doll materials for now. In this way, the body of the Red Duke was utilized, which also took into account Rolana¡¯s feelings. This seemed to be the best solution. Thinking of this, Fang Hao¡¯s furrowed brow gradually relaxed. ¡°Giant Wall, you have done a good job this time. Send these to the Viscera Museum, and let Bachelor Nelson handle them later.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Giant Wall re-wrapped the body, ¡°I will not disturb your rest now.¡± Having said this, Giant Wall took the body and left the lord¡¯s mansion. Fang Hao sat on the throne, pondering. Making Deomn dolls is not as simple as collecting hero corpses. The knowledge of alchemy recorded in the notes is equally important. It seemed that he should get in touch with some alchemy when he had the opportunity, or recruit some people proficient in alchemy. He sat on the chair and thought for a while before going upstairs to rest. Two days later. Lyss City, Temple. Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia, hired two idle laborers by the roadside. He took fifty pieces of finished ¡°Zealous Faith Assistant Priest Robes¡± to the temple. ¡°Sir, how may I help you?¡± A young assistant priest approached and glanced at the package being hauled by the laborers behind him. Fang Hao looked at the assistant priest and started speaking softly, ¡°I¡¯m a fabric trader. Last time, I promised to donate some clothing to you. Today, I happened to come to the city, so I brought some along.¡± Hearing that it was a donation for the temple, the assistant priest¡¯s expression became even more respectful. ¡°Oh, please come in, sir. I will call Priest Miriam,¡± the assistant priest said warmly. ¡°All right!¡± The assistant priest led Fang Hao to a quiet room and then left to fetch the priest. The workers set down the package, and after Fang Hao paid the agreed price, they happily left. Shortly after, the door opened again, and the elderly priestess from before, hobbling, walked in. Seeing Fang Hao and the orc girl sitting in the room, a hint of surprise flashed over her face. She remembered these two young people. It seemed not much time had passed since their last departure. She wondered if there had been a problem and they didn¡¯t plan to donate anymore. This kind of sudden change of mind had happened before. ¡°Mr. Trader, we meet again. I forgot to ask your name last time due to the rush,¡± she said. ¡°I am Fang Hao. May I know your name, priest?¡± Fang Hao responded courteously with a smile, despite the priestess¡¯s stern demeanor. ¡°Miriam!¡± Priestess Miriam sat down opposite Fang Hao and saw two stacks of fabric package on the side of the tea table. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Priestess Miriam, I happened to come to Lyss City, so I brought 50 robes along. I will bring the rest next time I come.¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Priestess Miriam¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. Previous donations usually dragged on for half a year, or even slower. Most of the time, they ended up sinking like stones in the sea, gradually neglected and forgotten, with no one delivering the goods. Fang Hao¡¯s case, in Miriam¡¯s experience, was the quickest she¡¯d seen, and even seemed unbelievably fast. ¡°Sir, are you serious? You¡¯re not joking, are you?¡± Miriam stared at Fang Hao. ¡°I¡¯ve brought the clothes.¡± Saying this, Fang Hao immediately opened a fabric package and took out an assistant priest¡¯s robe. When she hold the robe in her hands, the elderly priestess was even more surprised. The craftsmanship was top-notch. Even the clothes donated by the city lord¡¯s mansion weren¡¯t this exquisitely made. Moreover, the fabric felt very comfortable to the touch. But when she noticed the skull pattern on the chest of the robe, Priestess Miriam¡¯s face instantly filled with astonishment. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, what is this¡­?¡± ¡°Priestess Miriam, please don¡¯t misunderstand. Our fabric store is named the Bone Textile Store. Not only your side, but also the clothing Lady Rebecca customized from us carries this symbol. It¡¯s just more inconspicuous on her clothes, as she will be attending some banquets,¡± Fang Hao explained. Listening to Fang Hao¡¯s explanation, Priestess Miriam eased her expression a bit. Carrying a symbol was not a problem, she was afraid that Fang Hao was trying to provoke the temple in this way. After all, the temple worshipped the God of Light and the Goddess of Harvest. ¡°Lady Rebecca also custom-ordered clothing from you?¡± Priestess Miriam continued the conversation, changing the subject to Rebecca. ¡°Yes, the dresses for this year¡¯s Federal Conference were chosen to be made by our Bone Textile Store for Lady Rebecca. Perhaps it won¡¯t be long before our Bone Textile Store will be known throughout the city,¡± Fang Hao answered with the same smile on his face. Listening to Fang Hao¡¯s words, Priestess Miriam became a little more relaxed. The Federal Conference is a very important event among human city-states. Even the dresses are strictly selected. That is to say, for a year after the conference begins, the Bone Textile Store will be the hottest shop in the city. Then, everyone in the city will know about Bone Textile Store. Wearing clothes with the store¡¯s logo in the temple will not be a big problem then. There should be no big problem with the temple wearing clothes carrying the store¡¯s logo. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fang Hao. After the clothes are made, I can arrange someone to pick them up,¡± Priestess Miriam said, no longer pressing on the matter of the skull symbol. Fang Hao had already figured this out. As long as he mentions Rebecca, the temple will easily accept the bone symbol. ¡°Well, then I won¡¯t bother you anymore. I will notify you when the clothes are ready next time.¡± Fang Hao had no intention of staying any longer. The two left the room and walked down the corridor with Priestess Miriam. As they passed another open room, a greasy male voice was heard. ¡°Praise the God of Light, praise the Goddess of Harvest, and praise you beautiful priestess. May your skin become more delicate and may your features remain youthful and lovely¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a priestess, just an assistant priestess.¡± A slightly shy voice echoed from the room. The three of them walked by the door and saw a thin, blond middle-aged man inside holding the hand of a young assistant priestess, speaking greasy words. Clearing her throat, Priestess Miriam coughed lightly. Hearing the sound, the assistant priestess looked back and saw Priestess Miriam standing at the door. Her face flushed with embarrassment. She hastily withdrew her hand from the man¡¯s grasp. ¡°Priestess Miriam.¡± The assistant priestess bowed her head in salute. ¡°From now on, you will be in charge of the flowers and plants in the backyard. You don¡¯t have to take care of this side.¡± Miriam said, her face stern. ¡°Yes!¡± The assistant priestess turned pale and excused herself. The middle-aged man, seeing Miriam¡¯s stern expression, also became nervous and quickly said: ¡°Priestess Miriam, I express my deepest respect to you.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth. You can leave now.¡± Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Chapter 349> Browning i Chapter 356: Chapter 349> Browning i She heard Priestess Miriam, telling him to leave. The man was a bit flustered and hurriedly said, ¡°But, my injury is not healed yet¡­¡± ¡°Browning, I have warned you not to use those tricks from the pub here. If you haven¡¯t left by this afternoon, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± Priestess Miriam said coldly. Most of the temple¡¯s staff were young female assistant priests, some of whom were just children. Many people came from nearby villages and were easily deceived by Browning¡¯s greasy old-fashioned sweet talk. Obviously, this wasn¡¯t Priestess Miriam¡¯s first time warning this man. But he was caught red-handed again. ¡°Priestess Miriam, I was just chatting with her.¡± Browning defended himself. ¡°In one hour, if you haven¡¯t left, your name will be known by every person who comes to the temple to pray.¡± Priestess Miriam directly shortened the man¡¯s leaving time to one hour. Hearing the priestess¡¯s warning, Browning¡¯s complexion changed instantly. He knew how powerful a single word from a priest, especially the main priest, could be. If this was not Lyss City, a priest¡¯s word would be enough to send him to the gallows or get him burnt alive. ¡°Alright. I will pack my things and leave, Priestess Miriam!¡± Browning said reluctantly. In one hour.¡± Miriam reminded him again. ¡°I know.¡± Priestess Miriam, with an icy face, was ready to leave. At this point, Fang Hao also recognized Browning, the painter who was interrogated in the Faceless One¡¯s hut. Unexpectedly, he met him here. Priestess Miriam, I haven¡¯t seen Browning in a long time. I want to chat awhile. Of course, this will not delay his departure within an hour.¡± Fang Hao began. Priestess Miriam glanced at Fang Hao, not expecting that he also knew Browning. She shot Browning a cold glance and left ahead. After Priestess Miriam left, Browning frowned at Fang Hao, ¡°You know me?¡± His memory was pretty good, but he truly had no recollection of the man in front of him. Naturally, Browning didn¡¯t recognize the current Fang Hao. At that time in the dim dungeon, Fang Hao had performed God¡¯s Presence, controlling a skeletal sparrow to speak with him. ¡°Mr. Browning wouldn¡¯t have forgotten me. We chatted at the last ball.¡± Fang Hao entered the room, saying enthusiastically. Just like he was seeing an old friend. ¡°Ah! I didn¡¯t forget.¡± Browning frowned and replied subconsciously. ¡°How did you offend Priestess Miriam? This is the first time I¡¯ve seen her lose her temper.¡± Fang Hao moved his chair forward. ¡°First time seeing her lose her temper? That¡¯s because you¡¯re not here often.¡± Browning lifted his injured arm, packing his things, ¡°She¡¯s just an old- fashioned old woman. I was just joking with a few female assistant priests, and she wants to drive me out.¡± Hearing Browning insisting on having his own way. Fang Hao was speechless, this was a temple, not a pub. You held the hand of a female assistant priest, constantly touching, is this a joke? Moreover, he did it with several of them. He was a habitual offender. Priestess Miriam not killing him was already lenient. But these were all just thoughts in Fang Hao¡¯s mind; he wouldn¡¯t say them out loud. He asked directly, ¡°By the way, what happened to your injury? Were you beaten because you touched some girl¡¯s hand?¡± Hey! You can¡¯t say that randomly. Am I that kind of person?¡± Browning said sternly. ¡°Then how did you get hurt?¡± Don¡¯t even mention it, I was kidnapped by a group of damned guys, almost died inside. Luckily, the city lord got the news and rescued me.¡± Browning¡¯s face instantly turned serious. Recalling the situation at the time, he involuntarily felt a sense of fear rising in his heart. ¡°Kidnapped, who would dare to kidnap you?¡± Fang Hao carried on with the conversation. ¡°Damned Derek. He is actually a spy for the Faceless Ones. I even gave his wife a full-body portrait for free last time.¡± Browning gritted his teeth. ¡°Dowie? Which Dowie?¡± ¡°The building officer Dowie, his son even joined the security team.¡± The building officer was in charge of the construction and maintenance of the city. It seemed like there were quite a few city officials who had joined the Faceless Ones as well. How did the city lord handle it?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°How could they handle it? They arrested him, and his son was also dismissed from his post, I¡¯m not sure about the progress.¡± Browning said, ¡°I tell you, Lady Rebecca even met with me. She was wearing a loose long skirt at the time. Her figure and looks, she¡¯s the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± The instant they talked about women, Browning¡¯s spirits lifted. Besides Dowie and his son, were there any other people?¡± Fang Hao kept asking. ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t know about that, I was sent here to heal, no one told me about the progress.¡± Browning said helplessly. Actually, he had also noticed some inconsistencies. The city lord¡¯s intense attention, and the involvement of city officials, meant this wasn¡¯t a minor matter. He was also a bit worried and even considered leaving Lyss City to live in another city for a while. Oh! Alright, then you can get back to your business, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Feeling that there was nothing more to ask, Fang Hao stood up to say goodbye. ¡°Take care, I¡¯ll treat you to a few drinks when I¡¯m better.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Fang Hao left the room and closed the door behind him. Watching Fang Hao leave, Browning was still muttering to himself, ¡°Who was that, why don¡¯t I remember him?¡± Leaving the temple. Fang Hao, with Anjia, took a carriage directly to the mission hall to the east of the city. The place was busier than the last time they came. Weapon shops, armor shops, and even pubs had been set up on both sides of the main road. For high-stress professions, pubs and some scantily clad girls always helped mercenaries unwind. Once inside the hall, they approached the counter. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, you¡¯re back again.¡± On the other side of the counter was the young soldier who had attended to him last time. Seems like they also have permanent shifts here, he met the same person twice. ¡°Yes, the mission from last time has been completed. I came to confirm and see if there are any new missions.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Oh, okay, Mr. Fang Hao, what¡¯s the name of your mercenary group? I¡¯ll check it for you.¡± ¡°The Bone Knight Group.¡± ¡°Oh, one moment.¡± The young soldier said, flipping through the record in his hands, looking for the name of the Bone Knight Group. Second floor. In a room above the hall. Rebecca, wearing a light blue long dress, was leaning on a couch, flipping through the information in her hands. In front of her, the respectful Chief of Guards explained softly, ¡°Madam, these are all the registered and competent mercenary groups. The first two, Dragon Scale Mercenary Group and Blood Crow Mercenary Group, have been famous for a while. It¡¯s rumored that the leaders of the two groups have already advanced to hero ranks.¡± Rebecca silently flipped through the information and then closed it. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll think about it.¡± The Chief of Guards nodded and immediately exited the room. After a while, Rebecca sighed, got up, and walked to the window, looking at the first floor hall. Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Chapter 350, Special Mission_l Chapter 357: Chapter 350, Special Mission_l ¡°Madam, the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group has a good reputation in the city. Many trading caravans rely on them for protection during their travels,¡± a maid quietly explained. She had been serving Rebecca for the longest time and could tell from her mistress¡¯s expression that she was not particularly impressed with the mercenary groups on the list. There were only a handful of well-known groups in the city and the options were limited. ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll consider the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group,¡± said Rebecca, helpless. The infiltration of the Faceless into Lyss City was more severe than imagined. The artist rescued the day before yesterday had implicated many others holding crucial positions in the city during his interrogation. The Faceless had their own agents in both construction teams and city defense teams. This revelation struck a fearful chord within Rebecca. Before long, they might completely hollow out Lyss City¡¯s power center, resulting in a city entirely controlled by Faceless ones. The Dragon Scale Mercenary Group. Being an early established large-scale group, they undoubtedly possessed strength. But could a team like this truly be trusted? Rebecca always felt uneasy in her heart, thus, she didn¡¯t make a direct decision. ¡°Madam, don¡¯t worry too much. Everything will get better,¡± her maid comforted her at the side. ¡°Yes, hopefully,¡± Rebecca whispered, gazing through the wooden window down at the noisy hall below. The hall below was a bit chaotic. Two groups of mercenaries were on the brink of conflict and were being driven out by the guards. Suddenly, Rebecca furrowed her brows. She noticed a familiar figure by the counter. Unlike the armored, burly mercenaries, he was dressed casually and chatting with a soldier. Rebecca picked up the list of mercenary groups on the table and started to flip through it rapidly. Sure enough, at the end of the list. She saw a distinctive name, Bone Knights. Although the list didn¡¯t specify who the members were, Rebecca was certain that the only person who would come up with such a name would be Fang Hao. Mercenary work was a high-risk occupation, and there was a lot of superstition surrounding the naming of a team. Few people would choose a name that sounded like the team wouldn¡¯t survive long for their group. Similarly, no one would choose ¡°Bone¡± as the name of a cloth shop. Then, a smile appeared at the corner of Rebecca¡¯s lips. In the first-floor hall. Fang Hao casually flipped through the new bounty tasks. Although it seemed like a hefty stack, few instances caught his interest. Most were minor tasks within the city or bandit elimination operations. After combing through it multiple times, he finally chose an investigation task concerning a rat infestation in a village. ¡°How¡¯s it going, Mr Fang Hao? Haven¡¯t found anything satisfactory yet?¡± asked a soldier who had noticed Fang Hao¡¯s repeated flipping. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take these three,¡± Fang Hao said, pulling out three single-page maps from the pile. Besides the ¡°Rat Infestation in the Village¡± task, the other two were about bandit hideouts in the mountains. Now, all bandit-related tasks were handled by Grey Bear. ¡°Oh, alright. I¡¯ll get them registered for you,¡± the soldier noted down the details. After a task was completed, a dedicated team would check the site of the task. Once verified, they would grant bounty and mercenary points. Upon reaching a certain number of points, the level of the mercenary group could be raised. However, Fang Hao didn¡¯t care much about these points as they didn¡¯t serve much purpose. Once the bandit hideouts around Lyss City were cleared and there were no more locations to discover treasures, the mercenary group would become redundant. It didn¡¯t take long for the soldier to complete the registration. Fang Hao, ready to leave with Anjia, was again stopped by a soldier at the entrance. Fang Hao had noticed this particular soldier, who had been watching him from afar earlier. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, Madam Rebecca is on the second floor, she¡¯d like you to join her,¡± the soldier whispered. ¡°Rebecca?¡± Fang Hao frowned; he didn¡¯t expect to run into Rebecca here. ¡°Yes, madam is asking foryou.¡± The soldier repeated. ¡°Alright, lead the way!¡± The three of them ascended to the second floor, stopping in front of a room. After lightly knocking on the door, Fang Hao and Anjia went in. ¡°Mrs. Rebecca.¡± Fang Hao bowed slightly. ¡°Hmm, I did not expect you to have a mercenary group,¡± Rebecca smiled and glanced at Anjia, who was standing behind Fang Hao. A young orc girl. ¡°It was recently formed, responsible for escorting convoys along the route,¡± Fang Hao sat down. As soon as they had settled, maids brought them drinks and pastries. ¡°That orphanage, you completed it as well? I heard it was infested with dark creatures,¡± Rebecca curiously asked. Before Fang Hao entered, Rebecca had already acquired the information about the Skeleton Knights and their completed tasks. ¡°Hmm, indeed there was a creature called the Ghoul which can recover its wounds by eating corpses, whether it counts as a dark creature, I¡¯m not quite sure,¡± Fang Hao thought briefly before deciding to answer directly. According to the information visible to transmigrators, ghouls belonged to the category of demons. But in broad categorization, undead creatures or man-eating monsters are all classified as dark creatures by people. This matter, there isn¡¯t much to argue. ¡°So, your mercenaries exterminated them?¡± Rebecca asked with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s been taken care of, these monsters aren¡¯t difficult to deal with once you figure out the right method.¡± Each team has its own combat style. Fang Hao didn¡¯t know much about other teams, but for his, they relied on overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers. Those ghouls, and even the heroes before them, as long as they couldn¡¯t fly, were all defeated by his tactics of outnumbering. Rebecca pondered for a moment, her smile instantly disappearing, looking directly at Fang Hao, ¡°Can I trust you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Fang Hao was momentarily taken aback, ¡°It depends on what madam wishes to do. If the price is not right, I might not be as reliable as you think.¡± Rebecca burst into laughter hearing Fang Hao¡¯s answer. This man, always aiming to catch one off guard with his words. However, this response unexpectedly reassured her. She continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the price, I have a task here. I¡¯m not sure if a mercenary group leader like you would be interested.¡± A mercenary task? A lord¡¯s wife with ample manpower at her disposal. What task can¡¯t she handle, that she needs to approach him? While Fang Hao was curious about the mission, he also suspected that Rebecca might try to set him up. ¡°Why not mention the mission, madam? I need to determine whether my people have the ability to carry out this mission,¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t instantly accept, but decided to hear more about the mission first. ¡°Just capturing a few people, it¡¯s much easier than dealing with ghouls,¡± Rebecca calmly lied on the couch, her long beautiful legs exposed in the air. ¡°Why not assign guards to directly capture the people instead? It is not convenient for mercenaries to operate within the city,¡± Fang Hao picked up his water glass and took a sip. The city has strict regulations for mercenaries. There would be many difficulties. ¡°Due to certain special reasons, one of the opposition parties will be alerted as soon as my people take action, so I need an additional team that can capture those people without letting the opposition party know,¡± Rebecca stated solemnly. An additional team¡­ Upon hearing this, Fang Hao immediately understood Rebecca¡¯s meaning. The Faceless¡­ The people of the Faceless had infiltrated the City Lord¡¯s house, or the city¡¯s army; any move would alert the other party. Thus, Rebecca thought to find a special team. But Fang Hao was also surprised she chose him, considering that his mercenary group had just been formed. ¡°And the reward? Madam doesn¡¯t plan to have us work for free, does she?¡± Fang Hao cheekily asked. He was interested in this proposal. Rather than trying to gather information about the City Lord¡¯s house in any other manner, it would be better to directly communicate with Rebecca. Pooled with his own intelligence, he would be able to learn more about the Faceless. ¡°Compensation is not an issue. Due to the mission being more relaxed, the payment will be even more. At the same time, I will arrange for you to have some rights along with an identity, which, of course, will remain secret,¡± Rebecca also revealed a smile. Fang Hao held his water cup, falling into brief silence. In his mind, he started weighing the pros and cons of accepting this task. After a few minutes of silence. Fang Hao finally showed a smile, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take this job.¡± Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chapter 351, Cleaning the Warehouse 1 Chapter 358: Chapter 351, Cleaning the Warehouse 1 Rebecca made it sound simple, but the reality was far from it. Being targeted by the Faceless was no good thing. Even Rebecca had been cornered by the Faceless, what more a small mercenary group. Nevertheless, Fang Hao chose to undertake this task. He had already taken action against the Faceless, he wasn¡¯t afraid of offending them even more. & The scariest part about the Faceless was their deep undercover agents, who might stab you in the back at any turn. But this threat was not serious to Fang Hao. He rarely ventured outside and in his domain, other than the few people who had signed contracts with him, the rest were undead. Even if they wanted to plant spies, there was nowhere to do so. Also, his conversation with Rebecca spurred his interest in the power centre of Lyss City. The man he had met last time was the City Lord of Lyss City. But it seemed like the military authority was in the hands of Rebecca, the City Lord¡¯s wife. There might be things about this he did not yet understand. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s agreement, Rebecca heaved a sigh of relief. There were several established mercenary groups in the city that were more influential than Fang Hao. But it was hard to be sure that these groups were not infiltrated by the Faceless. So after much consideration, Rebecca decided to trust Fang Hao a tad bit more. Her next move would be to see if she had betted right this time. ¡°Good, we will settle on this matter then. How many people do you have?¡± Rebecca sat up and picked up a piece of fruit to eat. ¡°How many do you need?¡± ¡°Hmm? By that, you mean you have quite a number of mercenaries at your disposal?¡± Not a lot, but I can gather around a hundred.¡± Fang Hao confidently replied. Alright. Then you should bring some, around thirty people. 1 will send someone to brief you when the time comes.¡± Rebecca nodded her head. Rebecca knew where Fang Hao lived, so she would arrange for someone to notify him of the next steps once the time came. With the discussion over, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t inclined to stay any longer. He stood up saying, ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, I will return now to start preparations.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As Fang Hao prepared to leave, Rebecca added, ¡°Do not let word of our conversation escape outside.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao left the room and exited the task hall with Anjia. After leaving the task hall, Fang Hao and Anjia did not linger. They hailed a carriage and directly returned to their residence. After lying down on his bed, Fang Hao directly activated God¡¯s Presence. The next second, he appeared in the Gray Bear¡¯s village, immediately experiencing the pain that came from the strain on his spiritual power due to long-distance usage of God¡¯s Presence. In view was still Gray Bear¡¯s room. Gray Bear was dressed loosely, standing by the window looking outside. ¡°Gray Bear,¡± Fang Hao softly called out. Gray Bear turned back and saw the Skeleton Grey sparrow on the bed, ¡°My Lord,¡± he replied. ¡°Prepare. Select about thirty agile individuals with no criminal records in Lyss City, and send them to Lyss City to find me.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes sir, I will start preparations right away,¡± Gray Bear immediately pledged. ¡°Rightly, make sure they reach the city before dusk.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Fang Hao deactivated God¡¯s Presence, and Gray Bear immediately put on his armor and went outside. It was 10:00 in the evening. In the east of the city, near a corner, was a civilian house. The small house was dim inside. Under the moonlight, several shadows were faintly visible. As per agreement, Fang Hao¡¯s people were stationed here waiting for Rebecca¡¯s message. Apart from Fang Hao and Anjia, Demitrija, and Gray Bear had, before the city gates closed, brought in 27 people. They did not light torches, nor chat much. The only sounds heard were the chirping of insects in the courtyard. The bandits they had with them were somewhat anxious. They wondered if their chief was becoming reckless, planning something big in the city. Initiating an attack in the city, wasn¡¯t that just asking for death? Thump, Thump, Thump!! Suddenly, the door of the courtyard got knocked. ¡°The route has been arranged, the lady is to be captured alive.¡± A man¡¯s voice sounded from outside the door. Fang Hao nodded to his people. Clang, Clang, Clang!! The men stood up, the sound of their armor rattling echoed. The door was opened to reveal a middle-aged man outside. Fang Hao found the man somewhat familiar, likely a guard from Rebecca¡¯s side. ¡°If possible, I will try my best to keep him alive,¡± Fang Hao whispered. ¡°This is the map, the location is an abandoned warehouse. Be careful.¡± The man turned and left after delivering his message. Fang Hao took the map, finding the markings familiar. This was one of the three locations provided by Lai Gou, the abandoned warehouse located in the corner of the east city. Fang Hao had checked out the location before using God¡¯s Presence. He hadn¡¯t noticed anything suspicious then, seemingly the City Lord¡¯s mansion knew about this location too. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Fang Hao waved his hand, and the group moved towards their target under the cover of night. After about twenty minutes. The group arrived at a cluster of warehouses. The warehouses appeared to have been abandoned for a long time. Some were decently preserved while others had collapsed walls and large holes in the roof. Fang Hao and his men concealed themselves in the shadows. He took out the Skeleton Grey sparrow from his bag and deployed God¡¯s Presence on it. He flew the sparrow towards the warehouse. As he got closer from the air, he spotted several cloak-clad sentinels hiding in the shadows. Had they proceeded recklessly they, would have undoubtedly been discovered by these sentinels hidden in the shadows. These guys were pretty careful. Fang Hao circled the air several times to remember the sentinels¡¯ positions, then deactivated God¡¯s Presence. He relayed their positions to his men. The situation hit a stalemate. The sentinels were in tricky spots-it wouldn¡¯t be easy to assassinate them. They were all keeping a watch on each other, killing one would alert the rest. ¡°A few of you should eliminate the sentinels directly. Demitrija, Anjia, the two of you should lead the rest and storm the warehouse. Try to capture a live one, if possible,¡± Fang Hao spoke decisively. Fang Hao chose a more direct way. The team didn¡¯t have people skilled at strategy. It would be more convenient to just go in freely. ¡°Yes!¡± They all responded. ¡°Let¡¯s begin the action!¡± Everyone left the shadows, armed with weapons, and ran towards the sentinels. Demitrija and another person guided their men directly towards the warehouse, lifted the hidden lid on the ground, and jumped inside. The underground room was very bright. The torches on the walls illuminated the room. Four cloaked individuals stood stupefied at the sudden entrance of all the warriors. Even though their faces were hidden, the pupils in the gaps of their cloaks shrunk rapidly as if shocked. Behind the cloaked men was a woman stained with blood and hung up by ropes. They are probably interrogating her. ¡°You¡­¡± Whip! The cloaked man, who seemed to be the leader, had just started talking when Demitrija quickly attacked and severed the man¡¯s limbs with his sword. Blood spurted out immediately. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The cloaked man cried out in pain. Demitrija¡¯s deep voice sounded again, ¡°Break their limbs, make sure they can¡¯t commit suicide.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Gray Bear and the others sprung into action, overtaking the remaining three in the midst of wailing cries.. Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Chapter 352, The Freakish Old Man_i Chapter 359: Chapter 352, The Freakish Old Man_i Fang Hao did not follow to participate in the ongoing raid on the warehouse. Given the identity of the Faceless, there surely wouldn¡¯t be many enemies inside the warehouse. With Demitrija leading over twenty fierce Reformed Mountain Bandits, the outcome of this battle is already decided. Ending the battle is just a matter of time. It¡¯s no wonder Rebecca described this mission as easy with generous rewards. In such a small place, it wouldn¡¯t hold a large number of men. The sentries outside were killed one by one by the mountain bandits. Within the warehouse, cries of pain could be heard. About five minutes later. A bandit emerged from the warehouse and quickly reported, ¡°My Lord the battle is over. Four men in black robes have been subdued, and we¡¯ve rescued a woman who was being interrogated.¡± A woman was being interrogated? ¡°What color is the hair of the woman being interrogated?¡± Fang Hao asked. Golden, my Lord. She has a rather nice figure.¡± Damn it, no one asked for that detail. ¡°Let¡¯s go, lead me to see her.¡± Fang Hao answered. As per their agreement, the city Lord¡¯s guards had already left and were soon expected to arrive. He needed to quickly gather some information about the Faceless before they reached. The bandit nodded and led Fang Hao and Anjia into the warehouse and down a rope ladder to the basement. Once down, the potent smell of blood permeated the room. The basement wasn¡¯t big. Four men in black robes were kneeling directly in front; their hoods had been pulled off, revealing their faces. Fang Hao didn¡¯t recognize them, but their appearances and the finery underneath their robes suggested they were elite citizens of the city. ¡°Tend to his injuries briefly, let¡¯s not let him die.¡± Fang Hao glanced at a man whose arms had been severed and who seemed to be on the brink of death. A bandit stepped forward and haphazardly bandaged the bleeding man. But it didn¡¯t look very effective. ¡°You¡¯re not with the City Lord¡¯s guard, let¡¯s make a trade. Let us go, and we¡¯ll reward you with enough wealth to last a lifetime.¡± One man in a black robe exclaimed. Though he didn¡¯t recognize these people, he could affirm that they were not guards of the city. ¡°How much are you offering?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Ten thousand gold coins. What do you say? That should be enough for your entire life.¡± The man continued. Upon hearing this, some of the mountain bandits around Grey Bear appeared fascinated. Ten thousand gold coins were no small amount. ¡°Ten thousand gold, do you really take us for kidnappers? Interrogate them note down their names and what they do.¡± Fang Hao responded coldly. ¡°As you wish, my Lord.¡± Grey Bear immediately moved in, delivering several hard slaps to each man¡¯s face. It was only after physically assaulting them that he started asking for their names and occupations. Any hesitation was met with a brutal beating. Fang Hao walked straight towards the golden- haired woman. She was in her thirties, not particularly beautiful, but maintained herself well. She had fainted due to her injuries. From the looks of the dried blood on her wounds, she had been undergoing interrogation for a few days. ¡°My lord, have a look!¡± At this moment, Demitrija handed over a document. Fang Hao took it; it was a record of the woman¡¯s interrogation. The woman¡¯s name was Anshiel. According to the record, Anshiel¡¯s father had combined Dwarf technology to create a form of ¡®thunderfire¡¯. Anshiel made modifications to it and created a special form of ¡®thunderfire¡¯ which she named ¡®dynamite¡¯. This kind of explosive was small and easy to carry. It didn¡¯t need to be lit beforehand and could be ¡®ignited¡¯ by simply pulling a cord, making it usable right after being thrown. The design plans are currently hidden under Anshiel¡¯s bed¡­ The record stopped, presumably because Demitrija and his crew had stormed in during the interrogation. Upon seeing the mention of dynamite, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but suspect Anshiel¡¯s modifications to the thunderfire were probably suggested by a transmigrator. Otherwise, even if she developed it herself, she wouldn¡¯t have used that exact name. However, as she was currently unconscious, there was no opportunity to question her. Quickly using the Book of Lords, Fang Hao photographed the entire interrogation record for a detailed review later. At this point, a bandit peeked down from the top of the warehouse and reported, ¡°My Lord, the guards have reached the corner of the street.¡± Fang Hao nodded and immediately commanded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move out, we¡¯ll leave the rest to the guards.¡± After exiting the basement, they immediately departed. Soon, the guards completely surrounded the area. The four robed men with their limbs broken and the unconscious woman were taken from the basement and brought outside. Meanwhile. In the Western District, at the Red Maiden Tavern. The largest tavern on the West District¡¯s commercial street, with brothels on the second and third floors, and gambling tables on the fourth floor. This place was the property of Boss Lei Li, where all money-making activities could be found. Inside a private room on the top floor. Underworld boss Lei Li was cradling a sensually naked woman in his arms. ¡®Naughty Boss Lei Li, when you loaned me to that old man¡­You have no idea howperverted he can be.¡± The woman complained in a seductive tone. She pretended to hit Lei Li¡¯s chest with her delicate fist. Lei Li laughed heartily, as his hands moved nonstop over the woman¡¯s body and replied, ¡°The old man is just impotent, not necessarily an old man, and I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve kept him in bed for several days. If I didn¡¯t take you back, the poor guy probably won¡¯t survive the week.¡± ¡°Hmph! Who¡¯s spreading such nonsense? I¡¯ll tear their mouth apart. I was only hastening so I could return to the lovely Lei Li.¡± The woman retorted. ¡°Haha! Good, it seems my attention for you wasn¡¯t wasted.¡± Lei Li¡¯s smile faded as he continued, ¡°Have you found out the information you were supposed Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Chapter 352, The Freakish Old Man_2 Chapter 360: Chapter 352, The Freakish Old Man_2 The woman extended her arms, encircling Lei Li s neck. Her entire body clung tightly to him. She spoke softly: ¡°Of course I found out. The city is going to expand its military next month, and I¡¯ve figured out their development goals and personnel arrangements in the City Lord¡¯s mansion. That old man always spills the beans when he¡¯s unwell, so it would be impossible not to hear it.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha! You¡¯re quite capable.¡± Lei Li laughed heartily. This intelligence was enough to earn him a handsome sum. It would also potentially elevate his status within the organization. Just as they were getting passionate and planning some intense activities, there came a sudden rush of hurried footsteps from outside. Thud, thud, thud!! Then the door was knocked. Lei Li, who was in a good mood, instantly darkened his face. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and seeing that the person coming in was his most reliable henchman, ¡®Lai Gou1, Lei Li¡¯s face eased a bit. ¡°What happened?¡± Lai Gou glanced at the woman who was still swaying on Lei Li and said calmly, ¡°Boss, the warehouse in the east of the city has been raided by the City Lord¡¯s mansion. They say that everyone has been arrested.¡± ¡°What!¡± Upon hearing this news, Lei Li¡¯s face changed, he instantly stood up, and the woman in his arms fell to the ground with a scream. ¡°Is the news accurate?¡± ¡°Accurate, this news will spread soon.¡± Lai Gou continued. Lei Li¡¯s eyes kept changing rapidly, and he muttered, ¡°How is this possible, it¡¯s impossible!¡± He knows the capabilities of the Faceless. How could such a mistake be made, it¡¯s impossible. How could the City Lord¡¯s mansion make a move without any information leakage? If the City Lord¡¯s mansion really had this ability, it wouldn¡¯t have fallen to this point. ¡°The guards, who led the team?¡± Lei Li asked again. ¡°They say it was Rebecca¡¯s personal guard captain. Once he got there, he arrested everyone.¡± Lai Gou continued. ¡°Bloody hell!¡± Lei Li cursed, thought for a moment, and continued, ¡°Prepare some men, kill those stupid fools who were arrested. They were more hindrance than help.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Lei Li frowned and sat back in his chair, deep in thought. Lai Gou stood in place, his eyes gradually growing cold, and his hand behind his back moved towards the dagger behind him. Just as he was about to make a move, he heard Lei Li continue, ¡°In a few days, people from above will be sent here. If this matter is not handled properly, both you and I will be held responsible. We can¡¯t let those four people stay alive. Got it?¡± Hearing Lei Li¡¯s words, Lai Gou¡¯s hands loosened once again and hung down on his sides. Those referred to as ¡®above¡¯ by Lei Li couldn¡¯t possibly be someone from Lyss City, it could only be those sent by the Faceless. With a new target emerging, ¡®she¡¯ had no choice but to change the plan. ¡°Yes, boss, I¡¯ll handle it properly.¡± Lai Gou agreed, quickly exited. The sudden news left Lei Li with no mood for what he had planned earlier. Just a moment ago, he was gleeful that the woman had obtained detailed information about Lyss City. But he never expected that Rebecca had already changed her strategy and launched a counterattack. The identities of the Faceless are kept secret from one another. But once someone is discovered, a whole string of people will be implicated. Chances are, before dawn. A number of nobles would be arrested, or even executed on the spot. Lei Li sat gloomily on the sofa, his mind somewhat blank. The next morning! Fang Hao, again in the guise of a cloth merchant, came to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Guided by a maid, he went straight to Rebecca¡¯s bedroom. Inside the room. Rebecca, wrapped in a light blue blanket, lazily lounged on a sofa¡­ On a chair nearby lay scattered clothes and two inner armour pieces. It seemed that Rebecca had also participated in last night¡¯s interrogations and hadn¡¯t been back for long. ¡°Lady Rebecca.¡± Fang Hao greeted softly. Yawn!! Rebecca yawned, glanced at Fang Hao without moving her head, and said softly, ¡°Why did you come this early? Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°lam waiting for the boss to settle the bill, naturally I am motivated.¡± Fang Hao joked. He pushed some scattered clothes to the side and sat down on the chair. Rebecca gave him an annoyed look and said softly, ¡°Do you think I would owe you money?¡± While speaking, she tightened the blue blanket around her chest and walked straight to the desk nearby. She took out four money bags from the drawer and placed them on the table. Fang Hao picked them up, and there were 1,000 gold coins in each bag. In other words, a thousand gold per person. Such a simple, casualty-free and lucrative mission is the one mercenaries like best. But last night, someone offered a ransom of ten thousand per person. That¡¯s much more generous than Rebecca. ¡°Do you know about a blueprint for a blasting tube?¡± Rebecca asked again. Having interrogated the four men and Anshiel last night, she discovered that the cause of the incident was a blueprint for a blasting tube. But when she searched where Anshiel had indicated, she found that the blueprint was gone. Of course, Rebecca suspected the people of the Faceless the most, but Fang Hao should also have seen the interrogation records last night. ¡°What blasting tube, what¡¯s a blasting tube?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Seeing his ignorance, Rebecca didn¡¯t continue with the topic, ¡°I was quite satisfied with yesterday¡¯s mission, but you were a bit too heavy-handed. The man whose arms you severed is a well-known jeweler in the city. I had to use a bottle of life potion to save him.¡± Fighting was like that, it wasn¡¯t like you could call out to drop their weapons and surrender and they would comply. Only when you killed a few people did you have enough deterrent power. ¡°Oh, how did the interrogation go last night? I heard that several fights broke out consecutively.¡± Fang Hao casually responded and then asked. Rebecca sighed slightly and said, ¡°We repelled several assassination attempts. The key people are now being held in custody. Progress with the interrogation is fairly good.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Hao responded. The fights that broke out afterwards, were apparently made to kill and silence people. ¡°This is for you, it will make your movements in the city more convenient in future. Of course, you¡¯re still mercenaries on ordinary days. If there¡¯s a mission, I¡¯ll contact you separately.¡± Rebecca handed an emblem to Fang Hao. [Lyss City Lord¡¯s Mansion Guard Emblem] Category: Emblem (Description: An emblem representing affiliation with the City Lord s Mansion.) The emblem didn¡¯t provide any special attribute bonuses, it was just an ordinary badge. Its actual utility was not significant, just a small reward from Rebecca for the Bone Mercenary Group to continue helping her. It seemed to have the feel of a regular soldier, but was still fundamentally a mercenary group. Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 353, Thunder Hidden in the Chicken Chapter 361: Chapter 353, Thunder Hidden in the Chicken Cavity (Looking for recommendations, subscriptions¡­). _1 Fang Hao pocketed the badge, not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he started to chat with Rebecca and indirectly inquired about some news related to the Faceless. Though Rebecca wouldn¡¯t share any significant intelligence, The less important information, coupled with what he had gathered, could help him infer quite a lot. Last night, the capture mission was successful. You could say it caught the enemy off guard, and those Faceless hiding in the dark were probably investigating how it was that Rebecca had managed to capture someone without being detected. Likewise, these guys would probably lay low for a while, daring not to make any new moves. After all, Rebecca¡¯s punishment for the Faceless was quite severe. Capturing one person would likely implicate quite a few others. After talking with Rebecca for a while and seeing her yawn continuously, Fang Hao decided not to linger any longer. He left the City Lord¡¯s Mansion straight away. After leaving the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao did not continue to stay in the city. Upon returning to the Gray Bear Village with his troops, he switched to riding the Bone Dragon and returned to his territory at dusk. As Eira began preparing dinner, Fang Hao went to the tailor¡¯s shop to check on the progress of the clothes. He sat there and chatted with Soye for a while. After dinner, Fang Hao took a few skeleton warriors and went straight out of his territory. Arriving at a spacious open area, he turned to the Book of Lords and started crafting the newly obtained ¡°Dynamite Blueprint¡±. Dynamite: Iron 2, Copper 1, Cast Iron 1, Metal Parts 2, Black Gunpowder 2, Spun Yarn 2, Clay 1. The materials were all rather common. Make 1. Triggered a hundredfold amplification, received 101 dynamites. Clatter! One dynamite after another materialized out of thin air and fell to the ground. Seeing the dynamites drop, Fang Hao was caught off guard and was anxious in case of any problems. Fortunately, there were no issues. Dynamite Category: Bomb Damage: Level 4 damage (decreases with range) Description: An improved version of traditional land mines. Fang Hao casually picked one up, it had a certain heft to it, heavier than a lead ball. The dynamite was cylindrical, roughly the thickness of a forearm, not quite as throwable as a grenade, he had imagined. This¡­ How far could this be thrown? If dropped, it might end up blowing oneself up. Besides, the movement of skeleton soldiers tended to be somewhat slow and rigid, one slip-up, and they might end up hurling the explosive within their own ranks. That would be a problem. As he thought this, Fang Hao used God¡¯s Presence to take control of one of the skeleton warriors standing next to him. Picking up one dynamite, he left the crowd and maintained a safe distance. Then, after a little examination, He opened the safety cover, pulled the ring, and threw it into the distance. The dynamite flew in an arc and landed around fifty meters away. After a quiet period of 5- 6 minutes, just when Fang Hao thought it was a dud, Boom!! A loud noise and then dirt and rocks soared into the sky. Fang Hao, controlling the skeleton, went forward to inspect and found that a sizable crater had been blasted into the ground at the explosion site. The power seemed quite satisfactory. However, regarding the throwing, Fang Hao was somewhat worried whether the skeletons could pull it off. After the test, Fang Hao ordered the dynamites to be moved to the warehouse where the gunpowder was stored. It was a separate warehouse, specifically for storing dangerous goods. On the way back, came across worrying about the dynamite issue. He was pleased with its power, but it was somewhat too large and too heavy. He was still worried about whether the skeleton soldiers could possibly complete the task of throwing it. A single error could result in a chain reaction. But he could think of some units that could be paired with the dynamite, like the Skeleton Giant Bat, which could drop bombs from the air. Fang Hao felt this was a good strategy. Right when he was about to step into the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao had another idea. He scribbled a quick sketch on a piece of paper. He left the mansion once again, heading to the blacksmith¡¯s shop. He handed the design that he had drawn to Blacksmith Coulon. This was a new type of weapon that Fang Hao had suddenly thought of, the ¡®Chicken Chamber Thunder Hider¡¯. The design inspiration came from a game he had once played. In the game, skeleton soldiers held land mines in their hands and launched attacks on the enemy. They would swiftly rush to the enemy¡¯s city, ignite the bomb in their hands, and self-destruct along with it. However, in this world, the skeletons under Fang Hao¡¯s command did not have the advantage of speed, but they easily attracted the enemies¡¯ attention. They were easily wiped out with concentrated fire. So, Fang Hao decided to make a change. He switched from using skeleton warriors to Skeleton Ostrich Beasts, which looked like a hybrid of a chicken, an ostrich, and a lizard. They had the ability to run extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, it could cover great distances. Moreover, this combination was suitable for all kinds of complex terrains, whether it be forests, mountains, or even tunnels. Once an Ostrich Beast had targeted its prey, it would charge forward like a guided missile. It would fiercely peck at its target. When the lit fuse exploded, it would cause significant damage. Kulyn stared at the rough sketch in his hand and fell silent. ¡°My lord, your plan is to place bombs in the chest cavity of these Ostrich Beasts?¡± Kulyn finally understood the blueprints. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m hoping that the blacksmiths can create some kind of simple device that can secure the lit fuse within the Ostrich Beast¡¯s chest cavity, thus preventing it from shaking around and accidentally detonating.¡± Fang Hao explained his idea. The Skeleton Ostriches didn¡¯t have intelligence. Once released, they would immediately rush towards the enemy and peck at them. Their speed was not slow, and if they simply placed the detonator in its stomach, it might detonate on the way, which was not what Fang Hao wanted. Even if the fuse did not detonate, the cylindrical shape could easily slip out of the chest cavity due to the rapid movement. So, Fang Hao needed the blacksmiths to create a device that could stably secure the fuse in the Ostrich Beast¡¯s chest cavity. Once the Ostrich Beast reached the enemy camp, it would explode. ¡°Very well, my Lord, I will arrange for it to be done as quickly as possible.¡± Kulyn nodded and replied. Although building this stabilizing component wasn¡¯t difficult, a few trial runs would be necessary after its completion, as handling a fuse was no joking matter. Fang Hao left this task to Kulyn. The Skeleton Blacksmith had accumulated a great deal of professional experience over countless years. Modifying some objects was not a difficult task for them. The next day, Fang Hao woke up on time in his bed. It was more comfortable to sleep in his own room, where he didn¡¯t have to worry about having his head chopped off while he was asleep. After a simple wash, he began his morning exercise. He went through the same routine every day. After the exercises were over, Eira brought him his breakfast. As she ate, Anjia asked, ¡°Why has Lorrey been gone for so many days? He wouldn¡¯t have fallen off the Bone Dragon, would he?¡± Fang Hao gave her a white-eyed glance because she always thought the worst. Can¡¯t you think of better outcomes?¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand, when we rode horses and Giant Lizards together, she always fell off.¡± Anjia quickly explained. ¡°¡­Indeed.¡± With Anjia¡¯s explanation, Fang Hao also lost his confidence. Sometimes, Lorrey was crazier than Anjia. She wasn¡¯t good at riding, so there was a chance she could have fallen off the Bone Dragon. ¡°Noway!¡± ¡°I was just kidding, I hope it¡¯s not the case.¡± Anjia wore an expression of hopefulness. Now that was perfect, with Anjia continuing to eat and drink while Fang Hao started to worry. Ding! At that moment, the Book of Lords chimed in with a private message sound. When Fang Hao opened it, he discovered that it was from Xu Yang, the Lord who was affiliated with the Troll Tribe. ¡°Brother Fang Hao, I want to exchange some equipment and food with you.¡± Recently, Fang Hao noticed that Xu Yang was becoming increasingly active in the chat. From initially buying similar chopping axes to recently buying some armors. All of this was indicating something; an opportunity was arising in the Troll Tribe, giving Xu Yang a chance to distance himself from the Trolls. Of course, these opportunities could only be exploited subtly; it wasn¡¯t time to go against the Trolls openly. ¡°Sure, but won¡¯t you get into trouble with the Trolls if they find out you¡¯ve exchanged equipment?¡± Fang Hao replied. Next, he waited quietly. Tellingly, Xu Yang¡¯s next message confirmed for Fang Hao that something big had indeed happened in the Troll Tribe. ¡°They¡¯re too busy to care about me right now. Brother Fang Hao, please see what these can be exchanged for. Whether I can escape with my people depends on your support. [Troll Heavy Shield blueprint] [Troll Horned Helmet blueprint] [Black Iron Flying Axe blueprint] [Troll Stone 172] [Mark of the Barbaric 5] [Mark of the Violent 12] [Essence of Destruction 8] [Iron 122] [Horn 15].-¡± Xu Yang sent a large number of items, from blueprints to rare materials, and a few miscellaneous items. He even took out his horns and salt, portraying himself as if he was about to relocate. ¡°You¡¯re planning to abandon your manor and leave?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t need to guess anymore; he was certain Xu Yang was planning to sell all his items and leave. ¡°Sooner or later, the Trolls will kill us, so I¡¯m planning to take this chance to go live in a human city. It doesn¡¯t matter whether I¡¯m a Lord, it¡¯s still better than being eaten.¡± Xu Yang replied again. ¡°Okay, how many people do you have? What type of equipment are you planning to get?¡± Fang Hao asked him directly. ¡°I have 124 people, and I need leather armour and one-handed swords, as well as 200 servings of easy-to-carry food. Brother Fang Hao, is this possible?¡± Xu Yang voiced his request. Xu Yang had no troops, his 124 population were all farmers. Heavy equipment would burden them during their escape, so Xu Yang opted for leather armour and one-handed swords. They had some food on hand, but he feared they wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the Bloody Mountain Range in time, so he planned to purchase quite a bit more from Fang Hao¡¯s side. ¡°Sure, would this be acceptable? [Erland-Ha Guard¡¯s Leather Armor Set (Green)] ¨C Increases movement speed and morale recovery rate. The one- handed sword would be this [Black Iron Knight¡¯s Sword] and for the food, I¡¯ll give you [Meatloaf Pancakes]; it¡¯s easy to carry, and it tastes quite good.¡± Fang Hao sent over the corresponding blueprints as well. ¡°Great, thanks a lot, Brother Fang Hao.¡± Xu Yang said, somewhat excitedly. Only Fang Hao had such a large stock of green equipment to trade. However, the following words of Fang Hao poured cold water on him. ¡°Xu Yang, your items are not worth nearly six hundred units of green equipment.¡± Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 354, Brainstem Clay Sculpting 1 Chapter 362: Chapter 354, Brainstem Clay Sculpting 1 The Erland Guard Leather Armor Set is a four-piece set. Added with a green one-handed sword, it makes up 620 pieces of equipment. Although Xu Yang¡¯s items seem diverse, none of them have high value. They¡¯re not enough to exchange for all these green items. ¡°Well¡­ Boss, I know I don¡¯t have much to offer, but I genuinely need this equipment. I promise to repay you later.¡± Xu Yang sent another message. He was well aware that his random items couldn¡¯t fetch him all this equipment. Especially equipment with a set bonus. But Xu Yang needs the equipment desperately. He couldn¡¯t survive alone in the wilderness; he needed these villagers. Without armor and food, the loyalty of the villagers would steadily decline. There will inevitably be problems if they decide to escape. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s silence, Xu Yang began to feel anxious. Just as he was about to plead again, he saw Fang Hao respond. ¡°Are you in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range?¡± The moment he saw the message, Xu Yang frowned. He reread his chat logs, realizing that he had never mentioned the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. How did Fang Hao know he was there? Though curious, he saw no point in hiding it. ¡°Yes, Boss. How did you know about the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range?¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°What¡¯s going on in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range? Tell me in detail.¡± Xu Yang was confused, but he sensed Fang Hao¡¯s interest in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. Could Fang Hao be near the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range too? It couldn¡¯t be. Fang Hao was known to have a close relationship with the Undead, and there was no known Undead presence here. Noting his remaining chat count, Xu Yang explained, ¡°The tribe I¡¯m relying on is called the Rock Head Tribe. They are somewhat known in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. Recently¡­the Rock Head Tribe is planning an allied attack with other tribes on the Bloodthroat Tribe.¡± Xu Yang detailed everything he knew, including the recent inter-tribal meetings, to Fang Hao. After carefully reading Xu Yang¡¯s information, Fang Hao felt a stir in his heart. The Trolls were beginning their infighting, it seemed. ¡°Xu Yang, I can give you 50 armor sets and 20 weapons for your items, but if you can get a map with the positions and routes of the tribes in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range, I will give you the rest of the equipment and weapons,¡± Fang Hao sent another message. The infighting in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range was good news for Fang Hao. It offered him a chance of tackling the threat to the north of his territory. However, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t send his troops now. The Undead attacking the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range would most likely unite the Trolls again. They would only strike when the Trolls were severely weakened or if one faction emerged victorious. They would seize the entirety of the mountain range at once. Of course, this was Fang Hao¡¯s plan. The key to launching the attack was a detailed map of the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. The hundreds of green items were not cheap. It was up to Xu Yang to take the risk. Upon seeing Fang Hao¡¯s message, Xu Yang looked serious. It wasn¡¯t a short-term task to draw a map of the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. But it wasn¡¯t impossible. To attack the Bloodthroat Tribe, the Rock Head Tribe had already drawn a detailed attack map. This was his only chance to acquire the map, but it was also life-threatening. Once detected by the Trolls, he¡¯d be dead without even the chance to escape. But it was worth a try. Xu Yang gritted his teeth and responded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make a deal. I¡¯ll do my best to produce the map. Give me the equipment then.¡± Fortune favors the bold. Fang Hao¡¯s equipment was worth the risk. ¡°Okay, stay in touch if anything happens,¡± Fang Hao replied. After they reached an agreement, they exited the Book of Lords. After breakfast¡­ Fang Hao reorganized the items in the storage space, taking out the materials that were not in use. He stored weapons, potions, likely useful tools, and detonators. There was no need to keep the detonators at hand, nor was there a risk of accidental explosion. Once everything was prepared, Fang Hao, Anjia, and Demitrija set out again, heading for Gray Bear Village. This trip was related to the task [Village Rat Plague] they acquired last time. Upon arriving at the village, they enlisted a hundred bandits equipped with the Storm Heavy Armor Set. The large group set off impressively. Their destination was a village near Lyss City. The journey was not short. After three hours of non-stop travel, they finally caught sight of the village. They thought that the village would be small. But to their surprise, it was almost the size of a small town. With a population nearing a thousand people. The arrival of Fang Hao and his hundred-plus force created quite a stir. The guards and villagers of the outpost stood together, brandishing an assortment of homemade weapons, their faces tense as they confronted the incoming party. It was unlikely that bandits would come here. But there could always be some desperate madman launching an attack on the village. ¡°Who are you?¡± shouted one of the villagers, a middle-aged man. Fang Hao noted the villager¡¯s stance and realized that they didn¡¯t trust the incoming team. He thought for a moment, then spoke loudly: ¡°We are the guards of Lyss City. We heard you have a rat problem here, and Lady Rebecca is very concerned about it. So, she has sent us to look into the matter.¡± Having said this, he pulled out a badge from his pocket and tossed it over. The middle-aged man caught it and bent his head to examine it. This village was so close to Lyss City that he should recognize the insignia and the pattern on it. Besides, bandits wearing Storm Heavy Armor would look more like regular soldiers and were even better equipped than the common guards of Belisis City. If these fellows didn¡¯t scratch their privates and fart, they would be even more convincing. Sure enough, after inspecting the badge, the middle-aged man¡¯s demeanor immediately transformed. He dispersed the villagers and stepped forward to meet them. ¡°Sir, may I have your name?¡± the middle-aged man strode towards Fang Hao. ¡°My name is Fang Hao. And you, sir?¡± Fang Hao reciprocated. ¡°lam Macken, the village chief. Please accompany me to the village,¡± said Macken, leading them into the village. The village seemed fairly clean, with harvested crops drying at the front of every house. There was no sign of a rat infestation as he had imagined. Also, considering the amount of available food, it was unlikely that these were more than just a few stray rats. If it was a full-blown infestation, Lyss City would probably have sent soldiers directly rather than issuing tasks to mercenaries. Under Macken¡¯s leadership, they arrived at a house. ¡°Chief Macken, can you tell us more about the rat problem? The village seems quite well off, there appear to be no issues,¡± Fang Hao prompted directly, assuming that Macken would take them to see the rat-infested area, but instead, he brought them to this house. Macken stood up, closed the house¡¯s door, and it became instantly dark. It seemed awfully mysterious. ¡°Gentlemen, the rats appearing in our village are unusual. If they were just stealing food, it would be acceptable. But, they have started eating humans. Left with no choice, I had to send a message to the city,¡± Macken said seriously in a low voice. The chief¡¯s words brought a solemn look to the faces of all present. Rats eating humans¡­ It wasn¡¯t that rats couldn¡¯t eat humans, but they would typically resort to such behavior in situations of extreme hunger and scarcity of food. In a village where food crops were on display all around, why would rats choose to eat humans instead? ¡°Tell me everything you know in detail. Do not leave out any information,¡± Fang Hao said seriously. It appeared that this rat problem was not as simple as mere extermination. ¡°Well, a few months ago, villagers started complaining about rats. But it didn¡¯t seem to be a big issue, not until a week ago, when we discovered Brumer¡¯s corpse. He was gnawed down to his bones by rats. That¡¯s when we realized the severity of the problem and issued a bounty in the city,¡± Macken explained, his expression growing increasingly grim. ¡°So, you mean to say that the rats in the village have started attacking humans?¡± Fang Hao asked, frowning. ¡°No, this is the first time something like this has happened. I announced that Brumer died from a fall, and we quietly buried him. But I¡¯m afraid this might happen again, as we don¡¯t know when these rats might attack humans again.¡± Macken said somberly. Fang Hao and his companions exchanged glances. Each of them looked confused. ¡°Take us to the house where the deceased person was found,¡± Fang Hao suggested. ¡°Alright,¡± Macken agreed, leading them out. They followed the path to a house located on the outskirts of the village. Upon opening the door with the key, a damp and musty smell filled the air. ¡°This is Brumer¡¯s house. I locked it up after the incident and haven¡¯t opened it since,¡± saidMacken. Fang Hao nodded, leading his companions into the house. Although the room inside had clearly been cleaned, they could still discern tiny scratches on the floors, walls, and beams, presumably marks left by a large number of rats scrambling around. ¡°Look around for any clues,¡± suggested Fang Hao, and the group quickly spread out to inspect the room. The furniture in the room had seemingly been left untouched or had been put back in its original place after the room was cleaned. As everyone was examining the room, Fang Hao¡¯s attention was drawn to an ornament on a cabinet near the window. [Cranial Rat Stem Clay Figurine] [Category: Decorative Item] (Description: A clay figurine encapsulating a cranial rat stem. Just dripping a small amount of Cordyceps liquid on the top will emit a special scent, attracting nearby small rats to congregate.) A brain stem clay figurine? Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows drew together in a frown. The figurine was in the shape of a voluptuous woman, and without being able to read the information, it would be hard to connect the figurine to rats. However, there was a lot of information to be gleaned from it. Considering the location of the figurine by the window, he began to piece together a mental image. When the owner of the house had gone to sleep. In the dead of night, someone outside dripped Cordyceps liquid on the figurine. The odor drew the rats in the village to this place, where they attacked the sleeping man. Why the man failed to struggle and why his neighbors didn¡¯t notice was impossible to investigate further. After all, with Macken announcing that the man had died from a fall, investigating in the village could be difficult. But one thing was certain: someone was using rats to commit the murders. ¡°This clay figurine is quite exquisite. Whose craftsmanship is this in the village?¡± Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Chapter 355, One Sweep (Looking for recommendations, subscriptions...). ! Chapter 363: Chapter 355, One Sweep (Looking for recommendations, subscriptions¡­). ! Fang Hao casually picked up the clay sculpture, inquiring with a smile. The material of the sculpture was ordinary, yet the subtle rises and falls on the surface could be felt upon touch. Its shape was quite lifelike. It could be seen that the creator of the clay figurine had impressive craftsmanship. ¡°Oh, it was ¡®Aunt Terry¡¯ from our village who made this. She is very good at making these clay sculptures.¡± Macken responded with a smile. Macken didn¡¯t know much about Aunt Terry. Aunt Terry, although a villager, had spent her youth living in the temple. She was much older than Macken, and by the time she returned, Macken had already become the village head. The auxiliary priests of the temple all possessed certain knowledge about healing and medicinal herbs, so they could understand the function of Cordyceps. As the two were chatting, the rest of the group returned. Aside from finding some signs of struggle and evidence left by rats, there were no additional clues. Of course, none of those present were particularly good at solving cases, but they were all quite adept at committing crimes. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Macken, take me to meet Aunt Terry,¡± Fang Hao said, still holding the clay figurine in his hand. Hearing that Fang Hao wanted to meet Terry, Macken¡¯s brow furrowed a bit. Aunt Terry was nearly 70 years old and not easy to get along with because of her personality. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s determination to go, Macken didn¡¯t say much. As he led the way, he hinted about Aunt Terry¡¯s peculiar temperament. If anything happens, don¡¯t take it to heart. After walking for a few minutes. From afar, they saw an old woman with white hair sitting in front of a house. ¡°That¡¯s Aunt Terry. She is nice but has a peculiar temperament,¡± Macken whispered. Aunt Terry, not far away, glanced at everyone briefly then lowered her head to resume her work. The group came forward, and Macken managed a smile, speaking loudly, ¡°Aunt Terry, these are people from Lyss City here to help the village with the rat infestation. They came to see you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not deaf, why are you shouting!¡± Aunt Terry replied coldly, her gaze falling on Fang Hao and his group again. Observing Fang Hao¡¯s female clay figure in his hand, her gaze shifted briefly, but quickly returned to normal. Macken awkwardly laughed. As a village head, he has no authority in front of Terry. ¡°Aunt Terry, don¡¯t lose temper. We are still relying on these city guards to get rid of the rats,¡± Macken whispered. Terry rolled her eyes and said, ¡°I know. You go ahead. After they¡¯re done talking, I¡¯ll send them to you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Macken turned to Fang Hao, saying, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, you guys chat first. Once you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll take you to see where the rat infestation is happening.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Fang Hao agreed. Macken left, and Fang Hao moved closer with his group. ¡°Are you city guards?¡± Aunt Terry asked first. This group looked unusual. Aside from Fang Hao who seemed approachable, the rest looked like outlaws or foreigners. Despite their valor, they still retained a certain amount of roguishness. ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Hao replied, sitting down not far from Terry. The clay statue was placed in front of him. ¡°Aunt Terry, do you have any conflict with the deceased, Brumer?¡± On the way here, Fang Hao had learned some things from Macken. Terry was skilled with medicinal herbs and would treat anyone who got hurt in the village. Aside from her poor temperament, she was highly respected in the village. A person like this killing Brumer would suggest some kind of disagreement. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to solve the rat infestation? Are you interested in these matters too?¡± Terry responded, her voice still unfriendly. ¡°Rats eating humans is also part of our task, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Fang Hao continued to smile. ¡°True, people like you only waste energy trying to please nobles and dealing with trivial matters.¡± Terry shot back with sarcasm. Then, before Fang Hao could ask further, Terry started speaking again. ¡°When I was an auxiliary priest in the temple, several cases occurred there. Someone had defiled the temple¡¯s auxiliary priests and decapitated them. Six girls died within half a month, the youngest being only nine. Later, the temple put pressure on the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, initiating a comprehensive search. Although nothing happened after that, and no one was caught, the case was left unresolved.¡± After getting to this point, Terry stopped talking and simply continued her work. But, the rest of the story, Fang Hao naturally filled in the gaps. Terry discovered that Brumer was somehow involved in this case, but she was an old woman now and didn¡¯t have enough evidence. She used her knowledge of the herbs she knew so well to kill Brumer. ¡°And then, was the murderer caught?¡± Anjia asked. Terry glanced at the orc girl and slightly nodded her head, ¡°Caught, but dead¡­¡± ¡°He got off easy, if I had caught him, I would have tortured him for two years, and then turned him into a sk¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense¡±, Fang Hao quickly covered her mouth and said. ¡°Oh!¡± Anjia could only utter in response, not continuing any further. With the story finished, Fang Hao¡¯s questions were answered. But it seemed their work here was done, and without the presence of special monster strongholds, there definitely wouldn¡¯t be any reward chests. Fang Hao looked at Terry and continued, ¡°The best way to eradicate the rats would be to gather them all in one place. Aunt Terry, do you have any good methods?¡± Without saying much, Terry stood up and hobbled into the house. She came back out with a small potion bottle. [Cordyceps Liquid] [Category: Potion] (Description: It disperses a unique smell.) ¡°There are two large rat nests on the east side of the village. You can try over there,¡± Terry suggested. It¡¯s hard to exterminate rats. Even if you manage to attract them, it¡¯s not easy to kill them. ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t disturb Aunt Terry any longer.¡± With that, Fang Hao, holding the clay model and Cordyceps Liquid, promptly left. Seeing the group leave as soon as they said, Terry watched with a puzzled look in her eyes. Aren¡¯t they the city¡¯s guards? Aren¡¯t they going to catch the murderer? Fang Hao and his team left Terry¡¯s place and again sought out Macken. In truth, Macken didn¡¯t wander far, fearing that Fang Hao and Terry might start arguing and he would need to mediate. To his surprise, after just over ten minutes, Fang Hao returned. ¡°Lord Fang Hao,¡± Macken stepped forward to greet him. ¡°Well, let¡¯s be off. Aunt Terry mentioned two large rat nests to the east of the village. Do you know where they are?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re not far to the east.¡± The place Macken intended to lead Fang Hao was precisely that rat hive. However, neither fire nor flood had proven to be an effective solution. ¡°Alright, show us.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Macken left through the east gate, leading a few people with him. They didn¡¯t walk far before spotting two mounds protruding from the forest floor. ¡°This is the rat¡¯s nest. I have no idea when they built it here,¡± Macken glanced at the rat burrow, commenting. The rats weren¡¯t causing major damage to the village, but Macken was more worried about them attacking people. He was completely oblivious to Terry¡¯s situation, thinking that rats could go mad and start attacking humans. If they¡¯ve eaten one human, they could just as well feast on a second. And by then, there wouldn¡¯t be much of a village left! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it. You better head back to the village. We can¡¯t guarantee your safety if anything happens,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°There¡¯s danger? Okay, you all be careful then,¡± finished Macken before making a quick exit. Once Macken was out of sight, Fang Hao found a nearby cave. After inspecting the cave and ensuring there were no hidden passages or burrows, he placed the [Cranial Rat Clay Model] inside and opened the flask of cordyceps liquid, letting a drop fall onto the clay model¡¯s head. As soon as he finished, a faint, sweet and fishy scent filled the cave. The odor was light, not overpowering. Having done all this, Fang Hao left the cave to join Anjia and the others at their hiding spot. Everyone watched the cave from a distance. Before long, rustling sounds could be heard from the surrounding trees. Countless rats, mixed with a few hedgehogs, streamed into the depths of the cave like an army of ants during their migration. Feeling that it was just enough, Fang Hao reached into his storage space and tossed several blasting caps, safety removed, directly into the cave. Boom!! After a loud explosion, the whole cave collapsed. ¡°Is it over?¡± Anjia asked softly. ¡°Yes, it should be,¡± Fang Hao nodded. The group moved closer to inspect the vicinity of the collapsed cave. The cave was completely blocked, no rat was seen escaping. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go check out the rat¡¯s nest,¡± Fang Hao was not yet satisfied, he led the party back to the rat hive located east of the village. ¡°Dig!¡± Fang Hao took out a digging tool from his storage space, and the bandits rolled up their sleeves and started digging. Ten minutes later, they¡¯d dug a deep hole in the hilled ground. ¡°We found it, my lord, there really is something!¡± A surprised cheer came up from one of the bandits in the hole. Fang Hao looked down immediately, spotting the corner of a treasure chest peeking out from inside the pit. He realized the chest was made of black iron, even though the rest was yet buried in the pit. Having something was better than nothing. ¡°Lift it up.¡± The chest was hauled up, and Fang Hao immediately opened it. [Acquired: Blueprint for black iron shovel, granary construction blueprint, Warfire Coins X25.] The rewards were pretty decent, considering it was a black iron treasure chest. He didn¡¯t yet have this blueprint for the black iron shovel, a digging tool. And the granary was a new blueprint too. [Level One Granary: Wood 500, Stone 450, Thatch 300, Leather 220, Iron 50] (Description: Insulation and moisture-proof, prevents mice and insects, better for storing grain.) Getting the granary blueprints was a pleasant surprise. Their spoils were quite good, without having to bother with a battle. Even better than the repeated blueprints from the silver treasure chests. ¡°Fill the hole back up; let¡¯s head back.¡± The bandits refilled the hole, and the whole party returned to the village. Twenty minutes later. Near the collapsed cave. Squeak, squeak, squeak!! A squad of rats swiftly arrived at the front of the partly collapsed cave, noses twitching, vigorously sniffing the air. Although these rats looked almost normal, their brains were exposed and covered by a transparent membrane. The rat¡¯s brains trembled in a resonating motion. Having reached a consensus, they began shifting the stones and made a small hole. One rat then crawled into it, and dragged out a fragment of the destroyed clay model. The rats closely inspected it, then swiftly left the area with the clay model fragment in tow. Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 356, Multi-Headed Fire Python_l Chapter 364: Chapter 356, Multi-Headed Fire Python_l Fang Hao and his group returned to the village in a grand fashion. Macken and a few young villagers anxiously waited by the east gate. Upon seeing them, he hurried towards them, ¡°Sir, how did it go? How many of those mice were eliminated?¡± The whole village heard the massive roaring sound. Although they did not witness it firsthand, they knew it was caused by Fang Hao and his men. Such a loud noise must have had significant power, perhaps enough to wipe out the rat swarm. ¡°They should all be taken care of. If there are more rats in the future, come find me in the city,¡± Fang Hao casually remarked while walking. ¡°Ah? All cleared?¡± Macken was somewhat surprised. ¡°Yes, we have concentrated the cleanup of the rats and filled in the two rat nests. There should be no more rats,¡± answered Fang Hao calmly. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fantastic, thank you so much, sirs.¡± Macken was overjoyed, clapping his hands in gratitude. Fang Hao nodded, leading his group back into the village. They followed the road towards the north gate, where the horses were kept. Along the way, villagers enthusiastically offered homegrown produce. This flood of gifts made the bandits feel somewhat awkward as they tried to refuse. The feeling of receiving willingly offered gifts was not the same as taking by force. When they reached the north gate, Auntie Terry was sitting under a large tree just outside the village entrance. Seeing Fang Hao and the others approaching, she also rose and walked over. Leaning on her cane, she stood next to Fang Hao, ¡°Did you solve the rat problem?¡± As soon as Auntie Terry spoke, Macken and others fell silent instantly, discreetly moving aside. ¡°We¡¯ve taken care of it, thanks to Auntie¡¯s potion, we managed to eliminate the rats.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good,¡± Auntie Terry answered, eyeing the soldiers waiting to dismount their horses, then whispered, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to arrest me?¡± Maybe others didn¡¯t know about the rats¡¯ murderous intent, but Fang Hao must have deduced the truth. Capturing a murderer could be a big achievement for a guard. ¡°Ah! You need evidence to solve a case. I don¡¯t have any evidence, which doesn¡¯t meet the requirement to arrest someone,¡± said Fang Hao nonchalantly, accepting the reins handed to him by the bandits and mounting his horse. His words stunned Auntie Terry. Evidence¡­ Thinking about it, she realized that Fang Hao must have said it on purpose. ¡°Here, take this. Not many in the village can read. I hope it will be helpful to you,¡± Auntie Terry pulled out a notebook from her bosom and handed it over. Fang Hao bent down to take it. [Terry¡¯s Herbal Notes] [Category: Notes] (Description: Contains Terry¡¯s herbal study records. You can learn about herbal knowledge from the content of these notes.) Another set of notes. Although it didn¡¯t offer any special ability bonuses. The use of the notes was pretty clear; one could learn about herbal studies from them. Not only could Fang Hao learn from them, but he could also have his less combat adept maids study them¡ªbeing more knowledgeable could never be a bad thing. ¡°Alright, thank you Auntie Terry. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal in Lyss City when I get a chance,¡± said Fang Hao with a smile as he tucked the notes away. Auntie Terry responded with his smile, ¡°Good.¡± Fang Hao gave Macken, who was not too far away, a nod, called to his troop, and quickly left the village. By the time they left the village, it was already 4 in the afternoon. Fang Hao didn¡¯t choose to return to the stronghold. Instead, he directly entered Lyss City. At sunset, the sky was shrouded in deep red clouds. The Gray Bears went to their lodgings, while Fang Hao and Anjia headed to the Mission Hall in East City. ¡°Hello, sir.¡± This time, a stranger, a female receptionist, greeted him. ¡°I came to submit a mission and look to see if there were any new ones to take on.¡± Fang Hao stood in front of the counter and directly stated his purpose. ¡°May I ask for the name of your mercenary group and the name of the completed mission?¡± asked the woman, following procedure. ¡°Bone Knight Group. The completed missions are [Bandit Elimination] and [Village Mouse Problem],¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°Okay, sir, please wait.¡± The woman started flipping through the information in her hand, searching for the Bone Knight Group¡¯s info. It didn¡¯t take long to find the group¡¯s record on the last page. ¡°Sir, we have recorded the missions you submitted. Someone will come to verify them later. Here are the bounties for your last missions [Wilderness Cemetery], [Mushroom Valley], and [Bandit Elimination]. Totaling 350 gold coins, please double-check,¡± the woman said retrieving a money bag from behind the counter and placing it on the counter. Instead of paying out bounties right away after completing a mission, the amount is settled a day or two after the mission. Fang Hao just happened to receive the bounties for the last missions as he was handing in new ones. ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± Fang Hao picked up the moneybag, then picked up a nearby mission map to search. After thumbing through it for a while, he didn¡¯t find any missions that intrigued him. Seeing no suitable missions, Fang Hao closed the mission sheet and set it aside. He was staying in the city for the night anyway. He would come back the next day to see if any new missions were available. After leaving the Mission Hall, Fang Hao started strolling around the market at the entrance. This is where mercenaries gathered to sell their spoils of war. By dusk, the scale of the market had grown several times from the morning, but the city had only designated two streets for it. Thus, one stall was right next to another, resulting in a bustling and crowded scene. The mercenaries completed their tasks during the day and only had the chance to sell their loot now. Fang Hao and Anjia leisurely strolled around. There was no specific target; they were just seeing if they could find any overlooked items that they might need. After all, with so many people around, everything¡¯s for sale. The locals don¡¯t know the value of their goods, so they might neglect something of real value. As they went along, Anjia ended up with quite the collection of snacks in her hands. Munching away, left and right, she hadn¡¯t an ounce of the vigilance expected of a bodyguard. Fang Hao stopped at one of the stalls and casually picked up a hefty book that was laid out on the ground. Mental Power Theory. Well, well, well! What a find! Fang Hao glanced at the stall owner who was busy playing cards with someone, before flipping through the pages to skim the book. While it wasn¡¯t a Skill Scroll or a cultivation method, It did record the usage of spiritual power and related theoretical knowledge. And it started from the basics, gradually progressing to more advanced topics, serving as a textbook for understanding such information. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s the price for this?¡± Fang Hao lifted the book and loudly inquired. The stall owner, engrossed in his card game, casually glanced over and replied, ¡°It was left to me by my family, but the information recorded is still valuable. If you want it, you can take it for 100 Gold Coins.¡± Books about spiritual power do hold a certain value. But in Lyss City, the majority are warriors or archers, and the mercenaries who need to cultivate spiritual power are in the minority. Moreover, it only contains theoretical knowledge without much resale value. It must be why it has remained on sale until now, unsold despite the nearing closure time. The stall owner saw that Fang Hao was interested, hence the upfront asking price of too Gold Coins. ¡°10 Gold. If you¡¯re willing to sell, I¡¯ll take it as toilet paper. If not, then forget it.¡± He casually tossed the book back. The old rule of haggling ¨C ¨C start by eliminating a zero. Once he made his offer, laughter erupted from the side. The stall owner¡¯s face froze for a moment before quickly composing himself, casually replying while focusing on his game, ¡°Sold, cough up the money. You¡¯re really willing to pay 10 Gold for toilet paper, aren¡¯t you rich!¡± Dang it!! Hearing the stall owner agree so readily, Fang Hao felt like he had been ripped off. But he had already made his offer, and he genuinely needed this book. So he just pulled out 10 Gold Coins and handed them over, tucking the book away. ¡°I have a few more rolls of this ¡®toilet paper.¡¯ If you want them all, I¡¯ll sell you the whole bundle for 50 Gold Coins.¡± He unfolded the cloth bag he was sitting on and casually tossed it over. Magic Power Guide, Mental Power Adjustment, Fire Elemental Explanation, Multi-Headed Fire Python: Volume 1¡­. There were seven books in total. Among these, Multi-Headed Fire Python: Volume 1 piqued Fang Hao¡¯s interest. This one was different from the others. Multi-Headed Fire Python: Volume 1 Category: Book (Description: Upon reading thoroughly, one can learn Fire Elemental Summoning Skills.) Nice, what a pleasant surprise! Glancing again at the stall owner still engrossed in his card game, Fang Hao wondered how the book hadn¡¯t been purchased yet, considering it had been under his posterior. Not wanting to draw any attention, Fang Hao repackaged the books. He then pulled out 50 Gold Coins and tossed them onto the stall, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take them. Now I won¡¯t have to worry about running out of toilet paper for a month.¡± ¡°Sure, remember to be gentle when you¡¯re using them ¨C these books are quite old, don¡¯t tear them.¡± The stall owner pocketed the money and lightheartedly joked. ¡°I¡¯ll add a few extra sheets,¡± Fang Hao commented, before confidently striding away with his books. After the first stall, Fang Hao found himself holding a pile of books. While his expression hadn¡¯t changed, he was undoubtedly ecstatic. The sensation of tripping upon a great deal was pretty thrilling. It reminded him of scavenging through antique markets in his previous world. Real and fake items were mixed together, and your discernment was key. As long as you had a keen eye or enough luck, you could find several valuable items. He had chosen the path of a Mage. Even though the skills he learned were diverse, under the influence of Starfire and the fractured Elemental Handbook, the skills he was proficient in related to fire and summoning abilities. ¡°Multi-Headed Fire Python: Volume 1¡± met these two requirements precisely. It felt like it was tailor-made just for him. However, it was just a book, not a Skill Scroll. He would need to read and understand it thoroughly before he could learn the skills. If there was a Volume 1, surely there were Volumes 2, 3,4, 5, and so on? Maybe not¡­ As these thoughts ran through Fang Hao¡¯s mind, he continued in his leisurely browsing. Along the way, he purchased some rare materials. To refill his material inventory. Suddenly, Fang Hao stopped in his tracks. In front of him was an insignificant stall. Inside a mottled wooden box on the ground was a rolled-up blueprint. A quick scan revealed its information. Undead War Drum Blueprint. A blueprint for an Undead item in a human city. The moment Fang Hao crouched down, The stall owner greeted him enthusiastically, ¡°Young man, see something you like? I¡¯m about to close shop, so I can give you a good deal.¡± Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Chapter 357, Almost Dressed Like a Maid_1 Chapter 365: Chapter 357, Almost Dressed Like a Maid_1 The stall owner was a middle-aged man, his beard more luxuriant than his hair. Sitting cross-legged, he gave off an impression of stability. ¡°How much is this?¡± Fang Hao picked up the Undead War Drums blueprint and asked. There were quite a few items on the stall, but Fang Hao chose this one. ¡°This blueprint isn¡¯t much use to you, it¡¯s for creating an Undead item.¡± The middle-aged man remarked, not blurting out a random price. The mention of Undead instantly attracted the attention of a number of people nearby. They crowded around to see what kind of Undead blueprint it was. After looking at it, however, they all returned the blueprint with little interest and left. Fang Hao was the only one who stayed. ¡°Are there any Undead near Lyss City?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°I found it in a graveyard, I¡¯m not at liberty to disclose the exact location.¡± The stall owner stroked his beard. Mercenary activities needed to be kept confidential. Moreover, many such activities had to be kept hidden, and talking too much would not only incite resistance but also possibly expose you to risks. Fang Hao and Anjia appeared very young. Anjia, in particular, carried loads of food, they looked like a sweet couple strolling around. The stall owner didn¡¯t take them seriously. ¡°How much then? If the price is right, I¡¯ll buy it for my collection.¡± Fang Hao remarked again. He made it clear that he was buying it just for collection and would not buy it if the price were steep. The stall owner, stroking his thick beard, felt that this item would be hard to sell. As it was almost time to close the stall, he decided to sell it to someone who intended to collect it. ¡°50 gold coins, that¡¯s the lowest price for blueprints.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, he paid immediately and pocketed the blueprint. Items from the Undead camp were rare, and blueprints were even more so. In the hands of a human, it might only serve as a collector¡¯s item, but in Fang Hao¡¯s hands, it could be put to good use. Especially under the hundred-fold amplification, a blueprint was more useful than the crafted item. Seeing Fang Hao so willing to part with his money, the stall owner tried to push more items onto him: ¡°Take a look at the others. I¡¯m about to close the stall, I would sell them to you at a lower price.¡± ¡°Anymore Undead items?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°Nope, that was the only one.¡± The stall owner replied. ¡°Oh, never mind then. I¡¯ll check somewhere else.¡± Fang Hao glanced over the stall owner¡¯s other items, but didn¡¯t find anything useful, he got up and left. Having finished perusing the market and not finding any items he liked, the duo left the market, carrying their purchases. In an unobtrusive corner, they stored all the items they purchased into their storage space and walked out nonchalantly. They hailed a carriage and headed back to their residence. After dinner, they retired to their room. The nightstone chandelier emitted a soft glow. Fang Hao sat down at the desk and took out everything he had found at the market. After cataloging the Undead War Drums Blueprint, he flipped through the pages of Fire Elemental Explanation, Multi-headed Fire Python. According to the description, after reading and understanding the contents, one can learn the skill recorded in the book. Driven by excitement, Fang Hao started reading. Yet, just after a short while, Fang Hao was frowning. What was all this rubbish? He looked at the numerous symbols, jargon, and abstruse terms. Even though he recognized every word, it was hard to understand their meanings. Fang Hao took out the Fire Element Explanation and continued to read with reference to it. Then, he flipped open Magic Power Guide and Mental Power Theory for reference. Soon, all eight books on the small desk were opened, with the rest assisting the study of the Fire Elemental Explanation, Multi-headed Fire Python. It was not until late into the night that he had only read five pages. ¡°Damn it, if I studied this hard back in the day, I¡¯d have been outstanding by now.¡± Fang Hao muttered under his breath. A sense of fatigue came from his brain, and his eyes were somewhat dry due to strain. He drifted off to sleep in confusion. The next day, early in the morning. Just after breakfast, Fang Hao received a notification. ¡°Sir, there is someone from the City Lord¡¯s mansion who wishes to speak to you.¡± The City Lord¡¯s mansion? ¡°Let them in!¡± Fang Hao replied. Shortly after, a figure entered. Fang Hao recognized her, she was a maid of Rebecca, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Fang Hao. I hope I didn¡¯t disturb your sleep.¡± The maid spoke politely, but not in a servile manner. ¡°Good morning, please have a seat.¡± Fang Hao also replied with a smile. The maid took a seat and said straight away: ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, there is a shop on the western commercial street that is looking to be sold. Madam asked me to see if you might be interested in buying. If you are, she would reserve it for you.¡± So, it was news about a store. He had been looking for a store to open a clothing shop, which Rebecca was aware of. Now that there was a suitable one, she wanted to know if he had any intention to buy it. Also, Fang Hao felt that Rebecca was appreciative of their previous cooperation in capturing the ¡®Faceless¡¯ and was trying to win him over by offering benefits from the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Of course, he didn¡¯t mind that. He was also investigating the ¡®Faceless¡¯, so he would benefit from Rebecca¡¯s actions. ¡°What is the location of the shop like?¡± Fang Hao asked. The commercial street in Lyss City was quite large, with shops varying in ranks. ¡°Rest assured, the original store was a very famous jewelry store, and it¡¯s now under the city lord¡¯s control. Its location is undoubtedly a prime spot on the commercial street.¡± The maid introduced with a smile. A jewelry store¡­ Hearing about a jewelry store, Fang Hao suddenly remembered the Faceless member whose arms were severed. Rebecca had mentioned that he was a well-known jeweler and a tycoon in the city. This shop must have belonged to him. After he was caught, the city lord¡¯s mansion took over the shop and put it up for sale. ¡°Alright, I will go and handle the procedure now.¡± Fang Hao got up immediately. Like commodities, good store locations were up for grabs. If he hesitated, someone else might buy it, leading to regret later. ¡°Yes, sir, please follow me.¡± The maid also got up, and they both headed out together. They boarded a carriage at the entrance of the mansion and headed for the city lord¡¯s mansion. At the City Lord¡¯s mansion, in the study. After finishing the paperwork, Fang Hao was led by the maid to the room. Rebecca was inside, being fitted for a beige dress by the maid. The dress was not a puffy one but a draping gown. Overall, it looked like a patent product designed by Fang Hao for Rebecca. ¡°How does this one look? It is a dress given by Moriqi Fabric Store.¡± Rebecca asked softly while looking at herself in the mirror. Fang Hao felt somewhat helpless. Designs were like that, easy to copy, and there was no good solution for it. ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s similar to what my maids wear at home.¡± Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Chapter 358, Flame Spider_i Chapter 366: Chapter 358, Flame Spider_i The ivory-colored gown had been designed to have a hanging skirt and cinched waist. The elongated waistline made Rebecca appear more upright and dignified. It was clear the design was an imitation of Fang Hao¡¯s, and it was quite well done by an experienced designer. But, it was unclear whether it was due to time pressure, or they only briefly glanced at Fang Hao¡¯s sketch. There were many shortcomings in this dress. It might also be a rushed prototype. When Faker mentioned that this dress was similar to what his maids wore, Rebecca shot him a disapproving glance. The maids subtly chuckled, thinking Fang Hao was speaking nonsense. After all, Fang Hao¡¯s design was original, while this garment was an imitation. Anyone would be upset if their designs were copied. ¡°In that case, tell mewhat¡¯s wrong with this dress,¡± Rebecca suddenly insisted. Moriqi Fabric Store was also a well-established fabric store and their apparel was famous. However, according to Fang Hao, their clothes were fit only for maids. Even though she understood Fang Hao¡¯s emotions, she wanted to know whether it was just out of spite, or there were genuine flaws. Fang Hao stood up, went to Rebecca¡¯s side, and said, ¡°The design of the waistline can make one appear taller. However, this dress has not entirely abandoned the old-fashioned corset concept. The waistline should be raised to this level.¡± His finger traced upwards along her waistline, stopping just beneath her breasts. When a young man traced his fingers upward from the waistline, Rebecca¡¯s heart started to pound violently. Her face and even her bare collarbone began to flush slightly. ¡°What else?¡± Rebecca continued to ask. Of course, the color is monotonous, the texture is uneven, which are the downsides of this gown. It might be a decent dress for an average lady, but it¡¯s not quite suitable for you,¡± Fang Hao said as he stood behind her, his gaze falling on her white bosom. The dress was actually quite good, but it was at best a copied prototype. The uneven texture revealed the traces of rushed sewing work. Moreover, the beige color was too monotonous. At a ball, where other ladies would be in striking reds and purples, this beige dress would stick out inappropriately. ¡°You¡­¡± Rebecca was at a loss for words. She was very pleased with the dress, given her longstanding relationship with the Moriqi Fabric Store. But after Fang Hao¡¯s criticism, it no longer looked as appealing. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it have any redeeming qualities?¡± Rebecca asked again forcefully. In casual settings, it¡¯s a decent dress.¡± After saying this, Fang Hao sat back down in the chair. The room suddenly fell silent. The maids stood aside, unsure whether to continue dressing their mistress with jewelry. ¡°Will I not look good tonight in this?¡± Rebecca could not let it go. You look good, but your attractiveness has nothing to do with this dress,¡± Fang Hao complimented honesty, then continued, ¡°Imagine, an entire room full of ladies in striking red and purple gowns, who would wear a light-colored dress at such a gathering, only a maid right!¡± Whew! Rebecca let out a heavy sigh, turned to the maids, and said, ¡°Alright, put this away for now. I¡¯ll wear it another time.¡± ¡°Yes, madam,¡± the maids responded. They stepped forward and helped Rebecca out of the dress. It seemed Fang Hao¡¯s comments had changed her mind. After changing into her casual clothes, Rebecca sat back down in the chair and looked at Fang Hao. ¡°So, what should I wear to the auction tonight?¡± Auction? What auction?¡± Fang Hao was a little taken aback. Rebecca was choosing a gown, not for an aristocratic ball, but for an auction? Aren¡¯t auctions supposed to keep their guests¡¯ information confidential! No matter how prettily you dress, what¡¯s the point? Who¡¯d know who you are even if you showed up naked? Tonight, there will be a ball at the city lord¡¯s mansion. Noble merchants from all around will be invited to participate in an auction for ¡®confiscated¡¯ items. The money earned will be used for the development of Lyss City,¡± a maid at the side explained. Upon hearing this explanation, Fang Hao understood. It was the otherworldly version of judicial auctions. The recent arrests of the Faceless Ones, who were the city¡¯s merchants and nobility, must have resulted in a sizable haul of valuable items. ¡°Can I participate too?¡± Fang Hao immediately switched from his critical tone to a hopeful one. He had already saved up quite a bit of money. What use was saving it if not to spend? If good items were on auction, he could buy them. Rebecca gave Fang Hao a surprised look. If you wish to participate, that¡¯s fine. However, I still haven¡¯t found a suitable dress, Rebecca looked at Fang Hao meaningfully. Fang Hao understood her hint instantly. ¡°Let me check in on it. If the dress is ready, I will have someone deliver it before the evening,¡± he replied promptly. Such a public and significant occasion was also a great opportunity for advertising. His fabric store was about to open, and this was a golden chance to advertise amongst the nobility. ¡°Humph! I¡¯ll be waiting for your dress then,¡± Rebecca crossed her legs and slid open the drawer to hand over an invitation. Fang Hao took the invitation and saw his own name written on it. It seemed Rebecca had prepared in advance, and only wanted Fang Hao to deliver the dress. ¡°By the way, will you be providing dinner tonight?¡± Fang Hao asked, putting away the invitation. Again, the maids stifled their giggles. This wealthy young entrepreneur was really amusing. Everyone knew that he could design garments that even pleased Rebecca. Not only was he wealthy, but he had also bought two shops in the commercial street and a mansion in a noble district. A man of such wealth, actually cared if dinner would be served or not. ¡°All you do is talk nonsense all day,¡± Rebecca laughed scoldingly and then said to the maids, ¡°You all can leave now.¡± ¡°Yes, madam.¡± The maids left the room, closing the door behind them. The room was now left with only Fang Hao and Rebecca. ¡°There will be some new actions in the next two days, you¡¯d better stay in town for a bit,¡± Rebecca said softly. A serious expression immediately settled on Fang Hao¡¯s face. I can do that, but my workers need some secrecy, or they¡¯ll easily be investigated by those people,¡± Fang Hao continued. Hmm, I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Rebecca nodded. Fang Hao thought for a moment before asking, ¡°Did everything go smoothly with the last interrogation of those four individuals?¡± Rebecca¡¯s face darkened. Not smoothly at all, you could say that we¡¯ve lost all leads.¡± ¡°What happened, were those four people killed?¡± Fang Hao rushed to ask. The four individuals are unharmed, but the people they named were all found dead in their homes before the guards arrived. We¡¯ve lost all leads again,¡± Rebecca leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. Her tone was somewhat one of helplessness. Rebecca provided protection for these four, fearing that their mouths would be shut by death. However, the opponent¡¯s approach was more straightforward, killing everyone involved, leaving Rebecca with nowhere to continue her investigation. ¡°Their intelligence network is quite terrifying,¡± Fang Hao admitted, a bit surprised. Yes, for the next mission, we¡¯ll have to be more cautious,¡± Rebecca said. ¡°Hmm.¡± The two chatted a little while longer. Finally, Fang Hao walked out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion with a broad smile. At the entrance, he met up with Anjia and called a carriage to go to the commercial street in West City. In the carriage, Fang Hao took out the Sound-transmitting Shell to inform Eira in their territory. Check on the progress of the ceremonial dress at the tailor¡¯s shop. If it¡¯s already done, arrange for someone to deliver it directly to Lyss City. With the Bone Dragon and swift Purple-scaled horses in their territory, there was enough time to deliver the dress to Lyss City before dark. Upon approaching the commercial street. The speed of the carriage started to slow down. Noises of various vendors selling their goods started to come from all around. This street wasn¡¯t only lined with shops; there were also many vendors loudly promoting their goods on the edge of the road. The carriage stopped in front of a shop. Fang Hao took out a key and opened the door. The goods inside the shop had already been moved, leaving behind various useless items and some valueless tables and chairs. ¡°What are you planning to do with this shop?¡± Anjia looked around the shop and asked. A clothing store, I guess? There are lots of luxury goods around here, let¡¯s open a clothing store here,¡± Fang Hao casually replied. ¡°Oh! Alright.¡± The two chatted as they went upstairs. In a small gap in the corner floor, Anjia found a ruby the size of a little finger. Its edges were cut smoothly, and it was very beautiful. Fang Hao gave a thumbs up. Valuable items could never escape Anjia¡¯s keen eyes. After wandering around the shop for a while, the sound of noisy footsteps came from outside the door. Gray Bear brought his men and quickly arrived. ¡°Sir,¡± Gray Bear said once. Fang Hao walked down from upstairs and instructed: ¡°From now on, this shop is ours. Clean it up and throwaway all the useless stuff.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Gray Bear called out, leading the workers straight into the shop, starting the cleaning process. Leaving the store in Gray Bear¡¯s care. Fang Hao took Anjia to the task hall once more, but again found no suitable tasks. So, they went directly back to their residence. It was just around two in the afternoon when they returned to their residence. After a quick meal, Fang Hao shut himself in his room. He took out all the books on [Multi-Headed Fire Python Mysteries] from the storage space. He turned to where there was the bookmark. And proceeded to carefully study and decipher it bit by bit. Every Mage is also a scholar. Not just because they can cast extraordinarily powerful spells, but because every individual who chooses the path of a Mage needs to read a vast amount of books and documents. To explore the secrets of natural elements, to seek the rules of materials. Therefore, the path to becoming a Mage is challenging, and also tremendously rewarding. The author of this book is a Fire Elemental Mage named ¡®Caryl¡¯, who once served as a magic instructor at a noble academy. He is heavily focused on the practice and research of fire elemental magic. Besides the final goal of the Multi-Headed Fire Python recorded in the book, there are also explanations of fire elemental magic and small magic practices. What Fang Hao was reading was another type of fire elemental summoning magic. [Flame Spider], After casting the spell, a flame spider can be summoned to attack targets or follow the caster. Fang Hao stood up. He took out the Starfire Wand, reading the explanation in the book while beginning to concentrate magic. With the gathering of magic power. Suddenly, in front of him, spiders made of gathered fire elementals began to materialize. Whoosh!! Just as they had formed, the flame spiders instantly extinguished. The spell failed! ¡°What happened¡­¡± Fang Hao sat down and carefully recalled the process. He went to the desk, and started to record in his notes. First attempt at the Flame Spider Conjuration: Steps weren¡¯t clear and cobbling was hindered. The flame spider disappeared shortly after it began to form. Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: Chapter 359, She is hinting at me (Please subscribe...) 1 Chapter 367: Chapter 359, She is hinting at me (Please subscribe¡­) 1 ¡°Finally success.¡± The twelfth attempt. In front of Fang Hao, five flame spiders the size of palms finally emerged. According to the author ¡®Caryl¡¯ in the book, summoning flame spiders is a very useful and effective magic. Body strength and endurance are the weaknesses of mages. Some measures to prevent enemies from approaching are very important for mages. And the size of the flame spider would increase in number and size along with the strength of the spellcaster¡¯s magic power. Proper use can be enough to prevent the enemies from getting close. Or to buy time to escape. Five flame spiders stood in place. Immediately, the smooth solid wood floor began to char. Then, with a ¡®whoosh¡¯ sound, fire ignited directly. ¡°Damn it!!¡± Fang Hao was startled and immediately dispersed the flame spiders, stomping out the ignited flames. Fortunately, he could only condense five small ones, otherwise the house might burn down. The success of the flame spiders. Gave Fang Hao quite a bit of confidence that the skills he learns from reading books are more fulfilling than using scrolls. But the use of skills is not yet proficient. He will need to practice more for consistency when he has the chance, so as not to fail in real combat. He puts out the last spark. Fang Hao sat back down at his desk and continued to study the book. As time slowly passed, the sky grew increasingly dark. Knock, Knock, Knock!! Suddenly, someone knocks on the door. ¡°Sir, Lady Rebecca¡¯s dress has arrived.¡± ¡°Mmm, wait a bit.¡± Fang Hao said, while marking the half-read book and re-entering it into the storage space. He opened the door, and outside stood a follower of the Gray Bear. In his hands was a cheongsam embroidered with blue patterns, made from Nightfall silk. Nightfall silk is of high quality. Both its gloss and softness are excellent. Rebecca is fond of blue, so blue patterns were used in the clothing. ¡°Who sent it?¡± Fang Hao took the cheongsam and asked casually. ¡°A young lady, a very beautiful young lady.¡± ¡°A young lady? Where is she?¡± ¡°The young lady said she hadn¡¯t been here for along time, so she¡¯s out looking around.¡± The bandit follower continued to answer. Having said this, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t sure about the person¡¯s identity. Maids in the territory are always well-behaved, even if they wanted to take a walk, they would first come and let him know. There hadn¡¯t been a case of someone just leaving. ¡°What does she look like?¡± Fang Hao asked as he walked outside. ¡°This tall, with long golden hair, looks like she¡¯s in her twenties, like a noble.¡± The follower tried his best to describe. Hearing his description, Fang Hao paused slightly. A bad feeling suddenly rose in his heart, could it be that the vampire Rolana had come? ¡°Is she cold, as if someone owes her money?¡± ¡°Yes, very serious.¡± It¡¯s her. Rolana is supposed to be in Crescent Heights, why isn¡¯t she sleeping, but delivering clothes to me? Being betrayed by the Red Duke and torn apart, imprisoned for decades, Rolana has a strong distrust of people. Even her heroes under her command, their loyalty has never improved. I gave her a bone dragon and it just increased a bit. In this period, giving a bone dragon is like giving an F-22 fighter jet. According to the plot, little girls would be so happy they¡¯d faint. She just increased a bit of loyalty. It¡¯s a completely losing deal. Now that I don¡¯t know where she went, I just have to hope that this woman won¡¯t cause trouble again. ¡°Okay, I get it, if she comes back, let her wait for me here, don¡¯t let her wander around.¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± He walked to another room and called Anjia. He went outside to call for a carriage, heading to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Headed to the City Lord¡¯s mansion with the cheongsam, but did not see Rebecca. Gave the cheongsam to the maid. Took Anjia directly to the auction venue. The location of the auction was the same hall where they had bid on the dresses last time. An auction hosted by the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Whether it¡¯s the city¡¯s nobles or influential merchants, anyone with a bit of face would attend. Luxuriously decorated carriages lined the entire street. Fang Hao and Anjia also dressed up quite nicely. After presenting their invitation, they entered. The bright hall was already full of people. Before the auction started, music was being played on stage, gentlemen inviting elegantly dressed ladies to slowly stroll in the dance floor. Fang Hao was not particularly interested in dancing. Observing everyone, his gaze fell on a few people in the front row. Lai Gou! Lai Gou also noticed him. The two shared a brief eye contact. The real Lai Gou was still in the Blood Prison of his territory. And the Lai Gou in front of him was being impersonated by Little You using a demon mask. Investigating the Faceless one along Lei Li¡¯s lead. In front of Lai Gou sat a man and a woman. The man was bulky and dressed like a gentleman, but the scar on his left face and posture made him appear like a mafia boss. No need to guess, this man was the underworld boss, Lei Li. Next to Lei Li sat a voluptuous woman. Her beautiful body and low-cut dress revealed a large swathe of white cleavage. The men¡¯ s eyes would always inadvertently be attracted to this white expanse. Facing the men¡¯s gaze. The woman did not seem shy at all, but even occasionally twisted her body to expose her cleavage to the men¡¯s eyes. While Fang Hao was observing Lei Li and his companions. A slightly overweight man came over to him. The man was around 30 years old, with wavy short hair, and very fair skin. He was wearing a light blue, waist-cinching suit, but it was clear that he wasn¡¯t suited for this outfit. You could even see the stockpiled fat beneath his clothes. ¡°Little brother, what¡¯s your name?¡± The man held a glass of wine and greeted Fang Hao as though they were friends already. ¡°Fang Hao, what about you?¡± Fang Hao also smiled in response. These nobles were so keen on various kinds of social events like dances to expand their network and collect contacts. Of course, they were also looking for their own targets for an exciting encounter. ¡°My name is Eric, Mr Fang Hao, your design last time was brilliant! You are really bold to design Lady Rebecca¡¯s dress so short, I thought you would be dragged out and beheaded by the guards the moment I saw it.¡± Eric said excitingly. It seemed that he was also in the fabric business, and saw Fang Hao¡¯s design during the bidding that day. ¡°Short? I thought it was just right, and Lady Rebecca seems to really like it.¡± Fang Hao said softly. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Eric nodded his head, he also agreed. Now every fabric store in the city is imitating Fang Hao¡¯s design. He feared that in a short time, all women of noble status on the streets of the city will be wearing Fang Hao¡¯s style of dress. ¡°By the way, Mr Fang Hao, where are you from, I haven¡¯t heard of your fabric store before!¡± Eric continued to chat casually. ¡°The outskirts of the city, further north from Pruell City.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°That¡¯s quite far, is your family also in the fabric business?¡± The fat man was more talkative, very interested in Fang Hao¡¯s background. He kept asking about various news. Fang Hao answered casually. Just as they were talking, suddenly, a woman walked into the hall from the entrance. Golden hair, a beautiful face. She instantly attracted the attention of all the men in the hall. Even the fat man next to Fang Hao opened his mouth wide, his eyes firmly fixed on the attractive figure not far away. Fang Hao looked at the woman who came in, and his heart moved slightly. Rolana! How did she get in? Rolana strode forward, casually took a glass of fruit wine from a waiter, and sat down near the stage as naturally as any city noblewoman. She winked at Fang Hao¡¯s direction and then sat down in a position close to the stage. As soon as she sat down. A group of men immediately gathered around her, inviting her to dance. ¡°She winked at me, you saw it, right? Could this be some kind of hint¡­.¡± The face of the fat man Eric turned red with excitement, his voice even trembling. Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Chapter 360, City Lord and Lady of the City_l Chapter 368: Chapter 360, City Lord and Lady of the City_l Eric¡¯s face turned red with excitement as he spoke to Fang Hao. ¡°Did you see that? She winked at me, amidst all these people, she chose to cast a glance my way. Isn¡¯t this a hint of something?¡± His previously relaxed stomach was now sucking in vigorously. Making himself appear as slender as possible. ¡°It was just a look, no need to get so worked up!¡± Fang Hao commented. ¡°You didn¡¯t see it, she secretly sent me a signal.¡± Eric mimicked to prove he wasn¡¯t seeing things. Seeing Fang Hao not responding, Eric continued, ¡°Should I askher to dance or should I sit down with her for a chat?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s better for you to stay away from her. She seems cold. It would be better not to cause trouble for yourself.¡± Fang Hao advised. But this kind of advice, apparently, had no effect. ¡°You¡¯re still too young. A memorable encounter can transform you into a man overnight, remember to seize any opportunity.¡± Eric gulped down the drink in his cup and fearlessly walked towards Rolana. In the middle of the way, he turned his back towards Fang Hao and thumped his chest. Giving an impression of, ¡®watch me perform.¡¯ Once Eric left, Anjia whispered, ¡°How come she is here?¡± Anjia was unaware that Rolana was coming. ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t mention it. She¡¯s the one who sent these gowns.¡± Fang Hao said helplessly. ¡°You better pray that nobody provokes her, or else she is capable of killing everyone here.¡± Anjia, all the while munching on a pastry, continued speaking. ¡°Stop talking, I¡¯m starting to feel a bit apprehensive now.¡± Being able to kill all the nobles here and then leave is within Rolana¡¯s capability. That is the thing Fang Hao was worried about. However, currently, Rolana¡¯s emotions seemed stable. The gentlemen who came forward to invite her to dance were all declined by Rolana. No abnormality was encountered. However, when the chubby Eric came near. Rolana curiously glanced at Fang Hao, her eyes filled with doubts. She thought that Eric was arranged by Fang Hao. Since Rolana did not directly tell him off, Eric further confirmed his uniqueness. He glanced back at Fang Hao boastfully and directly sat down next to Rolana. After sitting for a while, Eric returned. He came back to where Fang Hao was. ¡°Why did you come back?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°A man shouldn¡¯t appear too enthusiastic, he should gradually progress. Leaving a good first impression on each other is enough.¡± Eric confidently said, flicking his hair. Fang Hao remained somewhat speechless. He didn¡¯t want to continue on this topic and asked curiously, ¡°Who is the woman beside Lei Li?¡± ¡°Hmm? Do you like this type?¡± Eric was stunned, ¡°That¡¯s Lei Li¡¯s woman, Deborah. This woman is wild. I heard that men who slept with her needed to rest for a few days.¡± ¡°Ah? Lei Li¡¯s woman and others dare to touch her?¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. ¡°Well¡­ Lei Li doesn¡¯t care about these things. Deborah is very open-minded. You can try it, maybe you can take her away tonight.¡± Eric lowered his voice even more. It¡¯s better to be more careful while discussing Lei Li. Being able to reach his present position through his mafia connections, Lei Li¡¯s competency and means are sufficiently proven. ¡°Forget about it.¡± Fang Hao shook his head. During their conversation. The music in the hall suddenly stopped. People left the dance floor and returned to their seats. A butler dressed in a suit stepped onto the stage. After lightly clapping his hands, he announced loudly, ¡°Thank you all for waiting. Please welcome Lord Aubrey, and Lady Rebecca.¡± The music started once again. Lord Aubrey and Rebecca appeared together on the second floor. But the two didn¡¯t come down, instead, they waved at everyone from a location where the stage was visible. Whoosh!! As soon as they appeared, the entire hall buzzed like a swarm of bees. Aubrey was dressed in a green suit embroidered with golden lines, while Rebecca wore a black, body-hugging cheongsam for the banquet. The black cheongsam perfectly fit her body. The full contours of Rebecca were fully revealed, the raised areas weren¡¯t flabby at all. The dress slightly tightened at her waist, accentuating her waist and plump buttocks, especially the slits at the sides, revealing her rounded and fair legs. Beauty and coquettishness, solemn and elegant, all showing in one woman. Both, the gentlemen of graceful demeanor, and ladies dressed extravagantly, were watching with wide eyes. Contrary to Rebecca¡¯s astonishing appearance, Lord Aubrey appeared rather gloomy. Plus, his sallow face, deeply sunken eyes, and a blackened area around them, made him look like a gravely ill father standing next to his daughter. ¡°Lord Aubrey, Lady Rebecca.¡± The crowd below saluted. ¡°Hmm, everyone, take your seats, let¡¯s begin the auction now!¡± Lord Aubrey spoke, then together with Rebecca, they both sat down on the second floor. The people below returned to their seats. The butler from just now took the stage again to start the day¡¯s auction. Without much of an introduction, he announced directly, ¡°Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we¡¯re now selling the goods from the first warehouse. There are a total of 102 oil paintings, priced at 5000 Gold Coins each, with each bid must being at least too Gold Coins.¡± A few people stepped onto the stage. They showed three oil paintings as samples to the audience. Two landscape paintings, and one painting of a young woman. ¡°That woman is the wife of ¡®Dowie¡¯, I have seen her before.¡± Eric was again quietly sharing. ¡°Oh!¡± Fang Hao nodded. Dowie¡­ It sounded like a familiar name, but for the moment, he couldn¡¯t remember where he knew it from. However, what surprised Fang Hao the most was that the auction was conducted on a warehouse by warehouse basis. The categories of the items were already predefined, then collectively sold off. This gives a sense of blind box opening. The chances of finding hidden treasures in the warehouse, however, are low. After all, they¡¯re selling with their eyes wide open, while you¡¯re buying with your eyes tightly shut. ¡°Ibid, 5100!¡± ¡°5200¡­¡± Very quickly, people started bidding. And prices rose rapidly, reaching ten thousand gold coins within two minutes. Fang Hao himself lacked any artistic sense and held little interest in paintings. He did not join in the bidding, but instead turned to Eric beside him and asked in a soft voice, ¡°Mr. Eric, I have a question.¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead!¡± ¡°I came from outside the city and don¡¯t quite understand why Lady Rebecca goes to the Federal Conference while the City Lord is still alive.¡± This has always been a question in Fang Hao¡¯s mind. The roles of the City Lord and his wife seemed somewhat unusual. Moreover, Rebecca has the power to command the city¡¯s armies. This left Fang Hao more confused about who truly holds power in Lyss City. ¡°The affairs of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion are not easily explained.¡± Eric hesitated, wanting to speak but swallowed his words. ¡°Just say it. I¡¯m just curious and won¡¯t spread it out.¡± Fang Hao promised. Eric was talkative by nature and couldn¡¯t resist after Fang Hao¡¯s multiple assurances. He began to tell everything he knew about the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Rebecca was not originally from this city. She came to Lyss City when the former City Lord was still alive. Very quickly, Rebecca displayed excellent administrative abilities and took up the position of an administrative deputy within the city. After the old City Lord had an accident, logically Rebecca should have succeeded him. However, when the news of the City Lord¡¯s replacement reached the Federal Conference, problems arose. The Conference questioned Rebecca¡¯s half-elf status, believing that she would not completely side with the humans when faced with a choice. Thus, the matter of the City Lord¡¯s succession staled for a while. Later, a sudden message from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion stirred the city. Rebecca had married the current Lord Aubrey, with Aubrey becoming the City Lord. However, the core power of the city still laid in Rebecca¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the City Lord and Lady Rebecca aren¡¯t as close as they seem, they barely even talk to each other.¡± Eric didn¡¯t stop once he started. Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask any further. Eric just let everything he knew and heard spill out. After listening carefully, Fang Hao instinctively looked at Lord Aubrey. He saw that the woman standing next to Lei Li was constantly throwing flirtatious glances at Aubrey. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s how it is,¡± Fang Hao nodded, understanding everything. No wonder Rebecca was able to mobilize all the city¡¯s troops with just one sentence. She is the true core of power in the city, and because the Conference questioned her identity, they put forward a figurehead City Lord. With their conversation, the paintings in this warehouse were finally sold for 10,500 gold coins to a nobleman. The first auctioned warehouse netted over ten thousand gold coins, which pleased the auctioneer. The auction for the second warehouse¡¯s items commenced immediately after. It was full of high-end items, such as porcelain cups, lanterns, etcetera, in large quantities. After the bidding, the items were sold for a price of twenty thousand gold coins. ¡°Alright, next are the items in the third warehouse. There are 56 collectibles in total, including 37 pieces of artifacts, 13 paintings and calligraphies, 5 sculptures and one specimen. The starting bid is 10,000 gold coins, each increment must be no less than 100,¡± the auctioneer loudly introduced. Behind him, three sample items were brought out. A huge oil painting measuring two meters, an animal sculpture, and a shiny silvered thin-blade knife. Upon seeing this familiar weapon, Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows immediately furrowed. It was part of Little You¡¯s Expiation Weapon Series. Glancing at Little You, she kept her eyes straight ahead, standing silently behind Lei Li. He wasn¡¯t interested in any of the collectibles in this warehouse, nor did he have the ability to appreciate them. However, he had to get this Expiation Weapon. The relationship between the Lord and the Hero was reciprocal. While the hero serves the Lord, Fang Hao also had to support and develop them. Each Expiation Weapon would greatly level up Little You¡¯ s rank. Hence, he had to buy this warehouse, even if the rest of the items were rubbish. ¡°10100.¡± A man in the front position was the first to bid. ¡°10200.¡± ¡°10300.¡± ¡­¡±80500.¡± When the bid reached 80500, the bidding paused. To everyone present, it seemed these items were worth no more than 80,000 gold coins. Seeing no one else bidding, Fang Hao began to bid, ¡°81000.¡± Unexpectedly, someone in the back started bidding. Everyone turned around and looked to the back. Eric¡¯s face momentarily froze, he gave an awkward smile, pointing at Fang Hao. Indicating it was him who had made the bid, and had nothing to do with himself. ¡°81500.¡± The man who had bid prior to Fang Hao continued, raising the price by 500. ¡°82000.¡± Fang Hao raised the bid. The man looked carefully at Fang Hao, then bid again, ¡°82500.¡± At the same time he said, ¡°I¡¯m only interested in two of the artworks, which are worth this much. If you continue to bid, young man, then I will step down.¡± Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Chapter 361: Too Bold_l Chapter 369: Chapter 361: Too Bold_l The value of the items in the warehouse was about 80,000. He even suspected that Fang Hao was intentionally raising the price to trick him. He decided to speak up directly, saying that if he increased the price again, he would concede. But as soon as he said this, Fang Hao immediately raised the price, ¡°Thankyou, 82600.¡± This time, he only raised it by the minimum of one hundred gold. The man¡¯s face stiffened a bit. But since he had already spoken, he couldn¡¯t continue to bid against a young man. So he simply put down the sign in his hand and silently started to drink his wine. Seeing this, the auctioneer, after a few seconds of pause and no one bidding, made the final decision with a hammer gavel. The goods of this warehouse were sold to Fang Hao for 82,600 gold coins. Once the goods were in his hands, Fang Hao let out a sigh of relief. The auction hosted by the City Lord¡¯s mansion was still in a state of low-price quick sales. After the items were appraised, they were sold at a minimum price for everyone to bid on. But the prices wouldn¡¯t be too outrageous. Now that Little You is at the green Tier 4 level, after she gets this weapon, her tier will be raised again. The auctioneer began to introduce the items from the next warehouse, which was an assortment of gold and silver ornaments. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t very interested, so he turned to Eric and said, ¡°Sowhat¡¯s next? Where do I make the payment?¡± He didn¡¯t know anything about this process. There was no one to tell him, so he could only ask the fat man next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, someone will come to find you later, you just have to give the money to get the keys then.¡± explained Eric. ¡°Oh!¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. Surely, during the sixth round of the auction. A maid walked over and whispered, ¡°Sir, you have purchased the items from Warehouse No. 402, would you like to make the payment now?¡± ¡°Can I pay later?¡± ¡°Yes, if you don¡¯t have the money with you, you can deliver it within two days.¡± The maid answered with a smile. The auction invites all the town¡¯s dignitaries, one could say the City Lord¡¯s mansion knew the identities of everyone. They weren¡¯t afraid they would default on the payment, and with the vast amount of the transactions, some really did need to pay later. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll pay now.¡± Fang Hao took out three Warfire Cards with a denomination of 10,000 and put them on the tray in the maid¡¯s hand. According to the exchange rate between Warfire Coins and gold coins. More than 80,000 gold coins was equivalent to over 27,000 Warfire Coins. ¡°Alright, please wait a moment, sir.¡± The maid nodded, took the money, and left directly. Three minutes later, the maid came back. She handed over a warehouse key to Fang Hao and whispered, ¡°Sir, this is the key to Warehouse No. 402. The goods can be stored for another 10 days. If you haven¡¯t taken them after 10 days, there will be a storage fee of 3 gold coins per day.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Fang Hao nodded and took the key. He didn¡¯t need 10 days, he had bought collectibles and their volume wasn¡¯t big. When the time came, he could just put them into his storage space and take them away directly. The maid nodded too, and then turned around to leave. The auction entered the tenth round, and the items up for auction became city properties. There were residential houses as well as commercial shops. Fang Hao took a liking to one of the warehouses, and bought it for 120,000 to use as storage. Time passed little by little. The auction ended at midnight. The gorgeously dressed dignitaries were chatting and leaving at the same time. They got on their carriages and left. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, it¡¯s great to meet you, I hope we can meet again sometime.¡± Eric said goodbye to Fang Hao, too. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Eric.¡± Fang Hao also responded with a smile. This fat man was quite intriguing, he had found out many things about Lyss City from him in that one night. Eric nodded, turned around, and left. After a while, most of the people had left the main hall. The few remaining nobles were also chatting while heading outside. Fang Hao directly sat down next to Laurana, ¡°I thought you liked quiet.¡± ¡°A little bustle once in a while is also good.¡± ¡°Where did you go?¡± Fang Hao asked. Laurana leaned back in her soft chair, ¡°I went to the commercial street and the temple, and sat in your hot pot restaurant for a while. It¡¯s doing quite well.¡± Goodness, she even dared to visit the temple. ¡°Lyss City has a large population, so it¡¯s easy to see the results of doing business,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Hmm.¡± Laurana quietly replied. Just as Fang Hao was about to ask Laurana when she planned to leave, A maid hurried over. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, the lady wishes to speak with you about the dress matter.¡± ¡°Oh, lead the way,¡± he replied. Fang Hao stood up and followed the maid up the stairs. Rebecca was waiting in the second floor hall, and seeing Fang Hao entered immediately made her smile disappear. ¡°Is this the dress you sent? It¡¯s so form-fitting.¡± The cheongsam was indeed form-fitting, and the pattern across the fabric was dazzlingly beautiful, like the stars of the night sky. All night, she felt the hot gaze of all the men in the room on her. Her cheeks were burning. There was also a bizarre feeling in her heart, somewhat shy but also somewhat womanly pride. ¡°Yes, this kind of dress is not easily worn by many. If one does not possess a perfect figure, they will not be able to wear it,¡± Fang Hao said, noticing Rebecca¡¯s displeasure and quickly started to explain. ¡°It¡¯s abit too much though,¡± she said. ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, by tomorrow the whole city will be discussing your dress sense. Within three days, the ladies of high society will be vying to copy your outfit. You¡¯ve absolutely dazzled everyone tonight,¡± Fang Hao declared. With that said, Rebecca blushed and felt a sudden warmth throughout her body. Before Rebecca could reply, Fang Hao interjected, ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, tomorrow fabric stores will be wanting to borrow your cheongsam to make replicas. I hope you don¡¯t lend it to them. Design isn¡¯t easy after all.¡± Rebecca was quickly convinced by Fang Hao¡¯s explanation. If the ladies in the city wore this, there was nothing for her to be shy about. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do that,¡± replied Rebecca, sitting straight backdown, revealing her fair thigh from the slit of her dress. ¡°Just now I noticed you purchased a warehouse, do you have an interest in antiques?¡± Rebecca asked, steering the conversation away from dresses. ¡°Not really, I¡¯m just participating. I always buy something, it¡¯s about taking part,¡± Fang Hao said, taking a seat as well. Rebecca rolled her eyes at him, ¡°I always feel like you¡¯re not quite right in the head.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite alright.¡± Just as they were chatting, A warning voice came from the staircase, ¡°Miss, you cannot approach here casually.¡± Fang Hao turned his head to look. He saw Laurana standing on the stairs, her icy gaze fixed on the guardian. The guard swallowed hard under her stare. ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, that woman came with me,¡± said Fang Hao immediately. ¡°Let the lady come through!¡± The guard stepped aside, allowing Laurana to walk in. She silently stood by Fang Hao¡¯s side. Rebecca looked at Fang Hao again, her eyes full of inquest. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t sure why Laurana came up. He had to introduce her, ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, this is Miss Laurana. She is from the same city as me, and we happened to meet at the auction.¡± Introducing Laurana¡¯s identity was a bit challenging, He couldn¡¯t mention Crescent Heights, So, he only claimed she was from the same city. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana has increased her Loyalty to you by 4 points, totaling 30 Loyalty.] Just after making the introduction, Fang Hao received a system message. He looked up at Laurana, and saw the beautiful icicle-like woman¡¯s face colored slightly. What¡¯s going on? He only introduced her, and he instantly gained 4 loyalty points. The Bone Dragon he gave away only gained him 1 point. ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, it¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Laurana greeted her first. Although Laurana has been alive for hundreds of years, she still looks in her twenties. It¡¯s just that her face is always cold, which makes people feel distant. Rebecca was somewhat astonished at Laurana¡¯s appearance. She responded with a slight nod, ¡°Nice to meet you, Miss Laurana. Is this your first time in Lyss City?¡± Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Chapter 362, Two People Who Get Along_l Chapter 370: Chapter 362, Two People Who Get Along_l After the introduction, Rolana also sat down nearby. ¡°I¡¯ve been here a few times before, but there have been quite a lot of changes this time round,¡± begun Rolana. ¡°Indeed, there have been significant changes compared to a few years ago.¡± ¡°I remember there was a beautiful opera house to the west of the city, but it¡¯s no longer there.¡± ¡°Oh, the opera house simply moved and was expanded; its environment is now much better than before.¡± II II The auction ended. People gradually left the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Some men and women who had gotten along well at the ball got into the same carriage together. Others sought out a nearby secluded corner to continue their conversations. Eric glanced over, a cold smirk on his face. She can¡¯t hold a candle to Miss Rolana, he thought of the heavily-made up ladies. Only fools like you would tug these women into the corners. With that in mind, he headed for the carriage himself. But just as he neared the carriage, he was stopped by a group of men. Eric¡¯s face darkened in an instant, ¡°This is the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, what are you trying to do here?¡± Seeing Eric¡¯s anxious look, the men burst into laughter. They said, ¡°Fatty, our boss Lei Li wants to see you; come with us.¡± Lei Li? A cold sweat broke out on Eric¡¯s face, being targeted by Lei Li was even worse than being robbed. But he had no choice but to follow them to meet Lei Li. Thankfully, he was in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Many people saw him being led away by Lei Li¡¯s men, so Lei Li shouldn¡¯t dare to actually harm him. Comforting himself with this thought, the group approached a nicely designed carriage. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve brought Eric.¡± ¡°Let him ini!¡± The carriage door was opened, and Eric stepped inside. Inside the spacious carriage, Lei Li and the beautiful Deborah were seated on one side. Lai Gou, Lei Li¡¯s right-hand man, was seated on the other. As Eric entered the carriage, he felt a wave of pressure wrapping around him and his legs began to shake uncontrollably. ¡°B-Boss Lei Li, you wanted to see me?¡± Eric tried to control the fear in his heart. ¡°No need to be nervous. Just answer whatever I ask This will be a casual meeting,¡± Lei Li said bluntly. ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°Do you know that black-haired lad?¡± Lei Li asked in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t recognition him. Actually, I just met him,¡± Eric replied in a fluster. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°His name is Fang Hao. I¡¯m not very close with him. We just had a short talk today,¡± Eric replied. ¡°Hmm, what does he do?¡± Lei Li leaned on his knees, his eyes locked on the chubby man. Recently, the city¡¯s faceless men were investigating how Rebecca had managed to slip past their sights. Lei Li too was probing. In his investigation, he discovered that this black-haired young man frequently met with Rebecca at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Today, he saw Eric getting along with the black-haired lad rather well. So, he decided to bring him in directly. ¡°He¡¯s a cloth merchant. This time, Mrs. Rebecca¡¯s council meeting dress was made by him. And he¡¯s staying in Lyss City because Mrs. Rebecca has ordered some new clothes from him,¡± Eric blurted out everything he knew at once. ¡°He¡¯s not from this city?¡± ¡°No, he said he¡¯s from a city north of Pruell City, and he¡¯s planning to open a shop in this city.¡± ¡°Did he say anything else?¡± Lei Li continue to press on. ¡°He asked me why Lyss City is run by Mrs. Rebecca instead of the City Lord.¡± Ha!! At this, Lei Li burst out laughing. That Fang Hao seems to know nothing about the situation in Lyss City. Regarding such common knowledge, he still needed to specifically ask about it. ¡°What else did he say?¡± Eric glanced shyly at Deborah¡¯s thigh and whispered, ¡°He deliberately asked about Miss Deborah.. At these words. The carriage fell into a brief silence before a woman¡¯s hearty laughter filled the space. ¡°It seems that the lad¡¯s got some taste. Now that you say it, I kind of like him a little,¡± chuckled Deborah, a soft whisper following her laughter. ¡°Alright, you can leave now. You know the consequences if you tell anyone else about this matter, right?¡± Lei Li warned again. ¡°I understand, I understand. Even if I were braver, I wouldn¡¯t dare to talk about this,¡± Eric guaranteed loudly before slowly retreating away. Only three people remained in the carriage. ¡°Lai Gou, do you think this Fang Hao is suspicious?¡± Lei Li asked Lai Gou. Lai Gou thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Boss, what the fatty said matches up to what I investigated. This black-haired lad is from out of town, he couldn¡¯t possibly be involved in this matter. Even if he wanted to be involved, a cloth merchant like him wouldn¡¯t have the capacity to.¡± ¡°Hmm, I also feel that there¡¯s a slim chance it¡¯s him.¡± Lei Li gave the side wall a light tap, and the carriage began to move slowly. Seeing that the two weren¡¯t discussing this matter anymore. Deborah nestled against Lei Li, her voice coy, ¡°Big Lei, let me go and dig up some information about that lad for you.¡± Lei Li didn¡¯t reply. ¡°Pretty please! That boy is really good looking,¡± Deborah continued to plead. ¡°As excited as you are about this small matter, you can go ahead and meet the lad after a few days,¡± Lei Li finally said. ¡°Alright, Big Lei is the best.¡± The second floor of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Fang Hao sat down, listening as the two women¡¯s conversation grew more animated. They had moved from discussing changes in the city to engaging in a lively conversation about music and art. Rebecca is very artsy and has some exposure to music. Rolana is from the traditional Blood Clan and is well versed in these subjects, making for a good conversation partner for Rebecca. Fang Hao glanced at his watch; it was already 1:40 in the morning. He yawned and said, ¡°Madam Rebecca, it¡¯s quite late, I don¡¯t want to interrupt your rest.¡± Rebecca nodded, ¡°Okay, if anything crops up, I¡¯ll notify you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao turned to Rolana, ¡°Miss Rolana, it¡¯s very late. Do you need my carriage to take you back?¡± The Eternal Night Clan is more energetic during the night. However, everyone else is still a normal person who needs rest. Rolana glanced at Fang Hao and stood up, ¡°Madam Rebecca, I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± ¡°Yes, until next time.¡± After bidding farewell to Rebecca- The three of them left the City Lord¡¯s mansion directly. They got into the carriage to go back to their quarters. This late, the streets were deserted and the only sound was the horses¡¯ hoofs and the wheels rolling over the road. Fang Hao and the others were sitting in the carriage. They fell into momentary silence. ¡°I will stay in Lyss City for a couple of days, when are you planning to return?¡± Fang Hao asked Rolana, who sat opposite him. He didn¡¯t want to keep Rolana in Lyss City. He was afraid she might cause trouble. ¡°I need some farming tools, once I get them, I¡¯ll go back.¡± Rolana replied. Fang Hao had already sent a group of people to Crescent Heights, even though these individuals were bandits who had surrendered. Rolana visited Fang Hao for some pioneering tools. Discovering he wasn¡¯t at his fiefdom and that there were gowns to deliver, she came over directly. ¡°That¡¯s no problem, I¡¯ll arrange people to deliver them to you when we are back,¡± Fang Hao said softly. These tools could be manufactured using hundredfold amplification, it wasn¡¯t a problem at all. However, it was inconvenient to manufacture and transport them in Lyss City. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll also stay in Lyss City for a few days and we can leave together then,¡± Rolana continued. ¡°You don¡¯t have to, you can go back first, I¡¯ll arrange people to send you the tools directly,¡± In saying this, Fang Hao was quite clear his intention was disregarded by Rolana. She leaned back on her chair and closed her eyes. The carriage returned to their place of residence. Rolana was shown to her room, and Fang Hao retired for rest as well. The next day. 9 AM in the morning. He had come home at 2 in the morning, so he woke up slightly later today. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he sat up in bed and saw a figure standing at the door. She knocked on the door lightly. Knock, knock, knock!! Fang Hao was shocked and instinctively reached for the weapon beside him. The next second, he recognized the figure standing at the door: Little You, who had reverted to her original form. He glared at her, ¡°Little You, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Sir, didn¡¯t you tell me to knock first when I come?¡± Little You revealed a cunning smile. Oh, come on! What¡¯s the point in knocking on the door if you¡¯re already inside my room? Realising her playfulness, Fang Hao knew she did it on purpose. Little You¡¯s level had upgraded and she was no longer the cold, emotionless creature she once was. She even learned how to play pranks now. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, I have a heart condition; keep this up and you¡¯ll scare me to death,¡± Fang Hao put his weapon down, and got out of bed. ¡°Bachelor Nelson, I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± Fang Hao dressed up. While he was freshening up and chatting about the situation regarding the Faceless. He heard from Little You that she had been to Lei Li and was questioned about Eric, and the reason why Little You was still with Lei Li. After breakfast, it was already lunch time. Fang Hao took the group to the warehouse 402 where the auction purchases were stored. He pulled out the key and opened the warehouse¡¯s gate. As the metal gate opened, the scene inside was revealed. 13 oil paintings covered with rag cloths were leaning against the wall. The remaining items, which wrapped a few half human height statues, were casually placed in the middle of the warehouse. Good lord, all this stuff was his and he felt like he had just spent his money on a junkyard. Fang Hao randomly placed the oil paintings into the storage space and removed the linen cloth covering the items. Five sculptures, they looked pretty good. Three were in the form of animals, the other two a pair of naked men and women. They appeared to be a set. And the other side displayed the Atonement series weapons needed by Little You. Surprisingly, however, there weren¡¯t just one weapon but two. [Atonement Willow Blade][Atonement Broad Blade]. Scored big time! There were actually two Atonement weapons. ¡°Little You, go ahead and take the weapons,¡± Fang Hao told Little You who was behind him. Little You was here today for the weapons Fang Hao had bought yesterday. ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± Little You approached. The moment she made contact with the weapons, a blue light surged from her body. [Disaster Song-Hilda (Blue Level 2 Hero)]. Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Chapter 363, Mantismen (Happy New Year to everyone )_1 Chapter 371: Chapter 363, Mantismen (Happy New Year to everyone )_1 The moment she touched the weapon. Little You went straight from a green hero to a blue hero. Her abilities and properties have also been greatly enhanced. [Disaster Song-Hilda¡¯s loyalty to you increases by 2 points, current loyalty is 97-] With the collection of exonerating weapons, Little You is gradually recovering her memories from when she was alive. Although Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask her about her past. But he also noticed that as her memories returned, Little You¡¯s personality became fuller and more like a living person¡¯s. But the increase in loyalty is also becoming slower. Giving the impression that the little girl has seen the world and is not easily deceived. But 97 points is already quite high. Even if it¡¯s slower, when the remaining six exonerating weapons are all collected, it will definitely reach too points. Fang Hao stood to one side, silently waiting. The moment Little You opened her eyes, Fang Hao saw her jet-black pupils, making his heart tighten. It gave the feeling of gazing into an endless abyss. But the next second, Little You blinked her eyes. And she returned to normal. ¡°How do you feel, Little You?¡± Fang Hao asked softly from the side. ¡°I feel stronger, Master.¡± Little You replied with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s good, you can go back now. Continue to keep an eye on the situation with Lei Li. Most importantly, focus on staying safe.¡± Fang Hao continued to instruct her. The situation with Lei Li needed Little You to continue to follow up. ApparentlyFaceless Ones have arranged for an important figure to come to Lyss City. ¡°Alright Master, I¡¯ll be going then.¡± Little You nodded and said. ¡°Hm.¡± Little You exited the warehouse. Fang Hao continued to wave at people to carry things out of the warehouse onto the dray outside. The Gray Bear Paratroopers standing by heard his orders and walked into the warehouse to carefully move the items inside the warehouse onto the dray. They knew all these items were purchased by Fang Hao at a high price. They were also afraid that they might accidentally ruin something, which would be hard to explain. As large items were all loaded onto the dray. The warehouse was emptied, revealing an almost three-meter tall fossil leaning against the back. The fossil was nearly three meters tall and over a meter wide. [Mantisman Fossil] [Category: Fossil] (Description: ¡®Strickland Mantismen¡¯, natural weapon masters, they are skilled in and adept at using all kinds of melee weapons. Some gifted Mantismen are even born with the ability to release psychic energy.) The cross-section of the stone was clearly visible. A Mantisman figure was clearly visible. They have a humanoid appearance with jointed skeletal limbs resembling an insect¡¯s. Although Fang Hao had not seen the Mantisman race. But from the description, it could be seen that Strickland Mantismen have impressive close-combat abilities. The last one who was called a weapon master could fight five at once. Fang Hao stood in front of the fossil and looked at it silently. He thought to himself, the fossil should be considered a bone too, right? ¡°Master, should we move this stone too?¡± One of the subordinates, looking at the stone bearing the imprint of a Mantisman, asked softly. He didn¡¯t understand anything about fossils. All he knew was that the lord had spent tens of thousands and purchased something which included a huge stone. ¡°Move it, move it back.¡± ¡°Alright, Master.¡± The men continued their action, moved the fossil out of the warehouse, placed it on the dray and transported it back to their residence. After dealing with the warehouse affairs. Fang Hao took Anjia to the hot pot restaurant. It was already in the afternoon, and there were quite a few customers in the restaurant. Mopping their foreheads and battling the heat, they enjoyed the hot pot. Here, the price of the Troll¡¯s Wine Barrel fruit wine was cheap but could still bring in a significant income. As soon as Fang Hao entered the shop, he saw a familiar figure standing in front of the counter. The black cloak left a deep impression. [Half-Demon Alchemist]. This was indeed a coincidence, Fang Hao was just checking the store but happened to meet the Demon Alchemist delivering potions. ¡°Mr. Alchemist, what a surprise meeting.¡± Fang Hao greeted. The stranger¡¯s voice came from behind, and the Half-Demon Alchemist¡¯s body jolted sharply. He quickly turned around and when he saw Fang Hao¡¯s face, his horror subsided. ¡°Ah! Boss, it¡¯s you.¡± The Half-Demon said. ¡°Yes, are you here to deliver the potions today?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. Because of his identity, the Half-Demon was very careful when moving around the city. He certainly wouldn¡¯ t be so amply cloaked if he came for a hot pot. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve concocted a few potions and thought I¡¯d bring them to you.¡± The Half-Demon continued. ¡°Good, let¡¯s discuss this upstairs.¡± The bustling hall wasn¡¯t suitable for a conversation. On the third floor, in a private room. Several people sat down. The Half-Demon Alchemist, still wearing his cloak. Fang Hao didn¡¯t mind and directly asked him, ¡°Let¡¯s see the potions you¡¯ve brought this time.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± The Half-Demon Alchemist agreed and took out all the potions from his bag. He still carried his items in rough terracotta pots. Placed on the table. A total of eight potions. Fang Hao started to check the name of each potion. (Healing Potion] 3 bottles, [Magic Potion] 2 bottles, [Hemostatic Potion] [Ephemeral Years Potion] [Perception Potion], Still in line with the style of the Half-Demon Alchemist. No unified direction for concocting, relatively scattered types. [Hemostatic Potion: Healing Bleeding wounds]. [Perception Potion: Significantly increases user¡¯s sense of awareness (duration: 1 minute)]. [Ephemeral Years Potion] [Category: Level 3 Potion] [Effect: Efficiency of any training +25% (including, but not limited to, combat, stamina, magic, processing, and other related abilities)]. (Description: A level 3 potion concocted by the alchemist, significantly increases the efficiency of combat training). Level 3 potion, and it can increase training efficiency by 25%. Seeing this attribute, Fang Hao glanced subconsciously at Anjia, who was sitting next to him with her legs crossed. Anjia has now reached Level 2 Blue. Although she is lazy, she has adhered to her daily training and is thus rather diligent. If there is ample supply of this kind of potion, it can shorten Anjia¡¯s time to level up. Not only her, even he can use it. It¡¯s indeed a very good potion. ¡°Fine, I will take all of them. How much do you want?¡± Fang Hao said straightforwardly. ¡°It¡¯s a total of 850 gold coins sir, this potion is a Level 3 potion, not only are the material costs high, but the concoction difficulty is also relatively high, so the price is 500 gold.¡± The Half-Demon Alchemist quoted the price and added an explanation. Fang Hao didn¡¯t say much, he asked the maid to prepare 850 gold coins directly. While waiting for the maid to prepare the gold coins. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Like [Constitution Enhancement Potion] and [Ephemeral Years Potion], you can produce more of these. When the time comes, I will buy them all. Moreover, I need a potion called [Flame Rhythm). It¡¯s a level 2 potion. I hope you can help me concoct it.¡± The Flame Rhythm is a potion documented in [Multi-Headed Fire Python Secret Art I], It¡¯s a potion that can be used during the cultivation of Fire Elemental Magic. Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 364, A Dark and Windy Night l Chapter 372: Chapter 364, A Dark and Windy Night l Lately, Fang Hao had been reading this book, studying the various pieces of magic knowledge written in it. This time, he opportunistically met the half-demon alchemist, and conveniently shared with him the formula for the Flame Rhythm potion. As a half-demon alchemist, he could concoct even Level Three potions, so Level Two should be no problem at all. This time, Fang Hao directly expressed his needs. Instead of allowing the alchemist to concoct potions at will. Like the last time, the Seal Potion that extended underwater duration, and the Perception Potion this time. In fact, these were not particularly useful to Fang Hao. His undead troops would explore any dangerous areas, so there were not many opportunities to use these potions. The only reason he bought them all was that they were inexpensive, allowing him to store them for potential future use. But he still hoped that the alchemist would lean towards concocting potions like the Physical Enhancement Potion and the Ephemeral Years Potion. For those were the potions that would be of greater help to him and his Heroes. ¡°Flame Rhythm?¡± The half-demon alchemist, rummaged in his memory, thinking of the recipe for this potion. He continued to say, ¡°I know about this potion, but I haven¡¯t tried making it yet. I can try after returning home, but I can¡¯t guarantee success the first time around, so the price might be slightly higher.¡± In other words, if he failed in his initial attempts, the cost of the wasted materials would be charged to Fang Hao. ¡°Sure.¡± Fang Hao readily agreed. The half-demon continued, ¡°As for the Physical Enhancement Potion and the Ephemeral Years Potion, I will prioritize making them if the materials permit. I cannot guarantee the availability of the materials, though.¡± His half-demon identity indeed presented him with numerous inconveniences. Currently, he made potions on the basis of whatever materials he had on hand. If a specific potion was asked for, it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t make it ¨C rather, he would need to see if he had the appropriate materials. ¡°If you are having trouble, list out what you need, and I can arrange for people to go buy them.¡± Understanding his predicament, Fang Hao made the suggestion. He was also planning to cultivate medicinal herbs at Crescent Heights; he just hadn¡¯t communicated this to Rolana yet. But he thought there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. As long as he explained it to Rolana, she probably wouldn¡¯t refuse. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s proposal, the half-demon alchemist hesitated. The idea certainly seemed feasible. But it also meant that he would have to frequently interact with people from Fang Hao¡¯s side. He was unsure if this method might cause trouble for him and his family. After all, it would be very dangerous if his true identity was exposed. After some thought, the half-demon ultimately rejected Fang Hao¡¯s proposal. ¡°There is no need to trouble you, Sir. I will find a way to buy the materials myself.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t insist either, ¡°Alright.¡± Soon enough, a maid brought in the prepared gold coins. The hefty coin bag was handed over to the hands of the half-demon alchemist. Holding the money brought a smile to his face. After bidding Fang Hao farewell, he immediately left the hotpot restaurant. Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia, enjoyed a hotpot meal before returning to his residence. Because Rebecca had a task, Fang Hao had already lived in Lyss City for two days. Experiencing a rare leisure time for himself. No need to worry about anything, just leaving it to the maid and subordinates to handle. In these two days, he spent most of his time in the room, continuing his study of the knowledge recorded in the books. ¡®The Esoteric of the Multi-Headed Fire Python¡¯ was like a compendium summarizing all the knowledge of magic. Linking together fragmented pieces of knowledge. To understand it, one would need to cross-reference several other books for learning. Gradually, scattered knowledge would become a complete training system. From meditation to practice, all the way to the consumption of auxiliary potions. The more Fang Hao read, the more fascinated he became by the depth of the world of magic. Similarly, through the learning, his gains were also significant. Though he only learned one skill from it, the Flame Spider, Fang Hao¡¯s understanding of magic deepened. Using it is no longer about casting skills based on templates, but truly feeling the pattern of magical power flowing within him. He now uses his control to either speed up or slow down the gathering of magic. Able to calculate the optimal timing to release magic. Fang Hao stayed for two days. Rolana also stayed for two days. Her abilities were far stronger than an ordinary Blood Clan¡¯s. She dared to strut around on the streets in broad daylight, sporting only a sun hat. Initially, Fang Hao was a bit worried, but he relaxed when he saw that she was just wandering around. He gave her some money to buy things she liked while she was roaming around. Fang Hao mentioned to her that he wanted to plant herbs at Crescent Heights. Rolana was quite cooperative this time. After a brief inquiry, she agreed. She would arrange for the planting once she returned. On the third day of their stay. In the afternoon. Fang Hao stood in the courtyard, Starfire Wand in hand, starting to build up magic. Feeling the magic around him gathering towards him. The next moment, he conjured six spiders made of fire, each about the size of a washbasin. Their bodies made entirely of fire elements, heating the surroundings intensely. ¡°Go!!¡± Fang Hao pointed his wand forward, and the six spiders rushed towards a target ahead, fiercely biting the wooden target wrapped in leather. In the blink of an eye, the wooden target was torn apart and then completely burnt to ashes. Based on his multiple experiments, Fang Hao had figured out the characteristics of the Flame Spider. They were crawling, tearing, and burning. Crawling, this characteristic was very similar to a spider¡¯s, it could climb on difficult terrains. Including trees, walls, ceilings. This meant that, with the exception of being in water or floating in the air, Flame Spiders could strike at you from any position. Tearing, or rushing towards the target to tear and bite at it. Burning, the spider¡¯s own fire element could set the target and anything it touched ablaze, inflicting fire damage. Generally speaking, the physical strength of mages wasn¡¯t high. A summoned creature, that could delay the enemy, was vital for a mage. ¡°How many days have you been practicing now? Why is it still just a spider?¡± Anjia, leaning against the wall with some snacks, silently watched. ¡°It¡¯s just the spider. No matter how much I practice, the spider just gets bigger and multiplies.¡± Fang Hao waved his wand again, and the Flame Spider dispersed. ¡°Boring, no use whatsoever.¡± Anjia turned her head and entered the room. ¡°What the heck do you mean by that¡­¡± Fang hao watched as Anjia returned to her room, feeling undervalued for his efforts. Just as he was planning to return to his room to continue reading, Someone from the City Lord¡¯s office came over, it was Rebecca¡¯s personal handmaid. ¡°Mr Fang Hao!¡± The maid gave a slight curtsy. ¡°Yes, does Lady Rebecca have any instructions?¡± Fang Hao asked softly. The maid took a few steps forward and handed a map in her hand to Fang Hao, saying quietly: ¡°This is the map, the location is a mansion outside the city. In the evening, there will be people to escort you out of the city¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Fang Hao casually tucked away the map. The maid bowed slightly, turned around, and left right away. A week had passed since Fang Hao had last captured the members of the Faceless Ones. After a few quiet days, it seemed like they were starting to get active again. Fang Hao filed away the map, pointing out a mansion to the west of the city. ¡°Tell Grey Bear to return with his men.¡± Fang Hao instructed one of his subordinates. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Gray Bear and his men were busy cleaning up the shops in West City. There was action expected tonight, naturally, they had to maintain a good condition. The night was dark and windy! In a secluded and dilapidated warehouse, everyone waited in silence. They waited for the person Rebecca had arranged to come and meet them. For this mission, Rolana also came along. The night was her usual time to be active, hearing about the mission, she also decided to join in on the fun. ¡°Don¡¯t run around later, you can kill the riff-raff outside, but the people wearing black hoodies inside must be captured alive. Be careful not to kill them.¡± Fang Hao approached Rolana and quietly instructed her. Of course, this was not the first time he had said this. Rolana turned her head to the side, looking like she didn¡¯t want to deal with Fang Hao. Grey Bear and his gang of bandits, were even more curious about the relationship between Fang Hao and Rolana now. At first, they thought this beautiful woman was the lover Fang Hao had taken back, then they felt she was one of his subordinates who was a hero. Now with Fang Hao persuading her, these people began to doubt again. Couldn¡¯t it be the tsundere fiancee from the story. But everyone also heard that Fang Hao was urging the woman to be careful when making her move not to kill everyone. This also meant that Rolana had prodigious strength. Fang Hao said nothing else when he saw that Rolana remained silent. Everyone quietly waited. About 20 minutes later, the expected help finally arrived. This was one of Rebecca¡¯s guards, now dressed as if he had just returned from the tavern. He walked into the room and closed the door behind him. Seeing Fang Hao and the others, he spoke softly, ¡°I will guide you out through the western city gate, but once the city gate opens, there could potentially be enemies within the City Defense Army. Therefore, you need to overtake the mansion before the other party sends out the news.¡± There was a high possibility that the Faceless Ones had planted their own people among the City Defense Army. Once the city gate opens, someone might notice and pass the information to the people in the mansion outside the city. However, the people from the City Lord¡¯s office would try to control the speed at which the message was relayed in order to buy Fang Hao more time. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s set off!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± The room¡¯s door opened again, with everyone following behind the soldier in the darkness, rushing towards the West City gate. West City Gate. The soldier carried out a conversation up front. The city gate was soon opened enough for a person to pass through. All of them, without any exchange of words, directly left the city. After they left the city, the city gate was closed again. The group continued on without stopping. In a dense forest not far from the mansion, they hid. There were many guards and secret sentinels in the mansion, and torches illuminated the surroundings. Fang Hao released the Skeleton Sparrow, using God¡¯s Presence, it flew into the air to observe the mansion. This time, besides the hidden sentinels lurking in the shadows, he also saw some heavily armed mercenaries. From the insignia on their chests. He could identify the ¡®Northern Tower Mercenary Group¡¯ and ¡®Bloodthorn Mercenary Group¡¯. Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Chapter 365, Orcs Right Arm l Chapter 373: Chapter 365, Orc¡¯s Right Arm l These two mercenary groups were quite well-known in Lyss City. The North Tower Mercenary Group was considered upper-middle-tier within the city, and its members could often be seen picking up tasks in the mission hall. The Bloodthorn Mercenary Group was quite distinctive, somewhat resembling a group of thieves. The tasks they took up tended towards information gathering, theft and assassination. Of the well-known pickpockets on the streets, 80% were from Blood thorn. Fang Hao made a rough calculation, estimating that there were close to 100 men on guard outside. Seemingly, the capture of the Faceless one last time had struck fear into their hearts. That¡¯s why they prepared such a large number of manpower. Fang Hao deactivated God¡¯s Presence and relayed to the team what he had observed and the positions of the guards. At the same time, he took out all the weapons and equipment from his storage space. Everyone was covering their faces with cloaks. So, Fang Hao packed some heavy equipment in his storage space and carried them with him. ¡°The enemy outnumbers us, and the mission is a bit more difficult than the last, but our side has both Demitrija and Rolana, two heroes, while the opponents are regular mercenaries. Victory will ultimately be ours. Follow the plan, don¡¯t shout each other¡¯s names during the mission, kill all those outside, maim and capture those inside. Understood?¡± Fang Hao instructed in a low voice. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The others nodded. Rolana showed no expression, nor did she oppose the tasks Fang Hao assigned her. After their equipment was ready, they quietly moved towards the mansion. Under the cover of the night, they closed in a shorter distance. Hiding in the bushes, Demitrija took a deep breath, his chest started to swell, and he began to breathe out in the direction of the mansion. Whoosh!! A thick mist poured out of his mouth. This was Demitrija¡¯s skill, the Misty Sky. The fog spread outwards, quickly covering the rest of the mansion. The lit torches slowly went out under the envelopment of the fog. Inside the mansion. ¡°Who farted!¡± ¡°Why is there such a thick fog?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening, why is there such a thick fog, go inform the leader, something¡¯s up.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the door, I can¡¯t see anything.¡± The fog¡¯s spread caused instant chaos in the mansion. People were screaming and shouting, complaining that they couldn¡¯t see and were disoriented. Some tried to light torches, only to find it difficult to do so. At the same time, Demitrija led the team out of the dense forest directly into the mansion, starting to clear out the sentries and guards. For a moment. Battle cries filled the entire mansion. Hearing the cries of their comrades. The remaining guards¡¯ faces turned deathly pale, ¡°What¡¯s going on, where are the enemies?¡± ¡°Quick save me, there are so many of them, hurry up and save me.¡± ¡°Quick, inform the leader, there are enemies, it¡¯s probably the city¡¯s army.¡± Thud!! Before he could finish speaking, a longsword pierces directly out of the fog, going through his neck. Misty Sky not only disrupted the enemy¡¯s visual senses but was also enhancing the capabilities of the allies. The way bandits fight is distinctly different from that of an army. They could keep formation but the moment the order to attack was given. Raising their weapons, they directly pounced on the enemies. Each man for himself, there was no strategy to speak of. Fortunately, the bandits had decent equipment, and the enemy wasn¡¯t a regular army. Misty Sky¡¯s provided 25% stamina recovery, which was enough to help them win the fight against these enemies. Rolana followed behind the team. While Demitrija was clearing the perimeters, she just casually walked through the fog into the main building of the mansion, as if she were strolling. Inside the building, it was still brightly lit and unaffected by the fog. She glanced towards an adjacent room and casually pointed a finger. A few Dark Moon Spears, of a dark red hue, materialized. Thud Thud Thud!! They pierced straight through the wall, instantaneously killing the enemy nomad hiding in there for a surprise attack. ¡°Brothers, only one intruder is in here, let¡¯s kill her.¡± Those hiding in the room rushed out, and upon recognizing their target, started to call out to others in nearby rooms. Thud! Yet, the instant the shout ended. The man who was shouting was impaled by a Dark Moon Spear. Dead instantly. ¡°She¡¯s a mage, don¡¯t give her the chance, kill her.¡± The remaining people discerned the concentrated energy of the long spear. They concluded she was a mage. Weapon in hand, she launched an attack on Rolana. Thud, thud, thud!! Dark Moon Spears appeared one by one, casually killing everyone present. As simply as crushing ants underfoot. The room was then thoroughly cleaned. Rolana once again examined the clothes on the corpses. There were none wearing black robes bearing the twin sickle symbol that Fang Hao had spoken of. A quick search led her to a bedroom housing a cover for a basement access point. Lifting it revealed a stone staircase leading downwards into the depths. However, an abyss of darkness lay below, akin to a path leading into the depths of hell. Rolana looked before proceeding down without hesitation. The darkness enhanced Rolana¡¯s vision and senses. In the dark, she could see farther and clearer. Even the two black-robed figures armed with crossbows lurking in darkness at the end of the stairs. ¡°So, you are here¡­¡± Rolana thought inwardly. The cloaked figures below listened to the descending footsteps. Gripping their handheld crossbows tighter unconsciously. If the person above came any closer, they would pull the trigger. However, just as they prepared to fire their bolts, the footsteps stopped abruptly. A figure suddenly appeared before the two. A dark red Moon Blade swept through. Their arms were severed from their bodies along with the handheld crossbows. ¡°Ah!!¡± They screamed in pain. Rolana ignored them and continued further into the depths. She occasionally swung the red Moon Blade in hand, slashing at the enemies hiding in the shadows. The whole basement was filled with screams of agony, as though it was a living purgatory. Rolana reached the end, glanced at the person being interrogated, then turned and went back up the stairs. Outside the mansion. ¡°Sir, the cleanup is complete,¡± someone relayed. ¡°Hmm, no one got away, right?¡± Fang Hao asked, his back against a tree with Anjia yawning idly by his side. ¡°No, the people outside were all killed, and those inside wearing cloaks have all been subdued by Lady Rolana,¡± the message-bearer reported hastily. The thought of the beautiful yet cold Rolana being so fierce left them stunned. They rushed inside as soon as they finished cleaning up the fallen people outside. A scene of bodies strewn across the floor met them; she was sitting at a table casually reading a book. Entering the basement once more with Demitrija, they encountered a room full of cloak wearing figures, all devoid of their arms, lying weakly on the ground. ¡°Good, take me to see them,¡± Fang Hao commanded as he rose and followed them towards the building. Upon entering the mansion, torches were relighted. The Gray Bear was commanding the men to pile the dead bodies in the courtyard, forming a small mound. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°They are in the hall, their wounds have been bandaged, they should survive,¡± replied the Gray Bear. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded then walked straight into the mansion. Inside the grand mansion, even though no bodies remained, blood splatter was everywhere. In the middle of the hall, five men and a woman, each wearing faceless robes, were kneeling. All six of them had their hands severed and received bandaging on their wounds. Each one was pale, looking as if they were on the verge of death. ¡°Where are the interrogation records?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Here, sir,¡± Demitrija handed over the records of the interrogation. Fang Hao took the document and looked at it carefully. There were two persons recorded. The person interrogated was named Adonis. The contents of his interrogation concerned the timings of gold coin shipments and the number of personnel involved. The second page recorded an individual named Denish. He was in possession of a map detailing a gemstone mine. On the side table¡­ Items uncovered from the basement were displayed. Map: Gem Mine [Orc Hero¡¯s Right Arm], Hmm? There was also a right arm of an orc. Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Chapter 366, Is That a Mouse?_1 Chapter 374: Chapter 366, Is That a Mouse?_1 The interrogation records did not include information about the Orc¡¯s right arm. It could have been obtained from a previous interrogation. Or, it could have been a collector¡¯s item from the previous owner of the mansion. It was just as well that the arm was not registered. So that, Rebecca would not ask for it if she saw the record. He stored the blueprint and the arm in his storage space. Gray Bear came in from outside, saying, ¡°Sir, the Lyss City army has arrived.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s team was responsible for capturing the people, while the Lyss City¡¯s army was responsible for the interrogation and mopping up. But the speed of the other party¡¯s arrival was also quite fast. ¡°Replace the Nightstones in the room with torches, and take down all the paintings on the walls. Make it quick,¡± Fang Hao ordered hastily. ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Everyone acted quickly, taking down the Nightstones from the chandeliers and the paintings from the walls. Fang Hao casually collected these into his storage space. Through the window, he could already see the rapidly approaching torches. The Lyss City¡¯s army was about to enter the mansion. ¡°Let¡¯s go, leave the rest of the mess to them and withdraw,¡± Fang Hao ordered once again. Everyone quickly left from the other side, disappearing into the darkness before the mansion was completely surrounded by the army. The army quickly surrounded the entire mansion. The leading commander knit his brows at the sight of the bodies stacked all over the ground. Such a large number of people! Not only was he shocked at the number of enemies. He was even more taken aback at how quickly Fang Hao and his men were able to successfully take them down. ¡°Commander, we found 6 men in black robes inside the room. They are seriously injured but appear to pose no immediate threat to their lives,¡± a soldier quickly reported. Six Faceless Men. No wonder there were so many guards stationed this time. ¡°Good, surround the area. Kill anyone who dares to approach or leave,¡± the commander loudly said, then entered the room. Following Lady Rebecca¡¯s commands. He would immediately interrogate the prisoners once he received the message. The city¡¯s army would then capture them. To shrink the window of opportunity for the Faceless Men within the city to react as much as possible. This night was destined to see many of the city lord¡¯s nobles and tycoons losing their homes. The night was still heavy. Fang Hao and his men found a cave. They hung up the Nightstone, planning to wait there until dawn. According to the plan, Fang only captured the people, leaving the follow-up work to Rebecca¡¯s team. Regarding how much information would be discovered, that would depend on who would be faster, Rebecca, or the Faceless Men. The faster one would have the upper hand. The Nightstone lit up the cave. Fang Hao took out some food and water from the storage space, allowing everyone to replenish some strength. Everyone chatted while they ate. The current environment didn¡¯t affect these bandits at all. They were quietly discussing amusing incidents, women, card playing skills. Some were chatting about what happened back at the mansion, taking pleasure in having managed to raid a nobleman¡¯s estate. Fang Hao silently sat on the side. He took out the spoils of this operation. [Orc Hero¡¯s Right Arm] [Category: Skeleton] (Description: A right arm left by a Beast Clan hero, which after being preserved and dried has been sold as a collector¡¯s item.) Seeing the description mentioned it being a collectible, Fang Hao thought of the mantismen fossil he had bought before. This arm might also be one of the items from some warehouse. For those idle nobles, it might be quite possible to collect a dead person¡¯s arm as a collectible item. A single arm cannot be used to make a Skeleton Hero or be transformed in the Transformation Pool. But it could be used to make a Demon Doll. Now, he had already collected the left arm, right arm, skull, and wings for the magic doll. It could be said that half of it had been collected. Perhaps he should learn some of the alchemical runes recorded in the notebook to prepare for making the Demon Doll. After all, the content recorded in the Demon¡¯s notebook. It was really not very suitable for others to see. ¡°Look at that! Is that a mouse¡­?¡± A discussion suddenly broke out near the entrance of the cave. Everyone craned their necks to look in the direction of the chatter. Fang Hao and his friends came over curiously. Outside the cave, more than a dozen mice were carrying a piece of nightstone, passing by in the distance. These mice were no different from ordinary ones except they were draped in cloaks, carrying the nightstone as they hastened on their way. They looked like people in a hurry. Also, from this distance, each mouse appeared to be balding. A circular patch of fur missing from the top of their heads, giving them a unique look. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with these mice, they¡¯re even wearing clothes.¡± ¡°Could they be someone¡¯s pets? I heard that the nobles in the city like to keep unusual animals as pets.¡± ¡°Who would keep mice as pets? Are you sick?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be sure, you¡¯re not a noble, how would you know they won¡¯t keep mice?¡± ¡°Boss, should I grab the nightstone from them? What would a mouse do with a nightstone¡­¡± one of the men seemed eager to act. A single nightstone was worth at least 500 gold coins, and even then, it was hard to buy if you had the money. Those mice were carrying it as if flaunting a glowing money bag in front of a bunch of bandits. Thump!! Grey Bear knocked him on the head, ¡°You made no effort in the fight just now, and now you want to show off in front of the mice.¡± The others almost burst out laughing upon hearing this. Due to the distance, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t see the names of these mice. But from what he could see, these mice displayed a high degree of intelligence. Being able to wear clothes, use tools, was not something ordinary animals could achieve. Fang Hao didn¡¯t make a move. They needed to hide until dawn, there was no need to rob the mice of their nightstone. The squad of mice soon vanished into the jungle. Seeing the mice leave, Everyone sat back down in the cave to continue their idle chatter. Dawn was breaking. Fang Hao took out some fresh clothes from his storage space for everyone to change into. Everyone then directly walked out of the cave. By the time they returned to Lyss City, it was already broad daylight. There was a long line at the city gate. Everyone needing to enter the city required inspection by the city guards. Entry into the city never used to be this slow, there were twice as many guards stationed now. Fang Hao and others joined the line, inching forward slowly. They had all the required documents, entering the city wouldn¡¯t pose a problem. The main thing was to keep a low profile and avoid getting noticed. ¡°Damnit, what¡¯s going on? I still have to work, at this rate, I won¡¯t make it into the city by noon.¡± ¡°Stop whining, it¡¯s obvious something happened in the city, or else why would there be such a fuss.¡± ¡°Whatever happened, you can¡¯t hold up everyone¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Shh! Quit talking, some noble¡¯s son caused a ruckus here earlier and was almost taken out and beheaded. Keep your mouth shut if you don¡¯t want trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s not talk anymore. Last night, the city sent out its army, and they arrested a bunch of people.¡± ¡°Ah? Really?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s just stand in line quietly. You don¡¯t want to cause any trouble.¡± Fang Hao stood on the side, listening to the conversation around him. From the looks of it, the military had already begun operations last night, arresting those who came under suspicion. Soon, it was Fang Hao¡¯s turn to be questioned. After a quick check and identity verification, Fang Hao was allowed to enter the city. The other members of his party also managed to get in. There was frequent military activity within the city, fully-armed soldiers could be seen marching down the streets. After he returned home and changed clothes, He left again with Anjia in broad daylight. They first went to the shop in West City¡¯s commercial street, ate hotpot at the Enjoyable Hotpot Restaurant, then returned to their residence to rest.The next morning, Fang Hao headed directly to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Chapter 367, Heavy Arrow_l Chapter 375: Chapter 367, Heavy Arrow_l Inside the study at the City Lord¡¯s Manor. Fang Hao saw Rebecca, leaning back in the chaise lounge. Naked, covered with a light blue blanket. Her pale and slender collarbone and round thighs were exposed to the air. But there was fatigue all over her face. From their several interactions, Fang Hao had figured it out. Rebecca definitely had a habit of sleeping nude and was quite reluctant to leave her bed. ¡°Mrs. Rebecca,¡± Fang Hao bowed slightly. ¡°Hmm, why are you here so early,¡± Rebecca yawned and said. Fang Hao sat down nearby, ¡°How were the results?¡± He was naturally asking about the operation to capture the Faceless. Last night, the sounds of the military operation could still be heard, and some nobles¡¯ residences had seen battles. Not until this morning did the city gradually return to calm. ¡°Not bad, we even caught some big fish.¡± Rebecca revealed a smile. No wonder, Rebecca was in a good mood this morning; it was because the operation had been successful. In this case, even if there were some Faceless who had not been caught. They would start to worry and stay quiet for a while. Those transmigrators living near Lyss City would also be a little safer. ¡°As long as it was effective.¡± Rebecca yawned, wrapped herself in the blanket, stood up, and took out five money bags from the desk and put them on the table. ¡°This is the agreed remuneration, I didn¡¯t expect those guys to actually hire a mercenary band.¡± Rebecca sat in the chair and started speaking. ¡°Thankyou, boss. I wish you to make a fortune,¡± Fang Hao put away the money bags. Each bag contained 2,000 gold coins, making a total of 10,000. The reward was quite hefty. ¡°I was also slightly surprised, your subordinates are so powerful, 20 men killed more than too and successfully captured 6 alive, how did you do that?¡± Rebecca continued asking. Even for an army crackdown, 20 men couldn¡¯t take down this manor. ¡°Perhaps they collectively suffered from diarrhea. When we went over, they already didn¡¯t have much combat power left.¡± Fang Hao rubbed his chin and lied. The reason for their victory in the battle was primarily due to Demitrija and Rolana¡¯s roles. An orange-rank hero and a dark gold-rank hero. They alone could capture this manor, let alone 20 men. Hence, even if there were only 20 bandits, it may still have been a toss-up. Rebecca glared at him and didn¡¯t ask anything more about this. She continued, ¡°The remaining guys will stay quiet for a period of time. Take this, and when something happens, I¡¯ll contact you in advance.¡± Speaking of which, Rebecca took out a Sound-transmitting Shell and pushed it over to Fang Hao. ¡°This is a Sound-transmitting Shell, it¡¯ll be convenient for me to contact you. Of course, it¡¯s only one-way. Your shell can only receive messages.¡± Rebecca quietly explained, afraid that Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t know what it was. ¡°Oh.¡± Fang Hao responded and directly took it away. After discussing the mission, the two chatted a while about some other matters. In the end, Rebecca placed a large uniform order for all of the City Lord Manor¡¯s servants in Fang Hao¡¯s name. Essentially providing indirect support to Fang Hao once again. Leaving the City Lord¡¯s Manor. Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia and the others, immediately left Lyss City. They switched horses at Gray Bear¡¯s village and returned to their territory. The two Bone Dragons landed in front of the Manor House and Fang Hao jumped down from the dragon¡¯s back. ¡°Carry the fossil and come with me to the Skeleton Conversion Field,¡± Fang Hao stopped a skeleton troll. The Skeleton Troll picked up the Mantismen fossil and followed Fang Hao to the Conversion Field. Upon reaching the Conversion field. The fossil was thrown straight in. The sand in the pool started rolling and bit by bit, swallowed the fossil. [Skeleton Mantis conversion countdown, 6 hours 59 minutes and 58 seconds¡­] Seeing the countdown, Fang Hao felt a burst of joy in his heart. This meant that the Mantisman had begun to transform, and from the timing of the transformation, its rank wouldn¡¯t be low. He remembered that the Bone Dragon took about 8 hours to transform. With the Mantisman¡¯s 7-hour transformation time, its rank would certainly not be lower by much. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the transformation time to finish to see the exact rank of the troop. Upon returning to the Manor House. He saw Rolana sitting rigidly in the hall. The maids dared not approach and took detours while passing by her. This time, Rolana accompanied Fang Hao back. She needed the tools Fang Hao made and the seeds for planting herbs. Fang Hao also didn¡¯t want this woman to stay around too long. In an open space, utilizing the hundred-fold amplification, a full range of tools, a hoe, iron shovel, mining pick among others, were made. ¡°Rolana, the tools are ready,¡± Fang Hao called from the door. Rolana walked outside and saw several skeletons tidying up a large pile of tools on the ground. ¡°What about the seeds?¡± Rolana continued asking. ¡°They¡¯re all prepared for you, here they are.¡± Fang Hao handed over the seeds to Rolana. ¡°Hmm.¡± Rolana nodded. After all the tools were packed and secured on the back of the Bone Dragon. She got onto the Bone Dragon and left. After sending off Rolana, Fang Hao came back into the Manor House to eat the dinner Eira had prepared. Night fell. Within the Life Spring. Anjia finally left. The two leaned against each other in the pool. ¡°Eira, check among the maids tomorrow if there¡¯s anyone who¡¯s familiar with herbs,¡± Fang Hao said quietly by the poolside. Eira seemed a bit tired, lying weakly beside him. However, hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, she still agreed and said, ¡°Oh, as you wish, master.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, ¡°Right, they also need to know how to read.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seeing that Eira was indeed tired, he held her and they retired to their room. On the dawn of the second day. Eira had already left bed. Fang Hao also got out of bed. After a simple wash and dress, he went downstairs. ¡°Master, Scholar Nelson is waiting for you outside,¡± a cleaning maid said to him as he descended the stairs. Nelson was out? Hearing this news, Fang Hao was instantly happy. The only educated man in the territory had finally ended his seclusion. ¡°Alright, I know,¡± Fang Hao replied and quickly walked outside. As soon as he left the Manor, he saw Nelson sitting on a bench at the entrance, behind him was a skeleton hero in a long robe. ¡°Good morning, Lord,¡± Nelson saw Fang Hao, stood up and bowed slightly. Nelson had been working on making heroes at the Viscera Museum. After working non-stop for nearly half a month, Fang Hao was worried he¡¯d work himself to the bone. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Scholar Nelson,¡± Fang Hao also showed a smile. ¡°My duty, sir,¡± after Nelson was done, he made way to the side, ¡°Heavy Arrow, haven¡¯t you greeted the Lord yet?¡± The Skeleton hero behind him stepped forward, kneeled down on one knee and said, ¡°Greetings, Lord.¡± [Heavy Arrow (Blue rank fifth tier hero)] Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 368, Bloody Mountain Range Map 1 Chapter 376: Chapter 368, Bloody Mountain Range Map 1 The moment he saw the skeleton hero, Fang Hao had already recognized its identity. Heavy Arrow ¨C Cyril. The former City Lord of Pruell City. Later, he was beaten to death by the skeleton troll in battle for colluding with the Blood Clan. His body was transported back to his territory and made into a skeleton hero by Nelson. ¡°Welcome to the team, Heavy Arrow,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Thank you, my lord.¡± Heavy Arrow stood up and respectfully stood aside. [Heavy Arrow (Blue Rank 5 Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Color: Blue] [Racial Features: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerable to Light.] [Team Skills: Tactical Advantage, Archery Mastery, Dagger Formation, Shooter Commander.] [Skills: Armor Breaker, Piercing Shot, Ready to Go, Ballistics, Crippling Shot.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Shooting Mastery, Intermediate Command Mastery, Advanced Crossbow Mastery.] [Tactical Advantage]: The troops led by this unit have their equipment weight increased by 15%. When attacking under defensive facilities, shooting speed is increased by 2%, and attack power by 5%. [Archery Mastery]: The troops led by this unit obtain corresponding buffs based on the weapons they use. Bow-type weapons: Damage +8%, Crossbow-type weapons: Critical hit damage +50%, Musket-type weapons: Reload + 5%, Critical hit chance +5%. [Dagger Formation]: The troops led by this unit, with daggers as secondary weapons, have their dagger damage increased by 10%. [Shooter Commander]: The shooter troops led by this unit get Reload +10% Range +15%. [Armor Breaker (Passive)]: Crossbow attack, ignores 15% of the target¡¯s physical defense. [Piercing Shot (Active)]: When using a crossbow, can attack multiple targets in a line. [Ready to Go (Passive)]: Entering shooting status, Attack +20%, Accuracy +5%. [Ballistics (Passive)]: Equipping bow and crossbow weapons, Accuracy +20%. [Crippling Shot (Passive)]: Equipping ¡®Heavy Crossbow1, hitting an enemy unit¡¯s body, inflicts severe injury. (Description: A product of the Immortal Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead, this hero cannot upgrade or advance.) Heavy Arrow¡¯s attributes make him a perfect long-range unit. The various crossbow skill add-ons. No wonder, during that battle, he was cut down immediately upon confrontation; he is really not good in close combat. However, the territory is indeed lacking in heroes proficient with bows and crossbows. [Tactical Advantage] provides a 15% equipment weight bonus, allowing archers to carry more arrows or even switch their leather armor to plate armor. [Archery Mastery] provides attribute bonuses based on the weapon. Looking at the attribute bonuses, it is clear that the focus is on crossbow. However, the [Two-Handed Light Crossbow] Fang Hao possesses is just a green tier equipment, not as useful as the high-speed hardwood shortbow that the shooter has equipped. Moreover, in large-scale battles, the reloading speed and range of crossbows are all inferior to bows and arrows. Muskets increase reload speed and critical hit chance. It¡¯s worth considering mixing them up for equipment next time. [Shooter Commander] also increases reload speed and range. It could be said that all three of Heavy Arrow¡¯s team skills are very good. They provide very practical attribute boosts for the army of archers. Don¡¯t underestimate these few percentage increases. At the time when millions of archers fire together, even a 1% increase will have a significant effect. In Fang Hao¡¯s view, skeleton heroes are not used for one-on-one fights to exhibit personal ability. Once they step onto the battlefield, they mainly provide attribute bonuses for the troops. In a short while, Heavy Arrow, dressed in leather armor, carrying a bow and arrow on his back, with a dagger hanging from his belt, returned. ¡°What, you don¡¯t have the weapon you used before?¡± Fang Hao asked as he examined the bow and arrow on Heavy Arrow¡¯s back-it was just an ordinary high-speed hardwood shortbow. ¡°No, my lord.¡± Heavy Arrow answered placidly. ¡°No problem. When we come across an appropriate weapon, we¡¯ll get you a new one,¡± Fang Hao reassured him. When he fought against Cyril, he was only wielding an iron sword. He never saw Heavy Arrow¡¯s weapon before. If he happens to come across a better weapon someday, he will give it to him. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Well, first go to the city gate and get acquainted with the situation in the territory from the ¡®Giant Wall¡¯, then I¡¯ll arrange a suitable task for you,¡± Fang Hao continued. Yes, my lord.¡± Heavy Arrow saluted once more and turned to leave. Now, only Fang Hao and Nelson were left. The two of them sat down on the bench. Fang Hao then detailed what had happened in the territory recently to Nelson. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, the skull and wings in the Viscera Museum belong to that Red Duke!¡± Nelson said. When he first came out, he saw the skull and wings in the hall. It wasn¡¯t hard to recognize the characteristics of the Blood Clan. Yes, I ordered a thorough search of the entire mountain, but only the skull and wings were found. But that¡¯s fine, after all, we also have to consider Rolana¡¯s feelings,¡± Fang Hao said. Fang Hao could understand Rolana¡¯s emotions. If he were to be killed and dismembered by someone he deeply trusted, he would be full of hatred upon resurrection, too. As a lord, taking care of the emotions of his heroic subordinates is something he needs to consider. & Otherwise, if the hero acts insincerely, the territory would find it difficult to develop. ¡°Well-considered, my lord,¡± Nelson agreed with Fang Hao¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Oh, look at this.¡± As Fang Hao said this, he took out the ¡®Demon Doll Notes¡¯ from his storage space. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s capability of storing items in a spatial dimension made the soul fire flicker in Nelson¡¯s hollow eye sockets. He was astonished at Fang Hao¡¯s progress in such a short period, having been able to access spacial magic. But he didn¡¯t say much. Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 368, Bloody Mountain Range Map_2 Chapter 377: Chapter 368, Bloody Mountain Range Map_2 Fang Hao handed the notebook to Nelson, and continued, ¡°Mr. Nelson, look at this.¡± Nelson accepted it, then directly flipped open the notebook, and began to seriously evaluate its contents. ¡°Alchemy array, looks like it¡¯s used for the construction of some kind of puppet ¨C both alchemy and puppetry are covered, a lot of rather advanced knowledge is involved.¡± Nelson continued to talk as he looked through the notebook. The Undead have endless years, they have ample time to explore and learn many subjects. Even if they aren¡¯t experts, they would¡¯ve certainly been exposed to more than others. ¡°Yes, I found this in a basement of an abandoned orphanage, it records the method of making a Demon Doll.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t conceal it either and told Nelson whatever he knew. Nelson silently listened and understood why Fang Hao was collecting the limbs of the deceased heroes. He¡¯s preparing to create the Demon Doll mentioned in this notebook. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea, it can greatly increase your personal safety.¡± Nelson also agreed with the creation of the Demon Doll. Cough, cough!! Fang Hao lightly coughed twice, then continued, ¡°Mr. Nelson, do you think you can make this Demon Doll?¡± After all, his time and experiences are limited. If he was to study this notebook himself, he would need to start learning Alchemy from scratch ¨C something that obviously can¡¯t be achieved in a short period of time. As for Nelson, he seems to be more suited for the task of making the Demon Doll. Not only is he erudite, but also skilled in dealing with and creating corpses. If Nelson is interested in this, giving it to him to study would be the best outcome. But, Nelson had just left the Viscera Museum and Fang Hao is already assigning him a new task. Which made him feel somewhat uneasy. ¡°No problem, this knowledge derived from Alchemy studies is very valuable. I can study it when I go back, and see if I can make the Demon Doll,¡± Nelson didn¡¯t refuse, even showing great interest in the contents of the notebook. [The Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 2, current loyalty is 87.] The moment Nelson agreed. The loyalty value had increased directly by two points. Nelson¡¯s time as part of his territory was the longest, but his loyalty was the slowest to grow. Each point was very important. The Alchemy notebook, notes that contain specialized knowledge. For outsiders like Fang Hao, it might be of little use. To alchemy researchers however, this kind of notes is a priceless treasure. Even if they aren¡¯t interested in the Demon Doll, they can gain inspiration and open new doors just by studying the recorded knowledge. Not only has he handed the notebook over, but loyalty has also unexpectedly increased. A truly unexpected gain. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s face lit up with joy as he continued, ¡°When I have the time, I plan on learning alchemy too.¡± ¡°Lord, if you are interested in alchemy, you can begin by learning some entry-level knowledge. We have ample time to study slowly.¡± Nelson continued. In Nelson¡¯s mind, Fang Hao¡¯s transformation ritual was only a matter of time. The Undead have endless years, plenty of time to explore subjects of their interest. ¡°Well, alright, I will start from the beginning,¡± Fang Hao nodded and said. The two chatted for a while longer. Eira came to call Fang Hao for a meal, Nelson returned to the Viscera Museum to study the notebook in his hands. After eating breakfast. Fang Hao sat in the hall, looking at the somewhat nervously bowing Rabbit Woman below. This was Eira, chosen by Fang Hao based on his criteria, a Rabbit Woman who could read and knew some herbology. She was to study ¡°Terry¡¯s Herbology Notebook¡±. In this world even if alchemy potions existed. When most residents got injured, they relied on the auxiliary priests of the temple and their herbology knowledge. ¡°What¡¯s your name? How old are you?¡± Fang Hao looked at the Rabbit Woman below. The maid was wearing a black and white maid outfit, with a melon- shaped face and a pair of grey rabbit ears. She was rather thin and looked like a child who hasn¡¯t yet matured. ¡°Lord, I¡¯m called Red Fruit, I¡¯m 19 years old,¡± she lowered her head in response, while taking a quick peek at him. She was one of the last batches of maids bought back. She was always responsible for doing sanitation work outside, so she had fewer chances to see Fang Hao. But she often heard from other maids, their Lord was relatively easy-going. 19 years old? She wasn¡¯t short for a girl her age just a tad thin. She felt a bit too young. ¡°You¡¯re called Red Fruit? Who named you that, why are you named after a fruit?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. There¡¯s a fruit called the Red Fruit. And it¡¯s, actually, not very tasty. ¡°Master, I made up the name myself,¡± Red Fruit replied in a quiet voice. Red Fruit didn¡¯t have parents, and from birth, she had difficulty filling her stomach. Before, when she was particularly hungry, she would run into the forest and find a type of red fruit to eat. Although it tastes astringent and sour now, at that time, it was the most delicious fruit she had ever eaten. Also, it could fill her stomach. Later, she learnt the fruit was named Red Fruit, so she took up the same name for herself. She hoped that in the future she could eat this fruit every day. ¡°Well, it is indeed a nice name. Do you know about herbs and also know how to read?¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s praise, Red Fruit instantly looked delighted. She answered, ¡°Master, I¡¯m familiar with some herbs, and I do know how to read.¡± ¡°Good, I have a book here about Temple Herbology, you should study it,¡± Fang Hao continued. Herbology cannot match the effectiveness of Alchemy potions. But it has its own uses. The assistants within the temple would use Herbology to treat the city¡¯s residents for illnesses. He might not need to set up a temple, but he could open pharmacies in various cities to increase the survival rates of the townsfolk. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The maid took a step forward and took the notebook. ¡°Alright, you can go now. Soak in the hot springs more, and eat more meat,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Being too skinny wasn¡¯t good either. ¡°Thankyou, Master, I will take note.¡± Red Fruit bowed again and slowly exited the room. Standing outside the door, Red Fruit took deep breaths of the air. After calming herself for a while, she looked at the notebook in her hand, excitedly starting to run toward her quarters. After seeing Red Fruit off, Fang Hao spent the whole day cooped up in his room. He took out several books about magic. Reading while recording important knowledge in his notes. He did this to ensure that when he needed it, he could find it quickly. Instead of flipping through each page again. In a blink of an eye, it was 3 p.m. Ding! Suddenly, the Book of Lords emitted a notification sound. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to check and saw a message from Xu Yang. ¡°Brother Fang Hao, I¡¯ve got the map. Do you still want it?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Fang Hao replied directly. ¡°Okay, Brother Fang Hao, I will leave with my people tonight. Is it convenient to make the trade now?¡± Xu Yang continued. It seemed Xu Yang was in a rush. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have someone prepare the equipment. Tell me about the situation of the Trolls. Have they started the war?¡± Fang Hao continued. There¡¯s plenty of equipment in the warehouse, and he didn¡¯t need anyone to help with the preparations. He needed to use this opportunity to see what the other side was like. There was a brief silence on the other end of Xu Yang¡¯s call, then a message came through. ¡°The Rockhead Tribe has led the rest of the Troll tribes and has started to fight against the Bloodthroat Tribe. The war is brutal. If we don¡¯t leave, we are the next ones to die.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve already started the war? Who¡¯s winning?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°The Rockhead Tribe¡¯s people are fighting their way to the Bloodthroat Tribe¡¯s stronghold, and they¡¯re likely to reach there the day after tomorrow for the final battle.¡± The battles between Trolls are direct head-on confrontations. Once a melee starts, it doesn¡¯t stop until one side is wiped out. Despite the Troll alliance led by the Rockhead Tribe fighting their way to the Blood throat stronghold, Both sides have suffered severe casualties. Similarly, the Rockhead Tribe also faces many problems. Xu Yang is certain that once they reach Bloodthroat for the final battle, Clan Leader Bagath will definitely have him and the other humans turned into a stew to feed the Troll army. That¡¯s why he plans to leave tonight. ¡°Alright, I have put it up for trade, you can proceed,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Thankyou, Brother Fang Hao,¡± Xu Yang immediately thanked him. [Trade Completed¡­] [You¡¯ve received: Troll Marching Map, Troll Heavy Shield Blueprint, Troll Ram¡¯s Horn Helmet Blueprint, Black Iron Flying Axe Blueprint, Troll Stone * 24.2, Traces of Barbarism * 7, Traces of Brutality * 12, Essence of Destruction * 8, Soul Crystal * 72] Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Chapter 369, Skeleton Mantis Mani Chapter 378: Chapter 369, Skeleton Mantis Mani The two completed the transaction. The items from the other party appeared in Fang Hao¡¯s hands. He put the rare materials aside in a box and checked the map first. [Map: Troll Marching Map] [Category: Single-page Map] (Description: Specially drawn map, showing the distribution of routes and tribes in the Bloody Mountain Range.) Recorded in the Book of Lords. In the large map, the terrain and routes of the Bloody Mountain Range, as well as the locations of the various tribes, appeared. As expected, the routes were winding and twisting. Without the route map, it would be difficult to find the correct path, and it could even lead the army into dangerous areas. With the map, many troubles can be avoided. After glancing at the map, Fang Hao privately messaged Xu Yang again. He asked: ¡°On the map, which is the Bloodthroat Tribe?¡± The map only shows locations, without marked informations. ¡°The location at the southernmost point of the map is the Bloodthroat Tribe, and the further north you go, the worse the living conditions become,¡± Xu Yang replied. Fang Hao checked the map. The southernmost location was the Bloodthroat Tribe. It was very close to the Tomb of the Dragon where he got his Bone Dragon. If his army marches out from the Bloody Fortress, the first tribe to be attacked would be the Bloodthroat Tribe. The Troll army under the Heavenly Rock Tribe will not launch an attack in the Bloody Mountain Range until the day after tomorrow, so he still had some time to prepare. After checking the map information, Fang Hao checked the remaining blueprints. [Troll Heavy Shield (Blue): Iron 12, cast-iron blocks 8, thick leather 10, metal parts 22.] (Description: The best defense is to make your shield bigger and thicker. When it¡¯s comparable to a city gate, do you think the enemy can lift a city-breaking hammer?) The Troll Heavy Shield was obviously a kind of heavy shield for Trolls. The Skeleton Hero ¡®Great Wall¡¯s¡¯ skill, had the [Troll Shield Formation]. The troops led by it gain proficiency in shield use when in Troll form. In the future, he could form a Troll Shield Formation, all holding huge heavy shields, forming an indestructible wall on the battlefield. He continued to look at the second blueprint. [Troll Ram Helm (Green): Iron 3, cast-iron blocks 2, thick leather 5, giant ram horns 2.] (Description: When your hands are not enough, you can use the ram horns on your head to smash the enemy¡¯s skull.) It was a Troll¡¯s helmet. But it was only of green quality. At present, the Skeleton Trolls were equipped with Troll Heavy Helm, which was also of green quality, so there was not much difference between the two. [Black Iron Flying Axe (Green): Hardy Wood 1, Iron 3, Cast Iron Blocks 2, Leather 1.] (Description: Within a hundred meters, the flying axe is often more useful than arrows.) Duiring the fight with the Trolls, he saw many trolls who were proficient in using flying axes. But among Orcs and Humans, this kind of ranged weapon was rare. More commonly, they used crossbows or throwing knives, not axes. After recording all the blueprints, Fang Hao took the remaining rare materials and went downstairs. He stopped a passing maid. ¡°Invite all the heroes in the territory to a meeting in the hall.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± In the Lord¡¯s Hall. Fang Hao sat on the White Bone Throne. Sitting below him were all the heroes who stayed in the main city. Nelson, Demitrija, Anjia, Black Sword, Great Wall, Heavy Arrow. Six heroes in total. ¡°I just received definite news that there has been a civil unrest among the Troll tribes in the Bloody Mountain Range. I plan to dispatch troops to attack the Bloody Mountain Range and eliminate the threat to the north in one fell swoop,¡± Fang Hao explained the situation in the Bloody Mountain Range and his thoughts. He shared everything with the heroes present. After a brief silence in the hall, Demitrija began to speak. ¡°My Lord, the terrain in the Bloody Mountain Range is rugged. If our army enters the range recklessly, it could pose a considerable risk to the troops and could make supplying impassable,¡± Demitrija expressed his concern, which was also about the map. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I have obtained a map of the Bloody Mountain Range. The Undead army attacks with minimal supplies, which can greatly alleviate the burden,¡± Fang Hao explained and opened the map from the Book of Lords for everyone to see. The Undead army didn¡¯t need sleep and food, so the main supplies transported were arrows and equipment. This greatly reduced the burden of transport. Also with the map, marching shouldn¡¯t be a problem. After all the heroes had seen the map, Demitrija started speaking again. ¡°My Lord, with the map, there is no problem in pacifying the Bloody Mountain Range this time.¡± With the strength of the territory¡¯s army and the map, even if the Trolls weren¡¯t in civil unrest, there would not be any issue in pacifying the Bloody Mountain Range. Therefore, this battle was not very risky, it¡¯ s only a matter of time. ¡°Good, I will distribute some tasks,¡± Fang Hao looked at everyone present and continued, ¡°Black Sword, Heavy Arrow, when you are done, ride the Bone Dragon, go to the Bloody Fortress, and count the necessary equipment with Black Thorn, prepare enough supplies.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord,¡± Black Sword and Heavy Arrow stood up and took the command. Both of these Skeleton Heroes possessed tactical proficiency and commanding skills, so they would have no problem coordinating the supplies. ¡°Great Wall, you assemble all the Skeleton Trolls in the territory. I plan to form a Troll Shield Soldier Corps, led by you. You will also go to the Bloody Mountain Range to participate in this battle,¡± Fang Hao said to Great Wall. Great Wall stood up, his towering body kneeling on one knee, ¡°Yes, my Lord. ¡°The arrangements are just these for now, does anyone have any ideas? Fang Hao continued to ask. Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Chapter 369, Skeleton Mantismen_2 Chapter 379: Chapter 369, Skeleton Mantismen_2 Inside the hall, there was silence once again. Demitrija asked sensibly: ¡°Sir, do I need to go to the Bloody Mountain Range?¡± There was still a tier 3 orange hero in the Bloody Mountain Range, Meatfist-Kaius. He posed certain danger. But Fang Hao did not intend to involve Demitrija or Nelson in this battle. -Let¡¯s see how it goes. If anything unusual happens during the battle, we can arrange accordingly.¡± Fang Hao shook his head. ¡°Alright, my Lord,¡± Demitrija nodded and sat back down. The Undead army stationed in the Bloody Fortress was 3 million strong. The number of Trolls was not that great to begin with, and it would decrease drastically after their civil war. One could say that the Undead army had overwhelming numbers, even in the face of the Tier 3 Meatfist-Kaius. There was no threat beneath such massive troops. At most, they would lose a few men. Demitrija and Anjia were needed to protect the safety of Fang Hao. To prevent any issues that might arise from the Faceless Ones. It was uncertain whether their series of actions, in combination with Rebecca, had gone unnoticed by the enemy. As for Nelson, despite also being an orange tier hero¡­ His characteristic lay in being a corpse witch, having the ability to craft skeleton heroes, rather than fighting and leading armies. In the past, when there were few heroes to choose from, but now they had plenty of them. Fang Hao didn¡¯t intend to send Nelson, who had just left the Viscera Museum, back to the battlefield. After all, they would need him to continue creating skeleton heroes after the major battle was over. Having delegated his tasks, Fang Hao said, ¡°Alright, everyone proceed according to plan. If there are any issues, bring them up in a timely manner. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Everyone saluted and left the hall. After the meeting had ended¡­ Fang Hao again used God¡¯s Presence to inform Black Thorn, stationed at the Bloody Fortress, and Fireblade, stationed at the Frostwind Mountains, about the situation in the Bloody Mountain Range. The Bloody Fortress was manned by 3 million undead soldiers. The Frostwind Fortress also had a force of 1.2 million. Upon receiving Fang Hao¡¯s message, they entered a state of readiness for battle. Once the fighting started¡­ They would attack the Bloody Mountain Range from both fortresses. After dinner¡­ Fang Hao left the Lord¡¯s Manor. The previously calm territory had become extremely busy. One cart after another was transporting equipment from the warehouse. Fang Hao watched the busy skeletons. Not leaving himself idle, he went directly to the skeleton barracks to prepare for the upcoming battle. With a total of 4.2 million soldiers stationed at the two fortresses, there was no urgent need to increase the number of undead soldiers. His first stop was the Skeleton Conversion Pool. Intending to see if there were any types of soldiers he needed. As he approached, he saw a mantis man that had been transformed yesterday. Skeleton Mantis Man (Tier 8). The Skeleton Mantis Man, although converted into a skeleton, still retained a structure close to an arthropod in appearance. Presenting a rusty reddish color. Standing three meters tall, it was as slim as a bamboo pole. The mantis-like sharp head, its jaw teeth moving non-stop, it had long arms with hands and four fingers, not mantis blades. Fang Hao looked closely at the mantis man standing in front of him, and in response, the mantis man gave a slight salute. This gesture made Fang Hao slightly puzzled. Intelligence? ¡°Do you have intelligence?¡± Fang Hao asked tentatively. The jaw of the mantis man continued to writhe, but it made no reply. Fang Hao issued several commands in succession, but the Skeleton Mantis Man didn¡¯t show any sign of exceptional intelligence, just rigidly carrying out the given orders. It seemed that they had just one additional action compared to ordinary skeletons¡ªsaluting. Fang Hao continued to view the mantis man¡¯s attributes. Hoping it wouldn¡¯t disappoint him. Skeleton Mantis Man (Tier 8) Faction: Undead Race Features: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weak to Light magic. [Skills: Passive Vision, Standstill Leap, Lone Ranger, Weapon Master.] [innate Skills: Intermediate Mastery of Strength, Intermediate Mastery of Combat, Intermediate Mastery of Agility.] [Passive Vision (Passive)]: This unit can detect attacks within a certain range beyond its line of sight. [Standstill Leap (Passive)]: This unit can jump up to 10 meters in distance and 5 meters in height without a running start (Soft landing, reduces fall damage to a minimum). [Lone Ranger (Passive)]: If there are no friendly units within 3 meters of this unit, all attributes +80%, and additional +10% attack power. [Weapon Master (Passive)]: Skilled in the use of any melee weapon, (equipping melee weapons, triggers the skill which makes multiple attacks). (Description: ¡®Stricklin Mantis Men¡¯ are innate weapon masters. They are proficient in and adept at using various melee weapons, some talented mantis men can even naturally release psychic energy.) The entire body with passive skills but seems to be quite powerful. However¡­ This [Lone Ranger], makes Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows furrow in an instant. What the hell! Only if there are no friendly units within 3 meters will the attributes be increased by 80%. That is, only when this skill is triggered, will the mantis people truly reach the standard of Tier 8. However, my tactics have always been to use many against few. When friendly forces are all over the mountains and plains, who will make room for you to display your abilities? At that time, the enemy¡¯s base would already be emptied and battles are being cleaned up. It¡¯s a bit puzzling why such an attribute would appear. Complaints aside. But as it stands, the Mantis Man is the highest-ranked melee soldier that can currently be recruited in the territory. It was also acquired by chance from a fossil, so we can¡¯t be too fussy about it. Apart from the Skeleton Mantis Man, another melee soldier has been unlocked in the transformation field. The [Skeleton Ghoul] was transformed from a Ghoul brought back from the Orphanage. It was transformed a while ago, but after getting a hero, Fang Hao rarely came near it. It was forgotten for a while. Now open the transformation pool recruitment list, and then remember. >. [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness.] [Skills: Abyss Origin, Bite, Claw Strike.] [Innate Skills: Low-Level Mastery of Strength, Low-Level Combat Mastery, Low-Level Crawling Mastery.] [Abyss Origin (Passive)]: Origin is associated with the Abyss. Fighting near Abyss cracks, this unit¡¯s all attributes +50%. [Bite (Active)]: Like the teeth of a beast, pounce and bite the target unit. [Claw Strike (Active)]: Launch an attack on the enemy with sharp claws, causing slash damage. (Description: Driven by their endless hunger for the flesh of humanoid creatures, they lurk in human villages in the dark of night.) After undergoing transformation in the Skeleton Conversion Pool, it went from Tier 5 to Tier 3. But its attributes are average, Bite and Claw Strike, it doesn¡¯t seem much different from the transformed beasts. With this comparison, it suddenly feels like the Skeleton Mantis Man is more practical. After reviewing the two newly unlocked types of soldiers, Fang Hao continued to check the soldiers types that had already been unlocked in the Transformation Pool. [Skeleton Beast (Tier i)][Skeleton Soldier (Tier l)][Skeleton Wolf (Tier 2)][Skeleton Ostrich Beast (Tier 2)][Skeleton Warrior (Tier 3)][Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 3)][Skeleton Ghoul (Tier 3)][Skeleton Troll (Tier 5)][Skeleton Troll Cyclops (Tier 7)][Skeleton Mantis Man (Tier 8)][Bone Dragon (Tier 10)]. In this period, not many new types of soldiers have been unlocked. What has been brought back are all duplicates. This time we are going to attack the Bloody Mountain Range, the number of troops is already sufficient. But to make the battles easier, some troops with special skills still need to be recruited. First, look at the recruitment conditions for the [Skeleton Mantis Man], after all, it is a Tier 8 soldier. [Skeleton Mantis Man: Wriggling Spine 8, Death Trace 5, Star Silver 3, Mist-Cloaked Crystal 5-] The exclusive material for recruitment is the Mist-Cloaked Crystal. Looking at this, the Mantis Man should belong to the Fairy Race. Checking the warehouse. The rest are plenty, only there are just 12 pieces of Mist-Cloaked Crystals. That means, this can be recruited 2 times. Recruit quantity 2, select recruit. [Using Hundredfold Amplification, Recruited 202 Skeleton Mantis Men.] 200 rays of light appeared, and the Skeleton Mantis Men appeared on the open space scattered around. ¡°Go outside and stand by for now.¡± Fang Hao immediately ordered. The Skeleton Mantis Men saluted again, and with a push of their feet. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! Several figures, leaped high up and jumped towards the city gate direction. In the blink of an eye, none of the Mantis Men could be seen nearby. Fuck, they¡¯re fierce Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Chapter 370, So Youre Here_l Chapter 380: Chapter 370, So You¡¯re Here_l Fang Hao was a bit surprised by the speed of the Skeleton Mantismen. One by one, they had sprung into view as if propelled from springs underneath their feet. In the blink of an eye, their figures had vanished. These eight-level beings indeed possessed some advantageous features. Keeping an eye on the direction in which the Mantismen had disappeared, Fang Hao continued to recruit more Skeleton Giant Bats. These bats had proven to be extremely efficient, giving him a sense of using a swarm strategy. Especially now that he had acquired a significant amount of Blood Stones on Crescent Heights. Not recruiting more of them seemed wasteful. The current storage of Blood Stones was 1124. He set the recruitment volume to 500. Confirm recruitment. [ioo-fold Enchantment Triggered, Recruited 50500 Skeleton Giant Bats.] 50,000 Skeleton Giant Bats appeared in an instant, dimming the sky as they spread their wings and settled around him. ¡°Standby outside,¡± Fang Hao continued to issue the same command. Upon hearing the command, the Skeleton Giant Bats turned around and flew straight out of the city. With the Giant Bats gone, Fang Hao proceeded with recruitment. [ioo-fold Enchantment Triggered, Recruited 101000 Skeleton Minotaurs.] [ioo-fold Enchantment Triggered, Recruited 60600 One-eyed Skeleton Trolls.] Fang Hao successively recruited Skeleton Minotaurs and One-eyed Skeleton Trolls. The Minotaurs possessed the skill ¡®Frenzied Charge¡¯, which was an excellent for breaking enemy formations. And the One-eyed Skeleton Trolls, a seventh-level creature, had two levels higher than regular Skeleton Trolls, adding more manpower to the Troll shield formation called ¡®Giant Barricade¡¯. By now, Fang Hao had taken control of Crescent Heights and the Frostwind Mountain Range, acquiring a steady supply of Beast Teeth and Blood Stones. Although the production rate of these two materials was slow, it alleviated the material recruitment problem for the two camps of species. On the contrary, the number of Troll Stones he had was still limited. He could only recruit 60,000 soldiers. Fang Hao continued ordering these troops to stand by and went toward the city gate himself. As he exited the city gate, he saw an army of bone-white soldiers, densely packed together, devoid of any equipment. They were orderly grouped together according to their troop types, waiting for their next command. During this time, Giant Barricade approached quickly, carrying his heavy shield. ¡°My lord, all the Skeleton Trolls remaining in the main city have been assembled,¡± Giant Barricade stated, placing his heavy shield aside. ¡°How many?¡± Behind Giant Barricade was the assembled army of Skeleton Trolls, most of which were fifth-level Skeleton Trolls and a small number of One-eyed Skeleton Trolls. They were armed with axes and Wolf Fang Clubs. However, all of them were wearing the three-piece Troll Heavy Armor set. ¡°My lord, there are approximately more than 200,000 of them,¡± Giant Barricade answered after pondering for a moment. The number was so large that it was impossible for Giant Barricade to provide an exact figure alone. Of course, Fang Hao only wanted a rough estimate for the purposes of equipment production. ¡°Adding the newly-recruited 60,000, the total is close to 300,000,¡± stated Fang Hao. Fang Hao first produced 60,600 sets of armor and axes for the newly-recruited One-eyed Skeleton Trolls. He then positioned them into the Troll formation. Afterward, he proceeded to retrieve the blueprints for the Troll Heavy Shield. The production was set to 3,000. [ioo-fold Enchantment Triggered, Gained 303,000 Troll Heavy Shields.] Boom, boom, boom!! Shield after shield, as massive as door panels, appeared in the air before stacking up around the surrounding vacant area. While the Troll Heavy Shield was not as large as the one Giant Barricade carried, it was still pretty big. The height of the shield was nearly three meters with a width of approximately two meters; it was considerably heavy. A bracket was attached to the back of the shield, meaning it could be unfolded to stand in front of the holder, forming an insurmountable wall. [Troll Heavy Shield (Blue)] [Category: Shield] [Defense: Level Three Defense] [Ability: Giant Rock Barricade] [Giant Rock Barricade: Durability +80%, attacking opponents face a 5% movement speed reduction and 10% attack speed reduction.] (Description: The best defense is to make your shield bigger and thicker. When it is as large as a city gate, will your enemies be able to lift the battering ram?) Even a blue-quality item came with an ability, which was quite rare. The additional [Giant Rock Barricade] ability was fitting to the properties of the shield. Not only did it increase the durability of the shield by 80%, but it would also slow down any enemy attacking the shield. The extra durability meant that the shield was highly resistant to damage during enemy attacks. Once the Trolls brandished the heavy shield, Fang Hao discovered that their way of use differed entirely from the sword and shield tactic of the human camp. Upon picking up a heavy shield, the Trolls would put away their axes. They moved with both hands holding the shield. They didn¡¯t move with a shield in one hand and a weapon in the other, unlike humans. Fang Hao moved on to producing throwing axes. ¡°Giant Barricade, I plan to equip the Skeleton Trolls with throwing axes. How many acs do you think each of them should carry?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°My lord, generally three or five should suffice,¡± replied Giant Barricade. Throwing axes were not like arrows; there was no need to carry a large quantity. Since the throwing range of the axes was rather short, they were usually hurled when the two sides were close together. Carrying more would be cumbersome and impede mobility. ¡°Fine.¡± Fang Hao agreed and began the production of throwing axes. He set the production to 9,000. Confirm production. [ioo-fold Enchantment Triggered, 909,000 Throwing Axes Acquired.] Boom, boom!! Innumerable throwing axes fell from the sky. They littered the open area around them. ¡°Giant Barricade, see that the equipment is distributed,¡± directed Fang Hao, looking at the equipment scattered all over the ground. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± responded Giant Barricade with a nod, before commanding the Skeleton Trolls to pick up the weapons from the ground.. Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 370, So Youre Here_2 Chapter 381: Chapter 370, So You¡¯re Here_2 Having finished dealing with matters on the giant wall. He continued to the site where the Skeleton Minotaurs were on standby. He made armor and weapons. Then had his maid call Anjia and Demitrija. He assigned Anjia to command the Skeleton Minotaurs, and to equip them. Fang Hao, along with Demitrija, once again made their way to the stationing spot of the Skeleton Mantis. 202 Skeleton Mantes were standing still on the spot. Their heads moved slightly as the two approached. They gave a feeling of being a smidge smarter than ordinary skeletons, but not by much. ¡°These Mantises have special attributes. They are proficient with various close-combat weapons. What do you think we should equip them with so as to maximize their combat power?¡± Fang Hao asked Demitrija. There wasn¡¯t much choice regarding armor, despite their smaller size, they were close to the height of skeleton trolls. They could actually wear the Troll¡¯s equipment. However, due to their proficiency in close-combat weapons, Fang Hao found it difficult to make a choice. ¡°My Lord, since they¡¯re proficient with all kinds of weapons, we can equip them with white steel two-handed swords.¡± Demitrija thought for a while and said. He was familiar with all the weapons used by the troops within the territory. The infantry had green black iron knight swords, and cavalry were also equipped with green single-edged knives. Only the white steel two-handed sword and white steel daggers had achieved blue quality. But daggers weren¡¯t suitable for large-scale battles, so Demitrija suggested the white steel two-handed sword. Fang Hao nodded, he too had thought of the two-handed white steel sword, but he wanted to hear others¡¯ opinions. Now that Demitrija had said it, he didn¡¯t need to be too troubled over this. ¡°Alright, it will be the white steel two-handed sword then.¡± Fang Hao decided on the gear and began making armor and white steel two- handed swords for the Skeleton Mantis to equip. The army¡¯s equipment process lasted until deep into the night. After completing the equipment process, the giant wall with nearly half a million troops marched overnight towards the ¡®Black Thorn¡¯ held Blood Fortress. On the other side. Bloody Mountain Range. Under the unified command of the Rockhead Tribe, the Troll alliance army all the way to the lair of the Bloodthroat Tribe. The alliance army, on the north side of the Bloodthroat Tribe, established a camp for the final rest. Raw wood and stones were made into simple defenses. The enemy¡¯ s skulls were hoisted high on wooden poles, filling the surroundings. The Trolls set up tents. In iron buckets, they lit bonfires and roasted the remains of creatures. The Trolls huddled around the fires, waiting for the food to be roasted, while chatting with each other. To the Trolls, battle was their daily bread, death was not so terrifying. Only the humans, serving as slaves and backup food following behind the Trolls, shivered in the corners. Inside a huge tent stitched together from several beast skins. The leaders of the Troll alliance gathered in the tent. After reporting the casualties of each tribe, they began to discuss the next step of the plan. ¡°Rest one more day tomorrow and launch an attack on the Bloodthroat Tribe early the next morning. As long as we can take this city, even if Kaius comes back, he won¡¯t have the power to turn the tides.¡± The leader of the Rockhead Tribe, Bagath, said in a deep voice. ¡°What on earth is Kaius doing? He wouldn¡¯t suddenly comeback when we¡¯re attacking, would he?¡± One of the troll leaders said, seeming uneasy. Meatfist ¨C Kaius, the most powerful hero among the Trolls. The reason they dared to attack Bloodthroat this time was because they got news that Kaius wasn¡¯t in the tribe. Otherwise, no matter how many Trolls they had in their alliance, they would not dare to attack Bloodthroat. ¡°Ha ha! Everyone can rest assured about this. The last battle posed a great threat to Kaius by the undead. He has taken offerings to Kaur Holy Mountain. He won¡¯t be able to return in this short time. He doesn¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on here. As long as we proceed as planned, there will be nothing he can do when he comes back.¡± Bagath laughed heartily and said. ¡°Kaur Holy Mountain? Kaius believes in that legend?¡± ¡°Heh! Just some tricks to deceive the tribesmen. The battle with the undead not only dissatisfied us but also caused a lot of dissatisfaction within Bloodthroat. Making a trip with offerings, coming back to claim some sort of omen¡­ Common tricks.¡± Bagath sneered. Everyone was familiar with this set of tricks. In fact, people present have taken up the leadership position by relying on this method. Hearing Bagath say this, the others were also relaxed. ¡°Ha ha! Chief Bagath is right. These are just Kaius¡¯s little tricks, but he must not have expected us to destroy his tribe while he was out.¡± ¡°Yes, even if he returns later and is powerful, we won¡¯t be afraid of him with just a few remnants.¡± The Troll leaders also felt at ease. Bagath laughed loudly again, continuing, ¡°After taking down Bloodthroat, we will launch an attack on the undead, break through that fortress, and we can leave this desolate place. Outside is full of human villages, our tribes won¡¯t have to worry about going hungry anymore.¡± Hearing Bagath¡¯s words, everyone expressed longing. The Bloodthroat Tribe had blocked the exit, but they had heard from others. Once they left this mountain range, outside were human villages with almost no combat power everywhere. The living environment was not as harsh as here. ¡°Speaking of humans¡­ Chief Bagath, the army is seriously short of food. Those humans you brought, you don¡¯t really intend to raise them, do you?¡± A one- eyed troll leader suddenly spoke. When this man finished speaking, the rest of the leaders in the tent all looked at Bagath. Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Chapter 370, So Youre Here_3 Chapter 382: Chapter 370, So You¡¯re Here_3 Bagath nodded. His tone nonchalant, he said, ¡°Just some reserve food. Since we are out of food, go and choose half of the humans to serve as a meal. The remaining half will be tomorrow night¡¯s dinner.¡± With only one good eye, the Troll¡¯s face lit up upon hearing Bagath¡¯s instructions. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go pick some out right now.¡± Once he finished speaking, he grabbed his Wolf Fang Club and left the tent right away. In a corner of the campsite¡­ There was a tent composed of ragtag items and pieces of Beast Skin. It looked less like a tent and more like a storage shed for miscellaneous objects piled up on the edge of the camp. Within the small warehouse-like space were more than a hundred humans, cramped together. The humans were dressed in tattered clothes, their bodies greasy and their faces drawn with exhaustion. In the center stood a man- not distinguished by his clothes, but by the steely glint in his eyes. A look that refused to surrender. ¡°Has everyone gathered?¡± Xu Yang asked in a hushed tone. ¡°Yes, sir, everyone is here,¡± one person replied, tightening the entrance to the tent further. Xu Yang nodded, reaching underneath piles of clutter to pull out several bundles. Unraveling the bundles, he proclaimed, ¡°These trolls will eat us sooner or later. Tonight, we are escaping.¡± His words caused a flurry of chatter. Xu Yang had mentioned escape before, but it was easier said than done. Caught in the act, they would likely be butchered and thrown into the pot for stewing. ¡°My lord, can we really escape? Those monsters are watching us carefully,¡± one villager voiced out in a whisper. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve made preparations. If we all move together, we can definitely escape. Besides, if we stay, they¡¯ll eat us tomorrow. Regardless, we must risk it,¡± said Xu Yang as he unveiled what¡¯s inside the bundles. Leather armor and weapons, and batches of round, yellow cakes of bread. The golden sight of the bread caught everyone¡¯s eyes, their throats collectively swallowing. But they also registered surprise. When had Xu Yang prepared all these supplies? ¡°Everyone take a set, put it on quickly, and then we¡¯ll leave here,¡± Xu Yang urged. After a brief hesitation, everyone sprang into action. Several individuals took the bundles of leather armor and began to distribute them out. Soon, everyone was suited and booted. Once everyone had their armor and weapons in place, they all sat down, silently waiting. They would escape when the night grew deeper, through a gap they had previously arranged. The room was eerily quiet. Only the chirping of nocturnal insects filtered in from outside. Just then¡­ A low curse echoed from outside. ¡°Damnit, where did these humans go?¡± Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent stiffened. Shh! Xu Yang swallowed, signaling everyone to stay quiet. Peeking through a gap in the tent, he saw a muscular Cyclops Troll searching around, a bloody iron hook in hand dragging at his feet. Seeing the hook, Xu Yang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. This was a hook for hanging food he recognized the trolls use. By now, the Cyclops Troll¡¯s intentions were almost too clear. He had come to choose acting his dinner. As Xu Yang was preoccupied with thoughts of a proper strategy¡­ Ding! Suddenly a sound rang out behind him. One of the villagers¡¯ shaking hands had caused his weapon to knock against a stone. Xu Yang glanced back towards the entrance, and there he saw the Cyclops Troll looking back at them. Across the troll¡¯s hideous face spread a malevolent grin. ¡°So that¡¯s where you¡¯re hiding¡­¡± Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Chapter 371, Advance Attack l Chapter 383: Chapter 371, Advance Attack l Clank!! The iron hook scraped across the ground, creating a disturbing noise. Everyone in the room turned ghostly pale in an instant. Now that the troll had seen them in full armor¡­ It would undoubtedly kill them on the spot. Peering through a gap, Xu Yang watched as the one-eyed troll approached bit by bit, his face terribly pale. The attack on Bloodthroat was supposed to happen the day after tomorrow. The troll shouldn¡¯t have made a move on them today. What on earth had happened? But now was not the time to consider these matters. He drew his iron sword from his waist. On the other side of the tent, a hole was cut open. He spoke in a low voice, ¡°You all go first. If he finds us, we fight to kill him.¡± While speaking, he began to remove the armor he had just put on. ¡°Oh, oh!¡± the farmers responded, nodding subconsciously. The peasants¡¯ Loyalty wasn¡¯t so low that they would disregard orders from Xu Yang, even in the face of danger. ¡°Go, quick.¡± Xu Yang urged again. The peasants crawled on the ground, one by one crawling out through the slit they had made. The sound of the dragging chains grew louder and closer. The one-eyed troll had reached the tent and was about to pull the tent flap open. Xu Yang scrambled out hastily. Before the one-eyed troll could speak, Xu Yang preempted him, ¡°What¡¯s up, do you need something?¡± His solitary eye fixated on Xu Yang, he rasped, ¡°Why is it you? What are you doing here?¡± To a troll¡­ All humans look rather similar, virtually indistinguishable. But Xu Yang¡¯s distinct black hair and black pupils were recognizable to him. In previous meetings, Bagath had invited Xu Yang to attend and collect resources for the army. ¡°Clan Leader Bagath asked me to tidy up the odds and ends here. Did he send you to help me?¡± Xu Yang asked curiously, all while blocking the entrance to the tent. ¡°Where are the others?¡± the one-eyed troll continued to ask, his single eye sweeping around. ¡°What others? Are you here to find someone?¡± ¡°Where are the other humans? How come there are no others around?¡± inquired the one-eyed troll, swallowing hard. Bagath held Xu Yang in high regard. The troll didn¡¯t want to risk eating him. He wanted to find other humans to satisfy his midnight snack cravings. ¡°Oh, I sent the others to help build equipment at the camp. Do you need help? I can arrange for some people to help later.¡± Xu Yang dusted off his clothes casually. The one-eyed troll surveyed the silent surroundings, feeling that something was amiss. He bent down, his giant eye directed right at Xu Yang. Then, he sniffed curiously and asked, ¡°What¡¯s that smell coming from the tent? It¡¯s so fragrant. What are you hiding?¡± ¡°Nothing at all, maybe you¡¯ve misjudged the smell.¡± Xu Yang frowned. ¡°Damn reptile, you¡¯ve hoarded food.¡± The troll roared in fury, slapping Xu Yang on the body and flinging him two meters away. Immediately, he pulled open the tent flap and crawled in. Xu Yang pushed himself up, clutching his left arm with a pained expression. That slap had instantly caused a piercing pain in his arm, possibly breaking his bones. Damn it. Why was he so unlucky? It seemed a fine plan. Only for this brute to show up out of nowhere. Moreover, he had no way out now. Watching the troll crawl into the tent, he clenched his teeth against the pain. And followed him in. The tent was empty. Xu Yang glanced at the cut in the tent, under the moonlight, he barely made out some shadowy figures hiding. ¡°This is a storage tent for miscellaneous items. There¡¯s no food here.¡± Xu Yang said softly. Even after being hit, he didn¡¯t dare rebuke the troll. Even though he was often by Bagath¡¯s side, it didn¡¯t mean he was of higher status than the troll. ¡°Something¡¯s not right¡­, I did smell something.¡± Like a hound following a trail, the one-eyed troll kept sniffing its surroundings. One-eyed trolls were a subgroup of trolls. He had less perception, his eyesight was poor, and his sensitivity was diminished. But the troll in front of him seemed to have a keen sense of smell. He continued to claim that he smelled food. It might be the smell of roasted bread. The one-eyed troll kept sniffing, his gaze straying towards the slit in the side of the tent. ¡°Hehe! So it¡¯s here. Let¡¯s see what you miserable creatures are up to.¡± The one- eyed troll sneered as he bent down and stuck his head out of the hole in the tent. As soon as his head was out¡­ He saw a human standing on a stacked pile of wood. With a large rock in his arms, he leaped down, aiming for the troll¡¯s head. ¡°You dare¡­¡± Thud!! A muffled noise was heard as the rock landed squarely on the troll¡¯s head. The rock shattered, and the troll¡¯s lone eye rolled back into his head before he fainted. ¡°He¡¯s unconscious, sir. We should leave now,¡± a farmer suggested. Xu Yang, clutching his injured arm, emerged from the tent and shook his head. ¡°Trolls recover very quickly. If he wakes up before we get away, we¡¯re doomed. We have to kill him.¡± A fierce light flashed in Xu Yang¡¯s eyes. ¡°Kill? Kill a troll?¡± ¡°Hurry, grab that iron hook and chain and bind him up. Stuff the iron ball from the warehouse into his mouth, so he can¡¯t scream!¡± Xu Yang swiftly gave the commands. Everyone acted rapidly, binding the unconscious one-eyed troll and gagging him. Xu Yang took a deep breath and plunged his sword into the troll¡¯s neck. The pain jolted the unconscious troll awake instantaneously. His eyes were filled with shock and rage as he began to struggle violently. Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Chapter 371, Advanced Attack_2 Chapter 384: Chapter 371, Advanced Attack_2 A tremendous force instantly sent the few farmers holding him down sprawling. But they were completely tied up and unable to make a sound. Xu Yang quickly stepped forward, slashing with his sword again, and shouted, ¡°Quick, let¡¯s finish him together, then we can leave here.¡± Thud! Thud! Thud!! The people swarmed up and directly turned the troll in front of them into a sieve. The troll was dead. The night had also deepened. Xu Yang lit a Gnoll candle, wrapping a piece of cloth around the middle part. After everything was done, he dismissed everyone with a wave of his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we are leaving this place.¡± Leading the people, they bypassed several dozing watchmen. They slipped out through a dug tunnel prepared beforehand, disappearing into the night. In the latter half of the night. Whoosh!! The miscellaneous goods warehouse in the camp suddenly caught on fire. As there were many flammable items stored in the warehouse, when the trolls discovered it, the fire had already spread. The neighboring warehouses and tents also caught fire. The fire engulfed the entire camp. The Trolls roared loudly, moving their stuff while trying to put out the fire. Bagath looked at the fire¡¯s source, then at the chaotic camp. His face turned exceptionally grim. ¡°Have you seen those humans helping to put out the fire?¡± Bagath stopped a troll and asked coldly. ¡°No, they must have burned to death inside.¡± The troll responded. ¡°Alright, go and put out the fire.¡± ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡± Just as the troll left, the other troll leaders quickly walked over from their respective places. ¡°Chief Bagath, do you suspect those human vermin did this?¡± a leader asked coldly. ¡°It seems, those humans escaped.¡± Bagath had already determined that it was the humans¡¯ doing. Or rather, it was Xu Yang¡¯s doing. Those submissive farmers wouldn¡¯t dare to set the warehouse on fire when running away. ¡°Damn, I¡¯m going to bring them back and kill them all,¡± a troll said angrily. Bagath held back the troll who was about to leave. He shook his head and said, ¡°We will settle scores with them after this. Call everyone to be alert for enemies going to attack the camp seeing the fire. Also, convey the order to attack the Bloodthroat Tribe when dawn breaks.¡± ¡°Attack at dawn? Everyone hasn¡¯t rested well!¡± someone commented. Bagath looked at the raging fire in the camp. ¡°After the fire, there will be loss in food and supplies. We can¡¯t afford to rest another day. Tell everybody, after conquering the Bloodthroat Tribe, everyone can rest properly.¡± Although the troll army was not in total chaos, it certainly lacked the order of a human army. The storage of army provisions was as messy as their camp. It was alright when nothing happened. In this fire, the majority of the supplies were burnt. One more day of rest, and the army would go hungry. Hearing Bagath¡¯s words, the other leaders understood as well. They nodded, ¡°Alright, we will siege the city tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Hmm, go ahead.¡± The crowd dispersed, passing on the news to their individual clans. Bagath watched the raging fire with a serious expression, feeling a bit irked. If he had known earlier, he would have directly killed all the humans. The next day, early in the morning. Fang Hao had breakfast, then brought Anjia and Demitrija on the Bone Dragon directly toward the Bloody Fortress. From the sky, they could see the White Bone Army waiting at the base of the fortress. As well as the bustling orcs. The Bone Dragon landed in front of the fortress. Black Thorn and the other Skeleton heroes quickly walked over to personally greet them. ¡°My Lord,¡± Black Thorn and the others saluted. Fang Hao and the others dismounted from the Bone Dragon, ¡°Hmm, have all the items that the army needs to carry been listed?¡± The day before, Black Sword and Heavy Arrow had already arrived at the fortress. They had counted the number of troops, as well as the items and tools needed for this battle. Fang Hao arrived the next day to manufacture the listed equipment. ¡°My Lord, we have completed the tally.¡± Black Thorn handed over a piece of parchment. It listed the names and quantities of the equipment. The items needed for this operation, along with the arrows, and various other tools. The largest quantity was for arrows. A total of five million was needed, even taking into account the arrows already stored in the fortress. In addition to arrows, there were carts, iron axes, spare ropes, etc., a total of more than 20 different items listed. Fang Hao didn¡¯t waste any time and moved to an open space. He then opened the Book of Lords and began to construct them. In a large burst of light, various tools were produced. No wonder they say warfare is all about spending money. Were it not for the rich mineral resources of the Cold Wind Mountains, even with the hundred-fold amplification, he wouldn¡¯t be able to sustain the consumption of the Undead Army. After the required tools were produced, Black Thorn continued to arrange manpower to organize the tools. Everything was loaded onto carts by categories. The skeletons began to pack up the arrows and tools, while Fang Hao and the others directly went to the Headquarters. Once everyone sat down, Fang Hao continued: ¡°Black Thorn, you¡¯re most familiar with the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range, this operation will be commanded by you. Black Sword, Giant Wall, Heavy Arrow, the three of you will be the generals.¡± Black Thorn might not be the most powerful, but he is the most knowledgeable about this area. Although Giant Wall retains most of its memories, it does not have command proficiency. Therefore, after much deliberation, Fang Hao decided that Black Thorn is the best fit for this task. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± All four of them stood up, nodded, and took their orders. All of them were skeleton heroes, with 100% loyalty. They would carry out any command given by Fang Hao unconditionally, and he did not have to worry about their loyalty diminishing. ¡°Well, this operation is ¡± Fang Hao was about to continue when, Hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door. A slightly plump, pink pigman wearing brown leather armour walked in briskly, flanked by several Gnolls. Fang Hao recognized him at a glance; it was Petty, the Pigmen Clan Leader he hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. After taking the stamina potion, Petty¡¯s physical condition had improved. Not only did he reach the third-tier, his appearance had changed somewhat as well. His skin was still pink and plump, but his features had started to show signs of becoming more humanlike. Fang Hao saw Petty, and Petty also saw Fang Hao. He quickly stepped forward to salute, ¡°Lord, Miss Anjia, gentlemen¡­¡± Petty was always considerate and greeted everyone. ¡°Well, Petty, what brings you here in such a hurry?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. Petty immediately said: ¡°My Lord, the scouts we sent out have returned.¡± He looked at the Gnolls behind him, ¡°Tell the gentlemen about the information, do not leave out any details.¡± One of the Gnolls stepped forward, ¡°Gentlemen, this morning, we noticed a group of Trolls launching an attack on the Bloodthroat Tribe. They are numerous and have prepared catapults and siege ladders among other equipment. The Bloodthroat side is currently holding firm; their counter-attackweapon is a crossbow-like device that can pierce through several enemies with each attack. Oh, and we did not see any flying troops or cavalry on either side.¡± The Gnoll finished in one breath and then exhaled deeply. Fang Hao didn¡¯t have a good impression of Gnolls but he couldn¡¯t deny their commendable scouting and tracking abilities. Upon hearing the Gnoll¡¯s report, Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed instantly. Weren¡¯t the Troll alliance supposed to attack Bloodthroat tomorrow? Why were they attacking today? There must have been some change in plans. Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask Xu Yang, since his information might not be as accurate as the scouts¡¯. Their combat starting earlier is also a good thing. The sooner both sides use up their forces, the earlier his own men can set off. ¡°Can you estimate the number of forces on both sides?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The Gnoll revealed a troubled expression, hesitated for a moment, ¡°My Lord, we did not dare to get too close, but we roughly estimate that there are at least 200,000 to 300,000 attackers, while the Bloodthroat side has only tens of thousands.¡± ¡°Good, you¡¯ve done well. Once the war is over, Commanding Officer Black Thorn will reward you.¡± Fang Hao said to them. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s promise, joy instantly appeared on their faces. ¡°Thank you, my Lord, thank you, my Lord.¡± ¡°Alright, you can go rest for now. Petty, stay for the discussion of our strategy.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± The scouts left the room, while Petty sat cautiously on the side. Petty had signed a Slave Contract with Fang Hao and could be trusted. Next. They examined the map again and confirmed the operational plan. Black Thorn and others left to organize the troops. At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon. ¡°I wait for your victory.¡± Fang Hao whispered. Black Thorn and the others saluted again, swung their hands in a grand gesture, ¡°Move out.¡± The Undead Army marched out of the Bloodthirsty Fortress and directly into the mountains. They continued on as far as the eye could see. Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Chapter 372, Tile Trouble l Chapter 385: Chapter 372, Tile Trouble l 3 million undead soldiers, majestically passing through the fortress. Moving towards the depths of the Bloody Mountain Range. Fang Hao stood on the city wall, watching the departure of the army. For this attack on the Trolls, he had arranged the Skeleton heroes Black Thorn, Black Sword, Giant Wall, and Heavy Arrow. As for the defense of the fortress, Petty and an undead army of 700,000 were left in charge. There was a Slave Contract between Fang Hao and Petty. He could be trusted. Moreover, there was only one route from the fortress to the Bloody Mountain Range. That is to say, if the Trolls wanted to attack the fortress, they would encounter Black Thorn¡¯s army of 3 million. The possibility of bypassing the army and directly attacking the fortress was extremely small. Even to say, impossible. But to be safe, nearly 700,000 undead soldiers were left with Petty to prevent any mishaps. ¡°Petty, I¡¯m leaving this to you. This is a Sound-transmitting Shell. Report to me immediately if there is any danger,¡± said Fang Hao as he handed the shell to Petty. With both hands, Petty accepted the shell and assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, master. I will complete this task.¡± This should be the first time Petty had command over such a large army. His chubby face turned even brighter pink, full of excitement. Fang Hao smiled lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t be too nervous. The likelihood of Trolls coming all the way here is very small. Even if some do make it, they will only be scattered deserters. Pay attention to your defense and there won¡¯t be any problems.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Petty nodded earnestly. Fang Hao looked down at the city again. The long line of the undead was still moving out. He then took Anjia and Demitrija, and rode the Bone Dragon back to his territory. By the time he returned to his domain, the day had grown dim. After dinner. Fang Hao lay in the hot spring, his head resting on Eira¡¯s smooth and plump thigh. Munching on the fruit fed by Eira, he watched the chat in the area channel. Even though everyone in this world was living a hard life, gathering together could relieve a great deal of stress, and lighten the atmosphere. These days, people in the channel had started to buy clay tiles. And everyone now knew that clay tiles were materials for upgrading the City Lord¡¯s Mansion from level 7 to level 8. Although few could upgrade their City Lord¡¯s Mansion to level 7, most people still planned to stock up in advance for their future upgrades. Fang Hao was surprised at the speed of the people who started to buy clay tiles. He had only upgraded to level 8 a few days ago, yet it seemed that the others were not far behind him. He immediately checked his stockpile of clay tiles. He had 3200 tiles. That was enough for him to upgrade to level 9. ¡°Damn! Qiu Zhi Shang is such a rip-off! One clay tile for one piece of equipment or a rare material, he¡¯s treating us like idiots!¡± ¡°Sigh! Don¡¯t mention it. He¡¯s the only one in the channel with the blueprint for a kiln. Of course, he¡¯s going to sell it for a high price.¡± ¡°But he can¡¯t just sell it like this. I asked, the quantity of clay tiles needed for level 7 to 8 is 1200.1200 pieces of equipment, who can afford that?¡± People in the channel were discussing about the clay tiles. Although Fang Hao joined later, he quickly understood what was going on. Qiu Zhi Shang was the one who wanted to exchange a piece of equipment for a clay tile last time. After being rejected by Fang Hao, he started selling clay tiles in the channel at the same price. So far, no one else in the channel was selling clay tiles. Clay tiles were made by firing clay and required in large quantities. The price of one tile for one piece of equipment had caused an uproar in the channel, but they had no better solution. Soon, Qiu Zhi Shang saw the discussion in the channel and responded. ¡°We are all savvy people, so there¡¯s no need for pointless talk. If you have a blueprint for a clay tile building, you wouldn¡¯t necessarily be better off than me. The price is set. Instead of complaining, you should focus more on gathering materials and equipment to exchange for the clay tiles.¡± As soon as these words came out, the channel fell silent. Getting a special blueprint and becoming rich overnight were not uncommon events in this world. Though people thought Qiu Zhi Shang was a cheat, if someone else got the unique blueprints, who could guarantee that they wouldn¡¯ t be the second Qiu Zhi Shang, or even worse. However, the atmosphere in the channel was still normal for now. Fang Hao¡¯s fair prices had helped many people to overcome difficulties. The channel even advocated for mutual aid. After the brief silence, someone retorted. ¡°Soon others will get the blueprint. I¡¯ll see what you do then.¡± ¡°Exactly! The blueprint isn¡¯t exclusive. It¡¯s just a matter of time before others get it.¡± ¡°Right, if others don¡¯t, Lord Fang Hao definitely has the blueprint. Let¡¯s buy our clay tiles from Lord Fang Hao.¡± Qiu Zhi Shang scoffed: ¡°Hmph! I thought you were going to say something important. So this is it¡­ To tell you the truth, a few days ago Fang Hao was discussing the price with me. He¡¯s probably saving up equipment right now. For now, whoever has a higher level has an advantage. Don¡¯t you want to work hard and become the boss of an area?¡± After saying that, he even sent the screenshot of his chat with Fang Hao to the channel to prove the accuracy of his words. He only kept the part where Fang Hao asked about the price and thought it was a bit expensive, without the beginning or the end of the conversation. ¡°See? Even your beloved Lord Fang Hao will buy clay tiles from me. He¡¯s just gathering equipment. Now, the higher your level the bigger your advantage. Are you not willing to work a little harder to become the boss of an area?¡± Qiu Zhi Shang sent another message. Upon seeing the screenshot, the channel became a bit chaotic again. The number of people who had been criticizing together instantly dropped a lot. Even Fang Hao was going to buy clay tiles from Qiu Zhi Shang. But while Fang Hao could afford the equipment needed for the exchange, they couldn¡¯t. If the price was set¡ª one piece of equipment for one clay tile¡ª most of them wouldn¡¯t be able to upgrade their territories from level 7 to level 8. Instantly, everyone was filled with a sense of hopelessness. Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as he watched the chat in the channel. Even though he didn¡¯t agree with Qiu Zhi Shang1 s way of trading by emptying the other party, He also didn¡¯t want to interfere in this matter. He had thought that if the price was so high, everyone would just not buy it. But he didn¡¯t expect Qiu Zhi Shang to accept the chat records of the two while omitting some parts. With his spouting nonsense, it seemed like Fang Hao was also willing to buy bricks from him. This could mislead others. With such a high price for the bricks, Fang Hao was indirectly an accomplice. His image that had been maintained all along could be destroyed by Qiu Zhi Shang. Fang Hao thought for a moment and directly listed 500 bricks in the channel. The price was 50 slices of rare materials for one brick. And he said, ¡°I won¡¯t be buying bricks from outside. The brick kilns in my territory are already producing bricks and will sell 500 bricks every 5 days. However, the efficiency cannot keep up. Those who are not in a hurry to upgrade can wait. The quantity will increase later, and the price will drop.¡± The material for bricks is clay. It¡¯s not worth anything. The main consumption is time. Moreover, Fang Hao still had to take care of the materials needed for upgrading subsidiary territories, and he can¡¯t sell in large quantities. But he could take this opportunity when the bricks are scarce, to exchange some rare materials. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s listing and remarks, the channel instantly boiled again. ¡°Damn! Big Brother Fang Hao is on the rise.¡± ¡°This is my last message privilege of the day, Big Brother is awesome!¡± ¡°Qiu Zhi Shang, you crook, even if it¡¯s the same price, I will buy from Big Brother Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Big Brother is awesome¡­¡± One message after another, talking about how awesome and powerful Fang Hao was. Qiu Zhi Shang stared blankly at the scrolling screen in the channel, his face turning white instantly. This was clearly his business, why did Fang Hao benefit from it? Fang Hao¡¯s asking price was also high; clay isn¡¯t worth much. But with his arrogant words just now, Fang Hao¡¯s price seems very reasonable. In this way, I¡¯m afraid nobody would want to buy his bricks in the future. So all the bricks he¡¯s saved up will be stuck with him. ¡°Fang Hao, you won¡¯t die a good death¡­¡± Qiu Zhi Shang smashed the clay cup in his hand on the ground and cursed loudly. Fang Hao was relieved after seeing the matter resolved. Although he didn¡¯t fear the others in the channel, he also didn¡¯t want to be used by anyone. Destroying his own reputation. The territory is fixed, and as their territories continue to expand, they would inevitably encounter each other sooner or later. In this world, these people are like fellows to him. He didn¡¯t want to appear in front of others with a bad reputation. Splash! Fang Hao sat up from the pool, Causing waves of water to splash around. ¡°Master, are you going to rest?¡± Eira picked up the towel and gently wiped the water off his body. ¡°First upgrade the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, and also call Anjia out, let¡¯s sleep after the upgrade is completed.¡± Fang Hao waited for Eira to dry him. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked directly out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Standing in front of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, he checked the requirements for upgrading to Level 9. [Level Nine City Lord¡¯s Stone Tower: Sturdy Wood 10500, Stone Bricks 16000, Iron 1100, Metal Parts 900, Bricks 1800.] At this time, Eira and Anjia also came out. The City Lord¡¯s Stone Tower was empty. Fang Hao directly confirmed the upgrade. The light instantly enveloped the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. The area of the Stone Tower expanded once again, with the outline of a tower appearing on the right side in the light. The upgrade lasted for half an hour. Once the light faded, the upgrade was complete. This time, the area of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion expanded once again, and a hexagonal tower appeared on the right side, symmetrical with the left side. [Level Nine City Lord¡¯s Stone Tower] [City Lord: Fang Hao] [Ability: Production/Gathering +4%, Soldier Movement +4.5%, All Attributes +5%] [Existing Building: Level Eight Underground Cemetery¡­ Level Eight Stables.] (Note: Core building of the territory.) [Materials required for upgrade: Sturdy Wood 25000, Stone Bricks 40000, Precision Stone Bricks 5500, Smooth Stone Flooring 800, Iron 2100, Cast Iron Blocks 800, Metal Parts 900, Bricks 3000.] Upgrading to Level Ten not only increased the amount of materials required, but also introduced several new ones. It seems that reaching Level Ten would present a new bottleneck. ¡°Alright, Eira and Anjia, you can go back and rest.¡± said Fang Hao. At this time, the excitement in Anjia¡¯s eyes had replaced her initial drowsiness. Looking at the expanded City Lord¡¯s Mansion, her face was full of excitement. ¡°Hurry, Eira. There are so many rooms on the second floor, I¡¯ll help you move up there.¡± Anjia pulled Eira and rushed directly into the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: Chapter 373, Carpet Bombing_l Chapter 386: Chapter 373, Carpet Bombing_l Nightfall! Bloodthroat Tribe in the Bloody Mountain Range. At this point, the Troll allied forces had breached the tough city walls and were chasing the remaining enemies within the city. Bagath, sat on the throne in the clan leader¡¯s great hall, with a cheerful expression, enjoying the feel of his seat. At that moment, a female troll, two and a half meters tall and robustly built, was pushed forward. She fell silent to her knees. Bagath looked at the woman before him and felt interested. He rose from his throne, approached the female troll, and ripped off all her clothes, leaving her body entirely exposed to the air. Bagath eyed the muscular troll beauty with thick, black hair on her chest. In his eyes, in addition to lustful desires, lay an endless thrill. After overthrowing the Bloodthroat Tribe, everything that once belonged to Kaius, would be his. Including the woman in front of him who used to be Kaius¡¯s most beloved. Looking at the heavy chest of the woman, Bagath¡¯s breathing grew heavier. He knocked the female troll down to the ground and started to act. In the hall, a few troll guards seeing this scene. They quietly exited. Some time passed. A troll leader walked into the hall. Noticing the couple deeply engaged on the floor, he paused for a moment. He then calmly said, ¡°Chief Bagath, those Bloodthroats, they¡¯ve built up defenses in the northwest corner and are making their last stand.¡± ¡°How many of them?¡± Bagath turned and asked. ¡°Possibly over a thousand.¡± ¡°Directly attack them with our forces, kill all the men and keep the women,¡± Bagath said without hesitation. Not a single man from Bloodthroat could be spared. Nor dared to spare. If Kaius returned. These people would see hope again and rebel fiercely. Kaius was a nuisance enough, they didn¡¯t dare risk it. ¡°Understood!¡± The leader nodded in agreement and walked out again. With the leader gone, Bagath once again drew the troll woman from behind the throne to continue what had not been finished. The city of Bloodthroat laid in total ruin. Spilt blood flowed like red streams along the streets. With limbs and debris strewn everywhere, the sounds of conflict echoed around. The troll coalition trampled over spilled blood, seeking enemies in hiding. All men were killed, while women were divided amongst the victors to relax. Until late into the night. The cries of battle gradually ceased, and the city fell quiet again. The enemy within the city was wiped out. Several troll leaders strode into the great hall. By now, Bagath sat radiant on his throne. He asked, ¡°Is it all taken care of.¡± ¡°Sorted, all men are killed, women are equally distributed among the tribes, let everyone take a breather.¡± One of the leaders spoke. Bagath nodded, without saying much. The character of a troll was even more barbaric than an orc¡¯s. Let alone the women from Bloodthroat. Even within the tribe, snatching women was a common occurrence. ¡°Got the casualties count?¡± Bagath asked again. ¡°My tribe, we have over eighty thousand left.¡± ¡°My tribe suffered significant losses. We have about half remaining, around fifty thousand.¡± ¡°You lost more? I only have a few thousand left.¡± It went back and forth, everyone stating their individual numbers. Listening to this, Bagath had a tally in mind. The heavy assault on the city had also resulted in significant losses for them. Now around 400,000 of the allied forces were left, many of those were injured. Even though trolls had robust bodies, they still needed time to recover. ¡°Alright, have the troops start a fire and cook food, rest well for tonight. I have arranged to gather Bloodthroat¡¯s wealth, and we will divide the spoils tomorrow based on each tribe¡¯s contribution. Bagath is not Kaius, everyone who put in effort will have their share,¡± Bagath continued. Upon hearing Bagath¡¯s words, smiles appeared on everyone¡¯s faces instantly. Naturally, Bagath would claim the lion¡¯s share of the spoils, but they didn¡¯t want to exhaust themselves for nothing. Now that they had his promise, they were naturally delighted. ¡°We naturally trust Chief Bagath.¡± IDeicon>lly, overthrowing Bloodthroat is just the first step. We still have to break through the Undead Fortress and get out of these barren mountains.¡± Bagath nodded, ¡°Exactly, once we¡¯re done with this nuisance ¨C Kaius, we¡¯ll break through the Undead Fortress and get out of here.¡± ¡°Yes, Chief Bagath is right.¡± After discussing the follow-up plans with a few leaders, they left the clan leader¡¯s great hall. They went back to their respective tribes to start a fire and prepare meals. After capturing Bloodthroat, they had more than enough food to fill their soldiers¡¯ bellies. ¡°Chief, I¡¯ve saved two women for you in the house. Their chests are so big, bigger than this spoon.¡± A troll cook stirred the giant iron pot on the bonfire with a huge wooden spoon, bubbling hot with chunks of meat and broken bones in a thick fluid. ¡°Alright, call me when the food is ready,¡± the troll leader nodded. Thud!! Just as the troll chief was about to enter the house for some pleasure. Suddenly, something fell into the pot. The troll cook looked up at then sky filled with dark clouds. He used the spoon to scoop up the object that had landed in the pot, which was still emitting gray smoke from its tail. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The chieftain and a few other trolls around him leaned over to take a look. Just as they were ready to curse at whoever threw this in. The white smoke extinguished. Boom!! A sudden explosion killed the surrounded trolls instantly. At the same moment. The sky began to drop cylindrical bombs like rain. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!! Explosions echoed around the city, ravaging the already shattered buildings and streets. ¡± Enemy in the sky, enemy in the sky.¡± One of the trolls saw that what looked like clouds in the sky were flying creatures. These flying creatures were dropping the bombs. The trolls began to flee everywhere, taking cover in rooms to avoid the falling bombs. At the same time, they picked up scattered rocks and started throwing them at the sky. Thump thump thump!! The enemy in the sky is really being shot down. Looking at the white-bone corpses on the ground, the trolls clearly understood who their enemy was. ¡°It¡¯s the Undead, the Undead bats.¡± The intensive bombings made the entire city shake as if an earthquake had hit. Buildings turned into ruins, and the places where trolls used to dine became a terrestrial purgatory. Body parts scattered everywhere, trolls desperately sought shelter while letting out painful screams. Bagath stood in the hall, watching the continuously exploding city, his face growing grimmer. What on earth is happening? Could it be that Kaius has returned and the counter-attack has started? Impossible, Kaius couldn¡¯t have returned now. And this kind of attack, it seems more like a bomb developed by the Dwarves. But why would it appear here, and in such quantities? Enough to flatten a mountain. ¡°Don¡¯t run around, hide inside the buildings¡­ stop running around¡­¡± Bagath was shouting loudly. But amid the explosions and cries of his tribesmen, his voice was simply lost. He was wasting his energy. The bombing lasted for half an hour. The entire city had completely become a pile of ruins, with debris everywhere. After the bombing, there was a brief silence, and everyone¡¯s ears were ringing. After a good while, the wailing of the survivors could be heard. ¡°Quick, tend to the wounded, prepare for battle,¡± Bagath started to give orders loudly. The remaining leaders quickly joined him. Each of them was injured, and two leaders were missing. ¡°It¡¯s the undead. The ones dropping explosives from the sky are skeleton bats,¡± one leader said. Before anyone could respond. A troll rushed over clumsily. He anxiously said: ¡°Something is wrong. There¡¯s a large Undead army approaching the south of the city.¡± At that moment, everyone¡¯s heart dropped. Why are the Undead attacking now? How could this timing be so coincidental? No one spoke. They silently headed towards the southern city wall. Upon reaching the top of the city wall. They could clearly feel the ground trembling at intervals. Looking down, under the dim moonlight, they could see the endless army of the Undead. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s the Undead from the north. Quick! Gather everyone to prepare for battle and get all the weapons here.¡± Bagath bellowed, his face grim. The remaining trolls were assembled. Less than a hundred thousand could still wield weapons. The rest died in the recent bombing. The trolls gathered everything they could move and transported it to the city wall. Looking at the seemingly endless Undead army below, even the bloodthirsty trolls started trembling and swallowing hard. If only they had known that the Undead would attack the Bloodthroat Tribe. They could¡¯ ve delayed their attack by two days. Now most of them were gone. How could they possibly stand against the Undead? The few remaining ¡°Dragon-lock Crossbows¡± were carried over. Nearly three meters long, the crossbow bolts equipped with hooks were carefully loaded, keeping an eye on the sky. The Undead had Bone Dragon troops, they feared that the Bone Dragons might initiate the attack. All trolls were in a combat-ready state. However, the Undead stopped a kilometer away from the city wall. Clang clang clang!! The Skeleton Trolls held their massive black shields above their heads, forming a metallic shield wall for defense. Nearly three hundred thousand metallic fortresses formed a black barrier. Under the shield wall were skeleton warriors carrying siege ladders. Up on the city wall. Seeing the formation below, all trolls up there had a grim look on their faces. ¡°Clan Leader Bagath, isn¡¯t this your Rock Head Heavy Shield? How did they get it?¡± A clan leader sternly asked. Bagath¡¯s face was equally serious. He too recognized the shape of the shield. But how would he know how the enemy managed to get it? This heavy shield, the tribe itself had only a few, and those too were left behind by the older generation. ¡°Stop talking and prepare for battle,¡± Bagath said. Thump!! Thump thump!! Suddenly, a drumming sound echoed from the Undead army below the city. As the drumming sound resonated, a faint energy blanketed all the Undead soldiers. Outside the city, the White Bone Army. The Undead army had already advanced to a distance of one kilometer from the city. ¡°Lord, the archers are in position.¡± ¡°The Shield Bearer is ready.¡± ¡°Lord Black Thorn, the troll heavy shield is also ready.¡± One by one, messages swiftly reached Black Thorn. Black Thorn nodded, stood up and said: ¡°Strike the drums, attack.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Several orc messengers immediately dispersed, running in different directions. They shouted loudly: ¡°Strike the drums, attack¡­¡± Thump! Thump thump¡­ thump thump thump!! The drummers scattered across the Undead camp began to beat the giant drums in front of them. Deep drumming sounds resonated throughout the Undead camp. Grayish-white lights spread with the sound of drums, engulfing all the Undead units. [Undead War Drum]. [Type: War Drum] [Ability: +5% to all attributes, Limb Reorganization.] [Limb Reorganization]: Under the aura, when the skeleton of an Undead unit gets injured, it will autonomously look for body parts of fallen companions to replace its injured parts. (Description: The sound of the war drum will resonate throughout the battlefield, Immortal warriors will break free from their physical bonds, freely replacing their damaged limbs.) Whoosh!! After the drumming, the infantry began to charge. Swoosh-! Like a roaring hurricane. Arrows went flying over the head of the army, blanketing the sky above the city like a metal net. Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: Chapter 374, Kaur Holy Mountain_i Chapter 387: Chapter 374, Kaur Holy Mountain_i A dense rain of arrows, like a giant black web. With a shrill whistling, it covered the skies above the Trolls. The Trolls, looking up towards the sky, showed an uncontrollable terror in their eyes. Just recently assembled, the Trolls. Began to scatter in chaos once again, fleeing around to seek cover. Those who couldn¡¯t dodge in time, directly threw themselves on the ground using the corpses of their comrades as shields. Crackle!! In the blink of an eye, the arrows fell. Striking the ground, the walls, and the bodies of the Trolls who couldn¡¯t dodge in time. b Boom, boom¡­boom! Under the city wall, the beats of the Undead war drums became increasingly urgent. b y The White Bone Army began their attack. Under the Troll¡¯s shield in the Turtle Shell Formation, the figures of Skeleton Warriors darted about. The siege ladders were raised against the city walls, Skeleton Warriors began to climb up the ladders. Even more undead, like a human pyramid, tried to climb the city wall using their comrades¡¯bodies as steps. b More and more undead joined in. Like a constantly expanding lump of clay, rapidly creeping over the top of the city wall. Atop the city wall. The Trolls, watching everything happening in front of them, were overwhelmed by fear and a sense of helplessness. Could they¡­ fend off so many undead? Even if they just stood there and let the undead kill, they¡¯d probably die of exhaustion first. Quick, aim the dragon crossbows downward and shoot where there are lots of them,¡± Bagath commanded loudly. The lost Trolls immediately snapped to attention. Raising their shields, they used planks to block the ceaseless rain of arrows. They operated the dragon crossbows, adjusting the direction. Crank, crank, crank!! The dragon crossbows uttered the sound of gear rotation. They aimed at the rapidly spreading mound of undead. Bang!! Three-meter-long, arm-thick dragon bolts were launched. Boom! There was a loud noise, the crossbow bolt hit the center of the undead gathering. Shards of earth and stone splintered, numerous undead were instantly killed bones scattered everywhere. The piled-up mound of bones was immediately scattered, falling down along the city wall. b A surviving Skeleton Warrior raised its head. Its legs were gone without a trace. It moved quickly using its two arms, randomly fixed two legs onto its body and continued its attack. Crackle!! More and more undead got up, randomly assembling their bodies. They could even swap their own skulls, and continue to participate in the battle. Boom, boom, boom!! Atop the city wall, dragon bolts were launched one after another. Trying to stop the undead¡¯s attack. But there were too many undead, even though the dragon bolts had great power, they were scarce in number, so the effect of stopping them was quite limited. Sometime later, the first Skeleton Warrior climbed up the city wall. It rotated its head, directly charging at a Troll. Bang!! The war axe swung out from the Troll¡¯s hand, sending the just-arrived Skeleton off the city wall again with a strike. But more and more Skeletons kept surging up the city wall. Leaping toward the Trolls on the city wall. ¡°Damn it, how can there be so many undead.¡± Bagath cursed loudly while smashing the Skeleton in front of him. Last time when the Trolls attacked the Undead Fortress, he heard from those who returned that there were many undead. But he didn¡¯t pay much attention. He had seen undead before, in the caves full of dark energy, those could be encountered often. But those were all low-ranking ones, Skeletons that would crumble at a touch now many could there possibly be. 100,000,200,000, 500,000 should be enough. In his mind, the reason for the failure of the last battle was still due to Kaius¡¯s incompetence. But the scene in front of him gave him a different feeling. Could it be that outside the Bloody Mountain Range, the undead had already taken over, and all living creatures had been killed and converted into White Bone Undead? Otherwise, how could there be so many Undead Soldiers? So many people would have to be killed to have this many. The more he thought about it, the more he felt this was the truth. So, outside there were no human villages, no abundant living creatures. They had all been killed and turned into undead. Now, the undead started their attack on the Bloody Mountain Range again. At this time, looking down at the city wall again. The east, west, and south walls were already covered with White Bone Soldiers like dense swarms of insects, incessantly climbing upwards. More and more undead were engaged in fights with the Trolls. If it kept dragging on, and the walls on the two sides were taken over. They would only die trapped inside the city. Bagath¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his expression ferocious. The city he just conquered, the position of Kaius he just took over, he now had to abandon it? His heart was unwilling to accept this. ¡°Clan Leader Bagath, what are you still waiting for, let¡¯s retreat. If not, we will all die here,¡± a Troll leader shouted. Bagath looked at the Trolls who kept dying under the attacks, looked unwillingly towards the Clan Leader Great Hall again. In the end, he reluctantly gave the order, ¡°Take your men, we¡¯re retreating through the north gate. We leave this place to them.¡± Hearing Bagath¡¯s command. All the Trolls began retreating, no longer entangled with the undead. With the Trolls no longer hindering them. In a flash, the White Bone Army surged like a rolling tidal wave into the city wall. ¡¯ The retreating Trolls who saw this scene had even more despair in their eyes. They turned around and fled to the north of the city without a care. Squeak!! The city wall was breached, the heavy city gate was forced open. Even more undead flooded into the city. Behind the undead, the Black Thorn strode into the city. ¡°Master, there are still some Trolls fleeing to the north gate, it looks like they plan to abandon the city and escape,¡± a Gnoll ran on all fours to report. Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Chapter 374, Kaur Holy Mountain_2 Chapter 388: Chapter 374, Kaur Holy Mountain_2 ¡°How many are left?¡± ¡°Not many, probably tens of thousands.¡± Black Thorn glanced in the northern direction and said coldly: ¡°Let the Skeleton Giant Bats chase them down and kill them all.¡± As soon as Black Thorn¡¯s words fell. Whirl! Dense Skeleton Giant Bats shot up to the sky, chasing towards the north. ¡­ The Trolls, like fleeing soldiers, discarded their helmets and armors and fled towards the north gate of the city. During the day they would do everything they could to charge into this city. And now, they wish they had wings to fly out immediately. To escape this hell on earth. While fleeing, a troll glanced at a passing building. He cried out loudly: ¡°Clan Leader, our injured tribesmen are all left over there¡­..¡± Even more Trolls are severely injured due to the bombardment. All left in a building. Now they are fleeing, aren¡¯t those people who are left going to die? Hearing this sentence, Bagath¡¯s eyes were instantly bloodshot and his face was twisted with emotion. He looked back at the White Bone Army that was continuously pouring into the city. He gritted his teeth and said: ¡°Go, there¡¯s no other way. We have to live to bring the news to our tribe. We can¡¯t take them with us. We¡¯ll keep our lives to avenge them.¡± The undead forces are too numerous. Not to mention the continuous consumption, with their manpower, they simply don¡¯t have the capacity to resist the undead. Taking the injured with them is even more impossible. What they can do is to escape and then bring back the news of the Undead¡¯s invasion of the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range, gather more people, and drive these undead out of the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. The rest didn¡¯t say much either. They all knew that they simply couldn¡¯t take the injured with them. People kept running and finally reached the city gate. Just as a few of them were about to open the city gate. Wham! The sound of flapping wings came from behind them, followed by the cries of the Trolls. ¡°Ah, help!!¡± Everyone turned to look. They saw several Trolls behind them, being covered by countless skeleton bats. Once again dispersed, they had turned into skeletons. ¡°Defense, cover us while we open the gate.¡± The Skeleton Trolls kept swinging their weapons, driving away the attacking bats. After another batch of people died. The city gate finally opened, and everyone rushed out. But the Skeleton Bats still pursued and attacked relentlessly, with no intention of letting them leave. ¡°Head for the stone forest in the north.¡± Bagath commanded, planning to use the terrain to get rid of these bats. ¡­ With the city captured, The undead army began to clean up the city. They dealt the final blow to the Trolls injured along the road who were crying out in pain. Soon, they found the injured Trolls in several buildings. Showing no mercy, Black Thorn ordered the army to swarm into the room. Then transported the corpses out and piled them up at a unified spot. They cleaned up the whole city. The army began to clean up the battlefield, collecting the arrows and weapons scattered all over the ground. Also, they began to fortify the city. Black Thorn led his men into the Clan Leader¡¯s hall. Stepping on the floor, leaving bloody footprints behind. The entire city was like a bloody rain had fallen, with red streams and puddles everywhere. In the hall, Black Thorn saw the sand table of the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. The sand table recorded the roads within the mountain range, as well as the location of each Troll Tribe. It was clearer and more detailed than the map Fang Hao had given them. Black Thorn opened the map Fang Hao had given him and began to compare them one by one. ¡°Commander Black Thorn, we found a dungeon, where a group of female Trolls are imprisoned. One of them says she can offer a secret in exchange for their lives,¡± Black Sword walked in and said. The order issued by Black Thorn was to kill all the Trolls in the city. All the undead executed this order, cleaning up the entire city. Only one dungeon was left. Black Sword found the women imprisoned in the dungeon during his inspection. The other party attempted to propose a condition. But whether to spare these Trolls depended on what Black Thorn would say. Black Thorn did not hesitate and directly said, ¡°Bring that person in, let¡¯s hear the secret she claims to hold. Is it enough to exchange for their lives?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Black Sword went out again. About ten minutes later, a ragged female troll walked in. Seeing the Skeleton sitting up there, she knelt down on one knee, performing a Troll salute. ¡°Speak, let¡¯s see if your secret is worth your lives.¡± Black Thorn did not beat around the bush, he directly questioned the troll. A hero forged by the Corpse Witch was devoid of excess emotions, seeing them as unnecessary burdens. So, they wouldn¡¯t exhibit the slightest sympathy for your tragic fate. It was all about whether it would be beneficial to the battle situation. ¡°Esteemed Undead, I know where Kaius has gone and the location of the treasury here. I hope you will spare us; we pose no threat to you.¡± The female troll still kneeled on the ground, her face serious. ¡­ The next morning. Upon waking up from sleep, Fang Hao received a message from Black Thorn. They had already taken control of the Bloodthroat Tribe¡¯s city overnight. This news elated Fang Hao. Black Thorn and the others had acted faster than he had calculated. After breakfast. Fang Hao took Demitrija and Anjia with him, directly riding the Bone Dragon towards the Bloodthroat Tribe. As the Bone Dragon entered the Bloody Mountain Range, they could see the large city below from afar. However, in every corner of the city. There were collapsed houses, bricks and stones everywhere, piles of rubble. It was like the remnants of a modern city after a dense artillery bombardment. The Bone Dragon landed at the city center. A few heroes quickly walked up to greet them. Black Thorn, after bowing in salute, said, ¡°My Lord, we took this city last night. A small squad of Trolls escaped from the north gate. A few prisoners were willing to share information. The rest of the trolls were all annihilated.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Good work.¡± The few of them had entered the Clan Leader¡¯s hall while talking. The architectural style of the Trolls highlighted violence and roughness. Everywhere you looked you could see decorations made from the skulls or other bones of various living creatures. Used to decorate this hall. Fang Hao went straight up to the throne and plonked himself down on it. He immediately felt a cold sensation on his buttocks. A name list was delivered by Black Sword shortly after. He said, ¡°My Lord, from the battle, we obtained eighty thousand Wriggling Spines and over five hundred thousand pieces of Troll equipment, seventy-two Dragon-lock crossbow beds, fifteen siege towers¡­¡± Fang Hao nodded, looking at the list in his hand. Black Sword had only mentioned the important items. In addition to the Wriggling Spines and weapons that he just mentioned, the list also included the materials, food, and various gem artifacts in the warehouse. The loot was substantial. ¡°Black Thorn, where¡¯s the prisoner you mentioned in the conch?¡± Fang Hao put the list away and continued to ask. Black Thorn mentioned in the conch that a captive had revealed a secret. This was why Fang Hao made a special trip to this place. ¡°My lord, please wait a moment. I have already sent someone to bring her over.¡± Black Thorn said. After a short while. A tall female troll in ragged clothes was brought in. The female troll lifted her head slightly, when she saw the human being seated, a brief look of bewilderment flashed across her face. He was clearly Undead, so how had he become human? But she did not hesitate, kneeling on one knee, ¡°Greetings, human sir.¡± You could tell that the female Troll had been treated differently. Broken clothes hung loosely on her. From Fang Hao¡¯s angle, you could make out her massive chest and the thick chest hair through the wide neckline. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao asked indifferently. ¡°Human sir, I am called Stella. I am willing to become your slave, your most loyal servant.¡± The female Troll said quietly. This piqued Fang Hao¡¯s curiosity. ¡°I have killed so many of your Trolls, you don¡¯t hate me but want to be my slave?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. The woman had already calmed down, ¡°It wasn¡¯t you who killed the members of our tribe, but the foreigners of Bagath. You killed them and avenged us.¡± Fang Hao was surprised, this female Troll was indeed clever. She managed to frame Fang Hao, the enemy, as a benefactor of the tribe. ¡°Fine, tell me your secret. If it¡¯s helpful, I¡¯ll consider signing a Slave Contract with you.¡± Fang Hao ordered someone to bring a fur blanket and cushioned it on the seat. ¡°Yes, Human Sir. I am Kaius¡¯s woman. He has gone to Kaur Holy Mountain this time. According to the legends of the Trolls, a real Giant Spirit sleeps there.¡± Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Chapter 375, Thin Stonework Brick_1 Chapter 389: Chapter 375, Thin Stonework Brick_1 Kaur Holy Mountain, Giant Spirit. These two words made Fang Hao furrow his brows instantaneously. Fang Hao did believe in the existence of spirits in this world. After all, several idols were honored in his territory, which did indeed add attributes to the area. However, the potential of a spirit slumbering in such arid mountains was something Fang Hao found hard to believe. Slumbering in these mountains. The conditions would be even worse for this spirit than his own. ¡°You¡¯re saying that Kaius went to seek the Giant Spirit to deal with us, is that right?¡± asked Fang Hao. The female troll, Stella, didn¡¯t conceal anything, ¡°Yes, human lord. The last conflict with the Undead caused a lot of dissatisfaction amongst the trolls against Kaius. Both inside and outside of the clan, he was heavily criticized. Kaius then took offerings to Kaur Holy Mountain to seek guidance from the spirit.¡± Due to Stella¡¯s status, she had more access to Kaius¡¯s situation. Kaius, under immense pressure, had faced difficulties which force alone could not resolve, leading him towards seeking the spirit. Furthermore, the reason why the troll coalition chose to launch an attack on the Bloodthroat Tribe recently¡­. It was because they saw an opportunity to seize their city while Kaius wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Does a spirit really reside there?¡± Fang Hao asked with a hint of doubt on his face. Stella said with conviction, ¡°Every troll living in the Blood Mountains firmly believes that the Kaur Holy Mountain is home to a slumbering spirit. This is particularly true for the Bloodthroat Tribe, as their new Clan Leaders have to make offerings to the Kaur Holy Mountain.¡± Suddenly, Fang Hao felt something was amiss. Didn¡¯t the trolls worship the Slaughter God? He had found a statue of the trolls¡¯ worship of the Slaughter God in the ¡®Tomb of the Dragon¡¯, and saw a collapsed Slaughter God Statue in the city just now. Could the Slaughter God be the spirit slumbering there? ¡°Is the Slaughter God the one residing in Kaur Holy Mountain?¡± Fang Hao asked, voicing his doubts. ¡°Not exactly, Milord. The Slaughter God is of spiritual importance to Trolls because he gives them the courage and strength to win every battle, and the belief that they can challenge the strong. The Giant Spirit, on the other hand, gives trolls enlightenment and guidance when they are lost,¡± Stella explained earnestly. It seemed these beliefs had been deeply rooted into the hearts of every troll. ¡°Has anyone seen the Giant Spirit? What does it look like?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not entirely sure. Only the Bloodthroat Clan Leader has the privilege of making offerings to the gods,¡± Stella answered hesitantly. ¡°So, is there any reward or benefit received in return for these offerings?¡± Fang Hao continued to probe. ¡°The guidance of the Spirit. Kaius will bring back the guidance to share with the rest of the tribe,¡± Stella responded. By this point, Fang Hao had formed his own speculation. The Giant Spirit could be one of two things. The first possibility was that the spirit did not exist at all, and was invented by the leaders of the tribes to control their people. Whenever they encountered some difficulties, they would use the guidance of this invented spirit as an excuse to give orders. The second possibility was that there was indeed a powerful creature offering some help to the trolls. However, the chances of its existence were very slim, almost non-existent. ¡°Do you know where Kaur Holy Mountain is? Point it out to me.¡± A model of the Blood Mountains was brought forth. Fang Hao rose from his seat and approached the model. [Detailed Model (Wind Mountain Range)]. Stella stood up and pointed to a location on the model. It was located to the northwest of this city, quite a distance away indeed. ¡°Is there anyone else living on that mountain?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure about this, but I believe there is indeed a tribe that dwells there to guard the spirit from disturbances,¡± Stella continued to respond. With a nod, Fang Hao logged her words into his memory. He proceeded to say: ¡°Alright, you mentioned that you also know the location of the Bloodthroat Treasure Vault. Just lead my men to it.¡± ¡°Yes, human lord, but I still hope that you can spare me, and the women in the dungeon. We do not pose any threat to you,¡± Stella pleaded once again, giving another curtsey. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± The Black Sword led a group of soldiers in and took Stella away from the Clan Leader¡¯s Hall to locate the treasure vault she mentioned. ¡­ After Stella¡¯s departure, the hall was returned to silence once again. While standing in front of the model, the Book of Lords released a soft glow and swept over the model. [Blood Mountain Range model has been recorded, the complete Blood Mountain Range map can be viewed on the Book of Lords ¨C Map page.] Similar to the previous models. After it was recorded, the map of the entire mountain range was integrated into the main map. All the terrain features of the mountain range, winding routes, tribes¡¯ locations were all revealed. What Xu Yang had given him was only the straight-route map from the Rock¡¯s Head Tribe to the Bloodthroat Tribe. Whereas, the model was a map of the entire mountain range. It was much more precise and clear compared to the map Xu Yang had given him. After the map was logged. Fang Hao settled himself back on the throne. He continued to view the Book of Lords. From the start, once he took the Clan Leader¡¯s seat, the system had issued a prompt that he had taken over the Bloodthroat Tribe. However, he was discussing with Stella at the time and didn¡¯t have a chance to check it out. [Bloodthroat Tribe has become your subordinate city, you can ¡®rename¡¯ it here, and control all resources of the tribe and affiliated villages.] Bloodthroat Tribe and the Blood Mountain Range seemed a bit too bloody. After some thought, as he checked the map, This city, located to the north of his main city, could be the first line of defense against the northern trolls. Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Chapter 375, Fine Stone Brick_2 Chapter 390: Chapter 375, Fine Stone Brick_2 Fang Hao decisively filled in the ¡®Unnamed¡¯ with ¡®North Town¡¯. After taking down the rest of the Troll Tribes. This city will be the one that deters all the trolls in the North. ¡®North Town¡¯ is quite fitting. [Naming Successful] [North Town] [City Level: Level 9 Original City] [Attributes: Mining +15%, Gold Coin Tax +5%, Troll Tribe Replenishment +5%, Rebellion +50%] (Description: A city with attributes can bring various different types of enhancement effects, accelerating the construction and development of the city.) The city level is quite high. The tax and replenishment are the lowest among the cities they¡¯ve taken over. Moreover, there¡¯s also an added rebellion. Fang Hao specifically looked at it. [Rebellion]: The residents of the area are difficult to control, prone to riots. Indeed, it¡¯s not a good attribute. 50%, that¡¯s to say, there¡¯s a fifty percent chance of a rebellion, just like this time the Troll United Army is confronting the Bloodthroat. Even though the trolls in the city were nearly wiped out, the city still needs people to operate. This rebellion must absolutely not be allowed, but how should this attribute be dealt with¡­ Fang Hao was thinking inwardly. The system prompt continued to appear. [Blueprint Unlocked: Precision Stone Processing Plant construction blueprint, Large Stone Quarry construction blueprint, Dragon-lock crossbow bed manufacturing blueprint, Troll House construction blueprint, Troll Warrior Training Ground construction blueprint.] Quite a few blueprints were unlocked with a level 9 city. [Precision Stone Processing Plant: Wood 3000, Tough Wood 1800, Stone Material 2200, Stone Bricks 1200, Iron 420, Metal Parts 120.] (Description: Through processing, stone bricks can be made into higher density precision stone bricks.) A factory for processing precision stone bricks. This made Fang Hao immediately happy. When the manor was upgraded to level 10, this kind of material, precision stone brick, appeared. However, he did not expect that on the second day he had already received the construction blueprint and could arrange for workers to process it. This was just what he needed. Continuing on to the second blueprint. [Large Stone Quarry: Wood 4200, Stone Material 3500, Stone Bricks 1500, Iron 820, Metal Parts 500.] (Description: Large stone quarry area, large stones can be mined into stone bricks, stone material collection efficiency +15%.) The mining efficiency of the quarry remained at 15%, but it added an attribute for finished product mining. Large stones can be directly processed into stone bricks without requiring secondary processing. This also reduced the consumption of manpower and time. Moreover, this kind of quarry was suitable for the mountainous and rocky area of the Bloody Mountain Range. They would never run out of stones to mine. Next blueprint also excited Fang Hao. [Dragon-lock crossbow bed (Eighth rank equipment)]. It was actually the manufacturing blueprint for the Dragon-lock crossbow bed. He clearly remembered that it was this kind of crossbow bed that had cost him three Bone Dragons. Not only can it attack aerial targets, but it can also be used as a ground crossbow. It can be said that the power of this kind of machinery is extremely powerful. The last [Troll House construction blueprint] and [Troll Warrior Training Ground construction blueprint]. Fang Hao was not very interested anymore. The Troll House could be used to build houses suitable for trolls. The training ground could recruit a 5-tier troll warrior, which Fang Hao was not really interested in. It consumed Troll Stones and a huge amount of food on a daily basis, not as good as skeleton soldiers. ¡­ After checking the blueprints. Black Thorn walked in from outside. He opened his mouth and said, ¡°Master, I interrogated a few corpses, the content they said doesn¡¯t differ much from the female troll, we can confirm that what she said is all true.¡± After Fang Hao¡¯s conversation with the female troll, Black Thorn also left the hall. He used the [Speak with Dead] skill to interrogate two troll corpses. The corpses are unable to lie to the user of the skill. Except for not knowing the secret of the treasury, the rest of the information was the same. This can also prove that what the female giant said was all true. ¡°Good, I understand.¡± Fang Hao nodded. Half an hour later. Black Sword led the female troll back again, and several undead warriors followed, carrying treasure chests filled with gold coins. There were a few thumping sounds as they were placed on the ground. From the weight, it was determined that there were a lot of gold coins. ¡°Master, this is Kaius¡¯s treasury, and this is the war loot gathered from various tribes over the years,¡± Stella said again. Fang Hao curiously looked at the female troll. She had a tall figure, robust physique, especially her large chest and dense chest hair were eye-catching. ¡°You¡¯ve told me everything so easily?¡± This woman troll who calls herself Kaius, so easily spilled everything. ¡°Human lord, I am only a gift sent from a small tribe, and I am not as loyal as you might think.¡± The female troll continued calmly. Stella was born in a small tribe. She was presented as a gift to appease Kaius, and was sent to the Bloodthroat Tribe. Because of Stella¡¯s appearance, which was indeed compatible with troll aesthetics, she was chosen by Kaius to stay by his side. However, this did not change the fate of Stella¡¯s small tribe. Within a few years, the tribe was wiped out in the internal conflicts among the trolls. Even though she lived in Bloodthroat. But her status was nothing more than an accessory to Kaius, and she felt nothing for Kaius and Bloodthroat. She was just living numbly. Now the undead have taken over the city. She does not want to die. Nor would she risk her life to keep those secrets. ¡­ The female troll¡¯s tone remained flat. Only when she mildly hesitated did she pause slightly, and no fear could be perceived from her. I am not as loyal as you might think. This was quite straightforward. ¡°Okay, I agree to sign a slave contract with you. If you can ensure that the women will behave and not make any trouble, I can spare them.¡± Fang Hao said directly. Women and men are indeed very different. Men, when given power, easily breed greater ambitions, but women rarely encounter this situation. Fang Hao did not mind wasting a slave contract on her, even if she did not satisfy him. He could kill her. ¡°Thank you lord, I will manage them well and won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± Stella promised. Her expression remained unchanged. Fang Hao took out a blank slave contract, the female troll quickly slid her finger and pressed it on the top. The contract emitted a light, enveloping the troll¡¯s body. The contract was signed between them. [Troll Stella¡¯s current loyalty to you is 72 points.] A loyalty of 72 points was not bad at all. ¡°Alright, remove her shackles.¡± Two undead warriors immediately came forward and removed the leg cuffs and handcuffs from her. Stella flexed her wrist, lifting the fallen clothing back onto her shoulder. ¡°You go and change your clothes.¡± Fang Hao continued. Although everyone was not very interested in the female troll¡¯s body, this dress style was a bit inappropriate. ¡°Alright, human lord.¡± Stella nodded in thanks and turned to walk towards the right side of the room. Fang Hao casually collected all the money boxes on the ground. A total of 2.72 million Warfire Coins, over 7,000 gemstones, and nearly a thousand pieces of gold. Kaius¡¯s wealth was beyond what Fang Hao had imagined. He had assumed that these trolls, with their exposed breasts, didn¡¯t have much money, but it turned out there was such a large sum of wealth. After storing everything, Fang Hao continued towards Anjia, ¡°Anjia, search carefully, see if there is anything valuable, don¡¯t forget to find the treasure chest.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± As Anjia responded, she summoned a few skeleton warriors and ran up the stairs. ¡­ On the other side. Bloody mountain range, Stone Forest. At this time, Xu Yang led his 120 villagers out of the cave. Using the map in his hand, he began to move outward. Everyone moved silently, cautiously observing the surroundings. Suddenly, intensive footsteps were heard from the front, approaching rapidly. Hearing the footsteps. Everyone immediately tensed up. Were their maneuvers spotted, and the trolls were coming to capture them? ¡°Hide, quick!¡± The people instantly dispersed, hiding among the surrounding boulders. Rustle!! At the same time as everyone was hiding, dozens of trolls, looking back in panic, desperately fled. Their bodies were full of scars, and they looked like deserters. Xu Yang frowned at the sight, waiting until the trolls were a certain distance away before he intended to come out. But as soon as he took a step, he immediately backed off. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! A series of roaring sounds were heard. Several mantismen with heavy swords on their backs stood on the stone pillars. The mantismen glanced in the direction of the fleeing trolls. They stomped their feet! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! They immediately jumped out, stepping on the stone pillars, disappearing in the sight instantly. Holy crap, ninjas¡­. Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Chapter 376, Temple of Thousands Gods_1 Chapter 391: Chapter 376, Temple of Thousands Gods_1 Undead! As Skeleton Mantis turned away, a surge of unease gripped Xu Yang¡¯s heart. It was indisputably a member of the Undead army. Wasn¡¯t it said the Undead only established a fortress in the south, without making any move to attack the Bloody Mountains? Yet, why did it suddenly appear here? Considering the equipment of the escaping troll, it was clear he belonged to the Troll Alliance. Wasn¡¯t the Alliance launching an attack on the Bloodthroat Tribe? Why were they being hunted by the Undead? What on earth happened that led to this unexpected situation? Usually, the Undead were rigid, awkward soldiers, right? Why was this one so agile? With the Trolls¡¯ retreat, and the Undead¡¯s pursuit, Xu Yang¡¯s mind was muddled. ¡°Sir, should we proceed?¡± a trembling voice uttered nearby. It came from a peasant. Xu Yang glanced at the map, then in the direction where the troll and the Undead had disappeared. He finally answered, ¡°Lead everyone back to the cave and block the entrance. I¡¯ll go check out the situation and decide what to do.¡± Clearly, the battle ahead was no longer just between the Bloodthroat and the Troll Alliance; the Undead were now involved. No matter which side, they couldn¡¯t afford to provoke any of them. Being discovered would lead to severe consequences. Obviously, something unusual had happened. ¡°Alright!¡± The peasants responded and turned back in the direction they came from. Once they had left, Xu Yang hid in the original location a while longer. After a moment¡¯s thought, he cautiously headed towards where the Undead and the troll vanished. He had barely walked for ten minutes, when suddenly he felt squishy stickiness under his feet. He glanced down, only to find it was thick, red blood. Xu Yang immediately hid behind a large boulder. Looking ahead, he saw troll bodies laying in pools of blood. As expected! The Undead were indeed hunting Trolls, and they must be high-level ones, given the ease they took down these trolls. Xu Yang hid quietly again for a while. Only after ensuring there was no immediate danger, he hurried to the Troll bodies, rummaging through their possessions. He could trade these items back home for a few days¡¯ worth of supplies. It would enable them to sustain quite a while longer in the cave. ¡°Uh¡­, save me¡­¡± a certain body suddenly moaned in pain. The sudden sound startled Xu Yang, causing him to whip out his knight¡¯s sword, pointing it in the direction of the voice. A Troll lying in a pool of blood was looking at him. The troll was a pitiful sight, with both arms severed and an enormous, ghastly scar on his chest. Only a Troll¡¯s vigorous vitality could enable him to speak in such a condition. Had it been any other species, they would¡¯ve become corpses. Seeing that the Troll¡¯s arms were both gone, Xu Yang grew a little bolder and approached, asking, ¡°Wasn¡¯t the Alliance advancing towards Bloodthroat? Why are the Undead pursuing you?¡± He hoped that this dying Troll could answer his question. ¡°Save me,¡± the Troll replied hoarsely, still begging for help. Xu Yang sat down near the blood-covered Troll. ¡°How can I save you when I have nothing on me for treatment?¡± ¡°He¡­he is our Clan Leader. He must have potions on him. Please help me,¡± the troll weakly glancing at another body. The second body was not only beheaded, but also cut across the waist. Its entrails mixed with the blood, the person sure was dead beyond any doubt. Xu Yang¡¯s expression changed. He went straight to the body, squatted down and started searching. Sure enough, he found a healing potion, a beast tooth necklace, and several Warfire coins. Looks like he was indeed the head of a small tribe. Xu Yang clenched the healing potion in his hand and put away all the other items. Then he returned to the injured troll. The immobile Troll¡¯s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope at the sight of the potion Xu Yang held. But instead of giving him the potion, Xu Yang sat down beside him. This sudden change made the Troll anxious. He could feel his life slowly fading. If he did not receive treatment soon, his bleeding would surely kill him. ¡°Help me, please,¡± the Troll pleaded loudly. Xu Yang sat down next to the Troll, holding the healing potion in his hand. He asked, ¡°This is my loot. Why should I give it to you?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± A flash of fierce violence appeared in the Troll¡¯s eyes. Xu Yang, he knew him. The insignificant human who clung to Bagath and flattered the Trolls. Just like a comical buffoon currying favor with the Trolls. Now he dared to talk to him in this manner, practically courting death. But the Troll also understood his situation, that he didn¡¯t have the physical condition to snatch the potion from his hand. ¡°What do you want, we were allies before,¡± the Troll said. He was not stupid. He planned to get hold of the medicine first, then deal with Xu Yang. Xu Yang weighed the potion in his hand, pondering for a moment before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal. Answer a few of my questions. If you answer well, I¡¯ll give you the potion. How¡¯s that?¡± The Troll had no other choice. He could only agree, ¡°Alright, ask quickly, I am in tremendous pain.¡± ¡°Alright, when did you start attacking Bloodthroat, and how¡¯s the battle situation?¡± Xu Yang asked the first question. ¡°We launched an attack on Bloodthroat early yesterday morning and successfully conquered the city.¡± The Troll answered through gritted teeth. Chapter 392 - Chapter 392: Chapter 376, Temple of all Gods_2 Chapter 392: Chapter 376, Temple of all Gods_2 ¡°So why are you here?¡± The troll glanced at the human, then continued, ¡°The undead attacked us. Everyone died, so we fled here.¡± ¡°What about Bagath? Is he dead?¡± Xu Yang asked further. ¡°I don¡¯t know, we fled separately. I don¡¯t know what happened to him.¡± The troll replied with growing frailty. ¡°Oh!¡± Xu Yang uttered, then continued, ¡°What¡¯s the situation at the Bloodthroat Tribe? Is it possible to go there?¡± ¡°Heh! Heh heh, you want to go out? The outside has already been overrun by the undead. There¡¯s nothing like a human city anymore. Everything has turned into undead, and you still want to go out.¡± The troll laughed at Xu Yang even in his weak state. Xu Yang was just as naive as them before. He still thought that the world outside bloody mountain range was better, not realizing it had already transformed into a land of purgatory. It¡¯s a pity they found out too late. The undead has already launched an attack on the mountain range. Hearing the troll¡¯s words, Xu Yang fell silent. He vaguely understood the situation, but wouldn¡¯t believe the troll¡¯s words outright. The numerous voices in the regional channel revealed the existence of humans, orcs, and dwarfs. It¡¯s unlikely they all were killed and overtaken by the undead. Clearly, this troll was scared silly. Likely, it¡¯s all in his head. And there¡¯s no need to mention the battle between troll armies of the Bloodthroat Tribe. Both sides were fighting tooth and nail, oblivious to the dagger in their backs placed by the undead. However, Xu Yang was intrigued. What a coincidence that the undead launched another attack just as the alliance seized the city. Are the undead keeping watch over the bloody mountain range? Suddenly, Xu Yang thought he was onto something, but he was left slightly confused. While sitting on a stone and pondering, a sound suddenly echoed from the depths of the stone forest. Xu Yang¡¯s countenance shifted. He instantly dashed to the side, hiding behind larger rocks again. ¡°Save me, you promised to save me¡­¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Once again, skeleton mantismen wielding giant swords appeared. They squatted or stood around the corpse. The mantis glanced at the pleading troll on the ground. The giant sword swiped through the air. Thump! The troll¡¯s head instantly separated from its body, rolling into the distance. The skeleton mantis affirmed the death of several more bodies in the puddles of blood. Ensuring none survived, they swiftly propelled into the distance. Towards the Bloodthroat Tribe. Xu Yang waited for over twenty minutes. Not until he was sure nothing was amiss, did he dare to stray from behind the rock. He looked at the severed head with wide-open eyes, staring back at him. He could easily kick it away. He ripped all the war loot from the bodies. Carrying large and small bundles, he returned to the cave they were hiding in. It seemed they would have to hide in the cave for a considerable amount of time. ¡­ North Town, Clan Leader¡¯s Hall. After Anjia¡¯s search, boxes of goods were brought down. Besides golden and silverware and Nightstones, Anjia also held a skull adorned with golden teeth in her hands. Judging by the skull¡¯s morphology, it likely belonged to a human or orc. ¡°What is this?¡± Fang Hao asked. Caressing the top of the skull, Anjia responded, ¡°I feel it¡¯s rather artistic. If we bring it to the auction at Lyss City, perhaps we can sell it to those gullible nobles.¡± Ever since she attended the city lord¡¯s auction in Lyss City, Anjia learned that any odd object, so long as it¡¯s associated with art, can fetch a good price. Even though she isn¡¯t exactly sure what qualifies as ¡®art¡¯, she felt the skull had a strong artistic vibe. Fang Hao examined the details on the skull. [Skull Remnant]. It possessed no special attributes or features, and the only thing of value were its gold teeth. ¡°Useless, if we could sell skulls to the nobles, wouldn¡¯t we have already made a fortune with all the skulls we have in our territory?¡± Fang Hao stated. ¡°What? You make it sound less artistic now.¡± Anjia, holding the skull, instantly lost interest. Glancing at the golden teeth, ¡°then I¡¯ll just keep it as a room decoration.¡± Decorating a room with a skull? Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. She wasn¡¯t afraid of anything indeed. ¡°Who uses a skull for decoration! Pull out those golden teeth and toss the skull out.¡± Fang Hao motioned for her to dispose of it right away. Don¡¯t we have enough gold and silver accessories for decor? Why on earth would we want a skull? ¡°You keep arm and head bones, how¡¯s me wanting a skull different? Hmph!!¡± Anjia mumbled under her breath, but still broke off the golden teeth with a crunchy noise. She tossed the golden teeth into the loot box and casually threw out the skull from the front door. Once Anjia tossed the skull, Fang Hao returned his attention to the shiny box on the floor. Besides the boxes full of loot, there was another flashy silver box in front of him, notably the [Platinum Box] that only transmigrators could open. This was the third time Fang Hao obtained a platinum box. The first time was when he occupied Skullcrusher Tribe at the Frostwind mountain range. The second time was when he took over the Blood Castle at Crescent Heights. This was the third instance, at the Bloodthroat Tribe in the bloody mountain range. From these experiences, Fang Hao had noticed a pattern. These three places were not particularly fierce battlegrounds, but they were all stronghold cities in their respective regions. As long as you overtook the stronghold of the leading tribe, you¡¯d get a high reward and a map. Just like killing a minor noble is never as profitable as killing a king. Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 376, Temple of All Gods_3 Chapter 393: Chapter 376, Temple of All Gods_3 Fang Hao came before a platinum treasure chest. After praying a few words in his heart. He directly opened the chest. [Obtained: Blueprint of the Overlord¡¯s Power Chest Armor (Blue), Blueprint of the Overlord¡¯s Power Gloves (Blue), Blueprint of the Overlord¡¯s Power Helmet (Blue), Blueprint of the Overlord¡¯s Power Boots (Blue), Blueprint of the Overlord¡¯s Fury Battle Axe (Purple), Blueprint of the Slaughter God Statue (Blue), Totem of the Giant Spirit¡¯s Body (Purple), Blueprint of the All-God Temple (Orange), 372 Troll Stones, 899 Warfire Coins.] Various colors of light flashed. Fang Hao caught sight of an orange light in an instant. The fact that the imagined dark gold light had not appeared left him somewhat disappointed. He first checks the orange blueprint. [Level 1 All-God Temple: Sturdy Wood 3200, Fine Stone Brick 3000, Cast Iron Block 420, Metal Parts 1200, Traces of Prayer 12, Traces of Deity 5, Rich Essence 22.] (Description: When the lord¡¯s mansion reaches the Stone Castle level, it can build the All-God Temple, listen to the guidance of the gods, and the attributes of the statue in the temple will be enhanced.) All-God Temple! The temple should be a place to put statues of gods. But this shouldn¡¯t be enough to reach the orange level, should it? Can building a house for a god increase the level to orange? Fang Hao felt that it would be more practical to give him a military building instead. Moreover, even though the existence of the gods was confirmed, he didn¡¯t feel any devotion. After the excitement passed, Fang Hao continued to look at the blueprints. [Overlord¡¯s Power Chest Armor] [Category: Chest Armor] [Defense: Level 4 Defense] [Set Effect: Armor Durability +50%, Attack Power +5%, Hit Rate +15%, Movement Speed -5%.] (Description: The brutal troll lord led his Overlord¡¯s army to conquer this land and enslave all living creatures.) It seems that this Overlord¡¯s Power Set belongs to Troll¡¯s equipment. Also, with its blue quality, the defense has reached Level 4 Defense, which is quite high. With additional set attributes, it can be considered top-tier equipment. He continues to look at the second weapon blueprint. Same name. [Overlord¡¯s Fury Battle Axe (Purple)] [Category: Battle Axe] [Damage: Level 5 Damage] [Ability: Ignores the living creatures¡¯ natural ¡®Scale Armor¡¯.] (Description: The Overlord¡¯s Battle Axe is raised high above the head. With a heart-wrenching roar, the blade cleaves through the dragon¡¯s throat, and blood floods the altar.) The Overlord¡¯s Fury Battle Axe should belong to the same batch of equipment as the Overlord¡¯s Power set. But for the Defense Set, equipping the basic four-piece set is enough for it to take effect. The battle axe need not be equipped. This purple battle axe has reached Level 5 Damage, and it also carries an effect that ignores the ¡®Scale Armor¡¯ of living creatures. The Scale Armor of living creatures is a racial feature. Demitrija¡¯s racial attribute includes scale armor, which is the scales on his body. Like dragons and crocodiles, these creatures all come with scale armor. The description mentions that the battle axe cleaved through the dragon¡¯s neck, which confirms the attribute of ignoring scale armor. This Overlord¡¯s Power Set, paired with the Overlord¡¯s Fury Battle Axe. It could form a mighty troll army. Next is the blueprint for the Slaughter God Statue, which he already has, so he doesn¡¯t look at it closely. The last reward is a scroll filled with special symbols. [Body of Giant Spirit Totem] [Category: Scroll] (Description: Records the method of drawing the Body of Giant Spirit Totem.) Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Chapter 377, I actually suspect one person_1 Chapter 394: Chapter 377, I actually suspect one person_1 The appearance of the totem scroll was not much different from that of a skill scroll. However, when held in hand, no hint of being able to learn from it appeared. Could it be that this type of scroll still required me to learn it by myself? I untied the thin hemp cord holding the scroll, and spread it flat. The scroll was filled with densely written words, symbols, and patterns. The patterns were complex markings drawn on a human back, somewhat resembling a tattoo. Perhaps it was because of the reward from the treasure box, the outlined patterns were incredibly clear and orderly, giving the impression of a modern print. Next to the pattern was an enlarged version of the markings and some explanatory notes. I, Fang Hao, had previously studied the notes of the Demon Doll for a few days. I could tell that the markings on the scroll had a lot of similarities with the array markings. Perhaps they had some sort of connection with the array markings. Professional knowledge, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t understand, but he could understand some of the descriptions above. A totem can be understood as sealing, applying, and invoking. That is, the power is drawn beneath the human skin in the form of a totem, and this power is released when needed. And this totem of the Body of Giant Spirit. It seemed that it could borrow the power of the Giant Spirit God for some enhancement of oneself. Fang Hao didn¡¯t understand too much, but one thing he was certain about was that this was akin to a passive skill. Although somewhat special. Since Nelson was studying array markings now, it could be given to him for research. ¡­ Collecting all the blueprints. He also immediately put away the totem scroll. Lifting my head, I found that the female troll had already changed into a linen outfit and had returned. She was quietly standing below. Fang Hao turned to look at them and said, ¡°Black Thorn, Black Sword, Giant Shield, Heavy Arrow, and Stella, I will turn this place into an undead camp. Based on this city, you will launch an attack on the tribes in the blood mountain range.¡± When the Book of Lords was upgraded to level 5, a new feature¡ª[City Transfer]¡ªwas added. In other words, the original affiliated city and the affiliated city could be exchanged with each other. If you want to convert an original affiliated city into an affiliated city, you only have two choices [Human City] and [City of Undead]. But if you want to transfer an affiliated city into an original affiliated city, there are more choices, including human, orc, undead, blood clan, and troll¡¯s original affiliated cities. The difference between the two should be related to the types of cities that have previously been occupied. Fang Hao was not satisfied with the attributes of this city. The bonuses it provided were not high, and there was 50% internal strife. Moreover, most of the trolls in the city had been killed, rendering the added attributes useless. Rather, it would be better to turn this city into the second City of Undead. This would also facilitate the subsequent battles against other trolls in the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s proposal, all the heroes nodded slightly. ¡°Lord, if we turn this place into the City of Undead, we can greatly reduce the time and efficiency of occupying the Bloodthirsty Mountain Range.¡± Black Thorn stepped forward and spoke. Turning this city into the City of Undead could be of great help to future battles. The rest of the heroes had no other opinions. The female troll Stella¡¯s face changed a little, but she didn¡¯t stand up to oppose it. Fang Hao, as the victor, had full disposal rights over the city. Even if she protested, there was nothing she could do. She could only hope that the City of Undead would not have any impact on them as living creatures. ¡°Good.¡± Fang Hao agreed, opened the Book of Lords, and clicked on the city transfer on North Guard City. [Do you want to transfer the original city ¡®North Guard City¡¯?] Yes! [Please choose the city transfer camp [Human Camp] [Undead Camp].] Undead Camp. A beam of light covered the entire city. [Transformation completed!] [North Guard City¡¯s next transformation countdown: 29 days and 59 hours¡­] This ability has a countdown, which means that this city cannot be transferred again within a month. The light faded away. The properties of North Guard City have changed from a level 9 Troll¡¯s original affiliated city to a level 9 Undead¡¯s affiliated city. Fang Hao got up and walked out, ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look outside.¡± Everyone followed Fang Hao out of the hall, and outside the door was an empty city. The originally collapsed, broken buildings had disappeared, leaving a large area of vacant land. Resources were returned at a 50% ratio, directly stored in the warehouse. This was the advantage of a transmigrator¡¯s city, everything was digitized, and upgrading and demolition were also very fast. Fang Hao led his people to the camp area, opened the Book of Lords, and built some usable buildings like the warehouse, blacksmith shop, arrow tower, and magic tower. Then he built the [Skeleton Conversion Field]. ¡°Black Thorn, arrange for people to transform all those bodies!¡± Fang Hao said to Black Thorn. The dead bodies of the trolls from this battle were piled up like a mountain. The number of dead bodies from the Troll Alliance and the Bloodthroat Tribe was astounding. After being dealt with by the Bone Dragon¡¯s [Death Breath], only a mountain of white bones was left. Originally, the transformation required to be carried back to the main city, but it wasn¡¯t necessary now. The transformation on the spot could also allow them to join the battlefield sooner. ¡°Alright my Lord, I will arrange for it immediately.¡± Black Thorn delegated the task, and immediately there were undead soldiers throwing batches of corpses into the Skeleton Conversion Pool. The countdown for transformation began. Then, Fang Hao constructed some additional troll dwellings for Stella and the other trolls to reside in. Now, Stella couldn¡¯t live in the city lord¡¯s mansion; she had to live outside. Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: Chapter 377, I actually suspect one person_2 Chapter 395: Chapter 377, I actually suspect one person_2 Having finished with the buildings, Fang Hao began to create equipment for the upcoming battles. He opened the Book of Lords. [Power of the Overlord¡¯s Chest Armor: Iron 12, Cast Iron Pieces 6, Thick Leather 10, Flax 15, Spun Thread 22, Metal Parts 25.] [Power of the Overlord¡¯s Helmet: Iron 8, Cast Iron Pieces 3, Thick Leather 5, Metal Parts 12.] [Power of the Overlord¡¯s Gloves] [Power of the Overlord¡¯s Boots]. Quantity to be manufactured: 3000. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained Power of the Overlord¡¯s Armor Set 303000.] The original Skeleton Troll was still wearing the three-piece troll suit made by Fang Hao. Even though the Power of the Overlord¡¯s Armor Set had good attributes, Fang Hao had no plans to replace the original equipment just yet. The production of 300,000 sets was for the newly converted trolls and as reserves for upcoming battles. [Wrath of the Overlord¡¯s Battle Axe: Cast Iron Pieces 35, Fine Iron 12, Metal Parts 8, Essence of Destruction 2.] The production of the battle axe involved using Fine Iron and Essence of Destruction. Fine Iron is an advanced material of iron resources. The territory currently had no production methods for it, but after a long time of exchange with the aborigines through the channels, there was a storage of 172 units. Essence of Destruction is a rare resource. Although there is a certain reserve, it is also quite valuable. Fang Hao set the production quantity to the maximum, 14. Confirming production. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained Wrath of the Overlord¡¯s Battle Axe 1414.] A large number of weapons piled up on the ground before him. The Black Thorn and others continued to command the skeleton soldiers to sort and categorise the newly produced equipment. Fang Hao moved to another empty ground. He continued with production. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained Iron Arrows 1010000.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained Fuses 202000.] [¡­, Crossbow Bed Lock Dragon ¡­] [¡­] Pieces of equipment piled up all around the open space. The female troll Stella stared wide-eyed at the incredible scene before her. Thinking of the fact that he could command the undead, Orcs, and Lizardmen at the same time, the identity of this human might not be as simple as it appeared. [Troll-Stella¡¯s loyalty to you increases by 20 points, current loyalty 92.] The sudden prompt made Fang Hao glance at the female troll. She was seen on her knees, continuously kowtowing to him and murmuring something. ¡°Stella¡­¡± Fang Hao called out. Stella rose to her feet and walked briskly to Fang Hao, then knelt again. ¡°Release all of your people, tell them that they won¡¯t be punished if they work honestly. If anyone dares to have any crooked ideas, not only will I kill them, you will also be punished, understand?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, Divine Lord,¡± Stella shuddered and quickly responded. Divine Lord? Fang Hao did not explain further, it seemed that Stella¡¯s sudden increase of 20 loyalty points was due to a misunderstanding of his identity. ¡°Alright, off you go, from now on call me Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord.¡± Stella responded and lowered her head to quickly leave. She headed towards the direction of the dungeon. In the afternoon, Fang Hao and Black Thorn, and the others, confirmed the plans for the upcoming battle based on the map. After entrusting all matters to the Black Thorn and the others, he returned to the territory with Anjia and Demitrija. ¡­ Upon returning to the territory, it was already past seven in the evening. After telling Eira to prepare dinner, Fang Hao headed directly to the Viscera Museum to find Nelson. Upon entering the hall, a chilly sensation greeted him. The place was far more effective than any air conditioning. The second floor of the museum was not closed, and Nelson could be seen drawing symbols on a skeleton arm. It seemed he was practicing the content from the Deomn Doll notes. Hearing footsteps, Nelson looked up slightly. ¡°Lord.¡± Nelson rose and said. ¡°Scholar Nelson, I have obtained another totem type runic figure.¡± He said, and took the Totem scroll out from his storage space. ¡°Oh? Let me see.¡± Nelson took it and began reading it with serious attention. Very soon, Nelson put away the scroll. He began to speak: ¡°Lord, this totem is not difficult, do you want to get this totem tattooed?¡± ¡°Does this artefact have any special effects?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°This totem is also a kind of rune, it seals special powers into the bodies of living creatures, which can be invoked when needed.¡± Nelson explained the function of the totem. ¡°So, what power does this have?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°The level of this totem is not low, the effect introduced is also very good, providing an enhancement to both magic and physical strength, it would benefit you greatly, Lord.¡± Nelson explained softly. As expected, it was similar to a passive skill. That¡¯s to say, this type of totem, when tattooed on the back, functions like the Kylin tattoo of ¡®Mr Bottleneck.¡¯ It can add some special effects. Sounds pretty good. ¡°It sounds good, can you do it?¡± The tattoo was a reward from a treasure box and it was beneficial. There was nothing to doubt about its security. Even though he rarely fought personally, this world still had many dangers. Extra life-saving methods were necessary. Nelson nodded slightly, ¡°I need to do some research and practice, then I will notify you, Lord.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao responded and did not further disturb Nelson. He walked straight out of the museum. After returning to the lord¡¯s mansion and having dinner ¡­ Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 377, I actually suspect one person_3 Chapter 396: Chapter 377, I actually suspect one person_3 After playing a game with Eira, he promptly fell into the realm of dreams. ¡­ The deep of the night. In Lyss City, a dim basement. In the middle of the room, there was a giant circular wooden table with a Nightstone hanging over it as a chandelier. The dim light made the entire space mysterious and shadowy. Twelve people in black robes were gathered around the circular table. Their cloaks concealed their figures, masks hid their faces. There were many empty seats around the table, indicating that almost half of the regular attendees were missing. The figure in black at the head of the table began to speak, ¡°Alright, whoever has completed their tasks can hand them in.¡± The people present seemed quite familiar with the process. Three of them pulled documents from their cloaks, having gathered intelligence, and handed them to the leader. The figure at the head, the leader, stowed the documents into his clothes, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. Out of the twelve present, only three had reports. Again, the leader in black, took out several assignments. Then he said, ¡°I know everyone has been cautious lately, but our duties still need to be fulfilled. Look at the assignments for this time, and anyone who thinks they can complete one should take it.¡± A pile of data was spread out. Everyone started to pass it on and look through it. ¡°I should be able to manage the arms factory assignment,¡± a figure in black robe claimed, speaking thus before directly taking the assignment into their hands. ¡°I can take on the task of capturing the transmigrator, but I do not have a suitable place for interrogation. If anyone has a secure location, we can cooperate and split the merit equally.¡± As soon as this man spoke up, another quickly chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ve just dealt with a hidden location. We can cooperate there.¡± ¡°Alright, tell me the location, and I will detain and escort him there once I catch him,¡± he replied. ¡°Agreed.¡± The man who offered up the location hastily wrote down an address on a piece of paper and handed it to the one who accepted the task. Tasks could be taken singularly or completed in cooperation. Taking them on alone upped both the difficulty and the reward. Cooperation reduced the risk but also made it easier to investigate one another¡¯s identities, thereby raising a different kind of danger. It was not as if the lack of a face meant your information became worthless. ¡­ Shortly, all the tasks were handled and assigned. The whole room fell into silence once more. At this point, someone spoke up again. ¡°The City Lord¡¯s house has been increasingly stringent in their search for us and they also have a highly capable team aiding them. We must solve this problem.¡± ¡°Indeed, half of the usual attendees at our circular table are already gone. None of us can be sure if we¡¯ll be the next one. I believe we should prioritize this matter, at least find out the team investigating on her behalf.¡± ¡°If anyone has any leads on this team, I can arrange for someone to get rid of them.¡± ¡°Or we could just eliminate the City Lord. There wouldn¡¯t be any need for an investigation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being a bit presumptuous. If she could be killed, she would have been dead so many times over already.¡± Everyone started speaking up again, each taking a turn to voice their thoughts. Discussions were mostly revolving around their worry for the City Lord and their fears of being the next to be removed from the round table. Even if the City Lord wouldn¡¯t kill them, the other faceless ones would. Once they were caught by the City Lord, the other faceless ones would get rid of them immediately. Then, when everything seemed chaotic but no solutions were to be found, the leader suddenly spoke up. ¡°Speaking of this mysterious team, I do have suspicions about someone who fits the profile of a person who might be able to assist her.¡± All eyes turned to him. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s that newly arrived merchant in the city, Fang Hao!¡± Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Chapter 378, Blackfoot Cat Joins_1 Chapter 397: Chapter 378, Blackfoot Cat Joins_1 ¡°Fang Hao? Upon hearing this name, all those present were slightly taken aback. This young man with black hair and black eyes, who created designs for Rebecca and ran a hot pot restaurant and clothing store in the city, was quite ostentatious in his dealings. Everyone directly or indirectly had heard this name. But he was so high profile and not a local, people didn¡¯t suspect him. ¡°Isn¡¯t that lad from outside the city? How could he possibly be trusted by someone from here?¡± someone raised a doubt. ¡°Yeah, and going by appearance alone, this lad is one of the transmigrators. It¡¯s quite unlikely to be him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve investigated Fang Hao. His coming and going from the City Lord¡¯s mansion only pertains to taking some business orders. He hardly knows anything about Lyss City. It¡¯s unlikely it¡¯s him,¡± another person commented. ¡°I received some special news. Fang Hao doesn¡¯t like women. Despite his clean looks, he actually likes men.¡± Everyone began to discuss and speculate based on Fang Hao¡¯s known details. Even though Fang Hao frequently entered and left the city lord mansion, it was not believed that he was aiding Rebecca. The man in black at the head, upon hearing everyone¡¯s conjectures- Softly clapped his hands, halting the noisy discussion. He began to speak, ¡°I have some more detailed information. This Fang Hao has registered a mercenary group at the task hall. This means he has a team of his own, fulfilling the conditions to aid clan leader Rebecca.¡± Upon hearing this news, the people present fell silent. They had not uncovered anything about the mercenary group. Everyone fell into contemplation, but someone soon raised a question again. ¡°Fang Hao is an outsider trader, having his own convoy is normal. Judging him based solely on this point seems a tad far fetched,¡± somebody countered. Outsiders merchants need to escort their merchandise. Besides hiring mercenary groups, they would also have their own transportation squads. Registering as a mercenary group during their free time, to supplement their income, was a practice of many. Another person began, ¡°I also went to investigate the mercenary group a few days ago. I didn¡¯t discover this lad¡¯s name on the register,¡± which led others to recall the mercenary group. Capturing the nameless one was not an easy mission, a trustworthy team with significant combat power, provoking necessary changes. Some thought about the mercenary group, But after searching high and low, there was no significant clue to be found. The leading man in black responded, ¡°There¡¯s no way to find any information related to his mercenary group in the task hall anymore. This is why I suspect him.¡± Having heard this information, everyone once again fell silent. The persons capable of hiding their mercenary group¡¯s information were indeed few. The reason to hide was indeed worth the crowd¡¯s suspicion. With this, Fang Hao seemed even more suspected by the crowd. ¡°I feel like we can capture this fabric merchant, we could prove whether he¡¯s connected to this matter and also conduct the transmigration investigation,¡± someone proposed. ¡°I suggest we kill him directly. Regardless of his relatedness to this issue, we should dispose of him right away!¡± another person exclaimed. ¡°No, Fang Hao has built up quite a reputation in the city. I received news that he just recently made a large donation to the temple. His death would have a huge impact on the city,¡± another stated. ¡°Then what should we do? He¡¯s already under suspicion, but we can¡¯t kill nor capture him,¡± someone asked. As people started to voice their suggestions, each without an ideal solution- The leading man in black spoke again, ¡°Alright, enough chatter. Since we suspect him already, we must conduct a detailed investigation. I will count this as one task ¨C whoever can accomplish it will gain the corresponding reward.¡± Having said this, the man in black pulled out a blank order and swiftly scribbled down the task details on it. He slid it into the center of the round table. The noisy room once again quieted down. People looked at the order in the middle of the table but none made a move to take it. After a while¡­ A rather stocky man in black spoke up, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind investigating this Fang Hao. However, I can¡¯t guarantee whether he will end up dead or alive.¡± ¡°Alright. If it turns out to be him, whether he lives or dies is not important.¡± ¡°Fine. I will take on this task,¡± agreed the man, and then took the order. In the time that followed, everyone discussed the city¡¯s situation and exchanged the information they had gathered. Until late at night, the small secret meeting gradually came to an end. People started leaving one after the other, and the shadows in the corners of the room started to stir. After hesitating for a few seconds, it followed the direction the ¡®lead man in the black robe¡¯ had taken. ¡­ Next morning¡­. Fang Hao woke up from his dream like any other day. After exercising around his territory, he had just returned to the Lord¡¯s mansion when he saw Lorrey and an old Blackfoot Cat Orc sitting in the Great Hall. ¡°My Lord,¡± Lorrey quickly stood up to salute. The elderly orc shuddered and also followed suit. Bending down, he saluted, ¡°My Lord.¡± This old orc was the Clan Leader of the Blackfoot Cat Tribe. After hearing Lorrey¡¯s account, he followed him to this territory. That he saw the undead soldiers covering the mountains and plains made his fellow tribespeople feel uneasy. But due to their trust in Lorrey, they still followed him into the city to meet the City Lord. However, they marveled at how the ordinary young man before them had any connection with the undead they saw outside the city. Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 378, Blackfoot Cat Joins_2 Chapter 398: Chapter 378, Blackfoot Cat Joins_2 It gave off an unreal feeling. Seeing Lorrey return, Fang Hao also relaxed a bit. In these past few days, Anjia kept saying that Lorrey was not good at riding and could fall to her death, or she could fall into a river since she wasn¡¯t very tall and couldn¡¯t touch the bottom. Fang Hao started to worry, tormenting himself with the idea that Lorrey could encounter some danger on the way. Now that she had returned safely, his apprehensive heart settled down. His gaze fell again on the elderly Blackfoot Cat. The elderly Blackfoot Cat, about 1.3 to 1.4 meters in height, wore a grayish linen attire and had a tree-root walking stick in his hand. It looked like he was the clan leader of the Blackfoot Cat Tribe. ¡°Good, you¡¯re back safely. Make yourself comfortable,¡± Fang Hao also settled himself comfortably in his seat. The two rose to their feet. The old man carefully sat down on a chair. Meanwhile, Lorrey picked up a glass, fetched two cups of fruit wine from the cellar, and placed them in front of the old man and herself. ¡°Lorrey, why did it take you so long?¡± Fang Hao curiously asked. Letting Lorrey ride the Bone Dragon was not only to avoid danger along the way but also to save time. Yet, Lorrey was gone for more than a week. If she hadn¡¯t returned soon, Fang Hao would have sent people out to look for her. ¡°Don¡¯t get me started, my Lord. It¡¯s all because of that damned Blackstone Tribe. If it wasn¡¯t for being cautious of them, I would have brought everyone back much sooner. We wouldn¡¯t have had to endure the harshness of the road,¡± complained Lorrey, swinging her small legs. Cough, cough! The old man gave a light cough and shot Lorrey a stare, indicating her to stop talking unnecessarily. Fang Hao also caught the implication. It seemed that the migration of the Blackfoot Cats was due to some conflict with the Orc Tribe. ¡°Tell me more about your disputes with the Blackstone Tribe,¡± Fang Hao looked at the two. Before Lorrey could answer, the old man was the first to speak. ¡°Lord, we used to live near Tasgo City. Some conflicts arose between us and the Blackstone Tribe. Out of desperation, we thought of moving to a new place to look for a stronger lord for protection,¡± said the old man as he set his walking stick aside, knelt down and bowed deeply. Even though Fang Hao¡¯s territory seemed dangerous, it was undoubtedly powerful. It held a formidable military strength that a lot could fear. Only Fang Hao had the capacity to offer them protection and not be threatened by the Blackstone Tribe. ¡°Is the Blackstone Tribe very powerful? How many members do they have? What caused the conflict between you two?¡± Fang Hao expressed the questions he had in mind. Having assured Lorrey, Fang Hao would naturally not drive these people away. Even so, he needed to know who he was about to face off with. ¡°My Lord, the Blackstone Tribe is a large Orc Tribe with tens of thousands of robust members. During a previous hunt, the young members of our tribe accidentally entered the hunting range of the Blackstone Tribe, leading us to be oppressed by them all this while. Helplessly, we thought of migrating to survive elsewhere,¡± the old man explained. In the end, he didn¡¯t forget to add, ¡°But rest assured, Lord. The actions of the Blackfoot Cats have always been covert. We have been very cautious all the way, and we have definitely not brought you any trouble.¡± That¡¯s how it tends to be with the Orc Tribes. Without fixed rules, the tribe with more strength and robust members would have absolute say. If your village lacks strength and has a small population. You would have to be at the mercy of powerful tribes. If you were dependent on a reasonable larger tribe, that would still be bearable. But if you encountered an unreasonable one, your village would be done for. Not all races could be like the Blackfoot Cats, decisively abandoning their original village and seeking a new settlement. Hearing the old man¡¯s words, Fang Hao instinctively glanced at Lorrey who was standing aside. Lorrey was simple-minded with a straightforward look on her face and she couldn¡¯t lie to Fang Hao because of their contractual binding. Seeing Lorrey¡¯s calm demeanor, Fang Hao knew that the old man was telling him the truth. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the Blackstone Tribe with just tens of thousands of members. If they dared to chase them here, they would only be courting death. Fang Hao didn¡¯t press the matter any further. Opening the topic, he said, ¡°Have you chosen a settlement? The lands at Crescent Heights are fertile, and the population is scarce. It seems quite suitable for living.¡± On hearing this, a joyous expression flickered across the old man¡¯s face. Just as he was about to agree, Lorrey jumped up like a startled cat. ¡°No, no! We¡¯ll just find a place nearby,¡± said Lorrey, keeping on giving hints to the old man. The old man also immediately perceived the issue. Keeping up with Lorrey, he said, ¡°Yes, we can establish a village nearby. Our village¡¯s population isn¡¯t large, so a vast place isn¡¯t needed.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The few of them discussed about it while looking at the map. Finally, the two of them chose a location in the northeast direction of the main city, where the gnoll camp was situated. That place was the location of Fang Hao¡¯s first battle after arriving, and after he had killed the gnolls, the camp had been vacant. The location was fairly good, and all the buildings were ready-made. There wasn¡¯t much problem with the Blackfoot Cats wanting to develop a village in that area, especially since they only had a population of over 200 people. Once the location was chosen, Fang Hao allocated some resources to them. Lorrey and the elder took their people directly to the site of their new village. ¡­ After breakfast. Fang Hao still had some work to do. He went straight to the industrial zone, opened the Book of Lords, and found the blueprint for the ¡°Precision Stone Processing Factory¡±. ¡°Precision Stone Processing Factory: Wood 3000, Tough Wood 1800, Stone Material 2200, Stone Brick 1200, Iron 420, Metal Parts 120.¡± He found an empty piece of land. And chose to build it right away. A flash of light rose instantly, piecing together the outline of a precision stone processing factory. When the light dissipated, the factory appeared before his eyes. ¡°Precision Stone Processing Factory¡± ¡°Placement: Workers 0/10.¡± ¡°Raw Material: Stone Brick 2¡± ¡°Producing: Precision Stone Brick¡± (Description: Through processing, stone bricks can be made into denser products, precision stone bricks.) Fang Hao immediately brought in ten skeleton laborers and tasked them with working in the precision brick factory. The skeletons immediately got to work, moving stone bricks from the storage facility to the factory for processing. Precision stone brick is a material required for the upgrade of a Level 10 Lord¡¯s Mansion, which also means it will be used in large quantities for future building upgrades. Whether for his own upgrades or for sale in the channel. The demand is significant. Fang Hao simply went ahead and built 20 more processing factories to increase production simultaneously. For the purpose of increasing the speed of precision brick production. After building the precision brick processing plants, Fang Hao went to the quarry area and constructed 5 large-scale quarries. He demolished all the original common quarries, and transferred the workers to the large-scale quarries for stone gathering. Upon completing the construction of these two new blueprint facilities. Fang Hao increased the number of tile kilns to fifty to improve work efficiency. Only when he had finished arranging everything did Fang Hao return to the lord¡¯s mansion. ¡­ With nothing to do in the late morning. After studying books in his room for a while, he used God¡¯s Presence to check on the construction status of the Blackfoot Cats¡¯ village. The Blackfoot Cats aren¡¯t tall, but they¡¯re quite active. The buildings in the village had already been cleaned out, and the village elders were instructing several male Blackfoot Cats to repair the broken village gate. Actually, they had ample time. They were safe thanks to the protection of the Fief. Nothing posed a threat to them there. There was no need to worry about the Blackstone Tribe, let alone any fearsome wild animals that wouldn¡¯t dare come close to this area. Whether they installed the village gate earlier or later made little difference. However, the swift actions of these Blackfoot Cats did catch Fang Hao¡¯s attention. Most of the adult Blackfoot Cats had reached a level of five or six. What¡¯s more, like Lorrey, they had the ability to scale walls and leap over rooftops, displaying great agility. They seemed to be an excellent choice for a scouting troop, capable of gathering special intelligence. Knock knock knock! Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He disengaged God¡¯s Presence, got up, and opened the door to see Eira standing outside. ¡°Master, Scholar Nelson is waiting for you outside.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Fang Hao then went downstairs and out of the lord¡¯s mansion. Outside, Nelson was silently waiting on a bench. Upon seeing Fang Hao come out. He stood up and said, ¡°My Lord, the materials for the totem are ready, and we can start drawing at any time.¡± Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: Chapter 379, Body of Giant Spirit_1 Chapter 399: Chapter 379, Body of Giant Spirit_1 Fang Hao gave the totem scroll to Nelson last night. Even though the undead do not need to rest, he was surprised that they researched the totem scroll thoroughly in just one night. He thought that Nelson would need at least two or three days of study to come up with results. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to practice a bit?¡± Fang Hao asked with some worry. Nelson¡¯s tone remained calm, ¡°The totem clearly notes the drawing method; it¡¯s not particularly difficult.¡± Fang Hao understood Nelson¡¯s reasoning. The scroll does not record knowledge but the solution. As long as the solution is sketched, that¡¯s enough. Fang Hao finds this solution acceptable as well. Reward scrolls from treasure chests, much like skill scrolls, are designed to make it easy for transmigrators to operate. They¡¯re naturally not too complicated or detailed. If Nelson now says there won¡¯t be any issues, then there won¡¯t be any. ¡°Good, let¡¯s start drawing now.¡± Fang Hao said. Nelson nodded slightly, ¡°Please follow me, sir.¡± After saying this, he turned and walked towards the Viscera Museum. Silent, Fang Hao followed behind, both of them entered the cold Viscera Museum. They crossed the main hall and entered the second level of the Museum. The second level is a secret room. On regular days, this is where Nelson processes corpses and makes skeleton heroes. Whenever work commences, the door to this secret room would be closed. It only opens again after Nelson finishes his work. In the center of the secret room is a waist-high stone bed, next to it are three shelves filled with various medicines and tools. ¡°Sir, you need to remove your upper garments and lie down on this stone bed.¡± Nelson placed his staff aside and began sorting through the bottles and jars. Fang Hao felt as though Nelson was about to dissect him. Thinking this, he still removed his upper garment and laid bare-chested on the stone bed. As soon as he laid down, a bone-chilling coldness came over him. This kind of coldness felt as though it was freezing his soul, not just the coldness from the stone. Despite this, the issue wasn¡¯t significant, it was bearable. ¡°Sir, the materials for drawing the totem, including Basil, Silverbloom, Regrowth Powder, and Giant Spirit Blood, I got from Doujin in the Trade Alliance store this morning.¡± Nelson casually stated. Fang Hao listened quietly; he had never heard of these materials before. ¡°They sell blood in the store?¡± Fang Hao was drawn to the Giant Spirit Blood. ¡°The Giant Spirit Blood was found in the warehouse; it must be a war trophy you brought back.¡± Nelson replied. Uh,¡­ The war trophies in the warehouse were definitely ones he had brought back. But as for this Giant Spirit Blood, he genuinely had no recollection of it, perhaps it was just buried under some items and he hadn¡¯t noticed. Nelson ground several herbs, smashed an amber gem, and the fresh red liquid sealed within dropped into the container. After a round of mixing, the ink required for the totem was prepared. Nelson picked up a silver needle prepped to one side, moved next to Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, you might feel some pain. If it¡¯s too severe, the Orc girl has an analgesic drug that can alleviate the pain.¡± The Orc girl with the analgesic must refer to Red Fruit, who was studying herbalism. It seems she was a quick learner too. She was already able to create an analgesic. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, I¡¯m not as delicate as I look.¡± Fang Hao patted his bare back indicating Nelson to proceed. Nelson didn¡¯t hesitate. Holding the silver needle with his skeletal fingers, he began the needlework. His finger transformed into phantom figures, quickly pricking Fang Hao¡¯s back like a sufferer of Parkinson¡¯s disease. In just a flash, tens of needles had punctured a small part of his skin. Blood stained Fang Hao¡¯s back. ¡°Ouch, shit!¡± Before long. Red Fruit was kneeling at the side, continuously wiping sweat off Fang Hao¡¯s forehead. Even after using the analgesic, the pain only subsided a bit, still causing Fang Hao¡¯s forehead to bead with sweat. The swollen and bleeding area gradually revealed lines of symbols. Half an hour later, the drawing of the totem was finally completed. [Gained Totem ¡®Body of Giant Spirit.¡¯] [Body of Giant Spirit] [Ability: Giant Physique, Body of Giant Spirit.] [Giant Physique (Passive)]: Stamina +80%, Strength +50%. [Body of Giant Spirit (Active)]: After activating, a Giant Spirit projection appears that imitates your actions against the target. The projection has 300% of your attack power with 100% of all damage dealt replenishing health, lasts for 15 seconds. At the moment of completion, Fang Hao received a system prompt. The Body of Giant Spirit has two types of abilities. The first is [Giant Physique], a passive ability that enhances your body as soon as the totem is drawn. At this point, Fang Hao could clearly feel his muscles tightening, stronger than before. The second, [Body of Giant Spirit], is activated manually to take effect. But it¡¯s quite a powerful ability; it mimics your actions to attack. Moreover, all the damage dealt will fully replenish your health. It¡¯s an unbeatable ability in battle, the only drawback is its short duration of just 15 seconds. Now that the totem drawing was complete. Fang Hao sat up from the stone bed with a pained grin, a fresh wave of pain sparking on his back. ¡°Sir Nelson, is drawing a totem always this painful?¡± Fang Hao touched his back, his hand covered in blood. Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: Chapter 379, Body of Giant Spirit_2 Chapter 400: Chapter 379, Body of Giant Spirit_2 Nelson shook his head slightly, ¡°You¡¯re the first living creature to lie on this stone bed, I cannot give you an accurate answer.¡± ¡°Well, okay.¡± It seems that he is the first living person that Nelson has drawn. It¡¯s not bad to be able to complete the drawing. Stepping out of the Viscera Museum. Fang Hao was lying on a bench with his bare upper body, invoking God¡¯s Presence on a passing Skeleton Warrior. Immediately, he could observe his own body through the Skeleton Warrior. Looking at himself lying on the bench. His back is already swollen in a large area, slightly raised with the pattern of the totem. However, the totem does not have any color, that is to say, it will not be exposed like a tattoo and be discovered by others. This is also good, as if it were exposed, it would be too conspicuous. If someone recognizes the totem, they would be prepared during a battle. Having no traces at all can be considered as a hidden move of his own. After checking on it, he cancels God¡¯s Presence. The skeleton glanced around in confusion and continued the work it had been doing. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Nelson also stepped out. Fang Hao touched his chest and abs, ¡°I feel like my body has improved.¡± However, Nelson shook his head slightly, ¡°The physical body is weak, only the immortal remains, my lord, why care about these useless bodies.¡± Well, ¡­. ¡°Indeed! Let¡¯s find an open space to test the power of the totem and see what effects it has.¡± Fang Hao agreed and proposed to test the ability. ¡­ They walked out of the city. And found an open space. Fang Hao stood in the middle of the field and immediately cast the Body of Giant Spirit. Whew!! Light blue energy rose from Fang Hao¡¯s body. The next second, a huge blue semi-transparent figure appeared from behind Fang Hao. The blue projection was five to six meters high, with a strong body and arms, but its face was hazy. Fang Hao looked at the blue projection and pulled out his longsword. The Body of Giant Spirit mimicked his actions, morphing a giant longsword in its hands. Fang Hao chopped with his longsword. The longsword of the giant spirit also struck out. Bang! Leaving a huge scratch on the ground. This made everyone there open their mouths wide, looking at the scene in front of them unbelievably. No one thought that the large projection could also cause physical damage, and the power was so great. Even the ground was scratched, if it was hacked on a person, it could probably blast them into pieces. Fang Hao was also surprised in his heart. Immediately after storing the shield and hiding the longsword. The giant spirit also did the same, the longsword in its hand disappeared, and it turned into an energy shield. It seems that its actions are synchronized with Fang Hao. The Body of Giant Spirit can only last for 15 seconds. Fang Hao once again put away the shield and took out the Starfire Wand. The Body of Giant Spirit also had a similarly designed wand in its hand. If it can mimic melee attacks, he wondered if it could also mimic spells. Fang Hao thought in his heart and directly condensed ¡®Fire Arrow¡¯. As expected, a spear, made from fire elements, also gradually condensed in front of the Body of Giant Spirit. However, this fire spear, proportional to its size, was more than two meters long, more like a javelin. The wand pointed forward. The two arrows flew toward the target one after the other. Pop! Fang Hao¡¯s fire arrow was embedded in the tree trunk, sending up a plume of burning smoke. Boom!! The Flame Spear of the Body of Giant Spirit, however, blasted out a large pit in the ground and set the ground on fire with a boom. Seeing that the effect of the Body of Giant Spirit was about to end. Fang Hao once again summoned the [Flame Spider]. In front of him immediately appeared six flame spiders the size of washbasins, and the Body of Giant Spirit released the same spell. Although there were also six, the flame spiders had grown to the size of a bull, their entire bodies radiating fierce flames. Before Fang Hao could command them to attack. The 15 seconds for the Body of Giant Spirit were up, the blue figure disappeared, and the six bull-sized spiders dispersed with it. Only the spiders summoned by Fang Hao himself remained, waiting for orders. Fang Hao swung his magic wand, and the summoned spiders immediately scattered. ¡­ After testing the power of the Body of Giant Spirit, Fang Hao revealed a satisfied smile. It can be said that the effect brought by the totem had exceeded his expectations. The conjured Body of Giant Spirit was like his second body, not only able to mimic close-range attacks, but also able to condense the same spells. Moreover, the power and effect were 300% of his own. Fang Hao felt that this totem scroll had surpassed the level of purple and was close to the power of orange skills. At this time,Nelson and others also approached. ¡°Sir, how do you feel?¡± Nelson asked softly. ¡°The totem is excellent and very powerful, it¡¯s just my back is a little sore.¡± Fang Hao reached out to scratch his back lightly. ¡°Sir, this is your first time using the power of the totem. Naturally, there will be some discomfort. After the swelling on your back recedes and you use it several times, you won¡¯t feel this kind of pain anymore.¡± Nelson began explaining. That¡¯s right, the swelling on his back probably hasn¡¯t subsided yet, so some pain was normal. ¡°Does this totem have any limitations? I mean, will it wash off when I bathe?¡± Fang Hao turned and left with the few of them towards his territory. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen, but sir, you need to be mindful to use it at regular intervals to stimulate the effect of the totem, otherwise the Giant Spirit Blood could be expelled from the body.¡± Nelson explained while following by his side. ¡°So, how long do I need to deploy it?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°I can¡¯t say exactly, but once every half a month shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± Nelson replied again. Nelson would not deceive him, and he was the only intellectual in the territory. Besides, using it once every half a month wasn¡¯t difficult. It simply required finding a deserted spot to apply the totem and release one or two skills. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Fang Hao nodded in response. They all went back to the city. Nelson returned to the Viscera Museum to continue studying the demon notes he held. Fang Hao also went back to his room to continue studying the book ¡°Fire Python Ode I¡±. ¡­ As evening drew in. After dinner, Fang Hao went back to his room to rest. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, a notification sound came from the Book of Lords. Fang Hao sat up instantaneously and opened his storage space only to see that it was the sound-transmitting shell Rebecca had given him. Placing it next to his ear, he immediately heard Rebecca¡¯s voice. ¡°Come to the city, they¡¯re at it again.¡± Her message was pretty brief but quite clear. It looked like Rebecca had found out about another operation by the Faceless. Fang Hao tucked the sound-transmitting shell away and laid back down to drift off to sleep. ¡­ Next day, dusk. Zeus City, City Lord¡¯s Office, study. Fang Hao sat in the chair, silently watching Rebecca try on clothes. This trip, Fang Hao¡¯s storage space was filled to the brim with various clothes and accessories. Apart from the clothes custom-made for Rebecca, the rest were prepared for display and sale at the grand opening of the clothing store. Days passed and the refurbishment of the clothing store was nearly completed. ¡°Did you design this one too? No textile shop in the entire city has as many ideas as you.¡± Rebecca looked at her reflection in the mirror and began to speak. ¡°It¡¯s just a few simple modifications, nothing particularly special.¡± ¡°You¡¯re clearly talented, there¡¯s no need to be humble.¡± Rebecca asked again: ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied with these, how much are they?¡± Fang Hao chuckled lightly, replying: ¡°Madam Rebecca, my clothing shop will be opening in a few days. Could I perhaps invite you to serve as our store¡¯s brand ambassador? Of course, as a token of gratitude, a set of each new product from our store will always be sent to you for your free use.¡± Oh? Rebecca was momentarily taken aback as she immediately turned to stare directly into Fang Hao¡¯s eyes. A twinkle of doubt in her wide eyes. Fang Hao was no fool and was very astute. This guy better not be trying to swindle her. Yet she still curiously asked: ¡°What¡¯s a brand ambassador?¡± Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Chapter 380, Advertising Model_1 Chapter 401: Chapter 380, Advertising Model_1 Rebecca held the core rights of Lyss City. Within the city, she possessed an irreplaceable public credibility and influence. Whether a noble or a beggar from the slums, they might not know how many legs a frog has, but they would certainly know who Rebecca is. If one were to set up a clothing store in the city, Rebecca would be the best advertising model. It could be said that since Fang Hao planned to open a store, he already had Rebecca in his sight. He had demonstrated his special talent for design and helped her deal with the matter of the Faceless. Now that this matter was mentioned, it would be hard for Rebecca to refuse him. And the male spokesperson for Lyss City, the best candidate was the City Lord ¡®Aubrey¡¯. However, Fang Hao had never had any encounter with Aubrey. Moreover, Aubrey¡¯s condition was not very good, generally, he looked lethargic, giving people a feeling of sickness. That is to say, he looked rather decadent, weak! Therefore, Fang Hao was still considering the male model, looking for the right candidate. ¡°What is an image spokesperson?¡± Rebecca asked curiously. She didn¡¯t know what strange idea Fang Hao had in his mind this time. ¡°Simply put, it means to use your image to promote the fabric shop and increase product popularity,¡± Fang Hao explained his understanding of a spokesperson. He didn¡¯t know if his understanding was accurate, but that was the general idea. To rely on Rebecca¡¯s image to attract customers. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s explanation, Rebecca understood. In the past, fabric shops in the city would also send some clothes to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, also using her influence to attract nobles to buy clothes at their shop. Although the forms were the same, Rebecca didn¡¯t think that Fang Hao was just planning to do these. He definitely had more ideas. Thinking of this, Rebecca¡¯s heart moved, deliberately straightening her face and putting on a slightly unhappy look. She said, ¡°Is that all? Don¡¯t you think I don¡¯t know any better?¡± Hmm? Fang Hao was struck by a thought, had the concept of a spokesperson already appeared here? It shouldn¡¯t be; he had visited a few fabric shops but had never seen any model advertising boards. ¡°So what¡¯s your idea, madam?¡± Fang Hao asked tentatively. Rebecca leaned on the desk and spoke softly, ¡°You don¡¯t think I, Lyss City, need this little money from these clothes, do you?¡± Um, ¡­. Naturally, Rebecca wouldn¡¯t need the money from these few pieces of clothing; she was even willing to spend a lot of money to customize a dress that suits her taste. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t think Rebecca would agree to his idea so easily. However, by pricing low, he could better handle Rebecca¡¯s price increase. Fang Hao continued to speak, ¡°How about this, for every piece of clothing you endorse that is sold, you get 5% of the profit. If you sell a lot, you can also get a considerable income.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s too little, 50%,¡± Rebecca shook her head and named her price after. ¡°At most 10%, if not, I¡¯ll have to switch to someone else,¡± Fang Hao¡¯s expression also turned serious. The price Rebecca asked for nearly made him lose his breath. ¡°Fine, deal. Tell me, what exactly does a spokesperson do?¡± Rebecca immediately put on a triumphant smile, then emphasized again, ¡°Let¡¯s get it straight, I don¡¯t have time to follow you around in the store for promotion.¡± ¡°I will invite a painter to draw full-body pictures of a few clothing styles at that time, which can be displayed in the store, you don¡¯t have to go to the store,¡± Fang Hao explained. Rebecca thought for a moment, ¡°It could work, but these portraits take a long time. One or two would be fine, but too many and I won¡¯t have time.¡± Current portrait paintings still require models to maintain a steady pose for a long time, before the painter can start drawing. Rebecca didn¡¯t have time to spend on this. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that too, I have a magic tool here that can briefly capture the image. When the time comes, all you need to do is change into the outfit and strike several poses,¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. What he was talking about was the photographing function of the Book of Lords. He didn¡¯t need Rebecca to hold her pose for a long time, which indeed consumed too much time. As long as the photo was taken, the person would remain stationary. He would let the painter draw the selected photo, which would also facilitate some later modifications. ¡°There is such a tool? Why haven¡¯t I heard of it?¡± Rebecca was somewhat skeptical. Fang Hao immediately opened the Book of Lords, took a photo of the room, and handed it to Rebecca, ¡°You see, this is it.¡± ¡°This, this is amazing,¡± Rebecca¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I didn¡¯t fool you, right? So why don¡¯t you take pictures of all the clothes I brought tonight, and I can go find a painter tomorrow,¡± Fang Hao suggested. ¡°That could work.¡± She immediately struck several poses, and Fang Hao recorded them using the photo function. This time, he brought a total of three new garments, plus the qipao he had sent before, which made a total of four. Rebecca tried them on one by one, and they were all photographed. All the clothes were photographed once through. Rebecca then started to select from the photos, picking four that she was relatively satisfied with. She also instructed Fang Hao to remind the painter to make modifications at certain parts. Fang Hao naturally agreed. He also hoped that the advertisement when drawn will be more perfect, so he can earn more money. ¡­ After finishing with the matter of the clothes. Then did Fang Hao continue to ask, ¡°Do you have any news about the task you mentioned?¡± Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Chapter 380, Advertising Model_2 Chapter 402: Chapter 380, Advertising Model_2 ¡°Those guys will take action during these next few days, but there¡¯s no specific information yet about the place and time.¡± Upon mentioning the Faceless, Rebecca¡¯s expression instantly darkened. With their cooperation, they had captured quite a few of the Faceless. They had initially thought that these people would lie low for a while. But to their surprise, just two days had passed before there was news of fresh activity. Moreover, this activity, was quite brazen, reaching her ears several days in advance. ¡°Alright, then I will stay in the city a few more days. If there¡¯s any intelligence, have someone notify me,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Okay!¡± Rebecca nodded, showing she understood. The purpose of their collaboration was essentially the same. Rebecca aimed to consolidate her authority in the city, while Fang Hao wanted to deter the Faceless from threatening them, the transmigrators. Only by exerting their utmost efforts to eliminate the Faceless, could they compel them to stop, not daring to take any large scale actions. ¡­ Upon leaving the city lord¡¯s residence. Fang Hao and Anjia had just returned to their place. They saw a tall man with short hair suddenly leaving through the main gate. Fang Hao was slightly taken aback. Despite the thickening of the night, one¡¯s body shape and height still have a certain recognizability. He was certain there was no such man living in his place. ¡°You, wait a moment¡­,¡± Fang Hao directly called out to stop him. The man turned around. Seeing Fang Hao, he directly asked: ¡°When did you enter the city?¡± Fang Hao furrowed his brows deeply. The familiar voice, coupled with the handsome appearance, immediately allowed Fang Hao to recognize this person¡¯s identity. Rolana! The emotionally unstable vampire. She had cut her long hair short, much like those dandy gentlemen, and combed it back. She wore a set of well-fitted noble garb, looking much like a noble young master with a refined face. Fang Hao did not question why she was dressed like this. Cutting her hair and starting anew might not be a bad thing for Rolana. He directly asked: ¡°Rolana, what are you doing out so late?¡± Rolana ran her fingers through her hair and casually replied, ¡°Don¡¯t you know, sir, that we of the Eternal Night Clan prefer the night?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t mind Rolana¡¯s indifferent tone. He continued, ¡°It¡¯s late and everyone in the city is resting. It seems there aren¡¯t many places you can go.¡± With a smile, Rolana responded, ¡°I¡¯m just bored, going to the nearby tavern to sit and sip a couple of drinks before I come back.¡± Indeed, there was a tavern nearby that would stay open late. As long as Rolana did not stir up trouble, it would be fine. ¡°Alright, be safe,¡± Fang Hao reminded her. But the sentence seemed to be somewhat redundant. ¡°Thank you for your concern, sir,¡± she replied. Rolana performed an elegant nobleman¡¯s salute and then elegantly walked towards the tavern. Fang Hao watched as Rolana¡¯s figure disappeared into the distance. He then walked straight into the courtyard and went back into his room to rest. ¡­ The next day. After breakfast. Fang Hao once again saw Rolana. Last night, he learned from the housemaid that Rolana had arrived in Lyss City a few days ago. Dressed in gender-neutral attire, she would sometimes go out during the day and sometimes at night. Because of her difficult-to-approach personality, the maids dared not chat with Rolana. ¡°Having been out for so long, aren¡¯t you worried about any problems arising in Crescent Heights?¡± Fang Hao asked Rolana who was sitting across from him. ¡°The Blood Hunter is there, I¡¯m not needed,¡± Rolana said nonchalantly. Rolana was tall and had delicate and beautiful features. Back when she was with the Red Duke, it had been the source of rivalry among all the town¡¯s men. This attire added a touch of masculinity to her features. She had shifted from being appealing to only men to being attractive to both genders. ¡°Is the planting of medicinal herbs going smoothly?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten those guys to start planting, but I¡¯m curious, what did these people I got from you do before? They can¡¯t even handle basic planting,¡± Rolana suddenly seemed to remember and asked. ¡°These people have varied professions, but they¡¯re all certainly strong. Just have the farmers teach them,¡± explained Fang Hao. Those sent to Crescent Heights were all rounded up bandits. However, Fang Hao didn¡¯t expect that these people couldn¡¯t even manage the simplest tasks of farming. ¡°Anyway, all the matters afterward were handed over to the Blood Hunter. He¡¯s responsible for everything,¡± Rolana casually said, not asking any more about these peoples¡¯ origins. ¡°When do you plan to go back?¡± ¡°Go back for what? It¡¯s lively here. Blood Castle is frigid, not fun at all.¡± Rolana leaned back and casually picked up a piece of fruit, biting into it. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes flicked, he was in need of a male model, wasn¡¯t he? Rolana¡¯s current image was pretty suitable for promotional posters. Perhaps, she noticed his gaze constantly watching her. Rolana frowned, ¡°You should restrain yourself from staring, it¡¯s a safeguard for your wellbeing.¡± After all, she was a Dark Gold-level hero and easily noticed Fang Hao¡¯s stare. Fang Hao knew she had misunderstood him. He directly explained, ¡°Rolana, do you want to be the model for the clothing store? You can wear new designs first.¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Rolana¡¯s curiosity was provoked. She looked up at Fang Hao. ¡°What kind of model?¡± ¡°The clothing store in Lyss City will open soon. I plan to do some promotion for the store. I need a male model right now, and your current image suits this role well,¡± Fang Hao explained. Then, Fang Hao described the kind of promotions he intended to do to Rolana. Rolana widened her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m suitable for menswear?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already found Rebecca for the women¡¯s clothes. As the City Lord¡¯s wife, she has a certain influence in Lyss City, and the second person I think is suitable based on appearance is you, especially now that you¡¯ve cut your hair short,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Rolana fell silent for a moment, but finally, she nodded, agreeing, ¡°Alright, what should I do?¡± Fang Hao took out a few sets of men¡¯s clothing from his storage space and handed them to Rolana. ¡°There is nothing special, just change into these clothes. Then, I¡¯ll take pictures and hand them to the artist to make a portrait.¡± Fang Hao explained to her the process and function of taking pictures, and then proceeded to photograph Rolana. Finally, male and female models were finalized. ¡­ In the afternoon. Fang Hao came with Anjia to the front door of another courtyard. This was where Browning lived. He was a second-tier painter in the city, but he had many secrets of his own. He was skilled in mixing special paint and was renowned for his memory. With just one glance, he can draw the people and scenes from his memory on the canvas. He had been arrested by the Faceless for interrogation previously and was saved by Rebecca. Later, Fang Hao met him at the Temple, and since then they are familiar. He quietly knocked on the door. Thump ¡­ thump ¡­ thump!!! ¡°Who is it¡­.¡± A lazy male voice came from inside the room. After the rustling sound of someone getting dressed, the door opened, revealing Browning with dishevelled hair. He was bare-chested, only wearing a pair of linen trousers. Browning squinted at Fang Hao. ¡°Mr. Browning, surely you haven¡¯t forgotten me? The last time at the Temple, you said you would buy me a drink,¡± Fang Hao said with a teasing smile. Browning instantly remembered Fang Hao. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. You are¡­ you are¡­¡± ¡°Fang Hao¡­¡± Fang Hao reminded him. ¡°Right, Mr. Fang Hao, I had a few drinks yesterday, and I¡¯m not very sharp today.¡± Browning explained, patting his own forehead. At that moment, a woman came out from the room. Her clothing hung casually on her body, revealing a large expanse of skin. The woman leaned against Browning, looking at the visitor, Fang Hao. She cooed in a sweet voice, ¡°Browning, who is this? You didn¡¯t introduce us. Whose handsome young master is this?¡± ¡°This is Mr.Fang Hao, a famous businessman in the city.¡± After introducing him, Browning gave the woman¡¯s buttocks a light pat and said,¡± Go, go back first. I will come to you tonight.¡± ¡°All right, but don¡¯t forget,¡± she said flirtatiously. As she passed Fang Hao, she added, ¡°You could join us tonight. I¡¯ll give you a freebie.¡± After saying this, she walked away, throwing flirtatious glances all the way. Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 381, Pink Fox Tavern_1 Chapter 403: Chapter 381, Pink Fox Tavern_1 Browning¡¯s room was a bit messy. There were items scattered all over the floor, and heaps of unwashed clothes in the corners. However, the walls were adorned with various framed oil paintings, primarily of female figures. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, you must have something important to talk about this time, don¡¯t you?¡± Browning moved two chairs in front of Fang Hao and Anjia. ¡°Yes, I wanted to ask Mr. Browning to paint a few pieces for me. I need them to be of high quality. Of course, price is negotiable.¡± Fang Hao was direct about his intentions. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s absolutely no problem at all. Are they portraits of you?¡± Browning replied enthusiastically. His daily expenses were quite substantial, so he certainly wouldn¡¯t turn down business that came knocking at his door. He brought out his treasured fruit wine, planning to entertain his potential client. ¡°It¡¯s not me, it¡¯s Mrs. Rebecca¡­¡± Clatter! The earthenware cup in Browning¡¯s hand fell and broke in two on the wooden pad. Ignoring the broken shards, Browning exclaimed in surprise, ¡°City Lord¡¯s wife Rebecca?¡± ¡°Yes, so the quality of the work must meet the requirements. Otherwise, it would be hard to win her approval.¡± Fang Hao spoke earnestly. Browning¡¯s expression quickly shifted before he semed to have reached an acceptance state and he then said excitedly, ¡°No problem, of course there is no problem, I will definitely satisfy her.¡± Rebecca belonged to the highest-ranking nobility in Lyss City. To paint for her was a symbol of honour. If he were to gain Rebecca¡¯s approval, It would surely raise his stature among fellow painters. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. Subsequently, he started discussing the size of the canvas and the shop¡¯s requirements with Browning. Browning, looking at the photos in the Book of Lords, was somewhat disbelieving. Even though Fang Hao stated that it was a treasure, he was still astonished for quite a while. Eventually, at the reminder from Fang Hao, he began to prepare an adequately sized canvas and started to paint using the photo as a reference. Two hours later. The canvas had been colored and the rough outline was already shaped. Browning would continue to refine it. Fang Hao would need to return the next day to further modify the painting while referencing the photo. ¡­ By the time they left Browning¡¯s house, it was already late. Fang Hao and Anjia went straight back to their place. From a maid, they found out that Rolana had gone to the bar again. Fang Hao went straight to his room, planning to rest. Just as he was closing the room door, a shadowy figure slowly emerged from a corner. Fang Hao¡¯s heart jolted. In one swift motion, his right hand skimmed over the Book of Lords, and the Magic Wand was now in his hand. Almost instinctively, he prepared to counter-attack and leave the room. But then he saw Little You standing in the shadowy corner. ¡°Little You, you¡¯ve managed to scare me again.¡± Fang Hao said irritatedly, putting away his weapon. Barely managing a smile, Little You apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord, I have some important intelligence to share with you.¡± Little You had constantly been playing the role of Lai Gou. She was gathering information about the hidden secrets of the Faceless for Fang Hao. ¡°Oh? What kind of intelligence?¡± Fang Hao sat down nearby. Without hesitating, Little You stated, ¡°My lord, the Faceless have started suspecting you. They intend to leak some false information to the City Lord¡¯s mansion to confirm whether you are the one assisting Rebecca.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed immediately upon hearing this news. In an era devoid of surveillance and security equipment, he had thought he would remain unnoticed by his enemies due to his careful actions and Rebecca¡¯s protection. Why was he the one they were suspecting? ¡°How did they come to suspect me?¡± Fang Hao asked. Little You replied, ¡°There¡¯s a high-ranking official of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion among the Faceless. He discovered that you¡¯ve concealed your mercenary registration in the task hall. Coupled with your frequent visits to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, he was led to suspect you.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°There are some Faceless who do not think you¡¯re involved. However, they still plan to circulate some fake intelligence to confirm whether or not it¡¯s related to your mercenary group.¡± Hearing this, Fang Hao finally understood where he had made a mistake with his identity. Rebecca must have hidden his mercenary registration information to ensure his anonymity, but it had inadvertently become a clue for their suspicion. ¡°So this operation, as long as I don¡¯t go, will be alright, right?¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°That¡¯s indeed the simplest way, but it won¡¯t dispel their suspicions completely. I would recommend using this opportunity to get rid of any remaining doubts they might have about you,¡± Little You suggested. Fang Hao looked at Little You. His mind was racing. The easiest way would be to cancel the operation altogether, knowing about their conspiracy. However, this in turn might increase their suspicions. Likewise, they may prepare other plots to test Fang Hao or directly assassinate him. Little You¡¯s idea was to use the Faceless¡¯s investigation to dispel their doubts and make future operations more convenient. ¡°You do make a valid point. Do you have any specific ideas on how to accomplish this?¡± Little You stated, ¡°My lord, I feel the best way is to let the Faceless¡¯s operation succeed while you happen to appear in front of them. This way, you have a solid alibi in place. That said, these are just my thoughts. You need to carefully plan how to proceed without raising their suspicion.¡± ¡°Hmm, that does sound like a good plan,¡± agreed Fang Hao, nodding his head. The threat of the Faceless lies in the unknown from the shadows. Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: Chapter 381, Pink Fox Tavern_2 Chapter 404: Chapter 381, Pink Fox Tavern_2 If the targets of all Faceless could be identified, these guys are not that much of a threat after all. Mr. Fang Hao could suppress them all with his martial power in an instant, or kill them directly to eliminate the future problems. But they are like a swarm of mosquitos in the dark, they will only sting you when you¡¯re not paying attention. Though Fang Hao didn¡¯t believe they had the ability to kill him or wanted to be their direct target. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll arrange a fairly good plan before taking action, do you have anything else about the Faceless?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Little You said, ¡°A few days ago, I followed Lei Li to attend one of Faceless meetings, and found out that the Faceless actually had a kind of ranking system. Each city has a leader, who is in charge of distributing tasks and consolidating task information, and the whole investigation on you was proposed by this leader.¡± Fang Hao listened in silence as Little You spoke. He only knew that the Faceless was an intelligence organization that infiltrated all walks of life, but he did not know much about the specific internal situation. Also anything that Rebecca investigated wouldn¡¯t be revealed to him. Therefore, the rank, leader, and task distribution method that Little You mentioned were all news to him. ¡°Is the leader Lei Li?¡± Fang Hao asked. Little You shook her head, ¡°Not him. Lei Li is just a member. After the meeting, I tracked the leader and his carriage entered the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. It can be confirmed he is someone from there.¡± This¡­ The power center of the Lyss City and the leader of the Faceless were both at the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. This news was surprising to Fang Hao, yet it seemed reasonable. ¡°Can the identity be confirmed?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Not for the time being. He made his move very secretly. As he entered the City Lord Mansion, I lost my target. So, I haven¡¯t found out his true identity yet.¡± Little You said awkwardly. The amount of people living in the City Lord¡¯s Mansion is not small. Besides the City Lord¡¯s family, there are various guards and servants. The number is also quite large. It is hard to determine the enemy¡¯s identity through guessing. ¡°By the way, you said last time that a higher-up from the Faceless was coming. Has he arrived?¡± Fang Hao suddenly remembered that Little You mentioned last time that a higher-up from the Faceless was coming. ¡°Not yet. His arrival time is still uncertain. But from Lei Li and their conversations, we can see that they attach great importance to him. He even has the ability to change the current situation in Lyss City and bring them greater benefits and safety guarantee.¡± Little You continued. ¡°Hmm, notify me immediately once there is intelligence. Also, take care of your own safety.¡± Fang Hao was actually more interested in this foreign Faceless. He must be a hero-level figure to have the local Faceless take him so seriously. The hostility shown by the Faceless against the transmigrators required serious attention, even though he felt safe for now. Basically, there is no way for them to coexist peacefully anymore. It¡¯s a matter of who will be the first to show their hand. ¡°Alright my lord, also take care.¡± Little You finished speaking and then disappeared into the night like scattered ink. In Lyss City, Fang Hao was not worried about his safety. As long as the City Lord¡¯s Mansion does not want to get rid of him. As for any assassination attempts, Demitrija and Rolana presence would be enough to ensure his safety. ¡­ The next day. Fang Hao and Anjia took their time strolling through the city again. At dusk. As expected, the City Lord¡¯s Mansion sent a message. It was still Rebecca¡¯s maid who strolled into Fang Hao¡¯s room. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, this is for you from the lady.¡± Having said this, she handed over a map. Fang Hao took a look at the location on the map. It was still a relatively secluded place outside the city. Indeed. If you set up an ambush, it won¡¯t be in some place inside the city. Obviously, it would be more suitable for them to arrange it outside the city. ¡°Alright, I got it. Tell Lady Rebecca we will leave the city on our own this time, no need to arrange a guide for us.¡± Fang Hao put away the map in his hand. ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯ll report exactly as you said.¡± The City Lord¡¯s Mansion maid replied softly. After sending away the maid. Fang Hao looked at the map in his hand and pondered the strategy in his mind. This operation was undoubtedly a trap laid by the Faceless. Though he had already received news, Rebecca remained oblivious. The next step was to act out a play, with the unsuspecting Rebecca cooperating to exclude himself. ¡­ Night, 9 o¡¯clock. The carriage arrived at West City, a bustling street. Although night was setting in, there were still many wandering crowds on the street. Pulling aside the carriage curtain, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze landed on a building named ¡®Powder Fox.¡¯ This is a very famous pub under Lei Li. In modern terms, it could be referred to as an entertainment club. Alcohol was only a small part of the shop¡¯s income, more came from the skin trade, the casino, and the underground fight club. Fang Hao and Anjia got off the carriage. They strutted down the street in West City. All the shops on this street were under Lei Li control, a few closed shops had scantily-clad women standing out front. They leaned against the wall, waiting for business to come. Just as he stepped onto the street, a woman came straight over, ¡°Sir, want a woman? We have all ages, guaranteed to make you satisfied¡­¡± At this time, plus this location was perfect for this kind of business. Fang Hao was young and well dressed. He was easily mistaken for wealthy thrill-seekers, as well as their important customers. Although Fang Hao continued walking, the woman still followed closely behind. Nonstop babble from her mouth, ¡°Sir, we have all ages of services, there are even soft-skinned young misses from noble families. Guaranteed to make you satisfied, the price is not expensive, you can choose anything from 50 gold coins to 500 gold coins.¡± Fang Hao ignored her, took Anjia¡¯s waist and carried on walking forward. Such an action showed his intention, the woman sneered and stopped following Fang Hao. Anjia allowed herself to be embraced by Fang Hao and hugged his shoulder like a big sister. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here. They won¡¯t coerce you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Fang Hao felt the softness on his shoulder. The intimate actions of the two managed to fend off the women from both sides of the street. They reached the entrance of the ¡®Powder Fox¡¯ pub. A little girl walked over, ¡°Sir, how about buying a bunch of flowers for your lady?¡± Fang Hao looked at the little girl, who was just over a meter tall and simply dressed, and asked, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°One silver coin, sir.¡± Fang Hao took a silver coin from his pocket, put it in the girl¡¯s hand, and casually took a bunch of flowers from the basket and handed it to Anjia. Anjia took the flowers, glanced at them and said, ¡°You¡¯re not planning to spank me, are you? Besides, I don¡¯t like these things. They¡¯re not edible.¡± Fang Hao rolled his eyes and told her not to keep saying weird things. ¡­ They entered the Powder Fox pub. They were immediately met with a racket. Just inside the door were rows of dense tables. In front of the tables, there was a stage made of wood. Youths, scantily clad, were boldly writhing their bodies on the stage, intentionally and unintentionally exposing their secrets to the guests below the stage. The red-faced, drunken guests were clapping and seemed willing to spend all their money here. Fang Hao tightly held Anjia around her waist, and the approaching girls wisely halted their advance. They turned around to find new customers. The two of them walked to the stairway. The Powder Fox had a casino on the second floor, a brothel on the third, and a concealed boxing ring in the basement. That is, the legendary gamble fight, where you could get rich overnight or lose your life. ¡°Sir, this area is not open to the public.¡± Two burly guards blocked Fang Hao¡¯s way down to the basement. Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Chapter 382, Underground Boxing Arena_1 Chapter 405: Chapter 382, Underground Boxing Arena_1 At the staircase. Two burly strongmen blocked their path. With one hand flipping open the lapel of his coat, the short sword tied to his waist was exposed, a clear warning. Fang Hao looked down the staircase and casually said, ¡°So, the boxing arena isn¡¯t open today, or is Lei Li not planning to do business.¡± Hearing the young man in front of them call Lei Li by name. The men shared a strange look, suspecting this man may not be a regular fun-seeking patron. They addressed him politely, ¡°Sir, the boxing arena is open, but you need a pass to enter.¡± Fang Hao waved his hand dismissively, looking impatient. He said, ¡°Go tell your supervisor that I¡¯m Fang Hao, and I¡¯m very rich. I plan to visit the boxing arena downstairs, so get me a pass¡­¡± The two guards exchanged confused and puzzled looks. Fang Hao? They hadn¡¯t heard of such a man in the city, yet he was audacious in his speech. He wanted to enter the underground circuit on mere mention of his name. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s firm stance, they feared neglecting a prominent figure. They hurriedly replied, ¡°Please wait for a moment, sir, I¡¯ll bring your message to the supervisor.¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± One of the guards gave a signal to his companion, and hurried upstairs. ¡­ On the third floor, inside a private room. Lei Li was lounging on the couch, enjoying the warm and passionate service from a woman named Deborah. Just as they were in the heat of the moment. A series of urgent knocking resonated from the room¡¯s door. Knock, knock, knock! ¡°What is it?¡± Lei Li¡¯s tone was rather displeased. He despised being interrupted at crucial times. If the visitor didn¡¯t have a satisfactory reason, a corresponding price would be paid. Upon the door¡¯s opening, Lai Gou accompanied a junior member inside. The junior member greedily eyed the woman next to Lei Li and hurriedly reported, ¡°Boss, a young man and woman have arrived downstairs. They want to go to the underground boxing arena. We stopped them, but he said his name is Fang Hao and claimed that mentioning his name would allow him entry.¡± The junior member spoke frantically, somewhat incoherently. However, everyone in the room understood the meaning. A flash of puzzlement crossed Lei Li¡¯s eyes, ¡°What did you say his name was?¡± ¡°Named Fang Hao, possibly a young master of some family, has black hair, accompanied by an orc girl.¡± The junior member repeated as he roughly described their appearances. Confirming the identity, Lei Li¡¯s frown deepened. Of course, he knew who Fang Hao was; the evening posed a planned action against Fang Hao. However, what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was Fang Hao abruptly showing up here, intending to go to the underground boxing arena. Lei Li turned to Lai Gou and asked directly, ¡°Is everything prepared down there?¡± ¡°Everything is ready, boss.¡± Lei Li fell silent for a brief moment, then instructed the anxiously waiting junior member, ¡°Get him a pass. Also, assign someone to keep a close eye on him. Monitor when he leaves, who he interacts with¡­everything.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, boss!¡± The junior member agreed before exiting and rushing downstairs. The door was closed once more. Lei Li, frowning, sat on the couch wrestling with the situation. After several days of investigation, he also began to suspect that it was Fang Hao¡¯s team assisting Rebecca. Yet¡­news had already covertly reached the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. If it were Fang Hao, then he wasn¡¯t supposed to appear here. Yet here he was. ¡°Could it be¡­it¡¯s not him?¡± Lei Li began to doubt his previous speculation. ¡°Boss, could it be that he¡¯s merely issuing orders and the one actually operating is his subordinate?¡± Lai Gou proposed his own doubts. Lei Li thought there might be some truth to it. The kid was fair and soft, heeding flamboyant manners. There was indeed a chance he wouldn¡¯t participate in battles. ¡°Has surveillance been set up at Fang Hao¡¯s residence?¡± Lei Li continued his interrogation. ¡°Rest assured, boss, arrangements have been made to monitor his residence. Not even a fly could slip past.¡± Lai Gou assured. Lei Li gave a satisfied nod. Today was the day he would verify if Fang Hao was indeed assisting Rebecca. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s see what this boy is here for.¡± Lei Li got up, took a few people with him, and headed out. ¡­ Fang Hao waited a little while on the downstairs. The guard who went upstairs returned, hurrying down. He quickly said, ¡°Sir, right this way, this is your token. Once in the boxing arena, you can use this token to place bets. I hope you have fun.¡± The guard¡¯s attitude had undergone a complete, 180-degree transformation. He was bowing his body the whole time, even more humble and respectful than when addressing a noble lord. Fang Hao casually accepted the token, which was marked with the number 72 in red paint. ¡°Well, continue with your work.¡± Fang Hao, accompanied by Anjia, proceeded down the stairs. The defenses of Lei Li¡¯s casino were indeed rigorous. Walking down the stairs, they underwent four identity checks. Only when the last two guards had inspected the information on the wooden plaque, did they give way and allowed the two to enter the boxing arena. The lights were no longer dim; four huge Nightstone chandeliers illuminated the entire basement. The air was filled with an intoxicating herbal scent and a faint trace of blood. ¡°Kill him, kill him¡­¡± ¡°Damn! All my bets are on you; get up, you useless bum.¡± ¡°Attack his lower body, kick him¡­¡± The basement was spacious. Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Chapter 382, Underground Boxing Gym_2 Chapter 406: Chapter 382, Underground Boxing Gym_2 In the center was a ring enclosed for fighting. Apart from the first level, there was also a second level of spaces ¨C private rooms set up around the ring. On the ring, two burly men covered in blood, shirtless, were entangled in a fight. Beneath the ring, cheers and yells accompanied the match. Loudly encouraging and rooting for the contestants they¡¯d placed bets on. Fang Hao and Anjia, observing this spectacle for the first time, halted at the stairwell. As they paused, a curvaceous lady approached them. She smiled and said, ¡°Sir, madam, could you please show your number plates?¡± Fang Hao casually handed over the number 72 plate to the lady. She looked at the number before saying, ¡°Sir, your seating area is this way.¡± With these words, she led Fang Hao and Anjia towards the public viewing area. Seems like the numbers on the plates corresponded to the designated seating areas. Apart from the public seats surrounding the central ring, there were also private rooms on a higher level. ¡°Are these private rooms open to the public?¡± Fang Hao inquired. ¡°Yes sir, the private rooms cost 5 gold coins per hour, and they offer a better view of the matches,¡± the lady replied while turning around, her face lit up with a smile. Seems like she would receive a decent commission by selling a private room. ¡°Book one, do I pay now?¡± Fang Hao asked. The lady¡¯s cheeks blossomed into an even brighter smile. Her voice was sweet and soft, ¡°No need for immediate payment, sir. I¡¯ll note it down and you can settle the bill when you leave.¡± ¡°Alright, lead us there.¡± ¡°Certainly, sir and madam, follow me!¡± The lady took to leading the way. ¡­ Along the way, Fang Hao learned about some of the rules of the underground fighting arena from the lady. There were two rules in the ring: bare-knuckle fighting and weapon combat. Once someone stepped into the ring, they essentially signed a life-or-death contract, absolving the arena of any responsibility should there be any fatalities. And the spectators below the ring were sometimes more keen on brutal, violent spectacles. The victory rules included knocking out and killing the opponent; there were no restrictions on rounds or scores. It was all about who could last longer in the ring. And this brutal way of competition did inspire the fighters¡¯ zeal to some extent. Near-death comebacks were not uncommon and brought high entertainment value to the matches. They reached the second floor of the underground arena. The lady opened a private room and continued, ¡°Sir, we offer free drinks and cakes here. The items listed on the menu come at an additional cost. You can place bets on the fighters in the ring, not just on who wins, but also on how long a competitor lasts and the number of times he defeats his opponent¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bet on the red corner winning, 100 gold.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t believe that Lei Li hadn¡¯t arranged someone to keep an eye on him. If he was in an underground boxing match, he had to act like a gambler. Not playing at all would arouse Lei Li¡¯s suspicion. The lady¡¯s smile deepened as she took the money from Fang Hao. As she did so, her finger lightly brushed against the back of his hand, ¡°I hope you guess right, sir.¡± ¡°If I win, remember to come back for your tip.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you, sir!¡± The lady didn¡¯t forget to remind Fang Hao, as she was leaving, ¡°Sir, if you need anything, don¡¯t forget to call me.¡± Fang Hao understood the implication behind the lady¡¯s flirtatious behaviors. Down here, a hostess seeking to please a wealthy client would not mind providing some special services. Help the client to relax a bit. Finding men in here was a way quicker route to making more money compared to soliciting on the streets. ¡­ After the lady had left, only Fang Hao and Anjia remained in the room. Anjia began to snack on the complimentary cakes. Fang Hao moved to the window of the private room, looking down at the bloody, brutal fight taking place in the ring below. The crowd in the stands was bristling with excitement, cheering loudly. They were all chanting, ¡®kill him, tear him apart¡¯. The private suite offered not only separation from the crowd but also a good degree of privacy. Fang Hao could see the entire audience and the ring, while the crowd below was unable to see him. The lights were out in the other suites across from him; evidently, they hadn¡¯t been sold that day. ¡°Anjia, eat less. You wouldn¡¯t want a toilet break later. If anyone comes in, wake me up immediately,¡± Fang Hao told her. Fang Hao had already explained the purpose of their visit on their way here. Anjia nodded, ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Fang Hao lay on the long couch, his head resting on Anjia¡¯s thighs. Even if anyone was observing from the outside, they would only think that they were engaged in some intimate activities. After getting ready, Fang Hao summoned his supernatural ability, God¡¯s Presence. In the blink of an eye, the Soul Fire ignited in the eyes of Skeleton, who was left back at the residence, now glowing with a spectral blue hue. With a flap of its wings, it disappeared into the night. ¡­ Outside Lyss City, in a dimly lit cave, Demitrija, leading her team, was concealed within the cave, everyone silently eating the food in their hands. Awaiting the next series of action orders. Just then, a skeleton swift entered the cave. It spoke out, ¡°Demitrija, is everyone ready?¡± Hearing the voice, everyone present turned serious in an instant. Demitrija promptly replied, ¡°Sir, everyone is ready. There are 72 of us here, ready to move out at a moment¡¯s notice.¡± For this operation, during the day Demitrija had quietly left the city on her own. Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: Chapter 382, Underground Boxing Gym_3 Chapter 407: Chapter 382, Underground Boxing Gym_3 Similarly, inside the hideout at the Gray Bear Mountain, Fang Hao¡¯s instructions were received. Ming Wolf, the bandit, had brought 70 of his cohort to this cave, waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s message. Fang Hao naturally didn¡¯t trust these bandits. But with Commander Demitrija leading the team, there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. Fang Hao nodded, still admonishing, ¡°Everyone follows Demitrija¡¯s dispatch. After eliminating the enemy, simply search the building, and leave before the city guards arrive. Be very careful not to be tracked during withdrawal.¡± ¡°Alright, understood, Lord!¡± said Demitrija. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, My Lord, we will follow Commander Demitrija¡¯s orders,¡± Ming Wolf and others hastily answered. ¡°Good! Then everyone follows me out.¡± Everyone followed Fang Hao out of the cave. Moving swiftly through the darkness in the hazy moonlight. After about 20 minutes of walking. A brightly lit mansion appeared in front of them. The shadowy figures of roaming guards could be seen outside the mansion. With the firelight, one could see mercenary badges hanging on the chest of the guards. It seemed like the Faceless had spent money to hire some mercenaries. To use them as bait here. That didn¡¯t matter anymore, even if there are no Faceless inside, even if the mansion is empty, They still had to conquer it and kill everyone inside. Fang Hao looked at the mansion and said, ¡°Take note of the surroundings, don¡¯t leave any traces.¡± ¡°Understood, Lord!¡± Demitrija agreed and began to assign duties to everyone. When all was ready. Everyone started to approach the mansion under the cover of night. Soon, a thick fog enveloped the entire mansion. ¡­ Underground boxing club. Inside another private room. The lady who guided Fang Hao stood nervously inside the room, her legs trembling slightly. In front of her were Lei Li, the club owner, Deborah, and the thug Lai Gou. Any one of these three could determine her life or death. ¡°Where¡¯s that Fang Hao sitting?¡± Lei Li sat casually, asking in a deep voice. The woman¡¯s face turned white, ¡°Boss, he went to room 202.¡± ¡°Oh? He went to a private room?¡± Lei Li stroked his chin, continuing, ¡°What did he say to you? Tell me everything he said, don¡¯t leave out a single word.¡± The woman swallowed a lump in her throat, recalling the things Fang Hao had said to her. ¡°When he came in, he asked about the price of the private rooms, then asked about the rules of the boxing club and how to bet on fights, that¡¯s all.¡± The woman said. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Lei Li frowned. ¡°Yes, just that¡­ He looked like a first-timer, he didn¡¯t know anything about this place, and didn¡¯t ask any other questions.¡± The woman said hastily. ¡°Alright, you can go.¡± Lei Li waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Yes, Boss,¡± the lady agreed, and directly retreated. The room fell silent again. Lei Li contemplated whether Fang Hao¡¯s arrival was just a coincidence. After pondering for a moment, Lei Li gently patted the bottom of Deborah, the seductive lady sitting next to him. ¡°You fancy that kid, don¡¯t you? If you¡¯re free today, why don¡¯t you go have some fun with him, lighten up.¡± ¡°Pah!¡± Deborah spat lightly and retorted playfully, ¡°What do you mean by I fancy him? It¡¯s all for you.¡± ¡°Get going, try to find out his intentions.¡± ¡°Hmph! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re into, always sending your own woman to other men¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! You love it, don¡¯t you!¡± Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Chapter 383, Gathering Information_1 Chapter 408: Chapter 383, Gathering Information_1 Outside the city, in the manor. A thick fog quickly covered the entire estate. The bright torches, too, slowly extinguished upon touching the fog. ¡°Why is the fog so thick?¡± ¡°What on earth is happening!¡± Everyone was in a panicked disarray. Meanwhile, Demitrija took advantage of the fog, leading a small group quickly into the manor. They clashed with the members of the mercenary group. The mercenaries were few in number to begin with, faceless, bait to lure Fang Hao. In just a few minutes, the guards outside the building were wiped out by Demitrija¡¯s men. The surroundings were finally cleared. Demitrija directly pushed the door to the residence open. Swoosh! The moment the door opened, an arrow immediately followed, shooting out. Demitrija tilted his head slightly, avoiding the arrow with ease. Inside the room, there were six mercenaries left. They were huddled together, forming the final defense formation. In the center of the formation, stood a red-haired man wielding a longsword, clad in heavy armor. The red-haired man stared coldly at Demitrija. Seeing the robust tail revealed behind him, the man¡¯s eyes flickered. Lizardmen! In his mind, he was recalling when he had become enemies with this Lizardman. Wondering what caused him to launch an assault against his group in the middle of the night. After thinking it over, he couldn¡¯t recall any memory involving Lizardmen. He asked coldly, ¡°Who are you, sir? We seem not to have offended you. Is there some misunderstanding here?¡± The current situation did not allow for an investigation of who was right and who was wrong. Only by resolving this conflict could the remaining six of them survive. Demitrija¡¯s vertical pupils coldly swept over the rest. ¡°Who did you receive this task from?¡± Demitrija asked. The red-haired man frowned slightly, seeming to realize something. It seemed these people weren¡¯t targeting him but the ones who had hired him. ¡°If I tell you, will you let us go? One piece of information you¡¯re interested in, in exchange for six lives. It¡¯s a good deal!¡± the red-haired man said again. Apart from the confidential information from the task hall, For the tasks received personally, it was difficult for mercenaries to preserve the secret. But they had to confirm the exchange condition before informing the other party. He thought the Lizardman would agree. But the Lizardman in front of him just shook his head and issued the order directly: ¡°Kill them all.¡± A huge wave of fighters then rushed in and began to besiege the six without saying a word. Not 10 minutes later, They had all been killed, leaving no survivors. ¡°Search this place then prepare to leave.¡± Demitrija continued to give orders. Everyone began to search around. They needed to leave before the city guards arrived. ¡­ Fang Hao released God¡¯s Presence and awakened in the private room. He was still lying on Anjia¡¯s legs. As for Anjia, she was eating while watching out for him, a variety of snacks, and fruits all placed on his belly. Seeing Fang Hao wake up, Anjia asked curiously, ¡°So, how did it go?¡± ¡°The matter has been resolved. We sit a while longer, then we¡¯ll leave.¡± Fang Hao removed the various snacks on his belly. ¡°Ah? We¡¯re leaving so soon.¡± Her big eyes turned round, and she continued, ¡°What if I go down to play a couple of rounds, to help us win some money? I didn¡¯t find the players to be all that competent.¡± ¡°None of that. In which casino do they allow customers to win? If you show promise, they will arrange new opponents, all set up in advance.¡± Fang Hao said it straight out. ¡°Besides, no matter how many people he arranges, if they can¡¯t beat me, what can they do?¡± Anjia countered unyieldingly. Fang Hao still shook his head, ¡°We should play it safe this time. We mustn¡¯t attract too much attention.¡± Seeing that Fang Hao absolutely disagreed, Anjia had no choice. All she could do was to pout and continue to eat the free pastries. Knock! Knock! Knock! Just as they were about to leave after a while, The room door was knocked again. ¡°Come in!¡± The door opened, and the previously met woman walked down again, squeezing out a somewhat stiff smile, ¡°Sir, you guessed correctly in the last match. Would you like to place another bet?¡± ¡°Bet, all the remaining money, all on the Red team to win,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Okay sir, your previous capital plus rewards total 140 gold, all have been placed on the Red team,¡± the woman replied respectfully. ¡°Hmm!¡± ¡°Alright, I will not bother you and the lady anymore,¡± the woman said and slowly retreated. But the door was not closed. A delicate white hand stretched into the room a second before the door closed. Immediately after, the door was opened. A somewhat enchanting woman walked in. Deborah. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, would you mind if I came in and sat down?¡± Deborah¡¯s voice contained a touch of seduction. Fang Hao recognized Deborah, Lei Li¡¯s woman. Fang Hao had learned a bit about Deborah from Little You¡¯s mouth. Lei Li¡¯s woman and also his right-hand. Together with Lai Gou, they were Lei Li¡¯s right-hand men. Frequently accompanying some dignitaries, she extracted some intelligence from them. It could be said, she was an expert in dealing with men. ¡°Oh, Miss Deborah, I didn¡¯t expect we¡¯d meet here, quite a surprise indeed,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile, wondering why she had come. It was good she was here, the job was done. Seeing Deborah here, he would also be able to prove that he had nothing to do with the fight outside the city. Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: Chapter 383, Inquiring about the News _2 Chapter 409: Chapter 383, Inquiring about the News _2 ¡°Oh my! I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Fang Hao to know me, that¡¯s really delightful!¡± Deborah said sweetly, gently closing the door and sitting down on the sofa. ¡°Hehe, which man in the city doesn¡¯t know Miss Deborah¡¯s name.¡± Fang Hao continued curiously, ¡°Why, do you also have an interest in fights?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your men¡¯s hobby, why would I like it?¡± Deborah shot Fang Hao a playful glance and continued: ¡°Today, I¡¯m just watching the shop and heard you were here, so I decided to come see you.¡± With that, she moved closer to Fang Hao. Fang Hao had heard, Deborah was quite free-spirited. Any man she took a fancy to, she could be very proactive with. Could it be that she is interested in him? ¡°This boxing gym is property of Miss Deborah? That¡¯s impressive¡­¡± Fang Hao feigned surprise. ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s not mine, it¡¯s Mr Lei Li¡¯s. I don¡¯t have that kind of ability.¡± Deborah said with a soft voice. A waft of fragrance entered Fang Hao¡¯s nostrils. Deborah looked quite good, and was very adept at stirring up men. But Fang Hao wasn¡¯t greatly interested in her. This woman, who had a close connection with the Faceless, he dared not get seriously involved with her. He subtly shifted to the side, creating some distance. He turned to Deborah and said, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, we¡¯re just sitting for a while before leaving.¡± Deborah raised her eyebrows, she did not expect Fang Hao to reject her. Changing her approach, she continued, ¡°Mr Fang Hao, you look a bit tired, I know some massage techniques. I could help you relax your muscles.¡± It seems like Deborah is here to probe for Lei Li¡¯s instructions. And he needs Deborah here until news from the manor outside the city reaches Lei Li¡¯s ears. In order to achieve what he wants. Understanding the situation, he lazily lay on the sleek sofa, ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble Miss Deborah then.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Deborah said, then knelt beside him, gently massaging Fang Hao¡¯s back. Anjia sat beside them, scrutinizing Deborah. She looked harmless, just an ordinary woman, so Anjia wasn¡¯t too concerned. While Deborah was massaging, she asked, ¡°Mr Fang Hao, are you from the outer city? I heard the north of Pruell City is all orc territory. You don¡¯t live in the orc city, do you?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t look at her, but he knew she was seeking information about him. ¡°Our place is actually a place where humans and orcs live together,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Oh, those orcs¡­¡± Deborah started, glanced at the orc girl beside them, and quickly changed the subject, ¡°I heard you designed many clothes for Lady Rebecca. When can you design a few sets for me?¡± ¡°Anytime,¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re quite familiar with Lady Rebecca.¡± ¡°Not exactly, but she did place several orders from me. I had no choice but to make the long trek here.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± The two chatted for about twenty minutes. Deborah was probing for information on Fang Hao, and through her, Fang Hao managed to obtain some of the information he wanted. Indeed, Lei Li¡¯s means were commendable. This boxing gym was more than just a normal betting place. Nobles from the city and even further afield would come here for recreation. They could even use some trivial means to launder the money they had. This indicated that Lei Li inevitably had connections with many nobles. No wonder no one in the city could lay a finger on him. ¡­ ¡°Mr Fang Hao, you can turn over now,¡± Deborah said again. Fang Hao obediently turned over, moving from laying on his stomach to laying on his back. I¡¯ve heard there are many bandits outside the city, did your merchant caravan have a safe journey?¡± Deborah casually asked. Fang Hao smiled, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of bandits, I have my own mercenary group in charge of escorting.¡± ¡°Oh! So your mercenary group is quite outstanding?¡± ¡°Not bad, their number isn¡¯t that large, they just take care of security, they can¡¯t handle other tasks.¡± Fang Hao gave a nonchalant reply. The two were talking casually. They were each inquiring about each other¡¯s information while evaluating its veracity. They knew quite a bit about each other now. Deborah flirtatiously said, ¡°So, shall we relax a bit more intimately?¡± Knock, knock, knock!!! There was a soft knocking sound from outside the door. The next second, the door opened and the girl walked in. She kept her head down without observing the situation inside and directly said, ¡°Sir, here are the 450 gold coins you won. Miss Deborah, boss Lei Li has arrived and is asking for you.¡± Upon hearing these words, Deborah¡¯s complexion slightly changed. Did Lei Li call for her to return? It seems like something had happened. Unfazed, she redressed and, without minding the girl¡¯s presence, told Fang Hao, ¡°Oh dear! Lei Li is here, I¡¯ll accompany you next time when he¡¯s not around.¡± Having said this, she threw him a flirty glance and briskly walked out of the room. Fang Hao looked at the girl and said, ¡°Just keep betting, after a couple more rounds I¡¯m going home.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± The girl exited the room once more. Once again, only Fang Hao and Anjia were left in the room. ¡°Why are you so slow? See, the man¡¯s already back.¡± Anjia said in a disappointed tone. ¡°Ah? Is that my fault?¡± Fang Hao was getting dressed. ¡°She was right there and you couldn¡¯t seize the opportunity.¡± ¡°She is Lei Li¡¯s spy, if we did anything with her, it would have been easier for things to go wrong.¡± Fang Hao explained in a hushed voice. Fang Hao glanced at his watch. From the end of his God¡¯s Presence to Deborah¡¯s departure- it had taken 23 minutes. This was quicker than the speed at which news could be sent back from the manor on the outskirts of the city. It was possible that the Faceless had some special methods of transmitting information. It wouldn¡¯t have been through the Sound-transmitting Shell, else it wouldn¡¯t have taken 23 minutes. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Anjia set aside the snacks in her mouth, gave Fang Hao a little push and said, ¡°I can give you a massage too.¡± She wiped her hands on his body and began to apply pressure to Fang Hao¡¯s chest. ¡°No! Anjia, are you kneading dough?¡± ¡°What, is there anything wrong with it?¡± Anjia didn¡¯t notice any difference between her massage and the other woman¡¯s. ¡°I feel like you don¡¯t see me as a person.¡± ¡­ In another private room- Deborah came back in a hurry. As she opened the door, she saw a man with short hair and a small beard standing in the middle of the room with a serious expression on his face. Deborah knew him, he was the one assigned to monitor the manor on the outskirts of the city. Deborah asked with a furrowed brow, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The City Lord¡¯s soldiers have been dispatched. They¡¯ve surrounded the manor on the outskirts of the city,¡± the bearded man answered. After a quick glance towards Lei Li, Deborah continued to ask, ¡°Have we figured out who those people are yet?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been monitoring the manor, but when the fight broke out, the manor was covered in a fog, and we couldn¡¯t identify them. We can only confirm that there were quite a few of them, at least seventy to eighty.¡± The man replied quietly, his head bowed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you trail them?¡± ¡°We did, but halfway through they scattered in the forest¡­somewhat like the ¡®whip-carrying¡¯ bandits.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying you lost them. What a bunch of losers, you¡¯ve wasted so much effort for nothing.¡± Deborah cursed angrily. ¡°Enough, you can go. Tell those brothers to come and get their money tomorrow.¡± Lei Li waved his hand and said. ¡°Yes, boss.¡± The man agreed and slowly retreated. Lei Li turned to Lai Gou,¡±Any movement from his place?¡± ¡°No, the mercenaries he hired are still quiet. A few of them are drinking at the tavern under our surveillance.¡± Lai Gou answered. Lei Li nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not a total loss, at least we know it¡¯s not that kid.¡± Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Chapter 384, Mercenary Group Battle_1 Chapter 410: Chapter 384, Mercenary Group Battle_1 The next day. Fang Hao had just opened his eyes and found Anjia sleeping soundly next to him. Her upper body was tightly wrapped around Fang Hao¡¯s waist, occasionally sticking out her little tongue to lick his arm while in dreamland. ¡°Yummy¡­¡± she mumbled. ¡°Damn it!¡± Fang Hao cursed silently in his heart. This was just too much! Anjia¡¯s stamina was much stronger than Fang Hao¡¯s. Having kept him up the entire night, she was just endless. However big she talked about satisfying him, all were bluffs. When the time came, she was all bluster and no substance. It took a lot of effort from the two of them to finish their act. Gently patting Anjia¡¯s perky butt and pinching the little tongue she had sticking out, Fang Hao woke up the lazy girl. Spit! ¡°Are you sick, why are you pulling my tongue?¡± Anjia glared at him, retorting angrily. ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s late already.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Oh.¡± Anjia replied, occasionally casting glances at Fang Hao. The events of last night brought them closer. Anjia¡¯s Loyalty also rose from 98% to 100%. [Fighting Tooth-Anjia, her loyalty to you has reached 100 points and will not be affected by any negative statuses such as betrayal or dissension.] Before, Anjia was forced to sign a hero contract by Fang Hao, making her obey his command on certain things. But with time, Anjia began to develop special feelings for Fang Hao. Having come from Orc City, Fang Hao was the cleanest male she had encountered, and he didn¡¯t carry an unpleasant smell. Moreover, she appreciated his character and talents apart from his inability to fight and being too tender. She had noticed Fang Hao¡¯s flirtations with Eira all along. She decided to give it a try last night. The experience was pretty satisfying! Having dressed and burst out of the room with a bang, Anjia headed straight out. ¡°Close the door, Anjia!¡± Fang Hao shouted as he pulled up his pants. ¡­ Striding out of the room confidently, Anjia was greeted by the maid and the little Gray Bear. ¡°Good morning, Miss Anjia.¡± ¡°Morning, Anjia!¡± Everyone seemed unsurprised by Anjia¡¯s overnight stay in Fang Hao¡¯s room. In their eyes, it would be strange if nothing had happened between the two. For someone at Fang Hao¡¯s age with significant power, it was natural to have numerous women. Even the bunny maids were secretly brainstorming how to attract this handsome lord. Unfazed, Anjia nodded casually while putting on her coat, ¡°You are all up early!¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Anjia.¡± Everyone responded in turn. ¡­ After breakfast. Fang Hao took Anjia to his textile store. Today was the opening day of the store. At the entrance, portraits of Rebecca and Rolana, the models, were already hung. The large canvas allowed everyone to clearly see the two women from a distance. It was still morning, but the front of the textile store was filled with residents who came to watch the excitement. Few people entered the store, most were still peeking from outside. Conversing in low voices. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Mrs. Rebecca? I didn¡¯t hear about the City Lord¡¯s Mansion opening a textile store!¡± ¡°Since Mrs. Rebecca is on the portrait, it must have some relation to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.¡± ¡°Oh come on! Look at the name, Bone Textile Store, how could it be opened by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion.¡± ¡°Bone Textile Store? The priests at the temple are wearing clothes from Bone Textile Store now.¡± ¡°So it seems this Bone Textile Store is indeed impressive, both the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the Temple wear their clothes. I wonder how their prices are.¡± ¡°Yeah, hope it won¡¯t be too expensive¡­¡± ¡°¡­just go in and check, it won¡¯t cost anything.¡± The town consisted of two types of people. One type were the dignitaries, who had ample funds and were more concerned with fashion and brand names. This high society would mimic Rebecca¡¯s style as the trendsetter. The advertising with Rebecca perfectly met these people¡¯s requirements. The second type was ordinary residents who valued practicality and price more. The fact that the City Lord¡¯s Mansion and the Temple were both wearing clothes from the textile store satisfied the public¡¯s credibility. If the price was right, they would choose to shop here too. Therefore, Fang Hao¡¯s Bone Textile Store could compete with local, established textile stores. It might even surpass them. Soon, people started going into the shop one after another to pick out clothes they liked. Even elegantly dressed wealthy women entered the store to inquire about customizations. Fang Hao silently observed the crowd for a while. Seeing things progressing smoothly, he left satisfied. ¡­ It was still early. Fang Hao and Anjia took a carriage to the task hall again. East City was still bustling. Many mercenary teams gathered here to sell and exchange their resources and equipment. Though it was still daytime, there were fewer sellers than at night. Fang Hao and Anjia got off the carriage and sauntered into the task hall. The hall was filled with mercenaries waiting to receive and finalize their tasks. Chapter 411 - Chapter 411: Chapter 384, Mercenary Group Fight_2 Chapter 411: Chapter 384, Mercenary Group Fight_2 Fang Hao approached the counter and said, ¡°I¡¯m from the Windmill Mercenary Group, here to check if there are any appropriate tasks.¡± Upon learning that the Faceless suspected him because of the mercenary group¡¯s information. Fang Hao had arranged for someone to register a small-scale mercenary group ahead of time. He would no longer use the name of his previous Bone Knight Group, and would instead use the name of the Windmill Mercenary Group to accept tasks in the future. This would give those individuals the wrong information. Fang Hao¡¯s mercenary group was just too small, it was not intentionally hidden by anyone. Plus, the alibi he showed up with yesterday from Lei Li, would be enough to confuse the other party for a while. At least for some time to come, they wouldn¡¯t suspect him. ¡°Very well, sir.¡± The lady at the desk placed a task information sheet in front of Fang Hao. Fang Hao quickly skimmed through. [Mission: Escort a caravan out of the city, requires 30 or more personnel, a mercenary group with good reputation preferred, on-the-spot settlement upon arrival, no delay on payment.] [Mission: The Kaulis Family is hiring swordsmanship teachers to teach the family¡¯s children, heroes specializing in swordsmanship will be given priority in hiring¡­] [Single-page Map: Bandit Village, Mission: Clear out the Bandit Village north of the city, ¡­¡­.] Fang Hao quickly flipped through and had already read through the task information once. These were still ordinary tasks, either escorting caravans or suppressing bandits. None of which Fang Hao couldn¡¯t complete. However, Hao still wanted to accept tasks that could yield treasure chest rewards. Not because he really wanted to earn the task reward money. After looking through again, still no satisfactory tasks were found. It seems like this time, he was going to accept some bandit extermination tasks again. Just as he was about to accept a mission, a voice suddenly reached him from behind. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, Miss Anjia, is that you?¡± Fang Hao turned his head and saw a somewhat fat Eric with naturally curly hair. Staring at him curiously. ¡°It really is you, Mr. Fang Hao, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here.¡± Eric said somewhat excitedly. As his spiritual power grew, his memory also greatly improved. With a little recall, he was able to remember the name and identity of this chubby man. At the same time, he cracked a smile, ¡°Yes, I never thought I¡¯d run into Mr. Eric here.¡± ¡°Yes, what a coincidence.¡± Eric said, his gaze drifting, ¡°Right, you didn¡¯t run into any trouble after the auction last time, did you!¡± ¡°Trouble?¡± Fang Hao was confused. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s good if there weren¡¯t any, it¡¯s good if there weren¡¯t any.¡± Eric awkwardly laughed, aware that he had overstepped and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Brother Fang Hao, you really are making it tough on us, not only setting up a textile store in Lyss City and even got Mrs. Rebecca to advertise for you, how are we supposed to survive after this.¡± Eric too was a cloth merchant in the city, although his shop wasn¡¯t as large or famous as some of the other textile shops. But Lyss City had a large population, enough to keep cloth merchants like him going. But Fang Hao¡¯s actions had alerted all the cloth merchants to a crisis. No one else was able to invite Rebecca to advertise for their shops. It seemed likely that the opening of the Bone Textile Store would directly take over most of the business in the city. ¡°Look at what you¡¯re saying, the textile shops in the city have been operating for decades, there¡¯s no way I could easily snatch them away,¡± Fang Hao dismissed, waving his hand. Eric didn¡¯t press further, changing his tone, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, the man in the portrait, Isn¡¯t it Miss Rolana? Ever since we parted ways last time, I hadn¡¯t heard from her.¡± After the last auction, Eric had lost track of Rolana. He had specifically arranged for people to inquire in the city, but they could not find any trace of her. It was as if she had evaporated from the world, as if this person had never appeared. This made him somewhat anxious, as if a cake delivered to his mouth had suddenly vanished. Until today, when he saw the male model in the painting. At first glance, he recognized her as the Rolana he had been searching for. If it hadn¡¯t been for Fang Hao knowing about Rolana and Lei Li keeping an eye on him, he would never have come to say hello. Looking at him strangely, Fang Hao said, ¡°Maybe you should drop it, you guys haven¡¯t been in touch for a long time, and I reckon she¡¯s probably not into you.¡± ¡°How could that be? You knew what happened last time, it¡¯s just that she¡¯s too shy to tell. I should have taken the initiative.¡± Eric continued, ¡°Can you give me her address? I¡¯ll buy you a drink later.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I can¡¯t just casually spill someone else¡¯s address; she might find it intrusive,¡± said Fang Hao, hesitating. He¡¯s not making excuses. If Rolana knew that he was freely giving out her information to others. The little loyalty he had painstakingly built up might just go down in flames. He would never participate in an unfair deal. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Eric felt they made sense. Thinking for a bit, he said, ¡°What about this, I¡¯ll write a letter, and you can pass it to Miss Rolana. In this way, her information stays with her.¡± ¡°That could work!¡± Fang Hao agreed. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s agreement, Eric¡¯s face beamed with joy. He was so grateful that he forgot they were competitors. ¡­ As Eric thanked him profusely, noticing the list of tasks in Fang Hao¡¯s hand, he learned of his purpose. Suddenly he said, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, are you accepting mercenary tasks as well? I have a decent task here. It¡¯s an expedition to explore a ruin organized by the second team leader of the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group. I heard it¡¯s not very risky and the reward is quite generous. Are you interested?¡± Mercenary group-ups are common occurrences. Important information and unique locations can only be acquired by large mercenary groups. For various reasons, these groups would often collaborate with trustworthy teams or other mercenary groups for exploration. The rewards would be distributed as previously discussed. Fang Hao didn¡¯t really care for the reward he mentioned, but he was intrigued by the word ¡°ruins¡±. ¡°Ruins?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m kind of close with the team leader. If you¡¯re interested, I can see about adding you, we can watch each other¡¯s back when the time comes,¡± Eric said. Clearly, Eric was returning a favor. Otherwise, there is a little chance this inside information would have reached Fang Hao. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve been looking for the right task anyway. If you think this will work, you can introduce me,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°No problem, follow me, I¡¯ll help you register. When the time comes, we can head out together.¡± After saying this, Eric led Fang Hao out. ¡­ Fang Hao followed Eric out of the task hall. They went straight to a pub in East City. Sitting at a table near the window was a man in leather armor¡ªa mercenary. Eric pulled Fang Hao to the table, sat down, and introduced him to the mercenary, ¡°Captain Pulimo, this is my friend Fang Hao. Not only is he a well-known businessman, he also has an impressive team working for him. I heard your team needed more people, so I brought him.¡± Looking at Fang Hao and Anjia, Captain Pulimo felt they both looked too young. But he didn¡¯t make any further comments and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the name of your mercenary group, and how many members do you have? I¡¯ll register them for you.¡± ¡°Windmill Mercenary Group, we have 20 members.¡± replied Fang Hao Pulimo quickly jotted the name down and said to Fang Hao, ¡°That should do it, registration is finished. Upon completion of the mission, each person will be rewarded with five gold coins. How it will be distributed is up to your team. All special findings will be owned by our Dragon Scale Mercenary Group, but we¡¯ll compensate you based on their value. We set off tomorrow morning, make sure you don¡¯t forget.¡± Fang Hao nodded, indicating he understood. The registration was this simple. ¡­ After completing the registration. Fang Hao and Eric ordered three beers at the pub¡¯s table. After chatting for a while. Eric found a piece of paper and a pen, and wrote Rolana a cheesy poem that would make your skin crawl. Chapter 412 - Chapter 412: Chapter 385, Glory Cemetery_1 Chapter 412: Chapter 385, Glory Cemetery_1 Fang Hao stepped out of the tavern, a love poem penned by Eric in his hand. After a round through the market with Anjia, during which they purchased some rare materials, they left by carriage. Back to their accommodation. Rolana was nowhere to be seen. The maids told Fang Hao that she had gone out, but they did not know where. Fang Hao glanced at the returned love poem and tucked it away in a drawer. It was for the best that she wasn¡¯t around. He wasn¡¯t sure what might happen if the love poem was to end up in Rolana¡¯s hands. Dinner was served and done. The workers from the clothing store and hotpot restaurant had returned as well. Fang Hao casually inquired about the business in the shop and then everyone returned to their rooms to rest. ¡­ Come early morning. At the city gate in the East City district, hundreds of fully-armed mercenaries had already gathered. Judging by the mercenary group insignia on their chests. More than a dozen large and small mercenary groups were present. Fang Hao walked over with Anjia, Demitrija, Gray Bear, and a band of subordinates in tow, totaling 23 in number. Among the mercenary groups, Fang Hao¡¯s group was arguably the smallest in terms of manpower. If it weren¡¯t for Eric¡¯s recommendation, Fang Hao¡¯s tiny team would not have been selected by the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group. As they approached the assembly point. They heard Eric¡¯s shouting voice, ¡°Fang Hao, over here, come this way¡­.¡± Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw Eric waving at them from the right side of the mercenary formation. Eric¡¯s mercenary group wasn¡¯t large, either. A quick once-over revealed they numbered about 50, which was a typical size for a mercenary group. Among these 50 or so individuals, there were warriors, archers, and several people toting large bundles and emergency equipment who were presumably support personnel. Fang Hao¡¯s group also brought their own baggage, all of which he had stashed into his storage space. No one needed to carry anything. Fang Hao approached Eric¡¯s group with his people and asked, ¡°Eric, are you also heading to the ruins?¡± Eric was dressed in a linen robe and donned a set of leather armor outside. Strapped to his waist was a slender longsword. Despite not having moved yet, he was already soaking with sweat from just standing there. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going. And I have trained in swordsmanship since I was a kid, I just lack some real combat experience. On the other hand, are you sure you are up to this, Mr. Fang Hao?¡± In retort, Eric asked, patting the longsword at his waist. Fang Hao observed Eric¡¯s sweat-slicked, rotund figure skeptically. Eric did the same, noting Fang Hao¡¯s wiry frame and the rumors of his effeminate character. ¡°I¡¯ve trained too.¡± Fang Hao patted the Light Feather shortsword at his waist as well. The two looked at each other, each feeling that the other was nothing more than dead weight. Nevertheless, the size of the group and the assurance from the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group that the mission was simple and lucrative gave them some solace. Otherwise, Eric wouldn¡¯t have agreed to be a part of this mission. After a word or two. Eric¡¯s gaze fell on Demitrija behind Fang Hao. Demitrija was indeed striking¡ª tall and clad in a full set of golden scaled armor. He was quite mesmerizing and easily drew the attention of those around him. ¡°Who is this?¡± Eric asked again. ¡°This is our deputy leader, Demitrija, from the Lizardmen tribe,¡± Fang Hao introduced politely. Demitrija too reciprocated the cordiality, ¡°Mr. Eric.¡± The Lizardmen¡¯s language had some quirks, but communication was not a problem. ¡°Hello, Mr. Demitrija,¡± Eric greeted him in return. Then, pulling Fang Hao aside, Eric eagerly inquired, ¡°How did it go? Did you deliver the letter I gave you yesterday? What did Miss Rolana say?¡± Eric¡¯s face reddened, his eyes filled with anticipation. Fang Hao glanced at Eric. He did not understand why Eric would risk Rolana¡¯s wrath. The man seemed to take perverse pleasure in dancing on the edge of disaster. If Rolana were to get angry, Eric¡¯s fat-laden body would be squeezed dry in no time. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to deliver it when I got home so late. I¡¯ll help you deliver it after we return from the ruins, but as I said before, I can¡¯t guarantee how things will turn out. From what I can tell, it¡¯s best not to press on if she¡¯s not interested,¡± Fang Hao hastily explained. ¡°It¡¯s just as well that you didn¡¯t manage to deliver it.¡± Eric immediately responded. Oh? Had he changed his mind, realized that Rolana was not interested in him? But before Fang Hao could ask, Eric produced another envelope from his pocket, thrusting it into Fang Hao¡¯s hand, ¡°I felt that what I wrote yesterday wasn¡¯t quite there, so I spent the night revising it. Tear up the one I gave you previously!¡± ¡°Err¡­ alright!¡± Fang Hao took the new envelope, responding reflexively. ¡­ After six o¡¯clock, the procession set off. The second team of the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group, with more than a hundred of its own members, briskly strode out of the city gate. Behind them were troops from various other mercenary groups, with no particular formation in mind. They marched out of the city in an impressive swell. Socializing all the while, they followed the group onward. Besides the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group who organized the mission, the rest of them were unaware of the ruins¡¯ location or path. So, they could only silently follow from behind. The surroundings of Lyss City were safe. The region outside the city had been meticulously cleared by the army and encounters with ferocious beasts and monsters were rare. Even the erstwhile rampant mountain bandits had been gradually eradicated with successive raids. Those caught were dead, those who could, escaped. And it became increasingly difficult to encounter them. The journey was relatively safe and the atmosphere among the mercenary groups was relatively relaxed. For security reasons, Fang Hao relayed the information to Gray Bear Mountain Stronghold, ordering two Bone Dragons to follow the group in the clouds. If any danger were to occur, they could come down and rescue everyone below. Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 385, Glory Cemetery_2 Chapter 413: Chapter 385, Glory Cemetery_2 The group had been traveling since morning and had continued all the way till nightfall. Everyone began setting up camp. Fang Hao¡¯s encampment was set up right beside Eric¡¯s team. They erected each tent one by one. After lighting up a fire and tossing in some hotpot ingredients, everyone began to eat. As soon as the hotpot began to heat up, Eric followed his nose over. ¡°Hotpot, how did you bring hotpot here?¡± Eric exclaimed with wide eyes. The Enjoyable Hotpot Restaurant was quite renowned in the city. Practically everyone present had tasted their food. Particularly Eric, being a large and robust foodie, was unmistakably familiar with the smell. ¡°Yes, we brought some. Come sit down and eat with us!¡± Fang Hao invited him. ¡°Tho-those, how could I,¡± Eric stammered, feigning politeness. But his body had already begun settling down. They added some strips of meat and vegetables to the pot, and everyone began eating. After dinner, the night watch was arranged and Fang Hao returned to his tent to rest. Anjia now shared a tent with Fang Hao. She could thus protect him up close. ¡­ The next day. The group set off again. Several wild animals began to follow them on the road, as well as a minimal number of monster attacks. After travelling for half a day. They finally arrived at their planned destination. It was the ruins of a city. Large parts of the city walls had collapsed. Through the broken city gates, the collapsed homes and buildings within the city could be seen. Broken walls and desolate buildings now sported new growths of plant life. In the desolation, there was a sense of vitality. Everything within the city was clear to see, but they did not spot anything dangerous. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived? But there aren¡¯t any enemies?¡± Eric found this quite curious and asked a nearby mercenary. The mercenary replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t the absence of enemies a good thing? Stroll around and then receive 5 gold coins once we return, what a great job.¡± Unlike Eric and Fang Hao, the mercenaries did not wish to see any monsters. On the contrary, they preferred to casually stroll around and receive their rewards afterwards. ¡°Guess you¡¯re right.¡± Eric nodded in agreement. Everyone may have thought so, but the Dragon Scale Mercenaries weren¡¯t fools. Why would they hire them just for a leisurely stroll? The captain of the Dragon Scale Mercenaries, Pulimo, halted at the gate and shouted to everyone, ¡°Everyone take note! Stay in place for 10 minutes, take care of your needs and check your equipment. We are about to enter a dangerous zone.¡± At the sound of Pulimo¡¯s warning, everyone became tense. No one responded, but the leaders of each team had already begun to urge their members to check their equipment. They didn¡¯t want to suffer unnecessary losses due to minor issues during combat. Upon hearing that the fighting was about to begin, Eric¡¯s face reddened once again, a mixture of excitement and anxiety showing in his expression. ¡°Fa-Fang Hao, let¡¯s keep our teams close, it¡¯s good to have each other¡¯s backs.¡± Eric had a tremor in his voice, one hand placed on his longsword. ¡°Okay!¡± Fang Hao had no objections. His goal was the treasure chest in these ruins. Having someone to watch his back would make the task easier and was certainly welcome. The ten minutes passed quickly. Pulimo waved his hand and the group continued to march forward. Without any delay, they went straight through the city gates and into the ruins. Perhaps due to Pulimo¡¯s earlier warning, the atmosphere among the mercenaries was tense. No one was chattering or goofing off, everyone had their weapons drawn and were on high alert. Screech¡­ Screech! A weird luring cry came from the ruins. Some creatures that looked like skin-flayed monkeys suddenly appeared from nowhere, hunched over and standing on the broken walls, their gazes fixed on the sudden intrusion of humans. As they weren¡¯t too far away, Fang Hao could see them clearly, he was instantly alerted to their presence. [Ruin Ghouls (Tier 5)]. They were actually Tier 5 creatures. In a territory conversion, Tier 5 wasn¡¯t high. But amongst the mercenaries present, Tier 5 was already considered quite high. Except for Demitrija and Anjia, the only other individual of high level was the captain of the second team, Pulimo, who had reached Tier 7. The remaining majority were mostly between Tier 3 and Tier 4. In a one-on-one battle, it would be quite difficult to deal with such a creature. The Ruin Ghouls looked like monkeys suffering from skin pigmentation disease. Their pointed ears, protruding teeth and disproportionate facial features were quite menacing, their long arms and pointy claws added to the terror. They all had massive misshapen tumors protruding from their backs, like carrying torn burlap sacks. ¡°Archers, clear out the white monkeys on the ruins.¡± Captain Pulimo ordered. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­ As the order was given, the airy sound of arrows flying instantly filled the air. Even for the melee units, most were also equipped with long-range weapons. All pulled out their bows and started shooting at the Ruin Ghouls in the surroundings. Upon being attacked, the Ruin Ghouls let out menacing, dangerous cries. Meanwhile! The surrounding area quickly filled with even more white monkeys. In the blink of an eye, there were seventy or eighty of them, and their numbers were still increasing. The next moment, all the white monkeys launched an attack on the crowd. ¡°Pick up your weapons, form a circle for protection.¡± ¡°Damn it, one of my men was dragged away by those monkeys, damn it¡­.¡± ¡°These bastards¡¯ blood is poisonous, don¡¯t let it get in your mouth or eyes.¡± ¡°¡­.., damn it, their numbers are still increasing.¡± The various mercenary groups seemed somewhat chaotic. Fang Hao¡¯s team was right next to Eric¡¯s mercenary group. They formed a defense circle together, executing swift kills on the attacking white monkeys. Except for Demitrija and Anjia, the rest of the members were all mountain bandits by origin. They exhibited a more ferocious fighting method than the white monkeys. Fang Hao only pulled out the longsword at his waist without casting any spells. He chopped down any attacking monkeys. But as he stayed protected in the center, opportunities to attack were scarce. Fortunately, their large group had a numerical advantage. After leaving behind dozens of corpses, the white monkeys also chose to retreat, hiding far behind the ruins, waiting for their next chance. Everyone took advantage of this opportunity to regain their strength and take some Detox Potions. ¡°Eric, are you okay?¡± Fang Hao asked Eric, who seemed a bit nervous. ¡°I¡¯m fine, one of my team members got injured and is currently getting detoxified.¡± Eric replied. Their two teams moved together. Despite having a smaller size, they suffered the least injury and casualties after the battle. The presence of two heroes contributed greatly to this result. Not only did they alleviate most of the pressure, their heroic characters also provided many attribute bonuses. ¡­. ¡°Everyone, brace yourselves and move forward.¡± Seeing that the battle¡¯s loss was not significant, Captain Pulimo ordered to go deeper. People, while still on the alert of the white monkeys following them, kicked aside the bodies beneath their feet and pressed onwards. Fang Hao and his party continued to follow suit. But his eyes fell on the surrounding buildings. He furrowed his brows. The buildings still carried some rune symbols and gave an overall religious vibe. Could it be, there is a connection between this place and the temple? Before Fang Hao had much time to ponder, the team had already moved away from this place, continuing their journey deeper into the ruins of the city. Increasing numbers of lurking monsters started sneaking around them, apparently preparing for a second strike anytime. But Captain Pulimo still led the team deeper into the city. This made Fang Hao ponder the objective of this Dragonscale Mercenary Group.¡± The task released by the Dragonscale Mercenary Group this time was confidential. That is to say, before coming here, all the other mercenary groups had no clue of the purpose and goal of the mission. And now, the mercenary group was moving deeper into the city, rather than clearing out the surrounding monsters. It seemed that they had a fixed target. They were probably retrieving something, knowing quite well the exact location of this object. After repelling two waves of monkey attacks, the mercenary group finally neared the core building. It was a huge Stone Castle. Parts of the Stone Castle had collapsed, and vines covered the walls. But the various symbols and patterns relating to religious temples and fragments of colored glass were still vaguely visible. In front of the Stone Castle stood a massive stele. Pulimo moved forward, chopping away the vines that covered the stele. The clear words ¡°Glory Cemetery¡± were revealed. ¡°As I thought, it¡¯s here¡­¡± Seeing the words, Pulimo¡¯s face showed relief. Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Chapter 386, Quicksand Trap_1 Chapter 414: Chapter 386, Quicksand Trap_1 As the various teams were directing their members. Fang Hao¡¯s attention was focused on the leading Dragon Scale mercenary group. When Pulimo cleared away the vines and revealed the words on the stele, Fang Hao could clearly see them from afar. [Glory Cemetery]. The name alone tells you that there¡¯s a graveyard beyond the castle. The audacity to build a city into a cemetery is quite impressive. Even Rebecca from Lyss City couldn¡¯t match this feat. Taking another look at the towering castle, confirming the symbols and angel carvings left on the Stone Castle, it was clear that the colossal cemetery was built by the church. It remains unknown what transpired here that led to its abandonment. Yet the temple in Lyss City only has a Tier 10 elderly Priestess as its highest-ranking official. There is a great contrast between this glory and decay. Fang Hao pondered these thoughts. However, he saw the members of the Dragon Scale mercenary group assembling and whispering amongst themselves. This once again made Fang Hao question the true motive of the Dragon Scale mercenary group¡¯s journey. Clearly, the Dragon Scale mercenary group had a specific aim. And it was not monster clearing, but to acquire something. But what could possibly be in a graveyard? Burial artifacts? Very likely. ¡°All teams rest for ten minutes. We may encounter more of these white monkeys once we go in, so check your equipment. Teams short on arrows should exchange with others,¡± Pulimo said loudly. Everyone took another break. Meanwhile, the men of the Dragon Scale mercenary group began searching the rooms within the castle. Fang Hao and others simply sat on the ground. Eric came close once more, ¡°There must be something valuable inside, and it¡¯s all going to them.¡± ¡°Do you know what they¡¯re looking for?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°No idea, but places like these ruins usually hold plenty of valuable items. Unfortunately, we signed a contract; all spoils of war belong to them¡­what a shame,¡± Eric said with a hint of regret. The city may have turned into ruins. But among the rubble and debris, one can still find many valuable items. Some nobles¡¯ collections, treasure chests beneath the stones. If one searches carefully, even the hidden savings of previous inhabitants can be found. In a ruin, anything can be found and instant riches are often stumbled upon. Fang Hao and the others didn¡¯t budge, they just sat together, drinking water to restore their stamina. From time to time, battle cries can be heard from within the castle, suggesting that there are still some hidden monsters. But the Dragon Scale mercenary group didn¡¯t react much, probably because these enemies are scattered and insignificant. In no time, all of the spoils within the castle were collected. Piled up outside the Stone Castle. Fang Hao casually glanced at them, but did not see a transmigrator¡¯s treasure chest. ¡­ ¡°Alright, we have one last stretch to go. Everyone, finish resting and let¡¯s set off soon so we can complete the battle and leave before nightfall,¡± declared Captain Pulimo. It seems that the items that Dragon Scale mercenary group were seeking were not inside the Stone Castle. Everyone got up, began reforming the ranks, and continued advancing. They passed the abandoned Stone Castle. Behind them was a massive cemetery. The cemetery was incredibly vast, with remnants of flower beds and shattered stone statues visible. But everything was now covered by green plants and vines. Desolate. At the center of the cemetery, there was a dense array of steles. Some steles had already shattered, some had collapsed coffins, with flowers and grass growing on the skeletal remains. Crack!! A crisp sound. One of the tombstones cracked, and a white monkey sprung up, crouching on top of it. The weathered tombstone directly split open a crack. Then, one by one, the white monkeys emerged from various corners. Their numbers had quickly exceeded that of the mercenaries. The white monkeys stared at the crowd from a distance, their tongues flicking over their shriveled lips like snake¡¯s forked tongues. Gulp!! All the mercenaries jointly swallowed their saliva. Other than the members of the Dragon Scale mercenary group, everyone else was cursing. Didn¡¯t they say it was easy money?! They freaking called this an easy money situation?! We¡¯ve clearly kicked a hornet¡¯s nest of white monkeys. ¡°Prepare for battle, each mercenary group cover each other, beware of friendly fire,¡± At this time, Pulimo still issued the order to prepare for battle. All the teams were stunned. Under these circumstances, shouldn¡¯t everyone collectively cover each other and retreat? Argh~! But reality didn¡¯t afford them too much time to think. A white monkey suddenly let out a sharp, ear-piercing scream. All the white monkeys echoed with their own screams. The next second, they all charged towards the team. ¡°Fight, maintain formation,¡± Each team began issuing battle-ready commands. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! The archers from each team started their attack. Arrows whizzing through the air, one after another. White monkeys ran on all fours, their forms agile. Arrows flying straight towards them were easily dodged. But their speed only kept increasing. As they neared the teams, they jumped high, wielding sharp, sturdy claws, and crashed directly into the ranks. Instantly, cries of war and painful screams filled the whole cemetery. Initially, Fang Hao¡¯s team and Eric¡¯s mercenary group were covering for each other. But with the ceaseless attacks from the white monkeys, they were instantly scattered. All had begun to retreat towards the base of the wall while defending against the white monkeys¡¯ attacks. Using the wall behind them as cover, they defended against the frontal attacks. Fang Hao too joined the battle, his right hand wielding an iron sword. Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Chapter 386, Quicksand Trap_2 Chapter 415: Chapter 386, Quicksand Trap_2 He cast a Frost Armor on himself in case of unexpected situations. The number of members from each mercenary corps kept decreasing as the fight went on. Although their own team had suffered no casualties yet, they would be in danger if all the others were killed. He was contemplating whether to hide first, and then let the Bone Dragon breathe over this area. This thought just arose in his mind. Out of Fang Hao¡¯s corner of his eye, he saw the Dragon Scale mercenaries not only staving off the white monkeys¡¯ attacks but also swiftly moving towards the right side. They swiftly pulled out an earth-colored spell scroll and immediately opened it near the wall of the Stone Castle. The ground underneath the Dragon Scale mercenaries gave the impression it was starting to churn. The very next second, an earthen wall rose, forming an oval earth-yellow cover, enveloping all the team members inside. The appearance of the earth elemental magic defense attracted everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Damn it! Pulimo, what do you mean by this?¡± ¡°Dragon Scale, you cowards, hiding like turtles at this time!¡± ¡°Damn it, retreat, we ain¡¯t gonna fight anymore.¡± ¡°Retreat, we ain¡¯t gonna fight anymore.¡± Seeing the Dragon Scale mercenaries huddle within the defense of earth elemental magic, all the other bands of mercenaries promptly quit. Apart from cursing, most people directly led their team to flee. But human speed could not compare to the four-limbed rush of the monkeys. The fights resumed before they could leave the reach of the Stone Castle. ¡°Demitrija¡­!¡± Fang Hao whispered. ¡°Understood, master!¡± Demitrija agreed and took a deep breath before exhaling a cloud of mist. It shielded their team. Their team was small to begin with, and the range of the mist wasn¡¯t vast. The intelligence of the white monkeys was evidently low; they stopped in their tracks, turning to attack the other teams when they saw their targets disappear in the mist. The multiple bands of mercenaries fell one by one, annihilated by the attacking white monkeys. ¡­ Not too far off. Eric sat on the ground, visibly exhausted. His once-fine armor was now covered in scratches. The man was soaked in blood, sitting there powerless. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, are you still alive?¡± Eric shouted. All his people were dead. Only he was left, who had survived by sheer luck, after having fallen into a collapsed coffin. But he wouldn¡¯t live much longer either. He looked at the fog rising on one side, remembering that was where Fang Hao¡¯s team was stationed. Perhaps Fang Hao and his team were still alive. Seeing several white monkeys licking their lips and approaching, he shouted towards the direction of the fog. But the fog was thick, making it impossible to see the conditions inside. ¡°Ah, what am I thinking? There¡¯s no way they could survive,¡± Eric murmured, shaking his head bitterly. He would not only get himself killed for taking this goddamn risk but his subordinates as well. He would die here. Despite owning property in the city, and already having chosen a name for his first child with Miss Rolana, he was on the verge of death. Sensing the white monkey charging at him, he closed his eyes. Just as he was cursing inwardly and ready to give up staying alive just to kill these white monkeys. Whoosh! A flying sound swiftly emerged. When he forcefully opened his eyes, he saw a fiery arrow explode in front of him. A white monkey, flying towards him, was sent tumbling several metres away. Immediately after, a figure rushed towards him at high speed. He recognized her as Anjia, the orc girl from Fang Hao¡¯s team. Wasn¡¯t she the maid by Fang Hao¡¯s side? How could she be so fast? Anjia rushed in front of him, grabbed his neck, and tossed him into the mist. He felt himself being lifted off and surrounded by the whistling wind. The next second, he landed, feeling dizzy, only to see Fang Hao¡¯s team drinking water and looking at him. What was going on? Everyone was fighting frantically outside, and they were enjoying tea here? At this moment, Anjia, who had gone to rescue him, also rushed back. The three white monkeys chasing her were casually eliminated by the Lizardmen. ¡°Mr Fang Hao¡­.¡± Eric got up clumsily, murmuring lowly. ¡°Eric, what happened to your team? Why are you the only one left?¡± Fang Hao asked. The attack by the white monkeys had driven all the teams apart. They didn¡¯t pay attention to Eric¡¯s situation, but it seemed the current positions weren¡¯t promising. ¡°Ah! I¡¯m the only one left.¡± Eric¡¯s expression was one of utter despair. The injuries on his body made him seem like a blood man, his face was significantly paler, too. ¡°Do you have a healing potion?¡± Fang Hao checked his injuries and asked nonchalantly. Eric had large wounds on his left shoulder and chest. His leather armor should be of high-quality, or else he would have died from these kinds of attacks a long time ago. ¡°I¡¯ve already drank it.¡± Eric grimaced, holding onto his injury. The temporary safety made his wounds start to ache. Fang Hao took out a bottle of anesthetic medicine and had him drink it. Eric¡¯s facial expression seemed to have eased down quite a bit. After drinking some water, he sat aside and started resting. The battle outside the mist gradually began to calm down. Besides the Dragon Scale mercenaries using the Earth Elemental Scroll, Fang Hao¡¯s team cast a Misty Sky. There were no other mercenary squads that survived in the cemetery. Maybe some of them managed to escape, but most stayed behind. Taking a glance at the Dragon Scale mercenary, Fang Hao noticed the earth magic defense still hadn¡¯t been lifted. Thinking for a moment, he directly used God¡¯s Presence to contact the two Bone Dragons flying above. Chapter 416 - Chapter 416: Chapter 386, Quicksand Trap_3 Chapter 416: Chapter 386, Quicksand Trap_3 The attack on the lower part of the graveyard began. The next second, two massive roars echoed from the sky. The Bone Dragons swooped down from the clouds, hurling their death breaths at the white monkeys inside the graveyard. The monkeys that were hit deteriorated instantaneously, disintegrating into scattered white bones. The white monkeys showed no fear towards the Bone Dragons. They climbed up the Stone Castle, attacking the Bone Dragons by leaping towards their backs when they lowered their heads to exhale. Some of the white monkeys that successfully jumped onto the dragons¡¯ backs began to swing their sharp claws in attack. But the Bone Dragon was a rank-10 unit, with a simple shake of its body in mid-air, it flung the monkeys away. The monkeys thudded into the ground, their bodies squishing upon impact. ¡°What¡¯s happening out there? Is there some new beast? That damn Pulimo, what has he got us into?¡± Eric was blurry due to the sedative but still cursing incessantly. He couldn¡¯t see clearly what was happening outside, but the intense roars and screeches of the monkeys made it clear to him that new creatures have arrived. Fang Hao gave a significant glance to Anjia at his side. She promptly swung a punch, hitting Eric right at his neck. Eric¡¯s tirade halted mid-sentence, and he immediately fainted. Outside the mist, the Bone Dragons were still hurling their death breaths. The white monkeys were fighting back in varied ways. Some climbed up the buildings and lunged towards the dragons, while some picked up stones from the ground to retaliate. However, their attacks had no effect on the Bone Dragons. The white monkeys were perishing in droves. Simultaneously, more and more monkeys were scampering into the misty area amidst the confusion. After a moment¡¯s confusion at the sight of the people hidden in the mist, the monkeys launched an attack and a fierce battle ensued. Soon, the number of white monkeys rapidly dwindled, and those who were lucky enough to escape were now scattering in all directions, not daring to continue the attack. The mist cleared, and the Bone Dragons landed on one side of the team. The whole area fell silent. A disheartening sight met their eyes. Limbs and bodies were strewn about every corner of the graveyard. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze settled on the Dragon Scale Mercenaries on one side, enveloped by the earth element. This earth element could evidently be controlled. Two round holes were visible on the intact earth wall, pointed directly towards the direction of Fang Hao and his team. It appeared that the Dragon Scale Mercenaries were observing the situation outside. Fang Hao glanced at the Bone Dragon beside him, then at the earth wall nearby. He ordered, ¡°Break open the earth wall and kill everyone inside.¡± Roar!! The two Bone Dragons let out roars, again taking flight, landing next to the earth wall. They ripped open the wall with their claws and breathed their death breath directly inside. In that instant, heart-wrenching howls erupted again. Fang Hao, hearing the screams, didn¡¯t stop them. Dragon Scale Mercenaries¡¯ intentions of bringing them here weren¡¯t good. The secret of his Bone Dragons also must not be revealed. If these people hadn¡¯t seen the Bone Dragons, Fang Hao might have been willing to play along with them. But since all has been seen, he had to resort to simpler and more effective methods. ¡­ The fight didn¡¯t last long. Soon, all the Dragon Scale people had been eliminated. ¡°Clean up the battlefield, collect all the items and see if there¡¯re any treasure chests,¡± Fang Hao ordered loudly. Everyone sprang into action, starting to clean up the battlefield. [Obtained: Quicksand Trap Scroll, 1207 White Weapons, 2242 White Armour parts, 358 Blue Weapons, 555 Blue Armour parts, 542 Gold and Silver Ware, 89 Bright Stones, 3421 Gold Coins, 335 Warfire Coins, 72 Healing Potions, 41 Detox Potions¡­] Note: The equipment search is slow because of the large number of bodies and limited manpower. Scattered around, there are so many items. Fang Hao picked up the [Quicksand Trap Scroll] to examine it. Another Earth Elemental Magic Scroll. [Quicksand Trap] [Category: Magic Scroll] (Description: Can set a range trap in a specified location to control and restrict the enemy.) Magic Scrolls adopt a simple-to-use mechanism. Once opened, it would spring into action. The Dragon Scale Mercenary Group, it seemed, was quite rich to bring two scrolls with them. Just then, Two of his subordinates carried over a golden treasure chest from deep within the graveyard. ¡°Boss, we found a door over there. Seems like there¡¯s another yard behind it.¡± Chapter 417 - Chapter 417: Chapter 387, Holy Light Cemetery_1 Chapter 417: Chapter 387, Holy Light Cemetery_1 ¡°A door?¡± Fang Hao shifts his gaze away from the chest. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s covered by vines. I cleared them away to make sure, and it¡¯s indeed a door. It¡¯s decorated with many beautiful women and winged angels,¡± the minion confirms earnestly. Based on previous experiences, a door leading to the next area often signifies a new space, which can also be understood as the second sector of the instance. Similarly, one can also obtain a chest after clearing it. ¡°Alright, I got it. Everyone, rest here. We will investigate what¡¯s behind the door later,¡± Fang Hao nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Everyone retreats to where they were when the fog previously covered them and sits down. This part of the graveyard seems to be slightly cleaner. There aren¡¯t any severed limbs or remains. Everyone chitchats during their rest. Fang Hao comes to the chest and opens it. [Obtained: Blueprint for Glass Production Facility (Blue), Blueprint for Cotton Radiant Priest Gloves (Green), Cotton Robe Blueprint (Green), Hardwood Bell-Mace Blueprint (Green), Rainbow Silkworm Summoning Scroll (Purple), 22 Bright Stones, 31 Shadowstones, 174 Warfire Coins.] Opening the chest, rays of various colors almost blinds him. Besides the blueprint and rare materials, there is also a Rainbow Silkworm Summoning Scroll. It¡¯s the first time he has seen such a summoning scroll. [Rainbow Silkworm Summoning Scroll (Purple)] [Category: Summoning Scroll] (Description: After use, 50-100 units of Rainbow Silkworm Hatchlings can be summoned which can reproduce. The Rainbow silkworms can randomly produce silk of various colors.) Currently, the luxurious silks produced in the territory are Holy Snow Silk and Nightfall Silk. Silk of other colors requires further processing and dyeing. However, this procedure affects the texture and features of the silk. Direct production of colored silk can eliminate many complex steps. This not only enhances the quality of the silk, but also saves labor and consumption. It will significantly impact the development of the cloth shops in the territory. After checking the summoning scroll, he continues examining the Glass Production Facility. [Glass Production Facility: 2200 Wood, 3500 Stone Bricks, 1200 Iron, 820 Metal Parts, 5 Red Flame Essence.] (Description: Through processing, it can produce noncrystalline solids that maintain certain shapes.) Glass Production Facility. Currently, on his territory, no building has glass windows. Although the weather is mostly sunny, sometimes fog dampens the bedding in the rooms. Moreover, autumn is about to come in half a month. With glass, the weather during the rainy season and cold would not affect the buildings. Fang Hao handles the Book of Lords again, remembering that a blueprint there requires glass. Flipping through it, he does indeed find the blueprint for an Ironstone Lamplight Pedestal. Glass lampshade is one of its required materials. However, he isn¡¯t sure whether the production of glass will be sufficient after completing the construction. Or whether it can directly produce glass for windows and lampshades. He then checks out the three equipment blueprints. [Cotton Radiant Priest Gloves: 1 Linen, 2 Cotton, 3 Twine.] [Cotton Robes: 5 Cotton, 4 Twine, 1 Iron.] [Hardwood Bell-Mace: 2 Hardwood, 3 Leather, 2 Copper, 1 Iron.] (Description: Artisanal cane with copper bells, shaking it will get the herded sheep to return.) The former two pieces are the equipment required by the auxiliary priests. They aren¡¯t necessary for the territory, but can be sold to the temple However, Priest Miriam seems rather traditional, and he wonders whether she will consider purchasing these items. The third blueprint, the ¡°Hardwood Bell-Mace¡±, though initially considered to be priest wear, is according to its description, more like a staff used to herd cattle and sheep. Upon returning, he may attempt to manufacture it, checking its attributes and understanding its function. Besides the blueprint rewards, there are also 22 Bright Stones and 31 Shadowstones. Even though he is seeing the Bright Stone for the first time, he is no stranger to its function, which is similar to that of Shadowstones and Blood Stones; it is a material for summoning corresponding factions. The appearance of Bright Stones and Shadowstones together is, however, quite surprising. He stores all the blueprints using the Book of Lords. The remaining spoils, deemed for takeaway, are also gathered into the storage space. Fang Hao stands up, dusts off his hands, and shouts, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time to see what¡¯s behind the door. Let¡¯s get this over with so we can leave this place sooner.¡± Everyone stands up and checks their equipment. They¡¯re ready to go. ¡°What about this guy?¡± Anjia nudges Eric who¡¯s lying nearby with his leg. Perhaps due to the anesthetic effects, Eric has been out cold, snoring on the ground. The wounds on his body have stopped bleeding. However, healing seems to require some time and care. ¡°Let¡¯s have two people carry him. We¡¯ll see if it¡¯s safe behind the door,¡± Fang Hao pondered. Eric is a good guy, and he was the one who connected Fang Hao to this mission. Even though the mission may, in actuality, be a Dragon Scale Mercenary trap, he means well. If they can afford to evacuate him, they should. After all, it would be difficult to explain if Fang Hao were the only one to return to Lyss City. White Monkey monsters are still lingering around in the distance, While they are afraid to get closer, they remain watching from afar. If they were to leave Eric here alone, I fear the poor chap will immediately become food for these creatures. Chapter 418 - Chapter 418: Chapter 387, Holy Light Cemetery _2 Chapter 418: Chapter 387, Holy Light Cemetery _2 So first, let¡¯s confirm if there is any danger behind that door. As soon as Fang Hao finished speaking, two robust men hoisted Eric up, one on each side. The group moved forward once again, stepping over corpses, and arrived directly at the next door. The door was at the end of the cemetery. No one had noticed that there was another door here because the wall was covered in dense vines. ¡°Clear these vines and check what¡¯s behind the door!¡± Fang Hao continued. His men drew their long swords from their belts. They started slashing wildly at the vines on the wall. Quickly, the door was cleared, revealing the motifs carved into it. Apart from the religious symbols all around, there were also images of angels wielding swords and figures of singing human women etched into the stone door. The image of the woman was very impressive. One could tell that the craftsman who carved it was very skilled. Subconsciously, one of the young followers touched the bas-relief a few times. [Holy Light Cemetery]. Four words were carved at the top of the stone door. Another burial ground. However, from the exquisite carvings on the door, one could tell that the Holy Light Cemetery and the Glory Cemetery were obviously of different grades. ¡°Open the door!¡± Several followers stepped forward and forcefully pushed the stone door open. Accompanied by the sound of stone slabs rubbing against each other, the door slowly opened. ¡­ As the stone door gradually opened. The scene behind the door came into view. The expressions on everyone¡¯s faces turned from curiosity to surprise bit by bit. In front of them was a standalone cemetery. Although it was not as big as the cemetery on the outside. But the structure of the cemetery was quite magnificent, and rather than looking like an abandoned graveyard. It seemed more like a park filled with a sacred aura. Behind the stone door was an archway leading to the depths of the Holy Light Cemetery. Several arches connected to form a long corridor, with a variety of plants climbing all over them. On either side of the archway, there were various elegant female stone sculptures. Some hold books and ceremonial items in their hands, while some held harps and sang aloud. ¡°Damn, this place is better than our stronghold,¡± a follower said subconsciously. The Gray Bear turned around and kicked this follower who couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. He cursed in a cold voice, ¡°This is a cemetery. If you don¡¯t shut up, you might as well consider this your new home.¡± ¡°Hehe, I was just kidding¡­¡± ¡°Boss, let¡¯s take these statues back. They look nice.¡± ¡°Yeah, these women are much better looking than those streetgirls in the West District.¡± ¡°Impressively big¡­¡± The bandits whispered to each other as they took in the scene around them. There was absolutely no sense of tension despite the imminent battle. ¡­ At the end of the corridor stood a colossal stone stele. Although the inscription on the stele was covered in vines, it could be established that the owner of this stele held a high position. ¡°It seems like there¡¯s no enemy in here!¡± Anjia peeked in. If there was any enemy, they would have launched an attack as soon as the door opened. The calm and peaceful aura inside starkly contrasted the bodies littered outside. Yet just as Anjia finished speaking. Demitrija from the side put forth a contrasting opinion. ¡°If there wasn¡¯t any danger, this place would have been taken over by the white monkeys, and it wouldn¡¯t have been kept this well.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone realized something was off. The white monkeys outside demonstrated considerable combat power. There were also quite a lot of them. If there weren¡¯t any dangers inside, the white monkeys would have occupied and ruined it long ago. The magnificent elegance that they saw wouldn¡¯t exist. Fang Hao thought this reasoning was valid. ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out first, protect me.¡± Fang Hao said and then sat down next to them. He opened his backpack and let out the skeletal sparrow he was carrying. After casting God¡¯s Presence, he controlled the undead bird and flew into the Holy Light Cemetery behind the stone door. The bird darted through the long, narrow arch corridor. Both sides were lined with maid statues. Nothing seemed to change. However, when the bird flew up to take a bird¡¯s eye view of the cemetery. A thought crossed Fang Hao¡¯s mind. Enemies¡­indeed. At an unseen location near the stone door entrance along the outer corridor. Arranged are humanoid stone figures. But these stone figures are far from the artistic sculptures full of artistic flair found at the door. They are, instead, constructs. [Stone Monster Construct Warrior (Tier 5)] [Stone Monster Construct Lancer (Tier 5)] In Little You¡¯s ancient tomb, Fang Hao had encountered these kinds of mechanical constructs wrapped in heavy stone armour. Ordinary skeleton warriors, hacking and slashing at it with swords and blades. Would only create a shower of sparks, their defence was extraordinarily high. He quickly took a count. Below, 22 stone construct figures were set up, all stationary, their bodies covered in dust and plant growth. Perhaps due to exposure to the air. Fang Hao inspected them one by one, but could not find the figure of any Iron Monster Construct. He continued controlling the Skeleton Sparrow to fly deeper. As he neared the stele. Fang Hao¡¯s pupils constricted once more. On either side of the stele, there were four female constructs completely made of metal, kneeling. The reason they¡¯re referred to as females. Is because these four constructs, unlike those towering, heavy Iron Monster Constructs, have figures closer to humans, with feminine waistlines. If it weren¡¯t for the properties he saw, Fang Hao would have thought that they were four real women, donning armor while kneeling. [Valkyrie Construct (Tier 10)] Damn! Fang Hao cursed inwardly, who in the world was buried here. To actually arrange for Tier 10 constructs to serve as guards. After flying a full round of the cemetery without finding any other dangers, he flew back. With God¡¯s Presence dismissed, Fang Hao also snapped back to reality. ¡°How is it?¡± Anjia curiously asked. ¡°Indeed, there are dangers. 22 tier 5 Stone Construct figures and 4 tier 10 constructs called Valkyries are set up inside. It is not clear if there are other dangers,¡± Fang Hao shared his findings with the others. After hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words. The two heroes did not show any reaction. However, the faces of Gray Bear and his gang changed color. While they didn¡¯t know what constructs were, hearing about 22 Tier 5 and Tier 10 enemies made their faces turn ugly. There were just 23 of them this time, including the two Bone Dragons, that made 25. Given the number of enemies, they would have to fight them one on one. Most of the gang members were only at tier 3 or 4, nowhere near a match for these constructs. Chaos broke out in the rear ranks for a moment. Fang Hao naturally understood everyone¡¯s worries. He would act according to his ability, if it turned out too risky to fight with their current manpower. He would not dare to make an unwise move. Just wait until he could call in the White Bone Army, those constructs would be nothing, not to mention the cemetery that could be completely flattened by them. ¡°Do you think we can win with our group? What¡¯s our probability of winning?¡± Fang Hao looked at the two heroes in front of him. ¡°We can fight.¡± Anjia said firmly, but without a reason. Demitrija thought for a moment and said, ¡°My lord, I agree with Miss Anjia. In these circumstances, we can¡¯t be sure about the integrity of the constructs¡¯ functions. If they¡¯re all still operational, we can set some traps and obstacles in advance to reduce the number of constructs.¡± Constructs are indeed good cemetery guards. They have no life and are eternal guards. However, they are also influenced by the environment. If the environment is too damp or full of dust, or if its internal parts get damaged, constructs can still be damaged. In an underground ancient tomb like the one Little You had, the conditions for preservation might be a bit better. In their current situation, there were even plants growing in the joints of the constructs. It was difficult to determine how many of them could still be operational. Listening, Fang Hao suddenly thought of the Quicksand Trap Magic Scroll that he had just obtained when he heard Demitrija mention setting traps. Could this be a preparation made in advance by the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group? ¡­ Fang Hao thought for a while. It seemed like they could give it a try. Looking at the nearby Eric, who was snoring and sleeping soundly. He said: ¡°Find a complete coffin, and hide him inside.¡± Chapter 419 - Chapter 419: Chapter 388, Valkyrie Construct_1 Chapter 419: Chapter 388, Valkyrie Construct_1 Next, they still had to continue the fight, with no time to look after the fat man, Eric. The best way was to find him a safe spot to hide for the moment. Once the fight was over, they could get him out. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, everyone else also started moving. They opened an intact stone coffin and removed the body inside. Two ventilation holes were carved into the side of the coffin, and Eric was placed directly inside, sealing the coffin lid. For added security, they placed two layers of hard stone slabs on top. Even if those white monkeys found Eric inside the coffin. It would take them some time to open the heavily reinforced stone coffin. After getting Eric settled, everyone began preparing for the ensuing fight. ¡­ Twenty-two Stone Monster constructs, four Valkyrie constructs. Even though Demitrija and Anjia could handle the constructs without issue, they still posed a threat to the others. Luckily, there was a certain distance between the Stone Monster constructs and the Valkyrie constructs. Given their locations, the two groups wouldn¡¯t be triggered simultaneously. They could exploit this, annihilating the Stone Monster constructs first, then dealing with the Valkyrie constructs. After discussing the plan in detail with Demitrija and others. Everyone began to act. Fang Hao said to Anjia: ¡°Don¡¯t go near the stele. Draw the Stone Monster over here. I¡¯ll use the Magic Scroll. Don¡¯t take any risks.¡± There were no skeletons in the team, and even after flying around for a while, the skeleton sparrow hadn¡¯t triggered any constructs. Thus, the task of drawing the monster was given to Anjia. With her Blue Hero attributes, triggering the Stone Monster constructs and luring them over wouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡°Got it!¡± Anjia readily agreed. Ever since their relationship deepened, Anjia had become more obedient. At this time, a few of the bandit underlings also returned. ¡°Sir, everything is set.¡± Fang Hao nodded, not continuing to delay. He directly issued an order: ¡°Alright, proceed according to the plan. Anjia, be careful.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± everyone responded. As soon as he finished speaking, Anjia charged into the ¡®Holy Light Cemetery¡¯. She quickly dashed through the arched corridor, circling around the Stone Monster constructs. Crack! Crack! With Anjia running ahead, the sound of shards of stone rubbing together echoed from behind. Twnety-two Stone Monster constructs were activated, their bodies shook violently as they stretched out. Dust fell from their bodies. They carelessly tore off the vines climbing over their bodies, picking up the rusty weapons nearby. Crack! Crack! They turned their rigid heads, all looking towards the fleeing intruder not far off. Following that, they moved with heavy strides. They gave chase in the direction of the intruder. The shrill sound of friction filled every corner. Anjia activated the Stone Monster constructs and did not continue to venture deeper. She started running back in the direction she came from after drawing them in a circle. The Stone Monsters were hot on her heels. They charged recklessly, turning the maid statues and flower bed archways along the way into rubble. Debris scattered all over the ground. Fang Hao watched the distance, and when they reached the predetermined location. He pulled open the Magic Scroll (Quicksand Trap), pointing his finger towards the feet of the constructs. The next second, a stream of yellow energy light flew out from the scroll. It sank into the ground under the feet of the constructs. The previously hard ground started to soften, forming a vortex of sand more than ten meters in diameter. It began to swallow everything around it, including the constructs that walked on it. Flower beds and statues around started to be swallowed by the quicksand, and the steps of the forward-charging constructs began to slow down. They also started to sink little by little. ¡°Blasting caps!¡± Fang Hao ordered again. A bandit underling waiting beside him quickly pulled the fuse line. From the outset, they had hidden many blasting caps at the ambush point. The constructs lacked intelligence. Even if they saw the blasting caps in the open, they wouldn¡¯t retreat or evade. The fuse line was pulled, and the fuse of the blasting cap at the ambush point was also pulled simultaneously. After a puff of black smoke. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The earth-shattering explosions filled the entire cemetery. Fang Hao and the others quickly retreated, avoiding the walls that were shaking due to the blast. After the explosion, everything fell silent. ¡°I knew I put too many blasting caps.¡± Fang Hao complained, covering his ringing ears. With twenty-two constructs, that was quite a number. Trying to avoid casualties, Fang Hao increased the number of blasting caps. He didn¡¯t expect that he still put too many. He almost blew up the whole cemetery. After the smoke cleared, everyone recovered. Looking at the Holy Light Cemetery again, the Stone Monster constructs had already disappeared, even the Quicksand Trap had vanished. The ground was scattered with large depressions. ¡°Clean up the battlefield. Don¡¯t get near the central area.¡± Fang Hao continued. Everyone started moving, collecting any spoils of war that could be found. [Harvest: Energy Core 4, Metal Parts 142, Precision Parts 72, Shadowstone 5.] Explosions don¡¯t differentiate between parts. The only things that could be collected intact were these items. The rest had all been turned into debris in the explosion. ¡­ After collecting the spoils of war. Everyone entered the Holy Light Cemetery. Without the arched hallway, the line of sight was much broader. They could clearly see the tombstone and four female constructs from a distance. The stele had turned mottled, but the text ¡®Sydney Sirdar¡¯ could still be vaguely made out. Chapter 420 - Chapter 420: Chapter 388, Valkyrie Construction Body_2 Chapter 420: Chapter 388, Valkyrie Construction Body_2 The time of death and life, obscured by the vines, were unclear. On both sides of the stele, sat four fully armored figures. Unlike the heavy iron armor of the iron figurines. The Valkyrie figures were only about 1.8 meters tall, their iron armor was more intricate, even emphasizing the feminine figure. With slender waists and elongated legs. Their entire body of metal armor, was decorated with engravings of wings, branches, and flower patterns. If it weren¡¯t for the slim iron sword in their hands. One might mistake them for finely crafted artifacts. Fang Hao and the others did not approach. They stopped from afar. ¡°The ambush just now was successful. There are still four constructs inside. Let¡¯s set up the traps first, and pull the wire when they come in,¡± Fang Hao continued. He then took out a large number of detonators from the storage space. Bandit juniors, got down to business again more efficiently. They began placing detonators in the predetermined positions. Once everything was ready, there was no need for Anjia to lure the monsters. Fang Hao directly threw a fire arrow, hitting the Valkyrie figure¡¯s chest, the arrow shattered, turning into sparks. The Valkyrie figure started shaking slightly. Then, with a press of her ankle, she sprang up from the ground. Wielding the longsword in hand, her skull turned toward everyone. The next second. Whoosh! Four figures burst out. Launching an attack on the intruders. Their speed far exceeded Fang Hao¡¯s expectations. ¡°Quick, pull the wire.¡± Fang Hao exclaimed, astonished. The bandit junior immediately pulled the wire. Boom, boom, boom! But the explosion, still failed to catch up with the Valkyries¡¯ speed. Their figures had already passed the ambush point before the detonators went off. ¡°Prepare for combat,¡± Fang Hao ordered solemnly. The bandits, raised their shields instantly, encasing Fang Hao in the middle. While Demitrija and Anjia, engaged the rushing figures from both sides. Demitrija on the left, engaged the construct even faster. He slashed horizontally with his sword, aiming straight for the figure¡¯s neck. Whoosh¡­! The Valkyrie didn¡¯t stop, her body quickly lowered, dodging the longsword with a sliding tackle, and counterattacked with her own sword. Demitrija, swiveled his foot, and stepped back just in time to dodge the blow. With a single-handed press on the ground, the Valkyrie stabilized herself and followed up, getting into a fight with Demitrija. Fang Hao stared wide-eyed at the scene before him. A level 10 soldier, actually trading blows evenly with Demitrija, an orange hero. Then looking over to Anjia¡¯s end. The scene was pretty much the same. The Valkyrie constructs exhibited extraordinarily high combat skills and mobility. They were even able to execute some combat techniques that were unattainable for ordinary level 10 soldiers. This was not your ordinary construct, it was more like a skilled weapon master. The other two Valkyries were charging towards them. With a serious look in his eyes, Fang Hao gave the command: ¡°Dragon Breath!¡± Roar!! The two Bone Dragons beside him crouched down, stretching out their necks towards the oncoming Valkyries. The next second! Black energy beams were spewed from the Bone Dragons¡¯ mouths. Enveloping the two Valkyries in an instant. The Dragons maintained their breath for several seconds before finally closing their mouths and ending their attack. And in the distance among the ruins. Two Valkyrie constructs staggered to their feet. Their iron armor was glowing orange, like red-hot iron slabs. Billowing smoke arose from it. However, it didn¡¯t seem to have caused the Valkyries significant damage. With a push off from their feet, they continued charging towards them. The Bone Dragons took to the skies for an attack, while Gray Bear coordinated the men quickly, forming a shield wall. ¡°Protect the lord¡¯s safety, hold out until both heroes are victorious.¡± Gray Bear suddenly ordered. Swoosh!! A longsword slashed down onto the shield soldier. The friction sound rang out, leaving a mark on the heavy shield. Gray Bear and others had a simple idea: they would not contend with the Valkyries heads on. The Valkyries were constructs. Whether it was suffering injuries or perishing, it simply was not worth it for them. What they needed to do was to hold out until the two heroes were victorious in their battles and could come to their aid. However, a good plan. Completely underestimated the Valkyries¡¯ combat power. The Valkyries demonstrated unspeakably astounding combat maneuvers. The longsword pierced through the gaps in the shield, a series of wails echoed from within the shield wall. Perhaps, the Valkyries possess their own judgment mechanism. Realizing that a few of the men were merely defending, One of the two Valkyries split off to attack Demitrija. Over here, there was only one construct left. Seeing a bandit junior fall, Fang Hao hardened his expression, and after casting Frost Armor on himself, ordered: ¡°We still have one left, prepare to attack.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Attack!¡± At Fang Hao¡¯s command. The bandit juniors spread out immediately, forming a semicircle around the Valkyrie to launch their attack. Fang Hao directly cast Body of Giant Spirit. As the power surged within him, a blue figure A giant blue figure, emerged behind him. Summon Wood Spirit, Flame Spider, two skills were cast in succession. In front of Fang Hao, three wood spirits and six flame spiders materialized. The giant spirit also churned out the same spells, albeit a nearly three meters tall wood spirit and a calf-sized flame spider. With a point of his magic wand. All kinds of summoned beings charged towards the Valkyrie. The giant spirit projection only lasted for 15 seconds. Fang Hao once again summoned a fire arrow, and the giant spirit followed suit, conjuring a burning flame spear. Chapter 421 - Chapter 421: Chapter 388, Valkyrie Construct Body _3 Chapter 421: Chapter 388, Valkyrie Construct Body _3 Whoosh! Huff¡­! Arrows shattered against the Valkyrie¡¯s body. The Flame Spear, on the other hand, pierced through the Valkyrie¡¯s body with a loud rumble, revealing precision parts at the wound. The Valkyrie¡¯s body began to tremble and stutter. The summoned creatures swarmed it, instantly engulfing the construct. Fang Hao felt an immediate surge of joy at his successful attack. Its power was truly formidable. The countdown for the Body of Giant Spirit was down to 5 seconds. Enough time for one last strike. ¡°Demitrija, immobilize it,¡± Fang Hao yelled as he once again gathered flaming arrows. Demitrija understood, timed it right, and with a sweeping kick, toppled a construct over. Fang Hao¡¯s flaming arrows and Flame Spear arrived just in time, piercing right through the fallen construct. The time for the Body of Giant Spirit ended. The gigantic figure instantly retreated back into Fang Hao¡¯s body. There still were two Valkyrie constructs left on the field, one for Demitrija and one for Anjia. They didn¡¯t have any problems handling these. After 5 minutes. Both of the Valkyries were also destroyed. ¡°That wasn¡¯t bad at all, what was that thing? It was huge,¡± Anjia said, looking curious as she came over. At the time when Fang Hao used the totem, the Blackfoot cat ¡®Lorrey¡¯ had just returned. Anjia had gone to play with Lorrey and hadn¡¯t seen Fang Hao test the effectiveness of the Body of Giant Spirit. Everyone else was also quite curious, as they had never seen Fang Hao fight. They thought he was relatively weak. But today, they were surprised to see the power of the skill he unleashed. He killed two Valkyrie constructs in a row. ¡°Body of Giant Spirit, the power of the spirits, would you say it¡¯s impressive?¡± Fang Hao said nonchalantly as he dispelled the Flame Spider. He kept the Wooden spirit, just in case it could continue to protect him. ¡°Keep bragging.¡± Anjia scoffed. Fang Hao just lightly smiled without explaining further, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s treat the wounded and dismantle these constructs to see what we can take.¡± He took out herbs and potions to give to the injured. Fortunately, no one was in a critical condition. Before long, all the parts of the Valkyries were collected. [Obtained: Energy Core x2, Precision Parts x85, Rune Components x42.] He got a new type of material called Rune Components from the Valkyries. It should also be a type of high-grade material. ¡­ After gathering the dropped Energy Cores and materials. Everyone conducted a thorough check around the Holy Light Cemetery again. Behind the stele, they found a golden chest. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t in a rush to open it. He was more curious about what was inside the tomb that persuaded the Dragon Scale mercenaries to take the risk and come here. ¡°Open this tomb and see what¡¯s inside, but be careful,¡± Fang Hao continued. They had enough experience with grave-digging as bandits. They all pitched in, using ropes to hoist the stone coffin out. They opened the coffin, took precaution and quickly retreated. After a few seconds of silence, with no danger presenting itself, Fang Hao and the others gathered again to investigate what was inside. Inside the stone coffin rested a set of incomplete skeleton. Although covered in stains, the bones were as translucent and lustrous as jade. This instantly reminded Fang Hao of the left arm bone covered in runes that he had found in the basement of the Temple orphanage. This skeleton also appeared to be missing two arms. Inside the stone coffin lay a complete skull, sternum and both legs. ¡°Could they¡­ could they be from the same skeleton?¡± Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but suspect that the bone arm he found earlier and this skeleton may belong to the same body. Chapter 422 - Chapter 422: Chapter 389, The Bones of the Priest_1 Chapter 422: Chapter 389, The Bones of the Priest_1 The more he pondered, the more doubts filled his mind. If these bones are from the same corpse from which he obtained the Bone Arm. Then, the person arranging missions for the Dragon Scale Mercenaries is somehow connected to the orphanage¡¯s underground workshop where Demon Dolls are produced. If he thought deeper. Could it be that the person assigning these missions could be in Lyss City? Or, possibly, even a high-ranking member of the Dragon Scale Mercenaries themselves. ¡°What¡¯s all this effort for, only to end up with a heap of bones?¡± Anjia popped her head out, her tone reflecting her disappointment. Nothing of value can be seen in the abandoned cemetery. Even the coffins were bereft of any burial accompaniments. The ruins on this site were virtually barren. The items they found were worth even less than the potions and scrolls they had wasted. The rest of the bandits also seemed rather discontent with what they found. ¡°Clean up the bones and bring them out,¡± Fang Hao commanded further. The bandits lifted the bones out. After cleaning off the filth and yellowish tattered cloth, Fang Hao stored them right in his holding space. Even if Fang Hao belongs to the Undead faction. However, before any conflict arises, he did not believe that he would tangle with the church. But now, having exhumed the grave of the Church¡¯s ¡®priest¡¯ and taking the bones for future use, this development of hostility seems inevitable now. The matter of these bones requires strict confidentiality. If word got out, it would unsurprisingly stir up a lot of trouble. ¡­ Having been so busy, dusk was now approaching. Fang Hao commanded everyone to wrap things up. From his holding space, he took out a leather bundle and plenty of hemp ropes, using them to organize and secure all the items they were taking with them. The Bone Dragon used its Dragon Breath to transform some of the higher-level corpses into White Bone for easy transportation. Everyone was bustling about. Fang Hao approached the newly received treasure chest and opened it. [Obtained: Temple Blueprint (Blue), Stone Carving Workshop Blueprint (Blue), Fine Iron Valkyrie Longsword Blueprint (Purple), Black Iron Construct General Longsword (Green), White Jade Stone Gold Thread Coffin (Purple), Bright Stones x 45, Shadowstones x 15, Warfire Coins x 224.] Again, a burst of light. Fang Hao scanned it casually, finding no blueprints or items that particularly amazed him. [Temple: Stiff Wood x 1200, Stone Bricks x 1250, Detailed Carvings x 350, Cast Iron Pieces x 50, Metal Components x 45, Traces of Prayer x 2, Traces of Deity x 2, Rich Essence x 3] (Description: This structure allows the establishment of faction-specific deity statues. Additional statues of deities maintaining ¡®peaceful¡¯ relationships with the faction can be set up. Deities hostile towards the faction cannot have their statues erected. Building a temple automatically unlocks the statue of the faction¡¯s deity) Fang Hao was familiar with temples. It seems temples are a general term, differentiation lies in the deity statue they possess. In that case, if Fang Hao were to build a temple, the deity statue he would erect would be that of the Immortal Spirit, the God of Undead. Besides the statue of his own faction¡¯s deity, another deity¡¯s statue can be erected. As long as it is not hostile to his faction. Which means he cannot erect the statue of the God of Light. No wonder the temples in Lyss City housed the statues of both the God of Light and the Goddess of Harvest. Turns out two statues can be placed in each. Suddenly, a thought flashed across Fang Hao¡¯s mind. If the construction of a temple would automatically unlock the statue of the God of Undead, that means Fang Hao already has four deity statues. Which meets the original construction requirements of the orange-tier blueprint,[Wishing Well]. He could try building it when he returns. Once the Wishing Well is constructed, he can make a wish and obtain the materials he needs. He proceeded to read the second blueprint. [Level One Stone Carving Workshop: Wood x 1500, Stone x 2000, Leather x 800, Hemp Rope x 500, Iron x 200, Metal Components x 120.] (Description: Allows the recruitment of faction-specific soldiers for stone carving and relief art within the building.) A Stone Carving Workshop, that¡¯s a peculiar name. But the description clarified its purpose. It must function similarly to a blacksmith¡¯s shop or a jewelry store. Within this building, soldiers skilled in stone carving can be recruited. As for their specific attributes, he will have to wait until they are recruited to see. However, these types of shops have never disappointed Fang Hao in the past. Although not combat soldiers, the purpose they serve in the territory cannot be replaced by those. Next up are weapon blueprints. [Fine Iron Valkyrie Longsword: Stiff Wood x 1, Cast Iron Pieces x 3, Fine Iron x 5, Thick Leather x 1, Essence of Destruction x 1.] (Description: Exquisitely made as if a piece of fine art, decorative yet sharp) Fang Hao thought of the longsword carried by the Valkyrie Construct at the mention of a Valkyrie Longsword. Though the construct wields it with one hand. The slender blade should be classified as a two-handed sword. Its corrosion over time has left it tarnished and worn-down. However, rewards are generally related to mission locations, hence it should be the same longsword. Moreover, it¡¯s a purple-tier weapon blueprint, representing a good harvest indeed. [Black Iron Construct General Longsword: Iron x 5, Cast Iron Pieces x 5, Metal Components x 12, Leather x 2.] (Description: It¡¯s a specially designed longsword weapon for large constructs. Normal soldiers struggle wielding it.) This longsword leaves no room for guesswork. Its name indicates that it is the longsword used by Stone Construct Monsters. When the Stone Construct Monster is completed, it will be equipped with this. Lastly, there is a purple-tier finished product. [White Jade Stone Gold Thread Coffin (Category)] [Category: Corpse Nurturing Coffin] Chapter 423 - Chapter 423: Chapter 389, The Bones of Priest_2 Chapter 423: Chapter 389, The Bones of Priest_2 (Description: A corpse nurturing coffin made entirely of white jade stone, nourishing the souls of dark creatures and creatures of the eternal night.) Nice piece, a crystal clear coffin. If I had time-traveled to ancient Hua Xia. This kind of coffin surely would only be available for burials of royal family members. Its appearance alone is already quite enticing. Within the domain. Rolana and Little You are the ones using the corpse nurturing coffin. Little You doesn¡¯t use it frequently, always in a state of it being optional. While Rolana, with her high status in the eternal night, may have a coffin that is not inferior to this. We¡¯ll see who needs it when the time comes, and give it to them. Anyway, I don¡¯t need it. Having finished examining all the equipment. The small bandit brothers have also finished cleaning up the battlefield. Including the injured, twelve people were escorted, with bits and pieces of spoils of war, riding on a bone dragon, returning to Gray Bear Bandit Camp. There are still eleven people left with Fang Hao. They dug out Eric from the stone coffin and left this ruined city directly. Heading towards Lyss City. ¡­ The night grows thicker. Fang Hao and others, in their roadside pitched tent. The rolling iron pot is emitting steam, spreading the aroma of the hot pot. Eric, who had been unconscious for a day, sniffed. Then, he groggily opened his eyes. ¡°Ah! It hurts.¡± The first thing he said when he opened his eyes, Eric covered his wound and let out a low growl. Then he remembered the previous battle. His face was panic-stricken, as he quickly surveyed the situation around him. When he realized that Fang Hao and the others were sitting around the fire looking at him, his expression eased considerably. He was still alive, and so was everyone else. Staggering to his feet, he walked over to the fire. At this moment, he also noticed that Fang Hao¡¯s team was noticeably fewer. Many people still had blood stains, and no spoils were brought out. Sitting by the fire, Eric looked a little depressed. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, thank you for saving me, I didn¡¯t realize the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group would do this, putting everyone in danger.¡± He can imagine, under that number of enemies¡¯ attack, taking him out while he was unconscious. Must have been a difficult thing to do. If the roles reversed, he would probably have abandoned Fang Hao and fled with his team. At most, he would give some money to the man¡¯s family back in the city out of guilt. And it was him who introduced Fang Hao to this mission. Not only did Fang Hao not blame him, but he also saved him. Fang Hao said: ¡°First eat, and we¡¯ll talk about the rest when we get back. The Dragon Scale Mercenary Group obviously took us for fools, we can¡¯t let this slide.¡± With that one sentence, Fang Hao ignited the flame of anger in Eric¡¯s heart. He roared in a loud voice: ¡°I¡¯m going to the City Lord¡¯s house to complain about them, they have killed so many people in this fight, I don¡¯t believe that no one can deal with them.¡± He winced as the movement tugged at his wounds. The hotpot is ready, and Fang Hao calls everyone to eat. As he ate, Eric asked again, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s that place, that cemetery, and where are the Dragon Scale mercenaries?¡± His memory was still stuck in the stage of resting from serious injury. After being knocked out by Anjia, the fat man had been sleeping until now. ¡°That is the church graveyard. The tombstones should all belong to the church¡¯s people. The Dragon Scale Mercenary Group brought us here, probably intending never to let us return alive.¡± Fang Hao answered. Previously, Fang Hao thought that either the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group had poor preparations or underestimated the enemy¡¯s numbers, causing the loss of the human mercenary group. Now he thinks, perhaps the extermination of the human mercenary group was part of the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group¡¯s plan. After all, the church still has significant influence. ¡°To excavate the bones of ¡®the Grand Priest¡¯. If done discreetly, it¡¯s fine, but if this gets out, the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group can¡¯t shoulder the blame. Only if all the others die, will the secret be kept secure. That¡¯s why the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group didn¡¯t recruit through the mission hall, but privately invited a few medium and small mercenary groups instead. ¡°The church? They have big guts, they¡¯re downright crazy.¡± Eric cursed while stuffing his mouth with food. ¡°I reckon more might have escaped. We will see. If someone reports this, we¡¯d better avoid this mess, after all, we were involved in this operation too.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°You¡¯re right, we should go back and see how things are,¡± Eric agreed, nodding his head. After dinner, they chatted around the bonfire for a while longer. Then they each returned to their places to rest, awaiting dawn to return to Lyss City. ¡­ Fang Hao went back to his tent and laid out the skin blanket on the floor. About half an hour later, Anjia, who had been on night watch duty, crawled into the tent. As soon as she entered, she took off her clothes. Clad only in a flimsy undergarment, she went directly into Fang Hao¡¯s arms. She casually wrapped her arms around Fang Hao and whispered, ¡°Do you really believe that fat guy could have slept for so long? The impact of the thunderbolt was enough to cause the whole ground to collapse, yet he didn¡¯t wake up. Conveniently, he woke up when we made camp to eat.¡± ¡°Did you notice something?¡± Fang Hao lay flat on his back, one arm around Anjia. ¡°Not really, I just doubt how he could possibly sleep so long, then arbitrarily wake up here afterwards.¡± Anjia shared her suspicion after thinking it through. Fang Hao thought Anjia¡¯s doubt was quite reasonable. If it was true, then Eric was not as simple-minded as imagined. He knew when to wake up, and when to pretend to be asleep. Considering the possible advantages and disadvantages of Eric¡¯s presence, Fang Hao continued, ¡°It¡¯s not a big problem. Even if he woke up, it was inside the stone coffin. As long as he didn¡¯t see the Bone Dragon, it should be fine. Even if he tells, it¡¯s not a problem since he didn¡¯t derive any benefit from us.¡± The biggest secret of this operation was the Bone Dragon. When Fang Hao commanded the Bone Dragon into battle, Eric had just fainted. He couldn¡¯t possibly wake up that soon. The battles that followed he was hidden inside the stone coffin, even if he woke up it was inside, he couldn¡¯t discover anything. Moreover, compared to the Dragon Scale Mercenary Group¡¯s massacre of nearly a thousand people this time, his own matters were insignificant. It¡¯s hard to draw attention. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡± Anjia snuggled further into his arms, blinked, and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s still early. Do you want to play for a while?¡± Fang Hao looked at her teasingly, understanding her meaning. ¡°Is that okay? It¡¯s late and we¡¯re both tired from today¡¯s events.¡± Anjia¡¯s eyes were twinkling, ¡°I¡¯m not tired, and you only used two magic spells. So, why are you tired? After saying so, she didn¡¯t wait for Fang Hao and took the initiative herself. ¡­ The Nightstone emitted a faint glow. Anjia¡¯s figure was completely exposed in the air. Her wheat-colored skin was smooth and firm, her body sporty and well-proportioned. It exuded youthful vitality. By the soft, gentle light, her upright silhouette gently swayed with the light. ¡°I was raised by an old orc who wanted to find a village willing to accept me, where he could spend his old age. However, after a long search, no one was willing to take me in.¡± Anjia suddenly spoke, her moving waist gradually slowing down. She looked into Fang Hao¡¯s eyes and felt his warmth. It was Fang Hao¡¯s first time hearing Anjia share her past. The Fighting Tooth Clan amongst the Beast Clan was the type fond of fighting. Who would have thought that as a child, she didn¡¯t even have a village. ¡°What happened after that?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. ¡°After that, we stopped searching for villages and built a house ourselves. He taught me hunting and combat until the year I turned 15 when I became a hero, and he passed away.¡± Anjia calmly narrated. The atmosphere within the tent suddenly sank. Fang Hao could distinctly feel Anjia¡¯s emotions. This outgoing and thoughtless girl was revealing her emotional side for the first time. Before Fang Hao could comfort her, Anjia continued, ¡°The old orc told me to go west, where there were human cities. As long as I saved enough money, I could buy a house there and live. The idea of gambling appealed to me as a quick way to raise funds, and so, I started to learn how to gamble.¡± Pfft!! At this point, Anjia suddenly laughed, ¡°Then, I lost all the money I saved along the way. I even lost my luggage. It turns out, I¡¯m really not suited to gamble. In the ¡®Manim¡¯ market, I saw a human who seemed easy to bully. I borrowed 40 Warfire coins from him but ended up losing myself.¡± Accompanied by light panting, Anjia went on with her story. Chapter 424 - Chapter 424: Chapter 390, Huge Horn Ridge_1 Chapter 424: Chapter 390, Huge Horn Ridge_1 The first time Fang Hao saw Anjia. She felt like a rebellious girl who duped and gambled. In the end, due to losing a bet with him, she was besieged by the undead and was forced to sign the Hero Contract. Only after hearing Anjia¡¯s story did Fang Hao understand the reason for her character. Walking all the way here from the Orc City in the east is not an easy thing. She gambled because she felt this was a quick way to make money. She planned to buy her own house in a human city. ¡°So, how do you feel about the life here?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Without giving it much thought, Anjia replied, ¡°Not bad, the feeling of having my own house is really nice.¡± Anjia always maintained a high level of loyalty. It can be seen that she is quite satisfied with her current life. ¡°From the day you arrived, we became a family. You are not alone anymore.¡± Fang Hao raised his hand, rubbed Anjia¡¯s head, and instantly squeezed her fluffy beast ear. Anjia swatted his hand away. But her face was still full of smiles. Fang Hao could clearly feel her body temperature rising rapidly. Her eyes also began to look a bit lost. ¡°Hmm~!¡± After a numbing response. She flopped down weakly and crawled back into Fang Hao¡¯s arms. Although Fang Hao enjoyed the pleasure brought about by Anjia, it was getting quite late. Embracing her soft body, he decided to rest and sleep. They would continue their journey tomorrow. Just as she was getting a little sleepy, Anjia suddenly spoke, ¡°How about we play with Eira when we get back? The last time I saw you guys in the pool, it looked really fun, let¡¯s do it together.¡± Cough, cough!! Fang Hao suddenly let out two dry coughs. That¡¯s unsophisticated Anjia, not afraid of anything. ¡°You discuss it with Eira, if she agrees, I certainly have no objections.¡± Fang Hao shrugged, showing an indifferent attitude. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll talk to her when we get back!¡± ¡°Alright, go to sleep quickly. We have to continue our journey tomorrow.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Oh.¡± The tent became quiet again, and they gradually drifted off to sleep. ¡°Hey! Do you think those white monkeys in the cemetery crawled out of the graves and have such white skin because of the Holy Light?¡± ¡°Go to sleep, don¡¯t talk about graveyard stuff late at night.¡± ¡°Do you think Rolana would lose it upon seeing that letter and dry that fat man to a husk?¡± ¡°The vampire will suck blood, not fat. Stop talking, go to sleep.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The next day, early in the morning. Everyone hurriedly ate some food. Then the journey back continued. On the way, people hurried along, finally reaching the vicinity of Lyss City at 5 pm. From a distance, they saw the tall city wall. A smile and tears appeared on Eric¡¯s mud-covered face. ¡°I¡¯m back alive, if I leave the city again, I might as well be a pig. And as for the Dragon Scale mercenaries, you wait for me¡­¡± Eric, standing on a rock, bellowed loudly. Releasing the anger suppressed in his heart these two days. Being able to come back alive this time was a fortunate misfortune for Eric. He has his own property and doesn¡¯t need to be a mercenary, risking his life. This time he joined the battle group simply because he was idle and wanted to try it out. After all, every rich young master has a dream of being a knight. Having experienced it now, he never wants to go through the same thing again in his life. ¡°Enough, don¡¯t howl anymore, quickly enter the city, everyone¡¯s tired.¡± A bandit sidekick gave him a look. ¡°Right, let¡¯s go.¡± Eric said hastily. The group quickened their pace, heading towards the city. Just as they reached the city gate. They saw an old man dressed as a steward standing at the gate looking into the distance. The moment he saw the disheveled Eric, his face instantly lit up with joy. He dashed over with a servant in tow and said anxiously, ¡°Young Master Eric, you¡¯re alright. It¡¯s such a good thing that you could come back safely.¡± Before Eric could answer, the old steward turned back to the servant and said, ¡°Quickly notify the master, Young Master Eric has returned safely.¡± Seeing his own servant, Eric also relaxed. He casually threw his equipment into the servant¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Have you been waiting for me here?¡± The old steward nodded in reply, ¡°Yesterday, some people ran back saying that the team you joined was in danger, saying that the Dragon Scale mercenary group intentionally set up a trap. The whole city knows about it now. The master and madam were both scared to death and had us wait for you at the gate. We were about to send people out to look for you.¡± Hearing this, Fang Hao and the others understood. It seemed that many people had indeed fled back and reported the deeds of the Dragon Scale mercenary group. That¡¯s good, it saved them trouble. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine, but those guards from my home didn¡¯t make it back alive.¡± Eric looked gloomy. ¡°Alright, Young Master Eric, those mercenaries all have their own fates. The important thing is that you made it back safely. Let¡¯s go home first. The master and madam were really worried yesterday,¡± the old steward continued. Eric also wanted to go home and said to Fang Hao, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, I¡¯m going to go home and report that I¡¯m safe first. I¡¯ll invite you for a drink when I have time.¡± After saying this, he lowered his voice and reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to deliver that letter I wrote.¡± Fang Hao rolled his eyes. This fat guy didn¡¯t learn his lesson. He had just managed to survive, and he was already preparing to poke death with a stick again. Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Chapter 390, Great Horn Ridge_2 Chapter 425: Chapter 390, Great Horn Ridge_2 ¡°Yes,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡­ Watching Eric leave. Fang Hao led his people back to their quarters. From Eric¡¯s conversation with the steward, they learned that some people had already fled back to the city and reported what had happened to the Dragon Scale Mercenary Corps to the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. According to the rules established by the task hall for mercenaries, it wouldn¡¯t be long before an investigation would be launched into the Dragon Scale Mercenary Corps. Nearly a thousand mercenaries died outside. This was a matter that even the City Lord¡¯s Mansion would take seriously. It all depended on whether the person who issued the task would be found out. Back at their lodging, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. It wasn¡¯t until dinner time that they came out of their rooms again. At the dinner table, Fang Hao saw Rolana. Still dressed in her gender-neutral attire. After dinner, Fang Hao thought for a moment and decided to tell her about Eric. ¡°Rolana, do you remember Eric?¡± Fang Hao started. ¡°Eric?¡± Rolana furrowed her brows in thought, ¡°I don¡¯t remember, where is he from?¡± ¡°He is the one who spoke to you briefly at the auction held by the City Lord¡¯s Mansion last time.¡± Fang Hao reminded. ¡°Oh, what happened to him?¡± Rolana inquired impassively. ¡°I happened to meet him on this mission, and it seems to me that he has some feelings for you. Upon learning that you are a model for my shop, he asked me to bring you a letter,¡± Fang Hao said. Rolana¡¯s mood had improved a lot recently. Sitting in the hall now, though she didn¡¯t speak much, she wasn¡¯t as cold as before, looking like the world owed her money all the time. Fang Hao explained the situation in detail. He didn¡¯t want Eric¡¯s presence to lower the hard-won loyalty. Rolana looked at Fang Hao with some curiosity, ¡°Where¡¯s the letter?¡± Fang Hao took out the letter and pushed it in front of Rolana. She casually tore it open and started reading. When she finished, she nonchalantly shredded the letter with energy. ¡°Bad penmanship.¡± Rolana got up, stretched, and walked outside, ¡°I¡¯m going to the pub, you tell Mr. Eric thank him for the poetry, but I don¡¯t like men.¡± Without waiting for Fang Hao¡¯s response, she went off. Fang Hao stared at Rolana¡¯s retreating figure. He was slightly dumbfounded. What¡¯s going on? This isn¡¯t following the script. Is it over just like that? Why was Rolana so¡­ easy to talk to today? Something good happen? Plus, her nightly trips to the pub aroused some suspicion in Fang Hao. She wouldn¡¯t be cultivating a Blood Clan force in the city, would she? A bit worried, he went straight back to his room. Then, the window of the room was opened, and a skeleton gray sparrow flew out. The carriage took Rolana to the entrance of the pub. After the carriage left, Rolana didn¡¯t enter the pub. Instead, she stood at the door for a while. Then she walked directly along the main road toward the central area. As evening fell, there were no pedestrians on the road. The occasional drunkards and gang members, seeing Rolana¡¯s male attire, didn¡¯t react. The skeleton gray sparrow followed from a distance. It watched as Rolana entered the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. ¡°Damn! Spy in action.¡± ¡­ The night was deep. Bloody Mountain Range, Giant Horn Ridge. Thud! Thud! Thud! Huge Bone Rhinos, each carrying a war drum on their backs. Bone soldiers sitting on the rhino¡¯s backs swung the bone hammers in their hands, hitting the drums rhythmically. Surrounding the drummers was a boundless army of the undead. It was eerie and terrifying everywhere. A week had passed since the undead army attacked the Bloody Mountain Range. During this week, nearly a hundred troll tribes, large and small, had been attacked by the undead army. The limitless army was like a tsunami. Submerging one troll village after another. The brave and warlike trolls, when faced with the undead army, showed only their frailty and powerlessness. And as the battles progressed, the number of undead troops. Had increased from the initial 3.5 million to over 4 million. The fallen trolls would become members of the undead army, continuing to fight for their Lord. Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! At the rear of the undead army. A Gnoll scout ran on all fours. He stopped in front of a Bone Horse carriage and reported loudly, ¡°Lord Black Thorn, we have news from the front. Our army has reached the Giant Horn Ridge. The enemy numbers nearly 500,000, and they have defensive equipment.¡± The undead army never rests. The speed of their campaign surpassed the efficiency of all living creatures. This rate of battle left no chance for the trolls to catch their breath. It was enough to exhaust the remaining trolls. The carriage window opened a crack, and Black Thorn¡¯s voice came out, ¡°What are their defensive measures?¡± ¡°A wall built from temporary logs and rubble. They also made a few chevaux de frise and iron chains,¡± the Gnoll reported. ¡°How high is the wall?¡± ¡°Around five meters, it was hastily built so it¡¯s rather flimsy,¡± said the Gnoll. ¡°Summon the other leaders, the others prepare for battle,¡± ordered Black Thorn grimly. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The scout quickly withdrew and called the other heroes over. ¡­ Troll temporary camp. The clan leader of the Stone Head tribe, Bagath, stood behind the wall, watching the dense undead army in the distance. The temporary defense wall was just over 5 meters high. Standing on a rock, he could see the outside scenario. This wall, could it withstand the undead army? What a joke. The undead army stopped in the distance, and the low drumbeat also ceased. This gave the trolls a chance to catch their breath. Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Chapter 390, Giant Horn Ridge_3 Chapter 426: Chapter 390, Giant Horn Ridge_3 Stomp, stomp, stomp!! At that moment, a troll quickly ran over. ¡°Clan Leader Bagath!¡± The troll was somewhat breathless. Upon seeing his subordinate, Bagath immediately brightened up. Without any hesitation, he asked: ¡°Well, what did the orcs say? If they don¡¯t help us, the undead will be attacking them next.¡± The trolls had already been pushed to the point of no return. Thinking of the Coldwind Range on the same mountain, Bagath had sent people to contact the orcs. The return of his subordinate at this moment was right on time. As the enemy of all living creatures, Bagath was quite sure that the orcs would agree to unite with the trolls to resist the undead. After all, once the Bloody Range was gone, the Coldwind Range would be next. At present, the Undead had not launched an attack. If the orcs agreed to unite, there might still be a chance for the whole army to escape. To join forces with the orcs of the Coldwind Range. The subordinate troll then gasped heavily twice. His face looked awful. He said, ¡°Clan Leader, we can¡¯t make it, we can¡¯t get to the Coldwind Range¡­¡± Hearing these words, the faces of Bagath and his team hardened. He scolded, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, you didn¡¯t run back without setting off, did you?¡± ¡°Clan Leader, on the way to the Coldwind Range, a fortress has been built, and it is guarded by the undead. I¡¯m afraid the Coldwind Range has already been occupied by the undead,¡± the subordinate said hurriedly. All their faces began to change. Given the ability of the undead army, they would have enough power to occupy the Coldwind Range if they attacked first. ¡°You¡¯re sure? If you¡¯re lying to me, I¡¯ll kill you right now,¡± Bagath stared at him, continuing to question. ¡°I¡¯m sure, Clan Leader, I couldn¡¯t possibly mistake the undead and orcs!¡± At this moment, all the trolls¡¯ faces turned deathly pale. Their only way out was gone. Their only fate was to fight the undead to the last moment, be killed, and then join the ranks of the undead. ¡°Clan Leader Bagath, is there no other way?¡± a troll asked. Everyone was looking at Bagath. Bagath glanced at the undead outside without answering directly. Instead, he said, ¡°Prepare for battle.¡± This already represented everything. There was no better option than to fight the undead to the end. Boom! Boom, boom! There wasn¡¯t much time for discussion among the crowd. The deep drumbeat sounded again. All the trolls were startled and looked outside, where the drummers on the backs of massive bulls were beating the drums again. A hazy halo enveloped the surrounding undead. Bagath suddenly plunged into despair. He shouted loudly, ¡°Get back to your ranks, check your equipment, and prepare for battle.¡± Although everyone knew the outcome of this battle, they still returned to their ranks. They issued different battle orders. ¡­ The drumbeats kept sounding. A series of halos enveloped the undead army. The attributes of the undead war drums were also added to each undead troop. The Black Thorn arrived at the central army position. He looked at the distant troll camp and instructed softly, ¡°Release the Skeleton Giant Bats and Ostrich Beasts, have the army ready.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The messenger passed on the order. The Skeleton Giant Bats soared into the sky and, under the cover of the night, carried thunder tubes and flew over the troll camp. Meanwhile, the shields in the front row opened like doors. The cage under the shield was opened. One by one, the Ostrich Beasts, each with a thunder tube placed in their abdomen, were let out. The Ostrich Beasts rapidly shook their heads, and the next second, they fluttered their wings and rushed towards the troll camp. Ostrich Beasts were running all over the place. They weren¡¯t big, but they were incredibly fast. In just a few moments, they had already charged to the base of the troll camp. Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Chapter 391, Glass (Subscribe and Recommend...)_1 Chapter 427: Chapter 391, Glass (Subscribe and Recommend¡­)_1 The sky was a melancholy gray. Skeleton Giant Bats, like a swarm of dark clouds, covered the sky. The trolls raised their heads. Looking at the swarm of giant bats, drawing near. Trolls who could stand here were all experienced in battle with the Undead. In the fight, they naturally had seen these Skeleton Bats. The danger was not the bats, but the cylindrical bombs that the bats carried. Watching the rapidly approaching Skeleton Giant Bats in the sky, the trolls did not panic at all. Once they understood the opponent¡¯s method of attack, they were prepared to deal with it. Under the command of the team leaders, they orderly drilled into the prepared air raid shelters. Waiting for the end of the detonator¡¯s explosion. Boom, boom, boom!! The detonators fell and blasted indentations on the ground. The bombing lasted for three to four minutes. Except for two air defense holes being collapsed, causing casualties. Most of the trolls have been preserved intact, unharmed. Bagath walked out from the defense hole and glanced at the casualties. He shouted: ¡°Prepare for battle, we are familiar with their way of fighting, crushing these skeletons is our only hope.¡± The battle had come to this point. Although constantly being oppressed by the Undead, they had learned the Undead¡¯s battle methods. And what each skeleton soldier class does. The Undead¡¯s explosives and arrows were also reducing in usage. It proved, their ammunition storage was not plentiful anymore. Next, it was time for close combat. Bagath loudly issued orders, urging the trolls to come out and get ready for battle. Even in death, they would take more of the Undeads with them. At this moment. An anxious voice from his subordinate came over again. ¡°Clan Leader, they sent a bunch of chickens rushing over here.¡± ¡°Chickens?¡± Bagath looked out and saw a large number of chicken bone type soldiers racing towards them at an incredible speed. The bellies of the skeleton chickens were still the same cylindrical explosives. ¡°Damn it, how can there be such a thing,¡± Bagath¡¯s face changed, and he immediately changed the command, ¡°It¡¯s an explosive, get back into the hole.¡± In haste. The just emerged trolls rushed back into the air defense holes. ¡­ Randomly arranged defense wall. It could not stop the advance of the Ostrich Beast at all. The low wall, the Ostrich Beast flapped its wings and jumped in easily. The Ostrich Beasts jumped into the camp in large numbers. Looking at the empty camp, they fell into a daze. Click-click! Turning their heads, their gaze fell on the pitch-black entrances of the holes. ¡­ Air defense holes were shelters dug out with the collective effort of the trolls. Unless several detonators fell directly above the air defense hole in a row. A regular explosion could hardly destroy it right here. In an air defense hole. A troll was leaning on his Wolf Fang Club in his hand. ¡°Why did we run back again, won¡¯t the bombings ever stop?¡± ¡°There¡¯s another type of Undead that looks like a chicken, carrying that explosive thing, it¡¯s charging over.¡± ¡°Chicken?¡± ¡°Yes, after this is over, it¡¯s going to be a melee fight, everyone should prepare.¡± ¡°What if that chicken brings explosives and rushes in our hole?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The whole room instantly fell silent. Kachak~ Kachak! At this time! A sound of bone friction came from the entrance of the hole. The next second, a chicken, looking like a leftover skeleton, stumbled in. Upon seeing the nearest troll, it rushed up and pecked fiercely at the troll¡¯s leg. The troll was in pain and stomped the chicken¡¯s head into pieces. As the bones scattered, two cylindrical objects appeared in the trolls¡¯ eyes. Looking at the smoking cylinder. The trolls¡¯ faces filled with fear, ¡°Damn.¡± Boom!! With the first loud noise. One air defense hole after another exploded. Maybe the trolls could have escaped or dodged if they were outside, even if injured, their powerful recovery ability would not let them die instantly. But inside the air defense hole. A large number of holes directly collapsed, burying them on the spot. ¡­ Black Thorn stood at the central army position, looking far away at the trolls¡¯ camp with rising flames. Wait for the explosion to subside. Then calmly ordered again, ¡°The whole army attacks.¡± Dum dum dum!! The Undead battle drums, slow beats turned to a sudden rush. There were no Mage magic bullets, nor archers firing volleys of arrows. The undead army raised their weapons and rushed forward like a flood. A wave of white bones surged over the defense wall and rushed into the camp. The trolls that survived the explosion were still offering stubborn resistance while covering each other. But the number of the Undeads was just too vast. The team of trolls, like a lonely island, surrounded by a sea in the middle. The sea waves were slamming against the island, gradually engulfing the already few Trolls. Bagath was swinging his battle axe. Punishing the skeletons that pounced at him. Bang!! At this moment, a muffled sound. Bagath¡¯s battle axe was blocked by a large shield. The rebound of huge force made his body wobble. Just as he stumbled backwards, he saw a spiky Wolf Fang Club swinging at him. Bagath¡¯s face changed, his battle axe was placed in front of himself. Thump! A dull sound, Bagath¡¯s body retreated several steps under the violent impact. Overturned several trolls behind him. ¡°Wallys, look at yourself now, you are actually following the Undead and slaying our same kind!¡± Bagath roared loudly. Chapter 428 - Chapter 428: Chapter 391, Glass (Subscribe and Recommend...)_2 Chapter 428: Chapter 391, Glass (Subscribe and Recommend¡­)_2 Despite his opponent being reduced to nothing more than a skeleton. He could recognize the identity of the undead hero in front of him just by the wolf fang club and huge shield in his hands. Troll hero, Massive Wall ¨C Wallys. In the face of Bagath¡¯s rebuke, the Massive Wall gave no response. He didn¡¯t have memories from when he was a troll. Even if he did, under 100% loyalty, he would not care about his past kinship. ¡°Kill!¡± The Massive Wall roared and charged out again, engaging in battle with Bagath. The wolf fang club in his hand was swinging wide. Consistently moving forward. Bagath was handicapped, having to defend from the side attacks of the skeleton soldiers while resisting the Massive Wall¡¯s swinging wolf fang club. Eventually, as Bagath grew weary and couldn¡¯t resist the frequent club swings, He was knocked to the ground. Drowned by the undead, dying amongst the fragments of flesh and limbs. Bagath was dead. The remaining trolls also lost hope, their only hero, dying so easily at the hands of the undead, without even outlasting an ordinary troll. Dong~Dong!! At that moment, The drumbeats from the rear changed again. The Massive Wall turned his head to look, giving orders, ¡°Form a shield formation and surround them.¡± Shua Shua Shua!! The shield formation, like a barrier, formed an iron wall, enclosing the remaining trolls in the middle. The circle of surrounding gradually shrunk, slowing the attack speed. Everyone knew that the undead fight face-to-face. Seeing such a situation of surround but not killing left the trolls somewhat puzzled. They didn¡¯t believe that the undead would spare them. These damned creatures, brainless as they were, how could they possibly spare them. At this time, some orc scouts ran over. Hiding behind the defense circle, they shouted at the trolls: ¡°The leader orders, those who put down their weapons and surrender can be spared, all others will be killed.¡± ¡°The leader orders, those who put down their weapons and surrender can be spared, all others will be killed.¡± The orc scouts¡¯ voices echoed from all directions. The trolls looked at the defense circle that was still shrinking and listened carefully to the shouts from outside. When the first troll threw away his weapon and knelt on the ground, Like a signal, the rest of the trolls also threw away their weapons and fell silent, kneeling to the ground. Trolls were brave and fierce, that was towards others. Fear of Bloodthroat and the belief in the gods represented a compromise and submission to the strong. If they could survive, no one wanted to die. Just like that, all the trolls fell to their knees and chose to surrender. Next, the undead began to chain up the trolls. The others started cleaning the battlefield. Especially Bagath¡¯s body, which required special treatment after being identified from the piles of flesh and brought back to the main city. With this, the battle was over, leaving only ¡®Meatfist ¨C Kaius¡¯. According to gathered information, Kaius went to Kaur Holy Mountain with tributes, the final target of Lord Black Thorn is to occupy Kaur Holy Mountain. While the skeletons were cleaning up the battlefield, Black Thorn took out the sound-transmitting stone and sent the news from here. ¡­ The next morning. As soon as Fang Hao woke up, he noticed the information stored in the sound-transmitting shell. Hearing the news from Black Thorn, he was instantly filled with joy. With this, the threat from the north of his territory had been eliminated. He no longer needed to worry about the northern trolls launching an attack on him at any time. Now only Kaius is left, who has gone to the Kaur Holy Mountain. But he only took a hundred or so people, not a threat to the undead army. Such good news first thing in the morning. It puts Fang Hao in a good mood. After breakfast, he planned to return to his territory with Anjia and others. The rewards for helping Rebecca clean up the faceless in Lyss City hadn¡¯t been collected yet. But he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, and the money from these tasks is negligible compared to the funds in the territory. Everyone rode on the Purple-scaled horses out the city gate. After changing rides at Gray Bear¡¯s stronghold, they returned to the territory. The Bone Dragon landed. Eira and a group of maidservants came to greet them. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Eira¡¯s big eyes were full of longing. Fang Hao smiled slightly, ruffling the other person¡¯s hair. ¡°Just got back, hasn¡¯t anything happened in the territory these past few days?¡± While Fang Hao was away, Nelson took responsibility for all matters in the territory. However, Nelson rarely ventured outside the Viscera Museum. Unless under attack, Eira was in charge of handling everything. ¡°For the past few days, Lord Black Thorn has sent over many treasure chests. I¡¯ve had them all stored in the cellar,¡± Eira replied. ¡°Oh, good!¡± Fang Hao responded. After Fang Hao finished asking questions, Anjia immediately approached, placing her arm around Eira¡¯s and telling her about what happened these past few days. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother with the two of them. He went straight back to the Lord¡¯s Mansion and into the cellar. As soon as he entered the cellar, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes widened. There were nearly a hundred treasure chests lined up neatly against the wall. These were the rewards Black Thorn acquired after having cleared out several large and small troll villages. Ordinary heroes could not open them, so they were all transported back and stored here. After a rough count, there were at least fifty silver chests and more than seventy wooden and black iron chests. Although the quality was not high, they had the advantage of quantity. Fang Hao did not hesitate. He started opening the chests one by one. Fountains of light flashed, and various rewards appeared before his eyes. [Obtained: Black Iron Chandelier Blueprint (Green), Troll Stitched Marching Tent Blueprint (Green), Black Iron Rubble Hammer Blueprint (Green), Troll Stone x22, Warfire Coin x78.] [Obtained: Troll Round Table Blueprint (White), Troll Hardwood Double Bed Blueprint (Green), Black Iron Javelin Blueprint (Green), Beast Horn Spider Claw Chandelier Blueprint (Blue), Troll Stone x27, Warfire Coin x101.] [Obtained: Wood Barrel Table Blueprint (White), Spiked Hardwood Stone Blade Club Blueprint (Green), Black Iron Rubble Hammer Blueprint (Green), Black Iron Large Cooking Pot (Green), Troll Stone x32, Warfire Coin x87.] [Obtained: ¡­, Thunderburst Battle Axe (Purple), Troll White Steel Heavy Infantry Breastplate Blueprint (Blue), ¡­.] [Obtained: ¡­.. ] As Fang Hao opened each chest, rewards appeared. The chests were not high grade. Silver chests would yield three or four rewards, and black iron chests even fewer. But the equipment that came out, for Fang Hao, the blueprints weren¡¯t of much use anymore. They only served to increase the quantity of blueprints. The only decent thing was the finished equipment, the purple-Thunderburst Battle Axe. A pity that it wasn¡¯t a blueprint. [Thunderburst Battle Axe (Purple)] [Category: Battle Axe] [Damage: Level Five] [Ability: Ignore Defense+15%, Thunder Damage+25%, Attack Speed-10%.] (Description: A battle axe imbued with the power of thunder, it would destroy any enemies blocking its way.) This piece of equipment was not too shabby. In the territory, those proficient at wielding battle axes were the trolls and Taurens. It could be used as a reward for Giant Wall or Bronze Bull ¨C Talok. Using the Book of Lords, Fang Hao stored all the blueprints. One by one, beams of light entered the Book of Lords. ¡­ After dinner, Fang Hao exited the Lord¡¯s Mansion. It was now 6 in the evening, the sky was gradually darkening. The weather was growing a bit cool, it was almost time for autumn. He needed to create all the building blueprints obtained at the graveyard before night falls. He first arrived at the Industrial Area. He opened the Book of Lords, and found the blueprint for the [Glass Factory]. [Glass Factory: Wood 2200, Brick 3500, Iron 1200, Metal Parts 820, Red Flame Essence 5.] (Description: Can produce amorphous solids that maintain a certain shape through processing.) At an open space, He chose to build directly. Blue light flashed, and twenty minutes later, a factory with a furnace appeared before Fang Hao. [Glass Factory] [Placement: Workers 0/10] [Raw Materials: Silica Sand, Rock Salt] [Production: Fiberglass, Glass Panes (Round/Square), Glass Cup, Glass Bottle, Glass Covers (Round/Square).] (Description: Can produce amorphous solids that maintain a certain shape through processing.) ¡°Finally, we have glass.¡± Chapter 429 - Chapter 429: Chapter 392, Statue of the God of Undead (Subscribe and Recommend...)_1 Chapter 429: Chapter 392, Statue of the God of Undead (Subscribe and Recommend¡­)_1 The products produced by the glass processing plants had quite a variety. [Glass Fiber] [Category: Cloth] Glass fiber is classified as cloth? Can one actually wear clothing made of this material? The Emperor¡¯s New Clothes? Fang Hao didn¡¯t understand this concept, nor had he seen or heard of this material before. Once it¡¯s produced, he would consult Soye to see what kind of clothing could be made out of it. In addition to glass fiber, there is also glass board, glass cup, glass bottle, and glass cover. Glass boards came in both circular and square shapes that could be selectively produced for different purposes. Glass cups served as conventional containers for drinking water, while the use for glass bottles, as far as Fang Hao could see, was as containers for alchemical potions. Besides the semi-demon alchemist, the Alchemist¡¯s Guild in the Trade Alliance also regularly bought these glass bottles in bulk. Therefore, they occupied a certain sales volume in the market. The utility of glass cover that Fang Hao was aware of, was for lampshades used in lighting apparatus, whether or not if they had other purposes was yet unclear. Materials used in glass production were silica sand and rock salt. He did not know the principles of how these two materials produced glass, but concerning the consumption of these materials, there was a difference. Glass fiber, glass cup, glass bottle, each required 1 silica sand and 1 rock salt to produce. On the other hand, production of the glass cover increased the required materials to 2 silica sand and 1 rock salt. The most consumable material was the glass plate, which required 5 silica sand and 3 rock salt. There were a certain amount of rock salt resources available stored in the warehouse, gathered from the dried-up banks. The lake owned by Fu Lei could sustain a continuous extraction of this material. The material currently lacking was silica sand. He had never seen or heard of this material before, he thought to himself about trading for some on the regional channel when the time comes. After constructing the glass manufacturing plant, Fang Hao walked towards the processing area again. After greeting a group of skeleton craftsmen, he found the construction blueprint for the [Stone Carving Workshop] at the empty lot. [Tier 1 Stone Carving Workshop: Timber 1500, Stone 2000, Leather 800, Twine 500, Iron 200, Metal Components 120.] (Description: You can recruit troops of your own faction in this building and perform stone carving and artistic relief.) Confirm to construct. After ten minutes, a wooden workshop appeared before his eyes. [Tier 1 Stone Carving Workshop] [Recruitable: Stone Carver] [Stone Carver: Wriggling Spine 1] (Description: You can recruit troops of your own faction in this building, and carry out stone carving and artistic relief work.) [Materials Required for Upgrade: Timber 2100, Stone 2500, Leather 850, Twine 600, Iron 320, Metal Components 150.] The Stone Carving Workshop served the same purpose as the Tailor Shop, as both could recruit craftsmen with special abilities. With ample materials within his territory, Fang Hao immediately upgraded the building to level 9. That was also the current highest level. [Level 9 Stone Carving Workshop] [Can Recruit: Stone Carver] [Stone Goldsmith: Wriggling Spine 1] [Skills: Art Specialization, Fine Manufacturing.] [Art Specialization: Artistry +15%.] [Fine Manufacturing: Precision +35%, Efficiency +15%.] (Description: You can recruit troops of your own faction in this building, and carry out stone carving and artistic relief work.) [Materials Required: Hardwood 1200, Stone Bricks 1500, Thick Leather 800, Cast Iron 150, Metal Parts 1200.] After upgrading the building, the next step was to recruit troops. [Stone Carver: Wriggling Spine 1. Do you wish to recruit?] Recruit. [100X recruitment initiated. Recruit 101 Skeleton Stone Carvers.] With a flash of light, 101 Skeleton Stone Carvers emerged. Stone Carvers were tall and wore a leather apron. One of their hands held a tiny hammer while the other held a carving knife! After surveying their surroundings, their eyes fell onto Fang Hao. ¡°We are at your service, my Lord.¡± All the Stone Carvers saluted in unison. ¡°Welcome to all of you.¡± Fang Hao smiled in return turning to look at the leading figure. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°My Lord, my name is Grey.¡± ¡°Good. Grey, from this point forward you are the captain of the Stone Carvers. I will assign all tasks to you for distribution.¡± Fang Hao selected a captain to allocate tasks uniformly. ¡°Of course, my lord, thank you for your trust.¡± Grey knelt down on one knee and responded loudly. At the same time, Grey¡¯s loyalty also increased a bit. [Skeleton Stone Carver Grey¡¯s Loyalty to you increased by 10, the current Loyalty is 89.] ¡°Yes, yes, rise!¡± Fang Hao signaled him to rise while examining the Stone Carver¡¯s attributes. [Skeleton Stone Carver (Tier 1)] [Faction: Undead] [Race Feature: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness.] [Skills: Stone Carving, Stone Armor Crafting.] [Stone Carving: Proficient in stone carving and relief art.] [Stone Armor Crafting: Capable of crafting fine stone armor.] [Innate Skill: Stone Carving Mastery.] (Note: Every Stone Carver is an artist who draws inspiration from life and realizes the work through their hands using stone carvings.) After viewing the Stone Carver¡¯s attributes, Fang Hao¡¯s mind began to churn. [Stone Armor Crafting] could it be the skill to create Fine Carved Stone Plate? ¡°Could such a coincidence actually exist?¡± Fang Hao immediately asked, ¡°Grey, can you guys create Fine Carved Stone Plates for construct bodies?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Grey nodded in affirmation. With Grey¡¯s confirmation, Fang Hao was overjoyed. He immediately opened the blueprint in the Book of Lords and told Grey, ¡°I have blueprints required for the Stone Monster construct body. Come tonight to trace them, then you can arrange for everyone to start producing.¡± Chapter 430 - Chapter 430: Chapter 392, Statue of the God of Undead (Subscribe and Recommend...)_2 Chapter 430: Chapter 392, Statue of the God of Undead (Subscribe and Recommend¡­)_2 The parts needed for the Stone Monster¡¯s construction only lacks Stone Armor as a material. The Sculptor can now complete it. Once enough Stone Armor has been produced, Fang Hao can proceed with the creation of the construction body. The troops in the domain can also be more diverse and not just consist of Undeads. ¡°Very well, my lord, you can leave the blueprint behind when you rest,¡± Grey agreed. ¡°Okay!¡± After giving instructions to the sculptors, Fang Hao continued to build houses for the Skeleton Stone Masons to rest in, urging them to schedule their time reasonably and not work all the time. ¡­ After dealing with the matters of the Masons. Fang Hao hummed a little tune and continued towards the city center. Among the newly acquired building blueprints, there is still one remaining for a Temple. In Fang Hao¡¯s opinion, its function conflicts with the Pantheon, both being places for enshrining statues of gods. But the blueprint for the Pantheon is orange, while the temple¡¯s blueprint only reaches blue. There¡¯s quite a difference between the two blueprints. However, the construction conditions for the Pantheon require the Lord¡¯s House to reach Stone Castle. And the building level of the Lord¡¯s House now is called ¡°Level 9 Lord¡¯s Stone Tower¡±. Following the previous pattern where the Lord¡¯s House changes name every 5 levels, it would become a ¡°Stone Castle¡± at Level 10. Considering this, Fang Hao checked the materials for upgrading the Lord¡¯s House to Level 10 once more. Hardwood, Stone Bricks, Iron, these basic materials are more thane sufficient. Currently what is lacking, are ¡°Fine Stone Bricks 2147/5500¡±, ¡°Masonry Floor 0/800¡±, ¡°Tiles 2485/3000¡±. Factories are continuously producing Fine Stone Bricks and Tiles, so this is just a matter of time. But there are no acquisition channels yet for Masonry Floors. He considered purchasing some on the Regional Channel later, and if it can¡¯t be acquired this way, a purchase order can also be filled from the Trade Alliance. Such production materials should not be difficult to purchase. Since the Pantheon cannot be built, Fang Hao plans to build the Temple first. ¡°Temple: Hardwood 1200, Stone Bricks 1250, Fine Stone Bricks 350, Cast Iron Block 50, Metal Parts 45, Traces of Prayer 2, Traces of Deities 2, Rich Essence 3.¡± He chose a good location and started building immediately. Blue lights quickly piled up into the silhouette of a building. After continuing for 30 minutes. As the light dissipated, a grand building appeared in front of his eyes. Although it is called a Temple, the scope of the building is by no means small. It spans an area close to 300 square meters. ¡°Temple.¡± ¡°Category: Building.¡± ¡°Placeable: 0/2 God Statues.¡± ¡°Main Position: 0/1, Secondary Position: 0/1.¡± ¡°Effect: The power of the ¡®Blessing¡¯ of the God Statue increases by an additional 10%.¡± (Description: The Temple enshrines the statue of a god, giving it additional attribute bonuses. Cities can choose to worship different god statues according to their needs. (It is not possible to build a statue of a god that is hostile to the faction.)) As expected, two god statues can be set up in the Temple. Moreover, after the Temple was built, the description also changed. That is to say, each city can choose to worship different gods according to its needs. If the city needs planting and gathering, worship the Goddess of Harvest. If there¡¯s a need for battles, worship the Slaughter God. This is quite human-friendly. As the building was completed, a series of prompts emerged. ¡°Temple construction complete, unlock the statues of Immortality and God of Death, Undead God Statue.¡± Sure enough, after building the Temple, the Undead God Statue was automatically unlocked. ¡°Undead God Statue: Timber 720, Stone 2100, Essence of Magic 2, Death Trace 3, Shadow Stone 5.¡± (Description: The God of Undead watches over this land, coldly looking at every living creature, calculating time and waiting for you to fall into its arms.) BUILD! The light rose again. When the light dissipated, the statue of the God of Undead appeared before him. The God of Undead, a Skeleton draped in a hooded cloak. In its skeletal hand, it holds a Magic Wand with a huge gemstone on top. The wand was tilted upward, as if casting a spell. This image isn¡¯t any friendlier than Slaughter God Statue. ¡°Undead God Statue (Blue)¡± ¡°Category: Special Building.¡± ¡°Effect: Consumables for Undead buildings -10%, all attributes of Undead troops +10%.¡± (Description: The God of Undead gazes down upon the land, coldly watching over every living creature, counting down your numbered days, waiting for you to submit to its embrace.) The effects granted by the God of Undead, all revolve around the undead faction. They are quite useful attributes. The Temple allows for the installation of deity statues. Fang Hao set up the [God of Undead Statue]in the primary position of the [Temple], and in the secondary position he set up the [Goddess of Harvest]. Installation complete. [Loyalty of the Corpse Witch ¨C Nelson has risen by 10, current loyalty 97.] [Luke, the Skull Carving Mason, loyalty to you has increased by 10, current loyalty 95.] [Soye, the Skeleton Tailor, loyalty to you increased by 10, current loyalty 92.] [Skeleton¡­, current loyalty 90.] [¡­, ¡­.] Line after line of prompts appeared on the screen in a flurry. After the installation of the God of Undead Statue, all undead faction heroes and troops had their loyalty increased by 10. Most have broken through 90, with the rest being above 80. That is considered high loyalty. Working until now, it had already gotten quite late. He still had some equipment blueprints left to check and produce when daylight broke; there was no rush. ¡­ He returned to Lord Manor. Fang Hao directly went to the courtyard, comfortably soaking in the hot spring. The effect of the Rejuvenation Hot Spring, drove away the fatigue of these past few days of rushing about. While soaking in the hot spring, Fang Hao didn¡¯t forget to attend to his own matters. He opened the regional channel. ¡°What are the requirements to join the Tianpeng Alliance? I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s tough to get in.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m Level 6 in the main city, but I still don¡¯t meet the requirements. I heard there¡¯s a limited number of people they can recruit, so they only take in powerful members.¡± ¡°I think that Brother Fang Hao could definitely get in.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Brother Fang Hao has been absent for some time. I hope nothing¡¯s happened to him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a usual occurrence for him to run into some trouble¡­¡± ¡°Brother Fang Hao¡¯s store continues to sell equipment. There¡¯s no way something¡¯s happened to him¡­¡± Fang Hao was submerged in the hot spring, observing the ongoing discussion. The Tianpeng Alliance is a newly formed alliance that emerged recently. Unlike the ¡®Qinglong Mutual Aid Association¡¯ kind of folk organization from before, it is an alliance recognized by local forces, established after Yu Tianpeng obtained a ¡®token of alliance¡¯ from a previous system task. The Alliance Hierarch can recruit members from their own region. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t sure about the number of members that could be recruited, however seeing the high threshold for recruitment, there should be a limitation on the number of people. Within the Alliance, besides various member boosters and benefits. The most attractive is the support feature for alliance members. If a member is under attack, the rest of the members can offer support, with up to 150 soldiers. This support doesn¡¯t mean they need to physically run over, instead, the support is transported through the alliance building. At the moment, this place is chaotic and disorganized, death might arrive at any moment. Hence, to be able to receive support from allies is a far more enticing prospect than receiving powerful equipment. Therefore, as soon as the Tianpeng Alliance appeared, it received the adulation of other players. To join now, not only do you have to pay a fee. You also have to completely comply with the management of the Alliance Hierarch, Yu Tianpeng. The admission bar is set very high. This Yu Tianpeng is one of the people Fang Hao had previously blacklisted. Last time, he was concerned about the rapid expansion of the Tianpeng Alliance. But currently, they had not shown any hostility, and as Fang Hao didn¡¯t know their stronghold¡¯s location, finding a solution was difficult. On second thought, Even if the members of Tianpeng Alliance are tough and can support each other ¨C they might not even be comparable to his undead army of a million. People need food. How would they support this many people? If they provoke his army, he could easily trample them flat. The only obstacle is the location and distance of their territories. Even the bone dragon cannot fly aimlessly to search for the enemy¡¯s lands. After these considerations, Fang Hao returned his attention to his own affairs. He edited text in the regional channel and sent it out. ¡°Buying a large amount of siliceous sand, steady long-term purchase. Also buying Ash Stone Floor, brothers with stock please private message¡­.¡± When Fang Hao spoke, the channel instantly went silent. ¡°What? Did Brother Fang Hao log OFF (Chinese internet slang for appearing after a long time supposed dead)¡­?¡± ¡°What is siliceous sand? I¡¯ve only ever heard of silicone.¡± Chapter 431 - Chapter 431: Chapter 393, Lets Play (Recommend and Subscribe...)_1 Chapter 431: Chapter 393, Let¡¯s Play (Recommend and Subscribe¡­)_1 Fang Hao¡¯s appearance broke the tranquility of the regional channel. Whatever was being discussed before, instantly unified into a single theme. ¡°What? Big shot Fang Hao, planning to create a silicone girlfriend?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want a girlfriend, just use the leftovers to make me a flight cup.¡± ¡°Look closely, the big shot is talking about silicon sand, sand guys, you want to use it to create a girlfriend, are you not afraid of scratching yourself?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know the saying that constant rubbing can turn an iron rod into a needle?¡± ¡°What sand, all I see is a girlfriend.¡± ¡°Selective blindness, huh¡­.¡± ¡­ The channel gradually became lively, but the topic started to veer off. Everyone started discussing girlfriends made from various materials, while Fang Hao¡¯s purchase information was quickly swept off the screen. People who came afterwards only knew about the discussion on girlfriends and had no idea about Fang Hao¡¯s purchase information. Just as Fang Hao was about to post again. Ding! A private chat notification suddenly sounded. He immediately opened the private chat, a message from a stranger. ¡°Big shot Fang Hao, I have some silicon sand.¡± This lord had a memorable name, Ji Mo. Upon seeing that the other party had silicon sand, Fang Hao immediately asked, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Not much, but I have a silica sand mine here. If the price is right, I can arrange workers to mine it and ensure a continuous supply to you.¡± Ji Mo replied immediately. Ji Mo found a silica sand mine near his territory early on. He had even assigned workers to mine it. But later he found that these white grains were of no use to his development. Nor could he sell it in the channel. So he stopped the mining operation, and some of the already mined inventory was used for paving roads. Not much was left in the warehouse. Today, he suddenly saw Fang Hao buying silicon sand in the channel. Ji Mo was somewhat incredulous and confirmed several times whether Fang Hao was indeed buying silicon sand instead of silicone. When he confirmed that he wasn¡¯t mistaken, he couldn¡¯t help but show a delighted expression. Fang Hao was the big shot at the pinnacle of the pyramid in the entire region. If he could establish a relationship with him, even a simple cooperation could make a steady profit. So, while everyone was discussing girlfriend dolls in the channel, he directly messaged Fang Hao privately. ¡°Send over a guide for me to take a look first.¡± Fang Hao replied. He had to confirm whether the other party was a fraud first. ¡°Alright! Is this what you¡¯re looking for, Big shot Fang Hao?¡± The guide was sent over immediately. Fang Hao opened the guide to check its attributes. [Silicon Sand] [Category: Material] (Description: White sand composed of quartz grains.) It¡¯s indeed silicon sand. Even if Fang Hao didn¡¯t recognize it, the system information couldn¡¯t be faked. ¡°How much do you have in your current inventory, and what do you want in exchange?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. The other party also mentioned that there is a silica sand mine nearby his territory. Which could provide a continuous output of silica sand. This would be advantageous to Fang Hao¡¯s glass production, but it depends on what the other party needs and whether the price is reasonable. After Fang Hao asked, the other side fell silent. After a while, Ji Mo sent a message. ¡°I have 20 units in my warehouse, and I want to exchange them for 10 of your [Double-Handed Light Crossbows].¡± In this world, materials are defined by units. For a material like silicon sand, one unit is about half a bag. Double-Handed Light Crossbow is a green weapon that Fang Hao is selling in the channel. Every single weapon is sold for 20 units of iron or 5 units of rare materials. 20 units of silicon sand, in exchange for 10 light crossbows, are equivalent to 200 units of iron. Which means a 1:10 exchange ratio. A bag of silicon sand is equivalent to 10 units of iron. While Fang Hao does not know the difficulty level of mining silicon sand, iron is the most popular product in the channel. As currency cannot be used in the channel, iron units are used as an alternative. At first, he bought flax from Deng Bin. The exchange ratio between flax and iron is 5:1. 5 units of flax can be exchanged for 1 unit of iron, with the other party also taking on the labor costs. Fang Hao thought for a while and replied, ¡°Iron is a hot commodity while silicon sand can¡¯t be sold in the channel. If you¡¯re willing to sell, I can swap 3 units of iron for 1 unit of silicon sand, you can think about it.¡± Silicon sand may not sell well, but currently, there don¡¯t seem to be a lot of people who have it. It can be considered a rare processing material. Plus, he needs to engage in regular cooperation with the other party. If he offers too low a price, it might deter the other party from mining silica sand. After careful consideration, Fang Hao felt that 3 units of iron were a possible starting point for negotiations. If the other party disagreed, he could raise the price. Ji Mo fell silent for a while, but then finally agreed. ¡°Big shot, the difficulty of mining this silica sand is not small¡­ Even if I sell you the remaining inventory, it will be hard to continue mining at this price.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your price? There are others selling silica sand mines, and I will choose the most favorable one for cooperation.¡± Fang Hao quickly replied. Fang Hao¡¯s words left Ji Mo with a difficult decision once again. If there are others selling silica sand, he can¡¯t just name his price arbitrarily. Moreover, a long-term cooperation with Fang Hao would greatly help his own development. He bit the bullet and said, ¡°Big Shot Feng Hao, my lowest price is 1 silicon sand for 5 iron. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I can guarantee a stable output of silicon sand.¡± Fang Hao felt that the exchange ratio proposed by the other party was fairly reasonable. At least for now, he hadn¡¯t found a second person selling silicon sand. Chapter 432 - Chapter 432: Chapter 393, Lets Play (Recommend and Subscribe...)_2 Chapter 432: Chapter 393, Let¡¯s Play (Recommend and Subscribe¡­)_2 I can initially cooperate with him and, if the prices are unreasonable, we can adjust them later. ¡°Alright, first list your stock of silicon sand. If you can guarantee a production volume of 100 units per week, I can maintain a long-term partnership with you. If I stop buying, I will notify you one week in advance,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Okay, I can guarantee the production volume,¡± Ji Mo agreed promptly. Following that, Ji Mo sent his designated transaction. Fang Hao also gave him 100 units of iron, which he could use to trade for whatever he needed in the future. Within the regional channel, iron acted as currency. After completing the transaction, Fang Hao directed the goods to the warehouse instead of keeping them by his side. ¡°Boss, should I arrange manpower to mine silicon sand now?¡± Ji Mo confirmed again. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Okay, boss Fang Hao, pleasure doing business with you.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± After ending the chat with Ji Mo, Fang Hao draped a blanket around himself and walked out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Inside the glass factory, he assigned the laboring tasks of processing the glass to the Skeleton Workers. He also gave the blueprint from the Book of Lords to the stone carving craftsman Grey to imitate, for the manufacturing of the Fine Carved Stone Plate. ¡­ He returned to the hot spring again. There were two more people in it. Dressed in a sailor suit, Anjia was lying on the stone steps, feeding fruits to herself. Eira sat on the side, flushed with embarrassment. She wore a black bunny girl outfit that showcased her arm as white as lotus roots and long legs sheathed in black silk stockings made from Nightfall silk. Her entire body soaked in the hot spring, clothes clinging to her skin. Hearing footsteps, the two women looked up at Fang Hao simultaneously. Eira¡¯s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, while Anjia¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Anjia asked bluntly. ¡°I went to give some instructions to the stone carver. Why?¡± Fang Hao also got into the hot spring. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to hang out together when you get back? Did you forget?¡± Anjia asked, sitting upright. Realizing what Anjia meant, Fang Hao understood right away. No wonder today¡¯s atmosphere felt a bit off¡ªit turns out Anjia really took Eira and explained these matters to her. From the look on Eira¡¯s face, she also seemed to have agreed. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have dressed like she was and sat there so self-consciously. ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s bedtime soon.¡± Anjia pulled Eira up. The two of them surrounded Fang Hao, one on each side. ¡­ The next day, early morning. Fang Hao awakened from his dream, with soft bodies pressed close to him. Anjia and Eira, one black, one white, cuddled him tightly from either side, sound asleep. Anjia¡¯s slender leg was draped over his waist, while Eira¡¯s fair arm was wrapped around him, encased by softness. Both of them seemed to have allocated good spots for themselves, each occupying one place, without fighting each other. Last night, the trio played until quite late before finally returning to their room to sleep. Upon seeing the sight and feeling the softness next to him, Fang Hao felt his body reacting normally once again. Taking a deep breath, he carefully moved his arm from under Eira. As soon as he moved, Eira opened her eyes, looking at Fang Hao, and then at the sunlight streaming in from the window. She immediately realized that she had overslept. She couldn¡¯t compare to Anjia who was a hero and could sleep in and play without worries. But as a maid, it was unacceptable to get up later than her master. She immediately got up and said, ¡°Master, let me help you dress.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t sleep until late last night, why don¡¯t you rest a little more?¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be right.¡± Fang Hao checked the time; it was only 6:35 in the morning. ¡°I need to go out and handle some things. Sleep one more hour, then bring Anjia down with you,¡± Fang Hao said. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s concern, Eira also broke into a soft smile. ¡°Okay, Master. Thank you, Master.¡± Fang Hao pinched her cheek, got out of bed, and dressed. ¡­ After a quick wash-up. Fang Hao left the Lord¡¯s Mansion. The morning sun was still warm, bringing a cozy feeling to all. The other maids in the fief are also up, doing their own work. Fang Hao had just planned to do some morning exercises when he saw Nelson, Soye, and others walking back from afar. So many undead, what were they up to so early in the morning? Fang Hao walked towards them and each of them greeted him, ¡°Good morning, Lord.¡± ¡°Uh, good morning to you all.¡± Fang Hao responded with a smile. All the undead heroes and craftsmen have more than 80 points of loyalty, they would not do anything to harm themselves. But their return together made him somewhat curious. Fang Hao approached Nelson and asked curiously: ¡°So, did you guys go for morning exercises?¡± ¡°Lord, you are quite the joker. No amount of our exercise would strengthen our bodies,¡± Nelson, leaning on his magic wand, continued, ¡°We went to visit the statue of the God of the Undead.¡± Oh¡­! He had built the statue last night, and the undead¡¯s loyalty had been improved. It seemed reasonable that they went to the temple today. After all, every undead believed in the God of the Undead. Fang Hao didn¡¯t talk much about their faith, after all, it¡¯s their freedom. The Human Clan, the Undead, the Beast Clan, the Trolls, all had different beliefs. Believing in whatever they wished, as long as they didn¡¯t lose their loyalty. ¡°By the way, Scholar Nelson, any progress on the demon puppet?¡± As they were walking, Fang Hao asked. ¡°The progress is going smoothly. I can now inscribe the runes on the skeleton. The method of making this set of puppets is indeed amazing, I have never heard of such an inscription method.¡± Nelson said. Nelson may not be proficient in everything, but due to his long lifespan, he had an abundance of knowledge. It was rare for him to encounter something he was unfamiliar with. ¡°Ah? You can already inscribe them? That¡¯s great, as I¡¯ve obtained some skeletons during my recent trip out,¡± Fang Hao said as he took out the skeletons obtained from the cemetery. Transparent skeletons, exuding a faint glow. Even without Fang Hao¡¯s introduction, Nelson could tell that they came from the same body as the arm they had obtained earlier. ¡°Lord, where did you get these?¡± Nelson asked curiously. If the bones present such a condition after death, the individual must have had a high status and position when alive. Now, they were only lacking a right arm to form a complete skeleton. ¡°It should be from the cemetery of the Church of Light. The cemetery has been deserted for a long time, it should not attract anyone¡¯s attention,¡± Fang Hao replied softly. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Nelson motioned and two Skeleton Warriors came over, picking up the bones on the ground and sending them into the Viscera Museum. ¡°Lord, then I shall continue with the manufacturing of the demon puppet.¡± When the left arm of the priest was inscribed with the puppet runes, it had already transformed from a skeleton into alchemy equipment. Even if Fang Hao could assemble a complete set of bones in the future, it would not be possible to be transformed into a skeleton hero. The only use it now had was to make it into a demon puppet to test the power and utility of this unorthodox alchemy rune. ¡°Well, take care, Scholar Nelson.¡± Fang Hao nodded. Nelson saluted again and stepped into the Viscera Museum. Boom! With a muffled sound, the stone door of the second floor of the Viscera Museum closed tightly. It seemed like Nelson was about to seclude himself for a while again. ¡­ After Nelson left, Fang Hao once again went to the silkworm rearing room and used the Rainbow Silkworm Summoning Scroll. He summoned 80 rainbow silkworm hatchlings and handed them over to the maids for nurturing. Leaving the silkworm rearing room, he came to the open ground reserved in front of the warehouse. This was where he tested his equipment. After all, under the blessing of a hundred-fold magnification, the number of equipment produced needed an open space. First were the Cotton Auxiliary Priest Gloves and the Cotton Robes. ¡°[Hundred-fold magnification triggered, received 101 Cotton Auxiliary Priest Gloves.]¡± ¡°[Hundred-fold magnification triggered, received 101 Cotton Robes.]¡± 200 pieces of equipment appeared around them. ¡°[Cotton Auxiliary Priest Gloves]¡± ¡°[Category: Gloves]¡± ¡°[Defense: Level II Defense]¡± ¡°[Ability: Herbal Processing +10%, Bandaging +5%.]¡± (Description: Special gloves made for devout auxiliary priests.) Unlike the hand armor that was produced, these gloves were made of cotton. They could serve to resist the cold, making them suitable for use in winter. The attributes were pretty good, enhancing herbal processing and bandaging. They were suitable for ¡®Red Fruit¡¯ who were studying herbal notes to wear. Also, Fang Hao planned to establish medicinal injury healing centers for residents in various cities in the future, these gloves could come in handy then. Chapter 438 - Chapter 438: Chapter 396, Tears of Asha (Happy New Years Eve everyone.)_1 Chapter 438: Chapter 396, Tears of Asha (Happy New Year¡¯s Eve everyone.)_1 Fang Hao recently learned something about goblin technology from Rolana. The small and powerless goblins have gained their current status on this mainland due to their intellect and products centered around the ¡®Magical Energy Core¡¯. People generally refer to these products as goblin technology. The Magic Reactor, also called the Magic Energy Core, is the foundation of this technology. Explained in a way Fang Hao could understand, it¡¯s like a power plant. The rest of the goblin technology products are like electrical appliances, relying on the magical reactor output energy to keep them running. This type of reactor is not a secret, and all races are aware of it. But this is the first time it has been put up for sale as a product. After listening to the auctioneer¡¯s eloquent speech, The audience fell into a brief silence, everyone looked at each other, but no one bid. Everyone knows the function of the reactor and its inherent value. However, the magical reactor forms the core energy source of goblin technology, and the development of other races does not rely on the goblin technology. It¡¯s not clear whether buying it and bringing it back would indeed be valuable. Even if they have one or two goblin products, they would rely on replacing the energy core to maintain them, and not spend millions on blueprints. Apart from the transmigrators, native forces may not even be able to build it according to the blueprints after buying it. The host was confident, but the scene was a bit cold. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we will sell some more magic products later, don¡¯t miss this rare opportunity,¡± the host spoke again. Then, from a box room on the 3rd floor, a voice came leisurely, ¡°Eleven million!¡± Whoosh! As soon as these words came out, the whole room buzzed. For most people here, ten million was already an astronomical figure. Everyone knew there were some big shots here with lots of cash, but the random mention of this figure still surprised most people. ¡°Twelve million!¡± someone bid from the fourth floor. ¡°Thirteen million!¡± ¡°Fourteen million!¡± ¡°Fifteen million!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Twenty million!¡± The originally quiet box rooms on the third and fourth floor began to compete with each other, bringing the price up to twenty million before a pause in the bidding ensued. Fang Hao was initially quite interested. This ¡®electric energy¡¯-like power source could improve the situation in his territory if leveraged properly. It could replace human labor, provide basic support, and perhaps be fully realized. But when the amount reached twenty million, it turned Fang Hao into a spectator. The price was a bit too high. Buying it at a bone-breaking price may not necessarily be a good thing. Knowing about the reaction furnace, he can slowly look for blueprints in the future. Perhaps one day, it would be found in a treasure chest. Wouldn¡¯t that mean he got a deal of twenty million for free? Eventually, a box on the fourth floor purchased the blueprint for twenty-five million, astonishing the spectators below with their wealth. ¡­ The auction continued with a brief intermission, during which refreshments were served. In the 17th round of bidding, Fang Hao bought an orange-quality Viscera jar. It cost him five million one hundred thousand Warfire coins. This was because no one else bid against him. He added just one hundred thousand to the lowest bid and claimed it. The Viscera jar is a unique magical artifact of the Undead. It contains the organs of powerful creatures, conferring their abilities on the wielder. In the territory, there are only two Viscera jars. One contains a Blood Clan¡¯s Revival organ, and the other contains the Lightning Speed organ of a deep-sea species. Fang Hao initially thought that someone would bid against him. However, after making his own bid, he realized that he was the only buyer. Even the legendary Skeleton King ¨C Odys didn¡¯t participate in this auction. After a while, there was a knock on the door, and a server came in with a wooden box. He respectfully said, ¡°Sir, these are the items you purchased.¡± ¡°Ok, put it here,¡± Fang Hao pushed the prepared Warfire card towards the server. The server put down the Viscera jar and carefully checked it. After confirming everything was right, he respectfully left the room. Upon opening the upright wooden box, the familiar shape of the Viscera jar was revealed. Viscera jar (Orange) Category: Magic Container Ability: Killing Proficiency Killing Proficiency: Every time you kill an enemy, attack power increases by 100%, and attack speed by 75% for three seconds. (Description: In the endless darkness, Death Ravens, adorned with black feathers, hunt for their prey. They dive into the enemy camp, terrifying the intruders, reveling in the wildness within, enjoying the pleasure that slaughter brings.) Killing Proficiency is considered a very powerful buff attribute. Three seconds, in terms of team buffing, doesn¡¯t have any negative effects. Killing foes constantly would refresh this skill, maintaining the attribute of 100% attack power for three seconds. Therefore, he was quite satisfied with this Viscera jar. ¡­ After a brief intermission, the auction continued. Twenty-fifth round! ¡°The next item to be auctioned is, the Tears of Asha!¡± the host banged his gavel, ¡°The starting price is nine million, each bid must not be less than one hundred and fifty thousand.¡± The Tears of Asha is said to be the tears shed by the gods. It belongs to a very rare category of materials. Far more rare than Solar Essence and Trace of the Earth, these materials are exceedingly scarce. Only a few special buildings or items require this type of material: Tears of Asha. Also, because it is so rare and expensive, a high threshold was set. Chapter 439 - Chapter 439: Chapter 396, Tears of Asha (Happy New Years Eve everyone.)_2 Chapter 439: Chapter 396, Tears of Asha (Happy New Year¡¯s Eve everyone.)_2 Most people didn¡¯t need, or even had a use for, the blueprint of Tears of Asha. Upon hearing such material was for sale, the most they did was express surprise, exclaiming about the power of the Trade Alliance that they could get their hands on such an item. However, it so happened that Fang Hao had an orange blueprint: the Wishing Well. And Tears of Asha was one of the materials needed for the Wishing Well. The rarer and more precious it was, the more determined Fang Hao was to obtain it in this auction. If someone else bought and used it directly, he might not have access to Tears of Asha for a long time. Of course, this would need to be within a certain price range, if the price was too high, beyond his capacity. He wouldn¡¯t be stubborn about buying it. With no one in the room making a bid, Fang Hao¡¯s heart was joyous. Could it be just like the viscera jar, too ¡®unique¡¯ for anybody to buy? The presenter reintroduced the rarity of the Tears of Asha. Fang Hao pressed the bidding button in his private room, ¡°Nine million, one hundred and fifty thousand!¡± People were surprised and looked up at the second floor. Although they couldn¡¯t see the people in the private rooms, they clearly remembered that this room had just spent five million on a viscera jar. Now they were spending another 9 million to buy Tears of Asha. People whispered to each other, wondering when the people on the second floor started to become so rich. Seeing no one in the room raising the bid, the host breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the items were not unsold. ¡°Nine million, one hundred and fifty thousand once, nine million, one hundred and fifty thousand twice, any higher bid¡­?¡± The presenter raised his hammer, about to call. Suddenly, the bidding light in the third floor¡¯s private room lit up, ¡°Nine million, three hundred thousand!¡± Hearing the increased bid, he changed his discouraging tone and asked loudly, ¡°Good, the distinguished guest from Chu family on the third floor has bid nine million, three hundred thousand, any higher bid?¡± Fang Hao sat on the sofa, a little surprised. What the hell? Neither early nor late, but just as the hammer was about to fall, the bid was raised by one hundred and fifty thousand. He was suspicious, wondering if the third floor was a shill arranged by the Trade Alliance. But as the only two bidders, his chances of buying were still high. ¡°Nine million, four hundred and fifty thousand!¡± The third floor raised the bid, ¡°Nine million, six hundred thousand!¡± ¡°Nine million, seven hundred and fifty thousand!¡± ¡°Nine million, nine hundred thousand!¡± ¡°Ten million, and fifty thousand!¡± When Fang Hao raised the price to ten million, the entire venue fell silent. Although items reaching ten million was not uncommon. But for a material, was it worth calling to this degree? On the other hand, there was a contest between the second and third floors. The buyer on the second floor, daring to bid against the big shot on the third floor, was not often seen. And gradually started to suppress the third floor. At this moment, in the box on the third floor. A fairy clan girl with butterfly wings on her back, was pouting and sitting on the sofa. This was a flower demon from the fairy clan, small in stature, extremely beautiful, her ears like an elf¡¯s, looked very cute. Hearing the second floor raised the price to ten million, the face of the flower demon changed instantly. ¡°Damn it! Is it those damn orcs trying to deliberately pit us? How would the people on the second floor need Tears of Asha? They must be maliciously raising the price!¡± The flower demon girl said angrily. The top forces were all on the third and fourth floors. The people in the second floor¡¯s private rooms, in their eyes, were at most nouveau riche. These people wouldn¡¯t have use for Tears of Asha, and whether they had ten million or not was a gamble. It was highly likely that they were maliciously raising the price, deliberately harming themselves. Recently, the fairy clan¡¯s Dreamy Forest had a significant conflict with the orc¡¯s army. Although there was no outbreak of a large-scale war, friction was constant. The more the girl thought, the more she felt the orcs were behind it. ¡°I doubt it, nobody knows we want to buy the Tears of Asha, how could those orcs possibly know it¡¯s us?¡± a fairy guard beside her analyzed. ¡°Then who else would keep increasing the price to this extent and besides, we could get the information about the Trade Alliance auctioning Tears of Asha, so the orcs could¡¯ve also gotten the news,¡± the flower demon girl argued back. The fairy guard wasn¡¯t able to explain it. It was all their own speculation, ¡°What should we do next? The clan leader told us to bring back Tears of Asha, but the price now exceeds the amount of Warfire Coins we brought.¡± Tears of Asha, it was something the clan leader repeatedly emphasized to them. Whether or not the construction of the ¡®Ultimate Balance¡¯ can revive the glory of the Fairy Clan, the ¡®Tears of Asha¡¯ is a very crucial step in the process. If they fail to bring it back this time, they will still face the harassment of the orcs. The Fairy Clan was once glorious, but the difference in numbers compared to the orcs has now become huge, and this quantity has fully compensated for the gap in quality. Yet, the item they were determined to get at all costs¡­ Suddenly, someone on the second floor raised the price all at once to ten million. This was already beyond the amount of money they had brought. Even if they went back to their clan to get more money now, they would not be able to gather enough during the auction. Moreover, they suspected that the orcs were maliciously bidding up the price. If they followed suit and raised the price, they would end up being the gullible victims. On stage. The auctioneer could barely hide his joy and directly asked the third-floor private box, ¡°One hundred and five million Warfire Coins for once, is there anyone else who wishes to bid?¡± All the spectators also turned their gaze to the third floor. But this time the third floor remained silent, apparently approving of this price. After the auctioneer confirmed for a third time! Bang! With a slam of the hammer, the Tears of Asha were finally bought by someone in the second-floor private box. Once they had the Tears of Asha¡­ After they returned and collected a few other materials, they could build a wishing well. Materials could be obtained directly from the wishing function of the wishing well. However, the auctioneer wasn¡¯t as excited after slamming the hammer. He wondered who the guy on the third floor was. His operation seemed more like a malicious bidding, pranking him a lot. The money he had managed to save was gone now, leaving only a small amount. Fortunately, the Tears of Asha were indeed precious and he had a use for them, so it wasn¡¯t a loss. Before long, the staff brought over the Tears of Asha, and Fang Hao paid the corresponding Warfire Coins to complete the transaction. The auction was still in progress. Since most of his money was spent, Fang Hao did not buy anything else. Not until five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, when the auction ended, did a few people leave the auction house. ¡­ Having left the auction house, Fang Hao and his companions had dinner at a tavern. As they prepared to return, there were few pedestrians on the slender street. As they moved forward, a figure swiftly passed by and blocked their way. This was a fairy girl, the size of a Barbie doll, with butterfly wings on her back. The next second, the fairy girl¡¯s body instantly grew in size, turning into a height of around one and a half meters, with pointed ears, a loli-girl. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Fang Hao curiously looked at the fairy girl. The Fairy Clan, in their original form, were about the size of a Barbie doll, and could even stand in the palm of a human¡¯s hand. However, the Fairy Clan had a spell that allowed them to resemble humans in size for a short period of time. The fairies working in the Trade Alliance also maintained their human-sized state while working. The fairy girl looked at Fang Hao, then glanced at the others, and calmly said, ¡°I know you bought the Tears of Asha, which are very important to us fairies, I hope you can give it to me.¡± Fang Hao looked at the fairy girl, without needing to guess, also knew that she was the person who bid from the third floor. ¡°Two million!¡± The fairy girl frowned, ¡°What?¡± Seeing the fairy girl¡¯s expression, Fang Hao was slightly taken aback, ¡°You don¡¯t plan on getting them for free, do you?¡± ¡°You will get the friendship of the Dreamy Forest and become our friend.¡± ¡­Apparently, she still wants them for free! ¡°Forget it, you can save your friendship for someone else.¡± Fang Hao said, and he prepared to leave with his companions. The fairy girl¡¯s expression immediately became serious, and she asked coldly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I spent ten million to come here and make friends with you? Aren¡¯t you overestimating the fairy clan a bit?¡± Fang Hao began to speak sternly. This woman, she¡¯s lost her mind. I bought it with my money, and she just wants to take it away with a sentence about friendship, I don¡¯t know whether this girl is dumb or if she considers me as dumb. Whoosh! At that moment, several fairy guards surged from all around, surrounding them. The fairy girl revealed a smug smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t kill you, only take the Tears of Asha, and there will be some compensation later.¡± Having said that, her delicate white hand slightly waved, and the guards around her began to close in. Chapter 440 - Chapter 440: 397 Chapter 440: 397 The fairy girl was quite smug. She scoffed at the ignorance of the others. Once she had the Tears of Asha, she could let the Clan Leader and the Elders take care of the rest. They need not worry about such matters. Six Fairy Guards emerged from the dark alleyway. They surrounded Fang Hao and his party, smirking like hunters cornering their prey. Fang Hao stared back coldly at the six fairies surrounding him. [Fairy Guard (7th Order)] [Fairy Sword Dancer (8th Order)] The attributes of the fairies were revealed. There were four [Fairy Guards] and two [Fairy Sword Dancers]. The guards wielded silver polearm war halberds. The top was sharp and spear-like, while the sides had crescent blades. They could both stab and slash with their weapon. Fairy Sword Dancers were 8th Order troops. They wielded dual swords, and their faces displayed an intense murderous intent. It seemed the fairy girl from earlier held quite a high status. 7th and 8th Order were considered high ranks in any army. Fang Hao watched as they approached, but displayed no signs of panic or fear. To him, six soldiers were nothing. How could they compare to his heroes? It was these fairies, seeing him as easy pickings, who had discarded their regard for Trade Alliance rules. Fang Hao took a couple of steps back and murmured, ¡°Kill them.¡± A guard sneered, ¡°Just by you lot¡­?¡± Before he could finish, Demitrija swung his sword, slicing through the guard¡¯s halberd like butter. The second swing of his sword sent the guard¡¯s head flying. As the head rolled to the ground, blood gushed out from the neck like a fountain. The stench of blood was everywhere. Seeing the Fairy Guard fall to the ground, everyone wore a serious expression. The Fairy Guard, considered elite among the fairies, was killed in a single blow. Just who were these people? The fairy girl¡¯s face turned pale, but being already engaged in battle, they had no chance of retreating. She continued, ¡°There are only four of them. All of us together can kill them all. I¡¯ll take responsibility for any problems.¡± The Fairy Guards and Sword Dancers attacked Fang Hao again with their weapons. The fairy girl started flapping her wings. A faint pollen fell from her wings which was carried towards the group by the wind kicked up by the flapping. ¡°This little Flower Demon has released the Dust of the Flower Demon. Those like you might start hallucinating upon inhaling the pollen.¡± Rolana warned from the side. Fang Hao saw the pollen drift towards him, but what could he do? He had to breathe. He covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve and said to Anjia, ¡°Anjia, deal with that Flower Demon, watch out for its odd abilities.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Anjia sent a guard flying with a kick and charged towards the Flower Demon. The Flower Demon didn¡¯t seem to have much melee combat ability. Seeing Anjia rushing towards her, she flew into the sky. Increasing her distance, she continued to scatter pollen downwards. But with the increased distance, the effect of the pollen diminished. Fang Hao covered his mouth and nose. He was coughing a bit, but he hadn¡¯t seen any of the hallucinations Rolana mentioned. Neither Demitrija nor Anjia displayed any reaction or response. It seemed the effect of the pollen varied depending on the strength of the individual. This Flower Demon was clearly not yet fully trained. On the ground! Demitrija swung his sword again and again. Whether guards or sword dancers, none could withstand his second attack. In a blink of an eye, only two were left. Facing the advancing Lizardman, the two fairies retreated little by little, maintaining what they thought was a safe distance. Not all members of the Fairy Clan had wings, they had no way to escape. Only now did they realize how ridiculous it was to try and steal the ¡®Tears of Asha¡¯. Only two of them were needed to deal with the fairies. ¡°Kill them all, let¡¯s go back,¡± Fang Hao called from behind. Demitrija charged again, and in the blink of an eye, killed the last two survivors. In the sky. The Flower Demon watched as all her clan members were killed. Her face turned deathly pale. Not daring to stay any longer, she turned to fly away. But Anjia wouldn¡¯t let her leave easily. ¡°You want to leave now? Too late!¡± Anjia picked up a chain from the side of the road and swung it. The chain shot out like a whip! Smack! The chain hit the Flower Demon¡¯s back. Blood sprayed as she fell from the sky. Anjia quickly approached, ready to punch down. Just then! ¡°Stop!¡± A stern voice rang out from behind. Close by, the intense sound of footsteps could be heard as soldiers in formal armor and four tall Iron Golem Constructs rushed towards them. They surrounded the area. ¡­ Even though the street wasn¡¯t crowded. The fight had attracted many onlookers. Especially since they were not far from a tavern. The entrance to the tavern was already filled with people staring in their direction. ¡°Done for, these guys are in trouble.¡± ¡°What do you mean in trouble? Clearly, all the fairies were killed.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? Today¡¯s security is overseen by Shirel from the Fairy Clan, he¡¯s notorious for being overprotective.¡± ¡°No wonder the fairies dared to cause trouble here, they must have been banking on Shirel!¡± Chapter 441 - Chapter 441: Chapter 397, Shadow Crown Sword-Shirel (Happy day 1.)_2 Chapter 441: Chapter 397, Shadow Crown Sword-Shirel (Happy day 1.)_2 ¡°Very likely.¡± ¡°I see that those people are not to be trifled with. They didn¡¯t hold back in any way, and killed them all.¡± The spectators began to whisper among themselves, glad they had not left early. Otherwise, they would have missed this good show. ¡­ The guards cleared a path. A man garbed in splendid finery and bearing a fairylike appearance emerged and declared solemnly, ¡°You dare to disregard the regulations of the Trade Alliance and fight each other here in private. You are really bold.¡± Anjia glanced at the man, twisted her head, and swung her fist towards the falling Flower Fairy. Shirel gasped inwardly, thinking that this punch alone could kill. Instantaneously, he unseathed the longsword around his waist, leaving a ghost image in his wake. His real body had already rushed in front of Anjia, thrusting his sword forward. Clang!! Shirel¡¯s sword collided with Anjia¡¯s Tiger¡¯s Claw, setting off a sound of clashing metals. The Flower Fairy seized the opportunity and ran into the ranks of the Trade Alliance guards, taking shelter behind Shirel. At this point, the Flower Fairy was dripping blood all over, especially from the iron whip. A blood trail was left on his back, a sight of utter horror. Seeing that the other party had escaped, Anjia silently returned to Fang Hao¡¯s side. ¡°He should be a hero, slightly stronger than me.¡± Anjia leaned towards Fang Hao and whispered. Fang Hao nodded. [Shadow Crown Sword-Shirel (Purple Rank 5 Hero)] As Shirel approached, Fang Hao had already scanned his attributes. A hero of the purple rank was among the upper echelon in this region. Shirel¡¯s face was serious as he cautiously eyed the people in front of him. He was certain that the orc girl and the lizardman were both heroes. As for those two humans, they didn¡¯t appear to be heroes, but he couldn¡¯t be sure either. He had already been stationed at the Trade Alliance for five years. He had met many heroes of different powers. Yet, the few people in front of him were completely unfamiliar, and he could not even identify their powers. But as the commander, he couldn¡¯t just let his fellow beings die in vain, ¡°Who are you to dare to kill people in the Trade Alliance¡¯s territory? You are really bold. Aren¡¯t you afraid that the Trade Alliance will hold your power responsible?¡± All along, Shirel had been shielding the Flower Fairy while pointing his spear at Fang Hao. The bias was very obvious. Fang Hao looked at him indifferently and said, ¡°If you ask the Flower Fairy behind you, you will know that we were only defending ourselves.¡± The surrounding crowd was also discussing. In fact, from their respective positions, Fang Hao¡¯s group were heading to the Teleportation Array while the deceased fairies were from all around. Not far away, someone bold enough provoked from the crowd, shouting that they can¡¯t shield their own kind. This made the city defense commander Shirel¡¯s face becoming not so good-looking. Their fairy tribe was already small in numbers, and so many people had died this time. If he really let these people go, he would lose face in his own group. But the matters must be resolved in a way that leaves no flaws. Heh! Shirel sneered, ¡°Who is right and who is wrong, the Trade Alliance will naturally investigate. Now you all put down your weapons and come with me!¡± ¡°What a joke! If we go with you, we will die even worse.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s expression also cooled. This place is no saint land. If we go with them, it¡¯s like courting death. Besides, the items that I bought are being robbed, and now I am being accused. Agni was suppressed in his heart. ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, not only will you die, but the powers behind you will also be implicated.¡± Shirel gripped his sword tighter, his voice growing colder, ¡°I¡¯m giving you one last chance.¡± ¡°Just you? Giving me a chance?¡± Fang Hao sneered. A cold light flashed in Shirel¡¯s eyes as he transformed into a phantom and instantly appeared in front of Fang Hao. The tip of his sword pointed straight at Fang Hao¡¯s forehead. But just as he thrust the sword, Shirel suddenly felt a terrifying presence beside him. This aura was bone-chilling, dread-inspiring, as if the gate of the abyss had opened and a demon was looking at him with interest through it. Shirel hastily cast a sidelong glance and saw the crimson eyes of another human under his hood. At this moment, he felt as if time had frozen. The hooded human extended a slender, pale finger and flicked it at his forehead. Bang!! Shirel instantly felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow and his body flew back like a shot cannonball. He flew out tens of meters before barely stopping. At this time, Shirel, where was his dashing look? His hair was dishevelled, blood trickling from his forehead, his upper body was dyed red with blood. But it looked like he was not affected at all. Shaking unsteadily, he got up, wobbling on his feet. Rolana was not only proficient in black magic, but her weapon of choice in battle was a red two-handed sword. This finger flick almost killed Shirel. ¡°You, you are a dark gold class powerhouse, the Trade Alliance does not want to be your enemy, this time please let us go in light of our minor errors.¡± Shirel¡¯s face turned pale, a chill running down his spine. He was a Purple Hero and even when faced with an Orange Hero, he wouldn¡¯t be defeated by a single finger. He could be sure that the other party had already reached the Dark Gold rank or even higher. Why would such a person appear here? And why did he happen to encounter him? If they wished, they could kill everyone here. At that time, the Trade Alliance would only arrange for someone to come over and mediate, they would not go to war with a Dark Gold Hero because of them. Now, what he can do is to try and calm down this matter as much as he can. Chapter 442 - Chapter 442: Chapter 397, Shadow Crown Sword-Shirel (Happy first day.)_3 Chapter 442: Chapter 397, Shadow Crown Sword-Shirel (Happy first day.)_3 Rolana remained silent, but her eyes fell on Fang Hao. Fang Hao said, ¡°Why do you think an apology would be useful? You didn¡¯t have this attitude before!¡± The moment Shirel initiated the fight, the negotiation had turned into a battle. It¡¯s a contest of strength, and now our side holds the advantage. Of course, we won¡¯t let them off lightly.¡± ¡°This situation¡­¡± Shirel wished to continue justifying. At that moment, a sharp voice came from the crowd¡¯s rear, ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, I will report this incident to the Trade Alliance headquarters. Appropriate punishment will be meted out to the Fairy Clan and Shirel.¡± A goblin dressed in purple, gold-trimmed robe stepped forward, accompanied by two other goblins and several guards. Fang Hao recognized one of the goblins¡ªit was Moru, the talkative goblin staff member. Moru stayed silent, dutifully standing behind the lead goblin. ¡°And you are?¡± Fang Hao looked at this person. ¡°I am the person in charge of premises 032, ¡®Kukettor¡¯, and I assure you.¡± The goblin spoke. ¡°Your assurance is useless to me. It seems more like you¡¯re covering for them.¡± Fang Hao continued. The goblin paused, thought for a moment, then sincerely said: ¡°As compensation for the previous events, the Trade Alliance will waive the charges for the goods you purchased at the auction today. Furthermore, your status will be promoted from an ordinary member to a gold member. Of course, this does not affect the pursuit of responsibility for Shirel¡¯s misuse of power.¡± After the events accumulated up to this point, premises 032 was facing extreme embarrassment. Not only did they block a Trade Alliance member, but they also lost the fight, forcing them to compensate. Hearing what the goblin had said, Fang Hao¡¯s rage dissipated significantly. This time, the purchased visceral jar and Tears of Asha combined cost about 15 million Warfire Coins. This was not a small sum. Even the total income of Lyss City may not have reached this amount. This 15 million had also drained all of Fang Hao¡¯s reserves, leaving him with only tens of thousands of Warfire Coins. Now that they were willing to waive his fees while the goods remained his own and the money was returned¡ªnaturally, that was good news. After a moment of silence, Fang Hao agreed. ¡°Alright, pay me now, and within a week, I want to know how your headquarters will handle this incident.¡± Since he still relied on the platform of the Trade Alliance, he decided to quit while he was ahead. ¡°I can promise you that.¡± After the goblin spoke, he gave a few instructions to the goblins behind him. Soon someone brought a bundle. Upon opening it, he found neatly arranged Warfire Cards. The total amount was 15.05 million. Fang Hao fastened the bag, holding it in his hand. In this world, it¡¯s still a matter of the survival of the fittest. If Rolana hadn¡¯t displayed her Dark Gold-level strength this time, the Trade Alliance would have found various excuses. No matter how justified one is, without strength, it¡¯s useless. In the end, one must possess power. With the issue resolved, Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan on prolonging his stay. He glanced at the goblin and few people, then led his group towards the direction of the teleportation array. Trade Alliance individuals watched as Fang Hao and his party left, sighing slightly. Shirel, clutching his wound, approached feeling guilty, ¡°Lord Kukettor, I¡¯ve caused trouble for the Trade Alliance.¡± ¡°Shirel, I¡¯ll report the truth to the headquarters. Don¡¯t blame me, I¡¯m also doing this to protect you and the Flower Demon.¡± The goblin in the splendid robe spoke. ¡°I know!¡± Shirel responded. The goblin continued, ¡°Effective immediately, Shirel is dismissed from his leadership position and will be detained along with the Flower Demon.¡± The guards acted, detaining both of them. ¡­ By the time they returned to their territory, it was already quite late. Fang Hao was in a good mood after this auction. He hadn¡¯t spent a dime, yet he had gained an orange visceral jar and the Tears of Asha. If he had known the Trade Alliance would pick up the tab, he would have purchased more at the auction, regardless of whether they were useful or not. ¡°Arrange a room for me, I won¡¯t be returning today.¡± Rolana announced. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll create a private residence for you. You¡¯ll have more freedom there.¡± ¡°I accept.¡± Chapter 443 - Chapter 443: Chapter 398, Kingdom (Ask for Recommendations, Ask for Subscription.)_1 Chapter 443: Chapter 398, Kingdom (Ask for Recommendations, Ask for Subscription.)_1 On this trip to the auction, Fang Hao had significantly noticed a change in Rolana. She had actually had some interaction with Anjia. She asked some questions about goblin technology and gave detailed responses. Especially in combat, she not only actively reminded him that the flower demon had released pollen, but also asked him how to handle the situation after defeating Shirel. In the past, Rolana would never do something like this. Her previous style tended to let loose her anger, but now she clearly wants to interact with others and take care of their feelings. This surprised Fang Hao, and also made him think of ways to maintain this change. He wanted Rolana to blend into the group more willingly. Now, Rolana wanted her own place to live, and Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t refuse. There was plenty of space in the city, and it was no problem to give Rolana a place to live. ¡°What about building it here?¡± Fang Hao pointed to the open space in front of him. This was on the left side of the Lord¡¯s Manor, separated by a main road, but it could still be considered a central location within the city. ¡°That¡¯s fine!¡± Rolana simply stated. Fang Hao directly opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the [Residential] building. He chose to build on the vacant space in front of him. A radiance soared, and a wooden house was constructed. After upgrading the residence to level nine, it had already become a three-story Stone Tower with separate courtyards in the front and back. ¡°There are finished chandeliers and furniture in the warehouse, you can select what you like, and then have the skeleton soldiers move them here,¡± Fang Hao softly said. ¡°Okay!¡± Rolana gave a little nod, and without any hesitation, she took several passing skeleton warriors and headed towards the warehouse. The warehouse stored the furniture and spoils of war that Fang Hao had collected. Among them, they had obtained a substantial amount of furniture from the Blood Clan, and the designs were quite extravagant. However, the patterns carved into the furniture involved motifs often used by the Blood Clan. Skeletal heads and bat wings were rather common. The maids in the city wouldn¡¯t choose this type of furniture, so most of it ended up gathering dust in the warehouse. It just so happened that they could be used for Rolana. ¡­ After Rolana and the skeletons left, Fang Hao directly headed to the Viscera Museum. It was deep into the night. The nightstone lamps on the streets emitted a faint light, illuminating the streets. The Viscera Museum was a special building. The prerequisite for its upgrade was for the Lord¡¯s Manor to reach the Stone Castle level. The tenth level was the Stone Castle, and they were one level away. Upon stepping into the Viscera Museum, he could immediately feel a bone-chilling coldness. The museum was fairly bright inside, but completely empty. The stone doors on the second floor remained closed, as Nelson was inside, crafting his Demon Dolls. Fang Hao took out the [Killing Proficiency ¨C Viscera jar] from his storage space and came before the miniature buildings. Currently, a [Revival ¨C Viscera jar] was placed at the position of the Burial Grounds. The [Lightning Speed ¨C Viscera jar] was stationed at the target range. However, before the next upgrade of the Viscera Museum, only one Viscera jar could be placed on each building. This left Fang Hao once again stuck with making a choice. Remaining buildings included the [Burial Grounds], [Corridor of the Dead], [Undead Mage Tower], [Giant Stone Tomb]. The [Burial Grounds] ¡ª a building for recruiting skeleton workers, was not suitable for the [Killing Proficiency] attribute, so it could be directly ruled out. Left with the cavalry, mages, and two-handed swordsmen, who would be the best fit? So far, in all the battles, there were few opportunities to use cavalry. Not only because the cavalry¡¯s levels weren¡¯t high, but also there was no hero who was particularly good at commanding cavalry within the territory. In the upcoming grand battles, including the Cold Wind Mountains and Bloody Mountains, the terrain wasn¡¯t suitable for the performance of cavalry. Hence, in Fang Hao¡¯s hands, he had never been able to unleash the mobility and combat power of the cavalry. Therefore, [Killing Proficiency] first ruled out the cavalry building. As for the Undead Mage, the execution power of magic was indeed great, but the release of skills required incantation time. Within 3 seconds, the accumulation of attack power couldn¡¯t be achieved, which made it unable to bring out the effect of [Killing Proficiency]. In the end, only [Giant Stone Tomb], with the Barren Tomb Guards wielding two-handed swords, was left. After thinking it through, he walked straight to the miniature building [Giant Stone Tomb]. He placed the Viscera jar in his hand into the circular slot. Click! The slot embarked on a slow descent with a faint sound, leaving only the skull-head jar lid visible. Immediately afterwards, a weak beam of light spread out instantaneously, causing all the Barren Tomb Guards to undergo a change in properties. [Barren Tomb Guard (Tier 4)] [¡­] [Blessed Skill: Killing Proficiency] [Killing Proficiency: Each time an enemy is killed, attack power increases by 100%, and attack speed increases by 75% within three seconds.] (Description: These formidably powerful warriors, whether in their past life or after their ¡®Revival¡¯, swing their enormous weapons tirelessly at their targets. No matter how powerful the enemy, they can¡¯t escape death.) The Viscera jar was indeed a great invention for the Undead Clan. This method amplified the attributes of the troops. It bestowed upon these already indefatigable and fearless troops the capacity for bizarre and unpredictable abilities. Of course, the collection of Viscera jars wasn¡¯t easy, as they contained the organs of powerful creatures. ¡­ Emerging from the Viscera Museum, Fang Hao arrived at the Trade Alliance building once again. Inside the building, the skeleton merchants who had finished their day¡¯s work were chatting and playing cards in the hall. If the skeletons could eat and drink, this place would undoubtedly become a tavern. On seeing Fang Hao entering, all the skeleton merchants stood up to pay their respects. Chapter 444 - Chapter 444: Chapter 398, Kingdom (Ask for Recommendations, Ask for Subscription.)_2 Chapter 444: Chapter 398, Kingdom (Ask for Recommendations, Ask for Subscription.)_2 ¡°Well, everyone continue playing, I have some business with Doujin.¡± Fang Hao gestured with a smile for everyone to carry on. The skeletons sat down and continued with their business while Fang Hao headed for the counter. ¡°Lord, it seems that you¡¯ve made a substantial amount from this auction?¡± Doujin began. ¡°Oh? How can you tell that it was a good result?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯ve just received news from the Trade Alliance. We¡¯ve been elevated from ordinary members to gold members, my lord,¡± Doujin continued. No wonder! Doujin didn¡¯t even know what he had bought himself, how could he know that the benefits were satisfactory? Apparently, he was referring to the elevation in membership level. It seems that Rolana, being a Dark Gold Hero, was quite useful. Even if she couldn¡¯t be used in combat, keeping her as a mascot turned out to be quite beneficial, as she intimidated quite a few people. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between a gold member and an ordinary member?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°My lord, gold members have a 1% tax rate in the Trade Alliance, and can submit up to 4 purchase orders. Furthermore, they have certain privileges during events organized by the Trade Alliance,¡± Doujin explained. Ordinary members were charged a 2% tax. Fang Hao sold a significant quantity of items, and he had to pay 10,000 Warfire Coins in tax for every 500,000 coins earned. It could be said that Fang Hao found it painful to see this amount deducted, but he had no choice but to trade through the Trade Alliance¡¯s platform. Now that the rate had decreased to 1%, the tax was even less. Furthermore, the number of purchase orders increased from two to four, allowing him to buy anything he needed directly through these orders. ¡°Above gold members, are there any other membership levels?¡± ¡°There are also diamond members and supervisors. Diamond members are the top-tier members of the Trade Alliance with a tax rate of 0.5%. Supervisors surpass the concept of ¡®membership¡¯, possessing voting and election rights within the Trade Alliance¡¯s internal affairs,¡± Doujin detailed. In that case, the members on the third and fourth floors of the auction could very likely be the gold and diamond members Doujin mentioned. In addition to the reduced tax rate, they also enjoyed certain privileges, further emphasizing the uniqueness of high-level members. Supervisors, on the other hand, were more like shareholders in modern terms. Once their power was strong enough to influence the Trade Alliance, they would be courted and appointed as ¡®supervisors¡¯ within the alliance, afforded certain rights. While Doujin didn¡¯t specify, these ¡®supervisors¡¯ might even be entitled to a share of the Trade Alliance¡¯s profits. This membership level system indicated that the internal regulations of the Trade Alliance were thorough and comprehensive. ¡°So, from now on, the Trade Alliance will only take 1% from our transactions?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Fang Hao acknowledged with a nod, continuing, ¡°By the way, Doujin, I need a few materials. Take a look in the store to see if they¡¯re being sold. If they aren¡¯t, just fill out an order form directly, I need them urgently.¡± ¡°Okay, my lord. Please tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll check if we have them.¡± ¡°Coral Crystals, Tears of The Ocean, Breeze White Coral, Dawn Blue Coral. I need fifty units of each,¡± Fang Hao read from the Book of Lords. These were the four missing materials for the [Wishing Well]. Given the names, these materials are obviously ocean-derived or from coastal areas. Fang Hao doubted he could obtain them locally. Considering that even the most precious [Tears of Asha] were obtained during the auction, he should speed up the construction process. The sooner he finished building the well, the sooner he could test the effects of the [Wishing Well]. An orange construction with a multitude of unique materials. It should yield powerful results. Click! Doujin opened the shopping grid behind him and searched through the wealth of goods for the materials Fang Hao needed. Upon confirmation, Doujin stated, ¡°My lord, we do offer Coral Crystals for sale at a price of 120 Warfire Coins per unit.¡± ¡°So expensive! Ah, buy them anyway. Place purchase orders for the rest. If there are people selling Coral Crystals, the others should be available for purchase as well,¡± Fang Hao nodded and added. ¡°Very well, my lord.¡± Doujin directly purchased 50 units of Coral Crystals, and filled out a purchase order for the remaining materials. Completing the orders, he turned around and threw them into the mailbox behind him. Fang Hao did not stay for long. Upon leaving the Trade Alliance building, he returned to the Lord¡¯s Castle for rest. Although he only attended an auction today, it was quite exhausting. ¡­ The next day, dawn. Fang Hao woke up early from his slumber, stood by the window, and stretched his somewhat stiff back. He didn¡¯t sleep very well last night. Rolana, along with the skeletons, clanged around as they moved furniture. He didn¡¯t quite understand why moving existing furniture was as loud as a full-scale renovation. He dared not voice his curiosities or even ask about it. Fang Hao was finally allowed some peace and slowly fell asleep when Rolana and the others quieted down in the middle of the night. At breakfast. Anjia, while eating, said to Rolana, ¡°You seem quite capable, Rolana. How about we spar later?¡± Pfft! Fang Hao almost choked. He looked at Anjia in surprise and thought to himself, don¡¯t give away your head so easily. He still remembered when Rolana went crazy. She crushed a massive iron coffin into metal fragments. ¡°No need, I¡¯m not good at close combat, you can practice with¡­ that Lizardman,¡± Rolana casually replied while sipping her fruit wine. Fang Hao frowned, observing the situation in front of him. Not only did Rolana reject it, but she also used a rather euphemistic way to do so. Although, she didn¡¯t remember Demitrija¡¯s name, it did show her attitude. ¡°Yesterday, you repelled that fairy with just one finger, how did you do that?¡± Anjia continued to ask. ¡°It¡¯s the compression of energy. It wasn¡¯t the power of my finger that knocked the fairy away but the power of Dark Magic, which isn¡¯t suitable for you,¡± Rolana explained softly. ¡°Can I learn Dark Magic?¡± ¡°¡­ There is a way, but I feel that Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The two chatted calmly. Giving off a sense of unreal tranquility. ¡­ After breakfast. Anjia was dragged off by Lorrey to visit the newly established Blackfoot Cat village. During breakfast, Lorrey had already arrived, but seeing Rolana there as well, he dared not come in and waited outside. Those who had witnessed Rolana go crazy all felt a certain amount of fear in their hearts. Fang Hao was no different. When Anjia left, Rolana also went to the tailor shop, saying she wanted to customize two pieces of clothing. As everyone else was busy with their own things, Fang Hao continued to research his magic book. Nearing noon. Doujin, the Skeleton merchant, strolled into the Lord¡¯s Mansion, greeted some people including Eira, and said to Fang Hao: ¡°My Lord, here is the blueprint for the [Stone Floor] you requested.¡± After saying this, he handed over the blueprint to Fang Hao with both hands. ¡°Great! Thank you, Doujin,¡± Fang Hao exclaimed happily. With the blueprint, the Lord¡¯s Mansion could now be upgraded to Level 10. ¡°It¡¯s what I should do, my Lord.¡± Fang Hao took the blueprint and Doujin once again bowed before exiting the hall. Using the Book of Lords to check the materials needed, they also began to display. [Stone Floor: Stone x2.] (Description: House floor made from stones.) That simple? The material only required two units of stones. And stones, are a raw material extracted from stone mining. It is difficult to mine stones in ordinary quarries, but in the Coldwind Mountain Range and Bloody Mountain Range, it¡¯s quite common. [Stone] [Category: Stone] (Description: Beautifully patterned rocks.) With sufficient materials confirmed, Fang Hao immediately left the Lord¡¯s Mansion. He began to make stone floors on a vacant lot on the side. [100x Amplification triggered, obtained Stone Floor 808.] 808 pieces of stone floor appeared in front of Fang Hao. The surface of the stone floor was smooth, with unique patterns of stone. Indeed, it looked a lot better than the previous ground stone, but still couldn¡¯t compare to the stone materials used in yesterday¡¯s auction hall. Upgrade materials sufficient. Fang Hao called out all the maids cleaning the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Next would be to upgrade the Lord¡¯s Mansion. [Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle: Hard Tall Wood 25000, Stone Bricks 16000, Fine Stone Bricks 5500, Stone Floor 800, Iron 2100, Cast Iron Blocks 800, Metal Parts 900, Ceramic Tiles 3000] Confirm upgrade. A large light enveloped the Lord¡¯s Mansion as the previous mansion began to be expanded and extended. Several additional hexagonal towers were added. In design, it had completely transformed into a stone castle. It took about half an hour before the upgrade of the Lord¡¯s Mansion was completed. [Upgrade Complete] [Your territory has reached Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle, which meets the criteria for establishing a ¡®Kingdom¡¯. Do you confirm the establishment of the Kingdom?] Chapter 445 - Chapter 445: Chapter 399, Nisbit (Asking for subscriptions and recommendations.)_1 Chapter 445: Chapter 399, Nisbit (Asking for subscriptions and recommendations.)_1 As the system notification rang out, Fang Hao froze slightly. When the Lord¡¯s Mansion was upgraded to level 10, it unexpectedly turned his territory directly into a kingdom. [Your territory has reached the Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle, fulfilling the condition to establish a ¡®Kingdom¡¯. Would you like to confirm the establishment of the Kingdom?] The option appeared, and he instinctively chose to confirm. [Congratulations Lord, for becoming the first lord to establish a Kingdom.] [Rewards: All faction influence +100, Belonging faction influence +200, One blueprint of faction building (Orange),one blueprint of the Kingdom mint (Purple) , one blueprint of the Kingdom flag making (Blue), Kingdom law scroll, Kingdom sand table, 200 Shadowstones, 1,000 Warfire Coins.] The notification rang out again. Just like when he upgraded the City Lord¡¯s Mansion for the first time, the first lord to establish a kingdom also received a system reward. The system¡¯s rewards had never let Fang Hao down. First, he looked at the first blueprint, the [Faction Building Blueprint]. [Ancient Burial Pit (Orange)] [Category: Special Building Blueprint] [Recruitment: Nisbit] [Prerequisite for construction: Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] [Materials Needed: 1200 Durable Wood, 3500 Stone Bricks, 1200 Iron Blocks, 800 Cast Iron Blocks, 5 Traces of Death, 8 Shadowstones.] (Description: The ancient eternal undead protect the grand mausoleum. What is so-called death is nothing more than proof of decay.) Fang Hao felt a jolt of joy when he read the introduction to the blueprint. Because he had the ability to augment 100 times, the Undead Clan¡¯s troop-building construction was exactly what he needed. Especially strong troop-building construction. However, the name of the troop type that this building recruits sounded more like a person¡¯s name. It wasn¡¯t like Skeleton Warrior or Undead Mage, these names with troop type profession. But considering that the building is orange, it should be very powerful. When the time comes, you just need to recruit the troops and check their attributes. He continued to the second blueprint. [Kingdom Mint] [Category: Building] [Building Prerequisite: Kingdom, United City-state.] [Construction requirements: 1100 Durable Wood, 2500 Stone Bricks, 850 Hemp Rope, 800 Iron, 500 Cast Iron Blocks, 1200 Metal Parts, 1 Red Flame Essence.] (Description: Economy is the strongest backing in the competition for survival, the mint can produce a constant stream of gold coins for you.) Fang Hao understood the purpose of the mint. A place to manufacture gold coins. In the warehouse, a lot of gold and silver utensils are stored. All these items are the spoils of war, which also includes the burial goods obtained from some ancient tombs. They are corroded and damaged, and can no longer be used. They could be melted into gold coins later. However, the problem of mint production was also very obvious. The gold and silver utensils will eventually run out. Without gold and silver mines, it is difficult to maintain continuous production afterwards. Fang Hao recalled that Lyss City seemed to have its own gold mine. He could study it on his own. Next is the production blueprint. [Kingdom Flag: 1 Durable Wood, 1 Leather, 2 Linen, 5 Spun Yarn, 1 Silk, 3 Metal Parts .] (Description: You can create your own flag, which represents the identity of the kingdom.) There¡¯s not much to say about the flag, he could make one later to see its use. Finally, there¡¯s the[Kingdom Law Scroll] and the[Kingdom Sand Table]. These two items are finished products, not blueprints. [Kingdom Law Scroll] [Category: Scroll] [Effect: Kingdom order +10%] (Description: The Kingdom¡¯s laws and regulations are standardized and revised, containing all the laws and regulations that all residents within the Kingdom and foreigners must abide by.) The scroll is a one-meter-long silk scroll. The surface of the scroll is in dark purple; you can feel the exquisite and delicate patterns by touching it. When unfolded, the inside of the scroll is blank, without any content or text. It seemed that he needs to fill in the established law articles. Besides, the scroll is also a treasure itself, which increased public order by 10%. [Kingdom Sand Table] It¡¯s a 6-meter long, 5-meter wide sand table. The table includes everything from the Coldwind Mountains to the Blood Mountain Range, and even Crescent Heights. However, due to the large scope of the territory, The downsized sand table only intuitively presents roads and terrain. Except for a few major cities, the villages and towns are not manifested on the sand table. After looking over all the rewards, Fang Hao revealed a satisfied smile. The gains this time are not insignificant. ¡­ ¡­ On the other hand. Yu Tianpeng stood in front of his lord¡¯s mansion, silently looking at the building shrouded in light. He remained silent on the surface, but he was also somewhat excited. ¡°Congrats, boss, for being the first to upgrade the lord¡¯s mansion to level 10. Once the system rewards are distributed, no one will dare challenge your status as the number one in the area,¡± said an obsequious chubby man at his side. The chubby man was Qiu Zhi Shang, who was boycotted by everyone in the channel for selling tiles at an outrageous price. He was somewhat disheartened by the rejection he received in the regional channel. Unexpectedly, however, he received an invitation from Yu Tianpeng right after. Keep in mind, during this time, the ¡®Tianpeng Alliance¡¯ has been quite popular, even overshadowing Fang Hao. After some exchanges, Qiu Zhi Shang joined the Tianpeng Alliance, becoming one of its members. In the future, the alliance members will protect him whenever there is danger. Of course, this kind of protection is not free either. Everyone must be of value to the alliance, and Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s value lies in providing tiles. Chapter 446 - Chapter 446: Chapter 399, Nisbit (Asking for subscriptions and recommendations.)_2 Chapter 446: Chapter 399, Nisbit (Asking for subscriptions and recommendations.)_2 This was also one of the conditions for joining the Tianpeng Alliance. All members¡¯ resources must be under the unified management of the Alliance Hierarch. This allowed Tianpeng¡¯s own city to be up-graded quickly. Today, after purchasing polished stone floors at a high price, he began elevating to level 10. According to the system¡¯s past rules, the first lord to reach the level of a stone castle would receive a system reward, even soaring to great heights. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no rush,¡± replied Yu Tianpeng with a nod, maintaining his mature, composed demeanor. He was even younger than Qiu Zhi Shang. At 32, he had run his own company before crossing into this world, but he wasn¡¯t well-regarded in the industry. After arriving here, he obtained the Alliance Token during a mission. With this, he established the Tianpeng Alliance. Now, many people craved to join the ¡®Tianpeng Alliance¡¯, and made a great fuss over Yu Tianpeng. These people were willing to break their backs working for him, and some of them were even attractive ladies who desired to serve as his female lords. There were already two women within the alliance who had been A-list celebrities before they crossed over, and they were quite pretty and had good bodies. They took shifts to accompany Yu Tianpeng using the teleportation array in order to prove their value. With every improvement made to the Lord¡¯s mansion, transforming into a castle, the smile on Yu Tianpeng¡¯s face would become even more brilliant. Once the light dissipated, Yu Tianpeng immediately received a system notification. But, his smile gradually faded, turning into confusion and disbelief. Qiu Zhi Shang noticed the change in Yu Tianpeng¡¯s expression. He quickly asked, ¡°Boss, what¡¯s up? Did you get any special reward for being the first?¡± Yu Tianpeng¡¯s elevation to level 10 had been significantly aided by Qiu Zhi Shang. In a good mood, he cooked up an idea of spending the night with the celebrity. But when he noticed Yu Tianpeng¡¯s seriousness, Qiu Zhi Shang sensed that something was wrong. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Looking upset, Yu Tianpeng stated, ¡°The system notice said that I was the second one to reach level 10. How is this possible?¡± Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s eyebrows instantly creased. His mind was racing, but he quickly figured it out. Exclaiming, he reasoned, ¡°It must¡¯ve been Fang Hao! Aside from you, only he could produce tiles. Damn, boss, he stole your reward.¡± An undertone of rage creeped onto Yu Tianpeng¡¯s face. People been flattering him, and celebrities spending the night with him¡­ he had felt as though he was the chosen one during this past month. Now, he felt his rightfully earned reward had been snatched away by Fang Hao. On another thought, Yu Tianpeng had questions. ¡°Even if he also possesses tiles, how could his city be upgraded to level 10 before ours?¡± The Tianpeng Alliance combined everyone¡¯s materials to promote him to level 10. How could Fang Hao get there first? That¡¯s not possible at all. ¡°Boss, that must be Fang Hao. He¡¯s the only one with tiles, and I heard that people have found his subordinate cities. He must have had his own team,¡± Qiu Zhi Shang continued. After considerable thought, Yu Tianpeng replied. With a snort, he continued, ¡°Contact the person incharge. I want to find out where Fang Hao¡¯s territory is.¡± Hearing these words, a grin instantly appeared on Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s face. He¡¯d been harbouring a grudge against Fang Hao. If they could use the alliance forces to eliminate Fang Hao, it would also serve as revenge for himself. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll contact him right away.¡± ¡­ After checking his rewards, Fang Hao immediately examined the properties of the Lord¡¯s mansion. [Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] [Belongs to: Fang Hao] [Abilities: Production/Collection +5%, Troop Movement +5%, All attributes +6%] [Existing Buildings: Level 9 Underground Cemetery¡­, Level 9 Stables.] [Can Designate Positions: Bronze Bull City- Tellock, Frostwind City ¨C Skullcrusher, North Fortress ¨C Black Thorn, Pruell Tavek, Blood Castle ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias, Webweaver Camp ¨C Domina, ¡®unnamed¡¯ ¨C Zhang Bin, ¡®unnamed¡¯ ¨C Fu Lei, ¡®unnamed¡¯ ¨C Dong Jiayue, ¡®unnamed¡¯ ¨C Kong Yong.] (Remarks: This is the core building in the territory.) [Required materials for next level upgrade: Tough wood 30,000, stone bricks 20,000, fine stone bricks 7,500, polished stone floor 1,200, iron 2,500, cast iron blocks 1,200, metal parts 1,200, tiles 5,000.] The quantity of required materials had increased a lot, but there were no special materials needed. As long as the factory continued to produce materials. Advancing to level 11 was only a matter of time. Simultaneously, he also found a Positions system. Within the territory, the two main categories under the Positions were Governor and Commander. The Governor is the initial appointee by the Book of Lords, responsible for the city¡¯s development and management. The Commander is the military leader entrusted with control over the city¡¯s military operations. Previously, each governor appointed by Fang Hao in various cities was dual-valent, handling both the management and military duties. For instance, in Bronze Bull City, Tellock served as both the governor and the military leader. With the positions now separated, it would be easier to manage, but he was short-staffed. Adjustments need to be made step by step, and everything couldn¡¯t be rushed. Eira, with her maids, was touring the expanded stone castle. They were planning on what to do with each room and what sort of furniture to add. There were still too few people living in the Lord¡¯s residence. There were only three people: Fang Hao, Eira, and Anjia. It was as if there were only three occupied rooms in a six-story building full of rooms. The maids chatted cheerfully while discussing this. Fang Hao stepped out of the Lord¡¯s mansion, heading towards the Undead construction area. He was somewhat eager to see the kind of formidable troops he could recruit with the blueprint he received as a reward this time. Chapter 447 - Chapter 447: Chapter 399, Nisbit (Asking for subscriptions and recommendations.)_3 Chapter 447: Chapter 399, Nisbit (Asking for subscriptions and recommendations.)_3 Behind the Giant Stone Tomb is a vacant plot of land, providing ample space for construction. Opening the Blueprint of the Ancient Tomb, construction is confirmed. An orange radiance begins to ascend. Gradually taking the shape of a pyramid. An hour passed and when Fang Hao returned from the lord¡¯s mansion, a small pyramid had already appeared before him. Although called ¡®small¡¯, that¡¯s when compared to the pyramids of Egypt from another era. The pyramid before his eyes was at least the size of five football fields. Its exterior is constructed of neatly arranged stone bricks, the surfaces of which are intricately carved with various symbols and texts representing the Undead Clan. Facing Fang Hao¡¯s side is a giant stone gate, etched with an array of patterns and texts. In front of the stone gate are two stone lanterns, giving off a faint blue glow. ¡°It couldn¡¯t possibly house a Pharaoh, could it?¡± muttered Fang Hao. As everyone knows, pyramids are where pharaohs are buried! Although the one before my eyes is a bit small, it should belong to a royal member. He immediately checked the properties of the building. Ancient Tomb Category: Special Building Recruitable: Nisbit Nisbit: Wriggling Spine 10, Death Trace 7, Star Silver 5, Forgotten Soul 1. (Description: The eternal Undead of the ancients, guarding the majestic tomb, so-called death is nothing more than a proof of decay.) The recruitment requirements are quite stringent. Except for Wriggling Spine, other materials are more precious than the last. Especially the Forgotten Soul, there¡¯s only one in the domain. It was obtained from killing the Fear Devourer and kept as loot. If it weren¡¯t for that chance encounter, Fang Hao would probably be unable to recruit. Would you like to consume the corresponding materials to recruit Nisbit? Since it has come to this point, not recruiting seems unjustified. Recruit! A hundred-fold amplification triggered, recruit Nisbit 101. The stone gate in front of him opens, and a large figure walks out slowly. At the same time, with the triggering of the hundred-fold magnification, tall figures began to appear all around. This is a type of soldier standing more than 4 meters tall. The huge skeleton covered in complicated patterns, what caught the eye, is that their skulls resemble the shape of Gnoll¡¯s head. Empty eye sockets emitting faint blue light. It exudes an extreme sense of oppression. Fang Hao immediately checked their attributes. Nisbit (Tier 10) Faction: Undead Racial Characteristics: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness. Skills: Soul Devour, Attribute Stripping, Death God¡¯s Descent. Innate skills: Domain Power Mastery, Domain Axe Mastery. Soul Devour (Passive): Whenever this unit kills an enemy, it devours the enemy¡¯s soul to enhance its own strength. Attribute Stripping (Active): This unit can strip the target¡¯s racial attributes, rendering them ineffective for at least 5 seconds. Death God¡¯s Descent (Active): Blessing from the Death God boosts all attributes by 100% for 120 seconds. (Description: Lich priests, following the likeness of the ¡®Ancient God¡¯, created Nisbit. They guard around the royal tombs and are the creators of the Immortal King¡¯s power.) Tier 10, as expected, Tier 10. In this world, the ranking of soldier types only goes up to Tier 10. And Tier 10 is further divided into upper, middle, and lower ranks, with different levels of strength among them. Once reaching Tier 10, whether one can become a hero or not is the biggest challenge faced. Numerous powerful beings are stuck at Tier 10, unable to pass the test and advance to become a hero. Chapter 448 - Chapter 448: Chapter 400, Belief in the Kingdom_1 Chapter 448: Chapter 400, Belief in the Kingdom_1 Nisbit has a total of three skills. But each skill, has its own distinct characteristics. The first one, ¡°Soul Devouring¡±, enables him to continually enhance his abilities by killing enemies during the fight. The ¡°Stripping Traits¡± skill is more like a skill designed specifically against a certain race. Traits refer to race traits. For example, Demitrija¡¯s ¡°Underwater Breathing¡± and ¡°Scale Armor¡±, and the Flower Demon¡¯s ¡°Flight¡± are all race traits. By stripping these traits from the opponent at the right time, one could even directly kill the opponent. The final skill ¡°Death God¡¯s Descent¡±, a straightforward amplification ability, increases attributes by 100% within 120 seconds. It seems somewhat similar to his own ¡°Body of Giant Spirit¡±, but lasts longer. 101 robust skeletons, their pupils flickering with soul flames. After looking around at their surroundings, they turn their gaze upon Fang Hao. After a brief hesitation, all the Nisbits kneeling on one knee lower their skulls. ¡°We greet the great Immortal King!¡± The voice of Nisbit is low and hoarse, like a throat that hasn¡¯t had water for a long time, or like a warning from a wild beast. Fang Hao raises an eyebrow, quite surprised at the skeletons kneeling before him. This is the first time he has recruited speaking troops from the Undead Army building. A mouth like a human¡¯s, yet endowed with wisdom. Of course, being able to speak is a good thing for Fang Hao. ¡°Get up, all of you. Welcome to the team.¡± Fang Hao says with a smile. Clatter! With the sound of bones rubbing against each other, all the Nisbits stand up, continuing to look at Fang Hao, waiting for the next command. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao asks the Nisbit in the lead. ¡°Nisbit.¡± Huh? ¡°What about you?¡± Fang Hao asks the second one. ¡°Nisbit.¡± He continues to ask the third, the fourth, and still the same ¨C Nisbit. Well, I¡¯ll be! All 101 of the skeletal frames are called Nisbit. This Nisbit is not only their professional title, but also their name. It would be impossible to differentiate between them if they all have the same name. He couldn¡¯t possibly be expected to give them all names, could he? After pondering for a moment, he says, ¡°Nisbit, all of your names are the same, which may be hard to distinguish in the future. How about I give you all a number?¡± ¡°We follow your directives, sir.¡± The Nisbits respond in unison. Fang Hao rubs his ears, and has everyone line up in a long line. He goes on to say, ¡°You¡¯re Nis One, you¡¯re Nis Two, and you¡¯re Nis Three¡­¡± Fang Hao goes on, numbering from Nis One all the way to Nis 101. All of the Nisbits happily accept their new numbers without showing any resentment or opposition. Perhaps, the Undead always have an indifferent emotion. After giving all the Nisbits their new numbers. Next it is the equipment phase. The Nisbits are more than four meters tall, with a strong and robust skeleton. Surprisingly, they¡¯re rather close in size to the Trolls. The best Troll equipment is the ¡°Power of the Sovereign Set¡±, a blue Troll suit. The defense level of this equipment has reached Level 4, which makes it a top-tier product among blue sets. Fang Hao opens the Book of Lords, and directly finds the corresponding blueprint to craft this equipment. ¡°Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, 101 Power of the Sovereign Sets obtained¡± ¡°Triggered Hundred-fold Amplification, 101 Power of Sovereign War Axes obtained¡± One by one, pieces of equipment materialize around Fang Hao, scattering about on the ground. ¡°Okay, Nis One, you command everyone to equip the new gear.¡± Fang Hao says. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Nis One nods, leading the Nisbits to put on the compatible gear strewn about on the ground. When everyone has finished putting on their gear, Fang Hao nods in approval. Standing there as Tier 10 troops, they possess an oppressive charisma unlike ordinary soldiers. ¡°By the way, can you all perform the Heroic Trials to advance into Heroes?¡± A sudden thought flashes across Fang Hao¡¯s mind, the prospect of the Tier 10 troops upgrading to Heroes. In his territory, the Tier 10 Bone Dragon, a troop evolved from a corpse, is unable to take the Heroic Trials. But normally recruited troops, once they reach Tier 10, can take the Hero Trials. He just doesn¡¯t know whether these Nisbits, with their wolf-like heads, meet the requirement. Nis One replies directly, ¡°Sir, we can take the Hero Trials, but the difficulty is higher than ordinary troops, and the pass rate is not high.¡± Based on the description, these Nisbits seem to have some connections with the Ancient Gods. Possibly, this is the very factor that ramps up the difficulty of the trials. ¡°Hmm, difficulty is not a problem, as long as there¡¯s a chance. Later on, I will gather Hero Hearts needed for the Hero Trials and then arrange for you to go through the trials.¡± Fang Hao states directly. ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Nis One answers in a flat tone. Emotion can¡¯t be deciphered from the tone, only apathy and hoarseness. Fang Hao discusses with them for a while, and then begins to assign tasks. The 101 Nisbits are split into two teams. One team led by Nis 51 heads to Zhenbei City of the Bloody Mountain Range to assist Black Thorn in the attack on Kaur Holy Mountain. Kaur Holy Mountain is the most mysterious place in the Bloody Mountain Range. Orange Hero Kaius, carrying offerings to the God, is likely to face some unknown dangers. Even if the Trolls think that the God of Kaur Holy Mountain mentioned in the legends is a lie concocted by the Bloodthroat Clan Leader. But in the treasure box, Fang Hao did obtain a Totem Scroll of Body of Giant Spirit. Chapter 449 - Chapter 449: Chapter 400, Belief in the Kingdom_2 Chapter 449: Chapter 400, Belief in the Kingdom_2 The rewards in the treasure chest were related to the current situation. It forced him to reconsider whether there really was a deity sleeping inside Kaur Holy Mountain. Since there existed a tenth-tier army, naturally the first task was to support the frontline of the battlefield, reducing the dangers and losses in combat to a minimum. The remaining 50 were left in his territory, responsible for its safety, patrolling, and nightwatch duties. Once the arrangements were made, Nisbit 51, along with the Nisbits numbered after him, set off promptly according to the designated route toward North Town City. The team left behind first replaced the guards at the tower pavilion outside the Lord¡¯s Mansion. The two graveyard guards were replaced by Nisbit 49 and Nisbit 50. The remaining Nisbits were tasked with patrolling and securing the outskirts of the city. ¡­ After dealing with the Nisbits¡¯ affairs, Fang Hao continued to the industrial area to construct the Coin Mint, the second blueprint he had acquired. Selecting a location, he began the construction immediately. Thirty minutes later, the Coin Mint was completed. [Coin Mint] [Placement: Workers 0/12] [Materials: Gold, Silver] [Production: Undead Gold Coins, Undead Silver Coins] (Description: Through processing, faction-based currencies can be produced.) Upon seeing the currency types, Fang Hao was taken aback. The currency of the Immortal Undead was called Skeleton Gold, with a skull on the front and a frozen hourglass as the back design. It represented that death was not only about pain and solitude, but also about eternal time and immortal souls. The Immortal Undead¡¯s coinage technique was already very mature. Within the Trade Alliance¡¯s exchange rate matrix, it had reached a ratio of 2:1. This was a high exchange rate among gold coins and common currencies, and some species would deliberately trade for gold coins of the Undead Clan. To go back and recreate the rough Beasthead Gold and Troll Gold from it, squeezing out their gold content. Actually, all species were using Warfire Coins as common currency. Therefore, it didn¡¯t matter what faction¡¯s gold coins were being produced. Even if it was spent among the Human Clan, Skeleton Gold could be exchanged into Warfire Coins. They could then be used in human cities, only that an extra exchange step was involved. This had no impact after all. Moreover, the current gold and silver reserves in the warehouse were not plentiful. Until a gold and silver mine could be excavated, gold coin production wouldn¡¯t be high. So, the second coin mint didn¡¯t need to be constructed. Production could be taken up slowly. Twelve skeletal laborers were called to start work at the Coin Mint. Any gold and silver objects without use in the warehouse were all used to smelt into gold or silver coins. After settling the Coin Mint affairs, it was also lunchtime. ¡­ After lunch, Fang Hao planned to construct the Pantheon and upgrade the Viscera Museum. Just as he arrived at the city center where the deity statues were placed, there was suddenly a press from the sky above his head. He looked up and saw a Bone Dragon soaring past overhead, and a Giant Spider dressed like a maid descended in front of him, hanging from the dragon by a thread of spider silk. The moment she landed, she turned from a giant spider into a tall woman, nearly two meters tall. It was Domina, the leader of the Webweaver Camp. She was dressed in a black-and-white maid¡¯s long dress, with four pairs of long, black, shiny sharp feet sprouting from her back. Upon seeing Fang Hao, Domina¡¯s cold face revealed a small smile, ¡°Greetings, my Lord.¡± Fang Hao was startled by the sudden appearance of Domina. The Webweaver Camp was not near his area, and even by flying on a Bone Dragon, it would take nearly half a day to get there. Domina wouldn¡¯t come over without a special reason. ¡°Well, Long time no see, Domina.¡± Fang Hao responded with a smile. Domina slightly blushed, collecting herself before continuing, ¡°My Lord, I¡¯ve come to report two issues.¡± ¡°Yes, please take a seat, Domina,¡± Fang Hao signaled her to sit on the bench across from him. Seated, Domina continued, ¡°My Lord, half a week ago, our mine was attacked by the Blackstone Tribe. Although we repelled them, they may attack us again in the future.¡± ¡°Blackstone Tribe?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord. Blackstone tribe is a large tribe. For some reason, they have discovered the location of the mine and conflict has occurred,¡± Domina said. Blackstone tribe has been showing up frequently in Fang Hao¡¯s head these days. From the Blackfoot Cat¡¯s mouth, from the Human Clan in the Trade Alliance outpost. This time, Domina reported that the Blackstone tribe attacked the mine. Domina¡¯s mines, capable of producing mithril, is the most valuable of all he owns. It must be flawless. If the opposition truly starts to affect the mining operations. Even if it means a long journey, Fang Hao will strike them down, ensuring the normal operation of the mine. ¡°Alright, what¡¯s the second matter?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°The second thing, as you instructed, we conducted an exploration of the treasure cave in the east. We found a creature on the mountain that greatly resembles a dragon. It seems to be guarding the mountain cave,¡± Domina pondered as she spoke. Last time at the Webweaver encampment. Fang Hao assisted Domina in eliminating the attacking Gnoll tribe. They found an abundance of treasures and a single-page map among the spoils of war. They learned about the treasure cave through the Gnoll Clan Leader¡¯s interrogation. At the time when Demitrija was attacking the Crescent Heights, Fang Hao had Domina arrange to scout it out. The treasure cave Domina mentioned this time was news of the same. ¡°A dragon?¡± Fang Hao frowned. In this region, besides his Bone Dragon, no other dragon-related creatures have been discovered. ¡°Yes, my lord, It greatly resembles a Dragon, but its size is much smaller and there are many of them,¡± Domina continued. The indigenous people do not have the ability to identify the types of troops. When encountering unknown creatures, they would compare them to known species. ¡°How big exactly?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Its body is about the size of a brown bear. It also has large wings, the shape isn¡¯t too different from the Dragon Clan.¡± Domina hasn¡¯t seen the real Dragon Clan, but the Bone Dragon is right there. They are very similar in skeleton and size, the only difference is their body size. ¡°Young ones?¡± Asked Fang Hao. ¡°The number is close to a hundred, I don¡¯t think they are actual dragons,¡± Domina said. Dragons possess immense strength, but few of their kind exist. Otherwise, the continent would already have been ruled by dragons, leaving no space for the Human and Beast Clans. ¡°Did you find anything in the cave?¡± ¡°My lord, our Giant Spiders are unable to confront these dragon-like creatures. We only explored the surrounding area and drew a detailed map. We did not enter the cave, so we can¡¯t say for certain whether there are enemies or treasures inside,¡± Domina said with her head lowered. This was indeed the truth. Military rank is one factor, sometimes racial traits also determine who has the upper hand in battle. The Giant Spiders, facing flying units, could hardly have the advantage. They could even only be passively taking hits. Fang Hao pondered for a moment and nodded, ¡°Alright, I understand. Rest in the territory tonight. Tomorrow, we will go and inspect that cave together.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡­ After discussing with Domina. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and continued constructing the [Pantheon]. [Pantheon: Tough Wood 3200, Delicate Stone Bricks 3000, Cast Iron Chunks 420, Metal Parts 1200, Traces of Prayer 12, traces of God 5, Rich Essence 22.] Confirm construction. A light flickered, an elegant and grand temple appeared before his eyes. The sun shone on the building, reflecting a dazzling brilliance, grey-white marble columns, clean white steps. On the sides of the corridor, two rows of maid statues were holding musical instruments. It gave off a feeling of a fantastical realm. ¡°I wonder if the God of Undead likes this environment.¡± [Pantheon] [Category: Temple] [Ability: Blessing, Kingdom Faith] [Blessing]: All placed statues gain +15% blessing attributes. [Kingdom Faith]: Able to place a King statue inside the temple, receiving dependent faith. (Description: In the closest position to the gods, listen to God¡¯s guidance.) Chapter 450 - Chapter 450: Chapter 401, Pseudo-Dragon Guard_1 Chapter 450: Chapter 401, Pseudo-Dragon Guard_1 The greatest difference between the [Pantheon] and the [Temple] is the number of statues that they could hold. The Temple can only house two statues, whereas the Pantheon doesn¡¯t impose such a limitation. As long as the statues don¡¯t repel each other, they can all be placed in the Pantheon. The attribute enhancement was also improved from 10% to 15%. And, a statue of the king could also be erected to acccept the faith of the people. Although it seemed a bit abrupt, Fang Hao was certain that he was the king. In other words, Fang Hao could erect a statue of himself in the Pantheon. Erecting a statue can increase the attributes of his territory. Erect his own statue. Uh¡­ paying homage to oneself? That felt somewhat strange. For the time being, there were four statues in his land. They were, respectively, [Goddess of Harvest][Slaughter God][God of Deception]and the [God of Undead] that was unlocked by the temple. He placed all of these statues in the Pantheon. A halo spread out from the temple and enveloped his territory. Having managed the Pantheon, Fang Hao went on to upgrade the [Rejuvenation Spring Well]and the [Skeleton Transformation Field]. After the upgrade of the[Rejuvenation Spring Well], the water production enhanced from one unit per hour to two units per hour. The well¡¯s capacity also expanded to 100 units. The upgrade of the[Skeleton Transformation Field]reduced the conversion time and stages downgraded after the transformation. Before, each soldier type would downgrade by two stages after conversion, but now it would only reduce by one stage. It could better preserve the ¡®combat power¡¯ of the bodies before their death. In the end, only the[Viscera Museum]was left un-upgraded. Nelson was still in the stone door, diligently crafting Deomn Dolls. To avoid causing harm to Nelson in the process of upgrading, Fang Hao decided that it wouldn¡¯t be too late to upgrade after Nelson had completed his work. Busy with building upgrade and construction, Fang Hao¡¯s day soon passed. By the time he had finished all his tasks, it was already quite late. After dinner, Fang Hao read some magic books in his room, then went to bed to rest. ¡­ The next morning, After breakfast. Fang Hao and the others started to check their equipment, ready to leave. According to yesterday¡¯s agreement with Domina, they were going to ride Bone Dragons to the Webweaver camp to explore the treasure cave and see what trouble the Blackstone Tribe had brought. They summoned 20 Bone Dragons, accompanied by 40 Nisbits, 20 Skeleton Trolls, 70 Skeleton Archers, and a large number of Skeleton Bat Beasts. Since Domina had already discovered that the enemy was likely holding a dragon-type creature, Fang Hao took more Skeleton Archers and Skeleton Bat Beasts for this particular purpose. Through many battles, it has been found that Archers and Bat Beasts were quite useful against flying enemies. Although Bat Beasts possessed the ability to fly, they couldn¡¯t sustain long periods of flight. Therefore, on the journey to the Webweaver camp, they needed to cling onto the bodies of the Bone Dragons, which would carry them for the part of the journey that required flight. The number of Bat Beasts that a Bone Dragon could carry in flight was not calculated by seating capacity. Roughly each Bone Dragon could carry 80 Skeleton Giant Bats while flying. Fang Hao reserved six Bone Dragons for transporting a total of 480 Skeleton Giant Bats. For the heroes, Fang Hao invited Demitrija, Anjia and the Giant Spider Monster Domina. Nelson continued to stay in the territory, busy crafting Deomn Dolls. As for Rolana, she had already returned to the Blood Castle the night before riding the Bone Dragon that Fang Hao had given to her. She told Fang Hao that message for her could be delivered to the castle anytime. It was clear from her behavior that Rolana intended to integrate herself into the group fully.¡± After all the preparations were done. 20 Bone Dragons carrying the soldiers soared into the sky, grandly heading towards the Webweaver camp. The Bone Dragons were fast. As they were travelling quickly through the clouds, the roar of the wind echoed in their ears. They flew for nearly half a day, and finally arrived at the Webweaver camp at one o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The Bone Dragons landed in the clearing outside the camp. The Undead soldiers on their backs also dismounted and braced themselves for battle. Thud, thud, thud!! Dense footsteps echoed from the dense forest ahead. Large numbers of humanoid-shaped spider soldiers brandishing swords and longbows, burst out from the forest. Seeing Domina, they saluted her slightly. At this point, a Gnoll wearing torn jeans, stumbled out from behind the spider soldiers. First, he amiably greeted Domina and said, ¡°Lady Domina, you¡¯re finally back. I was so worried when you didn¡¯t come back yesterday, I hardly slept the entire night.¡± As soon as he had finished speaking, he caught sight of Fang Hao and Anjia. Recognizing Fang Hao¡¯s identity immediately, he fell to his knees, ¡°My lord, you¡¯re here. I dreamt about something wonderful happening last night, and it really did happen.¡± Without much thought, it was clear that this was the Gnoll chieftain that he had beaten before. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were too worried about Domina to sleep last night? How did you have a dream?¡± Anjia caught a inconsistency in his story and promptly pointed it out. ¡°Oh? Oh, it was a dream I had in the second half of the night.¡± The Gnoll explained while continually scratching his torn jeans. Domina looked at the Gnoll and asked, ¡°Yesterday, did the Blackstone Tribe come to cause any trouble?¡± ¡°No! But there were a lot of those damn scouts lurking around our mine.¡± The Gnoll said furiously. Now, the Gnolls had established a new village outside the Mithril mine. Moreover, as Fang Hao continued to provide aid, the living conditions of the Gnoll miners had gradually improved. The Gnolls didn¡¯t want to be attacked by the infamous Blackstone Tribe. It would ruin their gradually improving living conditions. Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: Chapter 401, Pseudo-Dragon Guardian_2 Chapter 451: Chapter 401, Pseudo-Dragon Guardian_2 Domina looked back at Fang Hao, spoke softly, ¡°Sir, Blackstone Tribe has been gradually increasing their scouts around the mine, I fear a direct attack on the mine will happen soon, we should prepare in advance.¡± Fang Hao did not regard the Blackstone Tribe too seriously. His undead army was large enough to ravage their tribe. The only difficulty was the broken path between the territory and mine. The distance between the two places was too great. Between the territory and the mine, a swath of orc tribes and strategic locations were cut off. Specially now that Bronze Bull and Tasgo¡¯s orc city were negotiating trade cooperation. Whimsically deploying the large-scale undead army to the east could probably cause unpredictable troubles. Despite having a large number of troops. He had to deal with it carefully; causing too much commotion would affect his development and current peace. A large-scale undead army could easily incite scattered orc groups, transforming into a racial battle. Historically, there were instances of living beings rallying together to defeat the undead. However, the Mithril Mine issue also need to be resolved. Fang Hao began to ponder a solution. Take advantage of the night and let the Bone Dragon launch a Dragon Breath attack on Blackstone Tribe, reducing their population. Or perhaps he could liaise with hostile tribes to Blackstone Tribe for some cooperation. If he couldn¡¯t do it openly, there were plenty of covert ways. ¡°First, deal with the treasure cave issue. After that then we draw up a plan against the Blackstone Tribe,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°As you command, sir.¡± Domina nodded. ¡°Alright, Domina you arrange for your people. Bring as many archers as possible. We¡¯ll leave immediately,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡­ As Domina was gathering her people, Fang Hao didn¡¯t rest either. He opened the Book of Lords and began making [Carts] and [Iron Arrows]. [100x amplification triggered ¨C 303 Carts obtained] [100x amplification triggered ¨C 505000 Iron Arrows obtained] The team¡¯s carts stopped in the open area, and a massive number of arrows appeared out of nowhere, falling like rain all around. The number of Iron Arrows may not be needed in this amount. Even if there were leftovers, the leftover arrows could be given to the humanoid giant spiders¡¯ archers. Large numbers of giant spider hatchlings, forming a long line, emerged from the dense forest. The hatchlings gathered the arrows scattered on the ground, then spat out white silk for bundling. This way of gathering equipment was far more efficient than manually collecting the arrows. In less than 10 minutes, All the arrows on the ground were gathered, neatly stacked onto the carts. Once the ground had been cleared, Fang Hao continued creating [Dragon Lock Crossbows] and [Crossbow Heavy Arrows]. [100x amplification triggered ¨C 101 Dragon Lock Crossbows obtained] [100x amplification triggered ¨C 10100 Crossbow Heavy Arrows obtained] The Crossbows and Heavy Bolts were made, littering the ground all around. Dragon Lock Crossbows had wheels under them, which would make transportation facile. The size of the Heavy Bolts was more like a lance, already exceeding the range of arrows. Giant spider hatchlings attempted to reorganize, but even lifting proved to be a challenge. It came down to skeleton warriors to do the reorganization. After the equipment preparation was completed, Domina brought her men out. ¡°Sir, excluding the soldiers left behind, I have gathered 100 spiderized archers and 50 spiderized warriors,¡± Domina said. ¡°Good, prepare to march at once.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After a final check on the equipment, the team set out. They continued eastward from the Webweaver¡¯s camp. Some wild beasts followed the team from a distance. The number of individuals in the team was considerable. The beasts only followed for a short distance before retreating back to the forest. Under Domina¡¯s guidance, Fang Hao and the others finally reached the fringe of the treasure cave¡¯s mountain. Before them was a magnificent mountain. The mountain was densely forested, covered with robust trees. The shade was thick, even paths to climb the mountain couldn¡¯t be found. ¡°Sir, this is the mountain. The treasure cave on the map is located on the mountainside,¡± Domina transformed into her giant spider form, with her lower body enlarging into a colossal spider. ¡°What about those dragon-like creatures you mentioned?¡± Fang Hao, standing by the side, asked. ¡°They¡¯re hiding in the forest on the mountain. Anytime someone gets close, they launch an attack, and there are a lot of them,¡± Domina explained. It seemed there were no other beasts around here. These are the dragon-like creatures Domina mentioned. Fang Hao thought for a moment and continued to ask, ¡°The terrain of the mountain is not suitable for crossbows and archers. Can these enemies be lured out?¡± ¡°They should be. Last time we were exploring this area, we were chased quite a distance.¡± Domina, with her huge spider body lying on the ground, replied. ¡°Good, then prepare to fight here. Demitrija, you are in charge of the battle arrangements,¡± Fang Hao immediately instructed. Demitrija stepped forward, ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Then, he began issuing loud orders to the troop, ¡°Reinforce the crossbows, archers check your equipment, Anjia lead the infantry forward, prevent any enemies from descending the mountain¡­.¡± Orders were given one after another. With the issuance of orders, everyone sprang into action. The crossbows were reinforced and loaded with bolts. The skeleton shooters and transformed spider-shooters were ready with their arrows, waiting for the enemy¡¯s approach. The close combat units moved to the front of the formation. This way, they could have some defense in case any ground troops charged down. After everything was ready, Fang Hao directly activated God¡¯s Presence, controlling a skeleton archer and stepping directly into the dense forest on the mountain. The mountain path was difficult to traverse, and he needed to use a dagger to chop off branches and thorns to proceed forward. He reached halfway up the mountain. Fang Hao indeed saw the dragon-like creatures lurking around the mountain cave. [Pseudo-Dragon Guard (7th rank)] They were just as Domina had described. These Pseudo-Dragon Guards bore a shape very close to that of a large dragon, or rather, a smaller version of a large dragon. But each of them was nearly the size of an adult bear. They had brownish-red scales, four legs, and red flesh wings. They rested on large rocks and trees, or chased around. Their numbers were indeed substantial. The 7th rank, among the troops, could be considered a rather high level, dominating this area as the apex creatures. At the very least, ordinary tribes would not dare to provoke these pseudo-dragons. He reconfirmed the surroundings again. After not discovering any other creatures, Fang Hao took his bow, drew it against a pseudo-dragon in a tree hole in front, and fired an arrow. Whizz! Puff! The body of the pseudo-dragon was covered with a layer of scale armor. But it obviously did not possess the genuine defense of a large dragon; the iron arrow broke through the superficial scale armor and entered the neck of the pseudo-dragon. Although the wound was not deep, it caused the pseudo-dragon to emit a painful scream. Fang Hao did not linger. He hung the bow on his back, turned around, and ran down the mountain. Meanwhile, the pseudo-dragons found the suspicious invader at this moment. Moreover, there was an arrow stuck in their companion¡¯s neck. They all let out screams. Crash! Crash! Crash! A large number of pseudo-dragons rushed into the sky and pursued the fleeing intruder. Fang Hao ran non-stop, not daring to check the wooing noises behind. He was not afraid of death, but feared that if the skeleton he was controlling died, he would have to draw the enemy again. Fang Hao ran wildly and soon rushed out of the dense forest. Only when he saw Demitrija and the others waiting ahead did he take the opportunity to look back. A large number of pseudo-dragons filled the rear sky. The number was even more than he had imagined, at least more than three hundred. The pseudo-dragons also discovered the army below. Not only were there the spider creatures from the day before yesterday, but also many skeletons. The pseudo-dragons immediately changed their target, not caring about the fleeing skeleton, but rather rushed towards the mixed army below. ¡­ Blockading skies, the pseudo-dragons were coming, and the pressure was not small. The undead didn¡¯t seem too nervous but the transformed spider soldiers¡¯ faces had started to change, and their spider-legs were beginning to tremble. Demitrija, looking at the approaching pseudo-dragons, said coldly, ¡°Attack!¡± Whizz, whizz, whizz! Bang! Bang! An intense barrage of arrows, like a large net, went straight towards the pseudo-dragons. Thr crossbows also make earth-shaking noise, shooting hefty bolts into the sky. Chapter 452 - Chapter 452: Chapter 402, Gold Mountain Silver Mountain_1 Chapter 452: Chapter 402, Gold Mountain Silver Mountain_1 The Pseudo-Dragon Guardians, with their reddish-brown scale armor, emitted a faint glow under the afternoon sun. Pseudo-Dragons displayed a high agility, performing various evasive maneuvers in the air to dodge the incoming arrow shower. But, the arrow rain covered a large area. Even though Pseudo-Dragons used all sorts of methods to evade, some Pseudo-Dragons were still hit by the arrows. With painful hissing, they fell from the sky, one after another, like dumplings. Their scale armor, however, provided the Pseudo-Dragons with satisfactory defense. The falling Pseudo-Dragons shook their dizzy heads and continued to fly back into the sky to launch another attack. However, there were unfortunate Pseudo-Dragons that were pierced directly through their bodies by the Dragon-locking crossbow bolts, leaving a bowl-sized hole. They died instantly. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! The second and third waves of arrow rain quickly followed. The arrows were unleashed, not sparing any cost, like a downpour. The Pseudo-Dragons resembled flying hedgehogs, their bodies bristling with arrows. At the same time, more and more Pseudo-Dragons were seriously injured and fell on the ground, unable to get up again. After the third wave, half of the Pseudo-Dragons were eliminated. Nevertheless, more than one hundred of them still attacked desperately. Soon, they reached the airspace above the undead army. The trolls started throwing flying axes. The 20 Nisbits used the ¡°strip characteristics¡± skills on the Pseudo-Dragons. In an instant, black fog enveloped the heads of twenty Pseudo-Dragons. The next second, their wings twitched and they could no longer fly. They fell from the sky. The Nisbit walked up, raised his battle axe, and cut off the heads of the Pseudo-Dragons. Fang Hao stood at the end of the line, watching the skills released by the Nisbits. The Pseudo-Dragons that were stripped of their flight characteristics fell from the sky like victims of Parkinson¡¯s disease. ¡°Just as I thought.¡± The situation was as he expected. Characteristics referred to racial characteristics, without a deeper interpretation. The form of skill released by the ¡°strip characteristics¡± was more like a curse ability. The effects were also like those of a curse, the loss of physical abilities. The battle was continuing. The Skeleton Giant Bats began to act, clashing with the remaining Pseudo-Dragons. Two types of attacks from the Pseudo-Dragons were confirmed so far. Biting and tail attacks. The end of a Pseudo-Dragon¡¯s tail was like the stinger of a scorpion. The stinger could easily pierce the skull of the Skeleton Giant Bat, and the movement was extremely fast. But the Skeleton Giant Bats won in sheer numbers and their lack of sense of pain. They stubbornly entangled the Pseudo-Dragons. Lots of the Pseudo-Dragon Guardians were kept out of the line by various means. A few Pseudo-Dragons, despite being studded with arrows, managed to bypass the Skeleton Giant Bats and dive into the ranks below, starting a melee. ¡°Change to melee weapons!¡± Demitrija ordered again. All the archers put away their bows and took out their melee weapons from their waists. Anjia and Domina also led their melee troops to start cleaning up the surrounding Pseudo-Dragons. Even the Pseudo-Dragons who had rushed into the ranks were killed swiftly. It was clear that though this creature resembled the Dragon Clan in form, their character was more like a wild beast¡¯s instinct. Highly aggressive, but not very intelligent. They couldn¡¯t judge whether they had a chance of winning based on the enemy¡¯s number and equipment level. Even if they didn¡¯t have any advantages in the battle, they still launched attacks nonetheless, even showing signs of fighting to the death. Soon, large numbers of Pseudo-Dragons were cleaned up. Those who realized that they wanted to escape too late were surrounded by the Skeleton Giant Bats and were chewed into white bones. Bones and gore fell from the sky. ¡°Sir, all the enemies have been killed.¡± Demitrija walked back. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Well, clean up the battlefield and collect all the bodies.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Demitrija took his orders and left to command everyone to clean up the battlefield. They collected arrows and dealt with bodies scattered all around. While everyone was busy, Anjia carefully walked over. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t need much to convert these little dragons. Can you leave a few for us?¡± Anjia said mysteriously. Fang Hao was taken aback and asked in curiosity, ¡°Do you have a use for them?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ well, it¡¯s not for me. I am asking for Domina. She wants to taste whether these little dragons are delicious or not.¡± Anjia replied. Fang Hao frowned, ¡°Domina wants to eat this stuff?¡± The food that could be butchered would be marked as ¡°can be butchered¡±. He hadn¡¯t received such a notice. ¡°No, she wants to feed it to her Giant Queen Spiders in her camp. She doesn¡¯t want to eat them.¡± ¡°Oh, then leave some for her.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. ¡°Good!¡± Anjia agreed and walked to the front of the team, whispering to Domina. Then, one could see Domina commanding the spider soldiers to wrap five well-preserved bodies with spider silk. They turned the bodies into cocoons. In no time, the battlefield was cleaned up. The arrows were recycled. And they gained 142 of the ¡°Wriggling Spine¡±. Beyond that, there were no other spoils of war. ¡°Sir, the scouts have returned. They didn¡¯t find any enemies on the road leading to the cave.¡± Demitrija walked over again. Fang Hao nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Good, leave some people to guard the supplies. Let¡¯s go up the mountain.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Chapter 453 - Chapter 453: Chapter 402, Mount Golden Silver Mountain_2 Chapter 453: Chapter 402, Mount Golden Silver Mountain_2 ¡­ The treasure cave is located halfway up the mountain. Without the guidance of a map, it would be very difficult to locate it within such a massive mountain range. The path up the mountain is not easy. The cart and the bodies can¡¯t be carried along. Demitrija arranged for some people to stay at the foot of the mountain, not only to guard the belongings but also to keep an eye out for potential enemies from behind. Fang Hao and others, formed a long line. A Skeleton Troll took the lead, chopping away the thorns blocking the path with the battle-ax in its hand. This allowed the team to progress smoothly. Upon reaching the middle, they saw the treasure cave. Everyone drew close, looking at the huge cave. The cave was very tall, standing in front of it, you feel very insignificant. You can see traces of excavation around the cave. ¡°Stay alert here, I¡¯m going in to take a look.¡± Fang Hao said. After using God¡¯s Presence, he utilized the Skeleton Sparrow to enter the cave. The Skeleton Sparrow is small in size and thus often unnoticeable. Even if there are powerful creatures in the cave, there¡¯s a great chance they¡¯ll overlook such a small sparrow. The cave is dark and deep, with jagged rock walls on either side. Perhaps because they¡¯ve been dealing with burial grounds lately. Fang Hao even suspects this mid-mountain cave may well be an ancient tomb or some sort of historical monument. The cave path is sinuous, fortunately, there is only one road. Moving forward, you can see some plants, similar to moss, glowing a faint green light in the corners of the cave. [Luminous Fungal Carpet] The deeper you go, the larger the coverage of this fungal carpet. Covering the floor and walls entirely, it truly resembled a large carpet. Fang Hao controlled the Skeleton Sparrow to land on the carpet, showing no aggressiveness. So, it¡¯s probably just a kind of fungus that grows in particular environments. Soon, Fang Hao flew to the deep part of the cave. All around, various Nightstones started to appear. As his field of vision became lit up, his heart gave a great leap. It was a wide open, massive space. Rather than a cave, it was more like a palace carved into the mountain. The stone wall was no longer rough. The ceiling hung full of lanterns adorned with Nightstones. On the stone columns supporting the roof, intricate designs were carved. Contrasting greatly with the stony corridor outside. In the center of the palace was a massive rectangular stone platform, covered in a great deal of fur. Other than the size, it looked quite like a huge stone bed. Surrounding the stone bed, heaps of Gold Coins and gems could be found. The flicker of the gemstones and gold was almost blinding to Fang Hao¡¯s eyes. This is madness! Did he just stumble upon a pirate¡¯s treasure trove? How could there be so much wealth? The quantity of jewels shocked Fang Hao. It took a while for Fang Hao to suppress his astonishment. Flapping its wings, the sparrow flew a circle around the cave. Other than the piles of gold and jewels, no danger or enemies were detected. Only after confirming there were no enemies and no danger Fang Hao controlled the Skeleton Sparrow to fly out of the cave. After dismissing God¡¯s Presence, Anjia asked, ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°No danger inside, there¡¯s a lot of money.¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°A lot of money?¡± ¡°A lot of money, the cave is filled with Gold Coins and gemstones.¡± Fang Hao stated confidently. Anjia frowned, touched his forehead, ¡°Did you eat some strange mushrooms or something¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Fang Hao checked the Light Feather short sword strapped at his waist. Ensuring that he wasn¡¯t under a curse or mental disruption. Therefore, he hadn¡¯t hallucinated, there were indeed countless treasures inside. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and crafted a large amount of [Troll Stitched Marching Tents]. This type of tent is stitched from large pieces of Beast Skin, they can wrap up the Gold Coins and gemstones for transport. ¡°Let¡¯s go, move in.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Everyone, carrying their stitched Beast Skin, with Nightstones out, walked into the cave. They hadn¡¯t walked far When suddenly, Demitrija halted the advancing team. With the Nightstone in hand, he crouched down and looked at the ground. ¡°Master, there are footprints on the ground leading outwards.¡± Fang Hao and Anjia rushed over to Demitrija¡¯s side, where they too, noticed the outward-moving footprints on the ground. When Fang Hao came in earlier, he didn¡¯t have the Nightstone for illumination. He hadn¡¯t noticed the footprints on the ground, but now that Demitrija mentioned it, it was obvious towards what he was implying. Someone had left from inside the cave. ¡°Judging from the footprints, they weren¡¯t made a long time ago, probably just a few days.¡± Demitrija analyzed. At these words, Fang Hao suddenly thought of the Blood Hunter. It was while he wasn¡¯t home, that he had cleared out Shadowwind Castle. Now, the same thing is happening again. Wasn¡¯t this unearned wealth? Fang Hao stood up and immediately said, ¡°Hurry up and finish moving everything as fast as you can, let¡¯s not disturb the owner when they come back to rest.¡± The pseudo-dragon outside the door was the guard protecting the treasures in the cave. He had already committed the act of killing, so the enmity was inevitably formed. Leaving now wouldn¡¯t change anything, so he might as well do a thorough job. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Demitrija gave the order. The large group marched onward swiftly. As they entered the deeper chambers of the palace, everyone¡¯s expressions changed. Mountains of treasures. How much fortune was this? ¡°Move everything to the carts at the foot of the mountain. Domina, you ride the Bone Dragon and transport the bodies back, then return here.¡± Fang Hao gave a direct order. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Domina agreed and immediately left. The remaining Skeleton Trolls and Spiderized soldiers opened large stitched-up beast skin bags, filled them up with gold and jewels, then used spider silk to seal the opening. They then carried everything down to the foot of the mountain. ¡­ The Skeleton Soldiers were busy going in and out. They carried bag after bag of treasure out. As the surface jewels decreased, they discovered golden chests and Dragon Crystals on the ground. The moment he saw the Dragon Crystals, Fang Hao realized that the cave¡¯s original owner was probably an actual dragon. The footprints at the entrance might belong to another human, or a dragon in human form. Previously, Domina mentioned to Fang Hao, Many races had the ability to morph into human form once they became heroes. Maintaining their original form consumed a tremendous amount of energy, so they typically appeared in humanoid form, retaining some of their original features. Like Domina in her humanoid form, she still retained her insect shell and spider appendages. It¡¯s highly possible that the owner of the cave was a dragons who can shape-shift into human form. ¡­ ¡°Master, we¡¯ve finished moving everything and cleaned up any traces we left behind,¡± Demitrija walked over again and reported. ¡°Good, you all did well.¡± Fang Hao nodded in approval. ¡°Master, we can leave now. It¡¯s getting late outside; I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t return to the Webweaver¡¯s campsite until after midnight,¡± Demitrija continued. The time spent fighting with the pseudo-dragon guard was less than the time it took to transport the treasures. Now it was 10 pm. The wilderness at night was very dangerous. ¡°Wait, Anjia, can you write in the Orcish language?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°It depends on the words.¡± ¡°On this pillar, write, ¡®The treasures now belong to the Blackstone Tribe. If you¡¯re not happy, come fight with me, you little dragon ¡­''¡± ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re really bad¡­¡± Anjia smiled, understanding Fang Hao¡¯s intentions. She immediately began to carve Fang Hao¡¯s words on the stone pillar. Halfway through, she turned back and asked, ¡°How do you write ¡®Fight¡¯?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me? Just draw a kitchen knife ¡­¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Demitrija, standing behind them, watched as the two debated how to substitute for the characters they didn¡¯t know how to write. He had to leave and instructed everyone to prepare for the return journey. Soon, the twisted and provoking words were completed. The two of them headed down the mountain, and the team began their return journey. ¡­ The large group moved swiftly through the night. In the woods on either side of the road, You could hear creatures sounding along with the caravan. Luckily, there were many undead in the team providing an adequate defense. After trailing them for a while, when they¡¯re near the Webweaver¡¯s camp, they gave up following. Domina arranged rooms for everyone. Fang Hao and Anjia got a room suspended in the air, secured by white spider webs. Because the spiderized soldiers didn¡¯t use beds, The two had to sleep on the ground as well. Just as he closed his eyes, he heard the scurrying sound of spiders outside. It made him uncomfortable. The next morning, Fang Hao walked out with dark circles under his eyes. A giant spider hatchling delivered two pieces of roasted meat to him. On the roasted meat, there were still some dark red scales that hadn¡¯t been removed. Chapter 454 - Chapter 454: Chapter 403, Exploding Soldier Bone Dragon_1 Chapter 454: Chapter 403, Exploding Soldier Bone Dragon_1 The roast meat was made somewhat coarsely. It looked like the meat was just cut into chunks, roasted, and then sprinkled with some seasoning. Compared to the food Eira makes, it¡¯s simply no comparison. Moreover, at a glance, the roasted meat in front of my eyes looks like the corpse of the Pseudo-Dragon guard that was killed yesterday. There was no prompt for slaughter when the corpse of the Pseudo-Dragon appeared. Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t dare eat such meat casually. Many creatures have toxins in their flesh to lessen their natural predators. If he was poisoned by just eating something casually, it would have been a poor trade-off. Just when Fang Hao planned to let the Giant Spider Hatchling take away the roast meat, Anjia rushed out of the room. ¡°The roast meat is delivered, let me taste it.¡± Saying that, she took a bite. After chewing a couple of times, she tasted it. The next moment, she spat it out, ¡°It¡¯s not tasty, and it¡¯s poisonous¡­¡±. ¡°Damn¡­¡± Fang Hao cursed and immediately got some drinking water for Anjia to rinse her mouth. At the same time, he asked the Giant Spider Hatchling to take away the roast meat. The Giant Spider Hatchling held up the tray and ran off. Fang Hao also called a Spider-Warrior standing outside the door. He asked him to inform Domina that the meat was poisonous and couldn¡¯t be eaten. The Spider-Warrior left, and Fang Hao looked down at Anjia, who was squatting and rinsing her mouth, his brow slightly furrowed. Wasn¡¯t it said that the body of the Pseudo-Dragon was supposed to be a reserve for the Giant Spider Queen? Why was it sent here early in the morning? Adding to that, Anjia had been eager to eat just now, Fang Hao could guess a few things. It seemed that Anjia had told Domina to send a portion to her after she finished cooking. With a displeased glance at Anjia, Fang Hao squatted down and asked, ¡°How are you? How did you know it was poisonous?¡± ¡°My tongue is still numb, there must be poison, I have experience.¡± Anjia said with a heavy tongue. One of Anjia¡¯s racial traits was Poison Resistance. As long as she was not killed directly by poison, her body would slowly dilute the toxins in her body and eventually recover to normal. This was the main reason why Anjia dared to eat anything and was still alive. If any other race followed her reckless eating method, they might have died many times already. From the storage space, he took out a Detox Potion and had Anjia drink it up. After a while, Demitrija arrived, and Anjia had also returned to normal. Fang Hao took out some prepared roast pancakes and divided them among the two as breakfast. As Anjia ate, she grumbled about the dragon meat, which was nothing to brag about. Not only was it poisonous, but more importantly, it was not tasty at all. After breakfast, they walked out of the room. At the center of the camp, they saw Domina directing her work. ¡°How¡¯s the preparation?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, everything is ready. The 20 Bone Dragons can take all these spoils back¡± Domina replied. The gold and silver jewelry brought back yesterday had been divided into 20 parts, wrapped in thick leather. It was secured to the backs of 20 Bone Dragons with layers of spider silk. This ensured that the wrapped pieces would not fall or get damaged during the Bone Dragons¡¯ high-speed flight. ¡°Mmm, well done. The skeleton archers and skeleton trolls that came this time will all be left to you. They will follow your command¡±, Fang Hao continued. Domina hesitated slightly, but still asked, ¡°Sir, what are your plans for the Blackstone Tribe?¡± With the power of the Webweaver camp, they were not at the same level as the Blackstone Tribe. The only thing Domina could rely on was Fang Hao¡¯s undead army. If Fang Hao was unwilling to intervene, not to mention that she would not be able to defend the Mithril Mine, even her camp might be taken over by the Blackstone Tribe. Spider mutated monsters were particularly despised by the orcs. Falling into the hands of the notorious Blackstone Tribe would have unthinkable consequences. After a moment of thought, Fang Hao said, ¡°When the time comes, I will arrange for Bone Dragons to continue transporting some troops over here to ensure your safety. If the owner of the treasure cave does not take action against Blackstone, I will arrange for the Bone Dragons to clear out the Blackstone Tribe.¡± ¡°The owner of the treasure cave?¡± Domina asked, her eyebrows creasing slightly. When Fang Hao and Anjia were taunting inside the cave, Domina was directing the Bone Dragons to transport the war loot from the Wolf Camp batch by batch. She was not aware of this matter. After Fang Hao gave her a brief explanation, Domina instantly understood Fang Hao¡¯s intentions. So, he was planning to agitate the murderer. ¡°Alright, sir, we¡¯ll wait a few more days according to your plan,¡± Domina said. ¡°Mmm,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡­ After explaining the Blackstone Tribe¡¯s affairs. Fang Hao looked directly at the golden chest on one side. He walked over to open the chest. A large blue light sparkled. ¡°Obtained: Blueprint for Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Helmet (Blue), Blueprint for White Steel Armor (Blue), Blueprint for White Steel Claws (Blue), Blueprint for White Steel Tail Spike (Blue), Dragon Crystal+8, Warfire Coins+120.¡± Seeing the blueprints and dragon crystals that appeared, A look of delight appeared on Fang Hao¡¯s face. Finally, there¡¯s equipment for the Bone Dragon to wear. The Bone Dragon was one of the most powerful units in the territory. Its mobility and combat abilities were incredibly strong. But all along, the Bone Dragon¡¯s armor had been two metal shields, fixed to the Bone Dragon¡¯s chest to act as defensive armor. The defense was not strong, and when the Bone Dragon was in fast flight, The armor clattered noisily, which was quite inconvenient. Now, there¡¯s finally armor for the Bone Dragon to wear. ¡°Blueprint for Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Helmet: Thick Leather 20, Iron 22, White Steel Ingots 18, White Steel Plaques 10, Metal Parts 22.¡± Chapter 455 - Chapter 455: Chapter 403, Exploding Soldier Bone Dragon_2 Chapter 455: Chapter 403, Exploding Soldier Bone Dragon_2 [Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Armor Blueprint: Thick Leather 120, Iron 100, White Steel Ingot 80, White Steel Plate 60, Metal Parts 100.] [Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Claw Armor Blueprint: Thick Leather 60, Iron 50, White Steel Ingot 42, White Steel Plate 20, Metal Parts 65.] [Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Tail Armor Spike Blueprint: Thick Leather 90, Iron 80, White Steel Ingot 70, White Steel Plate 45, Metal Parts 55.] The size of a real dragon race is enormous, hence the resources consumed are much higher than those of normal armor. However, fortunately, all these four blueprints involve only white steel and ordinary materials. Fang Hao has enough of them at hand. After returning, the crafting process can begin, equipping the Bone Dragon. In addition, a good number of Dragon Crystals that were obtained in the cave can be put to use in expanding the number of Bone Dragons. This could considerably strengthen the fortress. The final Dragon Crystals and Warfire Coins are pretty straightforward. They are directly stored in the storage space. Using the Book of Lords, the blueprints are grouped. After giving a few instructions to Domina, Fang Hao leads his team onto the Bone Dragon, carrying the spoils of their expedition back to their territory. ¡­ Upon returning to the fortress, it¡¯s already 3 in the afternoon. 20 Bone Dragons, their backs filled with spoils, land on the open ground in front of the lord¡¯s mansion. Raising a great cloud of dust. ¡°Master, you are back!¡± Eira, along with some maids, rushes out to greet him. ¡°Yes, I was gone for a day, nothing happened to our territory, did it?¡± Fang Hao jumps off the Bone Dragon and pats Eira¡¯s head. ¡°No, Master, nothing happened to the territory, and Dr. Nelson did not come out either.¡± Eira softly reports. The nearby territory is tightly surrounded by the undead. Strangers and beasts are attacked by the army as soon as they approach. This basically prevents problems, and any special situation in the other affiliate cities would be communicated with Fang Hao by using the Sound-transmitting Shell, and thus one would not reach Eira. ¡°Good, as long as there were no problems.¡± Fang Hao nods in satisfaction and then commands the others: ¡°Anjia, you supervise the Skeletons to transport the Pseudo Dragon corpses to the Transformation Pool. Nis Two, you guys remove the packs from the dragon¡¯s back.¡± After Anjia greeted Eira, she directed the Skeletons to transport the Pseudo Dragon corpses back, to the Transformation Pool. Nis Two and ten others follow Fang Hao¡¯s command, cutting off the cords binding the beast skin packs, and removing them. Twenty packs thrown onto the ground raise a huge noise, accompanied by the clinking sound of coins. ¡°Open the packs.¡± The packs are opened one by one, and a great number of Gold Coins and gemstones spill out, forming 20 small piles of gold. Wow!! A chorus of gasps arises from the maids. The afternoon sunlight reflects off the gold coins, dazzlingly bright. The maids¡¯ eyes are wide-opened and they stand, stunned, unable to believe what they¡¯re seeing. They¡¯ve never seen so much money before. Actually, Fang Hao is not short of money either. But storing and carrying gold coins is a burden, so every time the amount reaches a certain level, they¡¯ll be sent to the Trade Alliance to be exchanged for Warfire Cards. Warfire Cards can contain a large amount, but they certainly do not have the impact of seeing mountains of Gold Coins. [Human Gold Coins 750,000, Silver Coins 520,000, Orc Gold Coins 1,150,000, Silver Coins 680,000, Dwarf Gold Coins 320,000, Silver Coins 150,000, Undead Gold Coins 450,000, Silver Coins 120,000, Elf Gold Coins 30,000, Silver Coins 50,000, Golden Artifacts 200,000, Silver Artifacts 500,000, Gemstone Agates 3,240,000¡­] With the system¡¯s enhancement, the quantities and types of items have been automatically tallied. There are quite a few types of currency. In addition to human, orc and undead money, there are also dwarven and elven currencies. He¡¯s seen dwarves at the Trade Alliance auction, but he has yet to meet the legendary elves. ¡°Eira, arrange for people to sort out these spoils. The coins will be exchanged for Warfire Cards by Doujin when the time comes. The gemstones and gold and silver utensils can be sent straight to the basement.¡± Fang Hao dictates gently. The gemstones can be used to make jewelry by the goldsmith. Gold and silver utensils will be checked again, and ones that are not useful will be sent to the coin mint to be recast into gold coins. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Eira claps her hands and tells the maids behind her: ¡°Okay, stop standing there, go and prepare some boxes, and separate the coins and the gems.¡± The maids recover from their shock and, following Eira¡¯s instructions, they bring some large boxes. They begin classifying the coins and gemstones. While the maids are busy, Fang Hao heads for the [Skeleton Conversion Field]. From a distance, he sees Anjia instruct the skeleton soldiers to throw the bodies of the Pseudo Dragon Guards into the Transformation Pool. Over 300 Pseudo Dragon skeletons were being slowly consumed in the Transformation Pool, eventually unlocking new troops. ¡°Alright, everything is thrown in, I¡¯m not needed here anymore, right? I¡¯m going to play with Lorrey now.¡± Anjia says. ¡°Go ahead, but remember to be back in time for dinner.¡± Fang Hao advises. ¡°Oh.¡± Before long, Anjia was seen riding her Giant Lizard, waving to Fang Hao as she gradually receded into the distance. ¡­ 5 minutes later. The first Pseudo-Dragon Guard was completely transformed, and a new type of soldier was also unlocked in the transformation field. Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon Guard (Tier 6) [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Vulnerable to light, Emotional Language] [Skills: Keen Senses, Magic Resistance, Bite, Stinger] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Flight Mastery, Intermediate Hunting Mastery] [Emotional Language]: This unit can¡¯t speak but can share its emotions through sensations. [Keen Senses]: This unit has an advantage in sensing and perceiving. [Magic Resistance]: Magic resistance +15%. [Bite]: Close-range attack, lunges at target unit for a bite attack. [Stinger]: Tail stinger attacking the target, low resistance units may be poisoned or stunned, external interference can prematurely terminate the stun effect on the target. (Note: Skeleton units transformed from corpses still retain their features and attack methods from their previous lives.) Fang Hao nodded, the attributes of the Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon were average. Nothing particularly outstanding. But they could replace the Skeleton Giant Bats, the flying units went from being tier-three to tier-six troops. But when Fang Hao saw the recruitment conditions of the Pseudo-Dragon, the smile on his face immediately faded. [Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon Guard (Tier 6): Wriggling Spine 6, Death Trace 3, Dragon Crystal 3.] He could bear the first two materials. To recruit a flying unit that can only bite and sting, it actually requires three Dragon Crystals. Let alone the effect of this Pseudo-Dragon and Giant Bat isn¡¯t substantial. Even if they had some special skills, Fang Hao would not be willing to spend three Dragon Crystals to recruit them. Blood Stones and Blood Castles can be continuously eradicated, but they are easier to get than Dragon Crystals. The Skeleton Giant Bats still offer the best cost-performance ratio. After checking the properties of the [Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon], Fang Hao continued to attend to his own affairs. He was here mainly to continue recruiting Bone Dragons. The Dragon Crystals awarded from the treasure cave and the treasure chests this time totaled 32. He planned to recruit them all into Bone Dragons. [Bone Dragon: Wriggling Spine 10, Death Trace 7, Star Silver 5, Dragon Crystal 10.] He had a storage of Death Trace and Star Silver in the warehouse, fulfilling the requirements for recruitment. He adjusted the recruitment quantity to 3. Confirm recruitment. [Multiplication of effects by a hundred triggered, recruited Bone Dragons 303.] Whew!!! In an instant, the sky darkened. 303 Bone Dragons appeared in mid-air, circling above Fang Hao. ¡°Go and stand by outside the city,¡± Fang Hao loudly instructed. The Bone Dragons flapped their wings and flew towards the outskirts of the city. Fang Hao did not immediately leave the city, but went to the blacksmith¡¯s shop to gather all the blacksmiths and went out of the territory together. On the open ground outside the territory. In addition to the just recruited 303, there were 72 Bone Dragons that had been previously recruited. The remaining Bone Dragons were stationed in some affiliated territories and Bloody Fortress, assisting the Black Thorn in the fight. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, found the blueprint for dragon equipment, and began to manufacture. [Multiplication of effects by a hundred triggered, obtained Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Helmet 404] [Multiplication of effects by a hundred triggered, obtained Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Battle Armor 404] [Multiplication of effects by a hundred triggered, obtained Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Claw Armor 404] [Multiplication of effects by a hundred triggered, obtained Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Tail Armor Stinger 404] As the dragon¡¯s body was enormous, so was the dragon equipment, equally gargantuan and heavy. Pieces materialized out of thin air and fell on the ground, causing a thunderous sound. ¡°Kulyn, you lead the team to equip these gears onto the Bone Dragons,¡± Fang Hao instructed the blacksmith¡¯s team leader. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Kulyn responded. Chapter 456 - Chapter 456: Chapter 404, Kaur Holy Mountain (Please subscribe.)_1 Chapter 456: Chapter 404, Kaur Holy Mountain (Please subscribe.)_1 The next day, after breakfast. Fang Hao had just bid farewell to the elderly clan leader of the Blackfoot Cat Tribe. He then saw the skeleton merchant Doujin, accompanied by a small figure, coming his way. Upon seeing Fang Hao, he politely bowed and announced, ¡°My lord, Mr. Moru from the Trade Alliance has come to pay you a visit.¡± Moru was a goblin cashier that Fang Hao knew. The goblins seemed small and comical. But they excelled in goblin technology and had keen minds. In the Trade Alliance, they often held high positions. Moru was a goblin cashier that Fang Hao was acquainted with. Last time, during the battle, Moru could be seen trailing behind the person in charge of the base, signifying his high status. Hearing Doujin¡¯s words, Fang Hao immediately smiled warmly and said, ¡°Mr. Moru, please come in, why didn¡¯t you notify me beforehand about your visit?¡± Moru entered the lord¡¯s hall, greeted with a smile, ¡°Good morning, the esteemed Lord Fang Hao.¡± In the past, Moru used to refer to Fang Hao as the ¡®young undead¡¯. But ever since he found out that Fang Hao had a dark gold level hero for protection, he dared not casually address a mighty lord. Maintaining respect towards the strong is a necessary condition for the goblins to survive on this continent. ¡°Good morning, have a seat and let¡¯s chat.¡± Fang Hao gestured for him to sit down. The petite Moru sat down on a chair and without wasting a moment, his smile faded, and he made clear his intention, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, I am here regarding the incident at the auction last time. The Trade Alliance has made a decision.¡± Fang Hao had a hunch about Moru¡¯s purpose for visiting. After all, three days had passed and given the efficiency of the Trade Alliance, it was high time a result was produced. Fang Hao nodded and asked, ¡°So, what was the outcome?¡± ¡°We from the Trade Alliance are deeply sorry for such a terrible incident occurring at our base. Shirel has been relieved of his leadership position, and the Flower Demon too will be awaited for further interrogation. By that time, the ¡®Dreamy Forest¡¯ should be reaching out to you, trying to seek your forgiveness,¡± Moru spoke clearly. The incident at the last auction didn¡¯t cause Fang Hao any loss. The goods he purchased were given for free and his membership was upgraded to gold. That was the compensation the Trade Alliance offered to Fang Hao. The main purpose of Moru¡¯s visit today was to inform Fang Hao about the Trade Alliance¡¯s disposal methods regarding Shirel and the Fairy Clan. Fang Hao thought for a while and realized he didn¡¯t need to pick a fight with the Trade Alliance, especially since he would need to use this platform to sell his goods in the future. ¡°Alright, I am satisfied with the way the Trade Alliance has handled the matter, but I hope these two won¡¯t be let off by the Trade Alliance until I hear from the ¡®Dreamy Forest¡¯,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°You can rest assured on that matter, we are equally outraged by the actions of the Fairy Clan,¡± Moru solemnly said. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Both of them had achieved their desired outcomes, hence the atmosphere relaxed significantly afterwards. Fang Hao realized that the reason he was treated with such importance by the Trade Alliance, and even received compensation and an official apology after the incident, wasn¡¯t because the Trade Alliance was easygoing, but because of Rolana¡¯s status as a dark gold level hero. If Rolana hadn¡¯t been present at the time, and Fang Hao had only brought Demitrija and Anjia, although they could have defeated Shirel, there would have been no chance of receiving compensation from the Trade Alliance nor a visit from Moru. At the end of the day, truth is based on strength. Fang Hao had the maid bring fruit wine, and Moru didn¡¯t hesitate to taste it. ¡°By the way, Mr. Moru, is the Dreamy Forest where the Fairy Clan resides?¡± Fang Hao asked casually. The Fairy Clan is a rather rare race. Since they possess a purple hero and most of their troops have reached the 7th or 8th rank, they should be quite powerful. However, as his territory expanded, he only came across the Fairy Clan a couple of times at the Trade Alliance outpost. Fairy Clan¡¯s ¡®Dreamy Forest¡¯ is truly an interesting place, indeed.¡± After drinking a glass of fruit wine, Moru continued to say, ¡°When I was young, I was fortunate enough to visit the Dreamy Forest once. There¡¯s a small bridge at the entrance there. If you¡¯re a bad person, your footprints on the bridge would be black, but if you¡¯re a good person, the footprints would be blue. Quite interesting, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°That is indeed interesting,¡± Fang Hao curiously asked, ¡°Then how do they distinguish good people from bad people? Is it based on the faction or faith?¡± ¡°Ha, I¡¯m not sure about that, but my footprints were blue, and they were warm and courteous to me.¡± Moru laughed heartily. ¡°Oh, come on, you¡¯re from the Trade Alliance, even if your footprints were black, they wouldn¡¯t drive you away,¡± Fang Hao retorted. Moru was stunned, and that was indeed the case. Nevertheless, he added, ¡°Stepping on blue footprints is a good thing, isn¡¯t it? Who would want to be the bad guy?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Fang Hao took a sip of wine and continued to ask, ¡°The Fairy Clan seems to be in desperate need of the ¡®Heart of Asha¡¯. They were willing to take action within the outpost just to get the ¡®Heart of Asha.¡± ¡°Um¡­ I don¡¯t know about that, it¡¯s quite common that a fallen race, like the Fairy Clan needs certain items to save their race from extinction,¡± Moru glanced at Fang Hao and said in a low voice. It seemed that there were some things Moru did not wish to reveal. After all, the Trade Alliance had to maintain neutrality. Revealing information about the different races casually could result in serious consequences. Chapter 457 - Chapter 457: Chapter 404, Kaur Holy Mountain (Please subscribe.)_2 Chapter 457: Chapter 404, Kaur Holy Mountain (Please subscribe.)_2 Moru was quite talkative, and showed no immediate intention of leaving. Fang Hao could tell that Moru was also trying to extract information from him. It seemed that the Trade Alliance was quite interested in this rising force of his. The two of them chatted until noon, when Fang Hao invited Moru to stay for lunch. ¡­ Meanwhile, elsewhere¡­ The Bloody Mountains, Kaur Holy Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, a three-million-strong undead army filled every inch of visible land. In the Undead army camp¡­ Three trolls, their bodies covered in beast skins and painted with totems, lay on the ground. At the side, Black Thorn was drawing an array. Soon, the array was completed. The throats of three cattle were slit, and their blood slowly flowed following the lines of the array, eventually pooling on the bodies. In the next moment, the corpses sat up abruptly. Their eyes were filled with confusion. Black Thorn asked, ¡°You are now dead, and you must answer my question truthfully.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The troll responded mechanically. ¡°How many trolls are there on Kaur Holy Mountain?¡± The troll answered, ¡°Less than five hundred.¡± ¡°Is Kaius among them?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How many warriors did he bring?¡± ¡°Kaius brought 200 guards¡­¡± Boom! In the next moment, the corpse inflated and then exploded like a balloon. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere. Subsequently, the second corpse came to life as blood flowed along the lines of the array. Black Thorn continued his questioning, ¡°Are there any heroes besides Kaius?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Is there really a deity in Kaur Holy Mountain?¡± ¡°The deity sleeps and punishes anyone who disturbs his rest.¡± ¡°Have you seen this deity?¡± ¡°No.¡± Boom! The moment the corpse finished speaking, it exploded. This interrogation had plunged Black Thorn and others into deep thought. A corpse cannot lie. But it would recount what it perceived to be true, not necessarily the actual truth. The troll was confident in the existence of the deity, despite never seeing it before. This was highly suspicious, and the army had advanced so far by now. If the deity really existed, it should have appeared. The third corpse was then interrogated. After the third corpse sat up, Black Thorn asked directly, ¡°Where does the deity of Kaur Holy Mountain sleep?¡± ¡°In the temple on the holy mountain.¡± ¡°Has he ever come out?¡± Black Thorn continued to ask. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Can he directly intervene in the war?¡± ¡°The deity will help his believers achieve victory.¡± With a bang, the third body exploded again. ¡­ All three corpses had been interrogated. However, more questions had arisen. Whoosh! At this moment, a Bone Dragon descended from the sky. The Orc scout jumped from the dragon¡¯s back and reported loudly, ¡°Commander, there is a man-made structure halfway up the mountain. The trolls have fortified defences around it.¡± The structure halfway up the mountain was the temple the troll mentioned. In essence, it was more like a huge cave carved into the mountain. Black Thorn pondered for a moment before issuing a low order, ¡°Sound the war drums and prepare to attack. End the battle before night falls.¡± ¡°Yes, Commander!¡± The heroes and the orc messengers retreated after receiving their orders, and the deep sound of the war drums began to echo. A layer of faint light enveloped all the undead troops. Whether there was a deity or not, they had no way back now. If the enemy really had the strength to defeat their million-strong army, retreating now would make no difference. But if the deity was merely a ruse, just a rumor among the trolls¡­ Then, they would end this battle before nightfall and claim the Bloody Mountains. They would send news of their victory to their lord. As the drumbeats quickened, the undead army began to move, slowly advancing towards the Kaur Mountain. The Kaur Holy Mountain was steep and the stone stairs in the middle¡­ ¡­had been coated with a special fat by the trolls, making it as slippery as ice. It was almost impossible to ascend the mountain via these stairs. But Black Thorn and others were well-prepared. An army of millions would not tussle with the enemy through a narrow path. When the command flag waved, a loud noise resonated from the foot of the mountain. Boom, boom, boom!! Hundreds of dragon-lock crossbows fired arrows attached to nets into the mountain. Layer by layer, they hung on the cliffs. From a distance, it looked like a fishnet stocking had been pulled over the mountain. The undead soldiers bit onto their weapons, their limbs moving like spiders as they began to ascend the rope mesh. In the blink of an eye, the cliff face was covered with skeletons. ¡­ Faced with the ascending undead¡­ The trolls were filled with despair. The densely packed undead filled the entire mountain, giving off an unprecedented oppressive feeling that was suffocating. Even the trolls who had already made up their minds to die began to tremble. Why exactly were there so many undead? ¡°Throw the stones!¡± At that command, all the trolls started lifting the stones they¡¯d gathered. And fling them down. Boom!! As the boulders fell down the mountain, they took down a row of undead soldiers. Seeing that their strategy was rather effective, all the trolls began to work hard on moving and throwing stones. Whoo! Whoosh! Whoosh! Just when everyone¡¯s attention was focused on crushing the skeletons below¡­ A howling sound was heard from the sky. Roar!! Several bone dragons, clad in shining silver armor, spat out pillars of black light, raining down upon the troll troops. The trolls who were originally focused on throwing stones became enveloped by the beam of light. The next second, their flesh began to fall off, leaving behind skeletal remains. They rolled down the mountain. In an instant, dozens were killed, reducing the already small number. Nearly a hundred bone dragons began to circle around the mountain. Some undead jumped off the dragons¡¯ backs, landing directly on the platform before the cave, fighting with the trolls. Kaius stood alone on a platform to the right, a crossbow bolt drawn from the mountain in his hand. He threw it forward at the bone dragon. Squeak!! The bolt penetrated the metal armor on the dragon¡¯s chest, making a sound of steel being squeezed and distorted. The bolt lodged in the bone dragon¡¯s rib cage. But it didn¡¯t cause any damage. Instead, the Dragon Breath that rushed towards him caused Kaius¡¯s body to rot and wrinkle. Although he didn¡¯t suffer the same loss of flesh as the others. He was greatly affected. Kaius threw out more axes. They were easily dodged by the bone dragon, which flew away. He was an orange-hero-type warrior. Even level ten soldiers were no match for him. But against this highly mobile, airborne bone dragon, Kaius was rather helpless. The thrown crossbow bolt could cause some damage. But apart from the first attack, the bone dragon would deliberately dodge the remaining ones. Making it difficult to hit the target. But the bone dragon¡¯s deadly breath could continue to breathe, continuously attacking below. This was the difference between the races. Seeing that there were not many good options, Kaius had no choice but to order everyone to hide in the cavern. The trolls let out a series of low roars. They pushed down all the stone walls they were hiding behind. Rubble and rolling logs resulted in a massive landslide. The trolls, after knocking down their shields, all retreated back into the deep recesses of the cave, watching the bone dragons outside that kept circling, trying to breathe dragon breath into the cave. The undead army was still bravely climbing up. Soon, undead soldiers reached the waist of the mountain. They unsheathed the weapons clenched in their mouths and began to attack the cave. There was no fixed order, nor formation. Like crazy men, they rushed into the cave. Boom!! What greeted the undead inside was the desperate resistance of the trolls. The skeleton warriors who had just rushed in¡­ Before they could swing their swords, their heads were cut off by the trolls and kicked out of the cave. But in the rear, the white bone warriors kept pouring in. In the blink of an eye, the only passage in the front was filled with a white-boned army. ¡°Make way!¡± Kaius shouted, his right arm muscles bulging, his veins throbbing. The arm was full of explosive power. The next second, a powerful fist swung out. Boom!! A loud boom and the potent gust of wind blasted out in a fan shape. The front was instantly a vacuum, undead skeletons were blasted into bone dust and scattered around. But then, the open ground in the front was filled with undead again. They were unafraid of life or death, and kept attacking. ¡°Damn it!¡± Kaius cursed. He swung out punch after punch, knocking back the approaching undead. Chapter 460 - Chapter 460: Chapter 406, Gate of Demon (Seeking Subscriptions, Recommendations.)_1 Chapter 460: Chapter 406, Gate of Demon (Seeking Subscriptions, Recommendations.)_1 Nelson showed no surprise at Fang Hao¡¯s choice. The Demon Notes only mentioned methods of controlling puppets through puppetry. However, Nelson added the method of controlling puppets through God¡¯s Presence based on Fang Hao¡¯s abilities. Nelson was a supporting type hero. His rating as an orange hero was not because of his strong combat abilities. Instead, it was attributed to his vast knowledge and insights accumulated over countless years. As the number of high-level heroes in the territory increased, more and more high-level heroes joined them. No one could shake Nelson¡¯s status in the territory. Besides Fang Hao, Nelson was the most respected figure. ¡°Sir, this set of runes is similar to the Giant Spirit Totem on your back. You need to drop a drop of blood in the center of the runes,¡± said Nelson. There was a small round rune at the puppet¡¯s brow. This central rune connected with all the other runes on the puppet¡¯s body. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate, pulling out his Light Feather short sword and gently pricking his index finger on the tip. A drop of blood was dripped onto the puppet¡¯s brow. The next moment, the blood rapidly flowed along the runes and was quickly absorbed, disappearing without a trace. However, Fang Hao could clearly feel a difference. It was like the sensation he had just after the ¡®God of Giant Spirit¡¯ tattoo was finished. He could clearly feel a connection to the puppet in front of him, as if a new skill had been added to his skill bar. He attempted to use God¡¯s Presence on the puppet. Then, the puppet¡¯s body, held up by two skeleton warriors, suddenly trembled. It immediately broke free of its restraints and stood up. At the same time, Fang Hao¡¯s mind was filled with the puppet¡¯s perspective. He could even see himself through the puppet¡¯s eyes. This way of observing himself was more realistic than looking in the mirror. He continued to experiment with moving forward, lifting his arms, and flapping the bat wings on his back. The puppet started to slowly rise and circled in the air. Before, Fang Hao had controlled Skeleton Giant Bat, flying in the sky. Although the experience was average, it laid a good foundation for this time controlling the puppet¡¯s flight. Soon, he became familiar with the flying maneuvers, able to stop abruptly in the air and fly through obstacles smoothly. ¡°Lord, how does it feel?¡± Nelson asked. ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± Fang Hao answered, taking a step forward, but felt empty beneath his feet and nearly fell. He was not yet familiar with this kind of multitasking, controlling both his body and the puppet at the same time. When he focused on the puppet, he tended to neglect his own movements. Just like what just happened, he stumbled and nearly fell. But it¡¯s not a big problem. With practice and familiarity, he could get used to this type of control. Besides, he wouldn¡¯t use the puppet and himself at the same time very often. This was easier than spending a few years practicing puppetry. ¡°Once you are more familiar with it, it¡¯s fine. This puppet has its unique features. In the future, you can replace it with more advanced limbs you obtain.¡± Nelson continued. Fang Hao nodded in understanding. This method of putting together corpses to gain power was rare, but it was undoubtedly simple and useful. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Fang Hao answered. He controlled the puppet to land next to him and began to check its attributes. [Demon Doll] [Category: Puppet] [Physical Strength: Level 5 Strength] [Abilities: Bachelor of Light, Chosen of Light, Purification Aura, Healing, Blade of Judgment, Full Throw, Flight, Gate of Demon.] [Bachelor of Light]: The use of Light Magic reduces the cost of magic by 20%. [Chosen of Light]: When using Light-type positive state magic, it increases self-attack and defense by 2%. [Purification Aura]: Defense increased by 5%. When activated, it can remove negative status from target units. [Healing]: Heals allied living creatures and causes damage to undead, demons, and dark creatures. [Blade of Judgment]: Increases self-attack power by 20%. [Full Throw]: Increases weapon throwing damage by 10% and throwing distance by 20%. [Flight]: This unit can freely fly in the sky. [Gate of Demon]: Summons a teleportation gate for ten seconds, can be used for regional transition. (Description: Who can resist a toy that can accompany you and possesses many abilities!) Seeing the puppet¡¯s attributes, Fang Hao was surprised. An item that was crafted actually possessed abilities not inferior to those of a hero. Furthermore, the puppet¡¯s physical strength had reached Level 5. You should know that blue plate armor only had a defensive force of Level 3. A set of armor would only reach Level 4. Level 5 was comparable to a piece of purple defensive gear. [Bachelor of Light] and [Chosen of Light] were clearly attributes of the church. They could enhance the effect of Light-based skills. [Purification Aura] had the effect of dispelling negative attributes. [Healing] could be used for healing or as an attack skill, causing damage to dark and undead creatures. And [Blade of Judgment] would increase the doll¡¯s attack power, making it capable of both healing and attacking. With this puppet, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about getting injured in the future. The skill [Full Throw] came from the orc arm, improving throwing abilities. [Flight] came from bat wings, but the most delightful part was the [Gate of Demon] skill. After these few times of understanding, he realized Demons had a high mastery of spatial techniques. Chapter 461 - Chapter 461: Chapter 406, Gate of Demon (Seeking Subscriptions, Recommendations.)_2 Chapter 461: Chapter 406, Gate of Demon (Seeking Subscriptions, Recommendations.)_2 The ¡°Demonic Space¡± in the Book of Lords, where items can be stored, is also a storage space created by utilizing spatial technology. The Gate of Demon, on the other hand, is a more advanced technology. Fang Hao thought of the Demonic Space used for storing items. Immediately, another problem occurred to him. If the Demon Doll could be put into the Demonic Space or not. It is known that the Demonic Space can¡¯t store living entities or troops. In some sense, the Demon Doll might not belong to either of these categories. If it could be stored in the Demonic Space, then he could always carry it with him, thereby adding a new life-saving trump card for himself. Upon thinking this, he immediately tried it. With a thought, the puppet before his eyes vanished instantly, and the next second, it was already stored in the storage space. It really could be put in there. In this way, he could carry it with him. Even if he went to a human city, he would no longer need to have a skeleton following him around. He selected the puppet from the storage space of the Book of Lords and summoned the Demon Doll again to stand in front of Fang Hao. ¡°Sir, it requires more practice and you will become more proficient with time.¡± Nelson sat on the side, quietly watching Fang Hao get accustomed to the puppet. ¡°This is much simpler than Puppetry Technique.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Alright, sir, go on and practice. If there is nothing else, I should go back now.¡± Nelson got up, intending to return to the Viscera Museum. Fang Hao quickly stopped him, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°Sir, is there anything else?¡± ¡°I will first upgrade the Viscera Museum.¡± said Fang Hao. The Manor was upgraded to Stone Castle, and the Viscera Museum also met the conditions for upgrading. They put away the puppet and directly arrived at the Viscera Museum. [Viscera Museum: Wood 25000, Stone 20000, Stone Bricks 12000, Hemp Rope 8500, Leather 1600, Shadowstone 20, Death Trace 15.] The consumption of materials was quite high, but it was still sufficient. He straight away chose to upgrade it. A glow enveloped the building, expanding it. Half an hour later. The entire building was completed. The Viscera Museum occupied a larger area, and the original flat floor had two additional floors. The entire building was made of stone with patterns and reliefs related to the Undead. [Viscera Museum] [Category: Special Building] [Viscera jars documented: [Revival] [Lightning Speed] [Killing Proficiency]] [Recruitment available: Priest] [Priest: 1 Wriggling Spine, 1 Death¡¯s Trace.] (Note: By placing viscera jars that have stored various energies here, powerful abilities can be granted to troops and special weapons can be made.) [Materials needed for upgrade: Sturdy Wood 8000, Stone Bricks 7500, Precision-Work Stone Bricks 2000, Cast Iron Pieces 200, Fine Iron 100, Metal Parts 1200, Mithril 50, Shadowstone 50, Death¡¯s Trace 30.] After the Viscera Museum was upgraded. The new feature was the ability to recruit Priests. By the name, it should be a talent in the funeral industry. Fang Hao directly recruited. [100-fold Amplification Effect Triggered. Recruited 101 Priests.] In an instant, 101 skeleton priests clad in long robes appeared in front of Fang Hao and Nelson. After scanning their surroundings. All of their eyes settled on Fang Hao. They quickly stepped forward, saluted and said, ¡°Greetings, sir.¡± Like Nelson, they also possessed wisdom. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Welcome to our team. From today onwards, you will take orders and arrangements from the Scholar Nelson.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The priests looked at Nelson again and continued their salutations, ¡°Scholar Nelson.¡± ¡°Mm, I need some preservative materials. Go prepare some!¡± Nelson didn¡¯t hold back and directly ordered. ¡°Yes, Scholar.¡± The priests immediately dispersed and began to work. Watching the departing priests, Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°Do we have enough manpower? Shall we recruit more?¡± Nelson shook his head, ¡°No need for now. We can recruit more when we need them.¡± ¡°Oh, alright!¡± Nelson left, and Fang Hao continued to control and get familiar with the puppet. After putting clothes and equipment on the puppet, and attaching the [Wooden Mask] on its face, except for the empty looking arms and legs without muscles, it didn¡¯t look like a skeleton puppet. Two hours of continuous training passed. The night was deep and quiet, and due to the consumption of spiritual power, Fang Hao¡¯s head was starting to throb. He put away the puppet and went back to his room to sleep. ¡­ The next day, in the early morning. As Fang Hao woke up from his sleep, he received good news from Black Thorn. The entire Bloody Mountain range had been completely occupied. The trolls who surrendered were, under the arrangements of the female troll Stella, began to settle in the North Town. In the next few days, they started to gradually resume production and return to their normal lives. This was good news, as they would no longer need to worry about the dangers to the north of their territory. Moreover, the Bloody Mountain Range was rich with numerous veins of ore, which could be mined for more basic materials. After hearing Black Thorn¡¯s news, he immediately sat up from bed. After breakfast, at 8 AM. Bolton, riding on the Bone Dragon, landed in front of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Seeing Fang Hao enjoying the sun, he jumped straight off the dragon. ¡°Lord,¡± Bolton saluted and said. Fang Hao sat up, ¡°Hmm.¡± Bolton continued, ¡°My Lord, the battle in the Bloody Highlands has been won. Black Thorn ordered me to bring back Kaius¡¯s body and the spoils of war first.¡± With that, he unloaded all the items from the dragon¡¯s back. Apart from the dismembered Kaius, there was also a silver chest and a large amount of scavenged gold and silver currency. These were all spoils of war that Black Thorn had gathered and brought back with Bolton to give to Fang Hao. ¡°Good, well done.¡± Fang Hao nodded, and then instructed a maid, ¡°Go and get Scholar Nelson. Tell him we have a new hero¡¯s body that needs to be dealt with.¡± The maid acknowledged his words and quickly left, while Fang Hao went straight to the silver chest. He directly opened the chest. [Obtained: Curse Thunder Totem Scroll (Blue), Iron Armor Fist Blueprint (Blue), 12 Troll Stones, and 76 Warfire Coins.] [Curse Thunder Totem] [Category: Scroll] (Description: Records the method for drawing the Curse Thunder Totem.) This was the second time Fang Hao saw a totem scroll. He himself already had a Body of the Giant Spirit totem tattoo on his body. And in battle, it demonstrated high combat ability. However, the Body of the Giant Spirit was a purple scroll, the reward in front of him was blue, and the level was much lower. The second blueprint was called [Iron Armor Fist]. [Iron Armor Fist: Iron-3, Cast Iron Block-2, Leather-3.] (Description: Iron armor fist commonly used by those skilled at close combat.) The only one in the territory who excelled at hand-to-hand combat was Anjia. But Anjia¡¯s Tiger¡¯s Claw was also of blue quality. If both items were of the same quality, then there was no need for it. Fang Hao had always wanted to change her weapon to a better one, but the Tiger¡¯s claw and the fist armor were considered unpopular weapons here. They were rarely sold, and thus, few blacksmiths were willing to forge them. He put away the blueprint and immediately stashed the scroll as well. ¡°My Lord, this map was found in the temple on Kaur Holy Mountain. Also, in the temple, we discovered an altar and a wriggling piece of flesh. Commander Black Thorn said that the piece of flesh might be an organ and suggested you to look at it when you have time.¡± Bolton said, as he handed over a single-page map. [Map: Thunder Temple] [Category: Single-page Map] (Description: A map that records the target location.) Using the Book of Lords to record it, he could see the location marked on the map. Upon looking, he realized that this location had been recorded before. It was the map of the Desolate Battlefield that Dong Jiayue gave him. And the Thunder Temple was a location in the Desolate Battlefield. This was quite a coincidence. As Fang Hao was examining the blueprint, Nelson came over with six funeral priests. ¡°My lord!¡± Nelson and his men saluted Fang Hao. ¡°Hmm, you guys first take away this body. And Nelson, come with me to the Bloody Mountain Range later, there might be a creature¡¯s organ that can be sealed there.¡± Fang Hao nodded and said. ¡°Alright, my lord.¡± Nelson responded. Then, he had the funeral priests behind him carry Kaius¡¯s body to the Viscera Museum. Chapter 465 - Chapter 465: Chapter 408, Do You Know Me_1 Chapter 465: Chapter 408, Do You Know Me_1 Ever since the last tile incident, Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s popularity in the channel had completely hit rock bottom. All individuals in the channel boycotted his tiles and refused to buy anything from him. Unexpectedly, Qiu Zhi Shang joined the Tianpeng Alliance and even became an elder. It seems that the people in the Tianpeng Alliance also needed tiles for their upgrades, which was why they let Qiu Zhi Shang join. However, Fang Hao was a bit puzzled. Even though Qiu Zhi Shang harbored resentment towards him, many people in the Tianpeng Alliance were on his blacklist. It¡¯s hard to believe that Qiu Zhi Shang was foolish enough to contact him privately and spout such delusions. Demanding thousands of green equipment and hundreds of thousands of food units right off the bat. Has he lost his mind? Fang Hao didn¡¯t want to waste his time on someone like Qiu Zhi Shang, so he didn¡¯t reply and directly closed the chat channel. He thought that would be the end of it. But to his surprise, the other party sent another message 10 minutes later. ¡°If you¡¯re not afraid of us, don¡¯t you worry about your subsidiary territories? Your little girlfriend Dong Jiayue for example. As long as you provide equipment to the Alliance on time, the Tianpeng Alliance can grant you the status of an elder. If you fail to understand the situation and refuse, don¡¯t blame us for being ruthless.¡± Upon seeing the message sent by Qiu Zhi Shang, Fang Hao¡¯s brows instantly furrowed. He immediately contacted Dong Jiayue in private to confirm her safety. Dong Jiayue quickly responded, saying she didn¡¯t notice any dangers, but she did encounter a nearby lord recently, although there was no conflict. It seemed that Dong Jiayue was still unaware that she was being targeted. Fang Hao informed Dong Jiayue about the Tianpeng Alliance situation, advising her to stay within the city for the next few days and to be careful. Dong Jiayue said she understood. After instructing Dong Jiayue, Fang Hao also replied to Qiu Zhi Shang. ¡°Qiu Zhi Shang, you don¡¯t have the guts. It must be Yu Tianpeng who made you say these things. Tell him to avoid seeking his own death.¡± Upon reading the message from Fang Hao, Qiu Zhi Shang felt a sudden chill up his spine. Fang Hao was not someone to mess with, and he definitely had the capability to kill. However, on second thought, the other party had no idea where his territory was, so there was nothing to fear. And those targeting Dong Jiayue were others from the Alliance; there was no way they could trace it back to him. Once Qiu Zhi Shang was certain he was safe, he immediately switched back to being arrogant, ¡°Good, very good. Opposing our Alliance, you will soon know the consequences.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t respond further, he directly closed the chat channel. Dong Jiayue was indeed quite far from the main city. She needed to re-plan for safety and development. But it wasn¡¯t urgent. He would rearrange everything tomorrow morning. ¡­ After finishing the private chat with Fang Hao, Qiu Zhi Shang immediately turned to his side and said. ¡°Boss, what should we do next? Fang Hao is not scared at all, he seems quite confident in his abilities.¡± At Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s side was the hierarch of the Tianpeng Alliance, Yu Tianpeng. Qiu Zhi Shang was simply Yu Tianpeng¡¯s mouthpiece. ¡°Hmph! This Fang Hao really doesn¡¯t know his place,¡± Yu Tianpeng¡¯s face also turned somber. The Tianpeng Alliance had been exceedingly active in the region recently. It was in no way an overstatement to say that it was the top Alliance. Nobody dared to disrespect the Tianpeng Alliance. But Fang Hao, his responses showed no fear and he didn¡¯t give a damn about the Tianpeng Alliance. ¡°Yeah, Boss, what should we do next?¡± Qiu Zhi Shang kept asking. While conversing with Fang Hao, Qiu Zhi Shang was feeling quite nervous himself. If it wasn¡¯t for Yu Tianpeng watching, he wouldn¡¯t dare to be so tough. After thinking for a moment, a hint of ruthlessness flashed through Yu Tianpeng¡¯s eyes, ¡°Tomorrow, tell Song Yu to attack Dong Jiayue. Force her to disclose Fang Hao¡¯s territorial location.¡± Everyone in the entire region knew that Fang Hao sold a large number of weapons, equipment and daily necessities every day. Among them were many high-quality green equipment. So the grudges between them were not sufficient for Yu Tianpeng to want to kill Fang Hao. But the wealth Fang Hao possessed was enough to tantalize Yu Tianpeng. If they could eliminate Fang Hao and seize all his resources, not only would the Tianpeng Alliance remain the top Alliance, he himself would also become the region¡¯s strongest individual. ¡°Sure, Boss. I¡¯ll inform them once I get back. I won¡¯t disturb your rest anymore,¡± Qiu Zhi Shang continued. ¡°Hmm,¡± Yu Tianpeng nodded and walked into his own room. Qiu Zhi Shang teleported to his territory using the Alliance¡¯s building. After arriving at his lord¡¯s mansion, he arranged for the servants to prepare dinner and began talking to member Song Yu while eating. Song Yu happened to find Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory by chance. Dong Jiayue had berated those who framed Fang Hao on the regional channel more than once. Everyone assumed that they knew each other and were very close. These days, although Song Yu hadn¡¯t shown his face, he had arranged for a large group of scouts to observe the situation near Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory, preparing for the attack. He didn¡¯t hold a grudge against Dong Jiayue or Fang Hao. But the development of the Tianpeng Alliance was rapid and it was the top Alliance in the region. Being able to align himself with it, he saw great advantages for his own territory¡¯s development. Plus, the Alliance had promised him, if this matter was successful, they would support his territory and promote him to be one of the core members of the Alliance. This was an offer Song Yu couldn¡¯t refuse. Qiu Zhi Shang sent a message of attack to Song Yu, and received a reply soon after. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve arranged scouts these few days. She doesn¡¯t have any special military forces, so taking her down won¡¯t be an issue.¡± Chapter 466 - Chapter 466: Chapter 408, Do You Know Me?_2 Chapter 466: Chapter 408, Do You Know Me?_2 Qiu Zhi Shang replied, ¡°Alliance Master Yu wants Fang Hao¡¯s territory to be near yours.¡± ¡°This¡­ being close to me, am I in danger?¡± ¡°Alliance Master Yu has everything planned. As long as we know the location, other people will be dispatched to seize Fang Hao¡¯s territory. What are you worried about.¡± ¡°Ah! That makes sense, then I¡¯ll start the alliance building first thing tomorrow morning. Once the people are gathered, we¡¯ll attack.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± After a brief exchange, a whole plan targeting Fang Hao was drafted. ¡­ Next day, early morning. Fang Hao had just woken up from his sleep when he received a series of private messages. From people like Zhang Bin, Fu Lei, and a few others who¡¯ve had dealings with him. Without exception, they all asked him to look at the regional channel. Fang Hao immediately opened the regional channel to check the messages inside. Just as he entered, someone said. ¡°I don¡¯t know who¡¯s more formidable, Fang Hao or the Tianpeng Alliance¡­¡± ¡°I guess Fang Hao is more powerful, he sells so many pieces of gear every day, he surely has a lot of troops.¡± ¡°Pay attention, the Tianpeng Alliance is going after Dong Jiayue this time, not Fang Hao. While Fang Hao has many troops, Dong Jiayue may not have as many.¡± ¡°Who is Dong Jiayue? Weren¡¯t they going after Fang Hao?¡± ¡°Hey! It¡¯s none of your business, all you need to know is that Dong Jiayue is subordinate to Fang Hao.¡± ¡°I think Fang Hao is in danger. The Tianpeng Alliance can quickly gather a lot of manpower.¡± ¡°I bet on the Tianpeng Alliance.¡± ¡°I bet on Fang Hao¡­¡± While people in the regional channel were in heated discussions, Fang Hao scrolled up the chat record to find the origin of the discussion. He discovered that the Tianpeng Alliance had posted a message in the regional channel early in the morning. Claiming that Dong Jiayue, a subordinate of Fang Hao, attacked their alliance member Song Yu by surprise, almost costing him his life. After a series of criticisms, the Tianpeng Alliance officially declared war on Fang Hao. And the first attack was directed at Dong Jiayue. This message set the regional channel ablaze first thing in the morning. The number one person and the number one alliance in the region. Their confrontation could be said to be the biggest event among the transmigrators. Ding! At this time, Dong Jiayue also sent a message. ¡°Brother Hao, I don¡¯t know this Song Yu, let alone attacked him,¡± Dong Jiayue said. ¡°I know, they are just finding an excuse to show off their strength in the channel while remaining blameless,¡± Fang Hao said. The other party was not that foolish either, and knew to find an excuse. ¡°I heard that the Tianpeng Alliance is quite formidable. I might not be able to handle them,¡± Dong Jiayue said bluntly. With the help of Fang Hao, Dong Jiayue managed three cities. However, her focus was not on military development. If targeted, she might not be able to resist. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. They won¡¯t be able to cause much trouble.¡± ¡°But, Brother Hao, our territories are quite far apart.¡± ¡°No worries, just get ready; I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡­ After ending the chat with Dong Jiayue and ignoring other private chats. After a simple wash and breakfast. Fang Hao began to mobilize his forces. A teleportation portal only lasts for 10 seconds, so the troops he could take needed to be concentrated, not numerous. To ensure his and Dong Jiayue¡¯s safety. Fang Hao summoned three Bone Dragons, six Nisbits, and thirteen Skeleton Trolls. Demitrija was accompanying him as a hero, Anjia was left behind to guard the territory while she slept in. All of them mounted Bone Dragons. When the Demon Doll summoned the teleportation portal. The three Bone Dragons immediately charged into the light display. The massive bodies of the Bone Dragons began to change, as if absorbed by the light, disappearing into it. After ten seconds, the three Bone Dragons had entered the portal. The next second, they appeared in the center of Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory. The sudden appearance of the magnificent Bone Dragons caused immediate chaos. The guards quickly assembled, farmers dropped their work and scurried back into their homes in panic. At this point, Dong Jiayue rushed out with her spear in hand and a firearm on her back. She originally thought that ¡®Song Yu¡¯ had already attacked, but when she stepped out, she saw Fang Hao and a large number of skeleton soldiers. The most eye-catching among them was a Lizardman in golden armor. ¡°Brother Hao, how did you get here so quickly!¡± ¡°Your words sound strange.¡± ¡°No! I mean, how did you get here so quickly.¡± ¡°Just a teleportation spell. So, the enemy hasn¡¯t attacked yet, right?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Dong Jiayue shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for people to keep an eye on them. They should still be preparing and haven¡¯t dispatched troops yet.¡± Knowing the opponent¡¯s intentions, Dong Jiayue would naturally not sit idle. She too had arranged for people to keep an eye on the opponent. If the enemy had too many people and Fang Hao could not arrive in time. She would take her people and retreat first, then take back the city in entirety once Fang Hao¡¯s people arrived. Now that Fang Hao was here, she had no other concerns and left everything to Fang Hao. ¡°Well, since we know the location of their city, let¡¯s go straight there. There are quite a few people betting in the channel, let¡¯s not keep them waiting too long.¡± Chapter 467 - Chapter 467: Chapter 408, Do You Know Me_3 Chapter 467: Chapter 408, Do You Know Me_3 ¡°Huh?¡± Dong Jiayue was somewhat confused. What was Fang Hao talking about? One of the skeleton trolls on the dragon¡¯s back jumped off, leaving a space behind. ¡°Come on up, let¡¯s go to their territory,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Are we heading there directly?¡± Dong Jiayue asked. ¡°What else¡­¡± Fang Hao responded. ¡°Oh,¡± answered Dong Jiayue as she climbed onto the bone dragon and settled on its back. She stroked the bones of the dragon¡¯s back, her eyes flashing with anticipation. ¡°Jia Yue, you lead the way¡­¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Oh, that way.¡± Dong Jiayue pointed in the northwest direction. With a kick, the bone dragon shot straight up into the sky, dashing towards the indicated direction with everyone on its back. With the whistle of the wind buzzing in her ears, Dong Jiayue¡¯s face was full of excitement. This was far more thrilling than a roller coaster ride. What would have taken two hours to travel by foot was visible within just 10 minutes. Ahead lay the city. She signaled to Fang Hao, confirming that the city was indeed Song Yu¡¯s city. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s descend.¡± The three bone dragons dived straight down. ¡­ In the city, Song Yu was checking the reinforcement troops sent by the ¡®Alliance¡¯ members. There were so many people, even including special troops of Level 6 and 7. This made Song Yu slightly less worried. The scout evaluated Dong Jiayue¡¯s forces and found a few troops of Level 5, but most were ordinary human soldiers of Levels 2 and 3. Be it in terms of quantity or quality, they couldn¡¯t compare with his forces. Moreover, even if Fang Hao departed now, there would be no way for him to arrive so quickly, even if he flew. As long as he captured Dong Jiayue¡¯s city, he would be the hero of this battle, and when the Alliance dealt with Fang Hao, he would receive the reward he wanted. Just as he was about to leave, the sky suddenly darkened. Three huge creatures obscured the sky overhead. Before he had time to react, these three huge creatures dived down. They spewed out beams of black light, sweeping across the front-line army. Under Song Yu¡¯s gaze, the thousands of soldiers from the Alliance, began to have their flesh dissolve, shrieking and wailing as their bodies turned into white bones. Then, the three bone dragons landed on the ground. Skeleton warriors jumped down from their backs and began to slaughter the remaining soldiers. Song Yu stood dumbfounded, not knowing what to do in the face of this sudden onslaught. Just as he was about to turn and run, he was kicked away, Stumbling several times before he regained his footing. When Song Yu saw who had kicked him, His face instantly changed. It was Dong Jiayue¡­ the very target he was about to attack. ¡°Dong Jiayue, don¡¯t go crazy, we can talk this out!¡± Song Yu, sitting on the ground, began to retreat while pleading. He had thought about how to purchase Dong Jiayue, this attractive woman, once she fell into his hands. What he did not anticipate was the consequence of his defeat. Dong Jiayue did not approach. Instead, Demitrija came forward and, like carrying a small chick, grabbed and threw him to Fang Hao. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± said Fang Hao. Song Yu shook his head slightly, but a bad feeling had already formed in his heart. ¡°My name is Fang Hao. I heard that your Tianpeng Alliance is looking for me.¡± Shock and incredulity crossed over Song Yu¡¯s face. How could Fang Hao have arrived so quickly? Even by plane, he couldn¡¯t have arrived so fast. His eyes unconsciously drifted towards the three bone dragons behind him. So, he did have a plane¡­ Chapter 468 - Chapter 468: Chapter 409, Counterattack_1 Chapter 468: Chapter 409, Counterattack_1 Upon hearing Fang Hao utter his name, Song Yu wore an expression of disbelief. After the shock wore off, his heart quickly sank. As expected, Fang Hao indeed came to aid Dong Jiayue, and he even arrived astride a Bone Dragon. A tenth-tier Bone Dragon, and he had even captured his eighth-tier orange Lizardman. Damn, how could Fang Hao possess such immense power? If he had known Fang Hao was so formidable and quick to act¡­ He wouldn¡¯t have agreed to this plan, even if it meant becoming an elder in the Alliance of Tianpeng, he wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke Fang Hao. Sadly, it was too late for regrets; he had already chosen to stand against Fang Hao. ¡°Brother Hao, Mr Fang Hao, I was wrong. I didn¡¯t recognize your greatness, Qiu Zhi Shang made me do it. I hold no grudge against Miss Dong.¡± Song Yu¡¯s face turned pale, falling on his knees, and pleaded loudly. He remembered all too clearly, the individual who provoked Fang Hao had his head chopped off. His photo was broadcasted directly in the area¡¯s channel. Thousands of Alliance troops were slaughtered, their bodies dragged around by skeleton soldiers, piling up to form a mountain of corpses. He was finished. The only thing he could do now was to beg Fang Hao to spare his life. Song Yu begged loudly, with tears streaming down his face, pleading for Fang Hao to forgive him. Yet Fang Hao showed no reaction at all. The Tianpeng Alliance¡¯s malice towards him went beyond simple verbal disputes. Mobilizing manpower to attack his subsidiary city. If he didn¡¯t possess strength or haven¡¯t unlocked the Demon Teleportation skill¡­ Dong Jiayue, a woman, would fall into their hands, the outcome of which was not hard to imagine. If circumstances allowed it, the Tianpeng Alliance would unhesitatingly kill him and seize all the resources in his territory. Victors are kings, losers the vanquished. There was no point in pleading for mercy. Fang Hao continued to look at the rather peculiar ¡®Alliance Building¡¯ in the channel. This structure had four large arches, though there was nothing else special about its appearance. ¡°Is this the Alliance Building? Can it teleport me to Yu Tianpeng¡¯s location?¡± Fang Hao asked Song Yu. Song Yu stumbled over to explain, ¡°It technically can, but the Alliance Buildings within each territory can be toggled on and off. Only when the local building is activated can Alliance members receive aid, and no one else can utilize the building.¡± This news somewhat disappointed Fang Hao. It looked like finding Yu Tianpeng¡¯s domain via the Alliance Building wasn¡¯t possible. Yu Tianpeng might not have activated the teleportation in his territory and even if he had, his group¡¯s identities precluded them from using the teleportation device. What¡¯s more, the structure might have certain peculiar features that could put him in danger if he attempted to use it. Fang Hao gave up on using the building and continued to question: ¡°Do you know where Yu Tianpeng¡¯s domain is?¡± ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Fang Hao furrowed his brows. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s frown, Song Yu immediately froze in shock and quickly explained: ¡°I only just joined the alliance two days ago, and the only one who has contacted me is Elder Qiu Zhi Shang. He¡¯s also the one who assigned me my tasks.¡± After observing Song Yu¡¯s panicked demeanor, it was clear he wasn¡¯t lying. If he were truly unyielding, he wouldn¡¯t have given Fang Hao Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s name. ¡°So you do know the location of Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s domain then?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯ve been there before. It was in his domain that Qiu Zhi Shang talked to me about this matter. I¡¯ve never planned to target you or Miss Dong. It was my utmost mistake to be influenced by him¡­ ¡± SMACK, SMACK!! Just as Song Yu was sobbing loudly, Demitrija slapped him twice, silencing him completely. Even though the orange eighth-tier hero had held back, it was still more than Song Yu could bear. He spewed a mouthful of blood and broken teeth, and his eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness. ¡°Get his Book of Lords.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Demitrija bent over, unclasped the Book of Lords from Song Yu¡¯s waist, and handed it to Fang Hao. After he devoured Song Yu¡¯s Book of Lords¡­ He occupied Song Yu¡¯s territory, and the map in Song Yu¡¯s Book of Lords was synchronized with the map in Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. In the southwest corner, there was a certain territory that seemed to belong to Qiu Zhi Shang. He summoned his Demon Doll and cast a healing spell on Song Yu. Then, he splashed a bucket of cold water on him, and Song Yu woke up almost instantly. The bleeding had stopped, but he¡¯d lost several teeth. When he woke up, he found that his Book of Lords had been devoured by Fang Hao. His expression changed yet again. ¡°Is this Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s domain?¡± Fang Hao confirmed once again. Song Yu seemed to hesitate a little, but finally nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, now certain. SWOOSH!! Demitrija immediately swung his sword, severing Song Yu¡¯s neck. His head rolled away, landing several feet away. His eyes were bulging, bearing a look of disbelief as they stared at his headless body. After killing Song Yu¡­ Dong Jiayue¡¯s soldiers, who had followed closely behind, arrived. They swiftly took control of the city. ¡°Alright, everyone mount the Bone Dragon.¡± Fang Hao issued the next order. Everyone re-mounted the Bone Dragon. The Demon Doll once again cast @[Demon Teleportation]. Everyone then stepped into the portal. Through the teleportation portal, Fang Hao and the others had already arrived at Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s domain. Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s domain was considerably better than Song Yu¡¯s. As an elder of the alliance, he had received quite a bit of support recently. Chapter 469 - Chapter 469: Chapter 409, Counterattack_2 Chapter 469: Chapter 409, Counterattack_2 The territory was expanding rapidly. With the support of the alliance members, they had already occupied three nearby territories and plundered a large amount of resources, making Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s life increasingly prosperous. When three bone dragons carrying skeleton soldiers appeared, it instantly drew the attention of the surrounding soldiers. A mere approach with their weapons was met with the death breath of the bone dragons, reducing them instantly into scattered white bones. Skeleton warriors disembarked from the dragons and began to clear the city guards. With a captured peasant in tow, Fang Hao spoke in a cold voice. ¡°Where is your Lord, Qiu Zhi Shang?¡± The peasant trembled in fear, his voice quivering, ¡°The Lord has gone to the, the tile kiln.¡± ¡°And where is this kiln?¡± ¡°To the west outside the city,¡± the peasant quickly replied. After releasing the peasant, Fang Hao addressed the crowd, ¡°Everyone, there¡¯s no need to worry. I¡¯m only here to discuss some matters with your Lord. As long as you stay here obediently and avoid touching any weapons, I can assure your safety. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Un-understood,¡± the crowd stuttered in response. Any soldiers attempting resistance or defense had already been eliminated. The only ones left were these timid and fearful peasants. Fang Hao came for Qiu Zhi Shang himself; there was no need to kill all these people. He ordered the skeleton soldiers to guard the people. Then he led the remaining men quickly toward the tile kiln on the west side outside the city. Shortly, Fang Hao arrived at the location of the kiln. There were numerous kilns constructed here, and many workers were bustling about. Not far away, a middle-aged man, surrounded by many people, also noticed Fang Hao and his troop. The sight of the undead army approaching him drained his face of color, and he turned and bolted. Bang!! A gunshot rang out, and Dong Jiayue hit his ankle. Qiu Zhi Shang fell to the ground, howling in agony. ¡°What an aim!¡± Fang Hao praised Dong Jiayue. Firearms are actually not easy to use; they are slow to load, inaccurate, but pack a punch. If fired accurately, they can kill an enemy of higher rank. However, that¡¯s if you can fire it accurately. ¡°I wanted to fire a warning shot, didn¡¯t mean to hit him,¡± Dong Jiayue said helplessly. ¡°Well¡­ seems like he¡¯s done too many bad deeds, even the heavens aren¡¯t helping him,¡± Fang Hao justified. Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s guards were eliminated. Two skeleton trolls dragged him to the crowd as if he were a dead dog, and threw him in front of everyone. ¡°Who are you? I¡¯m an elder of Tianpeng Alliance. Don¡¯t act rashly. I have tens of thousands of soldiers in the city. You won¡¯t benefit from this,¡± Qiu Zhi Shang, clutching his ankle, shouted loudly. Blood was seeping out from between his fingers. Pain was warping Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s face. He continued to issue warnings amidst his whimpers of pain. ¡°Qiu Zhi Shang, you swore at me just last night. You can¡¯t have forgotten me already,¡± Fang Hao smiled at Qiu Zhi Shang. Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s pupils contracted, ¡°You¡¯re Fang Hao. No, impossible. How did you get here?¡± They had calculated that Fang Hao¡¯s territory should be near Dong Jiayue¡¯s. There were several regions between Dong Jiayue and himself, how could Fang Hao possibly be here? And didn¡¯t he send Song Yu to kill Dong Jiayue? Did Song Yu die? How could it happen so quickly? Demitrija bent down and snatched the Book of Lords from him. After consuming it, they also found the location of Yu Tianpeng¡¯s territory on the map. Fang Hao nodded at Demitrija, hinting something. Swish swish!! Getting Fang Hao¡¯s hint, Demitrija swung his swords and severed Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s arms. Blood spurted out from the wounds, dyeing Qiu Zhi Shang red in an instant. As Qiu Zhi Shang was about to let out an even more piercing scream, Demitrija swung his sword again, and the blade flashed across his neck. A head fell from the body, rolling on the ground and finally stopping at a distance. His eyes, still wide open, stared grimly at his city in the distance. ¡°Bury him here. Let¡¯s go back to the city to rest,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Demon Doll¡± releases skills by using the energy from its controller. After releasing ¡°Demon Teleportation¡± twice in a row, Fang Hao¡¯s spiritual power had also been drained. After burying Qiu Zhi Shang, Fang Hao led everyone back to the city. The villagers were still gathered and squatting on the bare ground under surveillance. Fang Hao spoke, ¡°This city has a new ruler now. If you¡¯re willing, you can continue living here. I will assign a new City Lord for you. If you don¡¯t wish to stay, you can leave, and I will provide the necessary provisions for your journey.¡± This place was different from Song Yu¡¯s city¡ªit was quite far from any subsidiary territories. Although Song Yu¡¯s city could be handed over to Dong Jiayue, there was a significant distance from both Fang Hao¡¯s and Dong Jiayue¡¯s territories, so a new lord would need to be assigned here later. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, the villagers began to discuss among themselves in hushed whispers. Qiu Zhi Shang was not a competent lord; he had been heavily exploiting the villagers. In the tile production, a piecemeal work system was established. The territory did not provide food supplies; they had to exchange their productions for it. Chapter 470 - Chapter 470: Chapter 409, Counterattack _3 Chapter 470: Chapter 409, Counterattack _3 The more you produce in your work, the more food and living essentials you get. However, often, for a family to be well-fed, it¡¯s a challenging task. The territory Fang Hao now occupies and the Undead he leads still cause great worry amongst the people. Just as he finished speaking, many indicated their desire to leave. Fang Hao made no attempt to stop them. ¡°Alright, Dong Jiayue, take a few people to distribute food to those who want to leave. The rest can take the day off. The food supply will be made available tonight to ensure everyone¡¯s well-fed. We¡¯ll return to work tomorrow. From now on, everyone here will be promised food and warmth.¡± Upon hearing this, some of those who were about to leave squatted down again. Apparently, the promise of food and warmth made them willing to stay and monitor the situation. ¡°Okay.¡± Dong Jiayue opened the warehouse and distributed food to those who were leaving before exiting the area. Those who remained also received enough food, although they were all sent back to their dwellings to eat and were not allowed to leave unless it was necessary. Fang Hao handed out some roasted cakes. He was checking the chat within the channel while having his lunch. ¡°What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s noon already, but there¡¯s no news from either side.¡± ¡°Damn! Dong Jiayue hasn¡¯t been killed, has she?¡± ¡°I think something must have happened to people from the Alliance of Tianpeng, otherwise, they would have released the news.¡± ¡°Ha! Song Yu has just left. Could a little lady resist our alliance army?¡± ¡°Right, not to mention that little lady, should we find out where Fang Hao is based, we¡¯ll level his territory, even scatter his ashes.¡± The people of the Tianpeng Alliance were arrogantly powerful, and the others dared not say much. Fearing that they had chosen the wrong side and might face the retaliation of people from the Tianpeng Alliance. ¡­ On the other side. Yu Tianpeng was sitting by the bed, looking sullen. He had slept until now, accompanied by the two lady lords of the alliance last night, and had just gotten up. He had expected to wake up to news of having taken over Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory. But now, he hadn¡¯t received any news. Just now, he had chatted privately with Qiu Zhi Shang and Song Yu. However, their chat threads had become greyed out. And the messages he sent out indicated those two players no longer existed. This made Yu Tianpeng¡¯s face even more drab. Despite his great confidence in his alliance, a bad omen sprouted in his heart. Why would these two people disappear? Unless they were dead. In the local channel, everyone was still heatedly discussing, and the members of his alliance were boasting that Fang Hao, the first killer, was nothing compared to the Tianpeng Alliance. But him, the Alliance Hierarch, was already sweating profusely, and his hand holding the Book of Lords began to tremble uncontrollably. He didn¡¯t even have time to brush his teeth or wash his face, promptly rushing out of the lord¡¯s mansion to gather all the soldiers and surround his location. He had an ominous feeling that he had provoked someone he shouldn¡¯t have. ¡­ After lunch. Fang Hao opened another bottle of Mental Potion and drank it down. ¡°Nisbit, you stay here and manage things for now. I will send someone to replace you later.¡± Fang Hao ordered. He also recruited 200 human soldiers from the barracks to follow Nisbit¡¯s dispatch. Nisbit belonged to the Undead ¡®Nisbit¡¯, a Tier 10 troop. He was intimidating enough, but his managerial skills were inadequate, so Fang Hao would send others to take over managing the city later. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After sorting things out here, Fang Hao once again cast Demon Teleportation. He led his entourage into the beam of light. A dark red portal appeared in the center of Yu Tianpeng¡¯s territory. Just as Fang Hao¡¯s vision was restored, he heard a low growl, ¡°Release the arrows, shoot quickly.¡± Whizz whizz whizz!! Yu Tianpeng had already prepared, and a large number of arrows poured down on the spot where the light curtain appeared. Chapter 471 - Chapter 471: Chapter 410, Kill Yu Tianpeng_1 Chapter 471: Chapter 410, Kill Yu Tianpeng_1 Yu Tianpeng¡¯s army was already prepared. Fang Hao had quickly eliminated Song Yu and Qiu Zhi Shang, meaning he had a method of teleportation similar to that of the ¡®Alliance Building¡¯. As soon as the teleportation curtain appeared in front of the lord¡¯s mansion, Yu Tianpeng immediately gave the command to surround it. Seeing the first figure, he didn¡¯t wait to confirm their identity before issuing the command to attack. Arrows poured in, loosed from all angles and aimed at the curtain. The sounds of bowstrings and the whoosh of arrows filled the surroundings. The archers were a special unit in Yu Tianpeng¡¯s forces, obtained from his members. [Storm Crossbowman (Level Six)] Storm Crossbowmen have an active skill called Storm Arrow. The arrows they fired carried wind properties and moved faster than regular arrows. Each Storm Crossbowman was equipped with a blue crossbow. With such a short distance and considering the power of the crossbows, he was confident he could kill the enemy in one volley. After the volley, the crossbowmen began to reload their crossbows. The teleportation curtain in the center had already disappeared. When everyone finally saw the new arrivals, they were shocked. Three armored Bone Dragons had arrived. Skeletal soldiers leapt off the backs of two of the Bone Dragons. The Bone Dragon in the middle crouched on the ground, its body wrapped around Fang Hao and his companions, protecting them. Fortunately, the Bone Dragons had dragon armor. Otherwise, with their hollow bodies, protecting Fang Hao and the others would¡¯ve been difficult. Roar! The Bone Dragon unleashed a dark beam, sweeping towards the encircling enemies. The Undead soldiers, brandishing their battle axes, also charged at their enemies. Even the Level Six Storm Crossbowman were elite units under Yu Tianpeng¡¯s command. But from Fang Hao¡¯s perspective, their level and power were only average. The slow reloading speed of the Level Six Storm Crossbow was their weakness. Those who didn¡¯t die from the Bone Dragon¡¯s breath were pursued and killed by the Skeleton Trolls and Nisbit. Suddenly, the entire city fell into a state of chaos, filled with screams and battle cries. Blood splattered on the ground. Anybody bearing a weapon was killed, except for the farmers who hadn¡¯t left their homes. The dead bodies dragged over the ground, staining it red, and were then piled into a small mound in front of the lord¡¯s mansion. After half an hour, the soldiers outside were eliminated. Yu Tianpeng had already sought refuge inside the Lord¡¯s Mansion as soon as he saw how the battle was going. ¡­ Inside the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Leaning against the wall, Yu Tianpeng peeked out from a crack in the window and watched the fighting outside. Such a bloody and brutal scene made him feel terrified. It was certain that the black-haired young man in the center was Fang Hao. But why did he have Bone Dragons and such powerful undead units? Surely that golden armored lizardman was a hero. Damn it, this kid must be cheating. Otherwise, how could he have such strong troops? What kind of a person had he provoked? It was impossible to say he had no regrets. But it was too late for anything now. Given the situation outside, it had come to a do-or-die situation. Soon, the soldiers outside had been completely wiped out. Skeleton soldiers surrounded the lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°Yu Tianpeng, I¡¯m already here. What are you hiding for? Why not come out and let¡¯s have a proper talk,¡± Fang Hao called out loudly from behind his ranks. Transmigrators often had no martial virtues, so he had to be careful of distant enemies launching a surprise attack. ¡°Humph! Fang Hao, what is there to talk about between us? Are you going to let me live?¡± Yu Tianpeng shouted back. Inside the Lord¡¯s Mansion, the remaining Storm Crossbowmen were ready. They were just waiting for Fang Hao to come out from behind his troops, so they could shoot him. ¡°Let you live? Alliance Master Yu, you¡¯re too formidable. I dare not let you live. Otherwise, I¡¯ll end up dying at your hands, which would be a loss for me,¡± Fang Hao replied, shaking his head. Hearing that Fang Hao would not spare him, Yu Tianpeng felt even more desolate. If the opponent were to let him live, he just might have surrendered directly, expressing his subservience. But he somewhat understood Fang Hao¡¯s character. While he didn¡¯t oppress people wantonly, he was ruthless with enemies. ¡°Then there is nothing left to talk about. If you have the guts, come in and fight. I have many tricks up my sleeve to take you down with me. Even in death, I¡¯ll have you as my company,¡± Yu Tianpeng shouted in defiance. After his shout, he noticed the hesitation outside and opened the Book of Lords, searching for a way to escape. If he could find a teleporting item, then there might still be a tiny glimmer of hope. Hearing Yu Tianpeng¡¯s defiance, Fang Hao sensed something strange. Did their adversary still have a trick up his sleeve? But who would set a trap in their own home? The other side was probably just trying to buy time. He ordered directly, ¡°Attack.¡± As soon as his command came out, the skeletal soldiers launched an attack. The Skeleton Troll led the charge, followed by 19 Nisbits, who marched boldly towards the lord¡¯s mansion. Demitrija and the Bone Dragon stayed by Fang Hao¡¯s side. For a battle inside a building, the forces they had already deployed were more than enough. Whoosh! Whoosh! The remaining soldiers inside the Lord¡¯s Mansion began to counterattack. Crossbow arrows whistled out of the windows, directed at the charging Skeleton Troll. The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out as the arrows struck the armor of the undead. The leading Skeleton Troll, its breastplate studded with multiple arrow shafts, charged directly to the front gate of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. It swung its ax without pause, slamming it against the massive gate. Chapter 472 - Chapter 472: Chapter 410, Kill Yu Tianpeng_2 Chapter 472: Chapter 410, Kill Yu Tianpeng_2 With a few loud bangs. The sealed door was smashed to pieces, and Skeleton the Troll, along with Nisbit, charged into the building and started a reckless slaughter. The sounds of battle surged from the first floor all the way to the top. As the shouting died down, the fight was nearing its end. Skeleton the Troll began moving bodies outside ¨C Yu Tianpeng, who was stained red with blood, and two pale-faced, trembling, female Lords, were dragged out. Yu Tianpeng had sustained several injuries, his demeanor had somewhat faltered. ¡°Fang Hao, I am not convinced by you. If you have guts, let me go, and we can have a fair fight again. I refuse to believe that I will lose to you.¡± Yu Tianpeng gritted his teeth and said. ¡°Whether you believe or not, and how many people care, you have already lost once in this game of ours,¡± Fang Hao said indifferently. ¡°So what do you want to do? You have proved that you have won you don¡¯t need to kill me.¡± Yu Tianpeng was now filled with regret. If he hadn¡¯t coveted the vast amount of equipment resources Fang Hao had put up, if he hadn¡¯t had the leisure to challenge Fang Hao. He would still be the Alliance Hierarch of Tianpeng Alliance. Power and women, he had it all. And, as time went on, he would have had more and more. But he, dimwittedly enough, provoked Fang Hao. Now he had lost everything and might even lose his life. ¡°You have already attacked me. Do you think I¡¯ll let you off? You can start preparing your last words.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°No! Fang Hao, you can¡¯t kill me. You said in this world we are kindred, we should help each other. I promise I will never provoke you again, you can¡¯t kill me.¡± Despite the pain in his body, Yu Tianpeng begged loudly. The injuries could be treated, but if Fang Hao really killed him, he would truly be dead, and he wouldn¡¯t have a shred of hope remaining. The fear of death drove him to beg for his life aloud. Fang Hao found what he said rather amusing. Not wishing to waste more words, he instructed, ¡°Demitrija, go ahead, make it quick.¡± ¡°As you wish, sir.¡± Seeing Demitrija draw his longsword, Yu Tianpeng¡¯s pupils shrank. He began to struggle wildly. But his actions were no match for Demitrija. With one swipe of the sword, Yu Tianpeng¡¯s head was severed from his body. As his head fell, his body slowly collapsed onto the ground. Yu Tianpeng¡¯s head rolled to Fang Hao¡¯s feet, staining the ground a dark red with his blood. His face retained an expression of terror and pain. This thriving Alliance Hierarch met his end here. Ah!! The two female Lords on the side, splattered with blood, let out shrill screams. But they quickly quieted. They huddled together, not daring to lift their heads to take in the scene before them. ¡°Are you two with Yu Tianpeng?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on the two women. These two were brought out from Yu Tianpeng¡¯s estate. Those who are able to enter his mansion must have significant status. If they were closely associated with Yu Tianpeng, Fang Hao would show no mercy. ¡°No, no we weren¡¯t. We were members of his alliance. After joining the Trade Alliance, he forced us to abandon our own territories and we lived here, to accompany¡­ accompany him,¡± one woman spoke softly. In their previous lives, one was a movie star and the other was a singer. While not famous, their looks and figures were quite outstanding in the world of female celebrities. Upon arriving in this world, every individual¡¯s survival conditions were tough. Their bodies and looks didn¡¯t grant them any advantages in this world. Then they joined Yu Tianpeng, but they didn¡¯t expect him to be more ruthless. He absorbed their Book of Lords and made them abandon their territories and kept them around to serve him. At this moment, the two women were crying their hearts out, afraid that Fang Hao, this God of Death, would take their lives next. ¡°Boss Fang Hao, we know you. Before we joined, we bought goods from your place to develop our territories. We have nothing much to do with Yu Tianpeng. We¡¯ve only been here for a few days.¡± The other woman also started speaking. As they looked up, Fang Hao could see their faces clearly. He remembered them. They were indeed celebrities from the original world. ¡°Jia Yue, handle these two for now. If they make any moves, kill them directly,¡± Fang Hao instructed. In plain language, these two people relied only on their former star statuses. After seeing Eira, Rolana, and Rebecca, he realized that these stars weren¡¯t anything special and didn¡¯t have any significant advantages. He decided to hand things over to Dong Jiayue first, and arrange things for the others when their abilities were needed later. Having taken care of the two of them¡­. Fang Hao began to absorb Yu Tianpeng¡¯s Book of Lords. [Possibility to absorb the Book of Lords (Level 2)]. Yu Tianpeng¡¯s Book of Lords turned into a beam of light and integrated into Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords. [Successful absorption. Your Book of Lords is currently at Level 6, with 3/20 points needed for the next level raise.] This time, Fang Hao absorbed three Books of Lords altogether. Song Yu¡¯s Book of Lords was Level 1. Both Qiu Zhi Shang¡¯s and Yu Tianpeng¡¯s Books of Lords were Level 2. Qiu Zhi Shang possessed two additional subsidiary cities outside of his own, while Yu Tianpeng, due to his status as Alliance Hierarch, did not expand in the typical lord fashion. His Book of Lords was also Level 2, but he only developed his one city. Absorbing the Books of Lords from these three people allowed Fang Hao to go from a Level 5 Book of Lords directly up to Level 6. [Book of Lords has risen to Level 6: Marching Speed +4.5%, Resource Exploitation +5.5%, Troop Attack Power +1%, Regional Channel Daily Speaking Limit +60]. After the upgrade, various attributes also improved. The speaking limit in the channel had already reached 60 messages, which he couldn¡¯t use up every day. [You have obtained decision-making power over Yu Tianpeng¡¯s territory.] [Occupy/Abandon] Occupy! [You have occupied this area, automatically becoming a subsidiary city.] [You can set a ¡®Deputy Governor¡¯ in the Book of Lords.] Fang Hao was not unfamiliar with these prompts. He skillfully choose to occupy it. Now, this Level 10 city also became his subsidiary city. Just as Fang Hao was about to search the lord¡¯s mansion again¡­ Demitrija asked, ¡°Sir, shall we bury this body now?¡± For the bodies of transmigrators, Fang Hao ordered that they be buried nearby instead of being thrown into the conversion field for transformation. No matter how intense their previous enmity, all was forgiven and forgotten after death. Now, as they started clearing the battlefield, Demitrija intended to directly bury Yu Tianpeng¡¯s body. ¡°Wait,¡± said Fang Hao. He placed Yu Tianpeng¡¯s head and body together, took a photo with his Book of Lords¡­ ¡­and promptly sent it to the regional channel, ¡°[Image], Yu Tianpeng is dead. This event has come to a conclusion, you can all continue to peacefully develop your territories.¡± As soon as these words came out, the channel suddenly fell silent. Nobody spoke, even those arrogant alliance members closed their mouths without arguing about it. This continued for three minutes. Finally someone carefully asked, ¡°Is this Alliance Master Yu? Does anybody know him?¡± ¡°Is there any need to recognize him? If it wasn¡¯t Yu Tianpeng, those mad dogs of the Tianpeng Alliance would have been yelling a long time ago! Haven¡¯t you noticed that not a single one is speaking up right now!¡± ¡°Yeah, where are those guys? Don¡¯t tell me they all got slaughtered by Lord Fang Hao!¡± ¡°So bloody, Lord Fang Hao must have a fondness for beheadings. Last time, that Li Teng was also decapitated.¡± ¡°Beheading is the quickest way to execute someone. If you want to torture someone, you can cut them at the waist, slash as low as possible and they will crawl forward in pain, taking a long time to die.¡± ¡°Oh my, the person upstairs must work in the judiciary.¡± The people in the channel began to discuss. Those who had taken sides with the Tianpeng Alliance shut their mouths. Existing members of the alliance, the moment Yu Tianpeng died, were informed that the alliance was disbanded. Everyone realized the gravity of the situation. Feeling uneasy, they hid in their territories, hoping that their previous remarks hadn¡¯t drawn Fang Hao¡¯s attention¡­ and thus the wrath of this killer¡­ After sorting all this out, Fang Hao continued to examine the blueprints unlocked by his latest territorial conquest. [Blueprints unlocked: Storm Crossbowman Training Field construction blueprint (Blue), Lionheart Knight Camp construction blueprint (Purple), Misfortune Strike production blueprint (Blue), Courage Chestplate production blueprint (Blue), Guardian¡¯s Wristband production blueprint (Blue)]. Chapter 473 - Chapter 473: Chapter 411, Do You Have a Father-in-Law?_ 1 Chapter 473: Chapter 411, Do You Have a Father-in-Law?_ 1 While occupying Yu Tianpeng¡¯s territory, a large amount of blueprint equipment was also unlocked. As an alliance hierarch, Yu Tianpeng did have several useful building blueprints. [Storm Crossbowmen Training Camp: Hardwood 2200, Stone Bricks 1200, Thick Leather 500, Cast Iron Blocks 220, Metal Parts 200, Traces of Wind 1.] (Description: The Storm Crossbowmen are full-time soldiers that serve as the standby army to resist enemy attacks, continuously knocking down the enemy in round after round of volley fire.) Fang Hao had just experienced the power of the Storm Crossbowmen. Their strength was already at Level 6, and their crossbow arrows, augmented by wind attributes, were faster and even more powerful. Among the human faction, they were considered as quite excellent troops. Fang Hao continued to review the second blueprint, a purple cavalry blueprint. [Lionheart Knight Camp: Hardwood 5200, Stone Bricks 3500, Fine Stone Bricks 2200, Thick Leather 1500, Cast Iron Blocks 800, Metal Parts 420, Traces of Battle 2.]. (Description: The Lionheart Knights are made up of the kingdom¡¯s most elite knights, they occupy high positions, have made remarkable achievements, carry the banner of knightly honor, and adhere to the knight¡¯s code of the kingdom.) The Lionheart Knight Camp is a purple building blueprint. Given Yu Tianpeng¡¯s strength, it was likely that this blueprint was a purple reward given to him for reaching level 10. The system rewarded me with an orange one as the first to reach level 10, rewarding him with a purple one for being second seems fairly reasonable. Probably he used up all his building materials when he upgraded his lord¡¯s mansion. The Lionheart Knight Camp had not been built. Even if he had built it this time and recruited Lionheart Knights, they would still be no match for Fang Hao. A level 10 Bone Dragon and Nisbit are already top-level troops, and Demitrija is also present. The killing of Yu Tianpeng left no suspense. After reviewing the two building blueprints, he continued to check the production blueprints. [Misfortune Strike: Hardwood 2, Cast Iron Blocks 3, Metal Parts 5.] (Description: This crossbow, despite its ugly appearance and strong string, can inflict tremendous damage on the enemy.) Misfortune Strike was the weapon previously equipped by the Storm Crossbowmen. It is indeed suitable for their profession. Moreover, the skeleton hero Heavy Arrow possesses attribute bonuses for commanding crossbowmen. Heavy Arrow could be the backbone of a crossbowmen team. The remaining two pieces of equipment were simple blue equipment. They were not as good as the set Fang Hao had. After reviewing all the blueprint rewards, Fang Hao entered the lord¡¯s mansion to see if there was any spoils of war he needed. Checking from the first to the second floor, it was evident that Yu Tianpeng¡¯s decorations were indeed up to mark. The chandeliers, carpets, and furniture used were all finely crafted items. But for Fang Hao, who had already ransacked several area leaders¡¯ residences, these things seemed somewhat ordinary. After putting all the rare materials and the gold and silverware from the warehouse into storage, He walked straight out of the lord¡¯s hall. Outside the lord¡¯s mansion, all the farmers had been gathered together, heads bowed and not daring to look ahead. The farmers in the territory are divided into two types: one is domestic recruitment, corresponding to the worker skeletons on Fang Hao¡¯s side. The other is the displaced people who have chosen to settle down. Given the satisfactory development of Yu Tianpeng¡¯s territory, there were a significant number of these settlers. Many of them had already formed families and had children. ¡°This territory has been occupied by me, but you still have the right to choose freely. Those who wish to stay here can continue to live here and will have better treatment. Those who want to leave, I will not make it difficult for you, I will provide enough water and food for you to go to other cities.¡± Fang Hao loudly told the crowd below. The farmers fell into brief chaos and discussion. About a half of the people went to Dong Jiayue to get food and water, taking three steps back, leaving the city with glances back every now and then. This was not because they had a fondness for this place, but out of fear that Fang Hao might arrange for people to attack them from behind. The remaining people stayed, most of them were those who had formed a family. They had children and residences. If they left this city, there would be no place for the women and children to live, and it would be very difficult for them to make it to the next city. Seeing that most of the people still stayed behind, Fang Hao nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, you can go back and take a break. I will assign a city lord to you tomorrow. They will be responsible for your daily affairs and assign you new tasks.¡± The farmers dispersed and returned to their homes according to Fang Hao¡¯s instructions to keep their doors tightly closed and not to come out. After handling the farmers¡¯ affairs, Fang Hao went back to the barracks and built a [Heavy Sword Infantry Training Camp]. Utilizing the hundred-fold multiplier, he recruited 303 heavy sword infantry and produced their equipment. This was currently the highest-tier infantry Fang Hao had, serving as the defending force in his territory for now. After recruiting the infantry, he went on to recruit archers at the [Storm Shooter Training Ground]. In the case of defending the city, long-range troops still had more advantages. [Storm Shooter Training Ground] [Type: Human Building] [Recruitable: Storm Shooters (Tier Six Troop)] [Storm Shooter: Soul Crystal 6, Food 40] The recruitment number was set to 5 and the recruitment started. [Hundred-fold Multiplier Activated, 505 Storm Shooters Recruited] As the light fades, 505 Storm Shooters appeared before Fang Hao. [Storm Shooter (Sixth Tier)] [Faction: Human] [Race features: Living creatures, Human Spirit, Learning.] [Skills: Storm Arrow, Limb Breaker] [Constant Abilities: Intermediate Shooting Proficiency, Intermediate Crossbow Proficiency] Chapter 474 - Chapter 474: Chapter 411, Do You Have a Father-in-Law?_2 Chapter 474: Chapter 411, Do You Have a Father-in-Law?_2 [Storm Arrow (Active)]: Crossbow bolts cause an additional 5% wind property damage, crossbow bolt speed +10%. [Crippling (Passive)]: Heavy blows to weak parts of the body have a high chance of causing limb-breaking effects. (Description: Storm Crossbowmen, full-time soldiers serve as the standing army to repel enemy attacks, continually felling enemies with their rain of fire.) Storm Crossbowmen possess characteristics of human faction soldiers. They can equip the equipment they are skilled with, or through learning traits, become familiar with a second piece of equipment for matching. This is a characteristic of the human camp, they are adept at learning and thinking. 505 Storm Crossbowmen stand orderly in front of Fang Hao. Dressed in linen attire, the only unique feature is that on the right side of each person¡¯s hat, a feather is tucked. At first glance, they look somewhat like Native Americans. ¡°Lord!¡± The 505 Storm Archers salute in unison. ¡°Hmm, welcome to the ranks. In these two days, I need you to guard this city. I¡¯ll arrange a governor to come over later.¡± Fang Hao nodded and said. ¡°Yes, my Lord, we will follow your arrangements.¡± Storm Crossbowmen continued. Next, Fang Hao provided them with archer suits and Misfortune Strike crossbows. After changing into their gear, they all got on the city wall and began their patrol. With the city defense issue resolved, Fang Hao continues, ¡°Nis Two, station yourself here for now, I¡¯ll arrange someone to replace you later.¡± Nis Two nodded, ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± After everything was taken care of, Fang Hao once again used Demon Teleportation. He and a few others, through the teleportation array, returned directly to Dong Jiayue¡¯s city. ¡­ Coming out of the teleportation portal, they were back in Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory. After all, it¡¯s a city managed by a young girl. The streets were very clean, especially in front of the lord¡¯s mansion where there was a flower bed filled with all kinds of exotic plants. Butterflies and bees had attracted a multitude of brightly colored birds. He¡¯d planted some plants in his backyard too, but because of the numerous undead, hardly any birds dared to come in. ¡°Thank you, Brother Hao. If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have fallen into the hands of those bastards,¡± Dong Jiayue said with a smile. ¡°Among us, you are hands down, the best fighter. Even if I didn¡¯t come, that boy named Song Yu probably wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against you,¡± Fang Hao replied, also smiling. Of course, this was just courteous talk. If it came to the point where Dong Jiayue had to fight personally, it would mean that there were hardly any of his men left alive. Song Yu himself was not a threat; the real danger was the Alliance Army. Thousands of troops are enough to destroy Dong Jiayue¡¯s army at that time. ¡°I¡¯m not that great. On the other hand, Brother Hao, you¡¯re very fierce. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re really like what others say ¨C the favorite son of the system!¡± This morning, she was still worried about her safety and was even preparing to evacuate her people from the city. Unexpectedly, by afternoon, the problem was already resolved. Not only did Fang Hao kill Song Yu, who attacked her, but he also slaughtered Yu Tianpeng. He single-handedly disintegrated the formidable Tianpeng Alliance. This kind of power was simply unfathomable. ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd, there¡¯s no such thing,¡± Fang Hao replied. Once they entered the City Lord¡¯s mansion and sat down, fruit wine was served. The fruit wine was brewed from the Troll Wine Barrel that Fang Hao gave her, which was easy to operate and tasted quite good. On the side, the two female celebrities stood quietly. They looked more like two waiting maids. Since gaining the [City Transfer] ability, the status between transmigrators and original inhabitants no longer mattered. Whoever manages a city mainly depends on their ability, not the identity of a transmigrator. Transmigrators with low abilities who have already lost their territories are no different from ordinary natives. Of course, the natives are mostly illiterate. That¡¯s where transmigrators have an advantage. Dong Jiayue glanced at the two relatively restrained women and said to a soldier beside her, ¡°You take them around the city to familiarise themselves with the surroundings.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord,¡± the soldier replied, leading the two women out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. Inside the hall, besides two servants, only Fang Hao, Dong Jiayue, and Demitrija remained. ¡°Jia Yue, the map of the Desolate Battlefield you gave me last time, have you sent anyone there later?¡± Fang Hao asked again. Dong Jiayue was taken aback, not expecting to suddenly bring up this matter. The Desolate Battlefield map was found by her in the ancient tomb. Because of her limited abilities and the debt she owed to Fang Hao at that time, she gave this map to him as a gift. Two months later, she didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to suddenly bring it up again. ¡°No, Brother Hao, are you planning to explore the Desolate Battlefield?¡± Dong Jiayue asked curiously. Transmigrators often use game-like terms when referring to specific locations. Terms like ¡®explore a dungeon¡¯, ¡®equipment attributes¡¯, and ¡®top-quality equipment¡¯ are all game-related terminology. ¡°Yes, not long ago, the army captured a temple, and a temple¡¯s map was found inside which coincidentally overlaps with the Desolate Battlefield map you gave me last time. I¡¯m considering taking a look at the Desolate Battlefield in the next few days.¡± Fang Hao, without any concealment, spoke directly. To enter the Desolate Battlefield, Dong Jiayue¡¯s city must be used as a base. Naturally, he had to inform her in advance so she could prepare herself. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Dong Jiayue fell silent for a moment, then continued, ¡°The place should be quite dangerous. The Desolate Map mentions that many have died there.¡± Chapter 475 - Chapter 475: Chapter 411, Do You Have a Father-in-Law?_3 Chapter 475: Chapter 411, Do You Have a Father-in-Law?_3 ¡°No worries, I¡¯m not afraid of danger. My forces are still quite abundant here. I¡¯ll need you to organize a city for me as a base to attack the Desolate Battlefield.¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°Oh, okay, I¡¯ll get right on it,¡± Dong Jiayue agreed right away. In Dong Jiayue¡¯s mind, it seemed as though she was in charge here, but in reality, everything belonged to Fang Hao. His discussions with her now were merely serving as notifications. ¡°Alright, then if that¡¯s all, I¡¯m going to head back now. I¡¯m leaving these skeleton trolls to you. I¡¯ll coordinate for more forces to come here later,¡± Fang Hao continued. Before leaving, he constructed a life spring for Dong Jiayue. This would allow her to take baths regularly and also help improve her physique. Once everything was arranged and his spiritual power was nearly replenished, he reactivated the Demon Teleportation, leading Demitrijia and Nisbit through the portal back to his territory. ¡­ The following day, in Zhang Bin¡¯s city. Zhang Bin¡¯s development was going well, having already established 10 associated villages. All of them were primarily agricultural, producing large amounts of food. Zhang Bin greeted Fang Hao, who had suddenly arrived, saying, ¡°Boss, why didn¡¯t you let me know you were coming? I could have tidied up a bit.¡± Unfazed, Fang Hao walked straight into the city lord¡¯s mansion and sat down, ¡°No need for that.¡± Zhang Bin chuckled and sat down next to him. He continued, ¡°Boss, I hope Miss Dong is alright. Those Tianpeng guys were way too arrogant, even bullying a girl.¡± Zhang Bin, Dong Jiayue, and Fang Hao had all teamed up for trial tasks before. Having experienced life-or-death challenges together, their relationship had naturally strengthened. ¡°There¡¯s no danger anymore. Tianpeng no longer exists,¡± Fang Hao stated calmly. ¡°Boss, you took out Tianpeng, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zhang Bin knew that Fang Hao would step in because the Tianpeng Alliance had lashed out at Dong Jiayue, but he didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to wipe Tianpeng off the map. He was aware of Fang Hao¡¯s troop strength, but each territory was still distanced from one another. But being able to be boisterous in the morning, and butchered by the afternoon, seemed too fast. ¡°There¡¯s nothing surprising about it. I learned a teleportation skill and teleported my troops directly there,¡± Fang Hao revealed without any concealment. ¡°Right, that explains why Tianpeng was desperate to exchange a thousand units of rare resources for a teleportation scroll. He must have wanted to escape at the time,¡± explained Zhang Bin. Fang Hao paused at the mention of the teleportation scroll as it was indeed a good way to escape. At that time, Tianpeng had indeed hidden in the city lord¡¯s mansion, which was probably when he got hold of a teleportation scroll via the channel. Thankfully, Fang Hao gave immediate orders to attack, capturing him before he got teleported. If he had managed to teleport himself away, it would have been tough to catch him. ¡°Oh, Tianpeng¡¯s place is a level-10 city, already at Stone Castle grade. I¡¯m currently short of a city lord, are you interested in switching?¡± Fang Hao bluntly stated his intention. As for city management, Fang Hao didn¡¯t really have any good candidate available. After some consideration, since Zhang Bin was his long-time acquaintance, it seemed fitting to offer the level-10 city to him. He expected Zhang Bin to agree readily. However, Zhang Bin seemed hesitant. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t bear to part with the city you¡¯ve built up?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Zhang Bin blushed and stuttered, ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that¡­ I¡­ I need to go back and¡­ let my father-in-law know¡­ ¡± That caught Fang Hao by surprise. ¡°What? Since when did you have a father-in-law?¡± Chapter 476 - Chapter 476: Chapter 412, Xu Yang in a sorry state _1 Chapter 476: Chapter 412, Xu Yang in a sorry state _1 Zhang Bin was the first to become a transmigrator associated with his city. Although there was a relationship of affiliation, they also considered each other as friends. Despite being somewhat cautious and hesitant, his character was overall decent. The title ¡°boss,¡± originated from Zhang Bin and was soon adopted by Fu Lei and Kong Yong, who also began referring to him as such. Originally planning to relocate him to a Level 10 city, he found that Zhang Bin was already married. This was beyond Fang Hao¡¯s expectations. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s surprised look, Zhang Bin¡¯s face turned red, and he scratched his head in embarrassment and said: ¡°Well, last week Wyatt and I had a simple wedding ceremony, it was a small event, so I didn¡¯t mention it to you, boss.¡± Wyatt? Listening to the name, it seems she¡¯s a local resident. ¡°Oh, this is nice, to have someone to rely on,¡± Fang Hao did not comment much. Just then, a plainly dressed girl emerged from the side of the City Lord¡¯s mansion, carrying a fruit plate and refreshments. Zhang Bin quickly introduced her, ¡°Boss, this is Wyatt. Wyatt, quickly greet the boss.¡± ¡°Hello, boss!¡± Wyatt placed the fruit plate and cup in front of Fang Hao and bent over to bow. Wyatt had wheat-colored skin, a handsome face, and youthful freckles on her cheeks. She was young and adorable. Moreover, Fang Hao remembered Wyatt. He had seen her while touring the villages affiliated with him, led by Zhang Bin. At that time, he had a feeling that she was quite fond of Zhang Bin. And now, the two had come together. ¡°Well, Zhang Bin never mentioned this at the wedding. This gemstone jewelry is a gift to you, from now on, please take good care of Zhang Bin¡¯s daily life.¡± Fang Hao flipped his hand in a magician-like manner, and a gemstone necklace magically appeared, which he placed on the table. The necklace was obtained from the treasure from the dragon to the east. Although it was not an attribute prop, the necklace was made of pure gold and adorned with several thumb-sized gemstones. It could be said that even among the nobles, it was a luxury. Seeing the dazzling gold necklace in front of her, Wyatt looked at Zhang Bin hesitantly. Zhang Bin also hesitated, ¡°Boss, this is not necessary. We didn¡¯t have a formal wedding and simply took Wyatt from the village.¡± ¡°Just keep it,¡± said Fang Hao with a smile. Zhang Bin did not insist further and nodded slightly. It was only then that Wyatt took the necklace, her face full of joy, and said, ¡°Thank you, boss.¡± No woman dislikes such glamorous jewelry. ¡°Um, you¡¯re welcome.¡± He then nodded. After Wyatt bowed again, she quickly withdrew. ¡°Boss, Wyatt is the youngest daughter of her family. Every few days, my father-in-law comes to check on his youngest daughter. For the relocation, I need to talk to them,¡± Zhang Bin continued. Zhang Bin didn¡¯t object to the move, he just needed to consult with Wyatt¡¯s family. After all, it was not easy to come back to their newly married home as they didn¡¯t possess Fang Hao¡¯s teleportation ability, especially with the long distance. Furthermore, Zhang Bin had put a lot of effort into developing the town. Reassigning another city lord might lead to many problems. After thinking for a while, Fang Hao finally gave up on his plan to relocate Zhang Bin. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll relocate someone else.¡± At that time, he could just as well assign someone else to go. ¡°Would that work?¡± asked Zhang Bin. ¡°Yes, you continue to manage here, expand agricultural production, as the number of people who need to eat is gradually increasing,¡± Fang Hao continued. With the capture of the Bloodrage Mountains, Fang Hao could procure more mineral resources. At the same time, he had to ensure that everyone could satisfy their food requirements. Otherwise, with the temper of the trolls, problems were likely to occur. Therefore, the scale of agricultural production must still be expanded. ¡°No problem, I¡¯ve become very specialized in agriculture. If I could travel back, I feel like I could even teach at the Agricultural University.¡± Zhang Bin thumped his chest, full of confidence. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, boss, some time ago a Cavalry trading team came from the west, exchanging goods and resources. I was thinking if we should create a commercial area in the city to establish a connection with the western cities.¡± Zhang Bin continued. ¡°You can, go ahead and arrange it. Whatever you need, I¡¯ll send it to you.¡± ¡°Alright, boss.¡± ¡­ Bloodrage Highlands. Xu Yang led his people out of the cave, carrying various supplies and goods. They stayed in the cave for 17 days, every one of them looked unkempt, dirty and ragged. Most of the equipment that they had obtained from Fang Hao had been sold in exchange for food and survival materials. They had only about 10 longswords left, the rest were replaced by iron axes. Once outside the cave, they made their way along the edge of the mountain range. As they observed, the battle between the trolls and the undead had ended. The undead army had been relocated somewhere. In short, the path to the outside was unblocked, and as long as they were careful, they could leave this desolate land. Soon, they bypassed the site of the former Bloodthroat Tribe. Along the only mountain road, they kept going. ¡°Sir, we did pretty well, we can finally get out,¡± a peasant exclaimed joyously. Being cooped up in the cave for 17 days without daring to venture out had been hard on them. If food and water had not been plentiful, their loyalty would have plummeted a long time ago. Chapter 477 - Chapter 477: Chapter 412, Embarrassed Xu Yang_2 Chapter 477: Chapter 412, Embarrassed Xu Yang_2 Now, they finally saw hope. ¡°Yeah, once we get out of here, we can live in the cities of the humans and no longer need to live in fear,¡± A smile appeared on Xu Yang¡¯s face. Finally escaping the troll, finally escaping this place filled with deserted hills and shattered stones. ¡°Yes, thanks to you, sir, or else we would have been eaten by those trolls,¡± someone said. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. Let¡¯s hurry and get out of here before it gets dark.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Everyone stopped talking and quickened their pace. With the help of the map, Xu Yang led the way for everyone. After walking for a whole morning, they finally arrived at the edge marked on the map. However, the originally clear path was blocked by a massive fortress. Blocking everyone¡¯s passage. And on the walls of the fortress, they could see skeleton soldiers on guard. ¡°Damn, what the hell! The undead built a fortress here.¡± Xu Yang and the others immediately hid, hugging the mountain wall, cursing in a low voice. According to the information obtained earlier, there was not supposed to be any fortress here, but a fortress appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Sir, what should we do?¡± a peasant asked. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go back and take the path through the Coldwind Mountain Range.¡± Xu Yang gritted his teeth and said again. ¡°Okay.¡± Everyone picked up their belongings and turned back in the direction they came from. But as soon as they turned around, they heard the quickening pace of footsteps and the sound of carriage wheels crunching stones not far in front of them. The color drained from Xu Yang¡¯s face, faced with a fortress behind them and in front of them a group of people and horses approaching. Had they spent all this time hiding for nothing? Were they doomed to die here after all? ¡°Sir, what¡­, what should we do?¡± a peasant asked anxiously. ¡°Grab your weapons, get ready for the final battle.¡± Xu Yang said through gritted teeth. There were steep cliffs on both sides, impossible to climb up. In a situation where there was nowhere to retreat, they could only arm themselves to bolster their courage. ¡­ Soon, the dense footsteps became louder and louder, and even more chaotic. One could tell that there were a lot of people moving quickly. Rounding the obstructing mountain in front of them, An army made of white bones appeared within the sight of Xu Yang and the others. At this moment, with the fortress in the back, and the undead army in front, they were stuck in the middle. Xu Yang and the others tightened their grip on their weapons. ¡°Get ready to fight them to the end-slaying one is earning one.¡± Xu Yang shouted. The undead troops also spotted the humans in the middle of the road, holding their weapons. The clash of swords rings out, producing a harsh abrasive noise. Surrounding all the humans in front of them. As Xu Yang was about to order an attack, he saw an Orc with a pig-like face mounted on a skeleton horse coming toward him. The female Orc had gems in her big ears and a gold pendant around her neck. Apart from her appearance that didn¡¯t fit human aesthetics, her attire made her look more like a woman of noble birth. Xu Yang and the others stared wide-eyed and gaped at the pig-like human in the carriage. What¡¯s happening? Why was there a pig-headed human in the team of the undead? And riding a horse, too, which seemed to denote her high status. It was Petty, who was tasked with the duty of orchestrating the withdrawal of the troops. Her mission today was to withdraw five hundred thousand undead troops, then have other heroes relocate this group of troops to a city on the western side. Preparing for an attack on a place called Desolate Battlefield. But she didn¡¯t expect to come across a group of humans blocking their way as they approached the fortress. On second thought, something didn¡¯t seem right. How did these humans get through the fortress and into the Bloodthroat mountain range? ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡± Petty asked. Seeing the orc willing to communicate, hope ignited in the eyes of Xu Yang, he said directly: ¡°We mean no harm, we just want to pass through the fortress and leave this mountain range.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying. What¡¯s your real purpose for entering the Bloodthroat mountain range? This is your last chance.¡± Petty¡¯s voice suddenly turned cold. The undead army had swept the entire Bloodthroat mountain range. Every troll village was leveled in the face of the undead army. If there really were a few humans there, they would have already been found and perhaps even killed. Moreover, how could humans possibly survive in that place? So, these people could only have come from outside and not be trying to leave. Could it be that Bloody Fortress has a hidden path that allowed these few humans to sneak in? As Petty¡¯s warning had just fallen, The surrounding undead warriors stepped forward two more steps. In a posture ready to attack at any time. Xu Yang looked at them, realizing there was a misunderstanding, immediately said, ¡°Esteemed one, as you can see, we are human fur traders who came to exchange some goods with the Trolls.¡± He carefully eyed the pig-headed human on horseback, and continued, ¡°But it seems there are some problems with the Trolls here, so we were thinking of leaving. We just met your team by chance. But rest assured, we did nothing wrong, and we took nothing.¡± Xu Yang loudly assured him, intending to use this as a way to convince the pig-headed human to allow him to leave. Petty observed the group in silence. The story could make sense, but it also had many questionable points. Looking at the leader of the humans, with his fawning smile, he felt the man was trying to deceive him. He said plainly, ¡°I can lead you out, but whether or not to allow you to leave is up to our lord.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, we are just fur traders. We didn¡¯t get any good returns this time, so we need to go back as soon as possible!¡± Xu Yang continued. ¡°It won¡¯t take too much time. I suppose you wouldn¡¯t want me to have the army forcibly arrest you.¡± Petty continued. Xu Yang knew he had no choice, but at least the pig-headed human was willing to negotiate. At least they didn¡¯t have to fight with the undead upon meeting. After thinking it over, he tossed his weapon onto the ground, reiterated: ¡°Esteemed one, we mean no harm. We hope you won¡¯t make things difficult for us.¡± The undead soldiers promptly step up to guard all the humans. Seeing the issue resolved, Petty lowered the cart door. The army continues its journey, out of the Bloody Mountains. ¡­ Watching the undead lead them out of the mountains, Xu Yang and the others rejoiced. The villagers admired their lord even more. In just a few words he managed to use the undead to cross the fort that had trapped them. Next, as long as their cover as fur traders held up, they could leave here and head towards the human city. But as they traversed Bloody Fortress under the escort of the undead, in a blink, Their originally relaxed facial expressions instantly turned to fear. On the other side of the fort was a highly disciplined, well-equipped undead army that seemed endless. Among the ranks, Orcs sprinted, delivering various orders. Originally, the undead army stationed near the Bloodthroat Tribe had scared them for several days. Seeing the scene in front of them now rendered their legs weak. The humans were dragged by undead soldiers towards a huge cage. Beyond being brought some food at noon, No one paid them any attention. ¡­ At two in the afternoon. Fang Hao rode the Bone Dragon directly to the Bloody Fortress. In the commander¡¯s hall of the fortress, he reassigned tasks to the people. Black Sword, Giant Shield, Heavy Arrow, they were to lead an army of two million to Dong Jiayue¡¯s city based on the map. Preparing for the upcoming assault on the Desolate Battlefield. Fang Hao was still very curious about the identity of that huge heart. Could it be, gods can die too? If gods can die, should they still be considered gods? Fang Hao thought to himself as he walked out of the commander¡¯s hall. Just as he was about to mount the Bone Dragon to leave, he heard a shout from a close distance, ¡°Fang Hao? Is that you?¡± Following the voice, He saw several massive metal cages at a distance. Some scruffy looking humans were imprisoned in the cages. There was no dungeon in the fortress, and traditionally there were no prisoners. Seeing humans held captive in metal cages, all while shouting his own name, he was slightly confused. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± Fang Hao did not recognize the identity of the others. He turned to ask Black Sword who was close by. ¡°They were brought back by Petty this morning. They were caught sneaking into the Bloody Mountains on the way here. There has been no time to interrogate them yet,¡± Black Sword explained softly. ¡°Sneaked into the Bloody Mountains?¡± ¡°Yes, they claim to be fur traders, trying to sneak in.¡± The two spoke quietly. However, the man in the nearby cage was restless and started shouting, ¡°It¡¯s me, Xu Yang, Fang Hao! It¡¯s me, Xu Yang!¡± Chapter 480 - Chapter 480: Chapter 414, Heading to the Desolate Battlefield_1 Chapter 480: Chapter 414, Heading to the Desolate Battlefield_1 The aura spread and the amplification effect of the Viscera Jar came into play. Next, they were to test some effects, ensuring that the Skeleton Warriors would not harm other soldiers when using this ability. Stepping out of the city gates, they selected a piece of open land. Fang Hao summoned 1,000 Skeleton Warriors, each armed with a sword and a shield. A perfect square formation was formed by the orderly ranks. Someone was instructed to set up some practice targets 500 meters away from the square formation, after which everyone else retreated to a safe distance. Fang Hao directly issued an order to the formation of Skeleton Warriors, ¡°Targets 500 meters ahead, initiate Thunderbolt Strike.¡± 1,000 Skeleton Warriors each summoned a sparkly lightning spear. They targeted the targets 500 meters away and hurled their spears. The Thunderbolt Javelins traced an arc in the air and hit with a bang! 1,000 Thunderbolt Javelins thoroughly covered the entire target area. Apart from the immediate damage dealt by the Javelins, an area of effect damage due to the spread of electricity also occurred. Blue sparks spread out in all directions, covering a large area. The effect that Fang Hao was worried about ¨C the potential friendly fire ¨C did not happen. After throwing the Thunderbolt Javelins, not a single one of the 1,000 Skeleton Warriors was injured accidentally. The square formation maintained their standing position, standing by. ¡°Set the target at 200 meters.¡± Fang Hao continued to give orders. The earlier targets 500 meters away had already been shattered in the Thunderbolt Strike. New targets were brought in and set up 200 meters in front of the formation of Skeleton Warriors. Once everyone had retreated to a safe distance and the Thunderbolt Strike ability had cooled down, Fang Hao issued another order, ¡°Objects 200 meters ahead, Thunderbolt Strike.¡± The 1,000 Skeleton Warriors summoned their Thunderbolt Javelins again, hurling them at the targets 200 meters away. Due to the distance, the front rows of the Skeleton Warriors had landed their Thunderbolt Javelins on the targets. The ones at the back, having to avoid the ones in front, threw their Javelins in a larger arc, causing some deviation in their aim. But one thing was certain, the current Skeleton Warriors did not have the ability to think independently yet. However, they would avoid causing friendly fire during combat. Fang Hao was very satisfied with this. He had plenty of soldiers, and even if the hit rate was not high, In large-scale battles, full-coverage bombing could completely replace accuracy. ¡°Alright, return to your posts.¡± Fang Hao instructed the 1,000 Skeleton Warriors to return to their respective positions. He himself, contented, returned to the Viscera Museum. Nelson was still standing at the door, giving instructions to the Priests about the items and work to be prepared. Currently, two corpses of Trolls were still stored in the Viscera Museum. One of them was Rockhead-Bagath, the other was Meatfist-Kaius. Nelson had just returned and had to continue working to turn these two corpses into Skeleton Heroes. Even though the weather was gradually turning cold now. The corpses still needed to be treated and dried as quickly as possible. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s return, Nelson asked, ¡°My lord, how was the effect?¡± ¡°The effect was very good. This Viscera Jar would be considered top-tier even if it were in the Trade Alliance.¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. ¡°As long as my Lord is satisfied.¡± Nelson would not offer any suggestions or proposals about the planning and decisions of the territory unless Fang Hao asked him. All decisions were made by Fang Hao himself. Moreover, currently, every time Nelson came out of his closed-door practice, The strength of the territory would significantly increase, something he was quite satisfied with Fang Hao for. He was even amazed sometimes at the speed of Fang Hao¡¯s growth. Therefore, Nelson¡¯s loyalty remained stable and never decreased. ¡°Scholar Nelson, there is no need to rush with work, you can take a two-day break occasionally.¡± Fang Hao added. The territory currently had a certain level of self-defense ability. Nelson didn¡¯t need to work non-stop in the Viscera Museum to create Skeleton Heroes as he did before. Fang Hao, in fact, hoped that Nelson could balance work and rest, maybe play chess with others sometime, avoiding high-intensity work. ¡°Thank you for your concern, My Lord. With the help of the Funeral Team, my workload has been cut by more than half.¡± Nelson nodded. The auxiliary work was handed over to the Funeral Team, which indeed lightened Nelson¡¯s workload. ¡°Hmm, tell me if you need anything, or have Doujin directly purchase it from the Trade Alliance.¡± ¡°Very well, my Lord.¡± At this point, the Priest had brought over some materials. Nelson once again saluted, then led a few Priests directly up the stairs to the second floor. Simultaneously, a few others picked up the dried corpse of Bagath and carried it upstairs. Nelson started working upstairs. Fang Hao, in the meantime, placed the replaced [Revival] Viscera Jar into the slot of the [Ancient Burial Pit]. ¡­ Another day passed. The army of two million led by Black Sword arrived at its destination after a day and night of travel. When Dong Jiayue was awakened by her attendant, and she stumbled up the city wall, Seeing the endless, undulating White Bone Army outside the city, She stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly at the approaching army. The city¡¯s alarm bells had already been rung, and all the city¡¯s defenders ascended the city walls, watching the approaching army with trembling legs. At this moment, a Bone Horse slowly came to a halt beneath the city gates. A pig-headed human, fully armed, sat on the Bone Horse. He pulled off the mask cover his nose and mouth and said loudly, ¡°Who is Miss Dong Jiayue? We are a team from North Town. Sir Black Sword invites Miss Dong Jiayue over.¡± Chapter 481 - Chapter 481: Chapter 414, Heading to the Desolate Battlefield_2 Chapter 481: Chapter 414, Heading to the Desolate Battlefield_2 The pig-headed human shouted loudly two or three times before the people on the wall understood the meaning in his words. Dong Jiayue stood on the city wall and asked the pig-headed human below: ¡°Are you Fang Hao¡¯s army?¡± Fang Hao had mentioned to her that he would send an army, which she would receive and arrange to be stationed in a city. The sight of the undead army in front of her was so terrifying that she could not ascertain if it was Fang Hao¡¯s team. ¡°Yes, we are Lord¡¯s army, may Miss Dong Jiayue come with me to meet Lord Black Sword,¡± the pig-headed human continued to shout loudly. The battle at the Bloody Mountain Range was over. Black Thorn, as the commanding officer, stayed at the North Town. This time, in the operation to conquer the Desolate Battlefield, Black Sword acted as the general while the two heroes, Giant Wall and Heavy Arrow, acted as deputy generals. Of course, once the march was over and barring any special circumstances, Fang Hao would come too. He wanted to see if this Desolate Battlefield was as terrifying as described. ¡°Oh, alright. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± She quickly descended the city wall, and after opening the city gate, she walked out. The pig-headed human led her through the many skeleton troops, to the middle of the formation. There, she saw a skeleton hero, covered in metallic armor and with a dark iron sword at his waist. ¡°Lord Black Sword, I¡¯ve brought Miss Dong Jiayue,¡± the pig-headed human reported. ¡°Hmm, you may step down,¡± Black Sword said. The pig-headed human withdrew. After Dong Jiayue looked over Black Sword¡¯s attire and the rank of a hero, she said, ¡°Lord Black Sword!¡± ¡°Hmm, Miss Dong Jiayue, have you prepared the city for our army to station in?¡± Black Sword asked calmly, without exchanging any pleasantries with Dong Jiayue. ¡°It is ready.¡± After receiving instructions from Fang Hao, Dong Jiayue had already prepared the city for lodging. ¡°Then we will trouble you, Miss Dong Jiayue, to lead us.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The undead army began to move westward. In the end, they arrived at the city Dong Jiayue had freed up for them. Dong Jiayue was managing four cities, and the one in front of her was the closest to the Desolate Battlefield. The original residents of the city were already evacuated. The city was completely given up to the undead army to station in, as a temporary base before heading to the Desolate Battlefield. Upon arrival in the city¡­ The undead began to take up defensive positions, orderly bringing the city under their control. ¡°Miss Dong Jiayue,¡± Black Sword said. ¡°Lord Black Sword, please speak, ¡± Dong Jiayue replied, having recovered from her initial shock by now. Knowing that these were Fang Hao¡¯s heroes and troops, she knew they wouldn¡¯t harm her. ¡°How many troops do you have?¡± Black Sword asked bluntly. Dong Jiayue was startled, wondering if her troops were also being asked to join in the fight. But then she realized it was unlikely. The number of undead troops was probably over one million already. Her few troops wouldn¡¯t make any difference at all. After a quick mental tally of her forces, she gave an honest answer. ¡°I have 2000.¡± She had Soul Crystals in her hand, but she had all along been focusing more on developing agriculture, rather than military growth. She¡¯d built many farms and quarries. But she hadn¡¯t recruited many combat troops. She had the blueprint for a Heavy Infantry Training Camp from Fang Hao. It was only when she found out that the Tianpeng Alliance was going to attack her that she built it, expanding her forces to 2000. Otherwise, she usually had just over 1000, responsible for the safety around the city. The most common job was to drive away and hunt wild beasts. ¡°Good, transfer a thousand of them over first. I¡¯ll arrange for them to serve as messengers and logistic personnel,¡± Black Sword instructed. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± Dong Jiayue nodded in agreement. After chatting with Black Sword for a while, Dong Jiayue returned to her own city. She started to prepare the manpower and supplies required by Black Sword. This was her first time participating in a battle on such a large scale. She was a little excited after the initial nervousness. ¡­ The next day at dawn, Fang Hao got up early, and after washing and eating¡­ Served by Eira, he put on his armor and equipment. Yesterday afternoon, he¡¯d received a message from Dong Jiayue that Black Sword¡¯s army had arrived and they could set off for the Desolate Battlefield anytime. So, first thing this morning, Fang Hao began his preparations, intending to journey to the Desolate Land as well. With his Demon Teleportation ability, he directly avoided the time consumed on the road. If something happens in the fiefdom, I can be teleported back immediately. ¡°Master Nelson should be in seclusion for a few days, we will need you to look after the fiefdom in his absence,¡± Fang Hao instructed Eira. ¡°Hmm, will Master be returning home tonight?¡± Eira asked softly. ¡°If ever there are any special circumstances, I will spend the night here.¡± Eira instantly beamed with delight, ¡°I shall prepare a new dish for you tonight, Master.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Hao gave a sweet pat on her head, then left the City Lord¡¯s residence. Outside the gate, Demitrija and Anjia, accompanied by twenty Nisbits, awaited Fang Hao¡¯s presence. Given that the Desolate Battlefield is perilous, they naturally had to make additional preparations. Everyone was fully equipped and prepared. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother with small talk, he directly summoned the Demon Doll and initiated Demon Teleportation. The teleportation gate appeared instantaneously, lasting merely 10 seconds, Fang Hao stepped in without hesitation. As their vision returned, they found themselves amidst the city where the ¡®Black Thorn¡¯ stay. The city was exceptionally bustling. Hundreds of soldiers were busy loading arrows and other resources onto carts under the command of specific instructions. Though Undeads formed the core strength of the army, there were also a considerable number of humans and orcs soldiers assisting. As Fang Hao too was going to embark on the journey, adequate food and other essential items, including tents, were prepared beforehand. Seeing Fang Hao and the others approaching, Black Thorn and Dong Jiayue swiftly emerged from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. ¡°City Lord, Miss Anjia, Master Demitrija.¡± The Skeleton Hero and a few Orc Captains paid their respects. Dong Jiayue also curtseyed while curiously inspecting the beast-eared young girl standing beside Fang Hao. She had never visited Fang Hao¡¯s fiefdom and admittedly didn¡¯t recognize Anjia. I see another hero has emerged. How many heroes are there around Brother Hao? I¡¯ve already seen five ¨C one Orange and four Blue. ¡°How are the preparations coming along?¡± Fang Hao casually inquired. ¡°Everything is prepared; we can depart at any moment.¡± Black Thorn confirmed. ¡°Have the routes ahead been scouted clearly?¡± ¡°Yesterday, several scouts were deployed to make sure of that. We have a clear route now,¡± he informed right away. ¡°Good, let¡¯s prepare and set off.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Black Thorn complied, transmitting the orders down the line. In no time, the army gradually began moving, following the pre-decided route leading towards the Desolate Battlefield. Fang Hao sat inside the coach, following the troupe at a leisurely pace. He held a book of magic in his hands and was reading it attentively. ¡°Master, there¡¯s a small human city ahead.¡± A Scout rode up to the coach, inquiring in low tones. Fang Hao parted the coach curtain and gaze into the distance. It was a city of a transmigrator. Given the size of the city wall, it appeared to be a Level-5 city. ¡°As long as they do not attack our troops, we shall ignore them and simply pass by,¡± Fang Hao declared softly. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The scout responded, and rapidly darted away. ¡­ On the way, the troupe came across a Level-5 transmigrator¡¯s city. The City Lord, still not out of his slumber, was jolted awake by an assistant who hurriedly stormed into the room. Startled, the City Lord glanced at his underling, as he simultaneously gathered his undergarments to cover his privates, he berated: ¡°Have you gone crazy? Why the sudden intrusion?¡± The assistant, oblivious to his condition, spoke up in terror: ¡°My Lord! Disaster! A massive troop of Undeads is approaching our city.¡± ¡°What? Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°My Lord, you should have a look. We ought to flee if things worsen.¡± The assistant lunged at the City Lord, dragged him out of the room, and rushed towards the city wall. Taken by surprise, the City Lord stumbled along, hurriedly pulling up his Spongebob Squarepants underpants. As he barely made it up the stairs of the city wall, he immediately sensed the seriousness of the situation. Several of his soldiers had already collapsed due to sheer panic. He could feel the rhythmic vibrations emerging from the ground. There was some gigantic body approaching from the distance. Without any further delays, he hastily ascended the city wall and cast his glance into the distance. At a single glimpse, his face turned deathly pale, and his legs started to wobble. Undeads, an endless stream of Undeads. Transformed into an extensive, undulating white serpent, they were steadily moving closer this way. ¡°How¡­ how is this possible¡­ where did all these multiple Undead come from?¡± Chapter 482 - Chapter 482: Chapter 415, Three Dwarves_1 Chapter 482: Chapter 415, Three Dwarves_1 In this world¡¯s understanding, living creatures and the undead are natural enemies. Even though living creatures differ in morals and races, their attitudes towards the undead are surprisingly unified. Upon encounter, it basically evolves into a life-or-death situation. Even if these undead¡¯s targets are not themselves, such a huge army could trample a city as they pass through. ¡°My lord, what should we do?¡± A subordinate propped him up, asking with a trembling voice. The lord¡¯s legs were still wobbling, ¡°What else can we do¡ªwe notify everyone to exit from the side door.¡± Just as the soldier prepared to notify everyone to leave. In the sky, several white bone dragons roared past, exuding an oppressive aura. The lord who just stood up, collapsed once again. Drawing out time this way, the undead army has already closed in on their city. Opening the city gates at this point would be even more dangerous. Escape was no longer an option. The city gate was tightly shut, and everyone sat paralyzed on the city wall. Awaiting their approaching demise. The marching steps echoed like drumbeats in everyone¡¯s ears. A soldier cautiously stood up and looked over the city wall. He saw the undead army passing approximately 10 meters in front of their city but completely ignoring them. ¡°My Lord, My Lord, they have passed us by, they didn¡¯t take notice of us,¡± the soldier said in a whisper. The lord blinked and immediately got up, looking over the city wall as well. He saw that the undead troops, marching along the dirt road, clearly had no intention of interacting with them. ¡°We should be safe, tell everyone to hide as best as possible to avoid attracting these creatures.¡± The lord was instructing everyone but could not help pulling out the Book of Lords. At the gap of the city wall, he took several photos of the undead army. Then, leaning against the wall, he posted them in the regional chat. Accompanied with a comment, ¡°Damn, the survival of mankind depends on today, I will shed the last drop of blood for humanity, victory to humans and living creatures!¡± There were still quite a few people in the chat at this time. Upon seeing the pictures and the comment, they began to discuss. ¡°What¡¯s going on, why are there so many undead?¡± ¡°Too scary, bro, I have a fear of crowded things, these pictures give me the chills.¡± ¡°Are the undead launching an attack on humans? The tone of this comment feels as if we are preparing for a final desperate fight, quite tragic!¡± ¡°Tragic my ass, all I see is teenage edginess. Judging by the angle, he should be hiding and spying.¡± ¡°Looking at what the guy above analysed, it does feel that way. Clearly these undead are moving forward, they didn¡¯t even look in the direction of the photographer.¡± ¡°The angle is not the point, did you guys notice that the undead troops have a very complete lineup? Shield soldiers, spear soldiers, even archers and mages, this seems to be a large-scale undead force.¡± ¡°Indeed, the troop has a very complete lineup, there are all sorts of skeleton horses, skeleton cows, if only I had a skeleton horse, so cool!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid it destroys your genitals?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a girl, not afraid¡­¡± ¡°Respect to the girl who¡¯s not afraid, your topic is so off-topic.¡± ¡°Did no one notice that the shield and iron sword of the shield soldier looked like the equipment that Big Brother Fang Hao sells?¡± ¡°Come to think of it, they do resemble his. What if this is Fang Hao¡¯s legion¡­¡± ¡°Even if Fang Hao is powerful, he wouldn¡¯t have even close to this many troops. It is probably easier to obtain the weapon blueprints from the undead side; Fang Hao¡¯s merchant is a skeleton.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± ¡­ Fang Hao did not see the conversations in the regional chat. Even if he had seen it, he would not explain anything. Now, Fang Hao¡¯s power had already developed, and it was a good thing if the secret could be kept going. Even if discovered by others in the region, it didn¡¯t matter much. Currently, with the strength of the transmigrator, no one could pose any threat to him. Even the local top powers, except for assassinations, he wouldn¡¯t falter in a direct confrontation. The troop continued marching forward, passing by several transmigrator¡¯s cities. Fang Hao paid them no mind. These city lords along the way didn¡¯t make any rash actions either. They simply took pictures, posted them in the chat, accompanied by various comments. Gradually, the people in the chat began to feel numb. Then, when other city lords posted similar pictures, it hardly stirred any commotion in the chat. In fact, they were often overlooked amongst other topics. At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon. ¡°Sir, we have arrived at the edge of the Desolate Battlefield,¡± the soldier¡¯s voice came from outside the carriage. ¡°Alright, I know.¡± Fang Hao responded. Gently patting Anjia, who was resting on his lap, he said, ¡°Anjia, wake up, we¡¯re here.¡± Anjia mumbled, opening her eyes. ¡°Where are we going to, is it time for dinner?¡± Anjia asked. ¡± What dinner? We just arrived at the Desolate Battlefield,¡± Fang Hao replied irritably. This girl can really eat and sleep. From the time she got on the carriage, she slept until now. It always felt like she was about to hibernate, sleeping quite heavily. ¡°Oh!¡± Anjia wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, replied. Fang Hao moved to the side of the carriage, standing next to the Black Sword, and saw in front of him a vast expanse. Looking at it, it was indeed the perfect landscape for the name ¡®Desolate Battlefield¡¯. Chapter 483 - Chapter 483: Chapter 415, 3 Dwarfs_2 Chapter 483: Chapter 415, 3 Dwarfs_2 Unlike the desolation of the Chilly Wind Mountain Range, which was due to the many rocks and hills, this was a different type of desolation, as if the land had been devastated. There were no trees or greenery here, only scattered pieces of armor and weapons buried by the dark red soil. One could only imagine how many lives were lost in the war here. ¡°Have someone take a look to see if there¡¯s anything strange here¡­¡± Fang Hao said. Black Sword immediately assigned a skeleton, who stepped boldly into the red soil. The red land was a bit soft. Once stepped upon, it depressed like mud. The skeleton soldier marched forward for a hundred meters and then made a circle without any abnormal situation occurring. By following the order, the muscular undead dug out the buried metal weapons from the ground. The weapons and armors were severely corroded, but still, no monsters emerged. Seeing this, Black Sword ordered the skeleton to return. However, halfway returning, Demitrija whispered, ¡°Behind the mound on the west, there are some figures hiding.¡± Demitrija¡¯s voice was low, but Fang Hao and Black Sword heard her clearly. Looking towards the west, they quickly spotted two figures swiftly hiding behind a mound. The distance was too great and the individuals moved too quickly; they couldn¡¯t see what kind of creatures they were. But they could confirm there were indeed people over there. Could it be that there are still living creatures surviving in the Desolate Battlefield? ¡°Black Sword, send people to bring them here, preferably alive,¡± said Fang Hao in a low voice. ¡°As you wish.¡± Black Sword turned around to give instructions. Whoosh, whoosh!! Several breaking sounds rang out as dozens of Skeleton Mantis shot out, and with a few jumps, they arrived at the distant mound. A longsword swept out, and pleas for mercy immediately followed. Then, three short human-shaped creatures were escorted over by the Skeleton Mantismen. Standing before Fang Hao and the others, they bowed their heads. [Dwarf Miner (Level 2)] [Dwarf Blacksmith (Level 3)] Dwarves? The three people in front of Fang Hao only reached a little over one meter in height and none exceeded one and a half meters. Although they were short, their bodies were thick and their rough, ragged linen clothes revealed arms and legs covered in strong muscles. Just standing there, their muscles tense, they looked like three personal trainers. All three dwarves were male with rough features and exaggerated beards. Fang Hao had seen dwarves in the Trade Alliance¡¯s station before. Their distinctive beards were their most significant feature. ¡°Gentlemen, we¡¯re just passing through and don¡¯t mean any harm!¡± said one red-bearded dwarf tentatively. Although they stood obediently, their shifty eyes revealed that they were seeking a chance to escape. ¡°Why are you here?¡± asked Fang Hao. The dwarves looked puzzled to see a human amongst the undead army. Still, they explained, ¡°We¡¯re just passing through. Your army arrived here just as we were passing, and we hid to avoid any misunderstandings.¡± The undead and living creatures generally were in conflict. Each party instinctively avoided the other¡¯s army when they saw it¡ªthe explanation was plausible. However, Fang Hao was not concerned with these details. He wondered why they would be in the Desolate Battlefield. ¡°What brings you to the Desolate Battlefield?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The red-bearded dwarf glanced at the Skeleton Mantismen surrounding him and said, ¡°We wanted to take some equipment from here.¡± Many weapons and armors could be seen buried under the dark red soil of the Desolate Battlefield. In other words, they were scavengers. Fang Hao didn¡¯t immediately continue his questioning but instead had Jia Yue summoned. ¡°Are there dwarves around here?¡± asked Fang Hao. Jia Yue shook her head, ¡°The area around the Desolate Battlefield is very deprived of resources. Except for a few human villages, there are no dwarves or other races.¡± Before becoming a subdomain of Fang Hao, Jia Yue had relied on exploring ancient tombs to develop her territory. As such, she knew this was a desolate area. The nearby rulers would go to war for minor resources. They were on the brink of war. But I¡¯ve never heard of dwarfs settling here. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell back on the three dwarfs, speaking flatly, ¡°If you guys are not willing to tell the truth, you can only die here.¡± Hearing the indifferent tone made the backs of the three dwarfs chill in an instant. The vast undead army had already terrified them. If the opponent wanted to kill them, the chief would not be able to take revenge. ¡°No, my lord, we indeed came here to pick up some iron pieces for re-smelting, then make them into equipment to sell to the nearby human cities.¡± The red-bearded dwarf was already breaking into a sweat on his forehead, assuring Fang Hao that he wasn¡¯t lying. Fang Hao felt they were not getting to the point. So he asked directly, ¡°How many of you are there? Are you from outside or have you always lived nearby!¡± Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, the three dwarfs stiffened immediately. After looking at each other, they all shut up and stopped talking. Fang Hao found it a bit amusing; what was the use of being stubborn at this crucial moment? ¡°Kill them!¡± Fang Hao issued the order. The Skeleton Mantis standing beside him immediately drew its sword, preparing to strike. The dwarves immediately opened their mouths, ¡°We have over a thousand people, we migrated here a month ago.¡± Contrary to the popular belief that dwarves are hot-tempered and difficult to communicate with, Fang Hao found the method of communication very straightforward. ¡°This area is quite desolate; why would you move here?¡± ¡°This is because¡­because two months ago, there was some conflict between the Dwarf Clans, we lost, many people died, and eventually moved here.¡± The red-bearded dwarf gritted his teeth, but still disclosed the information. Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed, suddenly recalling a period of time in the past. His shop had received a large number of dwarf orders, including gunpowder, firearms, and even equipment used by dwarves, all within the scope of the orders. He had suspected that there might be a war brewing among the dwarves. But it hadn¡¯t occurred to him that it might be infighting within the clans. The talks of the three were consistent with his orders, so they were probably not lying. Moreover, there would be no purpose in lying about this matter. ¡°What¡¯s your leader¡¯s name?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. This time, the dwarf hesitated and didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he said, ¡°My Lord Undead, I can assure you that we have no ill intentions or plots against you or your army. Please, in the light of our honesty, do not continue to make things difficult for us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m inclined to believe that the three of you merely encountered us. I want to talk to your leader,¡± Fang Hao straightforwardly declared. He was becoming more interested in the dwarves, who were known to be born craftsmen and masters of firearms. He wondered if there would be unexpected gains this time. ¡°My Lord, there¡¯s no need for that. I can notify the leader to leave here immediately so as not to disturb your operations.¡± The red-bearded dwarf continued. He definitely didn¡¯t want to lead this enormous undead army to their encampment. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t all of them be wiped out by these undead! Just because the dwarves were unwilling to talk, didn¡¯t mean that Fang Hao had no other means. Before long, a gnoll came running over, panting and reporting, ¡°My Lord, in the southwest direction, we discovered a dwarf encampment, where dwarfs can be seen coming in and out. The population is close to a thousand.¡± Gnolls are not considered elite troops within the orc tribe. However, they possess some tracking skills, and their quadrapedal running is swift. In Fang Hao¡¯s army, they were often used as scouts and messengers. Another type of operator, focused on reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, was the Blackfoot Cat Tribe, which hadn¡¯t yet joined the ranks. ¡°Good job.¡± Fang Hao praised. The gnoll left, and the three dwarfs looked dumbfounded. If they had known that the opponent could figure it out, they would have said so earlier. They risked being killed and said nothing, but the adversary figured out the location in the blink of an eye. Now that they¡¯ve answered all the questions, they wouldn¡¯t be killed now, would they? When Fang Hao looked back, he saw that the faces of the three dwarfs were getting worse, and the sweat on their foreheads was increasing. He thought, there wouldn¡¯t be any sudden illness, would there? ¡°Are you three okay?¡± Fang Hao pointedly asked. Their robust legs were slightly shaking. Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°There¡¯s no danger to living creatures inside, right? I see you guys going in.¡± ¡°If we tell you, will you let us go?¡± The red-bearded dwarf asked, looking up. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The three dwarfs were taken aback. ¡°Do you think I need to lie to you?¡± Fang Hao questioned back. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll tell you, there¡¯s a poison inside¡­.¡± Chapter 487 - Chapter 487: Chapter 417, Scavenging Centipede Beast_1 Chapter 487: Chapter 417, Scavenging Centipede Beast_1 9 o¡¯clock in the morning. The massive army marched into the Desolate Battlefield, leaving behind footprints on the deep-red land that resembled trails of blood. They¡¯d learned from the dwarfs that injuries could lead to toxic infections. The number of living creatures in the army was reduced. To lessen the chances of casualties. Fang Hao¡¯s body remained outside the battlefield at the fortress. He controlled the Demon Doll, rode the Bone Horse, and advanced with the troops. After several days of diligent practice, His ability to control dolls had become increasingly proficient. Even now, he could simultaneously control his own body and the doll without any distractions. However, controlling both to fight simultaneously was still quite challenging. What he could do was to control one side finely and slow down on the other. The troop advanced forward. About 500 meters into their journey, they encountered something. Monster-like rotten corpses crawled out of the ground, staring at the incoming Undead army in the distance. Rotten Dwarf (Tier 4) Rotten Giant Bear (Tier 3) Rotten Warrior (Tier 5) Rotten Horse (Tier 2) Rotten ¡­¡­¡­ It seemed these were the rotten corpses referred to by the Dwarfs. Those who were infected and didn¡¯t receive treatment would eventually turn into these monsters. However, these rotten monsters were vastly different from standard corpses. Their bodies weren¡¯t rigid in the least. On the contrary, they appeared more flexible than normal humans and possessed great strength. Looking at these monsters, Fang Hao was reminded of the tainted soldiers he encountered in the Dragon Tomb. They were strikingly similar to the monsters in front of him right now, and just as agile. The cause of their corruption probably had something to do with the bodies of powerful creatures. The number of the crawling tainted monsters kept increasing. There were corrupted animals, but more of them were rotten soldiers clad in the remnants of rusted armor. All sorts of creatures mixed together. They numbered nearly ten thousand and more kept appearing. No wonder nobody has ever dared to enter here. The army of the corrupted alone was more than a match for an ordinary force. ¡°Prepare to attack,¡± a hoarse voice issued from the mouth of the demon doll. Or perhaps not from its mouth as its hollow lower jaw remained shut. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! The shields of the skeleton warriors went up, forming a crisscrossed iron wall. ¡°Battle drum!¡± Boom, boom, boom!! The drum of the Undead resonated, a grey-white halo spreading out and enveloping the Undead army. ¡°First and second ranks, release the Lightning Strike!¡± Fang Hao continued to issue orders. The signal officer spurred his horse and passed the orders in all directions. In the first and second ranks were the skeleton warriors. Right hands forming into lightning war spears that shimmered with blue thunderbolts. Then, the warriors hurled the lightning strikes straight forward. Boom, boom, boom¡­ zzt! The lightning spears bombed the camp of corrupted beings, causing large areas of confusion. The current rapidly spread out, linking nearby rotten creatures together. Their bodies trembled like they were being electrocuted. A large number of rotten creatures melted into the dark-red soil like butter under the thunderstrike. After two rounds of lightning strikes, large areas of rotten anomalies continued their reckless charge. The skeleton warriors and pikemen in the rear began to form lightning spears in their right hands. They hurled the lightning spears, killing the charging rotten creatures as if they were crazed dogs. Boom, boom, boom, boom!! Soon, the rotten creatures reached the front line. Their bodies harshly collided against the iron wall of the warriors. With their powerful charge force, many rotten creatures broke through the first line of the shield formation. They rushed into the ranks. But behind the first shield wall was another, and another, and even behind that was the spear wall. The rotten creatures that had just rushed in were immediately hacked by weapons on all sides. Turned into ashes. At the same time, the skeleton archers, under the guidance of the heavy arrows, began a series of simultaneous shots. The undead mages, their magic missiles formed a dark sky above the army, falling on the enemy in a parabolic curve, causing massive damage. The skeleton army held their ground without advancing, resisting the endlessly emerging rotten creatures. The army was like an unyielding mountain, with only the signal officer constantly moving through the ranks, passing down one order after another. The sound of battle grew louder and louder. Corrupted creatures from the depths of the earth also started to crawl out. By then, there weren¡¯t any corrupted beasts anymore. All that emerged were differently equipped rotten human soldiers. After they crawled out, they found some rotten weapons around, picked them up, and continued the attack. The sound of the shield wall being struck echoed. Corrupted creatures continuously found ways to break in, only to be eliminated. Archers and mages in the rear continuously inputted output, the sky overcast with a gloomy dome as magic bullets and arrows soared through the air. Three hours later, the battle gradually came to a close. The deep-red ground was now covered in wounds and scars. A vista of burnt, deep pits and scattered arrows filled the view. This battle was nothing more than a war of attrition. The corrupted creatures held an absolute advantage on this land. If Fang Hao had brought a living creature army today. Then the rule of infecting living creatures on the battlefield would have been extremely disadvantageous for the attacker. Chapter 488 - Chapter 488: Chapter 417, Scavenging Centipede Beast_2 Chapter 488: Chapter 417, Scavenging Centipede Beast_2 If anyone gets injured, they will become infected and turn into a corrupted monster. This was more like a subplot from a biochemical crisis, with the number of monsters only increasing as the battle progressed. It eventually turned into an endless, unbeatable war. Fang Hao, however, led an undead army. Even if both sides clashed, their bones would not become corrupted monsters. As a result, many concerns were put to rest. At the end of the battle, the corrupted monsters would turn into rotten ash after death. They left no corpse behind but dropped many rare resources. Death Trace, Shadowstones, and Essence of Magic were in great abundance. The value of these rare resources far exceeded most of the war spoils. It could be considered a huge gain from this battle. ¡°Move forward, clean up the battlefield along the way, and be careful of enemies,¡± Fang Hao commanded. The army continued to advance. Shield warriors, with iron shields in hand, stepped directly over the battlefield. And the soldiers behind began to collect the war spoils scattered all over the ground, including arrows. The team continued to move forward, encountering several waves of attacks by corrupted monsters. They were repelled one after the other. At 4 p.m., a collapsed stone tower appeared in front of the army. The tower was cut off at waist height, the upper part of it had fallen to the side, with most of it buried in the soil. The stone tower was severely weathered and extremely dilapidated. The sudden appearance of a tower here made people somewhat curious. ¡°Sir, there have been no corrupted monsters in this area. There might be threats inside the stone tower,¡± Black Sword walked over from the front and said to Fang Hao. This was indeed a thing of concern. Corrupted monsters had appeared along the way, but none had appeared near this place. It was very likely that more powerful enemies nearby had already killed the living creatures before they could transform into corrupted monsters and had cleared out their bodies. As a result, there were no corrupted monsters crawling out of this plot of land. ¡°Alright, arrange for some people to go check it out,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Black Sword agreed and then immediately went to prepare. Soon, two Skeleton Warriors came straight out of the team and approached the stone tower. The Skeleton Warriors approached with their metal iron boots clanging on the hard stone steps. Just as they approached the hollowed arch of the stone tower. The entire architecture of the stone tower trembled violently. Shashing!! The rustling sound rose, as if numerous tentacles were rapidly climbing, making one¡¯s hairs stand on end. Black Sword issued a retreat command. Just as the two Skeleton Warriors turned around, from the broken top of the stone tower lunged a giant, dark-red centipede. It opened its huge mouth and swallowed the two Skeleton Warriors, chewing their bones and swallowing them into its stomach. [Carrion Centipede (Tenth Order)] The centipede was over ten meters long, its body covered in dark-red scales, the underside a dense array of tiny legs, coiled around the stone tower. On the edge of the centipede¡¯s huge mouth, sharp teeth shaped like saw teeth were full, chewing on broken bones and staring at the undead army that appeared below. For a while, both sides were dumbfounded, with neither side taking the initiative to attack first. Fang Hao widened his eyes, somewhat surprised at the centipede in front of him. Looking at its name, Carrion Centipede, it should have been the one that ate all the corrupted monsters nearby. That¡¯s why no corrupted monsters appeared near the stone tower. Looking at it from above, its bug-like round eyes observing the undead army, it can be seen that this centipede possesses a certain level of intelligence. Fang Hao observed it, but the next second, the Carrion Centipede slithered down from the stone tower and charged straight at them. Looking at its saw-toothed teeth constantly writhing and its speed of attack, it obviously wasn¡¯t here to negotiate. Fang Hao directly ordered, ¡°Attack!¡± Clash!! All the skeleton soldiers drew their weapons, and in the right hand of the first row of skeleton warriors, the spear of thunder and lightning appeared. Just as they were about to throw it at the target, they saw the Carrion Centipede plunge its head down. Its whole body drilled straight into the ground. The ground began to bulge rapidly, quickly getting closer. ¡°Be careful with the ground,¡± Fang Hao roared. But as soon as he finished speaking, he saw the continuously bulging dirt mounds had already reached under his carriage. Without any hesitation, he spread his bat wings and flew straight up into the air. Just as he took off. Beneath the carriage, the Corruption Centipede broke through the ground, standing straight up, swallowing the carriage along with the Bone Horse into its stomach. Surrounded by skeleton warriors, a dense barrage of arrows shot at the emerging centipede. Ding Ding Ding!! The arrows hit the centipede¡¯s scale armor, making a clashing noise. The centipede, seeing more and more people gathering around, plunged its head back into the ground. Dirt mounds kept spinning under the army¡¯s feet. Causing chaos among the troops. Fang Hao was fluttering his bat wings, hovering in mid-air. He was somewhat surprised that the carrion centipede attacked him first. It seemed that it had heard him giving commands and decided to kill him first. It was rather intelligent. A tenth-order mutant monster with high intelligence indeed posed some challenge. However, there was only one such monster, and it posed no real threat to them. He flew down again, behind the army, and gave out a few more orders. Nisbit and the Bone Dragon, following the army, began to approach the central area. Standing in the middle of the troops, waiting for the centipede¡¯s next attack. Soon, the carrion centipede, constantly moving underground, found another opportunity to attack. Chapter 489 - Chapter 489: Chapter 417, Carrion Centipede Beast_3 Chapter 489: Chapter 417, Carrion Centipede Beast_3 Its body suddenly burst from the ground, swallowing several Skeleton Warriors in one gulp. After striking successfully, it wanted to burrow back into the ground. But from the corner of its eye, the Centipede Beast saw a dog-headed skeleton nearby, pointing at it. A dark cloud swiftly appeared above its head. Bang!! Its body, which could previously break through the ground, instead hit the earth directly. After a muffled sound, the Centipede Beast felt a bit dizzy from the impact. The Centipede Beast was taken aback, not understanding why it could not penetrate the ground. It tried again. Boom! The result was the same; its forehead smashed heavily into the ground, leaving it disoriented. Just then. In the sky, a colossal Bone Dragon swiftly swooped down, its claws seizing the body of the Centipede Beast. Taking it aloft. In the air, the dragon claws forcefully pulled apart, trying to rip the body of the Centipede Beast in half. The Centipede Beast writhed in pain, its body wrapping around the dragon claw and its sharp, serrated teeth biting down. But the dragon¡¯s claws were armed with iron armor. Even with sharp teeth, it could only distort the iron armor. Amid the struggles of the Centipede Beast, its body was torn into two halves. Green blood fell from the sky. The Centipede Beast was split in two yet still struggled, attacking the Bone Dragon furiously, attempting to break free to survive. But the Bone Dragon¡¯s strength and airborne advantage utterly surpassed that of the Centipede Beast. The Bone Dragon circled in the air with the Centipede Beast. The rear of the Undead troops was immediately flooded with hordes of Skeleton Giant Bats and Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon Guards, covering the two halves of the Centipede Beast¡¯s body. Tearing at the flesh while feasting. The Centipede Beast¡¯s dark red scales were ripped off one by one, its flesh along with green blood, incessantly falling from the sky. The Centipede Beast¡¯s struggles became weaker and weaker, until it hung lifelessly from the dragon¡¯s claw. It was then that the Bone Dragon let go of its claw, hurling the Beast from the sky. Nisbit, who had been standing by, immediately struck it with a few massive axes as soon as it landed. Killed the Centipede Beast on the spot. The head of the Centipede Beast no longer struggled, but the remaining tail sections continued to wriggle. Just in case, the soldiers slashed wildly at its tail. They only ceased their attack when the body of the Centipede Beast had become completely still. Fang Hao and a few others walked over from the rear, confirming its death. They began to clean up the battlefield. ¡°Collect the cadaver and bring it back,¡± said Fang Hao. Even though he didn¡¯t fancy centipede-like soldier types. A creature with Tier 10 strength, along with some unique abilities, still held certain advantages. He decided to take it back first to increase the number of soldier types in the Skeleton Conversion Field. Whether it would be recruited or not would have to be decided later. After the order, the troops began to clean the battlefield and treat the wounded. There were two wounded Orc messengers nearby, their wounds beginning to rot. As Fang Hao ordered the retreat, he cast a healing spell for the Orcs. Like the two Dwarves had said, the Holy Light spell had a strong effect on the rot. It stopped the spreading of the injury, and even helped the wounds heal. A single battle had continued up until seven in the morning. Fang Hao marked the location of the stone tower on the map and returned directly to the camp. After returning to the camp, he delegated the work to Black Sword and others, carrying the corpse of the centipede himself into the transport light curtain with two other leaders. ¡°Do you think this creature is edible?¡± Anjia asked, following Fang Hao. Fang Hao ignored her, directly ordering his men to toss the centipede into the Transformation Pool. ¡­ The next day, early morning. Fang Hao got up early to visit the Skeleton Conversion Field. The Centipede Beast transformed from yesterday should also be finished by now. Upon reaching the Transformation Field, he saw the Centipede Beast clinging to a nearby building. Undead Centipede (Tier 9) Chapter 492 - Chapter 492: Chapter 419, Strength of a Quasi-god_1 Chapter 492: Chapter 419, Strength of a Quasi-god_1 Perched on the mountainside, palaces and lofty halls soared high. The palace rooftops were covered with glazed tiles, and jade railings wrapped around the stacked stones. However, it had been left unattended for far too long. The walls were covered with a layer of iron color. Nonetheless, standing beneath it was like looking up at a celestial palace, grand and magnificent. ¡°Proceed with caution, beware of enemies along the way.¡± Upon command, the army continued to press forward. Below the mountain, a city encased by thick walls lay. The city walls still stood tall. The wooden parts of the city gate were already rotting, and various metal parts, covered in rust, were scattered everywhere. ¡°My lord, there are some special circumstances ahead. Black Sword Leader requests your presence.¡± A soldier relayed the message once again. Fang Hao controlled the puppet, all along staying in the middle of the army. Upon hearing the soldier¡¯s message, he finally spread his wings and flew to the front of the formation. As Black Sword and his men were gazing into the city from the gate, Fang Hao landed at their side. He was momentarily taken aback by the scene within the city. In the open space within the city walls, was a countless number of golden-armored soldiers kneeling neatly in rows. ¡°Corrupted Temple Guardians (Tier 10)¡± ¡°Corrupted Temple Knights (Tier 10)¡± The enemies were mainly in three categories: ¡°Corrupted Temple Guardians¡±, ¡°Corrupted Temple Flag-bearers¡±, and ¡°Corrupted Temple Knights¡±. The soldiers were tall and burly, their backs erect as they knelt, a long halberd placed in their right hand and resting on the ground. Within these troops, there were a few soldiers holding flagpoles. However, the flags that once topped these poles had long rotted away, leaving nothing but bare poles. The golden-armored soldiers, who must have been kneeling there for countless years, were covered in dust and their armor was patched and speckled. Through the gaps in the armor, rotten sackcloth clothing and blackened skin could be seen. If the enemy¡¯s tiers and names were displayed, It meant that these soldiers still possess combat capabilities. ¡°No need to probe any further, these enemies still have fighting capabilities, and they have all reached Tier 10 as well. Get ready for battle.¡± Fang Hao directly stated. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Black Sword responded. He began to issue sets of commands. All soldiers began to mobilize and prepare for the attack. The enemies remained dormant ahead. This brought an advantage to our side. Leading the offensive were flocks of skeleton giant bats. Their short hind legs clutched onto bombs as they flew towards the golden-armored soldiers. As they barely flew over the city walls, the golden-armored soldiers who were originally kneeling, started to move. They slowly stood up, their hollow eyes looking at the mob of bats surging in the sky. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The golden-armored soldiers, whose equipped crossbows had already rotted away, could only throw partially rotten lances into the sky. But it had little to no effect. At this point, behind the golden-armored soldiers, from the base of the mountain, a large number of contaminated avian soldiers took flight and headed straight for them. They entangled with the skeleton giant bats in the sky. However, the volume of avian troops couldn¡¯t compare to that of the skeleton giant bats. When the skeleton giant bats reached the space above the golden-armored soldiers, the bombs were dropped like rain, falling all over the ground. After the skeleton giant bats completed their task, they showed no inclination to stay and fight. JJust as they had arrived, they left, swiftly retreating to the back of the Undead¡¯s formation. In the meantime, the avian species were almost entirely devoured by the large group of skeleton giant bats. Boom! Boom, boom, boom! Following the first bomb explosion, a series of explosions resounded inside the city walls. Dust and smoke filled the air, causing the entire land to tremble. When the explosions ceased, The ground was strewn with the limbs of golden-armored soldiers. However, since they were Tier 10 troops, their inherent attributes provided them with a massive advantage. A considerable number of golden soldiers still survived. Compared to prior bombing campaigns against the troll coalition army, the golden soldiers had a higher survival rate. Furthermore, the contaminated soldiers, who were immune to pain, launched a counterattack despite missing a large part of their body. Following the explosion, the golden-armored soldiers began their assault on the skeleton army. Meanwhile, within the White Bone Army, Black Sword also issued the attack command. ¡°Attack!¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Lightning strikes, magical missiles and arrows were rained down on the enemy¡¯s territory from far above. The disparity in numbers doomed the battle to be one-sided. Each golden-armored soldier that broke through the city gates was struck by at least hundreds of magical spells and thousands of arrows. The city gates seemed like a barrier of death. Those who broke through, fell in swathes, dying instantly. They turned into heaps of ashes, Only leaving behind their battered armor, which gradually accumulated into a small hill. After several rounds of carpet bombing, all enemies were obliterated, leaving only armor and ashes in their wake. After the battle, everyone began collecting their spoils of war. On the way, in addition to the regular drops of ¡°Shadowstones¡± and ¡°Traces of Death¡±, many ¡°Traces of Prayer¡± and ¡°Traces of Divinity¡± were also discovered. If traces were separated into common and rare, then these two kinds would undoubtedly be considered the rarest resources. ¡­ After collecting the loot, the troops continued deeper into the city. The path to the palace atop the mountain was a steep stone stairway. Once it was confirmed there were no dangers within the city, everyone started to march up the mountain. The army trudged up the steps, advancing briskly. Finally, they arrived at the palace. The temple was much more magnificent and grand than what they had seen from the foot of the mountain. In front of the temple, a large copper door stood proudly. The sheer size of the door was beyond comprehension. Chapter 493 - Chapter 493: Chapter 419, The Strength of a Quasi-God_2 1 Chapter 493: Chapter 419, The Strength of a Quasi-God_2 1 The mountain initially appeared small, but the structure matched its size. Complex patterns were carved into the bronze gate. Symbols could be identified, alongside figures of towering deities looking down upon their diminutive followers. There were no triggers present on the gate. Arrange for the Skeleton Soldiers to forcefully push the gate. Accompanied by a screeching sound, the bronze door slowly creaked open. Behind the door was a grand hall. The ceiling and walls were adorned with numerous Nightstones, which illuminated this ancient, dormant temple. Lifelike carvings adorned the temple¡¯s pillars, while images of numerous figures and animals were carved on either side of the walls. At the edge of the mural. A giant enveloped in thunder sat on a divine mountain, worshipped by the billions. 1 Apparently, it was indeed the Giant Spirit. Just as Fang Hao was fascinated by the drawings on the walls. Whoosh! A sudden sound cut through the air. A cold sensation shot through Fang Hao¡¯s heart, only to see a blue beam of light burst out of a corner. Its target was not him. But rather the undead troops entering through the doorway. Bang! The blue beam exploded in an instant, disintegrating nearly a hundred undead warriors who had just entered. Their bones were scattered. Fang Hao retreated to the gate using his Bat Wings. He then looked straight towards the corner where the blue beam had originated. A giant figure emerged, almost the size of a troll. A man, covered in blue Scale Armor and a massive cloak, stepped forward. The man had a thick beard, and his eyes were not hollow like the others outside. [Lord of Thunder (Quasi-god)] Seeing the name and rank of the Lord of Thunder, Fang Hao frowned. Quasi-god. 1 He had recently read many original books that contained some vague descriptions. Quasi-gods are also known as Hero Gods. The end of a hero, a Hero God. Another type of Quasi-god, birthed by the union of a mortal and a god. Because of their divine bloodline, they don¡¯t need to ascend like heroes and are born with immense power. Could it be that this Lord of Thunder, with a physique approaching that of a troll, is the son of some god in the mortal world? Finding a living Quasi-god in this long-dormant temple was beyond Fang Hao¡¯s expectations. Considering the enemies he had encountered so far. All were corrupted and tainted monsters, resembling the undead rather than the living. ¡°It¡¯s surprising for you to have reached this far,¡± the Lord of Thunder casually walked forward, devoid of any emotion in his voice. ¡°Really? You knew we were coming?¡± Fang Hao inquired curiously. ¡°I heard the prayers of my servants. They spoke of an undead army slaughtering their kin, pleading for my help,¡± said the Lord of Thunder. Fang Hao frowned, ¡°Are you the Giant Spirit God the trolls spoke of?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You are far from what I had imagined,¡± Fang Hao replied. Bearing in mind the massive heart in the temple where the trolls worshipped the Giant Spirit God exceeded the size of the human body. He had imagined the Giant Spirit God as a towering figure of a few dozen meters. But the figure before him stood only a little over five meters tall. ¡°Heh, I prefer this body. It doesn¡¯t use much energy,¡± said the Lord of Thunder unenthusiastically. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you help them? Why did you watch me level the troll¡¯s territory?¡± Fang Hao continued questioning, and behind his back, gestured his sword ¨C The Black Blade. The Lord of Thunder, as if noticing Fang Hao¡¯s action, failed to react. Instead, he continued: ¡°Rather than them, I wish to bestow my power upon you, a worshipper with ambition and wisdom.¡± With slightly squinted eyes, Fang Hao looked at the Quasi-god. The man spoke calmly, but his arrogance and indifference couldn¡¯t bear more clarity. He abandoned his once trolls and decided to support the trolls¡¯ enemy and transform them into his new disciples. Fang Hao was curious about the power he mentioned. ¡°What do I have to do, and what will I get?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty simple. Just erect my statue in your realm and let the inhabitants worship me, the Lord of Thunder. In return, you will receive the power I bestow upon you. One day, when I achieve divinity, you will become the sole spokesperson.¡± As the Lord of Thunder spoke, he spread his arms out passionately. 1 Fang Hao remained unmoved by the animated Lord of Thunder. Simply put, the Quasi-god before him needed the faith of his people to achieve some position. Ignoring whether he could achieve this position later, just by the way the Lord of Thunder treated the troll followers. If he were to agree. Wouldn¡¯t his realm belong to the Lord of Thunder? And wouldn¡¯t he then be treated as a puppet lord? Moreover, this speech reminded him of the pie-in-the-sky promises his boss used to make, which were insulting his intelligence. 1 ¡°Hmm, I believe what you¡¯re saying makes sense,¡± Fang Hao responded. The Lord of Thunder was pleased, ¡°Of course.¡± However, the next second, Fang Hao stepped out of the temple gate. Simultaneously, a cold voice from outside echoed, ¡°Kill him.¡± Whoosh! Like a floodgate opening, the undead soldiers poured in from the massive bronze door. In the blink of an eye, the room was filled with the undead who raised their weapons against the Lord of Thunder. Chapter 494 - Chapter 494: Chapter 419, The Strength of a Quasi-God_3 Chapter 494: Chapter 419, The Strength of a Quasi-God_3 As he saw the undead charging towards him. The Lord of Thunder realized too late that he had been played by that brat. Anger spread across his face instantly. ¡°You¡¯re courting death. I¡¯ll turn your territory into a wasteland¡­¡± The Lord of Thunder roared. He pointed forward with his left hand. Countless arcs of blue thunder shot out from all around him, sweeping towards the incoming Undead warriors. In an instant, a large number of Undead warriors were struck by the thunder, their bones scattering to pieces. Even the shields in their hands were melting like molten lava under the onslaught of the thunder. The shield of the Skeleton Warrior was a blue equipment acquired by Fang Hao, crafted from pure iron and extremely heavy. But under the assault of the Lord of Thunder, it began to melt. It was clear how formidable the power of this lightning was. Arcs of blue electricity spread over the ground, the nearby Skeleton Warriors dying in droves. Fang Hao and the rest of the Black Sword group, standing at the entrance, were stunned by this spectacle. A Quasi-god possessed such formidable power, the might unleashed by his skills far surpassed anything they had seen before. He slaughter was on a mass scale, causing death wherever he struck. ¡°Black Sword, bring up all the troops down below. I don¡¯t believe, with this many people, we still can¡¯t wear him down.¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Black Sword moved to follow orders. The army began to form in a dense line along the mountain¡¯s stone steps. They were waiting for empty spots to open up at the front, so they could continue to engage the enemy in battle. Inside the hall. Countless Skeleton Giant Bats also rushed into the hall, launching their attacks and causing disturbances from the air. The face of the Lord of Thunder grew more grave by the moment. He released a thunderous barrier around himself, blocking the diving White Bone Bats and Skeleton Pseudo Dragons from the sky. The thunderous barrier was like a giant net flashing with thunder, which completely enveloped the Lord of Thunder. The Skeleton Giant Bat foolishly crashed into the electric net like a moth to a flame. Although the Lord of Thunder was not injured, his expression became increasingly serious. The enemy outside was so numerous that he couldn¡¯t kill them all. He also caught sight of Fang Hao and the others in the distance beyond the door. He made several attempts to charge out and kill Fang Hao. But whether in the air or on the ground, each time he was pushed back to where he started by the massive Undead soldiers. He couldn¡¯t get out, and the enemy couldn¡¯t easily attack him either. Just then! Thunder erupted again from the Lord of Thunder, and a whole row of Skeleton Warriors fell. Glug glug!! A few cylinder objects suddenly fell out of the chest cavity of the Skeleton Warriors, rolling underfoot. A sparking snake of electricity ignited the fuse on the cylinder, emitting a weak smoke. What is this? A Magic Scroll? The Lord of Thunder looked puzzled. But he didn¡¯t have time to analyze it further and quickly released several more bolts of lightning, slaying the charging Undead soldiers. At that moment, the Lord of Thunder suddenly got a bad feeling. He looked down to see that the cylinders no longer emitted smoke. Was he being paranoid? Boom! Boom, boom! A massive explosion sent the body of the Lord of Thunder flying instantly. He slammed into the stone wall behind him and slowly fell down. But the next second, the Lord of Thunder stood up abruptly, his body wrapped in twisting thunder while his face was seething with rage. Damned Undead, daring to injure him. And he noticed, these Undead were trying to wear him down alive. If he continued combating them here, he would be drained of his spiritual power and stamina. Eventually, he would be killed here. He no longer wished to recruit the opponent as a believer. He wanted them to pay the price, to understand the cost of angering a deity. He glanced in the direction of the entrance: ¡°You¡¯ve enraged a god, you¡¯ll receive the punishment you deserve.¡± The moment his words fell, the Lord of Thunder¡¯s eyes suddenly turned silver-gray, his pupils were like two gray pearls, and the rolling thunder gradually formed into a mysterious rune. Outside, Fang Hao stared at the sudden appearance of the dark clouds in the sky, and the thunder rolling within. His heart sank heavily. This guy was pulling out all the stops. ¡°Retreat, let¡¯s move back.¡± Fang Hao immediately ordered. He spread out his bat wings, grabbed Black Sword, and flew towards the bottom of the mountain. They hadn¡¯t flown too far when they heard a voice coming from within the temple, ¡°Thunderforge.¡± Boom, boom, boom!! Countless thick bolts of thunder fell from the dark clouds in the sky, covering the entire mountain range. The temple collapsed, the mountain shattered. The Skeleton Warriors inside the temple and halfway up the mountain were turned to ash under the onslaught of the thunder in the blink of an eye. Even their armor and weapons melted under the thunder, becoming molten iron. Fang Hao¡¯s heart pounded as he watched the scene unfolding before his eyes. This was¡­ much more powerful than Rolana. The dark clouds hadn¡¯t dispersed yet, but the thunder had already stopped. The Lord of Thunder, his hair disheveled, burst out of the collapsed mountain. With a speed as fast as lightning, he lunged towards Fang Hao. ¡°You little brat, where do you think you¡¯re going to run to?¡± Chapter 495 - Chapter 495: Chapter 420, Divinity_1 Chapter 495: Chapter 420, Divinity_1 A full strike from the Lord of Thunder. It wiped out all the undead soldiers who had rushed onto the temple. However, at the same time, the Lord of Thunder saw a swarm of undead soldiers at the foot of the mountain. He never imagined that there would be so many people below the mountain. His gaze eventually landed on Fang Hao in the crowd. With a stamp of his foot, his figure burst forth. He closed in on Fang Hao¡¯s location at an astonishing speed, for only by killing him could he control the current situation. Seeing the other party rush towards him, Fang Hao also showed a trace of panic. The previous battle had already involved tens of thousands of people. Even if the opponent had strong physical and spiritual power, he should be nearing exhaustion, right? But this Lord of Thunder, not only killed all the soldiers on the mountain with one blow, But now, he morphed into a streak of light, rushing in his direction. Even if he was controlling a Deomn Doll of orange strength, it would be tough to withstand an attack from a quasi-god. Fang Hao stepped back, his giant bat wings instantly spread wide. He intended to put some distance between them. But the opponent¡¯s speed was too fast, and it was likely that this attack would be hard to avoid. Bang! Just at the critical moment, a giant shield collided directly with the Lord of Thunder¡¯s side. The inertia of the two forces deviated the Lord of Thunder¡¯s body. Seizing this opportunity, Fang Hao shot into the air. He moved away from his opponent. ¡°Kill.¡± Fang Hao said with a grim expression. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! Bang bang bang!! Countless arrows shot towards the position where the Lord of Thunder had fallen. After the arrows, magic bullets flew towards him as well. The powerful energy made the air distorted, and energy waves exploded in different directions. Boom!! The ruins exploded open again, and the Lord of Thunder¡¯s figure reappeared before everyone. However, the Lord of Thunder¡¯s scale armor was shattered, and blood traces even began to flow from his forehead and neck. Even a quasi-god has its limit of endurance. After his forces which consisted of tens of thousands of men joined the battle, he was getting injured. ¡°Continue the attack!¡± Fang Hao commanded again. The undead once again swarmed towards the Lord of Thunder. Without the restriction of the copper door, the undead soldiers began to surround from all sides. They fearlessly rushed towards the spreading thunder. A black cloud began to gather above the Lord of Thunder¡¯s head. This was Nisbit¡¯s {Stripping Characteristic}. Although it didn¡¯t seem effective, Nisbit had also joined the battle. Ten-tier soldiers, plus the Corpse Witch¡¯s modified soldiers. They could withstand the impact of thunder. And they caused quite some trouble. Bone Dragon, Skeleton Pseudo Dragon, Skeleton Giant Bat, Skeleton Warrior, Skeleton Troll. With the Lord of Thunder as the center, the white bones piled up into a small hill. The Lord of Thunder, standing on Bone Mountain, brandishing thunder in his hand, was killing the undead soldiers who had rushed up. As the battle continued, The Lord of Thunder¡¯s condition got worse and worse, with more and more wounds appearing on his body. The entire person looked like a blood man, as if lifted out of a pool of blood, covered in crimson. Crack!! Suddenly, the Bone Dragon seized the opportunity of the Lord of Thunder¡¯s attack gap and bit down on his retracting right arm. The strength erupted by the Bone Dragon dragged the Lord of Thunder off the bone mountain, and the undead soldier next to him lifted his weapon and hacked away crazily. ¡°Damn reptile¡­¡± The furious Lord of Thunder roared, and thunder began to spread rapidly around him. All the surrounding Skeleton Warriors were shattered. He turned around and hugged the Bone Dragon¡¯s head, then twisted it forcefully! Bang!! With a flash of lightning, the Bone Dragon¡¯s head exploded fiercely, and its body softened and crumbled into a pile of white bones. Thump!! Just after he crushed the head of the Bone Dragon, The Lord of Thunder felt a pain in his shoulder. As he turned his head abruptly, he saw a burly dog-headed skeleton, whose battle-axe had struck his shoulder. The ribs of his left arm were broken by the blow. The Lord of Thunder kicked the dog-headed skeleton and sent it flying, but he felt another sharp pain in his thigh. An undead soldier, who had lost his lower body, was hacking at his thigh with a weapon. His attention was increasingly dispersed. Every part of his body was under continuous attack. This made the Lord of Thunder realize that if he didn¡¯t find a way to break free from the fight, he might really die here. He surveyed the battlefield once again. The undead skeletons, still in vast numbers, stretched as far as the eye could see. The leader of the undead with whom he was conversing before was hiding in the crowd, no longer in sight. A vast army of undead killed their way to him again. With determination, he once again forcefully activated his Divine Arts. His pupils turned grey again, and his body began to shrivel. In the sky, black clouds as heavy as cotton wool appeared again, with visible thunder rolling in them. Thunderforge. With the experience of previous times, Fang Hao recognized this as the other party¡¯s killer move. While retreating, he quickly ordered the soldiers in the targeted area to speed up their attack. At the same time, the rest of the people tried to distance themselves from the battlefield as much as possible. Rumble!! Thunderforge covered the Lord of Thunder¡¯s sky. Like giant pythons, Thunder Snakes shot out from the black clouds and continuously blasted the ground. In an instant, all the undead soldiers in the city and the area turned to ashes. The armors that the Temple Guardians had left behind also melted into iron under the impact of thunder. After Thunderforge, the battlefield was silent. Everyone was on alert for the Lord of Thunder, and just when the undead army continued to swarm him, Swoosh! At that moment, a figure darted out from the dust. However, he was not attacking anyone, but trying to escape to the north. The Lord of Thunder had¡­escaped. Chapter 496 - Chapter 496: Chapter 420, Divinity_2 Chapter 496: Chapter 420, Divinity_2 ¡°Chase, don¡¯t let him escape, chase him¡­¡± Fang Hao immediately roared. The Quasi-god wasn¡¯t slow, and up till this point, I¡¯ve lost hundreds of thousands of troops and equipment. If he escapes now, it would be a loss for me. Most importantly, Fang Hao cannot afford to give the Lord of Thunder a chance to recover. Once he escapes, the next time we meet, I will be the one to die. So, no matter what, he must be killed here and now. Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s orders, the first to respond were the Bone Dragons and the countless Skeleton Giant Bats and Skeleton Pseudo Dragons at the rear. One advantage of flying troops is their airborne speed, which is much faster than running. As soon as the words fell, they were carried off by a gust of wind, chasing after the Lord of Thunder. Meanwhile, the countless undead army followed closely behind. The Lord of Thunder was escaping rapidly to the north. His armor was scattered, his body was as shriveled as cured meat, and he was severely injured. The situation was critical. He had not expected those low-level skeletons to be so difficult to deal with. Killing one batch after another, it seemed like they would never run out. He remembered this grudge. Once he recovers from his injuries, he will return to kill everyone who dared to insult him. While thinking this, he did not slow his pace. Gritting his teeth and enduring the pain from his body, he continued to flee northward. However, his speed was ultimately affected. Roar!! A roar suddenly came from behind. Several black energy pillars enveloped his body. The strong aura of death began to age his flesh. His body stumbled, falling directly to the ground. Then, a large number of tightly packed Skeleton Giant Bats began to surround him, one after another, devouring his flesh. Although he continued to resist, he couldn¡¯t hold on for long. Fear was evident in the Lord of Thunder¡¯s eyes. Seeing the majority of the troops coming from afar and surrounding him again. He knew in his heart that there was no hope of escape. ¡°You cannot kill me.¡± The Lord of Thunder gritted his teeth and roared. He was surrounded by a dense mass of undead. The Lord of Thunder couldn¡¯t see Fang Hao, nor could Fang Hao see him. But the Lord of Thunder knew that Fang Hao must still be nearby. Waiting not far off for him to be slowly worn down to death. ¡°Why?¡± The voice of Fang Hao came, but it was difficult to make out his location. ¡°If you dare to kill a god, you will incur the wrath of all the divine spirits. Your mortal body will be feared by the divine spirits and they will seek revenge on you.¡± The Lord of Thunder bellowed. On hearing this, Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed. It is now proven that gods really do exist in this world. A mortal showing the ability to kill a god might indeed arouse the fear of other divine beings, this was hard to say. In books, it was recorded to respect and obey gods. Killing a god¡­ even a Quasi-god. Such a thing had not been passed down in books or legends. But on second thought, things had turned out this way. If the Lord of Thunder seizes an opportunity, he would not hesitate to kill me. It wouldn¡¯t be the divine spirits¡¯ turn to make a move. So, unless there is a divine spirit to save him now, he must die by my hand. ¡°You¡¯re a Quasi-god, not a true divine spirit. Moreover, as the Lord of Thunder, you attempted to steal the followers of the God of Undead and their faith. Naturally, I, as a representative of the God of Undead, have to eliminate you.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then said confidently. ¡°You¡­¡± The Lord of Thunder was left speechless. ¡°What about you, kill him.¡± Whoosh!! The army attacked again, this time, Nisbit and the Bone Dragon attacked together. They besieged him for half an hour. The attacking undead suddenly became static. Nisbit took big steps back and said in a hoarse voice: ¡°My lord, the enemy is dead.¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Disperse and reform!¡± Fang Hao loudly commanded. The stationary soldiers that were surrounding the Lord of Thunder immediately dispersed, revealing a severely mutilated body. Gurgling!! The shrunken head of Lord of Thunder also rolled to Fang Hao¡¯s feet by the dispersed Skeleton Warriors. The skull was still wide-eyed, looking at the sky in disbelief. Is he really dead? The Lord of Thunder, can no longer display information. It seems he truly is dead. Just then, a gust of wind blew by. The body also turned into ashes and was scattered with the wind. ¡°Damn, the body¡¯s gone.¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. In Fang Hao¡¯s eyes, the body of a quasi-god was a rare treasure. As long as he brought it back, he could have a quasi-god skeleton hero, and his status would be unshakeable. But now, right before his eyes. The body of this quasi-god was lost in a gust of wind¡­ Fang Hao felt a bit regretful, but then he saw a grey-white light ball in the ashes of the body. It resembled the glow of a Nightstone. What on earth is that? The inner core burst out? On this journey, the bodies that turned into ashes would drop various rare materials. Similar to the Lord of Thunder, after his death and subsequent transformation to ashes, he must have dropped something valuable. Fang Hao immediately approached to examine the item in the ashes. It was a light ball, not in the form of a material object. More like an elemental energy source. [Divinity (Level 0)] (Description: The core power of a deity, powerful Divine Arts rely on divinity to function.) ¡°Divinity?¡± Looking at the description, this divinity seems to be the core energy of a deity¡¯s Divine Arts, it must be quite valuable. Perhaps a special kind of rare material. As Fang Hao pondered this, he controlled the puppet to pick up the light ball. He quickly put it into his bag. At this moment, Black Sword and the others came over, ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± Fang Hao glanced at the ash on the ground and said: ¡°I¡¯m fine, start cleaning up the battlefield, and arrange people to clear the collapsed temple, dig out the items inside, and take them all back.¡± The temple had been reduced to ruins in the thunderbolt. However, just now in the temple, Fang Hao saw many valuable things. Gold and silver utensils, Nightstones, there were a lot of them inside. And during this battle, up till now, he had not found a single treasure chest. Fang Hao suspected that the treasure chest was in the temple. Hence, after the great battle, manual labor was needed to clear the ruins, dig out all the valuable items inside and take them all back. ¡°Understood Sir, I¡¯ll immediately arrange for the clean-up.¡± Black Sword immediately said. As far as the battle was concerned, it was coming to an end. Next, it was the work of excavating the ruins and searching for the treasure chest. Fang Hao need not be there personally. The route from the fortress to here had already been cleared, and transportation and support were completely unproblematic. Black Sword and the others could handle it themselves. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave it to you for now. Inform me timely if something comes up.¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Yes Sir.¡± Several heroes responded with a nod. After delegating the tasks, Fang Hao controlled his puppet to fly towards the direction of the fortress. He reached the fortress before dusk. Fang Hao canceled God¡¯s Presence and put away the puppet. ¡­ He took the divinity light ball from the puppet¡¯s hand. The moment he touched it, he instantly felt the light ball turn into a powerful energy, breaking through Fang Hao¡¯s mental defense and seeping into his soul. At the same time, Fang Hao also felt a strong and strange energy operating in his body. [Successfully fused with Level 0 divinity, you can set up deity statue, collect power of faith to upgrade divinity level.] [Unlocked traits: Immune to Thunder, Spirit of Thunder, Giant Body.] [Unlocked skills: Thunder Strike, Thunderforge.] ¡­ [Immune to Thunder]: Immune to damage from lightning, thunder elements. [Spirit of Thunder]: Lightning and thunder related skills, skill effects increased by an extra +100%. [Giant Body]: All attributes +100%. [Thunder Strike]: Throws a bolt of lightning with a maximum distance of 500 meters, cooldown time 1.5 seconds. [Thunderforge]: Manipulates the weather, unleashes Thunderforge within a certain radius, causing indiscriminate damage of 300% attack power. Chapter 497 - Chapter 497: Chapter 421, Dark Gold Treasure Chest_1 Chapter 497: Chapter 421, Dark Gold Treasure Chest_1 After absorbing the Divinity. Fang Hao immediately unlocked several skills of the Lord of Thunder. Particularly the final ¡°Thunderforge¡±, which single-handedly annihilated hundreds of thousands of his undead soldiers. Whether it was the palace or the mountain, they all turned into ruins under the barrage of thunder. It was also the most powerful skill Fang Hao had seen since arriving in this world. Now that he himself had absorbed the Divinity and learned this skill. It greatly enhanced his own combat power. Even if he had to face some enemies alone in the future, he would have a strong ability to protect himself. Just that he had been studying Fire Elemental Magic and just started reading a few Fire Element books with some of his own understanding, and now switched to thunder and lightning. Ah! The world is unpredictable. After bouncing back from Divinity, Anjia and Demitrija and others, immediately felt a change in Fang Hao. Originally, Fang Hao was just an ordinary person who knew some spells. At this moment, he gave a sense of majesty and strength. ¡°Is it raining on the battlefield? I heard thunder.¡± Anjia didn¡¯t focus on Fang Hao¡¯s change, she was more curious about the sunny day ahead was thundering. ¡°No, we encountered a powerful person who can release thunder and lightning.¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°A Thunder Elemental mage? In this middle of nowhere? There is a mage?¡± Anjia became more curious. The noise just now was not small. They could hear the dense, huge thunder outside the Desolate Battlefield. Those who could possess such power obviously had strength. At the same time, she was also a little worried about the situation ahead. Fortunately, Fang Hao came back, the battle was over. ¡°It¡¯s a quasi-god, it¡¯s the Giant Spirit God that those trolls worshipped.¡± Fang Hao continued explaining on the side. ¡°Oh, god, so amazing.¡± Anjia finally showed a surprised look. ¡°Not really, we killed him.¡± Fang Hao waved his hand, with a casual expression. The battle to kill the Lord of Thunder was not easy at all. Without a matching hero unit, they completely exhausted the enemy with their undead soldiers. Similarly, Fang Hao paid a heavy price as well. At least hundreds of thousands, even close to a million undead soldiers died in this battle. This was the largest loss Fang Hao had ever suffered in a battle in history. Luckily, the loot was also enormous, not to mention the treasure chests and war spoils still hidden in the temple. Just the Divinity had already compensated for the loss in the battle. Divinity gave Fang Hao a new development path. Actually, he didn¡¯t want to accept the undead transformation ceremony that much, if he could gain powerful forces and eternal life by relying on Divinity, this would made Fang Hao felt more acceptable. ¡°Is there any good stuff in the residence of the quasi-god? Didn¡¯t see you brought anything back?¡± Anjia did not forget about the spoils of war. ¡°The temple collapsed, the spoils of war were buried inside, letting Black Sword to clean it up.¡± ¡°So what should we do next?¡± Anjia continued asking. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, we¡¯re not needed here anymore, just leave it to Black Sword and the others.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve killed a quasi-god, should we celebrate tonight with something good to eat?¡± Anjia suggested. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it good enough last night?¡± ¡°Even better.¡± ¡­ Fang Hao stepped out of the Command Hall. He saw Dong Jiayue and others were looking in the direction of the Desolate Battlefield and discussing softly. Fang Hao was also curious about what everyone was discussing. He walked closer, and then discovered the changes happening on the Desolate Battlefield. The thick, lingering decay started to gradually dissipate. The vision towards the depths was not only clear, the dark red colour in the soil also paled a lot under the sun. With the death of the quasi-god in the temple, the entire land seemed to have stepped out of a curse. It was gradually returning to normal. Perhaps, after a few years, the land here will return to its normal state. ¡°Jia Yue,¡± Fang Hao softly called out. ¡°Brother Hao.¡± Dong Jiayue had always been in charge of logistics operations, so she never entered the battlefield. Now that the battle was over and Fang Hao was about to leave, she still had to handle the follow-up matters. ¡°The battle is over, I¡¯m making some tools, you arrange for people to send them to Black Sword and the others.¡± Fang Hao ordered. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Fang Hao directly opened the Book of Lords and started making various tools. [Triggered Hundred-Fold Amplification, obtained Dwarven Drills 101000.] [Triggered Hundred-Fold Amplification, obtained Iron Spades 101000.] [Triggered Hundred-Fold Amplification, ¡­] Pittering and pattering, various tools appeared from the air. Dong Jiayue started organizing manpower to load the tools into the truck. Excavating the temple on the mountain was not an easy thing, all kinds of tools had to be fully equipped. ¡°Okay, these are for Black Sword and the others to use first, if there is any tool you need to supplement, you can directly make it.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Understood, Brother Hao, don¡¯t worry.¡± Dong Jiayue readily accepted. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± After Fang Hao finished speaking, he teleported using Demon Transportation and returned to his territory. ¡­ Everything in the territory was as usual. The maids were working normally without any changes. After having dinner. Anjia told Lorrey and the other maids about their experience at the Desolate Battlefield. The episode where the troops battled the quasi-god was even more thrilling. The maids were all gasping in shock from time to time. In the Lord¡¯s Hall. Fang Hao was standing in the middle of the hall, with Grey the stone-carver sitting next to him. In Grey¡¯s hand, he held a clay model. Chapter 498 - Chapter 498: 421 Chapter 498: 421 The clay model on display was a perfect replica of Fang Hao, who was standing in the middle of the hall. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s ready. Are you satisfied with the model?¡± The clay model in Grey¡¯s hands was a small sample. It was a miniature version used before the creation of the full-sized clay sculpture. Any necessary adjustments were made on the small sample, with the final product only being made once everything was assuredly correct. Upon hearing that Grey had finished, Fang Hao kindly approached. Looking at the clay model, he nodded approvingly. ¡°Not bad. Proceed with this design,¡± Fang Hao confidently finalised the plan. ¡°Very well, sir. I will acquire the necessary materials tonight and officially begin work tomorrow,¡± replied Grey. ¡°That¡¯s fine, plan accordingly. Remember, the statue should be placed in the temple and not collide with other statues during transport,¡± Fang Hao reiterated. Currently, there were four statues placed in the temple. Ever since witnessing the power of the quasi-god, Fang Hao no longer dared to take divine matters lightly. Although he speculated that gods couldn¡¯t directly interfere in worldly matters, it was always better to be safe than sorry. Everything should be handled with caution. In his domain, they still relied on benefactions from the gods, and it would provide no benefit to offend them. Nonetheless, he wasn¡¯t bothered about setting up a statue of the king. Since the buildings possessed such an ability, they would follow the laws of this world. There should be no issue in offending the gods. ¡°Understood, sir,¡± acknowledged Grey, holding the clay sample as he stepped out of the hall. After sending Grey away, Fang Hao soaked in a hot spring before returning to his room for rest. ¡­ Meanwhile. Inside a basement in Lyss City. Dimly lit by a dangling Nightstone lamp that gently swayed from the ceiling, and elongating the shadows of those present. Around a round table stood hooded figures draped in black, cloaked individuals. They were the faceless of Lyss City. One of them broke the silence, commenting,¡± Speak up. Why have you summoned us? I utterly dislike being targeted by that lady from the city lord¡¯s mansion.¡± This retort was not well received, as it became evident that this meeting was unwanted. The rest acquiesced with the speaker¡¯s resentment. The faceless of Lyss City had become universally detested. They led fearful lives, behaving cautiously within the city. The culprit of this crisis was the indomitable Rebecca of the city lord¡¯s mansion, who scrutinised and oppressed the faceless relentlessly. No one knew whether they would be next; their home searched, and recklessly thrown into detention. Hence, they tread carefully. The lead faceless didn¡¯t refute nor explain anything in response to the adverse comments, but instead straightforwardly declared, ¡°I would like to introduce you all to the newly arrived Chief Steward, Adeline.¡± As his words faded, crisp footsteps echoed from the basement corridor. A beautiful and sophisticated lady soon emerged from the dim shadows, striding with an alluring sway. She serenely positioned herself before the round table. The other faceless were slightly taken aback by the appearance of the woman. This was because she was not wearing the typical black robe with a hood, only a golden silk veil that covered her face. She was genuinely attractive. Her golden, curly locks of hair cascaded onto her chest. Her ripe thighs were revealed through the high slit dress, which was tightly wrapped around her voluptuous buttocks. This kind of outfit was exclusively sold at the Bone Textile Store in Lyss City. The woman held a crystal ball, placing it on the table. A fortune teller? These swindlers were quite common in taverns. ¡°This is Lady Adeline, who just arrived here. From now on, she will be assigning tasks to us,¡± the leading cloak figure reintroduced her. A Chief Steward of the faceless held a prominent rank and status within the organisation. Upon reaching any city, they would immediately take command. ¡°Lady Adeline,¡± recovering from the initial surprise of her beauty, everyone respectfully greeted her. Adeline greeted back with an enchanting smile, ¡°Hmm, my presence here is to help everyone navigate out of this predicament, and at the same time use this opportunity to acquire control over Lyss City.¡± This¡­ The faceless looked at each other in unease. Commanding control of Lyss City would sound impossible for anyone familiar with the city¡¯s affairs. ¡°Lady Adeline, the lady from the City Lord¡¯s Mansion also holds significant powers. Seizing control won¡¯t be easy,¡± a faceless figure gently reminded in a low tone. Adeline responded with a smile, ¡°As long as the woman you mentioned dies, the powers will naturally fall into our hands. Soon, the resource allocation of this city will be rewritten. Everyone¡¯s wealth will reach unprecedented heights.¡± Kill Rebecca? Only those unfamiliar with city affairs would dare utter such words. Rebecca controlled the city¡¯s power centre and the military command. This wasn¡¯t as simple as just killing her. If it were so easy, Rebecca wouldn¡¯t have survived until now. ¡°Lady Adeline, this is¡­¡± A faceless attempted to speak, but Adeline interrupted him once again. ¡°I know what you want to say, but I am already prepared,¡± Adeline turned to the faceless at her side, questioning, ¡°Lord Aubrey, if Rebecca dies, can you stabilise the government?¡± The faceless figure next to her didn¡¯t hesitate and pulled back his hood. To everyone¡¯s surprise, it revealed a familiar face, that of the city lord of Lyss City, Aubrey. Chapter 499 - Chapter 499: Chapter 421, Dark Gold Treasure Box_3 Chapter 499: Chapter 421, Dark Gold Treasure Box_3 Aubrey immediately replied, ¡°There¡¯s no issue with this. According to the Federal Conference¡¯s rules, I can take over as city lord if Rebecca goes missing or dies. However, the matter of the army will still need to be arranged by Lady Adeline.¡± Aubrey spoke in a matter-of-fact manner, but the rest of the Faceless down below¡­ were practically staring wide-eyed. No one expected that the biggest freeloader in the whole city would actually be right beside them. Moreover, he has always been waiting for the opportunity to replace Rebecca. Adeline was quite satisfied with everyone¡¯s reaction; that¡¯s the exact situation she wanted to see. She said to everyone below, ¡°I naturally have a plan for the army. This time, everyone just needs to follow my plan.¡± ¡°Lady Adeline, what do we need to do?¡± someone asked. They were the Faceless; they had no chance to choose. Adeline continued, ¡°Before that, I need the information of one person, and the more detailed, the better.¡± ¡°Please say, Lady. If you¡¯re talking about dealing with Rebecca, we don¡¯t have the capability, but if it¡¯s about information, no one in this city can escape our ears and eyes.¡± Adeline gave a slight smile and said casually, ¡°The transmigrator, Fang Hao, I want all his information.¡± ¡°That cloth merchant? He¡¯s just an ordinary person.¡± Adeline shook her head. ¡°Ordinary? The number one transmigrator is not as simple as you all think.¡± She had met Fang Hao once at the Trade Alliance¡¯s base. At the time, due to being in the Trade Alliance¡¯s territory, she couldn¡¯t act too outrageously. However, she didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to appear in Lyss City. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll organize the information immediately after we return and give it to you,¡± the Faceless replied. ¡°Good, intensify the interrogation of the other transmigrators. I want to know the exact location of Fang Hao¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°Yes, Lady Adeline.¡± ¡­ Next day. Fang Hao woke up in the morning and immediately received a message from the Webweaver, Domina. The orcs near the Webweaver¡¯s camp and the Mithril Mine had evacuated two days ago. According to Domina¡¯s inquiries- The Blackstone Orc Tribe had indeed been attacked by a dragon. The incident was significant, and the whole village was almost razed to the ground. Now, everyone from the Tasgo Orc City is trying to mediate the situation, but the final outcome is still uncertain. However, their goal has been achieved. Recently, the orcs from the Blackstone Tribe have stopped harassing the mine¡¯s production. The development of the entire incident is somewhat similar to what Fang Hao had imagined. The owner of that treasure cave, in his anger, really did make a move against the Blackstone Tribe. Once a war begins, it¡¯s hard to mediate. Even if it is finally proven that the Blackstone Tribe was framed and is innocent- Will the Blackstone Tribe not seek accountability regarding this matter? Without being able to find the real culprit and also losing so many of their own people, the Blackstone Tribe will not let this matter end. No matter how powerful the dragon is, this is after all the territory of the Orcs. What follows, will be their quarreling. As long as he isn¡¯t implicated, that¡¯s good enough. After listening to Domina¡¯s report, Fang Hao put away the Sound-transmitting Shell. After getting dressed and freshening up, he immediately left the room. Eira was on the first floor preparing breakfast, and the other maids also got up early and started their work. Following a simple morning exercise and breakfast- A Bone Dragon landed in front of the Lord¡¯s Mansion. After two orcs disembarked from the dragon, they also brought down a dark gold chest. ¡°My lord, this is the chest sent by the Black Sword Commander. The rest of the spoils of war are still being mined,¡± one of the orcs said. ¡°Hmm, good work. Have you encountered any danger since my departure?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°No, sir. After the destruction of the temple, no more rotten corpses appeared in the other regions. Everything is normal, and mining work is also going smoothly,¡± the orc answered. The ¡®rotten corpses¡¯ mentioned by the orc referred to the corrupted creatures. After the death of that quasi-god, the entire land recovered to normalcy. The corrupted creatures also disappeared accordingly. ¡°Alright, I got it,¡± Fang Hao nodded in understanding. A maid brought two cups of fruit wine. After the two rested for a while, they got back on the Bone Dragon and returned to the Desolate Battlefield. After the two orcs left. Fang Hao then turned his attention to the dark gold chest. The challenge of this battle was immense. Not only did they encounter tens of thousands of corrupted creatures along the way- The strength of the Lord of Thunder far exceeded Fang Hao¡¯s understanding of individual combat power. One person releasing one skill was enough to raze a city to the ground. This kind of power is simply terrifying. Fortunately, the earnings were equally huge. A Dark Gold chest. Opened it immediately. [Obtained: Blueprint of the Temple Guardians¡¯ Shoulder Armor (Purple), Blueprint of the Temple Guardians¡¯ Boots (Purple), Blueprint of the Temple Guardians¡¯ Breastplate (Purple), Blueprint of the Temple Guardians¡¯ Helmet (Purple), Blueprint of Thunderblade¡¯s Shield (Purple), Blueprint of Thunderblade¡¯s Cloak (Purple), Blueprint of Thunderblade¡¯s War Halberd (Purple), Blade of the Thunder Eagle (Dark Gold), Hero Heart 15, Heroic Certificate 10, Shadowstone 172, God¡¯s Trace 55, Warfire Coin 1750.] A large amount of radiance appeared before Fang Hao¡¯s eyes. At first glance, Fang Hao caught the Dark Gold equipment. [Blade of the Thunder Eagle (Dark Gold)] [Category: Giant Sword] [Damage: Seven-tier damage] [Ability: Power of the Sky, Flight ban.] [Power of the Sky] : Increases the effect of Air Elemental Magic by 100%, reduces consumption by 50%. [Flight ban] : Lasts a minimum of 2 seconds and a maximum of 15 seconds, causing enemy air units to lose the ability to fly. Chapter 500 - Chapter 500: Chapter 421, Dark Gold Treasure Chest_4 Chapter 500: Chapter 421, Dark Gold Treasure Chest_4 (Description: Thunder is the wrath of the Heavenly Father, and thunderclaps are the voice of the enigmatic messenger.) The Thunderhawk Blade is a remarkably ornate giant sword. Complex engravings adorn the hilt of the sword while the blade features designs mimicking feathers and thunderbolts. Although the giant sword seems massive, when Fang Hao grips it, it doesn¡¯t feel as heavy as he imagined. In fact, its weight feels similar to the Starfire Wand he usually uses. The damage of the Thunderhawk Blade reaches level seven. Even the damage of purple weapons is only level four; level seven surely marks it as a divine weapon. Moreover, this sword¡¯s attributes mesh well with the latest lightning ability he has acquired. It would be a perfect substitute for the Starfire Wand. Holding the giant sword in his hand, he waves it around in the air with one hand a few times. After testing the feel of it, he directly stores it into his storage space. Having checked out the dark gold weapon, he continues to peruse the remaining blueprints. [Temple Guardian¡¯s Shoulder Guard: 8 blocks of cast iron, 5 fine iron, 10 thick leather, 12 spools of thread, 10 metal parts, 3 Mithril.] [Temple Guardian¡¯s Boots: 6 blocks of cast iron, 4 fine iron, 8 thick leather, 15 spools of thread, 12 metal parts, 2 Mithril.] [Temple Guardian¡¯s Breastplate: 12 blocks of cast iron, 8 fine iron, 15 thick leather, 22 spools of thread, 18 metal parts, 4 Mithril.] [Temple Guardian¡¯s Helmet: 8 blocks of cast iron, 6 fine iron, 12 thick leather, 10 spools of thread, 15 metal parts, 5 Mithril.] The Temple Guardians¡¯ set is the uniform of nobility¡¯s guards in the Temple. Despite enduring countless years, these guardians¡¯ sets have remained well-preserved, demonstrating strong defensive power in battle. In terms of the quality of the equipment, it¡¯s considered top-notch among the army¡¯s outfits. The finest armies of all major regional forces, are uniformly outfitted in only blue sets. Only a few leading heroes are equipped with one or two purple armors or weapons. If Fang Hao¡¯s army could equip themselves in bulk with their specific type of weaponry, Their equipment standard would exceed most force¡¯s troops. The only challenge remaining are the resources, the pressure is now on the newly relocated dwarves. It¡¯s up to them to produce the required materials. The following three blueprints are for a shield, skin, and a war halberd. [Thunderblade Shield: 10 blocks of cast iron, 5 fine iron, 8 thick leather, 12 metal parts, 2 Mithril.] [Thunderblade Cloak: 5 linens, 2 silk, 22 spools of thread, 5 leather, 8 metal parts, 3 Mithril.] [Thunderblade Halberd: 1 hard wood, 12 fine iron, 2 thick leather, 10 metal parts, 5 Mithril.] All three blueprints bearing the name Thunderblade are purple ones. However, the weapons are restricted to spearmen and cavalry. Thus restricting the outfitting. Nevertheless, when the Undead hordes brandish indestructible purple armors and weapons across the hills and plains, They will demonstrate formidable combat strength. Regular Undead warriors will no longer be weak, each person will wrestle with high ranking soldiers. Unless a quasi-god emerges, it will be difficult for any force to resist his White Bone army. His remaining rewards include the [Hero Heart] and [Hero Proof]. Hero Heart is used to promote troops to heroes, whilst Hero Proof is used for the hero promotion exam. ¡°Go call Nyi and the others.¡± ¡­ PS: The previous chapter has been rewritten, the ¡®quasi-god¡¯s¡¯ death was too sudden, if you read it on February 24th, please take a look again. Chapter 503 - Chapter 503: Chapter Four Hundred Twenty-Three, The Tracker_1 Chapter 503: Chapter Four Hundred Twenty-Three, The Tracker_1 Suddenly, two system notifications interrupted Fang Hao¡¯s self-admiration. [The statue of the King can be established in the Pantheon.] [Statues of the king can be established in each subsidiary territory to collect power of faith and raise the level of divinity.] Pantheon could be considered as an enormous temple. A regular temple can only place two statues, but the Pantheon has no such limit. As long as the statues do not repel each other, they can be placed in the Pantheon. This feature is especially inclusive. Similarly, the statue of the king can also be placed inside. By chance, Fang Hao had just acquired divinity, which can be improved by gathering the faith of the public, and collecting the power of faith. Previously, he had seen that his divinity was at level 0. He had been wondering about ways to level up, only to realize now that it relied on the collection of faith to increase its level. In that case, the belief of people in his territory and the population itself became exceptionally pivotal. Without further ado, Fang Hao opened the options for the Pantheon and placed the king¡¯s statue inside. The next second, the king¡¯s statue on the vacant land vanished in an instant. It directly appeared in the main hall of the Pantheon. [Blueprint unlocked: King¡¯s Statue] [King¡¯s Statue: Wood 320, Refined Stone Bricks 350, Iron 120, Metal Parts 50, Mithril 5, Traces of Prayer 1.] (Description: A great leader, worshipped by his subjects.) Having directly unlocked the blueprint made things more convenient. He could then share the blueprint of the king¡¯s statue, allowing each subsidiary city to establish king¡¯s statue. He could also benefit from collecting faith power to enhance his divinity. Of course, having his statues placed everywhere made him feel slightly embarrassed. However, there was no other choice, for the sake of leveling up! Ever since Fang Hao had witnessed the quasi-god¡¯s power, It reminded him constantly that if he wanted to survive, he needed to keep enhancing his strength. His tactic of relying on low-ranked undead for the navy could no longer ensure an unbeatable advantage when facing quasi-god-level enemies. A single skill could wipe out an entire army. This shocked Fang Hao, while simultaneously, upon acquiring divinity, stirred a sense of longing within him. Therefore, these statues of the kingdom had to be established in the subsidiary cities. Besides, he needed more subordinates. As for collecting the power of belief, Every city with a large population were indigenous cities. These indigenous cities were forcibly taken over by Fang Hao, with governors appointed afterward. Thus, his own presence was not particularly significant, let alone influential. Hence, the following moves would include increasing the dedication of the city dwellers toward himself. After planning, he shared the blueprints of the temple and the statue of the king with several transmigrator governors. And requested them to establish temples with the statue of the king in their cities. Just as he sent out the message Heated discussions sprung up among the subordinate territories. They were amazed that Fang Hao had become the king, and made all sorts of flattering compliments about the imposing and fearsome statue of Fang Hao. Meanwhile, Fang Hao also didn¡¯t idle about. He utilized the teleportation to the subordinate cities of the indigenous people. He established temples and statues in every city and instructed all the mayors to widely propagate about himself being the king. It was not the time to keep a low profile. The subordinates, only once they recognize your strengths and believe that you can fulfill their wishes, you will gain the power of faith. After being busy for a whole day, Fang Hao returned to his territory. He visited all the subsidiary cities today. Every city¡¯s mayor was present, except Rolana, who was absent from Blood Castle. The Blood Hunter said that Rolana had stayed in Blood Castle for only two days before she left again. It seemed that she may have once more returned to Lyss City. After returning Fang Hao visited the hot springs at night and retired for the day. ¡­ The next day, After breakfast, Fang Hao activated the teleportation screen and headed directly to Gray Bear¡¯s stronghold. Gray Bear had been sent to the original territory of Qiu Zhi Shang. The current stronghold was managed by the rabbit woman, ¡®Millie¡¯. Millie was a rabbit maid Fang Hao had bought from a slave trader. After taking a physical enhancing potion, she had displayed strong combat talents. Fang Hao had appointed her to Gray Bear¡¯s side to experience real combat. Millie indeed didn¡¯t disappoint Fang Hao, her level was rapidly improving. When Gray Bear was sent away, Millie had already reached the level 7, thereby making her one of the top few fighters among the bandits. Adding to the fact that Fang Hao had close relations with Millie, she naturally became the new leader of the stronghold. When Fang Hao and the others emerged from the teleportation screen, He saw Millie, hands on hips, loudly berating her subordinates who were loafing around. Her dominant presence contrasted sharply with her petite stature and innocent, busty appearance. When she saw Fang Hao, Millie¡¯s intimidating demeanor vanished instantly. She ran over and threw herself into Fang Hao¡¯s arms, coquettishly saying, ¡°Master, Millie missed you so much.¡± The newly joined bandits on the side were flabbergasted. Millie who hardly had a good temper for a single day, could actually be this coquettish. Feeling the soft body in his arms, Fang Hao gave Millie¡¯s little head a rub. ¡°Just now, you seemed quite tough.¡± ¡°No, not at all. As you know, these guys only respond to a show of strength. I can¡¯t afford not to be strict.¡± Millie was quick to justify. All the people in the stronghold were ex-bandits, without exception. The stronger you appear, the more they¡¯ll behave. Gray Bear had been managing them similarly. Lacking this method, no one could control such a crowd. Chapter 504 - Chapter 504: Chapter Four Hundred Twenty-Three, The Tracker_2 Chapter 504: Chapter Four Hundred Twenty-Three, The Tracker_2 ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine, I think you¡¯ve done a good job. Pick some people to go with me to Lyss City later,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Alright, master.¡± Millie nodded. Her arms still held Fang Hao tightly, with no intention of letting go. ¡°Go on, we¡¯re leaving soon.¡± Under Fang Hao¡¯s urging, Millie finally let go and started gathering people. Soon, Millie assembled 20 people, and they set off for Lyss City on horseback. Fang Hao chose to ride on a purple-scaled horse to Lyss City instead of using teleportation. He had his own reasons for this. Lyss City wasn¡¯t a city under his control, and more often than not, teleportation would end up in the city center or the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t sure if he could teleport directly into his recently purchased residence. So, he chose to teleport to the Gray Bear Fortress and then ride the rest of the way, providing a proper reason for his entrance into the city. Otherwise, it would be quite difficult to explain his travel times to the Lyss City authorities. ¡­ By three in the afternoon, Fang Hao and his group had entered Lyss City. First, they delivered a batch of new clothes to a clothing store. Then, they headed to the City Lord¡¯s Manor. He had yet to claim the reward for assisting Rebecca with the Faceless last time. Additionally, he wanted to build a relationship with her, which would make it easier for him to develop and conduct business in the city in the future. Under the guidance of a maid. As Fang Hao walked along the long corridor, he noticed a change. Starting from the courtyard of the City Lord¡¯s Manor, there were significantly more patrolling guards than before. And even this previously deserted corridor was now guarded by armed soldiers every few meters. The distance between guards was carefully arranged, so that even if a guard was at a corner, he could still see his companions to his left and right. If one of them encountered any trouble, the others would be alerted immediately. It seemed that during his absence Some problem had arisen within Lyss City. And this problem had threatened Rebecca¡¯s personal safety. If it could affect the ruler of a city, The situation must be quite serious. The maid led Fang Hao swiftly to a study room. She gently knocked on the door, ¡°Madam, Mr. Fang Hao is here!¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± Rebecca¡¯s voice came from inside the room. The maid opened the door, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, please.¡± Fang Hao nodded and walked straight into the study. Inside the study, Rebecca, dressed in a beige gown, was sitting at her desk reviewing a stack of documents. Only when she saw Fang Hao enter did she put the documents aside. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for quite a while.¡± Rebecca began. ¡°I was dealing with some issues. I just arrived,¡± said Fang Hao, sitting down opposite her. Rebecca revealed a slight smile and pulled open a drawer. She pulled out a few heavy money bags and pushed them in front of Fang Hao, ¡°This is the reward for the last mission, I¡¯ve been keeping it for you.¡± Fang Hao took it without hesitation. Although the money meant nothing to him now, these gold coins were the agreed reward for their collaboration. ¡°Has it been unsafe in the city recently? I noticed you¡¯ve increased your manpower.¡± Fang Hao asked straightforwardly. Ah! Rebecca sighed softly, not intending to hide anything, ¡°The day before yesterday, I was attacked on my way to a banquet, I suspect the Faceless are responsible, so I¡¯ve increased my guard.¡± The relationship between Rebecca and Fang Hao was more like friendship, although they also collaborated. Though she held the power in Lyss City, she didn¡¯t have anyone she could truly trust within the city. No one could be sure where the Faceless had planted informers. But she was certain that she and Fang Hao were on the same side. After all, they had cooperated in killing quite a few Faceless. So, when her whereabouts were revealed and she was attacked, she was willing to tell Fang Hao about it. ¡°What? They¡¯ve become so bold as to dare to assassinate you?¡± Fang Hao was quite surprised. In the Hundred Cities Federation, each city governed itself. So, essentially, each City Lord was the supreme ruler in the city. The decision of the Faceless to assassinate the City Lord signified a declaration of war. It was no longer a matter of secretly kidnapping residents and gathering intelligence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a big deal, but you should also be careful in the city to avoid any danger.¡± Rebecca gave him a word of caution. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Let me know if anything comes up.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. The two didn¡¯t talk for too long. Rebecca had many documents that needed to be reviewed, and Fang Hao also had his own matters to attend to. ¡­ He left the City Lord Mansion while it was still early. He met up with Anjia outside the gate. He hailed a carriage and directly headed to the mission hall at the east gate of the city. The mission hall was a specific place where tasks were distributed to mercenary groups. Fang Hao had previously registered his mercenary group and had received several tasks. The carriage stopped on the street, and Fang Hao led Anjia straight into the hall. The hall was as bustling as ever, filled with personnel from various mercenary groups. It was already approaching dusk, and he wondered if there were still any good tasks left. Fang Hao was just trying his luck. He also took the chance to stroll around the night market in the area. Items like Multi-Headed Fire Python and Undead War Drum, as well as some rare resources, were all purchased from the night market. Occasionally, he would also come across some good finds. Upon reaching the counter, he asked for a list of reward tasks from the receptionist. He started to check each task one by one. After flipping through a few, a certain task caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. [Map: Demon Manor] [Type: Single-page Map] [Remark: A manor that has little contact with outsiders. A demon with huge wings on its back has been spotted, hunting any passerby.] (Description: A map drawn and task information posted by the Wave Mercenary Group.) This was the only map that looked quite decent. It mentioned a demon with large wings on its back sighted in a manor in the wilderness. Quite a few possibilities could be derived from the description of having huge wings on the back. Because of her Blood Clan lineage, Rolana could also spread out her large wings, just as his Demon Doll could. Asserting that it was a demon based on this line of reasoning was rather far-fetched. But among all the tasks, this one seemed decent, certainly better than tasks like accompanying a noble¡¯s son to practice swordsmanship or investigating a man¡¯s affair. ¡°I¡¯ll take this mission, representing the Windmill Mercenary Group.¡± Fang Hao told the staffer. ¡°All right, sir,¡± the staffer said, registering for Fang Hao. Apart from this map, Fang Hao didn¡¯t find any other maps interesting. Lately, even tasks to wipe out mountain bandits were decreasing. Mercenaries were also facing a shortage of tasks. After completing the registration, Fang Hao left the mission hall with Anjia. They visited the market outside the door to see if there was anything they needed. They stopped at a roadside stall, and Fang Hao squatted down, ¡°How much for these materials?¡± ¡°20 silver each,¡± said the stall owner, without lifting his head. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take all of them.¡± Fang Hao paid and collected all the materials. They continued to look around the stalls. However, in a casual glance over his shoulder, he noticed something off. He was being followed. As his strength grew, Fang Hao¡¯s senses also improved. Not far behind him, two men were squatting in front of a stall. He had seen one of them when he left the mansion, and the other had appeared across the street when he left the City Lord¡¯s Mansion. This was definitely not a coincidence. Even if it was, how come these two men were together again? Fang Hao¡¯s nerves instantly tensed. Rebecca¡¯s words of caution suddenly flashed in his mind. The Faceless might have already known that Fang Hao was helping Rebecca. It was highly likely that these people were arranged by the Faceless. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t think of a second enemy who would monitor him in Lyss City. With this thought in mind, Fang Hao casually draped his arm around Anjia, adopting an intimate pose like a couple. ¡°Don¡¯t turn around, someone¡¯s following us.¡± The two of them moved through the crowd without showing any unusual behavior. The two followers not far away put down the items on the stall, got up, and started to trail behind Fang Hao. ¡°It¡¯s those two men. Their strength isn¡¯t high. They should just be ordinary spies. It won¡¯t be difficult to deal with them.¡± Anjia also noticed the two men behind them. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should find a quiet place,¡± Fang Hao said. The two of them walked straight out of the market and turned into a dark alley. The alley was filled with rubbish and swarming with flies. Behind them, the two followers stood at the entrance of the alley, frowning as they watched the alley. Chapter 505 - Chapter 505: Chapter 424, Demon Manor_1 Chapter 505: Chapter 424, Demon Manor_1 The two men stood at the entrance of the alley, hesitating slightly. The person they were following had emerged from the bazaar and walked directly into the dim, deserted alley. They suspected that their target had realized he was being followed, and had deliberately chosen to head into the alley to set a trap. ¡°What do we do?¡± One of them asked. The other one frowned, stating, ¡°We¡¯ve got no choice. If we don¡¯t bring that man back, Boss Lei won¡¯t let us off the hook.¡± ¡°Should we call for backup?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time. As long as we don¡¯t kill that young man, we should manage.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do it.¡± Both men made sure their weapons were secure at their waist, then stepped into the shadowy alley. As dusk approached, the horizon began to be tinged with a red glow. The alley darkened further. A homeless man snored loudly beside a pile of garbage. The two men quickened their pace, fearing that their target might escape from the dark alley. The quiet alley echoed with the sound of their hurried footfalls. They rounded a corner. Their footsteps abruptly halted. Ahead, two figures blocked their path. The young man and woman they had been tailing. Surprisingly, they had waited for them to arrive. After confirming that there were no other accomplices, some tension eased from within the two men. This must be a rich, spoilt heir who doesn¡¯t know better. They drew the daggers from their waist, sneering at the young couple. Fang Hao calmly looked at the two men and asked, ¡°Who sent you guys? You¡¯ve been tailing us all day. Fess up, then you can call it a day.¡± ¡°Heh. What¡¯s the rush? You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± one of them replied. ¡°You¡¯re not here to kill me?¡± Fang Hao inferred from the man¡¯s words that assassination didn¡¯t seem to be their motive. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. You¡¯re worth more alive than dead.¡± Upon hearing their answer. Fang Hao confirmed that these two men were sent by someone else to capture him. It could be the Faceless Ones, a business competitor, or that the Dragon Scale Mercenaries discovered something they shouldn¡¯t have. Fang Hao quickly ran through the list of potential enemies in his mind. The abilities of these two men were not bad. They had reached the fifth-tier, which in the mercenary world, was considered quite skilled. But they were no match for Fang Hao and Anjia at this moment. As they saw the two men approaching with daggers in their hands. Fang Hao said to Anjia, ¡°Don¡¯t kill them. I want to find out who¡¯s been tailing us.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± As soon as Anjia responded affirmatively, her body shot forward explosively. Like a swift shadowy streak, she was upon them in the blink of an eye. Thud! Thud! Two beating sounds later, both men were flung backward. They crashed into the wall behind them, coughing up blood. Just moments ago they seemed formidable, but in the twinkling of an eye, they had lost their combat power, unable to get up. Fang Hao walked over and addressed the men, ¡°Tell me, who sent you? If you speak, you can live.¡± The men¡¯s faces were bone-white, and they couldn¡¯t stop coughing up blood. They never expected that the young businessman¡¯s beast-eared maid possessed such combat power. ¡°We admit defeat in this matter. Let us go, and you¡¯ll never see us again,¡± one of them said weakly, clutching his chest. This almost made Fang Hao laugh. He¡¯d come up with a good idea, had failed to assassinate someone, but now acted as if they were playing by some rules of the underworld. There¡¯s no such easy deal in the world. ¡°You¡¯ve already attacked me. Do you think I¡¯ll let you walk away just like that? One last time, who sent you?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°You¡¯d better not pry. This isn¡¯t something you should¡­¡± Fang Hao, exasperated, waved his hand. Anjia, wearing Tiger¡¯s Claw, punched the man twice on the nose. He choked on his words, and with a twitch of his eyes, he passed out. Fang Hao squatted down in front of the second man, picked up his fallen dagger, and held it against the man¡¯s throat, ¡°Who sent you?¡± The cold dagger made the man shiver. ¡°I-I-I¡¯ll be killed if I tell,¡± the man¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell, you¡¯ll die right now,¡± Fang Hao reminded him impassively. The man saw the miserable state of his companion next to him, gritted his teeth, and blurted, ¡°It was Lei Li. If we can capture you, our debt will be wiped clean, and we¡¯ll receive a hefty reward.¡± Lei Li¡­ So it was him. It seemed that while Fang Hao was gone, there were indeed changes within the Faceless Ones¡¯ circle. Not only had Lei Li targeted Rebecca, but he had also figured out that Fang Hao was the external support behind Rebecca. ¡°Are there others?¡± Fang Hao continued his interrogation. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I think there might be others. Boss Lei Li never lacks pawns or resources,¡± the man said. Lei Li was a big figure in the underworld. He controlled a large portion of various entertainment industries. He never ran short of minions and enforcers. Even people like the man in front of him, who were deeply in debt, were plentiful under his control. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m satisfied with your answer. I¡¯ll let you off this time. But if you dare show your face in front of me again, it won¡¯t end as simply as it did today,¡± Fang Hao said, tossing the dagger aside. ¡°Y-Yes, thank you, thank you sir!¡± The man immediately kneeled on the ground, knocking his forehead on the floor twice in thanks. As for the other obstinate man, Fang Hao ordered Anjia to break his limbs. The alley was instantly filled with agonized wailing. The sound woke the homeless man from his slumber and frightened away the rats foraging for food. Chapter 506 - Chapter 506: Chapter 424, Demon Manor_2 Chapter 506: Chapter 424, Demon Manor_2 ¡­ Fang Hao lost interest in continuing his leisurely stroll after he left the alleyway. After climbing into his carriage, he headed directly back to his place. After dinner. When he returned to his room, he found someone already seated inside, awaiting him. It was Little You, back to her original form. ¡°Sir!¡± Little You broke the silence. Fang Hao had her stationed with Lei Li, using her to gather information for him. It was for this very reason that, despite killing many faceless people for Rebecca, he had never touched Lei Li. This time around, Little You would hopefully have intelligence he was unaware of. ¡°Little You, what news do you have this time?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. Little You sat down and reported, ¡°Sir, two days ago a ¡®Leader¡¯ of the faceless arrived. They held an emergency meeting and hatched a plan to assassinate Rebecca.¡± Previously, Little You had mentioned that the faceless intended to bring someone special over. It seemed this special person was the very ¡®Leader¡¯ she spoke of. ¡°Who is this person? Is their identity ascertainable?¡± Fang Hao continued to press. Little You shook her head, ¡°This individual is stronger than me. My attempts to spy on them failed as they found me out each time. However, judging by their stature, it is highly probable that they are a woman.¡± Fang Hao had seen Little You¡¯s espionage and tracking skills firsthand. Her skill of blending into the shadows made her immensely difficult to detect. Given that this individual noticed Little You¡¯s surveillance attempts, they could be essentially considered a hero. This exposed Little You to considerable danger. ¡°I see, no need to go back to the faceless anymore, just to be safe.¡± Fang Hao advised after some thought. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Little You nodded in agreement. They continued their conversation for some time, sharing more details, and then Little You left Fang Hao¡¯s room. Left alone in his room, Fang Hao sat on the edge of his bed, considering his subsequent strategies. His identity had been revealed. However, he still couldn¡¯t confirm the identity of the faceless. While he remained exposed to the public eye, the faceless were lurking in the shadows, monitoring his every move. During these few days of his stay in Lyss City, he needed to be extra careful. The night deepened and he went to bed, sinking into a heavy sleep. ¡­ The following morning. After breakfast, Fang Hao led a group of people out of Lyss City. Although the faceless posed a threat, the protection of several heroes assured his safety. Especially after gaining Divinity, his personal strength had also been significantly improved. He felt bold enough to confront a few assassins. Today¡¯s mission was to explore the Demon Manor, the mercenary mission they had picked up yesterday from the mission hall. The group advanced towards their destination. ¡°Anjia, there were two women fighting over a man at the entrance of the tavern yesterday. A lot of people were gawking.¡± Millie, the rabbit woman, mounted on her horse, told Anjia sitting next to her. ¡°Really? Why didn¡¯t you let me know? What were they fighting over?¡± The dull journey made Anjia instantly interested. ¡°They were arguing over a man, it seems.¡± Millie replied. ¡°Was the fight intense?¡± ¡°It got intense. They were pulling hair and ripping clothes. People from the tavern came out to watch the spectacle. A big crowd had gathered.¡± Millie went on. There were not many things that could make drunkards put down their drinks to join the crowd. However, two women ripping each other¡¯s clothes off would captivate many men¡¯s interest. ¡°How did it end?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°Later, the patrol guards came and took the two women and the man away. I heard from others that they were fighting because the man apparently was trying to seduce another¡¯s husband. That¡¯s why they were fighting today.¡± Millie continued. ¡°Ah, is that so? Just for that? What¡¯s the big deal about it!¡± Anjia commented. ¡°Exactly! Besides, the guy looks ugly with yellow teeth. I have no idea what there is to fight over.¡± Millie added. In the Orc Tribe. The Clan Leader and the elders within the tribe all had numerous women. Like the previous Frostwind Tribe, every year they required women from the affiliated tribes as offerings. In the dictionary of the Orcs, the strong could rightfully obtain more resources and rights of reproduction. Everything bowed to the strong. Although Anjia and Millie resembled humans in appearance and were somewhat neglected within the orc society, their understanding of societal concepts remained orcish. They began discussing issues about men and women. On the other side. Fang Hao and Demitrija were also deeply engrossed in their whispered chat. They discussed the redeployment of generals in various places. With no wars existing in the territory now, the heroes in all places needed to be reconfigured. In order to effectively utilize the heroes. The team moved forward. Around 10 in the morning. Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps could be heard from the front. Demitrija immediately ordered a defensive formation. Several mercenaries dressed individuals appeared, their gear disarrayed. They fled in panic, frequently glancing back. Bang!! The soft twang of a crossbow string. An arrow pinned itself right next to the foot of one of the running mercenaries. ¡°Stop right there! Drop your weapons!¡± Millie called out. It was then that the mercenaries realized a well-equipped team blocked their path. About 20 crossbows aimed at them from a distance. The warning couldn¡¯t have been clearer. ¡°No, no¡­ We¡¯re from the Rattlesnake Mercenary Group. We mean no harm¡­ just passing through.¡± One of them stammered, slowly laying down their weapon on the ground. The dozen or so mercenaries behind him also dropped their weapons.

Soul of Flame ¨C Spencer (Orange Tier 5 Hero). Spencer used to be the Red Dragon. Now, he has been made into an undead hero by Nelson. However, the Spencer in front of him was noticeably different from the previous skeleton heroes. Generally, any hero that was transformed into an undead took the form of a skeleton. But the Spencer in front of him looked more like a dried corpse with muscles. There were hard curved dragon horns on his head. His body was covered with grey-white muscles. He was hairless with a strong physique. As he bowed naked, he had no reproductive organs. He looked more like a mummy that had been unwrapped. Fang Hao was seeing such an undead, different from skeletons and rotten corpses, for the first time. ¡°Ahem, ahem! I welcome your addition, Spencer,¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. Not only was he different from ordinary skeleton heroes, but he also inherited his former name. He still bore a prefix of hero and his own name. ¡°Thank you, my lord,¡± Spencer straightened up and moved aside. ¡°Alright, Spencer, get ready. Check if there is any equipment in the warehouse that you can use. Get ready to leave with me later.¡± ¡°As you command, my lord,¡± Spencer pulled off a salute to Nelson, then turned around and left the Viscera Museum. Once Spencer had left, Fang Hao, filled with curiosity, asked, ¡°Is he a new type of undead?¡± He wasn¡¯t sure how to describe it. He could only utter the word ¡®new type.¡¯ Despite the unusual word choice, Nelson understood what Fang Hao meant. He replied, ¡°The physical bodies of the Dragon Clan are strong and robust. Preserving it can make Spencer¡¯s strength closer to what it was when he was alive.¡± When living creatures become undead, although their strength is preserved, their bodies change. Also, with each creation of a skeleton hero, Nelson¡¯s skill had improved significantly. Further, after sealing the viscera of the Giant Spirit God last time and receiving the Dark Gold viscera jar. Nelson had advanced from Orange Tier 7 to Orange Tier 8. At the same time, he had learned how to create living dead. And this time, he made a living dead out of the Dragon Clan. ¡°So, undead with flesh is stronger than skeletons,¡± Fang Hao pondered. ¡°Not necessarily, it¡¯s the case with the Dragon Clan, but the bodies of ordinary races are too weak and not suited for this method,¡± Nelson replied. ¡°Oh.¡± That seemed to make sense. Fang Hao casually opened the Book of Lords, checking Spencer¡¯s properties. Soul of Flame ¨C Spencer (Orange Tier 5 Hero) Faction: Undead (Living Dead) Chapter 641 - Chapter 641: Chapter 475, Demon Dragon Potion_1 Chapter 641: Chapter 475, Demon Dragon Potion_1 Soul of Flame ¨C Spencer (Orange Tier 5 Hero) Faction: Undead (Living Dead) Template: Gold Racial Traits: Living Dead, Viscera Replacement, Light Weakness, Dragon Clan Flesh, Flight, Dragon Clan Spellcasting, Dual Forms. Legion Talent: Dragon Clan Hero, Air Commander, Fire Aura. Skills: Dragon¡¯s Might, Flame Breath, Flame Magic Usage, Fire Storm. Innate Skills: Mastery of Field Combat, Mastery of Field Magic, Mastery of Field Flight. Living Dead: A corpse with flesh and viscera, more like living creatures, strength also closer to their former life. Viscera Replacement: Replacing corresponding viscera as per its needs, to achieve corresponding effects. Dragon Clan Flesh: Possessing the strong physique of the Dragon Clan, ranged resistance +25%, elemental resistance +50%. Flight: This unit is skillful at flying. Dragon Clan Spellcasting: This unit is a natural user of fire elemental magic, capable of casting Fire Elemental Magic such as ¡°Fireball¡± and ¡°Red Flame Circle¡± without learning and mastering, possessing a strong magic learning ability. Dual Forms: This unit can freely switch between ¡®human form¡¯ and ¡®dragon form¡¯. Dragon Clan Hero: This unit leads the dragon clan troops, all attributes +50%, magic resistance +15%. Air Commander: This unit commands flying units, flight speed +75%, ranged evasion +50%. Fire Aura: This unit commands the army, flame resistance 35%. Dragon¡¯s Might (Dragon Form) (Passive): Nearby living creatures have a 45% chance to be incapacitated due to tension, and a 90% chance to cause morale to drop by 15%. Flame Breath (Dragon Form) (Active): Furious flames form dragon breath, burning everything covered. Flame Magic (Human Form) (Passive): Mastery in most flame magic. Fire Storm (Human Form) (Active): Unstable flame magic, forming a fierce firestorm, devouring everything around it. (Unstable magic, prone to disintegrate and lose control.) (Description: The product of the Immortal Corpse Witch, not recognized by the God of Undead, this hero cannot be promoted or advanced.) Spencer¡¯s attributes are even stronger than imagined. People always say that the Dragon Clan is favored by all gods. Even if it is an orange template, its attributes and abilities are close to Rolana of the dark gold level. Strong physique, mastery of fire magic, the legendary melee mage, huh. No wonder, no race is willing to provoke the Dragon Clan. ¡°My Lord, we have also collected dragon blood, dragon scales, and many other valuable materials from Spencer. I suggest we hire someone to make the Demon Dragon Potion to enhance your physical strength,¡± Nelson suggested softly. ¡°Demon Dragon Potion?¡± Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords and looked back at him. The Demon Dragon, just by the name, you can tell the potion is special. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a potion made with dragon blood and other special materials. It can elevate your physique to a new level. It may not reach the effect of the Dragon Clan, but it will be very robust.¡± Although the territory is developing quickly, the materials collected from Dragon Clan bodies have not been made into finished products due to a lack of skilled personnel. Therefore, Nelson suggested turning them into Demon Dragon Potion to enhance Fang Hao¡¯s personal strength. Fang Ho was very interested after hearing this. Increasing his own self-preservative ability is also what he needs to consider at the moment. Otherwise, no matter how many soldiers and heroes he has, if he is assassinated, everything will be in vain. And he does not want to be turned into an undead by Nelson. Even if he could be turned into a living corpse, judging by Spencer¡¯s body structure. It still lacks important organs. ¡°Do you know how to make a Demon Dragon Potion?¡± Nelson shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t excel in that, but we can invite through the Trade Alliance an alchemist who is proficient in alchemy to make it. Of course, the price will certainly not be low.¡± ¡°Money is not a problem.¡± Fang Hao considered briefly, ¡°I will have to leave later, so I will have to trouble you more about this matter, let Doujin help you.¡± Doujin is a skeleton merchant responsible for handling business with the Alliance. ¡°I can.¡± Nelson gave a direct assent without any expression. Fang Hao and Nelson chatted casually. It was not long before Spencer returned. Unlike other skeleton heroes, Spencer did not immediately put on the cold armor but wore a dark robe inside the bright armor. A saber was hanging around his waist. Seeing Spencer coming back, Fang Hao had no intention of lingering. ¡°Scholar Nelson, I¡¯ll be taking them away first. I¡¯ll have to rely on you here.¡± Fang Hao stood up. ¡°Huh, take care, my lord.¡± Nelson nodded. ¡­ After they left the Viscera Museum, Fang Hao led Spencer to the gathering point. Arriving at the square, it was already full of assembled skeleton soldiers. Three bone dragons, six skeleton mantismen. The number is not large, but they are all unrecruitable in the barracks. At this moment, in the previously dim lord¡¯s mansion, the lights were brightly lit. Anjia was sitting at the entrance eating something. Eira, leading a few maids, stood at the gate, gazing out. When she saw Fang Hao coming, Eira¡¯s expression instantly brightened, and she ran over in a hurry, throwing herself directly into Fang Hao¡¯s arms. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back!¡± Eira said in her gentle voice. Fang Hao hugged Eira¡¯s soft body, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Master, have you missed Eira?¡± Eira lifted her head slightly from Fang Hao¡¯s chest, her eyes full of affection and longing. Chapter 642 - Chapter 642: Chapter 475, Demon Dragon Potion_2 Chapter 642: Chapter 475, Demon Dragon Potion_2 Ah, this¡­ Fang Hao glanced at the surrounding maids. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said softly, ¡°I have considered, with so many people around, I am not afraid of being laughed at.¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± Eira gave a slight smile and released her hold on his hand. She whispered a few words to Eira. Eira, finally, seemed happy. She, along with a few other maids, returned to the City Lord¡¯s mansion to rest. The mansion was getting bigger and bigger. It was a bit frightening for Eira to live there alone, and so, some other maids had also moved in. On ordinary days, they were primarily responsible for the sanitation of the mansion. ¡­ Eira left. Fang Hao did not continue to delay and activated the demon teleportation. A light curtain appeared, carrying a Bone Dragon loaded with Skeleton Mantises, it vanished from the spot. When it reappeared, it had returned to Ma Hong¡¯s territory. At this time, Ma Hong, swallowing hard, looked up at the tall Bone Dragon, and then at the horned orange hero who had just arrived. His surprise at Fang Hao had turned into fear and disbelief. How could this be possible¡­ How many more tricks did Fang Hao have up his sleeve? Every time he thought that Fang Hao had played his biggest card to become the number one person in the channel¡­ Fang Hao would always reveal another trump card, each one stronger than the last. Now he had returned, bringing another orange hero and three fearsome Undead Bone Dragons. This was simply madness. Soon, Dimitrija and Aseti approached one after another. ¡°My lord, we are ready and can set off at any time,¡± Aseti said. Fang Hao nodded and spoke to the still dazed Ma Hong, ¡°Ma Hong, lead us to the annexed territory under your control.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Apart from the Book of Lords devouring Ma Hong¡¯s territory, he also had an affiliated city, but it was always deserted. The city gate opened, and in the cover of night, Fang Hao and his party left with Ma Hong. Aseti led the Lionheart Knights and Spencer led the Undead, following closely. The army hurriedly moved through the forest, greatly increasing their speed. After nearly an hour¡¯s journey¡­ They finally saw the affiliated city that Ma Hong had mentioned. The walls of the territory were still made of raw logs, somewhat covered with vines. The gate was shabby, showing signs of an attack or failed challenge. ¡°Boss, this is the empty territory I spoke of,¡± Ma Hong explained. By now, Ma Hong didn¡¯t have many soldiers left. It was difficult for him to develop and manage two cities simultaneously. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go inside.¡± The group entered the city. Inside the city, it was empty. There were a few abandoned houses on either side and a warehouse. ¡°Previously, I arranged for my troops to log and gather resources here, but they were often harassed by beasts. And when I heard about the life-taking bandits living in the mountains, I called back all of my troops. That¡¯s why it¡¯s been empty all this time,¡± Ma Hong continued to explain. As everyone was talking and walking, they suddenly heard a strange noise coming from one of the dilapidated houses. Everyone immediately became alert. Then, they saw a few wild deer bolting out of the house and running wildly about the city. Fang Hao ordered the army to make way, allowing the deer to escape the city. The presence of animals living here signified that there wasn¡¯t any immediate danger. They went straight to the single-story City Lord¡¯s mansion. It was a level 3 City Lord¡¯s mansion, very simple, with no decent furniture inside. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate. He directly opened the Book of Lords and began the transformation to an Undead Camp. [Do you want to switch the camp of this city?] Yes! [Please choose the camp for the city to switch to: [Undead Camp] [Orc Camp] [Troll Camp].] The city was already a human camp. Hence, humans were not shown as an option for conversion. Undead Camp. A beam of light enshrouded the entire city. [Transformation complete!] [Next transformation countdown: 29 days 59 hours¡­] The light dissipated. This territory had been transformed into the [Undead Camp]. After the success, Fang Hao left the city again. He began to construct military buildings. [Level 1 Burial Grounds: Required resources: 300 wood, 500 stone, 60 hemp ropes.] The first level of the barracks blueprints was not very demanding. Fang Hao chose to construct. Within a flash of light, the construction of the barracks was completed. To upgrade the barracks, Fang Hao would need to upgrade the City Lord¡¯s mansion first. Since it was only for temporary use, and it was uncertain whether this place would be useful after cleaning the bandit¡¯s hideout¡­ He decided to upgrade the City Lord¡¯s mansion to level 5, and with it, the barracks were also upgraded to level 5. The level 5 Burial Grounds had unlocked the skeleton Spearman. Moreover, the rank of the skeleton troops had increased to level 2. If continued to be upgraded, both the City Lord¡¯s mansion and the Burial Grounds would need a large number of rare materials. It seemed quite wasteful. After considering all these, Fang Hao directly recruited troops. [Hundredfold Bonus Triggered, recruiting Skeleton Warriors 50500.] [Hundredfold Bonus Triggered, recruiting Skeleton Spearmen 50500.] Whoosh!! A sound of bone friction echoed. The city, which was already compact, was now crammed with skeleton troops on the rooftops and city walls. ¡°Spencer, you lead these skeletons out to wait while I make their equipment,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Spencer replied. He immediately gave orders and led all the skeletons out of the city. When the skeletons had left¡­ Fang Hao continued to create equipment on the vacant land. Armor, black iron knight swords, military round shields, and military spears. A large number of these appeared in front of him. The Lionheart Knights, in batches, led the skeleton soldiers to put on their gear. While this was happening¡­ Fang Hao was briefing Spencer. ¡°Spencer, this is the map of the bandit¡¯s hiding place. You set off tonight to round up and attack the bandits,¡± Fang Hao instructed, handing the marked map, provided by the captive bandits, to Spencer. Chapter 643 - Chapter 643: Chapter 475, Demon Dragon Potion_3 Chapter 643: Chapter 475, Demon Dragon Potion_3 ¡°Understood, sir. Do we accept surrender in this battle?¡± Spencer asked again. Fang Hao pondered a bit, the northern mines indeed lacked labor power. They might indeed be useful. ¡°Depends on the situation. If it¡¯s controllable, accept the surrender. If it isn¡¯t, handle it as you see fit. Oh, and try not to harm the common villagers who have been plundered by these bandits.¡± ¡°Understood, sir. I guarantee to complete the task.¡± Spencer immediately replied. ¡°All right, I leave the rest to you.¡± In no time, all the skeleton soldiers were fully armed. After exchanging a few words with Fang Hao, Spencer led the ten thousand skeleton army towards the bandit camp. In the mountains, Bone Dragons circled in the sky, and the skeleton army roamed between the trees. When everything was done. Fang Hao ordered to block the city gates. The party only then returned to Ma Hong¡¯s city. ¡­ The next day dawned. As the weak morning light shone into the room through the window, Fang Hao had already awakened from his sleep. He patted his thigh on his waist and whispered, ¡°Anjia, wake up.¡± Anjia muttered something that seemed like a curse under her breath. Then she rolled over to the other side and continued sleeping. Fang Hao sat up from the bed, stretched lazily, and then got out of bed. He said, ¡°Sleep for a while longer, I¡¯ll wake you up later.¡± Anjia waved her hand, indicating him to leave first. After a brief wash, Fang Hao left the room. Outside the door, he saw Ma Hong preparing breakfast for the militia. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re awake. Breakfast will be ready soon, it won¡¯t delay our actions for today.¡± Ma Hong said enthusiastically. After the Book of Lords was swallowed by Fang Hao, Ma Hong¡¯s Book of City Lord automatically joined the domain channel. And in the channel, there were quite a few night owls. Ma Hong chatted with them and got to know some things about the domain. At the same time, he had thought through many things overnight. He had considered joining Li Zhenhu¡¯s alliance before. Now joining Fang Hao¡¯s, it seemed he didn¡¯t lose out. Besides, Fang Hao had a good character and his strength was beyond his imagination. He actually got a great deal. After he thought it through, his attitude had changed drastically. No longer aimlessly executing Fang Hao¡¯s orders, but instead, he started to think about what he could do for the next actions. He had been thinking about this issue all night long, not sleeping. When the sky began to lighten, he had already left his dwelling and was directing his subordinates to prepare breakfast. ¡°You woke up so early.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Hehe, I had some insomnia last night, so I got up early today.¡± Ma Hong scratched his head and said. ¡°Hmm, I want to share some blueprints of human buildings with you. First, build the barracks. We¡¯ll need it later.¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and shared the blueprints of [Heavy Sword Infantry Training Camp], [Lionheart Knight Training Camp], [Storm Crossbowman Training Camp], [Distributed Underground Pipeline], [Spiritual Field], [Beast Cage], and others with Ma Hong. Ma Hong stayed where he was, looking at the prompts unlocking new blueprints. His eyes stared blankly, his mouth wide open. This impact was not less than seeing the Bone Dragon last night. Damn it! Indeed, riding someone¡¯s coattails is the fastest way to develop. All the hard work he had done his whole life, all the crying and shouting, didn¡¯t amount to the number and quality of blueprints he got today. When the prompts for unlocking blueprints stopped, Ma Hong came back to his senses. ¡°Boss, wait for me, I¡¯ll start building now.¡± After saying that, he bolted out. He headed towards the barracks area to build the newly unlocked barracks blueprints. One after another, special barracks sprung up, and Ma Hong¡¯s heart was filled with joy. He now had special troops too, and they were all high-level troop types. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be the best; I just need to be better than most people.¡± Looking at the rising light from the buildings, Ma Hong clenched his fists and said. Indeed, with these few buildings, he wouldn¡¯t be the top guy, but he had definitely surpassed most people. Just by following Fang Hao around, he could live decently off the leftovers. The construction of high-level buildings took a long time. Ma Hong didn¡¯t go to eat but watched blankly as the construction progressed bit by bit. Waiting for it to complete. ¡­ Breakfast was simple. Porridge and some smoked meat. Everyone gathered on the open space in front of the lord¡¯s mansion, wolfing down their food. Fang Hao had just announced that they were all about to set off to attack the Life-Taker¡¯s stronghold. No one said much. They just ate quietly, replenishing their energy. ¡°Boss, the barracks are built.¡± Ma Hong came back. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Give me all your Soul Crystals, I¡¯ll recruit some soldiers.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ma Hong immediately brought out his Soul Crystals. He had few Soul Crystals, so Fang Hao also asked for some from Zhang Bin, Fu Lei, and others. Feeling that the quantity was about right, he headed towards the barracks. Chapter 644 - Chapter 644: Chapter 476, Life-taker Mountain Stronghold_1 Chapter 644: Chapter 476, Life-taker Mountain Stronghold_1 Ma Hong was taking the lead, and Fang Hao was following closely behind with several heroes. The group quickly arrived at the barracks where Fang Hao began recruitment. [Hundred-fold enhancement triggered, recruiting 505 heavy sword infantry.] [Hundred-fold enhancement triggered, recruiting 505 Lionheart Knights.] There were flashes of light everywhere. Over a thousand soldiers appeared on one side of the barracks. Fang Hao didn¡¯t put much thought into recruiting these soldiers. It was meant to avoid any further danger, and to compensate for the losses suffered by the Lyss City forces. After all, many people had been injured. They were no longer suitable to journey along with the army. The soldiers lined up according to their units. Fang Hao continued providing the newly recruited soldiers with their corresponding equipment. He let the heroes each take command and handle equipment changes. Once everything was prepared. The mercenaries were also ready. The total number was more than seventeen hundred. ¡°Ma Hong, you are to stay here, and the injured will stay with you. I will keep you informed if anything happens.¡± Fang Hao patted Ma Hong¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What? I¡¯m not going with you? I also have many men.¡± By now, Ma Hong had also counted his men. He had even made his pre-war speech to his civilian soldiers. Everyone was ready for battle, but now he was tasked with staying home. ¡°We still need you to hold down the fort here, take good care of this place.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Well, alright.¡± Ma Hong reluctantly responded. He was hoping to join in fighting the bandits too. However, he was assigned guard duty at home. But then again, this was also good, there was no danger. Fang Hao looked back at the assembled troops once again. He waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re exterminating the bandits.¡± The soldiers sprang into action. An impressive force left the city, heading south. ¡­ Two days later, at noon. The scorching mid-day autumn sun was like a steamer, with not a breeze in sight. A large black dog lay on the ground panting heavily; a rooster in a cage also dropped its head, appearing sick and on the verge of death. This made the already worried bandits even more irritable. In a shaded area under a wall, a few bandits leaned against the wall, whispering to each other. ¡°Damn, why is it so hot at noon, even hotter than summer.¡± ¡°In half a month, it¡¯s going to be cool, and you¡¯ll be missing this warmth.¡± A young bandit lowered his voice and asked, ¡°Is the lady really as powerful as they say, capable of calling in an army to fight us? Does a woman have so much power?¡± The mention of this caused the group to move closer together instinctively. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard the name Rebecca before?¡± one of them asked. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that she¡¯s attractive and is the wife of Lyss City¡¯s city lord, but that¡¯s all I know.¡± the young bandit continued. ¡°Think about it, a woman who can firmly hold onto a city. Every person who maintains power does so by stepping over corpses. Do you think a woman like that, who survived death, will come back to seek revenge on us?¡± another bandit explained. ¡°Really? Can she be that powerful?¡± the young bandit appeared doubtful. ¡°Humph! Judge for yourself, the three bosses. Since the day before yesterday, have you seen them fooling around with women or drinking? They are probably worried too.¡± said the seasoned bandit. ¡°So, isn¡¯t the camp in danger?¡± the young bandit asked anxiously. The seasoned bandit calmly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty. Lyss is a big city, even raising an army isn¡¯t an easy task. Now that all cities are preparing for winter, I guess even if there¡¯s going to be a war, it won¡¯t be until spring next year.¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re very knowledgeable.¡± the young bandit said admiringly. Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, he already surpassed most of the bandits by speaking such words. At that moment, a door nearby opened. A man, naked and scarred all over, walked out. Upon seeing the naked man, several men quickly got up, smiling obsequiously, ¡°Third boss, it¡¯s hot. Let me shade you.¡± The seasoned bandit was ready to shade him from the sun. Li Zhenhu, with a stern look on his face, yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t fuss around! All of you, carry these boxes onto the carriage.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± The bandits sprang into action, quickly. The seasoned bandit and the young one entered the house together, joined forces to lift a huge wooden box, and walked away. As they were moving, the sound of ¡®clanging¡¯ gold coins could be heard from inside the box. At this, the expression of the seasoned bandit changed and he quickly scanned the surroundings. Noticing no one was paying attention, he rapidly lifted a small crack in the wooden lid of the box. Golden coins shone from inside the box. The young man on the other side also saw the gold coins and a surprised look flashed across his face. After a single glance, the box was immediately closed again. The box was carried onto the carriage. The seasoned bandit quickly ordered, ¡°You guys go and find some rope to secure the boxes, go to the cellar to get two jars of fruit wine, hurry up. The third boss always takes care of you guys.¡± Li Zhenhu, who was absent-minded, thought of the seasoned bandit as very considerate. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. When we return tonight, I¡¯ll tell the big boss to assign you a better task.¡± Li Zhenhu patted the bandit¡¯s shoulder. With a sycophantic smile, the seasoned bandit replied, ¡°Whatever you say, boss. To be able to follow you definitely means a good deal.¡± ¡°Haha, you know how to speak.¡± The seasoned bandit continued, ¡°Third boss, what big business are you going to do this time.¡± Chapter 645 - Chapter 645: Chapter 476, Life-takers Stronghold_2 Chapter 645: Chapter 476, Life-taker¡¯s Stronghold_2 Li Zhenhu¡¯s face was instantly covered with a look of worry. The old bandit thought he had misspoken and was about to apologize. But then Li Zhenhu said, ¡°Go buy more lives, damn it, all this time has been wasted!¡± At this moment, the boxes on the horse carriage had been securely tied. Li Zhenhu, leading his soldiers, escorted the horse carriage out of the bandit¡¯s den. They headed towards the south. The old bandit stood in place, watching as Li Zhenhu and his men vanished into the distance. After a long pause, he muttered to himself, ¡°Maybe we won¡¯t be able to live past the next spring.¡± ¡­ Night fell. Spencer stood on the back of the dragon, looking down at the brightly lit bandit¡¯s hideout. In the daytime, the hideout in the forest was not easy to find. But at night, the hideout stood out like a beacon. ¡°Go, let¡¯s go back!¡± The Bone Dragon turned around to fly back. Upon landing, it settled directly in the forest. A dense mob of skeletons, like statues, stood straight up in the gaps of the dense forest. ¡°Advance,¡± ordered Spencer. Bang, bang, bang!! The skeleton soldiers began to move. The ground started shaking as the wave of white bones advanced forward. ¡­ Inside the bandit¡¯s hideout. The Tyrant sat in his chair, his face still somewhat gloomy. In a cold voice, he said, ¡°Why am I feeling so uneasy? It can¡¯t be because Lyss City is making any moves.¡± ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re just worrying too much. You think it¡¯s like a simple fight between several people? Even if Rebecca calls together an army, it won¡¯t be this fast. You¡¯re just too anxious. There are a few good-looking girls in the dungeon, do you want me to call them over so you can relax a bit?¡± Greedy Wolf said, trying to console him. ¡°Ah! Why did we suffer such a setback this year! The third brother took the money to Jinmastu this time, I wonder if he can buy us a way out.¡± The Tyrant was still full of worries. Greedy Wolf continued to comfort him, ¡°He definitely can. We just need to have those nobles delay Rebecca, we only need to worry about Fang Hao, the transmigrator mentioned by the third brother, and make sure he doesn¡¯t outsmart us.¡± ¡°Humph! A transmigrator, no matter how strong he is, even if he encountered some adventures, they won¡¯t be able to participate in battles with thousands of people. What we should worry about is Rebecca¡¯s army,¡± the Tyrant continued. ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re right¡­¡± Greedy Wolf was cut off as he suddenly looked down at his cup of wine. He saw ripples spreading rhythmically across the surface of the wine. This sudden occurrence made both men uneasy. Just as they were about to inquire further, they heard the ringing of a loud bell from outside. At the same time, they heard footsteps outside the door. A man outside the door said, ¡°Bosses, all four perimeter bases have sounded the bell.¡± Hearing this news, the Tyrant and Greedy Wolf instantly stood up. That was too fast. How could it be so fast? It was just a few days ago that they attacked Rebecca¡¯s team. How could an army be dispatched from Lyss City in such a short time? But reality was unfolding before them, leaving no time for these speculations. As the two of them were donning their armor and grabbing their weapons, they walked briskly out the door. The Tyrant coldly ordered, ¡°Gather our forces immediately and prepare to reinforce the other hideouts.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Just as the bandit was about to leave, the bell at the main base immediately rang. Someone was shouting, ¡°Watch out for the sky, there¡¯s a dragon approaching.¡± A dragon? What dragon? How could such a creature from the tales appear here? Everyone looked up at the sky together, only to see several enormous creatures dive down in the night sky. The target was them. In an instant, everyone was stunned. The gathered bandits were in complete disorder. No matter how the Tyrant and Greedy Wolf shouted, the bandits were scampering around in all directions. They had no intention of resisting at all. ¡­ In the sky. Spencer, in his dragon form, led the three Bone Dragons. Breaking through the clouds, they dove straight down towards the bandit¡¯s hideout. The hideout was in complete chaos, with panicking bandits running around like headless flies. Spencer glanced back at the Bone Dragons behind him. He lowered his altitude and when he was at a certain height from the ground, Roar! The huge dragon¡¯s mouth opened, and a blazing Dragon Breath spewed forth. It swept through below. There was no pain nor screams to be heard. Everything engulfed by the flames turned to ashes in an instant¡ªthe horse carriages, the bandits, everything was reduced to ashes within the flames. Following Spencer¡¯s lead, the three Bone Dragons did the same. Three breaths of death swept across the fleeing crowd. In the midst of wretched screams, flesh and skin started to separate, eventually turning into several piles of white bones scattered on the ground. Whoosh!! Immediately after, six skeletons fell from the sky, each holding a Valkyrie Longsword. The Skeleton Mantismen, bearing the Valkyrie Longsword, landed smoothly on the ground. In their hollow eye sockets, a hint of Soul Fire flickered. After swiftly scanning the surroundings, Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! They turned into streaks of light and charged towards all the weapon-wielding enemies. The three Bone Dragons circled overhead, intermittently shooting black columns of light where crowds were gathered. Spencer¡¯s massive dragon body hovered slight above the ground. After transforming back into a humanoid form, he landed gracefully. Naked, with only a longsword in his hand. He quickly scanned the wailing bandit¡¯s hideout, and finally set his sights on the stone tower in the center. At the same time, startled eyes that were peeking out of the stone tower quickly retracted. Spencer marched directly towards the stone tower. Bang, bang!! Just as he approached the stone tower, a couple of crossbow bolts were shot out from the windows. They were heading directly towards Spencer¡¯s chest. Chapter 646 - Chapter 646: Chapter 476, Life-takers Bandit Lair_3 Chapter 646: Chapter 476, Life-taker¡¯s Bandit Lair_3 With a sweep of his longsword, Spencer deflected the crossbow bolts and with his left hand, he conjured magic in mid-air. Fireballs shot out like a string of pearls, heading towards every window. Bang! Bang! Bang!! The fireballs exploded, sparks flying off in all directions. It immediately went quiet in the stone house. No more crossbow bolts were shot from the windows, nor did anyone dare to show themselves. Cre-eak¨C! Spencer pushed open the door and walked in with big strides. The decoration inside the stone tower was tolerable, just that some black scorch marks were apparent near the windows. At the staircase location of the stone tower. Seven bandits were nervously gripping their weapons, their eyes fixated on Spencer. ¡°What the hell are you? How dare you step foot on human territory, aren¡¯t you afraid of starting a race war?¡± roared the tyrant hiding behind his subordinates. A creature that looked somewhat human, but not quite. It made their hearts tremble. Spencer paused before asking curiously, ¡°Aren¡¯t you bandits? Don¡¯t you cause wars?¡± The tyrant did not respond. Greedy Wolf, however, took the initiative and spoke up: ¡°Sir, what would it take for you to spare us? Just name your terms, we will comply.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, what do you want to spare us?¡± echoed the tyrant. Spencer looked at them and the five trembling bandits before them. His tone was still calm, ¡°Those who drop their weapons and surrender shall be spared.¡± ¡°Damn it, you¡¯re toying with us. Do you really think we¡¯re scared of you? Boys, let¡¯s kill him!¡± the tyrant roared. The five men in front of him were his trusted followers. They were one of the earliest members of the bandits, possessing a fondness for murder. Hearing their boss¡¯ command, and despite their fear, they gritted their teeth, raised their weapons, and attacked the odd creature before them. Bang!! A blast of fire exploded amidst the bandits. The five followers¡¯ bodies flew backward instantly, their whole bodies charred black. When they landed, their bodies broke apart like charred wood. Clang! Clang! With a crisp sound, the attacking tyrant and Greedy Wolf abruptly halted their advances. Almost in unison, they dropped their weapons and dropped to their knees. ¡°We are unarmed, we surrender¡­¡± Having been leaders for so many years, they had some strategic sense. The man before them, who looked like a peeled corpse, was clearly at the level of a high-ranking hero. At this point, continuing to hold their weapons was a death wish. Seeing their surrender, Spencer dissipated the amassed energy. ¡°Then follow me out,¡± Spencer said softly. The two dared not disobey and obediently followed Spencer out. Outside, the whole camp was in chaos. Yelling, crying, pleas for mercy, echoed in every corner. The figure of the Skeleton Mantis didn¡¯t stop moving, dealing with the bandits who were still trying to fight back. As the night wore on. The sounds of fighting gradually faded, and the battle was nearing its end. ¡­ Boom! Boom! Boom!! The four small strongholds guarding the main one continued to ring their bells without pause. Calling for support from the other strongholds. But when the bandits heard the rest of the strongholds also ringing their alarm bells, they realized that all the strongholds were under attack simultaneously. ¡°Captain, how¡­ how are we supposed to fight this? There¡¯re too many of them,¡± stammered a bandit on the city wall. Endless undead burst out from between the trees, still charging towards the stronghold with their weapons. The captain¡¯s trembling legs were not much better than his own. After hearing their pleas, the captain finally came back to his senses. He shouted, ¡°Shoot, shoot arrows, why are you asking me?¡± The bandits began to fire arrows. But the damage they inflicted on the undead was minimal. When the swarms of skeletons had reached the city wall. The three-meter-high stronghold was instantly covered by the undead. The city gate was wide open, and even more skeletons rushed in, killing the despairing bandits. Chapter 647 - Chapter 647: Chapter 477, So insincere (ask for recommendation...)_1 Chapter 647: Chapter 477, So insincere (ask for recommendation¡­)_1 Elsewhere. In a valley southeast of the Life-taker¡¯s bandit camp. A middle-aged man dressed in leather armor, a longbow slung over his shoulder and a dagger tucked at his waist, swiftly enters the dark valley. After passing the hidden sentry, he stands before a cave and quietly calls out, ¡°My lord!¡±. ¡°What new information do you have?¡± A female voice echoes from within the cave. The tone is crisp, indicating that the woman is evidently young. ¡°My lord, as night fell, those guys¡¯ camp was attacked by the undead. It¡¯s total chaos there now,¡± the middle-aged man reports quietly. ¡°The undead? Where did so many of them come from in this area?¡± The woman¡¯s voice is full of astonishment. She doesn¡¯t doubt her subordinate. She just finds it unusual since her territory is right here and she has never heard or seen anything about the presence of the undead. The word ¡®undead¡¯ is something she came across in a conversation with others. ¡°My lord, I saw it with my own eyes, those skeletons randomly crawled out and initiated the attack on the camp as if they¡¯ve gone mad. I suspect those guys must have done something heinous to incite the wrath of the undead,¡± the middle-aged man continues to answer. ¡°Oh! Is the camp destroyed? Is Li Zhenhu dead?¡± The woman¡¯s ability to process information is really high. Her tone suddenly turns somewhat gleeful. ¡°There are a lot of undead, they are likely to engage in a fatal stalemate. I didn¡¯t get a glimpse of Li Zhenhu, so I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s dead or not,¡± the man answers every question posed by the woman. Thump thump thump!! Footsteps can be heard. A petite figure emerges from the depths of the dark cave. Standing before the cave, she contemplates for a moment before saying, ¡°Notify our brothers, tomorrow morning we will attack the Life-taker¡¯s bandit camp and slaughter those damned beasts.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The middle-aged man responds in a low voice, heading towards the side of the valley. The woman steps out of the cave, puts her fingers to her mouth and whistles. Suddenly, there are sounds of animal roars echoing throughout the surrounding forest. As if responding to the woman. In the moonlight, her delicate facial features are highlighted. She grits her teeth and says, ¡°Li Zhenhu, this time I¡¯ll skin you alive!¡± ¡­ The next day at dawn. It¡¯s dawn. What used to be a bustling Life-taker¡¯s bandit camp now lies deathly still. In front of the lord¡¯s residence, hundreds of surrendered bandits kneel on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. Circle after circle of undead surround them, standing like statues, staring at the people in the middle. And these bandits, who used to be murderous and fearsome, now resemble docile rabbits. They kneel there quietly, not daring to make any moves all night. Out of the thousands in the camp, only these few are left. They don¡¯t know how long they have to kneel, yet they can only continue to do so. ¡­ Noon. A group of people approaches the bandit camp from the main road to the north. Expecting a tough battle, the mercenaries had handed their last wills, addressed to the injured companions left behind in the city, before leaving. But as they approach the camp, everything is silent. The city walls are filled with arrows and traces of blood flowing downwards are still fresh. One can imagine that a fierce battle must have taken place here just a few hours ago. Yet, despite the intense fighting, not a single corpse can be seen inside or outside the city walls. It¡¯s as if this place is a Ghost City. A city that is bleeding. There is a strange atmosphere all around. Fang Hao and his men seem alright, knowing it¡¯s because Spencer cleaned up the battlefield according to his requirements after occupying it. However, the guards and mercenaries of Lyss City look somewhat uneasy. Each one of them has an unusually solemn expression, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. ¡°Sir, madam, there might be danger here, we should send someone to do a reconnaissance first,¡± a mercenary brigade leader suggests as he quickly approaches. Another brigade leader agrees, ¡°Yes, since we¡¯re here, we should be careful.¡± Several brigade leaders propose a reconnaissance. Rashly barging in could incite unknown dangers. Fang Hao thinks for a bit, deciding that a few more minutes doesn¡¯t matter. He quietly orders, ¡°Scouts, go and check out the situation inside the bandit camp.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The group is already at the city, right in front of a small-scale camp. As the scouts reach the city following their orders, they vigilantly walk through the open gate. Not long after. The scouts return, their faces are full of bewilderment. They report, ¡°Sir, it¡¯s an empty city. There are signs of a fierce battle, but there¡¯s not a single person inside, it¡¯s empty.¡± ¡°How can this be?¡± A brigade leader exclaims in surprise. Fang Hao seems calm in comparison. He softly commands, ¡°The guards of Lyss City and the four mercenary brigades will head to the four minor camps and look for spoils of war. The rest of you will accompany me to the main camp in the center.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone responds, and the people from the four mercenary brigades split off and start heading towards the four smaller camps. The guards of Lyss City mix into the mercenary brigades, serving as supervisors. Of course, these small camps don¡¯t have much spoils of war. The good stuff has already been plundered by the three bandit leaders and stashed in the main camp. The reason for this arrangement is to keep them busy and away from the center. After receiving their orders, Fang Hao leads his men to the main camp. As they approach, they see the undead soldiers standing guard at the camp. All¡¯s going well. The group enters the camp, the Lionheart Knights and heavily armed infantry take over the job from the undead. They begin to stand guard. ¡°Lord, the camp has been successfully occupied, there are 772 captured bandits. We can confirm that the two men are indeed the Tyrant and the Greedy Wolf,¡± Spencer follows closely behind Fang Hao, softly providing his report. Chapter 648 - Chapter 648: Chapter 477, So insincere (asking for recommendations...)_2 Chapter 648: Chapter 477, So insincere (asking for recommendations¡­)_2 ¡°Oh? What about Li Zhenhu?¡± Fang Hao inquired. He was more interested in the local dwellers who were originally mountain bandits. Fang Hao was more concerned about Li Zhenhu who had been fishing to harm the transmigrator. This man¡¯s scheming and ruthlessness was ultimately trouble if he was not dead. ¡°Li Zhenhu was not among the captives, nor was there a body with physical features resembling him. He may not have been in the village at the time, or he might have fled during the battle,¡± Spencer reported calmly. Fang Hao walked into the main hall and sat in a chair. He gently stroked the armrests of the chair. He softly said, ¡°Anjia, lead a team to rummage through the village and collect anything of value. Demitrija, you take over the city¡¯s defense. Aseti, lead the cavalry to scout the surroundings. Spencer, have someone bring the Tyrant and Greedy Wolf here.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The heroes all took their leave of the room. Shortly afterward, Spencer brought two men into the room. It was clear that both men were strong, but their faces were somewhat pale at this moment. When they entered, their eyes shifted nervously around the room. Upon seeing the young man above, their brows furrowed. With their way of thinking, they couldn¡¯t understand what the young man above had to do with the Undead who attacked their village last night. ¡°Sir, the people you asked for are here,¡± Spencer whispered. Fang Hao nodded, his gaze falling on the two men. ¡°I heard you guys have done a lot of terrible things. Did you ever think this day would come?¡± Fang Hao stared directly at them. The Tyrant and Greedy Wolf frowned at the young man above them. They were certain that this was a transmigrator. ¡°Sir, we didn¡¯t mean any harm to you,¡± the Tyrant said loud, his mouth dry. They knew that their survival hinged on the man in front of them having the final say. To live, being tough would not be a wise choice. ¡°My name is Fang Hao. A few days ago, you ambushed me,¡± Fang Hao said flatly. Fang Hao? The two men looked bewildered once more. Then, their expressions quickly changed from confusion to surprise. They remembered this name. Li Zhenhu had mentioned an individual named Fang Hao, a transmigrator who had a significant connection to Lyss City. Back then, they didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. But looking at him now, it wasn¡¯t Rebecca who was the most terrifying, but this harmless-looking transmigrator in front of them. Seeing their expressions, Fang Hao was surprised. ¡°Oh? Have you two heard about me before?¡± ¡°No, no,¡± they quickly shook their heads. ¡°Alright, then. Do you know where Li Zhenhu went? Where is he?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. The two looked at each other. Greedy Wolf answered, ¡°Li Zhenhu was not in the camp. He went to Jinmastu.¡± ¡°Lying is not a wise choice. At this point, he still dares to leave?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s tone instantly turned cold. Greedy Wolf flinched and hurried to explain: ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you. We feared Lyss City¡¯s siege, so we sent Li Zhenhu with our money to Jinmastu to buy our way out. That¡¯s why he wasn¡¯t in the city.¡± He went to Jinmastu? What a coincidence! ¡°How many days ago did he leave, and who did he find to buy his salvation?¡± Fang Hao continued to press on. Greedy Wolf responded, ¡°Li Zhenhu said he had contacts who could get in touch with the city lord of Jinmastu to give us legitimate identities. In that case, Rebecca would have no reason to attack us.¡± ¡°How much money did he take?¡± ¡°Almost all of it. He took away everything we had saved up over the years,¡± Greedy Wolf stated. Fang Hao looked at the two men somewhat strangely. Considering Li Zhenhu¡¯s cunning and ruthlessness, There was a good chance that he had fled with the money. Maybe he settled down in Jinmastu with a new identity, or maybe he ran off and disappeared entirely. But one thing was almost certain ¨C he was not coming back. Putting aside the matter of Li Zhenhu, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Why did you attack the Lyss City troop?¡± Their eyes darted around. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, they said, ¡°We mistook them for a regular merchant convoy by mistake.¡± Ha! Fang Hao scoffed coldly and reminded them, ¡°Oh? That¡¯s different from what I¡¯ve heard. I understand that you guys were spying on the movements of Lyss City¡¯s force half a month ago. Who told you to capture Rebecca? Don¡¯t be hasty to reply. You only have one chance to answer. If you answer poorly, you will lose your life. Think carefully before you speak.¡± Once again, their expressions changed. They knew that if they let the man in front of them catch them in a lie again, they would likely lose their lives for sure. Beads of sweat started to form on their foreheads, dropping on the carpet one by one. Greedy Wolf gritted his teeth and said, ¡°It was a steward from the Marshal household who found us and told us to capture Rebecca.¡± The Marshall family? Fang Hao carefully recalled, and found in his memory the information about the Marshall family. Groot¡¤Marshall, after coming to Lyss City, Began pursuing Rebecca after her husband died, forcing a proposal on her. Yet before he could finish, he was knocked out by Aseti. So it seems the whole incident has something to do with him. ¡°What promises did the Marshall family make to you?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Eh, a new identity, and a city, a city recognized by the Federation.¡± the tyrant added. Wow, this Marshall family really knows how to wield their power. They could able to cleanse the identity of a mountain bandit to become federally recognized. From mountain bandit leader, directly to a City Lord. I know what I want to know; no more need to talk to them. ¡°Take both of them away!¡± Some soldiers came forward to escort the two away. Suddenly, the tyrant struggled and said loudly: ¡°Sir, we were wrong about the incident a few days ago. We are willing to make compensation and make up for our mistakes.¡± Greedy Wolf also quickly echoed, ¡°Yes, yes, we are willing to compensate.¡± Fang Hao asked, ¡°What can you give me?¡± ¡°Money, how about that, you can take all the money in the warehouse.¡±, the tyrant replied directly. ¡°If I kill you guys, that money is still mine anyway. You¡¯re giving me my own money as a form of compensation, isn¡¯t that too insincere?¡± Fang Hao refuted. This¡­ The duo¡¯s words were halted in an instant, dumbfoundedly kneeling there. Our money is his? ¡°What else can you offer?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The two thought, and the tyrant said: ¡°Sir, we can rob for you. All the money we rob will be yours.¡± Crafty fellows, thinking big. Fang Hao waved his hand, indicating to take them away; he was too lazy to deal with them further. As the two were taken away, the tyrant was still shouting, ¡°We also have people, slaves can be sold for a lot of money, we can help you catch¡­¡± The sound gradually faded and eventually disappeared. ¡­ Silence returned to the hall. Fang Hao then checked the prompt that had appeared from the Book of Lords. The architectural style of this mountain village is similar to the ones build by transmigrators. However, upon sitting on the treasure middle seat, a system prompt still appeared. [Life-Taker Mountain Stronghold, has become your subsidiary city, you can ¡®rename¡¯ the city here, and control all resources of the stronghold and its subordinate villages.] With the appearance of this prompt, it signified that this place belonged to the native city. And it¡¯s not a city of a transmigrator. Fang Hao thought about it, didn¡¯t have a good name, so for now, he just left it as it is. He can rename it whenever he thinks of a better name. [Life-Taker Mountain Stronghold] [City Level: Fifth Level Original City] [Attributes: Combat Power +5%, Extra Plundering +2%.] (Description: A city with attributes could provide various benefits to hasten the city¡¯s construction and development.) The attributes for a fifth-level city are just too disappointing. No extra benefits for gathering resources or a tax increase, all that exists is extra plundering, fitting for a bandit¡¯s style indeed. [Unlocked Blueprint: Bandit Tent Building Blueprint.] [Bandit Tent (Green): Stone 800, Wood 1200, Hemp Rope 500, Beast Skin 50.] (Description: Can recruit refugees and bandits into well-trained bandits.) It¡¯s a blueprint for recruiting bandits. It could convert refugees into bandits, thereby increasing the stronghold¡¯s combat power. But for someone of Fang Hao¡¯s strength, this blueprint basically has no use. Population is also a vital resource. Who would foolishly convert them into bandits? Just finished reading this when- The door was pushed open with a loud bang. Anjia strode in, originally thinking that she had returned from scouring for spoils of war. But then I heard Anjia standing at the door, shouting, ¡°Fang Hao, come out for a moment, we found a lot of women and children in the dungeon.¡± Women and children? Fang Hao frowned, quickly walked out, ¡°Take me to see.¡± Chapter 652 - Chapter 652: Chapter 479, Beast Tamer_1 Chapter 652: Chapter 479, Beast Tamer_1 The retreating troops were stopped by a squadron of cavalry. Leading them was an orange hero, flanked by an exceptionally well-armed cavalry. This caused the woman from Lionback Mountain to wear a disheartened look. She bitterly cursed the universe for its injustice, allowing the beast Li Zhenhu to recruit an orange hero. As she contemplated how to charge and break through¡­ From behind the city gates, nearly four to five hundred infantry armed with giant swords rushed out. They quickly encircled them. This made her even more anxious, regretting her hesitation. It seemed like today might end in total annihilation. At her most frustrated¡­ The heavy sword infantry opened up another pathway. A young man walked through the crowd, leading several heroes. He stepped forward. The woman¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Behind the young man were several high-level heroes. Was this fellow some sort of hero wholesale market? ¡°Who are you? Where are Li Zhenhu and his men?¡± The woman from Lionback Mountain asked first. She had just scanned the field. She didn¡¯t see any of the bandits she knew of, including the Tyrant and Greedy Wolf. They were not here. Moreover, these men did not look like bandits. If bandits had this kind of equipment, they would already have attacked the nearby cities. ¡­ As the woman from Lionback Mountain was questioning¡­ Fang Hao was also sizing up the other party. She was quite small, crouched on the back of a lion. The lion¡¯s golden fur could almost completely cover her. With slightly dark skin, large eyes, and a rather pretty face, she gave off the impression of being not yet fully grown-up. A single plait hung down behind her head and she was dressed in a black top, revealing her slim waist. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you explain your intentions first? It would make things safer for both you and your men,¡± Fang Hao said, looking at her squarely. This woman appeared to have a special ability. Being able to command nearly a hundred fearsome beasts to act in unison with her was a strange sight indeed. The woman scanned the tense atmosphere all around then speculated the identities of these people. There was a high chance that they were not bandits after all. She scoffed and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to eliminate bandits.¡± Eliminate bandits? With just these beasts and about fifty local militiamen? They needed to know that there used to be more than three thousand bandits here before. Her group of fewer than two hundred, comprising mostly beasts, couldn¡¯t possibly lay siege to a city. How was she going to eliminate the bandits? ¡°All right, who are you people?¡± the woman asked in return. Fang Hao replied directly, ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is true, then our goals are similar. It¡¯s just that I got here a bit earlier and have already taken command of this place.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken over? Since when?¡± ¡°Erm¡­ This morning, I guess.¡± The woman glanced back at her scout heroes. The scout heroes nodded in response. After thinking about it carefully, she found it quite plausible. Last night, this place was attacked by Undead. This kid must have made use of the situation. The Undead retreated at dawn and he took over the city. ¡°Where¡¯s Li Zhenhu?¡± the woman continued to ask. ¡°Why, are you looking for him?¡± ¡°Alive or dead, he took my friend. I need to find him,¡± she said, her tone filled with rage. ¡°Li Zhenhu ran away, but their boss and second-in-command are still alive. You can ask them,¡± Fang Hao replied. The woman cast a sidelong glance, exchanged a few words with her heroes. She puffed her chest out, saying, ¡°Then take me to see them.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Let your men wait outside the city. Come in with me.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± The troops returned to the mountain stronghold. The beasts and local militiamen rested on a piece of open ground outside the city. It seemed that these beasts only listened to the woman; all the other militiamen kept a respectful distance. People and beasts were separated into two distinct areas. ¡­ The blockade stakes were pulled away. The woman followed Fang Hao and his men through the city gates under the watchful eyes of a few soldiers. Now, she was even more curious about Fang Hao¡¯s background. She hadn¡¯t heard of any transmigrator with this kind of power in the area. It seemed that the real masters always kept a low profile. This man might be even more formidable than the Fang Hao mentioned in the channels. After all, she had seen quite a few orange heroes. The woman stared at Fang Hao while Anjia, on the side, stared back at her. ¡°Blackskin, are those beasts your pets?¡± The woman was taken aback and looked towards the beast-eared woman who had spoken. She was a blue hero. ¡°You¡¯re the blackskin! Look at your own skin before talking about mine!¡± Anjia was indignant, ¡°Of course you¡¯re a bit darker, I¡¯m wheat-colored.¡± ¡°You¡¯re even darker.¡± ¡°Lorrey, tell us who¡¯s darker,¡± Anjia asked, turning to Lorrey who was enjoying the scene. Lorrey¡¯s large eyes whirled around. Pointing at the strange woman, she clearly stated, ¡°She¡¯s darker, Anjia is wheat-colored, our Lord has said so.¡± ¡°What the hell, are you guys ganging up to mess with me?¡± The woman got a little upset. They walked deeper into the city. Women and children crouched in the shade, eating and chatting. They arrived at an open space in the southeast corner. A few soldiers were guarding a pile of iron cages. The cages were filled with prisoners. The woman instantly recognized a few of them as the former bandits. They were present during the attack on her territory. Soon, she noticed Tyrant and Greedy Wolf, who were confined separately. The moment she saw the two men, rage surged in her eyes. Drawing the iron sword from her waist, she drove it towards Tyrant¡¯s chest through a gap in the cage. Chapter 653 - Chapter 653: Chapter 479, Beast Tamer_2 Chapter 653: Chapter 479, Beast Tamer_2 The tyrant¡¯s expression changed, and his body rushed backwards. However, the iron cage had limited space. After retreating two steps, he stumbled into the back of the cage. But being a mountain raider at heart, seeing no way to retreat, he did a somersault and barely avoided the sword. Just when she was about to launch a second strike. Fang Hao stopped her, saying, ¡°Weren¡¯t you looking for someone?¡± The woman glared fiercely at the tyrant but eventually sheathed her sword. She stared straight at the two imprisoned men with an icy voice, ¡°Where is Chen Ming?¡± The tyrant and the greedy wolf were scared out of their wits. They didn¡¯t dare to express their anger, their voices barely suppressing their rage, ¡°What Chen Ming.¡± ¡°A transmigrator named Chen Ming, he is a doctor, where is he after being tricked by Li Zhenhu?¡± ¡°How would we know, it¡¯s Li Zhenhu in charge of these matters, in any case, the men might have been sold, or perhaps killed, women are all locked in the dungeon, go find them yourself,¡± replied the tyrant. ¡°Killed? I will kill you¡­!¡± she said, and once again lunged over there. The expressions of the two men changed again, ¡°Wait, wait, he¡¯s probably been sold, as long as the transmigrator has some special skills, he can fetch a good price, he¡¯s not dead, not dead.¡± When she heard that he¡¯s not dead, the woman¡¯s expression eased considerably. But she didn¡¯t really intend to kill these two men either, after all, they were not her prisoners. She also asked about where he was sold and the whereabouts of a few people she knew. After gaining no valuable information, she followed Fang Hao back to the city lord¡¯s mansion. ¡­ Inside the city lord¡¯s mansion. Soldiers served a fruit tea and some fruits. ¡°Right, my name is Lan Yang, how should I address you, sir? Thank you so much, otherwise, who knows how many more people these guys will kill!¡± Lan Yang drank some tea and spoke softly. ¡°Oh! My name is Fang Hao.¡± Sputter¡­! The tea that had just entered her mouth was immediately spit out. Lan Yang didn¡¯t manage to wipe the tea off her mouth in time. Her eyes fixed on Fang Hao, as though checking if he was fooling her. ¡°You¡¯re Fang Hao?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there a problem?¡± Fang Hao curiously countered. ¡°Damn, is it really you? The big shot Fang Hao, weren¡¯t you near Lyss City? How did you come here?¡± Lan Yang said in amazement. ¡°Had something to attend to, passing by.¡± ¡°You call this passing by? While in transit, you wiped out a bandit stronghold. We¡¯re really wasting our time,¡± Lan Yang chuckled and wiped her mouth. ¡°Right, is that Dr. Chen your boyfriend? Tricked by Li Zhenhu too?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°What boyfriend, Uncle Chen is over 50 already¡­ The two continued to chat, Lan Yang shared the situation in the surrounding areas. The villages in the vicinity had essentially been looted by the bandits. The Chen Ming she was looking for was a doctor, relatively well-known over the communication channels. He was able to trade his medical knowledge in exchange for resources. He helped her when she was injured once. Later, she heard that Dr. Chen had turned to Li Zhenhu¡¯s alliance and after that, lost contact with him. After that, the power of the Life-taker¡¯s bandit stronghold quickly rose and Li Zhenhu no longer needed to trick people into coming. Essentially, they just led people over for a grand attack. Her domain was destroyed during this bandit attack. She managed to lead her people out and has been hiding in a valley ever since. She wintered out occasionally, giving these people some trouble. However, without a domain or a barracks, there was no way to recruit soldiers, and the number of people under her command was dwindling. The day where her force would be depleted was closing in. Therefore, when she heard that there was an opportunity to occupy the bandit¡¯s stronghold, she brought her people over. Unfortunately, Fang Hao took over this place. And she almost got killed by bullets. After clearing up the matter, the two of them were no longer on guard against each other. ¡°By the way, how do you get those beasts to obey you?¡± Fang Hao asked about his curiosity. Controlling those wild creatures is not easy. Especially so many wild creatures. ¡°Oh, I am a Beast Tamer, just that my level is too low and I can only train these low-intelligence beasts.¡± Lan Yang didn¡¯t hide it, sipping the tea while explaining. In fact, there isn¡¯t a fixed profession here. For example, Fang Hao¡¯s main method of attack is magic, so he can call himself a mage. Lan Yang being proficient in beast taming calls herself a Beast Tamer. But Beast Taming ability was certainly great. Even wild beasts possess powerful combat abilities. It normally takes several ordinary civilian soldiers just to kill a wild bear, let alone over a hundred wild beasts. ¡°No wonder, you¡¯re pretty good.¡± ¡°Hehe, not as good as you, with all those high-level heroes.¡± Lan Yang chuckled, obviously delighted by Fang Hao¡¯s praise. ¡°You haven¡¯t fully utilized your abilities yet. Maybe in the future, you¡¯ll be able to tame higher-level beasts.¡± ¡°Yes, I think so too. Once I master it, I¡¯ll tame a group of dragons, let¡¯s see who dares to bully me then.¡± It seemed Fang Hao had hit the nail on the head, as Lan Yang¡¯s voice rose several decibels. Then, she felt like she had gotten a bit carried away. She added, ¡°A wish, a dream, it¡¯s still a long way off.¡± Fang Hao chuckled lightly, finding this young girl quite interesting. After thinking for a bit, he continued to ask, ¡°What are your plans now? You have lost your city, you can¡¯t always keep hiding in the valley with your men, can you?¡± This question had been bothering Lan Yang for a while. Earlier they were looking for revenge, but now that these bandits have been wiped out, staying in the valley didn¡¯t serve much purpose. Chapter 654 - Chapter 654: Chapter 479, Beast Tamer_3 Chapter 654: Chapter 479, Beast Tamer_3 She had considered where she should go after leaving. Either find a city with good public security to live in, or rely on a truly reliable Transmigrators Alliance. An Alliance? Thinking of the Alliance, Lan Yang turned her eyes back to Fang Hao. Why do I need to find an Alliance? There¡¯s a powerful figure right in front of me! Clinging to him is better than throwing myself at anyone else. Her big eyes turning, she said, ¡°Ahem! Big boss Fang Hao, I heard you have quite a lot of people under you. Can you take me too? I promise I won¡¯t be a burden. Plus, I¡¯m extremely smart, I¡¯m sure I can be of help.¡± Well, she¡¯s quite good at praising herself. Fang Hao contemplated for a moment and said, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll leave this city to you. There are some women and children outside the city. You should take care of them, otherwise, they will have a hard time getting through the winter.¡± ¡°Alright, as long as I have a city, food won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Lan Yang faithfully assured him. Next, Fang Hao devoured Lan Yang¡¯s Book of Lords. [Devouring successful, your Book of Lords is now Level 6, upgrade requirements 8/20.] After devouring, the experience requirement changed from 7/20 to 8/20. Fang Hao transformed the city. The city¡¯s original attributes were terrible, now was the perfect time to refresh them. A light enveloped the city. Following that, the original city of the native people transformed into a level five affiliated city of the transmigrators. And Lan Yang was appointed as the ruling officer of this city. A Book of City Lord was handed over to Lan Yang, who was delighted to receive it. She said, ¡°Big boss Fang Hao, you are now my lord. Please give your orders!¡± Well¡­ It seems that she¡¯s not as smart as she claimed to be. ¡°Settle your people and manage your pets well. Also, interact with the women who have been freed. They are quite pitiable too. Take good care of them and their children. As for food and winter clothes, don¡¯t worry, I will arrange for that,¡± suggested Fang Hao after some thought. It was evident that Lan Yang was truly a dependable person. Despite being truly destitute, she still thought about avenging Dr. Chen. Leaving those women and children to her was relatively reassuring. As for the food and winter clothes, Fang Hao had plenty to spare. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Lan Yang stood up and walked away. After a moment, Fang Hao added, ¡°Anjia, go with her.¡± Anjia stood up and walked out with her. Seeing Anjia stand up, Lorrey also followed. ¡°Hey, Black Skin, your lion seems pretty fierce. I have a giant lizard. Want to see who¡¯s faster?¡± Anjia provoked. ¡°Are you children? Even this needs to be compared?¡± Lan Yang gave the two of them a white glance. ¡°Anjia, she¡¯s scared,¡± said Lorrey from the side. ¡°I think so too. Her lion doesn¡¯t look fast.¡± ¡°You both are talking nonsense. Let¡¯s compare right now, the loser eats shit.¡± Lorrey, who was about 1.3 meters, Lan Yang, who was over 1.5 meters, and Anjia, who was close to 1.7 meters, stood side by side. It looked like a Wi-Fi signal logo as they walked out together. ¡­ The problem of the women and children was finally solved. With Lan Yang as the City Lord, their staying here was the best solution right now. Otherwise, they¡¯d have to split their forces to escort these women on the long journey back, which would surely be another hardship for them. The issue was settled, and Fang Hao¡¯s attention returned to the pile of treasures and a golden treasure chest nearby. Most of the money and valuables in the stronghold had been taken by Li Zhenhu. What was left were merely three boxes of jewels and gold coins. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother to count the number of gold coins. Instead, he walked straight to the treasure chest. He opened it directly. [Acquire: blueprint for making the Raider¡¯s Carriage (Green), blueprint for making the Bandit Demon Head Knife (Blue), blueprint for making the Bandit¡¯s Belt (Green), 202 Warfire Coins.] He casually glanced over the three blueprint properties. They didn¡¯t seem to have much use for him at the moment. The Raiders¡¯ Carriage had a large carrying capacity and was great for packing. However, neither its speed nor performance could compare to the dwarf¡¯s carriage. As for the last two items¡ªthe Bandit Demon Head Knife and the Bandit¡¯s Belt¡ªthey didn¡¯t have any special features either. All the troop types were not suitable. The blueprints could only be considered a collection. ¡­ Time gradually passed. Soon, it was dusk. Besides intervening in Anjia and Lan Yang¡¯s gamble and changing their punishment, nothing special happened. After dinner, the spoils from the four border camps were finally dispatched. The mercenaries must have slipped some into their own pockets, but it wasn¡¯t a big problem. The valuable items were all here in the main camp. At most, they took a few gold coins. Well, they deserved it for their efforts in the recent battles. After classifying all the spoils, they discovered some interesting items. [Accounts] [Day 62, sold 172 slaves, received 500 Gold Coins.] [Day 75, sold 362 slaves, received 1220 Gold Coins.] [Day 81, sold 121 male and 62 female slaves, received 850 Gold Coins, received 800 Gold Coins from Zhang Xiaoming¡¯s design.] [¡­] [Day 92, Jinmastu, bought three cannons, paid 5800 Gold Coins.] Chapter 655 - Chapter 655: Chapter 480, 98 Points of Goodwill_1 Chapter 655: Chapter 480, 98 Points of Goodwill_1 [¡­] [Day 125, Doctor Chen Ming was sold for 3000 gold.] [¡­] The old account book, tossed atop a box. The soldiers scavenging could not decipher the Chinese characters and ignored it. It was only when Fang Hao rummaged through that he discovered this account book. It was certain that the account book was recorded by Li Zhenhu. Unexpectedly, this fellow was meticulous, keeping accounts in Chinese. Unreadable to others, he knew clearly how much money was in the stronghold. The number of slaves sold had exceeded a thousand, and there were more than twenty transmigrants whose names and occupations were recorded. From the record, it can be seen that even ordinary transmigrants were not cheap. Those with special Skills, such as Doctor Chen Ming, had a price directly reaching 3000. Considering the price for slaves, it was simply astronomical. Li Zhenhu had indeed found a lucrative path. He closed the account book and stored it in the Demon space. Perhaps it would come in handy in the future. ¡­ The sky grew increasingly dark. Outside the window, the sound of insects echoed. As he lay in bed, he opened the Book of Lords and watched everyone chatting on the channel. Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the door. He thought it was Anjia returning, but instead, he heard a soldier¡¯s voice. ¡°Sir, the woman with the baby has awakened and asks to see you.¡± ¡°Hmm? Okay, call Anjia back, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Fang Hao replied. Soon, Anjia returned with Lorrey. Fang Hao, escorted by the soldiers and accompanied by the two, arrived at the room where the woman was resting. Upon opening the door, They saw a woman, leaning against the wall, comforting her child. On a table nearby, an empty bowl was placed. The meat porridge inside had been completely consumed. Upon seeing Fang Hao and the others enter, the woman, her face still pale, managed a grateful smile. ¡°Fang Hao, thank you.¡± When she was not fully conscious, Fang Hao had introduced himself. Moreover, he revealed his identity to the women he freed. He did not restrict their freedom; when he presumably saw her earlier, he must have also told her his identity. ¡°I don¡¯t even know your name yet?¡± Fang Hao smiled, as he and Anjia took a seat. The woman was obviously beautiful. If not for her past trials, she would be considered a beauty in ordinary times. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m He Yueyi.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the story with this child, where is his father?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. It had been almost five months since the time of transmigration began. This meant that He Yueyi was pregnant when she was transported here. Her survival till now was not without challenges. ¡°I don¡¯t know, he might be alive, he might be dead, who knows!¡± He Yueyi¡¯s tone was somewhat indifferent. Perhaps, after five months had passed, she had come to terms with it. ¡°By the way, how did you end up here?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°Bah! Li Zhenhu, the damned, I took my people to his Alliance. Once we arrived, he immediately separated and imprisoned us.¡± At this point, He Yueyi gritted her teeth. It was clear to see that He Yueyi was a refined woman, despite the rage burning in her eyes. She only cursed that Li Zhenhu deserved to be hacked to death. Unlike Lan Yang, who would curse up and down the offender¡¯s family at the drop of a hat. Perhaps it was the mother¡¯s anger that upset the tranquility of the baby, who usually did not cry or fuss. The baby promptly began to wail. He Yueyi immediately sought to calm him. Without any hesitation, she drew aside her shoulder cloak and began to nurse the child. ¡°Li Zhenhu has run off, but rest assured, I will see him brought to justice.¡± He Yueyi cradled her baby, looking gratefully at Fang Hao, ¡°Thank you, Lord Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m planning to hand this place over to Lan Yang. She¡¯s originally a nearby transmigrant. You can stay here, her personality is a bit wild, but she is dependable.¡± Fang Hao introduced the situation here. ¡°Is it a girl riding a lion?¡± Fang Hao was taken aback, ¡°You know her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t, but the bandits who guarded the gate often mentioned a girl riding a lion who always caused trouble and disruptions.¡± He Yueyi replied with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Oh, she does seem reliable indeed. Had I been as brave as her back then, I wouldn¡¯t be in this situation today.¡± He Yueyi softly caressed her child. ¡°Let the past remain in the past. You need to live well in the future, for yourself and your child.¡± Fang Hao continued to console her. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± He Yueyi looked down at her child in her arms, her eyes full of tenderness. Perhaps it was her child that kept her going during her time in the dungeon. The world was cruel, and everyone needed something to cling to. The room fell silent for a while. Fang Hao was unsure of what to say, so he decided to leave. ¡°Alright, you haven¡¯t fully recovered yet, rest early.¡± As he was about to rise, He Yueyi began speaking again, ¡°Lord Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Hmm? Is there anything else?¡± He Yueyi hesitated, looked at her child, and her eyes lit up with determination. She immediately said: ¡°Lord Fang Hao, can I follow you? I am a senior accountant, your territory must need me. I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore.¡± A senior accountant! This should also be considered a special profession. No wonder that even in her condition, Li Zhenhu discarded her. If she could survive, she would fetch a reasonable price. Chapter 656 - Chapter 656: Chapter 480, 98 Favorability Points_2 Chapter 656: Chapter 480, 98 Favorability Points_2 But Fang Hao hesitated and said, ¡°He Yueyi, my territory is a bit special. You should have heard about it from others. I¡¯m connected with the undead, I¡¯m afraid you might not accept that.¡± ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve already died once, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? Please take me with you. I don¡¯t want my child to live in this kind of environment. I beg you.¡± After finishing, she tried to prostrate herself to express her gratitude to Fang Hao. Actually, Fang Hao had also been considering recruiting talents lately. The reason he didn¡¯t immediately agree to He Yueyi was that he was afraid she wouldn¡¯t adapt to his territory. Now that she seems so resolute and prepared, Fang Hao felt like he didn¡¯t have anything else to say. He helped her up saying, ¡°Alright, rest for a night, I¡¯ll take you to my territory tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you, boss, thank you.¡± He Yueyi started sobbing gratefully. ¡°Alright, no more tears, people outside might hear and think I¡¯m bullying you. Rest up and take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Fang Hao left the room and returned to his residence. ¡­ Early the next morning. As the dawn started to break, the whole camp was already bustling with activity. Today was a day for departing once again. Early in the morning, the soldiers were already up making food and preparations for their departure. Troop Hiding Cave. A few torches were lit, illuminating the pitch-black underground stone cave. Upon viewing the neatly arranged skeleton soldiers, Lan Yang gaped, nearly toppling over due to shock. Her eyes conveyed her surprise and fear. She finally understood where the undead attacking the mountain stronghold came from. At the time, she had been wondering where so many undead came from. Turns out, they were all Fang Hao¡¯s doing. ¡°I need to take the Bone Dragon and Skeleton Mantismen with me, so there will be fewer than ten thousand skeleton soldiers left here to help you defend the fortress,¡± Fang Hao explained softly. At least five to six thousand undead were still remaining. He could only leave those with Lan Yang to assist her in defending the city walls. Fang Hao was talking next to her, but he didn¡¯t get any response from Lan Yang. He turned around to look at her and found Lan Yang standing there, in shock. ¡°Hey! Lan Yang¡­¡± Fang Hao called her. Only then did Lan Yang respond, ¡°Ah! Boss, what did you say?¡± ¡°I said, I will take the Bone Dragon and the Mantismen with me, and leave the rest of the skeleton soldiers with you,¡± repeated Fang Hao. ¡°Ah, they won¡¯t attack me, right?¡± Lan Yang asked cautiously. ¡°No, the soldiers are bound by factions. Once you join my territory, you are part of the same faction. They won¡¯t attack you and will even listen to your commands. You can order them in the future, for instance, for reconnaissance or entering dangerous places,¡± explained Fang Hao. However, there were still many restrictions. Such as command priority. That is to say, in the absence of Fang Hao¡¯s commands, the undead would listen to the local governor. If there were any contradictions in the commands from the governor and Fang Hao, the governor¡¯s orders would be ignored. ¡°Oh, will they just run around? What do they eat?¡± Lan Yang continued to inquire. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re so dumb. They just stand there on ordinary days. When there¡¯s action, you just have to come down here, take them out and order them around. And also, they¡¯re all skeletons, what do you expect them to eat?¡± Anjia added from the side. Hearing Anjia calling her dumb, Lan Yang¡¯s face instantly turned serious: ¡°Did I ask you? Was it your place to speak?¡± She then looked towards Fang Hao and said, ¡°Alright, boss, I now know what to do. Is there not a single Bone Dragon left for me?¡± ¡°The number of Bone Dragons is limited, I will divide more to you when we have more in the future.¡± ¡°Oh, okay then.¡± Fang Hao then gave Lan Yang a few more instructions. Then a soldier from behind reported, ¡°Sir, Miss He Yueyi is here.¡± ¡°Alright, let her come down.¡± Then, the sound of footsteps came from behind, and He Yueyi walked down carrying her child with her. When she stepped down the stone stairs, and saw the scene inside the stone cave, He Yueyi stopped abruptly. But her pace returned to normal very quickly and she hurried to Fang Hao¡¯s side. She said softly: ¡°Fang Hao, I don¡¯t have much luggage, we can leave now.¡± Last night, He Yueyi wanted to leave with him. Fang Hao agreed and reminded her to be psychologically prepared for his territory. He Yueyi thought it over for a night and guessed many possibilities for terrifying scenarios. However, when seeing the dense masses of undead, she still shivered a bit. But it¡¯s okay, she adapted quickly afterwards. Throughout her imprisonment, she had seen a lot of dead people. So these skeletons didn¡¯t seem so hard to accept after all. Before coming here, He Yueyi went to see the girls who had been taking care of her in the prison cell. She wanted to bring the ones close to her along with her. However, since Fang Hao only agreed to her, she didn¡¯t bring up the other girls. But she had already resolved in her heart to come back to fetch them once she was settled on the other side. Seeing there were no other issues, Fang Hao took out the Demon Doll. ¡°Alright, then let me bring you guys back.¡± The next second, a teleportation glow appeared before their eyes. He let Spencer, the Bone Dragon and Skeleton Mantismen enter first, then entered afterwards with He Yueyi and Anjia. When the lights disappeared and they opened their eyes again, they found themselves back in their own territory. Spencer led the undead back to the Troop Hiding Cave. Meanwhile, He Yueyi was cradling her child in her arms while curiously taking in the view of the drastically different territory. Chapter 657 - Chapter 657: Chapter 480, 98 favorability points _3 Chapter 657: Chapter 480, 98 favorability points _3 The ground was paved with flat stone slabs, with street lights set up on both sides of the road. In the flower beds, various flowers were planted, a pleasing aroma in the air for anyone standing there. Girls dressed as bunny maids were all busy with their own tasks. Pleasant laughter, reminiscent of silver bells, could be heard from time to time. Just then, a group of skeleton soldiers, marching in neat steps, passed by on the stone slabs. Their skull heads uniformly turned this way, glimpsed, then uniformly turned back. As if nothing had happened. At this moment, a bunny-eared girl was directing a huge skeleton, nearly three meters high. Carrying a barrel of wine and passing by them. When she saw Fang Hao, Anjia, and the others, her eyes brightened instantaneously. Without delay, she turned and ran toward a nearby building, shouting as she ran, ¡°Sister Eira, the master is back, the master is back.¡± Her voice was loud, causing windows to be quickly pushed open one by one. Everyone looked this way. He Yueyi curiously looked at Fang Hao. The latter smiled slightly and explained, ¡°These are all folks from my territory. They haven¡¯t seen me in a while since I¡¯ve been away for some time.¡± He Yueyi uttered a simple ¡°Oh,¡± without going into further conversation. Before long, several bunny-eared girls rushed out of the same building. The girl at the forefront was markedly more beautiful, with a much more voluptuous figure. And her attire was better too. The bunny-eared girls looked this way in unison. Upon seeing Fang Hao, their faces lit up with joy. They ran over quickly. This time, Eira didn¡¯t jump into Fang Hao¡¯s arms but simply looked at He Yueyi with curiosity. When she noticed the baby in her arms, she glanced at Fang Hao with curiosity. Then she said calmly, ¡°Master, Anjia, you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Yes, this is He Yueyi. I saved her from bandits. Arrange a place for her to stay and later choose a few smart maids to learn bookkeeping and ledger recording from her,¡± Fang Hao softly introduced. Then he turned to He Yueyi, ¡°This is Eira, in charge of everything here in the territory. If you need anything, you can speak to her directly.¡± He Yueyi keenly observed Fang Hao and Eira. Once the introductions were over, she displayed a tender smile, ¡°Sister Eira is really beautiful. Since I was saved by boss Fang this time, I¡¯ll have to rely on Sister Eira¡¯s help a lot.¡± ¡°Of course. Xiaoguo, take Sister He Yueyi to find a vacant room. Make sure it¡¯s close to the Lord¡¯s house and that all the living necessities are prepared,¡± Eira softly instructed. ¡°Okay, Sister Eira.¡± Redfruit left with He Yueyi. When He Yueyi left, Anjia immediately pulled Eira aside, ¡°Eira, hurry and cook something delicious. I¡¯ve been starving these past few days.¡± Eira smiled mildly, ¡°Okay.¡± Eira prepared a hearty breakfast for the two of them, which greatly improved their meals. Meanwhile, Eira learned of He Yueyi¡¯s background through Anjia. He Yueyi¡¯s life was indeed tough. She and her child narrowly escaped death at the hands of mountain bandits. Now that they were here, at least they didn¡¯t have to worry about safety. Having finished breakfast, Eira reluctantly let go of Fang Hao¡¯s hand. Fang Hao, on the other hand, returned to Lan Yang¡¯s city with Anjia. They appeared in the city square. Fang Hao built a new dwarf carriage and had all the supplies loaded onto it. The mercenaries and the trusted aides of Lyss City also assembled here. Once everything was prepared, the convoy set off again. In a grand procession, it headed toward the next stop, Jinmastu City. The original 800-man escort, had now increased to 1700, most of them were soldiers recruited by Fang Hao. ¡­ On the third day of their journey. Within the temporary camp they had built. Eve broke, but it was still as dark as night outside. Dark clouds obscured the sun, and torrential rain poured down like a bucket being emptied. The occasional muffled thunder echoed into the room. Anjia was still fast asleep. Fang Hao stood by the window, frowning at the sky outside. This weather was simply not suitable for marching. ¡°Sir, the lady is asking for you,¡± a guard¡¯s voice sounded from outside the door. ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Hao nodded, exited the room, and walked towards another room. He entered Rebecca¡¯s room. A woman in a form-fitting, beige dress was hunched over, her back to the door, fiddling with something on the floor. She was sitting in a chair, bending over quite significantly. The already snug dress was stretched tight across her buttocks. From Fang Hao¡¯s perspective, it looked like a ripe, juicy peach. The quality of clothes made by the Bone Textile Store was unquestionably top-tier. Even when stretched to such extremes, there was no sign of tearing. Instead, the tight fit accentuated the appeal of a mature woman. What on earth was she doing so early in the morning! Rebecca was arranging her items that had been soaked by the rain. She suddenly noticed that Fang Hao was already there, standing behind her and watching her. Gradually, she started to feel a bit embarrassed. ¡°What are you staring at? Come sit here.¡± Fang Hao walked into the room and sat down on a chair beside her. ¡°What did you need me for?¡± he asked. Rebecca sat down too, ¡°Look at this weather. We definitely can¡¯t march in it. If we insist on rushing in the rain, people might fall ill. It would delay our progress even more. It¡¯s better to wait until the rain stops.¡± After the last incident with the Life-taker. The entire group was taken over by Fang Hao¡¯s commanders. The chief of Lyss City¡¯s trusted aides and the captain of the mercenary corps had both assumed the role of the team leader. They relayed orders when necessary. Similarly, Rebecca had lost her power to command the group and had to consult Fang Hao on matters. ¡°Hmm, I was thinking the same thing. We¡¯ll leave after the weather clears up.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. Seeing Fang Hao easily agree. Rebecca suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say. A moment of silence fell upon the room. After a while, Rebecca suddenly said, ¡°Thank you¡­ I might have been in danger if it wasn¡¯t for you.¡± She was referring to the incident with the Life-taker. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. We¡¯re in this together. One way or another, I wouldn¡¯t let you get into danger.¡± ¡°Still, I must thank you for helping me.¡± she said with her head bowed down, expressing her gratitude again. The old Rebecca was always prideful and would never concede defeat. Many people tried to topple Rebecca from the center of power in Lyss City, but none succeeded. But today, something seemed different. Fang Hao casually opened the Book of Lords and was surprised to find that Rebecca¡¯s loyalty had increased by three points out of the blue. It was now at 98 points. 98 points were very high. Though it wouldn¡¯t ensure absolute faithfulness, it was enough to denote trust and reliance. Seeing Rebecca in low spirits, Fang Hao decided to tease her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, my lady?¡± He sat next to her and studied her for a bit. He began to guess why she was behaving this way. It must have been because when Fang Hao mentioned the possibility of the Life-taker attacking the group, she confidently disregarded it. Yet, the group had indeed been ambushed. If it weren¡¯t for Fang Hao, her decision could have killed everyone. For someone involved in administration and planning, this was a fatal mistake. ¡°Are you still thinking about the Life-taker? The one behind all this was the Marshall family. Just be more careful in the future.¡± ¡°But¡­ I almost got everyone killed,¡± she lamented. Fang Hao found Rebecca¡¯s distressed yet enduring expression somewhat amusing. No matter how strong, she was still a woman. But a certain charm arose when this pitiful look appeared on Rebecca¡¯s face. He reached out, lifted her chin, and made her meet his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t worry about these bandits. Even those guys from Silver Wing City won¡¯t dare to bully you.¡± Chapter 658 - Chapter 658: Chapter 481, The Atmosphere Has Reached This Point_1 Chapter 658: Chapter 481, The Atmosphere Has Reached This Point_1 Rebecca had not expected Fang Hao to lift her chin. Before she could react, she heard him say that no one would bully her in the future. The body that was about to dodge, froze on the spot. Suddenly, she found something stirring in her heart because of Fang Hao. As far back as she could remember, she had always fought her own battles, staking her life on it. But now, learning that someone was there to protect her, she surprisingly felt a wave of bitter sweetness. Fang Hao continued, ¡°I may not be the most capable, but I can certainly protect you and Lyss City. You concentrate on ruling. If someone troubles you, I¡¯ll smash their head in.¡± Pfft! Rebecca suddenly broke into laughter. Although it sounded boastful, Fang Hao truly had formidable power. She wasn¡¯t sure if they would win the war against Silver Wing City, but protecting Lyss City shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Who said anything about you being my husband? Don¡¯t start making things up.¡± Fang Hao pretended to be serious and said, ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know who came to me claiming me as her husband, which the whole city can testify for. Aren¡¯t you trying to deny it, now? It¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°But¡­ but our age difference is so big, I could be your mother.¡± ¡°Mother? That sounds terrible. Sister sounds much nicer. Haven¡¯t you heard that while life is precious, love is even more valuable?¡± Rebecca blinked her beautiful eyes, slightly surprised at the phrase ¡®life is precious, love is more valuable.¡¯ She was quite taken by this simple statement, as if it were a beautiful tale. The room fell silent, with just a man and woman lost in each other¡¯s gaze. Fang Hao held her chin, his gaze gradually intensifying, as he slowly lowered his head towards her beautiful face. Rebecca watched the man approach, her heart pounding like a drum. She didn¡¯t know what to do, whether to push him away. The two were so close that she could feel the heat of his breath. Rebecca immediately leaned back, ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡± Fang Hao paused. ¡°Huh?¡± After thinking for a second, he said, ¡°The moment has been leading up to this. It wouldn¡¯t be right if we don¡¯t kiss.¡± Rebecca¡¯s neck started to flush red. She retorted shyly, ¡°How¡­ how could we? What if someone found out?¡± Seeing that Rebecca was hesitant, Fang Hao quickly tried to reassure her. ¡°We are husband and wife. What are you afraid of? Besides, are you planning to go around telling everyone about this?¡± This¡­ Although Rebecca was not young, she had never been seriously involved with a man. Her previous husband Aubrey, was a husband in name only. Not to mention, she detested him and wouldn¡¯t dare to have such relations with him. But now, things have unexpectedly advanced this far with Fang Hao, leaving her a little confused. Rebecca¡¯s chest heaved as she thought of a retort, but nothing came out. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Just close your eyes, darling.¡± Rebecca clung tightly to her skirt, her face turned red, feeling like her head was about to explode. Her heart pounded hard. She closed her eyes, only to immediately open them back up. ¡°One time only,¡± she said through gritted teeth, ¡°I owe it to you for saving my life. And besides, I don¡¯t like men. If you spread rumors, I will rip¡­ mmph.¡± Before she finished her sentence, Fang Hao kissed her. He forcefully silenced her, leaving her with no place to speak. Rebecca¡¯s body tightened, and she didn¡¯t know what to do. Fang Hao seemed very natural and took the opportunity to wrap his hand around her waist, preventing her from leaning back and escaping. Rebecca held her breath, her eyes gradually becoming hazy. Her hands that were once unsettled now slowly wrapped itself around his neck. Time seemed to freeze in the moment. Rebecca¡¯s face was still very red. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes to look into the man¡¯s gaze. When they were really embraced like this, she realized she wasn¡¯t that repelled by men. At least, the man in front of her felt good. Gentle, considerate, and the comfortable feeling he brought. Could it be that she didn¡¯t actually dislike men, but just hadn¡¯t found one she liked yet? And perhaps, Fang Hao was just her type. Gradually, Rebecca tightened her hold around the man¡¯s neck, trying her best to reciprocate his passion. Just when she allowed herself to immerse and let her emotions run free. Rebecca suddenly felt her skirt getting lifted. Then, she felt a chill on her chest as a large hand clung onto it, started to grip. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± Rebecca let out a startled cry, one hand pushing Fang Hao away and the other hand pressing hard against his inside her clothe. She exclaimed angrily, ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡± Like an angry cat whose fur had been messed up, Rebecca angrily glared at Fang Hao. Ah¡­this¡­ Fang Hao put on an innocent face. No, they had been kissing for half an hour. It should be time for the next step. Moreover, he didn¡¯t have anywhere else to put his hand. Keeping it lifted was somewhat tiring. ¡°Um, I thought we could move to the next step, so¡­¡± ¡°Next step?¡± Rebecca¡¯s face turned redder. ¡°Get your hand out, who said you could go to the next step?¡± Seeing that Rebecca was genuinely angry. Fang Hao withdrew his hand. Along the way, Rebecca held it tightly to prevent him from making any mischievous movements. But Fang Hao already knew, Rebecca was quite¡­ endowed. It was the biggest and softest he had ever felt. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be angry. Let¡¯s just keep it at kissing,¡± he said, attempting to lean in again. Chapter 659 - Chapter 659: Chapter 481, The Atmosphere Is Here_2 Chapter 659: Chapter 481, The Atmosphere Is Here_2 Seeing Fang Hao about to lean in again, Rebecca promptly turned her head away. ¡°Hmph, keep dreaming, wait until I¡¯m in a good mood.¡± After speaking, she called out to the door: ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened and Rebecca¡¯s personal maid walked in. She took a glance at the scene in the room and softly said, ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°Hmm, the City Lord has not had breakfast yet, you take him to breakfast.¡± Rebecca said softly. ¡°Yes, City Lord, please follow me, I will prepare breakfast for you immediately.¡± The maid stepped aside and respectfully said. When things were starting to develop with Rebecca, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but feel reluctant to leave. However, seeing Rebecca¡¯s irritated expression, he didn¡¯t want to force anything. He was worried that his rising loyalty would drop due to this event. Either way, they had already made progress, and he wasn¡¯t afraid that she would run away. ¡°Ahem! Well, it¡¯s getting cold, remember to wear more clothes.¡± With that said, he followed the maid out of the room. The personal maid was Rebecca¡¯s confidante who had relayed messages during their joint operation to capture the Faceless Ones previously. She had been guarding the door all this while to prevent anyone from coming in. ¡°What would you like to eat, sir? I will have it prepared and sent to you.¡± The maid smiled and said. ¡°Keep it simple, just send it to my room.¡± ¡°Alright, the weather is cold. You should also dress warmly to avoid catching a cold.¡± Hmm? It seemed that the maid¡¯s attitude towards him had improved significantly. ¡°Hmm, okay. ¡± Fang Hao walked to his room. He couldn¡¯t help thinking about the somewhat alluring scenes from earlier. He savored the feelings from earlier. He had to admit, Rebecca was truly exquisite. Fang Hao didn¡¯t return to his room directly but instead told everyone to take a rest. Meanwhile, he prepared some cold-resistant clothes. He then distributed them to the soldiers. ¡­ The sound of the rain outside the window was still incessant. After Fang Hao left, the anger on Rebecca¡¯s face turned into blushes of shyness. She wanted to get up and have a drink, but found that her legs were a bit shaky. That scoundrel, calling me ¡®big sister!¡¯¡­ He really thought too much. Just thinking about Fang Hao made her heart beat faster again. Her heart was pounding. She couldn¡¯t get rid of the feeling of their lips touching each other. She touched her slightly aching lips. It seemed that he was very experienced at kissing, while she appeared rather awkward. Next time, she had to be more assertive, or else it would be quite embarrassing. ¡­ The rain came quickly and left just as fast. By dusk, the heavy rain had turned into a drizzle, and by the next morning, the sky was completely clear. Everyone got up early and began preparing for the journey ahead. The goods were loaded onto the wagons, tied tightly with hemp ropes, and covered with tarp. After having breakfast and dismantling the temporary shelter they had built, the group set off once again. They continued moving forward. However, the recent rains had left the roads muddy, slowing down their progress. They moved at a snail¡¯s pace. It took them four days to reach Jinmastu. It was clear that the security around Jinmastu was not as good as in Lyss City. On the day they were about to reach, they encountered several road robbers along the way. All of them were eliminated by Fang Hao¡¯s men, without causing any loss. Nearing the city wall. Rebecca arranged for someone to coordinate with the guards of Jinmastu. They checked the goods, registered them, and allowed the army to enter the city. According to the Federation¡¯s regulations, every city had to assist those attending the council meeting and could not create unnecessary obstacles. The team of 1,700 people still attracted the attention of the city¡¯s residents. People filled both sides of the road, chattering amongst themselves. In the crowd, a middle-aged man was also staring at the team ahead. First, he confirmed the flag. Then, he carefully counted the number of people in the team. Afterward, he left the crowd, took a detour down a side street and rushed deeper into the city. ¡­ In a low house in the civilian area. In a small room, twenty some people were either lying or sitting down. But the room was completely silent, no one spoke. Thump, thump, thump!! The door was knocked rhythmically. Originally, everyone had been on edge, but now they instantly relaxed, yet they still firmly gripped the weapons in their hands. One person, who was near the door, looked outside through the gap of the dilapidated wooden planks. Seeing that it was one of their own, he then opened the door. As soon as he stepped in, he immediately closed the door behind him. He spoke softly: ¡°Boss, Lyss City¡¯s troop has entered the city, and their numbers have increased to over a thousand.¡± ¡°What? How is that possible?¡± Everyone collectively gasped. After the exclamation, everyone quickly came to a realization. If Lyss City¡¯s army appeared here now, that would mean the Life-taker hideout no longer existed. They, these people, had narrowly escaped death right there. ¡°Thanks to Big Brother 3, otherwise we all would be dead in that hideout.¡± ¡°Yeah, Big Brother 3 did take everything into consideration. We not only survived but have also brought all our money.¡± ¡°Exactly, we will have good days following Big Brother 3.¡± The ¡°Big Brother¡± that everyone was talking about was Li Zhenhu, who sat silently on one side. Among these people, there were the soldiers he had recruited previously, and also some bandits who were loyal to him. In short, he had brought out more than twenty people, and the Life-taker hideout was probably non-existent by now. Despite all the flattery from his underlings, Li Zhenhu¡¯s face remained serious. He didn¡¯t doubt that Lyss City had the power to destroy the Life-taker hideout, but he knew they couldn¡¯t do it so quickly. Now that the hideout was destroyed so quickly, it was certain that Fang Hao had intervened. At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved in his heart that he had managed to escape in advance; otherwise, he might have died there too. Seeing that Li Zhenhu wasn¡¯t saying anything, the underlings who were flattering him felt a bit awkward. ¡°Um, boss, what should we do next?¡± someone quietly asked. Li Zhenhu thought for a bit, then said: ¡°Try not to go out too much lately. Be patient for a while and wait until they¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°Oh, all right, then boss, should we continue to get in touch with the nobles?¡± the underling continued to ask. Quite a few boxes of gold coins were lying under Li Zhenhu¡¯s bed. With his arms propped on his knees, Li Zhenhu contemplated. The original plan didn¡¯t seem to be fulfilling his ambition now. If Fang Hao could grow stronger with the support of Lyss City, then couldn¡¯t he also take a different path by reaching out to Jinmastu? Follow Fang Hao¡¯s old path. By then, he would also have the power to confront Fang Hao. After a long contemplation. When Li Zhenhu looked up again, his eyes were reignited with ambition. Depending on which noble, if you want to play, then play big. ¡°There¡¯s no rush, wait until they¡¯re gone. Let¡¯s plan out how to take over the city for ourselves.¡± ¡­ Nightfall. The door opened, and people dressed in various outfits walked in. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Hmm, any news on Li Zhenhu?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. These people did not enter the city with the procession. Instead, Fang Hao had arranged for them in advance, disguising themselves in different identities, and had entered the city even earlier. To gather information on Li Zhenhu. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, these people looked at each other. One of them said: ¡°Sir, five days ago, there indeed were some people looking like bandits who entered the city in a carriage, but their actions were covert. After they entered the city, they disappeared.¡± ¡°I bribed the city guards. They said there were a lot of new people in the city recently. They all came to avoid the winter, so it¡¯s not easy to figure out who are the bandits.¡± ¡°In the tavern, there is some information. But to find out their hiding place, we might need more time.¡± Everyone reported the information they brought back, one by one. It was confirmed that Li Zhenhu had indeed brought people into Jinmastu, but after entering, they went into hiding immediately. And at this time, the Lyss City army proudly entered the city. Those guys would definitely be even less willing to show themselves now. After thinking about it, he said: ¡°It¡¯s fine, they are lucky. Just wait and see. Hat¡¯s off to you, you can go and rest now.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The people once again bowed and exited the room. The night got deeper. Fang Hao continued to sit at the table, waiting quietly. Anjia stood watching on the side, yawning from boredom. Thump, thump¡­! The door was knocked again. Before Fang Hao could speak, the door was pushed open, and Lorrey¡¯s small head peeked in. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve found the blueprint for the cannon.¡± Chapter 660 - Chapter 660: Chapter 382, Field Gun Blueprint_1 Chapter 660: Chapter 382, Field Gun Blueprint_1 Through some source, Li Zhenhu purchased three cannons from Jinmastu. This was the reason why they could develop rapidly and break through the defenses of various towns and villages with ease. On their way forward, Fang Hao discussed this matter with Rebecca. According to Rebecca¡¯s words, Humans and various tribes have fought wars, and Jinmastu has been an important place to supply troops with military equipment, including the production of cannons. However, with the cessation of war and the City Lord of Silver Wing City consolidating the rights of various local City Lords, Jinmastu no longer allows the production and manufacture of weapons. The cannons that the bandits bought should have been produced a few years ago. Even so, they still hold significant power when used to attack villages. With this understanding, Fang Hao started to think further. Since Jinmastu has the capability to produce cannons, it is highly likely that they still have the blueprints. The blueprints would usually be stored in the machinery factory. Fang Hao decided to try his luck by sending Lorrey on a night mission. Unexpectedly, she did find it. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± As he received the blueprint from Lorrey, it immediately transformed into a beam of light and entered into the Book of Lords. [First Generation Field Cannon: Hardy Wood 110, Cast Iron block 450, Copper Ingot 120, Fine Iron 80, Essence of Destruction 2.] (Description: A field cannon made jointly by humans and dwarves. The large cannon barrel and heavy cannonball are enough to break through all enemy defenses.) Even this outdated model of a cannon uses fine iron and essence. But the power of the cannon is indeed great. If used in siege warfare, it would undoubtedly be of great value. ¡°Sir, is this what you were looking for?¡± Lorrey asked in a whisper. ¡°Yes, well done.¡± Fang Hao tousled her hair. If it were anyone else, Lorrey would have definitely gotten angry and swatted their hand away. But with Fang Hao, she simply showed a smiling face. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m glad I could help, sir. Can I share a room with Anjia tonight?¡± Lorrey asked, her eyes wide and hopeful. Fang Hao glanced at Anjia, who was nearby. He looked at both of them suspiciously, ¡°You two aren¡¯t planning some sort of scheme, are you? Planning to go out and play?¡± ¡°N-no, of course not.¡± Lorrey quickly waved her hands. Anjia was also startled, her face revealing her shock. ¡°Let Aseti take you two out for a bit, but make sure you are back before midnight,¡± Fang Hao relented after some thought. With Anjia and Lorrey¡¯s skills, it would be hard to keep an eye on them. If they snuck out, it could lead to unexpected problems. Anyway, since they were in the city, letting them go out for a bit of fun was fine. ¡°Sure!¡± Both Anjia and Lorrey burst out energetically. They ran off excitedly to find Aseti. ¡­ With Anjia gone, Fang Hao found some peace. He asked for some fruit tea, lay down on his bed, and flipped open the Book of Lords to spend his time. The disappearance of Li Zhenhu caused no stir in the channel. Perhaps, the disappearance of anyone was seen as a perfectly normal phenomenon to everyone else. ¡°Selling a blue armor set. Only one set, first come first serve.¡± ¡°Selling the [Fairy Wall Lamp Blueprint], private chat if interested.¡± ¡°Tianmei Furniture City, selling all kinds of furniture. Accepting orders for customized furniture. If interested, private chat with the required size. Deposit required, pay on delivery, integrity guaranteed.¡± A streak of advertisements appear on the screen. Fang Hao skimmed over them, saw no blueprint that he needed, and decided to temporarily block similar messages. Swish! The advertisements disappeared instantly, and people¡¯s chat appeared. ¡°Damn, I¡¯ve had three waves of bandits here in five days, all here to steal food. If it wasn¡¯t for my troops, I would have been an easy target.¡± ¡°Yes, we are all preparing for winter, cities have started to collect grains from villages.¡± ¡°I have plenty of food. When the time comes, I can sell it at a discount to my brothers.¡± ¡°Damn! The dwarves on my side are going mad, about to fight with me.¡± ¡°Beat the crap out of them!¡± ¡°Beat the hell out of them.¡± ¡°Why beat them? Would that not bring trouble to their loved ones, do you understand?¡± ¡°How to fight against them anyway? If we beat them, more will come, it¡¯s so annoying.¡± ¡°I heard that nowadays many original inhabitants are catching transmigrators. If you can¡¯t deal with it, run. Anyway, never let them catch you.¡± Looking at this, Fang Hao furrowed his eyebrows. He didn¡¯t know how many dwarf forces there were in this region. The dwarves like Bellerga were from Eight Peaks Mountain. A while ago, there was a civil war in the Eight Peaks Mountain. The internal factions fought, Bellerga¡¯s faction was driven out, and finally tamed by Fang Hao, settling in Blood Mountain Range. He wondered if the dwarves mentioned in the channel were from Eight Peaks Mountain. If they were, then the dwarves in power now would be too warlike. Or maybe they didn¡¯t have enough reserves for the winter and needed to war externally to secure sufficient resources. These dwarves really don¡¯t let people live in peace. After watching the chat in the channel for a while, he switched to the [Territory Channel]. At this time, the Territory Channel was very lively. Since there¡¯s no limit to the number of messages one can send in this channel, people are more active. As soon as he switched to this channel, the new member, Lan Yang, became the main driver of conversation. Lan Yang: ¡°I will perform a unique skill for you, Dentistry of a Tiger [Image].¡± He also attached a picture. In the picture, Lan Yang put his head into the mouth of the Golden Lion and made a terrified face, as if about to be eaten. Chapter 661 - Chapter 661: Chapter 382, Field Gun Blueprint_2 Chapter 661: Chapter 382, Field Gun Blueprint_2 Zhang Bin, ¡°Wow, little beauty Lan Yang, you¡¯re amazing.¡± He Yueyi, ¡°[Smiling face].¡± Fu Lei, ¡°666.¡± Xu Yang, ¡°666.¡± Yang Xiaolan, ¡°Wow, such a huge lion. Is it your pet?¡± Lan Yang, ¡°Yeah, I have many pets. Let me show you guys [Picture].¡± The picture showed a towering black bear with Lan Yang standing next to it, barely reaching the bear¡¯s waist. It showcased the colossal size of the bear. Xu Yang, ¡°This bear is so massive and even obedient, owning a circus would surely make you rich.¡± The comment indeed brought an idea into Lan Yang¡¯s mind. ¡°Oh right, that makes sense. I¡¯ll start training them right now, and later tonight I¡¯ll perform a show for you guys.¡± ¡°Sure, sure!¡± Everyone was indifferent because all of them were going to be bored at night anyway. Having Lan Yang, a source of entertainment, made the chat channel much more lively. Within the channel are many names that Fang Hao is unfamiliar with. These people joined the territory later through connections with Fu Lei, Zhang Bin, and others. For example, Yang Xiaolan, who talks a lot, is a city lord under the management of Dong Jiayue. Dong Jiayue, ever since she got the support of Fang Hao¡¯s military force. Has been ceaselessly expanding her territory. The number of transmigrators she recruited is the highest within the territory. She has quite the gang leader style. Fang Hao was observing everyone chatting for a while. He then spoke in the channel: ¡°Everyone start gathering resources for the winter, mainly food and warm clothing. I¡¯ll provide some weapons and armors; try to exchange them with the locals. You can recruit refugees, but not bandits or thieves as they¡¯re hard to manage.¡± After sending this message, the rolling chat room suddenly halted. Lan Yang, ¡°Tummy¡¯s stone broken [Picture].¡± She quickly retracted the message she just sent. Zhang Bin, ¡°Received!¡± Lan Yang, ¡°Received!¡± Fu Lei,¡±Received!¡± ¡­,¡±Received!¡± One after another, messages rolled in, confirming receipt. If everyone took care of their own cities, they could survive the winter without issue. However, within the territory, there are still many local residents who need to survive the winter. They need to prepare even more resources. ¡°Alright, continue chatting,¡± Fang Hao said. After several minutes. Lan Yang re-sent the picture that was retracted, ¡°Tummy¡¯s stone broken, [Picture].¡± What a zany girl. She actually claims to be intelligent. At this time, the sound of a horse-drawn carriage could be heard from outside the window. Looking down from the window. A carriage slowly stopped. Rebecca, assisted by her maid, descended from the carriage. She was returning from a banquet. An idea sprung into Fang Hao¡¯s mind. He took out a carved pendant from his pocket, holding it in his hand. He hadn¡¯t had a chance to see Rebecca for a few days. Now might be an excellent opportunity to give her the jade pendant. ¡­ Upon exiting his room, he saw Rebecca and her maid coming up the stairs. ¡°City Lord,¡± the maid greeted with a smile, and a slight bow. Upon seeing Fang Hao, Rebecca instinctively took a step back. Her face reddened slightly. But she swiftly pulled herself together, her gaze steady. She glanced at Fang Hao and softly asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you retired to bed yet?¡± ¡°Well, not yet. It seems you¡¯ve had some wine?¡± Rebecca¡¯s face was slightly flushed, but not from alcohol. She couldn¡¯t honestly confess this, so instead she said, ¡°Just a little fruit wine, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good, just remember to brush your teeth before bed to prevent toothache,¡± Fang Hao commented suddenly. Rebecca gave him a frowning look, thinking, I¡¯m not a child, do I really need to be reminded to brush my teeth before bed! ¡°Okay, I got it. Anything else?¡± Rebecca asked. Fang Hao hesitated for a moment, and then softly said, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s talk in your room.¡± Thump, thump¡ª! Upon hearing these words, Rebecca¡¯s heart pounded like a drum. Causing her full chest to rise and fall gently. ¡°Can¡¯t it wait until tomorrow?¡± Rebecca asked quietly. ¡°Anyway, you haven¡¯t slept yet. It won¡¯t take long, and won¡¯t disturb your rest,¡± Fang Hao replied casually. Rebecca¡¯s cheeks turned even redder. ¡®It won¡¯t take long¡¯. That statement. Sounds somehow inappropriate no matter how she interprets it. ¡°Come in,¡± Rebecca said emotionlessly then walked into her room. Fang Hao followed her into the room. The maid, being very thoughtful, shut the door and guarded it. Inside the spacious and tidy room, only the man and the woman remained. Fang Hao sat on a chair, appreciatively studying Rebecca¡¯s face and red lips. As Rebecca sat down at the table and poured a cup of water for herself, she noticed Fang Hao¡¯s gaze. She said angrily, ¡°You¡¯re staring at me all the time, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s so good to look at.¡± ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you wear makeup.¡± Rebecca snorted lightly, glanced at her reflection in the window. ¡°This is all because of you transmigrators. You call it cosmetics, and since I bought it, I thought I¡¯d give it a try.¡± ¡°Indeed, this makeup suits you well.¡± I didn¡¯t need you to tell me that.¡± Rebecca retorted, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point. I have to be travel tomorrow. I need my rest.¡± Fang Hao, hearing this, stopped beating around the bush. He took a transparent white jade pendant from his pocket and placed it on the table. ¡°Considering your status, you can buy whatever you want. The only thing I can give you is something you can¡¯t buy from outside.¡± Chapter 662 - Chapter 662: Chapter 382, Blueprint of Artillery for Field Combat_3 Chapter 662: Chapter 382, Blueprint of Artillery for Field Combat_3 Rebecca¡¯s gaze flitted to the jade pendant on the table, a very brief flash of joy in her eyes. However, the words that came out of her mouth were completely unrelated to it. ¡°Once we leave Jinmastu, the road will be much safer. We need to quicken our pace then, in an effort to catch up on the lost time.¡± Fang Hao, leaning back in his chair, responded, ¡°Alright, I will arrange it.¡± While their conversation seemed rather directionless, Rebecca didn¡¯t use sleep as an excuse to send him away again. After talking for a while, Rebecca began to feel tired and started yawning. In turn, Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan to linger any longer either. He stood up and once again held her chin with his hand. Rebecca, sitting in her chair, was immediately taken aback. Before she could even make a sound, Fang Hao covered her mouth, pointed to the door and whispered, ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t let the outside hear.¡± Uttering these words, he kissed her heavily under her shocked gaze. Rebecca angrily and bashfully pounded his shoulders. But Fang Hao held her tightly, his grip strong like a vise. She dared not make too much noise for fear that outsiders would hear it. As the kiss became gentler, Rebecca ceased her struggles. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders as she responding to his advances. It lasted a long time. Only reluctantly did they part. Rebecca instantly cleared her head, bolted upright, her face and neck flushed. Before she could speak, her gaze instinctively swept towards the door. She glared fiercely at the young, handsome man in front of her. Fang Hao, completely unabashed, moved closer, lowering his voice, ¡°Dear sister¡­, perhaps I should stay.¡± Rebecca almost choked. The term ¡°dear sister¡± sent a shiver down her spine. Between gritted teeth, she retorted, ¡°In your dreams. Go to sleep.¡± Seeing Rebecca sternly refuse, Fang Hao had no choice but to open the door, give a slight smile to the maid, and return to his room. Once Fang Hao had left, Rebecca sat back at the table. Picking up the jade pendant, she examined it closely. The quality of the pendant was incredible, feeling warm and smooth in her hands. It was an obvious sign of exceptional quality. ¡°He sure knows how to win a woman¡¯s heart.¡± As her fingers traced the pendant, she felt something carved on the back. Turning it around for a look. She noticed a miniature carving on the back. Admittedly, the crafting skill was nothing to write home about, it even seemed a bit of a waste for such a precious piece of jade. The design was simple, a man and a woman. The woman sat on the edge of a bed, while the man held her chin with one hand, about to kiss her. Thud! Rebecca¡¯s steady heartbeat thundered back to life. She felt as if she was reliving their kiss. ¡°Madam, the hot water is ready. You can take a bath now,¡± came the voice of the maid. Rebecca placed the jade pendant around her neck, tucking it into her cleavage. ¡°Mmm, I see,¡± she replied. ¡­ Meanwhile¡­ Silver Wing City, within the residence of Groot Marshal. Inside a room echoed the sounds of a man¡¯s ragged breathing and a woman¡¯s moans. It was not long before their sounds subsided. Only the woman¡¯s reluctant voice remained, ¡°Master, where are you going? Why are you leaving¡­?¡± Propping himself up with one hand on his waist, Groot Marshal slowly left the bedroom, heading to his study. He opened the door, lifted the lampshade and the glow of the Nightstone instantly filled the room. Following the glow, he took out a wooden box from beneath his desk. Inside the box lay a horn from a dragon rhinoceros. Using a knife, he carefully scraped a bit of powder from the horn, stirring it into his tea. Just as he was about to put away the horn. Rapid footsteps could be heard outside the door. Approaching was a knock on the door. Thud. Thud.! ¡°What is it!¡± Groot grumbled, clearly disgruntled. Irritated by his performance, the last thing he needed was to be disturbed. ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve received word from our informants in Jinmastu. The bandits failed, and the convoy from Lyss City arrived in Jinmastu today.¡± Groot¡¯s expression turned even more sour upon hearing this news. Chapter 663 - Chapter 663: Chapter 483, Dwarf Siege_1 Chapter 663: Chapter 483, Dwarf Siege_1 ¡°Come in and report¡­¡± The door to the room opened, and the butler walked in. He bowed slightly and was about to report when he noticed the rhinoceros horn in Groot¡¯s hand. The idea that rhinoceros horn could enhance virility was hardly a secret. This belief had driven the price of the rhinoceros horn to astronomical heights. Groot, catching the butler¡¯s glance, realized that he had left the horn out. He spoke quietly, ¡°Ah, this is prepared for Hubert. He¡¯s been having some trouble in that department. He asked me to keep an eye out for it while I was managing the caravan.¡± Showing no change in expression, the butler stated, ¡°Considering the time, Lord Hubert¡¯s party should be arriving soon.¡± Groot nodded slightly, choosing not to continue on this subject. Instead, he brooded and asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying those fellows screwed up? They failed to capture Rebecca?¡± Mentioning Rebecca caused Groot to feel a surge of heat in his lower body. He was suddenly aware of some sensation. He hadn¡¯t even drunk the medicinal wine yet! The butler stood rigidly, his face equally somber. ¡°According to the information, the party from Lyss City entered Jinmastu this morning with quite a large number of people. From their appearance, they don¡¯t seem to have taken any losses.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying, those bandits took my money and didn¡¯t do the job, letting Rebecca slip away?¡± Groot slammed his hand down onto the table. Their involvement in this was a significant risk. The butler quickly clarified, ¡°At first, that¡¯s what our men thought. They rushed to confront the bandits, only to find out that control of the bandit camp had changed hands.¡± Hearing this, Groot¡¯s eyes widened. No more camp? New leadership? ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± The reason Groot agreed to involve these bandits was not only their proficiency in such deeds but also their considerable strength. More than three thousand men going after a passing group was supposed to be an easy task. Even Lyss City supposedly couldn¡¯t eliminate a gang of over three thousand bandits that easily. ¡°How many people did Rebecca bring?¡± ¡°Over a thousand.¡± ¡°How could a thousand people wipe out a bandit camp? That¡¯s impossible!¡± The butler pondered before saying, ¡°Perhaps some others helped. Our people did see that the bandit camp was now occupied by people other than bandits.¡± The room fell silent for quite a while. Finally, Groot gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Ah, I should not have put my faith in those trash. A bunch of useless items. If they wanted to die, they should have done so earlier and not wasted my time.¡± ¡°Sir, what should we do next? They will set off tomorrow morning. Should we continue our plan?¡± Groot ultimately waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Ah! Forget it. They will be entering Silver Wing City¡¯s territory soon. Trying to eliminate over a thousand people without leaving any trace is too difficult. I¡¯ll think of a way to get to them in the city.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re very thoughtful, sir.¡± ¡°Alright, you may leave. Oh, do keep an eye on any new mercenaries in the city. We need some unfamiliar faces, preferably ones who wouldn¡¯t be missed.¡± ¡°Understood, sir. It won¡¯t be hard to find such people.¡± ¡°Good, leave.¡± As the butler was about to leave, something seemed to occur to him. He turned back cautiously and said, ¡°Sir, I heard from the transmigrators that tiger penis is highly effective. How about I get some, and later you can send it to Lord Hubert? After all, you¡¯ve been friends for many years.¡± Groot paused, lightly coughed, ¡°Is it effective?¡± ¡°I heard that if it is soaked in wine and consumed for several days, the effects get increasingly potent.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re thoughtful indeed. Get some, and I¡¯ll send it to Hubert later.¡± ¡°Very well, I won¡¯t disturb your rest any longer, sir.¡± Having said that, the butler left the room. Groot picked up the water soaked with ¡°horn powder¡± and took a sip. He noticed its effects, but they were not that remarkable. Just mentioning Rebecca was more effective. He again thought of the tiger penis that the butler proposed, and felt a sense of anticipation¡­ ¡­ After leaving Rebecca¡¯s place¡­ Fang Hao poured himself a cup of tea before lying down on the bed, attempting to sleep. His mind was filled with the image of Rebecca¡¯s shy face, restraining her feelings. As he thought about this, sleepiness began to wave over him. Just as he was feeling cloudy and about to drift off¡­ Ding¡ª¡ª! The Book of Lords suddenly issued a private chat alert. ¡°Who the hell is that? Not sleeping in the middle of the night!¡± Fang Hao complained grumpily. Though annoyed, he still got up to check the message. He opened the Book of Lords and found that Deng Bin had sent a private trade request. Flax, iron ore, rare essences, even furniture, and lamps were included in the request. The quantity of flax alone amounted to tens of thousands of units. The trade was a free trade, meaning Fang Hao could accept the request by offering just a single unit of wood. Fang Hao didn¡¯t understand what Deng Bin was doing. Was she moving houses, or had she encountered some trouble? He sent a private message, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± But his message seemed to disappear into thin air with no response coming from the other side. Fang Hao checked again and Deng Bin¡¯s avatar was not greyed out, which meant she was okay. After some thought, he decided to accept the trade and pass the items to Zhang Bin. He couldn¡¯t carry them on his travel anyway. If it was a mistake on her part, he would just return the items later. ¡­ On the other side¡­ In Deng Bin¡¯s territory, a row of torches illuminated the entire city wall. The archers lined up on the wall, arrows at the ready, their eyes nervously fixed on the area beyond the city walls. Underneath the city walls, over two thousand soldiers and armed peasants formed a formation, ready and waiting. Chapter 664 - Chapter 664: Chapter 483, Dwarf Siege_2 Chapter 664: Chapter 483, Dwarf Siege_2 Including some auxiliary troops, the total counted up to almost three thousand people. Deng Bin, clad in leather armor, with a knight¡¯s sword at her waist, her face cold. Approximately 300 meters outside the city, hundreds of well-equipped dwarfs were marshaling their forces. Preparing to lay siege it seemed. Recently, the dwarves had been particularly active. The patrolling soldiers always brought back news of dwarves attacking nearby territories. Moreover, they had even seen humans, bound in chains like slaves, being led towards Eight Peaks Mountain. Although Deng Bin realized that the dwarves might turn against her at any moment, She still held onto a slight glimmer of hope. Hoping that the cooperation between them that had lasted for a while could still maintain the peace. But now, with troops being congregated beneath the city gates, her wishful thinking seemed incredibly naive. ¡°My Lady, the numbers of the Dwarfs are not significant. At this rate, it¡¯s nearly impossible for them to breach the city.¡± the hero Zakery, walking briskly, said solemnly. Zackery was a hero saved by Deng Bin in the wilderness. He later joined her territory, and Deng Bin had spent a lot of effort to win his loyalty. But there was no other way; heroes were a rare commodity. After hearing Zackery¡¯s remark, Deng Bin also nodded. The Dwarfs amounted to less than a thousand. Their formation fell into two groups. One consisted of Dwarfs wielding shields and single-handed axes, and the other group equipped with breach-loaders. Whether there were others lurking further in the dark was still unclear. Although the breach-loaders posed a certain threat, her city was not defenseless. She bred flax herself and acquired materials from Fang Hao. Her rate of development was top-tier within the station, with a level 9 city wall, and she was currently gathering resources for level 10. The number of troops and armed peasants had reached nearly 3000. Merely relying on these dwarfs, she was still confident she could defend. ¡°Hmm, these shorties actually thought we¡¯re soft, and could be easily manipulated.¡± Deng Bin said with a cold voice. While the two were whispering to each other, A change was observed in the formation of the dwarfs. The shield soldiers began to scatter, and some siege engines were pushed to the front. The sight of these siege engines instantly made Deng Bin and Zackery¡¯s faces turn solemn. Cannons and ballistas. As expected, how could the dwarfs, known for their machinery, attempt to break a city through mere manpower? The design of the dwarf¡¯s machinery was unique, but the thick round barrel was clearly a cannon. And there was more than one. The emergence of the siege engines made Deng Bin lose confidence. If it were only the Dwarfs, she was not afraid as long as she had her city, even though their equipment was superior. But with cannons that could potentially break the city gates, What were their chances of winning ¡­? Zackery had already left, and after a while, he quickly returned. Lowering his voice he said: ¡°My Lady, at the East Gate, a horse has been prepared for you. If the city falls, you must flee to the east.¡± Seemingly Zackery too had lost most of his confidence with the arrival of these siege engines. ¡°I am not leaving. Besides, with so many of us, we might just be able to beat these dwarfs.¡± Deng Bin gritted her teeth. ¡°Of course, if we are able to endure, we should fight to the end. But¡­ but if we truly cannot hold on, there¡¯s no point in staying and dying needlessly.¡± Zackery said in a deep voice. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that when the time comes¡­¡± Right then, when both were conversing, A dwarf riding a giant-antlered deer, under the watchful eyes of all, came out of the dwarfs¡¯ formation. He headed directly towards the city. His armor was edged in gold and silver and a thick red beard trailed down to his chest. With a casual sweep of his eyes over the soldiers standing on the city walls, he sneered and said: ¡°Miss Deng Bin, His Majesty, King Rune of Eight Peaks Mountain, invites you to be his guest at the mountain. Please come with us!¡± There was a substantial difference between the words and the tone from the dwarf standing beneath the city walls. His tone was arrogant and threatening, but his words were polite. This fake courtesy made Deng Bin as sick to her stomach as if she was looking at maggots. But on the surface, Deng Bin responded with a smile, saying loudly: ¡°Oh, if King Rune is inviting, how could I possibly refuse?¡± After a moment of pondering, she continued: ¡°In fact, I have been intending to thank Eight Peaks Mountain for their assistance, but I¡¯ve been troubled about what kind of gift I should prepare¡­ why not enter the city and help me decide?¡± Screech¡ª¡ª! As soon as the words fell, the tightly closed city gates suddenly opened a crack. Enough for the dwarf standing beneath the city to enter. The dwarf on the giant-antlered deer¡¯s eyes flickered. Looking at the gates in front of him, he didn¡¯t seem to want to enter. He was astonished at Deng Bin¡¯s audacity in opening the city gates at such a perilous time. Did she not understand the gravity of the situation, or did she have other intentions? From the looks of it, she didn¡¯t seem too nervous. Did she have some sort of backup plan? ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to enter. King Rune isn¡¯t particularly interested in your gift. Why don¡¯t you come down and join us?¡± the dwarf beneath the wall spoke again. On the top of the city wall, Deng Bin¡¯s heart pounded. She had even made the plan that as soon as they entered, she would order them to be killed immediately. ¡°Sir, after all, I¡¯m a woman. It¡¯s a bit inappropriate to invite a woman over late in the night, and with no prior notice. How about early tomorrow morning, after I¡¯ve dressed and freshened up, and then I¡¯ll come along with you.¡± Deng Bin continued, raising her voice. The city gates were closed tight again, placing both sides in a stalemate once more. The dwarf beneath the city, naturally, realized Deng Bin was using all sorts of excuses to avoid leaving. The situation had already made him somewhat impatient. The giant-antlered deer began to wander restlessly. The dwarf, out of rage, pounded his fist on the deer¡¯s neck to make it stand still. Chapter 665 - Chapter 665: Chapter 483, Dwarf Attacks the City_3 Chapter 665: Chapter 483, Dwarf Attacks the City_3 Seeing that Deng Bin was unwilling to come out, the dwarfs did not waste any more time. They said coldly, ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t blame us, Deng Bin.¡± After speaking, they turned around and walked away. On the city wall, Deng Bin¡¯s eyes hardened, ¡°Kill him.¡± Zackery the hero immediately drew his bow and took aim. Ping¨C¨C! The bowstring lightly sounded, and an arrow shot out. The dwarven deer rider had just turned around when he saw the icy arrow coming from the corner of his eye. He leaned his body forward. The whole person then lay on the giant deer¡¯s back while the arrow sparked upon the iron helmet and flew past. Having had a close brush with death, the dwarf was filled with fear. Whacking the giant deer, it hurriedly sprinted back to the dwarf camp. Woo¨C¨C¨C! Then, the bugle sounded. The dwarves began their movement, closing their distance. Deng Bin watched the dwarves, her eyes filled with a deep chill. ¡°Archers, prepare. All soldiers, prepare.¡± Deng Bin shouted. Shwwsh shwwsh shwwsh!! All the archers drew the arrows from their belts, making their final preparations. However, what happened next turned Deng Bin¡¯s face ashen. Her heart overflowed with despair. ¡­ Just as all the soldiers had made their preparations. The dwarves did not initiate an assault, instead, they started to adjust the muzzle angle of their cannons. Then came a series of thunderous roars. Boom boom boom!! The cannons echoed across the world. ¡°Find cover, be careful of the can¡­¡± Boom boom¡­ Before she could finish, the city wall began shaking violently. Bang! A cannonball hit the upper part of the city wall, the earth and stones exploded. The nearby archers were blown away, their flesh scattering around the city. Boom boom boom!! The city wall trembled time and time again, making the soldiers stagger, struggling to stay upright. People were continuously blown away. Blinding flames constantly exploded below and above the city wall. The wall began to break, with debris falling down like raindrops. The city¡¯s defending soldiers were immediately suppressed, they could only bow their backs, scurrying back and forth on the city wall flattening the injured soldiers underneath. ¡°Kill!!¡± While all the city defenders couldn¡¯t lift their heads. Down below, the dwarves began to cry out their attack. The hook-tipped siege ladders made contact with the city wall, and the dwarf foot soldiers, holding their shields, began to climb upwards. Deng Bin slapped her buzzing ears, glanced downwards. The enemy¡¯s cannons had stopped. The dwarf infantry began their attack and the dwarf archers continued their suppression fire. Deng Bin helped up an archer next to her, loudly shouting, ¡°Archers attack, throw the stones and logs, now¡­¡± The dazed archer, who was blown away, immediately stood up and began shooting downwards. The auxiliary troops began transporting stones, rolling logs, throwing them down from the city wall. Below, the dwarves howled in pain. Step step step!! Zackery quickly walked over, bending over to speak, ¡°The city gate is still intact, but it definitely won¡¯t withstand the second cannon attack. Once the gate is open, it will be hard to defend.¡± He phrased it mildly. Once the city gate is open and considering the quality of the dwarf soldiers, the soldiers in the city will certainly be overwhelmed by the dwarves. When that time comes, it will truly be a disaster. Deng Bin didn¡¯t respond, instead she raised her head and looked around. Whoosh! A bullet flew past her cheek. Causing her to pull her head back in. But immediately, she poked her head out again to quickly glance at the dwarf camp. Cries of killing surrounded her ears. Leaning on the battlement, Deng Bin closed her eyes in contemplation. In her mind, she was visualizing the enemy¡¯s formation and considering counterstrategies. After carefully weighing the pros and cons. When she reopened her eyes, they were filled with a ruthless determination. She said coldly, ¡°Zackery, you lead everyone below, leave through the north city gate and sneak attack their artillery and archers from behind.¡± Zackery was taken aback, his brows creasing. ¡°What about you? Without the troops, what will you do if they break in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. If you succeed, drive them away. If not, retreat eastwards. I will also retreat with my people and we can regroup at Crown Stone Forest,¡± Deng Bin explained. Zackery gritted his teeth, ¡°Alright.¡± With that, he took the troops and left. In no time, the north city gate opened quietly. Large numbers of soldiers used the cover of darkness to leave. In the city, there were only slightly more than five hundred soldiers left, relying on the city wall to fend off the enemy. However, as time passed, casualties began to rise. Of the five hundred soldiers left behind, less than two hundred were left now. Deng Bin was covered in blood, panting heavily. She swept her long sword sideways, using the momentum to kick a dwarf off the city wall. Just at that moment, cries of killing sounded from the right side of the dwarf camp. One could see Zackery leading the foot soldiers, circling back, and directly charging at the dwarves. Deng Bin¡¯s face lit up with joy. However, this joy didn¡¯t last long as it quickly turned into confusion and doubt. Facing the enemy from behind. The dwarves handling the machinery didn¡¯t show any signs of panic, instead, they controlled the machinery methodically. They turned a four-barreled cannon in the direction of Zackery and the rest. The cold muzzle faced Zackery and the others. The next second. The four-barreled cannon emitted a loud roar. Pong pong pong¨C¨C! Sounds resembling the banging of a copper tube echoed. The charging humans were mired in clouds of blood. Blood and body parts splattered everywhere. In the blink of an eye, a large number of the human side were dead or injured. Zackery frowned, looking around him, the comrades who had been charging with him had disappeared. All that was left was a wide-open space, filled with red blood mist. Chapter 666 - Chapter 666: Chapter 484, The Rabbit is a Bit Naive _1 Chapter 666: Chapter 484, The Rabbit is a Bit Naive _1 Boom! Boom! Boom! ¡ª¡ª! The sound of cannons being fired continued chiming like clanging copper pipes. Cannonballs whizzed past, splattering severed limbs everywhere. The Human Clan, before even reaching the Dwarf Camp, had already suffered significant casualties. Zackery, who had been leading the charge, found his steps slowing down. He wiped off the blood that had splattered on him and glanced uncertainly at his sides. Fleetingly, his face turned monstrously pale. There were bits of flesh and blood everywhere. Those still alive were already in panic, completely devoid of fighting spirit. Zackery tried to say something to boost morale. But his words were drowned out by the booming of falling cannonballs, failing to reach the ears of the remaining men. A feeling of helplessness surged within him. The gap between both sides was just too big. When it came to their equipment level, they were simply on different spectrums. He looked up towards the direction of their territory. On the city wall, Deng Bin frantically waved his arms, pointing towards the northeast. He was gesturing for them to retreat toward the northeast. Zackery glanced again at the distant dwarf machinery position. There, the dwarfs were hunkered behind their defenses. Charging in with his men, they would likely stand no chance of beating them. Nodding towards Deng Bin¡¯s direction, Zackery yelled, ¡°Retreat! Follow me, retreat!¡± The sound of cannon fire drowned his voice. But the surrounding soldiers, catching sight of his movement, were able to guess his intention. Behind Zackery, they trampled over corpses and blood, fleeing into the distance. At the same time, Deng Bin saw Zackery¡¯s team retreating. He did not hesitate anymore. He got down from the city wall and activated the machinery he had gotten from Fang Hao. During a lull in the cannon fire, he told the remaining soldiers, ¡°Let the machinery cover our rear; everyone else, follow me and retreat ¡ª be quick!¡± No one bothered to grab their belongings. Following Deng Bin, they left through another city gate and ran towards Crown Stone Forest. Behind them, amidst the rumble of a collapse, the city gate was completely shattered. The dwarves stormed the city. When the machinery sensed the enemy, it slowly rose and swung its sword. It held the enemy off. ¡­ Two days passed. The sky was a clear blue without a single cloud. The sun was as scorching as a fireball. At a beastmen marketplace on the east side of Tasgo Orc City¡­. One after another, wagons were unloaded, revealing loads full of swords, as well as various defensive gears. Rabbitmaid Millie, hands on her hips, stood on a wagon loudly shouting, ¡°Come and look, weapons from the human city are here; they kill as easily as cutting vegetables.¡± At her loud cries, the small and slender rabbitmaid, with inexplicably large breasts, immediately attracted the attention of many beastmen around her. According to the customs of the beastmen, the Rabbitmen Clan is the bottommost of beastmen tribes. With weak figures that barely earned the recognition of any beastman. The only value they had was that they could be sold at a good price to human nobles. Bunny girls appearing at beastmen gatherings always tread carefully. Never so ostentatious like this. ¡°Hey! This little thing, she¡¯s got a big chest. If we get her to the human side, she will ¡­¡± murmured a beastman with a mocking smile on his face as he approached. But a step in, his companion grabbed his arm. He pointed to the troop beside the bunny girl. Fully armed beastmen, nearly a thousand of them. Additionally, there was a woman, casually sharpening spider legs with a file by the wagon. Clearly a hero. Instantly, the beastman silenced himself, conscious that Millie had heard his comment. Her face hardened, ¡°Which creed do you belong to? Who is your boss, I don¡¯t strike the nameless under my sword. If you want to see your ancestor, tell me your name.¡± At her words, there was a stunned silence. Why was there such a rogue vibe from the bunny? This rabbit, why is she so assertive? ¡°Cough cough, I didn¡¯t say anything, I just want to ask how much these weapons are.¡± A beastman changed his tone and asked the price. Millie glanced at him, then declared loudly, ¡°Not for sale!¡± ¡°Not for sale? Weren¡¯t you shouting about selling these just now? If you¡¯re not selling, why did you bring them here?¡± A beastman asked loudly. ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m not selling, we¡¯re trading for pelts, food, we need it all.¡± Hearing this, the beastmen began to buzz with discussion. The noise and gathering here started to spread. More and more beastmen gathered, even those at the booths were looking curiously in their direction. ¡°Really? You¡¯re willing to trade weapons for pelts?¡± Another beastman asked. ¡°You¡¯re not going to trick us, are you? Be careful, we can break your neck if you go back on your word.¡± Beastmen aren¡¯t like humans. They primarily hunt and keep livestock, they seldom plant crops. Every tribe had a vast amount of pelts, Therefore, pelts weren¡¯t valuable here. Moreover, most beastmen had sturdy bodies that could bear the cold winter with just a few pelts. For these reasons, pelts at this time were hard to sell, barely anyone wanted them. In addition, every winter was the most chaotic time for the tribes. Those with insufficient food reserves would launch attacks on other tribes. At this time, weapons and armor were in high demand. Hearing the noise, A booth owner brought pelts that were difficult to sell and ran over, He asked loudly, ¡°I have pelts, how do I trade?¡± Millie held up her five slender fingers and shouted, ¡°One for five ¡­¡± ¡°Okay, I have more than a hundred here, trade two with me!¡± The beastman threw the bundle of pelts forward. ¡°Ah?¡± Looking at the trade goods on the ground, Millie was stunned. Chapter 667 - Chapter 667: Chapter 484, The Rabbit is a Bit Simple_2 Chapter 667: Chapter 484, The Rabbit is a Bit Simple_2 The stall owner¡¯s expression changed immediately, ¡°What you just said, why are you going back on your word?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Millie turned her head to look at Domina, who was still concentratedly repairing her spider leg. ¡°Trade, like this, you are the first one to trade, I will give you an extra one.¡± Millie said, picking up three single-handed battle knives and threw them to the other party. The latter received them and began to carefully inspect them. It¡¯s a single-handed war knife. The blade was sharp, with a touch it could cut the finger. The back of the blade was wide and thick, giving a substantial feeling when swung. The hilt was wrapped with fine beast skin ropes to prevent it from slipping off during a swing. ¡°Good knife, good knife!¡± The orc waved it around while singing praises. People around him kept their distance. But they also noticed that the quality of the war knife was quite good. If ranked, it was probably already at the green level, or even blue level. The surrounding orcs also gathered around. ¡°How is it, how is the quality of this knife?¡± Someone asked curiously. The orc put away the three knives with a happy face, ¡°It¡¯s a good knife, and the weight is ideal, not as light as previous human weapons.¡± ¡°Huh? Such a good item, should you trade your fur for it?¡± The orc leaned in slightly, lowered his voice and said, ¡°I feel this rabbit is a bit simple, actually transporting human weapons from such a far place just to exchange for fur, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s simple?¡± ¡°Hmm, hmm, hmm!¡± Nearby, all the orcs nodded in agreement. Subsequently, even more people crowded towards the position of the carriage. ¡°These knives and swords, are you all here to trade?¡± Another orc shouted loudly. ¡°Trade, there is also armor, plate armor, helmets, all for exchange.¡± Millie answered loudly, her small face turning red. ¡°I have fur here, trade me a set of plate armor.¡± ¡°I will trade two swords.¡± In an instant, everyone rushed forward, shouting loudly, for fear of being late and the items being snapped up by others. Suddenly, chaos ensued. Domina began to arrange for people to maintain order and started to arrange for exchanges in an orderly queue. Not far away. An orc with a runny nose said to his companion, ¡°This rabbit is so silly, exchanging equipment for fur, is her brain not so good?¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s not smart, the sillier she is, the better, so we can exchange these weapons.¡± His companion pulled at the trousers stuck in his butt and continued, ¡°You keep an eye on it, I¡¯m going back to inform the clan leader, then bring all the fur over, and trade weapons with this silly rabbit.¡± ¡°Hurry up, even those in the warehouse that already have mold, bring it over, maybe this rabbit would want it too.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The orc did not hesitate, turning his head and running in the direction of his tribe. Similarly, there were quite a few other people who went back to their tribes to inform them. Orc rules are survival of the fittest. If nearby tribes are trading weapons, you don¡¯t want to trade, you¡¯re just a lamb waiting to be eaten. Therefore, whether active or passive, they all started to trade. Other than fur, some people also brought their domestic livestock for trade. Anyway, the gains were beyond Millie and the others¡¯ expectations. ¡­ The same thing happened in every affiliated town. Fang Hao was building a large row of warehouses at his territory. These warehouses were used by him to store weapons and equipment. They were used for daily sales in the channel and Trade Alliance. This time, the Bone Dragon brought a large amount of equipment and distributed them to various cities. To trade for food, fur, cotton and other items needed in winter with the original inhabitants. Once winter comes, there will be many refugees and bandits. All the local villages and towns were forming temporary armed forces. So, these things were selling well everywhere. ¡­. At the boundary of the Desolate Battlefield. Dong Jiayue sat atop her Bone Horse, holding a bright silver spear, her eyes coldly watching the dozens of undead rotten corpses in front of her. When the rotten corpses, swaying, walked towards them. Dong Jiayue solemnly ordered, ¡°Attack, kill these rotten corpses for me.¡± Crash!! Behind her, twenty tall skeleton trolls and hundreds of skeleton warriors raised their weapons and charged. The Wolf Fang Club in the trolls¡¯ hands swung, causing powerful wind blasts. A single strike was enough to smash a rotten corpse¡¯s head into pieces. The remaining skeleton warriors also rushed up quickly, wildly chopping with their swords. Killing the rotting corpses was as easy as a walk in the park. The skeleton soldiers returned to their positions, leaving behind only piles of rotten corpse mush at their original spot. The battle was over! Human soldiers then came up from the rear to collect the equipment and weapons on the rotting corpses. They placed it on the cart behind. Dong Jiayue sat on her horse, constantly gazing into the distance, ¡°Damn it, where are these original native villages, where do I go to find people to exchange goods.¡± According to Fang Hao¡¯s request. Dong Jiayue, along the edge of the Desolate Battlefield, was searching for the villages of the original inhabitants. But after searching for two days, not a single village of living creatures was seen, only bizarre creatures emerged endlessly. After these two days, she was basically cleaning up these strange monsters. Moreover, she consolidated the nearby transmigrants¡¯ cities. At present, there were already more than ten people under her command, you could say she was the lord with the most people under Fang Hao. After cleaning the battlefield, Dong Jiayue waved her long spear and continued to say, ¡°Continue along the road.¡± Crash! The skeletons walked in neat steps, following behind Dong Jiayue. Behind the skeletons were human soldiers driving carts. At the same time, Dong Jiayue really enjoyed commanding skeleton soldiers. Chapter 668 - Chapter 668: Chapter 484, The Rabbit is a bit Simple-minded_3 Chapter 668: Chapter 484, The Rabbit is a bit Simple-minded_3 Apart from their ugly appearance, there doesn¡¯t seem to be any other drawbacks. They don¡¯t eat or drink, and there¡¯s no need to worry about loyalty. In his heart, he even thought that if he himself joined the undead, he could also rise. As the team continued to move forward, a rush of galloping hoofs could be heard from the front. Two cavalries approached quickly. ¡°Lord, there is a human squadron in the forest ahead, being pursued and killed by dwarfs,¡± the scout reported loudly. Hearing this news, Dong Jiayue frowned. Humans, dwarfs? Why could she always encounter dwarfs? ¡°How many are there in each group?¡± ¡°There are over two hundred humans, all wounded and with no supplies. The dwarfs are Giant Antler Cavalry, numbering over three hundred,¡± the scout continued to answer. This area rarely has any humans. It is unknown whether these humans are indigenous or transmigrators¡¯ troops. Dong Jiayue thought for a while, then ordered: ¡°The team rests in place. You take me to see those people.¡± ¡°Yes, this way, my lord.¡± The scout spoke and rode away. Dong Jiayue followed him tightly, and her skeletal horse quickly caught up. The two of them proceeded and entered a part of the forest. From afar, they could already hear the sounds of fighting and gunfire. Getting closer. The sounds became more and more clear. Carefully hiding in the dark, Dong Jiayue saw the scene ahead. The giant antler deer dwarfs were shuttling through the forest, chasing and killing the human squad ahead. The scout said there were more than two hundred humans, but now, probably only more than one hundred were left. Normally speaking, the cavalry is not suitable for forest fighting. Trees and bushes would affect the mobility of the cavalry. Once the horse can¡¯t run, the advantage of the cavalry would be less than that of the ordinary infantry. But these giant antler deer were very special. They were very agile, darting and shuttling, not only without being affected, but also very fast. The dwarfs were sitting on the backs of giant antler deer, holding new bolt-action rifles in their hands. It was like playing with their prey, leisurely killing the fleeing humans. Among the constantly fleeing humans, it was clear that they were protecting a woman. Although she was dressed pretty gender-neutral, it could still be discerned that she was a woman, a transmigrator. Although she didn¡¯t know how these transmigrators had offended the dwarfs, now that she saw it, she could not let them be killed. After understanding this, Dong Jiayue continued to instruct: ¡°You follow them, I will bring the team over and surround them.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The scout agrees and continues to follow them from afar. Dong Jiayue returned to her team, gave a wave, and the army started moving towards the forest. ¡­ In the forest. ¡°Hehe! Keep running, if you get tired, rest a while, then continue to run,¡± the dwarfs stopped and laughed. On their opposite side. Deng Bin, with the few of her remaining subordinates, huddled together with pale faces, guarding against the dwarfs in front. They were utterly exhausted. Although their escape plan was successful, the dwarfs¡¯ cavalry squad still caught up with them. And they had been mercilessly pursuing and killing them all the way to the present. They didn¡¯t even know what belief they held onto that had kept them going up till now, but at any rate, they were absolutely run-down by now. Hearing the dwarfs¡¯ mocking words made Deng Bin even angrier. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°King Rune invited me, aren¡¯t you afraid of not being able to explain things when you get back after killing me?¡± ¡°Hahaha! She really thinks she¡¯s something,¡± the dwarfs laughed out loud, mocking: ¡°What¡¯s there to explain? You¡¯re not the only transmigrator we¡¯ve captured.¡± Deng Bin¡¯s face changed again. Indeed, the dwarfs were hunting transmigrators everywhere. If she tells Fang Hao about this, he will definitely do something about it. But now, she doesn¡¯t even have the time to open the Book of Lords. ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you, let my people go, how about it?¡± Deng Bin opened her mouth again. Since insisting on this would lead to everyone¡¯s death. It¡¯s better to let herself go and let her subordinates survive. ¡°Huh, not good. We¡¯ll take you back, but your people have to die. It¡¯s King Rune¡¯s orders,¡± the leading dwarf continued. ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s fight them,¡± Deng Bin gritted her teeth and roared. The other people behind her also raised their weapons and rushed towards the enemy. The dwarfs didn¡¯t want to waste time talking to them anymore. Raising their guns, they pulled the trigger. Bang bang bang!! The gunfire rang out, and more humans fell, never getting back up. This rifle was simply a harvester unless being used on high-ranking soldiers. Shasha Hualala!! At this moment, there suddenly came the rustling sound from the dense forest on both sides, followed by the sound like bones colliding, as if some special monsters were approaching. Just when everyone was on alert for both sides. All of a sudden, a female human in armor, holding a bright silver spear, appeared. The tip of the spear pointed to the ground, and with fierce determination, she stomped on the ground and charged with anger. The dwarfs were slightly stunned. A human woman? Was she caught in a trap? Their thoughts had just risen when their faces suddenly changed again. From the surrounding bushes, came a loud rustling sound, followed by a large volume of undead appeared from all around, directly rushing towards them. The faces of the dwarf cavalry changed dramatically. They couldn¡¯t understand why there were so many undead in this forest. Whoosh! There was no time to think. The human woman had already charged up, the bright silver spear in her hand was pointing upward, aiming straight for the helmet gap of the dwarf captain. This spear attack showed the woman¡¯s skill. Quick and ruthless, very stable with no fluctuation even when thrusting forward. The dwarf captain was startled and turned his head away. Ding! The tip of the spear struck the face shield of the helmet, sparking a fire. The force of the spear attack almost caused him to fall off the deer¡¯s back. After a successful attack, the two quickly separated. The other dwarfs glance at the woman hatefully, but they had no time for revenge. The undead were rushing out from all around, more and more. Bang bang bang!! The bolt-action rifles were firing non-stop, shooting at the approaching undead. But the effect was not as good as they had imagined. The skeletons were very close. The dwarf cavalry immediately put down their rifles, drew out their side swords, and went into a fierce battle with the skeletons. Ding Ding Dang Dang!! The intense fighting sounds resonated heavily within the surroundings. The dwarfs were swinging their swords, hacking at the charging skeletons. But there were too many skeletons. There seemed to be no end to them. The woman with the long spear pointed to the ground and said coldly, ¡°Kill the dwarfs, don¡¯t hurt the giant deer.¡± The skeletons immediately changed their attacking strategy. They dragged the dwarfs off the deer back. They encircled them in several turns and hacked them to death in a chaotic squabble. Chapter 669 - Chapter 669: Chapter 485, Jack-o-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes...) _1 Chapter 669: Chapter 485, Jack-o¡¯-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes¡­) _1 Less than fifty meters away from the battlefield. Deng Bin and the others watched in horror at what was happening before their eyes. They initially thought that they were going to die. They had even planned to take down as many dwarves as they could before their own demise. But just as they were about to struggle to their last breath, a woman with heroic charisma, perhaps like an ancient female warrior, charged out with a gun. She was followed by an enormous horde of the undead. They rushed out of the woods from all directions, swarming towards the dwarves. What was going on? Was the woman even human at all? How could she command the skeletons? In this vicinity, they would frequently encounter undead creatures, rotten corpses, skeletons, and even wandering spirits. But all these undead creatures had one thing in common. They weren¡¯t capable of communication, and they were in eternal conflict with the living. Once you encountered them, don¡¯t think about anything else, just go to war directly. However, today¡¯s situation has upended their previous understanding. Could the undead also be controlled? ¡°Leader, while they are occupied, we should retreat!¡± Zackery, holding his wound around his waist, whispered a reminder in a low voice. ¡°Yes, now is our chance to run.¡± ¡°Leader, please run.¡± The rest of the militia also chimed in. Thunk! As they spoke, a skull rolled to their feet. The moving jaw seemed to be saying something to them. In an instant, everyone shut up. They all looked in horror at the skull at their feet. Clatter¡ª! A headless skeleton rushed over, and while everyone hastily retreated, it picked up its skull and attached it directly to its neck. Then, without even glancing at the group, it continued to charge at the dwarves. It seemed like the undead really didn¡¯t bear any hostility towards them. ¡°Leader, now is our chance to escape.¡± Once the skeleton had left, Zackery spoke again. But Deng Bin stared intently at the scene unfold in front of them, caught in a dilemma of whether to take advantage of the chaos and leave now or wait till it¡¯s finished and negotiate with the gun-wielding woman? As he continuously analyzed the pros and cons in his head, he finally bit the bullet and said, ¡°They don¡¯t mean us any harm, as long we don¡¯t do anything stupid, just stay here and don¡¯t move.¡± ¡°What? Leader, but¡­¡± Clatter¡ª! Another skeleton hobbled over, picked up its thigh bone from its right side and left. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem safe¡­¡± Deng Bin took a deep breath, ¡°Just listen to me. If we run, we¡¯ll have a tough winter ahead.¡± Uh¡­ With winter coming, their fort destroyed, and without any provisions. It indeed wouldn¡¯t be easy to survive. With no better options available, they had to obey their leader¡¯s command. Everyone nodded in agreement while they bandaged the injured, keeping an eye on the battlefield at the same time. Periodically, skeleton parts would come flying over. Some were picked up by the skeletons and taken away, while others were left where they fell. ¡­ Whoosh!! The spear was a blur as it moved at lightning speed. With an unstoppable momentum, it again aimed for the eyes protected by the iron helmet. The dwarf captain had been paying close attention to the human woman upfront. Seeing the spear thrust towards him, he immediately swung his sword to block it. Clang! The sound of iron clashing rang out loudly. The two engaged in a fierce altercation, and then quickly put some distance between each other. The dwarf captain questioned in a cold voice, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing interfering in our business? Are you trying to declare war on Eight Peaks Mountain?¡± With her right hand tightly clenched around the spear, Dong Jiayue¡¯s hand shook incessantly. The clash just now almost shattered her grip, and she was astonished by the dwarf captain¡¯s strength. However, she maintained a cold smile on her face, ¡°Eight Peaks Mountain? Heh, I don¡¯t care about how many peaks you have, if you¡¯re after humans, that¡¯s unacceptable!¡± ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re asking for death.¡± The dwarf captain roared angrily. With a flick of the reins in his hand, the stag he was mounted on charged towards Dong Jiayue. By now, he had also assessed the situation. Given the number of skeletons around, his side didn¡¯t stand a chance of winning. The only opportunity left was to kill the woman in front of him. It appeared as if all these skeletons were obeying her orders, and things would become easier once she was dead. As the dwarf captain on his stag advanced, Dong Jiayue¡¯s fighting spirit surged. ¡°Let me teach you a lesson today.¡± The spear¡¯s cold light came first. Then, it burst out like a net of nails. Dong Jiayue paced about steadily, continually thrusting her spear, directly aiming at vulnerable areas such as the eyes and the gaps in the armor around the jaw. Her fierce offense instantly held back the charging dwarf who, while controlling the stag, could only parry and retreat. The twigs and fallen leaves underfoot crunched under the stag¡¯s hooves. She forcefully pushed the dwarf captain back to his initial position. About to meet a bewildering surprise, the dwarf captain thought to himself. By sheer power and ability, he was definitely much stronger than this woman. However, her spear technique was too formidable. She had a reach advantage and kept targeting his vital areas. He was the one on the back foot now. As he watched, one by one, his fellow dwarves fall at the hands of the skeletons, he realized they wouldn¡¯t survive much longer at this rate. A flash of resolute and ruthless determination crossed his eyes. He dismissed the threat the powerful spear strikes posed and relied on his armor for protection. He struck fiercely with his sword, adopting a do-or-die attitude. Dong Jiayue tightened her spear technique and began to spar with her opponent using her skills. Unbeknownst to her, several dents had formed on the armor of the dwarf captain. The inability to kill Dong Jiayue made the dwarf captain increasingly anxious. He saw that while mounted on the stag, he was unable to kill the enemy. He slightly bent his knees, strongly stood on the stirrups, and the massive stag buckled under the sudden application of weight. The dwarf captain¡¯s body was already in mid-air. His sword traced a semicircular arc in the sky and he swung it downward with all his might. A frown crept onto Dong Jiayue¡¯s forehead. Knowing her strength was no match for the dwarf¡¯s, and facing his full-force strike, she immediately stepped back to avoid it. Chapter 670 - Chapter 670: Chapter 485, Jack-o-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes...) _2 Chapter 670: Chapter 485, Jack-o¡¯-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes¡­) _2 Woosh! The swing of a blade split the air, causing a massive gust and rustling of vegetation. Despite his first attack being ineffective, the dwarf charged again. Dong Jiayue seemed to not want to entangle with him, turned and dashed towards the area filled with skeletons. Seeing his opponent fleeing in fear, the dwarf sped up. ¡°Die, you dog!¡± The dwarf captain roared loudly, his hand already charged up, and swung his blade towards the woman¡¯s back. Dong Jiayue tilted her head slightly, looking at the screaming enemy. In her mind, she was calculating the distance between them. Now is the time! A cold gleam shone in her eyes. The long spear in her hand swirled around her waist gathering strength, revolving once, and with a whoosh! the gust it created seemed to precede its movement. Squelch!! The sound of the spear puncturing flesh echoed as it relentlessly pierced through the mouth of the dwarf captain. The man seemed to be suspended on the tip of the spear. Blood flowed down the shaft of the spear. Ughhh¡ª! The dwarf captain tried to say something, but he was already unable to make a sound. The high raised broadsword in his hand slowly fell to the ground, and his breath slowly faded away. ¡°Retreat! Follow me, charge out quickly, follow me and retreat!¡± The death of the dwarf captain dissipated the fighting spirits of the remaining dwarves. They desperately rushed outward. Each giant deer leaped high, using their head to knock over the skeletons in front, trying to break out directly. But there were too many undead, they wouldn¡¯t let them flee so easily. They were firmly entangled. Then the skeletons dragged them from the deer back and hacked them to death. ¡°Alright, tie these unicorns by their legs, don¡¯t kill them, I need to do some research when I get back.¡± Dong Jiayue swung her long spear and ordered the skeletons. The skeleton soldiers immediately tackled the giant deer, then roughly bound their four hooves with ropes. While the skeletons were binding the deer, Dong Jiayue approached the humans who had been watching the fight. Among them, a woman who looked quite miserable was obviously a transmigrator. ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t have to be nervous. I¡¯m Dong Jiayue. How should I address you, beautiful lady?¡± Dong Jiayue asked directly. Deng Bin had always kept her hair short, and it was still short now. Her bare arms were full of tattoos. It had been a while since someone had called her ¡®beautiful lady¡¯. ¡°Cough! My name is Deng Bin, thank you, Miss Dong for saving us.¡± Deng Bin squeezed out a smile. Dong Jiayue took a look at the condition of everyone. She spoke softly: ¡°What¡¯s next? If you want to return to your territory, I can escort you some of the way.¡± Deng Bin¡¯s eyes were full of despondency, ¡°I have lost my territory, and I can¡¯t go back now. If possible, can we rest in your place for a while? I have transferred all my resources to my friend, we won¡¯t be freeloading.¡± ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not a problem at all, if you have no place to go, come to my place first. Also, tell me about the dwarfs, I¡¯ve been here for quite some time, but this is the first time I encounter natives.¡± Dong Jiayue cheerfully agreed. ¡°Thank you, Miss Dong.¡± At this moment, Dong Jiayue¡¯s human soldiers, pushing carts full of goods, came over. Dong Jiayue ordered: ¡°Take the dwarves¡¯ equipment and these giant deer back, bury the bodies nearby and try to cover up the traces as much as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Everyone started to move, following the order to handle the bodies. Soon, the scene was cleaned up. Everyone started to return to the territory. ¡­ On the official road to Silver Wing City. Inside the carriage. The maid was staring at the chessboard on the table, thinking about her next move in order to win the game. Across from her, Rebecca was sitting at the table, leaning on the heavily laden chest placed on the table, playing with a jade pendant in her hand. As her fingertips rubbed the pendant, she could clearly feel the pattern carved on it. She muttered quietly, ¡°Little pervert, you really think I¡¯m easy to bully¡­¡±. Although she spoke softly, it was quite clear inside the carriage. The maid immediately looked up, ¡°Ma¡¯am, what did you say? What ghost?¡± Rebecca kept her face unchanged and said: ¡°I said, how long are you going to stare.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± After another glance, the maid finally made a move. Once the maid made her move, a smile appeared on Rebecca¡¯s face. Then her white finger picked a white piece and gently placed it on the board. The maid¡¯s eyes widened instantaneously. ¡°One, two, three¡­five, Ah! I thoroughly checked, how is this possible.¡± The maid started despairing. This game of Five in a Row was recently taught to Anjia and Lorrey by Fang Hao in order to prevent them from running around. They found dark and light pebbles by the river, drew a grid on the ground, and the game was ready to play. And, the rules were straightforward. Be it horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, whoever got five in a row first was the winner. The two quickly learned and got very addicted to this game. However, what Fang Hao didn¡¯t expect was this seemingly trivial game suddenly became immensely popular. Not only Anjia and Lorrey played, even soldiers and mercenaries would have a match in their spare time. Especially when camping. Originally, when camping, each area would be filled with noise, as chaotic as a marketplace. But now, it was full of people playing and watching the game. It was eerily quiet. Now even Rebecca started playing it. Sitting in the carriage, it was indeed boring. It was the perfect time-killing game. Looking at the incredulous, seemingly unable to accept her loss but also too afraid to be angry maid, Rebecca smiled softly, ¡°With your skill level, you can only match Anjia.¡± The maid had been serving Rebecca for many years, she was a trusted confidante. She pursed her lips, murmured quietly, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, you are the best, ma¡¯am. Only Lord Fang can make you serious.¡± Chapter 671 - Chapter 671: Chapter 485, Jack-o-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes...) _3 Chapter 671: Chapter 485, Jack-o¡¯-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes¡­) _3 At the mention of Fang Hao, Rebecca¡¯s heart skipped a beat and her gaze became somewhat unfocused. After being forcefully kissed twice, she had been having the oddest dreams during her rest. His figure was always present, and he was constantly doing strange things. Right now, she was uncertain whether this was simply her reaction to being intimate with a man or if she had really fallen for him. ¡°Never mind him, it annoys me every time he¡¯s brought up.¡± The maid gave a subtle smile. She knew Rebecca best and understood that the ¡®annoyance¡¯ she¡¯d mentioned wasn¡¯t actual irritation. In a soothing voice she said, ¡°City Lord, young and handsome, moreover influential, cherish people¡¯s feelings, he is a lot better than those decrepit nobles. What more could you ask for, madam?¡± The maid was aware of the nobles who had covertly and openly pursued Rebecca. However, she¡¯d never come across anyone as youthful, handsome, pleasant-tempered as Fang Hao before. ¡°Enough! Is it your place to speak on such matters!¡± Rebecca scolded, her face stern. The maid instantly put away her smile. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am, I apologize.¡± Rebecca stopped talking, simply resting her chin in her hand, staring out the window. Seeing her in such a state, the maid suggested again, ¡°Madam, if you¡¯re bored, why not ask the City Lord to come up for a visit? He could keep you company for a chat.¡± Rebecca, both embarrassed and angry, grabbed the maid¡¯s hand and slapped it twice. ¡°Bringing him up again¡­ why should he come? Do I enjoy being annoyed? Honestly, asking him to come chat with me¡­¡± Even though the maid¡¯s hand was hit, she didn¡¯t get angry. Smiling, she put it another way, ¡°You¡¯re very good at Go, madam. I can¡¯t compete. Why don¡¯t I find someone who¡¯s your equal to keep you company? It might alleviate the boredom of the journey.¡± ¡°¡­Alright, fine. Go.¡± The maid instructed the coach to slow down slightly and then hopped off. ¡­ Not long after, the carriage door opened once more. A man in a brocade robe carefully crawled in. The maid, however, didn¡¯t follow him. Instead, she gave instructions to the surrounding guards before climbing into the carriage behind them. Upon entering, Fang Hao immediately settled comfortably next to Rebecca. ¡°What are you doing? Why are you sitting here?¡± Rebecca shrank back. Without a shade of embarrassment, Fang Hao defended himself, ¡°Madam, didn¡¯t you want to play Go with me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re meant to sit opposite me to play Go.¡± ¡°Who says you have to sit across from your opponent when playing Go?¡± Fang Hao refuted, shameless. Rebecca found she was helpless against this thick-skinned man. She gave him a sharp look, ¡°Sit there then, I¡¯ll sit opposite.¡± After speaking, she tried to circle around the wooden table to take the seat opposite him. But Fang Hao wasn¡¯t about to let this opportunity slip. He grabbed her wrist and gently pulled. Rebecca was pulled back, and given the instability of the carriage¡­ She stumbled and ended up sitting in Fang Hao¡¯s lap. A soft sensation came from his thigh. Ahhhh¡ª She gasped, but immediately clamped her mouth shut, listening carefully to ensure the commotion inside hadn¡¯t been heard by the guards outside. Fang Hao stayed silent. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rebecca asked angrily. Fang Hao, however, was all smiles. ¡°Nothing much, I just didn¡¯t want let you go.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± she replied, attempting to stand. There was no way Fang Hao would let her go. He blocked her with one hand on her waist, preventing her from standing. He spoke softly, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Let¡¯s play a round of Go and chat.¡± Rebecca¡¯s face turned beet red. She tried to struggle, but he was stronger. She pushed against him a few times but failed to break free. On the contrary, Fang Hao quite enjoyed the feeling of Rebecca struggling in his lap. Seeing she was unable to free herself, Rebecca had no choice but to sit quietly in his lap. Face flushed, she said softly, ¡°No funny business, or I won¡¯t talk to you ever again.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s just play Go and chat.¡± So saying, he picked up a piece and placed it in the center of the board. Rebecca realized she had no other option, so she resigned herself to the situation. She felt no discomfort. Plus, she had a soft cushion to sit on, which mitigated the bumpiness of the carriage. What did she have to concern herself with? She glanced at the board and placed her own piece. The skill level of both players turned out to be quite similar. Each had to observe the board carefully before placing their next piece. After placing another piece, Rebecca started in a soft voice, ¡°In a few days, we¡¯ll arrive at Silver Wing City. The conniving and conspiring among the nobility is the most tiresome. At that time, listen to me, tell me whenever you receive any invitations. If you can avoid attending any event, don¡¯t go. Save yourself the annoyance.¡± ¡°Understood, I really don¡¯t want to get involved in all that.¡± said Fang Hao, placing his piece. Although he had not interacted with any nobles before. He had seen enough of their intriguing and scheming in television dramas. He indeed had no desire to get involved. The best outcome would be to finish this calm journey and then he could return to his territory to reside in peace. Mentioning the nobility, Rebecca seemed lost in thought. The blush of her face faded away and the showing off had disappeared, revealing a hint of fatigue. In a low voice, she said: ¡°Ah¡­ Actually, being the City Lord¡¯s wife isn¡¯t as glamorous as it appears. Every year, recruitment of soldiers in the city becomes more difficult. All the nobles have their own agendas. The Federation Conference is still looking for reasons to force me out of this current position. If the old City Lord were still here, things wouldn¡¯t be so complicated. Nobody would dare challenge his decisions.¡± Fang Hao also knew of these matters in some detail. Even though she is the inheritor of Lyss City, the people in the city all had their own intentions. Even ¡®Aubrey¡¯, who she had supported, had colluded with the phantom to try to kill her. As could be seen, things had reached a difficult-to-control stage. Chapter 672 - Chapter 672: Chapter 485, Jack-o-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes...) _4 Chapter 672: Chapter 485, Jack-o¡¯-lantern (Seeking recommendation votes¡­) _4 Fang Hao managed to quickly quell the unrest in the city by his absence. Lyss City might have changed hands long ago. In fact, Rebecca is quite competent, especially in management and planning. However, she is not adept at negotiating interests among the nobility. Sometimes, you have to swim with the tide to gain the recognition of the elites. Fang Hao thought for a moment and comforted: ¡°You just need to focus on management and development. Leave everything else to me. When Lyss City settles down, I¡¯ll take you to see the other races in your territory. It¡¯s quite interesting, especially the great furnace in the belly of the Dwarf Mountain, it¡¯s spectacular.¡± Rebecca pursed her lips, she never thought that one day she would depend on a man. But Fang Hao was just too reliable. Anything given to him would no longer be a bother to her, making it impossible for her to refuse. ¡°Oh, you have Dwarves in your territory?¡± ¡°Yes, didn¡¯t I mention it? I also have Trolls and Orcs.¡± As Rebecca spoke, she grabbed the man¡¯s restless hand and held it tightly. ¡°Stop moving, we agreed. If you continue to mess around, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Fang Hao stopped his mischief, held her hand, interlocked their fingers, and put his hand on her waist. ¡°What do Trolls look like?¡± Rebecca continued to ask. ¡°They are over three meters tall and are covered in dense fur¡­¡± ¡°So ugly.¡± ¡°Not really, in the Troll Tribe, those are considered handsome men.¡± ¡°Pfft! A hairy handsome man?¡± With Rebecca¡¯s knowledge, she was naturally clear about these things. But she was still willing to listen to him talk, occasionally showing an impressed expression. The two of them chatted while they played chess with one another. ¡­ Clop clop clop!! The sound of horse hooves came from outside the carriage. A scout approached the carriage and whispered: ¡°City Lord, Madam, there¡¯s a villager¡¯s tea stall up ahead. Commander Demitrija plans to let the team rest at the tea stall.¡± A tea stall? Having traveled non-stop since morning until noon, coupled with the muggy weather, indeed, a break was needed. ¡°A tea stall, is there any problem with that?¡± Fang Hao asked. The scout swallowed nervously and said: ¡°We¡¯ve checked the nearby area and found no anomalies.¡± They were already in the jurisdiction of Silver Wing City, albeit still on the fringes, but it was significantly safer. There had been no encounter with highway robbers along the way. Fang Hao glanced at Rebecca, seeing her nod in agreement. He then said, ¡°Proceed as Demitrija instructed.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± The Scout was elated and immediately relayed the command. The team, hearing that they could rest at the tea stall, picked up the pace. They quickly headed in the direction of the tea stall. ¡­ The tea stall was a shed built of thatched grass. In front of the stall were three people dressed as villagers, behind them, the shed was filled with urns full of tea. Watching the approaching team from Lyss City from afar. The three began to get nervous. The army of Lyss City neared, started to surround the tea stall, and conducted a more thorough inspection. A trusted aide from the City Lord¡¯s mansion, carrying two bowls of tea, hurried to the carriage and warmly said: ¡°Sir, Madam, this is the tea. It can also help you cool down a bit.¡± The curtain was pulled open, and Fang Hao took the tea inside. But just as he was about to hand over the tea to Rebecca, his expression hardened. [Jack-o¡¯-lantern Tea] [Category: Toxic Culinary] (Description: Tea made from Jack-o¡¯-lantern, consumption would gradually weaken combat power in 10-30 minutes.) There¡¯s a problem with this tea. Chapter 673 - Chapter 673: Chapter 486, Preparing for War_1 Chapter 673: Chapter 486, Preparing for War_1 Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed. He quickly grabbed Rebecca¡¯s hand that was reaching for the teacup. Rebecca was startled, thinking he was going to play a prank again. She coquettishly said, ¡°What are you doing!¡± There was no complaint in her tone, rather it had a teasing feel to it. However, Fang Hao was not in the mood to indulge in such playfulness at the moment. His brows were still furrowed. He said coldly, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this tea, don¡¯t drink it!¡± Jack-o¡¯-lantern! Fang Hao had seen Jack-o¡¯-lantern being sold in the channel. It¡¯s the size of a pumpkin and eerily resembles a human head with distorted features. The appearance is uncanny. The characteristic of this vegetable is that it is tasteless, colorless, and contains certain toxicity. After consumption, the person gradually weakens and fully loses their combat capability within a few minutes. This poison, while not potent, doesn¡¯t have much effect on heroes or those with Poison Resistance. But it¡¯s deadly enough for regular soldiers. Previously, lords who had crossed over here were fond of buying Jack-o¡¯-lantern for a long time, They mixed the flesh of Jack-o¡¯-lantern into the food of the wild beasts to clear off the beasts and monsters around their territories. Who would¡¯ve thought that today their own group had ended up like the targeted beasts. He looked again at the cold tea in his hand, which gave off a cool feeling and emitted a light fragrance. Still holding her hand, Rebecca¡¯s expression instantly turned serious. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°This tea has been mixed with Jack-o¡¯-lantern, it causes loss of mobility after consumption.¡± Fang Hao spoke in a deep tone. Rebecca instantly looked grave. She remembered vividly the incident with the Life-taker last time, now it¡¯s happening again. What¡¯s going on this year? They keep running into such incidents on the road. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it hasn¡¯t reached the worst point yet.¡± Fang Hao continued. Meanwhile, he cracked the window a bit and peered outside. Everything seemed normal at the tea stall. A few plainly dressed villagers with anxious looks were preparing cold tea for the soldiers. Even though they looked like villagers, they had pretty high ranks. [Human Warrior (Eighth Rank)] [Human Archer (Sixth Rank)] [¡­.] With such high ranks, they could be the leader of bandits in the mountains. Here, within the range of Silver Wing City, they should be mercenaries. At the tea stall, some soldiers started to pour out all the water from their water bottles, planning to replace it all with this cold tea. Fang Hao took another look around. The roads on both sides were flat, with no hiding places for an ambush. The poison from the Jack-o¡¯-lantern acts slowly, it will start to take effect gradually. This place should only be where the poison was laced, the real attack would come later when the poison starts to affect everyone in the team. He gently tapped on the round hip of Rebecca and asked her to sit aside. He called Demitrija and Aseti over through a window opening. The two men bent down and came to the window, listening to Fang Hao¡¯s instructions. Afterward. Both nodded their heads and split, heading toward the front and the rear of the team respectively. Soon, Demitrija could be seen taking some soldiers and approaching the tea stall, taking control of the villagers. The sudden action caught them off guard. They were directly pinned to the ground. Then came a clanging noise. The tea stall was violently searched. A few weapons were found and thrown in front of the villagers. They explained in low voices. Soon, Demitrija returned. He spoke softly, ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve found out that they¡¯re mercenaries. Someone hired them to run this stall here and sell tea to the passersby.¡± ¡°Who hired them, did you find out?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. ¡°They said they didn¡¯t know, they met them when they were drinking at a tavern, they might be able to recognize them by sight.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed. He felt that these men were not telling the truth. ¡°They didn¡¯t tell the truth, did they?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. But judging by the situation, they wouldn¡¯t hide it if they knew.¡± Demitrija continued. There was no way to detect lies in the team. Black Thorn could interrogate corpses, but it was currently back at their territory. ¡°Alright, have those who drank the tea take Detox Potions, take a rest, then we continue to leave.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Demitrija nodded and asked softly, ¡°Sir, should we keep these tea sellers with us?¡± ¡°Kill them all, bury the corpses. It would be harder to explain if we keep them and bump into patrolling soldiers.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Demitrija left. Soon, cries of begging for mercy came from nearby. One by one, heads were rolling. The corpses were dragged off into the distance and buried in dug pits. The team then took a short rest. Those who had drunk the tea took the detox potion. The accompanying mercenaries, holding the potion, hesitated to drink it. Even though it was distributed to them. But such a cheap serving of cold tea led to wasting a whole bottle of detox potion. They had no choice as they were greedy. After a short break, the team set off again. Before leaving, they smashed the large water tanks filled with cold tea. To prevent it from causing harm to others. ¡­ The team continued to march towards Silver Wing City. Due to the possibility of enemies being ahead. More scouts were arranged to pace the road ahead. Fang Hao and Rebecca did not continue their intimacy. They changed their carriage, to avoid being attacked. Perhaps the enemies, seeing no effects from the Jack-o¡¯-lantern, did not surface till they reached a village to camp, no enemies were seen. After the rooms were allocated. Fang Hao returned from outside, and as soon as he entered the room, he saw Anjia and Lorrey playing a game of Go on the table. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s not right, this move is wrong.¡± Lorrey touched the piece he had just placed, wanting to take it back. Chapter 674 - Chapter 674: Chapter 486, Preparing for Battle_2 Chapter 674: Chapter 486, Preparing for Battle_2 Anjia didn¡¯t understand why the other party regretted his move. But she also realized, it seemed like she was going to win. She immediately said, ¡°No, Fang Hao has already said, once the piece is played, it cannot be taken back. How could you take it back?¡± ¡°In the daytime, when you took your piece back, how come you didn¡¯t mention that rule? I can¡¯t accept this, I made the wrong move.¡± Lorrey tightly gripped the chess piece in his hand. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°No, I made the wrong move. Let me play it again.¡± The two began to fight over the chess piece in Lorrey¡¯s hand. Whoosh!! The chessboard was knocked over, and the previously set pieces were instantly mixed together. The two were dumbfounded, staring at the scattered pieces before them, frozen in place. ¡°See, it¡¯s scattered now. Otherwise, I would definitely win this round.¡± ¡°My chances of winning were greater, okay!¡± Without speaking a word, the two parted ways, retrieved their own pieces, and began a new game. They completely ignored Fang Hao, who had just entered the room. ¡­ Fang Hao glanced at the two of them and went straight into the bedroom. It¡¯s fine if they play chess here. It saves them from running around and causing some chaos. He lay in bed waiting for dinner. Ding! Ding! The Book of Lords made two light sounds in succession. Fang Hao sat up and took a look. It was messages from Dong Jiayue and Deng Bin, they had both sent him private messages at the same time. He opened Dong Jiayue¡¯s message to look first. ¡°Brother Hao, are you there? I just got news that the dwarves of Eight Peaks Mountain are constantly attacking transmigrator cities and capturing transmigrators.¡± Upon seeing this message, Fang Hao instantly became more alert. For the past two days, he had seen in the channel people mentioning the dwarves attacking the cities of transmigrators. At that time, he had suspected that it was Eight Peaks Mountain. Now, it was directly confirmed by Dong Jiayue. Fang Hao quickly replied, ¡°How is it there? Are you in any danger?¡± After sending the message. Fang Hao switched to the second private message. It was sent from Deng Bin. Deng Bin: ¡°Boss Fang Hao, sorry. I was being chased by dwarves a few days ago and I just got to safety. I¡¯ll just leave my items with you for now.¡± Chased by dwarves? Why did both of them mention dwarves when they spoke? Is this a coincidence? Fang Hao frowned, and replied: ¡°As long as you are fine. Where are you now? Are you safe?¡± Then came the answers from both of them. Dong Jiayue, ¡°I saved a transmigrator and got the news from her.¡± Deng Bin, ¡°Pretty safe, I¡¯m in a transmigrator¡¯s territory, and there¡¯s some distance from the dwarves.¡± What the heck! Fang Hao frantically toggled between the two messages. No matter how you looked at it, they seemed to be talking about each other. Fang Hao thought for a moment, and replied to each of them separately. ¡°The person you saved, is it Deng Bin?¡± ¡°Are you in Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory?¡± ¡­ In Dong Jiayue¡¯s territory. In the Lord¡¯s hall. The two women, looking at the Book of Lords, suddenly raised their heads and looked at each other in surprise. ¡°Do you know Brother Hao?¡± ¡°Do you know Boss Fang Hao?¡± The two spoke at the same time, then froze for a moment. This is too coincidental. Suddenly, Deng Bin remembered that when she first transmigrated, many people in the channel were provoking Fang Hao. There was a girl who defended Fang Hao many times in the channel, even arguing with others on his behalf. She seemed to be called Dong something. So it seems that it¡¯s the person in front of her. ¡°Haha, I didn¡¯t expect it to be such a coincidence. So Sister Deng already knew Brother Hao.¡± Dong Jiayue now also revealed a smile. Early on after transmigrating, Fang Hao had helped Dong Jiayue many times. She indeed has some abilities. But without Fang Hao¡¯s help, she would probably have had a hard time surviving till now relying on her own abilities. So, she sincerely trusts Fang Hao. Knowing that Deng Bin is familiar with Fang Hao, their relationship should be even closer. With one mention of Sister Deng, the distance between the two instantly closed. Deng Bin also showed a smile, ¡°So it was Miss Dong. I was thinking, why does this name sound so familiar? Turns out it¡¯s the one that Boss Fang Hao often mentions.¡± ¡°Oh? Really? He always mentions me?¡± Dong Jiayue¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Err¡­ occasionally, we chat a bit when we trade flax,¡± said Deng Bin as she looked at Dong Jiayue and spoke softly. Dong Jiayue smiled more brightly and looked at the Book of Lords again. She said: ¡°Sister Deng, you should stay here for now. Brother Hao has already said that we should rally the troops to attack Eight Peaks Mountain and take back your territory.¡± Just now, she had also told Fang Hao about the situation here. And based on the dwarves¡¯ speed of attack, they would probably reach here before winter. Instead of passively taking the hits, it¡¯s better to prepare in advance and catch the enemy by surprise. So, Fang Hao told Dong Jiayue to prepare for a pre-emptive attack as soon as possible, the sooner the better. It would be best to launch a direct attack with the undead army while the dwarves were splitting their forces to assault various transmigrator locations. ¡°Attack? The dwarves have a large number of cannons and rifles, these¡­¡± Deng Bin¡¯s face became much more solemn. She had personally experienced a battle against the dwarves. Even though her three thousand plus people, even within the channel, were considered a pretty good development for a lord. But facing the machines of the dwarves was as pathetic as a baby facing a boxing champion. Under the shelling and bullets, her people were so frail. Even the heroes that the lords were eagerly looking forward to, were likely unable to withstand the power of cannons. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry, Sister Deng. Just get some rest and heal your injuries here. When it¡¯s time to set off, I will notify you. There shouldn¡¯t be any problems dealing with these dwarves,¡± Dong Jiayue said with an easy smile. Seeing her so confident, Deng Bin didn¡¯t know what else to say. She could only nod, ¡°Alright, they have several kinds of cannons. We must be careful.¡± Chapter 675 - Chapter 675: Chapter 486, Preparing for Battle_3 Chapter 675: Chapter 486, Preparing for Battle_3 ¡°Yes, someone, take Sister Deng to rest.¡± Dong Jiayue spoke softly. A servant came in from the side. He led Deng Bin away. ¡­ After Deng Bin left. Dong Jiayue continued to chat with Fang Hao through the Book of Lords. Then, she said, ¡°Please call Black Sword to come here.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Not long after, accompanied by the sound of clashing armor. A skeletal hero wearing metal armor and a black iron sword around his waist walked in. ¡°Miss Dong, you called for me.¡± Black Sword, as well as Heavy Arrow who is stationed here, they are originally heroes of Fang Hao. Although they are assisting Dong Jiayue with defense, they are not exactly subordinate. There is no need for them to use respectful terms like ¡°my lord¡± either. On the contrary, because Dong Jiayue herself needs to rely on these heroes and skeleton soldiers, she has to be more courteous to them. ¡°Black Sword, the dwarfs in the west are attacking various cities. The bombardment will soon spread here. After discussing with Brother Hao, he asked us to be ready and to take the initiative attacking Eight Peaks Mountain.¡± Dong Jiayue said. Black Sword sat down on the side, ¡°Okay, understood, we will naturally act according to the lord¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Yes, Black Sword, now I need you to accompany me to the Bloodstained Mountain Range to check on the situation with the dwarfs.¡± Dong Jiayue got up and walked out. Black Sword nodded and followed behind. The two of them climbed onto the bone dragon outside the door. The bone dragon soared into the sky. The whistling wind in their ears, through the clouds, they could see the city that was the size of a matchbox below. They flew toward the direction of the Bloodstained Mountain Range. ¡­ Bloodstained Mountain Range. Lysis City. The bone dragon descended from the sky, stirring up a cloud of dust. The appearance of the bone dragon caused quite a chaos. Dwarf guards ran over quickly with their weapons, loudly demanding the people on the bone dragon to come down. But they also know. The visitors were probably the subordinates of the lord since the bone dragon did not attack them. Dong Jiayue and Black Sword jumped down from the back of the bone dragon. Their eyes swept over the dwarfs who were wielding hand crossbows and old-style firearms. She asked softly, ¡°Where is Bellerga?¡± A leading guard, dispersing the surrounding dust, asked sternly, ¡°Who are you?¡± His tone was not very friendly when he spoke. Dong Jiayue knitted her brows, and replied bluntly: ¡°I¡¯ve brought Lord Fang Hao¡¯s latest command, ask Bellerga to see me.¡± Ah, this¡­ When she brought up Fang Hao, the dwarfs naturally didn¡¯t dare to obstruct her. The captain of the dwarfs said immediately, ¡°Go and call Lord Bellerga over.¡± One dwarf ran waddling toward the city¡¯s outskirts, heading in the direction of the large furnace. Soon after. Inside the city lord¡¯s office, decorated in an industrial style. Dong Jiayue saw Bellerga, who was bare-chested, his body greasy, and his greyish-white beard thick. Upon entering, Bellerga, looking impatient, swept a glance at the hall. His voice was rough, ¡°Where is the lord, who said the lord was coming?¡± Dong Jiayue stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Bellerga, long time no see, I came here on behalf of Lord Fang Hao.¡± Bellerga looked at the human woman infront of him, glanced at Black Sword who was silent at the side. He slapped his forehead, and suddenly realized, ¡°Oh! Miss Dong, you see, my head is full of blacksmithing, I almost didn¡¯t remember.¡± Having said that, he sat down and looked at Dong Jiayue. ¡°Miss Dong, just say what you have to say, I have no time to waste here.¡± Dong Jiayue didn¡¯t take offense. She spoke directly, ¡°Lord Fang Hao plans to go to war with Eight Peaks Mountain. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re interested in this. If not, you can continue being busy, we won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Going to war with Eight Peaks Mountain? Bellerga¡¯s brows immediately furrowed, his eyes filled with astonishment. Chapter 676 - Chapter 676: Chapter 487, Fairy Dream Tower (Added for Wan Li Wan Li Boss)._1 Chapter 676: Chapter 487, Fairy Dream Tower (Added for ¡®Wan Li Wan Li¡¯ Boss)._1 The hall fell into a brief silence. After a while, Bellerga asked uncertainly, ¡°You say you want to go to war with Eight Peaks Mountain, for what purpose?¡± Bellerga¡¯s lineage came from Eight Peaks Mountain. As the rightful heir, he had been reduced to such a state. Every moment, he thought of one day returning to Eight Peaks Mountain and reclaiming all that he had lost. But he knew how difficult it was. Even if only the reserves of Eight Peaks Mountain were mobilized, it would be enough to wipe out any race under the artillery fire. Dong Jiayue picked up the dwarf¡¯s special roasted tea and took a gentle sip. She said in a low voice, ¡°The Eight Peaks Mountain is currently raiding surrounding cities for reasons we don¡¯t yet know, but this will soon threaten the security of our territories. Therefore, we cannot sit by and wait for death; we must prepare to fight against the enemy.¡± ¡°Raiding the surrounding? How could that be possible? Rune wouldn¡¯t do such a foolish thing.¡± Bellerga stroked his beard, murmuring to himself. ¡°Whether Rune would or not is not our matter to discuss. This time, Master Fang Hao asked me to ask you about the progress on the blueprint for the rifles.¡± Dong Jiayue interrupted his thoughts. Actually, the reason is simple. The transmigrators now represent a special significance. Under the advice of the transmigrators, the Eight Peaks Mountain jumped from creating a hand cannon to making a bolt-action rifle. Such a leap in technology would make any power tempted. Now that the dwarves¡¯ internal situation has stabilized, it¡¯s not surprising that they want more transmigrators. ¡°Ah, we have completely copied a rifle, and the blueprint is being inscribed.¡± Bellerga answered immediately. Copying the rifle, inscribing the blueprint. These were things Fang Hao had left them to accomplish before he left. This time they were going to war with the dwarves, and naturally, they could not lag too far behind in terms of weapons. Otherwise, even if they could win, the losses would be heavier. Therefore, the blueprint of Bellerga¡¯s rifle became a critical step. Hearing that it hasn¡¯t been produced yet, Dong Jiayue¡¯s expression became a bit serious. She sensed that the dwarves were too slow, but due to her status, she didn¡¯t want to make too critical of a comment. She continued to ask, ¡°So, how many more days until it is completed?¡± Bellerga quickly calculated the time, ¡°Three days, it can be completed in three days.¡± Dong Jiayue opened the Book of Lords and informed Fang Hao of this message. After receiving a response, she continued, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll come for you in three days, and at that time I¡¯ll bring you along, I need a detailed map of the Eight Peaks Mountain city and its fortress.¡± Bellerga nodded, ¡°All right.¡± After stating the situation, Dong Jiayue didn¡¯t linger around. She rode the Bone Dragon into the sky and left the Bloody Mountains Range. ¡­ It was late at night! Eight Peaks Mountain, Gray Iron City. The city was built against the mountain, occupying an excellent defense position. The towering city walls were cast into an iron-gray color. The thickness of the city wall was good at ten meters wide, covered with various defensive implements. From the back of the city, ¡®ding ding dong dong¡¯ sounds of work echoed into the night. On a huge stone mountain, countless craftsmen were working through the night. They were carving a statue of the seventh king, Rune. In the royal palace. King Rune, dressed in a red robe with golden borders, wore a crown on his head. His wine-red beard hung down to his knees. Sitting on his throne, his aura was strong, commanding respect. Standing below were the high-ranking officials of Eight Peaks Mountain discussing the upcoming plans. ¡°Your Majesty, up until today, we have captured 72 transmigrators, all of whom have been registered and documented. We have also harvested a large amount of resources from their territories,¡± a dwarf in a brocade robe stepped forward and said loudly. Rune maintained an expressionless face while sitting on his throne. After the dwarf reported, he continued to ask, ¡°Are there any people with special skills?¡± As soon as he asked, another dwarf stood up. He spoke loudly, ¡°Your Majesty, seven of them possess skills in agriculture, architecture, and healing. The other transmigrators don¡¯t have any special skills so far, and all have been assigned to the armory to manufacture weapons.¡± Finding people with special skills to supplement the labor force. This was the purpose of the dwarves attacking the transmigrators¡¯ cities. Through the simplification of the transmigrators, the dwarves produced bolt-action rifles. The dwarves were very surprised at the transmigrators¡¯ knowledge and abilities. After solving their internal conflicts, Rune immediately ordered the start of attacks on all neighboring transmigrators¡¯ cities. Capturing transmigrators. Those with special skills will be assigned work according to their skills. Those without useful skills will be sent directly to the armory to nondisruptively manufacture weapons for the dwarves. Producing weapons and implements through the Book of Lords, transmigrators were able to accelerate production much faster than the dwarves. It takes three days to make a rifle and even longer to make a cannon¡ªup to several months. But in the hands of the transmigrators, as long as the materials met the standards, weapons could be made instantly. The disadvantage of the dwarves is their sparse population. Their advantage is clear; the power of their firearms is immense. If their firearms could develop rapidly, the dwarves would also usher in a new future under his rule. Therefore, the first step for Rune after securing the throne was to capture the transmigrators. Hearing the reports of his subjects, Rune stroked his beard and let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Haha, good, inform everyone to increase the attack speed. Consolidate all the remaining transmigrators together before the onset of winter to prepare for next year¡¯s plans,¡± Rune commanded loudly. Chapter 677 - Chapter 677: Chapter 487, Fairy Dream Tower (Added for Wan Li Wan Li Boss)._2 Chapter 677: Chapter 487, Fairy Dream Tower (Added for ¡®Wan Li Wan Li¡¯ Boss)._2 ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Everyone below bowed in unison. Just as Rune was in a good mood, planning to end this temporary meeting, Urgent and clear footsteps were heard coming from the side corridor. Soon after, a guard walked in with large strides and declared loudly, ¡°Your Majesty, the leader of the Third Brigade is back and says he has crucial news to report.¡± Rune knitted his brows; the circumstances must be pressing for somebody to barge in with a report. ¡°Let him in.¡± The guard withdrew, and a dwarf clad in full armor strode in. After paying his respects, he said with a grim face, ¡°Your Majesty, not a single person from the squad of three hundred cavalrymen sent to pursue Deng Bin has returned.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean by ¡®has not returned¡¯?¡± Rune¡¯s expression turned stern once more. He knew of Deng Bin. Both sides have exchanged many things. But to his understanding, Deng Bin¡¯s stronghold wasn¡¯t strong. With the dwarves¡¯ capabilities, taking this city would be without any pressure. The lower-ranking officer had broken into a sweat, lapping his dry lips, he continued saying, ¡°Your Majesty, I immediately arranged for an investigation. In the eastern woods close to the Desolate Battlefield, we found the bodies of the disappeared cavaliers, along with human bodies and a large pile of bones.¡± ¡°So you are saying all three hundred men are dead, are you?¡± Rune¡¯s voice became increasingly low, filled with brewing anger. Dwarves could die. There were already many people who died in the war. But the death of three hundred cavalrymen due to chasing a band of fleeing transmigrators was something Rune would not tolerate. The leader swallowed hard, continued saying, ¡°We suspect that the transmigrators from the east must have rescued them. Otherwise, Deng Bin¡¯s people don¡¯t have the strength to kill our cavalry.¡± The complete annihilation of the three hundred men suggested the enemy¡¯s strength. Rune¡¯s face remained gloomy, but his expression did not reveal much. He was silent for a moment. ¡°For this matter, you have failed in leading the troops. We will remove your position as the leader. You may leave.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The leader wiped away his sweat and withdrew. Rune¡¯s gaze swept across everyone below again and continued, ¡°Hester, you will take over the command of the Third Brigade. Arrange for scouts to investigate the city in the east. I need a detailed report within three days.¡± Hester was a man with red cropped hair. He stepped forward and accepted his command loudly, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Rune nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wrap it up for today. Accelerate the attack.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡± As the crowd dispersed, Rune also turned and walked towards the back. Throughout the night, dozens of cavalry scouts set off from Gray Iron City towards the east. ¡­ ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Wow, wow!¡± ¡°Wow, wow, wow!¡± Several days later, Fang Hao, Anjia, and Lorrey. They stood below the towering walls of the city, exclaiming in amazement. After a few days of travel, the team from Lyss City had finally arrived at the Federation¡¯s power center city, Silver Wing City. The gray walls of the city were grand and lofty, extending as far as the eye could see. The masonry of the walls was perfectly aligned, and they had been coated in a gray lime wash. There were flags of Silver Wing City and the Federation on the city wall, while patrol soldiers occasionally looked down from above. You could faintly see dozens of defensive machines. Lookout towers soaring into the clouds. Any approaching party would have a hard time escaping the line of sight of the lookout towers. My goodness, this truly was an impregnable fortress. Not to mention the defense mechanisms they could currently see were well-arranged. And as the power center of the Federation, there would certainly be hidden measures. It wasn¡¯t possible for all defenses to be displayed in the open. ¡°Sir, the procedures have been completed, you can enter the city now.¡± At this moment, a guard approached. ¡°Good.¡± Fang Hao got back on the carriage. The palanquin was pulled in, and the carriage entered the city gate. Fang Hao pulled a crack in the curtain and curiously looked outside. The smooth road was more than 10 meters wide, wide enough for two coaches to pass each other without causing any congestion. There were stone bricks laid out on the road, with pedestrian paths on both sides. Yet, the city inhabitants didn¡¯t seem bothered by the presence of the troops. As if such an arrival was considered a normal routine. The carriage moved straight into a private inn, which had quite a large compound. The accomodation was more than enough for their stay. They got off the carriage and everyone started unloading their belongings. Rebecca also alighted the carriage and said in a low voice, ¡°I lost all my stuff. According to our agreement, now that we are in Silver Wing City, you need to settle half of the pay for the mercenaries.¡± ¡°OK, any plans later? Would you like to have lunch together?¡± Fang Hao smiled and looked at her. Rebecca rolled her eyes at him, then blinked flirtatiously, ¡°I have some things to prepare. I¡¯m going to visit some friends tonight. If you are bored, you can take Anjia for a walk; this place is far more bustling than Belisis City.¡± ¡°Oh, alright then.¡± Fang Hao felt a little disheartened. The two stood to the side, chatting. In the meantime, Demitrija led the others in thoroughly checking the entire accommodation. They also arranged for corresponding patrol duties. Even though they were here, it was not as safe as their own territory. It was essential to foresee and prepare for any possible dangers. After the inspection work was done, everyone returned to their own rooms. Lunch followed soon after. Chapter 678 - Chapter 678: Chapter 487, Fairy Dream Tower (Added for Wan Li Wan Li Boss)._3 Chapter 678: Chapter 487, Fairy Dream Tower (Added for ¡®Wan Li Wan Li¡¯ Boss)._3 Fang Hao led Anjia, Aseti, and two guards out of their residence. They hailed a carriage by the roadside and headed towards a nearby commercial street. It was not easy to come here for once. They also wanted to stroll around, after all, they¡¯d been on the road for nearly a month. The carriage entered the vicinity of the commercial street. It began to slow down, the outside was bustling, mixed with the sounds of hawking. When they got to the edge of the street, it became difficult for the carriage to proceed any further. Fang Hao simply had the carriage stop and they sauntered over. They walked ahead and quickly entered the bustling commercial street. Shops were lined up on both sides of the road, and many merchants stood by the roadside, selling their goods. Among them, Fang Hao saw that transmigrators were selling some small items they had made. It seemed that they had thoroughly integrated into this world. They walked and walked. In Anjia¡¯s hand, a large handful of snacks had appeared. While walking, she stuffed them into Fang Hao and Aseti¡¯s mouths. Although this street was prosperous, it was not much different from Lyss City. The types of shops did not offer anything special either. The group made idle chatter. They arrived at the center of the commercial street, beneath a three-story building. The building was named the ¡®Fairy Dream Tower¡¯. The name ¡®Fairy Dream Tower¡¯ was filled with a strong oriental flavor. Either the place was run by a transmigrator, or a transmigrator had helped in naming it. Most of the people entering and leaving were upper-class women, it seemed to be a place that catered to women. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s take a look inside.¡± Fang Hao led the group in, and upon looking up, saw a handsome male shop assistant greeting customers. When he saw Fang Hao and the others enter, the man paused. Then he walked over with a smile, ¡°Welcome, take a look around. If there¡¯s anything you fancy, just let me know. I¡¯ll give you a discount as we¡¯re all one of us.¡± The shop assistant was very enthusiastic and ignored the other female customers, sticking to Fang Hao¡¯s side. ¡°Did you open this shop?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have that ability. This shop was opened by Sister Li. I lost my turf, and just as Sister Li was hiring, I decided to come and help.¡± The male shop assistant said casually. Sister Li¡­ Being able to own such a large shop here, Sister Li¡¯s abilities were indeed extraordinary. ¡°We are all here to help each other, yes?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± The group continued to walk at a leisurely pace. Anjia and Aseti were already being attracted by the items in the shop. The first floor sold cosmetics like lipstick, eyeshadow, face cream, and many other items Fang Hao couldn¡¯t identify. This Sister Li must be quite skilled at making these items. Being able to produce these items after coming over to this place, she really is quite impressive. ¡°Does this place only sell cosmetics?¡± ¡°This floor sells cosmetics, the second floor has various women¡¯s clothing, and the third floor has jade and jewelry. Sister Li is very capable. Pretty much all the women in this city have their business handled by our Fairy Dream Tower.¡± The male assistant came even closer, ¡°As you also know, once you become wealthy, you attract more envious wolves. Otherwise, Sister Li¡¯s business could be even bigger.¡± ¡°She¡¯s that powerful, huh.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she just! Let me tell you, in my heart, Sister Li is the commercial version of Fang Hao. You haven¡¯t seen Sister Li negotiate with the big bosses in the city. She was just like a scene out of a movie.¡± The shop assistant said excitedly. Perhaps because she had helped him and also due to her real achievements, he had great admiration for Sister Li. ¡°Well, that¡¯s indeed impressive.¡± Chapter 679 - Chapter 679: Chapter 488, Boss Take Care_1 Chapter 679: Chapter 488, Boss Take Care_1 ¡°Hey!¡± Anjia pulled on the waiter, causing him to stagger, before asking, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Oh, this is a serum, for skin care.¡± ¡°And this one?¡± ¡°This is an eyeliner pencil for drawing eye lines.¡± Anjia kept asking about several items, and the waiter patiently answered her. He could see their hero attributes. As soon as Fang Hao entered, he had a blue and an orange hero with him, which undoubtedly represented the terrifying strength of the person in front of him. So, even if the other party had many questions, he still answered them. Fang Hao looked at Anjia who kept asking questions. There were so many types that he didn¡¯t even know what to buy. He then turned to the waiter and said, ¡°Do you have any gift sets?¡± ¡°Yes, we have gift sets over here that include foundation, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, a full set of makeup. Of course, the price is a bit higher.¡± The waiter pulled out a wooden box the size of a lunch box from a shelf nearby. The box clearly had ¡®Flower Fairy Honey¡¯ written on it. When opened, it contained neatly arranged various types of makeup. ¡°What if we don¡¯t know how to use it?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. As long as you come to the store and learn, we will teach you. It¡¯s very simple and you can learn quickly,¡± the store worker explained with a smile. He then pointed to the side where another female store worker was teaching a noble lady how to use makeup. ¡°How much does it cost?¡± The store worker directly said, ¡°Three gold coins for each box.¡± Three gold coins. Good heavens, a box of makeup was enough to buy several slaves. But now he was rich and powerful, so he didn¡¯t mind spending that much. He started counting the number of people in his mind. Rebecca, Anjia, Eira, Dong Jiayue, and the maids in the territory. As he counted, the number already exceeded 70 and was still increasing. Seeing Fang Hao keeping silent, the store worker thought that the price was too expensive for him. He then offered, ¡°I can give you a discount. Fang Hao was surprised, ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± But because of the interruption, he forgot how many people he had counted so far. Anyway, it was less than a hundred. ¡°Okay, prepare a hundred boxes for me.¡± ¡°What, a hundred boxes?¡± The store worker was taken aback. This must be a wholesale purchase! ¡°Ah, so you don¡¯t have enough stock?¡± ¡°No, no, please wait a moment, I will have someone prepare them immediately.¡± There was no such thing as not having enough stock. The store worker wished he could buy all the goods in the store. At that time, he could also earn a lot of commission. After paying, Fang Hao asked the store worker to deliver the goods directly to the inn where they were staying. Fang Hao continued to the second floor with his group. According to the store worker, the second floor sold clothes. As soon as they stepped onto the second floor, the atmosphere was instantly much quieter. Only young women were present, and by the number of people, it seemed that the clothing here was also quite popular. However, the popularity could not compete with the cosmetics downstairs. Fang Hao came to a shelf on one side, and immediately saw dresses hung on the wall. Some were separate tops and skirts, and some were one-piece dresses. But the styles resembled the ancient Eastern ¡®Hanfu¡¯. Only a few dresses were the type worn by the locals here, and according to store workers, they were not produced by the shop itself. This was in contrast with his Bone Textile Store¡¯s clothing styles. The Bone Textile Store primarily focused on shaping and sculpting the body, but the style was more modern or Western. The ethereal style here was indeed beautiful, but it seemed that the locals had not yet accepted it. ¡°You two also pick some out, I will pay when we leave,¡± Fang Hao said. Anjia pulled Aseti towards one side to pick the clothes she liked. But they didn¡¯t dare to wander too far, fearing Fang Hao might encounter danger. Fang Hao walked around and his eyes landed on a sky-blue long dress with silver line patterns. The style was very beautiful, and the material was high-quality silk. It was both lively for young girls and mature and graceful for older women. It was quite suitable for Rebecca, the ageless woman. ¡°The boss has a good eye, this dress was embroidered one stitch at a time. I visited the factory, and I heard that it takes several weeks to embroider one,¡± the store worker sought to flatter post the purchase of a hundred boxes of ¡®Flower Fairy Honey¡¯. ¡°Pack it up!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± After that, he chose different colored dresses for Eira, Little White, and Rolana from the side. All were high-quality silk, which would feel and look very comfortable when worn. As Fang Hao continued to stroll around, he was stunned by what he saw next. A bellyband! Good heavens, they even sold such things here. He looked around, and since he was already here, he selected a few bellybands and asked the store clerk to pack them up. ¡­ ¡°Boss, take care. May you earn big money, we welcome you to come again next time.¡± The store worker escorted them all the way to the door and spoke respectfully. He had earned enough this time to cover his earnings for several months. He was so happy that his smile almost reached his ears. He hoped that this golden master would come back again to shop. ¡°Okay then, goodbye.¡± Fang Hao nodded and continued on with his group. The Fairy Dream Tower was indeed the most characteristic store on this street. The other jewelry stores and clothing stores were rather dull in comparison. There was no novelty and no desire to buy anything. Lacking the motivation to continue shopping. Fang Hao and his group decided to find a place to eat dinner and then return to the inn. They leisurely strolled down the street, taking in the festive atmosphere along the way. Chapter 680 - Chapter 680: Chapter 488, Take Care Boss_2 Chapter 680: Chapter 488, Take Care Boss_2 As they noticed a nice tavern, Anjia exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Hey! Look, there¡¯s a bird perched on that person¡¯s shoulder.¡± Fang Hao followed Anjia¡¯s gaze. He saw a line of guards approaching from the roadside. The man at the front was tall, clad in black-and-gold armor, a sword hung at his waist, and a longbow strapped to his back. What has surprised Anjia was, on his right shoulder, a green parrot almost as big as an owl was perched. The market was noisy, but Anjia¡¯s shout seemed to have reached the man across the street, who turned his gaze towards them. Not wanting to stir any trouble, Fang Hao quickly said, ¡°Esteemed leader, we mean no harm.¡± It was not out of fear of the man, but because whispering about someone in a low voice was somewhat inappropriate. Furthermore, it became even more embarrassing because the man overheard them. Anjia explained, ¡°I was just curious about your bird, no other meaning.¡± The man, clad in black armor, made a clinking noise with each step due to the collision of his armor pieces. After sizing up Fang Hao and the others, he asked quietly, ¡°Just entered the city? Show me your identity tokens.¡± ¡°Get down, drop your weapons.¡± As soon as the man opened his mouth, the parrot on his shoulder began to loudly squawk. The sudden shrill sound startled Fang Hao and the rest. The Lionheart Knight behind them was on the verge of drawing his sword. ¡°Shut up,¡± The man shook his shoulder. The parrot fluttered its wings a bit, then flew back onto the man¡¯s shoulder, again crying out, ¡°Catch the thief, catch the thief¡­.¡± Ah¡­. Fang Hao, his companions, and the bystanders, they all looked at the parrot. But the guards behind the man seemed utterly used to this, showing no reaction. Meanwhile, they were checking the entry tokens of Fang Hao and the others. When they learned that they came from Lyss City for the Council meeting, they didn¡¯t make any further difficulties. Anjia, however, walked up as if very familiar with the man, looking at the parrot and said, ¡°Your bird seems a bit dumb!¡± The man laughed embarrassingly, ¡°I bought it at the market. I thought it was very clever and could mimic human speech, but it keeps babbling nonsense all day.¡± After the check of the entry tokens was completed, they didn¡¯t give them any more hard time. Fang Hao, standing at the entrance of the tavern, politely suggested, ¡°May I invite you all for a meal?¡± ¡°No, thank you. We still need to patrol. There¡¯ve been too many strangers in the city lately. As you¡¯ve bought so much, you¡¯d better return early in the evening.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± The man nodded again and continued on his way with his subordinates. Fang Hao and the others then entered the tavern. They ordered a table of dishes and began to eat. Well fed and watered, the sky began to darken. They again looked at the bounty notices posted in the tavern. Seeing nothing special, they returned to their dwelling with everyone. ¡­ The commercial street was still bustling. Numerous carriages gathered in the streets, making this place even busier than usual. In ¡®Dragon Soaring and Swallow Tavern¡¯, the city¡¯s largest tavern, bursts of laughter emanated from a luxurious private room from time to time. The city¡¯s dignitaries who had arrived at Silver Wing City were drinking and making merry in the tavern. This tavern was previously called ¡®Dragon Tooth Pub¡¯. It was renamed ¡®Dragon Soaring and Swallow Tavern¡¯ after renovations two months ago. In a private room on the third floor, Groot¡¯s butler, holding a glass of wine, looked at the bustling street below: ¡°The party from Lyss City entered the city in the morning. I¡¯m afraid this matter will be difficult to handle now.¡± In the private room sat a middle-aged mercenary, dressed like a small businessman. The mercenary said, ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that they didn¡¯t drink the tea. We had no choice but to retreat. We almost got caught by their scout as we were leaving.¡± The butler, hearing this, was filled with rage. He sat back down, slamming the wine glass on the table. ¡°That¡¯s not what you said when we hired you! You told us all about the idea of poisoning them through the tea stall, saying it was so meticulous. But at the end of the day, people get slashed, and it doesn¡¯t slow them down at all.¡± The mercenary was hired by the butler. Officially a mercenary, but he also did things similar to a bandit. Barely anyone dared to accept the task of attacking the Lyss City forces. ¡°Ah! In their team, there must have been someone who discovered something was amiss with the cold tea, which led the whole troop to avoid drinking it, thus resulting in¡­.¡± ¡°Hmph! I don¡¯t want to hear about this. My master gave me a good scolding because of it. If your captain really wants to shake off his current situation, he should show his real skills, not just brag every day.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll relay this to the captain.¡± The butler leaned back in his chair and continued, ¡°Lyss City has already been infiltrated. The city guards, too, have started to set up their surveillance in the vicinity. It¡¯s improbable to kidnap Rebecca without a trace. My master wants you to change your target first.¡± ¡°Oh? Please elaborate, sir.¡± ¡°The new Lord of Lyss City, is the puppet husband newly supported by Rebecca. Rebecca isn¡¯t easy to deal with, you can deal with him first. If her husband dies, Lyss City will be without a city lord, the council will naturally have an excuse to force her to step down. At that time, my master will take advantage of this opportunity to make some moves.¡± The mercenary slowly nodded, continuing to ask, ¡°So this puppet city lord, what¡¯s his current strength, and how¡¯s his defense force around him?¡± ¡°A young man in his twenties, even if he has some strength, it definitely won¡¯t be too high. He¡¯s a pretty little white face, which has obtained Rebecca¡¯s favor. There should be some guards around him, but not many.¡± The butler continued. ¡°Oh, in that case, there should be no problem. Rest assured, sir!¡± The mercenary assured him confidently. Capturing Rebecca alive in the city would indeed be a bit difficult. But if one were to kill a scrounging pretty face, it should be a lot easier. ¡°If you fail this time, it will be hard for me to explain things to my master. Besides, my master also said there should be a hero protecting this young man. Don¡¯t take him lightly just because he is a pretty face. You must give it your all, understand?¡± The butler earnestly reminded. The mercenary¡¯s face grimaced, ¡°A hero? What level of Hero?¡± ¡°Master didn¡¯t say it, you¡¯ll have to investigate it yourself. Besides, when the time comes, you must schedule more people to take action. If they have ten people, you should send a hundred. Even then, he may still have the chance to escape. But what if you have ten thousand men? You could tire him to death.¡± The mercenary twitched, ¡°But sir, isn¡¯t ten thousand people in a city a bit exaggerated?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I mean, I don¡¯t want to see any mistakes happening again. Moreover, be sure to maintain the confidentiality. The people you send out should preferably be unidentifiable. Don¡¯t let the people from the palace check and find out anything.¡± ¡°Yes yes, we¡¯ll make sure to handle it.¡± The butler nodded slightly, he had said everything he needed to say, and whether it would work out later, was beyond his control. ¡°By the way, have you prepared the tiger whip I asked for last time?¡± The mercenary immediately took out a wooden box from under the table, ¡°It¡¯s prepared, the whip of a blue crystal tiger, still with the testicles.¡± ¡°Hmm, not bad. I¡¯ll take it with me later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The room once again fell silent, and the two began to eat their food while chatting about irrelevant matters. ¡­ By the time they left the pub, night had already fallen. Fang Hao and Anjia had a few drinks, while Aseti and the guards were still performing their duties. Once the whole group was full, they didn¡¯t plan on continuing to wander around. They walked through the streets, hailed a carriage and returned to their place of dwelling. Once they had returned to their residential area, the streets began to quiet down. Upon entering their place, Anjia enthusiastically carried her purchases upstairs to show off to Lorrey. Whereas Fang Hao looked at the makeup set and clothing he had bought. He ascended the stairs, heading upstairs. As he approached Rebecca¡¯s door, he saw a maid exiting from the room. ¡°City Lord,¡± the maid bowed respectfully. ¡°Hmm, is Rebecca resting?¡± ¡°The lady is about to rest,¡± the maid continued. ¡°I bought her some things while strolling on the streets today. Might as well give them to her now.¡± ¡°Hmm, let me inform the lady,¡± the maid turned around and entered the room again. Not long after, she returned. She wore a smile,¡±Sir, the lady invites you in.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Fang Hao pushed the door open and stepped in. Inside the room, nightstones were shaded by lamps. Silver moonlight streamed through the windows, casting light on a disheveled Rebecca, who was seated on the bed in her nightgown. ¡°It¡¯s late in the night, and here you are causing trouble again.¡± Fang Hao placed the items he bought onto the table. Upon seeing the items, a trace of surprise surfaced on Rebecca¡¯s face, ¡°You bought things for me?¡± ¡°Hmm, I happened to pass by the ¡®Fairy Dream Tower¡¯ today, so I bought some stuff for you.¡± ¡°Hmph, so you do have a heart.¡± Chapter 681 - Chapter 681: Chapter 489, Got the Blueprint for Rifle_1 Chapter 681: Chapter 489, Got the Blueprint for Rifle_1 ¡°Well, I think of you wherever I go, and when I see something that suits you, of course I¡¯ll buy it for you.¡± said Fang Hao unabashedly, sitting down beside her. He knew how to speak words that would charm a woman. The impact of those words, however, often depended on who said them and when they were said. If he had said such words when he first met Rebecca, she would likely have been disgusted, maybe even wanting to chop his head off. But now, she only blushed and didn¡¯t make any dramatic reactions. ¡°I never realized that you¡¯re so good at sweet-talking people,¡± Rebecca blurted out, her cheeks flushed. Her loose neckline allowed him to glimpse the softness beneath, partially obscured by a jade pendant. In fact, Rebecca had a habit of sleeping nude. Back when he pretended to be a flamboyant fashion designer, he had once witnessed her sleeping in the buff. He hoped that wonderful habit hadn¡¯t changed. ¡°It depends who it is,¡± he retorted, ¡°Why would I sweet-talk just anyone?¡± ¡°Humph! Fine, I have accepted your gift. I have things to do tomorrow and need to rest early,¡± Rebecca moved to shoo him away. ¡°Oh, what are you doing tomorrow? I¡¯ll have Aseti accompany you. It¡¯ll be safer,¡± rather than leaving, Fang Hao instead moved from his chair to sit on the edge of the bed. Staring intently at the disheveled beauty before him. Rebecca, unnerved by his gaze, curled her blanket around her chest and scooted back a bit timidly. Initially, she wanted to scold him, but it seemed her words didn¡¯t faze him at all. She clenched her teeth, realizing that without offering him something, he wouldn¡¯t leave. ¡°Just for a moment, then hurry back to rest. I really do have things to do tomorrow,¡± she said after a moment¡¯s thought. As soon as she finished talking, she leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on Fang Hao¡¯s lips. The moment their lips touched, Fang Hao was about to hold her when Rebecca pulled away. ¡°Okay, hurry back now. I need to rest,¡± Fang Hao blinked, covering his lips as he said, ¡°Humph, I actually wanted to chat with you. I didn¡¯t expect you to take advantage of me. I¡¯ve been treating you like my elder sister, and yet you entice me! Wait for me! Next time, I will definitely pay you back!¡± ?? With a confused expression on her face, Rebecca watched as Fang Hao feigned victimhood, stomping out of the room after a menacing threat, ¡°You wait! I will return to take my revenge!¡± she retorted. He did not listen and departed, repeating, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll definitely come back for revenge.¡± And with that, he left the room. ¡­ Back in his room, Anjia and Lorrey had returned after showing off their new clothes. When Lorrey looked envious, Anjia was quick to give him her ¡®Flower Fairy Honey¡¯ Fang Hao had bought. She made sure to emphasize that it symbolized their friendship. Lorrey was moved, despite not knowing how to use it. But at its price, he knew it must be something special. He was so moved he nearly cried as he hugged Anjia¡¯s leg. Anjia looked pleased and promised to take him along next time. Inside the room, a Nightstone illuminated the space. Anjia was prancing around in her new dress. The Fairy Dream Tower¡¯s clothing certainly had an ethereal quality to it. Yet, when Anjia wore it, it didn¡¯t quite have the same effect. It did look good nevertheless. Ding! A message notification came through from the Book of Lords. Upon opening it, he saw that it was a message from Dong Jiayue. ¡°Brother Hao, the dwarves¡¯ scouts are frequently investigating my side. I suspect the dwarves are planning to take some action,¡± Fang Hao sat on the bed replying, ¡°What about Bellerga¡¯s blueprints? It¡¯s been several days since he promised to have it done.¡± Bellerga was supposed to be etching the blueprint for the musket. But even after a month of research, nothing had been etched. He had asked Dong Jiayue to remind Bellerga last time and was told it would be three days. Today was the third day. Dong Jiayue replied, ¡°I have just been to Bellerga. He said he could have it done by morning.¡± ¡°Hopefully he won¡¯t change his mind this time. How are your arrangements? Any intel from the dwarves?¡± Dong Jiayue, ¡°The undead led by the Black Sword have amassed an army of a million soldiers. I have consolidated twelve lords to participate in this upcoming war. These two days, we have been preparing armors and weapons for the skeletons and soldiers.¡± Immediately, a second message came in. ¡°In comparison to human beings and orcs, dwarves have a limited population. However, besides Eight Peaks Mountain, there are twelve fortress cities equipped with defensive arms. Thus, I am afraid this war will take a long time.¡± Wars are brutal and costly, especially with winter approaching. If it were not for the ambitions of the dwarfs, Dong Jiayue would not have wished to start a war at this time. After all, to recruit soldiers, transmigrators also needed various materials like Soul Crystals. Although she did not know how Fang Hao recruited so many Undead, she knew it wasn¡¯t without cost. If you use them all up, security gets compromised. ¡°It¡¯s fine. If the dwarves aren¡¯t afraid, then why should we be? The Undead don¡¯t need food and aren¡¯t afraid of the cold, so we can wear them down,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Hehe. Brother Hao, you¡¯re right; I¡¯m not afraid of them either.¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°I can¡¯t hurry back, so you need to take care. I¡¯ll arrange the heroes from each city to support you.¡± Dong Jiayue replied, ¡°Okay, we can handle this. We can¡¯t have you handling every little problem.¡± Chapter 682 - Chapter 682: Chapter 489, Got the Blueprint for Rifle_2 Chapter 682: Chapter 489, Got the Blueprint for Rifle_2 Fang Hao, ¡°Okay, send me the Bellerga Blueprint as soon as it¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After saying this, the two ended their conversation. Fang Hao lay in bed, taking out the Sound-Transmitting Shell, and sent messages to several heroes nearby. He instructed them to consolidate their forces and move to the borders of the Desolate Battlefield to assist Dong Jiayue in her attack. Anjia went to find Lorrey again. The autumn night outside the window was peaceful. ¡­ Rebecca lay in bed, tossing and turning. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, ¡°Damn kid¡­¡± She had been in bed for a while, but she didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all. Her mind was full of Fang Hao. Since she couldn¡¯t sleep, her gaze fell on the gift on the nearby seat. She sat up and first opened the wooden box labeled ¡®Fairy Dream Tower¡¯. When the box was opened, several bottles and jars appeared before her eyes. Even though she was seeing them for the first time, she knew that they were cosmetics made by transmigrators. In Silver Wing City, the products of Fairy Dream Tower were very popular among women. After fiddling with them for a while, she closed the wooden box again. She then opened the next package. In the package was a long dress with a blue background and silver threads. The fabric and craftsmanship indicated its high value. However, the style of this long dress was something she had never seen before, different from any other dresses she had worn. ¡°The craftsmanship is good, and it¡¯s quite pretty, but the style is a bit strange.¡± Muttering to herself, Rebecca picked up the long dress and held it up in front of the mirror. She loved the color blue, especially bluish gray. In her residence in Lyss City, blue decorations are seen everywhere. Fang Hao, who had made clothes for her before, naturally remembered this. Looking at herself in the mirror, she nodded in satisfaction. She then undressed right away, ready to try on the new dress. As her nightgown slid to the ground, her curvaceous body was exposed. Just as she was about to unfold the long dress, a piece of ivory, lightweight fabric fell out of it. Rebecca, with her quick reflexes, caught it with one hand. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this?¡± At first, she thought it was a handkerchief or a piece of display fabric. But this fabric was much larger than a handkerchief, with neatly finished edges and a blue floral pattern printed on it. Clearly, it was not just a piece of scrap fabric. It was obviously another piece of clothing. She quickly realized what this fabric was for as she held it against her body. She looked down at her chest, her face instantly turning a bit red. This was a bust wrap. Rebecca had elf blood in her veins, and even though she was only half-elf, her beauty and figure were outstanding. Especially her abundant chest size, which presumably, would make even elves envious. After all, the elves in the legends were well-known archers, and having too big breasts would hinder their archery, wouldn¡¯t it? Rebecca usually wore a bra made by the Bone Textile Store, and she would wrap an additional layer of white cloth around it when practicing swordplay, to prevent it from moving around. But this piece in her hand was another kind of breast wrap. It was soft to the touch, and the craftsmanship was exquisite and beautiful. ¡°These transmigrators sure have a lot of tricks.¡± The mirror was a bit small, so she adjusted its angle. She figured it out on her own and put it on. Soon, the white wrap was on her body. She stood in front of the mirror and took a careful look. The fit was perfect up and down, although width-wise¡­it seemed a bit narrow. Leaving her back bare was one thing, but from the sides, it merely covered the majority of her round breasts. The sides of her full chest were exposed. She tried pulling it a little to the left to cover it up, but that revealed even more on the right side. Pulling it to the right, exposed the left side. She simply stopped adjusting, as long as the center was covered. She stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself for a while, feeling a bit embarrassed but unwilling to take it off. She usually didn¡¯t like to wear clothes to bed, so wearing this would be just right. She got back into bed and dove under the covers. She continued to daydream. ¡­ The next day, at noon. Rebecca began to get ready. Apparently, she was going to visit someone from the Hall of Justice, and she had even prepared a gift. Fang Hao arranged for Aseti and a few Lionheart Knights to accompany her to ensure her safety. From the bandits, they had learned that the Marshall family was targeting Rebecca. The security issue needed to be considered more comprehensively. After sending Rebecca off, Fang Hao didn¡¯t leave his residence. After lunch. Dong Jiayue traded him the [Blueprint of Dwarven Bolt-Action White Steel Rifle (Blue quality)] It was finally completed. Delight surged in Fang Hao¡¯s heart. The long-awaited rifle blueprint was finally etched out. This type of rifle was what he needed, but its pros and cons were very clear. The bolt-action rifle required reloading after each shot, so its firing rate was not faster than a bow and arrow. The same was true for its power. In the Trade Alliance¡¯s shop, he had seen a purple weapon-grade bow, made from ancient wood and animal tendons. In terms of fire rate and power, it was much stronger than this type of rifle. But to draw this kind of bow required strength that not everyone possessed. In modern times, people were afraid of guns, your power in this world could become heroic and acquire divine power. The firing mechanism of the rifle also limited its power. But the advantage of the rifle was its consistent damage. Its simple activation method meant that even ordinary farmers could have certain combat power once they were equipped with a rifle. It was particularly suitable for the large number of skeleton archers in Fang Hao¡¯s control who were not of high level. Chapter 683 - Chapter 683: Chapter 489, Got the Blueprint for Rifle_3 Chapter 683: Chapter 489, Got the Blueprint for Rifle_3 Hand over the blueprint. Fang Hao immediately had someone clear a space in the backyard. Using wood and leather, they constructed a simple large warehouse. Blocking all the sightlines around. Fang Hao stood inside, opened the Book of Lords, and began to make bolt-action rifles. [Dwarf Bolt-Action Fortified White Steel Rifle: Hard Tough Wood 2, Fine Iron 2, White Steel Ingot 3, Metal Parts 52, Precision Parts 35.] (Description: A long-range firearm developed by dwarves, it has improved the way of loading bullets to make up for the slow loading speed of the Dwarf Musketeers.) Goodness me, it requires so many precision parts. Fortunately, before leaving, he got the blueprint for the precision parts from the Dwarves through Deng Bin. Otherwise, even with the blueprint for the rifle, he wouldn¡¯t be able to mass-produce them. First, produce enough precision parts. Then start making rifles. Set the production quantity to 10. [Hundredfold amplification triggered, received 1010 Dwarf Bolt-Action Fortified White Steel rifles.] Whoooosh!! A large burst of light flashed, and bolt-action rifles appeared from all around, scattered all over the ground. Because the space is limited and he¡¯s afraid of being seen. He could only make a lesser amount each time. After handing over these 1010 rifles to Dong Jiayue, Fang Hao continued his production. Again 1010 pieces, sent over to Dong Jiayue. This process repeated more than a hundred times. In total, over one hundred thousand rifles were handed over to Dong Jiayue. ¡°Thanks, Brother Hao, what about the bullets?¡± Fang Hao continued to produce a large quantity of bullets and handed them over. He made as many bullets as possible. In order to prevent a scarcity of bullets at a critical time. The bullet production is completed. Fang Hao then proceeded with the production of [First Generation Field Cannon]. This kind of cannon is large and heavy, belonging to the earliest cannons possessed by the Human Clan. The modified version now would definitely be some lighter. Fang Hao made 101 cannons. And handed them over to Dong Jiayue. ¡°Wow, wow! Brother Hao, you have this thing too, my goodness, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Dong Jiayue expressed his astonishment. Fang Hao replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have the blueprint for the shells, only 52 shells, you plan how to use them.¡± Without the shell blueprint, these 52 shells, that were obtained from the Life-taker lair, were stored in the storage space of the Book of Lords. Now, he passed them all to Dong Jiayue at once. But it seems like Dong Jiayue isn¡¯t worried, saying, ¡°That¡¯s no problem, we¡¯ve discussed it already. Dwarfs are good at using firearms, once we break through a fortress, we can seize cannons and shells. Now with your cannons, it¡¯s going to be even easier.¡± Well, it seems to make sense that way. Dwarfs will use firearms once they engage in wars. Win once, and they can acquire the other party¡¯s firearms, creating a situation where war supports war. But the premise is that you can defeat the Dwarfs. ¡°Alright, be careful. Try to capture as many Dwarfs as possible. Let Bellerga persuade them. Right now, population is also a resource,¡± Fang Hao added. ¡°Ah? Oh, alright. I¡¯ll remember,¡± Dong Jiayue answered. The two ended their chat and went about their business. ¡­ Fang Hao walked out of the temporary warehouse. He told the guarding soldiers around to dissipate. At this point, Anjia, with Lorrey in tow, ran over excitedly. ¡°Fang Hao, let¡¯s go. There¡¯s nothing in the afternoon. I heard of an interesting place and I want to take you there.¡± As Fang Hao was walking back, he asked, ¡°What place?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called something like, Chinatown.¡± Chapter 684 - Chapter 684: Chapter 490, Eye of Thunder Spirit_1 Chapter 684: Chapter 490, Eye of Thunder Spirit_1 Colney Grand Theater. Oh¡­my dear. You might suspect that stars are torches. You might suspect the sun changes position. You might suspect that truth is a lie. But my love has never changed. On the stage, the male actor holds the female actress¡¯s hand, looking deeply into each other¡¯s eyes, reciting their lines aloud. Below the stage, the auditorium is filled with ladies and socialites. They are eagerly watching the new play introduced by the theater. The middle of the auditorium is the best place to watch. Rebecca and a similarly beautiful woman sit side by side, attentively watching the most recent program at the grand theater. The beautiful woman¡¯s name is Olivia, a deeply rooted noble in Silver Wing City. In her youth, she married Dordy, the leader of the Hall of Justice. Rebecca met her when they were younger, and though all these years Rebecca has been pressured by various forces, Olivia has not spoken on her behalf. But maintaining their close relationship, appearing together in public, is already a kind of statement. ¡°Why, the cosmetics from Fairy Dream Tower? I¡¯ve never seen you use these things,¡± Olivia whispers. Rebecca¡¯s gaze remains on the stage. ¡°I heard that the stuff from Fairy Dream Tower is good, so I just bought it to try.¡± ¡°Really? It wasn¡¯t your young husband who gave it to you?¡± Olivia tilts her head, looking at Rebecca¡¯s face. Her red lips are glamorous, and she wears a simple eyeshadow, which makes her already beautiful face dazzle even more. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Rebecca gives her a glance. ¡°See, I told you; I knew you wouldn¡¯t notice Fairy Dream Tower on your own. It was him who bought it for you, wasn¡¯t it? You even used it, seems like you fancy him quite a bit.¡± Olivia¡¯s face is filled with joy at discovering something new. Rebecca does not refute her; she simply watches the performance on stage seriously. Olivia doesn¡¯t continue either, and the scene is calm for a long while. It¡¯s only when the second act begins that she continues. ¡°The church hasn¡¯t done much in recent years. They hardly care about cities harassed by the undead lately, focusing on seizing power instead. You really don¡¯t need to be so stubborn about this, maintaining your own position is enough.¡± When Olivia says this, she is clearly sharing information with her friend. If Rebecca disagrees with the Federation¡¯s decision to seize power, her position will be in jeopardy. After all these years, her position has been precarious. It seems that she holds great power, but in reality, it¡¯s unstable. ¡°What does your husband say?¡± Rebecca asks quietly. Olivia doesn¡¯t answer, and there is silence for a while. When she speaks again, she has changed the conversation. ¡°You know about the transmigrators, right? A lot of the new plays in this theater are provided by them, all of them pretty interesting.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Rebecca answers. She didn¡¯t press for more information. ¡­ Chinatown. Unable to resist the constant nagging, Fang Hao took Anjia, Lorrey, and Demitrija out of their residence to Chinatown. This iconic name lets one know its meaning immediately. Chinatown is not as large as a commercial street, but it¡¯s particularly lively. All kinds of snacks with Oriental characteristics and some strange and bizarre items can be seen here. They fill the entire street. There are many transmigrators, some who develop forces and build their own cities. There are also no small number of people who give up their cities and bring materials into the city for a comfortable life. Each person¡¯s opportunity is different, as are their choices. At a barbecue stand. The owner is a tall thin middle-aged man, he wears a Xinjiang cap and speaks with a southern accent. While grilling kebabs, he chats with Fang Hao. ¡°How¡¯s business? Can these people eat barbecue?¡± As the owner flips the skewers, he says, ¡°It¡¯s alright, you¡¯ll always make something when you set up a stall, and it¡¯s just enough to get by.¡± ¡°More than just getting by. You must earn quite a bit!¡± ¡°Forget it, I think you¡¯re the impressive one, you¡¯ve got two heroes at your side. Looks like your territory is developing well. Unlike us, who¡¯ve lost our city and can only wake up early and return late to make ends meet.¡± Fang Hao glances at the heroes beside him and answers, ¡°Oh, I came with my city lord. These are all his guards.¡± Realizing, the owner understands. Recently, a large number of outlanders have gathered in the city, all of them attending the Federal Conference. And Fang Hao should have come with his city lord. ¡°That¡¯s not bad then, in this world, as long as you can live and eat enough, that¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t think too much.¡± ¡°Yeah, by the way, boss, I just got here and I don¡¯t know much about this place. What do you think, who holds the power in this city?¡± Fang Hao continues. The owner is taken aback, looks around warily to see no one nearby. He lowers his voice, ¡°The Silver Wing City power distribution is quite complicated, with three major influences.¡± ¡°Three?¡± Fang Hao had heard from Rebecca that there were only the Hall of Justice and the Church of Light! How did a third one come up? ¡°The Hall of Justice, the Church, and the Mage¡¯s Association,¡± the owner adjusts his round hat and says. ¡°Mages? There are mages in this city?¡± Fang Hao becomes even more curious. ¡°Of course, they say this Mages¡¯ Association holds significant influence. They also serve as the Magic Regulatory Agency, overseeing all mages. Anyway, you¡¯d better not provoke them.¡± The owner continues to explain. The path of the mage is even harder to tread. Chapter 685 - Chapter 685: Chapter 490, Eye of Thunder Spirit_2 Chapter 685: Chapter 490, Eye of Thunder Spirit_2 Every mage is a scholar, who needs to read a vast amount of material and literature to study magic. Similarly, a mage¡¯s skills possess immense destructive power. If two warriors fight, a pub might be ruined. If two mages fight, not only the pub would be gone, a huge fire might burn for three days and nights. This is why mages need special supervision. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got no reason to upset them.¡± Fang Hao smiled, indicating that he was merely inquiring. The boss nodded and continued, ¡°The Hall of Justice is the force that controls this city. We are able to set up stalls and live here in the city, thanks to the Hall of Justice.¡± Mentioning the Hall of Justice, a trace of a smile appeared on the boss¡¯s face, seemingly having a good impression. ¡°About the church!¡± The boss¡¯s face changed instantly and looked around again. ¡°You should know about the church, they have their temples in all cities. They have very extreme beliefs. They used to consider us as heretics and were about to cleanse us in the name of their God. The people from the Hall of Justice intervened, otherwise, they would have gotten their chance. So, you should keep your distance from them. Do not even go to the temple when you¡¯re ill, or they might misinterpret your words, accuse you of a crime, and burn you at the stake,¡± The boss warned seriously. From the conversation, it was clear that the boss was not only wary but also had a dislike for the church. The actions of the church were polarizing. They built temples to treat the injuries of ordinary residents, but their actions were quite extreme. Fang Hao nodded to indicate his understanding, and then he switched to another topic, ¡°Oh, by the way, I went to the Fairy Dream Tower a few days ago. I heard that their boss, Sister Li, is pretty amazing.¡± ¡°Ah, Sister Li is much more than amazing. Do you see this street? It was all negotiated by Sister Li. Otherwise, do you think the natives would have let us set up stalls?¡± Fang Hao looked at the bustling street, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the boss had put some seasoning on the skewers, ¡°Here you go, these are yours. Would you like some beer? We have that too.¡± Anjia and Lorrey enthusiastically run over and take the skewers. ¡°No drink for us today, we drove here. Maybe next time.¡± Fang Hao said with a smile and led the group away. The boss waves at them, ¡°Uh huh, don¡¯t drink and ride. Good habit.¡± Fang Hao also waved back and set off into the distance. ¡­ As dusk approached. Fang Hao and others got on the carriage to return to their lodging. On the way they made a detour to have a glimpse at the ¡®Mage¡¯s Association¡¯. Only at this late hour, the main door was tightly shut, and they didn¡¯t get to see inside. Surprisingly, they managed to get some books related to magical knowledge at the entrance. One of the books was about Thunder Elemental Magic. The carriage returned to their lodging. Anjia and Lorrey went to tinker with the stuff they had bought. Fang Hao returned to his room and began to examine the magic books he had bought. He had a previous experience of learning fire python skills from books. Despite the initially hard-to-understand magic terms, he has mastered a lot of them himself. Even when coming across unfamiliar symbols and terms, he could look up one of his reference materials for translation and interpretation. Finally, after scanning the first few books. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on the last book, ¡°Eye of Thunder Spirit¡±. ¡°Phew! Finally onto the last one. I hope this book will allow me to comprehend magic, even the most insignificant will do.¡± After a mental prayer, he began to flip through the book. At the sight of the opening page, he quickly became serious. He began to flip through the pages one after another. After reading through the theoretical knowledge, he found the recorded spells towards the end of the book. ¡°Thunder Spirit¡±, is a summoning skill of an Air Elemental Spell. Just like the Wood Guard Spirit he currently possesses, except their functions are not the same. The Wood Guard Spirit serves in combat, or to protect the spellcasters. According to the book, the function of the Thunder Spirit¡¯s purpose was for reconnaissance. A look of joy appeared on Fang Hao¡¯s face, saying, ¡°Perfect, it can replace the Skeleton Sparrow.¡± Apart from that, in Silver Wing City, under the watchful eyes of the Church. Among the city¡¯s guards, one could see the church members assisting in the patrols. If he continued to use the Skeleton Sparrow, there was a risk of detection, which could lead to trouble. But using Thunder Spirit in the future poses less of a problem. Even if caught, it wouldn¡¯t reach a point of no reconciliation. Indeed, knowledge is power. ¡­ Fang Hao scanned the book from start to finish, started to digest the knowledge in his mind. Perhaps due to the divinity of Lord of Thunder God that he had absorbed, he had a natural understanding of Thunder Elemental Magic. He recollected the knowledge that he had just learned in his mind. He began to channel the power of magic as instructed. Feeling the power accumulating bit by bit, the magic started to take shape. Gradually, in front of him, stood an owl formed from silver arcs of electricity. It truly was a success! Delight surged within Fang Hao¡¯s heart. He immediately wanted to use the next ability, Shared Vision. However, with a sudden ¡®snap¡¯, the unstable Thunder Spirit Owl disintegrated into multiple arcs of electricity. Scattering all around. ¡°What just happened!¡± Fang Hao¡¯s smile instantly disappeared. Despite successfully activating his skill, it was too unstable. He reopened the book, combing through it to identify any potential errors made. ¡­.. Two hours passed. Fang Hao spent them all in his room, meticulously cross-referencing against his magic book. There was indeed much knowledge he needed to further understand, requiring him to use other books for reference. Identifying the cause of the Thunder Spirit¡¯s disintegration was likely going to take some effort. Then, the sound of a carriage drifted in from outside the window. His room had a great view, enabling him to see the front door and courtyard from within. A quick glance downward and he saw Rebecca¡¯s carriage returning. Soon after, a knock sounded at his door. ¡°Enter!¡± The visitor was Rebecca¡¯s maid. After a quick courtesy, the maid said, ¡°Sir City Lord, the lady requests your presence and preparation for a banquet tonight.¡± ¡°A banquet?¡± Fang Hao touched his stomach, having indulged himself in considerable fare earlier in Chinatown, he doubted he could eat much more now. The maid continued, ¡°Yes, Lady Olivia is hosting a private banquet and has personally extended an invitation for you.¡± ¡°Me? Who is this lady?¡± ¡°Olivia is the wife of Dordy, the leader of the Hall of Justice. She shared a close relationship with the old City Lord,¡± the maid continued to explain. ¡°Oh, alright, I understand now.¡± With the explanation, everything clicked for Fang Hao. Rebecca and Olivia were bosom friends, and this time she had brought him, her husband, along. Of course, introductions had to be made. Upon their arrival, Rebecca had told him he could disregard some of the noble parties, as they weren¡¯t always obligatory. However, this invitation from her close friend was truly an offer Rebecca couldn¡¯t refuse. So she had decided to bring Fang Hao along. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll prepare and come along with you all later.¡± However, the maid smiled faintly, ¡°Sir, the lady has sent us to assist you.¡± With that, she stepped aside and let in two more maids. They began to help Fang Hao prepare his banquet attire. Leaving his room, Fang Hao had several formal attire prepared for himself. After selecting his outfit, the maids assisted him in donning the form-fitting nobleman¡¯s attire. He had worn such attires back in his territory, aided by Eira and her team, but being touched here and there by the maids made him slightly embarrassed. When the dressing process was completed. Fang Hao followed the maids downstairs. In the grand hall on the first floor, he saw the already prepared Rebecca. She was in a dark blue figure-hugging dress, adorned with golden patterns. Her graceful figure was sketched out beautifully with an elegant line. Below the tight pencil skirt, her sexy legs were wrapped in a pair of black stockings. The shimmering glow of the black stockings was striking that pearlescent shimmer on the surface. ¡®Nightfall¡¯, a name Fang Hao recognized at first glance to be the stockings. It was the ¡®Nightfall¡¯, a product of the Bone Textile Store. Paired up with her fair creamy skin, shining eyes and her lovely expression, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but to look at her more than he used to. Graceful yet delicate. Rebecca was just as he knew, attractive yet untouchable as the City Lord¡¯s wife. Then she noticed Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, she glared back at him and said, ¡°Why are you giving me that look?¡± Fang Hao gave a faint grin, ¡°You look really beautiful tonight.¡± Chapter 686 - Chapter 686: Chapter 491, Cocktail Party_1 Chapter 686: Chapter 491, Cocktail Party_1 Fang Hao and Rebecca boarded the carriage. The guards formed a protective circle around the carriage, which began to head towards the location of the banquet. Inside the carriage, nightstone exuded a soft glow. Despite being in close proximity, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze still lingered on Rebecca. The gown was tailor-made for her. On her, it fit impeccably, with not a wrinkle in sight, accentuating her curves to perfection. The patterns embroidered with gold thread lent the dress an added air of noble elegance. Her slender legs, encased in the dress of Nightfall, were particularly noticeable as they shimmered in the soft light. Noticing Fang Hao¡¯s gaze, Rebecca didn¡¯t seem as shy as before. She smiled and said, ¡°This dress is quite nice. The craftsmanship of your textile shop is indeed impressive.¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re satisfied, ma¡¯am.¡± Rebecca rolled her eyes at him, continuing, ¡°A dress like this, if sold in the city, would be more popular than Fairy Dream Tower¡¯s clothing.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, tonight you¡¯ll have to promote our products among those noble ladies.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have much interaction with those people.¡± ¡°No worries, there is no rush with the store matters.¡± Fang Hao was unconcerned. The carriage journey continued. Rebecca spoke again, whispered, ¡°You are the owner of the Bone Textile Store and the registered leader of a mercenary group in Lyss City with over a thousand people working for you. We met when we were hunting No Face and we ended up together.¡± ¡°Oh, I get it,¡± He understood this was Rebecca briefing him on his assumed identity. His capabilities far exceeded that, but certain things best remained unsaid. And they had to keep their stories straight. ¡°I have known Olivia since we were young, we were quite close back then and have remained so until now. The only person I truly look forward to seeing at these annual affairs is her so don¡¯t take it to heart if she nags you a bit,¡± Rebecca continued. ¡°So, your only good friend is very concerned about your marriage!¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not so much concern, just that once you¡¯re married, they should meet you, right?¡± Fang Hao tentatively asked, ¡°So¡­ Does she know that you¡¯re not into men?¡± Rebecca furrowed her brows, looking at him in puzzlement. ¡°I don¡¯t think so! What do you mean?¡± Fang Hao blinked, ¡°Oh¡­ I see, you didn¡¯t tell her. You¡¯re hoping to take advantage of her!¡± Rebecca¡¯s expression registered surprise, shock, and confusion. She was stumped, not understanding how the conversation had taken such a sudden turn. And then he came out with that line. Her face darkened, her mouth agape with indignation. She wanted to slap his face, but their tight clothes made it impossible. So she lifted her foot and stomped on his. Angrily, she said, ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡­ The banquet was being held at a mansion in the central district. Once they¡¯d arrived at the mansion, they could see other carriages heading the same way. These must be the other invited noblemen. Unlike Fang Hao¡¯s carriage, these ones only had one or two guards at most. On the road, Aseti leading more than twenty horsemen following Fang Hao had been stopped twice by patrol guards. Upon reaching the mansion. Having handed over the invitation, the guards stayed at the entrance of the mansion. Rebecca, arm-in-arm with Fang Hao, strode into the mansion. The mansion was incredibly vast and extravagantly decorated. Inside the courtyard, the greenery was still lush, and the original flowers had been replaced with vigorous plants that could thrive in autumn. With careful pruning and tidying, the courtyard gave off a vibrant feeling. ¡°All of these were cultivated with the help of a Wood Elemental Mage. It¡¯s quite expensive as they don¡¯t last for long,¡± Rebecca tugged at Fang Hao¡¯s arm and pointed at the flower garden. Fang Hao was taken aback. Mages, in any society, were granted high status. They were forbidden from doing manual labor and were to be protected during battles. Yet here, the management of the mansion relied on mages, which was completely absurd. ¡°Those mages actually do these kinds of tasks? Isn¡¯t it said that mages are very proud?¡± Fang Hao, arm around Rebecca¡¯s waist, asked quietly. Rebecca squirmed a bit, replying, ¡°She is Dordy¡¯s wife. It¡¯s only natural that the mages wouldn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°Are you implying something? The grass in my backyard has grown taller than a person and I didn¡¯t need a mage to cultivate it.¡± ¡°Hmph~, you¡¯re great, okay?¡± The two casually sparring as they walked. After crossing the courtyard. Entering the main building, they were met with an even more magnificent sight. The lush carpet that lined the hallway, the lustrous white marble walls, the gold and silver adornments interspersed amongst white stone, the blue curtains gently swaying in the breeze. The entire building exuded an aura of noble elegance. The banquet hall was a blaze of light, with soothing music wafting through the air. The elegantly dressed men and women nobles were holding wine glasses, engaged in lively conversation. The entry of the two arm-in-arm naturally attracted the majority of the people¡¯s attention. However, it was strange that after a few cursory inspections of Rebecca, the crowd immediately returned to their own conversations, with not a single person even acknowledging their presence with a nod. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re not very popular,¡± Fang Hao muttered under his breath. Rebecca¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°They don¡¯t matter,¡± she said. The pair took their seats on a sofa. Chapter 687 - Chapter 687: Chapter 491, Cocktail Party_2 Chapter 687: Chapter 491, Cocktail Party_2 With the music playing in the background, Rebecca was softly introducing the dignitaries present at the gathering. There were established nobles and well-known merchants from the city. Though it was not a formal gathering, under the personal invitation of ¡®Olivia¡¯, many influential figures of the city had arrived. As it wasn¡¯t a large scale banquet. It didn¡¯t take long; Olivia made her appearance, escorted by a group of middle-aged noblewomen. She first delivered a few public remarks before descending to engage in enthusiastic conversations with some of the nobles. Not much later. Olivia, with her entourage of noblewomen, walked towards Rebecca, all smiles. Olivia herself was quite striking. She carried herself with dignity, dressed in a long pale purple dress, with an emerald gemstone necklace adorning her neck. She was different from Rebecca. Olivia¡¯s beauty was mature and intelligent, full of elegance. Despite her well-preserved appearance, her age nearing forty was evident. Contrarily, Rebecca embodied a timeless beauty, a combination of vivacity and fullness. The other noblewomen, when compared to the two, fell short by quite a bit. Despite their dazzling array of jewels, their looks and demeanor were not in the same league. ¡°Rebecca, is this your husband?¡± Olivia asked as she approached, her eyes roaming curiously over the young man standing before her. As she surveyed him, she nodded approvingly, as if quite satisfied. Her gesture was akin to a girlfriend¡¯s mother seeing her daughter¡¯s boyfriend for the first time. Ahem! Rebecca cleared her throat lightly and said, ¡°Olivia, this is Fang Hao.¡± She turned to Fang Hao and introduced, ¡°This is Olivia.¡± In total, five women had arrived. Apart from speaking to Olivia, Rebecca ignored the rest of the women completely. But the other women also pretended not to notice and maintained their pleasant smiles. All of them were sizing up Fang Hao. Fang Hao stood up, and greeted, ¡°Fang Hao. It¡¯s an honor to meet Mrs. Olivia and the beautiful ladies.¡± Olivia quickly returned the greeting as well, ¡°I¡¯m pleased to meet you too, Mr. Fang Hao.¡± Olivia had already been informed about Fang Hao¡¯s identity. Still, to the other women, this gave them reason to look at him afresh. They had noticed Rebecca¡¯s accompanying man earlier, and were impressed by his appearance and manners. But because he looked younger, even younger than their own children, they did not think much of it. However, seeing Olivia¡¯s reaction and hearing recent rumors about Rebecca¡¯s change of husband, they quickly caught on. In fact, it¡¯s quite liberal here. A woman marrying a younger husband isn¡¯t unusual, it¡¯s just less common. Olivia took a seat next to Fang Hao, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, are you a transmigrator?¡± Fang Hao sat straight, ¡°Yes, my city is near Lyss City.¡± Another woman questioned, ¡°A transmigrator, huh? How strong is your city, do you have any industries?¡± Fang Hao shifted his gaze and responded, ¡°The city¡¯s development is quite satisfactory, with a few thousand troops. We have opened a textile store; the clothing business is doing well.¡± Another woman followed up, ¡°What scale? How does it compare to Fairy Dream Tower?¡± Fang Hao smiled and replied as if a machine programmed to answer, ¡°In terms of clothing, our business is doing better than Fairy Dream Tower¡¯s.¡± ¡°Really? Even better than Fairy Dream Tower?¡± the women appeared skeptical. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°The garments we produce are indeed more popular than those of Fairy Dream Tower. What Rebecca is wearing is our own production.¡± At this revelation, all eyes were once again on Rebecca. Upon their arrival, they had noticed Rebecca¡¯s dress. And the stockings she wore over her legs. These noblewomen decked in expensive and extravagant attire and jewelry. But Rebecca¡¯s dress was even more audacious. It highlighted a woman¡¯s figure perfectly. At this gathering, she was undoubtedly the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Not just the noblewomen. The men in the hall were also stealing glances at Rebecca. ¡°Rebecca, stand up and let us see,¡± Olivia said, taking Rebecca¡¯s hand. Without refusing, Rebecca stood up and turned around for everyone to see. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too daring?¡± ¡°The fabric feels really nice to touch.¡± ¡°The craftsmanship isn¡¯t bad either. How did you achieve this glossiness?¡± Initially, the other noblewomen who had accompanied Olivia had started surrounding Rebecca and engaging in conversation. Rebecca quietly answered their questions and introduced the matters related to Bone Textile Store. Suddenly, the distance between them seemed to lessen. Olivia found the dress that accentuated the figure particularly intriguing. But she was more curious about the young man sitting next to her, who was clearly about the same age as her son. ¡°How did you and Rebecca meet?¡± Olivia shifted a bit closer to Fang Hao to inquire. ¡°At that time, I was setting up a mercenary group in Lyss City. We worked together to annihilate the Faceless, and thus grew close,¡± Fang Hao continued answering. Olivia nodded, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Rebecca admire a man so much. You must treat her well.¡± Fang Hao shrugged, ¡°She¡¯s in power, you should be telling her to treat me well.¡± Olivia chuckled, finding Fang Hao¡¯s reply entertaining. Chapter 688 - Chapter 688: Chapter 491, Cocktail Party_3 Chapter 688: Chapter 491, Cocktail Party_3 After chatting with Fang Hao for a while, Olivia pulled Rebecca along, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the room and try on your dress.¡± ¡­ Rebecca was somewhat uneasy about leaving Fang Hao. Nevertheless, she was led to a room on the second floor by a group of noblewomen. Apart from Olivia, Rebecca became the second person to garner attention from the noblewomen. After Rebecca left, Fang Hao was alone. None of the noble old men were willing to chat with him. All the seats around him were taken. He alone occupied an entire row of sofas, which was somewhat awkward. Putting down the wine glass in his hand, Fang Hao walked straight to the window. A breeze blew in from the window, which was refreshing. Tap tap tap!! At this moment, the sound of approaching footsteps came from behind. Glancing sideways, a tall woman with a bob haircut approached. She wore a burgundy dress and exuded an aura of a capable, strong woman. Judging by her features, she was a transmigrator. He just didn¡¯t know whether she got in on her own or like him, used her relationship with a noble to attend the party. The woman walked straight to the window and stood beside Fang Hao. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao?¡± the woman tentatively asked. ¡°Do you know me?¡± A smile came to the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Hello, Mr Fang Hao. Allow me to introduce myself, Li Rong!¡± she said, extending her hand after. After shaking hands with her, Fang Hao also guessed her identity. Li Rong of the Fairy Dream Tower, a formidable businesswoman. She utilized her transmigrator identity to set up the Fairy Dream Tower, which was about to dominate the entire noblewomen market in the city. ¡°So, it¡¯s you, Sister Li. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± This surprised Li Rong a bit. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess Fang Hao¡¯s identity. Identifying the woman beside him as the Lady of Lyss City, it was certain the man was Fang Hao. But she didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to react so quickly and correctly guess her identity. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, you flatter me. I am nowhere near as famous as you,¡± Li Rong modestly said, waving her hand. ¡°Surviving is what matters, the rest of the reputation doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Fang Hao leaned against the window, continuing to look outside. ¡°Exactly!¡± Li Rong agreed. The two then chatted about Fairy Dream Tower and cosmetics. Li Rong had previously been in the cosmetics industry, developing her own products and manufacturing them in her own factory. After arriving here and getting in touch with the high-class ladies of Silver Wing City, she began to re-manufacture cosmetics. The product was not as good as the modern ones, but the ingredients used were more eco-friendly, all extracted from plants. Fang Hao listened and nodded in agreement. In fact, luck was very important when transmigrating. Now that Li Rong was in Silver Wing City, her situation could be said to be pretty good. But if you put her in orc territory, her knowledge of cosmetics would be useless. She would have been cooked by the orcs by now. ¡­ The two weren¡¯t very close. After a few exchanges, they fell into a brief silence. Li Rong reached into her low-cut dress, drawing a small box out. In front of a surprised Fang Hao, she opened the box, flicked it slightly, and two cigarettes popped out. The cigarettes were roughly finished and had no filter. She must have made them herself. Li Rong naturally handed one to Fang Hao. However, he shook his head and didn¡¯t take it. Li Rong took out a lighter and lit one for herself. After taking a deep puff, she slowly exhaled a puff of pink smoke. Li Rong took two puffs and continued, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, are you interested in exploration?¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Sure, what¡¯s up?¡± Li Rong said: ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence, I¡¯ve recently obtained a map. I¡¯m afraid I might be in danger if I explore it on my own. I was wondering if you would be interested in the exploration. We could split the spoils equally.¡± ¡°Do you have any information about it?¡± ¡°Details are scant, all I know is that the enemy is of dark creatures.¡± Chapter 689 - Chapter 689: Chapter 492, Underwater Palace_1 Chapter 689: Chapter 492, Underwater Palace_1 Dark creatures? This piqued Fang Hao¡¯s interest. If Li Rong has a map, it is likely of the area surrounding Silver Wing City, and wouldn¡¯t be far away. The Church of Light has its stronghold within Silver Wing City. The church¡¯s top experts gather there. How could there be dark creatures nearby? Fang Hao continued asking, ¡°Near to Silver Wing City?¡± Li Rong nodded, ¡°To the east of Silver Wing City, there¡¯s a pond. If you delve into the pond, you¡¯ll reach an underground palace, that¡¯s the place I am talking about.¡± She provided detailed description, including all the significant landmarks. If this information is true, Fang Hao could arrange for someone to find this pond in the east and find the subterranean palace she mentioned. ¡°You¡¯re being so detailed. Aren¡¯t you afraid I might go by myself?¡± asked Fang Hao, leaning against the wall. ¡°I trust you, the number one player in the channel will not do something like this. Even if you did, I wouldn¡¯t mind as I myself can¡¯t conquer that palace anyway.¡± Li Rong replied indifferently. Truth be told, she had helped many people in Silver Wing City due to Fang Hao¡¯s influence. She vividly remembered the 20th day after migrating- the forced mission of demon rat invasion. Fang Hao had sold a large quantity of equipment in the channel at a fair price. Additionally, the saying about helping each other to survive together. Her domain managed to hold out until now, gradually showcasing her own unique talents because of the equipment from Fang Hao. Without the items provided by Fang Hao, She would have to invest more effort in equipment and resource supplies. The Fairy Dream Tower might not have been possible. That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t believe Fang Hao would abandon her after hearing her information. Fang Hao naturally doesn¡¯t know Li Rong¡¯s thoughts. However, he was somewhat surprised at Li Rong¡¯s determination. No wonder she could hold her ground in this Silver Wing City, and the transmigrators in the city respect her as Sister Li. ¡°Since they are dark creatures, have you considered the Church?¡± Fang Hao continued. Ha! Li Rong sneered, ¡°I¡¯m scared they will find an excuse to tie me to the execution platform and burn me into ashes as I exit the palace.¡± ¡°Is the Church that dreadful?¡± ¡°That depends on who you are, and how they treat you.¡± Fang Hao nodded, finding her explanation reasonable. ¡°Do you have information about the monsters¡¯ ranks and numbers in the palace?¡± ¡°No, I also acquired the map and the information by chance. So, do you want to give it a try?¡± Li Rong turned back towards him again. Fang Hao didn¡¯t continue asking. He stayed silent, contemplating whether to trust Li Rong and explore the underground palace. He probably wouldn¡¯t be busy before the Federal Conference. ¡°How far do we have to travel from Silver Wing City?¡± ¡°It would take at least until the next day due to the distance from here.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set off tomorrow?¡± Seeing Fang Hao agree, a smile appeared on Li Rong¡¯s face. She softly said, ¡°Tomorrow is not possible. I have negotiation meetings with some gangs tomorrow. What about the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s add each other as friends. We can communicate using the Book of Lords.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Li Rong immediately put out her cigarette, took out the Book of Lords, and sent a friend request. Fang Hao also did the same. After they became friends, Li Rong¡¯s smile became even brighter. ¡­ While the two were chatting, The banquet suddenly quieted down. Olivia, dressed in a gorgeous purple gown, slowly descended from the second floor, accompanied by Rebecca and a few noblewomen. Standing at the bottom of the staircase, one could see Olivia also had a Nightfall stocking on her leg. It seems that Rebecca gave her the stocking. But it also didn¡¯t seem like a loss for Rebecca. After all, Olivia was also attractive, having a mature and charming appearance. It was quite a feast for the eyes. As soon as Olivia appeared, all eyes were on her. After all, these noble merchants came here not just for the meal. After sharing a few brief words, Olivia declared the start of the banquet. Upon arrival, they didn¡¯t feel hungry, But now, they felt bouts of hunger. Everyone began to take their seats and the maids started serving dishes. Rebecca stayed by Olivia¡¯s side, occasionally glancing in this direction. Meanwhile, Fang Hao was eating and chatting with the newly acquainted Li Rong. Primarily because, other than Li Rong, most people weren¡¯t interested in talking to him. If he remained silent, it¡¯d be somewhat awkward. So, he found some topics to chat about casually. ¡­ After finishing the meal, the night grew deeper. The music resounded again in the hall. Men and women began to step into the center. Following the rhythm, they started to dance. Seeing the scene before him, Fang Hao realized that these nobles danced after dinner! Aren¡¯t they afraid of a prolapsed stomach? At this moment, Rebecca also came over, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± So saying, she naturally slips her arm into his. Fang Hao then bid goodbye to Li Rong. The two left the villa and got into the carriage. After some searching on the carriage, the carriage returned to their residence. They each returned to their rooms. ¡­ In the following days, More and more groups arrived at Silver Wing City. Walking on the road, you could see groups with various colored flags coming towards you. It¡¯s bustling like some festival activity. There are more city patrol teams on the streets than before, and if you are walking in the street with weapons, you are likely to be stopped and checked. Chapter 690 - Chapter 690: Chapter 492, Underwater palace_2 Chapter 690: Chapter 492, Underwater palace_2 If there was no proof of identity, one would be enthusiastically taken away for a private chat in a small dark room. These past few days, there have been hardly any issues. Rebecca didn¡¯t attend the banquet, and during the day, several women would go to Fairy Dream Tower to learn about makeup in a group. Through gradual interaction, Rebecca and Anjia¡¯s relationship improved significantly. Sometimes, if they found something fun, They would take Lorrey and run to Rebecca¡¯s room to show off. One morning, Fang Hao, accompanied by Demitrija, visited the Mages Association. He understood the situation of the association but did not register to become a mage. There are many benefits to becoming a registered mage, such as participating in courses organized by the association, exchanging resources, and being assigned tasks. However, these were not very appealing to Fang Hao. The only thing that somewhat intrigued him was the mage course. Even so, he didn¡¯t want to register and be subject to the association¡¯s supervision. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want to reveal his capabilities. After buying some books near the Mages Association, he returned directly home. He locked himself in his room, continuing to decipher the magic spell ¡°Eye of Thunder Spirit¡±, which he had not yet thoroughly researched. ¡­ An office desk. Piles of opened books filled the entire desk. Fang Hao, in the middle of a small space, held a pen, recording the stages and feeling of mistakes in the spell-casting process. ¡°Hmm¡­, experiencing an active characteristic, the cycle of Air Elemental transformation and condensation¡­this word after ¡®elemental¡¯, what does it mean¡­¡± He jotted this down and immediately began to flip quickly through a book on the side. ¡°Oh, Elemental recombination.¡± He jotted down all the knowledge bit by bit. Three hours later. The sheet of paper in front of Fang Hao was crammed with words, Documenting his shortcomings in spell-casting. He put down the pen, And started to cast magic again, carefully sensing the changes in the Air Elemental around him. He carefully transformed them into the form he desired. Gradually, an owl formed from silver arcs took shape before him. Seeing the owl take shape, Fang Hao felt delighted. Then immediately focused to prevent his mood from impacting his spell-casting. Soon, the owl was fully formed, and Fang Hao felt as if he had another self. He could sense the owl¡¯s location and existence. ¡°Shared Vision¡±. The next moment, Fang Hao could see himself sitting at the desk and the owl in his eyes through the vision of the owl. Two scenes appeared at once, as if there were two images on one screen. Next, he continued to control the owl, causing it to fly out of the window and circulate around the building. The owl¡¯s vision was very clear. Not inferior to the vision of the Skeleton Sparrow at all. After circling around the residence, Anjia and Lorrey were playing chess in a room on the second floor. Rebecca, alone on the fourth floor, was holding a gown and comparing it in front of a bronze mirror. She wore a white silk bralette that revealed a lot of white skin from the side. After watching for a while, the owl flew up again. And returned to Fang Hao¡¯s room. The difference between the owl and the Skeleton Sparrow from an investigative perspective was not significant. If there were pros and cons to mention. The owl is not a dark species and, when released in Silver Wing City, would not attract attention. The Skeleton Sparrow, because of its undead affiliation, Can speak through the sparrow when controlled, making it more convenient. All in all, having one extra skill was a good thing. Fang Hao was in a good mood after successfully casting the skill. He had Fu Lei trade him some seafood. Planning to reward himself properly. After dinner, Fang Hao received a private chat from Li Rong. After some discussion, they agreed to meet at the East City Gate the next morning and explore the Underground Palace together. There wasn¡¯t much to do for the rest of the time. He flirted with Rebecca for a while before returning to his room to rest. ¡­ The next day, early morning. Fang Hao, Demitrija, Anjia, Lorrey, and 50 Lionheart Knights headed towards the North Gate. Even though they only brought this few people, They were continuously questioned by the city patrol guards along the way. When they reached their destination, everyone was fed up with the questioning. Arriving in the North Gate area, Li Rong was seen waiting from afar. ¡°Fang Hao¡­ over here!¡± Li Rong waved at them. As Fang Hao and the others approached, Li Rong¡¯s gaze landed directly on Demitrija. Transmigrators have a stubborn fascination for high-level heroes. Even females, influenced by the in-game channels, aim to recruit high-level heroes. An orange Lizardman hero and a blue Orc hero. This was simply unbelievable. At the same time, she was glad about her decision to share the map with Fang Hao. Collaborating with such a powerful ally would bring many benefits to her future development. ¡°How come you¡¯re alone, didn¡¯t you bring any soldiers?¡± Fang Hao asked, as the Giant Lizard approached. Li Rong stood there waiting on her horse at the gate; it seemed she didn¡¯t bring anyone. ¡°Oh! My troops are in the territory. Now, Silver Wing City has strict examinations, and mercenary regiments can¡¯t bring too many people in and out of the city gates at once. I¡¯ll lead you out first, and when we pass by my territory, I¡¯ll bring my people along,¡± Li Rong explained. Chapter 691 - Chapter 691: Chapter 492, Underwater Palace_3 Chapter 691: Chapter 492, Underwater Palace_3 ¡°Oh, let¡¯s go then!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As the group rode towards the city gate, Li Rong presented her mercenary credentials. After explaining to the guard, she waved and exited through the city gate straightaway. Once they were on a less crowded path¡­ Everyone spurred their horses and followed Li Rong towards her territory. As they departed the city¡­ A scruffy middle-aged man with disheveled hair emerged from a corner. He wiped his greasy hands¡­ And pulled a Sound-transmitting Shell from his bosom. He whispered, ¡°Captain, the kid has left the city with around 50 more people.¡± After finishing his sentence, he awaited silently. Soon, a slightly hoarse male voice came from the shell, ¡°Are there any heroes?¡± The scruffy man responded, ¡°There¡¯s a Lizardman wearing golden armor, most likely a hero.¡± The hoarse voice sounded again, ¡°Alright, follow them and see where they go. I¡¯ll arrange for reinforcements here.¡± ¡°Understood, Captian.¡± The scruffy man stood up and walked out of the shadows. He pulled a horse from a courtyard, left the city, and followed the target from a distance. ¡­ After a three to four hour long journey¡­ A transmigrator city appeared in front of them. They didn¡¯t get too near, as a squad of horsemen quickly approached them from the city. They joined the marching ranks directly. These people were Li Rong¡¯s soldiers. There were over a hundred of them, all equipped with armor and weapons, though there weren¡¯t many horses. Out of these, 20 were cavalrymen; the rest were warriors with swords and shields or ranged fighters. The troop number grew, but their marching speed was bound to slow down. The journey was excruciatingly dull. No incidents occurred, even when they deviated from the city¡¯s main road and delved into the dense forest, there were scarce wildlife sightings. They did, however, chat with Li Rong and learned many things about Silver Wing City during the journey. Li Rong, brimming with pride, also shared her future business plans. Her next step included expanding her business to various cities. ¡­ These are, after all, the industries Li Rong plans to enter next. She aims to venture into catering, clothing, and even the tobacco industry. Especially tobacco, which she¡¯s almost finished researching and is less harmful to people than the cigarettes of her former world. If popularized, it would undoubtedly be a lucrative industry. At night, they set up camp outdoors. By noon the next day, they finally saw the pond Li Rong had mentioned. The pond was vast. Their arrival disturbed the animals resting and drinking around the pond. They hissed before scattering in all directions. Everyone dismounted at the edge of the pond. Demitrija organized a defensive team. Meanwhile, Li Rong pulled out a box from her bosom, took out a cigarette, and lit it up. A puff expelled a rich aroma into the air. ¡°Boss, this is the pond I told you about. We will rest a bit before going in. There aren¡¯t any dangers underwater, but I¡¯m not sure about the palace inside.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s leave a portion on guard above.¡± The rest of the party began their pre-exploration rest. Soon¡­ The water churned as Demitrija emerged, ¡°Sir, I found the palace entrance. Everyone just needs to follow the rope downwards.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Lizardmen were much better suited for underwater movement than humans. Li Rong¡¯s reported entrance was easily located, and a brief outer inspection revealed no immediate dangers. Next, Fang Hao made some quick arrangements. He left twenty people on the shore under Anjia¡¯s command, while Li Rong kept fifty. This precaution would prevent them from getting blocked if anything happened on the shore. Despite her reluctance, Anjia obeyed Fang Hao¡¯s orders. She stayed behind, albeit unwillingly. Fang Hao didn¡¯t delay, he waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Dive following the rope. Don¡¯t get lost.¡± Finishing his sentence, he grabbed hold of the back of the Giant Lizard.¡± With a plop, he plunged into the pond. Chapter 692 - Chapter 692: Chapter 493, Underwater Palace_1 Chapter 692: Chapter 493, Underwater Palace_1 The four-legged giant lizard is an amphibious mount. Its speed underwater is equally quick, and it¡¯s also very agile. Fang Hao single-handedly held onto the saddle of the giant lizard, descending rapidly along a hemp rope hanging from the shore. Glub glub!! Bubbles sounded in his ears, a school of fish circled around them. Soon, their descent slowed. A massive stone cave appeared in front, and the giant lizard carried Fang Hao directly into the cave. After a while of swimming, they began ascending along the rope again. Above their heads, they could see a faint light. It seemed they had arrived. Splash! They emerged from the water. Fang Hao let out a deep breath. Demitrija, holding a Nightstone in one hand, pulled him out of the water with the other. ¡°Pick up the others.¡± Fang Hao patted the back of the giant lizard. Glug!! The giant lizard dove again, going to pick up the remaining people. The distance they had to dive was no small feat. Those with poor endurance could easily have drowned. ¡°Sir, we should be inside a mountain now.¡± Demitrija, holding the Nightstone aloft, whispered. The dim light revealed jagged stone walls around them. Above them was damning darkness, where they could see nothing. On the right side of the stone wall, there was a huge stone cave, all pitch black inside. Before long. A series of bubbles began to appear on the water. The giant lizard emerged, dragging Lorrey and four Lionheart Knights. Fang Hao and Demitrija helped them onto the shore. Straight after, more and more people surfaced. In their midst was Li Rong, gasping for breath, her face turning purple from holding her breath. Fang Hao pulled her up, ¡°How are you? Are you okay¡­¡± ¡°I was¡­ suffocating. What¡¯s wrong with your mount? I wanted it to take me along, but it deliberately avoided me.¡± Li Rong panted, while complaining. On one side, the giant lizard¡¯s huge eyes glanced at them. It immediately turned back, coiled up, and laid flat on the ground. ¡°It might not recognize you. When we leave, let it carry you a while.¡± Fang Hao explained. Li Rong was indeed very suffocated. Her face had even turned purple. Just a few minutes later, and she would have drowned. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± ¡°All right, everyone, check your gear. We¡¯re getting ready to explore.¡± Fang Hao called out loudly. At the same time, he opened the Book of Lords, pulling out a batch of bolt-action rifles. He distributed these to his Lionheart Knights. In Silver Wing City, Fang Hao had put all the rifles from the team into the Demon Space. This time, he distributed them again. The Lionheart Knights proficiently inspected their weapons. Once they finished distributing the guns, they started handing out Nightstones, potions, and blasting caps. Li Rong and others stared, mouths agape, as the items were passed around. What the hell was going on? They had thought this was just an outdoor survival and underground exploration mission. Why were there 50 guns, along with an abundance of other tools? He distributed them to his subordinates as if they were free. Li Rong felt rather awkward as her group sat silently. She had thought she was doing quite well for herself; even if her hero was not as strong as Fang Hao, she still had her own large industry. She should at least have as much money as him. But now looking at the rifles and Nightstones distributed like candy. Comparing the two groups, the difference was night and day. When everything was ready. Fang Hao said to Li Rong: ¡°I¡¯ll use my skill to scout, everyone get ready.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re in charge.¡± Li Rong said. Fang Hao nodded and flicked his fingers. An owl made of thunder and lightning took form beside him. Immediately after, under the watchful gaze of everyone, the owl flew directly into the dark cave. The Thunder Spirit Owl had night vision. As Fang Hao shared its senses, he could see the situation inside the cave clearly as well. ¡­¡­ The cave was deep and dark. As they traveled further in, many winding, twisting paths appeared. If one rushed in, they could quickly lose their sense of direction. Since all the cave entrances looked the same, special markers had to be left at each one. Otherwise, it would be easy to mix up the paths and lose yourself inside. However, Fang Hao made some great discoveries. The mineral resources in here were incredibly rich. This was likely a gem mine, and once exploited, it could yield great quantities of gemstones. Once the exploration was over and the area deemed safe, He could negotiate with Li Rong, and they could jointly mine these minerals. The Thunder Spirit quickly found the main path to the deep end. As they moved inwards, the road turned into a single path. On the walls of the path, large amounts of mushrooms and moss began to appear. The mushrooms were the size of fists, completely white, with white tendrils similar to the lace of an umbrella along their edges. The moss covered a vast area, almost completely covering the walls and the floor to form a fungal carpet. Just like the fluorescent paint in the modern world, the entire carpet emitted a faint green glow. Mushrooms and moss grew together, becoming denser the further they went in. It looked like a progressively narrowing round tunnel. In this quiet cave and under the green glow, a chill ran down their spines. Among these fungal carpets, they could see some pale white crystals covered up. Shadowstones. It seemed this area was indeed under the control of the dark creatures. They passed through the area where the fungal carpet and the mushrooms grew. Chapter 693 - Chapter 693: Chapter 493, Underwater Palace_2 Chapter 693: Chapter 493, Underwater Palace_2 The Thunder Spirit swiftly arrived at the depths of the cave. It was a vast space, roughly the size of a sports stadium. Mushroom mats and fungi did not grow here. Relief patterns could be seen on the walls of the hall, the lamp holders had decayed. Nightstones had fallen to the ground, still glowing faintly. There were even a few intact stone buildings, many signs of past life remained. It appeared as if this was a miniature city built underground. In the center of the grand hall¡­ There were soldiers neatly lined up, kneeling on the ground. They hung their heads down, as if deep in sleep. Their armor had decayed, many of the connecting pieces fell off and now dangled loosely around their bodies. Upon closer examination, the type of soldiers was revealed. [Bound Spirit Guardians (Tier Seven)] Seeing the names and ranks of these soldiers indicated that they were a military unit, and they still possessed combat power. However, what shocked Fang Hao was that every soldier in this hall was of the seventh tier. All of them were seventh-tier undead soldiers. Undead soldiers, supplemented by the seventh tier, have quite formidable combat power. What¡¯s more, the number of Bound Spirit Guardians here was not small, a rough count revealed nearly three hundred. Considering the size of his own troops, a battle would present significant risks. After completing the investigation, Fang Hao dismissed the magic. The Thunder Spirit Owl dispersed and disappeared. Fang Hao, feeling refreshed¡­ Opened the Book of Lords to review the map that had automatically recorded. He then called over Demitrija and Li Rong. He spoke softly, ¡°There are many forks in the path here; only one leads to the underground palace, the rest are dead ends.¡± The map was drawn clearly. Numerous winding paths could be seen, there was quite a few. ¡°Understood,¡± Li Rong nodded. Fang Hao continued, ¡°There are more than three hundred seventh-tier undead soldiers in the underground palace.¡± ¡°Ah? So many.¡± Li Rong was taken aback, although she knew the situation here should be dangerous, she had not expected the monsters to be this high of a level. They had reached the 7th tier. The hundred people she had brought were only of the third tier and were at a disadvantage in this dark cave. All factors considered, they were in an inferior position. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, what should we do?¡± Li Rong looked up at Fang Hao. Now if Fang Hao also didn¡¯t have a good solution, they could only retreat and swim back from whence they came. And come back to continue exploring this underground palace when they were powerful enough. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then discussed with Demitrija. He suggested, ¡°We can give it a try, if it doesn¡¯t work out, we can just swim back.¡± ¡°Alright, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Li Rong didn¡¯t want to make a wasted journey. Without Fang Hao, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to take down this underground palace in a year and a half. Fang Hao continued, ¡°The passage leading to the underground palace has many forks and is rather narrow. We won¡¯t gain an advantage if we advance. The best method is to lure these undead out and block the entrance of the tunnel to attack them. Even if they are numerous, they won¡¯t be able to fully utilize their numbers.¡± His plan was straightforward. At most, three to four people can move side by side in the stone tunnel. At its narrowest point, they might not even be able to raise their swords. They could block the tunnel entrance and attack with rifles. If it works, great. If not, they could jump into the water and swim back right away. Li Rong nodded, feeling that this strategy could be attempted. However, by doing so, she and her soldiers wouldn¡¯t be of much use. She didn¡¯t have any long-range weapons and simply cheering on the sidelines felt a bit inappropriate. After thinking for a moment, a glint flashed in Li Rong¡¯s eyes. She had an idea to extend Fang Hao¡¯s plan. ¡°Lord Fang Hao, I can trade for some combustibles. When these undead come out, we can burn them with a fire.¡± Kerosene was a controlled item and hard to obtain. But finding substitute items shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°This place is so stifling, we could suffocate from the lack of oxygen if we lit a fire. Even if the fire doesn¡¯t consume all the oxygen, the smoke could kill us.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah¡­¡± Li Rong felt helpless. After seeing no other better solutions¡­ Fang Hao commanded directly, ¡°Demitrija, set it up. We will proceed with this plan. If it doesn¡¯t work, we will retreat immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Demitrija replied and began the preparations. Fang Hao¡¯s men were kept busy. They placed nightstones in the tunnel and set up many obstacles to slow down the enemies. Then, the Lionheart Knights took positions at the mouth of the tunnel. The front line lay down, the second row semi-squatted, and the third row stood up straight. Even so, there were only four soldiers who could shoot in each row. At the back of the guards, they placed a ballista aiming straight to the front. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re ready.¡± Demitrija spoke up. Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Arrange for someone to lure out those undead.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± A scout was selected and went straight into the cave. Fearing that the scout might take the wrong turn in panic when he comes back, a rope was tied behind him. All he had to do was follow the rope back. After sufficient preparation, the scout took a deep breath and went straight into the cave. Everyone fell silent. Anxiously waiting. Soon, from deep within the cave, hurried footsteps could be heard. Under the illumination of the Nightstone, the rapidly escaping scout could be seen. He stumbled out. ¡°Get ready¡­!¡± Demitrija commanded. A dense sound of footsteps came from deep within the cave. Soon, the Bound Spirit Guardians, covered in rotting armor, appeared densely packed within the cave. ¡°Fire¡­,¡± Demitrija ordered in a cold tone. Boom, Boom¡ªBoom, Boom! The dense gunfire sounded, filling the cave with bullets. After the first volley, the front row of undead quivered a few times under the force of the bullets. But their steps didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Keep firing¡­¡± Boom, Boom! The gunfire continued. After the second round, some of the undead began to fall, but not rise again. The gunfire continued. The entire area echoed with gunfire, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder. As for the cave. After several rounds of shooting, many of the Bound Spirit Guardians fell. Observing above the cave entrance through the Thunder Spirit, Fang Hao noticed a new characteristic of the Bound Spirit Guardians. In the hollow eye sockets, there twinkled blue flames. The Bound Spirit Guardians that hadn¡¯t fallen, gathered up their dead comrades, and using them as shields, quickened their attack while warding off bullets. Their dark scimitars in hand, they chopped away at obstacles blocking their path. The shattered obstacles blocking the way were passed back to the other guardians and thrown into a side branch of the cave. This gave Fang Hao a start. Whether using corpses as shields or cooperating to remove obstacles, It meant that these undead troops had obtained high intelligence. Having such intelligence, and possessing the bodies of the undead, It would mean that they have attained immortality in a sense. Seeing that the bullets were not very effective. ¡°Soldiers, pull back. Crossbow carts, fire.¡± Demitrija ordered once again. The soldiers quickly retreated to both sides Making way for the front. Bang¡ª! A resounding bowstring sound echoed. An arrow as thick as an arm, with barbs at the front, shot out with a whistling sound. With the streaking sound of tearing air, it shot straight into the cave. Whoosh!! The power of the Dragon-Locking Crossbow was immense, a tool used to hunt the Dragon Clan on weekdays. In the blink of an eye, the arrow had reached the undead. Whoosh!! Like skewering candied haws, it pierced through a whole row of undead. And the barbs at the front of the arrow, with added great force, shattered the bodies of these Bound Spirit Guardians. Boom! In the end, the arrow pinned to the wall at the end And the entire cave, apart from a scattering of one or two Bound Spirit Guardians, looked almost empty. Seeing this scene, a surge of joy filled the hearts of all present. This proved that their idea was effective. If even Dragon-Locking Crossbows were ineffective, they would have to retreat and swim ashore. However, now it proved effective, so cleaning up should not present any issues. ¡°Continue loading the crossbow carts, musketeers keep firing.¡± A large number of Bound Spirit Guardians rushed out from around the corner of the cave. This time, they moved quicker, picking up the bodies of their dead comrades. They blocked the bullets, and ran forward. Chapter 694 - Chapter 694: Chapter 494, Bound Spirit Guardians_1 Chapter 694: Chapter 494, Bound Spirit Guardians_1 The shooting continued. Bullets poured down like rain into the cave. However, their power was far inferior to that of crossbow bolts. Although the Bound Spirit Guardians were still falling, they were dying too slowly. Soon, the cave was once again filled with densely packed Undead, crowding and charging forward. Demitrija ordered again, ¡°Gunners fall back, crossbow carts fire.¡± Bang¡ª¡ª! The crossbow bolts once again whistled out. The Undead along the route were instantly butchered. The surviving Bound Spirit Guardians, who had narrowly escaped decimation, became targets for the trailing bullets. After several volleys. The cave in front of them was filled with the skeletal remains and equipment of fallen Bound Spirit Guardians. And the orange bullets, and dragon lock arrows embedded in the cave walls. After this round however, the cave fell quiet. No Bound Spirit Guardians emerged, the entire cave was left empty. There was no sound either. Their preliminary estimate of their kill count hadn¡¯t even reached 300. That means that in the corners of the cave, where bullets couldn¡¯t reach in a straight line, many Bound Spirit Guardians remained. ¡°It seems that the intelligent are harder to deal with.¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Sir, the enemy has stopped pursuing us.¡± Demitrija, leaving soldiers to guard the cave, walked towards Fang Hao. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°The count I¡¯ve done is far more than this. I imagine these Undead must have some intelligence. They know they can¡¯t run out, so they¡¯re hiding.¡± ¡°Then, I will send someone in to take a look.¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ll use the Thunder Spirit to take a look. Have everyone prepare.¡± Having said that, he conjured up a Thunder Spirit Owl once again. It flew on into the depths of the cave. Once it arrived at the corner. He saw that a large number of Undead were blocking one side of the passage. Their icy blue pupils uniformly fixed on the airborne Thunder Spirit. But none of them stepped out from behind the corner. They just stared grimly at the air with their gloomy, frigid expressions. Fang Hao made the Thunder Spirit climb higher. Looking towards the depths from above. He roughly calculated the remaining number of Bound Spirit Guardians, there were approximately forty or fifty left. Then, Fang Hao tried to bait them again. These Undead just wielded their weapons, hacking and chasing. But they still didn¡¯t leave. Seeing that baiting them was futile, he then controlled the Thunder Spirit to directly collide into the leading Bound Spirit Guardian. The Thunder Spirit instantly shattered, silver sparks spreading across three or four Bound Spirit Guardians. Making their bodies shake uncontrollably. But there were no obvious injuries. ¡­ After completing the reconnaissance. Fang Hao drew his sword from his waist and sketched a map of the internals on the ground. Pointing to the corner, ¡°These Undead are all gathered here. I tried to lure them out with the Thunder Spirit, but it was unsuccessful.¡± ¡°So, they are waiting for us to enter then.¡± Li Rong said. ¡°Yes, the dragon lock crossbow cart cannot enter the cave at all. These Undead are hiding there waiting on purpose, aware of this fact.¡± Fang Hao propped himself up on his sword and responded softly. ¡°What should we do then?¡± For the soldiers to maintain a straight line of fire, they would need to advance into the cave corner. The moment they positioned themselves to fulfill these conditions, they would only be around four meters away from the enemy. By then, if these Bound Spirit Guardians charge out, even escaping would be difficult. Fang Hao remained silent. On the side, Demitrija interrupted Li Rong¡¯s words directly, ¡°Sir, I can lead the soldiers to charge in. With a few Undead, it won¡¯t be a problem to deal with.¡± Demitrija was a combat hero. He was top tier in hand-to-hand combat within the territory. Moreover, he possessed strong combat skills. Fang Hao thought carefully, there were only so few Bound Spirit Guardians left. Additionally, within the constricted terrain of the cave, it would also be challenging for the enemy to form an ambush. It should pose no problem for Demitrija. After figuring it out, he said directly: ¡°Alright, have everyone prepare. Demitrija will lead a few in, while we stay outside to assist.¡± ¡°Understood, Sir.¡± Demitrija withdrew back again for the final preparations. Li Rong on the side didn¡¯t say anything more, but her gaze alternated between Fang Hao and Demitrija. Not long after. Demitrija emerged with five Lionheart Knights. ¡°Sir, we are ready.¡± ¡°Alright, be careful. If you find anything amiss, retreat. We will come up with another strategy.¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Understood.¡± Demitrija waved slightly, leading the five Lionheart Knights, weapons in hand, into the cave. Fang Hao once again summoned a Thunder Spirit Owl. He has it follow them into the cave. Demitrija led the way, moving straight ahead along the cave road. The Lionheart Knights behind him, weapons in hand and Nightstones on their waists, followed consecutively. The Thunder Spirit had night vision and could see clearly even in the dark. They finally arrived at the fork in the road. Without saying anything, Demitrija entered, longsword in hand. The Bound Spirit Guardians, who had been standing rigid, saw the living creatures enter. The Soul Fire in their eyes rose violently. Immediately after, they raised their weapons and lunged at the living creatures in front of them. Seeing the enemy charge, Demitrija didn¡¯t change his demeanor at all. With a point of his left hand. He released the Mark of the Heretics, marking all enemies in sight. ¡°Kill!¡± Once the marking was fully deployed, Demitrija shouted and led the charge towards the enemy. Chapter 695 - Chapter 695: Chapter 494, Bound Spirit Guardians_2 Chapter 695: Chapter 494, Bound Spirit Guardians_2 Straight ahead, a scimitar was high in the air, coming down hard. In Demitrija¡¯s hand, a slight block with the longsword changed the direction of the scimitar, causing it to slash the undead companion by his side. The two undead stared in surprise for a moment, both turning their heads to look at each other. Before they could turn their heads again, A sweep of the longsword decapitated the two Bound Spirit Guardians in front. Immediately after, Demitrija¡¯s longsword transformed into flashes of light continuously making skeletons fly before falling. His feet didn¡¯t stop, pushing quickly ahead. The Lionheart Knights following behind were also continuously swinging their weapons. They began finishing off and cleaning up the stray undead. Fang Hao stood outside the cave, though he couldn¡¯t see Demitrija¡¯s attacking techniques and actions. But from above, he could see the skeletons¡¯ limbs flying and falling without ceasing. These enemies posed no threat to Demitrija. ¡­ Half an hour later. The sound of battle inside the cave weakened, the fight had ended. The narrow crossroad inside was now piled with the bodies of Bound Spirit Guardians. From the mouth of the cave, stretching until it was out of sight. And Demitrija, holding the sheathed longsword, slowly emerged with the five Lionheart Knights. It seemed that none of them were injured, only that the knights¡¯ breaths were somewhat unsteady. Taking large breaths of the surrounding air. Seeing everyone safely returning, Fang Hao also let out a sigh of relief. In any battle, his combat strategy was primarily based on overwhelming numerical strength. Although the heroes under his command were all very powerful, he never intended to let them take risks unless necessary. But today was different, they were too close to Silver Wing City. He simply couldn¡¯t call on his undead army. That¡¯s why he let Demitrija take the lead in clearing the remaining enemies. Even though Demitrija could easily clear these out, life-and-death fights in an unfamiliar environment still brought the fear of unexpected incidents. Fang Hao let Demitrija and others rest while turning to Li Rong and saying, ¡°Li Rong, after it¡¯s cleaned up in there, let your people go collect the spoils of war and move out the skeletons.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh!¡± Li Rong responded reflexively. Just now when she saw Demitrija and five others safely returning, She was completely stunned. Didn¡¯t they say there were still forty or fifty undead inside? How did they come back so quickly? And it looks no different from when they went in. But the sound of the battle did indeed disappear, and Fang Hao had no reason to deceive her. She couldn¡¯t help in the fight, so naturally, the cleaning work fell on her. She immediately called her people, ¡°Come, everyone go in and clean up the battlefield. Separate the bones and the equipment.¡± Swish swish!! Li Rong¡¯s subordinates stood up one after another. They entered the cave with caution at first, and when they saw that all the undead had really been killed and there was no danger, They all swarmed in and began moving the bodies out. Soon, the cave was cleared. The platform by the lake was piled with disarmed equipment and bones. Fang Hao, from the side, made a certain number of bullets again. He continued, ¡°Li Rong, the space inside the cave is limited. If too many people go in, it would be too dangerous to retreat. You should go in with me and let the rest stay outside.¡± Li Rong knows the strength of her troops is noticeably inferior to Fang Hao¡¯s. So naturally she had no reason to refuse. She directly told her people, ¡°You all stay here and move all this out.¡± As Li Rong had more men, they began to get busy. They packed up the worn-out equipment and transported it out through the bottom of the lake. Meanwhile, Fang Hao¡¯s group began entering the cave. The bare skin could even feel a chill. They walked right in. The place full of mushrooms and fungi mats had been trampled into a muddy mess by the Bound Spirit Guards. By the time they entered, there was no need to worry about these plants releasing any toxic gases. He ordered people to collect all the shadow stones around. And directly entered the underground palace. A football field-sized space was now completely empty. Empty and desolate, just like a haunted house. ¡°Spread out, see if there¡¯s anything valuable, and pay special attention to chests.¡± Fang Hao ordered. The soldiers immediately spread out and started searching. Soon, reports came from all around. ¡°My lord, we¡¯ve found many golden artifacts here.¡± ¡°My lord, we¡¯ve also discovered various burial goods here.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Hao inspected the two locations the reports had come from. He indeed saw many beautifully patterned golden tools, and on the other side, there were gemstones, decayed silk products, and a variety of jars and flasks. Looking at the designs on them. Fang Hao frowned, squatting down and picking up a piece of the goldware for a closer inspection. The patterns on the goldware were still clear and it was evident that the craftsman who made it was of top-notch skill. However, the patterns on this goldware were familiar to him. The same patterns could be found on the walls of the Viscera Museum as well as on some of Nelson¡¯s attire. It was indeed a place of the Undead. The Undead Clan resembled extreme ascetic monks who believed that the physical world was ephemeral while eternal life was their ultimate pursuit. The current owner of these burial offerings was likely an Undead of Nelson¡¯s status at the very least. Otherwise, according to the rules and order of the undead world, these types of objects couldn¡¯t be part of a burial arrangement. ¡°Look at this, like the proverb about making a wrong turn and saving it by coming out in front of your own house,¡± muttered Fang Hao. The initial assumption was that it was a graveyard, where, over time, the corpses had transformed into the undead. This kind of transformation was most common. The ancient tomb that Dong Jiayue initially explored was of a human king. Inside, there were hordes of skeleton soldiers, all transformed into the undead over time. However, looking at it now, it seemed this place was built by the orthodox Undead themselves. Li Rong didn¡¯t hear Fang Hao¡¯s remarks clearly and asked subconsciously, ¡°Huh? What dragon temple? Boss, are you saying that this place is a dragon temple?¡± Fang Hao returned the goldware, ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± He then looked around at the soldiers, ¡°Have we found any treasure chests?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Subsequently, a silver chest was lifted over by two soldiers and dropped onto the floor. Just silver, though. This disappointed Fang Hao. Besides, that wasn¡¯t right. According to the scale and defenses of this underground palace, there should have been more than those seventh-grade guards. Could it be that he had analyzed it incorrectly? Were these gold and silver utensils all burial objects for these Bound Spirit Guardians? Guard what burial! At this moment, Lorrey ran over quickly, excitedly announcing, ¡°Lord Fang Hao, I¡¯ve found a secret door. There are stairs leading upwards inside.¡± Upon hearing this news. Fang Hao was delighted, the end was not here after all. There was a second floor. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check it out.¡± All the people moved in a formidable array towards the deepest part of this palace layer. At the dark end, a stone door was opened on the wall. Inside, there were stone steps extending upwards, with no end in sight. ¡°Well done.¡± Fang Hao rubbed Lorrey¡¯s head. ¡°Hehe!¡± Lorrey shyly grinned, sticking out his chest, appearing proud for accomplishing a great task. ¡°Prepare defensive measures here at the entrance, there should be enemies above.¡± Demitrija began to make arrangements. Various obstacles were set up at the door. Simultaneously, the soldiers formed a semi-circle, guns pointed directly at the stone door. Fang Hao also constructed two crossbow devices. After everything was ready, he summoned the Thunder Spirit, which flew directly into the stone door, taking vertical flight up. It came directly to the entrance of the second floor. The stone door to the second floor was wide open, and inside was the same wide hall. Squatting bound spirit guards were arranged neatly. And at the end of the guards stood a large and burly skeleton. It was over two meters tall with a rusty sword in its hand. Its armor was damaged, and the cloak behind it was like tattered cloth, laying wide behind it. The skeleton sat upright on a stone seat behind them all. It was like a king, or like a general. Without saying a word, Fang Hao knew that this was most likely a boss. ¡­ A complete intelligence scout. Fang Hao controlled the owl directly, hitting it against the body of the frontmost Bound Spirit Guardian. The spreading electric current made the Bound Spirit Guardian¡¯s body tremble. Klatch, klatch!! At the same time, all the kneeling Bound Spirit Guardians raised their heads in unison. Meanwhile, the giant skeleton at the very end, two blue flames suddenly appeared in its empty pupils. Roar!! The giant skeleton roared furiously. All the Bound Spirit Guardians stood at once, growling and rushing down the stairs. Chapter 696 - Chapter 696: Chapter 495, Imperial Tomb of the Underground Palace_1 Chapter 696: Chapter 495, Imperial Tomb of the Underground Palace_1 Thump! Thump! Thump!! Dense, haphazard footsteps reverberated from the stairs. The footsteps approached, armor clashing and grinding together. Under everyone¡¯s gaze. The first Bound Spirit Guardian rushed out, aimlessly shifting its head about. Upon seeing the humans directly opposite itself, it identified its enemy target. Following the first undead, second and third, countless Bound Spirit Guardians, each brandishing a long decayed scimitar, appeared. They crammed themselves out from the stairway. They set their sights on the humans, letting out horrifying roars before they attacked. At the same time, Demitrija gave the order, ¡°Attack!¡± Bang! Bang! Boom! A rain of bullets pelted down, and in the blink of an eye, the front row of undead fell. This was different from the initial concentrated fire by a handful of people at the entrance of the cave. Now, everyone was using rifles, making the bullet storm even denser. The damage inflicted increased exponentially. The undead that had just popped out were instantly turned into sieves. The progress was going smoothly. Li Rong, who was at one side, revealed a smile. ¡°It seems like there¡¯s no problem at all this time.¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early, there¡¯s still a BOSS on the second floor!¡± ¡°BOSS?¡± Li Rong was startled. However, before she could question further, a large and imposing Undead Knight, donned in pieces of armor appeared in the doorway of the staircase. He clambered over the bodies of undead, bending over to step out of the door. [Imperial Tomb Guard ¨C Gustav (Blue Rank Five Hero)] Just as expected, a hero. Moreover, a blue-ranked Undead Hero. Seeing the undead hero emerging from the door, dragging his rusted longsword across the ground, he started charging towards them. Fang Hao loudly commanded, ¡°Keep firing.¡± Bang! Bang! Bang!! Bullets unhindered by costs slammed into the Undead Hero¡¯s body. However, with a sound similar to a hailstorm falling, the broken armor on the Skeleton Hero¡¯s body was made even more shattered. Underneath the armor, the Skeleton Hero¡¯s bones were visible. Bullets passed through the gaps in the bones, embedding themselves into the wall behind. Seeing this scene, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes widened. Do skeletons have this kind of ability? To use the gaps in the bones to dodge projectiles like bullets? Good heavens, I¡¯ve discovered another advantageous trait of the undead. No wonder it¡¯s so difficult to kill these Bound Spirit Guardians. It¡¯s not that the power of the rifles is lacking, but the bullets just pass straight through the skeletal framework. Yet, the battle still continued. The barrage of bullets slowed the Skeleton Hero¡¯s approach. Its pale blue eyes swept over everyone present. The deep-rooted resentment hiding within the Soul Fire could be felt. With the Skeleton Hero drawing fire, the rest of the Bound Spirit Guardians quickly charged forward. Fang Hao immediately issued an order: ¡°Demitrija, you confront this Skeleton Hero, the rest continue firing at the regular undead.¡± As soon as the words were spoken, everyone sprang into action. Demitrija drew his longsword from his waist, meeting the Skeleton Hero head on. Meanwhile, the other Lionheart Knights swiftly changed their positions, attacking the emerging Bound Spirit Guardians from the back. ¡­ The weapon used by the Skeleton Hero was a heavy longsword. Dragging it with one hand, the rusty blade grinded against the ground, resulting in a grating noise. Pale blue Soul Fire flickered. Its attention then turned to the approaching Lizardman. Making a step forward and dragging its longsword, it moved towards the Lizardman. As their distance closed, the Skeleton Hero¡¯s footsteps quickened. When it drew near, it transformed into a full sprint. The longsword in its hand dragged, creating a trail of sparks against the ground. In the blink of an eye. The Skeleton Hero was already within three meters¡¯ distance. The longsword naturally lifted and began to slash towards Demitrija¡¯s head. ¡°Ah~!¡± Seeing this scene, Li Rong involuntarily let out a shout. Subconsciously, her heart leaped out her throat. If this sword struck, not to mention a hero, even a rock would be split in half. Everyone was a somewhat nervous. On the other hand, Demitrija was as calm as ever. He calmly raised his longsword, positioning it horizontally above his head. Clang!! The clash of the two swords resulted in a piercing resonance, quickly echoing through the hall. When the Skeleton Hero landed his mighty slash, Demitrija did not yield even half a step. He effortlessly caught the slash. Following which, Demitrija swept across with his longsword, deflecting the Skeleton Hero¡¯s blade. The Skeleton Hero felt its longsword uncontrollably deviate to one side. As for the Lizardman¡¯s second sword, it was already halfway through its sweep. ¡°Fierce Slash!¡± A streak of flaming red light appeared on Demitrija¡¯s longsword. It slashed towards the Skeleton Hero¡¯s skull. The Skeleton Hero felt its Soul Fire tremble. With a forceful stomp, its body leapt back, narrowly evading the sword. Seeing the hero in retreat, Demitrija pursued after it, brandishing his longsword. His sword transformed into streak after streak of sword light, chopping vigorously to his rear. Meanwhile, the initially aggressive Skeleton Hero was now only retreating. The iron sword in its hand was held across its chest, struggling to resist the attacks. Demitrija slashed violently, causing the Skeleton Hero to helplessly tilt backward. Another horizontal slash severed the Skeleton Hero¡¯s legs. Two more consecutive slashes later, its arms were also cut off. This rendered the formerly imposing Skeleton Hero completely incapable of fighting. Simultaneously, the remaining Bound Spirit Guardians were also dealt with. Chapter 697 - Chapter 697: Chapter 495, Imperial Tomb Palace_2 Chapter 697: Chapter 495, Imperial Tomb Palace_2 The narrow staircase entrance was cluttered with bones of the undead. Li Rong knew what she had to do and quickly ran out to call her subordinates to start moving the items out. Meanwhile, Fang Hao approached the skeleton hero. He observed the skeleton hero whose legs and arms were broken, yet its Soul Fire still flickered. ¡°Can we communicate?¡± Fang Hao, staring at it, asked. The skeleton hero didn¡¯t answer but kept its eyes fixated on the human before it. Fang Hao continued, ¡°If you answer my questions, I won¡¯t kill you. Deal?¡± Again, the skeleton hero remained silent. This silence made Fang Hao doubt if this undead creature was incapable of speaking. Nevertheless, he persisted with his questions, ¡°What is this place? And what are you guarding here for?¡± As he spoke, the skeleton hero¡¯s Soul Fire started to shimmer. A husky, grating voice echoed, ¡°You will die here. You will replace us and continue guarding the Imperial Tomb.¡± The emotions of the undead are limited. They fear death as well and know the feeling of rage. However, their physical limitations hinder these feelings from being potent. The hatred the humans feel is diluted in their hearts. The deep-rooted bitterness is nothing more than a mere sibling rivalry to them. ¡°Imperial Tomb? Is this the royal cemetery? Who is buried here?¡± Fang Hao continued to quiz. The skeleton hero chose to remain silent once more. Following this, Fang Hao asked a series of questions. No amount of threatening or enticing could make the skeleton hero utter anything beyond the first sentence. Fang Hao lightly coughed. He stood up, saying, ¡°Good, I am satisfied with your answers. I agree to enlist you in my territory as a hero.¡± At this, Li Rong was utterly stunned. Is this how heroes are recruited? No wonder Fang Hao has so many heroes by his side. She had learned something new today. The skeleton hero also turned to look at Fang Hao. Its raspy voice echoed once again, ¡°I will not submit to you.¡± As soon as it finished speaking, the Soul Fire within the skeleton hero extinguished rapidly. What remained was a heap of white bones. Fang Hao looked at the pile of bones on the ground, knitting his brows. How stubborn! Unlike the living, the undead can be recreated after death. In contrast, once the Soul Fire of the undead extinguishes, their bodies can no longer be transformed. This means Nelson cannot transform the dead undead into undead heroes again. ¡°Alright, collect his skeleton separately. It might come in handy,¡± Fang Hao declared. Even in death, it¡¯s okay. The skeleton could still be used to create a Deomn Doll. Meanwhile, Li Rong¡¯s subordinates had started shifting items out. After a short break, Fang Hao and his team resumed their exploration, advancing to the second floor once the staircase was cleared. The second floor was another stone chamber. Though smaller than the first, the decor was much more reminiscent of a miniature city. The surroundings were full of various stone buildings. The skeleton hero¡¯s throne was even accompanied by a stone courtyard. A check of the courtyard revealed that while most items had decayed, the layout was still remarkably complete. Thereafter, Lorrey kept discovering passages to the next level one after the other. Each floor had its Bound Spirit Guardians, which were systematically eliminated by Fang Hao using a consistent strategy. ¡­ By the eighth level, Fang Hao and his team were starting to feel fatigued. There was no telling how many levels there were in total. Once each level was cleared, the entrance to the next one would be discovered. Each level was smaller than the last, with the level they were currently on reduced to an area of just over a hundred square meters. Similarly, with each level, more and more golden artifacts were found. ¡°Hurry up! Package the items securely in leather and transport them outside,¡± said Li Rong enthusiastically, directing her subordinates from the entrance. All these gold artifacts¡­ Once shared with Fang Hao, it would be enough for her to buy up all the shops in the commercial street. With that, she would truly own her own business. And the most surprising haul was the treasure boxes. One box per level had brought a smile to her face. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t very interested in these low-level treasure boxes, but Li Rong was. She rarely went on explorations and naturally hadn¡¯t seen many treasure boxes. Now there were eight. As per their previous agreement of splitting the haul evenly, she would get four boxes. Although she didn¡¯t contribute much, her crew did all the heavy lifting, plus she, a beautiful woman, had kept her blouse generously low, chatting with him. She surely deserved at least two, right? As she thought about this, Fang Hao was already asking from the side: ¡°Lorrey, is there a staircase to the next level?¡± The room on the eighth level was not big. Lorrey was examining the wall not far away closely. Without answering, he gently knocked on the wall. Splat!! The sound of stones grinding against each other rang out. Accompanied by falling dust from the ceiling, a hole opened up on one side. There really is another one¡­ This place was like a matryoshka doll with bottomless rooms, always offering another one to discover. Inside the stone entrance was no longer an aged, dimly lit stone stairwell. Instead, there was a narrow, lavishly decorated corridor filled with thick dust. The corridor, less than 10 meters long, was lined with various gold tools and statues against the wall. The walls were adorned with colourful frescoes that hadn¡¯t faded much over time. At the end of the corridor stood two stone doors covered with symbols and designs. These doors were tightly shut; this should be the final layer. Chapter 698 - Chapter 698: Chapter 495, Imperial Tomb Underground Palace_3 Chapter 698: Chapter 495, Imperial Tomb Underground Palace_3 The group peeked out the door for a bit. They didn¡¯t notice any danger. ¡°Do not open the stone door at the end, be gentle, and move everything out of here,¡± Fang Hao instructed softly. The hallway was not large, but it was filled with various statues made of gold. Not requiring Li Rong¡¯s people, the rest of the Lionheart Knights entered the hallway. And started to move the golden statues out. Meanwhile, Fang Hao started to examine the patterns on both sides of the wall. The patterns were well preserved, the colors remained vivid. He could clearly understand the scenes and stories depicted on them. The more he inspected, the more nervous Fang Hao became. Judging from the scenes on the murals, this place was indeed built by the Undead. This place should be treated as a tomb, but for the Undead was more appropriately called a traveling palace. That is, a temporary residence or a place to rest. The owner of this traveling palace was a female Undead. From the patterns on the mural, she seemed extravagantly dressed. Moreover, the depictions displayed female characteristics. Moving further in, Fang Hao saw kneeling Corpse Witches and funeral Priests on the mural. This female figure, held a scepter and looked down from her throne. Good heavens. She was truly a royal one, even the Corpse Witches in the mural were drawn relatively small. They were insignificant background figures, accentuating the woman¡¯s majesty on the throne. If he had not recognized Nelson¡¯s attire, he would have assumed that all those kneeling were ordinary Undead. After looking at everything. The entire hallway was cleared out. ¡°Master, shall we open the stone door?¡± Demitrija approached and asked softly. Li Rong also looked over. The treasures in the last layer should be of a higher grade. But Fang Hao didn¡¯t think so. He spoke softly, ¡°This door cannot be opened, everyone wait for me at the entrance, we will exit soon.¡± ¡°Exit? Aren¡¯t we going to explore the stone door up front?¡± At this point, Li Rong also came over, a little reluctant in her voice. Having progressed this far, she was a little unwilling to exit. ¡°There might be dangers we can¡¯t handle inside, we might all die in there.¡± This statement was not to scare Li Rong. If the next level was unpopulated, it would be fine. But should the master of this palace be present. They all would be in danger. If they managed to escape, half of them would die. Fang Hao had the ability to teleport, but he couldn¡¯t teleport all these people. Besides, teleportation might not work against a truly powerful opponent. ¡°Ah? Is it that serious?¡± Eventually, Li Rong retreated. Fang Hao didn¡¯t linger in the hallway either, he used the Book of Lords to capture the paintings on the wall. He sent them directly to Zhang Bin, asking him to take the pictures to Nelson. Everyone retreated from the hallway, closed the stone door, and withdrew. ¡­ Coming out of the water body. Anjia was guarding the water¡¯s edge with her people. Various broken weapons, gold and silver utensils, and burial items were piled up into two small hills. The gains were quite significant. Fang Hao used the Book of Lords again to create several wagons for transporting goods. They had been out for several days. Everyone was a bit tired and wished they could go back and rest immediately. They worked more efficiently. After packing, everyone immediately set off and began to return. ¡­ In a forest, a hundred miles west of the pool. Under the night sky, towering trees obscured the moonlight, dense forests spread out endlessly. Animal howls and bird calls came from time to time, making the rarely-trodden forest seem even more deserted. Amidst this gloomy and quiet atmosphere, several voices of conversation arose. ¡°Are we going to ambush an army? They¡¯ve brought nearly half of the people from our group, could it be Silver Wing City¡¯s patrol team?¡± ¡°Who knows? They were all relocated by the group leader, over three hundred, and all are skilled men. Probably, they¡¯ve set their sights on a merchant group.¡± ¡°Merchant group? We have so many people. Even if it were an army, we could stop all of them here.¡± Off to one side, a disheveled mercenary, dressed like a beggar, was half-crouched in the forest, wiping his iron sword. Hearing the endless speculation and doubts of his companions, he quietly spoke up, ¡°This time, the group leader¡¯s order is to kill them all, leave none. If we succeed, everyone will benefit.¡± ¡°Kill all? How many of them are there?¡± ¡°There are over a hundred of them, all are militiamen with little power. We have twice their numbers, this should be an easy job.¡± Upon hearing that there were just over a hundred of them, everyone relaxed instantly. Fighting a smaller force, especially when they were just militiamen, was their strength. They could say that this mission had no challenge at all. As they chatted idly, a figure was seen running fast from the forest. It was the scout they had sent far away. Everyone went silent and listened to the information the scout brought back. ¡°They are almost here, over a hundred people, and they have wagons on their way back.¡± The beggar-dressed mercenary nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s make it quick.¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! All drew their weapons and slowed their breaths. In the distance of their view. Rows of torches began to appear far down the road, coming closer to them. Chapter 699 - Chapter 699: Chapter 496, Gold Queen_1 Chapter 699: Chapter 496, Gold Queen_1 At night, as the autumn wind whistled. Deep within the ancient mountains and forests, a hundred-person team urged their horse carriage along a small path overgrown with weeds. Fang Hao sat on the back of a giant lizard, looking at the map in his hand, occasionally raising his head to look at the somewhat gloomy night sky. ¡°Li Rong, how long until we reach our destination?¡± Li Rong glanced at her own map, ¡°We¡¯ll probably arrive in about three or four hours.¡± ¡°Good, everyone speed up. The sooner we return, the sooner we can rest.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone responded in unison, picking up their pace. The journey from the watering hole to Li Rong¡¯s territory was not a straight path, and they needed to cross mountains and navigate winding roads, covering several times the direct distance. Just as they were about to return, their spoils of adventure were significant. The soldiers had more energy and the journey proceeded at a good pace. Li Rong rode a horse alongside the giant lizard. After lighting a cigarette, she said, ¡°Listen, Big Brother Fang Hao, I don¡¯t usually lock my door at night. Don¡¯t take advantage of that to do anything mischievous. After all, it¡¯ll just be the two of us in the whole building. Even if I call for help, no one will hear¡­¡± After spending the past two days together and sharing an adventure in the underground palace. The two of them had become quite familiar with each other. Opinions about Fang Hao were diverse in their communication channel. However, after her own interactions with him, Li Rong found Fang Hao to be a powerful and easygoing person. She didn¡¯t feel any oppressive air of superiority from him. He was always game to joke around or even engage in some bawdy banter. ¡°What are you talking about Li, I¡¯m an upright person.¡± Seeing that Fang Hao didn¡¯t understand her implication, Li Rong exhaled a cloud of smoke and continued, ¡°Isn¡¯t it popular among young people to seduce older women? Don¡¯t you want to give it a try?¡± Li Rong was tall and attractive, but she was positively past her prime. She was definitely in the ¡®aunty¡¯ category now. ¡°Forget it, I wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it!¡± Li Rong took a long drag of her cigarette and said with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re still too young, you don¡¯t understand the enticing allure of a mature woman. You¡¯ll have regrets.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t respond, he continued looking into the Book of Lords. Whether he fancied older women or not. Mainly, he already had an even more ¡®mature¡¯ woman at home that he hadn¡¯t even managed to handle yet. ¡­ Thus they chatted casually. Soon the group had emerged from the narrow area and the road ahead became somewhat wider. Traveling could be monotonous, especially during the tiring night march. Li Rong was a talkative person and she became even more so as they grew more familiar. Before long, they were discussing her commercial plans. She said that when she was ready to open a store in Lyss City, Fang Hao should look out for her. In return, she said, whenever he felt like experiencing the charms of an older woman, he was welcome to visit her. As they strolled along, Suddenly, Lorrey at the front made a silence gesture. The signal was quickly passed back through the ranks. Everyone instantly fell silent. Holding their breaths and reaching for their weapons, they remained alert. There was absolute silence all around. In the thick woods, there was not a single sound, the quietness was eerie. Fang Hao drew his weapon as well. Without needing to ask, a soldier came running from up ahead. In a low voice, he reported, ¡°My Lord, Lorrey says there¡¯s an ambush in the woods up ahead. He¡¯s unsure of the number of enemies.¡± Hearing the soldier¡¯s words, Fang Hao also sensed something was off. Even though their numbers would deter most beasts, the forest should¡¯ve been teeming with insects and birds. Why did all noise cease as soon as they reached this spot? This situation indicated some lurking danger in the woods that had scared away all the insects and birds. ¡°Prepare for battle.¡± Clatter! Everyone immediately reformed their ranks, readying themselves for combat. Bang~! Just as they were preparing, A dull thud was heard from the front. A large tree crashed down blocking the road ahead. Immediately after, the rustling noises came from the trees all around. Whoosh, whoosh! Since the team had not advanced towards the ambush point, The arrows only flew out from the woods diagonally ahead. Everyone quickly took cover behind the horse carriages. The Lionheart Knights began raising their guns, retaliating. Bang, Bang! The silent night suddenly became tumultuous. A shootout began between both forces. ¡­ Bows strained and guns fired, filling the entire forest with noise. Ahead, a few people in cloaks crouched in the dark woods. One of them curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did they discover our ambush? None of them even came close.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, they must have some special scouting methods. But it doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯ve got plenty of men this time. There¡¯s no danger in killing them.¡± The shaggy man, bearing resemblance to a beggar, glanced at the shootout position again. He tersely said, ¡°We can¡¯t afford to drag this on. If we attract a patrol, we¡¯re done for. Tell the guys to charge. We need to finish this quickly and clear the battlefield. No traces must be left.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± One of them got up and relayed the message to their troops. Immediately after. Charge! Suddenly, cries of war sounded from all around, as mercenary soldiers of varying appearances charged out from the forest on both sides. They roared as they charged towards Fang Hao and his team. Fang Hao was already pondering who could be ambushing them. He even considered distancing himself from Li Rong, in case she had gotten into trouble somehow. Seeing these people charge headlong, He estimated their numbers near three to four hundred, which put him more at ease. Taking care of these men should not pose much of a problem. Chapter 700 - Chapter 700: Chapter 496, Gold Queen_2 Chapter 700: Chapter 496, Gold Queen_2 Boom! Boom! Boom!! The bullets kept pouring out, and the mercenaries couldn¡¯t stand the power of the bullets, not with their physical strength. With each round of firing, a group of mercenaries fell. But there was still an overwhelming number of enemies. When the two sides were only 20 meters apart, Demitrija drew his longsword and coldly ordered, ¡°Everyone, attack.¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Everyone shouted in unison. They switched to melee weapons and charged at the oncoming enemies. Li Rong¡¯s team was among them. They held their weapons and engaged the enemies in close combat. Fang Hao stood at the rear of the team. He summoned the Wooden Warrior Spirit to restrict the movement of the enemy while keeping alert to the surroundings. Just to be safe in case more enemies charged out from other sides. Obviously, Fang Hao was being a bit paranoid. Under Demitrija¡¯s leadership, they made short work of those mercenaries, killing them like cutting through butter. The ground was littered with bodies, and blood pooled into rivers that flowed along the path. Up ahead, Lorrey was coming over, holding a few men. ¡°Sir, we caught these men spying from the woods ahead, they must be the leaders of these men.¡± ¡°No, we are not the leaders, not leaders.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Fang Hao looked at Lorrey and said, ¡°Keep an eye out, let Li Rong¡¯s team clean up the battlefield, and bury all the bodies.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After Lorrey was gone, the team got busy again. The injured started to bandage up, while those in good shape began to strip the corpses of their gear, then dug holes to bury them. Fang Hao turned his eyes toward the captured mercenaries. There were three in total ¡ª two of them wore mercenary armor, while the other looked more like a beggar. ¡°Speak up. Who sent you? Tell me, and you might just survive.¡± Fang Hao spoke to the captives. All three kept their heads low, remaining silent. Fang Hao approached the first one, ¡°Speak.¡± The man simply turned his gaze away. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Strong-willed.¡± Thud! After a flash of cold light, the head of the first man rolled on the ground. The faces of the last two men fell in horror. Fang Hao then turned to the second man, ¡°Speak.¡± The second mercenary hesitated. When he saw Fang Hao take half a step back, he blurted out, ¡°It was our captain. He gathered us here to ambush you.¡± Fang Hao halted and continued to question, ¡°What¡¯s your captain¡¯s name?¡± The mercenary cautiously glanced at the beggar beside him and saw him keeping his head low. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Our captain¡¯s name is Sander.¡± ¡°Good, you did well.¡± Fang Hao first commended him, then continued, ¡°Why did he order to ambush us?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. We do not even know who you are. We just came here following the captain¡¯s orders,¡± the mercenary stammered out. Fang Hao nodded and took two steps back. Thud!! Plop! A head dropped with a thud next to the beggar. By that time, the beggar was sweating profusely, creating streaks on his grimy face. ¡°So, you don¡¯t know anything either?¡± Fang Hao looked at the last man. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± The beggar stammered, but couldn¡¯t manage to say much. Fang Hao didn¡¯t spare him either and turned to leave directly. The Lionheart Knight beside him swiftly executed the beggar with his blade. He then searched through the three bodies. The Lionheart Knight caught up with Fang Hao again. ¡°Sir, you might want to take a look at this¡­¡± Fang Hao looked at what he held in his hand. It was a palm-sized seashell. Sound-transmitting Shell. These mercenaries were well-off. With the Sound-transmitting Shell in hand, Fang Hao thought of talking to the party on the other side. But he quickly dismissed the thought. Now that he knew the name was Sander, he could find out who he was easily. No need to waste more time on them. He kept the shell, and ordered, ¡°Bury these three. The injured will take the carriages. We keep moving.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The convoy set off again, heading towards Li Rong¡¯s city. Along the way, Li Rong, who had been scared, recovered a bit. She lit up a cigarette and exhaled deeply. ¡°Were they Sander¡¯s men?¡± Fang Hao glanced at her, noting that she seemed to have a strong addiction to smoking. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of him?¡± ¡°A couple of days ago, I discussed something with Sander. Things didn¡¯t end well.¡± Li Rong spoke. ¡°Oh? You mean, these men came to kill you?¡± ¡°What else? You just came here, Sander doesn¡¯t even know you. His target can only be me. Damn, this man is ruthless.¡± Li Rong cursed angrily. Fang Hao frowned; he suspected that these might be the hired hands of the Marshall family. They weren¡¯t able to target Rebecca, so they¡¯ve turned their sights on him instead. But according to Li Rong, she also had some conflict with Sander¡¯s people. Moreover, just a few days ago, Li Rong did postpone the exploration of the underground palace for some negotiation. Could it be that they were really targeting her? ¡°Tell me about Sander!¡± Smoking her cigarette, Li Rong said, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about him. I just know that Sander too originated from a mercenary background. After his mercenary group¡¯s status was scrapped by Silver Wing City, he became a notorious hoodlum in town. I wanted to set up an additional business, and that required his approval.¡± ¡°Does he have any background?¡± ¡°His background is unclear, but he definitely has some. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be in his current position.¡± Li Rong continued. Fang Hao nodded, refraining from asking more. If what Li Rong said was true, the conflict between her and Sander wouldn¡¯t necessitate an ambush for such a trivial matter. Chapter 701 - Chapter 701: Chapter 496, Gold Queen_3 Chapter 701: Chapter 496, Gold Queen_3 The greater possibility is that it¡¯s me. But this was just his speculation, it needs further verification. They traveled for a few more hours. Finally, the group has arrived at Li Rong¡¯s territory. The city gates were opened, and everyone and everything made their way in. It was late, and after rooms were assigned, everyone retired for the night. ¡­ The next day. The early morning light seeped in through the window. Fang Hao tightened his quilt and groggily opened his eyes. Li Rong¡¯s territory had no glass, the windows were empty, and there was no sensation when waking up. But once asleep, a chill sensation could be felt. He got out of bed and was about to leave the room. He heard a notification for a private message from the Book of Lords. When he checked, it was from Zhang Bin. ¡°Boss, I am currently with Scholar Nelson, he has seen the picture.¡± Fang Hao instantly perked up, ¡°Um, what did the Scholar say? Could he identify who was in the picture?¡± ¡°The Scholar said it¡¯s the Gold Queen.¡± Zhang Bin replied. Gold Queen? Darn, that name is quite extravagant and indeed, a lot of gold items were found in that underground palace. All kinds of utensils and statues were made of gold. ¡°So, does the Scholar know her?¡± Normally, Nelson was recruited not for his memories but his knowledge, thus not including the memories of anyone else. This was done to increase a hero¡¯s loyalty. Otherwise, if the recruited hero still remembered their former master, There would be a fear that they would run away as soon as they were recruited, let alone join the territory. Zhang Bin replied, ¡°He said it¡¯s written on the pattern, he can figure it out, but it may not necessarily be the hero¡¯s prefix, it could be a title given by followers or citizens.¡± Fang Hao understood. So, the hero¡¯s prefix wasn¡¯t Gold Queen, but she was obsessed with gold and thus called Gold Queen. That¡¯s strangely similar to his own hobbies. ¡°Can he estimate her power?¡± ¡°Scholar said it¡¯s quite high, he recommended not to risk it.¡± Fang Hao thought for a while, and continued: ¡°This Gold Queen should be in a deep sleep, ask Nelson if there¡¯s a way to recruit her, to make her join my territory?¡± Zhang Bin quickly got a response. He said: ¡°The Scholar said you can try, if she has needs, she may join the territory, but if she¡¯s really an undead queen, the chance of recruiting her isn¡¯t high.¡± So, it seems, she¡¯s easier to recruit when she¡¯s destitute. Why would she work for you when she¡¯s a queen who lacks nothing? Fang Hao responded, ¡°Her status probably isn¡¯t very good, I¡¯ll come for Nelson when it¡¯s time and let him try.¡± Zhang Bin replied, ¡°I told Scholar Nelson, do you have anything else, boss? If not, I¡¯ll head back, it¡¯s too cold in this museum, I feel like my Yang energy isn¡¯t sufficient.¡± ¡°Alright, you go ahead.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He ended the chat. Fang Hao recontemplated the layout and location of the entire underground palace. Although the location of the underground palace was two days away, it was still within the range of Silver Wing City. Building an Undead¡¯s underground palace under the watchful eyes of the church took quite some audacity. Add to that the few guards within the palace. And the pyramid-like design of the palace. All these made Fang Hao more curious about this Gold Queen. Now that he has found her, he definitely wouldn¡¯t give up, he would let Nelson try when it¡¯s time. If that fails, he¡¯ll figure out another way. ¡­ After having figured everything out, Fang Hao left his room. As soon as he left his room. He saw Li Rong wearing a red robe. Seeing Fang Hao, her eyes betrayed a bit of reproach, ¡°I left the door for you last night, you didn¡¯t really come.¡± Uh¡­ ¡°Stop kidding.¡± Fang Hao sat down nearby and started to have breakfast there. After breakfast, Li Rong habitually lit a cigarette. With a light clap of her hands, militiamen came in from outside carrying treasure chests one after another. ¡°Eight treasure chests, all filled with silver, are all here.¡± Chapter 702 - Chapter 702: Chapter 497, Undead Siege_1 Chapter 702: Chapter 497, Undead Siege_1 Looking at the eight treasure chests, Li Rong¡¯s eyes were filled with intense eagerness. How wonderful it would be if all these eight chests were hers. However, she knew that this was all wishful thinking. How could they all belong to her? For transmigrators, treasure chests were their opportunities for growth. Unpacking high quality items could significantly enhance their territory¡¯s overall power. Though she had brought many people for this mission. The ones who contributed the most in the battle were Fang Hao¡¯s followers. She initially thought her subordinates would flaunt their strength in the battle, but they ended up doing menial tasks. They were left to do tasks such as looting equipment, burying bodies, and carrying things. Her side looked like a moving company, with everyone briskly getting to work. It seemed like Fang Hao was about to take the lion¡¯s share. She hoped he wouldn¡¯t be too greedy considering she provided the map and worked hard. Thinking this, she pulled down her collar a bit exposing a bit more of her fair skin and attractive cleavage. Fang Hao did not have as many thoughts as Li Rong. To him, the silver chests were of too low grade. Even if the chests contained an item, it would be at best of blue-graded quality. For his territory at this stage, such items were of little use. In his view, the most valuable thing in this underground palace was not these eight silver chests. But rather, the final room of the Golden Queen. There must be another chest in it, which certainly ranks higher than silver. Fang Hao glanced casually and said, ¡°According to our deal, should we split them evenly? Four chests for each of us.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Li Rong¡¯s face lit up with joy. Feeling slightly embarrassed about her excitement, she attempted to keep her composure, but found it hard to conceal her excitement. ¡°That was what we agreed on, there¡¯s nothing false about it.¡± Fang Hao responded casually. ¡°Ahem! Fang Hao, you put in the most effort during this exploration. You can take a bigger share.¡± If Li Rong had taken advantage of the battle, she would have demanded without hesitation a greater share of the loot. ¡°No need, let¡¯s just split it as we decided.¡± Fang Hao went straight to the chests. He promptly opened four of them. [Obtained: Blueprint for White-Steel Scale Armor (blue-grade), Blueprint for White-Steel Knuckles (blue-grade), Blueprint for Runestone Bed (green-grade), 102 Warfire Coins, 4 Shadowstones.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Silver-Edged Small Round Shield (blue-grade), Blueprint for Pure White Frying Pan (green-grade), 125 Warfire Coins, 3 Shadowstones.] [Obtained: Blueprint for White-Steel Helmet (blue-grade), 4 Undead Golden Statues, 105 Warfire Coins, 6 Shadowstones.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Spirit Stone Table (blue-grade), Blueprint for Mithril Helmet (blue-grade), 98 Warfire Coins, 3 Shadowstones.] All four chests had been opened in quick succession. As he had expected, most of them were blue-graded blueprints. He had already collected the blueprints for the White-Steel Scale Armor and the White-Steel Helmet before. These were surplus blueprints. Although the rest of the blueprints were not very useful to him, they could be used to expand his blueprint collection. ¡°So, how about you? Did you get anything good?¡± Fang Hao looked at Li Rong. By now, Li Rong was grinning from ear to ear, as if she had just found a fortune. This made Fang Hao suspicious that he might have chosen the less rewarding chests, while Li Rong hit the jackpot. ¡°I got lots of blueprints, all blue-grade ones.¡± Li Rong excitedly announced. Phew! Fang Hao sighed in relief. Just blue-graded blueprints? I thought she had found something special. Without any desire to ask her what exactly she got, Fang Hao directly said, ¡°You can sell the Shadowstones to me. You won¡¯t use them anyway.¡± ¡°Sure, you can have them.¡± Li Rong generously pushed over a dozen Shadowstones to Fang Hao. She could not use these items of the Undead faction anyway. ¡°Do you have the blueprints for the White-Steel Scale Armor and White-Steel Helmet? I¡¯ve got duplicates, so I can give them to you,¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Really? I don¡¯t.¡± Fang Hao generously gave her the surplus blueprints. Li Rong happily accepted them, immediately recording them in her Book of Lords. After saving the blueprints, Li Rong looked warily at Fang Hao, ¡°Are you really just giving me these blue-graded blueprints? You¡¯re not regretting what happened last night and trying to win over my favor, are you?¡± ¡°Give it a rest, will you? Do I need to curry favor with you? You¡¯re already overflowing with goodwill,¡± Fang Hao countered. Li Rong blushed, ¡°Stop talking nonsense!¡± Fang Hao paid no mind and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll need your help later, so consider this a preemptive thanks.¡± Li Rong thumped her chest, declaring righteously: ¡°Just say the word when the time comes, and I¡¯ll handle it for you.¡± ¡°Uh, thanks in advance.¡± Next, they split the gold and silver utensils found in the underground palace evenly between them. The collected Shadowstones and Death Traces were all allocated to Fang Hao. Li Rong got slightly more utensils. After splitting the loot, both of them were very satisfied. Fang Hao obtained a decent amount of Shadowstones and Death Traces. Li Rong not only obtained many blueprints but also a lot of gold and silver. With this gold and silver, she had the funds needed to maintain her business in the shop, solving many of her problems. While still in high spirits. Li Rong took Fang Hao on a tour of her territory. Her territory was simply divided. The barracks and functional buildings were located in one area. The rest of the land was filled with factories. A large stretch of large factory buildings housed workers, producing the cosmetics sold at the Fairy Dream Tower. This was to maintain her supply of cosmetics. While chatting, Fang Hao learned that in addition to the villagers she had recruited, Li Rong had also employed a large number of locals in the nearby villages. Chapter 703 - Chapter 703: Chapter 497, Undead Siege_2 Chapter 703: Chapter 497, Undead Siege_2 But the supply is still rather tight. If we want to set up branches in other cities. Then the current scale of the factory simply cannot sustain it. Either we raise the prices to the point where ordinary people can¡¯t afford them and only serve the nobles. Otherwise, we need to expand the scale of the factory, build more factories, recruit more staff. But with Li Rong¡¯s current capabilities, these were all unachievable. Even the idea of opening a second store in the city was fraught with difficulties. A lot of money has been spent on it, and it¡¯s still in negotiations. ¡°The clothes you¡¯re selling on the channel aren¡¯t bad either, have you considered a partnership?¡± Li Rong, standing at the factory door, said while smoking a cigarette. ¡°How would we collaborate?¡± ¡°Put your clothes up for sale in the Fairy Dream Tower, and we split the profits when they¡¯re sold.¡± The main product at the Fairy Dream Tower is cosmetics, and clothes don¡¯t sell particularly well. However, there are many people who buy cosmetics, which also boosts the sales of products on the second and third floors. It¡¯s just not that obvious. Therefore, Li Rong was also considering how to increase sales of clothing and accessories. ¡°I¡¯ll have to think about it, I plan on setting up a shop in the city as well, which would have implications for my store if I provide for you.¡± Fang Hao responded softly. ¡°You¡¯re planning to set up a shop in Silver Wing City? It¡¯s not easy to start a business, even with connections you might not secure it within a year or so.¡± Li Rong was first surprised and then analyzed. ¡°No need, when the time comes I¡¯ll ask Rebecca and Olivia to speak on my behalf, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems in setting up a shop.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s tone remained calm and collected. Li Rong wanted to retort, but her words caught in her throat. If Olivia helped, then opening just one shop wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. ¡°You¡¯re one tough cookie¡­¡± Li Rong said through gritted teeth, a trace of jealousy in her voice. ¡°Let me think about it when I go back, I have stores in Lyss City and Pruell City, you could sell your cosmetics through them.¡± Both of them were eyeing each other¡¯s goods. Phew! Li Rong crossed her arms over her chest and exhaled another puff of smoke, ¡°We¡¯ll see, let¡¯s wait until I open my second shop in Silver Wing City and ensure that product supply can keep up.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Both of them returned to the Lord¡¯s Mansion. In the afternoon, they went back to Silver Wing City directly. ¡­ Meanwhile. Elsewhere, on the border of the Desolate Battlefield. After a few days¡¯ journey, Dong Jiayue led an undead army of two million, finally entering the region of the Dwarf¡¯s Eight Peaks Mountain. The undead possessed advantages that the living creatures did not. They could travel day and night without knowing a trace of fatigue. Such a large number, the food and supplies they carry is merely for the needs of the accompanying living creatures. The seemingly endless White Bone Army stood neatly in place. In the middle of the army, a large tent made of stitched beast skins was erected. In the middle of the tent, there was a table made of logs, displaying a map of all the cities and routes on the Eight Peaks Mountain. The map was provided by Bellerga. It recorded the slopes, woods, and paths within the Eight Peaks Mountain in great detail, without any errors. In front of the map. Dong Jiayue sat in the middle, on either side were the ¡®Dragon Clan Skeleton Hero ¨C Spencer¡¯, ¡®Troll Skeleton Hero ¨C Meatfist¡¯, ¡®Orc Skeleton Hero ¨C Black Sword¡¯, ¡®Human Skeleton Hero ¨C Heavy Arrow¡¯, and the Dwarf Hero-Bellerga. Behind these heroes was a second row of people. There were thirteen transmigrators, twelve of which were under Dong Jiayue¡¯s city lords, the other one was Deng Bin, and Deng Bin¡¯s hero, Zackery. Fang Hao planned to end this war before winter arrived. So, he also promptly summoned numerous heroes to assist Dong Jiayue in battle. Amongst them, Spencer and Meatfist were orange heroes, Bellerga was a purple hero, Black Sword and Heavy Arrow were blue heroes. When these transmigrators saw such a luxurious team of heroes. They all became dumbfounded. Since when did heroes become plentiful like cabbages, popping up one after another. Originally worried about the war, they began to feel excited and thrilled. Dong Jiayue looked around and spoke softly, ¡°Commander Bellerga, please introduce the situation of the Eight Peaks Mountain to the new city lords!¡± Spencer and Meatfist were later called for reinforcements. They didn¡¯t know about the previous situations. Bellerga took a thin wooden stick, sketched out a few areas on the map, and said, ¡°These are the twelve border strongholds of Eight Peaks Mountain, each with a decreasing number of five, four, three in order, and finally this city built on the slope is the main city of Eight Peaks Mountain, Gray Iron City.¡± Next, what they had to do was attack the first five strongholds out of the twelve. Bellerga paused slightly, continuing, ¡°These twelve strongholds are mutually vigilantes, if one is attacked, the surrounding strongholds will immediately support it, so it will be rather difficult to break.¡± If it were any other race, Bellerga would definitely say that it¡¯s impossible to break it quickly. But when he thought of the endless neatly arranged undead army outside the tent. He fell silent again, it seemed that when facing such a fearless army of death, all defenses were futile. After finishing the introduction, Bellerga put the wooden stick aside. Seeing that he stopped talking, Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°Dwarves are good with machinery, not with numbers, even if they have reinforced, the defenders of the first five strongholds will not exceed fifty thousand, perhaps even less, so everyone please discuss, how should we fight this war and how to plan the strategy.¡± The scene fell into a brief silence. Chapter 704 - Chapter 704: Chapter 497, Undead Siege_3 Chapter 704: Chapter 497, Undead Siege_3 Everyone was quietly contemplating the map. Meatfist, a robustly built man, was the first to speak, ¡°Our advantage is great, there¡¯s no need to think too much. Just charge straight in. Take over five border strongholds tonight, then use these as a basis to push further into their territory.¡± The strengths and weaknesses of the two sides are indeed very obvious. With the addition of two more orange heroes, this battle basically has no suspense. Spencer, who was at the side, nodded in agreement, then added, ¡°We outnumber them, so it wouldn¡¯t be beneficial to target just one stronghold. We also have to be wary of reinforcements from other border strongholds.¡± He pointed to the map and suggested, ¡°I propose splitting our forces to distract the other strongholds. The main force shall attack the one in the middle and we¡¯ll take it down. In the night, we¡¯ll envelop the other strongholds to swiftly take down the outermost five.¡± Everyone stared at the map, analyzing Spencer¡¯s plan. At the same time, they were figuring out the feasibility of this plan in their minds. Overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers is a tactic the Undead Clan excels at! The dwarves are proud of their machinery, but against so many of us, it¡¯ll surely be a futile effort. In no time, Black Sword also agreed, ¡°This plan is feasible, we have ample information on the dwarves, a direct strike will suffice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good plan.¡± Dong Jiayue stood up, glanced around and asked, ¡°Does anyone else have any other opinions.¡± Spread the forces first, then mount an offensive with the main force. ¡°No objections!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± ¡°Sounds good!¡± Seeing everyone agree, Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°Alright, tonight, I and Spencer will lead the main troops in the attack. The remaining commanders, each of you will lead troops to distract the other strongholds. The remaining transmigrators will assist each commander.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone responded simultaneously. The main role of the transmigrators was to act as communicators. Using the Book of Lords to transmit messages back and forth. Secondly, creating some tools to make certain things easier. Dong Jiayue nodded, ¡°Alright, we still have about three or four hours, everyone go back and get prepared.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone responded and left the tent in succession. ¡­ Night fell. Within the command hall of the dwarf stronghold. The commander of the Third Battalion, Hester. Sat anxiously in his chair, with a Sound-transmitting Shell in front of him. He was just silently staring at it. ¡°Commander Hester, what did the King say? When will the reinforcements arrive?¡± an old dwarf asked. ¡°Yes, when will the reinforcements arrive?¡± This border stronghold was not just a fortress but also a city. The people present were the heads of powerful families within the city. A dwarf scout had reported the nearness of the Undead. It scared many people out of their wits. Hester too looked just as grim. Just more than a week ago, he had been promoted to a commander. Who would have thought that the first battle he would participate in as commander would be so challenging? Inside, he began to envy the commander who had been stripped of his rank for making a mistake. At least he was safe in Gray Iron City. He, on the other hand, seemed to have control over the army but was posted on the front lines. But at this moment, he also had to reassure the city¡¯s notables. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we still have time. And getting from one stronghold to another isn¡¯t that easy,¡± Hester reassured them softly. He too was waiting for news from Gray Iron City. The request for reinforcements had been sent several days ago, but still, there was no reply from Gray Iron City. Just as the nobles in the city were breathing a sigh of relief, They suddenly sensed that something was off. All heads turned in unison to the water glass on the table. There, they saw rhythmic ripples forming in the water, and then the chandelier above started to shake. Finally, even the ground began to rumble beneath them. ¡°What¡¯s happening? An earthquake?¡± ¡°Hurry out, there¡¯s an earthquake.¡± The hall turned into a complete uproar instantly. At the same time, alarms started ringing loudly from outside the city. Hester¡¯s face turned pale instantly. Before he could check anything, a soldier ran in. ¡°Commander, the Undead have begun attacking the city.¡± Chapter 705 - Chapter 705: Chapter 498, Temple Knight_1 Chapter 705: Chapter 498, Temple Knight_1 Hearing the words of the soldier, the colour drained from Hester¡¯s face. The complexion of the other dwarves in the hall also turned ash-colored. The panic had faded to become a numb stillness. They now understood that the rhythmic trembling beneath their feet spelled. The Undead, the Undead had begun the siege. Boom, boom, boom! The regular tremors became more distinct, vying with the increasingly frantic toll of the outer bell. Hester could pay no more attention to other matters. He quickly grabbed a battle-axe from nearby and strode out. He walked the whole length to the city wall. When he climbed up to the city wall, he could feel the entire wall gently shaking. He stood there, gazing down from the city wall. The assaulting Undead had no torches. Under the thick night, he could vaguely see moving silhouettes. Hester took a hard swallow. He looked at the communication shell once again, but there was no movement. What was Gray Iron City doing, they hadn¡¯t even come up with a solution yet. Was sending reinforcements so difficult? But, at this time, he could only suppress these thoughts. Looking around at the soldiers on the city wall, filled with fear and unease. Hester knew that in their current state, it would be challenging to hold the city. Once the fight began, deserters might appear. He swept his gaze over the crowd, and then shouted, ¡°Reinforcements from Lord Rune are already on their way, all we need to do is hold out for two days, just two days, then the time for us to counterattack will comes. Long live Lord Rune.¡± Reinforcements? All of the warriors looked cheered. Two days was not long, they would be safe soon. Their morale surged. All the warriors raised their arms and shouted, ¡°Long live Lord Rune.¡± Boom, boom, boom! Just as the dwarves¡¯ spirits rose, diluting their fear of the Undead, Somewhere below, the low beatings of war drums suddenly sounded. At first, the drumbeat was not quite in rhythm, but gradually, it became more consistent With the steady beat of the drums. A gray pulse of light expanded rapidly. It transformed into small rings of light appearing under the feet of the Undead warriors. Straight after, the dwarfs saw rings of light appearing under the Undead¡¯s feet. The night was still dark. But the gray light rings were unusually conspicuous. In the dwarves¡¯ vision, it was endless and dense, light rings reaching as far as the eye could see. Hester was stunned. All the dwarven warriors turned dumbfounded. That¡­ What were these numbers representing? Even if the dead from the past decade of Eight Peaks Mountain were dug up, they wouldn¡¯t amount to as many Undead as there were outside. How are they supposed to fight this? ¡°Commander, commander, they¡¯ve started charging!¡± a dwarf shouted loudly. Hester snapped awake, looking at the front. The Undead were already holding their weapons, beginning their charge. This charge showed no regard for strategy or coordinated tactics. They were just rushing headlong toward the city. They even didn¡¯t have siege ladders or battering rams. ¡°Fire! Musketeers, ready!¡± Hester gave the order loudly. Boom, boom, boom! The sound of dense cannon fire erupted, with cannonballs being dropped into the Undead army. As the cannonballs fell, a swath of Undead was flung up into the air. Gunsmoke filled the whole area, with the cannon fire lighting up the sky. After a few more rounds, deep pits appeared on the ground. At the same time, Hester noticed something else. Off in the distance, carts covered with oily skins, pulled by skeletal cows, entered the battlefield. The cart¡¯s cargo was unloaded, the oily skins were pulled away, revealing large cannon barrels. Hester¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The Undead also had cannons. How could they possibly have cannons? Meanwhile, he saw a group of humans running out from the back of the team. They began filling the cannons with ammunition. Then, using a torch, they lit the fuse. They moved with practiced ease. ¡°Damn it, take cover!¡± Hester shouted Boom, boom, boom!!! The Undead¡¯s cannons unleashed torrents of flaming debris. Heavy cannonballs struck the city wall, exploding the stones and soil. Dwarves were thrown into the air, the city wall under the cannon¡¯s bombardment, left with several cracks that resembled spiderwebs. Hester straightened up, they weren¡¯t Undead. They had no fear of facing cannon fire. Shaking his head to clear the dizziness, he issued an order, ¡°Destroy their cannons.¡± The cannons turned, aiming towards the enemy¡¯s position. Boom Boom. The cannons of both sides greeted each other, exploding within their respective camps. The whole earth continued to shake, and the air filled with the scent of gunpowder smoke and charred earth. By this time, the Undead had reached the foot of the city wall. The dwarven musketmen opened fire. They didn¡¯t even have to aim, just pull the trigger and any random shot struck a skeleton. However, the bullets did minimal damage to the skeletons. Unless it hit the skull, hitting the body did not do much real harm. Bang, bang, bang!! Bullets accompanied by spurts of flames rained down. At the same time, the skeleton shooters on the Undead side also reached their firing position. Following orders, they began firing at the dwarf shooters on top of the wall to suppress them. Bullets whizzed by each other incessantly. The night was lit up. The cannon fires and the bullets turned the battlefield eerily bright. The skeleton warriors began to swarm at the foot of the city wall, stepping on each other, quickly spreading up the city wall. ¡­ In the Undead region. Dong Jiayue was sitting in the center of the army, holding the Book of Lords, reading the messages from the others. As expected. The four nearest dwarven fortresses had sent reinforcements. On their way, they were killed by the ambushes that he had previously set up. Four armies had also reached the foot of their target fortresses and were making preparations for the siege. Chapter 706 - Chapter 706: Chapter 498, Holy Temple Knight_2 Chapter 706: Chapter 498, Holy Temple Knight_2 Now, it was time to take down this city. Dong Jiayue looked at Spencer on the side and said softly, ¡°Spencer, please take the Bone Dragon and take this city down.¡± Spencer nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± As soon as his words fell, he leaped high into the air, morphing into a massive dragon form, heading for the city. Following him were several bone dragons. At this moment, the skies were devoid of the moon¡¯s light. All sorts of smoke and dust shrouded the sky, like a dense fog. Through the clouds, Spencer looked down at the battle below. The dwarfs were still resisting, their cannons had already turned their barrels. Blasting at the tightly-packed skeletal soldiers scaling the walls beneath them. BOOM! BOOM! The barrage of cannon fire temporarily halted the skeletons ascending the city wall. In an instant, Spencer had reached the city¡¯s airspace. SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! The orange hued bullets whizzed past him. The dwarfs were aware of these invaders. BANG! BANG! Arrows as thick as arms were deployed towards the airborne wyverns. Spencer couldn¡¯t afford to ignore them, these arrows were designed specifically for dealing with aerial units. The Dragon Lock Crossbows designed by the trolls posed a threat to the bone dragons. Even more so for the improved dwarf-made equipment. Dodging the airborne arrows, Spencer began to flicker down at high speed. ROAR! The Flame Breath poured onto the city wall. The crimson flames swept past, incinerating everything in its path. The dwarf bodies were instantly turned to charcoal, and the cannons on the wall also melted into molten iron as the flames swept across. In an instant, half of the city wall had been completely cleaned. The bone dragons, trailing behind Spencer, also arrived at this time. After clearing the city wall, they circled in the sky. Spewing out beams of black light onto the dwarf soldiers below, trying to climb the city wall. In a short time, the undead had taken advantage of this gap to swarm onto the city walls. Following a brief engagement with the remaining dwarfs, they directly opened the city gates. Skeletons flooded into the city. They clashed with the dwarfs in the city. Flames of war ignited across the city, the sound of killing and roars echoed in every corner. BOOM! BOOM! With the city gates wide open, Dong Jiayue stepped in leading her troops. Spencer descended from the sky to dutifully guard her safety by her side. ¡°Notify everyone to cease killing if they drop their weapons,¡± Dong Jiayue, holding her silver spear, announced loudly. ¡°Yes,¡± the Human Clan soldiers immediately took her orders. The soldiers dispersed in all directions, shouting for the enemies to drop their weapons. Perhaps the dwarf soldiers within the city didn¡¯t believe in their offer, they continued to resist fiercely. But the city was also inhabited by numerous dwarf civilians who were not soldiers. Hearing the call, they had no other choice. The enemy had entered the city and resisting meant certain death. If there was a chance of survival, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t want to die. The people hesitantly dropped their weapons, kneeling on the ground. The initially brutal undead immediately stopped in their tracks, avoiding these people, and began to search for new targets. The noise of battle within the city slowly subsided. It slowly quieted down, with only occasional groans echoing through, proof of the recent battle. ¡°My lord, the prisoners have been locked into the prison, and we have found the arsenal, filled with over twenty cannons with two hundred boxes of ammunition,¡± a soldier reported. ¡°Good, take me to the warehouse.¡± Dong Jiayue directed. Following the soldier to the warehouse, Dong Jiayue immediately opened the Book of Lords and distributed all the cannons and ammunition to the other transmigrators besieging the four frontier cities through the transaction channel. With these cannons, they should now be a match for the dwarfs in terms of firepower. After distributing the cannons, Dong Jiayue looked at the map once more, and commanded, ¡°Deng Bin, take fifty thousand men and block this road. I don¡¯t want to see dwarf reinforcements before noon tomorrow.¡± The location Dong Jiayue pointed was midway between the ensnared five and four fortresses. The road here was narrow, an easy position to defend and hard to attack. Her plan was to intercept the dwarf reinforcements in the rear. ¡°Alright!¡± Deng Bin immediately nodded. Dong Jiayue continued to look at Spencer, ¡°Leave Yang Xiaolan to defend the city, the rest will follow me to flank the remaining four cities.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The city was littered with corpses. Blood had formed streams. After taking control, without even bothering to clean up the battlefield, they directed their forces towards the other cities. The army regrouped, heading towards the next target. While on the march, Dong Jiayue kept glancing at Spencer. The advantages aerial units provided in siege battles had surprised her. In the future, she¡¯d let Spencer and the bone dragons play a larger role. It could expedite the speed of their advances. ¡­ At the same time. Eight Peaks Mountain, Grey Iron City. When the spectral image of Hester¡¯s soul appeared on the Hero¡¯s altar, the numerous high-ranking dwarves in the audience descended into chaos. Hester¡¯s death was proof that the frontier fortress of the dwarves had fallen. The Eight Peaks Mountain was facing an unprecedented threat. ¡°Resurrect him.¡± Rune held his staff, unflinching. All sorts of sacrificial materials were placed on the Hero¡¯s altar. A flash of light sprung forth. Slowly, on the platform of the Hero¡¯s altar, a figure of a naked dwarf grew. When the dwarf opened his eyes once again. He initially appeared dazed and confused, then, he understood he had died in battle and was just resurrected. Chapter 707 - Chapter 707: Chapter 498, Temple Knight_3 Chapter 707: Chapter 498, Temple Knight_3 Below, a dwarf brought up some clothes. Having put them on, Hester kneeled on one knee, ¡°Your Majesty, the fortress has fallen.¡± Rune looked at him, and asked gravely, ¡°Tell me about the situation of the enemy.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Hester arranged his thoughts and began to explain slowly, ¡°When night fell, the Undead began to besiege the city. Their numbers were massive, disregarding the cannon fire, they stormed the city walls. Moreover, they had Undead Dragons which could unleash red and black beams of light, attacking from the sky.¡± Whoosh!! This made the whole place even more chaotic. The siege began at night, and the city had already fallen by now. That is to say, Hester and his team could only resist for a few hours before they lost. This speed, even if Hester said it out loud now, none of them would dare to believe it. ¡°Hester, I think you are just shirking responsibility. Where can there be so many Undead, did you kill all the humans and orcs to make up this number?¡± A dwarf stood up and shouted reprimandingly. The statement held true. The Undead did not appear out of thin air, but had to be converted. Even the recruiting function of Transmigrators required the consumption of resources for recruitment. How could they possibly have such numbers? Hester glanced at him without any response and turned his gaze back to Rune. ¡°Your Majesty, every word I say is true. I believe that the Undead has the potential to threaten Gray Iron City, we should make preparations as soon as possible.¡± Hester said in a solemn voice. A few days ago, scouts had detected the movements of the Undead. He had reported the news to Rune through the Sound-transmitting Shell, and also requested reinforcements. But it appeared that Rune did not take this matter seriously. The reinforcements did not arrive, nor did he respond to his messages. Now the resultant issue was that the Undead had managed to invade with ease. Defending against them in the later stages would not be easy. Rune did not respond immediately, only kept staring at Hester. Seemingly trying to discern the truth from his words. Hester was dead, but how could there possibly be so many Undead outside the Eight Peaks Mountain? But the matter had not yet concluded. Soon, an attendant walked in briskly. He announced loudly, ¡°Your Majesty, news from the border fortress, four fortresses have fallen.¡± This¡­ In the hall, there was a deathly silence. Conquering five cities in a day. The dwarven fortresses were as fragile as paper, the instruments that they boasted about had no effect as well. At this point, everyone believed Hester¡¯s words. Rune¡¯s face remained expressionless in silence. After a long while, he finally said, ¡°Prepare for defense, get in touch with Silver Wing City, the dwarves need allies now.¡± ¡­ The next morning. After Fang Hao had breakfast. He received the news from Dong Jiayue. Overnight, five border cities were taken. This was a victory, but also somewhat expected. In the past, when their territory hadn¡¯t been this strong, they had already waged a similar war against the Bloody Mountain Ranges. The undead army completely obliterated the Bloody Mountain Ranges. Not to mention presently attacking the Eight Peaks Mountain. After praising Dong Jiayue and the others, he also made a large amount of ammunition and mechanical support for her. To ensure that during the battle, the following battles can proceed more swiftly. After chatting with Dong Jiayue. Fang Hao took Anjia and strolled some other pedestrian streets, visiting a few shops. At the same time, he was also observing the business streets, preparing to open a store here in the future. They hadn¡¯t walked far before Anjia and Lorrey had their hands full of various snacks. They ate while walking, pointing and commenting on the shops and pedestrians. Like two naive children visiting the city for the first time. While they were strolling. A few people adorned in Church garbs walked towards them. They stood stiffly in front of the trio, blocking their way. At first, Fang Hao and the others tried to circumvent them, but they also moved and blocked their path again. Only then did they sense the abnormality. Frowning, they looked at the people in front of them. [Templar Knight (level 7)]. [Templar Attendant (level 5)]. The leader was a level 7 knight, while the others were level 5 attendants. People from the Church? Although the military unit¡¯s name was unfamiliar, the patterns on their clothing showed that they were from the Church. The church was not only comprised of Priests, but also had a defense army. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have such strong influence among the humans. ¡°Want to pick a fight?¡± Anjia¡¯s expression changed immediately when their path was blocked. ¡°Want a fight, huh? We¡¯re not afraid of you guys.¡± Lorrey pointed at the Templar Knight at the forefront. Her voice was loud, but with her height, there wasn¡¯t much pressure. Fang Hao¡¯s countenance turned serious as well. On one hand due to his own alignment, and on the other, because in this city, the Church was known to be quite extreme. He even thought that some of them were robbing people in the name of the God of Light. While being protected by a group of Lionheart Knights. Fang Hao asked, ¡°Gentlemen, do you need something?¡± The Templar Knight¡¯s countenance was solemn and severe. ¡°Who are you people?¡± Chapter 708 - Chapter 708: Chapter 499, Saint Maozi_1 Chapter 708: Chapter 499, Saint Maozi_1 ¡°Who are you?¡± The temple knight sternly inquired. Her demeanor was solemn, but her tone carried an undercurrent of interrogation and accusation. Getting halted on the streets. This condescending attitude was also causing a surge of anger within Fang Hao. Speaking coldly: ¡°What¡¯s it got to do with you?¡± ¡°Hmph! We suspect that you are related to the undead. Come with us to the temple for an investigation!¡± The temple knight spoke evenly. With that said, the other attendants began to advance. Made a move to arrest them. Shoosh!! The Lionheart Knights all drew their longswords from their waist, vigilantly watching the approaching group. Seeing the other party drawing their weapons, the murderous look on their faces was all too real. The temple attendants froze in their steps, and did not dare to approach. ¡°So, are you all going to resist?!¡± The voice of temple knight became even colder. Fang Hao sneered, ¡°I suspect you¡¯re a vampire. Come with us for an investigation.¡± In fact, when he heard them mention the undead, he was genuinely shocked. But after thinking about it, he was sure that it was just an excuse. If they truly knew about Fang Hao¡¯s information¡­ They would probably send the higher-ups to arrest him. However, coincidentally, Fang Hao does have relations with the undead. ¡°Hmph, are you intending to become adversaries of the church, enemies of the human clan!¡± The temple knight¡¯s voice was even more raised. A faint glow emerged from his body. The onlookers blocking the road, who were previously enjoying the show, bowed their heads in worship as though infected, muttering praises for the God of Light. Seeing the change in the crowd around, Fang Hao¡¯s tone refused to let up, If he were to follow them, then it would truly be dangerous. ¡°Get out, stop asking for trouble.¡± Upon hearing the insults, the stern-faced knight¡¯s face distorted into an agitated expression, he roared: ¡°Seize these audacious people!¡± Fang Hao also shouted: ¡°Arrest them, anyone who resists will be killed on the spot.¡± Both sides gave orders. Armed, they charged at each other, Just as they were about to collide, The situation took a turn for the worse. From afar, a roar of rage could be heard. ¡°Stop!¡± Following closely, was the sound of hurried footsteps. A group of heavily-armed guards surrounded them. ¡°Stop the thieves! Stop the thieves!¡± Simultaneously, a shrill yet familiar voice rang out. A burly captain with a green parrot perched on his shoulder walked over. Positioning himself in the middle, blocking the on-edge groups. His voice was cold: ¡°Public brawl with weapons, how audacious.¡± It was him. To Fang Hao and his companions, the green parrot was unforgettable. Upon recognizing the parrot, they knew that these were the patrolling guards they had previously encountered at the commercial street. ¡°Captain Baccarat, these people publicly insulted the church. Please arrest them, I will take them back to the church for trial,¡± the temple knight spoke first upon the arrival of the patrolling guards. Seeing the other party take the initiative to file a complaint, Anjia and Lorrey immediately refuted. ¡°They started the trouble first,¡± Anjia pointed at the other party. Lorrey also chimed in, ¡°We were just strolling around, and they stopped us, insisting on taking us away. Their words were even foul-smelling.¡± The captain known as Baccarat turned to look at the temple knight, his voice serious, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Captain Baccarat, we suspect that these people are related to the undead and were planning to take them back for investigation. But they not only refused to cooperate, but also insulted the church and resisted arrest with weapons,¡± the temple knight replied. Although the church has tremendous influence, Silver Wing City was still under the jurisdiction of the Hall of Justice. As a knight, he did not have any privileges in front of the patrolling guards. Upon hearing the knight¡¯s words, Baccarat¡¯s eyebrows instantly furrowed. He remembered Fang Hao and his companions. After all, the appearance of a female orc in the city had left a deep impression on him. People attending the conference in Lyss City were not ordinary. Saying they were related to the undead was an excuse to take them away, how ridiculous! Baccarat looked at the people from the church, disgust in his eyes. Speaking sternly, ¡°This matter ends here, stop causing noise in the street.¡± Hearing this, the temple knight¡¯s face changed drastically. Although the church did not fully control Silver Wing City, it still held a position of great strength. It¡¯s impossible to settle this matter just with his words. Coldly, he said: ¡°Baccarat, they have insulted the church, insulted the god of light, you can¡¯t let them leave.¡± As he said this, the light from him rose again. The people around them, once again affected by the light, showed anger, they screamed: ¡°Don¡¯t let them go.¡± It seems¡­ Fang Hao noticed the changes in the people around him. This temple knight probably has a skill that could influence the emotion of believers. Why did he say believers and not just anybody? Because apart from the few who screamed along, many people were still just there, watching the situation develop. Baccarat¡¯s face darkened. Said: ¡°You say they are related to the undead, do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°Hmph, evidence naturally exists, but it isn¡¯t with us. Once we are back at the church and conduct further investigations, the truth will be clear,¡± the temple knight remained unyielding. His resolute tone even made Fang Hao uncertain. Had they actually discovered him? If his true identity was revealed, he would have to kill and run. Chapter 709 - Chapter 709: Chapter 499, Saint Maozi_2 Chapter 709: Chapter 499, Saint Maozi_2 ¡°How many days do you plan on interrogating him?¡± Baccarat asked again. ¡°Seven days, or if the evidence is irrefutable, he¡¯ll stay in the dungeon forever,¡± the Temple Knight answered. Baccarat sneered, ¡°The Federal Conference is in seven days. If he can¡¯t attend, how do you plan to explain that to his lordship?¡± Upon hearing these words, the Temple Knight seemed taken aback. Baccarat continued, ¡°You¡¯ve taken him in today, but the one who ends up in the dungeon may not be him. Think it through.¡± ¡°Are you saying he¡¯s a council member?¡± The Temple Knight took another look at Fang Hao. ¡°I¡¯ve said what needs to be said. If you have evidence that he¡¯s involved with the undead, arresting him would be quite the achievement. But if you don¡¯t, the Church won¡¯t spare you, the Justice Alliance won¡¯t spare you, and all the council members attending the conference won¡¯t spare you. Think it through,¡± Baccarat¡¯s voice grew lower. The Temple Knight¡¯s forehead began to sweat, and the attendant behind him was also looking at Fang Hao¡¯s party in surprise. Apparently, they had not investigated the identities of Fang Hao and his companions before stirring trouble. At this point, they were somewhat undecided. Involuntarily, they glanced towards a second-floor window of the tavern. Fang Hao, Anjia, and the others noticed this movement and also looked towards the second floor. Their angle of view was different from the Temple Knights. They vaguely saw someone receding back into the shadows. Meanwhile, the Temple Knights below seemed to have received a signal and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Hastily, they turned to leave. Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed, but he didn¡¯t attempt to stop them. Instead, he went straight to the entrance of the nearby tavern with his people, blocking the only exit. The faces of the Temple Knights changed as they tried to intervene, but Fang Hao and his party were quicker. They went straight into the tavern, ascending to the second floor with their retinue. They pushed open a room near the street. The inside of the room was lavishly decorated. A young man dressed in church attire was sitting by the window side of the table, nonchalantly eating. Seeing Fang Hao come in, he showed no surprise but gave a peaceful smile. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, we meet again!¡± Recognizing the man in the room, Fang Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It was him, that mixed-race guy. They had met briefly at the auction held by the Trade Alliance. At that time, they only nodded at each other from a distance, they never interacted. By now, Fang Hao only remembered that he was a saint from the church; he had forgotten his name. He watched the guy calmly greet him. He didn¡¯t seem at all flustered by what had just happened. Fang Hao sat down across from him, also smiling, ¡°Yes, what should I call you, brother?¡± ¡°Xu Haide,¡± he calmly said his name. At that moment, hurried footsteps could be heard outside the room, and the Temple Knights from earlier were seen rushing up. They were stopped by the Lionheart Knight, and both sides seemed ready for a fight. Xu Haide spoke towards the door, ¡°You wait outside.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The few people from the Temple Knights responded and obediently stood outside. ¡°So, I offended Brother Xu, and today you sent people to cause trouble for me?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t beat around the bush and spoke directly. Xu Haide maintained a calm expression, whether it was because he had spent a lot of time in the church or it was just his temperament, there was a certain emotionless quality about him, a lot like the others in the church. ¡°I asked them to invite you over, but I didn¡¯t expect them to offend Mr. Fang Hao,¡± Xu Haide said. Fang Hao didn¡¯t believe his words. Earlier, the group had glanced at the second floor before giving up on antagonizing Fang Hao. It was clear that he was the one pulling the strings. But Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan on dwelling on this, ¡°I¡¯m here now, so what do you want?¡± ¡°I heard that Mr. Fang Hao has some connections with the undead.¡± As soon as the words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room became tense again. Xu Haide had just apologized, but now he was bringing this up. In fact, Fang Hao¡¯s connection to the undead wasn¡¯t a secret. The Skeleton Merchant would bring goods to the cities of various transmigrators every day. Although there was no Skeleton Merchant in Xu Haide¡¯s city, learning about these matters in the channel wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°What? You¡¯re going to judge me on behalf of the God of Light?¡± Fang Hao scoffed. ¡°The Undead Clan is the natural enemy of all living creatures. Once the conference and the church learn of it, they might spare no expense to eradicate your city. I¡¯m afraid there would be no place for you in the Hundred Cities anymore.¡± Xu Haide took a sip of his wine after he finished speaking. He clearly displayed the demeanor of someone in a position of power. Fang Hao naturally understood Xu Haide¡¯s intention; he was threatening him. He knew that Fang Hao must have some connection to the undead, and his earlier attempt to arrest Fang Hao was sincere. However, he didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to be so audacious, not even considering the church personnel as a threat in Silver Wing City. Now, he was even more straightforward. But at the same time, he must have other things to discuss; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be telling Fang Hao all this. ¡°Speak your mind.¡± Xu Haide put down his wine glass, ¡°Help me with a few things. If you do well, your secret won¡¯t reach the church¡¯s ears.¡± ¡°Oh? I wonder what kind of favor you need help with,¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyes sparkled. Xu Haide gave Fang Hao a serious look and stated outright, ¡°Give me your Book of Lords. When I absorb it, you¡¯ll become my City Lord, and then I¡¯ll tell you the tasks you need to perform.¡± Chapter 710 - Chapter 710: Chapter 499, Saint Maozi_3 Chapter 710: Chapter 499, Saint Maozi_3 This Russian is cautious. He didn¡¯t speak directly about the matter. Of course, Fang Hao was just testing the waters, seeing if he could tease out any information about the church. Now that the Russian isn¡¯t willing to talk, he doesn¡¯t mind. He scoffed, ¡°You wish. If you don¡¯t want to talk, then so be it. Goodbye!¡± Having said that, he stood up to leave. Xu Haide didn¡¯t expect him to just get up and leave. He quickly said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll spill your secrets?¡± Fang Hao paused as he reached the door. Xu Haide thought that Fang Hao was scared and was about to continue his threats. Instead, he heard Fang Hao¡¯s voice, full of murderous intent, say again, ¡°Cherish the life you have. Don¡¯t court death.¡± With that, Fang Hao turned and left. Only Xu Haide remained, sitting stiffly in his chair, his hand frozen in the air with his glass half raised. Unable to make his next move for some time. He could feel that Fang Hao wasn¡¯t joking. Given his past actions, if pushed too hard he might actually kill him. But now, he¡¯s a saint of the church and his territory is a church stronghold. What could Fang Hao do to him? Where would he get the resources? ¡°Hmph! Ridiculous.¡± Xu Haide sneered and picked up his mug, drinking to his heart¡¯s content. After Fang Hao and his party left, the Paladin and attendant outside also came in. They coldly asked, ¡°Sir, should I gather the followers to arrest him? It wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± Xu Haide gazed out of the window at the people leaving the pub. He smiled slightly and calmly said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush. We won¡¯t take any action before the council meeting.¡± ¡°Very well, sir,¡± the Paladin replied. Xu Haide continued to stare out of the window, sneering as the figures disappeared. ¡­ ¡°What a bastard.¡± Anjia fumed. ¡°Exactly, what a bastard,¡± Lorrey agreed. ¡°If I get my hands on him, I¡¯ll smash his damned head in.¡± ¡°Smash his head in,¡± Lorrey echoed, ¡°Do you want to eat it too?¡± Anjia glanced at him, ¡°Eat it!¡± After leaving the pub¡­ The two of them ranted and raved the whole way, cursing Xu Haide from head to toe. But they didn¡¯t forget to eat. They ate while they complained. After wandering around all morning, they returned home in the afternoon. Nobody came to bother them again. At two in the afternoon. Someone knocked on the door. ¡°Lord Mayor, the lady is having a tantrum. Could you check on her when you have the time?¡± The maid¡¯s voice came from outside. A tantrum? Rebecca is usually very resilient. It¡¯s rare for her to lose her temper. Conveniently, Fang Hao was planning to discuss today¡¯s events with Rebecca. So he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right out.¡± After getting dressed¡­ He left his room. He walked through the long corridor and stopped before a room. Standing at the door, he could hear the sound of things being thrown around inside. Whatever had upset Rebecca this much must be a big deal. He left the maid outside and went in alone. As soon as he entered¡­ He saw Rebecca, about to throw a stack of books down from over her head. Seeing Fang Hao come in, she immediately calmed down. She slammed the books down onto the table and sat back in her chair, her expression stern. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who has angered our city¡¯s lady?¡± Fang Hao came over, put his hands on her shoulders, and softly asked. Rebecca was still angry. Standing behind her, he could see her full chest rising and falling dramatically with her anger. It was as if someone was inflating and letting air out of a balloon, over and over. Rebecca took a deep breath and angrily said: ¡°There¡¯s a traitor in Lyss City who sold sensitive information to Groot. If these matters get out, we may not be able to get out of Silver Wing City alive.¡± Chapter 711 - Chapter 711: Chapter 500, Great Fire_1 Chapter 711: Chapter 500, Great Fire_1 ¡°Who is Groot?¡± Fang Hao suddenly blurted out, flabbergasted. People in this world had such long, peculiar names. He could only remember those of the people around him. Over time, he got confused about who was who. Rebecca sighed. ¡°He¡¯s the representative of the Marshall family at this year¡¯s trade meeting. The one who got knocked out by Aseti¡¯s kick.¡± ¡°Oh, him. Well how did he get his information? Is the news reliable?¡± Knowing this, Fang Hao remembered who he was. All along the way, he was the one setting up ambushes on the roadside. He really had a bag of tricks. When the attack failed, he tried another method. ¡°It¡¯s information personally delivered by Olivia today, it must be accurate,¡± Rebecca replied. ¡°Is it that serious?¡± ¡°Some unspoken rules that everyone knows, as long as your enemies cannot find any concrete evidence, but now Groot already holds our handle,¡± Rebecca sighed deeply yet again. In reality, she should¡¯ve thought about all this earlier. To deal with the faceless in the city, Rebecca had taken many nobles¡¯ lives. These nobles were all linked through marriage, cooperation, and more. The relationships were complicated and intertwined. Killing so many of them was bound to leave many problems. However, Rebecca didn¡¯t expect that things would escalate this quickly and ruthlessly, using the power of the Federation to kill her. Fang Hao thought for a moment, ¡°When the time comes, just deny it. Say that the evidence they hold is forged.¡± Rebecca playfully hit him, ¡°What are you talking about? Do you think this is a child¡¯s game? Denying until the end might not work, there might be a traitor in Lyss City that might testify. When that happens, there¡¯s no room for denial.¡± Fang Hao thought about it and felt she was correct. This was not a school fight where one could deny just by gritting one¡¯s teeth. If Groot dared to bring it up in the conference, he must have made ample preparations. When evidence and witnesses come out, there would be no room to defend oneself. Seeing Rebecca¡¯s worried expression, Fang Hao still tried to comfort her: ¡°Well, it will be fine, I¡¯m here. I can take you away when the time comes.¡± Rebecca tilted her head back, leaning lightly on Fang Hao¡¯s belly. She whispered, ¡°What¡¯s the use of running away? Groot¡¯s goal would still be achieved, I wonder why he¡¯s so hell-bent on us, no matter how much we try to shake him off.¡± Fang Hao felt the same way. This Groot, like a sticky flypaper, had his sights on they. Always causing problems here and there. After several failed ambushes, now it¡¯s coming to this. This was obvious confrontation. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it, as long as people survive, there¡¯s hope. Lyss City is in your hands, they can¡¯t seize it from us. If it comes to avoiding contact with other cities and fearing the Federation, I have enough troops to protect Lyss City,¡± Fang Hao said, gently massaging her shoulders. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Humans are different from other races. Whether it¡¯s trade or politics, all cities need to establish connections. Once Lyss City is isolated, it will gradually decline in a few years,¡± Rebecca¡¯s body relaxed as she responded, not as fiery as before. Fang Hao thought about it and felt she had a point. Life was indeed less developed among the Orcs than the Humans. This was related to their focus on raiding. The Human Clan, on the other hand, was much more orderly and developed quite well. But Fang Hao could solve these problems. He already had enough territory. Connecting all cities and establishing a trading ring shouldn¡¯t be difficult. Of course, if they could keep their membership in the Hundred Cities, that would be the best. If not, the interior would be enough for their survival and development. After thinking it through, Fang Hao continued, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this. Now we have many cities within our territory. We can establish our own trade network. We can live well.¡± Rebecca nodded, indicating that she understood. In the past, she had to bear and solve all these problems herself. Now, having someone to listen to her worries and help find solutions, she felt greatly relieved. Of course, talking to Fang Hao was also about looking for a way out. She hadn¡¯t given up yet. She still had a chance before the conference. Feeling the massages on her shoulder, Rebecca closed her eyes as she enjoyed the caring touch of the man she adored. In this peaceful reliance, she paused for a while. ¡°Mm!¡± Rebecca, with closed eyes, suddenly felt something unusual. She felt a strange sensation from her body. Looking down, she saw that Fang Hao¡¯s massaging hand had wandered down to her chest. And it was constantly shifting shapes. Rebecca bit her lower lip, struggling with the sensation. She immediately slapped Fang Hao¡¯s hand away. Her eyes slightly angry, ¡°Fang Hao, what are you doing?¡± Fang Hao regretfully let go of her breast, and fibbed, ¡°Nothing, that¡¯s how our massage goes, after finishing the shoulders, it naturally moves downwards.¡± ¡°Fang Hao~!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, no more fooling around. Let¡¯s chat and then go down for dinner together.¡± Fang Hao sat down on a chair and pulled Rebecca into his arms with one swift motion. Her soft body felt like a large cotton ball in his arms. It was so comfortable that he almost let out a cry. They were in this position more or less before, so Rebecca could accept it. Chapter 712 - Chapter 712: Chapter 500, Great Fire_2 Chapter 712: Chapter 500, Great Fire_2 Holding hands, they chatted for a while. After all, Fang Hao was young. With such a beautiful woman in his arms, his heart began to stir up again. He reached out, intending to remove Rebecca¡¯s long skirt. Seeing this, Rebecca quickly held down his hand, blushed and said, ¡°You¡¯re at it again. It¡¯s broad daylight. Have you gone mad?¡± This time, Rebecca¡¯s attitude was very different from before. It was not resistance and refusal, but a comment about the time of day. Fang Hao tentatively asked again, ¡°What if I come tonight?¡± Well¡­ Rebecca was much older than Fang Hao and knew what was going on. She was well aware of the matters between men and women. And her heart was greatly stirred by Fang Hao. Although she had always had an aversion to men in the past, she had accepted Fang Hao now, but she had not yet figured out what to do next. It was fine for them to touch and flirt with each other in the past, but when it came to living together, she was somewhat shy. Hesitating for a moment, she said softly, ¡°Fang Hao, give me a little more time.¡± Fang Hao nodded, knowing that there was no urgency in such matters. Rebecca¡¯s loyalty reached 98 points, he was not afraid of her running away, so there was no rush for a day or two. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Fang Hao said. But his hands still held her waist, and he asked softly, ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± Fang Hao gave a sly grin. Then, pulling Rebecca¡¯s buttocks, he placed her whole body on the table. Rebecca was startled, her hands on the table, her face slightly panicked, ¡°You¡­!¡± Fang Hao¡¯s arms propped on either side of her, looking down at her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just the usual things.¡± Surprise appeared in Rebecca¡¯s eyes before she could answer. A heavy body pressed her underneath, and her lips were sealed. ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± Frantic, Rebecca lightly patted Fang Hao¡¯s shoulder, trying to break free. However, after a few pats, her hands softened and wrapped around Fang Hao¡¯s neck, responding to him. Seeing Rebecca stopped struggling, Fang Hao¡¯s hands slowly started to move towards her full bosom and stayed there without moving. ¡°Mmm~!¡± Rebecca sensed his little movement and a hint of anger flashed in her eyes. But in this position, it was hard to dodge. After twisting a bit, she gave up dodging, simply closed her eyes, pretending not to care. Seeing that Rebecca didn¡¯t resist, Fang Hao increased the pressure on his hands. Kneading the roundness in his palm, he molded it flat. Outside the window, dusk was painting the sky red. Inside the room, their breathing erratic. After quite a while. Rebecca felt something was poking her thigh persistently. She reached out to feel it, her expression changed instantly and she quickly withdrew her hand. She knew they couldn¡¯t go on like this. She turned her head away, saying, ¡°That¡¯s enough, it¡¯s time to eat. If you keep on fooling around, I¡¯ll be angry.¡± ¡­ Dusk had settled. The commercial street in Silver Wing City was even busier. At the window on the second floor of a tavern, Sander stared in the direction of the city gate. Next to him stood a subordinate. With a worried look on his face, he hesitated before saying, ¡°Boss, over 300 of our men went out. They should have completed the task and come back by now. But none of them have returned, and there¡¯s no response through the Sound-transmitting Shell. This is¡­¡± Sander felt an unease in his heart, his fingers tapping incessantly on the window ledge. ¡°The intelligence reported they were just over a hundred, most of them mere militiamen. Even if there was a problem, over 300 of our men can¡¯t just disappear. Something must have happened.¡± That was true. Even if the ambush failed, out of 300 men, a few should have made it back. But now, a day and a night had passed. There was no news at all. Thump, thump, thump! As they were talking, the sound of hurried footsteps climbing the stairs echoed from outside. Soon, the footsteps stopped right outside the room. ¡°Commander, there¡¯s news.¡± Sander perked up, sat back at the table, returning to his composed mercenary commander demeanor, ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and a travel-worn young man walked in. After a slight bow, he said, ¡°Commander, we found our comrades¡¯ bodies. They¡¯re all, all dead.¡¯ Crack! The water glass in Sander¡¯s hand plummeted to the floor, shattering into pieces. Even though he¡¯d considered the possibility of something going wrong, he hadn¡¯t expected the worst-case scenario. That was more than 300 of them, all gone just like that? ¡°Are you sure? You didn¡¯t see wrong?¡± said Sander, his voice raised somewhat. The underling, who had been asked to fetch some information, trembled before speaking quickly: ¡°Chief, I¡¯m sure, I know all the people in our group.¡± Boom!! Sander slammed his fist on the table, shattering it instantly. He roared, ¡°Damn it¡­ Damn it¡­¡± Like an enraged bear, he turned over all the objects in the room. After a flurry of smashing and cursing, he finally looked at his underling again and asked coldly, ¡°Did that kid¡¯s team come back?¡± ¡°Yes, they did. Not only did his team return, but even Li Rong¡¯s people have safely entered the city.¡± ¡°Damn, that bitch Li Rong. It must have been her messing around. Otherwise, how could a group of just 50 people be safe?¡± Sander¡¯s face was distorted with rage. Their ambush target had been the pretty boy from Lyss City. He had brought only 50 people with him, and didn¡¯t have any ties here. The fact that over 300 of his own men had been killed outside, it seemed obvious that it must have been Li Rong¡¯s doing. That woman had been discussing a business deal with him just a few days before. Then, she had played him like a fool. ¡°Chief, what should we do now? Are we still going to kill the pretty boy?¡± his underling asked him again. Sander took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his rage. At the moment, he hated Li Rong more than the pretty boy. After a pause, he said: ¡°Our brothers didn¡¯t die for nothing. Prepare everything. Tonight, we will send a big gift to Fairy Dream Tower.¡± ¡°Understood, Chief.¡± ¡­ Night fell off. The bustling Silver Wing City had also reached the moment of lights out. The busy people had already gone back to their rooms to rest. In their room. Fang Hao was playing chess with Anjia. Lorrey examined the current game situation to help Anjia. The two of them occasionally whispered to each other, careful not to miss any moves and allow Fang Hao to take advantage. After discussing for a while. Anjia reached for a piece, pinching it between two fingers, preparing to make her move. Halfway, she raised her head to glance at Fang Hao¡¯s face. Seeing Fang Hao with no expression, she briskly put down her piece on the chessboard. ¡°No going back after placing your move, think carefully.¡± Fang Hao said. Anjia looked puzzled for a moment as she turned to look at Lorrey. Then, with a determined tone, she said: ¡°Hah! Who are you trying to fool? With your petty tricks, you still want to scare us?¡± ¡°Exactly. Who are you scaring?¡± Fang Hao shrugged. Picking up a piece, he placed it on the chessboard making a line of five. Anjia was stunned and then her face turned red with rage, and she reached out to flip the table. Fang Hao caught her wrist, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not that serious.¡± ¡°Ah ¡­¡± Anjia was about to say something. She suddenly stopped and sniffed. Lorrey at her side did the same. Then they both looked out the window. They could see a tower of fire reaching into the night sky at the far end of the city. Even from a distance, they could see the flames leaping into the sky and smoke obscuring the heavens. ¡°It¡¯s in the commercial district. Why is such a big fire there?¡± Anjia and Lorrey were a bit shocked. In the Orc Tribe, such a big fire would likely not be fought. The Clan Leader would just lead his people to move away. Stomp stomp stomp!! Footsteps sounded. Rebecca came in with a maid. ¡°There¡¯s a fire outside¡­¡± Rebecca just started her sentence, when she noticed the two standing by the window, and Lorrey crouched on the windowsill. All were staring at the fire. Rebecca joined them and, after a moment of thought, asked, ¡°Should we go check it out?¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°No need. Someone will handle the fire soon. If we go now, whether we can help or not is one thing. But we might even be suspected of arson.¡± ¡°Such a big fire, I¡¯m afraid a whole street might be engulfed¡± said Rebecca, shaking her head. She knew very well how costly urban construction could be. ¡°Probably not. Silver Wing City couldn¡¯t possibly not be able to handle a single fire. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re in some remote place,¡± Fang Hao said softly. As expected. Right after Fang Hao finished his sentence. A thunderous noise sounded from the clear night sky. Then, swirling dark clouds covered the entire area above the commercial district. Whoosh!! Then, a torrential rain began to pour. The Water Mage had made his move¡­. Chapter 713 - Chapter 713: Chapter 501, Receiving Intelligence_1 Chapter 713: Chapter 501, Receiving Intelligence_1 The major fire that had engulfed the commercial street had subsided by the latter part of the night. But the aftershock of the fire was still felt deeply. A great number of people in the city were cleaning up the ruins. Some dressed like guards were investigating the cause of the incident. After breakfast, Fang Hao had brought Anjia and a few others to check on the situation. Upon arrival at the site, they found it swarming with people. They gathered around discussing things like ¨C someone set the fire, whose family had been reduced to ashes, and so on. In essence, all chatter revolved around the fire from the previous night. Fang Hao and his group, who were strong and formidable, pushed through the crowd. They observed the whole street. The traces of the fire stretched beyond one or two buildings. At a single glance, one could see an entire row of structures, all blackened from the flame, some still releasing wisps of smoke. A few individuals clad in yellow were handling the areas that were still smoking. Thankfully, a mage had summoned a heavy rain last night, or the fire might have destroyed half the city. Looking at the scene, Fang Hao was suddenly reminded of Li Rong. He didn¡¯t know many people here, but he did know Li Rong. Her shop was right on this street. With that thought, he sidled through the crowd, heading towards the Fairy Dream Tower. The further inside they went, the worse the fire damage appeared. It seemed that the fire had originated from the Fairy Dream Tower and gradually spread to the other stores. There was nothing left in its wake. Naturally, there was no need for a door anymore, they climbed over the collapsed walls and entered. The inside was a mess. There were no cosmetics, clothing, jewelry left ¨C absolutely nothing. Just as Fang Hao was about to take out the Book of Lords to inquire after Li Rong¡¯s situation¡­ He faintly heard someone sobbing from within the ruins. The sobs were not loud, as though the person was struggling to control them. But from the slightly hoarse and trembling crying, one could perceive the person¡¯s sorrow. Fang Hao and his companions walked over the collapsed walls. They saw Li Rong, covered head to toe in soot, crouched in a corner. Her head was buried in her arms, her body quaking uncontrollably. Hearing someone come in, Li Rong quickly wiped away her tears and looked up. Her tear-streaked face looked like she had been crying her heart out. Upon seeing Fang Hao, she who had been suppressing her tears could no longer control herself and started crying again. Fang Hao could understand her grief. After striving for such a long time, she thought everything was on the right track. But one fire had stripped her of everything. Second outlet, business operations ¨C all were lost. Razed to the ground by the fire. After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao squatted down and gently patted her trembling shoulder. He softly comforted, ¡°It¡¯s okay, everything will get better.¡± Upon hearing his words, Li Rong turned around and threw herself into Fang Hao¡¯s arms, crying even harder. She wetted Fang Hao¡¯s clothes ¡°Everything is gone¡­ it¡¯s all gone ¡­¡± Li Rong sobbed. Li Rong, who had her own territory, did not stay in the city at night. Last night she had heard the thunder but was unaware of the fire. But as soon as she entered the city today, she felt something was amiss. On seeing the Fairy Dream Tower reduced to rubble, Li Rong was dumbstruck. Her mind went blank. She had rushed in alone, digging through the rubble, searching for her goods. But of course, after such a big fire, nothing could have survived. All she could find was charred remains. At this moment, she buried herself in Fang Hao¡¯s arms. She was sobbing uncontrollably, mumbling incoherently about everything being gone. Fang Hao had heard of Li Rong¡¯s business dreams, and he knew how heartbreaking it was to see those dreams shatter and lose everything. He continued to softly pat her shoulder, comforting her, ¡°You still have your factory, your foundation is still there, everything can start again¡­¡± Woohoo¡­ Li Rong cried for a good while and then gradually quieted down. She wiped her tears off her face and raised her head from Fang Hao¡¯s chest. Her once pretty face was now a mess of tears and soot, making Li Rong look like she had come out of the fire. ¡°Wipe your face, you look like a grimy kitten,¡± Fang Hao handed over a handkerchief. Li Rong took it. She wiped her face, spreading the soot everywhere. Seeing her a bit more settled, Fang Hao asked, ¡°Did anyone get hurt?¡± Li Rong appeared somewhat dazed, her face was devoid of its previous cheerfulness. Responding in a low voice, ¡°No, we don¡¯t have anyone staying at the shop overnight, it¡¯s just that my shop¡­ it¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, we can rebuild it later. It¡¯s good that no one got hurt,¡± Fang Hao noticed her face becoming increasingly smeared. He took out some water, wet the handkerchief, and wiped her face, revealing the fair complexion underneath the layer of soot. Hey! At this moment, Anjia suddenly gave an exclamation. He reached his hand into the rubble and pulled out a long iron box. Li Rong, with tears in her eyes, turned to look at the iron box in Anjia¡¯s hand. Her crying ceased immediately and she ran over hastily. Taking the box from Anjia, she opened it to reveal neatly stacked piles of Gold Coins. This was the money earned from the shop¡¯s recent sales. Having money in her territory, Anjia naturally didn¡¯t care much for this money. Anjia¡¯s ability to find treasures was something that had always impressed Fang Hao. She could effortlessly find this money, which was nothing out of ordinary to him. Li Rong held the money box, taking deep breaths in order to compose herself. Chapter 714 - Chapter 714: Chapter 501, Getting Information_2 Chapter 714: Chapter 501, Getting Information_2 When her emotions were back reasonably in control, she asked softly, ¡°Fang Hao, Anjia, why did you come here?¡± ¡°We saw the great fire over here last night and came to check out your situation today,¡± Fang Hao explained. The fire ignited in quite an odd way. Silver Wing City is a grand city. According to the city levels, it is probably above level 15. The shops on the commercial street were all constructed of neatly cut stone bricks, which made it difficult to fuel such a large fire after closing shop. Luckily, a Mage summoned heavy rain; otherwise, countless structures and people could¡¯ve been destroyed. ¡°Thank you all,¡± Li Rong said gratefully. When the fire engulfed her place, the first ones to come were Fang Hao and his team with whom she once collaborated. ¡°What¡¯s next¡­¡± Fang Hao was about to ask what to do next, But just as he began to speak, he heard a running footstep and a shouting voice from outside the courtyard, ¡°Sister Li, Sister Li, we got news.¡± As the footsteps drew closer, some staff from Fairy Dream Tower came running in. Seeing Fang Hao and his team, the staff members stood still for a moment. ¡°Boss, you are here too,¡± one of the transmigrator staff members recognized Fang Hao and still addressed him as ¡®Boss¡¯. Though not sure why Fang Hao and others were here at this time. But now was not the time to question. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Hmm.¡± After greeting, the staff member¡¯s attention returned to Li Rong. By now, Li Rong¡¯s tears had dried. Aside from her reddened eyes, no other expression could be seen. She regained her stern female boss persona, albeit somewhat withered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look fretful.¡± Li Rong lit up a cigarette. ¡°Sister Li, we just asked the patrolling guards, and they said we should think about who we may have offended. Last night¡¯s fire was arson,¡± the male staff bluntly said. ¡°Arson?¡± Li Rong¡¯s eyes hardened. As heartbroken as she had been, she was now equally enraged. All her possessions were destroyed, and it was targeted at her. ¡°Yes, the patrol team said our place was the origin of the fire. They also found traces of accelerants. They asked us to think about who might do this and then let them know,¡± the male staff went on to say. The staff here were both transmigrators and native people. But the job was pretty good. There wasn¡¯t much hard labor, as they just had to sell goods and teach makeup tips to women every day. The income was quite substantial. This job could have been ongoing. They could, at least, get through this winter, and their families could have a decent life. But now, their jobs had been incinerated. Knowing that someone had done this, they felt the same rage. Li Rong nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I know. Look around here to see if there¡¯s anything worth taking.¡± ¡°Okay, boss.¡± The staff started sorting through the ruins. The third floor was where the jade and jewellery were located, Anjia managed to find something. They might also find some intact pieces. If they didn¡¯t search now, there would be nowhere to look when city cleaners arrived. Outside the ruins. Li Rong smoked her cigarette, pondering the situation. Fang Hao surveyed the scene and realized that Li Rong might not have a place to stay anymore. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he suggested, ¡°Come to my place for now and get things sorted out. It¡¯s not too far from here. You can check easily if anything happens.¡± Li Rong was discussing who started the fire. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, she hesitated a little, ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t it inappropriate?¡± Fang Hao knew what she was hesitating about. So he directly suggested, ¡°The chaos here won¡¯t help you come up with anything. Let¡¯s go to my place, and you can think it over more calmly.¡± This time, Li Rong did not refuse. Given her current situation, establishing a closer relationship with Fang Hao, Would indeed be beneficial. ¡°Thank you, Big Boss Fang Hao.¡± Fang Hao nodded, taking Li Rong towards his residence. ¡­ The Lyss¡¯ army residency was allocated by the authorities. The building was massive with many vacant rooms. When Fang Hao and others returned, He asked someone to help Li Rong with a hot bath. Currently, she resembled a little African child just returned from Congo. After asking someone to take care of Li Rong, Fang Hao went on to deal with his affairs. The meeting was getting closer and closer, and several small meetings were taking place in the days leading up to the official meeting. Rebecca had been going out every day, attending meetings, and trying to ally with potential forces. Back in the room. The calling sound of the Sound-transmitting Shell was coming from the storage space. On picking it up and looking, It was a message sent out by Rolana. Perhaps it¡¯s because Rolana usually has a fierce personality, and the fact that he started to pursue Rebecca. Seeing the message, he felt inexplicably nervous. He took out the Sound-transmitting Shell and put it to his ear, immediately hearing Rolana¡¯s pleasant but emotionless voice. ¡°Those rats have brought back news.¡± Hearing these brief words, Fang Hao paused. That fast? Yesterday, Rebecca had mentioned the traitors in Lyss City to him. After getting intimate with Rebecca, he returned to his room. He then used the Sound-transmitting Shell to contact Rolana. Rolana was somewhat reluctant, and Fang Hao felt a bit guilty because of Rebecca. After discussing for a while and mentioning the fact this was to help Rebecca, Rolana finally agreed to investigate the matter of the traitors. Fang Hao didn¡¯t really want her to investigate; humans doing such work would take too long. By the time they¡¯d gather the evidence, the council would have concluded. What he wanted to find were the Cranial Rats from the underworld. The Cranial Rats possessed the largest intelligence network in Lyss city, even the Faceless Ones were achieved with the report by the Cranial Rats. Investigating some traitors wasn¡¯t difficult. But he didn¡¯t expect it to be this fast. Fang Hao held the Sound-transmitting Shell to his mouth and asked: ¡°Who are they?¡± Soon, Rolana¡¯s voice echoed again, ¡°A total of 14 people, five of whom have disappeared, and the others are already under my control.¡± Good lord, so many people. This doesn¡¯t seem like bribery, but more like spies placed beforehand. ¡°Those five people, who are they, I need a list.¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Alright, maid Stacey, official Markus ¡­.¡± Rolana swiftly listed five names, ranging from Rebecca¡¯s maid to local officials. These people, after Rebecca left, disappeared under various pretexts. They probably already secretly arrived at Silver Wing City. Waiting to denounce Rebecca at the conference, catching her off guard. ¡°Ok, I understand.¡± Fang Hao replied. Just as he was about to put away the Sound-transmitting Shell, he heard Rolana¡¯s voice again. Her tone was slightly cautious, ¡°Ahem~! Uh, is everything going smoothly on your side?¡± ¡°Quite smooth. Once this matter is resolved, and the council concludes, I¡¯ll return.¡± Fang Hao responded. ¡°Rebecca¡¯s fine, right? You haven¡¯t bullied her, have you?¡± Rolana asked once again. He¡¯d never heard Rolana speak in such a tone before. Under normal circumstances, Fang Hao might¡¯ve joked around, but he didn¡¯t dare to do so now. In his mind, he even started picturing Rolana losing her mind when she found out about his situation with Rebecca upon his return. Now was not the time to think about this. If he delayed any longer, she might become suspicious. He brought the Shell to his mouth and said, ¡°Both of us are fine. Why would I bully her? I even bought you a gift. I¡¯ll give it to you when I return.¡± ¡°Fine, I understand.¡± Her voice returned to its usual cold indifference. Ending the conversation. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords once again. He looked at Rolana¡¯s loyalty once more. ¡°Loyalty of The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias ¨C Current loyalty 67.¡± Well, ¡­. Pretty good, it¡¯s already reached 67. She¡¯s unlikely to kill him. ¡­ Fang Hao opened the door and walked out. The door to the room across from him opened at the same moment. Li Rong had come out after a shower. She was wearing a beige shirt and tight long pants. Her long and straight legs were tightly wrapped by her pants as she walked out. Her skin was already quite fair, and this outfit even seemed to change her aura. No longer the sharp and valiant businesswoman, she now looked more like a pure and beautiful young lady. She was wearing one of Anjia¡¯s spare dresses. Although Anjia was well-built, her frame was a bit smaller. On Li Rong, the outfit was a tight fit around her breasts and waist. ¡°Lord Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Mm, have you figured out who is targeting you?¡± Fang Hao inquired. A killing intent flickered in Li Rong¡¯s eyes, ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Chapter 715 - Chapter 715: Chapter 502, Threat_1 Chapter 715: Chapter 502, Threat_1 On the other side, In a temporary conference hall, before the official council begins, several small meetings are held each day. They are all about the federal plan for the coming year. At the end of the meeting, the members of the council began to leave in groups. Rebecca has few friends here, so naturally, there was no one to leave with her. At this moment, a figure approached. He sat down beside Rebecca, ¡°Mrs. Rebecca.¡± Looking up, it was ¡®Tavek¡¯ from Pruell City. Tavek was originally a cloth merchant in Pruell City and was later promoted to City Lord by Fang Hao. This time, he also represented Pruell City at the council. However, in order to avoid suspicion, he did not meet with Fang Hao; if there was anything to report, it was done orally. ¡°City Lord Tavek,¡± Rebecca greeted with a smile. Tavek nodded, cautiously looking around to see that no one was paying attention to them. Then he whispered, ¡°The Church mentioned to me this time about the sightings of undead in the north. It seems the news has reached the Church. The territory to the north of Pruell City was where Fang Hao was. Although most of the undead have been placed in the Troop Hiding Cave, The Daughter of Earth Spirit still led the undead on patrols. Sometimes the residents and merchant convoys would encounter them. As long as they didn¡¯t attack indiscriminately or approach the city, they wouldn¡¯t be attacked by the undead. However, this information reaching the Church would cause a lot of trouble. Rebecca also frowned and said, ¡°No one mentioned it at the meeting!¡± ¡°Yes, the Church privately reached out to me and inquired about the situation with the undead.¡± ¡°The Church is paying attention to that area?¡± ¡°Although I had assured them that Pruell City is not threatened by the undead, by the sounds of it, the Church is likely to establish a Temple in Pruell next year,¡± said Tavek. Pruell City is located on the northern border of Hundred Cities of human territory. And the location where Fang Hao¡¯s city is situated, in itself belongs to an uninhabited area outside of human influence. If divided, it would belong to the Orcs¡¯ territory. In the past, the city of Pruell was least developed and the Church rarely paid any attention. It seems they are starting to pay attention this year. ¡°Yes, I will discuss this matter with Fang Hao when I return and see what he thinks,¡± Rebecca whispered. As others passed by, Tavek changed the topic with a smile, ¡°I hope to be able to sell Pruell City¡¯s cloth in Lyss City next year.¡± ¡°Certainly, I will arrange for someone to take care of the safety on the trade route.¡± Once the passersby left, Tavek continued, ¡°The Church is also asking about the Temple in Lyss City, with the aim of gathering information.¡± Rebecca¡¯s face slightly stiffened, turning a few shades paler. She was uncertain about what had gone wrong with the Temple, but it must have something to do with Fang Hao. After all, she knew well that Fang Hao had a great connection with the undead. ¡°Okay, I understand, I will be careful,¡± said Rebecca. Tavek nodded, stood up and smiled: ¡°Haha! I rely on you, Mrs Rebecca, for our business next year.¡± Rebecca smiled politely, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll excuse myself,¡± said Tavek before turning and leaving. ¡­ After Tavek left, Rebecca intended to leave as well. But before she could get up, a man dressed in noble garb strode towards her. Groot Marshal, the council representative for the Hundred Cities Business Association. At the same time, he was the puppeteer behind the scenes leading to the current predicament faced by Rebecca and others. Groot approached with a smirk and a glass of wine. As though he had coincidentally stumbled upon Rebecca, he greeted, ¡°Ah, Mrs. Rebecca, you haven¡¯t left yet. It¡¯s been quite some time since we last caught up.¡± Looking at the man beaming with pride, Rebecca was filled with disgust. However, under the circumstances, she still kept to basic etiquette and slightly nodded in response. Groot maintained his smile, his eyes greedily sweeping over Rebecca¡¯s body. ¡°Mrs. Rebecca, I heard that Lyss City is facing some trouble. If you consider us friends, you can talk to me. The Marshall clan might ¡­¡± Rebecca had no patience to put up with this pretence. She was perfectly clear about Groot¡¯s intention. The biggest threat to Lyss City was him. Now, saying these words was nothing more than a threat. Before he could finish, she interrupted him, ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need. Lyss City is doing just fine.¡± At Rebecca¡¯s cold response, Groot¡¯s eyes twinkled with anticipation, and he said, ¡°Ah! Mrs. Rebecca, I¡¯ve received some news. After your departure, someone bribed people in Lyss City and received a great deal of internal information. I¡¯m afraid by the time the official council begins, such information might be presented as evidence. Considering your current situation¡­ this might affect your position.¡± After a pause, his expression turned mocking, his gaze unabashedly focused on Rebecca¡¯s chest and lower abdomen, and he continued, ¡°Actually, Rebecca, you know, we¡¯re old acquaintances. If you¡¯re in trouble, you can tell me. We can think of a solution together, plus our Marshall clan¡¯s connections, the problems are not hard to solve. If you don¡¯t mind, you can come over to my place for a drink, and we can discuss further ¡­¡± If she didn¡¯t know him, this spiel would sound like a friend offering to help. However, ¡®Olivia¡¯ had already tipped Rebecca off a few days earlier. Chapter 716 - Chapter 716: Chapter 502, Intimidation_2 Chapter 716: Chapter 502, Intimidation_2 I informed her of Groot¡¯s knowledge about the Lyss City situation. Rage was evident on Rebecca¡¯s face. She had grown to loathe this hypocritical and sly man who always pestered her. Before he could finish, she interrupted him again, ¡°Mr. Groot, please leave. I have nothing to say to you.¡± Rebecca¡¯s voice was loud, attracting the attention of the nearby council members. Their curious gazes fell upon her. However, seeing that it was Groot and Rebecca, they remained at a distance, showing no intention of intervening. With such a scene, Groot had no choice but to withdraw. After all, despite their underhandedness behind closed doors, the nobles still maintained an image of decency in public. Groot shrugged, a shadow passing over his eyes. Without hiding his disdain, he sneered, ¡°Rebecca, I¡¯ve given you the chance. It¡¯s you who refused it. I hope you won¡¯t kneel down and beg me for mercy later.¡± He had desired this woman for a long time. Distinguished and elegant, she was more appealing than any woman he had possessed before. Conquering such a woman would bring him a great sense of accomplishment. Moreover, he was not in a hurry. He held evidence against Lyss City; reality would force her to submit to him. When the time came, he would crush the pride of the woman before him entirely. ¡­ Rebecca was enraged at these words, her face red with fury. Even while trying to maintain her noble etiquette, her fingers tightened into a fist until they turned white. She wanted to say something. But without any allies here, any argument would only put her at a disadvantage. This negotiation was one where Groot had the upper hand. Meanwhile, a few male and female council members approached from a short distance away. These individuals had been keeping a watchful eye on them and were in league with Groot. ¡°Ha ha, Mr. Groot, it seems Rebecca Lady does not accept your kindness.¡± a male council member, stroking his small mustache, smiled. ¡°Yes, Groot, you can choose any beautiful woman in this city. Why be so obsessed with this outsider?¡± Another lavishly dressed elderly woman sneered. Groot discarded his previous sinister expression, revealing a friendly smile. ¡°I just wanted to help an old friend who was in trouble. Since Rebecca knows what she¡¯s doing, I won¡¯t bother her anymore.¡± Having said that, he laughed and joked with those next to him as he walked out. Even after Groot had left, Rebecca¡¯s expression was still full of rage. She sat in her chair, her face grim. Aseti, who was waiting outside the door, came in to investigate when she saw Rebecca did not come out after a long time. When she saw Rebecca sitting alone in the hall. She hurriedly went over. ¡°Miss Rebecca, are you alright?¡± Aseti asked softly. Aseti was an orange hero, also a woman. Fang Hao had assigned her to Rebecca¡¯s side to ensure her safety. Hearing Aseti¡¯s voice, Rebecca came to her senses, ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s go.¡± Her face still held a smile, showing no signs of anything unusual. All she had just encountered seemed like it had never happened. ¡°Oh, the carriage is ready, let¡¯s go back first.¡± Aseti guided the way. ¡°Ok.¡± Rebecca rose, following Aseti out. For some reason. The moment Aseti¡¯s voice rang in her ears. All of Rebecca¡¯s worries disappeared, only one thought in her mind. She still had Fang Hao. He would handle all these matters. ¡­ On the other side. Fang Hao returned to the room and gestured Li Rong to sit across him. Upon entering, he quickly smelled the fresh scent of a woman who had just taken a bath. He poured Li Rong a glass of fruit wine. He had casually asked earlier, never expecting Li Rong to figure out who started the fire while she was bathing. ¡°Who?¡± A murderous look flashed in Li Rong¡¯s eyes. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Sander!¡± Sander? Sander had frequently appeared in Fang Hao¡¯s sight recently. Earlier, upon their return from exploring the underground palace, their team was ambushed. It was Sander¡¯s men who did it. However, their team hadn¡¯t suffered any losses then and because they were in Silver Wing City, he hadn¡¯t taken immediate action against him. He hadn¡¯t expected Li Rong¡¯s initial suspicion to be him. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Fang Hao was a bit skeptical. ¡°Yes, I just received news that someone saw the arsonist. It¡¯s one of Sander¡¯s men.¡± Li Rong¡¯s eyes were filled with anger. Li Rong held a high reputation among the transmigrator group in Silver Wing City. Although she didn¡¯t form any faction, if a representative were to be elected among the transmigrators in Silver Wing City, it would certainly be Li Rong. While Li Rong was showering, she received a message from others on the Book of Lords. Someone had seen one of Sander¡¯s men sneaking into the commercial street last night after the lights were off and the stores closed. Not long after that man came out, a fire broke out. The fire was enormous, illuminating the entire area brightly. With this comparison, coupled with the enmity between the two sides over the past few days, there was no need for doubt. It was definitely Sander¡¯s doing. Ordinary people wanting revenge wouldn¡¯t have been able to cause such a large fire. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± Fang Hao looked at Li Rong. Li Rong reached for her cigarettes. However, she realized she was now wearing Anjia¡¯s clothes, thus she took the cup and drank some fruit wine. After a brief pause, she finally spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s follow the rules: you pay for murder and for debts.¡± Chapter 717 - Chapter 717: Chapter 502: Intimidation - 3 Chapter 717: Chapter 502: Intimidation ¨C 3 Upon hearing this, Fang Hao was taken aback. How did they end up resorting to underworld rules? ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Li Rong examined Fang Hao with her eyes and then softly said, ¡°Boss Fang Hao, how much are you selling the gun you showed me last time?¡± The Lionheart Knights were equipped with bolt-action rifles. However, within Lyss City, they are all stored in Fang Hao¡¯s storage space. They would only be given out to the Lionheart Knights once they left the city. This was to prevent them from being traced back if bullets were found in any future events. Li Rong discovered that Fang Hao also had rifles. She was even more surprised and started browsing in Fang Hao¡¯s shop on his channel when she returned to her territory. She found that the items on sale were still the same old stuff and rifles were not being sold. ¡°You want to kill him with the rifle?¡± Fang Hao guessed her thoughts. Li Rong, with a determined look on her face, said, ¡°Yeah. My followers are not ranked high. If it really comes to fighting, they may not be a match for him, so I want to buy a couple of guns and take him out directly.¡± It was clear that Li Rong was serious this time. Fang Hao also wanted to kill Sander. However, he was always in the city and was even more adept at using the rules of Silver Wing City. If conflicts occur in the city, it is highly possible that Sander will get away with it while Li Rong would be wanted by the city. By then, even her own city would be under attack from Silver Wing City. Fang Hao thought for a while, feeling that Li Rong¡¯s approach was too impulsive. To kill him, there might be better ways. ¡°Li Rong, I also want Sander dead, but we can¡¯t be rash in our actions. If Silver Wing City discovers that your factions have fought, Sander can lead his people away. Your city is nearby, do you think you can get away?¡± Fang Hao advised softly. ¡°This, ¡­¡± Li Rong was speechless after hearing this. She was ready to kill Sander no matter the cost after her shop was set on fire. But without guns from Fang Hao, she didn¡¯t even have a chance to do so. Just relying on her own men, they could only fight against the other side, and the chances of killing Sander are not high. ¡°I can¡¯t care about that anymore. If he doesn¡¯t die, how can I, Li Rong, continue my business? The transmigrators in the city don¡¯t have much status to begin with. If I can¡¯t settle this properly, my shop might be set on fire for a second time.¡± Li Rong said angrily. Fang Hao shook his head, softly said, ¡°He certainly must die, as well as the people behind him. We just can¡¯t rush in and risk everything.¡± Li Rong also knew that Fang Hao was right. But she was just too angry. She took a deep breath and then said, ¡°So, do you have a better plan?¡± Fang Hao only has one approach to dealing with matters like this. And that is eliminating all future troubles. Sander definitely has to die, or else he was unsure what kind of troubles could arise. However, he is not familiar with Silver Wing City. To kill Sander without anyone noticing, he still needs to do a detailed investigation. ¡°Do you know where Sander usually is?¡± Fang Hao stroked his chin and asked softly. Li Rong shook her head and said, ¡°Dragon Tooth Pub.¡± Fang Hao nodded, said, ¡°OK, I¡¯ll take care of this. When the time comes, I¡¯ll contact you through the Book of Lords. Don¡¯t come to Silver Wing City in the next couple of days, in case Sander targets you.¡± After a pause, Li Rong finally nodded, ¡°OK, I¡¯ll go back and wait for your news.¡± She stood up, turned her gaze back to Fang Hao. She whispered, ¡°If you help me get rid of Sander, I¡¯ll accompany you for three days.¡± Fang Hao was startled, and the water he had just sipped almost spat out. He said: ¡°Oh! Both of these seem good only for you.¡± Li Rong slapped the table with her slim white fingers, ¡°What do you mean, you are not at interested in me.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just a kid, why are you telling me these things.¡± Fang Hao laughed, and then continued, ¡°I think Sander will definitely hide. Let your men keep track of his whereabouts.¡± No matter what, there is a great possibility that Sander will hide after everything. To find him, it would still take some time and effort. ¡°OK, I¡¯ll let my people keep an eye on him. As soon as there¡¯s news, I¡¯ll inform you immediately.¡± Li Rong also said seriously. Fang Hao nodded, and said to the door: ¡°Arrange someone to escort Li Rong back.¡± The door opened and, a guard politely said, ¡°Ms Li Rong, please.¡± Li Rong gave Fang Hao a serious look and then walked out of the room. Chapter 720 - Chapter 720: Chapter 504, Cliched Dog-Blood Drama_1 Chapter 720: Chapter 504, Cliched Dog-Blood Drama_1 With the beggar¡¯s knocking¡­ The noisy North City Gate fell into a seemingly frozen two-second silence, only to plunge back into the chaos immediately afterward. The sounds of vendors hawking and beggars pleading were incessant. However, these minute changes failed to attract the attention of the crowd. The city gate was crowded with people struggling to enter the city. The stationed guards were keeping order while grumbling and swearing. Split among the crowd were five people who managed to enter the city one after another. Under the watchful eyes of many. The five people gathered at a nearby stall. The stall owner, a middle-aged man dressed shabbily, glanced at the five and nodded slightly, ¡°All present?¡± The five who entered the city one after another recognized each other. They looked at each other and nodded in response. The middle-aged stall owner glanced around before continuing, ¡°Something¡¯s off today. So many merchants have suddenly shown up at the North gate. Let¡¯s take a detour.¡± He had a feeling. Today, the North gate had seen many unfamiliar faces. He had no idea if this had anything to do with their task, but it felt abnormal. Rolling up the food spread out on his mat, he picked it up and started to move further into the city. The five followed behind him silently. ¡­ ¡°Ha~!¡± The guard stationed at the city gate yawned out of boredom. He subconsciously cast a look back. And was slightly taken aback. His companion, observing him stare behind, also followed his gaze but found nothing unusual, ¡°What is it? Checking out a woman?¡± Coming back to reality, the guard frowned, ¡°Why has it suddenly become so quiet?¡± His companion also looked back. Indeed, the location which was bustling just moments ago. The stalls were packed up and the beggars were nowhere to be seen. It had suddenly become eerily quiet. ¡°Who cares! It¡¯s better that the clamoring crowd has left. Too many people cause trouble.¡± ¡°True.¡± ¡­ Inside the room. Rebecca, Fang Hao, and other heroes were all silently waiting. Everyone was gathered in the room. It was as silent as death. Fang Hao would glance at the gold watch on his wrist from time to time, calculating the time until the city gates were to be closed. Rebecca at his side seemed even more tense. Her fingers were tightly clasped, with her knuckles turning white from the pressure. If no information came before the city gate was closed, Fang Hao would have to implement his previous plan. He would have to kill Groot directly, silencing him once and for all. The room was eerily silent, everyone quietly waiting. After some time had passed. The guard¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Soon, the door was knocked, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s news from the North City Gate.¡± The intense silence in the room seemed to be broken by this news. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and a Lionheart Knight, disguised as a small vendor, strode in. After he slightly bowed, he opened his mouth to say, ¡°Sir, we found the people from the portraits at the North City Gate. There are a total of five people, led by a man dressed as a peddler. They are heading towards the city center. Our men are tracking them.¡± Fang Hao immediately stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Take me there.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Fang Hao led the others straight out of the room. ¡­ Residential area in the northern part of the city. Inside an inconspicuous civilian residence. With a list in his hand, Sander began to verify the identities of the five people before him. Though he did not know who these people were. And why they had to sneak into the city. But based on their demeanor and appearance, they were clearly not ordinary civilians but more akin to nobility. Add to that, these five people were guests of his master. He acted very humbly, not daring to display his typical thuggish superior attitude. Cough cough!! Clearing his throat lightly, Sander managed to show a smile. He said, ¡°Gentlemen, I have prepared clothes for you. Change into these clothes. Outside, there is a carriage waiting to take you to the master¡¯s place.¡± The five didn¡¯t say much. Each of them started changing into the clothes prepared by Sander. Just as the five had changed their clothes and were about to follow Sander out. The curses of Sander¡¯s underling were suddenly heard from outside. ¡°You folks there, what¡¯s your business here? Move aside.¡± Recently, Sander had suffered a heavy loss. So he had recruited a new group of people. But these people were far inferior to the previous mercenaries and could at best pass for local hooligans. Hearing the cursing outside, Sander stopped in his tracks. The other five also were alert and stopped as well. Then, they heard a series of dull thudding sounds from outside. Sander¡¯s face changed. He recognized that sound too well; it was the sound of a blade penetrating flesh. He knew that something was wrong. Moreover, the other party seemed determined to kill them, otherwise, who would dare to kill people in Silver Wing City. Creak!! Just as he pulled out the dagger from his waist, the door was already pushed open. Several figures entered one by one, dragging their fallen prey into the room. These people were all dressed differently ¨C some like street vendors, some scruffy like beggars. But Sander didn¡¯t recognize any of them. He was also sure that none of them were his enemies. ¡°Brothers, could there be some misunderstanding here? I understand the rules. I will give you money, just spare us.¡± Speaking, Sander threw his weapon to one side. From under the bed, he pulled a wooden box. Carefully he managed to open the lid, revealing the luminescent gold coins inside. Though it was a small box. For an ordinary civilian or even some petty nobles in the city. It was a considerable amount of money. However, the men didn¡¯t even glance at the box, their gaze still remained on the six people. Chapter 721 - Chapter 721: Chapter 504, Cliched Dog-Blood Drama_2 Chapter 721: Chapter 504, Cliched Dog-Blood Drama_2 ¡°Are you Sander?¡± A shiver went down Sander¡¯s spine. They¡¯ve come for me. ¡°What¡­ what do you want from me?¡± Sander asked cautiously. ¡°As long as you are here, just wait!¡± What¡­. The six people didn¡¯t know why they were there; they could only wait quietly. Soon, footsteps came from outside the room. The door opened again. A pair of young men and women, dressed up as commoners and hiding their faces, walked in. ¡°My lord.¡± The people in the room immediately kowtowed. The young man nodded. He unwrapped his scarf, revealing his face. Bang. Bang. Bang!! Except for Sander, the other five people were stunned at the sight of the young man¡¯s face. Their faces changed drastically, and they could not help retreating several steps automatically. Nearly immediately after, they fell on the ground with a thud. Pleading immediately, ¡°City¡­ City Lord, we had no choice.¡± ¡°Shh, don¡¯t shout, be quiet.¡± The newcomers were Fang Hao and Anjia in disguise. Although Sander had laid many ambushes for him, he had never seen Fang Hao himself. On the contrary, the others, being officials and maids of Lyss City, recognized Fang Hao at a glance. They were all clear about why they were here. And it was not difficult to guess why Fang Hao appeared here with his troops. Sander frowned in thought. City Lord? These five people were calling this young man a city lord. Such a young city lord. Recently, city lords from all over were attending the Federal Conference in Silver Wing City, which city was he from? When the five people shut their mouths and knelt fearfully off to the side, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on the contemplative Sander first. ¡°My name is Fang Hao. I came with the team from Lyss City. You should know who I am!¡± Sander¡¯s pupils rapidly contracted as he swallowed unconsciously. It¡¯s him! ¡°No, I don¡¯t know you, sir. Do you know me?¡± Sander tried his best to appear as puzzled as possible. But his acting was too amateurish and looked fake. ¡°Groot had you ambush me so many times, you can¡¯t possibly not know who I am.¡± Fang Hao sat down on the wooden chair nearby. Sander¡¯s face turned solemn, but he only now realized that his employer was named Groot. Previously, there had always been an old man who contacted them. Assigned them tasks and paid them handsomely. Observing the young man in front of him, who seemed to know everything, even more than he himself knew, Continuing to pretend seemed pointless. He also knelt down immediately, begging, ¡°Sir, please spare me, I won¡¯t dare to do it again, I won¡¯t.¡± Fang Hao smiled and continued to ask, ¡°Where did Groot ask you to take these people?¡± Sander answered promptly. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m not sure if the man giving us our assignment was Groot. But our current task was to deliver these five people to Mansion No. 36 in the Central District.¡± ¡°You have never seen Groot?¡± ¡°No, not true, it¡¯s always been an old man who delivers the messages.¡± Sander answered immediately. Fang Hao nodded. This Groot wasn¡¯t too stupid. If it wasn¡¯t for the news from Groot that I¡¯d received from the Life-taker camp, Even if we captured Sander, we wouldn¡¯t be able to confirm Groot was behind the plots against me. After a thought, Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°What assignment did the old man give you?¡± ¡°It was just to pick these people up and send them to a specified location. Nothing else.¡± Sander was very cooperative. Whatever Fang Hao asked, he thought for a while and then answered honestly. Mainly, other than the task given to Sander, there really wasn¡¯t any other information available. After finishing with Sander, Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell back on the other five. Among the five, he was most familiar with one of the women; she was under twenty years old and used to be a maid of Rebecca. During several transfers, she was the one waiting in the hall for him to transport over, leading him to meet Rebecca. Who would have thought, she would end up here, betraying Lyss City. Acting as a witness, she appeared here. ¡°What happened?¡± Fang Hao turned his gaze towards the pale-faced maid. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, The maid broke down into tears. Fearing that the sound would be too loud, Fang Hao immediately directed someone to cover her mouth and pulled her to one side to question later. His gaze then landed on the remaining people. He said quietly, ¡°You have had a tough journey coming all this way.¡± None of the remaining four answered. One middle-aged man gave Fang Hao a slight glance. He spoke, ¡°Ask what you want to ask; we will tell you everything. Just don¡¯t kill us.¡± This man was the Minister of Internal Affairs, a very important official in Lyss City. Similarly, he knew more of Lyss City¡¯s secrets. Just now, Fang Hao had even said Groot¡¯s name, which meant that he was already very clear about their side of the story. He also knew about the secret of the five of them sneaking to the Silver Wing City. Continuing to deny would be meaningless, it would be better to take the chance and plead for their lives. The Minister thought well, but Fang Hao didn¡¯t really have anything good to ask. He just needed to make sure that they wouldn¡¯t show up at the conference tomorrow; then he would have completed his task. After thinking for a bit, he still asked, ¡°What benefits did Groot promise you?¡± The remaining four started murmuring their complaints one after another. Talking about how Groot forced them, so they had no choice but to betray Lyss City and travel all the way here. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t believe a word of their narrative. Chapter 722 - Chapter 722: Chapter 504, Cliched Dog-Blood Drama_3 Chapter 722: Chapter 504, Cliched Dog-Blood Drama_3 These people were all cunning, seasoned veterans; no one could force them to do anything they didn¡¯t want to do. They only came because they were promised greater benefits than what Belisis City offered. He dismissed the men¡¯s pleas with a wave of his hand and turned his gaze to the maid behind them. Compared to these old fellows, seeing this maid surprised Fang Hao. When Fang Hao first met her, she was a simple, unpretentious girl with a charming smile. He didn¡¯t know why she ended up here. ¡°Stacey, why are you here? Tell me,¡± Fang Hao shifted his gaze back to the maid. When Fang Hao mentioned the name ¡®Stacey¡¯¡­ Rebecca didn¡¯t believe it. She said that she had bought Stacey when she was very young. Stacey had always been obedient and well-behaved and would never betray her. But it seems that Rebecca was mistaken. Stacey¡¯s presence here spoke volumes. The maid turned ashen, clenching her jaw in prolonged silence before finally divulging her story. Being of humble birth, she naturally wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to interact with the likes of Groot. The last time, when Hubert and Groot went to Lyss City¡­ During their stay in the city, she accidentally shattered one of Hubert¡¯s belongings and was ordered to compensate for it. It was then that Groot defended her, paying a hefty sum as compensation. Stacey was grateful to Groot. Combining Groot¡¯s cunning manipulation of women, he ended up becoming intimate with her. Afterwards, Groot used her to identify Rebecca. He lavished her with noble luxuries and exerted pressure through his own status. Eventually, he persuaded her. Shortly after Rebecca¡¯s departure, she followed the minister of internal affairs here. Everything unfolded like an old-fashioned soap opera. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Stacey said. All the maids around Rebecca possessed some basis of knowledge. Once they calmed down, they realized that Groot was using her, and whether she would survive afterward was uncertain. But by then, she was already in too deep with no way out. A seasoned noble like Groot¡­ Luring a girl under twenty was just too easy for him. The whole thing about compensating for Hubert¡¯s expensive item was just part of a staged performance. She had ultimately fallen into their trap. But in this era, it seemed there was nothing a servant like her could do. If a noble wished to kill you, he might not even bother seeking an excuse. After hearing her reasons¡­ Fang Hao glanced at his wristwatch. It was 10:20 at night. He shot a glance at the Lionheart Knights nearby. Everyone understood the gesture. Plop, plop!!! Their mouths were covered, their throats slit. Stacey, terrified, stumbled and collapsed onto the ground. She wanted to scream but couldn¡¯t muster the courage to. Hugging her head with her arms, she trembled. How Stacey would be dealt with now that she had been brought to Rebecca was not his concern. The remaining individuals gradually ran out of energy, struggling and whining in fear. A sickening scent of fresh blood permeated the room as the struggling slowly came to an end. Fang Hao casually put a box of gold coins into his storage space, saying, ¡°Bury the bodies in this room. When you leave, make sure no one sees you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Everyone began to dig in the room. Meanwhile, Fang Hao led Anjia and the somewhat limp maid out of the civilian district. ¡­ 11 o¡¯clock at night. The core area of Silver Wing City. This was the city¡¯s famous noble district, where property could not simply be bought with money. If you wanted to live here, aside from an astronomical price, you needed a certain status. A mansion. Inside the luxurious hall¡­ The floor was covered with a extravagant carpet, and a grand Nightstone chandelier lit up the room brightly. In the middle of the room was a colossal table, on which sat glasses of wine steeped with unknown substance. Groot sat quietly at the table. While sipping his wine, he locked his gaze on the woman in the middle of the room, standing barefoot on the opulent carpet. The woman had long black hair and wore a white gauze gown. She danced barefoot on the carpet. Her obscure parts, hidden beneath the gauze, would fleetingly appear as she danced. Her movements were tantalizing; her allure was incessantly tantalizing the man¡¯s libido. Groot swirled his wine glass, his eyes fixated hungrily on the woman who danced before him, his yearning evident in his eyes. He took a big gulp. ¡°Strip!¡± Chapter 723 - Chapter 723: Chapter 505, Archbishop- Milton_1 Chapter 723: Chapter 505, Archbishop- Milton_1 Groot was in a fine mood today. His plan was progressing very smoothly. An hour ago, the butler had passed the news on to him. The mercenaries they had hired had already been met by people from inside the city and would be brought here after their identities were confirmed. Then, with Rebecca stripped of her current status, he would naturally have ways to deal with her. The thought of being able to take revenge on Rebecca set his heart aflame. Watching the woman dancing sensually before him, the desire in his eyes intensified. ¡°Undress!¡± Groot ordered. The woman had been bought with a hefty sum, as the price of a transmigrator wasn¡¯t cheap Especially, a young, beautiful one with unique skills. The woman dancing on the carpet frowned at his words but seemingly chose to ignore it, continuing to dance silently. Bang! The wine glass collided heavily with the table. ¡°Undress for me!¡± Groot¡¯s tone was more forceful. Swish~ The woman¡¯s fair arms moved backward, and the veil fell off, fluttering down. Only a little fabric remained, preserving her last bit of dignity. She had been sold to this place by a slaver. Naturally, she was familiar with the cruelty of this world. Angering these nobles would result in her death without any consequences. So, before the man¡¯s anger erupted, she didn¡¯t dare to disobey him. Dignity¡­ it was something to consider after surviving. ¡°Haha! Good, really good!¡± Seeing the woman obey and reveal her delicate, snow-white skin- satisfied Groot¡¯s desire to control. He downed the wine in his hands and ingested the bitter dried meat into his stomach. He got up and walked around the table, heading towards the woman. The woman instinctively wanted to retreat, but then stopped in her tracks. She couldn¡¯t avoid him. Just as Groot was about to pounce on her- sudden hurried footsteps came from outside the door. A look of displeasure crossed Groot¡¯s face. He hated it the most when people interrupted him at crucial moments. ¡°Master, something¡¯s happened!¡± Outside, the butler¡¯s voice came. The butler was Groot¡¯s confidant. All the unspoken tasks were handled by him. When he said something had happened, it meant something of grave importance had occurred. He returned to his seat. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and the old butler walked in. ¡°So, what happened?¡± The old butler didn¡¯t speak. Instead, his gaze flickered to the dancing woman beside them. Groot frowned slightly. He gestured the woman to leave,¡±You may go now.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The woman nodded, picked up her veil from the ground, and ran out of the door. When the woman¡¯s figure vanished and the footstep sounds couldn¡¯t be heard- the old butler began, ¡°Master, the people didn¡¯t arrive, and we can¡¯t contact Sander. We¡¯re afraid¡­¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Groot roared. ¡°The people¡­ we lost contact with them. I¡¯ve arranged someone to check in the civilian area, but there¡¯s still no news,¡± the anxious butler reported. Bang!! The wine glass smashed heavily on the table again. Groot¡¯s chest heaved with anger. Just a moment ago, he had planned to humiliate Rebecca at the council and torture her afterwards. But now, all those plans seemed extremely vague. ¡°Where are the people? You assured me there would be no problem, so why can¡¯t you carry out just one task properly?¡± Groot roared furiously. ¡°Master, it¡¯s my incompetency. I¡¯m willing to be punished¡­¡± The butler knelt on the ground, lowering his head. ¡°You¡­¡± Groot was furious, his face turning red . His butler was usually to his liking. Gathering women, proposing ideas, he had always handled everything perfectly. And moreover, he was his confidant. But for some unknown reason, everything always seemed to go wrong with the plan regarding Lyss City. Groot sat in silence for a while. Then got up and said, ¡°Get the carriage ready, we¡¯re going to Hubert.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± The butler immediately rose and left to make preparations. ¡­ The next day. Today was the day of the Hundred Cities Council meeting. Fang Hao got up early. With the help of the maid, he put on the complexly embroidered ceremonial garb. He never thought a garment would take a half-hour to don. But what he didn¡¯t expect even more was that it took Rebecca over an hour to put on her ceremonial gown. By the time she came out,the maids besides Byron were completely drenched in sweat. ¡°Were you guys fighting in the room?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Rebecca rolled her eyes out of habit, ¡°Who¡¯s fighting? Let¡¯s hurry up.¡± The two of them boarded the carriage. And headed straight for the council hall. Along the way, colorful flags were planted all over, fluttering in the wind. The locals didn¡¯t resent this. In fact, during this period every year, the city¡¯s economy would see a significant boost in just a few days. It could also be considered a form of driving development. Carriage by carriage, escorted by their own security teams, headed towards the front. Pulling open the curtain, one could see the other carriages. They reached the council hall, and after a simple check, Rebecca, arm in arm with him, entered the council hall. The hall was incredibly spacious. The floor was covered in soft woolen carpets, filling the entire hall. On the stone pillars of the hall were carved magnificent bas-reliefs. Both sides of the wall were adorned with beautifully illustrated story murals. On one side of the platform, musicians were playing soothing music. Young and beautiful girls were softly singing along with the music. Their ethereal voices were very pleasing to the ears. The seats in the hall were divided into three areas. Chapter 724 - Chapter 724: Chapter 505, Archbishop-Milton_2 Chapter 724: Chapter 505, Archbishop-Milton_2 At the very bottom, in the densest location, there were hundreds of seats¡ª ¡ªplaced orderly like those in a movie theatre, all facing forward. The second area, slightly higher, was arranged on both sides, with scores of chairs almost reaching a hundred in number. The third area was the highest platform. There were only five seats, all overlooking the councillors below. Rebecca, arm in arm with Fang Hao, led him to a spot in the second area and sat down. She began to explain, ¡°This is where the representatives of the Hundred Cities sit.¡± ¡°What about the seats down there?¡± Fang Hao asked, looking at the bottom where the seats resembled those in a cinema. ¡°Ah! That¡¯s where the general council members sit, like union representatives, business group representatives, and various civil organization representatives,¡± Rebecca replied in a low voice. Well, considering this, quite a lot of people are in attendance. If there were any terror organizations involved, they could probably abduct the whole high-ranking group of humans in one fell swoop. Without leaving a single one behind. ¡°So, those on top ¨C are they the big five you spoke of?¡± Fang Hao directed his gaze upward to those five lofty seats. Both the chairs and tables were especially ornate. Rebecca lowered her voice and said, ¡°Yes, these five people make up the upper council of the Hundred Cities. In theory, the Hundred Cities is a democracy where all council members vote, but the big five have the power to veto. In truth, whether or not something can happen often depends on their say.¡± ¡°Oh, I see!¡± This operation sounded quite familiar to Fang Hao. A mini UN? The decision to proceed primarily depends on the attitude of the big five. If the big five approve, it¡¯s easy to get passed. If it¡¯s of no great interest to the big five, it will be very difficult to implement, no matter how much commotion is made below. So, each city resorts to clandestine activities, doing things that violate the Hundred Cities regulations while keeping a mutual silence. Rebecca took out a piece of paper and placed it in front of Fang Hao. She said quietly, ¡°When you officially assume the position of the City Lord of Lyss City, you will have to stand and pledge your loyalty to humanity. Get familiar with it now so you won¡¯t be nervous then.¡± Ah, so this is happening. Fang Hao looked at the text on the paper. The content wasn¡¯t a lot; it was mainly about loyalty to humanity. It didn¡¯t seem to be a problem. He read it carefully twice, making sure he was familiar with it. At that moment, Fang Hao felt a gaze on him, and he looked up¡ª Only to see Groot and Hubert walk in together, their eyes full of hatred as they glared in his direction. While looking at the content on the paper, Fang Hao gave a friendly wave to the two of them. The pair were taken aback. Then, they turned away with rage on their faces. As time passed, the seats below gradually filled up with people. The place was chaotic, with many people discussing individual matters. Boom! The clock chimed upright, and three gigantic flags fell from the roof to the floor. The music being played by the musicians instantly surged, transforming from soothing to stirring and exciting. Leaning into Fang Hao¡¯s ear, Rebecca continued in her role as a guide, ¡°The middle one is the flag of the Human Federation, the one on the left signifies the Hall of Justice, and the one on the right is Silver Wing City¡¯s flag.¡± Fang Hao nodded, but was full of surprise inside. He had a strange feeling of familiarity towards the flag on the left. Against the blue background was a copper emblem in the shape of a horn. The more he looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. Under the table, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords. In the space inside, he examined the [Valor Horn] that was stored. [Valor Horn (Orange Emblem)] [Category: Emblem] [Ability: Emblem wearers (human), War Horn attribute +100%.] (Description: During humanity¡¯s ¡®Dark Age¡¯, they united, wearing ¡®Valor Horn¡¯, ¡®Lofty Belief¡¯, ¡®Sacred Rampart¡¯, ¡®Sharp Thorn¡¯, and ¡®Just Truth¡¯ embarking the unification of humanity to resist the foreign race, defending the last dignity of humanity.) The pattern on the flag was the Valor Horn. The emblem was a reward he received from a previous challenge mission. At that time, he faintly remembered it being mentioned that the emblem had been lost and its significance was extremely important to the human faction. Rebecca said this was the Hall of Justice flag, so did it have some connection with this emblem? Should he ask Rebecca to introduce him to Dordy, the leader of the Hall of Justice? This idea had just surfaced when Fang Hao gave it up. It¡¯s better not to take any risks. Everything should be founded on steady development. It is best if nothing that might cause changes occurs. This is what he thought. Clap! Clap! Clap!! A burst of intense applause startled Fang Hao. Lifting his head, he saw five people emerging from atop. Without a doubt, it had to be the five top personalities of the Upper House. Rebecca, acting as the narrator, opens her mouth to introduce them again. ¡°The middle-aged man at the forefront is Dordy, the current Alliance of Justice¡¯s leader ¨C Olivia¡¯s husband. He has a decent reputation, but he is somewhat old-fashioned. The one behind him dressed in the Archbishop¡¯s long robe is Milton. The three people behind are City Lords under the Federation of the Hundred Cities, wielding formidable power.¡± Fang Hao, upon hearing this, also started observing the five top figures in the Federation of Hundred Cities. Dordy looks to be in his 40s, physically strong, with dark skin that exudes an intimidating aura wherever he goes. He¡¯s dressed in a deep-purple nobleman¡¯s robe. On the left side of his chest is an embroidered emblem of the War Horn. The one stepping forward next to him is an old man. Tall and slender, wearing an abbey¡¯s long robe, he¡¯s handling a scepter. He has a kind countenance and is always smiling as he moves around, occasionally waving down. The last three men, all middle-aged, dressed in brocade robes, maintain calm facial expressions. However, it is apparent that their power is inferior to the two who are leading , considering they are following the two. When the five reach the top, they each sit down in their designated spot. After a simple opening, the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed City Lords and Senators begins. Those whose names are called stand up and begin reading from a piece of paper. There are many new appointees this year. But the process went smoothly; all they had to do was read from the paper. Yet, when it was Fang Hao¡¯s turn, an unexpected error occurred. Just as Fang Hao finished loudly reading the contents on the paper, standing tall. A voice came from the top above. ¡°Fang Hao, you are a transmigrator, aren¡¯t you?¡± When Fang Hao lifts his head, he sees that the voice is Archbishop-Milton¡¯s and he is looking straight at him. Although Milton looks eighty or ninety years old, his voice doesn¡¯t suit his age. It sounds more like a middle-aged man¡¯s and carries a strong base. With the Archbishop interrupting at this moment. All the Senators present feel that something is off. All eyes turn to Fang Hao. Fang Hao is startled, not understanding why there might be extra scenes when it¡¯s his turn. He looks down at Rebecca, asking whether this is part of the procedure? Yet, he sees unease and worry in Rebecca¡¯s eyes under his gaze. He realizes that this is not part of the procedure. He directs his gaze back at Milton and replies, smiling, ¡°Yes, I am a transmigrator.¡± ¡°The appearance of transmigrants is the most unstable factor in Silver Wing City. It seems that Lyss City has managed this aspect fairly well, you guys get along rather harmoniously, don¡¯t you?¡± Milton continues. The Upper House has unbeatable authority. With Milton saying this, Fang Hao¡¯s situation becomes treacherous. Whether he can smoothly become the City Lord or not, Milton¡¯s words hold significant weight. Fang Hao contemplates for a moment before saying, ¡°What¡¯s unstable are social factors. They cannot be attributed to a particular group. It¡¯s like there being good and bad people in every city. We can¡¯t say everyone in a city is bad or good.¡± Of course, transmigrants do include bad folks, but overall, transmigrants have higher quality compared to the locals. Milton looks at things from a local¡¯s perspective, which is inherently flawed. Milton would pose this question not because he couldn¡¯t accept transmigrants, but merely to trouble Fang Hao. The Holy Saint Mao Zi himself is also a transmigrant. He¡¯s given a great responsibility in the church, vying for the Archbishop¡¯s position amongst the twelve holy saints. ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying you have the confidence to manage Lyss City?¡± Milton asks, his expression unchanged, still bearing that same smile. He looks very much like a cunning old fox with a dagger hidden behind his smile. ¡°I can.¡± ¡°Haha! Good, the young ones should have aspirations. But, I just received a piece of information that documents Lyss City¡¯s violations of the Federation¡¯s regulations over the past several years. You have just declared, so in your opinion, how should this matter be dealt with?¡± Archbishop Milton¡¯s eyes are full of interest as he looks at the two people below. Upon hearing this. Everyone below breaks into an uproar. And beside him, Rebecca¡¯s face turns as white as a sheet, drained of all color. The person bringing up the indictment isn¡¯t Groot, but the Archbishop himself. It¡¯s over¡­. Chapter 725 - Chapter 725: Chapter 506, play chess with you tonight! _1 Chapter 725: Chapter 506, play chess with you tonight! _1 As he spoke up to this point, every member in the assembly had grasped his insinuations. The Archbishop charged the newly appointed City Lord with several pieces of incriminating evidence on Lyss City. Lyss City had caught the attention of too many, with many hoping Rebecca would abdicate from her position. At this moment, the Archbishop ¨C one of the five heads ¨C personally presented this incriminating evidence. As a result, Rebecca was cornered. Perhaps, she wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to walk out of the Council Hall. ¡°Humph! It¡¯s the end of Rebecca¡¯s reign this year. She¡¯s been in charge of Lyss City for so many years, it¡¯s time she stepped down.¡± ¡°I heard she killed her last husband. The Upper House will definitely not allow her to continue controlling Lyss City.¡± ¡°What can a woman possibly manage?¡± ¡°I wonder who¡¯d benefit from her imprisonment?¡± The Lower House members were drowning in whispers and murmurs. The Archbishop presented the evidence, which undeniably carried a level of certainty. Everyone understood this: it was over for Rebecca. Everyone watched, excited for the drama to unfold, but also seeking opportunities to undermine Rebecca and catch the Archbishop¡¯s attention. Seeing the Archbishop above, Fang Hao quickly understood why he hadn¡¯t been able to find these compiled pieces of incriminating evidence. Last night, he¡¯d sent Lorrey to Groot and Hubert¡¯s residences. He hadn¡¯t found this evidence because it had already been passed onto the Archbishop. However, all the witnesses had been killed. What¡¯s the point of producing unverifiable evidence? Was there a backup plan? Or did the Archbishop not know that the witnesses were already dead? He surreptitiously glanced at Groot who sat below in the Lower House. He noticed beads of sweat on Groot¡¯s forehead, his wavering gaze suggested deep pondering. Seeing this, Fang Hao confirmed. Groot had only handed the documents to the Archbishop. All those who could have indicted him were killed by Fang Hao last night, which the Archbishop was unaware of. This meant, they only had paper evidence that lacked compelling power. With these thoughts in mind, a smile still graced Fang Hao¡¯s face. He said, ¡°Your Grace, Archbishop, I¡¯m having trouble understanding your intentions.¡± ¡°You may not understand, but Rebecca should grasp my meaning. In the past three years, Lyss City has illegally sold weapons to the Orcs. Urban funds have vanished without a trace, and I¡¯ve heard, to feed her vanity, she¡¯s used hefty public funds to exclusively design her clothes¡­ Rebecca, anything you wish to say?¡±, the Archbishop¡¯s palm hit the table with a resounding smack. Everyone knows the rules of the Hundred Cities have long been outdated, having ceased to apply to the varying situations of each city. Each city developed based on its own governance style, with everyone turning a blind eye. But now, it seemed like the Archbishop was determined to bring Rebecca down. While the Lower House members observed the situation, the five members of the Upper House remained calm. It seemed they already knew about this. It made sense, Rebecca was tipped off by Olivia and had the time to prepare. Rebecca stood up, still calm, and stated softly, ¡°I have nothing to say. These accusations were fabricated by others, and I had no knowledge of such.¡± Rebecca herself was tenacious. She had overtly and covertly fought with these nobles for decades. Not to mention that Fang Hao had taken care of all the witnesses, at this point, she couldn¡¯t afford to show weakness. ¡°Are you sure about this, Rebecca? If you confess, there could be a way out. If you persist, you should know the consequences,¡± the Archbishop roared angrily. Rebecca¡¯s face was still as stoic as ever, ¡°How can I confess to a crime I did not commit?¡± At this moment, Dordy, the leader of the Hall of Justice, chimed in: ¡°Rebecca, are you sure you¡¯re innocent?¡± According to Rebecca, Dordy was upright yet stubborn. Even if Rebecca and Olivia had a good relationship, he would never side with Rebecca. Hence, no witnesses from Lyss City should appear at the scene. ¡°No, if you have any evidence, present it,¡± Rebecca did not back down. Dordy refrained from speaking, while the Archbishop nearby sneered. His gaze settled on the Lower House seat, precisely where Groot was seated. ¡°Groot, bring the eyewitness.¡± Groot wiped the sweat off his face. He gestured towards his men at the entrance. Sure enough, a few guards entered the room, escorting two humans. Rebecca was a bit restless initially, but upon recognizing the faces of the witnesses, she calmed down again. Groot stood up, forced a calm tone, and said, ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, these two can prove Rebecca¡¯s guilt. They took over the weapons equipment sold by Lyss City.¡± Everyone turned their gaze towards Rebecca. But she had a smile on her face as she said loudly, ¡°Groot, who are these two people? At least prepare a suitable identity for them.¡± He had no choice but to push forward and said, ¡°These two people are in charge of guarding and weapon manufacturing in Lyss City. They can validate everything that happens in Lyss City.¡± After this, everyone in the room looked at Groot with suspicion. Even the Archbishop in the Upper House frowned at him. A guard and a craftsman. Regardless of their true identities, you want to use them as witnesses against Rebecca. Chapter 726 - Chapter 726: 506 Chapter 726: 506 This is no joke. If it were truly that simple, Rebecca wouldn¡¯t have been able to rule Lyss City for over twenty years. The Archbishop was unaware that Fang Hao had killed all those prepared by Groot last night. Regardless of the Archbishop¡¯s status, Groot did not have the right to meet with him. The delay carried on until the council meeting was about to start. With no other choice, Groot randomly picked two people to deal with the situation. ¡°Alright, take them away,¡± Dordy suddenly spoke. It was clear to anyone who was watching what was happening. These two people had been hastily brought in to fill the numbers. As soon as they were brought, they were escorted away. Meanwhile, Groot quietly retreated back to his seat. Sweat soaked his entire body, giving him the appearance of someone utterly depleted. Glancing at the Archbishop, Dordy whispered, ¡°Archbishop, I suggest we continue the council. As for the affairs of Lyss City, we can discuss them once we investigated further.¡± Dordy¡¯s words were polite. The meaning was clear: don¡¯t let this issue cause further delay; there¡¯s still much for the council to attend to. The Archbishop¡¯s face hardened further. ¡°Leader, I ask one last time. If there are no issues with Lyss City, I will no longer pursue this matter. However, I will strictly investigate the source of this information,¡± he spoke. Dordy glanced at Rebecca below and nodded. The Archbishop directly stood up, his gaze settling on Rebecca. Composedly, he questioned, ¡°Rebecca, I ask you. This mid-year, Lyss City was accused of exceeding weapon forging limits, suspected of selling weapons to the Orcs, and other charges totaling to 72. Are these claims true?¡± As he spoke, the Archbishop emitted a golden glow. The councillors below looked on in shock. This was a capability of the church called ¡°Interrogation.¡± Once locked on by the skill, unless they are stronger than the spellcasters, they will not be able to lie. This ability works similar to Black Thorn¡¯s ¡°Speak with the Dead.¡± Black Thorn¡¯s ability interrogates the deceased, compelling them to answer in a short time. While ¡°Interrogation¡± is a skill that affects living creatures, invoking a belief so sincere, it prevents them from lying. Rebecca stayed still, suddenly feeling a surge of piety within her. Yet this feeling vanished as abruptly as it came, as though cleared by some kind of power. She could feel that this power was emanating from her chest. Aware that the ¡°Light Feather¡± dagger Fang Hao had entrusted to her was functioning, she remained vigilant, revealing a devout look, she slowly spoke, ¡°False, this information is not true.¡± The Archbishop and Groot were taken aback. The rank of the Archbishop was far too high, under these circumstances, it would be impossible for Rebecca to lie. Could the intelligence really be untrue? Just as the Archbishop was about to say something, Dordy interrupted him. ¡°Your Excellency the Archbishop, let¡¯s set this matter aside for now. We still need to continue the council,¡± The council only occurred once a year, it wasn¡¯t a place for such disputes. They had already wasted so much time, breaking the usual course. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue the council.¡± The Archbishop was somewhat unwilling, but he couldn¡¯t really question any further. So he just sat back down. Rebecca sat too, tightly clasping Fang Hao¡¯s hand. She was terrified. The pressure radiated by the Archbishop was not something an ordinary person could withstand. Considering the circumstances, Rebecca had done remarkably well. The council proceeded as several newly-appointed councillors and city lords took their oaths. After this, several important decisions from the previous meetings were presented. Everyone collectively discussed and voted on them. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t interested and simply sat to the side to listen. Only, his hand was getting a little sore from Rebecca¡¯s grip. ¡­ The morning session of the council ended and the afternoon session carried on until around five. Rebecca and Fang Hao were returning in a carriage. As they left the council hall, Fang Hao received a system notification. [Rebecca¡¯s Loyalty to you has increased by 2, the current Loyalty score is 100.] [Rebecca, your subordinate, has reached a loyalty score of 100 and will no longer be affected by any negative statuses such as deception or betrayal.] 100! Joy instantly surged in Fang Hao¡¯s heart. She¡¯s the first of his subordinates, without a slave contract, who¡¯d reached a loyalty score of 100. His help over such a long period of time hadn¡¯t been wasted after all. True loyalty is reciprocated with the same, the test of time reveals one¡¯s character. However, Rebecca still looked a bit pale at the moment. It seemed she still hadn¡¯t recovered. Only when Fang Hao looked at her did she softly speak, ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t expect it to be the Archbishop.¡± Both of them had guessed their enemy was Groot, but they hadn¡¯t anticipated that the church was also involved. Fortunately, traitors in Lyss City had been dealt with the night before. Otherwise, if the charges were confirmed by the church¡¯s means, they didn¡¯t dare to imagine the consequences. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all over now. We¡¯ll go back in a couple of days. No matter how powerful they are, they won¡¯t be able to touch us,¡± Fang Hao consoled, holding her hand and patting gently. ¡°Hmm.¡± Rebecca nodded, stretching her hand into her jacket collar. She removed the ¡°Light Feather¡± dagger hidden between the seams. The ¡°Light Feather¡± dagger, shaped like a weapon but used as a charm. Though it was called a dagger, it was even shorter than a dirk, it was not designed as a weapon. Of course, it could still be used to kill, but the orange rank wasn¡¯t suited for it. The skill, ¡°Blessing,¡± prevented the wielder from being affected by any negative status. Last time when the heathen saint caused trouble, it was discovered that the church had some skills that could affect others. Chapter 727 - Chapter 727: 506 Chapter 727: 506 Fearing any mishaps, Fang Hao entrusted Light Feather to Rebecca. But the council¡¯s inspection was thorough and it was difficult to bring it in. Luckily, Rebecca had substantial assets and could hide it all in the center. No one would search a woman¡¯s body, so she brought it into the meeting. Unexpectedly, Light Feather really did serve a purpose. Thus, the council meeting was not without its gains. Come next spring, the Federation plans to establish trade routes to increase contact between cities. Allow for the circulation of goods in every city. As soon as this is put into practice, Fang Hao¡¯s goods will be sold in large quantities. Continue to multiply his resources by a hundred. It¡¯s perfect for him. On the military front, the Federation mentioned two things. One is centralization, and the other is strengthening the borders to resist foreign invaders. In short, being part of the Hundred Cities has its benefits; unless absolutely necessary, it is best not to sever ties with humans. ¡°By the way, why is the flag of the Hall of Justice a horn symbol?¡± Fang Hao suddenly remembered this. The flag of the Hall of Justice is identical to the emblem he obtained. There must be a connection. Rebecca whispered, ¡°Well, that¡¯s a long story.¡± After a moment, she continued, ¡°You must have seen the Hundred Cities Council meeting just now. The format of the top five leaders in the upper house is based on the Hall of Justice¡¯s council format. The Hall of Justice was initially established by five human heroes, namely ¡®Brave Horn¡¯, ¡®Noble Faith¡¯, ¡®Sacred Rampart¡¯, ¡®Sharp Thorn¡¯, and ¡®Righteous Truth.¡¯ Our regional leader of the Hall of Justice is ¡®Brave Horn¡¯, which is Dordy.¡± Damn! Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. The emblem he possessed certainly had an impressive history. ¡°Are you implying that besides our Hundred Cities Federation, there are other regions inhabited by humans?¡± Fang Hao suddenly realised. ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? Of course, in addition to the other four leaders who also control their own regions, there are many city-states with humans living independently,¡± Rebecca replied affirmatively. It seemed that the world was even bigger than he had imagined. Their regional channel was just a fraction of the whole. There might even be world channels and cosmic channels in the future. Cough, Cough! Fang Hao cleared his throat and ventured, ¡°I guess the Brave Horn is lost, right? It is not in Dordy¡¯s possession.¡± Rebecca nodded, ¡°True. Dordy has enough prestige and power, but the Brave Horn has been lost for many years. Despite managing Silver Wing City, Dordy does not possess the emblem.¡± ¡°Suppose, just suppose, I find this Brave Horn, is there any benefit?¡± ¡°Do you have it?¡± ¡°Just suppose, suppose.¡± After some thought, Rebecca answered, ¡°You would likely receive a grand reward from the Hall of Justice, as the Brave Horn emblem represents something of significance in human culture.¡± ¡°What reward?¡± ¡°Perhaps a city or a lot of money, I¡¯m not sure.¡± Rebecca shook her head. ¡°Could they give me Silver Wing City?¡± Fang Hao dared to ask, inching closer. ¡°Silver Wing City! If they really gave you Silver Wing City, the Archbishop would keep an eye on you every day.¡± ¡°Nonsense. If I got Silver Wing City, and he still wanted to stay in the city, I would immediately get rid of the old man.¡± Rebecca was startled, and immediately covered Fang Hao¡¯s mouth. She looked at him with shocked eyes. Turning to the carriage horse, she hurried it to move faster. The carriage jolted along. Wrapping his arms around Rebecca, Fang Hao whispered, ¡°The meeting is over. When will we go back?¡± Rebecca was somewhat shy, but she didn¡¯t resist too much. ¡°We¡¯ll prepare supplies for the road in the next two days, then we¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Fine. I need to go out tomorrow to deal with the palace issue. Don¡¯t wander off in case some people haven¡¯t given up.¡± Fang Hao advised softly. He wasn¡¯t afraid of Groot, but he was slightly worried about the church. ¡°Oh fine, I got it. So hot. Let go of me.¡± Rebecca squirmed. Naturally, Fang Hao didn¡¯t let go. With a loyalty level of 100, he knew Rebecca wouldn¡¯t resist. He said quietly, ¡°It¡¯s our last day here. Once we¡¯re back, we¡¯ll be busy with our own tasks. I¡¯ll come play chess with you tonight.¡± Rebecca blushed deeply, obviously understanding the implications. She gently nodded her head. Chapter 728 - Chapter 728: Chapter 507, Come on! _1 Chapter 728: Chapter 507, Come on! _1 Meanwhile. The council meeting had ended. The Archbishop, a formidable figure, was only then leaving the venue. Escorted by a group of Temple Knights, he slowly boarded his carriage. ¡°Archbishop, Archbishop¡­¡± A loud shout echoed as the carriage was about to depart. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! The sound of swords being unsheathed reverberated, as the Temple Knights surrounded the person who tried to stop the carriage. Archbishop Milton lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. He saw Groot, standing outside with a tense expression, trying hard to explain to the obstructing Temple Knights. ¡°Let him come up.¡± Milton¡¯s voice emanated from within the carriage. Instantly, an attendant rushed over and brought Groot. After a thorough frisk, Groot got onto the carriage. The interior of the Archbishop¡¯s carriage was vast, and its decoration was exceptionally luxurious. Every corner was adorned with symbols and patterns related to the God of Light. It was brimming with faith and devotion. Groot, with a nervous demeanor, boarded the carriage. He did not speak, but immediately knelt down, with his forehead touching the ground. A way to repent for the mistakes he had made. As the carriage began to move slowly, a slight bumpiness was felt. Yet Groot maintained his position and did not rise. After a long while, Archbishop Milton, having had a sip from his water cup, asked, ¡°The evidence you gave me was fake?¡± The council meeting had proceeded smoothly today. The only matter that had upset Milton was the failure in accusing Lyss City based on the purported evidence. If only Groot hadn¡¯t messed up midway, Milton wouldn¡¯t have lost face in public. ¡°It¡¯s real!¡± Groot replied hurriedly. Milton, after a moment of contemplation, exuded a golden aura, and continued, ¡°Tell me about this.¡± With his status as the Archbishop, he ordinarily wouldn¡¯t pay attention to issues of a marginal city. Whoever became the City Lord, the Church of Light wouldn¡¯t be interested. The Church focused on propagating faith. However, this year the faith in Lyss City was fraught with problems. That is to say, the temple in the city couldn¡¯t continue gathering the Power of Faith for the God of Light. This brought Lyss City to the attention of the Church. Subsequently, the Church began investigations. Coincidentally, Groot was also investigating Lyss City. Hence, naturally, it was not surprising that the evidence landed in the hands of the Archbishop. If this information was genuine, even if such evidence could be found in any city, with the Archbishop¡¯s influence, he could easily dethrone Rebecca. By then, supporting a new City Lord, the temple¡¯s issue could be resolved. However, such a simple matter was messed up by Groot. At the most crucial time, he could only find two guards as witnesses, making the situation spiral out of control. Even now, Milton did not trust Groot any longer. During questioning, Milton had already invoked [Inquisition]. Any creature, under the influence of the Holy Light, would speak their mind. Still kneeling, Groot became more devout inside. Speaking softly, ¡°The evidence is real. Last night, I arranged for five witnesses from Lyss City to be brought in through the North Gate. They are crucial officials of Lyss City, sufficient to prove Rebecca¡¯s guilt. However, in the end, all five of them and the people I had arranged to escort them went missing. That¡¯s why there was a mistake in today¡¯s council meeting.¡± Milton, listening to this, knitted his brows lightly. ¡°You mean, Rebecca abducted them in advance?¡± There was some disbelief in his tone. The security in Silver Wing City was generally excellent. How could newcomers, who had only been in Silver Wing City for a few days, carry out such an operation without arousing any suspicion? ¡°Yes, that must be the case. I suspect it¡¯s Fang Hao. He has multiple unusual abilities. Rebecca might not have been able to do it, but he might be able to,¡± Groot continued. Milton frowned in silence. This was not the first time he had heard the name Fang Hao. Saint Xu Haide had mentioned that Fang Hao possessed formidable strength. ¡°At the council, I used [Inquisition], but Rebecca did not lie. How do you explain that?¡± Milton continued to question. According to him, Fang Hao had many peculiar abilities. But Rebecca had no such power. At the council, in front of everyone, he had used his Church power, and Rebecca had claimed that the evidence he held was fake. Given Milton¡¯s incredible strength, not to mention Rebecca. Even a high-ranked hero could not lie under his powerful influence. So how could this be explained? Groot hesitantly continued, ¡°I¡­ I am not sure, but the evidence I gave you is certainly true. Even if I had the courage, I would not dare to deceive you, Archbishop.¡± Milton pondered deeply, ¡°So, was Rebecca wearing any artifact at that time?¡± He recalled Rebecca¡¯s attire at the time. Rebecca, a woman who loved beauty, had been dressed in a very fitting gown. Had she been wearing any object, it would have been found during the body search before entering the council room. If Rebecca wasn¡¯t lying, and Groot wasn¡¯t lying at this moment. Then, what was going on? As the carriage continued to move, Groot¡¯s body began tingling all over. He was already weak, and maintaining the kneeling position was naturally unbearable. His body began to shake violently, much more than the trembling of the carriage. But Milton still didn¡¯t let him rise. By the time the carriage arrived at the church¡¯s cathedral, Groot¡¯s body was shaking like a sieve, and his sweat had completely soaked the carpet. ¡°Archbishop, we have arrived at the church,¡± came the voice of an attendant from outside the carriage. Chapter 729 - Chapter 729: Chapter 507, Come on! _2 Chapter 729: Chapter 507, Come on! _2 The Archbishop glanced at the man prostrating under his feet. He said softly, ¡°Go do your work, I¡¯ll tell you what needs to be done in the next couple of days. I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me this time.¡± After finishing, he stood up and got off the carriage. Groot, who had been kneeling all this time, instantly went limp and couldn¡¯t get up from the floor. The Archbishop had left. The Knight Templar glanced at Groot, who was sprawled on the carriage, weak and drenched in sweat. He commanded, ¡°Get down.¡± Gritting his teeth, Groot slowly moved down. He stepped off the carriage. The luxurious carriage left, and Groot hailed another carriage at the roadside to take him back to his residence. As he sat in the carriage, the weakened Groot let out a smile. This time, his clash with Rebecca ended in failure again. However, unlike previously, this time he had managed to drag down the Archbishop too, and made him stand on his side. ¡°Rebecca, just you wait,¡± he murmured. ¡­ The autumn sunlight was still bright, but it was no longer as sizzling. Basking in its warmth brought a cozy feeling. Fang Hao stood in the courtyard, Assigning tasks for the day after tomorrow. They were to return to Lyss City in a few days, and provisions needed to be prepared in advance. Moreover, he informed the four accompanying mercenary groups to start assembling their teams. So that no one got left behind when the time came, as the team wouldn¡¯t be changing times to wait for them. The four mercenary groups had no tasks in this short period. They weren¡¯t needed for patrols or stand guard, their days consisted of strolling around, going to a tavern to drink and find women. With the departure imminent, gathering the members would seriously take a few days. After delegating the tasks, he let the crowd make their own preparations. Everyone dispersed. Fang Hao also decided to check on the horses. Arriving in the courtyard, he saw Anjia and Lorrey amusing themselves with a not-so-small parrot. The parrot¡¯s feathers were rainbow-colored, and it had a red beak and a red crown on its head. It looked rather regal. The parrot was perched on the table without any leash, not flying away or running off. It was simply waiting for the two of them to feed it dried fruit. ¡°What¡¯s this thing?¡± Fang Hao asked as he approached. Anjia and Lorrey turned at the sound of his voice and seeing it was Fang Hao, they smiled, ¡°A parrot. Haven¡¯t you seen one before?¡± ¡°Uh! I know it¡¯s a parrot. I meant where did you get it, it¡¯s quite big.¡± Looking closely, this parrot wasn¡¯t small. It was even bigger than the average pigeon. ¡°We bought it today in Chinatown. An old man sold it to us, saying after training it for a few days, it would start talking,¡± Anjia said excitedly. Previously, when they saw the captain of the guard¡¯s talking parrot, Anjia was filled with envy. As expected, she ended up buying one. ¡°It doesn¡¯t talk yet, can we teach it?¡± Fang Hao extended his hand, trying to pet the parrot. But the parrot dodged his hand swiftly, then spread out its left wing to block Fang Hao¡¯s hand. This made Fang Hao pause, thinking it¡¯s quite clever. He stretched out his other hand to touch. Snap!!! The parrot used its right wing to strike it away. ¡°Here, use this,¡± Anjia handed him a dried fruit from her hand. The dried fruits were some roasted grains and a few mixed dried fruits. Appearance-wise, they seemed to be specially purchased pet food. Fang Hao took one and fed it to the parrot. This time when he tried to touch it again, the parrot didn¡¯t use its wings to block him. Fang Hao successfully petted the parrot. The parrot was soft and fluffy, but smaller than its exterior appearance. Its plushness was only because of its rich feathers. Chirp~! The parrot made a noise, indicating to Fang Hao that he could touch it but shouldn¡¯t forget to feed it. ¡°It¡¯s quite smart. What can it say now?¡± Fang Hao asked as he fed the remaining dried fruits in his hand to the parrot. ¡°We¡¯re still training it. It should be able to talk soon,¡± Anjia said. Fang Hao thought that made sense, the parrot seemed intelligent, so teaching it shouldn¡¯t be hard. After all, they had seen the guard captain¡¯s parrot who was capable of talking. ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. Anjia and Lorrey both fell into thought upon this question. Seems like she hasn¡¯t thought of one yet. ¡°Skullcrusher or Fireblade, which sounds better?¡± Anjia asked with an inquisitive look. Lorrey pondered for a moment, ¡°Fireblade, I guess. That red thing on its head makes it fit the name.¡± Hearing their conversation, Fang Hao quickly interrupted, ¡°Can¡¯t you guys come up with other names, rather than using human names?¡± ¡°You think Fireblade is a bad name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about whether it sounds good or bad, but it¡¯s somewhat improper to use a person¡¯s name for a pet. What if you run into Fireblade one day? When you call for him, both will look at you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Well, you name it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t think of any either,¡± Fang Hao shook his head. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go find Rebecca and let her think of a name.¡± Anjia stood up and beckoned, and the parrot flew straight onto her shoulder. The two of them, along with the parrot, embarked on their journey towards Rebecca¡¯s room. ¡­¡­ After Anjia left, Fang Hao continued heading towards the stables at the back. Their place was huge, with multiple stables. A large number of soldiers were responsible for taking care of the horses. As he approached, he saw Aseti, who was also there to check on the horses. The two of them ended up at the same place. ¡°Sir!¡± Aseti saluted. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll probably leave the day after tomorrow. No problems with the horses, right?¡± Fang Hao reached out and stroked the neck of the four-footed Giant Lizard beside him. The Giant Lizard looked up, seeming rather simple-minded. ¡°I just checked, the horses have no problems at all.¡± Aseti reported. ¡°Alright, make sure the fodder needed for the return journey is prepared.¡± ¡°Understood, we¡¯re taking stock right now.¡± ¡­ After dinner, Having given all the orders, Fang Hao returned to his room. Anjia and Lorrey were in Rebecca¡¯s room, trying to come up with another dominating name for the parrot. Fang Hao lay on the bed, killing time by browsing through the Book of Lords. Although he was looking at the chat channel, his mind was considering the Church of Light¡¯s attitude towards them. Clearly, the Archbishop had noticed the changes in Lyss City. Otherwise, someone of Groot¡¯s status wouldn¡¯t have the Archbishop helping him with these matters. The most likely possibility was that the Church was planning to replace the ruler of Lyss City. Fortunately, they had made sufficient preparations and handed over the ¡°Light Feather¡± to Rebecca before the council meeting. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t dare to imagine the consequence. The winter should provide some stability for a while, and any church movement would also wait until after the winter ended. They could take advantage of this period and make the necessary preparations. As he was lost in thought, the moon had slowly risen high into the branches. As darkness fell, the Nightstone began to emit a hazy light. Creak! That¡¯s when the door was gently pushed open. Looking towards the sound, he saw a curvaceous figure standing at the wooden door, looking a bit hesitant. ¡°Rebecca!¡± Rebecca, in a loose blue-grey long dress, stood quietly at the door with her hand on the wooden frame. Frozen like a statue, she did not move. Her fair cheeks and autumn-like eyes. Her full red lips were clearly well adorned before she came. The loose long dress accentuated her perfect shoulder and hip curves; her ankles under the dress were slender and fair. She stood at the door, a hint of hesitation in her eyes, uncertain whether to leave or come in. Rebecca¡¯s appearance made all of Fang Hao¡¯s previous thoughts evaporate instantly. He shut the Book of Lords in his hands, Immediately went over, took her hand, and invited her into the room. Rebecca was pulled into the room, her cheeks blushing even more, Even up to her neck, turned bright red. The two of them sat down by the bed, their hands still intertwined. ¡°Aren¡¯t Anjia and the others with you to name the parrot?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Rebecca¡¯s eyebrows, shaped like willow leaves, knitted lightly, ¡°So, you mean you didn¡¯t want me to come?¡± Her tone carried a hint of embarrassment. ¡°No, no.¡± Rebecca¡¯s beautiful face became serious as she softly stated, ¡°I suggested a few names to them. I asked them to pick one when they were back in their rooms, and Rebecca said she would stay with Lorrey tonight.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good.¡± At the words ¡®that¡¯s good,¡¯ Rebecca blushed even more, and punched him hard in the shoulder. Then, like a reckless gambler, she threw herself onto the bed sprawled out. ¡°Come on.¡± Oh fuck! Chapter 730 - Chapter 730: Chapter 508, Red General (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions...)_1 Chapter 730: Chapter 508, Red General (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions¡­)_1 The doors and windows were tightly closed, the lights were bright. Rebecca was lying straight on the bed, her hands crossed at her waist. She gave off a¡­ tranquil vibe. Her long, cream-colored gown draped heavily around her, revealing her curvaceous figure. Her high, prominent chest was like an insurmountable mountain, astonishing. Her pretty face was somewhat flushed. Her eyes were tightly shut, her eyelashes trembling slightly. She was clearly nervous, but still tried to keep a calm demeanor. Fang Hao found it a bit amusing. He bent down, and removed her shoes. Rebecca, who was pretending to be dead, felt someone holding her foot. Her body stiffens instantly, and she sits up abruptly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Hao noticed her irritation and asked quietly. Rebecca was about to scold him for touching her foot, but saw Fang Hao merely placed her shoes to one side. Instantly, she didn¡¯t know what else to say. With a thud, she lay back on the bed, continuing to feign death with her delicate and powerful foot pulled in slightly. Finding her adorable, Fang Hao laid down next to her. He lay on his side, quietly watching her. The room was silent, so quiet that they could clearly hear each other¡¯s breaths. Rebecca wasn¡¯t young anymore, and she was a top-notch noble in the city. She was well aware of the matters between men and women, but due to her own preferences, she hadn¡¯t yet experienced such things firsthand. The only one she had been intimate with was another woman. Being with a man¡­ was a first for her. Years of holding power served as a constant reminder to handle every situation steadily. ¡°I¡¯m old enough to be a mother. I must not appear too nervous and lose face,¡± she thought. Lost in her wild thoughts, she waited for him to make a quick move. That way, she could easily reprimand him, reminding him not to overinterpret their relationship. They just had to like each other and not let it affect their work. These were good thoughts, but after waiting what felt like forever, nothing happened. All she could feel was the hint of his warm breath occasionally hitting her face, causing a bit of itchiness. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± The silence felt just as torturous as waiting for your turn to speak during the daily council meeting. She really didn¡¯t understand what Fang Hao was up to. She opened her eyes slightly and glanced at him. Fang Hao was lying on his side, smiling at her. Rebecca was taken aback, her eyes filled with confusion. She turned her face towards him. Their faces were just inches away from each other, and they could both feel each other¡¯s breath. ¡°Fang Hao¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here,¡± Fang Hao replied. Rebecca looked at him oddly, ¡°You¡­ are you done?¡± ¡°Done what? You¡¯re insulting me.¡± Fang Hao retorted. Rebecca silently got back into bed, saying, ¡°If it¡¯s going to be like this, I¡¯m going home.¡± Saying so, she started to get up. Seeing her get angry, Fang Hao immediately compromised, embracing the beautiful woman from the side. He wrapped his arm around her waist, hugging her soft and supple body close to him. Ya! Rebecca let out a cry of surprise, her body instantly stiffening, her face fiercely flushed, though she was trying to keep her composure. Fang Hao¡¯s heart was racing too, attracted by Rebecca¡¯s beauty. Hugging Rebecca before him, he softly said, ¡°Rebecca, you look really beautiful today.¡± Rebecca was pleased at heart, but her face remained serious. Feeling the warmth of his body, she replied seriously, ¡°Anjia might be coming back soon, so don¡¯t blame me if I don¡¯t have time for you.¡± Fang Hao realized that was true too, Anjia could come back anytime. Thinking about it, it seemed more thrilling. Holding the smooth and gentle body in his arms, he pulled the thin quilt over them both. ¡°Do you remember the first time we met? You were sitting up there, and I was looking up at you from the first floor.¡± Ugh~! Rebecca spat at him, ¡°Back then, you were pretending to be a ¡®Platonist¡¯, I haven¡¯t settled that score with you yet. You even helped me change clothes, I¡­ I nearly cut you off.¡± In relationships, ¡®Platonism¡¯ refers to the pursuit of pure love in spirit and ideals, rather than just physical pleasure. Back then, when Fang Hao arrived at Lyss City to take Rebecca¡¯s evening dress order, He was being so delicate that it seemed like he would snap his waist at any moment. But he was rewarded. Besides securing the order, he got to see Rebecca¡¯s body openly and honestly. As Rebecca spoke, her breathing got heavier towards the end. Fang Hao halted his wandering hand under the blanket, deliberately asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Your breathing is quite heavy.¡± Rebecca opened and closed her mouth, unable to speak. Fang Hao¡¯s hand began to move again, unbuttoning her gown, only to find that she was wearing the bellyband he had given her. The silk material was excellent, smooth and soft to the touch. He continued, ¡°No matter what, I like you. Maybe it¡¯s because of our interactions, or maybe it¡¯s the first time I was taking your measurements. But from now on, you are mine. You don¡¯t have to bear everything on your own, I am here for you!¡± Rebecca bit her lower lip and whispered, ¡°I would be a fool to believe you.¡± Fang Hao pressed further, ¡°What about you? When did you start liking me?¡± Rebecca¡¯s body stiffened, her breathing became even more rapid. Opening and closing her red lips, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t notice. Perhaps when Lei Li died, or maybe when you saved me from Aubrey.¡± There was laughter in Fang Hao¡¯s eyes. Rebecca admitting she liked him made him incredibly happy.¡± Half-squinting his eyes, he watched as her face turned increasingly red and her body squirmed more and more. Chapter 731 - Chapter 731: Chapter 508, Red General (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions...)_2 Chapter 731: Chapter 508, Red General (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions¡­)_2 Her breathing started to become hurried. His other hand braced her chin, tilting her face upward for a kiss. Whoo~! Rebecca¡¯s eyes was hazy. Her small fists lightly tapped on the man¡¯s shoulder, then she stopped resisting. Her slim body sunk slightly, the delicate feet curled up under the blanket along with her tensing body. She grabbed onto the man¡¯s shoulders. Her eyes gradually lost focus and a deep blush colored her face. ¡­ A housemaid, waiting outside the door. Performing the tasks given by the lady of the house. Suddenly, a slightly clear surprised yell came from inside the room. Ah~! It was the lady¡¯s voice, short, as if it was an expression of pain. The maid felt frightened and was about to ask if anything wrong. She then heard the sound of a creaking bed. The maid instantly had a thought. Her face also became flushed in an instant. ¡­ Knock Knock Knock!! The noise of knocking coming from outside the door. It was slightly dawn, the sun had not yet risen. Rebecca sleepily opened her eyes, staring at the greyish white wall with a confused look. Who am I? Where am I? Feeling somewhat perplexed, she immediately sensed a sour and numb sensation flooding her upper body. ¡°Madam, the day is about to break.¡± The maid¡¯s voice came through. That¡¯s what Rebecca had instructed her the night before. She would leave before everyone else woke up, so she could maintain her dignity as much as possible. She moved slightly, only to find her head resting on a man¡¯s chest, her thigh draped over his waist. She was tightly held by his arm, unable to get up. ¡°Hmm, I got it.¡± Rebecca didn¡¯t dare hesitate, she replied in a low voice right away. Hearing her response, the maid didn¡¯t make a sound, she continued waiting outside the door. Rebecca removed the arm around her, intending to sit up. A wave of sour pain rushed all over her body, causing her to collapse back again. The floor was strewn with their clothes. It looked like the room had been ransacked by thieves. ¡°Fang Hao, stop pretending to be asleep.¡± Rebecca raised her fist and hit him in the stomach. Pfft!! Fang Hao, who was pretending to be asleep, almost choked and quickly opened his eyes. Seeing Rebecca slightly angry, Fang Hao immediately sat up and helped the slightly uncomfortable Rebecca to sit up. He softly said, ¡°Why not sleep a little longer? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?¡± ¡°Dare you to mention it again¡­¡± A glint shone in Rebecca¡¯s eyes, seeing the teasy smile on Fang Hao, she felt like flipping out. Last night was truly traumatic for her. She had intended to let him take the lead, but then, lying down, crouching, standing¡­ That range of techniques exceeded what she had heard all these years. It felt like they did all the unimaginable things. Fang Hao held her in his arms, spoke softly: ¡°Let¡¯s sleep a little longer, we don¡¯t have much to do today, you must be exhausted from last night.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Recalling the occurrences of last night, Rebecca felt her body tingling. She twisted her waist tightly and said firmly, ¡°I told you clearly, but you simply wouldn¡¯t listen, you have to mess around.¡± Fang Hao was pinched, not feeling any pain, he spoke softly: ¡°I was, too excited last night, I lost control.¡± Hmph! Rebecca snorted coldly, released her hand, and started to dress herself, enduring the pain in her body. Fang Hao swallowed, seeing her attractive body, he approached her a bit more and gently pulled her, saying, ¡°It¡¯s still early, do you want to rest a bit more?¡± Rebecca froze in response and immediately took position to prevent him, she moved the blanket to cover her body and moved away. She took as much distance from him as she could. ¡°Rest? Get yourself dressed, everybody will be up soon.¡± Rebecca casually threw his clothes at him too. Fang Hao didn¡¯t try to stop her anymore, seeing Rebecca in such a condition, he felt like she wasn¡¯t doing well. She was walking very carefully. As Rebecca got properly dressed, she opened the door and left with her own maid. Only then did Fang Hao realize that there was a guard outside the door too. It must have been hard for her. After Rebecca left, Fang Hao started cleaning the room. Although there were servants who could clean the room, the situation in the room was a bit embarrassing today. The room that was clean was now a mess. The things on the table had been swept to the floor, and the chairs were overturned to one side. A large piece of the blanket on the bed had been thoroughly wet and was still damp. Fang Hao returned the items on the table to their original positions. The drenched quilt had been directly placed into the storage space. It¡¯s saving the trouble. He would just find a place to throw it away later when no one is around. ¡­ The sun rose. It was broad daylight now. Anjia, who had stayed at Lorrey¡¯s place for the night, pushed open the door with a bang and came back yawning. A red-crested parrot perched on her shoulder. As soon as she entered the house, she asked, ¡°Are we going out later? What are we having for breakfast today, hmm?¡­ What smell is this?¡± The orcs¡¯ senses were keen, much more so than humans. Instinctively, her nose twitched, looking like a sniffer dog. Fang Hao opened the window and quickly diverted the topic, ¡°Did you name the parrot?¡± On hearing something of her interest, she immediately responded, ¡°I have decided to name it ¡®Red General¡¯, isn¡¯t it nice, Red General?¡± The red parrot nodded cooperatively. ¡°Does it know that¡¯s its name?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Of course.¡± Anjia looked proud. She pointed at the parrot and said, ¡°Red General, perform for him.¡± Red General landed directly on the table. It propped itself up on one foot, flapping its wings, looking like a mighty eagle soaring high. Chapter 732 - Chapter 732: Chapter 508, Red General (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions...)_3 Chapter 732: Chapter 508, Red General (Seeking Recommendations, Subscriptions¡­)_3 Really, it is smart after all. ¡°Impressive.¡± ¡°Right? Very clever.¡± Anjia said with a face full of joy as she fed the parrot a dried fruit. After gulping down, the Red General flew back onto Anjia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Has it learned to speak yet?¡± ¡°Umm, not yet¡­, no matter how I teach, it just won¡¯t learn to speak.¡± Anjia answered helplessly. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then said, ¡°I heard that if you want a parrot to talk, it seems you have to cut a piece off its tongue.¡± Flap¡­ Flap¡­! The Red General on Anjia¡¯s shoulder seemed startled and flew behind her, flapping its wings in fear. It glanced at Fang Hao warily. As if he was really going to cut its tongue off. ¡°Er, I was messing, don¡¯t be scared.¡± Fang Hao immediately reassured the bird seeing its reaction. Still, the Red General remained on guard, not daring to approach Fang Hao. ¡­ After finishing breakfast. Rebecca, who originally planned to catch up on sleep, received another notification from the Hall of Justice. An emergency council would be held in the Council Hall in one hour. This left Rebecca, who was feeling a little sore all over, no choice but to get ready quickly and rushed in the horse carriage towards the Council Hall. Once Rebecca left. Fang Hao too, assembled people and left the residence. Leaving the city from the east gate, he headed towards Li Rong¡¯s territory. Sitting atop the giant lizard, Anjia teased the Red General and started the conversation, ¡°You trust Li Rong this much? Aren¡¯t you afraid she might betray your secrets to Silver Wing City?¡± According to the plan. Today, Fang Hao intended to use Li Rong¡¯s city as a coordinate point. To teleport Nelson over. And deal with the issue of the Gold Queen before leaving Silver Wing City. Previously, he might have had some apprehensions about Li Rong disclosing the matter of the undead. Hereafter his interaction with the transmigrator, he dismissed that concern. When a transmigrator speaks, they need solid evidence. Not to mention that Li Rong, in her capacity, was unlikely to gain the church¡¯s trust, even if some might believe her words. She couldn¡¯t produce concrete evidence. Simply stating ¡®I¡¯ve seen it¡¯ had little persuasive power. Moreover, disclosing this information would bring Li Rong no benefits whatsoever. Silver Wing City would still not accept her, and she would incur the wrath of Fang Hao. She was clever, smarter than most transmigrators. She wouldn¡¯t do something so foolish. Turning around on the massive lizard¡¯s back, Fang Hao assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Li Rong is smart. She knows which side she should stand on. She won¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± Anjia nodded, ¡°Yeah, I always feel like she¡¯s calculating something.¡± ¡°After handling the matter of the underground palace, we will return to Mao Dong.¡± Fang Hao continued. The most significant secret of the entire palace was likely hidden in the last layer. No matter whether the Gold Queen documented in the murals was inside or not, he would explore it today. ¡°Alright, what a pity for her shop though. It was pretty good, but it was destroyed in the fire.¡± The group advanced rapidly. Soon, they arrived at Li Rong¡¯s city. They had contacted Li Rong before the departure. Seeing Li Rong, who was puffing a cigarette while waiting near the door from afar. ¡°You guys are up early. Have you had breakfast?¡± Li Rong asked while leading the group into the city. Fang Hao and his company were riding the giant lizard and purple-scaled horse. Without anyone to look after, they travelled fast. Li Rong seemed to have just woken up. ¡°We¡¯ve had our food. Let¡¯s go to your mansion and make sure no one comes near.¡± Fang Hao dismounted from the giant lizard and proposed. Li Rong exhaled a puff of smoke, ¡°I¡¯ve told everyone. Just don¡¯t demolish my house.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Walking swiftly, they quickly entered the mansion. After getting the Lionheart knights to surround the place. Without any hesitation, Fang Hao brought out the Demon Doll, prompting it to activate the demon teleportation. The teleportation gate connected the two cities. Before Fang Hao could enter. Nelson, who had been waiting with twelve priests equipped with various tools and potions, came out. Turns out after the teleportation matrix was connected. He didn¡¯t need to go to pick people up, they could pass through the teleportation light curtain on the other end. Seeing thirteen skeletons, dressed in a religious attire, come out, Li Rong was stunned. She forgot to exhale the smoke she inhaled, causing her to choke and cough violently. Beating her chest continuously. Her performance caught the attention of Nelson and others. They glanced at Li Rong sideways, and the pale blue Soul Fire in their eyes seemed to gauge her emotion. Li Rong happened to meet the gaze of the Soul Fire. Scared, she turned pale and her coughing quieted down considerably. ¡°Sir.¡± Nelson saluted first. Fang Hao smiled, ¡°Scholar Nelson, I¡¯m sorry for the trouble.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our duty.¡± Fang Hao nodded and said, ¡°Prepare a carriage for Scholar Nelson.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Once everybody was ready, the group set off once more, racing towards the underground palace. Chapter 733 - Chapter 733: Chapter 509, Dwarfs call for help_1 Chapter 733: Chapter 509, Dwarf¡¯s call for help_1 Walking this road for the second time, it felt much more familiar. They spurred their horses on, moving even faster than the previous time. However, there was one peculiar incident. The team was stopped midway by a patrol from Silver Wing City. Fang Hao and the others immediately became tense, almost ready to fight. Luckily, Nelson and other Funeral Priests were all inside the carriage and did not show their faces. Perhaps the patrol took the carriage for transporting women and did not conduct a thorough check. After checking the team¡¯s credentials and purpose of their journey, the patrol allowed them to continue. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief after leaving. They resumed their journey towards the underground palace. ¡­¡­ Silver Wing City. The Council Chamber. The sudden increase in the number of council meetings left the representative members confused. Some who were prepared to leave were forced to return by the cavalry, summoned to attend a meeting. People whispered amongst themselves, guessing what could have happened that warranted such an urgent assembly of everyone. Rebecca was seated in her position, her heart fluttering anxiously. In her hurry that morning, she had forgotten to take the Light Feather from Fang Hao. If the Archbishop was still relentless, persisting with the charges against Lyss City, and used his interrogation ability again¡­ What was she to do? She glanced surreptitiously at the door, contemplating if she should leave right then and avoid the meeting. She could think of an excuse later to explain. Although there were guards at the door, they were not vigilant. She figured she could slip away. Just as she was lost in thought, The five leaders hurriedly entered from the top side¡­ As the five leaders took their positions, the entire hall fell silent at once. All eyes were affixed on them. Rebecca¡¯s hands were clenched tightly, her knuckles were white from the pressure. In a short while, Dordy of the Hall of Justice spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Yesterday, we received news from the Dwarf City of Gray Iron that Eight Peaks Mountain was being attacked by the Undead army. They hope that the Federation will come to their aid.¡± When they heard this news, there was quite a commotion in the room. Relations between humans and dwarfs had not been close since their united effort to attack Crescent Heights. Even due to border disputes and resource issues, things had been tense. Now the dwarfs had the audacity to ask humans for help. Discussions ensued among all the councilors. Rebecca slowly opened her white, clenched hands, taken a back by the information. She leaned back onto the chair, allowing her tense body to relax. So it was not about her. It was about the Dwarves being attacked by the Undead. Dwarves? Undead? In the blink of an eye, Rebecca¡¯s formerly relaxed brow furrowed again. It couldn¡¯t be¡­ Fang Hao, could it? Just a few days ago, he had mentioned some Dwarf territory matters to her. Moreover, apart from him, where else could there be such a large Undead army? It had to be Fang Hao¡­ ¡°Leader Dordy, the Eight Peaks Mountain is the Dwarfs¡¯ territory. These past years, there have been frequent conflicts at the border with the Human Clan. We need to carefully consider this rescue mission,¡± a councilor said aloud, standing. ¡°Since Rune had ascended the throne, the Dwarfs have been in chaos, even repeatedly threatening our city. I have concrete evidence of these. And now that they are in trouble, they wish us to expend human and material resources to assist them, why should we?¡± another middle-aged man stood up, furiously slamming a thick stack of documents onto the table. This man¡¯s city was adjacent to the Dwarf border. He was unlikely to ever have been happy seeing the Dwarfs in hardship, he would rather hold a party to celebrate their misfortune. And now they expected him to send troops to assist them, keep dreaming. Once these two brought up the recent actions of the Dwarfs, it garnered the support from other councilors. Normally, they had little to do with the Dwarfs. However, from the sounds of it, the Dwarfs caused trouble on human territory and only sought help when they experienced difficulties. Did they not value their dignity? Soon, there were many who opposed the sending of troops. The situation quickly unraveled into chaos. Dordy struck the table three times, silencing the room. Calm was restored to the giant chamber. It was at this point that Archbishop Milton stood up. He began to speak, ¡°The Undead are the enemies of all living creatures. This time, the large-scale approach of the Undead must mean something is amiss on the Desolate Battlefield.¡± Pausing for effect, he continued, incisively studying everyone present, ¡°Humans and Dwarfs have fought the Undead and the Blood Clan together in the past, we have always been allies. It is only right for humans to come to their aid in this Undead calamity.¡± Applause erupted from a few places after Archbishop Milton¡¯s speech. These were councilors deeply associated with the church. No matter what Milton says, they would always echo and support him. However, most people remained silent. Lack of opposition didn¡¯t mean consensus. At a later stage, if other forces were reluctant to deploy their troops, the Church alone would not be able to sustain a racial war. Milton¡¯s face turned sour. The prestige of the church had been visibly waning. Seeing the atmosphere turning uncomfortable, Dordy at this juncture, spoke, ¡°Archbishop Milton, please sit.¡± Immediately after, Dordy¡¯s gaze fell on the crowd below. He then spoke solemnly, ¡°Since the founding of the Hundred Cities Federation, our mission has been to resist external tribes and create a secure space for humans to live. This time, the message sent by the Dwarfs said that there¡¯s a large number of Undead, which had attacked and taken over five Dwarven fortresses in a single day.¡± Chapter 734 - Chapter 734: Chapter 509, Dwarfs call for help_2 Chapter 734: Chapter 509, Dwarf¡¯s call for help_2 Everyone was stunned. Five fortresses a day, this speed was simply beyond comprehension. The dwarven machinery was world-renowned, but the fortresses they built were equally renowned for their solidity. How could they have been broken so quickly. Dordy listened to the discussions below and once they had somewhat subsided continued, ¡°Everyone should understand the principle of a shared fate, our aiding the dwarves now is to end this war in their territory and prevent it from spilling over into ours.¡± Er¡­.. As soon as he finished speaking, even the City Lord who had just brought out a stack of evidence against the dwarves felt some reasoning in what Dordy was saying. If there were so many of the undead, once they conquered the dwarves, the next step would be to attack human cities. In that case, it might be better to go to war in the dwarves¡¯ territory. Even though they understood this logic, they weren¡¯t too keen on rushing to help the dwarves so readily. Some raised their hands to signal their attention. Upon receiving a nod of agreement from Dordy, they stood up and said, ¡°Such an easy promise to assist may not garner gratitude from the dwarves afterwards.¡± Dordy naturally understood this. He loudly proclaimed, ¡°We naturally won¡¯t assist without compensation. When the dwarves aided humans in the past, they took a considerable amount of resources. This time it¡¯s our turn, and likewise, we should also be compensated.¡± The council members below nodded in agreement. Turning the battlefield into the dwarves¡¯ territory while using the opportunity to squeeze the dwarves. This seemed like a fair trade-off. Seeing that the matter was almost settled, Dordy added, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s vote.¡± In reality, the matter of assisting the dwarves had been thoroughly discussed among the five leaders of the upper house. Announcing it at the meeting today was more of a notification. The Church made the first move, persuading the believer members to agree, and then Dordy convinced the others. There was a brief discussion before the members below began to express their opinions. Rebecca watched silently the entire time, not expressing her opinion nor discussing with anyone else. In her heart, she increasingly suspected that the undead army was Fang Hao¡¯s forces. As humans rush to aid the dwarves, coupled with the Church of Light¡¯s damage to the undead. Would this affect the course of the war? Would it affect Fang Hao¡¯s development? She had only been to Fang Hao¡¯s city once and didn¡¯t know much about the power inside his territory. She couldn¡¯t help but think a bit more about this. ¡°Okay, 132 votes for, 12 against, and 22 abstentions,¡± a statistician loudly announced from the side. Rebecca snapped back to reality. Coming back to focus, she realized the voting was over and that she had abstained. Luckily, there were quite a few abstentions and no one paid any particular attention to her. ¡°Okay, next is the deployment. Time is of essence. The Hall of Justice and the Church will send out an advance troop of twenty thousand to help the dwarves. The other cities can report their forces,¡± Dordy went on. If they wait for the armies of all cities to gather. They probably wouldn¡¯t be able to reach Eight Peaks Mountain by the start of spring next year. Therefore, the Hall of Justice and the Church will send out an advance party to aid the dwarves, while the armies of the other cities will support according to plan. Hearing Dordy¡¯s words, Rebecca¡¯s anxious heart relaxed instantly. Twenty thousand men. Looks like you have no idea how many forces Fang Hao has, these twenty thousand men will only serve as his toothpick. ¡°Rebecca, what are you laughing at?¡± A nearby council member asked curiously. For some reason, the woman beside him just suddenly smirked and burst out laughing. ¡°Um, nothing. I just remembered something amusing.¡± Rebecca stifled her laughter. The council member didn¡¯t say anything more, just shook his head slightly. Women! With something so important happening, she is preoccupied with other thoughts! The meeting only discussed this one thing. The Archbishop and Groot didn¡¯t take the opportunity to cause trouble for Rebecca. After the meeting, Rebecca returned to her carriage and went back to her residence. She thought to herself. Better leave Silver Wing City as soon as possible to avoid any unexpected changes. ¡­ The next day. After a day of rapid travel. By the next morning, Fang Hao and his team finally made it to the water pond. After chasing away the wildlife gathered to drink water. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords, setting up a temporary camp. Once everything was ready, Fang Hao released the Demon Dolls. He said to Nelson and the others waiting by the shore, ¡°Master, you guys wait here for now. I¡¯ll go in and make sure it¡¯s safe first. If there¡¯s any danger, we¡¯ll retreat immediately.¡± Nelson nodded slightly, ¡°Alright, Milord.¡± Having given his instructions, Fang Hao controlled the Demon Doll and plunged into the pool. Heading downward, he quickly returned to the entrance of the underground palace. Removing the Nightstone from around his neck, he passed through the stone cave and entered the palace. Since it had already been cleared by Fang Hao and his companions, the ascent was uneventful, with no enemies or monsters in sight. He went straight to the ninth floor. Within the corridor, the once vibrant murals had faded, with some areas peeling and flaking off. Only a few days had passed, and yet everything had changed this much. He made his way straight to the stone door. Using the method Lorrey had taught him, he gently knocked on a stone brick. Click! Following the crisp sound, the entire corridor started to wobble, and the stone door slowly opened to both sides. It revealed the interior. This was a single room. The room was about fifty to sixty square meters. It was fully-equipped with various utensils, tables and chairs. However, all the furniture was made of stone, while all the utensils were made of gold. In the center of the room lay an enormous golden coffin. The gold coffin was covered with beautiful decorations and was extremely ornate. Fang Hao stood at the doorway and waited for a while. However, the room remained silent. No enemies appeared. ¡°Is the Golden Queen not at home?¡± It was not his first time encountering a case where the owner was out. While the owner was out, he turned their residence into a dungeon-like place and swept through it, carrying away anything in sight. Once he was sure that there were no enemies inside, Fang Hao stepped into the room. The whole room was filled with utensils. The possibility of hidden traps was slim. Still, Fang Hao was cautious. After entering the room, he looked around. His gaze ultimately fell on the large golden coffin in the center. The exterior of the coffin was carved with all kinds of intricate and beautiful patterns. The brightly colored patterns were all embedded with various precious gemstones on the coffin. Among them, one was as large as a fist. Regardless of whether these gemstones were special materials or not, even ordinary gemstones are incredibly valuable at this size. What a luxury. If there was danger lurking in this secret room, it would probably be within the closed golden coffin. However, the possibility of an enemy inside was low, based on previous experience. If there really was an enemy inside, they would have awakened the moment he stepped into the room. Thinking of this, Fang Hao was uncertain whether to feel relieved about avoiding a major battle or regret having missed the chance to encounter a powerful hero. However, these were things he could not change. He placed his hands on the side of the coffin lid and gently pushed. Click!! The sound of metal rubbing against metal rang out, and the coffin lid was slowly pushed open. As the coffin lid opened, Fang Hao could see the interior. The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of shriveled feet. Thud, thud, thud!! Fang Hao instantly let go and retreated several steps. Someone was home! The Demon Doll¡¯s eyes flicked as the Soul Fire within violently bounced, staring fixedly at the partly opened golden coffin. But ultimately, nothing unusual happened inside. The silence was unbroken. No, wait! Could she have simply died in her sleep? Undead creatures don¡¯t die in their sleep. Was she asleep? Or was she using an ability similar to God¡¯s Presence, and did not know someone was approaching? In any case, the sight of those feet earlier certainly gave him quite a scare. It was one of the rare times he felt so startled after joining the Undead faction. He waited for a long while, but there was no movement from inside the gold coffin. Fang Hao built up the courage again to approach, and peered inside once more through the small gap he had created. Those shriveled feet he spotted earlier had vanished. As if they had been weathered and crumbled into a pile of black powder. Were they dead? Chapter 735 - Chapter 735: Chapter 510, Gold Eating Queen (Plus 1 update for single brothers.)_1 Chapter 735: Chapter 510, Gold Eating Queen (Plus 1 update for single brothers.)_1 The undead can also die. And when the undead die, their bodies cannot be transformed. Could it be that this Gold Eating Queen has just died? When he opened the coffin, he saw that her feet were still intact. He backed away and returned, but now her appearance had changed. He continued to speculate while putting forth his efforts. With the accompanying screeching noise, the coffin lid was slowly pushed open. And as it opened wider. The body in the coffin was gradually vanishing with time. It seemed like this golden coffin was some kind of container. When a part of the container was opened, the body inside could no longer withstand the ravages of time and eventually reduced to ashes. Clang! The coffin lid finally tipped backward as intended. The whole scene inside the coffin was laid out before his eyes. The vanishing body stopped when it reached the chest. Only half of the chest and a shrunken skull were left. The hollow pupils had dried up. No signs of the Living Dead state or Soul Fire were present. Fang Hao drew a bit closer again. [Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda (Dark Gold Ranked Hero)]. She¡¯s not dead! Fang Hao, who had just drawn nearer, inched back, creating a distance from the coffin. A transmigrator¡¯s power does not affect corpses. The Dark Gold-ranked hero lying in front of him seemed to be in bad shape, but she was not dead. However, she looked close to death. Fang Hao stood aside and waited for a while, but nothing unusual happened in the golden coffin. The queen, with only her chest cavity and head remaining, lay peacefully inside. He found a metal rod without any property and gently tapped the shrunken body. Nothing happened, and a big chunk fell off where the golden scepter had touched. It seemed that the remaining part won¡¯t last long either. After confirming that there was no immediate danger. He left the Deomn Doll here and his main consciousness returned to his body. He stepped out of the room. Outside, heroes like Nelson and Demitrija had been silently waiting. Seeing him come out, they quickly approached. ¡°Sir, what¡¯s the situation?¡± Nelson asked. Fang Hao considered for a moment and then said, ¡°The last layer has a corpse-keeping coffin made of gold. There is a body inside it that only has the skull and chest cavity left. It is the Gold Eating Queen, but it seems her condition is not very good.¡± Fang Hao explained the situation as it was. Actually, the tomb had mainly been cleared, so there was nothing more to worry about. Nelson thought for a moment and said, ¡°Sir, you stay here. I¡¯ll take some people to check it.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have the Giant Lizard take you there.¡± After a brief chat with the four-footed Giant Lizard, it carried Nelson and a group of funeral priests. And took them to the tomb below the pool. In the ninth layer, the Deomn Doll controlled by Fang Hao saw Nelson¡¯s arrival. Nelson led the priests to the golden coffin and slightly saluted it. Then he went forward to check the situation closely. After examining the status of the body in the coffin, he returned to the door. He said softly, ¡°Sir, this Gold Eating Queen has suffered heavy damage. If we want to restore her body, we need some materials to perform the ceremony.¡± ¡°Will the materials be consumed on a large scale?¡± Fang Hao asked after a thought. He had to weigh whether it was worth it or not and, if the queen woke up, would she serve him. He was not an ardent follower of undead loyalty and would not go to desperate lengths to save this Gold Eating Queen. Moreover, the title ¡°Gold Eater¡± was somewhat special. I hope she¡¯s not fond of eating gold. Nelson thought for a moment and said, ¡°We need over a hundred Shadowstones, Death Traces, and alchemy materials. Murdering living creatures could also be used as a substitute, but more people would be required.¡± That¡¯s a lot. Building the special structures of the undead faction only required a few, or at most a dozen or so Shadowstones. To repair the body in the golden coffin, it would require a hundred Shadowstones and Death Traces. Would it require so much energy? He could afford these things, but what if she turned hostile after being restored? Rolana was a case in point. He had resurrected her, even had to coax her, and her loyalty still grew dreadfully slow. After thinking a bit, Fang Hao asked, ¡°Can I make her wake up first and communicate with her?¡± He wanted to communicate with her before spending a large amount of materials to restore her. ¡°Yes, but the waking time will not be long,¡± Nelson replied. ¡°Um, there¡¯s no danger when she wakes up, right?¡± ¡°We can only wake up her consciousness.¡± Nelson continued. ¡°Okay, then let her wake up first.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Nelson returned to the room again and organized twelve funeral priests to draw the array. They had brought some materials with them when they came. So they could start drawing the array right away. The complicated array centered around the golden coffin was completed. Nelson muttered some words and then made a gesture. A blue Soul Flame lit up inside the dry skull in the stone coffin. ¡°Sir, you can talk to her now.¡± Nelson whispered. Fang Hao nodded and walked over. In the golden coffin, a soul flame was burning within the dry skull, the flesh in the pupils was hollow. The dried corpse seemed to be struggling, but when it realized it couldn¡¯t move, the soul fire trembled violently. ¡°Who are you?¡± The withered skull started to speak. The faint movement of the lower jaw caused a large piece of the body on the chest to crumble into powder. ¡°Who we are doesn¡¯t matter, we just want to propose a deal to you.¡± Fang Hao looked down at the dry corpse inside. Chapter 736 - Chapter 736: Chapter 510, Gold Eating Queen (Plus 1 update for single brothers.)_2 Chapter 736: Chapter 510, Gold Eating Queen (Plus 1 update for single brothers.)_2 ¡°Oh? What kind of deal?¡± The skull spoke again, its tone now very calm. As if it were truly a normal conversation, it showed no concern about its precarious situation. ¡°I save you, you work for me,¡± Fan Hao said. ¡°You¡¯re the first one to dare to speak to the Queen like that,¡± continued the skull. ¡°Really! There¡¯s nothing strange about it. You¡¯re about to die. I just asked the Corpse Witch; restoring you will require a lot of resources and materials. This seems like a fair exchange to me,¡± Fang Hao replied. A demon doll in the form of a skeleton and a mummy, reduced to just a skull and a rib cage. Both were in the state of undead, devoid of any expressions. Their tones gave away no emotions. They calmly continued their discussion. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s proposition, the skull fell into silence. She indeed felt extremely weak, and her soul fire wouldn¡¯t last much longer. After a prolonged silence, the skull spoke, ¡°I am the Queen.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never taken orders from anyone, and I will not start.¡± Fang Hao also fell silent for a moment, then said, ¡°The world has changed rapidly. The era where you used to live is greatly different from the present. Rolana, the little princess of the Blood Clan, also works under me. It¡¯s less like work, more like mutual aid and support. We¡¯re helping each other live better lives here.¡± His tone was not too assertive, considering a dark gold hero could greatly help his territory. Upon hearing Rolana¡¯s name, the soul fire in the skull¡¯s eye sockets shimmered faintly. It seemed that she knew Rolana and was somewhat surprised that Rolana would willingly work under the peculiar skeleton before her eyes. The Gold Eating Queen fell silent again, seemingly contemplating Fang Hao¡¯s words. Fang Hao didn¡¯t interrupt. Her silence indicated she was already tempted. Even the undead were not fond of oblivion and death. Is not their willingness to be turned into undead a reflection of their fear of death? As the soul fire in her eye sockets grew fainter, she spoke again, ¡°I can join your territory. But you must agree to my terms.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear them!¡± ¡°First, you must give me the respect and status I deserve. Second, you can¡¯t make me do anything against my beliefs. Third, as my power comes from gold, you should provide as much gold as you can. Fourth, assist in improving my strength¡­these are the initial conditions.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°The third point, about gold: all the gold in this underground palace is yours, and future gold will be allocated to you as much as possible. But the territory¡¯s development also needs funds, so not all can be given to you. As for the rest, I can promise you.¡± ¡°Good. Then I am willing to join your territory.¡± ¡°Maybe you could make some pledges to nurture trust between us.¡± The soul fire of the Gold Eating Queen shuddered even more. ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°Fang Hao!¡± The Gold Eating Queen¡¯s indifferent voice rang out again, ¡°By the great God of Undead, after joining the territory, Lord Fang Hao¡¯s will shall guide my path. All who oppose his vision shall be bestowed with equal doom.¡± The oath sounded convoluted, but its meaning was clear. He didn¡¯t hold a dark gold hero scroll, thus the only way to recruit a dark gold hero and impose restrictions was through this method. Swearing an oath to the god they worshipped was not as simple as bragging. It was a grave matter. After listening to the Gold Eating Queen¡¯s oath, Fang Hao nodded and said, ¡°Welcome, let the recovery process begin.¡± The Gold Eating Queen said nothing. Slowly, the soul flame in her eye sockets died down. Fang Hao retreated to the door, and Nelson stepped boldly inside. Twelve priests entered the room, moving all the gold objects to the hallway outside the room. In the corners of the room, they found six viscera jars that sealed the Gold Eating Queen¡¯s organs. The Gold Eating Queen¡¯s body was a Living Dead, meaning her body had organs. Before her severe wounds put her to sleep, she had removed all her organs and placed them in different corners of the room according to a certain pattern. Either she was waiting for someone to save her, or it was for some other reason. Either way, she was well prepared in advance. If organs turned to dust along with her, recovery would have been much more challenging. Fang Hao checked the properties of the six viscera jars. Two of them were magical items with orange level augmentation. The other four, though also sealed with viscera, kept no additional properties and were simply ordinary containers. Fang Hao merely glanced at them, with no intention of keeping possession of the viscera jars. A dark gold hero was more valuable than viscera jars. Once the room was tidy. Fang Hao, as required by Nelson, took out a large number of necessary materials from his storage space. While previously exploring the underground palace, he had acquired many Shadowstones and Traces of Death. The remaining alchemy materials were obtained through trade after he had asked his subjects to procure them. Once everything was ready, the ritual started. Under Nelson¡¯s guidance, the complex array started radiating light, and the energy it gathered began to restore the body inside the golden coffin. When the restoration reached the chest area, the viscera jars, one by one, were opened. The viscera, constantly dripping with viscous black liquid, were returned to the chest cavity. The ritual went on for a long time, with Shadowstone after Shadowstone shattering inside the room. Just as the last three stones were left. Chapter 737 - Chapter 737: Chapter 510, Gold Eating Queen (Plus 1 update for single brothers.)_3 Chapter 737: Chapter 510, Gold Eating Queen (Plus 1 update for single brothers.)_3 The ritual markings suddenly shrank, finally all siphoning into the golden coffin. The very next second, from within the golden coffin, a withered hand rested on the side of the coffin. Following that, the body of the Gold Eating Queen slowly sat up. It could be seen that the restored parts did not match the color of her chest cavity. The Gold Eating Queen was a member of the living dead undead. Her body possessed flesh and organs, though it was no longer as pliable as that of the living. She was more akin to a mummy that had just had its bandages removed. The Gold Eating Queen moved her body. The crisp sounds of her bones rubbing against each other were unusually clear in the room. It was feared she might break the body she had just repaired. A group of funerary priests paid her a slight bow, and then, like a queen, she stepped out of the large golden coffin with Nelson¡¯s assistance. The Gold Eating Queen first nodded towards Fang Hao. Then, her slender fingers lightly touched the golden coffin behind her. The large gemstone-encrusted coffin melted as if it was liquid. The golden liquid coalesced into streams, climbing her body and solidifying. Ultimately, it formed golden armor on the Gold Eating Queen, a golden mask, and a golden crown studded with gemstones. And the gemstone as big as a fist was set at the top of a golden scepter. The scepter in her hand was nobly magnificent. At this moment, Fang Hao was dumbfounded at the doorway. Who knew you could do that with gold. This wasn¡¯t the end of it, the Gold Eating Queen gestured once more. The gold utensils moved to the hallway outside the door also began to melt. This gold liquid surrounded Nelson and the group of funerary priests, eventually forming golden armor. It was placed over their robes. ¡°Many thanks, my lord.¡± Nelson and the others bowed again. ¡­ How impressive! From her entrance, every move she made, was filled with impressiveness. She truly did seem like a just-awoken queen, rewarding her subordinates who had come to save her. Only he, as the lord, stood at the door. Just like he had bought a ticket to watch, he had completely come to watch the show. When everything in the room was finished. The Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda, walked out. She walked straight in front of Fang Hao and elegantly bowed, saying, ¡°Greetings, my lord.¡± You¡¯re much more-commanding than I am, Fang Hao thought. But on his face, he just nodded, ¡°Well, should I call you Amanda from now on? How does that sound to you?¡± ¡°Acceptable.¡± ¡°Let them first remove all the utensils from here. I¡¯ll introduce you to the situation of our territory. It might be a bit different from where you used to live,¡± Fang Hao said softly. Following that, Nelson commanded the funerary priests to begin moving things out. Fang Hao, however, was introducing Amanda to the situations of the territory and the living creatures inhabiting it, such as humans, orcs, dwarfs, and trolls. But Amanda just silently listened and did not express any surprise. ¡°Aren¡¯t you surprised?¡± Fang Hao asked Amanda. ¡°The Immortal Clan also rules over living creatures. The bones tax that the living creatures turn in each year is the main source of military power.¡± Amanda¡¯s voice came from under the golden mask. Bone taxes were a type of tax, each year based on the request, complete bodies and bones from all regions had to be handed over as a sort of tax. If it was from natural deaths, it was sufficient. But if the bone tax wasn¡¯t enough, live persons would be captured to fill the requirements. Of course, capturing other ethnic groups was also an option. ¡°Alright, we are currently under the watch of the Church; later, I will return you to your territories.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After the introductions were over, the last items in the room were finally cleared away. Everyone went through the water basin and returned to the temporary campsite. Chapter 738 - Chapter 738: Chapter 511, 37 minutes_1 Chapter 738: Chapter 511, 37 minutes_1 Once out of the pool of water. Fang Hao put away the Demon Doll. When he, in his human form, appeared in front of the Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda. The elegant and calm queen, was momentarily stunned. Although you couldn¡¯t see if there was any expression under her mask. But you could see, her gaze stayed on Fang Hao for quite a while without speaking or making any moves. Also in somewhat of a stunned state were Demitrija, Anjia, and a number of other creatures, curiously sizing up the woman in front of them wrapped in gold and gemstones. That¡¯s quite some aura she¡¯s got. ¡°Amanda, let me introduce you. You¡¯ve met the Corpse Witch Nelson; this is the Lizardman Demitrija and the Orc Anjia. They are heroes from within our territory, so from now on, we¡¯re all on the same side.¡± After introducing, Fang Hao continued to present Amanda to Demitrija and others. ¡°This is Amanda of the Undead Clan. She is a Dark Gold grade hero. She will be our companion from now on, so you should all get to know her.¡± When Fang Hao mentioned the Undead, the others confirmed Amanda¡¯s race identity. Being covered in a golden armor and seeing eyes behind the mask It¡¯s somewhat difficult to confirm whether she¡¯s an Undead or not. Each of the heroes nodded in acknowledgement, serving as their greetings. Amanda remained relatively indifferent, merely responding with a nod, but said nothing. ¡°Alright, everyone get ready to return home,¡± Fang Hao announced loudly. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± everyone replied. Everyone got moving, loading the gold artefacts that had been carried out onto the carts. In addition to the large amount of gold. In the ninth layer, a golden chest was also found, but Fang Hao wasn¡¯t in a hurry to open it. It was loaded onto one of the carts and tightly secured with rope. Everybody began to busy themselves. Meanwhile, Fang Hao took this time to check out the stats of the new Dark Gold hero. [Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda (Dark Gold Rank 6 Hero)] [Faction: Undead] [Template: Dark Gold] [Racial Traits: Undead, Living Dead, Vulnerability to Light] [Legion Talent: Undead Queen, My Command Must Be Obeyed, Metal Skeleton] [Skills: Queen¡¯s Majesty, Life-and-Death Control, Golden Divine Power] [Innate Abilites: Domain Magic Mastery, Domain Sword Technique Mastery, Domain Magic Mastery, Domain Command Mastery] [Undead Queen]: The ¡®Undead¡¯ army led by this unit is automatically blessed with the power of death during offensive moves, Attack Power +10%, explodes and produces poisonous gas after death. [My Command Must be Obeyed]: The army led by this unit, Attack Power +15%, Defense +20%, Magic Elemental Resistance +20%. [Metal Skeleton]: The ¡®Skeleton¡¯ type Undead units led by this unit, Defense power +35%, evasion of arrows and bullets +50%. [Queen¡¯s Majesty (Passive)]: The army under her command will not flee or surrender due to morale. The enemy army, morale decrease by 20%. [Life-and-Death Control (Active)]: The Queen grants you death and new life, a certain range of dead living creatures will automatically transform into undead and join the Queen¡¯s ranks, continuing the fight (maximum distance 20 meters). [Golden Divine Power (Active)]: Possesses the ability to control gold. (Description: Amanda, the Gold Queen of Anglina Kingdom. Her wisdom and courage are as highly celebrated as her sense of honor and justice. But her rule was tragically short-lived. She was poisoned and died in her prime by political enemies. The royal family of Anglina Kingdom couldn¡¯t accept this reality and brought in the Corpse Witch, an enemy of living creatures, to turn the preserved Amanda into the Undead Queen, continue to rule the Kingdom towards glory. At the end of the Undead ritual, Amanda woke up to find her beauty and body had turned pale and rigid. When she walked out of the great hall again, she was wrapped in golden armor, with a golden mask depicting her face in life on her face, standing in front of all her people. However, the glory of the Kingdom of Anglina was not sustained. The wars between the Undead and the living creatures gradually destroyed the once mighty kingdom. The Queen then returned to her golden coffin, waiting for the next awakening.) Having read Amanda¡¯s stats, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but be in awe. Her skills aren¡¯t numerous, but each is not weak. [Queen¡¯s Majesty] is a passive skill. Her own troops will not collapse due to morale, and the enemy immediately drops 20%, which is somewhat overpowered. A drop in morale to a certain value can even lead to surrender or escape of the entire army. A drop of 20% at the onset means they will have a hard time fighting later. [Life-and-Death Control] turns the deceased creatures on the battlefield into the undead to continue fighting. It has a distance limit of 20 meters, but the number shouldn¡¯t be small. The descriptions of all the skills are very detailed. Only the last one, [Golden Divine Power], has a simple description but the effect is terrifying. It can turn gold into liquid and then shape it into any form. This controllability is enormous. If used well, it could be more terrifying than any other skill. I¡¯ve found a treasure. Then he checked Amanda¡¯s loyalty, hoping it wouldn¡¯t be too low. Such a powerful hero with low loyalty would be another worry for him. [Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda currently has 75 points of loyalty.] Good, good. Pretty high, pretty high. With Rolana¡¯s precedent of 26 points, Amanda¡¯s 75 points seemed quite reasonable. This queen, high quality. Yes, very high. ¡­ While Fang Hao was looking at the Book of Lords, Demitrija walked over. ¡°Sir, everything is ready. We can head back now.¡± Chapter 739 - Chapter 739: Chapter 511, 37 minutes_2 Chapter 739: Chapter 511, 37 minutes_2 Fang Hao looked up. The temporary camp had been dismantled and the carriages were ready. ¡°Amanda, Nelson, get on the carriage. We¡¯re setting off,¡± Fang Hao announced loudly. Everyone mounted their horses. Amanda headed towards a lone carriage, while Nelson and the Corps of Undertakers climbed onto the carriage at the rear. Amanda beckoned, and gold flowed around her like liquid. Underneath the carriage, it morphed into a low, square stool. Amanda stepped on the stool and onto the carriage. The stool then transformed back into a liquid, and flowed into the carriage. Everyone watched in dumbfounded amazement. This was¡­ too¡­er, too impressive. Fang Hao had seen this before and naturally reacted more calmly. Seeing that everyone was ready, he loudly ordered, ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to Li Rong City.¡± The scouts advanced first, with the caravan following closely behind. ¡­ The return journey was even smoother. They passed by patrol teams, none of which tried to obstruct them. They made their way and reached Li Rong¡¯s territory by the noon of the second day. Gazing at the huge amount of gold utensils that had been transported back, Li Rong was dumbstruck. Seeing how the heroes who were of dark gold-tiers had disembarked from the carriage, she crushed her cigarette and approached to ask, ¡°Heroes recruited from the ninth level?¡± ¡°Uh, yes,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Damn, I should have gone! I don¡¯t have any heroes yet!¡± Li Rong jealously hollered. After all, it was Li Rong who supplied the dungeon map and information. But her own harvest was far greater. Watching her envious expression, Fang Hao chuckled, ¡°This is an Undead Hero, you would need to have The Corpse Witch, and factional relationships to recruit it. Basically, there are prerequisites. You wouldn¡¯t have been able to recruit it even if you went.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Li Rong calmed down. Couldn¡¯t discern the hero¡¯s race, who was fully clad in gold armor. If it¡¯s an Undead¡­ she dared not accept that. While in Silver Wing City, she definitely needed to maintain her distance from the Undead, in order not to be burnt at the stake by the church. ¡°Of course, why would I lie to you? Moreover, I spent hundreds of precious materials to recruit it,¡± Fang Hao said as he walked towards the Lord¡¯s mansion. Hearing about the preconditions and the vast amount of materials used, Li Rong felt a lot calmer. ¡°Then, you have to give me some of the gold utensils. We agreed, each of us gets half of the dungeon loot.¡± Li Rong hugged her shoulders, looking dissatisfied. ¡°Alright,¡± Fang Hao smiled and nodded, then suddenly thought of something and added, ¡°Oh right, about the gold utensils from the last time. I¡¯ll exchange them for Warfire Coins. Give those gold utensils to me.¡± Gold coins and Warfire Coins were both viable currencies. From the previous loots in the dungeon, he and Li Rong took half each. When he recruited Amanda, he agreed to give her all the gold utensils from the dungeon. So now he could only exchange the share he gave to Li Rong. ¡°Fine, as you wish.¡± Li Rong agreed. Li Rong naturally agreed with Fang Hao¡¯s proposal. Her territory didn¡¯t have the blueprint for a mint, so those burial gold utensils couldn¡¯t be converted to cash directly. Now that Fang Hao was willing to exchange them with Warfire Coins, she was naturally willing. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great, Sister Li is indeed very generous.¡± Li Rong gave him a sideways glance, ¡°What¡¯s the big deal, you helped me kill Sander, I haven¡¯t properly thanked you yet!¡± Both of them entered the hall and sat down on chairs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I wanted to kill him too,¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment before continuing, ¡°The stores in Silver Wing City won¡¯t be repaired by winter, what are your plans?¡± Upon mention of this matter, Li Rong sighed slightly. ¡°Sigh, what can I do? I can only wait until winter ends, and the stores are repaired. Whether people will be willing to rent them to me is still uncertain,¡± Li Rong looked worried. Her territory doesn¡¯t cultivate or hunt. The development of her territory completely depended on the supply of store goods. If nothing had happened to the stores, her development would have been far quicker than others¡¯. But now, as the stores supporting her development had been destroyed, her development came to a halt. Thankfully, she had saved quite a bit of money already, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have lasted the winter. ¡°Have you ever considered my earlier proposal?¡± Fang Hao smiled at Li Rong. ¡°You mean, our collaboration on opening stores?¡± ¡°Yes, I have many cities in my territory, enough for you to display your capabilities. You won¡¯t have to worry about the rental fee for the stores, and no gangsters would dare to create trouble. You¡¯ll be able to manage them with ease. Additionally, if you¡¯re planning to open stores in native cities, I would also support you. I have both the money and soldiers,¡± Fang Hao spoke softly as he picked up his cup and took a sip. Li Rong didn¡¯t answer, but pulled out a cigarette, tapped it twice on the table, lit it, and placed it in her mouth. The room fell into silence. It wasn¡¯t until her cigarette was half-burned that she finally asked, ¡°How will we split the profits?¡± ¡°Eighty-twenty. I¡¯ll handle the capital and stores, you will manage them. Hence, I get eighty, you get twenty,¡± Fang Hao said. Li Rong shook her head, ¡°I possess the skills and have proven in the market that I¡¯m capable of making profitable returns. I¡¯ll be in charge of managing the stores then, why should a hands-off manager like you gain so much? How about a fifty-fifty split? We are old acquaintances after all.¡± ¡°This is business, don¡¯t play the sentiment card. Your supply can¡¯t even meet the demand of the stores. You¡¯re incapable of building production factories. I¡¯ll need to be responsible for that eventually. Seventy-thirty,¡± Fang Hao continued. Li Rong remained silent, puffing out rings of smoke. After a long silence, she finally continued, ¡°I want to open two stores before winter, and by the start of spring, I want a factory with over five hundred people. Can you do it?¡± Chapter 740 - Chapter 740: Chapter 511, 37 minutes_3 Chapter 740: Chapter 511, 37 minutes_3 The shops in Silver Wing City were burned down, and she needed them to sustain the current sales and factory expenses. Many of her people were recruited from nearby villages, and it would be difficult to recruit them again if they were disbanded. Fang Hao thought for a moment and answered, ¡°Two shops and a factory of 500 people are not a problem. Can you guarantee the delivery of the goods to the shops in winter?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, I¡¯ll arrange for transmigrators to manage the shops, and they can restock through the trading channel.¡± Li Rong answered. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, I have another request.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it!¡± Li Rong calmly stated, understanding that their collaboration was the best option at the moment. She was well aware of Fang Hao¡¯s intention to get a piece of the cosmetics business. However, running a shop in this world had made her feel powerless. She faced rejection from the natives, harassment from the underground forces, and exploitation from nobles. Furthermore, her shop was destroyed by fire, and it would be difficult for her to start over by herself. Moreover, she had to consider those who relied on her. She still had some savings, but what about the transmigrators and the workers in the factory? It was uncertain whether they could make it through the winter. Agreeing to Fang Hao seemed to give him a huge advantage, but it was indeed a temporary solution for her as well. If he truly can establish numerous shops just like he said. Then, whether she had shops in Silver Wing City or not would not matter, it would suffice for the development of her city. ¡°Join as a subsidiary city of mine.¡± Fang Hao said seriously. Li Rong¡¯s eyebrows creased, she had also devoured several cities with her Book of Lords, making them her subordinates. She naturally understood the implications of devouring them. She hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Hao wanted to turn her city into a subsidiary city. ¡°I offered myself to you and you refused, now you want my city. What¡¯s inside your head?¡± Li Rong said through gritted teeth. ¡°You see, why bring this up again.¡± Li Rong thought for a moment, ¡°What do you mean? Why do you need my city? If I do this, my lifeline would be in your hands. What if you change your mind?¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°The situation in my territory is unique. For some security reasons, only if you become my subsidiary city would I trust you. Of course, your city still belongs to you, I will not coerce you into anything we agreed on.¡± Li Rong was silent for a while, then nodded, ¡°Alright, I agree. But my people should be under my command, and you must discuss with me in advance about any matters.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Without wasting any more words, Li Rong directly removed her Book of Lords and handed it to Fang Hao. He accepted it. And chose to devour directly. [Devouring has been successful, your level 6 Book of Lords now needs 13/20 to level up.] After devouring, the required experience increased from 8/20 to 13/20. It also indicated that Li Rong had devoured five Books of Lords herself. He reassigned the area to Li Rong and handed her a Book of City Lord. Li Rong did not stand on ceremony and took the Book of City Lord. She then casually sat on Fang Hao¡¯s lap, with one hand holding a cigarette and the other arm resting on Fang Hao¡¯s shoulder. In a soft voice, she said, ¡°From now on, I¡¯m yours. You have to take good care of me.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Just as Fang Hao was about to say something. Footsteps were heard coming from outside. One of Li Rong¡¯s subordinates walked in with large strides, and upon seeing the scene, he was taken aback and turned to leave. Li Rong felt embarrassed and got off Fang Hao¡¯s lap and sat to one side. With an expressionless face, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The militiaman finally snapped back to his senses, saluted slightly, and said, ¡°My lord, a cavalryman came from outside the city, claiming that the lady has sent him to deliver a message to Lord Fang Hao.¡± Li Rong instantly looked towards Fang Hao. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Let him in.¡± Li Rong told her subordinate, ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The militiaman quickly retreated. Not long after, a man was ushered in ¨C it was the lead guard from Rebecca¡¯s side. Upon seeing Fang Hao, he bowed and said, ¡°My lord, the lady asked me to bring a message to you.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± The lead guard remained silent, his gaze shifting between Li Rong and the militiaman in the room. Fang Hao understood his meaning, ¡°Li Rong, stay. Have your men go outside.¡± Li Rong nodded, ¡°You go out first, and don¡¯t let anyone approach.¡± The militiamen obeyed and exited the room. The room was then left with Fang Hao, Li Rong, and the lead guard. ¡°Speak.¡± The lead guard nodded and lowered his voice, ¡°The Hall of Justice and the Church of Light have assembled 20,000 men, they set off three days ago to aid the Dwarves at the Eight Peaks Mountain. The other human cities have also started gathering their forces, and will also head to Eight Peaks Mountain.¡± Upon hearing this news, Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows knitted together instantly. Humans are coming to aid the Dwarves. Chapter 741 - Chapter 741: Chapter 512, Blocking the Reinforcements_1 Chapter 741: Chapter 512, Blocking the Reinforcements_1 Hearing this news, Fang Hao was somewhat surprised. Winter was about to arrive and given the situation, which was nearly medieval, launching a large-scale war would drain too much resources. Unless absolutely necessary, no forces would be willing to wage war at this time. However, the Federation of Hundred Cities still decided to assist the dwarves. Looking at this, it appeared that humanity had made a huge resolve. However, the dwarves obviously didn¡¯t inform humans about the actual number of the Undead. Otherwise, Silver Wing City would not have sent twenty thousand people to their deaths. ¡°Will other cities also send troops?¡± Fang Hao turned to his trusted aide. The latter nodded and replied, ¡°For war against foreign races, each city will send out a corresponding amount of troops based on its City Level. As for Lyss City, according to its current City Level, they have to dispatch at least ten thousand soldiers to join the joint army.¡± Lyss City was at City Level twelve. For those above level ten, there would be a minimum number of troops to deploy. Given the numerous human cities, such a merger resulted in quite a significant number. Fang Hao thought for a moment before continuing, ¡°When will the twenty thousand from the Hall of Justice and the church depart? When will the others from various cities leave?¡± ¡°The force from Silver Wing City has already set off two days ago. Based on their route, they are expected to pass Cracked Stone Bridge today. My lady received an order stating that she must send reinforcements to Eight Peaks Mountain within two months, hence, my lady wishes to seek your opinion.¡± The trusted aide responded seriously. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, I understand. I will return later and discuss this matter with Rebecca personally.¡± ¡°Very well, City Lord.¡± The trusted aide saluted once more before leaving the room. The hall was once again quiet. Li Rong curiously asked, ¡°Are you involved with the dwarves?¡± By now, how could she not understand what he meant. Clearly, the war with the dwarves had something to do with Fang Hao, which was why someone specifically came to inform him about the movement of the Human Federation. Fang Hao looked at her and said, ¡°There¡¯s no harm in telling you now. My people are attacking Eight Peaks Mountain. According to the current pace, we should be able to take over the entire Eight Peaks Mountain before winter arrives.¡± Li Rong was completely stunned. She had made speculations about Fang Hao¡¯s power. He had a high-ranked hero, special troops, and it was said that he had vast territory. But now, he said he was at war with the dwarven forces. Just how much should a transmigrator expand before they would start a war with a faction, and even aim to seize the enemy¡¯s territory before winter? Each time they interacted, she thought she knew Fang Hao¡¯s final trump card. But each time, she would have to revise her conjecture. He was at war with an entire race. This was simply madness. ¡°Are you lying to me?¡± Li Rong tentatively asked. As Fang Hao was flipping through the Book of Lords, he replied, ¡°Why would I deceive you? We are now part of the same force, and there is no benefit in lying to you.¡± ¡°Mad, this is madness.¡± Li Rong fanned herself as she murmured to herself. Fang Hao ignored her and started a private chat with Dong Jiayue. ¡°Jia Yue, how¡¯s the war going? Do you need any support?¡± Soon, Dong Jiayue replied. ¡°No need, everything is sufficient. It¡¯s just that the dwarves¡¯ resistance has greatly increased, making the advancement slower.¡± This was within expectations. The closer to the central region, the stronger the resistance. It was impossible to split the troops into five and conquer five cities in one night as when they were at the outskirts. ¡°The dwarves have sought aid from humans who have dispatched twenty thousand soldiers for assistance. The troops from the other cities would also be mobilized for support in due course.¡± Fang Hao relayed the recently received news to Dong Jiayue. After a while, Dong Jiayue replied, ¡°Twenty thousand troops are not a big deal, but the continuous reinforcement could slow down the speed at which we advance. If the war continues, there is a high chance that it could escalate into a war with dwarves and humans at the same time.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t respond immediately but pondered over Dong Jiayue¡¯s words. Dong Jiayue¡¯s analysis made sense. Twenty thousand may not seem like much, and it wouldn¡¯t cause much of an impact within the two million strong White Bone Army. But what if humans continue to send reinforcements? Dong Jiayue would then have to deploy troops to block them. Once the conflict arose to a considerable degree and casualties increased, there was a high possibility it could turn into a situation where the Undead were at war with both humans and dwarves. If this happened, it would definitely deviate from his plan of developing the human race. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll figure out a solution here. Over there, pick up the pace and try to take over Eight Peaks Mountain as soon as possible,¡± Fang Hao replied Dong Jiayue after thinking it over. ¡°Okay, Brother Hao.¡± After ending the chat, Li Rong was still sitting quietly at the side, silently watching Fang Hao. It seemed as if she was still considering why Fang Hao had developed so quickly and what the secret behind it was. Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords and looked at Li Rong. He asked, ¡°Where is the Cracked Stone Bridge?¡± ¡°Ah? Oh, it¡¯s here.¡± Li Rong opened the Book of City Lord and pointed to a location on the map. Since it was a bird¡¯s eye view. They could see that it was a dried-up riverbed with a stone bridge connecting the two sides. After looking at the distance between here and the Cracked Stone Bridge, Fang Hao nodded. He then commanded towards the door, ¡°Have the heroes come over. I have orders for them.¡± After a while, several heroes entered the hall. After sitting down at the side, Fang Hao told them about the situation in Silver Wing City. Anjia was still busy feeding the Red General, she didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. Demitrija was also deep in thought. Rather, it was the Gold Eating Queen, Amanda, who spoke after a brief silence, ¡°Delaying the human reinforcements isn¡¯t that difficult. As long as we create an illusion, they wouldn¡¯t dare to send troops to assist in the short term.¡± Chapter 742 - Chapter 742: Chapter 512, Blocking the Reinforcements_2 Chapter 742: Chapter 512, Blocking the Reinforcements_2 Everyone turned to look at him. Fang Hao asked, ¡°What illusion?¡± Amanda gently stroked the gemstone on her staff and continued, ¡°Humans are easily swayed by emotions. As long as we make them believe that Silver Wing City is also under threat, the nobles living in the city will naturally become worried. They won¡¯t dare to send troops to help others. They won¡¯t even dare to send a small squad, much less twenty thousand troops.¡± Everyone was struck by this realization. Indeed, this was a simple and highly effective plan. ¡°That¡¯s an excellent idea, but how will we convince the council and the nobles that Silver Wing City isn¡¯t safe?¡± Fang Hao asked further. A voice came from behind the mask, ¡°First, we need to make clear who the humans should fear.¡± ¡°Undead!¡± Fang Hao answered. There were enemies stronger than Undead, but due to the existence of the Church. Undead was the biggest and irreconcilable enemy. ¡°Exactly, if Undead were to appear near Silver Wing City, then the council will become acutely aware of their threat. They would prioritize handling the domestic threat first. Without the Alliance leading, the relief troops from other cities won¡¯t just send their people to save the Dwarf. We can keep stalling until we capture the Eight Peaks Mountain,¡± Amanda explained. Well, ¡­. She did make a lot of sense. ¡°We have the Undead, but not in this area. Transferring them here in large number could pose problems.¡± Fang Hao rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Amanda continued, ¡°This can be left to me. It¡¯s not difficult to deal with. It¡¯s merely a feint.¡± Fang Hao looked at her intently, then asked again for confirmation, ¡°You mean to say that you¡¯re going to distract twenty thousand people alone, right?¡± ¡°If I use the identity of the Undead and make some trouble, it¡¯s not that difficult.¡± ¡°Will you ensure you won¡¯t be in danger?¡± Fang Hao asked again. ¡°If your information is accurate, the likelihood of me being in danger is small. Even if there¡¯s danger, I can escape.¡± Amanda replied calmly. Fang Hao thought for a while and watched Amanda for a while. Finally, he nodded, ¡°Alright, this is on you. If something goes wrong, retreat immediately. Letting these twenty thousand people go isn¡¯t a big deal, but ensuring your own safety is¡± Amanda nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao considered for a moment, then gave a Space Pendant to Amanda. This magical necklace has a storage space of 3 cubic meters. You can use it to store gold. Amanda took it with a nod. [Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda¡¯s loyalty towards you has increased by 2 points, with the current loyalty being 77.] Well, it¡¯s not bad. Her loyalty increased by two points. But the higher the level of the hero, the less increase they show even when given good things. After all, they¡¯ve seen too many things and it¡¯s hard to make a big splash in their hearts. Unlike Anjia, who was overjoyed when she was given a purple necklace last time. ¡­ Once everything had been agreed upon. Everyone left the hall. A carriage filled with gold artifacts and another for people were parked in front of the City Lord¡¯s mansion. These were prepared for Amanda. Amanda made a gesture and the gold artifacts gathered like a stream of water. In the end, it turned into a solid gold cube of 3 cubic meters, which Amanda stored in the Space Pendant. Next, Amanda moved in front of the carriage. Meanwhile, Fang Hao summoned a Demon Teleportation to send Nelson back to the main city while summoning a Bone Dragon at the same time. Fang Hao said, ¡°Amanda, this Bone Dragon is for you. If there¡¯s any danger, ride the Bone Dragon and escape. You can worry about stalling later.¡± Amanda glanced at the Bone Dragon, somewhat surprised that Fang Hao kept such an Undead unit. However, she didn¡¯t say much. The remaining gold flowed again, coating the Bone Dragon¡¯s skeleton and the white steel armor it wore with a layer of gold, as if it was under a layer of gold paint. The whole body sparkled under the sunlight, so bright that it could even hurt your eyes. Once all preparations were done, Amanda climbed the golden ladder and seated herself on the dragon¡¯s back. She nodded to Fang Hao. With a powerful leap, the Bone Dragon charged into the sky, disappearing from sight amidst a gust of wind. ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s impressive.¡± Li Rong muttered to herself, standing in place. ¡°It cost a lot of gold.¡± Fang Hao also watched the direction where the Bone Dragon disappeared, whispering to himself. All the gold in the carriages was gone. ¡­ After Amanda left. Fang Hao brought out the Gold Chest he obtained in the ninth level. He chose to open it directly. [Obtained: Bound Spirit Tower Blueprint (Purple), Queen¡¯s Gold Tower Blueprint (Purple), Fine Iron Crescent Blade Blueprint (Purple), 202 Warfire Coins, 13 Shadowstones.] Wow!! A purple light appeared. Three blueprints appeared in Fang Hao¡¯s hands. Although the items did not look plentiful, the quality was already pretty good. Having three purple blueprints was much more useful than multiple useless green or blue ones. [Bound Spirit Tower: Hardy Wood 2200, Fine Stonework Bricks 5200, Cast Iron Pieces 850, Metal Parts 1200, Shadowstones 35, Death Trace 5.] (Description: A tower bound by wraiths, every night the painful wails of countless wronged souls can be heard from it.) Bound Spirit Tower should be the recruiting building for ¡®Bound Spirit Guardians¡¯ seen inside the palace. Seventh rank undead with intelligence. As long as it is built, it will greatly enhance the strength of the undead within the territory. Chapter 743 - Chapter 743: Chapter 512, Blocking the Reinforcements_3 Chapter 743: Chapter 512, Blocking the Reinforcements_3 This is exactly the architectural blueprint that Fang Hao currently needs. [Queen¡¯s Gold Tower: Fine Stone Bricks 3000, Cast Iron Blocks 3500, Fine Iron 2500, Gold Blocks 1500, Metal Parts 850, Mithril 320, Traces of Prayer 12, Perfect Essence 5.] (Description: An ancient tower made of pure gold, representing the queen¡¯s decree, a spectacle built over endless years.) Ah, this¡­ Fang Hao was very curious. Just how tall was this gold tower? The materials required were so many, and its functions hadn¡¯t even been introduced yet. The appearance of mithril and Traces of Prayer indicated that it might be a functional building. Like a statue, a building that amplified certain aspects. But back then, the statue didn¡¯t consume this many materials. Unable to figure it out, he set it aside. Next was the last blueprint. The purple weapon blueprint. [Fine Iron Crescent Blade: Cast Iron Blocks 5, Fine Iron 5, Thick Leather 1.] (Description: A knife developed based on a special type of soldier, shaped like a crescent moon.) Fang Hao also had some impression of this crescent blade. In the underground palace, the weapons of the Bound Spirit Guardians were similarly crescent shaped, somewhat similar to the curved knife used by the Mongols in TV dramas. It was just right, the blueprints for the single-handed knife he had in his hand had always been of low-quality. Now the quality of the single-handed knife has been improved. After checking the contents of the blueprint, Fang Hao collected all the blueprints. Li Rong on the side was watching eagerly. ¡°When do you plan to visit my city? Let¡¯s settle the matters of the factory and the shop.¡± Fang Hao looked at Li Rong. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a few days. I¡¯ll handle things here, and I¡¯ll notify you when it¡¯s time.¡± Fang Hao thought for a while, ¡°Then let¡¯s wait until Amanda is back. I¡¯ll use the teleportation array to bring you both over. It¡¯ll save time.¡± ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do as you say.¡± ¡­¡­. Two p.m. Fang Hao led his group and left Li Rong¡¯s city. The team left in a hurry and soon disappeared from view. In the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Li Rong stared at the Book of City Lord, with prompts popping up ceaselessly. She couldn¡¯t help rejoicing and cheering loudly. [Fang Hao shared a blue blueprint with you, Spiritual Field.] [Fang Hao shared a blue blueprint with you, Large-scale Quarry.] [¡­] [Fang Hao shared a blue blueprint with you, Heavy Sword Infantry Training Camp.] [Fang Hao shared a purple blueprint with you, Lionheart Knight Training Camp.] [Fang Hao shared a blue blueprint with you, Storm Fine Iron Armor Set.] [¡­] One message after another appeared, just like a flood. The blueprints that she had once longed for but couldn¡¯t get, were now unlocked all at once. This joy even made her think this was a dream. After being excited for a while. She patted her chest, trying to calm herself down. ¡°Good thing I agreed, or I would have let this fat sheep slip away.¡± Back then, she almost declined Fang Hao¡¯s invitation. ¡­ The moon shone brightly, the stars were scarce. A team of twenty thousand people set off from Silver Wing City. Holding torches, they were still on their way. An attendant of the Hall of Justice hurriedly approached the carriage. In a low voice, he said, ¡°Saint, we¡¯re about to reach the Cracked Stone Bridge.¡± The Cracked Stone Bridge. The dried river bed was more than ten meters wide, and about four meters high. A stone bridge connected the two banks, and in the center of the bridge was a huge crack. Therefore, people passing by named it the Cracked Stone Bridge. Saint Xu Haide was sitting in the carriage, asking quietly, ¡°When did the commander say we¡¯re setting up camp?¡± ¡°He said we¡¯d camp in a village past the Cracked Stone Bridge.¡± ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± In this operation, a commander from the Hall of Justice was in charge. Xu Haide and three other saints carried five thousand of church personnel with them. Although this operation was dangerous, it was also a good opportunity to gain military achievements. A saint with no military achievements would find it hard to gain an advantage in future competitions. Step, step, step!! The army continued to move forward. The road under their feet began to transform into rock, producing clamor with each step. Just then. A sudden outcry came from the front of the formation. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an enemy, prepare to fight!¡± The shouts startled everyone. They were still within human territory, near Silver Wing City. Who dared to attack the army of the Hall of Justice and the church? Xu Haide lifted the curtain of the carriage. He saw under the night sky, strands of gold liquid, like winding golden snakes, flowing towards the troops up front. These golden fine snakes crawled onto the bodies of the soldiers. They wrapped around their heads. The next second, the golden liquid became a series of heavy golden metal spheres. Dang, dang, dang!! One after another, soldiers fell to the ground due to the heaviness in their heads. They stopped struggling! ¡°What is this thing?¡± Everyone fell into panic. Being covered by a metal sphere, they were suffocating. Chapter 744 - Chapter 744: Chapter 513, Queens Gold Tower_1 Chapter 744: Chapter 513, Queen¡¯s Gold Tower_1 Clang! Clang! Clang!! One after another, soldiers¡¯ heads were covered by heavy gold blocks. In their frantic struggle, some fell to the ground, never to rise again. From the chaotic swings of their weapons, one could see the soldiers¡¯ terror and desperation. Even as their heads were engulfed, the outside world heard no cries for help. The sudden crisis threw the twenty-thousand strong force into chaos. The soldiers scattered, trying to avoid the gold liquid that was impossible to attack. But even so, men kept falling one after another. ¡°Wha¡­ what is that thing? Who dares attack Silver Wing City¡¯s army?¡± Xu Haide¡¯s voice shook with panic. All along, the status of the Church¡¯s saint had given him power and status. Other transmigrators worried whether they could survive the next day. But his life was better and more rewarding than ever before in the modern world. With great power, a single decree deemed God¡¯s will could render life or death for many. He had always seen himself as the protagonist in this grandeur. Others were simply supporting characters in his ascension to power. Yet, witnessing the relentless deaths done in such a way and being utterly helpless, he was in a panic. Death was so much closer than he thought. ¡°Saint, get down quickly, the carriage is too conspicuous.¡± An attendant from the temple quickly reminded him. ¡°Right, right!¡± Xu Haide quickly got off the carriage in a panic. His feet stumbled, almost causing him to trip. With the assistance of the attendant, he retreated further. Only then did Xu Haide ask, ¡°Who attacked the army, was it a mage?¡± This type of attack was closer to a mage¡¯s ability. ¡°It¡¯s unclear,¡± the attendant replied, ¡°The general is probably preparing a counterattack.¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! As soon as the attendant finished speaking, numerous signal flares shot up from the rear. The entire Cracked Stone Bridge lit up instantly. All eyes then followed to the opposite side of the bridge, where a golden armored woman and a Bone Dragon, its body and head covered in gold, stood. The only reason it was assumed to be a woman, was due to the height and the protrusion from the chest area. ¡°It¡¯s the Undead, retreat! Archers, ready up, fire!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!! The disarrayed army began to act under the command. The infantry began to retreat, no longer tangled with the flow of gold. A barrage of arrows rained down on the woman on the opposite side of the bridge. Clang! Clang! Clang!! The Bone Dragon coiled around the golden armored woman. The arrows ricocheted off the Bone Dragon¡¯s golden armor, making a host of ding-ding sounds. The golden armored woman didn¡¯t evade, just stood in the center of the dragon¡¯s coil, coldly observing the troops on the other side of the bridge. Both sides held their gaze. ¡°Priests, bestow blessings, Knight Order prepare.¡± An authoritative command echoed. The soldiers of the Church¡¯s faction sprung into action. The hulking knights of the Church, clad in heavy armor and wielding Judgment Longswords, stepped forward boldly. The priests behind them began their incantations, rays of holy light blessing the knights. Brilliant circles of light formed under their feet. The knights of the Church wielded the power of light which naturally countered the undead forces. ¡°Charge!¡± Roar! Roar! Roar!! The knights launched forward in a grand charge. On the other side of the Cracked Stone Bridge, the Bone Dragon lumbered, its massive form shielding the golden-armored woman. Its enormous head was aimed at the bridge, as it opened its jaw to unleash a column of dark light. A destructive beam of dark energy engulfed several men on the bridge. After barely struggling for a few seconds, they were reduced to skeletons, their flesh stripped away. The scene in front of them did not halt the stride of the Knight Order. With angry cries and curses against the dark creatures, they continued to charge ahead. Arrows and magic rained down on the opposite side. And the knights, bestowed with various energy enhancements, were closing in quickly. The golden armored woman gently patted the neck of the Bone Dragon. The Bone Dragon unhinged its body and knelt on the ground. The woman mounted the dragon, and before the Knights could cross the stone bridge, the dragon was already in the sky. The enormous dragon, covered in golden armor, circled once and then, swooped down, preparing to unleash its dragon breath. The humans below frantically scattered, their formations no longer arrays of tight lines. Arrows from below were aimed at the Bone Dragon, the priests¡¯ holy incantations constantly shone above the dragon¡¯s head. The holy incantation of the Church was potent against the Undead. A tenth-tier Bone Dragon could not be easily killed. However, its body began to erode at a visible pace. The downward plunge was curbed, the flow of its death breath missed its intended target. It only managed to destroy the supply carriages and a number of soldiers. Seeing that the ranged weapons behind were ready, and the Church¡¯s priests and knights were also preparing for battle. The airborne Amanda ceased any further entanglement. She softly patted the Bone Dragon¡¯s neck to circle in the air and spoke in a cold voice to those below, ¡°Tell your Archbishop, I will level Silver Wing City with my army, turn all of you into my slaves, serving me tirelessly for eternity.¡± Having said that, she didn¡¯t wait for any reaction from the group below, and rode the Bone Dragon into the night sky. It was a long as if waiting. There were still no signs of an incoming enemy attack. Thud! Thud! Thud!! Chapter 745 - Chapter 745: Chapter 513, Queens Gold Tower_2 Chapter 745: Chapter 513, Queen¡¯s Gold Tower_2 One by one, riders broke away from the ranks, hitting their horses hard and rushing towards Silver Wing City. After quite some time. The command from the rear came through. ¡°All troops retreat, return to the nearby village for rest and reorganization.¡± The army began to clean up the battlefield, and then started to retreat. This time, no one dared to ride in the wagons, everyone marched on foot with the army. And everyone knew. This plan to aid the dwarves might be going down the drain this time. With undead attacking near Silver Wing City, who has the energy to worry about others? Besides, according to the lady in golden armor, they are about to attack Silver Wing City. Once this news gets back to the city, it will probably scare some of those noble lords into peeing their pants. They will then demand the army to protect the safety of Silver Wing City first. ¡­ The next morning. They did not specifically inquire about the news. While Rebecca and Olivia, two close friends, were bidding each other farewell, they heard some information from Olivia¡¯s instructions. The army that set off last night was attacked by the undead. They were advised to be extra careful on the road, to follow the main roads patrolled by forces as much as possible, and not to take shortcuts, etc. One could tell from Olivia¡¯s tone how much importance she attached to the undead. She talked to Rebecca for a long time before finally parting reluctantly. After everything was ready, the army left Silver Wing City and marched northward. On the way back, no dangers or ambushes were encountered. Once they had passed Jinmastu City, and the rest of the road had no danger, Fang Hao directly used teleport to take the heroes and Rebecca back to Lyss City. While the rest of the army, led by the trusted aide, continued their journey home. ¡­ The teleportation screen closed. Fang Hao, Rebecca, and Demitrija appeared in the great hall of the city lord¡¯s mansion. The soft carpet, the luxuriously decorated chandeliers. Made everyone smile. Especially Rebecca, the familiar d¨¦cor and the sense of safety finally let her hanging heart fall. Finally home, how wonderful. ¡°City Lord, my lady, you are back.¡± A passing maid, surprised by the sudden appearance of the group of people, exclaimed and then immediately curtseyed. ¡°Yes, where¡¯s Rolana?¡± Rebecca asked, her eyes unconsciously glancing at Fang Hao. The latter slyly wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Oh, there was a conflict between a mercenary group and a merchant in the West City District, Miss Rolana took some people over.¡± The maid immediately answered. The mercenary group had manpower, but the merchants were not weak either, they all had the support of trade associations and nobles behind them. Once a conflict arose, it tended to be troublesome. ¡°When Rolana returns, have her come see me directly.¡± Rebecca ordered. ¡°Yes, my lady.¡± Rebecca looked at Fang Hao again, ¡°Are you staying here tonight?¡± She quietly gave Fang Hao a certain look. Fang Hao could only pretend he didn¡¯t understand and said, ¡°No, I¡¯ve been out too long. I¡¯m worried about the city¡¯s security. I¡¯ll come to see you again in a few days.¡± With that, he took out the cosmetics and clothes he had bought in Silver Wing City. There were also gifts for Rolana. To brush up on that abysmal loyalty level. Rebecca¡¯s eyes were somewhat reluctant, but in the end she said, ¡°That¡¯s okay, after these few days, I¡¯ll go over to your place to play chess with Anjia.¡± Anjia was currently rescuing the Red General, who had passed out from the teleportation. Hearing Rebecca¡¯s words, she nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have Nelson play with you then, he¡¯s really good at chess.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± After explaining a few things to Rebecca, Fang Hao teleported back to his own city. ¡­ Inside the City Lord¡¯s mansion. A rabbit maid, dressed in a maid¡¯s outfit, dusting off the tables and chairs while humming an unknown ballad, her little butt sticking out. When the group made a sound, the maid finally noticed the few people who had appeared suddenly. Only when she carefully identified the appearance of the newcomers. She immediately screamed with delight, ¡°Sister Eira, the master is back again.¡± Thump! Thump! Thump! Urgent footsteps came from upstairs. Eira, followed by two bunny maids, was seen running downstairs. After glancing at Fang Hao, she jumped directly into his arms. The other two maids, along with the one who had just shouted upstairs, all piled on as well. They surrounded Fang Hao in the middle, bundling him up tightly. ¡°Master, are you going out again?¡± Eira lifted her head, showing an expectant expression. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°No, it¡¯s winter now.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Not only Eira but also other maids, cheered. They all looked at him with tender eyes. Fang Hao struggled with his clasped arm and whispered, ¡°You guys let go of me first. I¡¯ve brought gifts for you. Eira, distribute them.¡± Hearing about the gifts, the maids¡¯ faces lit up even more. They immediately let go of him. Fang Hao took out all the gifts he had brought from his storage space and laid them out on the ground. ¡°These are cosmetics. Aseti, Anjia, and Lorrey all know how to use them, let them teach you. The clothes are for the summer, so wait till next year to wear them,¡± Fang Hao introduced the pile of items. ¡°Understood, master.¡± Eira, along with the other maids, immediately focused their attention on the cosmetics. They started chatting excitedly. Meanwhile, Fang Hao stepped out of the City Lord¡¯s hall. He headed towards the military camp. ¡­ Along the way, the servant girls and the Earth Spirit¡¯s daughter greeted him. He responded to each with a smile. Returning from a trip, he felt rather popular. He arrived at the central square. In the center of the square was a flower bed, where the maids had planted many bright flowers, all transplanted from the wilderness, none of them particularly rare. They were all turning yellow and withering now. On one side of the square was the Pantheon, which housed many statues of gods. On the other side was the Hero¡¯s Altar, used to resurrect heroes, although it hadn¡¯t been used yet. As he passed by the square, Fang Hao stopped in his tracks. He opened the Book of Lords and turned to the blueprint of the ¡°Queen¡¯s Gold Tower¡±. This time, he had obtained two blueprints from the underground palace. The ¡°Bound Spirit Tower¡± was clearly a barracks and should be built in the military area, while the Queen¡¯s Gold Tower seemed more suitable to be built here. ¡°Queen¡¯s Gold Tower: 3000 Fine Stone Bricks, 3500 Cast Iron Blocks, 2500 Fine Iron, 1500 Gold Blocks, 850 Metal Parts, 320 Mithril, 12 Traces of Prayer, 5 Perfect Essence.¡± He chose an empty spot next to the Pantheon. And then decided to build it. Violet light flickered for a while. Only then was the entire gold tower completed. A base of Fine Stone Bricks that was taller than a person, topped by a rising golden tower. At the pinnacle of the tower was a statue of a queen, holding a scepter in one hand and a book in the other. The entire tower was sparkling gold, and somewhat dazzling under the sunlight. ¡°The Queen¡¯s Gold Tower¡± ¡°Category: Wonder Building¡± ¡°Ability: Under the grace of the queen, the security of the territory +20%, reproduction +35%, Enlightenment +25%, commerce +15%, taxes +10%. (Note: Queen Amanda needs to join the territory for the effect of the Gold Tower to take effect.)¡± ¡°Description: An ancient high tower made of pure gold, representing the queen¡¯s decree, a wonder built over endless years.¡± Damn, a wonder building. No wonder it¡¯s so tall, so shiny. Upon comparison, his own statue of the king seemed too crude, just a stone carving. Fang Hao specifically looked at enlightenment. ¡°Enlightenment: Residents of the territory are more likely to learn and understand new skills.¡± Oh, useful, this tower is really good. Worth the materials he had consumed. Interestingly, the statue of Amanda doesn¡¯t add any undead attributes; it rather resembles a human king¡¯s statue. Having built the statue of the queen, Fang Hao continued towards the undead military area. ¡°My Lord¡­¡± From afar, the voices of women reached him. Looking to the side, he saw a group of women, with horns on their heads and robust arms exposed, working out at the Blackstone training camp. Daughters of the Earth Spirit. When Fang Hao left, he had recruited them to patrol around the territory with his normal skeleton soldiers. Now, each of them, with muscles all over their bodies, looked somewhat fierce, like fitness instructors. There were also some bunny girls training alongside the Daughters of the Earth Spirit. However, they didn¡¯t look as powerful as the Daughters of the Earth Spirit, their skin was fair and they were sweating profusely. ¡°Well, rest when needed. Don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you, m¡¯lord.¡± After saying this, they continued their workout. The troops he recruited weren¡¯t capable of improving through practice. However, maintaining practice could enhance their combat skills. The bunny girls were indigenous and could improve through training. It seemed they were working hard. They all appeared very enthusiastic. Fang Hao continued his way and eventually arrived at the military camp. Chapter 746 - Chapter 746: Chapter 514, My Dear Friend_1 Chapter 746: Chapter 514, My Dear Friend_1 Next stop, the military camp. The Skeleton Conversion Field was automatically processing the carcasses of some beasts. The meat from beasts hunted during patrols would be stripped to be used as food, and their bones would be directly thrown into the conversion field for transformation. Fang Hao glanced at the locations of the other buildings. The military camp area seemed a bit cluttered. Additionally, each time of recruitment, the hundredfold increase effect would apply. Such a concentration would make the movement of the troops quite difficult. After considering, Fang Hao moved the location of the buildings a bit to the east. This considerably increased the distance from the other military camps. This way, the hundredfold recruitment increase would not cause overcrowding like before. Once the location was settled upon, he opened the Book of Lords and found the Blueprint. [Bound Spirit Tower: Sturdy Wood 2200, Fine Stone Brick 5200, Cast Iron Block 850, Metal Parts 1200, Shadowstone 35, Death Trace 5.] Confirm construction. A purple light instantly flared up. Bit by bit, the light assembled itself into the shape of a tower. Finally, as the light dissipated, a complete tower appeared before his eyes. It was a stone tower, roughly five to six stories high, with grey-white walls and wooden doors and windows. Around the tower, a stream of mist would occasionally drift by, wrapping around the tower. It was as if the tower was binding tormented souls. [Bound Spirit Tower] [Category: Special Building] [Faction: Undead] [Recruitment: Bound Spirit Guardians] [Bound Spirit Guardians: Wriggling Spine 7, Death Trace 4, Star Silver 2.] (Description: A tower bound by tormented spirits, when midnight falls, one can hear the painful wails of countless disgruntled souls.) Just as he expected, the Bound Spirit Guardians had emerged. When they encountered them in the underground palace, he had noted them very clearly. These 7th-tier Bound Spirit Guardians, despite their skeletal appearance, were intelligent. Being intelligent and unintelligent were completely different statuses. Unintelligent skeleton soldiers could only execute simple commands, but having intelligence meant they would possess judgement. On patrols, they would not just blindly slaughter all living creatures that enter the territory. And upon encountering enemies, they would bring back information. Without any delay, Fang Hao immediately began the recruitment. [Hundredfold increase triggered, recruiting Bound Spirit Guardians 101.] Started by recruiting 100 to see how it goes. It was as if a curtain of light had been ripped open, allowing a group of Bound Spirit Guardians to appear in the flat open space before him. Just in time, a squad of Skeleton Warriors on patrol passed by. The difference between the two was immediately apparent. Compared with the regular Skeleton Warriors, the Bound Spirit Guardians¡¯ skeletal frames were more robust, with a blackish hue, and they had longer arms. The hollows of their eye sockets glowed with a ghastly blue flame. As the momentary confusion passed, the Bound Spirit Guardians¡¯ gazes all landed on Fang Hao. With a bit of hesitation, they all saluted him. ¡°Greetings to the great Immortal Lord,¡± The voice of the Bound Spirit Guardians was a low, gravelly sound, clearly different from the voices of living creatures. When they all spoke together, they sounded quite imposing. ¡°Yes, welcome to the team,¡± Fang Hao declared loud and clear. Then, he immediately checked the attributes of the Bound Spirit Guardians. [Bound Spirit Guardians (Tier 7)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.] [Skills: Cleave, Protector, Lingering Wraith.] [Innate Abilities: Advanced Single Hand Knife Mastery.] [Cleave]: A heavy strike filled with the resentment from souls, adds an extra 15% physical damage; if the target is a living creature, the wound is hard to heal. [Protector]: Protects specific areas/persons, increases defense by 18%. [Lingering Wraith]: When the unit dies, the resentful souls in the body will harass everything within a 5-meter radius and inflict random negative statuses like fear or morale loss on living targets in the area. (Description: Bound Spirit Guardians are outstanding warriors from the Gold Eating Queen¡¯s elite troops who retain all their discipline and combat skills from their mortal lives. In battle, the Bound Spirit Guardians formed an unyielding armored army. In numerous battles, they caused their enemies to bleed on the battlefield, and countless enemies fell under their unwavering will and sharp weapons.) The attributes of the Bound Spirit Guardians were quite good, albeit not outstandingly so. Among the skills, aside from Cleave being an attacking skill, [Protector] seemed to lean more towards defense, or a bodyguard type troop unit. It could protect an area or person and offered an 18% defense boost. This made sense upon thinking, Bound Spirit Guardians were originally tomb guardians in the underground palace. The last skill, named [Lingering Wraith], induced negative statuses on targets within a 5-meter range upon death. This skill had not been observed at the underground palace. Whether it¡¯s useful or not still required future validation as they had always killed their enemies from a distance back in the palace. Fang Hao looked at the scantily dressed Bound Spirit Guardians, and began to make gear for them. He found the blueprint for the [Storm Fine Iron Set] and started manufacturing it. Currently, the best set at his disposal was the [Temple Guardians Set]; only the fine iron required for it did not suit mass production. Whereas only the chest piece of the [Storm Fine Iron Set] needed two pieces of fine iron, the rest of the parts just utilized regular materials. It consumed less material. A large number of sets appeared out of thin air, scattered all over the ground. ¡°One set per person,¡± Fang Hao instructed. The Bound Spirit Guardians started to move, picking up the gear from the ground and putting it on themselves. Fang Hao then found the [Fine Iron Crescent Blade]. Chapter 747 - Chapter 747: Chapter 514, My Dear Friend_2 Chapter 747: Chapter 514, My Dear Friend_2 [Fine Iron Crescent Blade: cast iron block 5, fine iron 3, thick leather 1.] Production quantity 1. [Hundred-fold Amplification triggered, Acquired Fine Iron Crescent Blades x101.] The crescent blades appeared, without needing Fang Hao¡¯s command. The Bound Spirit Guardians all once again picked up the crescent blades, hanging them on their waists. ¡°Alright, you all go find Commander Demitrija, he will assign you relevant tasks. Also, I will build living quarters for you all. You can rest there when you have no tasks,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Thank you, Lord,¡± all the Bound Spirit Guardians said as they saluted. At the same time, the loyalty of all Bound Spirit Guardians increased by 5 to 8 points. This was same as the previously recruited skeleton tailors and goldsmiths. After obtaining a soul, they became more akin to living creature soldiers. Having loyalty means you need to consider more things comprehensively. If one cannot maintain high loyalty, they¡¯d be less useful than regular undead warriors who have no wisdom. But it¡¯s all about how you view the matter. It¡¯s also crucial to not let loyalty drop too low, otherwise, it may result in defections, shirking of duties, or even backstabbing. The Bound Spirit Guardians all left together, and Fang Hao also went to the undead living quarters. There, a building group composed of tailors and blacksmiths had been constructed. He selected a vacant plot of land, built a few rows of residential buildings, and directly upgraded them to level 9. ¡­ By the time he returned to the lord¡¯s mansion. Eira had already prepared dinner. The feast was grand, covering the entire long table. The number of people dining together that evening was also quite a lot. It was sort of a welcome dinner after his return. In addition to Fang Hao, Eira, and Anjia, there were Demitrija, Aseti, Lorrey, and the newly joined young mom, He Yueyi. He Yueyi was saved by Fang Hao from the hands of the Life-taker bandits. At that time, she was hanging on by a thread, almost dying in the dungeon. Once awake, she decided to leave with Fang Hao, offering her services as a senior accountant. Initially, He Yueyi regretted her decision when she arrived. Skeletons were lurking everywhere in and out of the territory. She was astounded to see skeletons holding wash basins while rabbit maidens hung clothes to dry. She had nightmares for several days, but as time passed, she gradually accepted the situation. Moreover, her infant daughter seemed to have more guts than her. The sight of skeletons patrolling just made her giggle. When He Yueyi tried to hide, her daughter would cry and would only stop when skeletons were in sight. Gradually, her fears subsided. Usually, she would command the skeletons to do chores like fetching water or disposing of garbage. Gradually she became like the rabbit maids, with a skeleton following her around. After dinner was over. Fang Hao called all the heroes together for a brief meeting. During his absence, while the heroes like Meatfist were assisting Jia Yue, the lord of the city stayed in Black Thorn. Black Thorn¡¯s ranking was not very high, but his attributes were beneficial for defending cities. Under the close vigilance of the undead, Black Thorn was quite capable. As the skeleton heroes also came. Fang Hao immediately began the meeting for the day. ¡°The defense of the main city will be Commander Demitrija¡¯s responsibility, with Black Thorn assisting. Increase the number of patrol teams around, especially don¡¯t neglect air surveillance.¡± This was to guard against the probing of Silver Wing City. According to Tavek¡¯s report, the council had started paying attention to this area, and they¡¯d likely send people to scout. Hiding without being noticed was virtually impossible. But making it hard for the enemy to obtain core intelligence was quite difficult. Having millions of troops stationed here, letting them in would be an extreme embarrassment. ¡°Yes, sir, I would also like to have an increase in the number of Bound Spirit Guardians, to better defend the city,¡± Demitrija said. ¡°Okay, tell me the number later, and I will recruit accordingly.¡± ¡°Yes, milord.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s gaze then landed on Aseti and Anjia, and he continued, ¡°Aseti, Anjia, I want you to find some time to train the maids in the territory. Teach them riding and combat skills to improve their physical fitness.¡± ¡°Roger, milord.¡± ¡°Alright, I can teach them some secret techniques that I¡¯ve researched recently,¡± Anjia seemed quite willing. With the Black Stone training ground, they could increase the training experience of the orcs by 10%. Now that they were back, it was a good time for Aseti and Anjia to teach the rabbit maidens. They were so soft and frail that they didn¡¯t have the ability to resist when they encountered danger. After giving the heroes their tasks. Finally, his gaze landed on He Yueyi. After being taken care of for a while, He Yueyi¡¯s condition significantly improved. Her skin was fair and clean, and her hair wasn¡¯t as lifeless as before. Dressed in linen clothes, holding her child in her arms. ¡°He Yueyi, how many people are learning accounting from you currently?¡± Fang Hao asked. He Yueyi didn¡¯t expect to be asked suddenly. ¡°Five, three rabbit girls, and two fox girls.¡± ¡°How¡¯s their progress?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ they have to start from basic arithmetic, and they are still learning!¡± He Yueyi hesitated, but eventually answered. This reminded Fang Hao. The majority couldn¡¯t even write, let alone do the accounts or remember them. He had planned to quickly train a batch of accountants to verify the taxes sent from each city every year. The gold coins sent from each city are really hard to verify now. The orcs and trolls, in particular, sent money without any account books. Chapter 748 - Chapter 748: Chapter 514, My Dear Friend_3 Chapter 748: Chapter 514, My Dear Friend_3 ¡°You ask how much money, which industry in the city has the highest income, how much money.¡± They will just shake their heads and say, ¡°I don¡¯t know, after all, it¡¯s all here.¡± But now it seems that there is still quite a distance to assemble an accounting team to go to various cities. Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°All right, I got it. I¡¯ll think of a way, recruit a group of people to learn uniformly from you. By the way, are these five people quick learners?¡± He Yueyi opened her mouth, paused briefly, and then said, ¡°They are all very intelligent, just started learning late, so they need to take their time.¡± She wanted to say that the fox-women learned faster, but Eira was present, so she swallowed her words. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good then.¡± Fang Hao nodded, feeling as if there was nothing else to discuss, so he said to everyone, ¡°I¡¯m done here, everyone can go rest, we¡¯ll resume work tomorrow.¡± Everyone stood up, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Then they all turned around and left. ¡­ Everyone was gone. Fang Hao soaked in the hot spring, letting out a moan of comfort. After spending so much time going to the Silver Wing City, he finally had a chance to relax in the hot spring, dispelling the fatigue of the journey. Because it was autumn, Fang Hao had raised the height of the walls a bit. Soaking in the hot springs, he felt no chill, but rather a sense of immense comfort. The hot spring was very peaceful today. Only Eira, kneeling by his side, listened to Fang Hao recounting the experiences of the journey; from time to time, she would take a piece of fruit from the plate and feed him. Her well-behaved demeanor was reminiscent of a demure, unmarried young woman. Anjia, Lorrey, and numerous maidservants were discussing new clothes and learning how to use cosmetics in the large hall. Everyone was happy to receive gifts. The loyalty of the rabbitmaids had basically reached 100 points, with the lowest being 98. ¡°Master, why don¡¯t we have a child?¡± Today, Eira was wearing a casual long dress, revealing her fair, jade-like arms and slender legs. She sat beside Fang Hao and asked softly. Fang Hao looked at her curiously, ¡°Seeing He Yueyi¡¯s child, you also want one?¡± Eira¡¯s cheeks instantaneously turned red; in the end, she nodded her head. Fang Hao was also somewhat curious, since he had been living with Eira for a while now, logically speaking, they should have had a child by now. Could he possibly be infertile? No, after having ingested the Divinity, his constitution should be superior to that of humans. It didn¡¯t seem like this was the case with Eira either; besides, neither Anjia nor Little White was pregnant. Unable to figure out the reason, Fang Hao ceased pondering, giving a slight smile and pulling Eira into the water; his hands slipped inside her floating dress as he whispered, ¡°Then let¡¯s work harder, strive to have many more.¡± ¡­ The next morning. Fang Hao woke up from the bed, moved the slender leg resting on his waist aside and stretched lazily. Eira was still resting. After their reunion, the two of them indulged until late at night, even Eira¡¯s rabbit ears had a few scratches from last night¡¯s passion. Now, the cleaning and breakfast in the City Lord¡¯s mansion were actually not Eira¡¯s responsibility. Sleeping in and waking up naturally were not issues. Fang Hao didn¡¯t disturb her. After a simple wash-up, he got up and left the room. He reconsidered the planning for the territory. He Yueyi¡¯s trainees, as well as the workers needed for Li Rong¡¯s factory. He needed a group of people who would be under his control. After serious consideration, He took a Sound-transmitting Shell out of storage, putting it to his mouth. ¡°Oh, my dear friend, I need a batch of intelligent, honest rabbitmen or foxmen here, do you have any on your side?¡± After he finished speaking, he placed it aside to wait. Not long after, the Sound-transmitting Shell received a similarly oily reply. ¡°Oh, my friend, I¡¯m happy to receive your message. I¡¯ll take a look now to see if I have the stock you need.¡± Chapter 749 - Chapter 749: Chapter 515, Channel Dating_1 Chapter 749: Chapter 515, Channel Dating_1 On the other end of the Sound-transmitting Shell was the orc slave trader with whom Fang Hao had not communicated for a long time. The rabbit and fox maids who now cleaned the territory had all originally been purchased from the slave trader. Later, as the territory developed rapidly, it was no longer lacking in manpower. As a result, no more slaves were bought from the slave trader. This time, however, he planned to purchase some more members of the Rabbit Clan and Fox Clan as employees for the factory Li Rong was building and to select some intelligent ones to learn accounting from He Yueyi. The reason why he still wanted to buy rabbits and foxes was not just because these two races were gentle and intelligent. More importantly, it was easier to control and command those who came as slaves. If there weren¡¯t enough rabbits and foxes, he would consider filling the gap with humans. However, if he chose humans, he would have to take into account the surveillance of Silver Wing City. After waiting for a while, The voice of the slave trader came from the Sound-transmitting Shell again. ¡°Dear human friend, I just checked the slaves we recently captured. There are more than 20 women from the Rabbit Clan and Fox Clan. If you want to change things up a bit, we also have some good Rabbit Clan men here that we can sell to you at a discount. We¡¯re old friends already, so of course, I won¡¯t charge you more.¡± The slave trader¡¯s tone was as greasy as ever. He was trying to mimic the tone and expression of a human merchant, from an orc¡¯s perspective. Fang Hao felt a bit disappointed after listening to him. Only just over 20 people ¨C this was far from enough according to his plan. After thinking for a moment, he decided to ask about the price. ¡°What is the price? Winter is coming and there are no shortage of refugees. If the price is right, I can consider your business.¡± Fang Hao said into the Sound-transmitting Shell. After a pause, the slave trader said, ¡°Of course, I have never overcharged you. Women for 8 Warfire Coins each, men for 5 each. How about it? This is really a fair price.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then stopped a passing rabbit maid. He gently asked her, ¡°How much did I pay to buy you?¡± The rabbit maid was stunned. She thought about it and said, ¡°Master, you paid 10 Warfire Coins to buy me. I remember clearly that you took out a bag of Gold Coins and bought all 42 of us. That time was the most he had ever bought at once. All of a sudden, the gloomy city was filled with life. ¡°Ah, right, I remember now,¡± Fang Hao snapped his fingers, recalling the event. The maid smiled and left to do her work since Fang Hao didn¡¯t need anything else. It was clear that the maids were all in a good mood today. Although their makeup skills were still not expert, they were all happy. In their freshly sent clothing, they hopped and pranced around. Fang Hao planned to negotiate a further reduction in price. Picking up the Sound-transmitting Shell, he said, ¡°Previously, you would kill off the rabbit men or use them as laborers. Selling them to me now for 5 Warfire Coins, you¡¯re still making a profit. I want a fairer price, and we can continue collaborating afterwards.¡± There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a tone of reluctance, ¡°Then¡­ then women for 7 coins, and men for 4 coins. We¡¯re friends, after all!¡± Jesus, he only lowered the price by one coin after all. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan to haggle with him any further. He said straightforwardly, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take them all. But I need more slaves, both males and females. Do you have any other sources?¡± The reply came quickly this time, ¡°Really? Well, then, how many people do you need?¡± ¡°Around 600 people, more is okay too.¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°Oh my gosh, esteemed friend, please wait, I must inform our Clan Leader right away.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m waiting for the good news.¡± After ending the conversation, the Sound-transmitting Shell fell silent. The slave trader probably went to inform the Clan Leader of the news. In the orc community, only those with significant influence could travel around capturing slaves. Otherwise, they would have been wiped out long ago. There was no news from the other end. Upstairs, however, faint footsteps could be heard. Eira, dressed in her nightgown, was slowly coming down the stairs, rubbing her eyes. Seeing Fang Hao sitting downstairs, her sleepy face immediately broke into a bright smile. She walked down the stairs to his side and sat directly in his lap. She softly said, ¡°How did you get up so early? I didn¡¯t even notice.¡± Eira was more daring now than before. Previously, she would never have been so intimate in front of the maids. ¡°You were sleeping so soundly, I didn¡¯t want to wake you.¡± Then he whispered in her ear, ¡°You were a little crazy last night, so it¡¯s normal to be tired.¡± Eira¡¯s face immediately turned red. She glanced nervously at the maid standing nearby. Seeing that the maid hadn¡¯t noticed, her voice was soft and muffled as she said, ¡°Did you like it, Master?¡± ¡°I like it.¡± ¡°Ehehe!¡± Eira joyfully smiled, gave him a kiss on his cheek, then got up and left. ¡­ Not long after Eira left, Breakfast was brought out, and Eira went upstairs to wake up a still-drowsing Anjia. Anjia¡¯s eyes were half-closed, and she looked like she was sleepwalking. The Red General stood on her shoulder, standing straight and tall. Eira led her downstairs. After a simple breakfast, The Sound-transmitting Shell that was left aside again gave out a signal. Fang Hao picked it up and put it to his ear. An unfamiliar voice speaking in orc language said, ¡°Are you sure you have enough money to buy more than 600 slaves?¡± Chapter 750 - Chapter 750: Chapter 515, Channel Courtship_2 Chapter 750: Chapter 515, Channel Courtship_2 Without guessing, this must be the clan leader the slaver mentioned. An orc clan that survives by selling slaves. The leader must be a ruthless orc as well. ¡°Money isn¡¯t an issue, can you manage to gather so many people?¡± Fang Hao immediately responded. ¡°I have two tribes of rabbits and foxes, who are having a hard time getting through the winter. They¡¯re looking for a master to take them in. Besides them, I can also get the Deermen Tribe, but the price will be slightly higher, are you interested?¡± the orc clan leader continued to ask. It seemed that the other party had a lot of resources at hand. ¡°Are the Deermen intelligent?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re smart, and they also meet the aesthetic standards of your Human Clan. I feel that you should be interested,¡± the orc confidently said. Was there some misunderstanding in his words? ¡°Alright, how much,¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°A female Deerman costs 15 Warfire Coins, a male 8 Warfire Coins, and elderly and children 2 Warfire Coins.¡± ¡°Okay, I agree. When can you deliver the goods?¡± After a short silence from the other party. The voice turned back into that of the greasy slaver, ¡°Generous friend, you must have heard that the Orc City of Tasgo has changed hands. It¡¯s now lead by Bronze Bull, the former leader of the Manim Market. It seems he has a certain opinion of us. Our caravan can¡¯t take hundreds of people through the city, so we can only trade in the territory to the east of the Orc City of Tasgo.¡± After conquering the Orc City of Tasgo, Fang Hao handed its management to Bronze Bull. Friendly persuasion was carried out towards the neighboring orc tribes. No one dared to arbitrarily plunder and start wars anymore. At the same time, a patrol unit was set up at the border, making it difficult for a large amount of people and horses to cross the border of the Orc City of Tasgo. If discovered, they would be attacked. Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°I know Bronze Bull. I will inform him about this trade in advance. You can bring the slaves directly to the Orc City of Tasgo, you won¡¯t be attacked.¡± ¡°Really? Will that work? Bronze Bull is a very strict city lord,¡± the slave merchant sought confirmation again. ¡°Yes, you can try it yourself at the border. If they let you through, you can come in. By the way, when can you reach Tasgo?¡± The slaver responded, ¡°At least three days. I will notify you using the Sound-Transmitting Shell. Oh, our clan leader also mentions that he hopes to exchange the trade money for weapons produced by your Human Clan.¡± Weapons? Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows raised, what a good deal. You¡¯re too thoughtful. ¡°What kind of weapons do you want?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Preferably of green quality; weapons, swords, armors are all acceptable. They can be used to offset the required Warfire Coins.¡± ¡°Understood, I await your good news.¡± After setting up a time, the conversation ended. ¡­ Outside the lord¡¯s mansion. Anjia stood with her hands on her hips, the Red General perched on her shoulder. Looking like a great general, she watched the bevy of rabbit girls and fox girls below with a solemn gaze. Once everyone was assembled. She shouted, ¡°Quiet down, no more chatting.¡± After the maids quieted down, she continued, ¡°Fang Hao said that you are too weak. Starting from today, Aseti and I will train you, making you as brave and healthy as me, unafraid of enemies.¡± Chirp~! The Red General flapped its wings and followed with a cry. The maids below, looking at each other before their eyes all turned to Eira, who was among them. ¡°Listen to Anjia,¡± Eira said softly. A training ground was built in Blackstone. With Fang Hao providing potions and starting their training, the maids¡¯ levels somehow still increased very slowly. It seemed that this time it was going to become serious, with Anjia and Aseti starting to train them. Anjia was approachable and they weren¡¯t afraid of her. But Aseti has always been reserved, which scared them a bit. As no one answered, Anjia continued, ¡°Alright, now follow me and we¡¯ll run around the Blackstone training ground. Red General, you stay at the back. If anyone slacks off, cry out once and I¡¯ll smack their bottoms.¡± Chirp~! The Red General cried again. Then, she led a group of maids toward the Blackstone training ground. ¡­ Inside the room. After Fang Hao set a time with the slaver. He left the room and arrived in the backyard, lying down on the lounge chair. While basking in the sun, he watched the area channel in the Book of Lords where everyone was chatting and bantering. Aside from some who started to prepare for the winter by purchasing and exchanging supplies. More people were idling around, either chatting or trying to flirt with girls. ¡°Half of my bed for rent! Given that I¡¯m a clean-loving guy, I prefer tenants to be girls under 45. Interested parties, please PM me with a photo.¡± ¡°Damn, the above guy is such a flirt!¡± ¡°I¡¯m also a boy, a very young and tender one at that. I could squeal for a long time just by being pinched. Looking for a mother who can take care of me¡­¡± Pfft¡­! Fang Hao spit out a mouthful of water. What¡¯s going on, why is the channel filled with such weird vibes today? You all this way, isn¡¯t that going to lead to the downfall of a great dynasty?!! Something felt off after watching for a while. Only by scrolling up and checking the chat history did Fang Hao understand what exactly was going on in the channel. It turned out, a well-established female lord was supporting a young male lord. The two of them had been frequently showing off their affection in the channel lately. They were now living together. Fang Hao was also curious about how the two of them looked. He set up the display messages and scrolled up for a while longer. Finally, he found a photo the couple posted together. The woman looked around 40, but with an excellent aura, resembling a beautiful aunt. In contrast, the man in the same frame was in his 20s, likely a fresh college graduate. The woman was lightly made-up, probably using cosmetics produced by Li Rong¡¯s side. The two were huddled close together, making a victory sign. In the channel, most people¡¯s lives were far from carefree. Being sponsored by a beautiful woman, having your meals served to you, and not having to worry about future security, many people were envious. That led to these partner-seeking messages in the channel. After a while, those flirtatious partner-seeking messages, which didn¡¯t receive many responses, also slowly calmed down. New messages began to appear in the channel. ¡°Selling blue armor, only one set, up for a cheap sale. Interested brothers, PM me.¡± ¡°Buying leather, anyone with spare leather to sell to me?¡± ¡°Buying cotton, buying furs that can resist chills, PM me, please.¡± ¡°Does anyone sell glass? How do you solve the window problem? Winter is coming, people are going to freeze to death.¡± ¡°Glass? Why don¡¯t you ask who has air conditioning in their house?¡± ¡°How many people can produce glass now? Even if they have it, they probably use it themselves, or give it to their troops, they can¡¯t sell it.¡± ¡°Covering the windows with leather, although it¡¯s a bit dark, it¡¯s pretty good at warding off the wind.¡± ¡°I remember, someone was producing glass before, how could I forget!¡± ¡°Nonsense. No one can have glass. My nearby level 10 native city, even their city lord¡¯s mansion doesn¡¯t have glass. How could we possibly use glass?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ That makes sense. What levels are your cities? The highest one shouldn¡¯t be too behind the native city, right?¡± ¡°Anyway, I know the highest one reached level 11. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the highest.¡± ¡°What about Lord Fang Hao?¡± ¡°Lord Fang Hao has been quiet for a while. We don¡¯t know what level he is at.¡± ¡°Having gotten past the early phase, it seems Lord Fang Hao doesn¡¯t have much of an advantage anymore. Perhaps his territory isn¡¯t the highest level now.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ It¡¯s possible.¡± Everyone started to discuss it back and forth. Fang Hao was watching the conversation in the channel and had no intention of commenting. But he was a bit surprised at the speed of other people¡¯s development. He immediately opened the Book of Lords to check his territory level. [Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] He was still at level 10, and someone had already risen to level 11. This was just the publicly known information. There was no telling how many others hadn¡¯t publicized their levels. The first transmigrator to complete a level 5 upgrade would receive a special reward from the system. He couldn¡¯t let others snatch this reward away. ¡­ Once decided, Fang Hao sat upright from his reclining chair. After stretching lazily, he walked directly out of the Lord¡¯s Mansion to the front door. [Level 10 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] [Upgrade Requirements: 30000 Sturdy Wood, 20000 Stone Bricks, 7500 Fine Stone Bricks, 1200 Limestone Floor, 2500 Iron, 1200 Cast Iron Blocks, 1200 Metal Parts, 5000 Tiles] In fact, Fang Hao had gathered enough materials long ago. He just hadn¡¯t had time to upgrade. As there was no one in the Lord¡¯s Mansion, he chose to upgrade directly. Light enveloped the Stone Castle. Little by little, it expanded. Chapter 751 - Chapter 751: Chapter 516, Buying Slaves_1 Chapter 751: Chapter 516, Buying Slaves_1 When the light dissipated, the Stone Castle was finally built. [Level 11 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] [Upgrade Requirements: Tough Wood 35000, Stone Bricks 28000, Fine Stone Bricks 8200, Lithistone Flooring 1500, Iron 3000, Cast Iron Block 1500, Metal Parts 1800, Tiles 5500.] The upgrading conditions were still met. After all, he had accumulated materials for nearly two months, and production from the Undead Skeletons went uninterrupted. The number of materials was enough for him to complete another upgrade. To elevate the level to twelve. At this moment, he was confident that even if every transmigrator has their own advantage, no one could surpass level twelve. His skeletons were involved in uninterrupted production and processing twenty-four hours a day. Even the most ruthless of capitalists couldn¡¯t surpass him. He doubted anyone could beat his collection and production speed. Furthermore, his territory included the Bloody Mountain Range and Frostwind Mountain Range, two large stone mining and iron mining areas. Others simply couldn¡¯t compare. Light once again enveloped the manor, this time the upgrade process taking one and a half hours. Not wishing to wait aimlessly, he headed to the Blackstone Training Grounds to observe the maids¡¯ training. From afar, he heard the ¡®smack smack¡¯ sounds of effort. And maids¡¯ cries with sobs in their voices. Due to the blockage from the structures, Fang Hao quickened his steps. He poked his head around a building. He saw three maids, bent over a stone bench, bottoms in the air. Meanwhile, Anjia wielded a tree branch, menacingly striking their behinds. The girls yelped in pain with each strike, their bodies trembling. ¡°If you steal food from the back again, I¡¯ll paddle your bottoms raw, and then I¡¯ll tell Fang Hao, let him kick you out,¡± warned Anjia. The girls only cried out a few times. However, upon hearing that Fang Hao might expel them, their faces turned as white as a sheet. ¡°Anjia, please don¡¯t tell our master, didn¡¯t I play with you before? Please don¡¯t tell him,¡± one begged. Anjia merely intended to frighten them but remained stern, ¡°Train hard then and I won¡¯t report you. If Aseti finds out and reports you, as long as you¡¯ve been training, you¡¯ll be safe.¡± ¡°Alright, we understand. We¡¯ll train hard,¡± the maids sobbed in agreement. ¡°Good, get going then.¡± The three immediately rose and joined the other maids in training. Anjia also returned to the training ground. Leading the maids as they practiced their boxing. With each punch thrown, a breath was exhaled; however, their spirits weren¡¯t in it. A few muscular Earth Spirit ladies stood to the side, commenting and pointing from time to time. They would shake their heads disdainfully at the maids¡¯ showy, pretentious kicks and punches. Fang Hao took in the scene from afar, deciding not to go over to them. Instead, he made detour to check on the skeleton tailors, skeleton goldsmiths and other craftsmen, and greet them in passing. By the time he completed his lengthy detour and returned to the manor, the upgrade was complete. The Lord¡¯s Stone Castle had advanced to level twelve. [Level 12 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] [Lord Owner: Fang Hao] [Ability: production/scavenging+6%, troop movement+6%, all attributes+7%.] [Existing Buildings: Level 10 Underground Cemetery¡­, Level 10 Stable.] [Appointed Positions: Bronze Bull City ¨C Talok, Frostwind City ¨C Skullcrusher, Town North ¨C Black Thorn, Pruell Tavec, Blood Castle ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias, Webweaver Camp ¨C Dominica, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Zhang Bin, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Fu Lei, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Dong Jiayue, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Kong Yong.] (Note: Core Territory Building) [Upgrade Materials Required: Tough Wood 40000, Stone Bricks 32000, Fine Stone Bricks 8800, Lithistine Ground 2000, Iron 3500, Cast Iron Block 2000, Metal Parts 2200, Tiles 5000.] Post reaching level twelve. The size of the Lord¡¯s residence received another increase. Fang Hao and his fellow men could completely fill up three rooms. The residence gets a bit empty as the heroes have their own homes and chose not to live in the Lord¡¯s residence. Along with a greater size, the Lord¡¯s Manor gained new abilities. Increases were noted in scavenging, troop movement, and all properties. All in all, pretty satisfactory. Once everything was done, Fang Hao headed to the stable, mounted a Giant Lizard, and rode to the Glass Production Area outside of the city. The lord¡¯s residence, including the lord¡¯s estate and the maids¡¯ quarters, were already reinforced with glass. However, the other subordinate cities were yet to receive such an upgrade. Fang Hao was reminded by fellow city owners in their chat that winter was swiftly approaching, and all residences ought to have glass for protection against the elements for the comfort of the citizens. He made straight for the glass factory. The skeleton laborers there were already hard at work. When they saw Fang Hao approaching, they continued their activity without any pause. It was as though he was not there at all. Fang Hao glanced at the smoothly operating glass factory. He then turned his attention to the warehouse hastily erected nearby. The warehouse was simple¡ªa straw shack and wooden stakes¡ªassembled to house batches of ware. At this point, however, five warehouses were already stacked full of glass panes and all sorts of glassware like bottles and casings. Since they had not been attended to in a while, and it had recently been raining, everything inside the warehouse was muddied, as if it had been dug up from a muddy ditch. Even the wares placed on the top were covered in mud spots. Fang Hao briefly scanned the premise. Then, he dropped a line in the territory chat: ¡°Zhang Bin, Dong Jiayue, Fu Lei, Xu Yang, Lan Yang, Li Rong, each of you gets four panes of glass. If anyone else wants them, each glass panel is two Warfire Coins¡ªreselling inside this channel is prohibited.¡± Chapter 752 - Chapter 752: Chapter 516, Buying Slaves_2 Chapter 752: Chapter 516, Buying Slaves_2 The number of members in the territory channel now far exceeded that of the past. Many more transmigrators joined the territory through connections they had made with others. The numbers have soared drastically. The ones that Fang Hao had specifically mentioned were all personally recruited by him. They each played different roles in the development of the territory. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s offer, the territory chat room which had been quiet before erupted instantly with activity. Zhang Bin said, ¡°Thank you, boss! You are mighty!¡± Fu Lei said, ¡°Thanks, boss! You are mighty!¡± Lan Yang chimed in, ¡°Thanks, boss! You¡¯re mighty! ¡­By the way, what exactly is a glass panel? Is it the glass on the window?¡± Zhang Bin replied, ¡°Yes, if you have a glass panel, you can directly put it in when making windows. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll only have a wooden frame, and the middle would be empty.¡± Lan Yang exclaimed, ¡°Wow! That¡¯s great! It¡¯s so cold these days, I was thinking about using beast skins to cover the windows, but now I don¡¯t need to do that anymore.¡± Qiu Yu exclaimed, ¡°I am so jealous! I want to buy glass panels to make windows.¡± Zhu Yi followed, ¡°I want to buy some too, Boss Fang Hao, where can I get it?¡± In truth, the price that Fang Hao set at 2 Warfire coins is basically a giveaway. Anyone who managed to survive thus far would have enough from opening a single chest to fill the entire Lord¡¯s Mansion with windows. This was why he made an announcement that these items couldn¡¯t be resold on the territory channel. Otherwise, there would definitely be people who would exploit this by buying at a low price from him and selling it on the territory channel at a higher price. This simple business idea was something a lot of people could come up with. Fang Hao responded, ¡°Anyone who wants to buy can message me, but the quantity is limited. Each person can¡¯t buy more than 8 pieces for now. Once we increase our production in future, I¡¯ll gradually supply more to everyone.¡± Zhu Yi said, ¡°Ok, Boss Fang Hao, I want 8.¡± ¡°I also want eight¡­¡± One after another, private messages came flooding in. After Fang Hao confirmed, he put up their designated glass panels for sale one by one. Everyone else swiftly accepted them and started installing them in their own houses. Eight pieces of glass panel wouldn¡¯t solve everyone¡¯s problems in their territory. To let their troops and residents all have windows, the consumption would be tremendous. With the current production speed, this was highly unlikely. So, they can only seal their windows with beast skin and gradually increase the number next year. ¡­ Elsewhere¡­ Inside a tent made of stitched together beast skin on Eight Peaks Mountain. Dong Jiayue removed her helmet, shaking her sweat-drenched hair. Today, they had conquered the last two of the twelve fortresses on Eight Peaks Mountain. The dwarfs put up even more stubborn resistance. The cannons on both sides spewed flames, as the smoke, which seemed to be dyed with gunpowder, covered the battlefield. The ground was constantly trembling. This moment felt as if they had transitioned from the cold-weapon era to the firearm era. Individuals seemed weak and powerless. Outside the tent, a group of hero commanders also entered it. Dong Jiayue spread the map out on the wooden table. In a low voice, she said, ¡°Tonight¡­we siege¡­¡± Her fingers gently pointed to the positions of the two fortresses on the map. Bellerga, the dwarf, frowned, his thick beard swinging as he anxiously asked, ¡°So soon? Our troops just fought with them the whole day today, are we going to siege the city tonight too?¡± Dong Jiayue stated firmly, ¡°Yes, our troops are undead and they neither tire nor fear death. The ones who fear exhaustion are them. We will attack tonight, and we won¡¯t let them have a chance to eat.¡± The other heroes didn¡¯t comment. They were undead heroes, and naturally, they didn¡¯t care when to wage a siege. They just needed to ensure their own safety. Right now, the firepower of the dwarves¡¯ machines was growing increasingly fierce. Undead Red Dragon Hero Spencer felt this most acutely when leading the Bone Dragons in aerial attacks. The projectiles shot from the ground were as dense as raindrops. To launch a breath attack on the ground, they had to endure the rain of arrows as they swooped down. When they returned, both Spencer and the Bone Dragons were heavily injured. So, Dong Jiayue promptly changed her strategy from blitzing to a war of attrition. Since her side didn¡¯t need rest, they could continuously attack, day by day, believing that their adversaries also needed rest. Bellerga stroked his beard but didn¡¯t say anything further. Meatfist then asked, ¡°Are we going to attack both fortresses at once, or just one?¡± Dong Jiayue said directly, ¡°Meatfist, you will lead a million troops to attack this fortress. Black Sword will distract the other fortress. Spencer will lead the Bone Dragons to harass and attack when the time is right. Bellerga, you will lead the dwarves to repair all the machines to ensure they work properly.¡± ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± All the heroes nodded, and once again left the tent. Less than half an hour later, the undead army launched another attack, with the sound of cannon fire everywhere and the ground trembling with each blast. ¡­ Dong Jiayue was sitting inside the tent. She ate the meat pies and grilled fish that had been exchanged over the channel. The plates and cups on the table trembled with each boom of the cannons. At this moment, the tent flap was pulled open. Her subordinate, City Lord Yang Xiaolan peeked in. Upon seeing Dong Jiayue in the tent, she entered with a smile. ¡°Sister Jiayue, have you checked the territory channel?¡± Yang Xiaolan sat down next to her. ¡°Nope, what happened? Did Lan Yang put on another stellar performance?¡± Dong Jiayue kept eating while talking. ¡°No, it¡¯s Brother Hao. He¡¯s selling glass panels in the channel. There¡¯s one for you too, and everyone gets four each. If others want to buy, it¡¯s two Warfire Coins each.¡± Yang Xiaolan explained. ¡°Really?!¡± Dong Jiayue immediately opened the Book of Lords to check. Indeed, she saw Fang Hao¡¯s message in the channel, and he had sent her four panels which she could trade anytime. At this time, the weather was getting colder, and these glass panels were beneficial. ¡°Did you guys buy any?¡± Dong Jiayue looked at Yang Xiaolan. Yang Xiaolan shook her head, ¡°Not yet. Even if we buy them now, we can¡¯t carry them around. And everybody else is busy making equipment for the soldiers, they don¡¯t even know about it.¡± She paused before continuing: ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll be bought by others later. Sister Jiayue, since you¡¯re close to Brother Hao, ask him to save some for us. We¡¯ll buy them when we get back.¡± Dong Jiayue thought about it and agreed. Yang Xiaolan and the others were her transmigrators, and she needed to secure good items for her own people. She didn¡¯t want others, like Zhang Bin¡¯s people, buying them all leaving her own people to freeze in the winter. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll talk to Brother Hao. After all, we are all making efforts for the development of the territory. It wouldn¡¯t be fair if he didn¡¯t give us any.¡± Dong Jiayue bit into her pie with even more gusto. ¡°Exactly!¡± Dong Jiayue immediately opened the Book of Lords to contact Fang Hao. First, she reported on the situation at Eight Peaks Mountain, then requested ammunition and a large amount of fuse. Lastly, she brought up the issue of the glass panels. Fang Hao naturally left some for them. There was plenty in the warehouse, so there was no issue about saving any. Yang Xiaolan, who was waiting by the side, saw Dong Jiayue close the Book of Lords. She quickly asked, ¡°What did Brother Hao say?¡± Dong Jiayue confidently replied, ¡°It¡¯s settled. Not only did he preserve some for us, but he also allowed each of us to receive two extra glass panels.¡± ¡°Yay, Sister Jiayue, you are so influential!¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡­ In a blink of an eye, three days passed. After breakfast, Fang Hao brought Aseti and Anjia through the portal directly to Tasgo Orc City. He had a chat with Bronze Bull about recent events. When Bronze Bull found out that Fang Hao was planning to cultivate personnel who could handle accounting, he insisted on including some young Taurens. Fang Hao was slightly stunned. Whether male or female, all members of the Tauren Clan were powerfully built with shimmering red muscles from head to toe. Also, they seemed better suited to developments in strength rather than learning! However, with Bronze Bull being so proactive, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t to refuse and thought having two Tauren partake in learning wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. ¡°Alright, select two smart ones to come and study with me, and we¡¯ll see how it goes.¡± Fang Hao nodded in agreement. ¡°Very well, our clan¡¯s children have been very bright in recent years, they are not much inferior to your human traders.¡± Bronze Bull slapped the chair and exclaimed excitedly. Just then, A Tauren guard quickly approached from outside the door. After glancing at the excited Clan Leader, he reported, ¡°Lord, Clan Leader, the Sawtooth Slave Trader Group is here.¡± Bronze Bull¡¯s gaze immediately shifted to Fang Hao. He knew that Fang Hao was here today because of the slave traders. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed slaver traders to cross the Tasgo boundary. ¡°Find them a secluded place.¡± Fang Hao ordered. Bronze Bull thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Don¡¯t let them into the city. Send them to the temporary camp on the west side of the city, bring more people, and don¡¯t let them cause trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡± The Tauren guard nodded and backed away. Fang Hao and Bronze Bull also stood up. And proceeded to walk out the door. Chapter 753 - Chapter 753: Chapter 517, Little Deermen_1 Chapter 753: Chapter 517, Little Deermen_1 Soon enough, Fang Hao¡¯s entourage, carrying carts of newly manufactured weapons and armor, arrived at the agreed temporary campsite. Outside the campsite was a low wall made of stone and mud. Beyond the wall were several wooden buildings and many orcs. Numerous fully armored Taurens surrounding the area were coldly watching the slave traders. When Fang Hao and the others appeared on the horse cart, They saw a well-dressed orc with gold chains and rings rush over from a distance. He kept babbling as he came closer. ¡°Honored noble friend, you¡¯ve finally arrived. You have no idea, the great difficulties we underwent to find enough slaves to fulfill your request.¡± Fang Hao had some trouble distinguishing between his orcish kind. Apart from some unique features, they all looked quite similar. However, listening to the tone and way he spoke, He could confirm the identity of the orc in front of him¡ªhe was the slave trader he¡¯d been working with all this time. It seemed his status within the tribe had improved. He was now dressed more like a nouveau riche. He hopped off and ran to the side of the horse cart, holding onto it as he jogged while continuing his complaints, Nothing more than attempts to assure that he¡¯d exerted every effort possible for this transaction. Upon reaching the entrance of the campsite, Fang Hao hopped off the cart and spoke, ¡°Take me to see these people you¡¯ve found. If I¡¯m not satisfied, I won¡¯t pay you.¡± The orc trader immediately slapped his chest, ¡°I guarantee you¡¯ll be satisfied, my friend. This way, please.¡± After saying this, he led Fang Hao into the campsite. Upon entering the campsite and passing through several dilapidated wooden huts, He saw them¡ªthe slaves. There were at least nearly a thousand people gathered, among which he could see the Rabbitmen and the Foxmen. They were of all ages, predominantly young. The slaves were gathered here without any iron cages or restraints, waiting anxiously. ¡°Were they all captured by you?¡± Fang Hao asked as he walked. The slave trader immediately shook his head, ¡°Ah, no, our Chieftain has recently started to reform our practices, we no longer capture slaves. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be so well-behaved here.¡± Reform? Hearing these words from a slave trader was quite surprising. Of course, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t particularly concerned. The tribes in the orc region were always in chaos. By winter, hardly anyone stored food. Instead, they hoarded weapons. How would you change such a lifestyle? ¡°What practices have you changed?¡± Fang Hao inquired. ¡°Oh! My friend, although you¡¯re very smart, powerful, handsome, and rich, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t have thought of this.¡± The slave trader started to brag before continuing, ¡°The living conditions on the orc side are poor, while humans live a stable life. However, slave trade is prohibited there. So, we plan to open a route.¡± ¡°What route?¡± ¡°To help the orcs in need find kind humans willing to accept them.¡± Huh? Fang Hao was momentarily taken aback, trying to understand what he meant by it. Then, he suddenly understood. Was this just a new way to phrase it? He could take money from both sides since he had ways for human nobles in need of slaves to buy them. While on the orc side, he also collected money for his help in forging relationships. ¡°Did a transmigrator come up with this idea?¡± The slave trader appeared startled, his gaze wavering, ¡°No, no, we thought of it ourselves.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t pursue this further and continued, ¡°Is this method effective? I don¡¯t think you would earn as much as when you captured slaves, right?¡± ¡°Hehe! We certainly still capture slaves, but we only sell them to orcs. As for the humans, we do as just explained. The method isn¡¯t too bad. These are all those we¡¯ve negotiated with.¡± The slave trader gestured towards the group of slaves. ¡°All of them? They entrusted you to sell themselves to human cities?¡± ¡°Yes, the winter is coming. You have no idea how terrifying winter is here. They wouldn¡¯t survive the winter by themselves,¡± the slave trader explained quickly. Fang Hao chose not to say anything more. Perhaps, it really was easier for them to survive if they left the orc region. ¡°Have you tallied the numbers and ages yet?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Tallied.¡± The slave trader pulled out a wooden plank with numbers carved into it. The Rabbitmen¡ª327 in total, with 158 female and 168 male. The Foxmen¡ª472 in total, with 365 female and 107 male. Fang Hao shook his head and turned to Aseti, ¡°Recount these people. Separate the elderly and children.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The slave trader paused, ¡°What are you¡­¡± ¡°Do you think anyone would buy elderly or children?¡± ¡°So¡­ what do you mean?¡± The slave trader appeared uncertain. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Either you take them back, or you give them to me for free. If I can use them, I¡¯ll keep them. If not, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± He knew these slaves couldn¡¯t be taken back by the trader, Moreover, he was right. No one would want to buy the elderly or children. Raising children would involve high initial costs as they could only work once grown up. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed as you say. Take the elderly and children. If you find them useful, keep them.¡± The slave trader said with a smile. ¡°Hmm!¡± Shortly, the numbers were recalculated. There were 42 elderly and 135 children. ¡­ As they finished the count, The slave trader¡¯s face showed a special expression, ¡°My good friend, knowing your strong demand, aside from the rabbitmen and foxmen, we¡¯ve specially prepared additional goods for you.¡± Paragraph comment Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment. Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings. GOT IT Chapter 754 - Chapter 754: Chapter 517, Little Deermen_2 Chapter 754: Chapter 517, Little Deermen_2 Fang Hao thought for a moment, it should be the Deermen that the previous Slave Master had mentioned. He was also curious, wondering what a Deer person looked like. ¡°Where is it? Let me see.¡± ¡°Over here, sir. Follow me.¡± The slave trader smiled slyly. They walked a few steps. And stopped in front of a wooden hut. The slave trader deliberately raised an eyebrow at Fang Hao and then opened the wooden door. Inside the hut, there were five Deermen resting on the ground. Their appearance was noticeably different from that of the rabbit-people and fox-people. Their upper bodies were human, with delicate facial features and sharp deer ears, with a pair of antlers on their heads. But their lower bodies were those of a deer, clothed in old flax fabric with four slender deer legs. Their overall image was more like what was often discussed in the channel, known as Centaur women. Ah right, they should be called Deermen women now. ¡°What are you going to do!¡± A petite and delicate looking deermen girl asked timidly. Her body involuntarily shrank back. ¡°These¡­ did not come voluntarily, did they?¡± Fang Hao looked at the slave trader. Contrary to his previous story of tribes changing occupations, the slave trader glared at the Deer person, then continued smiling and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, all of these people have signed the Slave Contract, there won¡¯t be any danger.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you changing your profession?¡± ¡°These Deermen tribes were attacked, we bought them from the victorious tribe. If not for your needs, they would still be burdened with heavy physical labor until they die of exhaustion or starvation.¡± The slave trader¡¯s voice was loud. While explaining to Fang Hao, they also made sure these Deermen understood their current situation. If Fang Hao didn¡¯t want them, their fate back at home would be even worse. Sure enough, after hearing the slave trader¡¯s words, the Deermen lowered their heads, one by one, and stopped talking. The slave trader continued, ¡°Initially, there were more Deermen. However, when we arrived, they had already been executed by the Orcs. There are only a few left.¡± No wonder the previous slave master had mentioned Deer people, elders, and children. It appears that when they arrived, they had already been killed. ¡°Price remains the same right?¡± ¡°Unchanged.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take these.¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Thank you for your generosity, wealthy friend. Now I¡¯ll go get the contract for you. If you want to experience the taste of a Deermen during this time, I recommend that one. She¡¯s the daughter of the Deermen tribal leader and has a high status among the Deermen.¡± The slave trader pointed to the Deermen girl who had spoken earlier. The girl¡¯s body shuddered, she pressed her lips together but remained silent. ¡°Go get the contract.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The slave trader walked out of the wooden hut. Fang Hao followed him out as well. After receiving the contract for the Deermen. Fang Hao paid the equivalent price in weapons and equipment to the slave traders. Once the exchange was completed. The smile on the slave trader¡¯s face grew even brighter. ¡°Esteemed friend, if there are new slaves in the future, may we contact you?¡± ¡°Yes, but I hope it¡¯s their choice.¡± ¡°Alright, you truly are a kind person.¡± After saying this, the slave trader performed a slight bow and left with his followers and their numerous goods, leaving the temporary camp. ¡­ After the slave trader left. All the slaves that had been purchased were gathered in the square. They all stood with their heads lowered, uneasily awaiting their new master¡¯s speech. Right now, they couldn¡¯t do anything, they could only pray that their new owner was a bit kinder and wouldn¡¯t treat them too harshly. After a while. The young human who had bought this group of them stepped up onto a platform. He glanced at the crowd below and said loudly, ¡°Alright, everyone raise your heads.¡± The crowd below slowly raised their heads. They stared forward with anxious faces. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Firstly, you need to understand your status. You are all slaves and I have the right to decide your lives.¡± At these words, panic was evident on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°But as long as you honestly work, I can guarantee that you¡¯ll have enough to eat and wear. Most importantly, nobody will attack you. You will be protected by the troops.¡± The slaves below looked confused. They glanced at each other, not understanding their master¡¯s intentions. ¡°So, human master, what work do we need to do to acquire these promises?¡± The one who spoke was the Deermen girl. She seemed to be a bit braver. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Edith, Master!¡± Edith spoke softly, and then lowered her head again. Fang Hao nodded and continued, ¡°I will assign work according to your abilities. If you¡¯re smart and good at math, you can learn accounting. If you¡¯re good at farming, you¡¯ll be assigned to grow crops. Even if you feel you¡¯re quite ordinary, I¡¯ll establish factories in the future where you can work.¡± At this, everyone opened their eyes wide. Learn accounting? Build factories, what is a factory? However, they also realised that it seemed their master¡¯s promise wasn¡¯t bad. At least they got what they wanted. They got protection and could survive the coming winter. And of course, they didn¡¯t believe Fang Hao was lying because there was no need to. To determine their fate, there was no need to resort to excuses like these. Seeing that no one below was speaking and there was no applause. Fang Hao didn¡¯t find it very amusing, so he just said, ¡°Alright, everyone follow me back to Orc City of Tasgo.¡± Chapter 755 - Chapter 755: Chapter 517, Little Deermen_3 Chapter 755: Chapter 517, Little Deermen_3 After finishing speaking, he set off accompanied by the minotaur guards. A large group of slaves marched towards Tasgo City in a mighty procession. On the way, Fang Hao checked the attributes of the little deer-person Edis. [Edis (Tertiary)] [Faction: Orc] [Racial Traits: Living creatures, evasion.] [Skills: Double Shot, Moonlight.] [Innate abilities: Beginner Archery Mastery, Beginner Spell Mastery.] [Living creatures]: This type of troop can be healed, and is affected by morale, emotions, etc. Immune from Bone Manipulation Technique and similar abilities. [Double Shot]: When the first arrow hits the enemy, the second arrow can be fired rapidly. [Moonlight]: A spell that can stimulate the growth of plants that favor moonlight. (Description: In the mystical forest, the Deermen Tribe is undoubtedly a unique race. Sunshine and Moonlight represent the difference between their males and females. The males draw power from the sun, while females prefer the night. The mismatched active hours make their mating exceptionally complex and difficult.) Edis¡¯s level isn¡¯t high, but her racial abilities are relatively special. She can stimulate the growth of plants. And it seems gender-based. The males correspond to sunshine, meaning males can stimulate crops that benefit from sunlight, whereas females correspond to crops of the night. The terms sunshine and moonlight here ought to refer to plants that prefer the light and the shade. It¡¯s a pity that no males were bought; all the little deer are females. ¡°Edis!¡± Fang Hao called out towards the back. In the back, Edis nervously but quickly walked forward. Deermen are quite fascinating. It makes you wonder how they clean themselves after going to the toilet. ¡°Ma¡­, Master¡± Edis came forward, looking a bit anxious. The antlers on Edis¡¯s head aren¡¯t big. They¡¯re just a thick, protruding bump. ¡°Does everyone in your tribe have the ability to stimulate plant growth?¡± Fang Hao casts his gaze towards the other Deermen looking on from behind. The Deermen behind him, their faces full of worry, gaze back from a distance. It seems they¡¯re worried that Fang Hao will eat Edis or something. ¡°Yes, master. The males in our tribe can stimulate ¡®sun-loving¡¯ crops. We females can stimulate ¡®shade-loving¡¯ crops.¡± Edis responded gently. ¡°What¡¯s considered a ¡®shade-loving¡¯ plant?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°Most ¡®shade-loving¡¯ plants grow under forests, in canyons, or caves. For instance, mushrooms are fungi, and the half-moon grass we boil into soup, they¡¯re all ¡®shade-loving¡¯ plants.¡± Edis replied softly. Fang Hao nodded to show that he understood. These little deer are pretty suitable for growing alchemy herbs. At Crescent Heights, Fang Hao planned out a huge herbal field but it wasn¡¯t very effective. He could consider letting them live there. After all, that land was largely vacant; some races were reluctant to move to territories under Rolana¡¯s control. ¡°Right, you all usually come out at night?¡± Fang Hao recalled what was in the description. Female Deermen prefer to come out at night. ¡°Yes, master. Sunlight makes us feel weak and uncomfortable, whereas night time makes us feel comfortable.¡± Edis continued to reply. This really is a unique race. Despite being the same race, the distinction between male and female is so clear. ¡°Alright, I got it. You¡¯re in charge of your fellow tribesfolk. Just make sure they don¡¯t wander off on the journey.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± Edis was getting used to this form of address, no longer finding it as embarrassing. Chapter 756 - Chapter 756: Chapter 518, Sending Pictures at Midnight_1 Chapter 756: Chapter 518, Sending Pictures at Midnight_1 An hour had passed. The group returned to the Tasgo Orc City. The starving and dizzy slaves were led away to eat. Fang Hao also sought out Bronze Bull, instructed him to arrange his men to escort these slaves all the way to his place. Bronze Bull complied. The Tauren¡¯s city is located east from Fang Hao¡¯s fortress. On the way to escort the slaves, some young Tauren would also be sent to learn about the thing called bookkeeping. It sounded very sophisticated. After all arrangements were made, Fang Hao did not stay longer; he activated the transmission screen directly and left for home along with Anjia. He returned to his territory. Eira had already prepared dinner. The maids were all lackluster these days. Exhausted from rigorous training. Fortunately, the Rejuvenation Hot Spring eased their fatigue. Otherwise, after such training, nobody could get out of bed the next day. After dinner. Dong Jiayue asked Fang Hao for a large quantity of bullets and detonators again. It¡¯s obvious that the battles were getting fiercer, the consumption of ammunition was also increasing. Fang Hao¡¯s side was continuously supporting the Dwarf at the Eight Peaks Mountain factory which was mass-producing ammunition. A large number of transmigrators were captured and made to work day and night, tirelessly manufacturing various implements. At this time, both sides were constantly depleting their resources in the competition. Before bedtime. Fang Hao comfortably soaked in the hot spring, enjoying the thermal mist dispelling his exhaustion. He rested his head on Eira¡¯s thigh. He watched Anjia and Lorrey bathing Red General in a wooden tub on the side. The drenched and fluffy Red General seemed much thinner. Just like a drowned rat, it allowed the two to scrub and rub, all the while whimpering its protests. But after being slapped a few times by Anjia, it stopped talking. Red General obediently stayed still. Ding! The Book of Lords gave out a sound indicating a private chat. It was a message from Lan Yang. ¡°Fang Hao, are you there?¡± Lan Yang asked. Lan Yang was a bit of a character, and everyone liked her, always chatting away without seeming to do anything else all day, keeping her eyes glued to the channel 24/7. She could turn any conversation to her favor. ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Fang Hao replied. Lan Yang: ¡°Boss, there were bandits running around in my area recently, can you lend me some rifles? I¡¯ll get my people to wipe them out.¡± Lan Yang¡¯s area was within the Jinmastu City¡¯s jurisdiction. Jinmastu¡¯s management of its surroundings had always been lax. The Life-taker bandits had their stronghold at the outskirts, but now with the weather cooling down. More and more bandits were becoming active within Lan Yang¡¯s territory. Since they were on the same side, Fang Hao was not afraid that loaning out firearms would pose a risk to him. ¡°Sure, how many do you need?¡± After a while, Lan Yang replied, ¡°The enemy is numerous, could you spare me 200 pieces?¡± Fang Hao immediately made 200 rifles and sent them over to Lan Yang through channel trading. He cautioned her: ¡°I¡¯ve sent it to your trading channel, don¡¯t lose it. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could cost us our lives.¡± The firepower was tremendous. After Fang Hao swallowed the Divinity, his physical fitness increased drastically. But Lan Yang and her group were not as capable. If the rifles fell into the hands of the enemies, they could use them to kill her group. ¡°Understood, thanks boss, oh¡­ you didn¡¯t make any bullets for me.¡± ¡°Right, I will make them for you now.¡± Fang Hao made a large quantity of bullets and sent them over to her. Lan Yang, ¡°Thanks a lot, boss! Love you~!¡± Before Fang Hao could exit the channel, Lan Yang sent another message. ¡°Boss, Li Rong wanted me to ask if you have blocked her.¡± ¡°No, what happened?¡± Fang Hao replied. Lan Yang, ¡°Well, Li Rong said that she messaged you but you never replied. She wondered if you had blocked her.¡± Fang Hao was helpless. He didn¡¯t block Li Rong, but he did set her to ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ mode. She kept sending him explicit photos from time to time, all self-portraits in various poses. While returning home, twice he almost got caught by Anjia and Rebecca. Since then, he set her to ¡®Do Not Disturb¡¯ mode. She loved to send, so he kept her photos but without any prompt, this prevented him from thinking it was someone else reporting important matters each time. Now that Lan Yang had asked, he thought for a moment. He replied: ¡°Oh, I messed up earlier. I¡¯ve changed it now. If there¡¯s anything, I¡¯ll talk to her directly.¡± Lan Yang, ¡°Understood, boss. In the future, if there are any fierce beasts, don¡¯t kill them. Save them for me to practice my taming Skills.¡± ¡°Alright, got it.¡± ¡°Thanks, boss! Love you~!¡± ¡­ He ended the chat with Lan Yang. Then Fang Hao opened the chat with Li Rong. Sure enough, a large batch of explicit photos appeared all at once. It was a good thing that he was lying on Eira¡¯s thigh, otherwise, she would have spotted the photos. ¡°Li Rong, you wanted to talk to me?¡± As soon as Li Rong started speaking, her tone was full of complaint, ¡°Hmph! I thought you, the big boss, had blocked me. If I hadn¡¯t asked Lan Yang, you probably would have forgotten about me by now!¡± Fang Hao felt that she was acting like a disgruntled woman. Everything she said was filled with resentment. Fang Hao was equally blunt, ¡°You have some nerve to complain, look how many explicit photos you¡¯ve sent me. If I hadn¡¯t muted it, the Book of Lords would have become your album.¡± Li Rong, ¡°Wow, I send you pictures out of good will, and you still complain. Do you know how many people are chasing after me?¡± Chapter 757 - Chapter 757: Chapter 518, Posting Pictures at Midnight_2 Chapter 757: Chapter 518, Posting Pictures at Midnight_2 ¡°Is this something you¡¯re interested in¡­ Forget it, I have no time to talk about this right now. Why did you contact me? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s about taking new photos.¡± Li Rong said, ¡°Humph, even if I take them, I won¡¯t show them to you anymore. Amanda is back, and I have finished my task here. When are you going to bring us over to your side? We need to settle the factory business.¡± It had been more than half a month since their return from Silver Wing City. On his side, the workers he had purchased had not arrived yet, so he could only wait until they came to bring the women over. Especially the Gold Eating Queen, Amanda. Keeping her in Li Rong¡¯s city was extremely dangerous. ¡°The workers haven¡¯t arrived here yet. Wait for my news. In a few days, I¡¯ll teleport you two over. Make sure you prepare everything you need beforehand,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll also come over to your place to take a look,¡± Li Rong continued. ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t chat with you anymore.¡± ¡°I really do have new photos. Do you want to take a look?¡± [Set to Do Not Disturb for messages.] ¡­ Two days later. Fang Hao got up early and started his morning routine. The rest of the maids also got up early and started their morning run and workout under Anjia¡¯s leadership. Aung Jia, who doesn¡¯t usually get up early, is the first one up when it comes to training others. The maids in charge of cooking were snickering on the side, feeling glad about their less strenuous responsibility, as it spared them from the morning exercise. After breakfast. Fang Hao went straight to the tailoring workshop. With winter coming, people¡¯s requirements for clothing began to lean towards cold-resistant outfits. Upon reaching the tailoring area. He saw many tailors busily at work from a distance. Their tools had changed, from spinning wheels to leather processing frames, to handle the leather that had been bought. ¡°My Lord,¡± said the skeleton tailor, Soye, who quickly approached and bowed slightly. This tailor team leader he had promoted had always done a good job. Some things were done without Fang Hao having to instruct, as he was able to issue orders and get them done. ¡°Well, Soye, how¡¯s the production of winter clothes going?¡± Fang Hao asked while walking. Soye followed closely behind, respectfully answered, ¡°Sir, everyone is working hard to produce.¡± ¡°Okay, are the raw materials still sufficient?¡± ¡°Leather is continually being sent over, and we have an adequate supply of flax and cotton. Everything is going smoothly.¡± The leather came from various cities under his control. In particular, a large amount of beast skin was exchanged for weapons in Orc City to the east of Tasgo. The beast skins were not worth much to the orcs, but they could be very useful to humans. Made into clothes, they could be sold to transmigrators and the local residents. This prevented many deaths from freezing, as Rebecca often mentioned. ¡°Well done,¡± Fang Hao praised. He then went straight to a nearby storage room. Inside, neatly organized clothes were piled up. [Fur-warming Robe] [Fur-warming Trousers]. The yellow-brown fur clothes filled more than half of the warehouse, roughly estimated to be more than two thousand pieces. These clothing pieces made of patched-together fur were not very attractive, but they were material saving and cheap, which made them more affordable. They were targeted at the average citizens rather than nobles. ¡°Sir, these are the robes we made specifically for our people. The style and fabric are better,¡± Soye reminded while pointing to a nearby warehouse. Inside the warehouse pushed open by Soye were main white robes. [Cotton Robes] [Cotton Trousers] and some [Cotton Gloves]. ¡°Sir, this kind of cotton fabric is more lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear. However, we don¡¯t have many reserves of cotton plants in our region, coupled with the high production difficulty, so the quantity of the final products is not much,¡± Soye explained softly near Fang Hao. Cotton plants are advanced cotton. In the area, they had considerable cotton reserves, but not enough to be squandered. As a result, the quantity was naturally not large. ¡°How many can be produced?¡± Soye calculated a bit and then answered, ¡°Now we have more than fifty pieces. The raw materials in the warehouse should be enough to produce more than two hundred pieces.¡± ¡°Hmm, increase the quantity to 100 pieces, and then concentrate on producing the common fur clothes,¡± Fang Hao said, putting back the robe he was holding. This wasn¡¯t a big problem. The fur could save more people, which was the most important thing. ¡°Alright, sir.¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll speed up the buying of fur and add more staff for you.¡± ¡°That would be excellent, sir. With more people, our efficiency can greatly improve.¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s go. We will recruit now.¡± Upon reaching the tailoring workshop, Fang Hao immediately began recruitment, pushing the number of skeleton tailors up to 1010. As a large group of tailors appeared, Soye quickly issued orders, assigning tasks to the newly added workers. Those who spin the threads, those who process the leather, and those who make the final products. The spot was bustling. After recruitment, Fang Hao had to build housing and some daily utensils for them. ¡­ When Fang Hao returned to the lord¡¯s mansion after finishing everything, it was already close to noon. All the maids were sitting at the door as if they lost their souls, leaning on each other and resting. Their wet hair clung to their foreheads and faces, and their clothes were in disarray. It was as if they had all been ravaged as a group. In the hall, Eira ordered the servants to bring up fruit wine from the cellar and distribute it among the people. Chapter 758 - Chapter 758: Chapter 518, Posting Pictures in the Middle of the Night_3 Chapter 758: Chapter 518, Posting Pictures in the Middle of the Night_3 It was the cold fruit wine that gave them a breather. Fang Hao entered the hall and cast a glance towards Eira, who was resting on the side, looking somewhat disheveled. He said: ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± Eira gave a slight smile and softly responded: ¡°I¡¯m not tired. Exercise is beneficial for the self.¡± ¡°What will you all be training in the afternoon?¡± ¡°Under Aseti¡¯s command, we are learning to ride horses and attack while riding. It should be easier,¡± Eira replied in a soft voice. Fang Hao nodded, some Orcs were not good at horse riding. Like Lorrey, who previously didn¡¯t know how to ride a horse. He rode horses by relying on his own strength and balance to forcefully stay atop. In the initial stages of racing against Anjia, Lorrey would experience falls every day, each one leaving him with a battered face. Later, he gradually learned and became very good at riding. It¡¯s just that his body was so small that it looked smaller than a horse¡¯s neck. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make sure everyone gets to eat something good in the next few days since we have abundant food.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡­ After lunch. With Aseti leading, the maids left the city to practice horse riding. Meanwhile, the large number of slaves, previously purchased, arrived in the city escorted by Tauren soldiers. The city gates opened, ushering in a large number of rabbitmen and foxmen. Those at the front were being urged forward, and behind them on the carts, dozens of rabbitmen and foxmen lay unconscious. Seeing this scene, Fang Hao naturally understood the situation. They had been frightened unconscious by the nearby undead. This was due to Fang Hao relocating all the undead into the Troop Hiding Cave, and the surrounding area was being patrolled by Skeletons led by the Earth Spirit¡¯s Daughter. ¡°Lord, all have been brought here, just that some fainted from fear when they approached,¡± a Tauren reported loudly. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Then he glanced at the frightened-looking slaves below. He asked softly: ¡°Rabbitmen and foxmen, do you all have a Chief or Leader?¡± Soon. A male rabbitman from the Rabbitmen Clan and a female foxman step forward timidly. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, you two and Edis, come with me.¡± Entering the hall. The three remained extremely cautious, silent, heads hung low, lost in their thoughts. Fang Hao pushed a huge sand table forward. He said: ¡°Foxmen and Rabbitmen, choose a plot of land around here to build your village.¡± Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, both the rabbitmen and foxmen were taken aback. They had assumed they were purchased to be sacrificed to the undead, after all, such notions were common among the clans. But now, their new master was telling them to choose a plot for their village. Were they going to be nurtured only to be incrementally sacrificed? How horrifying! ¡°Mas¡­Master, please, have mercy on us. We¡¯re willing to undertake heavy labor for you. Please don¡¯t use us as offerings.¡± The Chief of the Rabbitmen Clan immediately fell to his knees and begged earnestly. As he started crying, the foxmen Chief and the little deerman, Edis, followed suit, also falling to their knees. Begging for mercy amidst loud sobs. The sounds from within the hall echoed outside. Swish, swish, swish! Everyone knelt down, weeping in unison. Fang Hao¡¯s eyelid twitched as he glared at the Rabbitmen Clan Chief, who was the first to kneel. With such intelligence and courage, how did he become a chief? ¡°Silence!¡± Fang Hao yelled. He then called for a Tauren and said: ¡°Go outside the city and get Eira here.¡± ¡°Oh, alright Lord,¡± the Tauren responded and ran off at once. Not long after. A sweating Eira returned. She curiously looked at the rabbitmen and foxmen, bowing inside and outside, their eyes full of curiosity. Fang Hao said: ¡°You explain to them, ask them to establish their villages nearby, and then I will assign them work.¡± Eira nodded, ¡°Alright, Master, leave it to me!¡± Chapter 759 - Chapter 759: Chapter 519, Arranging Slaves_1 Chapter 759: Chapter 519, Arranging Slaves_1 Eira has experience in this area. Being a Rabbitman herself, she can easily convince these slaves. Previously, the maids purchased by Fang Hao were all managed by Eira. About ten minutes later. Eira came back, smiling, saying, ¡°Master, I¡¯ve spoken with them, and they won¡¯t cry anymore.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°You stay with me, these people are too timid.¡± Eira smiled and did not speak. They returned to the hall. The Rabbitmen, Foxmen Tribe, and Edis were still standing in the hall. Fang Hao walked up to the sand table, pointed at the location of his city, and said, ¡°This is my city, choose a location around it to build your village, I will help you.¡± This time, the female Fox Tribe leader stood up. She stepped forward, first bowed in respect, and then quietly said, ¡°Honorable Master, we choose this area to establish our village.¡± Fang Hao looked at the location. It was to the west of his city, roughly halfway between his city and Zhang Bin¡¯s city. This place was close to a river, making it a suitable area for habitation and farming. Moreover, their choice was quite thoughtful. Located on the west side of Fang Hao, even if the orcs caused problems, they couldn¡¯t affect this side. In case of danger, Fang Hao¡¯s main city would bear the brunt. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t care about these. Regardless of the location, the roads were well built. It would be easy to transport materials later. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯ve chosen, let¡¯s all go there together.¡± After saying that, he led everyone under the protection of the Tauren guards. They moved toward the western outskirts of the city. They found a well-situated place. The terrain was flat, with a river and woodland, which suited the living habits of Foxmen and Rabbitmen. ¡°How do you feel about this place?¡± Fang Hao looked at the Fox Clan Leader and Rabbit Clan Leader. ¡°Thank you, Master, we are very satisfied with this place.¡± After discussing briefly, the Fox Clan Leader and Rabbit Clan Leader spoke up. ¡°Well, then it¡¯s settled.¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and began the construction. He built walls, and then lots of houses. The villages of Foxmen and Rabbitmen were different and not far apart. This was to avoid conflicts and disputes due to their distinctive cultures that might arise over time. Living separately, they could manage themselves. With all the slaves watching in disbelief. Two villages sprang up, with tall walls and stone houses, even surpassing their former villages. The robust houses would keep out the bone-chilling cold in winter. ¡°Thank you, Master¡­¡± They all knelt down again in unison. Fang Hao waved his hand to signal them to stand up and said, ¡°Alright, you all allocate the houses, and then for daily necessities, you can get them from the main city.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The two tribal leaders led their tribes into the village. They began to assign houses and work. Such a large village required a working schedule. After everything was assigned. Two teams of workers followed Fang Hao back to the main city to collect the daily necessities. ¡­ After everything was settled. The sky gradually darkened. After dinner, both Eira and Anjia went to take a hot spring bath. Fang Hao sat in the hall. He Yueyi was sitting next to him, holding a sleeping baby. Fang Hao said, ¡°This time, I brought back quite a few Rabbitmen and Foxmen. Choose some smart ones who can do accounting for training, so they can prove useful next year.¡± Today, the slaves collectively cried outside of the lord¡¯s mansion, which both He Yueyi and others heard. If it weren¡¯t for seeing Fang Hao. She would have thought that something happened to Fang Hao. She responded with a soft smile, ¡°Alright, I will go pick some people tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Okay, there are also some children over there, you bring all of them as well, give them a thorough education from the beginning, later I will see if there are teachers in any specific field, might as well start a school or something.¡± He Yueyi¡¯s smile turned into surprise. Fang Hao¡¯s planned targets were remarkable. He intended to establish a school. Now, knowledge is monopolized by the nobility, and the vast majority of commoners are illiterate and can hardly identify a few words. Those who can do arithmetic usually have someone at home who can teach them some basics. If Fang Hao establishes a school, he will be changing a prevailing rule of the current era. She was surprised and halted her action for a moment. Wah! The baby in her arms suddenly woke up and started crying. He Yueyi immediately gently rocked the baby a few times, but without any effect. She could only say, ¡°Fang Hao, I will go there tomorrow morning. The baby is probably hungry, so I will go feed him.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, go!¡± After He Yueyi left. Fang Hao immediately contacted Li Rong, telling her he would pick her and Amanda up the next day. He made all necessary preparations. After everything was arranged. Fang Hao got up and headed to the hot spring in the backyard. ¡­ Early the next morning. Fang Hao took He Yueyi and went to the Rabbitmen and Foxmen villages. In addition to the 135 children, 50 chosen young men were learning arithmetic and accounting. Fang Hao also deliberately set aside a special area on the outskirts of his territory. He built a separate building, made desks and chairs, and prepared paper. So far, the only teacher was He Yueyi, with a rather simple curriculum. After helping with He Yueyi¡¯s work. Fang Hao stood on the open ground in front of the lord¡¯s mansion and released the teleportation curtain. As soon as the light curtain was formed. He saw Amanda and the Bone Dragon, who went through first. Chapter 760 - Chapter 760: Chapter 519, Arranging Slaves_2 Chapter 760: Chapter 519, Arranging Slaves_2 Then comes Li Rong, with a handbag slung over her shoulder and obviously looking more dressed up than usual. She carried herself like a wealthy lady, looking around with a keen eye. She was taken aback by the sight of the stone path covered by a glass canopy and lined with lamps that ran down both sides of the street. Li Rong was completely stunned. For a moment, she thought she was back in the modern world. But the sight of a patrolling skeleton by the side of the road quickly reminded her that she was still in this world and had not returned to modern times. This realization only left her feeling even more amazed. Fang Hao¡¯s settlement had developed tremendously, and life here was hardly distinguishable from that of the modern world. If Fang Hao had only been an ordinary man in the modern world, then his life here was much better than it had been before. ¡°Amanda, Li Rong, let¡¯s go inside and chat.¡± The light screen shattered, and Fang Hao invited the two women inside the city lord¡¯s mansion for a chat. Fang Hao¡¯s hall was far grander than Li Rong¡¯s. In fact, it could be considered a small palace, hardly inferior to Olivia¡¯s residence. Li Rong¡¯s eyes widened, but she felt it was only appropriate. With street lamps outside, a bit of luxury inside was only to be expected. As the maids had all been sent away for collective training, the place seemed rather empty. After he gestured for the two women to sit down, Fang Hao went down to the basement and took out a chilled fruit wine for Li Rong. Amanda, being undead, naturally didn¡¯t need any of these. After finishing up, Fang Hao also sat down and asked softly, ¡°Amanda, is everything going smoothly?¡± ¡°Yes, I occasionally patrol around Silver Wing City and they still aren¡¯t completely sure of my intention. I suppose by the time they realize, the battle on the dwarf¡¯s side will already be over,¡± Amanda calmly replied from behind her mask. More than half a month had passed since Fang Hao returned from Silver Wing City. For this entire duration, Amanda had been making sporadic appearances in Silver Wing City, causing an uproar among their troops. Her elusive and almost undefendable attack style had given the city a great deal of trouble. The church had records of the Gold Eating Queen. When they found out that the ruler of the ancient kingdom, a Dark Gold undead hero, had resurfaced, the shock was nothing short of an undead army laying siege to Silver Wing City. The ensuing chaos in Silver Wing City quickly spread like a plague to all the other cities. This development effectively resulted in the postponement of their support plan for the Dwarves. By the time they came to their senses, the dwarf territory would likely have fallen and a large portion would already have been annexed into Fang Hao¡¯s territory. ¡°Good, you¡¯ve worked hard,¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment before speaking again, ¡°Let Nelson show you around the city, familiarize yourself with the surroundings.¡± Amanda responded as coolly as ever. She didn¡¯t say a word, simply giving a slight nod of her head. Fang Hao sent for Nelson. Nelson, who had always been immersed in his research and showed no interest in other affairs of the territory, respectfully undertook the task of being a guide. He led Amanda away for a tour around the city. By now, the main city had reached level 12, its scale on par with Lyss City. It should be noted that Lyss City¡¯s residential area is divided into commoners¡¯ and nobles¡¯ quarters, with three commercial streets. That¡¯s quite a large scale indeed. Compared to that, Fang Hao¡¯s territory was of the same size, but with a significantly smaller population. Even so, it was large enough for Amanda to wander about for quite a while. Once Amanda had left, only Fang Hao and Li Rong remained in the hall. Before taking her to visit the Rabbitmen Clan and Foxmen Tribe, he planned to discuss the packaging of cosmetics with her. He called on the Bound Spirit Guardians standing guard outside the door once again to summon the goldsmith. The skeleton goldsmith Luke was brought in quickly. Walking alongside him was a wooden box which clinked and clanked as he moved. Having already accepted the fact of the undead, Li Rong was not too surprised to see Luke. Rather, she wondered what Fang Hao would need a skeleton studded with various tools for. ¡°Good morning, Lord,¡± Luke greeted, bowing in respect. ¡°Yes, take a seat, Luke.¡± Fang Hao then introduced, ¡°Li Rong, this is Luke, a goldsmith of our territory, a craftsman with excellent skills. I think he may be able to bring some division in grades to our cosmetics!¡± A goldsmith? That¡¯s a strange kind of soldier, thought Li Rong as she curiously examined the skeleton across her, while Luke nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Rong did not quite catch what Fang Hao was trying to say. ¡°Luke, show the products you brought to City Lord Li Rong,¡± instructed Fang Hao. Luke placed the wooden box he was holding on a table by Li Rong. Curiosity piqued, Li Rong took each item out. First came bottles made of glass. The craftsmanship was not as sophisticated as modern technologies, but these were rare items in this era. Only Alchemists would use these bottles to store their potions. Part of the reason why Alchemical potions are so expensive is because of these glass bottles. Li Rong instantly understood what Fang Hao was hinting at and felt a surge of joy. With glass bottles, she would be able to market liquid cosmetics. It made sense, if he could produce glass plates, he surely could make glass bottles too. Before her excitement had a chance to subside, Li Rong picked up the second item. It was a perfectly square wooden box with beautifully engraved metallic patterns on its surface. Li Rong¡¯s eyes widened as she lightly traced the metallic layer wrapped around it. She found to her surprise not only were the engravings exquisite but the edges also felt smooth and rounded when touched. Chapter 761 - Chapter 761: Chapter 519, Arranging Slaves_3 Chapter 761: Chapter 519, Arranging Slaves_3 It is no less skillful than the modern machinery craft that preceded it. This is incredible, truly incredible. In this moment, she realized what a goldsmith does. She picked up one item after another. Besides the previous glass bottle, all the others are beautifully carved boxes of varying sizes. Some even feature intricate openwork carving, the metal as thin as paper, depicting exquisite designs. Every single item could be considered a piece of artwork. Li Rong inspected each one for a while. Only after suppressing her astonishment did she say softly, ¡°Fang Hao, are you suggesting that these boxes could be used for cosmetics?¡± She understood Fang Hao¡¯s idea. But these beautifully carved boxes were works of art. Without considering the amount of effort expended by the goldsmith, such boxes should not be used for packaging but should be collected. ¡°My idea is to produce a set of exquisite ones and sell them to those nobles who are not short of cash. Those wealthy ladies are willing to spend money on such items.¡± After Fang Hao finished, he lifted his wine glass and took a sip. Li Rong understood his meaning. Cosmetics are indeed the same in modern times; the raw materials and production do not require much money. The main expenditures are on packaging and brand promotion. As long as the packaging is exquisite and the publicity is good, it can be sold at a price that is dozens of times or even more than the cost of the product. Many consumers are actually quite clear about the profit margin involved. However, this approach still works in the market, and the products sell well. ¡°I think the approach is feasible, but, can you provide a continuous supply of this exquisite craftsmanship?¡± Li Rong said. This is the crux of the issue. Fang Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°If there is a market, supply will not be a problem.¡± Li Rong was somewhat taken aback; could they mass-produce like machines? But Fang Hao had surprised her many times before, and since he said they could, she didn¡¯t feel there was any need to challenge him on it. So she nodded, ¡°As long as you say it¡¯s possible, then I have no objections. You can have a hundred sets made for now. I¡¯ll take a look at how well the market accepts them, and we can discuss the price before selling them.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± replied Fang Hao, nodding in agreement. The Skeleton Goldsmith possessed craftsmanship honed over centuries. The items they produced were indistinguishable from works of art. However, within their domain, the role they played was very limited. In the past, there were only 101 of them, helping tailors make noble attire¡¯s metal buttons or some ornaments. And the market for the jewelry produced by the goldsmiths hadn¡¯t been established yet. Luke was also quite anxious about this. Now that there was potential scope for development, he was more than willing. Especially after hearing Li Rong appreciating the works of his people as art pieces. Fang Hao turned to Luke and said, ¡°Luke, do as Li Rong suggested and make a hundred sets for now. If it turns out well, we could increase the production quantity later.¡± Luke stood up and responded respectfully, ¡°Yes, my lord, we will do our utmost, we will not disappoint you or City Lord Li Rong.¡± Fang Hao smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes, I believe in you.¡± Luke bowed again, picked up the wooden box from earlier, and left the lord¡¯s mansion directly. ¡­ After Luke left. Fang Hao also didn¡¯t forget the original purpose of Li Rong¡¯s visit today. The villages of the rabbit men and fox people had been set up, everything but Li Rong setting up the factory. ¡°Li Rong, the workers have already been prepared. There are around 600 of them. Whenever you¡¯re ready, you can start arranging them,¡± Fang Hao softly said. ¡°That many people? Are they all villagers? What¡¯s their physical strength like?¡± Li Rong took a sip of the fruit wine, feeling rather pleased. ¡°Most of them are young people. There are around 40 who are slightly older. You could have them in charge of cooking meals,¡± Fang Hao explained. Li Rong showed a smile, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go check it out.¡± Chapter 762 - Chapter 762: Chapter 520, 11 Fortresses_1 Chapter 762: Chapter 520, 11 Fortresses_1 Apart from the Lord¡¯s mansion. With Li Rong, at least directly heading to the Rabbitmen and Foxmen villages to the west. It took about an hour to sprint there. And there they were, two extremely busy villages. Rabbitmen and Foxmen were busily coming in and out of their respective villages. ¡°Let¡¯s go, this is it.¡± Fang Hao took a somewhat curious Li Rong into the Foxmen village. Seeing Fang Hao approaching, all the foxmen ceased their work and began to kneel in greeting. ¡°Enough, get back to your work. Bring me your Clan Leader and the Rabbitmen Clan leader.¡± Fang Hao stopped the Foxmen¡¯s gesture and ordered. Immediately, a foxman ran off. To inform the Foxmen Clan Leader. In no time. In a room, the Foxmen Clan Leader and Rabbitmen Clan Leader arrived one after the other. After a slight bow, they sat cautiously on the side. Fang Hao looked at them and said, ¡°Now that the village has been built, whether life is good or bad still depends on you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Both hurriedly thanked him. Fang Hao did not beat around the bush and said, ¡°This is City Lord Li Rong, she will build a factory here, let the young people work in the factory, learn some skills, and she will pay you, which can improve village life.¡± Although these were the slaves he had bought. He didn¡¯t want to turn them into mindless machines. He didn¡¯t want to see two lifeless villages. He hoped that the village could develop normally and more people could work in the factory. Li Rong would pay them salary. Just like how Li Rong hired the natives in her city. The Foxmen Clan Leader, with a puzzled look, glanced at the Rabbitmen Clan Leader with the same expression. Softly asked, ¡°Master, what is a factory?¡± Uh¡­. Fang Hao looked at Li Rong on the side. She thought for a moment and explained, ¡°It¡¯s a place specially built for work. You go there every day to work on time, and you¡¯ll be paid according to your workload.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The Foxmen Clan Leader immediately agreed, not daring to ask more. As slaves, they knew what they should do and asking too many questions would only annoy the master. When they started working, they would naturally know what they should do. Actually, they were somewhat happy. Be it the Rabbitmen or Foxmen, they were just one-time deals. The money had been paid to the slave traders. They came over just to get enough to eat, and to live one more day. They knew they would definitely have to do manual labor. But now hearing that the master would pay wages for slaves¡¯ labor, wasn¡¯t this a great deal! Both of them were overjoyed. Fang Hao didn¡¯t care about the two joyous Orc Clan leaders below. He looked at Li Rong on the side and continued to ask, ¡°How do you plan to train them? And where will the factory be located?¡± Li Rong had already planned this. She answered softly, ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll arrange for people to come over for training. We can build the factory in either of the two villages as it would be convenient for them.¡± Fang Hao nodded, indicating his understanding. He said to the two leaders below, ¡°Alright, go back today, choose¡­ well, start with 200 people. City Lord Li Rong will arrange for training, you all must study hard. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes, master, we will study hard.¡± Both of them immediately assured loudly. ¡°Good, you go back now, and explain this clearly to your clansmen.¡± They both bowed again, and then left. ¡­ In the afternoon, Fang Hao took Li Rong to Pruell City and Lyss City. They met with Tavek and a jealous Rebecca, and Fang Hao introduced Li Rong to them. They also settled on a location for the shop in the city. Pruell City is only a level five city, although it has started expanding. But the financial strength of the rich people in the city is still limited. So the scale of the shop is just about a two-story small building of around a hundred square meters. If it¡¯s too large, the city¡¯s consumption power is limited. Lyss City, on the other hand, is a level twelve city. There are many old, wealthy families in the city, so its consumption power is much greater. Therefore, amongst the shops sold in the City Lord Mansion, Fang Hao picked a three-story stone house with an area of over 200 square meters. It was located in the central area of the commercial street on the west side. The scale was not much lesser than the one Li Rong opened in Silver Wing City. Seeing how easily two shops were settled, the beaming Li Rong couldn¡¯t stop talking, not even pausing for a cigarette puff. She said she saw hope in life and intended to quit smoking to live a few years longer. Once the shop selection was done, the next step is remodeling. Here, remodeling does not require any plastering or the like, just cleaning and moving in the shelves and chairs. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have people come over. They¡¯ll do some cleaning and give the shop assistants some training,¡± said Li Rong, her voice filled with excitement. Her factory has been operating non-stop, and she had been secretly selling cosmetics to the ladies of Silver Wing City. But the sales volume was much lower compared to when a shop was open. There are also lots of goods stored up which she can¡¯t wait to sell in the new shops. Fang Hao also agreed, saying: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow. Don¡¯t bring any of the original locals, so as not to leak information here.¡± Li Rong also understood Fang Hao¡¯s worries and nodded in agreement. When everything was settled. Fang Hao took Li Rong back home. His place was really far from Li Rong¡¯s city. If not for teleportation, the round trip would take at least a month. Chapter 763 - Chapter 763: Chapter 520, 11 Fortresses_2 Chapter 763: Chapter 520, 11 Fortresses_2 After sending off Li Rong, Fang Hao returned to his own quarters. ¡­ Late into the night. Eight Peaks Mountain. Outside the final two fortresses, the eleventh and twelfth, of the Dwarves. The boom of cannons were heard, the spreading smoke of gunpowder acted like dark clouds, blocking out all light from above. Outside a tent made of beast skin situated away from the battlefield. A voice called out from outside the tent. ¡°Sister Jiayue, the new undead army has arrived. There are over a million in number according to Meatfist¡¯s count.¡± The resting Dong Jiayue within the tent got up. Yawning, she asked, ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s past two in the morning,¡± replied the voice outside the tent. A sharp light flashed in Dong Jiayue¡¯s eyes. ¡°Notify the troops down the line to prepare for the offensive!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The figure outside answered before turning to leave. The Undead had been launching harassment attacks for several days now. Skeletons didn¡¯t need rest, but Dwarves did. Today was the day for the planned full-scale offensive. After donning her armor and grabbing her weapon, she stepped out of her tent. Outside, troops were moving around, and large numbers of undead soldiers were being mobilized. By this time, all the transmigrators and other living creature soldiers had finished resting and were ready for action. Dong Jiayue, nodded at them and took her position in the central command. Without delay, she coldly commanded, ¡°Attack.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! The flags signalling the attack were raised high. Members of the cavalry, each carrying their orders, scattered in all directions, crying out, ¡°Attack¡­¡± Boom, boom, boom!! The rhythmic beating of drums permeated the air. A large grey glow enveloped all the undead again. In the marching infantry. Giant trolls, carrying shields as large as doors, steadily advanced. At the center of the troops was the skeleton hero, Meatfist. He constantly shouted, ¡°Watch the sky, raise your shields.¡± Ching, ching, ching!! Bullets bounced off the shields, creating a series of metallic clangs. Large numbers of skeletal bats, each carrying thunder tubes, also joined the battlefield from behind. They fearlessly soared towards the top of the fortress. ¡­ The eleventh fortress. The endless days of fighting had left all the dwarves exhausted. The Undead seemed unending. They launched one wave of attacks after another. If they were just battling sleep deprivation, they might just be fatigued. But constantly being targeted mentally and physically was wearing them down. The dwarves were just mechanically reloading and firing their guns, cumbersomely moving like zombies. Bam! Suddenly, a dwarf carrying cannonballs stumbled and fell. The round cannonball dropped and rolled down the stairs with a clang, stopping at the base of the city wall. The others were terrified. They immediately scattered, hiding as far away as possible. The cannonball was not merely a lump of iron; it contained gunpowder. If it exploded, the casualty count would be unimaginable. However, the cannonball did not explode. Instead, it simply rolled to the side and came to a stop. The fallen dwarf had fallen asleep instantly after hitting the ground. The dwarf commander inspected the scene. He woke up the sleeping dwarf, saying, ¡°Hang in there for a little longer. Once His Majesty Rune sends someone to relieve us, you can get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± The dwarf soldiers didn¡¯t speak; they just got back up and continued moving the cannonballs. Inside the command post. A dwarf, taller and sturdier than the rest, his flashy silver armor shining under the flickering light, and a lengthy flaming beard falling onto his chest, stood solemnly before a table. Laid out on the low, long table was a map. The dwarves had been in several skirmishes with the undead recently. Although they hadn¡¯t lost the city, the casualties suffered by the dwarves were immense. Both sides suffered losses in the sudden attacks and encounters in the wilderness. The Undead, relentless and tireless like maggots on a decomposing corpse, held on stubbornly. They attacked ceaselessly, confining the dwarves to the city walls. Siddiq, an Orange hero and one of the three Great Generals of the Dwarves, was feeling incredibly frustrated having been pushed into such a predicament for the first time. There was so much pent-up anger, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had no choice but to take it all in. ¡°General Siddiq, what¡¯s the situation at Gray Iron City?¡± a dwarf leader asked. All the soldiers in the city were holding back discontent. But they were all aware that with the current scale and intensity of the undead¡¯s attacks, if it wasn¡¯t for General Siddiq holding them off, the city would have fallen a long time ago. Not even mentioning the fact that they had held on for so long now. But, they had suffered severe losses too; their soldiers were all engaged in intense defense, with ammunition running dangerously low. They were afraid that they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on for much longer. While looking at the map, Siddiq responded, ¡°His Majesty Rune is likely waiting for support from the Human Clan. We¡­alas.¡± With these words, Siddiq let out a heavy sigh. Winter was fast approaching; the aid that the humans could provide would be limited. Even if the reinforcements managed to reach Eight Peaks Mountain, it was unclear when they would be able to provide assistance here. ¡°If there are no reinforcements, what do we do?¡± a worried leader asked. Siddiq stared at the map and said coldly, ¡°We haven¡¯t been completely without gains over this period. I¡¯ve determined the position of the enemy¡¯s commander. I plan to take a team directly into their camp and kill their commander.¡± Siddiq¡¯s hand pointed firmly at a marked location on the map. All eyes turned to the map. After a moment of contemplation, they all nodded approvingly. The attacking Undead are just a bunch of unintelligent dead things. Chapter 764 - Chapter 764: Chapter 520, 11 Fortresses_3 Chapter 764: Chapter 520, 11 Fortresses_3 If the commander were killed, these mindless Skeletons would naturally lose their target. Then it would be easier to disperse them. This was their only chance of survival. ¡°I agree with this plan.¡± ¡°I agree too.¡± ¡°Agree!¡± ¡°¡­¡± One by one, the commanders expressed their agreement with the plan. Siddiq gave a nod, putting his helmet back on. He said coldly, ¡°Gather all the giant elk cavaleers. One hour later, follow me to break out from the west gate and kill the enemy commander.¡± ¡°Yes, general.¡± Swoosh. All the generals rose to their feet sharply, making the armor plates clang. Just as everyone was about to leave under orders. Dong, dong!! The bell¡¯s alarm echoed through the entire fortress. All the dwarves in the hall frowned instinctively, a feeling of impending doom rising in their hearts. Usually, the ringing of the bell signals the Undead¡¯s all-out attack. Before anyone could get out. A dwarf rushed in, rolling and crawling. He shouted, ¡°The Undead have launched an all-out attack. It¡¯s all Skeletons.¡± The Undead had been attacking every day during this period. Given the dwarf¡¯s panic right now, the situation was likely even worse. Siddiq quickly said, ¡°Put off the cavalry gathering. Everyone follow me to the city wall to assess the situation.¡± Everyone walked out of the hall without hesitation and climbed the city wall. At this time, the city was already in chaos. Each squad leader was shouting orders, gunshots and rifles filled the fortress. Meanwhile, teams of people had already started to dismantle nearby houses. Stones and logs were starting to be moved onto the city wall. Siddiq led the people onto the city wall. Looking down, they all changed color. Giant Skeleton Trolls, each holding a shield as big as a door, raised over their heads. The shields, one after another, formed like a grey dome, shielding the Skeletons below. Bullets bounced off the shields and scattered into the distance. Through the gaps in the shield, you could see the Skeleton Undead hidden beneath. Bullets and crossbow bolts no longer inflicted any harm. Only the ceaseless cannons could overturn the enemies under the shields. But the number of cannons was ultimately limited. ¡°Bring all the detonators over here. When they gather together, toss them down with me,¡± Siddiq roared. A squad leader nearby immediately went to order. The dwarves began to carry the detonators. Just as everyone watched the Undead closing in on the city with faces as pale as death. The dwarf appointed as a lookout shouted again. ¡°Watch out. Enemies approaching from the air.¡± Everyone looked towards the sky. Only saw the thick smoke covering the moon and stars, entirely pitch black. The next moment, one Bone Dragon after another dashed out from the dense smoke. ¡°Bone Dragon, atta¡­..¡± The Commander who had just started shouting suddenly stopped. The Bone Dragon swooped past, without any intentions to dive and attack. Just as everyone was confused. Skeleton Bats began to drop from the Bone Dragon¡¯s body. ¡°It¡¯s Skeleton Bats! Shoot, Quick ¡­ Shoot!¡± Bullets and arrows fired towards the sky. In an instant, the bones of the bats fell like rain. Clang!! Siddiq suddenly noticed a round object falling with the bat bones. Just right, it rolled towards the dwarf who had just walked out of the warehouse, carrying boxes of detonators in his hands. ¡°Damn, shit!¡± Siddiq cursed. Chapter 765 - Chapter 765: Chapter 521, Call Brother-in-law_1 Chapter 765: Chapter 521, Call Brother-in-law_1 The dwarf transporting the dynamite had also noticed the object beneath his feet. He glanced down at it, then up at what he was holding in his hand. Did he drop it? But why is it smoking? Then, the sky started to crackle as the bodies of bats mixed with dynamite began to rain down like droplets. They scattered around the city like falling blossoms. The area of the dwarves¡¯ fortress was not large to begin with, but the number of dynamites had pretty much covered the whole place. Siddiq¡¯s face turned ashen and he immediately shouted: ¡°Take cover, avoid the dynamite on the ground, hurry, everyone take cover!¡± As he shouted, he was pushing several commanders who had been stunned. Everyone was immediately awakened. They started issuing orders to take cover and disperse. However, they didn¡¯t have much time to respond. The first dynamite smoking white fumes suddenly exploded. Boom! Boom, boom, boom! The dynamites scattered throughout the city exploded one after another. The impregnable fortress had become a cage trapping them. It kept shaking and breaking apart in the explosion. On this pitch-black night, the fortress resembled a glowing box from the inside. It kept lighting up the night sky. With no enemies to blockade them, the undead began to launch their full-scale attack. A dense horde of undead began flocking together, crowding up and spreading upwards like mud. They trampled on their comrades and climbed higher. White skeletons draped the city¡¯s front wall. They poured over the wall, into the city. Swinging their weapons, they killed the trembling dwarves who crawled out of the ruins. Inside the fortress, the battle cries gradually became louder. The dwarves kept resisting. However, once the four gates inside the city had been opened, and more and more skeletons poured in, the outcome was sealed. Under a pile of rubble. Siddiq pushed a slab of stone off his body, leaning on his weapon, he stood up. He swayed his dizzy head and wiped the blood off his face. Beyond his sight were the ruins, big fires, and countless swarming undead soldiers. Siddiq shakily pulled out a blood-stained conch from his chest. He put the conch to his lips, trembling, he said: ¡°I am Siddiq, Fortress No.11 has fallen, everyone has died in battle.¡± After he finished, he tossed the conch aside. With blood-soaked hands, he stroked his beard. He gave the horde of undead before him a cold look, picked up his battle-axe, and charged. ¡­ At four in the morning. Fang Hao was suddenly awakened by the notification from the Book of Lords. He sat up, opened his private chat, and saw the message Dong Jiayue had sent. ¡°Brother Hao, the 11th fortress has been taken. Now our troops are split into two groups. Black Sword is leading 50,000 skeletons to siege the 12th fortress while our main forces are advancing to attack the Dwarves¡¯ main city, Gray Iron City¡­¡± To speed up the progress, Dong Jiayue chose to split the troops. The location of the 12th fortress was not along the marching route. Therefore, a team was assigned to siege the 12th fortress. The main force of the army would continue to advance and attack the dwarves¡¯ main city. As for the 12th fortress. After cutting off the communication with the outside world, those inside would sooner or later surrender or starve to death in the city. With the weather turning cold, the planned schedule had been delayed. They withstand the cold to carry on, aiming to quickly seize Gray Iron City and end this war. Fang Hao examined the map and felt there were no issues. Furthermore, Dong Jiayue and the heroes who participated in the battle had a better understanding of the situation on the ground than him. Fang Hao responded, ¡°Okay, let me know what supplies you need when the time comes, and I¡¯ll allocate them to you immediately.¡± ¡°Okay, there¡¯s no rush now, we can replenish once we spot Gray Iron City.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°By the way, Brother Hao, how¡¯s the situation with the human reinforcements?¡± Dong Jiayue asked again. If human reinforcements began to interfere from the rear They could disrupt the rhythm of the attack, potentially dragging the battle on for a long time. They might even get stuck fighting all through winter. They really didn¡¯t want to fight in the snow. ¡°I¡¯ve tied them down for now, they won¡¯t intervene for the time being. But just in case, you should still deploy some sentries on the border between the two armies, in case anything unusual happens,¡± Fang Hao pondered before responding. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two ended the chat, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. He got up, put on his clothes and walked out of the room. ¡­ At this time. The outside was still dark, but the nightstone street lamps illuminated the city. He stretched his body and started his morning exercise early. He loosened up his muscles and began to jog around the territory. When he passed the Blackstone Training Ground, he saw five young deermen fiddling with equipment in the ground. Their four legs hopping about were quite cute in a silly way. According to the Deermen Tribe, female deermen were nocturnal creatures. Now was exactly their active time. They were quite brave. Most slaves would be half-scared to death by the sight of the patrol skeletons and the deep dark night. Yet, they seemed to be having a good time. Fang Hao watched them from a distance without disturbing them. He ran past them from a distance and continued his training. When he passed the central area, he saw another figure standing in the central square, looking up at the towering golden statue. The Gold Eating Queen, Amanda. What¡¯s going on, his castle was lively even at night, huh! Fang Hao slowed down, watching her from a distance. Chapter 766 - Chapter 766: Chapter 521, Call Me Brother-in-law _2 Chapter 766: Chapter 521, Call Me Brother-in-law _2 Why is she gazing upon her statue? Visiting old memories, or self-admiration? It shouldn¡¯t be self-admiration. It was once mentioned in Amanda¡¯s description. Amanda only wrapped herself in gold when her skin became dry and shriveled, no longer beautiful as before. The golden statue of the queen, clearly bearing the image of her masked face, is unlikely an object of self-admiration. Was she reminiscing then? That doesn¡¯t seem right either! Being among the Undead, akin to ascetics, all emotions become extremely indifferent after giving up one¡¯s physical form. It couldn¡¯t be this sentimental, could it? Fang Hao pondered for a while, then ran over, wiping his sweat and greeted, ¡°Amanda, good¡­, good morning.¡± Amanda slowly turned around to look at the approaching Fang Hao. ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Fang Hao?¡± Amanda asked in a soft voice. ¡°Uh, morning workout, I¡¯m exercising and saw you standing here.¡± Fang Hao walked to her side. ¡°Exercise? I remember, I used to love exercising. My private tutor always scolded me, saying I shouldn¡¯t be wielding weapons, as it would harm the image of the queen.¡± Amanda paused slightly before continuing, ¡°Obviously, he was wrong. A strong body is equally important.¡± Well, ¡­.¡± As expected, she was reminiscing about the past. The description also mentioned Amanda¡¯s cause of death, she was poisoned. A hero, with a robust physique, might not be completely immune to poison but certainly won¡¯t succumb to it directly. It appears, Amanda seems to have her regrets. But now she¡¯s an Undead, unable to change. Fang Hao thought for a while and said, ¡°Being an Undead is not so bad. You have an immortal life and plenty of time to pursue what you like.¡± ¡°Indeed? How do you know that the Undead have preferences, and not just an empty and uninteresting existence with a soul?¡± Amanda retorted. ¡°Umm¡­ Is that so? Nelson advised me like that. He wishes that I go through the transformation ceremony as soon as possible.¡± Fang Hao promptly replied. Amanda looked at him curiously. ¡°Sir, do you have anything urgent to attend to?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Would you chat with me then? It¡¯s been a long time since I last talked to someone.¡± Amanda¡¯s tone remained plain. ¡°Of course.¡± Fang Hao agreed immediately. Perhaps it could help increase the Loyalty. It is difficult to boost the loyalty of a Dark Gold Hero. Amanda nodded, waved her hand. From the pendant around her neck, a stream of golden liquid flowed out, forming a table and two chairs in front of them. After Amanda gestured Both of them sat down on the chairs. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, are you a transmigrator?¡± Amanda asked. She learnt some information about transmigrators from Li Rong. She was quite surprised by these people who were suddenly sent here. ¡°Yes, I was brought here out of the blue a few months ago.¡± Fang Hao leaned back on the golden chair, saying quietly. ¡°Is this the power of God?¡± Fang Hao hesitated, God, huh? Maybe. But the deity worshipped in their world seems to be quite different from the one here. ¡°Perhaps. Maybe some great entity, out of boredom, decided to add some fun and sent us over here.¡± Fang Hao said. Amanda looked at him curiously. Joking about God made her, a queen, a bit tense. But very quickly, she relaxed. Continuing, she asked, ¡°Do you miss your homeland?¡± Homeland¡­. At the utterance of this word, scenes of his modern hometown flashed through Fang Hao¡¯s mind. His parents, the old relocation district, and the elderly people who lined up every morning to get free eggs, but never bought anything. It¡¯s been a while, so long that the wooden board in front of the Lord¡¯s mansion marking the days was full of scratches. He was already getting used to the life here. He now had Eira and Anjia. If he were to return now, he would have concerns. ¡°Yes, when I first got here, every day I kept myself busy. But at night, while asleep, dreams of past scenes kept appearing.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s voice sank a little. Amanda was gently touching the gemstone at the top of her scepter. She silently listened. When Fang Hao finished speaking, Amanda started softly, ¡°I too, slept for a long time. In my dreams, I saw the ¡®Anglina¡¯ beacon, seas of flowers blazing in flame. The fiery red flowers covered the hillsides, forming a fiery sea at first glance. I also saw the festival of the Goddess of Harvest, where boys get to give tokens of love to girls. Also, the trust of my subjects, and the eyes of children filled with anticipation.¡± Undead¡¯s emotions aren¡¯t usually strong. But in Amanda¡¯s plain voice, he could sense her longing for the old kingdom and guilt towards her subjects. He remembered the first sentence in her description. Amanda, her wisdom and courage were as renowned as her sense of honor and justice. Her subjects held high expectations of her. Even after becoming an Undead, they were still willing to trust her and let her continue ruling the kingdom. This trust had surpassed the repulsion of living creatures towards the Undead. But it seems the ending was not good. Amanda ended up sealing herself in the underground palace due to severe injury. In the absence of the queen, the fate of Anglina Kingdom is not hard to guess. ¡°What happened to the Anglina Kingdom?¡± Fang Hao followed her story and asked. Amanda shook her head, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I had Li Rong check in Silver Wing City. It seems the Anglina Kingdom has become a part of history, with its territories divided among various races. Based on the old site of the kingdom, it is now known as the Great Cemetery of Odys.¡± Chapter 767 - Chapter 767: Chapter 521, Calling Brother-in-law_3 Chapter 767: Chapter 521, Calling Brother-in-law_3 ¡°Odys?¡± This name, wasn¡¯t it the Skeleton King Odys? Even though I was the one to pay the price, it was due to Odys¡¯s recommendation that I was able to become a member of the Trade Alliance. ¡°Yes, names like Great Cemetery and Great Graveyard are common among the Immortal Kings. The ruler of this Great Cemetery of Odys is none other than the Skeleton King Odys. He was once one of my subordinates. I have no idea why he survived and also became the ruler of the former kingdom site.¡± Amanda continued her introduction. At this point, Fang Hao understood that Amanda¡¯s sudden desire to chat wasn¡¯t spontaneous. She had something to say to him. Since the conversation had already reached this point, Fang Hao decided not to beat around the bush any longer. He asked curiously: ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Amanda fell silent again before slowly speaking, ¡°I wanna go home and take a look. If Odys is doing well, then I¡¯ll only be going to visit my homeland and see the old kingdom. If he has abandoned his former beliefs and is not a qualified ruler, I will reclaim my position, at which time I will need your help.¡± This help was nothing more than military power and equipment. Amanda was powerful and also skilled in strategy. However, without troops, one could not regain control of the kingdom. That¡¯s where Fang Hao¡¯s support came in. Fang Hao thought about it. Amanda was a hero under his command, powerful and tactful, and her desire to reclaim her territory was beneficial for the land. Giving her the necessary support also meant expanding the territory. ¡°Of course, I will support your decision as long as you are willing, just like when we were in the underground palace, we support each other to survive in this world.¡± Fang Hao showed a sincere smile. [Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda, your loyalty is raised by 15 points, the current loyalty is 92 points.] The system message immediately followed. Hearing that it had increased by 15 points, Fang Hao¡¯s sincere smile started to get a little strange. He quickly masked it, but it was hard to resist the urge to laugh out loud. Amanda did not notice the change in Fang Hao¡¯s expression, or perhaps she didn¡¯t think much of it if she did. She nodded in response, ¡°Alright, thank you. I am thinking about visiting the ¡®Great Cemetery of Odys¡¯ in the next few days.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°We are not sure about Odys¡¯s attitude towards you. It is not wise to go there suddenly. How about this? I will establish trade with Odys through my shop in the near future to investigate the situation.¡± Amanda naturally understood what Fang Hao was trying to convey. She nodded in agreement. Fang Hao continued to smile and said, ¡°If you¡¯re bored with the territory, we are currently at war with the dwarves, you can go and have a look. I am sure with you joining us, victory will be much easier.¡± ¡°Sure, I want to see different places too.¡± ¡°Good. After returning from the dwarves¡¯ side, you can visit the Troll City in the Bloody Mountain Range and the Orc City. By the time you have finished touring, we should have definite news from the Great Grave as well.¡± Fang Hao brought out the map and pointed out the locations as he spoke. Amanda looked closely at it, surprised and curious about the vastness of Fang Hao¡¯s territory. The two of them continued their chat, which did not further increase the loyalty. But at 92 points, it was already considered high. Now, even if Rolana were to come, Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t be scared anymore. With Amanda¡¯s abilities, plus a bunch of orange heroes, they could protect him easily. ¡­ By the time Fang Hao left, the sky was already bright. On one side, a number of slogans were heard. Anjia was leading a group of maids and they were running by with great vigor. As they passed, they didn¡¯t forget to flash smiles at Fang Hao. 7 a.m. After breakfast, Fang Hao received a private message from Li Rong. Once he confirmed that she was ready, he immediately activated the teleportation screen. Li Rong, leading four transmigrators, stepped out from the screen. All four of them were curious about their surroundings. But it was clear that they had prepared themselves mentally, and didn¡¯t react too much upon seeing the patrolling skeletons. Li Rong casually lit a cigarette, ¡°Call him brother-in-law.¡± The four of them bowed in unison, ¡°Brother-in-law!¡± Damn! Chapter 768 - Chapter 768: Chapter 522, Discussing Peace_1 Chapter 768: Chapter 522, Discussing Peace_1 The four transmigrators all bowed in unison, lined up neatly. Fang Hao had met two of them before in Silver Wing City. Fang Hao glared at Li Rong, who seized the opportunity to throw him a flirtatious glance. Her expression seemed to say, ¡®You know how things are.¡¯ Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother to comment. If you deny it right away, She even dares to say you don¡¯t recognize people after you¡¯ve pulled up your pants. The more you argue with her, the more she thrives. Doing real business, he asked: ¡°Li Rong, why are there only four people?¡± Li Rong exhales a smoke ring, ¡°I only have five under my hands, and one needs to be left to take care of the home. You don¡¯t trust the locals, what can I do.¡± ¡°Can you manage?¡± ¡°The craft method is not difficult, just repeat demonstrations a few times. They will stay in these two villages for the next few days, teaching them how to work while making tools,¡± Li Rong answered. Fang Hao nodded, agreeing to that. Li Rong turned to the four men and said, ¡°Those are all the slaves your brother-in-law bought. If you long for women, go back to Silver Wing City and find them yourself. If you mess around here, your brother-in-law will chop you off for me. He¡¯s killed quite a few transmigrators already.¡± ¡°Yes, Sister Li, and¡­ and we are decent people,¡± the four hurriedly explained. Fang Hao¡¯s notorious reputation was well-known in the channel. Those who crossed him typically didn¡¯t end well. Li Rong glared at her four disciples, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, behave and teach them properly here.¡± ¡°Understood, we promise to fulfill our duties.¡± Li Rong then turned to Fang Hao and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve briefed my men. Let¡¯s go to the orc village together!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Hao nodded and had four horses brought over before departing with Aseti to the direction of Foxmen Village and Rabbitmen Village. They quickly arrived at the two villages after a swift ride. Li Rong assigned two people to each village and began to make a large number of buckets, basins, and other necessary tools. The four disciples were quite efficient. Knowing that this task would determine whether they could eat in the future, they quickly got to work. They started to teach others, introduce tools, and identify materials. They handled everything with great detail. At the entrance of the village, Li Rong looked at the village and said, ¡°These people should be near my city. This distance is inconvenient.¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°You might find it more convenient, but can you afford to feed so many people? Will Silver Wing City just stand by and watch? It¡¯s a bit troublesome here, but at least it¡¯s safe and stable.¡± Li Rong nodded, conceding that he had a point. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Next, we¡¯ll go to the shops in the other two cities. I¡¯ll stay in the city for the next few days to set up the shop and try to open for business as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± The three returned to the main city and activated the teleportation gate to transport Li Rong to Lyss City. She went to the newly purchased shop to begin renovations. Meanwhile, Fang Hao continued to take care of his own business. ¡­ The next day. In Pruell City and Lyss City, street posters advertising ¡®Fairy Dream Tower¡¯ had already been posted. Eye-catching headlines and specially commissioned posters were displayed in the most conspicuous places in the city center. During this season, although it was a little cold, they didn¡¯t have to worry about the rain ruining the posters. This also saved from the trouble of keeping an eye on them every day. Every day, a group gathered in front of the posters to take a look. Li Rong even arranged for staff to give the noble ladies in the city free product trials under the posters. While drawing on their faces, they continuously introduced the products. The relationships among the nobility were complex. The salesperson and the noble lady ended up talking about the noble and wealthy women in Silver Wing City. ¡°Lady Palitzer? We just went to the theatre last month. Does she use your products too?¡± The salesperson¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Of course, Lady Palitzer is a regular customer of our Fairy Dream Tower. Others like Lady Olivia Dordy and Lady Rebecca, the City Lord¡¯s wife, also use our products.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, our shop was previously only opened in Silver Wing City. It was only this year that we decided to open a shop here.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a box!¡± With the experience from Silver Wing City, The promotion of the two new shops went much more smoothly. They could declare outrightly that their products were the favorite of all noble ladies in Silver Wing City. And they were now the symbol of beauty for women in modern times. The locals had never seen such a promotion method before. And coupled with the extravagant praise, This quickly spread among the circles of noble ladies and misses in the city. The shop hasn¡¯t even opened yet, But many have already started to purchase the product under the poster. This delighted Li Rong, who even noticed a potential for becoming the richest person around. No, the richest would definitely be Fang Hao. Being the second richest wasn¡¯t too bad either. ¡­ Several days later, early in the morning. Dong Jiayue, stifling a yawn, stepped out of the Beast Skin tent. As soon as she stepped outside, she felt something cold on her neck. When she touched it, it had already turned into water. Looking up, she found that the sky was filled with falling snowflakes. ¡°It¡¯s snowing, winter has come.¡± Dong Jiayue murmured, exhaling white breath. She looked around. At the center of the Beast Skin tent, the surrounding area was filled with the neatly arranged Undead army. Snowflakes landed on the undead¡¯s heads and shoulders, accumulating slowly without melting. At the end of her sightline, Was a city built between two steep mountains. The steel-gray city wall, towering towers, and the densely packed cannon mouths on the walls. Chapter 769 - Chapter 769: Chapter 522, Discussing Peace_2 Chapter 769: Chapter 522, Discussing Peace_2 Grey Iron City. Eight Peaks Mountain, the main city of the Dwarf Kingdom. Built into the mountain, the city walls are cast from molten iron, formidable and impregnable. The only approach for an attack is straight ahead, which is also the best defended and fiercely fortified spot. The dwarves are already prepared. Therefore, Dong Jiayue and his team did not launch a direct attack at the first opportunity. Instead, they gathered their forces outside the city, beginning to regroup and rest. The dwarves on their side began to hastily repair their artillery, preparing for the final battle. Meanwhile, an endless line of undead skeletons joined their ranks from the rear. The waiting army grew larger and larger. The formation of the battle line rapidly expanded backward. ¡°Jia Yue sister, how should we fight this final battle?¡± A voice sounded, and several transmigrators walked towards them. All of them had changed from their thin clothes to the ¡°Fur-warming Robe¡± and ¡°Fur-warming Trousers¡± distributed by Fang Hao. At a glance, they resembled hunters going up the mountain to hunt in a TV drama. The style was not bad, mainly because they were really warm. Even without particularly cold weather, they were sweating in those clothes, and needed to change out of them once they entered their tents. Dong Jiayue responded, ¡°No rush. We are reaching the final step. Our army will keep growing. Those dwarves should be the ones feeling the pressure.¡± The others nodded, feeling that made sense. ¡°Jia Yue, the walls of Grey Iron City are much higher than typical city walls. It will be more difficult for the undead to pile up and climb up, we should consider making some siege equipment,¡± Deng Bin commented. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve considered that. The dwarves are currently creating siege equipment that we can utilize,¡± Dong Jiayue said as she took off the tent, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it inside.¡± Thirteen transmigrators entered the tent. They each took a seat around the tent. ¡°I have a suggestion. If the frontal and skyward assaults are challenging, can we consider digging tunnels? Remember the Demon Rat attack? Some Demon Rats can dig tunnels right up to the front gate of the Lord¡¯s mansion,¡± Yang Xiaolan proposed creatively. Immediately after she finished, someone refuted, ¡°Considering the hardness of the ground at this time and the possibility that the mountain range might be underneath, think about how long it would take to manually dig all the way.¡± ¡°Should we find a special way, such as enlisting some Warcraft that are good at digging tunnels? Should we ask Brother Fang Hao, he might have a solution!¡± Everyone turned their eyes to Dong Jiayue. Dong Jiayue distributed some breakfast she had prepared, before continuing: ¡°I heard from Bellerga that when the dwarves built their city walls, they considered this possibility. The underground part of the wall is also very deep, and it is even stronger.¡± ¡°Damn, those dwarves are too cunning.¡± ¡°No wonder they are not tall; they¡¯re all brains.¡± ¡°Exactly¡­¡± The transmigrators, failing to come up with any siege strategies, began to hurl personal insults out of embarrassment. From accusing the dwarves of being crafty, to mocking their short stature. A string of words, all maligning the dwarves based on their physical characteristics. Thankfully, Bellerga did not attend this meeting, or he would have been so angry he might have plucked out all his beard. In the midst of the messy discussion inside the tent¡­ A guard¡¯s report was heard from outside the tent, ¡°My Lord, there¡¯s news from the front that the grey Iron City has sent dwarves to negotiate.¡± All the people in the tent were stunned and subsequently look at Dong Jiayue unanimously. The great battle was about to begin, yet the dwarves suddenly sent someone over. Dong Jiayue guessed the purpose of the dwarves and said, ¡°Let the dwarves come over. And call Meatfist and Spencer over too, to attend the dwarves¡¯ meeting together.¡± She was also worried that the dwarves would suddenly launch an attack. Having two orange heroes present would not only show the value they placed on the heroes but also serve as her protection. ¡°Oh, alright, my lord.¡± The guard quickly retreated and passed on the message. Dong Jiayue looked at the few transmigrators and said, ¡°You guys can go back to your work for now, I will notify you if there are any updates.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The group got up and left the tent. ¡­ Before long, Spencer and Meatfist entered the tent. On the dwarf¡¯s side, As the formation of the undead army was so large, they hadn¡¯t arrived yet. It must have taken them quite a bit of time to walk here. The three of them discussed the purpose of the dwarves¡¯ visit in the tent. After waiting for almost an hour, A guard¡¯s report came from outside the tent, ¡°Lord, the dwarves have arrived.¡± Dong Jiayue immediately returned to her main seat and said solemnly, ¡°Let them in.¡± Swish!! Footsteps sounded outside the door, the tent was pulled open, and three dwarves appeared in front of them. The leading dwarf had a gray-white beard and wore a high-quality cotton coat. He strode in confidently. However, when they saw that the person sitting in the main seat was a young human girl, all three dwarves frowned. They looked at the undead heroes standing on both sides like bodyguards, Their eyes showed some confusion and incomprehension. They had forgotten what they had rehearsed and stood in place. ¡°Gentleman, please take a seat!¡± Dong Jiayue was the first to speak. Hearing her voice, the three dwarves came to their senses, exchanged glances with each other, and sat down on the seats to the side. Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°The great battle is about to begin, do you gentlemen have any business here?¡± The leading dwarf with the grey beard slammed his hand on the table and said loudly, ¡°There have never been any grievances between Eight Peaks Mountain and you. You seized our city and killed our people. What is your intention?¡± Chapter 770 - Chapter 770: Chapter 522, Talking about Peace_3 Chapter 770: Chapter 522, Talking about Peace_3 The questioning tone instantly tensed up the atmosphere inside the tent. The three of them initially thought they were here for negotiations, but they seemed to be here to blame instead. Seeing the raging dwarfs, Dong Jiayue couldn¡¯t help but laugh, saying, ¡°Dwarfs attacking the transmigrators¡¯ cities, stealing winter supplies, enslaving transmigrants, do you guys think you¡¯ve been very discreet, and no one else knows?¡± The grey-bearded dwarf frowned. He didn¡¯t expect her to bring up this issue. At first, they didn¡¯t realize that the war between the Undead and the dwarfs was led by the transmigrants. Seeing that the grey-beard dwarf didn¡¯t speak, the red-beard dwarf behind him stepped in to speak, ¡°What transmigrant cities? We¡¯ve no idea. Even if there¡¯s a misunderstanding between us, it can be peacefully resolved. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being surrounded and attacked by all living forces by colluding with the Undead?¡± Well, the conversation is turning towards the Undead again. Dong Jiayue frowned as well. She didn¡¯t want to argue with them about who¡¯s right or wrong in this matter. If they don¡¯t attack the dwarfs, the dwarfs would march eastward and capture the cities of the transmigrants one by one. Therefore, she naturally has no mental burden. As for the Undead troops. They are a secret faction. Extremely handy. They don¡¯t need to eat or sleep, and they don¡¯t worry about morale. You guys, what¡¯s the use of saying all these? Without any hesitation, Dong Jiayue stated, ¡°If you three are here to discuss who is right or wrong, then please go back and wait for your death. My army will take over Gray Iron City.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± The three of them stood up in anger at her words. But they sat back down, looking at the coldness in Dong Jiayue¡¯s eyes. Their task here was not complete, and they¡¯re not leaving just yet. Taking a deep breath, the grey-bearded dwarf said, ¡°I¡¯m presenting King Rune¡¯s proposal for a truce.¡± Everything said before merely serves as a build-up to discussing this truce. But Dong Jiayue and the other transmigrants didn¡¯t feel much affinity with such matters. Who¡¯s right or wrong doesn¡¯t matter, all that matters is who wins the fight. ¡°Then speak quickly about your proposal,¡± Dong Jiayue urged. After glancing at his two companions behind him, the grey-bearded dwarf then spoke, ¡°This war is unnecessary for both of us. The loss of resources and troops will make it harder for us to survive the winter.¡± As if he¡¯s a different person, the tone of the grey-bearded dwarf suddenly softened. ¡°No, my soldiers don¡¯t need to eat or drink. It¡¯s the perfect time for war in winter.¡± Dong Jiayue replied. Um, ¡­. The grey-bearded dwarf paused, ¡°Even if the Undead don¡¯t need food, you and your human followers still need it. The loss of troops could create an opportunity for other forces, potentially endangering your interests.¡± ¡°No, I have a conversion field for the Undead. The loss of troops pretty much equals the transformation of corpses.¡± Dong Jiayue replied. Um, ¡­. Still thinking, the grey-bearded dwarf continued, ¡°Even if you¡¯re not worried about food or troop strength, the cost of war is still substantial. The financial burden of a war can ruin a prosperous country, you should consider it.¡± ¡°No, as a transmigrator, I don¡¯t have any savings. Capturing your city, however, has given me a lot of good stuff,¡± Dong Jiayue continued. Damn it! F***ing¡­ The three dwarfs cursed in their hearts. So, you just came to fight us barehanded, unafraid because you have nothing to lose? Yet, she¡¯s pushed us to this state. We¡¯ve been pressed to the gates of Gray Iron City. Looking at the three dwarfs¡¯ faces, which looked like they¡¯d swallowed shit, Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°Just get to the point. What did Rune tell you to say? Just say it.¡± Chapter 771 - Chapter 771: Chapter 523: Bargaining (Looking for recommendation votes...)._1 Chapter 771: Chapter 523: Bargaining (Looking for recommendation votes¡­)._1 If it had been Dong Jiayue¡¯s own army, they would never choose to go to war in the winter. Just as the Graybeard Dwarf said, the winter environment is too harsh. Food, marching, temperature, various factors make the war much more difficult. But now, she is leading Fang Hao¡¯s army. She didn¡¯t have to worry about the soldiers or the equipment; she could just ask for it. The only requirement Fang Hao gave her was to take Gray Iron City, end the war with the dwarves, and rescue the transmigrators who had been captured. So, the difficulties brought up by the dwarves. In her view, they were problems for the enemy. Graybeard didn¡¯t mention them, she wouldn¡¯t even think of them. However, Dong Jiayue didn¡¯t feel like wasting time arguing with him. She asked them to state their purpose directly. Left with no choice, the dwarves could only say: ¡°King Rune has said that as long as you agree to withdraw your troops, leave the territory of Eight Peaks Mountain and no longer attack the dwarves, Gray Iron City will give you certain compensation.¡± ¡°What can you give me?¡± Dong Jiayue asked directly. ¡°Two million gold coins, five thousand royal apparatuses, five thousand precious silk cloths, and the right to trade with the dwarves. You can buy dwarven-made firearms at a very low price,¡± said Graybeard loudly. He seemed to feel that the price he offered was already astronomical. His voice was even louder than usual. Dong Jiayue curiously looked at the three dwarves. Even though she didn¡¯t care about the soldiers or equipment, by now, millions of pieces of equipment had been transported here, which also exceeded two million gold coins, right? They took such a small amount of money and wanted her to withdraw her troops. Did they think she was begging for food? It¡¯s not that the dwarves didn¡¯t know they were offering too little. The dwarves didn¡¯t have any enhancements. They produced and made them bit by bit. This war had been going on and they had been using up their financial resources too. They couldn¡¯t afford more. Dong Jiayue didn¡¯t feel like arguing with them either, waving her hand, ¡°All right, you all go back. Let Rune keep his money.¡± ¡°You!¡± Graybeard¡¯s eyes widened, then he continued: ¡°Then what do you want? Say it, and I¡¯ll talk to King Rune. There¡¯s still room for negotiation. There¡¯s no need to push things to the worst.¡± ¡°Anything can be negotiated?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dong Jiayue carefully looked at Graybeard, then slowly said: ¡°Will surrendering and opening the city gate do?¡± Bang! ¡°You¡¯re dreaming. You guys are just dreaming.¡± Graybeard cursed. Dong Jiayue didn¡¯t care, ¡°Then go back. The war will start in a couple of days. You should eat whatever you should eat now. Who knows you might not get a chance afterward.¡± Seeing that negotiations were not going well, the dwarves became angry. One of them stroked his beard and said in a cold voice: ¡°Humph, do you really think we are afraid of these skeleton frames? Gray Iron City is the strongest fortress, standing for hundreds of years, and no power has ever broken through it. You guys¡­ probably still not good enough.¡± ¡°So mighty, what are you doing here? Bragging about your two million gold coins?¡± Dong Jiayue retorted. Dong Jiayue was also in a channel, arguing with a group of people. Sarcastic and ironic, at this age group¡¯s common skill. There was no reason she should fear the indigenous old man. ¡°I was just giving you some leeway. In my opinion, the best choice is to take the money and withdraw your troops,¡± Graybeard glared at her, continuing. ¡°Oh, go and convince your King Rune.¡± ¡°You¡­.¡± Graybeard was nearly coughing up blood. Dong Jiayue snorted coldly, ¡°Guards, escort them out. If they don¡¯t leave the camp within an hour, they will be executed on the spot.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go, old man.¡± The guard outside the door pulled the curtain aside and peered at the dwarves. The dwarves were ashen-faced. They gave Dong Jiayue a fierce glare before turning and walking out of the tent. ¡­ The snowflakes outside the tent were getting bigger. The endless undead army sent a chill down the dwarves¡¯ hearts. In the tent, although they were tough-mouthed, they didn¡¯t have much confidence inside. So many undead, they just couldn¡¯t kill them all. Where did they all come from¡­ Just as the three of them were about to take a closer look at the layout here. A voice came from behind. ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Neve.¡± The three dwarves turned their heads and saw a transmigrator woman in a leather jacket walk over with several people. Graybeard Neve recognized her as Deng Bin. He had traded with her several times and even sold some firearms to other transmigrators through her. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be alive. ¡°Miss Deng Bin, seeing you alive is indeed a surprise,¡± Neve sneered. Deng Bin also gave a smile, saying: ¡°What¡¯s so surprising about that? The undead attack the dwarves because I persuaded them to. Surprised?¡± The faces of the three dwarves changed dramatically. Neve roared, ¡°Damn it, it was you, you bitch, you¡¯re not going to die well, your soul will suffer torment forever.¡± Faced with Neve¡¯s curses, Deng Bin didn¡¯t care at all. She stepped aside and said to her subordinates, ¡°What are you waiting for? Beat them up.¡± Crash!! The several human soldiers behind her rushed forward and started beating the three terrified dwarves. Not far away. Some guards were reporting what was happening here. From afar, they heard Dong Jiayue¡¯s voice in the tent, ¡°Don¡¯t kill the messenger.¡± Deng Bin heard it and said, ¡°Get to it, did you guys not have breakfast?¡± The militiamen switched from fists and kicks to wooden sticks, thrashing the three dwarves. For a moment, cries pierced the whole area. Chapter 772 - Chapter 772: Chapter 523: Bargaining (Looking for recommendation votes...)._2 Chapter 772: Chapter 523: Bargaining (Looking for recommendation votes¡­)._2 ¡­ Night fell. The dinner was a steaming hot pot. Moreover, the room was well insulated. Fang Hao and Anjia, among others, were all sweating from the heat as they ate. He Yueyi, who was also having dinner with them, ate a plain hot pot alone because her child was still breastfeeding. She was pathetically sniffing the aroma from our side and eating her bland meat slices. As they ate, the dining room was enveloped in a mist. After dinner. Everyone dispersed, and the warmth in the room gradually dissipated slowly. After glancing at the reports from the various secondary cities, Fang Hao prepared to go and soak in the hot springs before retiring to his room. At that moment, a maid reported from outside the door. ¡°Master, Sister Little White and the maids are back.¡± Fang Hao raised his head, ¡°Let them in.¡± The door opened, and Little White, the fox girl, led in a few maids along with the landlady, Winnie, striding in. They had been left behind in Pruell and Lyss City to run the stores. But with the large number of residents unemployed in winter, labor was cheap. So, Fang Hao changed his strategy. The waitstaff were all hired from the city, and the cost of housing was even eliminated. However, the ingredients for the store¡¯s food still needed their own people to transport. So Little White and Winnie naturally came back to the palace. ¡°Master.¡± The ladies all greeted in unison, homesickness and joy shining in their moist eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, you can just stay here from now on,¡± said Fang Hao gently. They all showed happy expressions, as if running the store had been a hardship. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Well, you should rest. Don¡¯t catch a cold in the cold weather when you go to the hot springs,¡± Fang Hao continued to instruct. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± A few rabbit maids retired. But Little White and Winnie didn¡¯t move. ¡°Winnie, aren¡¯t you going back to your tavern?¡± Fang Hao looked at Winnie. In Pruell City, Winnie owned her own tavern. Even though she had been assigned to Lyss City by Fang Hao, her own store was still open! She could have gone back to her own place, but she chose to follow Little White all the way back here. Winnie glanced sneakily at Little White and softly said, ¡°I¡¯ve handed over the tavern to someone else. It¡¯s not the right time for me to go back now, so I came over with Little White. Sir, there should still be rooms available, right!¡± In the beginning, Winnie, the owner of the tavern, gave Fang Hao the impression of being an opportunistic and voluptuous tavern madam. Her tavern was not big, but business was very good. Now that Winnie had come back from Lyss City, she gave Fang Hao the appearance of a well-developed, brilliantly dressed young woman. She seemed a little more noble than before. Moreover, Winnie wasn¡¯t foolish. Now it¡¯s winter, and although she had her own business and had made a good sum of money managing Fang Hao¡¯s business in Lyss City, she knew firsthand how harsh the winters here could be, having experienced more than twenty years of them. The streets were filled with beggars and few people came to the tavern for a drink. Given the chance, she naturally wanted to spend the winter here with Fang Hao, where the food was good, the accommodation comfortable, and hot springs were available to enjoy. Of course, she also knew that Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t refuse her. After all, their relationship was pretty good. She treated Fang Hao like a younger brother, and Fang Hao had once saved her life. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal, there isn¡¯t much to do this winter. You can just stay here,¡± Fang Hao responded with a smile. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Winnie immediately revealed a brilliant smile. At this moment, Little White also spoke up, ¡°Then I¡¯ll show Sister Winnie to a new room.¡± ¡°Fine. If you need anything, you can just fetch it from the warehouse.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The two of them answered and left the lord¡¯s hall. ¡­ After seeing the two women off, Fang Hao went straight up to the fourth floor. The study was on the fourth floor, with full wardrobes and various collected crafts, famous paintings, and sculptures against the wall. Overall, his study really did give off the feel of a noble¡¯s room. Entering the study, he heard a sound of silver-bell-like laughter from outside the window. Looking back through the window into the courtyard, He saw Eira and others chatting and playing comfortably in hot spring. Eira and Anjia huddled together, one white and one black, presenting a dramatic visual contrast. This world was unlike any other. Rejuvenation Hot Spring was still steaming even under such weather. Mist surrounded it. Moreover, a few solar stone slabs placed around it emitted constant heat. Fang Hao sat down at the table, placing the wine glass in his hand in front of him. He opened the Book of Lords and discussed the plan for the next few days with Dong Jiayue. They agreed on the time of a general attack. Time ticked away. Then, there was a knock on the door from outside the room. ¡°Come in!¡± Little White, wearing a long dress, walked in looking adorable. Her two fluffy little ears twitched a bit. ¡°Master¡­¡± ¡°Hmm, have you arranged Winnie¡¯s room?¡± Fang Hao looked at her. She had clearly put an effort into her appearance. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s arranged.¡± Little White walked over to the window, specifically looking outside. Seeing Eira and others chatting in the hot spring, her eyes curved into a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t go out during this time. He Yueyi is teaching the townsfolk about accounting in the city. You can learn from her. We¡¯ll talk about it when the weather gets warmer,¡± Fang Hao said softly. Little White smiled gently, sat down on the side and said, ¡°Yes, master, I will follow your instructions.¡± Chapter 773 - Chapter 773: Chapter 523: Bargaining (Looking for recommendation votes...)._3 Chapter 773: Chapter 523: Bargaining (Looking for recommendation votes¡­)._3 Next, Fang Hao watched Dong Jiayue¡¯s report from the side. Occasionally, he would send her some weapons and equipment. Meanwhile, Little White stayed quietly on the side, refilling the water cup with fruit wine from time to time. She was like a petite maid. Once Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords, Little White knew that he had finished his work. Hearing the laughter downstairs, she squinted slightly. She stumbled and accidentally knocked over the water cup on the table. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve spilled the wine,¡± Little White exclaimed. She quickly looked around but didn¡¯t find any cloth to clean up the mess. So, she leaned over the table and extended her soft, delicate tongue to lick the wine flowing down the tabletop. Her cute face blushed, her eyes seductive. Her round bottom perked up, hidden by her not-so-long skirt that just covered her upper thighs. Giving peeks glimpses and hints. Her soft, fair thighs and round, upright figure filled the room with a special atmosphere. Although Fang Hao was feeling a bit sleepy, seeing this scene stirred his heartbeat. This vixen¡­ If anyone knew how to seduce people, it would be Little White. She appeared innocent and cute, but her scheming mind was complex. Her soft little tongue kept licking, her eyes darting to Fang Hao from time to time. Her skirt swayed slightly. Fang Hao walked straight behind her, lifting up her dangling skirt. Little White¡¯s eyes squinted, her body unconsciously swaying. ¡­ The next day! Eira arranged for someone to clean a room in the Lord¡¯s mansion for Little White. And Little White, in return, accompanied Eira closely, always flattering her. A white fox was actually a rare species among the Foxmen Tribe. Plus, Little White was young and looked delicate and cute. That was why Eira arranged for her to accompany Fang Hao. Now that Little White had come back, she and Anjia returned to the room to see them together. So, she arranged a room for her today. Of course, Little White was overjoyed. She had been serving Eira happily since morning, taking over some of Eira¡¯s work. After breakfast. Some went for patrol training, others went to learn from He Yueyi. Everyone went about their own business. ¡­ Three days later. At the Undead¡¯s camp on Eight Peaks Mountain. As the weather grew colder and colder, stepping outside the tent would feel like being sliced by a bone-chilling wind on the face. Dong Jiayue stood in front of the tent, gazing as far as she could see. Yang Xiaolan, standing next to her, pulled down her cotton hat and curiously asked, ¡°Jia Yue, what are you looking at? When did Fang Hao say we would attack? It¡¯s getting colder by the day.¡± The usually fashionable Xiao Lan had lost her interest in dressing up. All she cared about now was keeping warm, which was much more important than looking pretty. They had received a large amount of weapons and ammunition from Fang Hao last night, planning to attack today, but for some unknown reason, the plan was suddenly postponed. Dong Jiayue had been looking around, seemingly waiting for someone. ¡°Fang Hao said the hero would bring reinforcements, but where are they?¡± Dong Jiayue replied while scanning the surroundings. At that moment, at the end of her line of sight, there suddenly appeared a caravan approaching them. ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Dong Jiayue exclaimed. The others also turned to look in the direction. They saw a golden caravan, as if made of pure gold, approaching them. Dazzling to the eye. Chapter 774 - Chapter 774: Chapter 524, Attack on Gray Iron City_1 Chapter 774: Chapter 524, Attack on Gray Iron City_1 The golden carriage, inlaid with gemstones, slowly came to a halt before the group. The carriage door slowly opened and out stepped a woman clad in gold armor and a golden mask. With the support of the Bound Spirit Guardians by her side, she descended from the carriage at a leisurely pace. ¡°Holy shit, she¡¯s got an intimidating presence.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a Dark Gold Hero!¡± ¡°Yeah, a Dark Gold Hero clad in gold. Isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± ¡°Is she one of Fang Hao¡¯s heroes too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible she¡¯s the leader of some native power, here to aid us.¡± As Amanda disembarked from the carriage, the transmigrants by the sidelines began to discuss amongst themselves in surprise. You couldn¡¯t really blame them. The spectacle this party presented was simply extraordinary. The entire crew was aglow with gold, noticeable from a fair distance away, blinding to the eye. Moreover, the wagons behind them seemed to be loaded with all types of gold articles, being hauled carriage after carriage. Weren¡¯t they here as reinforcements? Why didn¡¯t they bring more soldiers and instead haul all these gold items? Are they planning to buy Gray Iron City? Amanda paid the transmigrants no mind as she entered the Beast Skin tent. She sat down and calmly stated, ¡°Fang Hao has sent me to assist you in taking Gray Iron City.¡± Dong Jiayue knitted her brows. While the Dark Gold Hero was indeed impressive, in a large-scale war like this, one or two heroes could not make much of a difference. Coughing slightly, Dong Jiayue asked, ¡°Commander Amanda, are those the only soldiers you brought?¡± Amanda nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Uh, OK, and what type of troops are you skilled at commanding?¡± Dong Jiayue continued to probe. Amanda paused for a moment, surveying the crowd, before saying, ¡°Gray Iron City has only one wall to assault, so just stick with your current plan, and let me assist at the rear.¡± The rest of the heroes turned their attention to Dong Jiayue. They were all unsure about this unexpected woman and her intentions. Dong Jiayue pondered for a moment and decided to shrug it off. This Dark Gold Hero was just a late addition before the battle. Even if she didn¡¯t turn out to be of much use, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Rearranging the troops because of her would delay the campaign by two to three days. After thinking it through, Dong Jiayue slammed her palm on the table and ordered, ¡°Very well, prepare the troops according to our plan. We attack in one hour.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone acknowledged and swiftly headed out. Amanda also took her leave, guiding her golden carriages toward the front lines. ¡­ One hour later. The banners fluttered, and orders were swiftly dispatched. Simultaneously, the sound of war drums rang out. The thumping of each drum engulfed the Undead army, uniting them into a thunderous roar. Vanguard. Meatfist glanced back at the flag waved by the troops, and shouted loudly, ¡°Shields up!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The mass of Skeleton Trolls lifted their massive shields high over their heads, creating a ripple of grey metallic domes. It spread outward, like a meticulously paved floor. ¡°Advance!¡± At the command, the Undead began moving in unison, boldly striding forward. Meanwhile, Amanda in the rear, sitting in her carriage, raised her scepter and pointed it forward. From behind her, a river of golden fluid flowed forth from the carriage, rapidly forming a protective layer of gold armor around each skeleton¡¯s body. Underneath the shielded dome was a sea of shimmering gold. Meatfist glanced back at the carriages, said nothing, and simply signaled the command for the Skeleton Warriors to begin their attack. Beneath the cover of the shields, even the smaller skeletons began to inch forward with the army. Dong Jiayue sat in the center, oblivious to the skeletons up front, all of which had been transformed into gilded warriors. All around her, troops were being mobilized. The ground was constantly trembling, and the only sound that reached her ears was that of bone clattering against armor. ¡­ Atop Gray Iron City. Inside the giant observation tower, a Dwarf soldier, sheltering from the cold wind within the battlements, began to grumble. ¡°Damn this weather and damn these Undead. Once we engage, I¡¯ll use their skulls as chamber pots.¡± His companion, also bitterly cold, chatters, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t say that, once we actually engage, who knows who will be using whose skull for a chamber pot?¡± ¡°What are you suggesting? That Gray Iron City can¡¯t hold off these Undead?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, I just heard from one of my relatives that King Rune has sent ministers to negotiate with the Undead, intending to settle this war peacefully, but the Undead refused.¡± This¡­ this statement, the meaning behind it was not lost on the complaining Dwarf. If their side were as confident as the king seemed when he made his speech, they wouldn¡¯t have sent diplomats to broker a settlement. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Does it even matter if it¡¯s true? When the battle starts, just don¡¯t charge forward like an idiot, in case we decide to retreat and you don¡¯t even realize it.¡± ¡°Damn those Undead.¡± The grumbling Dwarf looked towards the Undead in the distance and spat. As soon as he withdrew his gaze, he felt that something was off. He took another look at the scene beyond the city wall, and immediately froze in shock. Like a soulless body, he muttered, ¡°Sound the alarm!¡± ¡°Wh-, what?¡± His partner¡¯s teeth chattered together. ¡°Sound the alarm! The Undead are attacking!¡± Chapter 775 - Chapter 775: Chapter 524, Attacking Gray Iron City_2 Chapter 775: Chapter 524, Attacking Gray Iron City_2 The companion suddenly stood up, looking terrified at what lay beneath him. In the biting cold wind, an iron-grey barrier appeared in the distance. It was inching closer, bit by bit. ¡°Damn it,¡± the dwarf soldier cursed and forcefully struck the warning bell. Dong dong dong!! The loud chimes echoed swiftly, accompanied by the ringing of other bells that blanketed the entire Gray Iron City. Within the city walls, groups of dwarfs sprang into swift action. Horse-drawn and oxen-drawn carts, hauling loads of defensive equipment, moved along the city walls. The walls of Gray Iron City were constructed to be wider than roads. Various kinds of arrows, cannonballs, boulders, explosives, and incendiary grenades were distributed. Muskets, devices, various calibers of gun barrels, and cannon mouths protruded from the city walls, aiming forwards. Essentially, they had brought out all of their reserves. From afar, one could see the dense Undead army approaching. The dwarves swallowed nervously, their faces ashen. Even though the distance was still considerable. The wait was agonizing, like awaiting death. Thud after thud!! At that moment, there was the distant sound of marching footsteps. With the crown on his head and clad in golden-red armor, Rune, along with a group of ministers, ascended the city walls. Ignoring the saluting soldiers, he stared at the approaching army. Half a year. He had been in his position for only half a year. If the Undead broke into Gray Iron City today, he would be the shortest reigning king of Eight Peaks Mountain and the king under whose rule Eight Peaks Mountain was destroyed. ¡°What are the humans saying?¡± Rune asked. Behind him, a minister promptly replied, ¡°They are still using the same excuse about the resurrection of the Gold Eating Queen. She intercepted the reinforcements near Silver Wing City, and they are currently fighting against her.¡± ¡°Are they making up excuses?¡± Rune¡¯s voice deepened. ¡°Possibly, but the Gold Eating Queen can control the power of gold. If she really shows up near Silver Wing City, it is possible that the Hall of Justice and the Church would take it seriously,¡± a minister explained at one side. Rune nodded, continuing, ¡°Hmm, what do the Orcs and the Trade Alliance say?¡± Another minister came forward and said, ¡°Tasgo City has changed hands; they say that they don¡¯t care about these matters. As for the Trade Alliance, they deny having any record of these Undead forces, suggesting they are not part of the Alliance and thus, they cannot intervene.¡± Rune¡¯s hand, which was holding his staff, tightened a bit more. By now, he knew that the Undead were led by a young transmigrator girl. But how could this large-scale army not have joined the Trade Alliance? It must be that the Trade Alliance was unwilling to interfere and had simply made up an excuse to evade responsibility. Rune took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Any news from the trolls of the Bloody Mountain Range?¡± ¡°None, the messenger who went to request aid has not returned.¡± Damn it!! Rune cursed inwardly. Just what was happening? All the forces surrounding Eight Peaks Mountain are in trouble. If even one person was willing to assist them, there would be hope for ultimate victory if they defended the city with all their might. However, there¡¯s not even a single reinforcement now. Spying the Undead soldiers getting closer, he immediately ordered, ¡°Frederick, you are to take command of the defense.¡± Frederick was a veteran general of Eight Peaks Mountain. He had previously led the dwarf army into battle against the Blood Clan. ¡°Yes, your Majesty,¡± Frederick stepped forward and responded in a deep voice. Rune nodded, lowering his voice, ¡°Hmm, we cannot let Eight Peaks Mountain be lost under our watch. We must hold.¡± Frederick, gazing at the endless army beyond the city, had a somewhat distracted look in his eyes. When the old king had fallen ill, he should have handed over his position and retired. If they lost the city now, both he and Rune would be the criminals of Eight Peaks Mountain. ¡°Yes, your Majesty,¡± Frederick said. Rune and a few ministers descended the city walls. Frederick began to loudly issue commands. ¡­ Time slowly ticked by. The Undead army was getting closer to Gray Iron City. The whistling of the wind was now replaced by the reverberating sound of the army¡¯s march. The Undead soldiers looked like a limitless tide. They continued to advance without interruption, closer and clearer with each passing moment. The Undead hidden beneath the iron-grey shields could be seen, as could the skeleton soldiers laboriously pushing siege towers, with iron swords hanging on their waists. Everything was starting to come into focus. The dwarves on the city walls began to tremble uncontrollably. The number of their enemies was just too great. Even if they believed in Rune¡¯s words, could they really defend against so many Undead? What if they ran out of ammunition? Or if they simply couldn¡¯t hold out from the start? ¡°Load the cannons!¡± A booming voice issued the command. The dwarves, whose senses had been somewhat blurred, instantly sobered up. They looked at the Undead that were nearly within range. They began to load the artillery shells into the cannons. The round shells were stuffed into the muzzles, and the angle adjusted, the cannons pointing at a distance. There was no need for aiming. As long as the range was adequate, any shot fired downward could hit the Undead. In Gray Iron City, everyone was silently doing their jobs, no one speaking a word. An aura of grave silence pervaded. Suddenly, under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the Undead moved into the range of the cannons. ¡°Fire the cannons!¡± Boom boom boom!! A burst of gunfire erupted atop the city walls. The barrels spewed out tongues of fire, and in the blink of an eye, the shells fell amid the ranks of the Undead. With each resounding crash, Dirt and rocks exploded into the air, the Undead soldiers being torn apart and sent flying, reduced to scattered skeletal remains. Chapter 776 - Chapter 776: Chapter 524, Attack on Gray Iron City_3 Chapter 776: Chapter 524, Attack on Gray Iron City_3 The effect was significant. However, the dwarves on the city wall did not let out any cheers. Their prided cannons, falling below, seemed more like stones tossed into the ocean. There were ripples, but those ripples disappeared quickly, leaving no changes. ¡°Continue to load, continue to fire.¡± Boom! Boom! Boom!! The cannons kept spewing, and the shells fell below. But it still did not stop the advance of the undead, not even their rhythm. Soon, the undead entered the designated second range. The captains gave the order again, ¡°Fire the Wind Pipe Cannons.¡± Thump! Thump! Thump! Sounds like striking a copper pipe, mixing with the roar of the cannons. The Wind Pipe Cannons began to fire. This type of light cannon connected by five barrels, although less powerful than the regular cannons, when all five barrels fired at once, within a fixed range, it was even more effective than the regular cannons. After all, it was sufficient to kill. The bullets of the Wind Pipe Cannons once again fell into the undead ranks, causing a flurry of shattered stones, bone fragments, and dust. However! It still had no effect. ¡°Gunmen, shoot!¡± Crack! Crack! Crack!! Another sound was added to the intense attack, like droplets of rain, began to pour down below. They slapped against the gray iron shield overhead. The bullets were deflected, scattering about. Only a few bullets, luckily penetrated the shield¡¯s gaps, but they did not have any effect. The effect of bullets, at this moment, was no more useful than the stones thrown down. Through the gaps in the shields, one could see shadows moving quickly. The next moment. Under the shield, countless skeletons equivalent to human size, carrying swords, rushed out. And these skeletons were noticeably different from the previous ones. Because these skeletons were all golden. In groups, they rushed towards the city wall. They quickly crowded together, pulling and trampling on each other, beginning to climb upwards. The dwarves looked down and their hearts pounded in their chests. Undead continuously added to the pile of skeletons, more and more, higher and higher. In the blink of an eye, it reached three to four meters high, and still growing without stop. ¡°Hurry, stop them.¡± The dwarves began dropping stones, tree stumps, and even empty crates, everything went down below. It blocked the gathering of the skeletons. But soon, the dwarves found that such things had little effect on the gathered undead. It can¡¯t stop them from continuing to climb up at all. ¡°Throw the explosives down.¡± The dwarves bent down to pick up the explosives, pull the fuse, took a peek and then threw it down. Immediately afterward, the explosion sounded. The pile of skeletons collapsed, a group of skeletons scattered around looking for their limbs. Then they gathered again and continued to climb. ¡°Switch to burning oil!¡± Buzz ¡ª Whoosh!! Carts of burning oil were brought over, and poured down on the mountain of gathered skeletons below. The entire wall of the city was like a waterfall of flames. It was spectacular and hot. The burning oil hit the ground, igniting a blazing fire instantly, setting the pile of skeletons below alight. The scorching red flame twisted the air as it burned. The fire began to spread, the golden armor turned into molten iron, the mountain of skeletons burned to ash in the fire. The great fire seemed like a buffer zone, giving the dwarves a chance to catch their breath. However¡­ The undead archers had already reached their shooting range. Bullets raining denser than rain, pelting against the tower. In just an instant, many dwarves were hit, falling and wailing loudly. At this point, Frederick shouted loudly: ¡°Take cover, continue to counter¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence. It was interrupted by the whistling sound in the sky. One could see dense arrows, like a giant black net, covering the sky and heading straight down. Crack! Crack! Crack!! Arrows fell, wails were everywhere. Frederick looked up just in time to see the Bone Dragon diving down. The blasting cannons, bullets flying everywhere, and arrows shooting towards the sky. The entire battlefield was in chaos. Gunsmoke, and a ringing in the ears. Even the loudest orders were hard to issue. Chapter 777 - Chapter 777: Chapter 525, Trade Alliance Mediation_1 Chapter 777: Chapter 525, Trade Alliance Mediation_1 Bone Dragon! Under the pressure of the Dragon Clan, the dwarves felt a chill in their hearts. Frederick was urging the soldiers, and the dwarves who could still get up climbed onto the anti-air crossbow bed. Two dwarves assisted in turning the direction whilst one dwarf started to operate the crossbow bed, firing one large crossbow arrow after another. Crossbow arrows and bullets were raining down towards the sky in insanity. Like a dense net, it covered the sky. Even if the Bone Dragon wore a sturdy metal dragon armor, it was hit and its body lost its balance. The dragon armor was riddled with pierced crossbow arrows. The diving Bone Dragon was forced back, circling in the sky, waiting for an opportunity. Underneath the city. Siege ladders equipped with metal hooks were hoisted against the rim of the city wall. Skeleton Warriors began to climb upwards, holding round shields and stepping on the ladders. On one side, the Dwarf defenders were hurling boulders down the ladders, while on the other side, they were wielding axes to chop at the ladders on the edge of the city wall. Shoo! Shoo! Bullets continuously whistled by, and as one dwarf fell, another from behind would pick up their weapon and continue to chop. ¡°Watch out for the siege towers!¡± Another shout. The busy dwarves looked up, and the towering siege towers, equal in height to the city wall, had already reached the edge of the city wall. This huge tower-shaped device made of wood. It had a flat hook door in the front that opened and could be directly placed on the edge of the city wall. The assaulting soldiers could also directly storm the city wall through the interior of the siege tower. The dwarves did not hesitate and lit the oil bombs, immediately throwing them on the siege tower. Bang¡ªHiss! The fire blasted instantly, a fierce heat wave forcing the dwarves to retreat a few steps involuntarily. At such a close distance, their beards and hair were scorched by the heat wave. The fierce fire was burning. This kind of oil, once ignited, is very difficult to extinguish. Plus, with the dry weather and strong wind, the fire surged up in an instant, covering the siege tower. However. The ramparts still opened, and countless skeletons, ablaze, pounced on the city wall. ¡°Damn it, stop them.¡± In an instant, the undead swarmed the city wall. A large number of dwarves quickly reinforced the defenses, resisting the impact of the fiery skeletons. Large numbers of the undead collided with the dwarves on the city wall. The skeletons were fiercely ferocious, recklessly fearless. But the siege tower, it could not stay for much longer. The drawbridges connected on both sides were the first to burn, and the siege tower itself was burning more and more intensely amidst the flames. Each siege tower was destroyed one by one. The lifted siege ladders that charged over were also stopped under the concentrated guarding. Frederick observed the entire battlefield. Perhaps others didn¡¯t realize it, but he was well aware. The battlefield¡¯s artillery fire was constantly retreating. The cannons were no longer firing shells at the farthest distance, but were bombarding the charging Undead below at the maximum firing angle. It was not just the cannons, but the Wind Pipe Cannons, the military crossbows, and the rifles as well. All of their attack ranges were centered on the city below. Soon, the skeletons below gathered again and spread towards the city wall like a flood. The rocks were still ineffective. New oil was brought over. It was poured down the city wall everywhere like a heavy rain. Fire waterfall, like a fiery red cloth, hung over the wall. Hoo! The fire surged up again. Just as the dwarves thought they could defend other places like before. But a sudden change happened. By the city wall, the golden liquid seemed to have come alive, and started climbing the city wall in the view of everyone. The next second, the metallic liquid solidified into five downwardly inclined metal stairs, connecting the city wall and the ground. And all the skeletons below began to launch a fierce attack. Like a flood, they poured towards the golden stairs. ¡°What¡­.¡± The dwarves were scared and staggered, and a few of them even fell to the ground, their faces as pale as could be. What kind of ability is this? It¡¯s like the power of a god. Seeing this, Frederick¡¯s heart tightened suddenly. The Gold Eating Queen. This is the ability of the Gold Eating Queen, the Undead King recorded in history. Didn¡¯t she appear in human territory, why is she here? Suppressing his inner fear, he immediately roared: ¡°Organize a defense! Do not let them climb up!¡± The dwarves snapped back to reality. Rolled woods studded with metal barbs were moved up and rolled down the stairs. They were all crushed or squeezed off the stairs under the wooden cover. After the rolling wood, there is a line of spear guards from behind. The thin and razor-sharp spears were aimed at the location where the five stairs were, continuously stabbing and retracting, pushing the skeletons off the city wall. At this time, the sky wreathed in gunfire was suddenly streaked by the Bone Dragon. Facing the rain of arrows, it unleashed its rage at the city wall. A large number of dwarves were enclosed in black columns of light, turned into skeletons one by one. The Bone Dragon retreated upon attacking, turning around to fly away. The fallen dwarves were pulled aside, new dwarves took their place. They responded to fire with fire on one side while resisting the relentless skeletons attacking the city wall on the other. ¡­ The war persisted from morning till dusk. And from dusk, till the deep night. The artillery fire didn¡¯t stop for a moment. The Undead never slowed down their offensive either. In the Undead camp, inside the command tent made from a giant Beast Skin. Dong Jiayue and others were all looking at the map in front of them. The defensive ability of the dwarves surprised them. Facing such a cost-indifferent attack, the dwarves were still defending the city wall. Even if the barrels were overheated, they would immediately replace them with new cannons and continue to defend. ¡°We¡¯ve had them cornered for half a month, how can they still have such strength?¡± Dong Jiayue was somewhat puzzled. Chapter 778 - Chapter 778: Chapter 525, Trade Alliance mediation_2 Chapter 778: Chapter 525, Trade Alliance mediation_2 From the moment the war started. The dwarves tirelessly transported weapons and ammunition outwards. How they still had such a plentiful supply of ammunition was a surprise to her. This time, Amanda was the one to answer. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising. A big city like Gray Iron City has enough resources to last it even if it were under siege for a year, thanks to its ability to trade resources through the Trade Alliance.¡± Throughout the battle, everyone saw the extent of Amanda¡¯s power. Using the Gold Staircase strategy, she almost successfully stormed the city. Unfortunately, the dwarves responded quickly, so the plan didn¡¯t succeed. ¡°Oh, I see. That makes sense!¡± Dong Jiayue nodded in understanding. Up until now, she still hadn¡¯t established her Trade Alliance building yet. She wasn¡¯t worried about it before, but now it seems that the Trade Alliance is quite useful. Even if your city is under siege, you¡¯re still able to purchase goods through the Alliance. ¡°The defense of Gray Iron City is indeed solid. Does anyone have a better strategy in mind?¡± Dong Jiayue continued to ask. The others silently stared at the map on the table, falling deep into contemplation. After a while, Meatfist spoke up: ¡°What about dropping bombs with bats? This tactic has always been effective.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. If the skeletons can¡¯t fly in, we¡¯ll end up killing our own.¡± Dong Jiayue shook her head in disagreement. The bat and bomb strategy is indeed effective. But against the dwarves, it isn¡¯t quite as effective. If the bat flock can¡¯t make it into the city, and instead gets shot down outside of it, then the bombs will just fall and kill our own troops. The casualties wouldn¡¯t be small at all. This strategy wasn¡¯t very effective in the twelve cities they had tried it before. When they tried it in the eleventh city, they only succeeded because the enemy was exhausted, allowing them to fly in under the cover of nightfall. Seeing Dong Jiayue reject the idea, Meatfist had nothing else to say. At that moment, Amanda chimed in, ¡°The Dragon-Type Troops can fly directly into the city at a high altitude to create some chaos and alleviate the pressure outside.¡± Before Dong Jiayue could respond, Spencer was the first to speak. ¡°The dwarves¡¯ air defense is very strong, we can¡¯t just fly in like that. If we could, taking down this city wouldn¡¯t be difficult.¡± Being a Dragon Clan¡¯s living dead, if they were to storm the city by air, he would naturally be the one to lead the way in. But he didn¡¯t want to take that risk. ¡°From a high altitude, they would have a hard time threatening you.¡± Amanda responded. ¡°It would be hard, not impossible.¡± Spencer retorted. Dong Jiayue looked at the two of them and said: ¡°Let¡¯s not rush. This is only the first day, we can afford to wait.¡± She didn¡¯t want Spencer to take the risk either. If the orange hero died inside, she wouldn¡¯t be able to explain it to Fang Hao. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue with the attack then. I¡¯ll try to gather more gold.¡± Dong Jiayue whispered. Everyone nodded and left one after another. ¡­ The next day, in the early morning. The sound of cannon fire and gunfire still resonated throughout the entire battlefield. The entire sky was shrouded in thick smoke. The air was filled with a pungent smell. By the morning, the piles of skeletons beneath the city resembled a mountain. The dwarves feared that the enemy could use these mountains of corpses to climb the city walls. This was the third time they poured oil over the piles of bones and set them on fire. However, the stones they hurled down still amounted to quite a large mound. The highest point reached about seven to eight meters high. Even though compared to the towering walls of the city this height was insignificant, the dwarves started to decrease the amount of stones thrown to avoid increasing the height further. Similarly, over the span of the night, undead climbed the walls over ten times using various methods. Though they were finally repelled by the dwarves each time, it led to some casualties and damage to the defensive equipment. Add to that the concentrated assault from the archers outside, and you¡¯ve got tens of thousands injured and several thousand dead within a single night. Faced with an army of the undead this large, these results were already considered excellent. Any other enemy would have retreated after such a long and fruitless siege. But the undead below did not, as after last night¡¯s battle, there seemed to be no significant change in the situation. The endless sea of undead soldiers still remained. Only the continuously decreasing amount of ammunition reminded them that the war was still ongoing. Atop the city wall. Frederick, clad in armor, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Loudly declared, ¡°Victory will ultimately be ours. Our ancestors will bless Eight Peaks Mountain, the great god of craftsmanship and forging will protect Gray Iron City, Rune His Majesty will lead us to victory and defeat these damned undead¡­ Long live His Majesty Rune, the dwarves are sure to win!¡± ¡°Long live King Rune, the Dwarves will prevail¡­.¡± The Dwarves raised their arms and shouted, the noise momentarily even drowning out the sound of the cannons outside the city. Their fighting spirit was high! Frederick nodded, continuing: ¡°Very well, everyone to take the places of your comrades on the walls. Hold this city wall.¡± All the Dwarves immediately sprang into action. Dashing to the city walls, relieving the soldiers on duty. But once they were at the top, witnessing the unchanging undead outside the city. Their recent ardor and morale instantly turned into fear and helplessness. One day and one night! The city was filled with injured, while the undead outside remained unchanged. Is there¡­ any hope left? ¡°Hurry, get to your positions, don¡¯t dally.¡± A urging voice came from the side. The soldiers numbly climbed onto the city walls, replacing their remaining comrades. Continuing to operate siege equipment for the defense. ¡­ On the same morning. After a simple wash, Fang Hao was already sitting in the great hall. Across from him was a goblin cradling a hot tea, a grin spread across his face. ¡°Mr Fang Hao, I hope my interruption didn¡¯t disturb your beautiful sleep,¡± the petite Goblin said. Early this morning, while Fang Hao was still in his dreams. He was roused by the sound of a knock. It was said that Moru had sent a teleportation request, asking if he can come over. Fang Hao moved the fox tail from his body, then remembered who Moru was. He was the familiar Goblin teller at the Trade Alliance post. Unsure of his intentions, he allowed the goblin in. Then, after washing up, he went directly downstairs to meet this well-dressed Goblin teller. ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯m actually delighted to see Mr. Moru,¡± Fang Hao smiled, responding. He wanted to say it added luster to the occasion. But he was worried that Moru wouldn¡¯t understand, what with the cultural differences, and decided to choose a simpler phrase instead. As long as it got the meaning across. Moru also nodded with a smile, soon dropping the niceties, and got straight to the point: ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, have you heard about the recent Undead attack on Eight Peaks Mountain?¡± Fang Hao was slightly taken aback. The Trade Alliance is a neutral force. It wouldn¡¯t participate in any faction fights, nor would it disclose any information to any faction. Everything was done from a neutral standpoint, and they managed to maintain it rather well. Now, raising this issue all of a sudden surely meant something was up. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s dubious expression, Moru quickly clarified, ¡°No need to think too much, Mr. Fang Hao. The Trade Alliance maintains absolute neutrality. We just wanted to inquire about this matter privately.¡± Fang Hao retreated his gaze and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it too and have been planning on sending troops to assist Eight Peaks Mountain. However, there have been some disturbances within the Human territory recently, hence the delay.¡± ¡°Assist Eight Peaks Mountain?¡± Moru was slightly surprised. They had assumed that Fang Hao was the one attacking Eight Peaks Mountain. How come they were hearing about Fang Hao planning on supporting Eight Peaks Mountain now? What could this possibly mean? ¡°Yes, the Federal Conference has ordered all cities to send troops to aid Eight Peaks Mountain. Unfortunately, due to the cold weather and snow, things have been delayed.¡± Fang Hao responded calmly. Looking out from the window to the skeletons passing by now and then, Moru thought to himself ¨C as if I¡¯m going to believe you. Humans would probably accept a skeleton before they accept you. Without waiting for Moru¡¯s response, Fang Hao asked first, ¡°Mr. Moru, why bring up Eight Peaks Mountain? Is something happening there?¡± After a thought, Moru decided to directly explain the situation. Placing down his cup of water, he said, ¡°The Dwarves from Gray Iron City approached the Trade Alliance, hoping that we could mediate to defuse the situation. But based on the information given by the Dwarves, we couldn¡¯t ascertain anything. All we know is that a large number of Undead and a transmigrator female is commanding them.¡± Oh! Now Fang Hao understood. The Trade Alliance deduced that Fang Hao was connected with the attack on the Dwarves, based on these two pieces of information. But, there was no solid proof. After listening, Fang Hao¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. Shaking his head, he said, ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about what¡¯s happening at Eight Peaks Mountain. There are many transmigrators, and I surely do not know all of them.¡± Rune nodded. After pondering a while, he still said, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a pity. Rune wished to put an end to the war and was ready to offer a certain compensation.¡± Chapter 779 - Chapter 779: Chapter 526, Demon Dragon Potion_1 Chapter 779: Chapter 526, Demon Dragon Potion_1 Hearing Moru¡¯s words. Fang Hao continued his line of questioning, ¡°Dwarves are quite wealthy, so their compensation must be very generous, right?¡± Moru slapped his thigh, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not just generous, otherwise we wouldn¡¯t have needed the Trade Alliance to mediate, Mr. Fang Hao, would you like to hear about it?¡± Fang Hao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Go on.¡± Moru pulled out a small notebook, gently opened it, and began to read, ¡°Five million Gold Coins, one hundred and fifty thousand in-house produced gemstones, twenty thousand pieces of artifacts from the Dwarven royal family¡­, for the next five years, providing a hundred thousand muskets, fifty thousand cannons, as well as 20% of the profits from the mines. Oh, and two thousand Dwarven beauties, that¡¯s it¡­¡±. Moru finished reciting the items listed after a while. It was clear to see, that the dwarves had been impoverished by this war. The upfront resources they could provide were limited, their most valuable assets were to be provided in installments. Including the hundred thousand muskets and fifty thousand cannons over the next five years, as well as 20% of the profits from their mines. These were more valuable than five million Gold Coins. It was truly a maximum level squeeze on the Dwarves¡¯ productivity for the next five years. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, what do you think of the Dwarves¡¯ compensation?¡± Moru asked with a smile. Fang Hao dismissed it, ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s average.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ If you think this is average¡­¡± Moru was at a loss for words. ¡°Haha, what does their business have to do with us? Come on, I¡¯ll take you to see the new factories we¡¯ve set up. Maybe the Trade Alliance can sell our products in the future. It¡¯s bound to be a big hit.¡± Fang Hao laughed and walked towards the door, dragging Moru with him. Moru had to follow him reluctantly. Clearly, the terms offered by the dwarves did not meet Fang Hao¡¯s requirements. This was something they had no control over now. Accompanied by Fang Hao, Moru left the room and mounted a Giant Lizard that resembled a giant beast, heading westward. They came to two Orc villages. The rabbit people and fox people, clad in warm fur coats, were busy at work. ¡°What¡­ what are they doing?¡± Curiously looking around, Moru ask softly. ¡°Cosmetics, you know, for women to use, not just women though.¡± Fang Hao explained as they walked along. He took a finished cosmetic product from a fox person¡¯s hand and handed it to Moru. Moru opened it gently, and looked at the pink cake-like substance inside. He examined it back and forth. Besides the finely crafted box, was the stuff inside just dried pink mud formed into a cake? ¡°Is this food?¡± ¡°What, food? It¡¯s meant for applying on the face. It¡¯s very popular in human cities. The market is definitely great. I plan to introduce this product to the Trade Alliance for sale.¡± ¡°Eh¡­ Do people really buy this?¡± Moru was still a bit confused about what effect this could have when applied to the face. If it were him, he¡¯d keep the box and throw away the pink cake inside. ¡°Of course, the market has already verified it.¡± Seeing Fang Hao wasn¡¯t joking, Moru could only nod, ¡°We could try this among your products and see how all the races accept it.¡± ¡°No, people need to be taught how to use this kind of cosmetic. I plan to buy a store in the station to specifically sell this cosmetic. The location I¡¯ve thought of is the one opposite to the pub,¡± Fang Hao continued. The pub was the place where a variety of races gathered most. Moreover, for 20 Warfire Coins, one could have a cross-racial romance. By then, setting up a cosmetic store there should have some effect. Of course, earning money wasn¡¯t the most important thing, what mattered was name recognition. The leaders from all regions who could come to the Trade Alliance would see the Fairy Dream Tower¡¯s sign, which would be the best advertising. The first floor sold cosmetics, the second floor clothes. By that time, his brand would be known to all powers in the whole area. Moru looked even more astonished, ¡°The store space in the Trade Alliance is very expensive, and you need approval.¡± ¡°I know, regarding the approval, Mr. Moru, I need your help to figure out how to go about this process,¡± Fang Hao softly replied. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s seriousness, Moru stopped saying anything else. He only nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll handle the approval for you. As for the price, we¡¯ll have to see what the higher-ups say.¡± ¡°Haha, no problem.¡± Fang Hao laughed loudly, led Moru on a large tour around the village, then rode the Giant Lizard back to the city. ¡­ When the two of them returned to the city, they had lunch together before Fang Hao sent Moru off. This goblin clerk kept praising how delicious the food was at Fang Hao¡¯s. If he opened a restaurant at the station, it would definitely make more money than those damned cosmetics. Fang Hao only gave a slight smile, not saying much. The dishes were delicious because of Eira¡¯s good cooking skills, attributed to her [Master Chef]property, that¡¯s why she made such delicious dishes. He would not want to send Eira out just for the sake of making some small change. As the first person to accompany him, it was okay for her to be busy at home. It¡¯s different with cosmetics. The factory produced them, they were directly sold in all the stores. Moreover, the selling power of cosmetics could be even stronger than Moru imagined. The ladies and the noble women in Silver Wing City had already proven this concept. After seeing Moru off. Fang Hao returned to the lord¡¯s mansion. The weather had gotten colder, so it was impossible to sunbathe now. In the backyard, the rocking chair¡¯s arc-shaped legs were frozen to the ground, it couldn¡¯t be rocked anymore. Chapter 780 - Chapter 780: Chapter 526, Demon Dragon Potion_2 Chapter 780: Chapter 526, Demon Dragon Potion_2 He had just sat down in the hall. Footsteps sounded outside the door again. Soon, the skeleton merchant, Doujin, walked straight in. Doujin was still dressed in a neat suit, holding a hardwood cane in his hand. Like a noble gentleman of the human clan, when not looking at his face. ¡°Good afternoon, respected Lord.¡± Getting to the middle, Doujin bowed slightly. ¡°Good afternoon, Doujin, what brings you here?¡± Fang Hao motioned for him to sit down and speak. Doujin sat down on the side, and quietly spoke,¡± Sir, I am here to report on the collection status of the materials for the [Wish Pond].¡± Hearing this, Fang Hao instantly perked up. The Wish Pond was an orange blueprint he was awarded just after he transmigrated. The functionality was quite magical. It consumes a fixed quantity of basic resources every week to make wishes and there is a chance to receive rewards. Previously, Fang Hao had been keeping an eye on the building materials, and when he went to Silver Wing City, he entrusted this task to Doujin. ¡°Is there any news?¡± Fang Hao asked immediately. Doujin replied, ¡°Sir, the collection in this period resulted in 12 Coral Crystals and 8 Tears of The Ocean, as for the Breeze White Coral and Dawn Blue Coral, there are still no harvests.¡± The anticipation in Fang Hao¡¯s heart instantly vanished. It seemed that these corals were indeed difficult to collect. Even the Trade Alliance didn¡¯t have any in stock. But there was nothing he could do, Skeleton soldiers know neither fatigue nor laziness, so he couldn¡¯t blame anyone for it. ¡°Well, it can¡¯t be helped, just pay more attention to it in the future.¡± Fang Hao said. Doujin nodded his head. And continued to talk about the second matter. ¡°Sir, the second thing is, the potion that Master Alchemist was asked to make by Bachelor Nelson in the Trade Alliance has been completed. I brought it here for you. The Alchemist said that there would be a strong stinging sensation when taking the potion, and soaking in cold water could effectively alleviate some of the pain.¡± Having said that, he carefully took out a dark red potion from his pocket and respectfully presented it to Fang Hao. The liquid in the bottle was a bewitching red color, slightly shaking, as though emitting a faint glow. Fang Hao frowned as he took it. [Demon Dragon Potion (Orange)] [Categories: Alchemy Potion] [Effect: Enhance oneself to possess physical qualities comparable to that of the Dragon Clan.] (Description: A potion concocted with the pure blood of the Dragon Clan, drink it to possess the power that breaks the limit of your race.) Then Fang Hao remembered. This was a potion made from the blood of Spencer. Spencer was a Fire Dragon. After being captured by Fang Hao, it had its skin peeled off and was bled by Nelson. Its body had been made into a living dead, its blood used by the Trade Alliance¡¯s Master Alchemist to make this potion, and its dragon scales were also being turned into dragon scale armor. Indeed, he knew how to live. Not wasting anything, everything on that body was used. After carefully placing the Demon Dragon Potion to the side, Fang Hao smiled, ¡°Well, you¡¯ve worked hard, Doujin. I plan to re-plan the residential area soon. See if the Skeleton Merchants have any needs, and list them out to me when you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Doujin didn¡¯t refuse, just bowed in thanks. ¡°Hmm, has there been any change on the Dwarves¡¯ side lately?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Doujin answered, ¡°The Dwarves have increased their orders for gunpowder and iron ore, food, and armors. We have stopped accepting their orders.¡± The territory was at odds with the dwarves. The key players all knew about it. Doujin had long stopped working with the Dwarves. All trade interactions with them were completely halted. Even if they offered lots of money and our warehouse was full of goods, nothing would be sold to the Dwarves. ¡°Good, keep an eye on the materials for the Wish Pond.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Doujin stood up. Fang Hao nodded, and Doujin also exited the hall. Holding the Demon Dragon Potion in his hand, he guessed at the effects it would bring. After thinking about it, he decided not to take it right now. He had experienced the effects of a body modifying potion in the past, and it wasn¡¯t pleasant. The one he used back then was just an entry-level Magic Potion. Well, what about this Demon Dragon Potion? There wasn¡¯t anyone else around at the moment, Eira and Anjia had all gone out to practice. If something happened to him in his room now, it would be bad news. No longer paying attention to the Demon Dragon Potion, he started to have some free time. He opened the Book of Lords and checked the chat content in the area channel. As always, there were people looking for partners, selling equipment, and selling resources. However, the best-selling items in the channel were no longer weapons or armor, but cold-resistant clothes. The prices of those furs, which didn¡¯t used to be worth much, had now more than doubled. Not to mention the ready-made cold-resistant furs. Over at Fang Hao¡¯s side, thanks to the efforts of all tailors, they had a large number of [Fur-warming Robes] and [Fur-warming Trousers] at their disposal. But he didn¡¯t sell them in the group chat. First, he needed to ensure the demand of the transmigrators in his territory and the affiliated cities. If there were surpluses later, he would then sell them in the channel. Besides buying winter clothes, more and more transmigrator alliances started to emerge. Actually, alliance tokens weren¡¯t rare items. They could be bought from some traders or from shops in the Trade Alliance. The formation of alliances allowed players to band together for warmth. Of course, there might also be swindlers like ¡®Li Zhen Hu¡¯ who would deceive the transmigrators using the excuse of alliances and then sell them to the locals. Such people wouldn¡¯t be limited to just one person. Fang Hao saw the bustling activity, then noticed a message suddenly pop up. ¡°Buying information on the ¡®Undead¡¯ north of Pruell City and on Eight Peaks Mountain. If any transmigrator has information from that area, you can private message me with your information. As long as the information is useful, the price starts at 100 Warfire Coins. There is no upper limit¡­¡±. ¡°Pruell City? Where is that? I¡¯ve never heard of it before. Is information really that valuable?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on at Eight Peaks Mountain? I have a friend staying around that area. I heard it¡¯s the Dwarf¡¯s territory.¡± Message after message popped up with people asking about the two places. However, the other party didn¡¯t respond. Maybe someone was already selling them information. Fang Hao frowned, opening up the person¡¯s information panel. Cao Zhengzhi! From what he remembered, there didn¡¯t seem to be any news from this person. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then contacted Fu Lei and sent him a screenshot. Soon, Fu Lei sent back a reply. ¡°Boss, he gave me 100 Warfire Coins after I mentioned that there was undead activity north of Pruell City, and asked me to continue investigating for more information, promising to pay more.¡± Big spender. Just one sentence, without a single picture, was worth 100 coins. This person really isn¡¯t short on money. Fang Hao replied, asking: ¡°Do you know his identity?¡± ¡°Unclear,¡± Fu Lei responded. ¡°I only know that he¡¯s somewhere around Silver Wing City, gathering intelligence for his boss. He didn¡¯t say anything more than that.¡± Silver Wing City! He didn¡¯t have many enemies over there, only a few. Who could it be? ¡°Keep in contact with him, occasionally leak some unimportant information, and try your best to find out his identity.¡± ¡°Got it, boss.¡± The two ended their chat. Fang Hao continued to browse the chat, considering who might be investigating him. ¡­ Dusk. A group of maids, dragging their tired bodies, returned to their lodging. Only Anjia still had a full spirit, with the Red General on her shoulder, she walked in with strides. Behind her, Eira and Little White looked a bit disheveled. Eira¡¯s ears had drooped, and Little White was also hanging his head low. Now, Little White regretted returning to the estate to spend the winter. The two of them flopped onto chairs, completely dispirited. ¡°How have the last few days been?¡± Seeing their state, Fang Hao turned to Anjia to ask. While feeding the parrot, Anjia replied: ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as it looks. They have a weak foundation. They should have started training from a young age.¡± Fang Hao checked the ranks of the two. [Rabbitmen Clan Warrior (Fifth Rank)]. [Foxmen Tribe Warrior (Third Rank)]. Eira and Little White had both consumed strength potions, hence by default, they became warriors. Eira had advanced to the fifth rank, while Little White reached the third. There was some progress after all. ¡°Anjia, get someone to prepare a tub of cold water. I¡¯ll take a potion later, keep an eye on me.¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Alright.¡± Anjia got up, and told a skeleton at the door to fetch some cold water. Soon. In the bathroom, the bathtub was filled with cold water. Fang Hao tested the water, it was chilling. After thinking it over, he decided to first drink the potion outside and assess the situation before entering the bathtub. Otherwise, soaking in cold water in this weather, regardless of whether he would catch a cold or not, would still be a torture. Having decided, he promptly opened the stopper and drained the potion in one gulp. Chapter 781 - Chapter 781: Chapter 528, The Body of the Dragon Demon_1 Chapter 781: Chapter 528, The Body of the Dragon Demon_1 The dark red potion was swallowed. A strange, fishy-sweet taste made one want to vomit. Soon after, he could feel his body starting to heat up, his skin turning red, and smoke wafting off of him. It was as if he had just been taken off the grill, freshly cooked. The heat persisted, and both his muscles and bones throbbed with an agonizing pain, as if every bit of his flesh was being pierced over and over by countless fine needles. Fang Hao¡¯s forehead was instantly covered in veins, and before he had time to strip off his clothes, he got right into the bath tub. Hisss~! A sound echoed as if a hot iron had been put into water, and steam rose from the tub once again. However, it seemed like the pain on Fang Hao¡¯s body was indeed alleviated to some extent. At least it wasn¡¯t getting worse. Fang Hao¡¯s reactions scared the hell out of Anjia, who was by his side. She immediately rushed over, fanning away the steam before asking anxiously, ¡°Fang Hao, how are you feeling?¡± Fully submerged in the water, Fang Hao could vaguely hear the question from outside. He emerged, saying, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just have someone pour in some cold water.¡± After saying this, he took a deep breath and submerged himself again. ¡°Ok, got it!¡± Anjia immediately ran out and summoned several Skeletons to transport cold water to the bath. Bucket after bucket of cold water was brought in and poured into the tub. However, the temperature of the bath water remained high as steam continued to rise. Every now and then, Fang Hao would emerge from the water, take deep breaths, and swan dive back in. Minutes and seconds passed by. The outside of the mansion was filled with maids and the Earth Spirit priestess. Initially, everyone thought that the mansion was on fire, rushing over with buckets of water only to discover that it wasn¡¯t fire, but steam. ¡°What¡¯s going on in there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. This is the master¡¯s bathhouse, he must be taking a bath!¡± ¡°Even bathing wouldn¡¯t create so much steam, could something have leaked?¡± ¡°Should we go in and check? Maybe the master¡¯s still bathing.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Eira came out when she saw a group of eager-bunny maids. She had been informed of the situation inside by Anjia. She directed the Skeletons carrying the cold water, then turned her attention to the congregated maids. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine, the master is researching a Spell. Now, scatter and go about your business,¡± Eira said loudly. ¡°Sister Eira, what is the master researching? Let us take the water inside and let the Skeletons go guard,¡± a rabbit girl proposed, constantly glancing towards the bathhouse. Eira pinched her waist, ¡°Go on, stop messing around.¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± The bunny girls immediately scattered, but were still whispering amongst themselves. Nearly an hour later- The steam in the bathhouse gradually lessened until it finally dissipated. Fang Hao emerged from the water. He told the Skeleton about to pour cold water, ¡°Stop, no need to continue. Take the water back and continue patrolling.¡± The Skeleton holding the water bucket paused in mid-air, then turned and left straight away. Eira, Anjia, and the others immediately rushed in. Looking at Fang Hao, they asked, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Fang Hao stood up from the bath tub, revealing his white and robust body. Eira, Anjia, and Little White, all leaning on the edge of the tub, were staring at Fang Hao with widened eyes. Compared to before, Fang Hao seemed to be somewhat different. His body was even more muscular, with well-defined muscles but not to a grotesque extent, perfectly proportioned. And it seemed as if he was exuding a faint glow. He looked even whiter and smoother than women, which was somewhat captivating. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Fang Hao casually picked up a towel and draped it over him. The three women immediately regained their senses. Eira said, ¡°Little White, quickly bring some clothes.¡± Little White complied, turned around, and ran out, soon returning with clean clothes. Fang Hao tossed them on, and then walked out. After taking the potion, he could certainly feel a significant difference, even coming out without any clothes on didn¡¯t make him feel the cold. ¡°What effect does this potion have?¡± Anjia asked curiously. He had quite a reaction to taking this potion. At the time, Fang Hao was so red hot that it was as if he were made of burning iron, she had even thought that the potion would burn him to death. After that, buckets and buckets of cold water were poured in. Enough to fill a swimming pool, if it were anyone else, they would¡¯ve frozen to death under such temperature. But the temperature of the water in the bath remained high. Thankfully, the outcome was good, and Fang Hao was unscathed. It was clear that his physical condition had significantly improved. Fang Hao didn¡¯t reply, as he was checking the prompt that had just popped up. [Unlock: Dragon Body.] [Dragon Body: 1. You will have a physical strength close to that of the Dragon Clan. 2. Your blood contains the power of flames, boosting Fire Elemental Magic power by 80%.] Good heavens, two abilities were provided. One was physical strength, the other was an enhancement of Fire Elemental Magic. Previously, he had planned to focus on flame magic, but after devouring the Divinity of Thunder Elemental, he planned to switch to Thunder Elemental. But now, the power of flames had been boosted. Anyway, it didn¡¯t matter, he could learn both kinds of magic, and boosting their power would be a good thing for him. It would be even better if the power of every attribute of magic could be increased. Currently, the actual numerical value of the Dragon Clan¡¯s physical strength wasn¡¯t given. Chapter 782 - Chapter 782: Chapter 528, The Body of the Demon Dragon_2 Chapter 782: Chapter 528, The Body of the Demon Dragon_2 The exact nature and effect of this ability might differ according to species or one¡¯s absorption capability. ¡°We still need to test its effect. Where is the Light Feather dagger?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Here it is!¡± Anjia took out the Light Feather dagger from her clothes. Fang Hao took it over and pulled out the beautifully designed dagger. He gently pricked it on the back of his hand. As the sharp tip of the blade barely touched his skin, a radiant light appeared, resulting in a pattern similar to scales at the pricked spot. The light flowed through the scale-like pattern, fending off the sharp blade at the tip. The flesh indented under pressure, but the skin remained intact. ¡°Wow!¡± The three women widened their eyes, staring incredulously at the scene. Fang Hao was also somewhat surprised. This scale armor was somehow similar to Demitrija¡¯s, but there were clear differences. Demitrija¡¯s is a natural defense, with layers of scales growing on the outer body for protection. What Fang Hao has is hidden beneath the skin, which only manifests as a pattern to ward off damages when attacked. The effect is excellent. ¡°Oh, I know why your body subtly glows. It¡¯s the light from these armor scales, so cool,¡± Anjia exclaimed with surprise. Fang Hao, too, was pleased, ¡°Come on, Anjia, give me a punch, not on the face but the arm.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Anjia threw a punch. Thud! A muffled thump sounded as her fist landed on his bicep. Just as Fang Hao tensed his muscle, the punch descended. He slid horizontally several yards before coming to a stop. It truly hurt, but there was no harm done. ¡°How are you feeling? I just saw, the scale armor appeared again and helped you offset quite a bit of the impact,¡± Anjia urgently asked when she came over. Fang Hao rubbed his shoulder. Indeed, it was as such. He could withstand Anjia¡¯s attack unscathed, indicating that his body¡¯s defense was quite robust. ¡°Yes, I felt it too,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Should we try the dagger?¡± Anjia asked enthusiastically. Fang Hao immediately shook his hand, ¡°I¡¯m scared you might accidentally kill me.¡± ¡°Ahh, come on, let¡¯s try. Just a stab in the thigh, it won¡¯t kill you,¡± Anjia grabbed his waist and said loudly. Fang Hao ambled along, dragging a clingy Anjia, saying, ¡°Let go, I don¡¯t want to get killed.¡± Indeed, it¡¯s hard to test the exact strength of his skin¡¯s defense. Being able to withstand the Light Feather, a level-three attack weapon, already demonstrated his skin¡¯s toughness. Meanwhile, Anjia¡¯s punch highlighted his body¡¯s resilience. For a Hero like Anjia who specializes in physical combat, her punches could be devastatingly powerful. Adding a sharp weapon to that would make even a true dragon apprehensive about taking a hit, let alone Fang Hao. The two tossed around for a bit. It wasn¡¯t until he spanked Anjia repeatedly on her buttocks that the cheeky Anjia released him. She didn¡¯t bother about the idea of stabbing him with a weapon anymore. ¡­ Silver Wing City! The domain of Xu Haide. The eleventh-level city walls loomed large and formidable. The soldiers clad in church armor, their eyes cold and stern, patrolled while eyeing the scene below. Within the buildings, rows of houses lay in neat arrangement. Each household¡¯s windows were covered with Beast Skin to stave off the piercing cold winds. Inside the lord¡¯s mansion- Xu Haide, the hairy lord, positioned himself near the fireplace. He was sitting on a soft sofa, with his legs propped up on the footrest in front. Two young and beautiful girls were massaging his legs and shoulders. Not far from him sat a transmigrator cloaked in thick fur, holding a cup of hot tea, sitting properly. ¡°Cao Zhengzhi, did we make any gains today?¡± Xu Haide asked without opening his eyes. The man who was sitting according to the rules at one side, promptly put down his teacup and anxiously said: ¡°Mr. Xu Haide, I have conducted investigations through various channels. From several transmigrators, we can find out that indeed the undead have appeared to the north of Pruell City, and their numbers are not small. The war on Eight Peaks Mountain is very intense. The sound of cannon fire can be heard from a great distance and it has been ringing for several days without stopping.¡± The transmigrator who was gathering intelligence in the channel was Cao Zhengzhi. Unfortunately, the information he got was not much and it was all rather superficial. ¡°Is that all?¡± Xu Haide was somewhat displeased. Was he supposed to ask for such information? He could have guessed it himself. Cao Zhengzhi immediately said: ¡°Sir, we have to gather information bit by bit. If someone directly tells us valuable information, it¡¯s very likely that it¡¯s a trap set by the enemy.¡± Xu Haide, who had closed his eyes, suddenly opened them and looked pointedly at Cao Zhengzhi. ¡°You make a valid point.¡± Cao Zhengzhi felt numb under his gaze. He almost knelt down to apologize, but he didn¡¯t expect to hear such words instead. After a moment of thought, he continued: ¡°I¡¯ve paid those providing information a certain amount, and promised them that as long as the information is useful, the rewards will indeed satisfy them. These people will need money during the winter, so I expect useful information to come in sooner rather than later.¡± Xu Haide nodded, speaking in a nonchalant tone: ¡°Hmm, well done. Don¡¯t worry about the cost, as long as we can get information, I will compensate you no matter how much it is.¡± Cao Zhengzhi immediately showed a smile, ¡°Sir is generous, I will certainly do my best for you.¡± Both of them were transmigrators. However, Xu Haide preferred to be called ¡®Sir¡¯. In the channel, he didn¡¯t feel like other titles, such as ¡®Boss¡¯ or ¡®Big Bro¡¯, represented his status as well as ¡®Sir¡¯ did. ¡°By the way, do you know about Li Rong¡¯s territory?¡± Xu Haide continued. ¡°Li Rong? The owner of the Fairy Dream Tower?¡± In Silver Wing City, Li Rong was more famous than Xu Haide. But her status was far less than that of Xu Haide. One was a shop owner whom the transmigrators in the city supported, while the other was a saint of the church, enjoying high status by virtue of the church. ¡°Yes. Assign some people to check her out.¡± Xu Haide said. Cao Zhengzhi frowned. ¡°Check her out?¡± Seeing that Cao Zhengzhi didn¡¯t understand, Xu Haide stated plainly: ¡°She¡¯s closely associated with my enemies!¡± With that said, Cao Zhengzhi understood the real meaning behind his order to ¡®check her out¡¯. It was nothing but making trouble for her. This made Cao Zhengzhi hesitate, as he was also doing things for Xu Haide recently. As for Li Rong, she held a high position in the hearts of the transmigrators in Silver Wing City. He believed that if Li Rong made a rallying call in Silver Wing City, every household of transmigrators would come out with pots and pans to fight. Making trouble for her seemed like making enemies for himself. Just when he was hesitating, Xu Haide asked, ¡°Are you scared?¡± This,¡­. He had received a lot of benefits from Xu Haide. Saying he was scared or wanting to quit now would probably mean he couldn¡¯t even walk out the door. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that bullying a woman is somewhat dishonorable.¡± Cao Zhengzhi said. He was also reminding Xu Haide that it wouldn¡¯t look good if word got out that he, with his status, was bullying a woman. Xu Haide sneered: ¡°Just do it, it¡¯s just a reminder.¡± Cao Zhengzhi had no choice but to nod and agree: ¡°Understood, Sir. I¡¯ll handle it in the next couple of days.¡± ¡°Hmm, do so. Inform me promptly if there is any news.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll withdraw then.¡± Xu Haide nodded, allowing Cao Zhengzhi to slowly leave the room. When he left, a gust of cold wind blew across, relieving him with a sigh of relief. He wasn¡¯t sure if getting involved in this was a good thing or not. ¡­ Gray Iron City! Inside the Royal Palace. Rune¡¯s attire was not fine, and the crown on his head was a bit crooked. He was still holding a scepter in his hand, but he kept switching hands and even wiped the sweat from his palm from time to time. Beneath him, a minister began to speak: ¡°Your Majesty, we have received a message from the Trade Alliance.¡± Rune nodded, ¡°What did they say?¡± The minister¡¯s face looked very bad, hesitating as if he had something to say but withheld it in. Rune gave a heavy knock with his scepter, and the minister immediately spoke up. ¡°The Trade Alliance said they have dispatched people to contact all powers related to the undead, and the dwarfs¡¯ proposed price has also been sent out, but still no reply was received.¡± After a slight pause, the minister continued: ¡°The Trade Alliance said they have tried their best but have no ability to intervene in this matter.¡± Chapter 785 - Chapter 785: Chapter 529, Runes Death_1 Chapter 785: Chapter 529, Rune¡¯s Death_1 The Shadow Assassin didn¡¯t dare hesitate. She abruptly withdrew the dagger from her hand, just as she was about to stab a few more times. However, a doubt was spawned within her. How come the person on the bed didn¡¯t bleed or struggle at all? The serrated edge of the dagger should have drawn the blood as it sunk, but there was not a single drop of blood! Just as she hesitated, A searing sense of danger suddenly assaulted her. Looking down, she saw a ring of fire spreading from the body of the person lying on the bed. Whoosh!! The fire was raging. The Shadow Assassin twisted her body and tried to escape, but it was already too late. The flames instantly blasted her away, spreading along her body in a stream of fire. The Shadow Assassin clumsily crawled herself up, taking out a bottle of powder from her arms and sprinkling it on herself. The burning fire quickly extinguished, but large patches of burn marks were still left on her skin. Under the illumination of the fire, she could now see the person on the bed clearly. A wrinkled and sallow creature. No, to be precise, an undead. No wonder there was no response from it when she struck. The surrounding noise increased, and a large number of silhouettes carrying torches were flocking here. The Shadow Assassin did not delay and reached for her scroll to escape immediately. The Array spread under her feet. At the same time, fireballs, bullets, and a golden liquid behemoth, were shooting toward her. There was not enough time. The Shadow Assassin abruptly disrupted the Array and dodged the incoming attacks. She immediately jumped high to one side. As she moved away from the light of the fire, her figure began to gradually fade, about to disappear into the night. But just then, the color from the Assassin¡¯s face drained. Looking down, she saw a golden liquid coiling around her ankle. The next second, The golden liquid began to spread across her body at a terrifying speed. Boom! A muffled sound. The Assassin fell from the sky, her body beneath the head thoroughly wrapped in gold. It was like a golden coffin. A gilded coffin with an exposed face. Thud! The golden coffin landed and toppled over. The face-down Assassin coughed up a large mouthful of blood. ¡­ It was only now that Dong Jiayue and the others approached. ¡°The dwarves really can¡¯t give up.¡± It was Amanda¡¯s idea to disrupt everyone¡¯s dwelling places. She commanded sufficient troops and had already guessed that the desperate dwarves might resort to assassination. Most of the heroes might not be afraid, but Dong Jiayue was at great risk. So, Spencer had been allocated to the main tent where Dong Jiayue lived, and Dong Jiayue was moved to an average tent far away. Even if the enemies knew that Dong Jiayue was in an average tent, it would be tough to find which one she was in among a row of tents. Looking at the wound on Spencer¡¯s back, Dong Jiayue couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva. This was too dangerous. If she had been stabbed, it would have been goodbye for her. ¡°Assassinating the commander is a common tactic, but, Dong Jiayue, you don¡¯t need to worry. You are safe.¡± At this moment, Amanda also leisurely walked over. Dong Jiayue gave a forced smile. She thought, I don¡¯t feel safe at all. The orange-ranked hero had been stabbed. I¡¯m scared. ¡°So, what¡¯s next? Do we interrogate her?¡± Dong Jiayue looked at the assassin who was wrapped in gold on the ground. ¡°Shadow Stabber ¨C Morse (Purple Rank Three Hero)¡±. A Hero! And a purple one no less. No wonder she could enter the camp silently and stab an orange-ranked hero. Amanda answered, ¡°There¡¯s no need to interrogate an assassin hired by dwarves.¡± Uh, ¡­. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Dong Jiayue continued asking. ¡°She could be killed, her body made into an undead to continue serving us, her soul could be stored in the Tower of Souls and then devoured by other resentful souls.¡± Amanda¡¯s tone was still indifferent. The imprisoned Shadow Stabber shuddered violently. She was obviously scared by these words. Dong Jiayue nodded, she was about to order her men to cut off the assassin¡¯s head when Amanda stopped her. Instead, she continued, ¡°It appears you fear death¡­ If you do not wish to become an undead, I can give you a chance.¡± The Shadow Stabber lying face down on the ground knew she was being spoken to. She asked in a low voice, ¡°What kind of opportunity? I have contracts on me. I can¡¯t say anything.¡± Amanda said, ¡°Go to Gray Iron City, kill Rune.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? Kill my employer, I will be killed when I go back.¡± The Shadow Stabber roared loudly. Amanda pointed lightly with her staff, and the golden block on the ground, along with the assassin, stood up at once. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, you¡¯ll die right here. Furthermore, I can also promise you that once you come back successfully, I¡¯ll help you remove the contracts from you. After that, work for us.¡± ¡°You guys?¡± The Shadow Stabber sneered, ¡°Is there a difference?¡± Working for the undead or the demons made no difference. Amanda said, ¡°Our leader is a human. You can obtain significant freedom and resources. How about it?¡± The Shadow Stabber thought for a moment and said reluctantly, ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± ¡°Good, Rune, I want him dead, and the Hero¡¯s Altar should be incapable of resurrecting him.¡± Amanda finished speaking. She reached out once again, and a golden liquid flowed into the assassin¡¯s nostrils. The Assassin began to struggle violently, but she couldn¡¯t get out. She could clearly feel a liquid flowing into her brain, accumulating there. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She roared angrily. Under Amanda¡¯s mask, her tone remained calm, ¡°Twelve hours. If Rune isn¡¯t dead, the liquid in your brain will turn into a hedgehog, piercing your skull.¡± Chapter 786 - Chapter 786: Chapter 529, Rune dies_2 Chapter 786: Chapter 529, Rune dies_2 ¡°You¡­ are you a devil?¡± the assassin gritted his teeth and said. ¡°What do you think?¡± With a slight move of Amanda¡¯s scepter, the gold formation on the assassin¡¯s body liquefied, returning to the necklace around his neck. The assassin was now free to move, but his eyes were fixated on Amanda. His gaze was filled with rage, fear, and doubt. ¡°12 hours, remember that,¡± she commanded before turning to leave. Dong Jiayue did not linger either, and they all left the place. After some hesitation, the assassin also turned and disappeared into the night. Upon returning to his quarters, Dong Jiayue immediately summoned twenty thousand undead soldiers, barricading all the tents. Not leaving any gap, fearing that someone might attempt to assassinate him in the middle of the night. ¡­ Time went by gradually. The next day at dusk. The sky began to darken. A huge beast skin tent was lifted open. A figure, covered in blood, with a gloomy face, entered the tent. Just with a casual throw. Thump! A human head rolled to the feet of Dong Jiayue and other heroes. This was the head of a dwarf. Thick beard, and a pair of eyes that refused to close even in death. ¡°This is Rune, remove the thing from my head.¡± Shadow Stabber, fixed her gaze on Amanda in the foreground. Amanda did not answer her, but looked at Dong Jiayue instead. The latter nodded, then called out towards the exterior, ¡°Get Bellerga over.¡± Soon, footsteps sounded from outside. Bellerga, a dwarf looking somewhat disheveled, strode in. Just as he stepped inside the tent, his gaze fell on the head on the floor. Dong Jiayue said, ¡°Bellerga, can you tell who this is?¡± Bellerga frowned, leaning over to examine. As soon as he picked up the head, recognized the face, his expression changed drastically, and he retreated several steps. ¡°Rune¡­,¡± Bellerga¡¯s eyes were full of disbelief. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s Rune? Take a close look,¡± someone urged. Bellerga lifted the head, inspecting it once again with great care. He even checked for any disguises. Eventually, he nodded, ¡°This is Rune, how did he¡­ how did he die?¡± The Shadow Stabber beside him, her sides still dripping with blood, Laughed coldly and said, ¡°Of course he¡¯s dead. Moreover, I have also destroyed the dwarves¡¯ altar. He can¡¯t be resurrected. According to our agreement, you can get that thing out of my head, right?¡± Inside the tent, no one paid any attention to her. Dong Jiayue abruptly stood up and loudly announced, ¡°Now that the dwarves are leaderless, it¡¯s the perfect time for a total assault. Everyone prepare, half an hour later, we launch the total assault to take over Gray Iron City.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Crash! As soon as Dong Jiayue had finished speaking, everyone stood up, heading for the outside. Except Amanda who stayed behind, watching the Shadow Stabber, who was extremely weak from excessive blood loss. With a wave of her hand, the liquid gold once again transformed into solid gold blocks, enveloping her. Following that, a thread of gold slowly flowed out from her nose. ¡°Alright, you just stay here for now. Once this is over, I will release the contract binding you.¡± ¡°You, ¡­.¡± The Shadow Stabber was about to say something, but Amanda had already left. She knew herself to be incapable of breaking free from this constraint. So, she had no choice but to close her eyes and keep silent. But she could feel it. The shaking of the earth intensified, and the cannon fire grew increasingly dense. ¡°Damn it, why am I so unlucky.¡± ¡­ Gray Iron City. Inside the royal palace, complete chaos. With the news of King Rune¡¯s assassination, the dwarves¡¯ high inner circle was instantly shocked. Various factions, which had been on standby, immediately seized the opportunity for retaliation and accusation. Papers were brought forth, supposedly evidencing that the other party was responsible for the King¡¯s death, A testimony of collusion with the undead. The King¡¯s trusted aides were locked in dungeons, and new troops had taken over the palace. The grand hall was filled with recriminations, curses, and even physical scuffles between some dwarves. The entire royal palace was a scene of utter chaos. Just then, panicked footsteps resounded from the periphery. A dwarf came crawling in on all fours. Seeing this scenario, he instantly reported, ¡± Just now we received news from the ancestral square. The altar cannot operate. His Majesty Rune cannot be resurrected for the time being.¡± The dwarf who relayed this news didn¡¯t have a loud voice, Yet it was as if someone had pressed the mute button. The entire royal palace went quiet. The silence was so profound, you could hear a pin drop. Everyone in the hall turned their eyes on the dwarf attendant, as if trying to gauge any hint of deception on his face. ¡°What did you say? You have to be responsible for what you said,¡± an elderly minister warned. The dwarf attendant¡¯s legs trembled even more severely, but he stuttered, ¡°The ancestral square has sent word¡­ they said the altar has been damaged¡­ and it can¡¯t operate for now.¡± ¡°When can it be fixed?¡± someone inquired. The attendant replied, ¡°It was said that the damage is severe, and the warehouse is lacking materials, so it will take some time.¡± Whispers! As soon as these words came out, the entire room descended into chaos. People were no longer arguing about who was responsible, they began to worry about their lives instead. The undead are fiercely fighting on the periphery, and King Rune cannot be resurrected at present. Without a leader, with all the factions divided, how could they possibly repel the attack of the undead? If the undead break through, it would only be a matter of time before they fell. The atmosphere only grew more chaotic. Before long, a number of people had quietly left, one after the other. Even the soldiers who were supposed to protect the royal family had scattered, leaving only a handful of them behind. In the blink of an eye, only a few worried faces remained in the royal palace. ¡­ At the city walls, The roaring of cannons and the smoke of gunpowder filled the air. The entire world seemed to be shrouded in thick smoke, severely affecting visibility. Chapter 787 - Chapter 787: Chapter 529, Runes Death_3 Chapter 787: Chapter 529, Rune¡¯s Death_3 Outside the city walls. The land was scarred, with dense, deep pits left by shells in the distance. At the edge of the city wall, skeletons and debris had formed a slope more than ten meters high. The oil had been depleted, and the dwarves had doused the city walls with a layer of cold water. After freezing, the slippery surface obstructed the Undead¡¯s climbing. Boom!! A shell exploded at the edge of the city wall. Rocks scattered. Dwarf General Frederick, dusted off the pebbles from his body. Looking down along the city wall, his gaze became sharper and colder. The Undead outside the city started to move. The attacking Undead increased in number, and various equipment had reentered the battlefield. A major offensive was imminent. ¡°Quickly, send word, have all the other legions come and defend. The enemy is launching a full-scale attack, bring the equipment from the warehouse too.¡± Frederick shouted. A dwarf standing beside him, listened intently. Surrounded by the roar of the shells, he memorized the general¡¯s orders. ¡°Yes, General.¡± He said, then turned around and ran away. Just as this man left. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! A piercing noise echoed in the air. Three flares were suddenly shot towards the sky. Pop, pop, pop!! As the flares exploded in midair, the dense fog overhead cleared up instantaneously, and the orange glow illuminated the night sky. ¡°Air units, attack!¡± Sure enough, descending from the mist, were the Bone Dragons flying rapidly, and attached to them were clusters of skeleton bats. Crackling!! Bullets, anti-air crossbow arrows flew towards the sky. The dense bullets, like a giant net, went up to trap the invaders. In an instant, the bodies of the skeleton bats plummeted from the sky. But more skeleton bats immediately took flight. Whiplash!! Like a dark storm cloud sweeping down from the heavens, the bats rushed towards the city wall below. The scene was incredibly shocking. Frederick turned pale; the Undead had gone mad, attacking at great cost. A large swarm of bats flew into the city wall and began to rip, bite, and eat the dwarves. Meanwhile, the Bone Dragons in the sky were circling, readying their Dragon Breath at any moment. ¡°Hold on, reinforcements from the other legions will arrive soon, all of you hold on.¡± Frederick shouted loudly, encouraging his soldiers. As his voice fell, a howl echoed in the sky once again. A barrage of arrows rained down. A large number of dwarves were hit and groaned in pain. The black magic bullets were launched again; drawing an arc in the sky, they blotted out the firmament as if sealing off the sky. They detonated over the city wall from afar. Bang, bang, bang!! The dwarves who had not yet left again were bombarded. Bodies and equipment were flung high into the air, negative energy filled this dwarf formation. Acting like lunatics, the Undead initiated an all-out attack. Bone fragments continued to fall from the sky, and the skeletons swarmed to the base of the city wall, stepping over each other, crowding and beginning to ascend. Wave after wave of dwarves clambered up only to perish. Each wave of fallen dwarves was replaced by another, exploiting any tiny gaps to resist the undead onslaught. But there remained a glimmer of hope in the dwarves¡¯ hearts. Reinforcements¡ªonly if the rest of the people, currently off duty, returned would they stand a chance of holding the city wall. However, time was ticking away. The Undead¡¯s golden staircase appeared once again, but the dwarves were too few to resist a large-scale onslaught now. Frederick kept glancing back, his eyes filled with anxiety. This is when he finally saw the soldier who had gone down to deliver the order. He came running over with just a thousand men. A sense of dread filled Frederick¡¯s heart, he asked, ¡°Where are the others? What happened?¡± The soldier¡¯s face was grim. He pulled Frederick aside and said, ¡°General, King Rune was assassinated and cannot be resurrected at the altar. Many ministers in the city have fled, and we can¡¯t find the quartermaster. I could only gather this many men.¡± Frederick felt as if he¡¯d been struck by lightning. Rune was dead, and the others had fled. While his men were fighting desperately at the front, those at the back had already escaped. ¡°Damn those useless fools.¡± Frederick cursed loudly. He glanced back at his soldiers; his eyes reflected a hint of confusion. What should he do now? Frederick looked back at the soldier beside him and ordered, ¡°You, take your men and burn the quartermaster¡¯s repository and the warehouse immediately. Leave no piece of paper behind.¡± ¡°Yes, General.¡± Chapter 788 - Chapter 788: Chapter 530: Award Banquet_1 Chapter 788: Chapter 530: Award Banquet_1 2:00 in the morning. Swish!! The undead army swarmed to the city wall like a tidal wave. Dwarfs offering stiff resistance did not necessarily die under swords. More often, they were pushed off the wall by the surging skeletons. Once the wall was breached, the undead¡¯s offensive momentum was unstoppable. In the blink of an eye, the dwarf camp was on the verge of defeat. The dwarf wall, purported to be the most solid, was thoroughly breached. The undead army poured into the city. One after another, city gates were flung open as more of the undead rushed in. With the dwarfs who fought fiercely, bloody street battles ensued. However, the number of the undead was overwhelming, flooding into the lanes like a spate. Instantly, all defenses were toppled, pushing the dwarfs towards the city center. Retreating and killing until they penetrated the royal palace, the city gradually fell silent. Low sobbing and agonized moaning echoed in every corner of the city. At the same time! Dong Jiayue sent dwarfs into the city. Roaming the city alleys, they shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t fight back. As long as you don¡¯t resist, you will be safe.¡± Swish! Thud!! From a second-floor window, a bullet shot towards the shouting dwarf. The dwarf fell from his horse, fumbling for his head. His head was fine, but when he brushed his hand against something, half an ear appeared in his palm. The dwarf swallowed, feelings of anger rising in his heart. ¡°Charge in, kill the people on the second floor, quickly.¡± Skeletons entered the room, killing the dwarf snipers. Gray Iron City gradually fell silent. The city¡¯s streets and alleys crawled with undead skeletons, standing still on the streets like sculptures. Occasionally, dwarfs would stroll through, loudly proclaiming that those who surrender would not be killed. ¡­ Inside the palace. Dong Jiayue sat on a luxurious throne, coldly looking at the dwarf minister brought before her. Bellerga, previously a royal successor, gave clear advice on who the upper echelon was. Only then did the dwarfs learn of Bellerga¡¯s presence in the Undead Clan. ¡°How are the storage and data archives faring?¡± Dong Jiayue asked, looking grim. These dwarfs are truly hard-hearted. Upon entering, she saw two places aflame. Dong Jiayue immediately ordered a fire rescue, but she doubted much could be salvaged considering the intensity of the flames. A human guard whispered a report: ¡°My lord, they¡¯re still extinguishing the fire. Mainly the data and equipment rooms have been hit. We can confirm the goods and grains warehouses are safe.¡± Upon hearing this, Dong Jiayue breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully the granary is safe. Otherwise, occupying Gray Iron City this winter would have meant those who surrendered would be a burden. It would either mean killing people, to save on resources, or feeding these people through the winter. Now there¡¯s no problem, and one less worry for her. ¡°Ok, assign more people to extinguish the fire. We must quell the flames tonight,¡± Dong Jiayue continued to order. ¡°Understood, my lord.¡± Once the soldier left, Dong Jiayue¡¯s gaze fell back on the dwarfs kneeling before her. A few of them were even heroes. They had all been part of the dwarf¡¯s upper ranks. She coldly said, ¡°When you began your pillage of the transmigrators, you instigated this war. At that time, you were in a superior position and didn¡¯t care about the transmigrators¡¯ fate. Now the tables have turned. If you want to blame anything, blame your own greed and your King Rune, who lead you astray.¡± Kneeling on the ground, the dwarfs hung their heads in silence. Not wanting to waste words with them, Dong Jiayue ordered, ¡°Lock them all up in a dungeon. Kill anyone who attempts to make outside contact.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The dwarf prisoners were escorted out. Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°Bellerga, you know this place well. Take people and immediately take over the remaining army. We can¡¯t afford them stirring up trouble.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Once Bellerga left, Dong Jiayue, having finished her orders, opened the Book of Lords and dispatched a message to Fang Hao. ¡­ The next day, early morning. After Fang Hao finished dressing and making his toilet, with Eira and Little White¡¯s help, he donned his noble attire. Wearing a straight and elegant suit, he appeared more dignified and noble. Last night, he received a message from Dong Jiayue. She had taken Gray Iron City. Naturally, he was thrilled at the news. Today, as the leader, he would go to Gray Iron City to take possession of the city and reward his subordinates. Once the final button was in place. The two women beamed with satisfaction. ¡°You look so handsome,¡± Little White complimented. Fang Hao lightly pinched her small face and strode out of the room. Inside the first floor lobby. Demitrija and Anjia had been waiting for a while. Fang Hao checked the time: 7:27. He immediately initiated the teleportation curtain heading to Gray Iron City. The three of them stepped into the curtain. Upon opening their eyes, they arrived within a lavish palace. Underneath their feet was a fancy, soft carpet. The walls were made of glossy stone that shone brightly. Even the curtains on the windows could be discerned as expensive silk. The dwarfs, are they rich or not, really? When making reparations, they were stingy. But looking at this palace, it¡¯s much more luxurious than his own. There was a sense of modern decorative aesthetic. ¡°Lord.¡± The moment Fang Hao appeared, everyone present bowed. Even Dong Jiayue, who usually affectionately called him Brother Hao, bowed at this moment. Chapter 789 - Chapter 789: Chapter 530, Awards Banquet_2 Chapter 789: Chapter 530, Awards Banquet_2 Especially the group of transmigrators behind Dong Jiayue. While offering their salutations, they were subtly sizing up the famously powerful Fang Hao. Six arms, Special Forces, genetic mutant, huh? But in reality, he was just a handsome-looking young man. No, he was incredibly handsome. What cosmetic product was he using? His skin seemed to glow. ¡°Everyone please rise, in this war, all of you are heroes.¡± Fang Hao spoke out loud. Then, he walked up to the throne above and sat down. Speaking to Dong Jiayue, he said, ¡°Jia Yue, give us a brief overview of the situation.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Dong Jiayue stepped up and loudly reported, ¡°The residents of Gray Iron City were not attacked, they all hid in their homes. The remnant army is now being controlled by Bellerga. Additionally, we captured 372 dwarf officials. The document and ammunition warehouses were burnt down, which caused some explosions. The grain storages and general inventory were not affected.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°42 royal family members were captured. We discovered 122 boxes of money and jewels, one platinum chest, twelve golden chests, and eighteen silver chests.¡± When Dong Jiayue finished speaking, the atmosphere became heavier. For Fang Hao and several heroes, these resources and treasure chests were not something big deal. But for Dong Jiayue and a few transmigrators, just these treasure chests were enough to surprise them. As expected, the silver treasure chests contained gold, and surprisingly, there was even platinum-grade treasure chests. Forget about opening the chests themselves, sharing this news would be enough to brag about on the channel for at least half a month. ¡°The equipment data was burnt?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows knitted together instantly. Dong Jiayue nodded and said, ¡°Seeing that the walls of the city could not be defended, the dwarfs ordered the data and weapon repositories to be burned down. They originally planned to burn down all the other warehouses but there was a disagreement among them, so they didn¡¯t succeed.¡± These guys were pretty ruthless. Burning the food supplies meant that they planned to have all the dwarfs in the city die with it. When the time came, even if the city was captured, the victors would find no food supplies. They wouldn¡¯t keep too many prisoners, so as to not increase consumption. ¡°No problem,¡± Fang Hao said softly. The equipment blueprints might have been destroyed, but there were treasure chests and a large number of captured dwarves. It wouldn¡¯t be hard to regain the blueprints. It¡¯s just that without them, it wouldn¡¯t be as convenient as having an organized equipment arsenal. Afterwards, he briefed the remaining heroes on site about the special circumstances. Fang Hao then began the commendation ceremony. To him, capturing Gray Iron City was expected, but a won victory still needed to be celebrated. Especially to show appreciation for the heroes and transmigrators who participated in the battle. The banquet started at nine, all heroes and transmigrators who participated in the battle attended. In addition, some native dwarven nobles who were willing to accept Fang Hao¡¯s rule also gathered. In the uplifting music, one could hardly see the scene of the recent battle. Before the banquet officially began. Fang Hao briefly kicked off with an opening remark, then went straight to the point. He began commending the officers who commanded well in the battle and soldiers who performed valiantly. Dong Jiayue, as the commander appointed by Fang Hao, had performed really well even at the age of just over 20. Decisive in handling matters, she also willingly listened to others¡¯ opinions. Although she didn¡¯t end the battle before winter, she still demonstrated great leadership capabilities. As a good friend in this world. Fang Hao certainly wouldn¡¯t be stingy. He said loudly, ¡°Dong Jiayue deserves the first credit. All the transmigrators were saved by you this time, and they will all be assigned under your command. You¡¯ll be rewarded with ten thousand Warfire Coins, two hundred sets of purple Temple Guardian armor, and we will primarily subsidize your city¡¯s construction after the new year.¡± Upon hearing the rewards, joy flooded into Dong Jiayue¡¯s heart at once. There was a considerable number of transmigrators captured by the dwarves. If she were to govern them, her territory and power would surpass Zhang Bin¡¯s and Fu Lei¡¯s. The remaining Warfire Coins and purple sets didn¡¯t appeal to her that much. She had the power to utilize the nearby Undead, and so these two hundred sets of armor were not that useful to her. They would be most useful as outfits for her trusted guard to ensure their safety. The subsidy for her city¡¯s development in the new year was also nice as it could speed up her own city¡¯s development. She quickly went over it all in her mind. She stepped up and loudly said, ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± After Dong Jiayue, Fang Hao continued to commend the other heroes. The rewards for the heroes were mainly Warfire Coins, plus some equipment and living conditions award. After all, when it comes to the Undead, especially the Undead Heroes that were created, there really isn¡¯t much to give as rewards. The preceding rewards caused some restlessness among the transmigrators below. They were gathered together, whispering amongst themselves. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s a lot of money. Jia Yue made a fortune.¡± ¡°What does money matter? Two hundred purple suits! Right now, a single piece of purple equipment in the channel is worth a fortune, enough to choose a bride with.¡± ¡°Hmph! Men¡­.¡± ¡°Exactly, I don¡¯t like what¡¯s available in the channel. I think Xiao Lan is pretty good.¡± ¡°Get lost, old man.¡± After individually rewarding the heroes, it was finally the turn of the transmigrators below. Everyone closed their mouths, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked towards the respected Fang Hao above. Before long, Fang Hao¡¯s voice rang out. He said loudly, ¡°During this campaign, the transmigrator teams played a crucial role. Each person will receive one thousand Warfire Coins, 20 pieces of purple equipment, command of twenty thousand Undead Skeletons, and financial support for your cities in the coming year.¡± Wow! The transmigrators were instantly excited. It was great to really have purple suits and twenty thousand Undead Skeletons. Twenty thousand! And they don¡¯t need to eat or sleep. Whether it was for defense, or taking them on adventures, their own strength had increased several times over. Seeing the excitement in the transmigrators below, Fang Hao chuckled. Why are they overreacting? They had witnessed the scale of a million strong Undead. With the conclusion of the rewards ceremony, Fang Hao waved his hand and the music started again. The banquet officially began! Delicious foods were served and everyone started to move around freely, enjoying the food. Just in an instant. The surrendered Dwarf nobles immediately rushed over. They encircled Dong Jiayue and Bellerga, showering them with flatteries. They hoped to receive better treatment in Gray Iron City in the future. The Dwarfs never expected that Bellerga, whom they had driven out of Gray Iron City, would return in this insane manner. And reclaim ownership of Gray Iron City. The transmigrators thoroughly relished the food and wine on the table and savored their delightful time. Nobody disturbed them, so they were just continuously eating. ¡°These Dwarfs sure have big guts. The city has just been breached and they are already fawning over Sister Jia Yue,¡± Yang Xiaolan said while eating. ¡°Yesterday, I heard Bellerga say that the top elites in the city fled through various means. These ordinary nobles are left behind. If they can¡¯t escape, what can they do? Should they not try to please us and wait to be executed instead?¡± ¡°Are you kidding? We¡¯ve sealed the city, how can they escape?¡± ¡°Obviously, you don¡¯t know. They could have used the Alliance¡¯s teleportation array, or a teleportation scroll, for example. One scroll could teleport a few people without a problem.¡± ¡°So, all the strong ones in the city have escaped?¡± ¡°The creme de la creme, probably a few of them.¡± In the hall, people were chatting in small groups. But Fang Hao did not remain at the banquet. Instead, he led a group of Undead Heroes to the back garden of the Royal Palace. The plants in the garden were withered, and in the empty center, stacked piles of chests and loot were placed. Hero Spencer said softly, ¡°My Lord, these are the spoils of war we gathered. Except for a few Dwarf nobles who ran away, we didn¡¯t disturb any other Dwarfs.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao nodded. His gaze fell on the loot, chests filled with gold and silver jewels, and various precious objects. A total of 122 chests. Going to the backyard was like going into a mountain of gold. Everything was gold in sight. These Dwarfs really did not skimp on their payments. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze fell on it. A series of numbers appeared before him. [Warfire Cards: One for five million, two for seven million, Warfire Coins: 420,000.] [Dwarf Bearded Gold: 2.5 million, gold and silver utensils: 3,200 pieces, jewelry: 20,000 pieces.] They sure are rich. Chapter 790 - Chapter 790: Chapter 531, Madly Opening Treasure Chests_1 Chapter 790: Chapter 531, Madly Opening Treasure Chests_1 Bearded Gold is the currency in use within the Dwarf Camp. On account of the fact that the royal portrait minted on the obverse features a beard taking up more than half the space, and the hue of the gold is somewhat crimson, it¡¯s thus named Bearded Gold. The craftsmanship of the dwarves has always been impeccable, and the exchange rate with Warfire Coin is 2 to 1. Two pieces of Bearded Gold amount to a single Warfire Coin. Quite a stable value. Given that it is a main city of a faction, the amount of objects they managed to amass is considerable. This does not yet include the items in the dwarf¡¯s warehouse. After all, Gray Iron City needs to keep on operating. If Fang Hao took everything away, then it would become a dead city. Even so, by searching the royal palace and some dwarf nobles who had fled, he had already amassed quite a fortune. Looking at the piled up treasures, Fang Hao didn¡¯t quite know how to carry them away. His storage space couldn¡¯t fit any more. It seems he would need to open several more portals to transport all of these items back. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it be for now, I¡¯ll figure it out when the time comes.¡± Fang Hao continued towards the area covered in treasure chests. The chests were also piled together, there was one platinum chest, twelve golden chests, and eighteen silver chests. Quite the quantity. Fang Hao went forward, asking in the process, ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys say there were only 12 fortresses? Why are there so many treasure chests?¡± Spencer explained softly, ¡°Along the way, there were many other fortifications and encampments established by the dwarves that Miss Dong Jiayue captured successfully.¡± Oh, so that¡¯s how it was. So this is where the chests came from. But Fang Hao didn¡¯t expect that Dong Jiayue would be so considerate. She didn¡¯t open a single chest and left them all for him. But the golden chests and silver chests no longer held any attraction for him. As for the boxes from places like occupied bandit camps and temporary encampments, those were opened by them. Fang Hao never interfered. If the platinum chest could produce the blueprints he needed on the first shot, then the gold and silver chests could be awarded to the transmigrators. After all, most people seldom have the chance to get a golden chest. If the platinum chest¡¯s rewards aren¡¯t that great, then the gold ones will be opened next and the silver ones left for them. Fang Hao arrived in front of the platinum chest. He opened it straight away. Swish, beams of light appeared instantaneously, blinding to the eye. [Obtained: Blueprint for Craftsmanship and God of Furnace Fire Statue, blueprint for the five-barrel organ gun (orange), blueprint for Gray Iron Bastion wall upgrade (purple), blueprint for crafting dwarven white titanium defense helmet (blue), blueprint for crafting dwarven white titanium defense chest armor (blue), blueprint for crafting dwarven white titanium defense arm armor (blue), blueprint for crafting dwarven white titanium defense boots (blue), blueprint for crafting dwarven white titanium defense battle-axe (blue), blueprint for crafting dwarven garden lamp (blue), Hero recruitment scroll (purple), 352 Gray Iron Stones, 785 Warfire Coins.] Huh? A large batch of blueprints, and it seems he spotted a flash of orange light among them. He held all of the blueprints in his hand, then Fang Hao began to check them all one by one. [Craftsmanship and God of Furnace Fire Statue: Wood 550, Stone 1500, 5 Natural Gems, 2 Essences of Magic, 2 Traces of Prayer.] (Description: The Craftsmanship and God of Furnace Fire will bless the territory, significantly enhancing craftsmanship and forging techniques.) It looks like it is a statue of the dwarf¡¯s deity. A pantheon of all gods can be built in the main city, where all the statues can be placed. The improvement in craftsmanship and forging techniques that comes along is also beneficial for the development of the territory. Checking the second item. [First-Level Gray Iron Bastion Wall: Cast iron brick 500, Fine iron ingot 150, Metal parts 200, Perfect Essence 1.] (Description: An Iron plaster reinforcement can be applied to the existing wall. The materials required increase with the level of the wall.) This is a pretty decent blueprint. The dwarven defense wall had taken several days of uninterrupted attacks from Dong Jiayue and her team without breaking. Its solidity is simply terrifying. Any other force, with such a large consumption of gunpowder, would have flattened the city. Now that I have the blueprint, I can reinforce the walls of all the cities. A better way to defend against external enemies. Storing the blueprint, he continued to look downwards. [Five-Barrel Organ Gun Blueprint (Orange): Resilient wood 300, Fine iron 500, Fine iron ingot 150, White steel plate 100, White steel ingot 80, Precision parts 15, Traces of Wind 3, Essence of Destruction 3.] (Description: It is an upgraded form of the Four-Barreled Organ Gun. With formidable attack power, it is capable of annihilating an entire enemy unit in a single round of fire.) A dwarf¡¯s firearm as expected, and it¡¯s even an orange-tier blueprint. This is significantly more advanced than the first-generation field gun I obtained. In the dwarves¡¯ firearms, this is already considered top-tier. It can be said that the blueprints for the [Gray Iron Bastion] and [Organ Gun] alone have added another tier of strength to my territory. Platinum treasure chests are indeed wonderful. Afterward, all were blue tier blueprints. The [Dwarf Specialty Defense Set] is a blue-tier set meaning to suit the dwarf body-type, with level 3 defense armor. It has an accompanying attribute [Indomitable] which can rapidly recover personal vitality allowing a return to fighting. [Dwarf White Titanium Defense Battle Axe] is also a blue-tier blueprint, and is not included in the defense set. It possesses a level three attack power. Has a 5% chance of breaking the shield. [Dwarf Garden Street Lamp: Cast iron block 80, Metal parts 50, Glass lampshade 1.] (Description: A street lamp that can light the path and also create a certain ambiance.) A type of street lamp, nothing special. Finally, there is a purple-tier hero recruitment scroll, which can be used to recruit a new hero when the time comes. Chapter 791 - Chapter 791: Chapter 531, Madly Opening Treasure Chests_2 Chapter 791: Chapter 531, Madly Opening Treasure Chests_2 All blueprints were collected in one place. Deep down, a hint of frustration stirred in Fang Hao. Even though he acquired an orange piece of equipment blueprint, it was just one of the numerous dwarven devices, he hadn¡¯t got the others yet. If asked, what does one want most after seizing the dwarf¡¯s city? It¡¯s not the city or the heroes, but the long-renowned blueprints of dwarf¡¯s machines. With his hundredfold enhancer, the blueprints in his hands could play out their maximum advantages. It was a pity, when the dwarfs¡¯ temper flared, they had burnt their own equipment warehouse. Even the data library was thoroughly razed. Now, his only way to acquire blueprints was through these chests. His gaze again fell onto the remaining chests. Initially, he intended to award these golden and silver chests to Dong Jiayue and a few transmigrators. But now, it seemed he had to open them himself. Twelve golden chests were successively opened. Light appeared again. [Obtained: Blueprint for dwarf white steel short gun (green), blueprint for leather-wrapped white steel ore draft (blue), blueprint for hard wood cannon bullet box (green), two gold-traced large vases, 75 Gray Iron Stones, 202 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Mithril Spiked Double-bladed Ax (purple), iron pellet Blueprint (green), dwarf dining table blueprint (green), 89 Gray Iron Stones, 228 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Cannon bullet blueprint (blue), white steel ore track blueprint (blue), dwarf black iron machete blueprint (green), 101 Gray Iron Stones, 245 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Green forest short gun blueprint (green), blueprint for giant deer hide saddle (green), five pheasant baits, 95 Gray Iron Stones, 202 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Dwarf cannon blueprint (purple), dwarf thick leather boot blueprint (green), Ishgard double bathhouse blueprint (green), dwarf bookcase blueprint (green), 121 Gray Iron Stones, 217 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Brave short gun blueprint (blue), hardwood small firearm bullet box blueprint (green), one silver beard clamp, dwarf carved screen (150*70), 175 Gray Iron Stones, 321 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Leather-wrapped white steel sickle blueprint (blue), ivy white arch bridge build blueprint (green), hardwood lifting equipment build blueprint (green), one green forest fire gun, two silvertrimmed narrow-mouth vases, 146 Gray Iron Stones, 275 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Flame Furnace build blueprint (purple), Eorzea garden fountain build blueprint (green), two deer horn brass bells, one white steel kitchen knife, 15 dwarf white marble stone plates, 121 Gray Iron Stones, 245 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Wind-breaking Crossbow Cart blueprint (purple), white steel ore car blueprint (blue), black iron single-edged ax blueprint (green), five deer horn goblets, 89 Gray Iron Stones, 299 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Dwarf thick leather chest armor blueprint (green), dwarf steel nail boot blueprint (green), five giant deer, one golden headband, one hard leather gun holster, 93 Gray Iron Stones, 274 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Dwarf Breaking Enemy Armor blueprint (blue), Mithril small round shield blueprint (blue), two mining goggles, 24 organ cannon bullets, 50 steel bullets, 78 Gray Iron Stones, 248 Warfire Coins.] [Obtained: Dwarf single barrel telescope blueprint (blue), anti-aircraft crossbow arrow blueprint (blue), dwarf fine iron machete blueprint (blue), five Golden Ruby Beard Clamps, one silver windmill, 12 cannon bullets, one dwarf fine carved bookcase, 102 Gray Iron Stones, 300 Warfire Coins.] Whoosh!! After opening all of them, regret flooded Fang Hao. The spacious backyard instantly became scattered with all kinds of blueprints covering the ground. Among them were vases, bookcases, boxes full of cannon bullets, a mound of disarrayed items, and several disoriented giant deer nibbling on withered flowers off to the side. Oh boy, what a mess. Fang Hao flipped through his records again, feeling a surge of delight. Indeed, the haul from twelve golden chests had made up for the items that weren¡¯t in the platinum chest. Ignoring the green and blue blueprints for now, he looked first at the purple blueprints and items. [Mithril Spiked Double-bladed Ax: 1 thick leather, 72 iron blocks, 5 Fine Irons, 5 mithril.] (Description: A spiked double-bladed ax commonly used by dwarves. Besides the normal chop and jab, it gives an extra lacerating injury.) A battle-ax used by the dwarves. With an extra lacerating effect, it was quite a good dwarf weapon. Later, it can be assigned to the dwarves or the skeleton trolls as a thrown ax weapon. However, this weapon consumes fine iron and mithril. Throwing it all over the place would prevent efficient recycling and could be troublesome. Moving on. [Dwarf Cannon: 550 iron, 280 castiron blocks, 50 Fine Irons, 85 metal parts, 15 precision parts, 2 Essence of Destruction.] (Description: Improved version of the dwarf¡¯s cannon; it is more stable and handy while having greater lethality.) Seeing this reward gave Fang Hao another rush of joy. A blueprint for a cannon, as expected, could be come upon in the golden chest. Among the loot Dong Jiayue captured, there was such equipment as a cannon. Its size was smaller and more handy than the [First Gen Field Cannon] Fang Hao had made. It could be used as a defensive device installed on the city wall or it could be fit with wheels and deployed outdoors for firepower cover. It was both powerful and compact. Chapter 792 - Chapter 792: Chapter 531, Furiously Opening Treasure Chests_3 Chapter 792: Chapter 531, Furiously Opening Treasure Chests_3 The most distinct feature of a cannon is that adding it to a wall significantly boosts the defensive capability. [Flame Furnace: Stone Brick 1200, Fine Stone Brick 800, Cast Iron Block 520, Fine Iron 120, Metal Parts 1500, Red Flame Essence 3, Traces of Wind 2, Gray Iron Stone 5.] (Description: A massive furnace constructed by Dwarves, the Flame Furnace undertakes 80% of Dwarf forging work.) A purple blueprint of the furnace. The single orange large furnace on Eight Peaks Mountain is hard-pressed to handle the workforce of the entire race. But, the Flame Furnace shoulders a majority of the forging work. It could be considered as an upgraded version of the furnace. [Wind-breaking Crossbow Cart: Tough Wood 850, Ironized Wood 520, Cast Iron Block 220, Metal Parts 800, Precision Parts 200, Traces of Hurricane 2.] (Description: A rapid-fire crossbow cart produced by Dwarves. Its massive power, fast firing rate, keeping even dragons at bay.) The last purple blueprint also pertains to Dwarf equipment. This soothes Fang Hao¡¯s mind a bit. At least, he has acquired all the most effective equipment. As for the other blueprints that were burnt, losing them does not feel that regrettable anymore. ¡­ All the blueprints are collected. Streams of light instantly drilled into the Book of Lords. A giant, horned deer nibbling on dry grass nearby was startled and ran off in the distance where it continued to chew the twigs. This time, Fang Hao acquired three Dwarf devices: [Five Pipe Organ Cannon], [Dwarf Cannon] and [Wind-breaking Crossbow Cart]. At the same time, the blueprints of ammunition for these three weapons were also unlocked. From now on, whenever needed, Fang Hao can manufacture weapons and ammunitions on a large scale and arm his army. To make the enemies truly aware of the principle: whoever is within range, is under threat. In addition to these three devices. The acquired [Leather-wrapped White Steel Ore Draft], [White Steel Ore Rail], [White Steel Ore Cart] were also very useful blueprints. It could significantly increase mining efficiency. By then, Fang Hao could distribute them to all the major mines. Fang Hao was also quite interested in [Brave Short Gun] and [Dwarf Monocular Telescope] blueprints. There was even a finished product of the Brave Short Gun. It takes the form of a small-handle musket, that is, a handgun. Shiny silver material, glittering and reflecting. Intricate and beautiful floral patterns were carved on the surface. At first glance, it appeared to be a craftsman¡¯s work of art. Though, after toying with it for a while, Fang Hao lost interest. This small-handled musket could serve as a craft but¡­ In combat, the reloading speed after a shot is rather slow. If the enemy isn¡¯t dead, you have to draw the knife and charge. As for the other blueprints, Fang Hao lost interest. They were all Dwarf items, currently of no use to him. ¡­ He ordered people to clean up the backyard. At this time, Demitrija came over. ¡°Sir, Miss Dong Jiayue and Lady Amanda are here.¡± The banquet in the hall was still ongoing. Fang Hao was curious, wondering why the two ladies were looking for him. Noticing that the backyard had been cleaned up and the stag had been led away, he nodded and said, ¡°Let them in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before Demitrija returned. Behind him were Dong Jiayue and Amanda, as well as a huge block of gold being hauled by human militiamen on a cart. A head peeking out from one side of the gold block. A beautiful face, purple eyes, pointy ears, light purple skin female. Fang Hao was startled, thinking the gold block sprouted a head. But he soon saw her attribute name. [Shadow Stabber ¨C Morse (Purple Tier 3 Hero)] Chapter 793 - Chapter 793: Chapter 532, Blueprint of Revolver_1 Chapter 793: Chapter 532, Blueprint of Revolver_1 ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously, looking at the cart that had been pushed up to him. The person on the cart had long black hair, a delicate face, deep purple eyes, and pointed ears peeked out beneath her tresses. What stood out most, however, was her light purple skin. She somewhat resembled the elves described in the records. Legend has it that elves, both male and female, are extraordinarily beautiful. Even Rebecca, who only has half elven blood, is considered a top beauty in the Federation. But this light purple skin¡­ Hmm! It¡¯s unlikely that she¡¯s poisoned. Morse, who was restrained by the lump of gold, glanced at him and then weakly laid back down, looking resigned to her fate. Dong Jiayue was the first to speak: ¡°She¡¯s our prisoner. While attacking the dwarves, she came to assassinate me at the camp but was captured by Queen Amanda. Then she was sent to assassinate Rune; her successful attack caused internal problems in Gray Iron City, paving the way for us to capture the city.¡± Ah, so it was her. Last night, Dong Jiayue had roughly explained the situation of the attack on the city. Knowing that they had arranged an assassin to just straight up butcher Rune, this caused chaos within Gray Iron City, and the Undead captured the city seizing this opportunity. Surprisingly, it was the assassin Rune hired herself who turned around and assassinated Rune. This operation, they could actually think of it too. ¡°So, what¡¯s happening now?¡± Fang Hao was a bit confused about the two women¡¯s intention. Since she helped them by killing Rune, why was she still held down by the enormous lump of gold? Moreover, she seemed half dead and on her last breaths. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s question, Amanda responded. Her tone as always was devoid of any particular emotion, ¡°I promised to help her break the contract to serve the territory.¡± Uh-huh? That¡¯s some good news; seems like recruiting a hero for our territory. ¡°No need, just let me¡­.. uuuhhh.¡± Morse, lying on the cart, was just halfway through her sentence. The golden liquid turned into a ball of gold and blocked her mouth. Her words were completely stifled. Thus, Morse almost suffocated and slipped into unconsciousness in an instant. Fang Hao curiously asked, ¡°Can we invalidate her contract?¡± He¡¯s familiar with the concept of contracts. Slave Contracts are a type of Law Contract. Once signed, it¡¯s just like signing an indenture; unless the master permits, it will bind the person indefinitely. However, it seems like other people don¡¯t have any method to interfere and terminate a contract. Amanda answered, ¡°The contract on her demands her to keep secrets. This contract can be cancelled. The Corpse Witch has the ability to trick the Death God; hence she can deceive the contract. Of course, it comes with a price; the materials required aren¡¯t cheap, and after breaking the contract, she will be weak for a while.¡± The power of a contract is added on the soul. The ability to cheat the Death God targets the soul. According to Amanda, they could help her to break the contract. ¡°In that case, Nelson can do it.¡± Fang Hao nodded. His gaze turned to the purple-skinned woman on the cart. He softly asked, ¡°Based on your agreement with Amanda, you will be working for the territory.¡± Uuuuuu!!!!! The purple woman¡¯s eyes went wide, and she tried to mumble something from her mouth. It seemed like she was desperately trying to express something. However, Amanda had never removed the metal ball from her mouth, so no one could understand what she was trying to say. Fang Hao didn¡¯t bother to clarify what she wanted to express, he just nodded and said, ¡°When we go back, bring her along.¡± On the side, Dong Jiayue was eagerly looking at Fang Hao with bright eyes, her faces full of anticipation. Her gaze held a mix of eagerness and anticipation. She and Amanda had caught the woman, and even though they now had quite a few transmigrators, they didn¡¯t have a single hero. The recent assassination attempt had made her realize the importance of heroes. They could save your life at critical moments. Looking at Fang Hao¡¯s side, he had heroes aplenty. At this point, she despised the blue and green heroes; in her team, their role was similar to that of a squad leader. Comparing others could just make you boil from rage. Seeing her expression, Fang Hao was taken aback at first, but then he understood what Dong Jiayue meant. Well, he did have quite a number of heroes at his disposal, and now that Dong Jiayue was managing a larger and larger area, she indeed needed someone to ensure her safety. He ruffled her hair, ¡°The loyalty of a hero recruited as a prisoner would be quite low, it¡¯s not safe. You can use this purple recruitment scroll, then you¡¯ll have your own hero.¡± He handed her the newly obtained purple recruitment scroll. Yay! Dong Jiayue clenched her fist in excitement as she took the scroll. At the same time, Fang Hao continued, ¡°Here are 18 silver chests and also these flower vases, bookshelves, and other stuff. I¡¯m giving all of these to you. Later on, you can use them as rewards for your subordinates.¡± ¡°Got it, thanks Brother Hao.¡± Dong Jiayue was over the moon. She had been contemplating whether she should reward her subordinates after this expedition, considering they had fought for her in the winter. She had no idea what to reward them with earlier. But now, her reward had arrived! ¡­ In the afternoon, around two o¡¯clock. The banquet in the royal palace ended. The local dwarves left, and the few transmigrators were taken away by Dong Jiayue to receive their separate rewards. Fang Hao returned to the now-empty royal palace. He walked directly up to the throne and took a seat. The moment he sat down, the system prompt appeared in front of his eyes. Chapter 794 - Chapter 794: Chapter 532, Blueprint of the Revolver_2 Chapter 794: Chapter 532, Blueprint of the Revolver_2 [Gray Iron City has become your affiliated city. You may ¡®rename¡¯ the city and have control over twelve subsidiary cities and eighteen fortress encampments.] The population of the dwarves is indeed small. This is a main city after all, and that¡¯s all for the affiliated cities. [Gray Iron City] [City Level: Fifteen-level Original City] [Attributes: Firearm Manufacturing +30%, Device Research and Development +25%, Smelting/Forging +25%, Mining +30%, Dwarf Reproduction +25%.] (Description: A city with attributes can bring various different enhancement effects, speeding up the cities construction and development.) The city of the dwarves also ranks at fifteen. It¡¯s the same level as Silver Wing City, and the attributes gained in the city are also somewhat more than those of ordinary cities. Especially in device research and development, and smelting and forging. These are very good attributes. [Blueprints Unlocked: Ancestor Altar, Precision Factory, Giant Antler Deer Corridor, Roasted Tea Workshop, Arsenal, Device Research Institute.] There are not a few blueprints unlocked with the city. [Ancestor Altar] [Category: Special Building] [Ability: Sacrifice] [Sacrifice: The dwarves can gain the blessings of their ancestors through sacrifice. (Race restriction: Dwarf.)] (Description: The ancestors will always bless their descendants.) [Construction Requirements: Resilient Wood 1200, Brick 2500, Iron 850, Traces of Prayer 5, Traces of the Spirit 1, Perfect Essence 1.] An altar of sacrifice, but with a racial restriction. That is, it only blesses dwarves; other races can¡¯t benefit from it. They won¡¯t consider you; no need to cling to relatives. [Precision Factory] [Category: Special Building] (Description: The factory holds a lathe, that can produce relatively precise products.) [Construction Requirements: Brick 1200, Cast Iron Block 1000, Fine Iron 220, Metal Parts 1500, Precision Parts 850.] A lathe factory, where the precise parts in devices are made. [Giant Antler Deer Corridor: Resilient wood 1500, Brick 1800, Metal parts 520.] [Roasted Tea Workshop: Timber 2250, Stone Material 1800, Hemp Rope 1200, Leather 800, Metal Parts 1580.] [Arsenal: Resilient wood 2200, Good Craftsmanship Brick 3500, Metal Parts 2550.] These three blueprints don¡¯t offer any special enhancements. The Arsenal should be a separate warehouse for storing arms, but it doesn¡¯t provide any special restraints. Now, only the last blueprint is left. [Device Research Institute] [Category: Special Building] [Effects: Inspiration, Concentration.] [Inspiration: Enhances the inspiration of the researchers.] [Concentration: Helps the researchers to concentrate more during research.] (Description: A building that carries out important research.) Fang Hao has finished looking at all the blueprints. The results were quite satisfying He got the desired device from the treasure chest and Gray Iron City is another city at level fifteen. It can be said, the gains were quite huge. Moreover, after occupying Eight Peaks Mountain, his own territory is now shaped more like a concave. Encapsulating the human Federation in the middle. The north side of the Hundred Cities of the humans is his main city and the west is bordering Eight Peaks Mountain. If any conflicts occur, they can attack from both sides, pressuring the humans even more. ¡­ Fang Hao sat on the throne, feeling the real sensation of a king. ¡°Master, someone wishes to see you,¡± a dwarf guard reported. Now, the guards in the Royal Palace have been taken over by Bellerga¡¯s people. From now on, this Gray Iron City will be managed by Bellerga. ¡°Let them in,¡± Fang Hao said. Soon, two unfamiliar transmigrators walked in. They lowered their heads, appearing somewhat restrained. They were carrying a large piece of paper. The moment they walked in, before Fang Hao could speak, they knelt down. ¡°We greet Lord Fang Hao, thank you for saving us.¡± Wow¡­. That startled me. ¡°No need for that, get up and sit down,¡± Fang Hao immediately said. The two men carefully looked at each other, then got up and sat down on the side. While sitting, they only sat with half of their buttocks on the edge of the chair, looking very careful. Fang Hao observed both of them, one in his forties and one in his twenties. Both men looked a bit worn out, covered in dust, they looked like they just got back from a mine. Since the two men didn¡¯t speak, Fang Hao asked, ¡°Why are you looking for me? You don¡¯t have to worry about anything in the future. You can go back to your own cities and continue managing your cities.¡± The two men glanced at each other. They hurriedly said, ¡°Boss, we wanted you to look at this. The dwarves had us design this, and it¡¯s nearly finished.¡± After the older man, in his forties finished speaking, he brought forward the paper. But he was stopped by Demitrija, who took the paper and handed it to Fang Hao. Fang Hao had noticed the paper in their hands long ago. He curiously opened it, but his brows furrowed as he saw what was inside. A revolver! Various parts were depicted on the blueprint, and a complete image was also drawn. It was unmistakably a revolver from the modern world. The dwarves are actually researching this? Fang Hao immediately guessed the identity of the two men. ¡°Bolt-action rifle, did you guys help the dwarves improve it?¡± Thud!! Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, they both kneeled down heavily. The man in his forties explained tearfully, ¡°The dwarves made it, I didn¡¯t want this to happen. I really didn¡¯t.¡± The older man was named Cao Junming and the young man was Miao Chao. Cao Junming did not exactly have a professional knowledge in weapons manufacturing, but he had worked at a shooting range abroad and had touched upon some gun repairs. Chapter 795 - Chapter 795: Chapter 532, Blueprint of a Revolver_3 Chapter 795: Chapter 532, Blueprint of a Revolver_3 After he transmigrated to this side, he wanted to use his technology to secure a better life among the dwarves. He proposed the concept of bolt-action rifles to the dwarves and gained their attention. Miao Chao, who was proficient in data and sketching, helped Cao Junming with blueprint measurements calibration and creation. Being brought along by Cao Junming this time, he also had a sense of being swept up in the current. Fang Hao, watching the two men below, knew nothing of their experiences. There are more than a few instances of transmigrators relying on their knowledge to curry favor with powerful natives. In fact, it was quite serendipitous. But causing such a huge influence, and leading to the violent capture of transmigrators by the dwarves, it was indeed the first of its kind. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s sit down and talk.¡± Fang Hao had no intention of pursuing the matter further. ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡± Cao Junming quickly thanked him and took his seat again. Fang Hao continued, ¡°So, why have you two brought blueprints? What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Cao Junming squinted, ¡°Brother Fang Hao, the blueprint for the revolver is almost complete. I want to produce it to strengthen your power.¡± As expected. Guns are such things. Sooner or later, they will become widespread in this world. There are a large number of transmigrators who know about guns, especially those from places that are not gun-free zones. There should be quite a few who understand firearms. Cao Junming was able to produce bolt-action rifles ahead of time by leveraging the craftsmanship of the dwarves. All sorts of guns will eventually be manufactured. If a revolver could be made, it would undoubtedly replace the common short-barreled matchlocks. To an army, rifles are still the most beneficial while the effects of revolvers cater more to personal safety. ¡°Sure, the research institute of Gray Iron City will be re-established, and you can continue perfecting the revolver there,¡± Fang Hao directly stated. There was no significant change in Cao Junming¡¯s expression, he probably anticipated this response. He continued, ¡°Brother Fang Hao, what kind of treatment can I expect?¡± Fang Hao scrutinized him carefully. He always felt that Cao Junming was somewhat cunning, especially when his eyes darted around when he spoke. ¡°Are you giving up your city?¡± ¡°Erm, my city has been abandoned for too long, I want to live in the city,¡± Cao Junming replied. After thinking it over, Fang Hao decided to make some concessions. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll discuss this matter with Lord Bellerga and give you the same treatment as other developers. If there are any technological breakthroughs, I¡¯ll reward you separately,¡± offered Fang Hao. Cao Junming was somewhat disappointed. When he arrived, he saw a group of transmigrators being given a lot of artifacts. Especially two people holding large vases, which were clearly from the Dwarf Palace. He thought that by producing the blueprint for the revolver, he would be able to exchange it for some good stuff. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t seem like Fang Hao was thinking along those lines. With the conversation at this point, all he could do was nod, ¡°Thank you, Brother Fang Hao.¡± Fang Hao then turned to the twenty or so young men standing behind, ¡°Would you also like to settle in the city?¡± Miao Chao shook his head, ¡°No, I want to go back and continue developing my city. Brother, I¡¯m good at drafting and mechanical drawing. I can help with any related tasks.¡± Miao Chao gave a straightforward impression. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll keep that in mind. You can return to your city, and I¡¯ll ask Bellerga to accommodate you within the research institute. Involvement in some development work would benefit you,¡± responded Fang Hao. ¡°Oh, thank you, Brother.¡± Having discussed the matters, the two didn¡¯t stay longer than necessary and made their way out of the royal palace. ¡­ The next day. Accompanied by Bellerga. Fang Hao visited Gray Iron City. In particular, a towering statue of a king in the city center proved to be quite breathtaking. Unlike the golden statue of the queen, the past statues of dwarves were made of gray stone and cast iron. It gave off a robust industrial vibe. He visited the residential areas, the ancestral altar, and the research institute and warehouse undergoing restoration. Gradually, Gray Iron City was restoring order. They passed through the city to the hillside behind. Huge statues of kings were carved on the tall cliff. The seventh was Rune, whose carving was only half complete when work stopped. Looking at the stone carvings on the mountainside, Fang Hao was reminded of the mountain of Hokage statues in Naruto. ¡°Sir, I plan to have your figure added as well, as the eighth leader,¡± Bellerga looked up at the cliff-face and proposed. Chapter 796 - Chapter 796: Chapter 533, Li Rong is Ambushed_1 Chapter 796: Chapter 533, Li Rong is Ambushed_1 ¡°As for me, I¡¯ll pass. After all, you¡¯re in charge of Gray Iron City now, so you can add your own portrait.¡± Fang Hao shook his head in refusal. He didn¡¯t think that adding his own portrait to the mountain wall was a good idea. Being pelted with eggs every day and scorned by the dwarves wouldn¡¯t be pleasant. On the other hand, there was Bellerga. According to his description, the position which the original king held should have been his. However, he was driven out by Rune. Bellerga¡¯s wish has always been to reclaim his position. Yet, when he left, he never imagined that he would take over Gray Iron City through the Undead, reclaiming everything he had lost. Indeed, when Fang Hao proposed that Bellerga carve his portrait, the system prompt appeared. [Ironbeard-Bellerga¡¯s loyalty to you increases by 15 points, current loyalty is 95.] Bellerga¡¯s loyalty had directly reached 95 points. Just 5 more points, and it would be full. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Bellerga expressed his sincere thanks. The two of them, accompanied by the guards, continued to walk through the city. They further inspected the well-preserved granaries and various material warehouses. Especially the dwarven mineyard; the quantity had even reached a terrifying number. Tremendous reserves of various types of minerals such as Fine Iron, Mithril, White Titanium, Spirit Silver, Hard Steel, and Manganese Steel could be found. Flame Furnaces were also built in large scale throughout the city, for the continuous refinement of these minerals. However, just after the end of the major war, these furnaces had all ceased operation. While the building clusters looked magnificent, they were mostly empty. Fang Hao asked Bellerga about the mineral deposits. Bellerga also gave an explanation. Eight Peaks Mountain was of a vast territory. The twelve fortresses and various camps could not fully represent the dwarfs¡¯ settlements. Aside from these, there were many towns and camps built for mining purposes. Eight Peaks Mountain had abundant mineral resources, which was the primary reason why the dwarves settled here. The gemstone demands and mineral needs of Gray Iron City were supplied by these mines, forming the main income source of the dwarves. Each year, the devices sold to various forces were maintaining the dwarves¡¯ expenses. Now with the war over, Bellerga had arranged for people to notify the mines that he was now their new master. Those mines had little military force anyway, so there was no fear of resistance. Even if they did resist, a cut-off in the supply from Gray Iron city in the middle of this harsh winter would leave them no chance of survival. The two men continued to walk and chat, finally returning to the Royal Palace. Just as they arrived, they saw Dong Jiayue directing her subordinates in their final organization efforts. With everything completed, they were preparing to go back to the city for wintering. By Dong Jiayue¡¯s side were a couple of Troll heroes, each standing about five meters tall, with very dark skin. Their enormous figures within the dwarven city were like terrifying monsters. Each of them had a large double-bladed axe on their back, wearing armor full of battle scars. They were sitting on the ground, loading goods onto carts. They looked a bit clumsy, hardly giving out the impression of being particularly bright. It seems, the recruitment scroll she was given yesterday was used, producing a Troll Hero. ¡°Jia Yue¡­¡± Fang Hao called out. Dong Jiayue turned around, ran over in small steps, and spent a moment teasing the Red General on Anjia¡¯s shoulder. After being swatted away, she asked, ¡°Brother Hao, any instructions?¡± ¡°No particular instructions. Just asking about Cao Junming and Miao Chao.¡± replied Fang Hao. Dong Jiayue gave a slight pause, ¡°I know them. What happened?¡± ¡°Yesterday, they came to find me with some blueprints. Junming Cao wishes to stay in the city and has no plan to return to his own. What can you tell me about their character?¡± Fang Hao shared his thoughts. The news seemed to darken Dong Jiayue¡¯s countenance. As the one in charge of managing all the transmigrators, she was bypassed by those two who went to see Fang Hao directly with their blueprints. This upset her. After a moment of thought, she replied: ¡°Cao Junming¡¯s reputation is not good. From what I heard from the rescued transmigrators, he already considers himself a dwarf. The bad ideas the dwarves had were suggested by him. There are even incidents of him pressuring female transmigrators. Miao Chao, on the other hand, is relatively normal. He can be considered Cao Junming¡¯s aide. He doesn¡¯t talk much and there¡¯s nothing especially noteworthy about him.¡± Fang Hao nodded, indicating that he understood. ¡°I assigned him to work in the research institute for now. I¡¯ll get Bellerga to keep an eye on him in the future.¡± ¡°Alright. Oh, what blueprint did he bring to you?¡± Dong Jiayue breathed on her palm for warmth. ¡°A revolver!¡± A revolver? That explains it. ¡°That guy certainly does have talent. Let him spend time on research then.¡± Fang Hao smiled and continued, ¡°You have more and more people under your command. Also make an effort to understand what skills they have, we have talents to gather.¡± ¡°Definitely, once we¡¯ve gathered the transmigrators, our development will surely speed up,¡± Dong Jiayue agreed with him. ¡°Yes, anything urgent, contact me via the Book of Lords. Be careful on your way back.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Dong Jiayue agreed, then turned to run back to her team. All the transmigrators under her command crowded around, asking if the big boss Fang Hao had any new assignments. ¡­ Fang Hao stayed in Gray Iron City for two more days. After which, he used a teleportation spell to return to his own city. After greeting Eira and the heroes stationed there, Fang Hao began to construct the architectural blueprints he had acquired this time. Chapter 797 - Chapter 797: Chapter 533, Li Rong was ambushed _2 Chapter 797: Chapter 533, Li Rong was ambushed _2 First, he arrived at the central city square. In the Pantheon, a new statue of the Craftsmanship and Furnace Fire God was added. [Craftsmanship and Furnace Fire God Statue: Wood 550, Stone 1500, Natural Gem 5, Essence of Magic 2, Traces of Prayer 2.] (Description: The God of Craftsmanship and Furnace Fire will bless this territory, greatly improving craftsmanship and forging technologies.) Construction confirmed. The light rose. After the light gradually faded, the statue appeared before his eyes. The statue depicted a strong figure wielding a forging hammer, ready to strike. From its proportions, it seemed powerful, not modeling after the short stature of dwarves. [Craftsmanship and Furnace Fire God Statue] [Category: Special Building] [Effect: Craftsmanship +10%, Forging +10%.] (Description: The God of Craftsmanship and Furnace Fire, will bless this territory.) Craftsmanship and forging have increased. After placing the statue in the Pantheon, he proceeded to the city wall. Upon reaching the city walls. The twelve-story walls, tall and sturdy. Observation Towers and Magic Towers stood atop the walls, keeping an eye on any movement in the distance. Fang Hao began to use the Gray Iron Bastion upgrade blueprint on the city wall. [Level 12 Gray Iron Bastion Wall: Cast Iron Blocks 6000, Fine Iron Ingots 1000, Metal Parts 2400, Mithril 300, Perfect Essence 12.] The blueprint of Gray Iron Bastion belongs to the second upgrade blueprints for buildings. That is to say, it will remodel on the basis of the original city wall. And the materials consumed by the twelve-story city wall were already extravagant. Especially the fine iron ingots, reaching up to 1000. Simply, the consumption was outrageous. But the sturdiness of the walls of Gray Iron City was equally astonishing. For his own safety, these materials are worth spending. Upgrade confirmed. A light enveloped the wall. A layer of iron-gray metal completely wrapped the city wall. From the outside, it looked identical to the walls of Gray Iron City. Now, even if his city couldn¡¯t withstand the level fifteen Gray Iron City, it was more than enough to handle ordinary attacks. After these two constructions. Fang Hao continued to construct [Flame Furnace], [Precision Factory], [Tea Roasting Workshop], [Arsenal], and [Equipment Research Institute] in the city. The [Flame Furnace] and [Precision Factory] were for the use of the skeleton blacksmith, so he built them near the smithy. On the other hand, he built the [Tea Roasting Workshop] at the edge of the production area. The operation of the workshop required tea leaves. Fang Hao planned to get some plantation from the dwarves next year and recruit some people from the rabbit and Foxmen villages for tea roasting. As for the [Arsenal], it was built at the edge of the warehouse area. Because it would be storing gunpowder and shells, it was a considerable distance from the warehouse to avoid any accidents. The [Equipment Research Institute] was located near the lord¡¯s mansion in the industrial area. Currently, it was empty as there were no talents in the territory who could contribute to the research. They would have to be cultivated slowly. After the construction, Fang Hao continued to produce a large number of [Five-pipe Organ Guns], [Dwarf Cannons], and [Wind-breaking Crossbow Carts]. He had the skeleton troll lift them up to the city wall in groups. Cannons appeared on the city wall one after another. In an instant, the defensive city wall became full of deterrence and destructive power. With the power of a hundredfold amplification. The number of cannons was also considerable. Even after the city wall was full of cannons, quite a few cannons remained on the vacant land in front of him. Fang Hao thought for a moment. Opened the territory channel. Sent an edited message. ¡°Dong Jiayue and her thirteen affiliated transmigrators, for their meritorious service in the war, each will receive one Five-Pipe Organ Gun, two Dwarf Cannons, two Anti-air Crossbow Carts, and Dong Jiayue gets double.¡± Once this was said, the channel immediately exploded. ¡°Damn, what war? Boss is directly rewarding cannons, why didn¡¯t I catch up.¡± ¡°Five-pipe Organ Guns? I have seen a four-pipe organ gun for sale in the Trade Alliance, sold for several million Warfire Coins. The boss is simply giving them away for free, which is outrageous.¡± Dong Jiayue, ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll collect it when I return to the city.¡± ¡°Thanks to Boss Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Thanks to Boss Fang Hao.¡± Dong Jiayue and other transmigrators also spoke up, expressing their gratitude. They were happy and envied by other transmigrators. Especially when someone got to know the price of an Organ Gun was several million, and it was an orange equipment. Orange, in the transmigrators¡¯ minds, was equivalent to a divine artifact. If they possess this divine artifact, who would be afraid of bandits or beasts? All must die at its command. ¡°I¡¯m envious, I want it too.¡± ¡°Boss Fang Hao, do I have a chance? I can pay money to buy it, give me a chance.¡± ¡°There are too many bandits here, I need a cannon to teach them a lesson.¡± ¡°Boss, give me a chance!¡± In the territory channel, there were many cries for help. Not long after, Fang Hao¡¯s second message was sent out. ¡°Members of the territory can purchase Purple Level Dwarf Cannons for 50,000 Warfire Coins each, six Cannon Shells for 300 Warfire Coins per box, one Anti-air Crossbow Cart for 30,000 Warfire Coins, and 24 Crossbow Arrows for 100 Warfire Coins per bundle. Reselling and gifting are not allowed.¡± There was a brief silence in the channel. Even though they knew, the price of the equipment of the purple level was already considered internal pricing for them. Still, very few people could afford this much money. For a moment, it was quiet. After a while, someone sent a message. ¡°I want it, here¡¯s your money, and 50 more rifles.¡± ¡°Damn, rich lady.¡± ¡­ West of Silver Wing City. Chapter 798 - Chapter 798: Chapter 533, Li Rong is Ambushed_3 Chapter 798: Chapter 533, Li Rong is Ambushed_3 It was a local village. Li Rong, along with her group of over 50 men, were crammed inside a wooden house. The doors and windows were tightly shut making the inside of the wooden house dark and gloomy. Outside the house were people dressed in armor and carrying all sorts of weapons. Like bandits and marauders, they had the house completely surrounded. ¡°Li Rong, stop resisting. If you keep this up, your big brother is going to get angry, and what happens next will be more than just taking your men¡¯s lives.¡± The man at the front was speaking loudly with an extraordinarily rampant tone. Li Rong peered through the cracks in the wooden window, looking at those outside, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She¡¯d received news a few days ago that anyone who could provide a certain amount of food to this village could annex it. Li Rong had abundant resources and had been worrying about a shortage of labor. Therefore, she thought she could come and turn the village into a subsidiary one, just like Fang Hao, and set up factories in the village. Who would have guessed, all of this was a trap. As soon as she had arrived, she fell into an ambush. After losing some of her men, they took refuge in this wooden house. Now, they were trapped in the house, in a very dangerous situation. ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t recall knowing you before!¡± Li Rong shouted out to the outside. The enemy was a transmigrator with numerous men under him. She thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t identify who he was from her memory. But without any grudges, how could he put so much effort into laying this ambush for her! ¡°Haha! We did meet, but you were still the sister Li from Fairy Dream Tower then, and didn¡¯t remember me. But now, our positions have reversed. Isn¡¯t this the wheel of fortune turning!¡± The man laughed heartily. Li Rong looked at him more closely. In his forties, with a scruffy face and rough skin. She really couldn¡¯t remember him. ¡°Have I offended you?¡± Li Rong continued to ask. ¡°Well, no, you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then why are you attacking me here?¡± The man licked his chapped, frostbitten lips and scoffed, ¡°If I tell you now and you spread the news, then what? Don¡¯t worry. When we¡¯re in bed later, I¡¯ll tell you everything mouth-to-mouth.¡± Thinking about Li Rong¡¯s face and figure, a fire ignited in the man¡¯s heart. I wonder if the big sister of Silver Wing City would be as cold as she usually is in bed. Faced with such foul language, Li Rong¡¯s face was especially grim. But the current situation didn¡¯t allow her to let things escalate for the worse. Suppressing the anger in her heart, she continued, ¡°We¡¯re all transmigrators. We should help each other. If I¡¯ve offended you in any way before, I apologize. Please don¡¯t be petty with me. If you let us go, I¡¯ll give you 20% of Fairy Dream Tower¡¯s profits later. We can both win then. How about it?¡± This, ¡­. The man was taken aback, and his heart was moved in an instant. The Fairy Dream Tower in Silver Wing City was a gold mine. Although it¡¯s still being rebuilt, once it¡¯s up and running the profits would definitely be high. Without lifting a finger, he¡¯d get 20%, which was basically free money. For a moment, he hesitated. Seeing that the man was wavering, Li Rong sighed with relief. Just as she was about to continue persuading. She saw the man take out the Book of Lords and started inputting something. Li Rong¡¯s heart sank. He was contacting someone. Which meant, he might be acting under someone else¡¯s orders to ambush her. This thought made Li Rong¡¯s heart sink to its lowest point. If the people outside were not the instigators, the chance of negotiation would decrease significantly. Sure enough, the man put down the Book of Lords in his hand, rubbed his frostbitten hands, and said, ¡°Little lady, are you trying to pull a fast one on me? Once I capture you, the Fairy Dream Tower will be mine anyway. Why bother with 20% of the profits when I can have it all.¡± Chapter 799 - Chapter 799: Chapter 534, The Restless Wang Zuo_1 Chapter 799: Chapter 534, The Restless Wang Zuo_1 She stared at the angry man outside. Li Rong¡¯s brows furrowed again. This man must be insane. How on earth is he still alive? It¡¯s a miracle that he hasn¡¯t been eliminated despite the frequent eliminations. The man glanced at the message from the Book of Lords and shouted, ¡°Li Rong, come out now, I promise not to kill you and I¡¯ll treat you well. But if you don¡¯t¡­¡± Before he finished speaking, a voice from within the house retorted, ¡°Go screw yourself!¡± Veins on the man¡¯s forehead popped out in anger, and he ordered coldly, ¡°Since they refuse to come out, set the house on fire. Let¡¯s see if they¡¯d rather be burned alive or killed by us.¡± Charging in directly would inevitably lead to substantial losses. The dry weather, coupled with the wooden house, was perfect for setting a fire. His soldiers quickly went to find dried grass and torches. The plan was to set the wooden house on fire, forcing Li Rong and her group out, making them far easier to kill. Seeing the people outside preparing for action, The people inside the wooden house were even more apprehensive. ¡°My lord, let¡¯s break out. We¡¯ll protect you even if it costs us our lives,¡± the soldiers said. Li Rong had brought fifty heavy sword infantry along with her. This wasn¡¯t arrogance but the result of Silver Wing City¡¯s safe surroundings. There were no bandits or outlaws around, and occasional wild beasts were too afraid to approach a fifty-man crew. Who would have thought that a transmigrator would attack her? Despite her crew all being Tier Five, fifty against three hundred still didn¡¯t give her a high chance of victory. It wasn¡¯t just about whether she could escape. The soldiers she brought were doomed. Seeing people already bringing torches, Li Rong said, ¡°I¡¯ll check the situation first. You all get ready to break out.¡± If there was no other way, she could only choose to break out. Opening the Book of Lords, she was about to fill Fang Hao in on the situation. That¡¯s when she saw Fang Hao was selling cannons in the territory channel. Such things were never sold externally in the past. Seeing the price of fifty thousand for a cannon and separate charges for shells, Li Rong felt a stab in her heart. But looking at the people outside, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and buy them. ¡°I¡¯ll buy them. Send me the money and fifty rifles,¡± she said. Someday, she would get her savings back from Fang Hao. Soon enough, A cannon appeared in the center of the wooden house, along with six boxes of shells, fifty rifles, and a wooden crate full of ammunition. Li Rong was overjoyed. She urged them in a low voice, ¡°Quick, grab the rifles and prepare to open fire.¡± Afterward, she instructed everyone on how to use the rifles. Li Rong had borrowed a rifle from Fang Hao before and knew how to operate it. However, her aim wasn¡¯t great ¡ª she merely pulled the trigger in the direction of people. After instructing them on the rifles, she had two people start familiarizing themselves with the large cannon in the middle. There was a rapid approach of footsteps from outside, and the enemy troops were getting closer, holding torches. Just then, the window was pushed open. Several rifles poked out, pointing directly across the distance. The man who was previously waiting arms crossed, his face turned pale as he saw the barrels of the guns. ¡°What the¡­¡± Before he could finish, the gunfire rang out. Bang bang bang bang!! Bullets flew out, hitting the soldiers holding torches, who dropped their torches and fell. The bullet barrage knocked down a large number of enemies, causing chaos. The transmigrator man screamed in terror, ¡°Charge, kill them, rush in there! There¡¯s only so many guns they can stick out the window. Charge!¡± There was no time to care about the wounded at this point. Speeding up the attack was the important thing. As for running away, There were so many of them. Why should they run? Besides, could they outrun bullets? Prodded by the man, the soldiers charged towards the wooden house, trying to avoid the windows and started to charge. Charge!! The men rushed forward. Yet, the few guns protruding from the window could not show much firepower. Just when the man felt they were about to invade the wooden house, The tightly shut door slowly started to open. ¡°Raid? Ha, you¡¯re too late! So many of my men died; you all will pay the price,¡± the man roared. But when the wooden door opened, The man¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat. A cannon! The bursting cannon pointed at the enemy who was flocking and trying to barge in. Before he could say anything, a loud boom resonated. Boom¡ªBang! The shock wave swept over everyone, and the flying debris hit everyone like bullets. Due to the close proximity, even the wooden house was affected. It seemed as if it had been devastated, torn apart by the flying debris. Li Rong dragged herself from the ruins, with a ringing noise in her ears and blurred vision. She forced herself to quickly recover by knocking her head. Feeling someone helping her, she managed to stand up, swaying slightly. When her vision cleared, She found that the wooden house had become a ruin, and a huge crater had been created in the open area outside of the house. All around were rocks and bits of scattered flesh. The power of the cannon was too great. If not for the wooden house to block some impact, they would have been seriously injured. Then, she heard sounds coming from not far away. Turning her head, she saw the man with a few survivors, attempting to escape. ¡°Catch him!¡± Li Rong yelled. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The soldiers hoisted their rifles and chased after him, firing as they went. Chapter 800 - Chapter 800: Chapter 534, The Repeatedly Evasive Wang Zuo_2 Chapter 800: Chapter 534, The Repeatedly Evasive Wang Zuo_2 Though the aim was poor, the intimidation was sufficient. The man, hearing the bullets whizzing past his ears, immediately knelt on the ground with his hands raised above his head. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot, don¡¯t shoot, we surrender¡­.¡± The sequence of movements was swift and practiced. The pursuing heavy sword infantry immediately advanced, restrained the kneeling supplicant, and firmly pressed him to the ground. After a short while, Li Rong came over, limping. She sat down opposite the kneeling man. Crossing her legs, she lit a cigarette. The man¡¯s gaze swept over her slender thighs and he hurriedly cried out, ¡°Sister Li, spare me, Sister Li, I dare not do it again, please don¡¯t kill me.¡± The ferocity had turned into a face full of repentance. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Li Rong asked softly as she exhaled a puff of smoke. ¡°Wang Zuo, Sister Li, I won¡¯t dare do it again!¡± Wang Zuo said, his head bowed. ¡°Who sent you to ambush me?¡± Li Rong continued to ask. Wang Zuo paused slightly before saying, ¡°No one, Sister Li, it was just a moment of folly on my part that I came to trouble you, I was wrong, Sister Li, please be magnanimous and let me go as if I were nothing more than a fart.¡± Li Rong sneered, ¡°You¡¯re quite loyal.¡± Turning to a subordinate, she said, ¡°The rest of them, kill them all.¡± ¡°No,¡­¡± Swish swish swish!! A series of whooshing sounds rose, and the heads of Wang Zuo¡¯s subordinates tumbled to the ground. Blood splattered everywhere, and the corpses slowly collapsed to the ground. Wang Zuo was filled with regret; why had he provoked this woman. Moreover, he should have pressed on without stopping, not giving her a moment to breathe. Now, look what has happened, they had cannons and rifles, and his team was wiped out. Click!! Li Rong took a rifle, loaded it, and pointed it at Wang Zuo¡¯s forehead. ¡°Who¡¯s the person behind you, dare to say a word of denial, and I¡¯ll blow your head off.¡± The cold muzzle felt as agonizing as a red-hot iron to Wang Zuo. Large beads of sweat kept appearing, and he could envision his head blooming under a bullet. He was done for. At this point, he didn¡¯t dare act tough and immediately said, ¡°It was Cao Zhengzhi, he made me come to trouble you, it was all him, he told me that if I caught you, he would give me lots of resources, and that¡¯s what swayed me, Sister Li, please spare me, I¡¯m not a human being, I shouldn¡¯t have troubled you.¡± As he spoke, Wang Zuo had already burst into tears. Inwardly, he was cursing Cao Zhengzhi for sending him to trouble Li Rong. If it wasn¡¯t for him, he would still be comfortably sleeping in the city. Hearing Wang Zuo¡¯s words, Li Rong began to recall the name. Cao Zhengzhi! She had no impression of him and wondered when she had made so many enemies. ¡°Do I have a grudge with Cao Zhengzhi? Why does he want to capture me?¡± Li Rong continued to interrogate. Wang Zuo shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know that, he didn¡¯t tell me.¡± Looking at his expression, Li Rong felt that this did not seem like a lie. She immediately said, ¡°Give me the Book of Lords.¡± Wang Zuo obediently handed over the Book of Lords with both hands. Li Rong took it but found she couldn¡¯t consume it. This indicated that what Wang Zuo held was the Book of City Lord, and as just the mayor of a city, he had no right to decide the city¡¯s fate. ¡°Cao! Who consumed your Book of Lords?¡± Li Rong, feeling frustrated, threw the book back at him. ¡°Uh, Cao Zhengzhi, he¡¯s the one who consumed it,¡± Wang Zuo responded. Li Rong turned to a soldier and said, ¡°Take some people to clean up the battlefield, and then find a cart; we¡¯re going back shortly.¡± The soldier departed to collect spoils from the battlefield. As for the corpses and the collapsed houses, they did not bother with them. These were matters the villagers would handle. Besides, Li Rong hadn¡¯t yet settled the account of their conspiracy to ambush her. Li Rong pondered over the matter concerning Cao Zhengzhi. Her gaze fell once again on Wang Zuo, and she said coldly, ¡°Do you want to live?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Sister Li, I want to!¡± Wang Zuo tried to throw himself at her feet but was kicked back. ¡°You wanted to kill me, so if I kill you right now, there¡¯s nothing to discuss¡­¡± ¡°Sister Li, I want to live, Sister Li.¡± Li Rong glared at him, continuing, ¡°You draw Cao Zhengzhi out, let him die for you, or else you die.¡± This¡­. Wang Zuo¡¯s mouth gaped open, for a moment unsure how to respond. Luring Cao Zhengzhi out, wasn¡¯t this making him betray his own people? He hesitated briefly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Li Rong raise her gun again. Frightened, Wang Zuo immediately said, ¡°Okay, okay! Sister Li, you tell me what to do. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t lure him out.¡± ¡°Hmph! At least you know yourself well.¡± Li Rong kicked the ¡°Book of City Lord¡± on the ground with her toe, ¡°Contact him and tell him that Li Rong has been captured.¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Wang Zuo immediately got moving, opening a private chat to start sending messages. And for realism, he even added some simple phrases. ¡®Brother Cao, that bitch Li Rong has been taken down by me. What do I do next?¡¯ Li Rong watched him send it, her eyelid twitched. Wang Zuo quickly explained, ¡°For realism, realism¡­ ¡± Indeed, soon Cao Zhengzhi replied, ¡°She¡¯s not dead, is she? Send me a photo to have a look.¡± ¡°He wants a photo¡­¡± Wang Zuo instructed Li Rong. Li Rong¡¯s face grew uglier, and through gritted teeth, she said, ¡°Take it.¡± She then lay on the ground with her hands behind her back as if she was subdued. Wang Zuo took two pictures and sent them. Cao Zhengzhi replied, ¡°Bring her to your place. I¡¯ll come and get her before nightfall. Don¡¯t kill her and don¡¯t go too far.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Wang Zuo sent the reply. Then, he looked toward Li Rong. Li Rong extinguished her cigarette and said to a soldier beside her, ¡°Call over five hundred brothers; we¡¯ll all go and meet this person in his territory.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The soldier swiftly departed. ¡­ Dusk, Wang Zuo¡¯s city. Atop the city wall, Wang Zuo and Li Rong watched a troop of men approaching from afar. Wang Zuo looked down at the gun barrel pressed against his back. He swallowed his saliva and whispered, ¡°Sister Li, that¡¯s Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s troop. Look, I didn¡¯t lie to you. I¡¯m dead set on following you.¡± ¡°You should know what to say and do. Lure him in, and you can live. If he notices anything, I¡¯ll blow you away immediately,¡± Li Rong¡¯s icy voice rose from beside him. Wang Zuo shuddered mightily. Li Rong¡¯s words were even colder than the chilling wind. ¡°Understood, Sister Li. Just watch,¡± Wang Zuo assured her, thumping his chest. Li Rong patted his shoulder and descended the city wall, instructing a few soldiers to disguise themselves and stay by Wang Zuo¡¯s side. Soon, the distant troops had drawn near. ¡°Wang Zuo, open the gate, it¡¯s bloody freezing out here,¡± Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s voice came from below. Wang Zuo reassessed his situation, knowing that one slip of the tongue and the militia around him could shoot or stab him. He couldn¡¯t take that risk, not for Cao Zhengzhi. He immediately put on a smile and cursed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see my Brother Cao coming? Open the gate quickly!¡± The city gates opened. Cao Zhengzhi led his men inside the city swiftly. He brought over a hundred people, all clad in thick cotton armor, freezing from the journey. Wang Zuo scurried down from the city wall, grinning, ¡°Brother Cao, froze your butt off, didn¡¯t you? If I had known earlier, I¡¯d have sent her to you tomorrow.¡± Cao Zhengzhi gave him a blank look and said, ¡°I¡¯m already here, what¡¯s the use of saying these things now? Where is she, not dead, right?¡± Wang Zuo knew he was asking about Li Rong. He quickly said, ¡°How could she be dead? I remembered, we need her alive.¡± Cao Zhengzhi nodded, ¡°Bring her out, I¡¯ll take her away directly.¡± Wang Zuo paused for a moment and continued, ¡°Uh, Brother Cao, you¡¯d better go take a look first, then take her. She¡¯s not easy to take away right now.¡± Cao Zhengzhi was startled, ¡°Did you mess her up?¡± ¡°No, no, just come and see.¡± Saying this, he began to lead Cao Zhengzhi towards the City Lord¡¯s mansion, not forgetting to turn back and beckon, ¡°Hey you, take Brother Cao¡¯s men to the room on the side to wait. Don¡¯t let them all freeze.¡± Cao Zhengzhi didn¡¯t say much, nodding and letting his men follow. ¡­ The two entered the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Just through the main gate, something felt off. The guards at the gate were a special fifth-order military unit. Since when did Wang Zuo have special troops? How come he didn¡¯t know? Something seemed off! As he analyzed the situation in his mind, he suddenly heard Wang Zuo¡¯s voice, ¡°Sister Li, I¡¯ve brought you this damn bastard.¡± Hm? Sister Li? Damn bastard? What¡¯s going on? Chapter 801 - Chapter 801: Chapter 535, Shadow Elf Chapter 801: Chapter 535, Shadow Elf Cao Zhengzhi suddenly looked up and saw a slender woman sitting to one side, crossing her legs elegantly and flicking cigarette ash off her pale fingers. Li Rong! He had seen Li Rong before. This type of strong, dominating woman had a presence so memorable that one glance was unforgettable. And now, Li Rong didn¡¯t look anything like a captive. She looked more like the young mistress of a household, waiting for reports from her servants. ¡°Wang Zuo, what are you playing at?¡± Cao Zhengzhi asked sharply. Wang Zuo glared at him, then hurried over to Li Rong¡¯s side, bowed, and respectfully said, ¡°Sister Li, this guy brought more than a hundred men, dozens of whom are special forces, level five Pilgrim Infantry. I¡¯ve had them taken to the position we prepared earlier.¡± Only then did Li Rong look away from her scrutiny, nodded her head, and said, ¡°Well done.¡± Wang Zuo smiled ingratiatingly, ¡°That¡¯s only right, only right.¡± At that moment, Cao Zhengzhi could clearly see that Wang Zuo had turned traitor. His face turned exceptionally ugly, and he looked back. The door was blocked by infantry armed with heavy swords, making it obviously impossible for him to rush out alone. ¡°Wang Zuo, what are you doing?¡± Cao Zhengzhi shouted again. Wang Zuo¡¯s smiling face tightened, and he immediately snapped, ¡°The hell, ¡®Wang Zuo¡¯ is how you call me? Call me Brother Wang.¡± Cao Zhengzhi was speechless and did not intend to waste words with this witless man. His gaze shifted directly to Li Rong and said, ¡°Sister Li, such skillful tactics, with just a few words you took down this fool, Wang Zuo.¡± ¡°Who the fuck are you calling a fool? I¡¯ll flay your skin in a minute,¡± Wang Zuo rolled up his sleeves, ready to teach him a lesson. Having called him Brother Cao, he really thought he was somebody. Li Rong looked at Cao Zhengzhi and without wasting words, directly asked, ¡°Cao Zhengzhi, right? I don¡¯t seem to know you either. Why do you want to kill me?¡± She was sure she didn¡¯t know Cao Zhengzhi. Neither Wang Zuo nor Cao Zhengzhi were in the same league as Li Rong. Li Rong could attend noble parties, which meant she had begun to move in high society circles, far beyond their reach. Being in different spheres, there was no chance of meeting, much less any enmity. Cao Zhengzhi, who had been somewhat frantic, quickly regained his composure. It seemed that the situation hadn¡¯t escalated to violence yet. Sitting down beside her, he calmly said, ¡°There might be some misunderstandings, but now that Sister Li appears to have the upper hand, I, Cao Zhengzhi, admit defeat and guarantee I won¡¯t trouble you again.¡± ¡°You think you can leave?¡± Li Rong blew out a ring of smoke and glanced at him. ¡°Why make a big deal, Sister Li? We are all our own people. Let me go, and I¡¯ll certainly remember your kindness in the future,¡± Cao Zhengzhi still spoke calmly. But internally, he had already begun considering ways to leave the place. How to escape the room and then how to escape from the city. Entering the city was his biggest oversight. His gaze continuously swept over Li Rong. Perhaps taking this woman hostage could make him safer. ¡°What are you looking at? Thinking of taking me hostage?¡± Li Rong¡¯s voice once again interrupted his thoughts. ¡°No, just regretting having offended you,¡± Cao Zhengzhi hurriedly explained. Li Rong didn¡¯t care and continued, ¡°Tell me, why do you want to kill me? This might be your last chance; otherwise, you might end up dead.¡± Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s heart tightened. This woman was really planning on killing him. ¡°Sister Li is intelligent. You might be able to kill me, but my men, knowing I¡¯m dead, will fight to the death to kill you. Level five Pilgrims can significantly enhance all their attributes for their faith, and in street fighting, you won¡¯t stand a chance,¡± Cao Zhengzhi slightly raised his head. His face was full of confidence. Pilgrims, according to the game terminology, were akin to berserkers. Their faith kept them from feeling fear and pain, enhancing all their attributes significantly. In a frenzy, they really feared no one in street fighting. Cao Zhengzhi might not escape death himself, but if his subordinates were out of control, Li Rong and the others wouldn¡¯t stand a chance either. ¡°Oh? You think having drawn you in, we¡¯d let your soldiers retaliate?¡± Li Rong countered. Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s brow furrowed, a foreboding feeling rising within him. Before he could speak. Suddenly, the sound of gunshots erupted outside. Bang, bang, bang!! The gunfire was exceptionally intense, but it didn¡¯t last long. Soon after. A voice came from outside, ¡°My lord, all enemies have been killed, not a single one left alive.¡± Cao Zhengzhi knew that was not the voice of his men. He was doomed. ¡°Strip him of everything and throw the body to the dogs,¡± Li Rong said calmly. ¡°Yes!¡± The footsteps of the soldiers gradually faded away. Sweat beaded on Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s forehead. At that moment, he truly panicked. How could this woman have guns and so many of them? Cautiously looking at the woman in front of him. Her expression was calm, showing no sign of turmoil. Killing a hundred people as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Too ruthless. ¡°Got anything else to say? If not, you can go join your men,¡± Li Rong¡¯s cold voice rang out again. Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s body jolted. He carefully stood from his seat, his demeanor becoming more respectful. ¡°Sister Li, please let me go this time!¡± Li Rong scoffed, ¡°Take him out and finish it.¡± Immediately, the guards at the door advanced, and Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s face drastically changed. Panicking, he said, ¡°Wait, wait, I¡¯ll tell you! It wasn¡¯t my idea, someone wants to capture you.¡± Chapter 802 - Chapter 802: Chapter 535, Shadow Elf_2 Chapter 802: Chapter 535, Shadow Elf_2 Li Rong stopped the approaching guards. With a look of surprise, she asked, ¡°Were you sent by someone else too?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I dare not offend Sister Li, but I have no choice,¡± Cao Zhengzhi said with a mournful face. Li Rong continued to question, ¡°Who? Spit it out.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°Not talking? Fine, go down and join your subordinates then.¡± ¡°No, no, it was Xu Haide. He instructed me to target you,¡± Cao Zhengzhi said hastily. Li Rong¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, ¡°Saint, Xu Haide?¡± Xu Haide¡¯s name was known to every transmigrator in Silver Wing City. He was also the most successful transmigrator in Silver Wing City. Backed by the Church, he had resources and people at his disposal, practically the protagonist of this world. Not everyone may have seen him, but everyone knew the name. ¡°Yes, he said you were in close contact with his enemies and told me to cause you trouble,¡± Cao Zhengzhi, having said it, didn¡¯t feel much of a burden anymore. He began to take the initiative to divulge some information, lest after he had spoken, Li Rong would kill him anyway. Hearing Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s words, Li Rong was dumbfounded. She never expected the investigation would eventually lead to Xu Haide. She dared to kill Wang Zuo and Cao Zhengzhi, but Xu Haide was a different matter. If she were to kill Xu Haide, she would have to consider how to face the Church¡¯s retaliation. Saints were among the candidates for the next Archbishop and Bishop within the Church. Even if they engaged in many despicable and shady methods among themselves, if an outsider touched a Saint, They would unquestionably be wiped out by the Church. Especially since her city was right next to Silver Wing City. Either she had to kill Xu Haide quietly, ensuring the Church couldn¡¯t trace his death back to her, or she had to swallow her pride and pretend as if nothing had happened. At this point, Li Rong truly did not know what to do. ¡°Seize their Book of City Lord and lock them up,¡± Li Rong said softly. The soldiers came and took away both Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s and Wang Zuo¡¯s Book of City Lord. ¡°Sister Li, you see, my¡­ why are you taking mine too?¡± Wang Zuo said anxiously. Li Rong glared at him, and he immediately shut up. There was no dungeon in this city, and leaving them in an outside cage could easily freeze them to death. So a room was found, and the two were locked inside. Strict orders were given for them to be closely guarded. After the two were taken away, Li Rong opened the Book of City Lord and contacted Fang Hao. Her words were direct, ¡°Xu Haide arranged an ambush to kill me, how should I handle it?¡± ¡­ Elsewhere. Fang Hao stood on the first floor of the Viscera Museum, chatting with Amanda beside him. Heart-wrenching screams could occasionally be heard coming from the second floor. It was enough to make one¡¯s heart tremble. Following Amanda¡¯s advice, Fang Hao had delivered the captured Shadow Stabber ¨C Morse to the Viscera Museum. After explaining the situation to Nelson, He received Nelson¡¯s reply that it was possible to attempt, but the cost of materials was significant, and there was risk involved. If it failed, Morse¡¯s soul would be severely traumatized¡ªunable to speak of death, he would become dull and intellectually impaired. After consulting with Amanda and others, Fang Hao still decided to hand Morse over to Nelson. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s going to be a success,¡± Fang Hao glanced at the second floor. These heart-wrenching screams did not seem to foretell success. Amanda held her scepter and spoke calmly, ¡°This is her only chance to survive and a test. Whether she can make it through depends largely on her own will.¡± Indeed, only after breaking the original contract would Fang Hao and his party accept her and sign a new contract with her. Otherwise, the only option would be to kill her and make her body into a skeleton. ¡°Right, I hope she can make it,¡± Fang Hao said. Ding! Just then, a private chat notification came from the Book of Lords. Upon opening it, he saw the message about Li Rong being ambushed by Xu Haide. He immediately replied, ¡°How is it? Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve captured two of the people who ambushed me, and from their lips, I learned that Xu Haide is the mastermind. Now I¡¯m not sure whether I should kill Xu Haide, or what I should do?¡± Li Rong¡¯s message came through. From her words, one could sense her hesitation. Being ambushed indicated that hostilities had already begun, but now she was unable to retaliate. Xu Haide could attack her, but she could not strike back. This left Li Rong feeling frustrated, uncertain whether to engage in a do-or-die struggle. Fang Hao was equally shocked. Shocked that Xu Haide would move against Li Rong, and shocked that Li Rong managed to capture Cao Zhengzhi. Cao Zhengzhi was in the channel investigating the Undead north of Pruell City, and he had instructed Fu Lei to make contact with him, To try to draw out his identity. There hadn¡¯t been much progress on Fu Lei¡¯s part, and now he had been directly caught by Li Rong. Analyzing the situation, Fang Hao realized that Xu Haide¡¯s likely target was himself, and Li Rong was inadvertently involved. After some thought, Fang Hao said, ¡°This is a matter for you to weigh the pros and cons. If you want Xu Haide dead, arrange for someone to kill him, then I will teleport you away, and you can choose a new city to develop in. But that means giving up Silver Wing City, and ¡®Fairy Dream Tower¡¯s¡¯ market in human cities will also be affected. If you¡¯re not in a hurry to kill him, you can use the people you¡¯ve captured as double agents, informing us of Xu Haide¡¯s plans. Since they¡¯ve already named Xu Haide, it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to persuade them to be insiders.¡± On the other end, there was silence. Chapter 803 - Chapter 803: Chapter 535, Shadow Elf_3 Chapter 803: Chapter 535, Shadow Elf_3 It took a while before Li Rong¡¯s message came through, ¡°I choose the second option, let Xu Haide live for a few more days.¡± ¡°Okay, recruit some more troop types within the city, and be careful when going out. I will provide you with some defense equipment,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go talk to them now.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The two ended their chat. Fang Hao sat in his chair, pondering Xu Haide¡¯s intentions. As a transmigrator, he was definitely aware of his connection with the Undead. It¡¯s just that for the time being, there¡¯s no way to obtain compelling evidence. But why would he target Li Rong? With his current status, he shouldn¡¯t pay attention to business people like Li Rong, right? Just got involved because of me? Doesn¡¯t feel quite right. In the midst of his contemplation, the shouting from upstairs suddenly stopped. Approaching, a line of Priests carrying bottles and jars, various objects, came down the stairs. After giving salutations to Fang Hao and Amanda one by one, they busied themselves with their work. Now, the most prestigious in the territory were these Priests from the Viscera Museum. All wrapped in Amanda¡¯s gold, they shimmered brilliantly. Entering the Viscera Museum was like attempting the Eighteen Bronze Men challenge. At the same time, one could also see the importance the Undead placed on the Corpse Witch and the Priests. Even Amanda had to be on good terms with these people, or at least not on bad terms. Soon after! Nelson came downstairs. Behind him followed Shadow Stabber, naked, with purple skin covered in strange patterns and symbols. Shadow Stabber had a fairy-like face, a graceful figure, light purple skin, and parts adorned with bright red, exuding a bewitching exotic charm. Nelson saluted the two, ¡°My lord, Miss Morse¡¯s original contract has been dissolved, she is no longer bound by any rules.¡± Fang Hao reacted swiftly, immediately taking out a robe from the Book of Lords and draping it over Morse. Morse bowed her head, motionless, with a vacantly lost expression. ¡°She¡­ uh¡­¡± Fang Hao looked at Nelson, pointing to his head, implying whether she had gone mad. Nelson replied, ¡°The process was very successful, but her soul is still significantly impacted. This kind of impact is not irreversible; with a few days of rest, she will return to normal.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± So she¡¯s a bit dazed now, I thought as much seeing her come down naked. ¡°So now, can I immediately sign a new contract with her?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Of course.¡± Fang Hao immediately found a blank purple hero¡¯s contract from the Book of Lords. He took Morse¡¯s hand, gently pricked it, and pressed it onto the contract. A light emerged, reintegrating into Morse¡¯s body. Throughout the process, Morse was like a puppet, compliant and unresisting. Once everything was finished. Fang Hao went out and called two maids, instructing them to dress Morse in warm clothing and arrange a room for her to stay in. After a few days, once her mind clears up, I¡¯ll talk to her about the future. ¡­ Three days passed in a flash. A team arriving from Eight Peaks Mountain finally reached Fang Hao¡¯s location, braving the piercing cold wind. Leading the team was the Skeleton Troll hero¡ªMeatfist. Behind him were densely packed Skeleton soldiers, followed by a row of carts filled with Dwarf corpses. Luckily for the weather. Otherwise, the corpses would have stunk to high heaven on the journey from Eight Peaks Mountain. At the city gate. Fang Hao, dressed in warm clothing, was holding down his fur hat to keep it from blowing away. He greeted Meatfist and the throng of Skeletons entering the city. ¡°Lord, after Bellerga¡¯s confirmation, these are likely the corpses of Dwarf heroes, but we still need Scholar Nelson to confirm,¡± Meatfist stepped forward and said loudly. ¡°So many?¡± Fang Hao glanced at the carts behind. Since when did Dwarves have so many heroes? Meatfist hurriedly explained, ¡°The war is pretty intense, and many corpses are hard to distinguish, so we brought them all back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Fang Hao turned to someone behind him, ¡°Please call for Scholar Nelson.¡± The Bound Spirit Guardians left and upon returning, brought Nelson, the Gold Eating Queen Amanda, and all the Priests with them. After indicating that everyone didn¡¯t need to salute, Fang Hao went straight to the point, ¡°Nelson, identify for me which of these are heroes and which are ordinary Dwarves.¡± ¡°Of course, my lord.¡± Chapter 804 - Chapter 804: Chapter 536, Skeleton Miner Chapter 804: Chapter 536, Skeleton Miner ¡°` Nelson began the confirmation process. The classification of corpses was not progressing smoothly. Due to the use of too many shells and detonators in the battle, the bodies were quite fragmented. Bruised and battered, the flesh was piled up, and with the cold weather at the time, it all froze into clumps. Fortunately, except for Fang Hao, everyone present was undead, so no one exhibited any adverse reactions. Fang Hao stood to one side, discussing with Amanda the subsequent city development and how to manage racial diversity better. Amanda, the former queen of a nation, had profound insights into governance. The methods she suggested all seemed very practical to Fang Hao. Previously, he would only discuss these issues with Nelson, but now he had Amanda to consult as well. The think tank had added another member. Nearly two hours passed. A group of funeral priests had completed the classification of all corpses. They obtained five hero corpses. The rest, which were ordinary dwarf soldier corpses, were carried away by other ordinary skeletons to the Skeleton Conversion Field. For conversion. ¡°My lord, these five are the bodies of dwarf heroes, and their physical structures are still intact. Any missing parts can be restored with materials,¡± Nelson said. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you, Scholar.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nelson nodded, waved slightly, and the funeral priests lifted the bodies and walked towards the Viscera Museum. Ever since the number of heroes in the territory began to increase rapidly, Nelson was no longer as busy as before. Through the Trade Alliance, Nelson bought a large number of books and spent his days in the Viscera Museum reading. Occasionally playing a game of bone tiles with others in the territory, he found it rather relaxing. Now that these hero corpses were being delivered, it was time for Nelson to get busy again. ¡­ As the bodies were taken away, Fang Hao followed the other skeletons to the Skeleton Conversion Field. Standing in front of the Skeleton Conversion Field, he watched as the fine sand in the Transformation Pool slowly devoured the bodies. After this great war, the Skeleton Conversion Field added several new types of skeleton soldiers. All of them were dwarves. [Skeleton Unicorn (Tier 3)][Skeleton Dwarf Miner (Tier 3)][Skeleton Dwarf Warrior (Tier 4)][Explosive Dwarf Miner (Tier 5)][Skeleton Long-bearded Warrior (Tier 5)][Skeleton Dwarf Rider (Tier 6)][Skeleton Thunder Gunner (Tier 7)][Skeleton Engineer (Tier 8)]. I¡¯ll say, such a variety of new units added. Ranging from Tier 3 all the way to Tier 8. Being able to have a Tier 8 unit really shows the depth of a race¡¯s foundation. Like trolls, inherently strong and high-tier at birth, once they enter the battlefield, they are uniformly infantry. Once you find the right method, they are actually not hard to deal with. Those races with a complete heritage and a variety of professions are the tough nuts to crack. Skeleton Unicorns have no special properties and serve as jungle mounts. They can maintain high speeds in the jungle and rugged terrains. Continuing to look at the dwarf units. [Skeleton Dwarf Miner (Tier 3)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, hollow skeleton, weak to light element.] [Skills: Safe Mining, Earth Pulse Sensing, Rapid Mining.] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Mining Mastery, Intermediate Firearms Mastery.] [Safe Mining]: This unit has extensive mining experience, increasing mining safety by +20%. [Earth Pulse Sensing]: This unit can vaguely sense the location of ore veins. [Rapid Mining]: +20% efficiency in mining ores. (Note: Skeleton units transformed from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) Well, now, that¡¯s a pleasant surprise for Fang Hao. The dwarves¡¯ talents all revolve around mining and forging. And there¡¯s a unit specifically for mining ores. But that is exactly what Fang Hao needs. Once he has this unit type, Fang Hao could recruit on a large scale, replacing the ordinary laborer skeletons as well as the manpower in the Coldwind Mountain Range and the Bloddy Mountain Range. Swap out all the mining trolls and orcs for other types of labor. Skeleton workers, with their efficiency in mining, are a lord¡¯s dream come true. No need for food, drink, or rest; they can work day and night in the mines ¨C a true cotton-padded jacket for the lord. Suppressing his excitement about the information, he continued to read on. The second one, [Skeleton Dwarf Warrior], is a Tier 4 combat unit. Skilled with one-handed axes, these are the heavy axe-wielding, heavily armored infantry units. The attributes aren¡¯t bad, but for Fang Hao, there won¡¯t be any special effort to recruit them using materials. Because there are too many substitutes for them; their presence or absence does not make a significant impact. The third one, [Explosive Dwarf Miner (Tier 5)]. [Explosive Dwarf Miner (Tier 5)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, hollow skeleton, weak to light element.] [Skills: Safe Mining, Earth Pulse Sensing, Rapid Mining, Detonator Blast.] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Mining Mastery, Intermediate Firearms Mastery, Intermediate Blasting Mastery.] [Detonator Blast]: Use detonators to blast a specific area. (Note: Skeleton units transformed from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) An upgraded version of the dwarf miner. With the additional skill of Detonator Blast and the mastery of intermediate-level blasting. ¡°` Chapter 805 - Chapter 805: Chapter 536, Skeleton Miner_2 Chapter 805: Chapter 536, Skeleton Miner_2 The blasting of the mineshaft played a significant role. Continuing to read further, [Skeleton Longbeard Warrior (Tier 5)], also a heavy infantry unit, is proficient in heavy armor and two-handed battle axes and has a charge skill in its abilities. It shares the same effect as the Tauren¡¯s [Frenzied Charge], knocking back enemies along the way and charging directly into the enemy ranks. [Skeleton Dwarf Cavalry (Tier 6)], the dwarf¡¯s unicorns cavalry, skilled in riding, light armor, and saber. It can ride unicorns, traveling quickly through forests and rugged mountain roads. It also has its very unique characteristics. [Skeleton Thunderous Gunner (Tier 7)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.] [Skills: Precision Aiming, Rapid Reload, Thunderous Shot.] [Innate Abilities: Intermediate Firearms Mastery.] [Precision Aiming]: Eyes as sharp as an eagle¡¯s allow for faster and more accurate targeting of enemies, firing with a 35% increase in firearm precision. [Rapid Reload]: Years of training enable the Thunderous Gunner to quickly change bullets, increasing reload speed by 20%. [Thunderous Shot]: Blessed by the dwarf ancestors, firearms damage includes an additional 50% thunder attribute effect. (Note: Skeleton troops transformed from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) Fang Hao¡¯s eyes lit up again. The attributes of the Thunderous Gunners are really quite impressive. They are far better than his own skeleton archers¡¯ attributes. They could be considered as a reserve choice for shooters when large-scale battles occur needing more shooters. Then it would be possible to recruit these Thunderous Gunners. Next is the last one, the highest tier of dwarves, Tier 8. [Skeleton Engineers (Tier 8)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.] [Skills: Ballistic Calibration, Rapid Repair, Mechanical Engineering.] [Innate Abilities: Advanced Mechanical Mastery.] [Ballistic Calibration]: Extremely high proficiency in shooting precision, rate of fire, and positioning. His presence significantly enhances the combat capability of war machines, increasing mechanical precision by 35%. [Rapid Repair]: Engineers have their tricks; they can get damaged machinery up and running quickly, increasing repair speed by 20%. [Mechanical Engineer]: Knowledgeable about the structure and assembly of various machinery, capable of assembling and repairing from scattered parts, increasing assembly by 15% and durability by 10%. (Note: Skeleton troops transformed from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) A Tier 8 engineer is indeed a fine profession. In large-scale battles, discarded machinery has already piled up like mountains. The damaged machinery causes people to pick out all usable and recyclable parts. To be used again. But most parts, like metal, are remelted; wood, on the other hand, is simply discarded. Now, with engineers, machinery can be repaired and maintained. Greatly extending the usability of the machinery, and ensuring that losses in machinery are not greater than the gains after a battle. Secondly, if the territory plans to sell firearms in the future, there could also be maintenance services. In any case, the territory¡¯s engineers can be recruited. ¡­ Having reviewed all the newly unlocked troop types at the conversion site, Fang Hao¡¯s mood was still very good. Among them, the dwarf miner and the dwarf engineer, one the lowest tier and one the highest tier, were the troop types he needed most. After finishing his reading, Fang Hao had no intention of delaying further. He returned to the lord¡¯s mansion and had Eira help him change into a set of warmer clothes. Then he called for Demitrija and directly activated Demon teleportation, targeting the troll city in the Bloodlands ¨C North Town. This troll city, originally a fortress of the Bloodthroat Tribe, had been renamed North Town after being taken over by Fang Hao. The troll city¡¯s leader, the female troll Stella, previously garrisoned by the dwarf, Bellerga. Since Bellerga had joined the battle at Gray Iron City, it was now garrisoned by the skeleton troll hero, Giant Wall. When Fang Hao and his companion opened their eyes again, they were already in the troll¡¯s great hall. The large and spacious hall was surrounded by tall trolls. At the head seat sat a similarly tall female troll, donned in a light green low-cut cotton dress, it was indeed Stella. The sudden appearance of Fang Hao and his companion took everyone by surprise, but Stella was the first to react, quickly coming forward and bowing hurriedly. ¡°Respected Lord,¡± she said. Seeing their leader show such respect to a human, most trolls who had not seen Fang Hao were initially bewildered, What¡¯s happening? But as more and more began to bow, they too realized. This human was now the ruler of the entire Blood Mountains, a human lord with the power over the life and death of the troll tribes, Lord Fang Hao. In an instant, the entire hall bowed in unison. The attendants at the door even knelt, pressing their foreheads to the ground. Fang Hao glanced at the crowd, noting that the trolls seemed to be holding a meeting. Since he had left this place in the hands of Stella, he hadn¡¯t been much involved, as long as the mining of the ore was going smoothly, and he was also providing sufficient supplies to the trolls. ¡°Everyone, rise,¡± Fang Hao stepped forward, moving past the trolls to sit at the head seat. All the trolls rose in unison. Stella had a chair brought over and sat next to Fang Hao. Chapter 806 - Chapter 806: Chapter 536, Skeleton Miner_3 Chapter 806: Chapter 536, Skeleton Miner_3 The social structure of trolls was still somewhat primitive in nature. This had a lot to do with their temperament and way of thinking. Apart from Stella, who was dressed like a chieftain, most of the trolls beneath her dressed more like savages and hunters. In the dead of winter, they simply draped themselves in beast skin garments. Baring their thick, muscular arms. As for the rest of their attire, it was hard to tell what it was made of, something like grass¡­ in any case, it was a rough style. ¡°Stella, are you in a meeting?¡± Fang Hao asked softly. Stella immediately replied, ¡°Yes, my lord. We are allocating tribes for next year¡¯s mining operations, and we are planning to form a trade caravan. After winter, we will sell some items to exchange for resources.¡± Hmm? Fang Hao was surprised to hear Stella¡¯s idea. That trolls had thought of forming a trade caravan instead of looking for ways to loot was a breakthrough in thought. ¡°Who came up with the idea of the caravan?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Stella became a bit nervous and carefully replied, ¡°It was me, my lord. It¡¯s just an idea. If you disagree, we will immediately cancel the formation of the caravan.¡± The trolls were a conquered race, subject to the law of the survival of the fittest. All the trolls in these Bloody Mountains were Fang Hao¡¯s slaves. Including the offspring of the slaves. Fang Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve had this idea. You can continue to work it out on your own. If there are any difficulties, or you need anything, just let me know. I will provide some support for you. But remember, trolls are no longer the barbaric tribe they used to be. When facing problems, don¡¯t always think of resorting to violence.¡± Hearing that Fang Hao would support the caravan, Stella¡¯s face immediately showed a delighted expression. And the trolls below expressed various reactions, murmuring quietly among themselves. Previously, the proposal of the trade caravan had faced opposition from more than half of them, as trolls had no tradition of trading with other races since ancient times. But now that Fang Hao supported it, other people¡¯s opinions wouldn¡¯t be as important. Stella nodded, suppressed the joy in her heart, and spoke to those below, ¡°All right, you can go back first. We will reconvene tomorrow morning to discuss the matters regarding the caravan and the mines.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± All the trolls answered in a deep tone and left with large strides. ¡­ The troll hall quieted down again. Only Fang Hao, Demitrija, Stella, and a few troll guards remained. Stella stood up from her seat and kneeled at Fang Hao¡¯s feet. Her attitude became even more respectful, like that of a servant. ¡°My lord, may I know the purpose of your visit?¡± Fang Hao replied, ¡°I came also because of the mining operations.¡± Stella promptly said, ¡°Whatever your orders are, my lord, I shall arrange them immediately tomorrow.¡± Fang Hao nodded and continued, ¡°How is the personnel distribution for the mining operations?¡± ¡°There are twelve operational iron mines and ten large quarries for the trolls, plus two iron mines from the dwarves¡¯ side that are also being mined. There are ten mines that haven¡¯t started operations, and even more mineral resources in the depths of the Bloody Mountains that we lack the manpower to exploit,¡± Stella reported quickly. It seemed she had memorized these figures. Or perhaps, they had just discussed this, so she was clear on the numbers. The Bloody Mountains were rich in minerals, but after Fang Hao had killed less than one percent of the trolls, they didn¡¯t have the capacity to mine so many caves. Therefore, many mines were left vacant. And were not being exploited. Fang Hao stated directly, ¡°Well, this time, I will recruit a kind of skeleton soldiers suitable for mining ores. They will undertake the task of mining, and the trolls can act as overseers. Those trolls replaced by skeletons, you can assign them new tasks.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful, thank you for your mercy, my lord,¡± Stella asked with joy, her eyes filled with hope. The number of trolls was too small. And meeting Fang Hao¡¯s demands to maintain the mining output consumed most of their manpower. They had no people to spare for any other tasks. And she couldn¡¯t mobilize those skeletons, their numbers were indeed too few. Now that Fang Hao didn¡¯t need trolls in the mines, this freed up more manpower to take on other tasks. The development of trolls could be better, more comfortable. Fang Hao patted her, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. When the mined ores are abundant, the trolls will also receive corresponding rewards.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, my lord.¡± [Troll-Stella¡¯s Loyalty increases by 5 points, current Loyalty 97.] Meanwhile, the system prompt suddenly sounded. Stella¡¯s Loyalty jumped directly to 97 points. Chapter 807 - Chapter 807: Chapter 537, Arachnid Warrior - Keith Chapter 807: Chapter 537, Arachnid Warrior ¨C Keith Hmm, the loyalty has reached 97 already? He had almost forgotten about this slave who had signed a contract with him, and now her loyalty was unexpectedly high. It seemed that Stella truly trusted him. Fang Hao continued, ¡°About the matter of the caravan, how did you come up with it? Tell me about it.¡± Stella explained softly, ¡°Before it got cold, I had visited Miss Petty¡¯s village a few times and saw many traders there. After asking Miss Petty, I learned some things about the caravan and thought that Troll City could also sell goods externally, so I thought of organizing a caravan.¡± Petty was the Clan Leader of Pigmen Village. With Fang Hao¡¯s support, she was also the leader of the nearby villages. Now, all the orcs around were following along with Pigmen Village in livestock farming. Apart from supplying meat to Fang Hao, they also sold various kinds of leather and horses externally. ¡°Hmm, what specialties are there in the Bloody Mountains?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°There are some, such as honey from Giant Wild Mountain Bees, speckled mushrooms, white stone powder, there are also many types; moreover, contacting the outside world can also allow caravans from other cities to come to the Bloody Mountains,¡± Stella said. Fang Hao nodded, feeling that Stella¡¯s idea was quite good. Since there were specialties here, it was worth letting them give it a try. If it didn¡¯t work out, Fang Hao could also take these materials and sell them through Trade Alliance shops. In any case, he would try his best to revive this gradually declining Troll City. He didn¡¯t want it to become a dead city that only knew how to work and eat. ¡°Hmm, you can continue with the caravan business, and after winter, when the territories within your domain start to connect, your caravans can also carry goods to other cities. Go ahead with confidence,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Fang Hao looked at her carefully again, her tall stature, the neckline of her shirt opened quite low. Kneeling beside Fang Hao, it was like seeing two huge watermelons-like weights. It was too exaggerated. For this troll slave whose loyalty had reached 97, Fang Hao still hoped she could go further. At least, her lifespan should be longer. After thinking, he said, ¡°Stella, why hasn¡¯t your tier upgraded?¡± When Fang Hao first saw her, Stella was a Tier 4 troll. The reason she could stand here was also because Stella, in troll aesthetics, was considered beautiful. She was the woman of the then troll leader, Meatfist. So much time had passed, and she was still Tier 4. Even Eira and Little White had leveled up, but trolls, naturally having strong bodies, had not improved. Stella looked somewhat distressed, ¡°Sir, I haven¡¯t trained much, so my tier hasn¡¯t improved much either.¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll set a goal for you, by the next time I visit, you must reach Tier 8,¡± Fang Hao stated outright. ¡°Ah? Tier 8, sir, that¡¯s a bit too much,¡± she said. ¡°Is that too much? You trolls naturally have strong physiques, next year you must reach heroic tier, or else I will reduce the supply for your trolls. You take care of it,¡± he said. Stella¡¯s face paled, but she gritted her teeth and agreed, ¡°Okay, I will definitely try hard.¡± Fang Hao nodded, stood up, and said, ¡°Come, I¡¯ll recruit some miners, and when it¡¯s time, you arrange for them to go to the various mines.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Stella followed him, walking out together. ¡­ The climate in the Bloody Mountains was even harsher. Just stepping out of the leader¡¯s hall, the piercing cold wind was distinctly felt. The howling wind required talking to be several decibels louder. North Town had been converted by Fang Hao into the City of Undead, which housed a Skeleton Conversion Field within the city. Fang Hao went straight to the Skeleton Conversion Field and began the recruitment process. [Skeleton Miner: Wriggling Spine 3, Gray Iron Stone 1.] Set the recruitment number to 200. Confirm recruitment. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Successfully Recruited 20,200 Skeleton Miners.] Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! Beams of light appeared. Hordes of Dwarf Skeletons appeared out of thin air, filling all the open spaces in front of him. It was quite crowded. These Dwarf Skeletons, half-human height but with very thick bones. Gave an impression of being short and stout. Their eye sockets were empty, standing stiffly in place without any movement. It was certain that these were ordinary skeletons lacking Soul Fire. ¡°All line up neatly in the open space,¡± Fang Hao said loudly. Rustle rustle!! The Dwarf Skeletons began to move, those on the roofs came down, and those in the ditches also climbed out. They started to line up in the square in front of the barracks. Fang Hao continued to make mining tools. [Leather-wrapped White Steel Ore Draft: Cast Iron Block 3, White Steel Ingot 3, Metal Parts 2, Thick Leather 1.] Adjusted quantity to 400. Confirm production. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained 40,400 Leather-wrapped White Steel Ore Drafts.] Then, Fang Hao shouted loudly, ¡°One for each person, pick up an Ore Draft.¡± The skeletons moved, bending down to pick up an Ore Draft, then returning to their original positions. After all the skeletons had taken theirs. Fang Hao continued to make other items. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained 10,100 White Steel Mine Tracks.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Obtained 5050 White Steel Mine Carts.] Tracks and mine carts appeared in large numbers. Clanging as they fell to the ground. These were obtained from the conquered Dwarf blueprints, now fully produced. This would also increase the efficiency of mining. ¡°Stella, let people use the mine tracks and mine carts in the mines when the time comes, store the extras in the warehouse for now, and replace any damaged ones,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Chapter 808 - Chapter 808: Chapter 537, Arachnid Warrior - Keith_2 Chapter 808: Chapter 537, Arachnid Warrior ¨C Keith_2 ¡°Understood, my lord, I¡¯ll take care of these matters,¡± Stella said. Then, she gave a couple of commands to a nearby troll. Soon, a group of trolls came over and began moving all the items that had been made to the warehouse. As for the newly added miner skeletons, a team needed to be assembled to take these skeletons to the mining tunnels in the Blood Mountain Range. After all, the Blood Mountain Range was not that easy to traverse. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave this place to you, I have to go to another location,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°I will handle the tasks you¡¯ve given me,¡± Stella bowed slightly again. But her towering stature seemed more like she was looking down on Fang Hao. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to train, Tier 8.¡± After speaking, he released the teleportation screen and stepped into it. When the screen shattered, Stella finally raised her head. She took a slow breath and immediately said to a troll nearby, ¡°Please summon the ¡®Wall Commander¡¯ here, and tell him I need some training guidance.¡± ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡± ¡­ The next stop of the teleportation screen was Frostwind City in the Frostwind Mountain Range. They had also recruited enough dwarf miners to carry out the excavation of the mines. After leaving Frostwind City, Fang Hao then went to the Webweaver camp that held the Mithril Mine. As soon as he appeared, there was a rustling noise around his ears. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself in a huge house woven from white spider webs. Upon the webs, basin-sized, patterned spiders incessantly crawled about. The entire Webweaver camp was wrapped layer by layer in spider silk. The sun shone through the silk, casting a faint light. Fang Hao stepped out and saw a [Spider Warrior], with a spider¡¯s body, passing by nearby. Seeing Fang Hao and Demitrija suddenly appear, the warrior instinctively reached for his blade. Fang Hao said, ¡°I am Fang Hao. Where is Domina?¡± Fang Hao? A look of confusion appeared in the Spider Warrior¡¯s eyes. But he knew his leader was Domina, so he immediately said warily, ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll call for the leader.¡± With that said, he had a Spiderling soldier keep an eye on Fang Hao and went to find someone. Before long, the spider-form Domina arrived with a few Spiderlings. When she saw Fang Hao, a smile of joy appeared on her normally expressionless face. ¡°My lord,¡± Domina descended from the web canopy above, transforming into human form in mid-air. Nearly two meters tall, with black chitin encasing her slender legs and hips, extending to the upper body, which covered most of her ample chest. The four pairs of spider legs on her back still reflected a dangerous black sheen. ¡°Mm, Domina, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Please come inside, my lord,¡± Domina greeted warmly. She led Fang Hao into a suspended spider nest, where three plump spiders crawled beneath Domina and Fang Hao, along with Demitrija. Domina settled herself directly onto the belly of one of the spiders. She then gestured for them to sit and talk. Fang Hao looked at the colorful bellies of the spiders and took out two chairs from his storage space, giving one to Demitrija. ¡°My lord, what instructions do you have for me this time?¡± Clearly, Domina was quite happy with Fang Hao¡¯s visit. ¡°Domina, how¡¯s the mining going lately?¡± Fang Hao began. Domina said, ¡°The mining operation in the Mithril Mine is going well. The human slaves we acquired recently have filled the gap left by the Gnolls and increased the mining progress more than before.¡± Human slaves. Referring to those bandits from the Life-taker camp. A large number had been captured at the time. Fang Hao felt it a pity to kill them, so he had Lan Yang escort them here to fill the gap left by the Gnolls. Those bandits had been plundering villages, slaying and selling both men and women ruthlessly. They did not deserve pity. After thinking for a bit, Fang Hao also said, ¡°In the next few days, I¡¯ll send over a batch of skeleton miners. You make sure they join the mining operations as well.¡± ¡°Understood, my lord.¡± After a simple exchange, the arrangements were made. ¡°Hmm, do you need anything else here?¡± Fang Hao asked. Thinking for a moment, Domina said, ¡°I would like some warm clothing, and also, one of the Spider Warriors has reached Tier 10 and needs to undergo the Hero Trials at your place.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Fang Hao was a bit surprised. He remembered that the last time a Tier 10 Domina herself had gone to the main city for the Hero Trials. So quickly, another spider-form hero had emerged. At the Bronze Bull¡¯s place, several who had been Tier 8 before were now only at Tier 9. ¡°Yes, my lord, under your protection, the Webweaver camp has welcomed peace and development. Our people now have a stable life, and many children are striving to improve themselves,¡± Domina said gratefully. Fang Hao had indeed made the Webweaver camp increasingly better. ¡°There¡¯s no issue with that. Let the residents of the Webweaver camp focus on improving themselves with peace of mind. I will bear all the costs needed to advance to hero,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°I am really thankful to you, my lord.¡± [Fateweaver ¨C Domina¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 2 points, current loyalty is 86.] Well, that¡¯s a mediocre level of loyalty. I have indeed had less contact with Domina recently. There hasn¡¯t been a chance to increase loyalty. ¡°Domina, is there someone in the camp who is about to become a hero? Perhaps we could go directly there for the advancement,¡± Fang Hao thought of using teleportation to return to the city directly. However, Domina shook her head, ¡°My lord, he is in charge of guarding the Mithril Mine today.¡± ¡°Well, take me to see the Mithril Mine then, I also need to make some tools.¡± ¡°Certainly, my lord.¡± The three of them left the Webweaver camp and mounted the Bone Dragon. They flew straight to the Mithril Mine. ¡­ The once empty Mithril Mine. Now had a village built outside of it. A wooden fence surrounded it, and there were Spiderling archers and Spider Warriors in cotton armor guarding the walls. The Bone Dragon landed in the center of the village. From a distance, Fang Hao could see several human-sized cocoons, hanging upside down from a tree. The exposed heads confirmed that these people were still alive. ¡°What are these¡­?¡± Fang Hao questioned. Domina explained, ¡°Those who fight and cause trouble get hung up here to starve for a few days. Those who attempt to escape are taken away to be fed to the Queen Giant Spider.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t say much more. He didn¡¯t think these bandits deserved much pity after being starved for a few days. With Domina¡¯s introduction, Fang Hao met the Spider Warrior. [Spider Warrior ¨C Keith (Tier 10)]. He had indeed reached Tier 10, although the name, Keith, sounded like ¡°chicken strips.¡± Well, it was at least easy to remember. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the great lord,¡± Keith immediately saluted. Keith was younger than expected, but his rank had risen swiftly. Given Keith¡¯s rate of promotion, he might replace Domina¡¯s position in the future and become the new leader of the Webweaver camp. But in the Spiderlings¡¯ race, Domina had a special status. Back then, she wasn¡¯t called a Spider Warrior or Spider Archer. She was known as The Spider Fateweaver ¨C Domina. If one were to understand it in human society¡¯s terms, it would be equivalent to a noble bloodline. ¡°Yes, very good. In a few days, let Domina take you to the main city for the hero trial,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. [Spider Warrior ¨C Keith¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 55.] The loyalty isn¡¯t high. That¡¯s not surprising. Spiderlings are loyal to Domina, not to me. Fang Hao had signed a contract with Domina to control the Spiderlings by supporting her as their leader. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± Fang Hao patted his shoulder lightly. Then he made a large number of mine drafts, tracks, and carts in the village. He instructed them to handle everything and install these devices. After arranging everything, Fang Hao cast teleportation to return to the main city. By the time he got back, it was already getting late. Eira had dinner ready, and Fang Hao listened to Anjia¡¯s chirpy recount of her day¡¯s amusing events while eating. After dinner, they all soaked in the hot springs together. Then they returned to their rooms to rest. ¡­ Two days passed in a blink. In those two days, Fang Hao used the teleportation screen to visit several cities in his territory with mines. He recruited Dwarven miners and replaced all the existing living creatures working as miners. Of course, those replaced did not include the bandits and people who had committed many crimes and were sent to the mines as punishment. Those individuals would spend the remainder of their lives in the dark and vile mine. Today, Fang Hao had just finished washing his face. He then heard the prompt for a private message. When he opened it, it was from Zhang Bin. ¡°Boss, a small merchant caravan has arrived here. They brought some construct parts and blueprints, and I think we can find a chain quest for constructs,¡± Zhang Bin said. Chapter 809 - Chapter 809: Chapter 538, Mechanical Hound Blueprint Chapter 809: Chapter 538, Mechanical Hound Blueprint Chain quests are a term used among the transmigrators in the channel. They refer to a series of tasks tied to special rewards or special items. Complete a series of prerequisite tasks to ultimately obtain the final reward. This concept also originated from games at that time. ¡°What¡¯s going on, tell me the details,¡± Fang Hao said as he took the towel Little White handed to him and replied inquiringly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s like this¡­¡± Zhang Bin began to recount. His territory had opened a market and started to establish commercial ties with the surrounding villages and cities. And today, a caravan unexpectedly arrived outside the city. In this kind of weather, the appearance of a caravan was so unexpected they almost mistook them for bandits and killed them. After some inquiry, it turned out these people came from a village to the west. They brought goods to exchange for food. After the exchange, they left. Zhang Bin hadn¡¯t thought much of it initially and simply told his subordinates to see what they could trade with them. Later, his subordinates found Zhang Bin again, bringing out blueprints for construct automatons as well as many parts. To ordinary people, even to most city lords, these things were no different from trash. They were simply impossible to price. But when Zhang Bin saw them, his heart started pounding, and he immediately thought of the chain quest for construct automatons. He immediately contacted Fang Hao. After looking over the message Zhang Bin sent, Fang Hao was likewise interested. If they could find the path to unlocking construct automatons, it would be a good thing. Even if he could only unlock the Blueprint of the Energy Core, he would be able to mass-produce Stone Monster construct automatons. These large constructs, immune to various negative elements, were quite powerful in themselves. Especially the part about being able to trade, that meant there was a lot of market potential. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Fang Hao said. With Eira¡¯s assistance, he changed into a set of decent clothes. After summoning Demitrija, he directly activated the teleportation screen and headed to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. He stepped out from the screen. Zhang Bin was already waiting on the side. ¡°Boss, Commander Demitrija,¡± Zhang Bin stepped forward with a smile. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Where¡¯s the person?¡± Zhang Bin addressed someone outside, ¡°Let the merchant in.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Soon, a middle-aged native dressed in heavy winter clothing entered, led by the guards. A quick scan of the hall caught his attention. He bowed slightly to the few people present, ¡°Greetings, I am Adonis.¡± Zhang Bin glanced at Fang Hao but continued to act as the city lord. He spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯ve been told by a servant that you have brought some parts for construct automatons, intending to exchange them for a certain amount of food here.¡± Adonis respectfully removed his cotton hat and said, ¡°Indeed, my lord, this winter is much colder than the years before, and we wish to exchange for some food.¡± No wonder they braved this weather with goods in tow. They were truly in need of food. Zhang Bin¡¯s area produced grain, the orc regions produced meat, and Fang Hao had trade dealings with the Trade Alliance, ordering a large amount of food. With ample food supplies, his territory was well-prepared to get through the winter. Therefore, there was no fear in exchanging food with the other party. ¡°We do have food, but these parts for construct automatons are of no use to us, as I don¡¯t possess any construct automatons and they have no other purpose,¡± Zhang Bin said, shaking his head slightly. ¡°No, my lord, I have brought a blueprint for a construct automaton. If anyone under your command can understand the blueprint and use these parts, they can assemble a construct automaton. The rest of the parts can be kept as replacements,¡± the merchant Adonis hastily explained. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you just bring a fully assembled construct automaton to me instead of having us assemble it ourselves?¡± Zhang Bin asked. ¡°Uh¡­ my lord, a finished construct automaton would cause a lot of trouble,¡± Adonis said, scratching his head. ¡°Let me see that blueprint,¡± Zhang Bin demanded. Adonis took a blueprint out of his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Bin. Zhang Bin glanced at it and then passed it to Fang Hao. [Iron Hound Construct Automaton Blueprint (Blue)]. [Iron Hound: 1 Energy Core, 1 Hound Basic Head, 1 Hound Basic Torso, 1 Hound Basic Limbs, 1 Hound Basic Tail.] [Hound Basic Head Part: 8 Iron, 5 Cast Iron Blocks, 4 Fine Steel Ingots, 3 Copper Ingots, 12 Metal Parts, 8 Precision Parts.] [Hound Basic Torso Part: 15 Iron, 10 Cast Iron Blocks, 8 Fine Steel Ingots, 5 Copper Ingots, 18 Metal Parts, 15 Precision Parts.] [Hound Basic Limbs: 12 Iron, 8 Cast Iron Blocks, 7 Fine Steel Ingots, 5 Copper Ingots, 22 Metal Parts, 18 Precision Parts.] [Hound Basic Tail: 5 Cast Iron Blocks, 5 Fine Steel Ingots, 5 Fine Iron, 25 Metal Parts, 22 Precision Parts.] (Description: A small construct automaton skilled in hunting. Its compact size allows it to move swiftly through dense forests, tracking targets and capturing prey.) Well now, it really was a complete set of construct automaton blueprints. The quality was blue, but still quite useful. It could be used for hunting, and soldiers on patrol could bring it along. Ordinary Undead had slow Movement Speed, and if the enemy turned to run, it would be hard to catch them. If equipped with this kind of Iron Hound construct automaton to chase and hold down the enemy, that should not be a problem. But there was still an issue. Without the Energy Core Blueprint, they couldn¡¯t manufacture them in bulk. Fang Hao inquired, ¡°Don¡¯t you have the Energy Core Blueprint?¡± Adonis looked at Fang Hao, maintaining a smile, ¡°I do not have the Energy Core Blueprint, but this time I brought two Energy Cores. If you need them, I will try to bring more Energy Cores next time.¡± Chapter 810 - Chapter 810: Chapter 538, Mechanical Hound Blueprint_2 Chapter 810: Chapter 538, Mechanical Hound Blueprint_2 Fang Hao didn¡¯t speak but handed the blueprint back to Zhang Bin. Zhang Bin then returned it to the merchant below. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re not interested in your construct blueprints and those parts. For the rest of the items, we will pay you with the corresponding amount of food at the agreed price. You should take these parts back with you!¡± The smile on Adonis¡¯s face froze. After pondering for a while, he spoke up, ¡°My lord, these are blueprints for constructs. Even in the human Federation¡¯s Silver Wing City, they are rare. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to keep them?¡± ¡°The constructs are indeed decent, but what you¡¯ve brought isn¡¯t what I need and would instead become a burden. A bunch of disparate parts, the consumption of Energy Cores, and future maintenance would mean buying them would be nothing but a hassle,¡± Zhang Bin directly pointed out the drawbacks of these constructs. ¡°Uh, ¡­, my lord, these mechanical hounds are very useful and they¡¯re the newly improved construct blueprints. They aren¡¯t as cumbersome as the old designs. If you buy them, you¡¯ll definitely find them useful,¡± Adonis said again, his forehead beginning to sweat gradually. ¡°Here, they are just consumables, yet not irreplaceable. Unless you can bring me the blueprints of an Energy Core, I might consider buying these miscellaneous parts.¡± The frown on Adonis¡¯s face deepened. After pondering for a while, he explained again, ¡°My lord, perhaps you are not aware, but an Energy Core is not exactly a blueprint but a product of Goblin technology called ¡®Magic Energy Core.¡¯ The Magic Energy Core is a treasure of the Goblins, and they never sell its blueprints to outsiders.¡± Upon hearing Adonis¡¯s explanation, Fang Hao stirred inside. During the last Trade Alliance auction, a ¡®Magic Energy Core¡¯ had been sold once. At that time, Rolana explained that the Magic Energy Core was the core energy source of Goblin technology. All Goblin products rely on this type of energy, much like modern world power plants. The price at the event had even soared to ten million Warfire Coins. He hadn¡¯t realized before that the energy core of the constructs was also produced by this Magic Energy Core. ¡°So where did you get this blueprint and these miscellaneous parts from?¡± Zhang Bin continued to ask. Adonis hesitated, but in order to sell the goods he had brought so laboriously, he finally explained, ¡°Our village has a technician. This time, to survive the winter, we took these out and had me bring them here to exchange for sufficient food.¡± Meanwhile, Adonis was inwardly cursing. The reason he had traveled all the way here bracing the cold wind was because he had heard that the City Lord here buys anything, no matter how odd or rare; at the very least, he could exchange them for food and clothes. But after he brought the constructs, the other party didn¡¯t want them. He had already decided that when he got back, he would fight with the guy who told him that they would take anything. He¡¯d make him eat the unsold parts. Listening, Zhang Bin glanced at Fang Hao. Seeing him nod slightly, Zhang Bin sighed and said, ¡°It looks like your village really is in dire need of food.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Esteemed City Lord, if I don¡¯t bring back food, many in the village will die,¡± Adonis quickly said, placing his hand, clutching his cap, over his chest. Zhang Bin appeared slightly hesitant, then after thinking it over he finally said, ¡°I can take all these useless parts off your hands, but we need to discuss the price again. Next time you come, bring the rest of the blueprints and leave these parts behind.¡± Adonis¡¯s heart leapt with joy, and he immediately nodded in agreement. ¡°Understood, my lord. Next time I come, I¡¯ll bring the blueprints and leave these parts behind. They¡¯re heavy and hinder my progress on the way,¡± Zhang Bin nodded, stood up, and said, ¡°Come then, let¡¯s check your goods together, and then set the price so you can get back sooner.¡± ¡°Alright, my lord.¡± Zhang Bin, together with Adonis, headed out of the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Fang Hao did not follow them out. Besides the blueprints, there was nothing special about the other goods the human merchant brought. He didn¡¯t need to go and see them specifically. It wasn¡¯t long before Zhang Bin came back with the blueprints and a large bunch of miscellaneous parts. ¡°Boss, here are the blueprints and these parts,¡± The parts were even more miscellaneous than expected. Forget the lack of blueprints; even if they had them, they probably couldn¡¯t assemble a working construct. Fang Hao took the blueprints, recorded them instantly, and shared a copy with Zhang Bin. ¡°Don¡¯t bother assembling these; we might not be able to set them working even if we tried,¡± Zhang Bin agreed, ¡°So many parts, that man really thinks highly of me.¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°Keep in touch with this man, see if we can get more information about constructs, especially the technician he mentioned. It would be good if we could recruit him over or even make their village a subsidiary, I will figure out the Energy Core issue.¡± ¡°Understood, boss. I drew quite a big picture for that merchant, he will surely come back next spring, and then I¡¯ll go with him to his village,¡± Zhang Bin nodded and said. ¡°Right, I leave this matter to you.¡± ¡°Alright, boss.¡± ¡­ He used teleportation and returned to his territory. As soon as he appeared, he saw Domina sitting in the hall with Keith, the bulky spider warrior, lying on the ground beside her. Both were holding cups of hot tea, silently waiting. The maids had all gone to train, leaving the hall empty except for the two of them, waiting. Upon seeing Fang Hao appear. Domina¡¯s tall figure stood up, and Keith, with his bloated spider body, also stood. ¡°My lord,¡± the two greeted him. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°When did you get here?¡± Two days ago, Domina had brought up the matter of Keith advancing to a hero. Today, it seemed everything was arranged, and she had brought people directly here. ¡°We just arrived,¡± said Domina. Fang Hao nodded again, not dwelling on the matter, and turned directly to Keith. ¡°Keith, are you going to advance to a hero now, or do you need to prepare?¡± Keith was somewhat eager, ¡°My lord, I am ready.¡± He had been waiting for this day for a long time. If it weren¡¯t for his leader not bringing him, he would have come on his own with a map long before. Now that he had finally arrived, he was eager to start the trial and become a hero. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go then,¡± Fang Hao said. Fang Hao, Domina, and Keith left the City Lord¡¯s residence. They headed towards the Merit Training Ground. The Merit Training Ground was an orange structure, built in the center of the square. The three of them walked on. Enchanted Undead and Earth Spirits in the vicinity cast curious glances their way. Not understanding what such a big spider was doing in their territory. As the three walked, more and more people began to follow them. The excited Keith suddenly became nervous. His face lost the confidence it had just before. Upon arriving at the Training Ground. Fang Hao took out a Hero Heart and 100 Warfire Coins. ¡°Go on, strive for a good result,¡± he encouraged. ¡°Thank you, my lord,¡± Keith said as he took them and walked directly into the Merit Training Ground. The next second, Keith¡¯s massive body disappeared in a flash of light. The hero trial had begun. Fang Hao said to Domina, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we shouldn¡¯t wait here either, come sit at my place.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The two left again and returned to the City Lord¡¯s residence. The empty hall was still deserted. Fang Hao looked at the woman in front of him, tall and covered in black chitinous armor. [Fateweaver ¨C Domina (Green rank 8 hero)] When Domina was promoted to a hero, she was a green rank 7. So much time had passed, yet she had only advanced one rank. He asked, ¡°Domina, Keith has high talent and his rank increases quickly; will he replace you as the leader after he becomes a hero?¡± Domina was under contract with Fang Hao. Thus, he still needed to ensure Domina¡¯s leadership position among the Spiderlings. Domina replied, ¡°No, my lord, Fateweaver is a title bestowed by the Spider Goddess, only upon my death will there be a second Queen of Fateweaver.¡± Chapter 811 - Chapter 811: Chapter 539: Grinding for Loyalty Chapter 811: Chapter 539: Grinding for Loyalty Uh, ¡­ This kind of statement is somewhat similar to the Queen Giant Spider. The colossal Queen Giant Spider, each camp only has one, and it would not leave its lair all year round. Its only job is to produce offspring. Only when the current generation¡¯s Queen Giant Spider dies would a new giant spider in the camp inherit the position and undergo physical transformations. It would return to the lair and become the new Queen Giant Spider. According to Domina¡¯s explanation, the fate of the Spiderlings is the same. Only when Domina dies would a new Fateweaver emerge to become the new leader. And those Spiderlings with good talents, whose ranks increase quickly, even if they surpass the rank of the Fateweaver, would not become the leader. At most, they would be considered generals, similar to the tribe¡¯s first warriors or the like. Having understood Domina¡¯s explanation, Fang Hao also felt relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Fang Hao nodded. Domina¡¯s expression did not change, as if she did not grasp why Fang Hao would worry about such matters. She just picked up the hot tea by her side and took a light sip. She continued, ¡°Lord, it¡¯s very warm here. If the nests in the camp could reach this temperature, it would certainly be very suitable for the growth of the spiderlings.¡± The Webweaver¡¯s camp, spread over the forest, was already wrapped in giant spider webs. Whether looking from above or from the outside, it looked like a peeled egg. White and round. But no matter how thick the spider silk was laid, it was not suitable for the spiders to survive in winter. So many spiders would die in winter. ¡°Uh, human buildings are better at blocking the wind than nests, and there¡¯s also the sun array rune stone slabs that can provide adequate heat. Didn¡¯t I have someone send them to you; why didn¡¯t you receive them?¡± Fang Hao suddenly recalled. ¡°We received the stone slabs, but the spider silk cannot withstand that kind of heat energy, so they were not arranged in the camp,¡± Domina explained. ¡°Uh¡­ well, when you leave, take some furs back with you,¡± Fang Hao could only give her some furs. It seems that the sun array rune stone slabs could easily cause the spider silk to catch fire. That was why Domina had not arranged them. ¡°Uh, thank you, my lord.¡± [Loyalty towards you from Fateweaver ¨C Domina has increased by 1 point, current loyalty is 87.] Loyalty had increased by another point. Domina, in fact, was someone whose cold exterior hid a heart that was easily touched. Some matters were quite easy to increase loyalty. But the opportunities for the two to interact were few, and there was not much chance to deliberately increase it. The last time it increased, ¡­ it seems ¡­ Recalling the last time the loyalty increased rapidly, it seemed to have been an accidental discovery of the other party¡¯s little hobby. Looking at Domina, who, although she had spider feet, still appeared beautiful and seemed like a dancer. Fang Hao considered whether to take advantage of this time to see if loyalty could be increased. Just as he was somewhat unsure of how to start the conversation. Domina had already spoken up, ¡°My lord, would you like to try the game from last time?¡± Fang Hao was slightly startled, game? He then immediately realized she was on the same wavelength. ¡°You mean spanking?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Domina¡¯s tone remained unchanged. It seemed that spanking was not considered a big deal. One could understand that; before, the Spiderlings maintained bodies as bloated and massive as those of spiders. Not only did they lack human lower bodies, but they also didn¡¯t have suitable clothing and thus didn¡¯t harbor human concepts. ¡°Alright,¡± Fang Hao stood up and walked over. Domina also immediately got up, her hands guiding the chair next to her, her chitinous rear end slightly raised. Smack! Fang Hao slapped down with his hand. Domina¡¯s body trembled slightly, and she let out a light groan. However, contrary to his expectations, the loyalty did not increase. Fang Hao, looking at his somewhat red palm, was puzzled. Something wasn¡¯t right, it wasn¡¯t like this before. ¡°My lord, why have you stopped?¡± Domina turned her head, and her usually cold face now sported a faint blush. ¡°Cough! Domina, would you like to try something heavier?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Like a leather whip, or some branches,¡± Fang Hao suggested. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and searched for a similar blueprint. Not finding any suitable tool, he went directly to the bedroom and took a leather belt. Looking at the belt about two fingers wide, Fang Hao felt a pang of reluctance, ¡°Domina, I¡¯ll try it lightly first, let me know if it hurts.¡± ¡°Of course, my lord,¡± Domina still maintained her previous posture. Fang Hao did not hesitate. He raised the leather belt and struck down hard. Smack! A crisp sound echoed; Domina¡¯s head jerked back sharply, and her face lit up with joy. ¡°Domina, are you alright ¡­?¡± Before Fang Hao could finish his question, the system notification had appeared. [Loyalty towards you from Fateweaver ¨C Domina has increased by 2 points, the current loyalty is 89.] ¡°I¡¯m fine, my lord,¡± ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s continue. Domina, shall we remove some of your carapace?¡± Domina nodded, and the black chitin covering her back and buttocks quickly retracted, revealing her pale skin. She looked no different from a human being. Fang Hao immediately raised the leather belt and began to strike both front and back. [Loyalty towards you from Fateweaver ¨C Domina has increased by 2 points, the current loyalty is 91.] [Loyalty towards you from Fateweaver ¨C Domina has increased by 2 points, the current loyalty is 93.] Chapter 812 - Chapter 812: Chapter 539, Grinding for Loyalty_2 Chapter 812: Chapter 539, Grinding for Loyalty_2 [Fateweaver ¨C Domina¡¯s Loyalty towards you has increased by 2 points, current Loyalty is 95.] Smack Smack Smack!! Within the lord¡¯s manor, a series of whip lashes and intermittent cries of pain from a woman could be heard. [Fateweaver ¨C Domina¡¯s Loyalty towards you has increased by 2 points, current Loyalty is 98.] ¡­ ¡°My lord, leader, I¡¯ve successfully advanced to hero status,¡± Keith exclaimed excitedly. But as soon as he said it, something felt a bit off. The lord¡¯s manor was indeed warm, but was it that hot? Why were the two of them sweating so profusely, and why was his leader¡¯s face so red, squirming in the chair? Were there nails on the chair? Or was it an illness? But the leader had become a hero, how could he fall sick so easily? ¡°Cough! Keith, congratulations on becoming a hero,¡± Fang Hao finally said, casually tossing the belt from the table aside. ¡°Thank you, my lord,¡± Keith immediately replied. [Demon Spider Warrior ¨C Keith (Level 2)]. Keith¡¯s title hadn¡¯t changed much; from a Spiderling warrior, he only became a Demon Spider Warrior. It seems like what Domina said was true. Spiderlings, even after becoming heroes, still follow the internal rules. Warriors remain warriors; they cannot become leaders. ¡°Keith, how come you didn¡¯t transform back into a human? If anything, your size has grown a lot,¡± Fang Hao commented, looking at the giant spider before him. At the moment, Keith maintained his giant spider form, and his size had indeed increased significantly. Keith scratched his head, ¡°My lord, aside from our leader, when we become heroes, we cannot change into a human body.¡± Well, ¡­. Fang Hao immediately checked Keith¡¯s attributes. [Demon Spider Warrior ¨C Keith (Level 2)]. [Faction: Spiderling Shaman] [Racial Traits: Living creature, Light Sensitivity, Chitinous Armor.] [Legion Talent: Shaman Commander, Arachnid God Devotee.] [Skills: Multiple Attack, Longsword Stride, Lethal Toxin.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Combat Mastery, Advanced Stealth Mastery, Advanced Action Mastery.] [Legion Talent: Shaman Commander, Arachnid God Devotee.] [Skills: Multiple Attack, Longsword Stride, Lethal Toxin, Webbing, Venom Spray, Calamity Spell.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Combat Mastery, Advanced Stealth Mastery, Advanced Magic Mastery, Advanced Action Mastery.] (Description: Driven deep into dark territories by rejection from ¡®Living creatures¡¯, they became hermits and hunters, wandering alone or leading Giant Spiders near their lairs.) Keith¡¯s attributes were essentially a scaled-down version of Domina¡¯s. He lacked the Demon Spider¡¯s spellcasting and dual form abilities. Without the [Dual Form], not only could Keith not transform into a human shape, his spider form had grown in size as well. Now, he resembled a colossal creature even more. The spider¡¯s abdomen, adorned with various bright spots, gave off an extremely dangerous vibe. ¡°Hmm, no problem, this state is quite good too,¡± Fang Hao consoled him, then continued, ¡°Show me your weapon.¡± ¡°Oh, alright, my lord,¡± Keith produced his weapon and presented it to Fang Hao. [Iron Knight¡¯s Sword (Level 2)]. It was still the weapon that Fang Hao had distributed to the Webweaver camp before. He had used it up to now. Assessing Keith¡¯s current size, Fang Hao asked, ¡°Keith, now that you are a hero, I will reward you with a purple weapon. What type would you like?¡± Having become a hero, Keith¡¯s size had greatly increased. The current sword, given his size, seemed to be inconvenient for him. Upon hearing about the purple weapon, joy once again appeared on Keith¡¯s face. The Webweaver camp was very poor. It was only after becoming affiliated with Fang Hao¡¯s camp that the tribe had managed to replace their weapons with iron ones. And as for a purple quality weapon, let alone himself, even Leader Domina didn¡¯t have one. Keith glanced at Domina discreetly, and seeing no expression on her face, he said, ¡°My lord, if possible, I would like a spear.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible,¡± Fang Hao agreed and continued to call out to someone outside the door, ¡°Go to the storage and bring a ¡®Thunderblade Halberd¡¯.¡± The Bound Spirit Guardian standing outside the door quickly departed. Upon returning, he held a golden halberd in his hand. There is a difference between a halberd and a spear. ¡°` But for those who are accustomed to using swords, a halberd should be even more manageable. Fang Hao handed the Thunderblade Halberd to Keith and said, ¡°It¡¯s yours. Keep up the good work, and if you reach Blue Hero within a year, I¡¯ll give you a set of purple armor.¡± Keith, the first warrior of the Webbing Camp. He took the war halberd with an excited face, his lips quivering. This surprise was one wave after another, too thrilling. ¡°Thank you, sir, thank you, Leader,¡± Keith said, his spider body prostrate on the ground as he shouted loudly. [The loyalty of Demon Spider Warrior ¨C Keith towards you has increased by 20 points, current loyalty is 65.] Before entering the Merit Training Ground, Keith¡¯s loyalty had increased by 10 points. Now, with an additional increase of 20 points, it only reached 65. Fang Hao stroked his chin, looking at the male spider before him. He pondered whether to try him out, wonder if he¡¯s useful. But looking at his swollen belly covered with colorful patterns, he thought better of it. Best to increase it slowly. ¡­ After chatting with the two for a while, the sound of hurried footsteps and maids¡¯ laughter and banter came from outside the door. It seemed that the maids in training had all returned. Dozens of rabbits hopped into the hall. When they saw the huge spider in the center with a colorful belly, everyone was stunned, and two of them turned their heads and immediately burst into tears. Now Keith was somewhat embarrassed, wanting to explain that he wasn¡¯t a bad guy. His slender legs barely took two steps forward when a group of maids fled in a swoosh. Only Anjia and Eira remained. Anjia glanced sideways towards Domina inside, ¡°Domina, is this your son?¡± Domina didn¡¯t feel offended but seriously answered, ¡°My kin, who came to participate in the Hero Trials. He¡¯s now become a hero.¡± ¡°That was fast, quite impressive,¡± Anjia remarked with praise. ¡°Yes!¡± Seeing that the group of rabbit maids were all standing outside, Domina and Keith decided not to stay any longer. After expressing their gratitude to Fang Hao once more, they planned to leave. Before they left, Fang Hao said, ¡°Domina, come by again when you have time.¡± Domina turned her head, immediately understanding Fang Hao¡¯s meaning, and nodded, ¡°Of course, sir,¡± Domina¡¯s loyalty had reached 98 points and no longer increased. In the end, the two were dripping with sweat but had not resolved the last two points. Fang Hao planned to look for another opportunity to examine the situation thoroughly next time; if not, he would simply gift some valuable items to raise those last two points. After Domina left, Eira and the others had dinner ready, and everyone ate. Fang Hao enjoyed the attendants¡¯ service in the hot springs after the meal. ¡­ Elsewhere. In the Hall of Justice within Silver Wing City, sat two men and a woman. In the central position was the Leader of the Hall of Justice ¨C Doelti. The two people beside him were the Archbishop of the Church of Light ¨C Milton, and the current President of the Mage Association ¨C Grigorya. Grigorya was a woman who looked to be about fifty. Her fiery red hair was streaked with silver, and her sharp eyes revealed a stern and ill-tempered old lady. Although time had taken her youthful beauty, one could tell she had been pretty in her youth. Once the servants who brought the drinks had left, Archbishop Milton was the first to speak, ¡°Doelti, what¡¯s the reason for calling us here?¡± Grigorya too looked towards Doelti. Doelti began, ¡°The Dwarf war is over.¡± Milton frowned, ¡°It¡¯s over? What¡¯s the result?¡± The Federation¡¯s reinforcements hadn¡¯t even moved, yet the conflict was already concluded. Moreover, the Gold Eating Queen that had caused trouble for nearly a month had suddenly disappeared. This caused all the city¡¯s nobles to dare not leave the city, for fear that the Gold Eating Queen would suddenly appear to kill a few nobles for entertainment. ¡°Rune is dead, Bellerga has become the new leader of Gray Iron City,¡± Doelti stated calmly. ¡°What? How is that possible!¡± Milton and Grigorya both exclaimed in shock, their faces revealing utter disbelief. ¡°` Chapter 813 - Chapter 813: Chapter 540: The Move of Silver Wing City Chapter 813: Chapter 540: The Move of Silver Wing City Dordy¡¯s words widened the eyes of the other two, their faces full of disbelief. Rune had become the ruler of the Eight Peaks Mountain and had directly expelled Bellerga, another contender for the throne, from the Eight Peaks Mountain. He was no longer permitted to return to the Dwarf territories. This time, the war between the Eight Peaks Mountain and the Undead had bizarrely ended after raging up to now. Inexplicably, Rune had also died, and Bellerga had become the new King. Had their time stopped? Issues that normally would require years or even decades to resolve had been settled so quickly on the Dwarf side? Even Dordy, who delivered messages, had to confirm the news several times at the outset. ¡°Yes, Gray Iron City has reestablished contact with the Federation, and the past trade and military cooperation will continue. The King is indeed now Bellerga, and this has been confirmed by Gray Iron City,¡± Dordy repeated. Milton furrowed his brow, stroking the gemstone on his scepter. He continued, ¡°Then, is there any relation between Bellerga becoming King and the Undead?¡± Similarly, Grigorya, the Mage Guild Master standing beside them, also looked towards Dordy. The timing of Bellerga becoming King was too coincidental. The Dwarves and the Undead had started and ended their war inexplicably. Silver Wing City didn¡¯t even know which side had won, but the message they received only mentioned the Dwarf King¡¯s death and the expelled heir reclaiming the throne, becoming the new ruler. Both men turned to Dordy, hoping he could provide an answer. But Dordy also shook his head, ¡°All of this is still uncertain. Gray Iron City has only conveyed through the Sound-transmitting Shell that the war has ended and that Bellerga has become King. No other information has been revealed.¡± ¡°Something¡¯s not right, there must be some issue here,¡± Milton said with his brows still knitted together. The Undead that had suddenly waged war against Gray Iron City. The Gold Eating Queen that impeded the reinforcements, and Bellerga, who suddenly ended the war and became the King. By the time the Federation confirmed that the Gold Eating Queen had departed and was about to send aid, Gray Iron City¡¯s message came through. The war had ended, and trade would continue. All these events had occurred with alarming speed. One event was linked to another. It was as if all of these occurrences were part of a well-orchestrated scheme. Everything was unfolding according to this laid-out plan. The faces of Dordy and Milton were turning progressively uglier. If all of this had been calculated by someone, it was truly terrifying. Grigorya, seeing the two men turning paler and more solemn, said, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t always think the worst. It¡¯s also possible that the Dwarves won the war, and after Rune¡¯s death, they had no choice but to retrieve Bellerga to become the new King.¡± That was a possibility. But it seemed far-fetched. Dordy took a deep breath and continued, ¡°The reason I¡¯ve called both of you here is to discuss the future relations with the Dwarves and the security around Silver Wing City. Whether it¡¯s a coincidence or not, the Gold Eating Queen¡¯s reappearance is a dangerous matter for Silver Wing City.¡± The Federal Conference couldn¡¯t be convened at just any time. Now, such matters could only be first deliberated by the Hall of Justice, the Church, and the Mage Association before notifying the various cities. The other two contemplated this and then Milton spoke first, ¡°Since we¡¯re not certain about the situation with the Dwarves, we can maintain our current relations. For Silver Wing City¡¯s security, we can increase the patrols around the city.¡± Grigorya nodded, ¡°Our association can arrange for some Mages to join the patrols to enhance their safety, but the remuneration has to be provided by the Hall of Justice.¡± The Mage Association is a platform for Mage communication and regulation. They cannot demand that registered Mages undertake responsibilities; they need to motivate these Mages through remuneration for missions. So, the payment is to be provided by the Hall of Justice. Dordy was silent for a moment before speaking again, ¡°That¡¯s all we can do for now. The Church and the Association will send additional personnel for patrols, and I will also inform the troops stationed at the border with the Eight Peaks Mountain to bolster their forces, to prevent any issues.¡± Both men nodded, with no objections. At that moment, Milton spoke up again, quietly saying, ¡°There is a saint in the Church who often mentions the Undead to the north of Pruell City. He says that their numbers are constantly growing, and they have reached a terrifying magnitude. It¡¯s highly probable that this is related to the happenings in Gray Iron City.¡± The two looked towards Milton. They knew which saint he was referring to. After all, for a transmigrator to become a follower was a rare occurrence in the Church. Dordy said, ¡°City Lord Tawik of Pruell City did provide an explanation, stating that some wandering Undead had indeed appeared to the north, but their numbers weren¡¯t large.¡± City Lord Tawik had made explanations at the time. Undead movements had indeed been detected to the north of Pruell City, but they were scattered, ordinary Undead. Such Undead, born of dark powers, were not uncommon and posed no significant threat. Additionally, since the area where the Undead were found was Orc territory and their numbers were small, Pruell City did not report it. Milton shook his head, ¡°The number of Undead far exceeds what he mentioned, and not just in Pruell City; even Lyss City is experiencing issues. I can feel the faith in the gods waning.¡± Chapter 814 - Chapter 814: Chapter 540, Actions of Silver Wing City_2 Chapter 814: Chapter 540, Actions of Silver Wing City_2 ¡°So, Archbishop, what do you mean?¡± ¡°I believe we should assemble a team to investigate the area north of Pruell City, and the same goes for Lyss City,¡± Milton¡¯s tone was grave. ¡°At this time?¡± ¡°Yes, at this time. We don¡¯t need many people, just some physically strong individuals, as this weather is not insurmountable.¡± Dordy glanced at the howling cold wind still outside the window. He indeed thought that the area north of Pruell City should be thoroughly investigated to avoid a sudden massive assault by the Undead, similar to what happened with the Dwarves. But this weather, going out would be suffering; the team might very well freeze to death outside. ¡°How many people do you think would be appropriate, Archbishop?¡± Dordy asked. Milton thought seriously for a moment before giving an answer, ¡°Fifty people in total from the Hall of Justice and the Church would be good, choose those who are trustworthy and physically robust.¡± ¡°Should the Mage Association send people?¡± Dordy asked the woman beside him. Grigorya shook her head with a smile, ¡°You conduct the investigation. However, if you can reduce the number to ten, the association can provide Teleportation Scrolls to save the time on the road.¡± The two immediately were pleased, ¡°That would be wonderful.¡± Even if the Mages did not send anyone, providing such scrolls was still a boon. ¡°Then the Hall of Justice and the Church will each select five people, and we shall set out directly to Lyss and Pruell City in two days,¡± Dordy confirmed. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll arrange for people to depart once I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Afterward, the three discussed the issue of city defense construction. While the city walls of Silver Wing City were tall, they were not as sturdy as those in Gray Iron City. They also lacked powerful machinery. Should they face the same Undead assault, they would probably not endure as long as Gray Iron City. Thus, they planned to purchase a batch of Dwarven machinery during the period of Bellerga¡¯s ascension to the throne and city reconstruction, to enhance the defense of the city walls. There were also plans to increase the number of troops and to develop new weapons. The recent battle of the Undead against the Dwarves had given Silver Wing City a considerable scare, prompting a focus on the city¡¯s defense and the combat power of the armies. The three talked until late into the night before they each returned to their accommodations. ¡­ The next day. Snow had begun to fall outside the window. Goosefeather-like snowflakes swirled down, blanketing the entire city with a layer of silvery white overnight. Fang Hao sat in the lobby on the ground floor. His eyes fixed on the Book of Lords. Sounds from outside, the laughter of rabbits and foxes playing and making snowmen, reached his ears. In the local channel, everyone was discussing the snow. Some were even selling homemade ice carts and sleds, the discussion lively and animated. Just then, from the corner of his eye, he saw a maid escorting a tall woman with pale purple skin walking towards him. Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords and sat upright. ¡°How have you been recovering these past few days?¡± he asked. The Shadow Stabber, Morse, was dressed in a fur cold-resistant outfit tailored by a craftsman. The snowflakes that lingered on her head and shoulders made her skin tone even more striking. For some reason, Fang Hao didn¡¯t find her skin color unusual; he actually thought it looked quite nice. Morse stared, wary as she scrutinized the man before her. A human, commanding an Undead army and having taken over a Dwarven city. Had she not seen it with her own eyes, even if the person she trusted most told her, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it. Hearing him ask about her, Morse snapped back to reality and said cautiously, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Since regaining consciousness, she already knew her situation. She also knew that the man who had conquered the Dwarven city had become her new master, and the contract level had even increased, from verbal secrecy to a hero¡¯s personal contract. It was like coming out of a wolf pack only to be pinned down by a fierce tiger. She was very afraid of the man before her, after all, the Undead was never a kind or merciful race. ¡°Sit down, let¡¯s talk,¡± Fang Hao gestured. Morse sat down beside him, but her gaze still fixed on him. Fang Hao continued, ¡°The territory is expanding rapidly, and I need powerful heroes. Amanda and Dong Jiayue have told me about your situation. From now on you¡¯ll work for me, and naturally, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to?¡± Morse asked solemnly. ¡°Why are you reluctant, when the development of the territory will benefit us both? You, too, want a better life for yourself, don¡¯t you? Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t work for the Faceless ones, who are much worse than I am,¡± Perhaps it was because Morse had always been treated as a prisoner. Even now, Morse was extremely guarded around Fang Hao. There was even a sense of stubborn defiance. ¡°Hmph! Undead and demons, is there any difference?¡± Morse sneered coldly. Demons? Were the Faceless ones connected to demons? Fang Hao¡¯s expression changed, but he didn¡¯t pursue the question. Clearly, she was sulking, and if he asked, she would probably refuse to answer. He simply smiled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, take your time to adapt to the environment here. All heroes here have their own private residences, and we even have a Rejuvenation Hot Spring. I¡¯ll build one for you immediately, you can move in and get to know everyone.¡± Morse didn¡¯t speak, but her gaze at the young human above was strangely intense. With her attitude, he found himself unable to even start a sarcastic remark. ¡°Hmph!¡± she snorted and turned her head away. Fang Hao did not mind her, but instead opened the Book of Lords to check her attributes. [Shadow Stabber¡ªMorse (Purple Tier Three Hero)] [Faction: Night Elf] [Template: Purple] [Racial Traits: Living creatures, Elf Soul, Natural Resistance.] [Legion Skills: Shadow of the Night, Smooth Sailing.] [Skills: Killing Proficiency, Shadowmeld, Hard to Track, Scorpion Tail Fang.] [Innate Skills: Advanced Strength Mastery, Advanced Stealth Mastery, Advanced Tactical Mastery, Advanced Assassination Mastery.] [Elf Soul]: Upon physical death, transforms into a small fairy, Movement Speed increased by 50%. [Natural Resistance]: Reduces chances of being hit by natural spells by 10%, resistance to natural spells increased by 20%. [Shadow of the Night]: Reduces the enemies¡¯ chance of scouting units under her command during the night. [Smooth Sailing]: Reduces the impact of terrain for units under her command by 20%, Movement Speed increased by 35%. [Killing Proficiency (Passive)]: Satisfies the desire to kill, enhancing her proficiency in killing, increasing attack by 20%, and Movement Speed by 35% (effect starts upon killing enemy, lasts for 30 seconds). [Shadowmeld (Active)]: Can meld into shadows, reducing enemies¡¯ scouting chances, with the effect increased by 50% in the dark (cooldown 2 minutes). [Hard to Track (Passive)]: When in the shadows, reduces presence, making her hard to detect. [Scorpion Tail Fang (Active)]: Uses skills, increases damage by 50%, 100% poison effect (cooldown 10 minutes). (Description: The Shadow Stabber is the blade of the Night Elves, protectors of their race. They concoct deadly poisons, applying it to their bodies and blades, killing enemies by every means possible.) Morse¡¯s attributes, are typical of an assassin unit. All her skills, are coordinated with assassination. She can hide in the darkness, completing her assassination. In this aspect, she is actually quite similar to Little You. Little You¡¯s abilities are even more exaggerated; she can hide within any shadow, even an enemy¡¯s shadow. And there are no specific time effects. As long as she doesn¡¯t come out on her own, or the shadow suddenly disappears, she can hide within it. Looking for the right moment to strike. Previously, Fang Hao had left Little You in Lyss City to protect Rebecca and to search for the remaining Swords of Absolution. It¡¯s been quite some time now. Now, with Rolana sticking around Rebecca every day, he wasn¡¯t too worried about her safety and could let Little You return. After checking Morse¡¯s attributes, he then opened up her Loyalty score. [Shadow Stabber¡ªMorse, current Loyalty towards you: 25 points.] Damn, what a number. She has surpassed Rolana, finally someone has surpassed Rolana. 25 points huh. No wonder, Morse is probably thinking about whether to kill him, and strike back. A mutual destruction scenario. But Morse¡¯s threat was much less compared to Rolana¡¯s. Morse belonged to a contract hero, her life bound together with Fang Hao¡¯s¡ªif he died, so would she. Whereas Rolana, a Dark Gold level hero, didn¡¯t have a corresponding contract at the time, so killing Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t have any serious consequences for her. Therefore, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t really worried about what Morse might do. Unless she truly wished to die. After checking Morse¡¯s attributes, Fang Hao stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I will build you a new residence.¡± Morse did not speak, but got up and followed him as they left the Lord¡¯s residence. Chapter 815 - Chapter 815: Chapter 541, Investigation Team Chapter 815: Chapter 541, Investigation Team He took her out of the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Outside the door, two tall snowmen had already been piled up, with ears on their heads that resembled those of rabbits. Seeing the two come out, the maids who were having a snowball fight also stopped their actions, their faces red from the cold yet filled with smiles. ¡°Master!¡± the group of maids bowed. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, be careful, and don¡¯t wrap stones in the snowballs.¡± Wrap stones? The maids¡¯ eyes lit up. ¡­ Along the way, the people in the city greeted Fang Hao. Meanwhile, Shadow Stabber ¨C Morse, who was quietly following behind, was becoming more and more puzzled by this territory. What kind of territory was this? The Undead and Living creatures were living together, and besides humans and Dwarfs, Orcs had appeared as well. Moreover, these people had a very good attitude toward the man in front. That kind of good was not merely superficial enthusiasm but a heartfelt sincerity. What on earth is going on! Fang Hao took her to the area where the heroes lived. Demitrija, Aseti, including Rolana, and other heroes¡¯ houses were all built here. It was laid out like a villa residential area. Fang Hao looked at the open space before him and asked, ¡°What about here? Your neighbor is Rolana; she¡¯s hardly ever here, so the house is always empty.¡± There was a neighbor too. ¡°What about those Undead? Do they also live here?¡± Morse suddenly asked. She was concerned about that female Undead who could manipulate gold. So frightening. In her entire life, she never wanted to come into contact with that female Undead again. ¡°The Undead heroes have their own living area, over in the Undead section. Do you want to live there?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°No, no!¡± Morse quickly explained. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Then is this location okay? Rolana is very beautiful, and she¡¯s easy to get along with.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Morse agreed. Fang Hao nodded, opened the Book of Lords, and began construction. Soon, a four-story building rose from the ground, with courtyards in both the front and back. Following that, Fang Hao didn¡¯t ask her any more questions. In the front courtyard, he built a flower bed and a fountain for her, and in the backyard, he constructed stone tables and chairs and a hot spring. A white mist rose up, resembling the Immortal Realm. Morse¡¯s eyes widened; this was the first time she had seen a transmigrator¡¯s methods. And to receive a separate house and hot spring just upon arrival¡ªweren¡¯t these amenities reserved for nobility? Were all these hers now? Morse found it hard to believe. Once the building was completed, Fang Hao continued, ¡°You can go to the warehouse and move anything you need. Oh, just command the Skeletons to move it, they won¡¯t attack you.¡± ¡°Oh, okay, thank you,¡± Morse instinctively said, thanking him. [Shadow Stabber ¨C Morse, your Loyalty increased by 10 points, current Loyalty is 35.] A system prompt appeared following her thank you. Indeed, giving gifts was the fastest way to boost Loyalty. Even though her face still bore a cold expression, her Loyalty still increased by 10 points. Fang Hao was in no hurry; there was plenty of time, and her Loyalty would gradually increase. He wasn¡¯t going to exploit or oppress the heroes. There had never been an incident of decreasing Loyalty. ¡°Alright, the rest you need to arrange yourself, whether you want to live on the first floor or the second floor, just set it up as you like. If you have any questions, you can ask me or just anyone else,¡± Fang Hao finished explaining and then turned around to leave. Morse stood in the heavy snow, looking at the small building and the hot spring in front of her, wondering what was on her mind. ¡­ After settling Morse, Fang Hao walked back alone. The snow continued to fall gently. The maids who had been frolicking and making snowmen had run off to who knows where to play. Only leaving two chubby snowmen standing in front of the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Fang Hao entered the City Lord¡¯s mansion, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and sat down beside the stove. Finally, there was nothing to worry about. Drinking tea, warming himself by the fire¡ªit was indeed comfortable. It would have been even better if there had been a cat to pet. Enjoying the rare comfort, the Book of Lords ¡®dinged¡¯ and came to life again. Fang Hao jolted upright and opened the Book of Lords to check. It was a private message from Li Rong. ¡°Fang Hao, there is news from Cao Zhengzhi, saying there has been new activity from Xu Haide,¡± Cao Zhengzhi? Xu Haide? Fang Hao made himself clear and quickly sorted out the relationship between the two. Previously, Xu Haide had instructed Cao Zhengzhi to ambush Li Rong. After Li Rong counterattacked, Cao Zhengzhi became a mole placed by Xu Haide¡¯s side. This guy is really suitable for this job; there¡¯s news already. ¡°Tell me more!¡± Fang Hao replied. Li Rong answered, ¡°Cao Zhengzhi said that the church has chosen some people, who together with the Hall of Justice, are heading to Pruell City to investigate the matter of the Undead, and Xu Haide is among them, also heading to Lyss City.¡± ¡°Investigating the Undead? In this weather?¡± Fang Hao glanced at the falling snow outside the window. ¡°Cao Zhengzhi said that the Dwarfs were attacked by the Undead, which also put a lot of pressure on Silver Wing City, but it seems they¡¯re not just traveling there, they should have some sort of teleportation method to go to Pruell, then onwards to Lyss City,¡± Li Rong said. Teleportation! There were actually quite a few methods to achieve teleportation. Apart from Fang Hao¡¯s own Demon teleportation carried by the Book of Demon, there was also the Teleportation Scroll, the Trade Alliance¡¯s Teleportation Array, and so on. For Silver Wing City to possess such items or methods was not surprising. In fact, it was quite normal. Chapter 816 - Chapter 816: Chapter 541, Investigation Team_2 Chapter 816: Chapter 541, Investigation Team_2 ¡°` Which major power doesn¡¯t have its share of goods? When Gray Iron City was taken, many dwarf nobles found various ways to flee, with half the ministers gone. Fang Hao once again edited the message and sent it over, ¡°Do you know the number of people, and when will they set off?¡± But such props or teleportation screens have their requirements. The number won¡¯t be too many. ¡°The number isn¡¯t certain, but it won¡¯t exceed ten people. They are likely to head directly to Pruell City tomorrow and then to Lyss City.¡± ¡°Good, I understand.¡± After a while, Li Rong replied, ¡°If you get the chance, kill him for my revenge.¡± ¡°OK!¡± Ending the chat, Fang Hao turned his attention back to his map. The reconnaissance team from Silver Wing City would arrive at Pruell City tomorrow; he had to be prepared. To dispose of this team? This was indeed a solution to the problem, but afterward, Silver Wing City would pay even more attention here. They might even directly station troops in Lyss and Pruell Cities. By then, if he wanted to solidify his control over the city, he would have to go to war with the human Federation. This contradicted his plan. If he did nothing, then it was very likely that they would discover the issues here. The problem with Lyss City was the Temple¡¯s statue of the God of Light. Yes, there was also the Wandering Spirit Hero ¨C Little You, who remained in Lyss City. Even though Little You moved mysteriously and was not easily detected, there was still some risk involved. Who knew what special abilities the Church had, whether they could sense the presence of the Undead or not. It would be best to bring her back. As for Pruell City, it was even simpler; there were no Undead or Wandering Spirit Hero. The main issue was the large-scale presence of the Undead north of Pruell City. He couldn¡¯t let the team from Silver Wing City come and gather intelligence here. The fortress in between could serve as a good barrier, simply preventing this team from getting through. ¡­ Sitting beside the furnace, Fang Hao stared at the map for a long while. He thought through every potential problem area in detail. The first step was to bring back Little You. If she was discovered by Silver Wing City¡¯s investigation team, it would be hard to explain. Having made up his mind, he called for Demitrija. Then he activated the teleportation screen and the two stepped through. When he opened his eyes again, they were already in the grand hall of Lyss City Lord¡¯s mansion. It was the familiar red carpet, blue Federation flag. Nothing had changed, yet it was still clean and tidy. At that moment, a maid happened to pass by. Fang Hao recognized the maid; she was the one tricked by ¡®Groot¡¯ into going to Silver Wing City, named Stacey. Back then, Fang Hao didn¡¯t kill her but left her for Rebecca to deal with. Later on, Fang Hao learned that Rebecca whipped the maid several times, which was a common method used by nobility to punish servants. After the punishment, Rebecca still kept her at the Lord¡¯s mansion, though her position had become more peripheral. She was assigned tasks such as cleaning. Seeing Fang Hao, Stacey was clearly flustered and promptly curtsied, ¡°Lord City Lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, where¡¯s Rebecca?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Madam is in the study,¡± Stacey said softly. ¡°Hmm, carry on,¡± Fang Hao said and took a couple of steps forward, then stopped and asked in a lower voice, ¡°Is Rolana here?¡± Stacey answered, ¡°Miss Rolana left half a month ago.¡± ¡°Oh, good, go about your business!¡± With that, he continued upstairs. ¡­ As he ascended the stairs and arrived at the study¡¯s entrance. He could hear Rebecca¡¯s voice inside. It sounded like she was delegating work arrangements for the city. Her tone revealed a decisive and domineering authority. Fang Hao waited at the door for a while, and when the room opened, several ministers, who had been reprimanded to the point of sweating profusely, emerged. He entered the room, then closed the door behind him. Rebecca was looking down and writing something, not noticing someone had come in through the open door. ¡°` Rebecca today had her long hair tied up, wearing a white long gown underneath and a blue cotton velvet robe on the outside. She presented the image of a noblewoman. Only when she caught a glimpse of a figure approaching from the corner of her eye did she startle and suddenly lift her head. Seeing that it was Fang Hao, her eyes clearly revealed a hint of surprise and delight. Then she put on a stern face and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± In the room, just the two of them, Fang Hao had no need for inhibitions and stepped forward to directly embrace her. He sat down on a chair and had her sit on his lap. On his thighs, he felt a layer of soft and elastic touch. ¡°I missed you, so I came to see you.¡± Rebecca, suddenly lifted into the air, let out a yelp, but at the man¡¯s affectionate words, her heart filled with sweetness. Keeping a stern face, she pretended to be a bit angry, lightly smacking his arm, ¡°Stop it, I still have some things to write.¡± It had been some time since Fang Hao had seen her and he missed her too. Seeing her serious expression, he didn¡¯t dare to be too playful and smiled, ¡°You keep busy, and I¡¯ll tell you when you¡¯re done.¡± Rebecca pursed her lips and continued to sit on his lap, returning to her writing on the desk. But as she wrote, she suddenly felt a coolness against her chest. A large hand had already made its way inside. Rebecca¡¯s hand hesitated with the pen, and her body began to squirm restlessly. After finishing the several documents on the desk. Rebecca finally looked up again, her gaze landing on her lover whom she had not seen for a long time. Catching his wayward hand, she chided him, ¡°What are you doing, you can¡¯t behave the moment you arrive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve missed you terribly.¡± ¡°Yeah, right! As if I¡¯d believe that,¡± Rebecca held firmly onto his hand and continued, ¡°Olivia sent me a message last night, Silver Wing City has dispatched an investigation team here.¡± Fang Hao was taken aback. Rebecca was also aware of this matter. This woman indeed had a well-informed network. ¡°Your bestie really treats you too well, telling you even this kind of thing,¡± Fang Hao said, surprised. Rebecca pursed her lips, ¡°She is my best friend, and besides, she knows that if I were to lose Lyss City, the outcome wouldn¡¯t be good for me, so she tries to help me as much as she can.¡± Fang Hao nodded, not dwelling on the topic further, but instead asked, ¡°Is everything in Lyss City arranged properly? Don¡¯t let those guys find any excuses.¡± ¡°Understood, I¡¯ve already started making arrangements,¡± Rebecca said, flipping her hair, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this sort of thing a lot, nothing will go wrong.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re really amazing,¡± Fang Hao said, taking the opportunity to wriggle around in front of her chest. It seemed that Olivia only told Rebecca about the investigation team coming to Lyss City. She didn¡¯t mention anything about the Undead north of Pruell City. Otherwise, Rebecca would have warned him too. Fang Hao didn¡¯t plan to tell her either, as she couldn¡¯t help much in this matter. Telling her might reveal some slip-ups. So Rebecca handling her own affairs was fine, and he would arrange the matters regarding the Undead. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m going to take Little You away later, to prevent him from being discovered by the church¡¯s people,¡± Fang Hao said, lifting his head from the soft fragrance. ¡°Okay, take him,¡± Rebecca, her cheeks flushed and eyes increasingly captivating, said, ¡°With the investigation team coming, you, the City Lord, should stay here too, right? I don¡¯t want to find you missing when the time comes.¡± Oh¡­ Right, he was the City Lord of Lyss City, having sworn oath in front of the council. ¡°Of course, that would be great, I¡¯d love to stay here every day,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°You¡¯re sick!¡± Fang Hao smiled and began to move his hands up and down, becoming mischievous. ¡­ The two didn¡¯t linger long in their intimacy. A maid¡¯s voice announcing her presence soon came from outside the door. Rebecca quickly adjusted her clothing, casting an angry glare at the man who was still misbehaving. Opening the door again, they both walked out together. Meanwhile, several guards emerged from a neighboring room, saluting Fang Hao before falling in behind Rebecca. These men were personal guards recruited by Rebecca after returning from Silver Wing City. Among them, Fang Hao was quite familiar with one. The leader of the Flame Mercenary Group, Angus. A female leader with a strong and straightforward personality, now recruited by Rebecca as one of her trusted aides. The two in the front walked, with a group of trusted aides following behind. As they walked, Rebecca said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged corresponding jobs for the residents in the city, and the supplies you sent have also been distributed. This winter is better than previous ones, with no homeless outside the city and no frozen corpses to be seen.¡± Chapter 817 - Chapter 817: Chapter 542: Get Ready Chapter 817: Chapter 542: Get Ready It was clear from Rebecca¡¯s tone that she was relaxed. The fact that not too many people had died this winter was indeed a cause for celebration. ¡°That¡¯s good, with you as such a responsible City Lord, Lyss City will only get better and better,¡± Fang Hao immediately followed with a compliment. Rebecca glared at him. ¡°Also, what favors did you grant the Priest ¡®Miriam¡¯? She¡¯s been praising your contributions to the city dwellers in the Temple every day, you haven¡¯t done anything to her, have you?¡± Rebecca asked in a lowered voice. Fang Hao was speechless. What does she mean by doing something to her? Miriam could be her grandmother. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Praising me is only right, haven¡¯t my contributions to Lyss City been significant?¡± ¡°Hmm! Really, because of what?¡± Rebecca knew Priest Miriam quite well. A person with a somewhat austere and unapproachable character, even she had to be mindful of the priest¡¯s feelings. She couldn¡¯t command her with a tone of authority to do anything. Yet she spoke so highly of Fang Hao, it made one wonder what exactly had happened. After thinking it over, Fang Hao felt there was no need to keep such matters secret. Especially since Rebecca¡¯s Loyalty towards him had reached 100 points. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Priest Miriam has a son, his situation is a bit special, I promised to grant her son the status of an ordinary citizen in the future.¡± ¡°A son? Has Miriam been married? How come I don¡¯t know about this, your illegitimate child?¡± ¡°Are you sick, her son is even older than me, is your illegitimate child born before you were?¡± Fang Hao retorted and discreetly pinched her buttock with force. The firm touch sent a thrilling sensation through him. Startled by the sudden attack, Rebecca shivered and glared angrily. She then stealthily glanced back at her trusted aides. Seeing that they had maintained distance from her, with servants and Lizardmen in between, Her racing heart finally began to settle a bit. There was reproach on her face, yet also a sense of excitement from the brazenness of public daring. She bit her lip and continued to walk outwards. Upon reaching the great hall, Rebecca went to attend to her affairs while Fang Hao ascended another staircase. ¡­ Following the staircase, he arrived at a room on the second floor. Standing before the room¡¯s door, he knocked lightly. The door opened, and Fang Hao entered with Demitrija. The room was dimly lit, the curtains all drawn, with only a faint light seeping into the chamber. ¡°My lord, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± The murky shadows began to stir, gradually revealing a slender figure. It was none other than his ghostly hero, Little You. ¡°Yes, Little You, I came to see how you are doing lately,¡± Fang Hao said with a smiling. [Disaster Song-Hilda (Purple, Tier 4 Hero)] Little You had astonishingly reached purple and had even climbed to Tier 4. Fang Hao once again opened her attributes. He discovered that Little You had completed the task of the twelve Swords of Absolution. No wonder she had directly advanced to purple. ¡°Thank you for your concern, my lord, this place is very nice, and Miss Rebecca also tries to fulfill some of my requests,¡± Little You said in a soft voice. She then sat down on a chair to the side. ¡°That¡¯s good, there¡¯s no more danger on Rebecca¡¯s side, you¡¯ll come back to my territory with me later, let¡¯s talk more after this winter passes,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± After discussing official matters, they chatted for a while. Just when he was about to leave, A ¡®squeak¡¯ sound came from below. Looking down, he saw a Cranial Rat holding a folded piece of paper in its little paws, staring up at Fang Hao with big eyes. Cranial Rat. Fang Hao took the paper, unfolded it. It listed the resources the Cranial Rat needed this time; food and some items for keeping warm. In exchange, Fang Hao could have it provide information at any time, Or ask it to go inquire about some specific matters. Fang Hao didn¡¯t refuse; he took up a pen and wrote that he would deliver the necessary resources to the entrance of the sewer by the afternoon. After writing, he folded the paper back up and stuffed it into the Cranial Rat¡¯s paw. The Cranial Rat squeaked twice more, then turned and scurried into a hole in the floor beside. In the afternoon. Fang Hao went to the entrance to the sewer. He exchanged for a certain amount of food and fur from the Book of Lords, delivering it to the hole¡¯s location. The food was roughly sufficient for the rats for a month. What would follow would need to be exchanged for information. Indeed, a promise couldn¡¯t trade for a winter¡¯s worth of food. ¡­ Three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Fang Hao returned to the City Lord¡¯s mansion, where the council hall was empty. It seemed Rebecca had also completed her tasks. After learning from a servant that Rebecca was in her room, he eagerly headed her way. Rebecca stood by the window, gazing out at the snowflakes that floated and draped lightly. Upon hearing footsteps behind her, before she could turn around, she felt a tightness around her waist. A warm breath hit her side. The rich scent of a man enveloped her, both above and below caught by his hands. Rebecca was taken aback. She glanced sideways, and upon seeing Fang Hao, her body immediately softened. Her legs became somewhat unsteady, and her eyebrows furrowed lightly. In a hushed tone, she said, ¡°Fang Hao, what are you up to now?¡± As Fang Hao wrapped his arms around her pliant body, his hands lingered, and he whispered in her ear, ¡°Dear sister, it¡¯s been more than two months since we¡¯ve seen each other.¡± Rebecca¡¯s face flushed, her body went limp, Yet deep down she was somewhat resistant to fooling around in broad daylight. Chapter 818 - Chapter 818: Chapter 542, Get Ready_2 Chapter 818: Chapter 542, Get Ready_2 She suddenly and tightly clenched her legs, prying his fingers away, ¡°Stop being silly, it¡¯s still daytime!¡± Fang Hao pressed his cheek against hers, gently nibbling on her earlobe, and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± Rebecca certainly missed him, especially since she had been annoyed that Fang Hao had been away for so long without coming to see her. If it hadn¡¯t been for the sudden snowfall, she would have planned to go find him. ¡°Let me go first.¡± Rebecca struggled. Helpless, Fang Hao could only release his hands and then said, ¡°I came to find you as soon as I took care of the issues at Eight Peaks Mountain. After winter, you can let Lyss¡¯s merchant group go to the Dwarf territory to sell goods. Once the resources flow, the capital will increase exponentially.¡± Rebecca was stunned, turning around and pressing against his chest, ¡°You¡¯ve taken over Eight Peaks Mountain?¡± ¡°Of course, Gray Iron City is still ruled by Dwarfs. In the future, the Human Clan, Dwarfs, Orcs, and Trolls will form a huge trading network, and goods of all races will circulate freely. You won¡¯t have to worry about anyone daring to plunder the merchant groups, and trade will only get better,¡± Fang Hao hugged her again, his hands naturally resting on her buttocks. Rebecca found the idea appealing. If they could open up the markets of the Human Clan to the Orc and Dwarf areas, the economy would surely grow exponentially. Forget the Troll areas, their wear and usage are too different from the Human Clan; it might be hard to have any popular items there for a while. ¡°That¡¯s actually great news. I¡¯ll include setting up a merchant group in next year¡¯s plan, and you¡¯ll have to help me open up the trade routes then,¡± Rebecca contemplated and then said. Fang Hao pouted, ¡°You don¡¯t miss me, it¡¯s going to be tough for me to help you with that.¡± Rebecca hesitated for a long while, nibbling on her lip before lowering her voice and saying, ¡°Miss you? How could I not miss you? I would have come looking for you these past few days if you hadn¡¯t shown up.¡± Hearing the usually dignified Rebecca speaking in such sweet, low tones. Fang Hao¡¯s anger flared anew, he raised his hand to lift her waist and placed her on the round table behind him. Rebecca was startled, her hands bracing on the table, and said hurriedly, ¡°What are you doing, I told you it¡¯s broad daylight.¡± Fang Hao moved close to the table, looking down at Rebecca from above, ¡°Nobody¡¯s coming over, I¡¯ve already seen to that.¡± Rebecca¡¯s eyes darted away, glancing at the nearby bed. Just about to suggest moving there, her mouth was already sealed. Whimper! Rebecca tried to struggle, but it appeared feeble and only more enticing. Having been apart for two months, it was hard to contain the emotions, and even the composed Rebecca didn¡¯t hold back anymore. What would it matter if someone found out? It¡¯s not shameful when with one¡¯s own man. Even though initially, he was only a man in name. She struggled briefly, then was tossed about into a daze, her eyes growing hazy, her struggling weakening, her hands shifting from hitting to clasping around his neck. The pulling and pushing soon turned into cooperation. Her light blue flannel robe was undone, the hem falling at the edge of the table, cotton boots dangling from her toes, swaying back and forth. In her dizziness, her clothes were soon scattered all over the floor. ¡­ Time passed. In the quiet room, the intensity of their voices rose dramatically. Next to the stove, Rebecca¡¯s pale body turned slightly red from the reflection. Her body covered in sweat beads, lying on the table, her head tilted to one side, her eyes slightly squinted, softly humming in rhythm. At this moment, the sudden soft alert from the Sound-transmitting Shell by the stove startled them both. ¡°Someone sent you a message,¡± Fang Hao paused, handing her the Shell. Seeing the Shell, Rebecca¡¯s gaze was still slightly blurred as she instinctively took it and held it to her ear. A gentle female voice immediately came through, ¡°Dear, what are you doing?¡± Huh? Hearing the voice, Rebecca quickly sobered up from her daze. Rolana! The two of them, feeling guilty as if caught in the act, were startled. Rebecca tried to struggle to sit up, but their position made her lay back down. She let out a heavy breath and calmly said, ¡°I just finished some work, hmm! Are you coming back?¡± Before she could finish, her body started moving again. Startled, she immediately covered the Shell, but the message had already been sent. This Sound-transmitting Shell wasn¡¯t like making a phone call that you could keep open. It was more like a voice message on WeChat, after you finish talking and pull it away, it only sends the recorded snippet. The passage is too long and not useful. Rebecca¡¯s body incessantly swung back and forth as she tried to kick her opponent, but her feet were caught and the continuation proceeded downwards. Just as Rebecca was about to get annoyed, the voice from the Sound-transmitting Shell rang out again. ¡°I still need some time before I return, or else Fang Hao will start nagging at me again. Why does your voice sound strange?¡± Rolana¡¯s voice rang out again. Angrily, Rebecca lightly hit the man twice, and after he stopped moving, she spoke, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I might have caught a cold. Fang Hao is quite nice. You are capable, you should help him more.¡± As she heard Rebecca still speaking up for herself. Fang Hao was even more delighted and bent down to kiss her deeply. This made Rebecca whimper softly. A unique sensation made the experience even more thrilling for them. Their movements and extent grew bigger and more intense. ¡°What¡¯s with you, speaking up for him? I tell you, men are not good things,¡± Rolana continued. Rebecca lightly slapped Fang Hao¡¯s shoulder and moved her mouth away. She continued, ¡°Alright, I have things to attend to here. We¡¯ll talk tonight. Let me know in advance when you¡¯re coming back.¡± ¡°Okay, go ahead with your tasks.¡± The table started creaking once more. ¡­ Leaving Rebecca¡¯s side. Fang Hao also looked refreshed and fetched Demitrija and Little You from the next room. They once again activated Demon teleportation and appeared in the City Lord¡¯s mansion of Pruell City. By that time, it was already evening. The City Lord¡¯s mansion hall was empty, with not a soul in sight. Calling over a nearby guard, they were led to the area where Tavek resided. Just as they entered the building, they saw Tavek hurrying over. ¡°Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, Tavek, how has the city fared this winter?¡± Fang Hao and his companions sat down on chairs nearby. Immediately, Tavek responded, ¡°As per your instructions, we¡¯ve created many temporary positions, providing clothes for the cold and food. There was no trouble from bandits in the surrounding villages either. This year has been the best in many years.¡± ¡°Are there any refugees?¡± ¡°Previously, there were some homeless people, but they have been placed in temporary positions. As long as they are willing to work, surviving this winter is no problem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord, thanks to you, the residents are now praising your kindness and virtues,¡± Tavek, a merchant by trade, did not skimp on his praise. Of course, Fang Hao also hoped to be a good leader. It sounded pleasing to hear. ¡°Alright, I came here to tell you that a investigative team from Silver Wing City will be here tomorrow. Be prepared and make sure they don¡¯t uncover anything,¡± Fang Hao quickly stated. Tavek had just been calmly sipping tea. Upon hearing this, he spit out his tea. After coughing several times, he said in surprise, ¡°An investigative team? Investigating what?¡± In the Federation of the Hundred Cities, each city governs itself, unless something illegal is done; otherwise, no one interferes. The suddenness of this investigative team made Tavek very anxious. ¡°They¡¯re investigating the Undead to the north. I think it will be done quietly. Just pretend you don¡¯t know anything, be cautious and don¡¯t give them anything to go on. You don¡¯t need to worry about the north; I¡¯ll handle it at the fortress,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Oh, understood,¡± Tavek breathed a sigh of relief. Investigating the Undead, whatever they sought, it didn¡¯t involve him directly. Fang Hao would handle the situation with the Undead. ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have anything else.¡± Tavek once again bowed. Fang Hao nodded and reactivated Demon teleportation, taking Demitrija and Little You back to his main city. Chapter 819 - Chapter 819: Chapter 543, Harsh Bone Tax Chapter 819: Chapter 543, Harsh Bone Tax The next day, early morning. Pruell City was still enveloped in the drowsiness before dawn. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, and the city was silent. In a dirty corner. On the snow-covered ground, a golden magic array rapidly formed. When the magic array was complete, the light of the array faded, and several figures appeared where the array had been. ¡°Ah, ghosts, there are ghosts!¡± The crouched beggar in the corner, drawn by the scene before him. Rubbed his eyes and, seeing the figures that had suddenly appeared, let out a scream. He then turned and fled toward the other end of the alley. In his mouth, he kept shouting about ghosts. Standing on the snow were five people of imposing stature, draped in grey cloaks. Through the cloaks, one could see the armor and weapons inside. Watching the beggar shouting as he ran away. The nearby residents began to curse and light up candles. One of them said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s leave here so as not to attract others¡¯ attention.¡± Five people nodded and then left towards the distance. After walking a distance, one of them said, ¡°Captain Baccarat, what¡¯s the next plan?¡± This five-person squad was an investigation team sent out from Silver Wing City. The original plan was for 10 people, but to minimize the target, they directly reduced it to five people. Three from the Hall of Justice, and two from the church. The Hall of Justice was led by Baccarat, while the leader of the church team was Saint Xu Haide. Baccarat, pulling a green parrot from his bosom and placing it on his shoulder, began to speak, ¡°Wait till daylight, book a few rooms at the inn first, then go straight to the north to investigate the Undead.¡± ¡°Catch the thief, don¡¯t run!¡± the parrot just brought out, promptly shouted. Clatter clatter clatter!! Again, noisy sounds came from the surrounding houses, shouting about a thief. Baccarat pinched the parrot¡¯s beak, ¡°Let¡¯s go, switch to another place.¡± The group switched locations several times. Finally, daylight arrived. The silent city seemed to come alive suddenly, with pedestrians starting to appear on the streets. Workers heading to their jobs, shops opening for business. The city became noisy. Rose Tavern. The only place that appeared clean and also offered lodging and food. Upon pushing open the door, there was a somewhat portly middle-aged man behind the bar. ¡°Got any rooms?¡± Baccarat stepped forward and asked the owner. The owner looked up, then glanced at the four people not far away. ¡°Yes, how many do you want?¡± ¡°Three, for five days!¡± Baccarat looked at the price list nearby and directly paid the corresponding price. ¡°Okay.¡± The owner took the money, handed them a wooden tag with the room numbers written on it. Baccarat took it and also ordered breakfast for five people. After a quick bite, they turned and left the tavern. No sooner had they left, than the owner sneakily ran out and headed to the ¡®Lively Hotpot¡¯ restaurant across the street. ¡­ The Silver Wing City investigation team. Walked around the town. This not particularly large, even slightly small border city. Seemed to be developing quite well. Everywhere, one could see crowds busy with various jobs, even the screaming beggar from last night was now part of a work crew. The group followed the North City gate out, trampling the snow-covered ground. They began heading north. Saint Xu Haide, walking in the middle of the group. He held the Book of Lords, looking at the map that had generated on his own. Walking while discerning their direction. The world was covered in silver and white, without the map in hand, it indeed would have been difficult to ascertain if their direction was correct. They walked until noon. They finally saw a river with its surface sealed by ice. On the other side of the river, a tall fortress stood erect. ¡°This is the boundary line between humans and Orcs, on the other side belongs to the Orcs¡¯ territory,¡± Baccarat said, looking at the tightly closed fortress. Xu Haide frowned¡ªthis wasn¡¯t matching the intelligence he had received. Where was the promised mass of Undead to the north? Were they perhaps invisible, blending in with the snow and bones? ¡°Captain Baccarat, could there be Undead appearing in the Orc region?¡± Xu Haide whispered cautiously. Baccarat glanced at the tall city walls. Turning to his subordinates, he said, ¡°Call at the door.¡± One of his subordinates nodded, stepped forward, and shouted loudly, ¡°We are a team from Silver Wing City, whose fortress is this?¡± The sound traveled far in the open area. Soon, horns appeared on the city wall, followed by Tauren heads peeking down. Even amidst the heavy snowfall, these Tauren were bare-armed, their skin glowing red. ¡°Who are you?¡± a muffled voice came from atop the city wall. Xu Haide immediately stepped forward, revealing a friendly smile, ¡°We are from Silver Wing City, wishing to pass through the fortress to head over¡­¡± ¡°Roll, don¡¯t disturb our sleep,¡± interrupted the Tauren suddenly. Xu Haide¡¯s smile froze, and the rest behind him were also stunned. In Silver Wing City, whether it was the Hall of Justice or the church, those were figures who could strut around the city. In the presence of the cow folk, encountering individuals from these two factions meant addressing them respectfully as ¡°sir.¡± When had they ever been treated like this? They were cursed right as they started talking. ¡°You¡¯re being quite unreasonable now, we just have some things to check, that¡¯s all,¡± Xu Haide, restraining his smile, called out loudly. The Tauren paid no attention to these. Still loudly yelling, ¡°Stay within your own territories, don¡¯t come to ours.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xu Haide was about to step forward to argue further. Chapter 820 - Chapter 820: 543 Chapter, Harsh Bone Tax_2 Chapter 820: 543 Chapter, Harsh Bone Tax_2 However, seeing bow and arrows protruding from the wall, they had no choice but to retract their steps. They could only curse under their breath, ¡°Crude humanoid beasts.¡± Baccarat assessed the situation, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s follow the river and see if there¡¯s another way around.¡± Xu Haide nodded and led his men to follow Baccarat eastward along the riverbank. As they walked, their expressions grew increasingly grim. Even though they had exited the fortress¡¯s vicinity, on the opposite bank, a group of Tauren continued to accompany them. Their gaze fixed intently on them, as if they were watching thieves. The people walked, the Tauren walked; when they stopped to eat, the Tauren also stopped. This was damn ridiculous¡­ It was clear they weren¡¯t allowed to cross the riverway, as more than ten pairs of bovine eyes stared intensely at them. It was as if the moment they stopped watching, these people would steal something precious from the orcs. Time slowly passed by. By late afternoon, they still hadn¡¯t made any discoveries. Forget even seeing skeletons, they hadn¡¯t even seen a wild beast. Instead, they had been scrutinzed by the Tauren all along the way. The discomfort in their hearts was immense, like they had swallowed flies. ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± Baccarat said helplessly. The men nodded and turned to go back, not until they had left. Looking back, the Tauren were still there watching. They seemed uneasy. ¡°Those Tauren, are they sick in the head!¡± someone cursed. ¡°It feels targeted towards humans; maybe we chose the wrong time,¡± Baccarat suggested. ¡°A whole day wasted.¡± The men grumbled and hastened their return. ¡­ Back at the Rose Tavern. The faces of the men were very sullen. The day had been cold, and they had obtained not a single piece of intelligence. Moreover, at the border fortress, the Tauren had sufficiently frustrated them. Talking to them was utterly fruitless. All they had planned was to investigate a few matters, but the Tauren not only refused to let them pass but also watched them like criminals. The two groups walked on opposite sides of the river. The Tauren occasionally emitted provocative sounds. Bang!! Xu Haide slammed his fist onto the table and cursed angrily, ¡°Those damn beasts are doing this on purpose, clearly obstructing us, not intending to let us pass.¡± Dealing with the northern undead had always been Xu Haide¡¯s advocacy. It was also his opportunity to compete for the Archbishop¡¯s position. Having finally gotten this chance to investigate, he came with absolute confidence. However, they had been thwarted by those Tauren. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we still have plenty of time. Let¡¯s buy a few horses tomorrow, circumvent them, and take a look beyond those Tauren,¡± Baccarat suggested. Since there was a living creatures fortress nearby, it was unlikely that undead were present. But their task was to investigate the undead, and despite their suspicions, they needed a thorough investigation. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s set off early tomorrow.¡± Baccarat thought for a moment and added, ¡°No, let¡¯s leave two people in town to gather more intelligence, while the rest of us head out of the city to continue tracing the undead.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s settled.¡± After discussing their strategy, the men began to eat. Meanwhile, the bar owner at a nearby counter wiped tables while deep in thought. ¡­ The next day, early in the morning. Xu Haide returned with a frown. Seeing his expression, Baccarat asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Xu Haide said perplexedly, ¡°Yesterday, I saw stables selling horses, but when I went there this morning, they had all been sold.¡± ¡°Who bought them, such coincidence?¡± ¡°The owner said a caravan bought them. Apparently, their horses had all fallen ill and died, and they urgently needed horses to transport their goods, so they bought all the horses in the city,¡± Xu Haide explained. Another member of the church suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we borrow a few horses from the City Lord¡¯s estate? No matter what, the City Lord¡¯s estate should have horses.¡± ¡°No, our mission is to proceed covertly; we can¡¯t let the people here know we came,¡± Baccarat immediately rejected the idea. At that time, the owner of the tavern came over. With a full-faced smile, he asked, ¡°Oh, are you gentlemen planning to go out?¡± ¡°Yes, do you know where we can buy horses for the journey?¡± Baccarat asked. The owner responded, ¡°Aren¡¯t there any for sale at the stables near the east gate?¡± ¡°They are sold out there. Is there anywhere else we can buy them?¡± ¡°Sold out? That¡¯s not good. The city has strict regulations now. Apart from the stables on the east side, it¡¯s not allowed to sell horses privately,¡± the owner explained. ¡°I see, that¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°Where do you want to go? If not, I can arrange a guide for you. You can take his carriage, although it will be a bit more expensive.¡± The group¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this. They thought this was a good idea since the guides knew the area well. They could also inquire if there were any Undead around. The group whispered among themselves and quickly agreed, ¡°That sounds great, please arrange it for us, money is not an issue.¡± ¡°Alright, where are you heading?¡± ¡°We¡¯d like to visit the north, the Orc territory for a bit.¡± ¡°Oh dear, the Orc territory is not safe. I need to ask around if someone is willing to go. Not sure though,¡± the owner said while wiping his hands with a burlap, ¡°Let it be. I¡¯ll send you a message by the afternoon. If it works out, he can take you there tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°That would be fine.¡± The owner left. The group discussed for a while and decided to leave the city and continue walking north. To check out the situation. ¡­ Meanwhile At this time, Fang Hao had just woken up. After washing up, he stepped out of his room. He had just descended the stairs. When he saw the Gold Eating Queen ¨C Amanda, already sitting in the lobby waiting. Undead, needing neither sleep nor rest, always had ample time. She sat there holding her scepter, silently staring ahead. Giving off a sense of loneliness. Hearing the sound of someone coming downstairs, Amanda looked up. ¡°Lord Fang Hao!¡± Amanda stood up to greet him. Fang Hao felt that she was especially polite today. ¡°Good morning, Amanda.¡± ¡°Good morning, my lord.¡± Fang Hao walked down and sat beside Amanda. ¡°Amanda, is there something you need?¡± Amanda straightforwardly said, ¡°Doujin brought back news from the ¡®Great Cemetery of Odys¡¯ last night.¡± Doujin is the captain of the Skeleton merchant team. Amanda had been very concerned about the current situation in the Anglina Kingdom. So, Fang Hao had Doujin use the Trade Alliance to gather some information about the situation there through trade routes. It appeared they now had some valuable information. Otherwise, Amanda wouldn¡¯t have come to him directly. ¡°What¡¯s the situation over there?¡± Fang Hao poured himself a glass of water. ¡°Just as I suspected, the former Anglina Kingdom no longer exists. Odys has turned commoners completely into slaves, implementing a harsh bone tax. This tax caused living creatures to not live past 30 years of age, after which they are forcibly transformed into Undead soldiers and enlisted into the army,¡± Amanda explained. Fang Hao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He was aware of the bone tax. Not living past 30 was indeed quite terrifying. People barely reached adulthood and didn¡¯t even get to enjoy a few good years before being turned into skeletons. ¡°Is this information accurate?¡± Fang Hao was somewhat skeptical. ¡°It came from the Skeleton merchants, and moreover, Doujin also verified it with Goblins in the Trade Alliance, so we can be certain of its reliability.¡± Goodness, the Skeleton King Odys truly is a ruthless figure. The people living on his side couldn¡¯t even make it to 30. But Fang Hao was also curious why Odys was so eager to convert his troops. Although living creatures and Undead had minor frictions over the years, it hadn¡¯t escalated to the point of a power struggle. Could he be planning something? Such stringent bone taxes and accumulating military forces surely pointed to a war plan. ¡°What do you suggest, Amanda?¡± Fang Hao looked at Amanda. ¡°I want to reclaim our former territories and establish a new Anglina Kingdom, my lord. I hope you can help me save the descendants of the people of Anglina,¡± Amanda said as she kneeled on one knee, her tone earnest. Chapter 821 - Chapter 821: 544 Chapter 821: 544 This was Amanda¡¯s first time appearing this way. Previously, even though she respected Fang Hao, she had not been as earnest as she was now. Fang Hao took a deep breath and nodded, ¡°Amanda, please get up. Since you wish to proceed, I am naturally willing to help you.¡± Amanda nodded and stood up. ¡°Summon Demitrija and Aseti, and bring the sand table forward,¡± Fang Hao said loudly. The maid went to call the two heroes. Meanwhile, the large sand table was pushed to the central position. Soon, the two heroes entered. Fang Hao briefly explained Amanda¡¯s situation, and the four gathered around the sand table. The sand table displayed all the towns and villages within the territory, as well as the mountainous terrain. In the past, Fang Hao always used the map from his Book of Lords. This sand table was rarely used. ¡°Amanda, where is the Great Cemetery of Odys located, or in which direction?¡± Fang Hao asked. Amanda gently pointed. A golden liquid slowly flowed onto the sand table. It was in the southeast of the main city, adjacent to Rolana¡¯s residence at Crescent Heights. Gradually, a golden area was filled in. The gold constructed the terrain and vaguely the roads. ¡°This is the land of Anglina; it¡¯s been too long, and my memory has blurred somewhat, but I can roughly remember the past terrain,¡± Amanda said softly. Fang Hao looked at the new section on the sand table. This golden power, is it really that practical! It even filled in the missing parts of the map, and both the scale and shape were quite similar. Having determined the location of the Great Cemetery of Odys, the task became easier. Bordering Crescent Heights would make the attack much easier. Otherwise, having another force in between would indeed be a troublesome matter. Fang Hao took a closer look and said, ¡°Bordering Crescent Heights does make our attack more convenient.¡± Demitrija and Aseti also looked down at the map. These two heroes, summoned by Fang Hao using a scroll, held very high loyalty. Fang Hao said they were attacking Odys, and they had no objections. Moreover, when they learned that Odys had raised the bone tax to the age of 30 for humans, they too showed surprise and anger. Now the battle with Odys looked like Undead fighting Undead. But in their hearts, they saw themselves as the just side, attacking the utterly evil Undead King to rescue living creatures from suffering. ¡°What we lack is intelligence on Odys¡ª mthe number of troops, military deployments, and a clear road map. Rushing in would only waste time and delay our progress,¡± Aseti spoke up. Demitrija added, ¡°With the current weather, even for the Undead, it¡¯s not suitable to deploy troops.¡± The two pointed out the current conditions they lacked. Intelligence and weather. They had virtually no contact with Odys, and thus no concrete intelligence. And the current weather indeed made it difficult to wage war. Amanda understood these circumstances as well. She said, ¡°I¡¯m not intending to attack the Great Cemetery of Odys right now. We can use this time to gather intelligence on the enemy¡¯s area. After the snowy season, we can consider an attack.¡± Fang Hao nodded, agreeing that Amanda¡¯s idea was good. He continued, ¡°Hmm, I still have one question.¡± The three cast curious glances, and Fang Hao continued, ¡°Odys, by imposing such a harsh bone tax, could he be making preparations for something?¡± The three were immediately struck by the thought. ¡°Do you mean,¡± Demitrija immediately said, ¡°that Odys is amassing forces to launch a war?¡± ¡°Yes, I suspect that¡¯s the case. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of his doing so? Only someone eager to accumulate troops would continuously increase the bone tax to gather more skeleton soldiers,¡± Fang Hao said, his hands bracing the edge of the sand table. ¡°It¡¯s quite possible,¡± the other two agreed. As the ruler of a powerful Undead faction, Odys¡¯s actions certainly had their significance. Amassing troops definitely meant preparing for a war. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze returned to the sand table, looking at the area covered in gold. He murmured, ¡°Next, we need to analyze whom he plans to attack¡ªhumans, or the Blood Clan at Crescent Heights? Or perhaps another area bordering Odys.¡± The other four also silently watched. After a while, without any better ideas, Fang Hao directly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go directly to Blood Castle; it¡¯s also good to discuss this with Rolana.¡± Having said this, he activated a teleportation light screen, and the four stepped into the screen. ¡­ When they reappeared, they were already in a dimly lit ancient castle. A cloud of dark clouds enveloped the sky above the castle. The heavy snow continued to fall, and even during the daytime, little sunlight entered. The castle¡¯s great hall was empty and unadorned, with few people around. Fang Hao looked at the map again to make sure they had arrived at Blood Castle and not been teleported somewhere by mistake. Tap, tap, tap! Just then, crisp footsteps echoed through the corridor. In the dim corridor, a slender figure, with long legs, approached step by step. Rolana wore a purple robe embroidered with red patterns at the collar and cuffs. Below her knee-length robe were black stockings on her legs, and she wore a pair of black leather boots. She exuded the aura of a queen. Given the weather, she was still in the mood to wear black stockings. Chapter 822 - Chapter 822: Chapter 544, Investigating the Undead_2 Chapter 822: Chapter 544, Investigating the Undead_2 Aren¡¯t vampires afraid of the cold? ¡°You could have at least said something before coming, I¡¯m quite grouchy when I wake up,¡± Rolana¡¯s cool voice resounded. She walked in from the corridor, her hands caressing her hips as she took a seat on a stone chair to the side. Grumpy after waking up? More like grumpy after rising from a coffin, since you don¡¯t sleep in a bed. Watching Rolana take a seat, Fang Hao also spoke softly, ¡°Rolana, this is Amanda, a new hero who has joined our territory.¡± Amanda said, ¡°Rolana, long time no see.¡± Rolana¡¯s somewhat drowsy eyes instantly widened. After staring for a while, she exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Amanda, is that really you?¡± ¡°Yes, it is,¡± Amanda replied. Looking at the two of them, Fang Hao recalled that Amanda had already shown familiarity with Rolana back in the underground palace. After all, they had both lived for several hundred years. Now, judging by their tone, they used to be on good terms. They might even have been close friends. As for a romantic relationship, that should be impossible¡ªback then, Rolana still fancied men. ¡°Amanda, it¡¯s really good to see you,¡± Rolana said sincerely. ¡°Yes, Lord Fang Hao rescued me. I am now a hero of the territory,¡± Amanda added. ¡°You were also rescued by him?¡± Rolana remarked subconsciously. ¡°Hm?¡± An undead, typically void of emotions, expressed a note of confusion. Seeing that the two of them seemed eager to continue their conversation, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but interrupt. ¡°Amanda, let¡¯s discuss the official business first,¡± he said. Amanda nodded and cleared the way. Fang Hao spoke softly, ¡°Rolana, how much do you know about the Great Cemetery of Odys?¡± ¡°Great Cemetery of Odys? I seldom stay in Blood Castle and don¡¯t know much about that place,¡± Rolana said as she crossed her legs leisurely. Before she went into a deep sleep, the Great Cemetery of Odys was still known as the Anglina Kingdom, which had been dismembered by the Red Duke, leaving her to sleep for a hundred years. After waking up, she hadn¡¯t paid attention to these affairs. Instead, she went to Lyss City and spent all her time glued to Rebecca. Guessing she would know who Odys is would probably be giving her too much credit. Fang Hao continued, ¡°We¡¯ve received information that Odys is amassing a large force. We suspect he might be preparing to wage war on the neighboring powers.¡± ¡°War? Crescent Heights?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unclear. It¡¯s possible, but unlikely. Crescent Heights is not large; conquering this place wouldn¡¯t require so much effort.¡± Rolana glared at him, somewhat dissatisfied with his remark about Crescent Heights¡¯ size. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± she asked. Fang Hao went on, ¡°After winter, we plan to use Crescent Heights as a base to wage war against the Great Cemetery of Odys and help Amanda rebuild Anglina.¡± Surprise flickered in Rolana¡¯s expression. She was aware of Amanda¡¯s attachment to the Anglina Kingdom but hadn¡¯t expected her determination to remain so strong. And she certainly didn¡¯t expect Fang Hao to be swayed into launching a war, inciting a conflict between powers. After pondering for a moment and considering the impact on herself, she eventually nodded in agreement, ¡°I have no problem with that on my end.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Then Amanda, Rolana, starting now, you will be responsible for gathering intelligence on the Great Cemetery of Odys. Collect as much relevant information as possible. I will also gather some on my own through my channels.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord,¡± Amanda replied, accepting the task. Rolana had no objections and even seemed quite happy to hear Amanda would be staying. Having more ¡®people¡¯ in this desolate ancient castle might actually be a good thing. After giving them both another set of instructions, Fang Hao then reactivated the demon teleportation and returned to his main city. Reconnaissance and map collection were now in their hands. After all, that place also had a force of a million soldiers. ¡­ Back in his main city. Fang Hao lay on the bed and opened the Book of Lords. After some thought, he composed a message in the territory channel and sent it out. ¡°Who has information on the ¡®Great Cemetery of Odys,¡¯ or knows a transmigrator from there, contact me.¡± As soon as the message was sent, the previously quiet channel erupted with responses. ¡°The Great Cemetery? Doesn¡¯t sound like a place of the living, does it?¡± ¡°Boss, are you planning a tomb raid? The grave robber corps reports for duty.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a tomb raid, can I tag along?¡± ¡°Count me in too, I¡¯ll light the candles.¡± Messages popped up one after another, none of them helpful. It was normal since the transmigrators in this place had joined gradually from the surroundings of the territory. Not being familiar with the Great Cemetery of Odys was expected. If Fang Hao wasn¡¯t himself part of the undead faction, he probably wouldn¡¯t have heard of Odys, much less known what the Great Cemetery of Odys was. As he watched the messages keep popping up, Fang Hao typed another one, ¡°Useful information will be rewarded¡­¡± Before he could send it, a private message notification appeared. It was ¡®Xu Yang,¡¯ who had previously acted as a middleman for him in trade with the Trolls. Lately, Fang Hao had sent him to serve as a lord in Yu Tianpeng¡¯s territory. In the channel, Xu Yang seldom spoke and rarely contacted Fang Hao directly. Opening the private chat, ¡°Boss, that ¡®Great Cemetery of Odys¡¯ you mentioned, is it ruled by the undead?¡± Xu Yang inquired. Fang Hao¡¯s brow furrowed; he knew about it? His original territory was near the Trolls, so how did he even come by this information? Fang Hao replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s an undead realm. Do you have some news?¡± Xu Yang responded, ¡°Boss, I know someone who brought up this subject once. He said he was ruled by the undead. If you need information, you could ask him.¡± Well,¡­ A wave of excitement surged through Fang Hao, and he was about to agree. Chapter 823 - Chapter 823: Chapter 544, Investigating the Undead_3 Chapter 823: Chapter 544, Investigating the Undead_3 But then he thought again and deleted the information. His notoriety was somewhat too eye-catching, and one misstep could alert Odys too soon to his presence. He thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Is the person reliable?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t really say they are reliable, I know them from the trade channel.¡± Fang Hao said, ¡°In that case, find a reason to get in touch with him soon, and then inquire about the situation at the Great Cemetery of Odys. It would be best to understand the opposing force¡¯s military strength, as well as the layout of the area.¡± Upon seeing Fang Hao¡¯s message, Xu Yang¡¯s heart began to beat violently. Military strength, map. This method seemed so familiar. When Fang Hao had planned his attack on the Bloody Mountains, it was these pieces of intelligence that he had sought from him. Ah, history was repeating itself on him. He was certain that there was a very high chance that Fang Hao was planning to go to war with the Undead. Undead fighting Undead, that bone-crushing imagery would certainly be spectacular. He immediately agreed, ¡°Understood, boss. I will complete the mission.¡± ¡°Hmm, keep me informed of any news, and if necessary, make him some promises.¡± ¡°Okay, boss. I will continue to barter resources with him shortly; he is quite short on food, so exchanging some for information shouldn¡¯t be difficult,¡± Xu Yang continued. ¡°Good!¡± After ending the message, no one else messaged him privately. In the territorial channel, the discussion had already moved to the techniques of tomb-robbing and coffin-lifting. The topic had strayed somewhat far afield. Fang Hao saw that there were no new messages and immediately shut down the Book of Lords to go inspect his territory. ¡­ The next day, early morning. Pruell City, Rose Tavern. Baccarat and Xu Haide, among others, had gotten up very early. Yesterday, they had still achieved nothing, having been frozen all day without obtaining any useful information. Last night, they had meticulously assigned work duties again. The two team leaders took separate actions. Baccarat led a soldier from the Hall of Justice, staying in the city to gather intelligence. If there were Undead nearby, there certainly would have been residents who had encountered them. This was a breakthrough. Xu Haide, on the other hand, led a Holy Knight of the Church along with another soldier from the Hall of Justice, following a guide introduced by the tavern owner outside the city. To search for traces of the Undead. Once discovered, they would take a photo with the Book of Lords to preserve the evidence. And now, they were waiting for that guide to arrive. Before long. An old man clad in a leather jacket briskly walked in. His gaze swept over everyone present, sizing up the members from Silver Wing City. The tavern owner immediately came out and introduced both parties, ¡°These are the guests who want to head out.¡± Then he said to Xu Haide and the others, ¡°This is Old Keli, the city¡¯s renowned hunter who has been to all the dangerous places nearby. You can¡¯t go wrong with him leading the way.¡± Old Keli nodded, ¡°Where to?¡± Xu Haide spoke up, ¡°To the north, the Orc area.¡± ¡°Orc area? Not an easy place to go, five Gold Coins a day.¡± Old Keli held up five fingers. Xu Haide looked at Baccarat, then pulled out five Gold Coins and handed them over. Old Keli pocketed the coins, ¡°Let¡¯s go, out of the city.¡± The group paused at the door and curiously asked, ¡°What about the carriage? Didn¡¯t you say there was a carriage?¡± Old Keli, without turning back, said, ¡°With this heavy snow, could the carriage wheels even turn out there? If you¡¯re not going, I¡¯m not refunding the money.¡± The old man¡¯s attitude was quite poor. But compared to the previous Tauren, this attitude was already better. The five split up, with Baccarat leading his team towards the city center. Xu Haide and the other two followed Old Keli, heading out of the city together. ¡­ Outside the city. Xu Haide quickened his pace to catch up with Old Keli. He quietly asked, ¡°Mr. Keli, the tavern owner said you are the most renowned hunter in this city, have you seen the Undead?¡± ¡°The Undead?¡± Old Keli looked back at him, ¡°You¡¯re looking for the Undead?¡± By the tone of the old man, it appeared he had seen the Undead. Xu Haide quickly responded, ¡°Ah! Haven¡¯t seen them, thought of coming over to broaden our horizons, can we see them?¡± Chapter 824 - Chapter 824: Chapter 545, Searching for the Undead Chapter 824: Chapter 545, Searching for the Undead A few people were walking through the snowy field. Their footsteps crunched on the snow beneath them. Old Keli looked back at the group and adjusted his hat that had been blown askew by the cold wind. ¡°You want to see the Undead? Those Skeleton frames?¡± From Old Keli¡¯s words, it could be heard. There must be the presence of the Undead around Pruell City, otherwise a hunter like him wouldn¡¯t be so certain about the Undead and Skeletons. And in the hearts of the investigation team, they felt both delighted and somewhat worried. They were happy because this trip had not been in vain, being able to find news about the Undead meant that both the Hall of Justice and the Church would award them some merit. For Xu Haide, it was an even more significant accomplishment, a feat he could use in his competition for the position of Archbishop. At the same time, they worried about the real possibility of Unidentified Undead appearing around the Human Clan territories. Could it be that, like the Dwarf¡¯s Eight Peaks Mountain, they would also face an attack from the Undead? ¡°Yes, we just want to take a look,¡± Xu Haide said. Old Keli nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not close from here, make sure you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°No problem, we¡¯ve prepared everything we need, just as long as we can see the Undead.¡± ¡°All right!¡± Old Keli agreed, his stride not stopping as he led the group through the snowy grounds. Xu Haide spoke a few words in a low voice with the others. They quickened their pace and continued asking Old Keli, ¡°Mr. Old Keli, when did these Undead appear?¡± The cold wind was biting, and Old Keli obviously didn¡¯t feel like talking. But when Xu Haide took out a Gold Coin and placed it in his hand, he finally spoke, ¡°About half a year ago, a merchant caravan discovered the Undead.¡± Half a year ago! Xu Haide nodded. Half a year ago coincided closely with the time when the transmigrator arrived. It was very possible, just as he had surmised, that the Undead were related to Fang Hao. Finding the location of the Undead could be considered a great achievement upon his return. If the scale of the Undead was large enough to pose a threat to both the Federation and the Church, and he resolved the issue, becoming the next Archbishop would be his for the taking. In just a moment, Xu Haide had thought of much. He had already envisioned himself becoming Archbishop, sitting on the highest seat of the Church. A smile couldn¡¯t help but appear on his face. ¡°Are there many of the Undead? Do they have any special characteristics, like quarrying or logging or anything like that?¡± Xu Haide continued to inquire. Old Keli, holding his hat, continued on his way. He answered, ¡°There aren¡¯t many of them. Logging? What do they need to log for, to build houses? Those things don¡¯t feel the cold.¡± ¡°Not many? That can¡¯t be right!¡± ¡°You hope there¡¯s more? If there were many, there would have been chaos by now. These kinds of Undead are easy to run into around here. It¡¯s only you nobles who find it exotic. We hunters come across them often. They¡¯re not dangerous and they don¡¯t attack the surrounding villages. They are much easier to deal with than bandits,¡± Old Keli continued. The others listened silently and didn¡¯t say anything further. They weren¡¯t real nobles, and they had fought the Undead head on. They naturally knew that places tainted with darkness were prone to the emergence of the Undead. But what they were looking for were not these stray, wild Undead. Xu Haide and the others stopped talking and simply followed behind Old Keli as they continued their journey. With this old hunter leading the way, the journey was indeed much smoother. They followed the easier paths. They traveled until they arrived at the gates of the Tauren fortress. One by one, Tauren stuck their heads out from the wall above. They glared with wide eyes, staring down at the group of humans below. When they saw Old Keli leading the way, the tightly shut gates slowly opened, and a group of tall Tauren with exaggerated muscles, clad in Plate Armor and holding huge double-bladed axes, came out. ¡°It¡¯s you guys again, are you looking for death?¡± the leading Tauren snorted white breath from his nostrils and said in a deep voice. The faces of Xu Haide and his companions immediately turned sour. Old Keli, however, stepped forward and pulled the leading Tauren aside, whispering to him. The Tauren frequently glanced in their direction, seemingly confirming something. After a short while, the two returned. Old Keli said, ¡°Give me some money.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Haide produced several Gold Coins. Old Keli took them and handed the money to the Tauren. The Tauren weighed them in his hand and said, ¡°Alright, they¡¯re not a threat, open the gates and let them through.¡± The gates were fully opened. Old Keli led the group through the gates, into the territory of the Orcs. Xu Haide and his companions followed behind in a daze. So that was it, they had just passed through? Last time you were so fixated; we thought there was some major issue inside. And now a few Gold Coins get us through? If it was about money, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? ¡­ Along the way. From morning until afternoon. They encountered nothing on their way, just endless stretches of white snow. The group was exhausted in body and spirit, hungry and cold. Frozen snot hung like icicles from their noses. At this point, no one thought it was a worthwhile task anymore, and they all hoped to return as soon as possible. If they continued to freeze like this, someone might actually die. ¡°We¡¯re here, we¡¯re here, that¡¯s the group of Undead over there,¡± Old Keli called out, pointing ahead. The group¡¯s spirits were instantly lifted, and they quickened their pace, looking in the direction Old Keli indicated. In the distance, there was a ruin covered with broken stones. The snow had buried many traces, but it was still evident that this place was once a manor. It was unknown why, but the buildings of the old site had been dismantled. Even the surrounding walls were left with only a short section standing. Amidst the ruins wandered hundreds of Skeletons. Chapter 825 - Chapter 825: Chapter 545, Searching for the Undead_2 Chapter 825: Chapter 545, Searching for the Undead_2 The Skeletons were draped in tattered armor, rotting like strips of rag hanging from their bodies. Their weapons were also covered in rust, seemingly incapable of inflicting any damage. A few of them made a rough count. There were about three hundred. ¡°Is this all?¡± Xu Haide asked curiously. Old Keli wiped his nose, ¡°Ah, how many did you expect? Do you really think this is some sort of mass burial ground with endless skeletons?¡± No one spoke, merely observing the undead in the distance. From the undead¡¯s shabby equipment and their aimless wandering, it was certain that they were just a group of wild undead. Not to mention being a threat to the human Federation; these bone structures might get cleaned up by a passing herd of beasts any day. Scattered undead of low rank represented little threat, especially in small numbers. ¡°All right, we¡¯ve seen enough; there¡¯s really nothing much to look at. Let¡¯s head back!¡± Old Keli urged from the side. However, the others still did not reply, but continued to silently watch the skeletons ahead. Looking left and right, the number remained small, with nothing out of the ordinary. ¡°Hey! Guys.¡± Old Keli continued to be ignored. Xu Haide pulled the others close and began to whisper among themselves. After a while, Xu Haide walked over alone, smiling and said, ¡°Mr. Keli, you¡¯ve worked hard leading the way. This is a token of our appreciation. We¡¯ve decided to continue our tour around here and not go back just yet.¡± Two more Gold Coins were pressed into Old Keli¡¯s hands. ¡°You¡¯re not going back? That won¡¯t do. Getting lost here could be deadly,¡± Old Keli said hurriedly. ¡°We have a map, so there¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡± ¡°Even so, I¡¯m responsible for bringing you here, and if something happens, I won¡¯t be able to explain myself. You must follow me out,¡± Old Keli said firmly. But the others also ignored his demands. Xu Haide opened the Book of Lords and began to exchange weapons and armor, equipping themselves without concern for others. Soon, they had donned the armor and weapons of Silver Wing City. Xu Haide¡¯s tone became firm as well, ¡°Your task is done; you don¡¯t need to worry about the rest. And once you¡¯re back, you mustn¡¯t reveal any information about us.¡± Old Keli, realizing his words were futile at this point, could only nod in agreement, ¡°Oh, right, I understand.¡± ¡°You can go now!¡± ¡°Oh, right!¡± Old Keli agreed, looking back repeatedly as he left. Once he was out of sight, Xu Haide and his group gathered together again. Someone asked, ¡°Where to next?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to shelter from the wind for the night. Tomorrow we¡¯ll continue north along the road. I feel that old man led us around in circles,¡± Xu Haide replied, looking at the map. ¡°Okay!¡± The group agreed and began to search for a sheltered spot. They were already tired from today¡¯s journey. If they didn¡¯t find a place to shelter from the wind at night, they might indeed freeze to death out here. ¡­ Elsewhere. In the lord¡¯s mansion of Pruell City, Fang Hao sat in a chair, chatting with City Lord Tawik about the day¡¯s events. The investigative team from Silver Wing City had been under their surveillance ever since they appeared. Each and every move was clear to them. Old Keli today was also a person arranged by Tawik. If they wanted to see the undead, let them see just enough to confirm these were ordinary undead, thus saving them from further investigation. As the two talked, a soldier¡¯s voice came from outside announcing an arrival. ¡°Lord City Lord, Keli has returned.¡± Tawik was startled, ¡°Let him in.¡± Old Keli entered the hall, hastily saying, ¡°Lord, the people you asked me to lead today did not return with me. They plan to continue exploring on their own. I saw them conjuring swords out of thin air, and I didn¡¯t dare to insist, so I rushed back to report to you.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent instantly. Tawik had just been boasting to Fang Hao that everything was under control. Now they had lost track of the group. If these fellows wandered aimlessly, they might actually end up at Fang Hao¡¯s city. When they saw so many patrolling undead, it could indeed trigger a war. Tawik was about to curse when Fang Hao directly asked, ¡°Tell me, in detail, about what happened today.¡± ¡°Oh, all right.¡± Keli detailed everything about leading the team that day. ¡°You said they stayed near the location we arranged, right?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Uh, yes, Lord. They refused to leave no matter what. Seeing them pull out swords, I was afraid of an incident, so I rushed back to report to you and the City Lord,¡± Keli explained. Fang Hao was originally thinking of letting these people look around and be content with that. After all, in such weather, not many people have the determination to stay and search for any Undead. It turned out, these people were indeed serious about it. They stayed to search on their own. ¡°Alright, you should go rest, I¡¯ll handle the rest,¡± Fang Hao waved his hand. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Keli hastily left, fearing he might be blamed for mishandling things. Tavek still wanted to ask something. Fang Hao said directly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll arrange everything.¡± With that, he activated the teleportation screen and left Pruell City. ¡­ The old site of Shadowwind Castle. Inside a low cave on the west side. The orange-red campfire illuminated the small cave. Xu Haide and others huddled in front of the fire, eating the food in their hands. Transmigrators¡¯ regional trades greatly relieved their burden. Food and supplies could be exchanged, ensuring they could safely spend the night here without freezing to death. ¡°Let¡¯s take turns keeping watch tonight, and continue exploring to the north first thing tomorrow morning,¡± Xu Haide said. The Undead were crucial to his future development. Besides, the presence of the Undead north of Pruell City had always been something he insisted on. He kept persuading the church that there were Undead to the north that could threaten the entire Federation. But the actual investigation only revealed a small Undead camp of three hundred. Just a few hundred wild Undead were not a concern; they could be encountered around any city. It could not be counted as his achievement. Even now, despite his doubts about the existence of the Undead, he had to keep searching. ¡°Okay, we will explore for another day tomorrow, and if there are still no clues, we¡¯ll head back to the next destination, Lyss City,¡± said a soldier from the Hall of Justice who accompanied them. ¡°Okay.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. One person kept watch, while the rest burrowed into their ready-made blankets to rest. The night wind howled. Like the roar of a wild beast. Amidst a drowsy haze, they heard a companion shouting, ¡°Enemy attack, get up!¡± Everyone woke up in alarm, instantly grabbing their weapons. At the same time! Crackling!! Outside the dark cave, a barrage of stones, like raindrops, pelted into the cave. They scampered around, clutching their heads, unleashing cries of pain. ¡°What the hell is happening,¡± Xu Haide cursed loudly. The soldier keeping watch, shielding his head with his arms, said, ¡°I don¡¯t know, someone suddenly started throwing stones in here.¡± ¡°Can you identify the enemy?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t see clearly, there are many of them, they have surrounded the front of the cave.¡± The three people inside the cave were dizzy from the barrage of stones. Hearing the soldier¡¯s response made them even more annoyed. Why was this journey so fraught with trouble, encountering various issues wherever they went? ¡°What do we do? Fight our way out?¡± someone roared. Xu Haide moved to the innermost part of the cave and opened the Book of Lords for a glance. ¡°Let¡¯s first see who the enemy is and where they are,¡± Xu Haide said, pulling out a scroll from his chest and opening it. A small bird made of blue energy appeared on the scroll. ¡°Go outside.¡± The small bird of blue energy flew out of the cave with a flap of its wings. At the same time, the scenes from outside the cave began to appear in Xu Haide¡¯s mind. In the snow-laden dense woods. Little Orcs with animal ears. Hundreds of them gathered outside, ceaselessly pelting stones; behind them, more Orcs pushed carts, transporting carloads of stone fragments over. ¡°Damn it, where did so many of them come from,¡± Xu Haide cursed. The next second, the energy-formed bird shattered and the scroll in his hands disappeared. ¡°What do we do,¡± the person beside him asked. After thinking for a moment, Xu Haide said, ¡°Get ready to break out, we can¡¯t stay here.¡± At once, he exchanged for three more shields. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Follow my lead, get ready, charge¡­!¡± Armed with shields, they charged out into the barrage of stones pelting down like rain. Stones clattered against their shields, the sound truly frightening. Xu Haide took the opportunity to look outside. Those little Orcs closely followed behind them. They kept picking up stones from the carts, relentlessly throwing them at their fleeing forms. Chapter 826 - Chapter 826: Chapter 546, Great Cemetery News Chapter 826: Chapter 546, Great Cemetery News Moo! The survey team had been escaping all night. Just when they thought they had shaken off the enemy, a series of cow moos came from the nearby woods. Several strong and hefty Tauren charged out, heads lowered. Bang, bang, bang!! They collided solidly with them. Thrown through the air, they landed in a dazed heap. Xu Haide shook his slightly dizzy head as the Tauren, wielding battle axes, approached; fear had already seized his heart. There weren¡¯t many of them, and they simply couldn¡¯t fight against the Orcs here. He immediately shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t attack, don¡¯t; we¡¯re from Silver Wing City¡ªwe¡¯ve given you money before.¡± But no matter how much he yelled, the Tauren didn¡¯t pause for a moment. They reached him and started smashing their fists down. The physical condition of Orcs is far superior to that of the Human Clan, and they had the upper hand. With each punch, several humans were battered, bloodied, and ultimately knocked unconscious. ¡­ ¡°Saint, Saint¡­¡± Urgent calls sounded by his ear. Xu Haide barely opened his eyes to see the Temple Knight looking at him with a worried face. The Temple Knight was dressed in thin clothes and had several bruises on his face, standing out starkly. ¡°Saint, are you alright?¡± Seeing Xu Haide open his eyes, the Temple Knight quickly asked. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m fine, just a bit numb in the face. Why is it so cold!¡± With assistance, Xu Haide sat up. Touching his face, he grimaced in pain. Without looking, he knew he was beaten no less severely than the Temple Knight before him. He didn¡¯t know if it was because of his good physical condition or if the Tauren hadn¡¯t used their full strength. The three of them, however, sustained no serious injuries. At least there were no broken arms or legs. The environment around them resembled a dungeon; their padded armor had already been stripped off. The cold air made them shiver all over, turning their lips purple. ¡°What about those Tauren? What will they do with us?¡± Now awake, Xu Haide felt somewhat terrified. The Orcs here simply didn¡¯t listen to what they said. Even after mentioning Silver Wing City and the Church, those crude Tauren still beat them severely. At this moment, he even wondered if those creatures would just kill them outright. After all, the deaths of their small group wouldn¡¯t necessarily lead to a war between Silver Wing City and the Orcs. At most they¡¯d negotiate diplomatically. ¡°They¡¯ve left, Saint, do you have a way to contact Silver Wing City? Our situation isn¡¯t safe,¡± the Temple Knight whispered. Xu Haide reached toward his waist, but the Book of Lords was gone. He shook his head, indicating he had no good solutions. ¡°Then we can only wait, hoping that these Orcs aren¡¯t barbaric enough to kill indiscriminately.¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Haide¡¯s face turned even paler. Meanwhile. Outside, voices of Tauren talking could be heard. ¡°What do you think, how should we cook them to make it tasty?¡± one Tauren voice said. ¡°How about soup? Boil the flesh until it¡¯s tender, and the soup can also warm us up.¡± ¡°That works too, let¡¯s boil some water; I¡¯m getting quite hungry.¡± Immediately, the sound of flames crackling and water boiling came from outside. The three inside the dungeon heard everything clearly. At that moment, they turned even paler with fear. Among the Orcs, some races were cannibals, a fact known to all. Yet they had never imagined that this fate would befall them. Xu Haide¡¯s mind went blank. He had come to earn glory, not to be food for others. His legs trembled, and he deeply regretted coming to investigate the damned Undead. Wasn¡¯t it better to show off as a saint in his own territory? ¡­ Time gradually passed. Fear grew rapidly, eating away at their last shreds of willpower. Just then, footsteps approached from outside the dungeon. The three of them huddled in the corner, their bodies trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t eat us; I can pay you ransom, you can buy more meat with the money.¡± Xu Haide sprang up like a spring, uttering the entire sentence in one breath. The door opened, and a middle-aged Human, accompanied by a Tauren, walked in. Xu Haide and his companions were slightly taken aback. This man, he had met him once in Silver Wing City, the new City Lord of Pruell City, Tavek. ¡°Lord Tavek,¡± Xu Haide quickly said. Tavek looked at the three and said softly, ¡°You know me?¡± Xu Haide immediately said, ¡°I am Xu Haide, a saint of the Church of Light from Silver Wing City, we¡¯ve met once in Silver Wing City.¡± Tavek¡¯s frown deepened a bit. Curious, he said, ¡°I received a message from the Orcs that some humans crossed the border, was that you?¡± Xu Haide looked embarrassed and coughed lightly, saying, ¡°Lord Tavek, could you get us out first? Once we¡¯re back, I¡¯ll explain everything to you in detail.¡± ¡°Alright, wait a moment.¡± Tavek turned his back, discussing something privately with the Tauren behind him. Soon after, he returned and unlocked the iron doors of the dungeon. ¡°Come, let¡¯s leave this place first; we can discuss everything once we¡¯re back.¡± Soldiers came over with their clothes, but all their belongings inside were gone. Xu Haide and his companions didn¡¯t bother about those, getting back was what mattered the most. They returned to the City Lord¡¯s mansion all the way. In the warm hall, they drank hot tea served by servants. Chapter 827 - Chapter 827: Chapter 546: News from the Great Cemetery_2 Chapter 827: Chapter 546: News from the Great Cemetery_2 Xu Haide truthfully explained the reason for their visit. It meant that, according to rumors, the north was infested with the Undead, and the council, worried, had arranged for them to come and investigate. ¡°Hey, you guys, it¡¯s not so easy to enter the territory of the Warcraft, you know. You¡¯re lucky you¡¯ve just met a Tauren. If it had been Gnolls or Demon Orcs, you¡¯d already be in the pot,¡± Tavek said, slapping his thigh. Hearing this, the group also felt a chill of fear. At that moment, they had suspected that they might be cooked, especially since food was scarce in the winter. ¡°Thank you, City Lord Tavek, for saving us,¡± Xu Haide said, expressing his gratitude once again. Xu Haide was genuinely grateful to Tavek; had it not been for him, they probably wouldn¡¯t have made it out of the Tauren territory. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, we¡¯re of the same clan, I couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch you die.¡± ¡°By the way, City Lord Tavek, do you have any information about the Undead? It would be good to have something to report when I go back.¡± Xu Haide held up his hot tea, took a sip, and continued to inquire. Tavek replied, ¡°This message, I don¡¯t know who spread it, but it said that there was a large number of Undead in the north. I even assigned people to investigate, but all they found were some scattered Undead, only a few hundred in number.¡± Xu Haide nodded; the skeletons they were shown by the hunter were indeed just over three hundred. Tavek continued, ¡°Moreover, that area is the territory of the Warcraft. If there were any Undead, they would have been cleared out by the Orcs. Actually, we don¡¯t need to be too worried on our side.¡± ¡°Lord City Lord speaks the truth,¡± Xu Haide said, taking another sip of his hot tea. ¡°So, Saint Xu Haide, are you planning to continue your investigation tomorrow? If you want to go out, I¡¯ll assign some guards to accompany you. The Orc territories become chaotic in the winter, raiding for food and cannibalism are common. You definitely can¡¯t go alone again.¡± Xu Haide thought about it and agreed. That night, there were Short Orcs and Tauren. It was almost too much for them to handle. And thankfully, they hadn¡¯t been put in the pot to boil. ¡°Oh good, if we need to, we will inform you, Lord City Lord,¡± Xu Haide stood up, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, we won¡¯t disturb your rest any longer.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you stay at the city lord¡¯s manor? I can have the servants prepare a few rooms for you.¡± ¡°No need, our companions are waiting for us at the tavern.¡± ¡°Oh, alright then, but if there¡¯s anything you need, let me know in advance. You definitely can¡¯t go wandering off,¡± Tavek insisted again. As if he were terribly afraid that these people might die in his domain and cause trouble for him. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± ¡­ After leaving the city lord¡¯s manor, the three of them returned to the Rose Tavern. In the candlelit room, Xu Haide, Baccarat, and a few others gathered around the table. ¡°Saint Xu Haide, what happened to your wounds?¡± Baccarat inquired. When they first came in, Baccarat and the others didn¡¯t recognize them and almost drew their swords. Xu Haide touched the wound on his face, ¡°Ah, we were out looking for traces of the Undead, and unexpectedly got caught by the Tauren, ending up like this.¡± Then, Xu Haide recounted their discoveries of the Undead and how they were chased by the Warcraft and captured by the Tauren. ¡°You mean to say there were only a little over three hundred Undead?¡± Baccarat asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Haide said, while applying medicine to himself. ¡°What about the other areas, shouldn¡¯t we search them more thoroughly?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spoken with the hunter and the city lord, and the chances of there being Undead are slim, besides, the different tribes of Warcraft are at war over there, plundering for food. If we went, we¡¯d likely end up in the pot,¡± Xu Haide said immediately. Now, he was somewhat reluctant to go. If they were to investigate, they should wait until winter passed. It was just too dangerous. ¡°Well, okay,¡± Baccarat nodded. Xu Haide continued, ¡°Did you find anything in the city?¡± Baccarat replied, ¡°There wasn¡¯t much of an issue in the city, but in the city center, we saw a temple.¡± ¡°A Temple? Pruell City hasn¡¯t built a temple,¡± Xu Haide said, perplexed. ¡°There wasn¡¯t one before, but there is one now, without a deity statue inside,¡± Baccarat explained. ¡°Then it is newly built, and they haven¡¯t had a chance to inform the church yet,¡± Xu Haide said nonchalantly. However, Baccarat shook his head slightly, ¡°We found traces on the pedestal where a deity statue had been placed, as if someone had removed it.¡± Xu Haide was taken aback, ¡°The Goddess of Harvest, right?¡± In addition to the God of Light, the Human Clan also worshiped the Goddess of Harvest. And since the Goddess of Harvest was not as strict as the God of Light, establishing her statue didn¡¯t require notifying the church. So, in most places, there were statues of the Goddess of Harvest. Baccarat did not deny it, ¡°So, are we still investigating the Undead tomorrow?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ll leave it be for now; even if we continue to search, it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯ll find anything new,¡± Xu Haide decided. ¡°That¡¯s fine then, tomorrow we¡¯ll set out directly for Lyss City.¡± ¡°Alright, you all should rest early.¡± Xu Haide and the others stood up and left the room. ¡­ The next day, early in the morning, Fang Hao had not yet gotten up. From the downstairs hall came a series of energetic ¡®ha¡¯ and ¡®ho¡¯ shouts. Ever since it started snowing outside, The maids¡¯ martial arts training had been moved to the great hall of the lord¡¯s manor. The reason it was held there, rather than just finding any warehouse, was because it was warm. Many sun-patterned stone slabs were placed around the hall, radiating heat like a radiator. Fang Hao walked down the stairs, and saw a group of energetic young bunny and fox girls, dressed in slim-fitting training clothes, following Anjia as they punched and kicked in unison. Chapter 828 - Chapter 828: Chapter 546, Great Cemetery News_3 Chapter 828: Chapter 546, Great Cemetery News_3 Actually, the scene was still quite pleasant to the eyes. Apart from the maids, Fang Hao also saw ¡®He Yueyi¡¯ training with the group. Her baby, on the other hand, was left in the care of a Skeleton, being rocked back and forth. Good lord, it seemed like the whole nation had started training in martial arts. Just as Fang Hao sat down, he heard a private message from the Book of Lords. It was Fu Lei. ¡°Boss, Tavek the City Lord has brought news, the investigation team from Silver Wing City has left Pruell City and is now headed to Lyss City,¡± Fu Lei said. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Indeed, they had left. If they hadn¡¯t been given a thrashing, they really had no plans to leave. Last night, the attack by the Blackfoot Cat and the Taurens capturing them. Fang Hao used the Skeleton Sparrow to watch everything from the sky, crystal clear. It was a wonder what kind of willpower sustained Xu Haide, letting this Saint prefer to freeze in the wild overnight rather than give up investigating the Skeleton issue. He had the Taurens beat them up. The next day they left, without any further thoughts of continuing towards the Orc region. As for Lyss City, it really wasn¡¯t an issue anymore. There was no undead matter there, and in the Temple, the statue of the God of Light had been reinstalled. There were no flaws at all. ¡­ After breakfast. After the maids finished their morning exercise, they started their own work. It seemed that with improved meals, Fang Hao suddenly noticed that the maids¡¯ figures were getting more voluptuous. The maid in front of him was wiping a curio cabinet, and her curves seemed to have increased a lot more than before. Ding! The Book of Lords rang again. Moving his gaze away from the maid, he opened the Book of Lords to check. It was a private message from Xu Yang. ¡°Boss, that guy replied to me. He says that the Great Cemetery of Odys is indeed stockpiling troops, and all the transmigrators in the region have been controlled by Odys, manufacturing weapons and equipment for them,¡± Xu Yang said. Controlled? This Odys was indeed a smart man, knowing how to use these transmigrators. Rather than expelling them or eating them directly like the Trolls and Orcs did. ¡°Did you get the map?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°He only sent a map of the area near his territory, which isn¡¯t complete. I¡¯m now trying to persuade him to get more maps!¡± Xu Yang replied. ¡°Hmm, is the number of troops clear? And what is the purpose of stockpiling so many troops and making equipment?¡± Fang Hao asked several questions in a row. There was a brief silence on the other side. Perhaps they were maintaining contact with that person. After a while, a reply came through. ¡°He says the troops on his side have already reached fifty to sixty thousand. The specifics in other areas are unclear, and he doesn¡¯t know the purpose either. Their job is to produce equipment for the Skeleton soldiers every day. Oh, and he also sent over some photos[Image][Image],¡± Xu Yang said. Fang Hao clicked open the photos and saw a massive array of Skeleton soldiers. These Skeletons were all lined up neatly; if not for the different equipment and banners indicating their respective territories, Fang Hao would have mistaken them for his own troops. There was another difference too. These Skeletons were of varying heights, but from their bones, it was clear they were all human-converted troops. It seemed that the issue with the bone tax and the age of thirty might actually be true. ¡°Okay, give him some incentives to gather more information for me,¡± Fang Hao sent the message. ¡°Understood, boss,¡± came the reply. After ending the private chat, Fang Hao¡¯s mind began to contemplate the matter of the Great Cemetery. Who was Odys planning to attack? Humans or Crescent Heights? As he thought, Fang Hao¡¯s mind returned to Xu Haide. Xu Haide¡¯s eagerness to find evidence of the undead was simply to gain more leverage for himself. Instead of letting him focus on the north side of Pruell City, It would be better for Fang Hao to hand him a merit. After all, as transmigrators, shouldn¡¯t they help each other out? Moreover, as long as the Church noticed Odys¡¯ stockpiling of troops at the Great Cemetery, coupled with their recent sensitivity towards the undead, The moment this news reached the ears of the Church, No matter who was the target, they would inevitably assume it was an attack on humans. By then, Fang Hao¡¯s own attack on the Great Cemetery would become much simpler. ¡°Feasible!¡± Fang Hao slapped his thigh in excitement. Activating the teleportation screen, he went directly to Blood Castle. Chapter 829 - Chapter 829: 547 Chapter 829: 547 Five days passed in a flash. A carriage, guarded by soldiers, left Silver Wing City. It moved forward slowly. Xu Haide sat inside the carriage, his face somewhat pale. He and Baccarat had already returned to Silver Wing City yesterday. This morning, he went to the church to convey all the intelligence he had gathered to the church hierarchy. But they had not brought back any useful information. The photos taken only showed scattered Skeleton Undead, still within the Orc territories. After that, they proceeded to Lyss City. Similarly, the Temple still enshrined the statue of the God of Light, and they found no clues regarding the lost faith. This caused some disappointment among the church leaders towards him. The Archbishop, who had always been quite trusting of him, did not speak up for him this time. Voices of rebuke surrounded him. They said he had wasted the church¡¯s effort and finances on trivial matters. Even though Xu Haide knew in his heart that there must be Undead in Fang Hao¡¯s territory, he simply could not find any evidence to prove it. He stepped out of the church. The dazzling sunlight made him squint. A sense of unprecedented loss weighed heavily on him. Alas! ¡°Could it be that I am not the protagonist? That shouldn¡¯t be the case,¡± he thought to himself. His situation, the resources and status he had obtained, they were all befitting of a protagonist. Why was this endeavor so fraught with hardship? ¡°Having lost faith in the church this time, my standing in the Archbishop¡¯s heart will surely decline, and the chance to become the next Archbishop is likely gone.¡± The more he thought about it, the more despondent Xu Haide felt. All his previous efforts were for naught after this one failure. As Xu Haide pondered, the carriage had already returned to the city. ¡°Saint, the forces of Cao Zhengzhi are waiting at the gate!¡± The voice of an attendant from outside the carriage roused Xu Haide from his reverie. He pulled back the curtain and saw at the city gate a group of troops gathered. The person waving at him from the front was the transmigrator Cao Zhengzhi. ¡°Open the city gates and let them in together.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The city gates opened, and the two groups entered the city, one after the other. ¡­ They entered the Lord¡¯s mansion. A maid began to help Xu Haide off with his fur-lined overcoat sprinkled with snowflakes. Cao Zhengzhi waited silently on the side. It was apparent that Xu Haide was in a bad mood; he must have encountered some trouble. In the past, under such circumstances, he would have found an excuse to leave and avoid being scolded out of anger. But remembering the task given to him by Li Rong, As a double spy, he had no choice but to stand his ground and wait. Xu Haide changed into a set of loose clothes and sat down by the stove. After heaving a sigh, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, speak up!¡± Cao Zhengzhi leaned forward and said, ¡°Lord Xu Haide, I traded with a transmigrator yesterday and obtained some intelligence during the conversation that I felt might be helpful for your future, so I made a point of coming to let you know.¡± Upon hearing the word ¡®future¡¯, The veins on Xu Haide¡¯s forehead throbbed. His future had just been ruined that very morning. After this incident, other Saints would likely climb above him, and the church¡¯s resources for him were expected to be reduced. ¡°Speak!¡± Xu Haide¡¯s tone was somewhat sharp. Cao Zhengzhi spoke up immediately, ¡°The transmigrator was from the Undead Overlord¡¯s territory. He told me that the Undead King has captured all the transmigrators and is using them to mass-produce equipment for the Undead.¡± Xu Haide¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. He sensed some information in this statement but couldn¡¯t make it all out. ¡°What does this have to do with anything?¡± It was not unusual for transmigrators to be controlled. If not for the human faction being managed by the Hall of Justice, The transmigrators here would have received the same treatment. This was no strange matter, and he would not go to rescue these people, nor did he have the capacity to do so. Cao Zhengzhi then explained urgently, ¡°No, what he said is, the Undead are amassing a large army, collecting bone taxes from the affiliated living creatures up to age 30, and massively producing weapons. He suspects they are planning to attack the Hundred Cities Federation.¡± Crash! Xu Haide, who was lying on the chair, fell to the ground. The young maid immediately went to help him up, but he pushed her away. Looking directly at Cao Zhengzhi, he said, ¡°Are you certain? The Undead are going to attack the human Federation?¡± ¡°Uh, that¡¯s what he told me, and he sent me several photos, all filled with dense skeletons. It was terrifying.¡± Cao Zhengzhi took out the Book of City Lord and showed Xu Haide the pictures inside. Xu Haide looked through them one by one. His expression shifted from grave to gradually joyous. He murmured, ¡°We targeted the wrong one, targeted the wrong one.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s mistaken?¡± Cao Zhengzhi was curious. ¡°Turns out that the Undead army mentioned in the channel was from the soldiers of the Great Cemetery. They must be plotting something,¡± Xu Haide said with excitement. He had set his sights on Fang Hao from the very beginning, which was a mistake. Even with Fang Hao¡¯s capabilities, as a transmigrator, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to amass such a large-scale force so soon. Thus, from the start, he had entered a misconception. If the Undead army had been attributed to the Great Cemetery of Odys, it would have entirely explained the origin of the Undead. Moreover, this would be key to regaining trust from the Archbishop and the bishops. Regardless of whether Odys posed a threat to the Federation or not, it must be treated as a threat. Xu Haide¡¯s face overflowed with growing joy. Chapter 830 - Chapter 830: Chapter 547: Shifting Attention_2 Chapter 830: Chapter 547: Shifting Attention_2 ¡°Lord Xu Haide, what is this¡­?¡± Cao Zhengzhi asked in confusion. Looking at a skeleton photo, why are you laughing like that? Xu Haide, regaining his composure, said, ¡°Well done, this matter is very important. What exactly did that person tell you? Repeat everything to me.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Cao Zhengzhi began to recount the information given to him by Li Rong. The details were exactly the same as what Xu Yang had said. After listening, Xu Haide felt even better. ¡°Send me the picture, quick!¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± After receiving the picture from Cao Zhengzhi, Xu Haide immediately got on the carriage and left. Heading back to Silver Wing City. ¡­ The church¡¯s grand hall. In a beautifully decorated room, Archbishop- Milton was seated at the table, tasting the lunch that had just been served. On the side, Xu Haide stood respectfully, silently waiting. ¡°Your performance today was a disappointment to me,¡± Milton said softly. Xu Haide¡¯s head lowered even further as he spoke with a trembling voice, ¡°I am sorry to have disappointed you, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Yes, this time, the bishops have a lot of criticisms against you. If you do not accomplish anything significant later, you fear you might become a marginal figure among the saints, and the resources and power the church provides you will be diminished.¡± ¡°Archbishop, I will work harder. I won¡¯t disappoint you again,¡± Xu Haide promised loudly. ¡°Yes, take a seat. Learn from this lesson. In the future, do not be eager to show off without certainty, even if what you do is for the church,¡± Milton said, cutting a piece of beef and placing it in his mouth. Xu Haide expressed his gratitude and sat down to the side. Meanwhile, a servant came forward with a tray of fresh lunch and placed it before Xu Haide. ¡°Do you have any other matters to discuss besides apologizing?¡± Milton asked. After contemplating, Xu Haide took out the Book of Lords. He found the photos and presented them, ¡°Your Grace, please look at these.¡± The archbishop was somewhat familiar with the transmigrator¡¯s gadgets but did not know much. Seeing the densely packed undead in the photos, his expression changed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you haven¡¯t found a vast number of undead?¡± Xu Haide immediately explained, ¡°These are not from the north of Pruell City, but images from the Great Cemetery of Odys.¡± Upon hearing about the Great Cemetery of Odys, Milton looked at the attendant beside him. With a slight wave of the hand, the attendant bowed and left. Milton inquired, ¡°Is there any news from there?¡± Xu Haide didn¡¯t hold back and relayed everything he had heard from Cao Zhengzhi. However, the plot had changed. What was gained during the trade, now became information from an informant he supported. Hearing Xu Haide¡¯s report about the large-scale troop buildup and all transmigrators being captured to make equipment, Milton naturally connected it to some issues. Without any apparent reason, who would increase their military force? Odys must have some new plan in mind. ¡°What did your informant say?¡± Xu Haide pondered for a moment and cautiously replied, ¡°He said there is a high likelihood of an expedition against the Hundred Cities Federation.¡± Clatter! The silver fork in Milton¡¯s hand dropped. He furrowed his brows deeply, ¡°Is what he says reliable?¡± ¡°He cannot be completely certain, but it¡¯s said that a larger undead force is already beginning to assemble at the borders of the Hundred Cities,¡± Xu Haide stated. Milton put down his cutlery, unable to continue his meal. Standing up, he said, ¡°Come, follow me to the Hall of Justice. You will repeat what you have told me to Dordy.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± Milton walked briskly outside, with Xu Haide closely following behind. The carriage began to head toward the direction of the Hall of Justice. At the same time, in the afternoon, Carriages stopped in front of the doors of the Hall of Justice. Leading figures from various factions were invited to discuss important matters. Meanwhile, the border cities on the eastern side of the Hundred Cities Federation also received a message from Silver Wing City. To strengthen the border forces, and to scout within the Great Cemetery of Odys for any troop reinforcements. ¡­ On the other side. Crescent Heights, Blood Castle. Fang Hao watched as the ¡°Hardwood Crane¡± hoisted cannon after cannon onto the city walls. The five-pipe organs, dwarf cannons, and anti-aircraft crossbows were among the large quantities of machinery Fang Hao had produced. He began to arrange them around Crescent Heights. Although he felt that Odys would not attack Crescent Heights, it was still necessary to be prepared for everything. Crescent Heights was a buffer zone. Once it fell, the next in line to face danger would be Pruell City and his own main city. He could not allow Odys to strike directly at his doorstep; the best method was to stop them outside. Similarly, it was also to prepare for his own attack on Odys. Using the lifting equipment, the machines were hoisted up, and rows of Skeletons strenuously pulled on the ropes. The entire area was exceptionally busy. Inside Blood Castle. Rolana, awakened by the noise from outside, walked out with blood-red eyes and a frosty face. She was just about to loudly question Fang Hao as to why he had disturbed her rest. But before the words could leave her mouth, she was stunned into silence by the bustling scene before her. What¡¯s going on? ¡°Where did you get all this machinery, and are those with the five tubes also cannons?¡± Rolana¡¯s anger from being woken up was replaced by curiosity. Fang Hao glanced at her and said, ¡°I made them. You know we can make items and machinery.¡± Rolana glared at him, ¡°I mean, where did you get the blueprints?¡± ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t we take down Eight Peaks Mountain? I got the blueprints from the dwarves. Odys¡¯ intentions aren¡¯t clear right now, so I¡¯m setting these up here to ensure your safety as well,¡± Fang Hao replied. Rolana had heard about Fang Hao¡¯s attack on Eight Peaks Mountain from Amanda. But at the time, it was just a casual conversation and did not mention any spoils of war obtained. Moreover, the spoils of war for a transmigrator, unless used, would not reveal anything since they were stored in the Book of Lords. Now hearing it from Fang Hao himself, She finally understood that these machines were developed by those dwarves. ¡°Now you are so kind-hearted, worried about my safety?¡± Rolana stood by his side, her gaze also looking towards the busy ramparts. ¡°We¡¯re family, of course I worry about the safety of my own people,¡± Fang Hao said with no hint of embarrassment. ¡°You, I¡­¡± Rolana opened her mouth, but in the end, she closed it. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias¡¯s loyalty toward you has increased by 5 points, current loyalty 72.] It increased by 5 points. Raising Rolana¡¯s loyalty had always been difficult. Previously, gifting the Bone Dragon and an individual mansion only increased it by 1 or 2 points. These 5 points were a significant improvement. He even felt that it could be attributed to Rebecca always speaking well of him. Seeing it was effective, Fang Hao continued, ¡°It¡¯s also hard on you, staying in this Blood Castle on your own. Once things stabilize with Odys, you should come live on my side, it¡¯s livelier when we¡¯re all together.¡± Rolana folded her arms and didn¡¯t speak. Fang Hao kept talking, ¡°The Skeleton tailors have made some new clothing styles recently that really suit your temperament. I¡¯ll have someone send some over for you.¡± Rolana remained silent. ¡°Fairy Dream Tower has just released some new cosmetics as well, I¡¯ll have them sent over to you too¡­¡± Oh my¡­ As he said this, Fang Hao¡¯s face was covered in embarrassment. He seemed like a bootlicker. And this woman, she really was¡­ [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias¡¯s loyalty toward you has increased by 3 points, current loyalty 75.] It was indeed¡­ effective! Rolana¡¯s expression remained mostly unchanged, looking at Fang Hao with puzzlement. ¡°What¡¯s up with you today?¡± Heh, still playing coy with me. The loyalty went up; persistence does have some effect on women, I suppose. ¡°Nothing, just checking to see what you need so I can have it sent over,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll think about it and let you know if I need anything.¡± ¡°Oh, alright then!¡± In the distance, the cranes continued to make creaking, gear-grinding noises. Fang Hao went on to say, ¡°Where¡¯s Amanda? Why don¡¯t I see her? Didn¡¯t she sleep with you?¡± Rolana¡¯s just-dissipated anger flared up instantly again. Chapter 831 - Chapter 831: Chapter 548, Another Day of Envying the Big Shots Chapter 831: Chapter 548, Another Day of Envying the Big Shots After repeatedly testing the boundaries of Rolana¡¯s rampage, he found that once the loyalty reached the current standard, even if her tone of speaking remained cold, she would no longer call for violence and killing. When Fang Hao joked with her, she would respond with a couple of lines, but her tone was disinterested, as if she was just going through the motions. Rolana¡¯s fate wasn¡¯t very fortunate either. She fell in love with a human City Lord and was blinded by love. Ultimately, she was dismembered and buried in pieces. That¡¯s why people in the territory were scared of her. The most enduring image was of when she resurrected, losing her mind outside the territory. Back then, like a madwoman, she smashed deep pits into the ground, trapping her silver coffin, which was directly crumpled into a lump of silver. The scene was exceptionally frightening. Therefore, Rolana was highly averse to men; even her lifesaver, Fang Hao, had such a slow increase in loyalty. If it were someone else joking with her, their head would be twisted off. ¡°Amanda is not at Blood Castle, she must have gone to lead people to scout out the terrain. These days, Blood Hunters have been following Amanda out,¡± Rolana said softly. ¡°Right, going to war with Odys directly could present the Hundred Cities Federation with an opportunity to target us, so we should let Odys and the Federation start the war first, then we can sneak attack them.¡± ¡°Fine, these conspiracies and tricks are what you¡¯re best at,¡± said Rolana. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Rolana turned her head away, showing no intention of explaining. At that moment, a private message alert came from the Book of Lords. It was a message from Li Rong. ¡°Fang Hao, Cao Zhengzhi has already leaked the message to Xu Haide, who then went to the church after that.¡± Letting Cao Zhengzhi reveal the information to Xu Haide was part of their plan. The most chaotic way for transmigrators to receive information was through the regional channel. Xu Haide was also very likely not to doubt the reliability of the information. ¡°Has the church made any moves?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. Li Rong replied, ¡°Ten minutes ago, the Archbishop¡¯s carriage headed to the Hall of Justice. It¡¯s very likely because of this matter; we will need to inquire further later for specific details.¡± Li Rong, as an established figure in Silver Wing City, had also made acquaintances with some of the city¡¯s noble ladies. Occasionally, she would receive invitations to attend the social gatherings, dinner parties, and balls of the nobility. Given some time, it wouldn¡¯t be hard for her to find out some information. In fact, judging by Xu Haide¡¯s route, the church¡¯s visit to the Hall of Justice was indeed about the Great Cemetery of Odys affairs. It was basically unnecessary to confirm it again. As long as Silver Wing City took this matter seriously and started investigating and scouting the Great Cemetery of Odys, it would be good news for Fang Hao. Pruell City to the north would no longer be the focus of Silver Wing City¡¯s attention. He wouldn¡¯t need to keep tight control over his own side. After conveying the church¡¯s message, Li Rong brought up a second matter. Li Rong said, ¡°In Silver Wing City, I have a way to learn magic spells. What do you think? Is there potential?¡± ¡°Mage Association?¡± ¡°You know about it? I have a client from the Mage Association, and I¡¯m thinking of joining the association and switching to the Mage class.¡± The Mage class among the current transmigrator forces really did not have many people who switched to it. Most had chosen physical strength potions; indeed, a robust body is what allows someone to live longer before truly learning magic spells. Now that Li Rong had the opportunity to join the Mage Association, it was actually a good thing. Not only could she learn magic, but she was also planting her own person inside the Mage Association. ¡°Of course, you can; this is an opportunity for you. Afterward, you will be a noble Mage,¡± Fang Hao said teasingly. ¡°Then, are you interested in conquering a noble Mage?¡± ¡°I have an ¡®Enlightening Potion¡¯ here for you to see if it¡¯s of any use.¡± ¡°It¡¯s useful, I¡¯ve been worried about not having a way to buy it.¡± Fang Hao laughed and put up the ¡®Enlightening Potion¡¯ for direct trade. Li Rong completed the transaction immediately on her end and sent over a kissy face! Ending the conversation with Li Rong. When Fang Hao looked up again, he found that Rolana had already left. He looked around and saw her gesturing to a few Skeletons who were working on the city wall.Upd@te by n0vgo .c0 It seemed that she cared more about Blood Castle than he had thought. Fang Hao didn¡¯t have anything else to do. He opened the regional channel again for his daily peek to see what everyone was chatting about, afraid of missing out on any hot topics and falling out of sync with the thoughts of the transmigrators. ¡°Buying 500 tiles, chat privately if you have them; peddlers, stay away.¡± ¡°Selling a blueprint for a blue one-handed sword, private chat with your offer; highest bidder gets it.¡± ¡°Green one-handed sword in exchange for photos of ladies.¡± Fang Hao blocked the ads. ¡°Have you heard? The Dwarf war is over.¡± ¡°What? Are those Dwarves bullying others again?¡± ¡°No, I heard they were defeated by the Undead and suffered miserably; even the King is dead.¡± ¡°Spreading rumors, huh? I have accurate info; my friend just got released by the Dwarves, he said he was rescued by a transmigrator, a amazing one, but he refuses to say who.¡± ¡°Nonsense, how can a transmigrator overthrow a power? If they can eradicate a stronghold, that would already be god-tier.¡± ¡°Exactly, with the development of transmigrators, at most they could arm-wrestle with a small city. Conquering a power seems rather unlikely.¡± ¡°I can confirm, I am the friend of the rumor-spreading brother; I was rescued by a transmigrator, a beautiful woman flying an F22.¡± Chapter 832 - Chapter 832: Chapter 548, Another Day of Envying the Tycoon_2 Chapter 832: Chapter 548, Another Day of Envying the Tycoon_2 ¡°Damn it! If I hadn¡¯t seen an F22, I would¡¯ve believed it.¡± ¡°You guys think, is there any possibility it¡¯s Fang Hao¡¯s people? His troops are the Undead, and they¡¯re so badass.¡± ¡°Impossible! He¡¯s only just transmigrated a few months ago. Unless he has ballistic missiles, even an F22 couldn¡¯t take down a whole Dwarf area.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be sure about that with Fang Hao. He¡¯s so badass, maybe he¡¯s developed enough to take down Dwarf territory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really not possible. When you guys said the Dwarves started the war, Fang Hao was in Silver Wing City. I was grilling skewers for him; there¡¯s no way he could be at war with the Dwarves.¡± ¡°Still on about the damn skewers, I¡¯m done.¡± Fang Hao looked at everyone¡¯s chat and felt somewhat amused. The transmigrators rescued from Gray Iron City were sent back to their respective territories. But at the same time, they were instructed not to divulge any information about this place. If they didn¡¯t know each other¡¯s locations, the channel was lawless. But now that they knew each other inside out, they all became good, tight-lipped, kind-hearted citizens. Inside the channel, no one knew Gray Iron City was taken down by Dong Jiayue, not even the Hundred Cities Federation. After watching for a while, he closed the Book of Lords. He stayed at Blood Castle until dusk, then after giving a couple of instructions to Rolana, he finally released the teleportation screen and returned to the main city. ¡­ Evening. Back to the main city. After dinner, Fang Hao soaked in the hot spring, reclining at the edge of the pool. There was nothing more leisurely and comfortable than a soak in a hot spring before sleep after a tiring day. If there was, it¡¯d be soaking in the hot springs with a bunch of bunny maidens by your side. Eira, Little White, and Rebecca, who joined later in the evening. Regarding this mature big sister, Fang Hao was quite attentive. Moreover, Rebecca had become increasingly clingy; she really missed Fang Hao after not seeing him for a few days. About Rebecca¡¯s arrival, Eira and Little White both widened their eyes, looking back and forth between her and Fang Hao nonstop. Without even thinking, it was clear what their relationship was. And Anjia, who had already known about their relationship, went out to play and had not yet returned. Rebecca knew Fang Hao had other women by his side, and what those young, beautiful maids did for the nobility was no secret among the nobles. If Fang Hao hadn¡¯t touched a single bunny or fox girl, that would actually be more suspicious. She didn¡¯t care so much about Fang Hao having other women. But it was their first meeting, and in such a situation, she was still somewhat uncomfortable. Her face was as cold as ever, slipping into a long blue robe that revealed her lotus-root-like arms and beautiful legs. The three women gathered. Yet they gave off three different vibes. Eira was the gentle housewife type, Little White was brimming with youthful energy, and Rebecca was the aloof queen. Seeing her standing at the edge of the pool with a flitting gaze, Fang Hao stood up and extended a hand, ¡°Grab onto me.¡± Rebecca placed her hand in his palm and was led down into the Rejuvenation Spring step by step. Fang Hao introduced with a smile, ¡°This is Rebecca, the City Lord of Lyss City.¡± Then he said to Rebecca, ¡°This is Eira and Little White, from now on, we¡¯re all family.¡± The words ¡®family¡¯ came out, and Rebecca¡¯s cheeks turned even redder. In her heart, she cursed to herself, wishing that if she had known it would be like this, she would¡¯ve made Fang Hao stay with her. To avoid the awkwardness. But after all, she had rubbed shoulders with the Federation¡¯s circle for so long, she knew to keep calm when something happened. At least she couldn¡¯t let anything show on the outside. After hearing Fang Hao¡¯s introduction, she nodded slightly, with an air of someone who had known all along, ¡°Hello, Eira, Little White.¡± The two of them also nodded back in response, ¡°Hello, Sister Rebecca.¡± Eira and Little White were both very young. Eira was slightly older, but not even 20, and Little White was even younger. Added up, they were still not as old as Rebecca. Rebecca smiled and nodded, and then sat down at the side. Fang Hao smiled and said, ¡°This is Rejuvenation Spring; it¡¯s good for the body and also has great effects on the skin.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Rebecca quietly acquiesced. Just when the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Pat pat pat!! Footsteps came from the front courtyard. Soon, the door to the backyard was flung open with a bang, and Anjia, with Lorrey in tow, ran in. Without even getting a clear look at the people around, they leaped up high. With a splash, they jumped into the pool. Behind them, Lorrey, holding a red parrot, also leaped high. Creating two splashes of water. Once the mist settled, Anjia finally took a good look at the number of people around. There was one more person. ¡°Ay, Rebecca,¡± Anjia spoke up. ¡°Anjia, Lorrey!¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Anjia responded, then turned to Eira and the others, saying, ¡°That¡¯s Rebecca, the one I told you about who¡¯s really good at Go. Both Lorrey and I mostly lose to her.¡± ¡°Yeah, even the City Lord often struggles to beat her,¡± Lorrey chimed in from the side. Now Eira and Little White realized that the wife of the City Lord Anjia mentioned was the person in front of them. They¡¯ve heard she¡¯s a formidable woman, managing a big city all by herself. ¡°I can teach you; the technique is actually quite simple,¡± Rebecca said with a smile. With the addition of Anjia and Lorrey, the atmosphere around the hot spring pool became much more relaxed. The women gradually found some common topics and began to chat. ¡­ Seeing the women chatting happily, Fang Hao wasn¡¯t in a rush to leave. He took a sip of the fruit wine Little White passed him and opened the Book of Lords, continuing to monitor the chat. In the regional channel, ¡°When is winter going to be over? Right now, I¡¯m even afraid to take it out to pee.¡± ¡°Scary stuff, the price of wood has surpassed that of iron ore. Once the heavy snow passes, I¡¯m going to go out and strip trees, I¡¯ll make a killing off you rich bastards.¡± ¡°Idiot, after the heavy snow, the price of wood will drop. No need to point it out.¡± ¡°Friendly reminder, the iron axes and picks sold by the great Fang Hao haven¡¯t changed in price, you can buy these wood-handled tools. Use the wood for fire and you¡¯re still left with iron as a resource, which is more cost-effective than buying wood directly.¡± ¡°Dammit, if you say it out loud and Fang Hao sees it, what if he raises the prices?¡± ¡°Damn it, the hotpot bases sold by the big man are so in-demand, you can¡¯t even snatch them up.¡± ¡°This kind of weather is indeed perfect for hotpot.¡± ¡°Another day of being envious of the big man¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Have you heard? Fang Hao¡¯s affiliated cities all have glass windows and various kinds of materials to fend off the cold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s got to be a lie. The indigenous city next to my territory doesn¡¯t even have glass. Fang Hao may be awesome, but he only has it for himself, right? Those affiliated cities too?¡± ¡°Exactly. Now you all have deified Fang Hao, thinking he has everything.¡± ¡°You guys might not believe it, but I¡¯ll show you the photo my friend sent me, [Picture].¡± ¡°Damn, it really is glass.¡± ¡°Damn, damn!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s just some of them; it can¡¯t be all of them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disbelieve. My friend says the benefits of joining the big man Fang Hao¡¯s forces are very good. Not only is there glass, there are various materials, and even cannons.¡± ¡°Damn, are we even in the same world? Isn¡¯t it all cold weapons? Where did the cannons come from?¡± ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re all just blabbering, while I¡¯ve already privately messaged big man Fang Hao, requesting to join an affiliate city.¡± ¡°@Zhou Mingnian, Alliance Hierarch, look at other alliances, look at what you¡¯ve been handing out to us.¡± ¡°Shit, don¡¯t tag me.¡± The channel was still a raucous place. Although everyone was complaining about the cold winter, even afraid to pee, on the other hand, winter had reduced the occurrence of special accidents. Wild animals and indigenous people were hibernating, and the territories of the transmigrators were generally more stable as well. Even those bandits who came down the mountain to loot, as long as the city gates weren¡¯t opened voluntarily, with the current level of the transmigrators¡¯ cities, the bandits couldn¡¯t even breach the city walls. Fang Hao was browsing the Book of Lords while occasionally accepting the food Little White brought to his mouth. After soaking for a while, the women¡¯s conversation got merrier. Instead, Fang Hao felt the discomfort of soaking for too long. He soon realized the women¡¯s topics gradually focused on him. Feeling the conversation becoming increasingly awkward and that it might affect his prestige, he got up, took the women upstairs to rest. Chapter 837 - Chapter 837: Chapter 551: Aerial Ship Blueprint Chapter 837: Chapter 551: Aerial Ship Blueprint [Hare Airship Original Parts: Cast Iron Blocks 5, Bronze Ingots 8, Mithril 18, Metal Parts 12, Precision Parts 18, White Steel Plates 5, Glue 22, Thick Leather 8, Essence of Magic 12, Perfect Essence 8.] [Hare Airship Hull: Hardwood 350, Ironized Wood 220, Leather 200, Thick Leather 180, Cast Iron Blocks 150, Fine Iron Ingots 85, Metal Parts 320, Precision Parts 250, Trace of Flying 5, Essence of Magic 3.] [Hare Airship Deck: Hardwood 220, Ironized Wood 180, Thick Leather 150, White Steel Plates 200, Thick Leather 150, Metal Parts 280, Precision Parts 200, Trace of Flying 3, Essence of Magic 1.] [Hare Airship Tower: Hardwood 320, Ironized Wood 200, Leather 180, Thick Leather 150, White Steel Plates 150, Metal Parts 200, Precision Parts 120, Trace of Flying 2, Essence of Magic 1.] [Hare Airship Sail: Thick Leather 120, Swift Eagle Leather 50, Linen Canvas 150, Spun Yarn 120, Precision Parts 50, Trace of Flying 5, Traces of Wind 5, Essence of Magic 3.] (Description: An early Goblin technology aerial ship, it is a vehicle for transporting goods between territories. As time passed, aerial ships were phased out by the Teleportation Array, and the blueprints were archived, with only a few decommissioned ships displayed in Goblin parks and museums for exhibition.) Upon seeing this reward, Fang Hao¡¯s brows first knitted together, then he understood what it was. The first reward for the territory was a main city building. And the first reward for wealth was a decommissioned Goblin transport aerial ship. However, since the Trade Alliance had built the teleportation light screen, these kinds of transport aerial ships had been phased out and hadn¡¯t been sold externally. Though deemed obsolete, the products of Goblin technology were nevertheless surprisingly effective. If this aerial ship was the same kind he was thinking of, the kind that flies in the sky, then he had indeed stumbled upon a huge bargain. He wouldn¡¯t use this thing just to transport goods. During wartime, loaded with cannons on top, might it not be even more effective? Moreover, aerial units were safer in certain situations. They could attack with peace of mind. In an instant, the feeling of elation in Fang Hao¡¯s heart was almost bursting. Being first is great, first. Thank you, system, long live the system. Fang Hao expressed his thanks to the system several times in his heart. Then he observed the aerial ship¡¯s construction requirements again carefully. In the materials, the ¡®Energy Core¡¯ was mentioned again. He needed to figure out a way to get the blueprint for producing ¡®Energy Cores¡¯ as soon as possible; otherwise, several of the blueprints he had couldn¡¯t be mass-produced. Neither could this aerial ship be mass-produced. Apart from the Energy Core, the parts of the aerial ship required a large number of precious materials. The Trace of Flying and Essence of Magic were consumed the most. Next were the Traces of Wind, Perfect Essence, and a special leather material called Swift Eagle Leather. It must be a secondary synthetic material. Now that the world market had emerged, these materials should not be difficult to trade for. After all, with a substantial number of transmigrators around, surely someone must have obtained or found a way to get some. After viewing the second reward, Fang Hao¡¯s face was already full of smiles. Especially the name of the aerial ship, Hare¡­ He liked rabbits, especially the clingy ones. He collected the blueprint and continued to look at the third type. Viscera jar (Orange) [Category: Magic Container] [Ability: Magic Empowerment] [Magic Empowerment]: Magic usage is reduced by 50% and 25% is recovered upon hitting a target. (Description: The power of magic allows Undead Mages to incorporate a portion of energy into their spells, reducing magic consumption.) Uh¡­ Looking at the third reward, Fang Hao¡¯s smile gradually faded. This was a Viscera jar tailored for Undead Mages. Able to hit the enemy, it could reduce the Magic Power consumption by 75%. Currently, the Mage Tower of mages was not yet enhanced with Viscera Jars, which was something he needed. And a 75% increase was quite substantial.Upd@te by novg0.co Combined with the mage¡¯s own recovery, it was nearly like casting without any consumption. But compared to the first two rewards, it seemed slightly less impressive. Besides, Fang Hao adopted a strategy of overwhelming numbers, and once both sides¡¯ forces were entangled in battle, the mages and gunners wouldn¡¯t be very effective. There was no such thing as teammate protection here; the effect of a skill on enemies and allies was the same. A 75% recovery was useful in battle but still made Fang Hao feel like an orange-grade equipment award was wasted. Even if the Viscera jar slot in the Mage Tower remained empty, he still wished it had been an orange-grade troop building blueprint instead! Alas! Even though he felt somewhat dissatisfied, there was no way to change it. A free reward couldn¡¯t demand too much. After collecting the blueprint, he carefully placed the Viscera jar on the ground. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords. In the world channel trading area, he began to buy Trace of Flying, Traces of Wind, Essence of Magic, Perfect Essence, and Energy Cores. And ¡®Swift Eagle Leather¡¯ was added to the list of green leather armor he was selling, with a trade condition of 10 units of Swift Eagle Leather. The grade of this material was not yet clear. He decided to start with an asking price of 10 pieces to test the market, adjusting downward if necessary. After setting up with the Book of Lords, Fang Hao picked up the Viscera jar and walked out of the lord¡¯s mansion. ¡­ Entering the Viscera Museum, a cold chill struck him. Chapter 838 - Chapter 838: Chapter 551, Aerial Ship Blueprint_2 Chapter 838: Chapter 551, Aerial Ship Blueprint_2 This feeling was even more unsettling than the weather outside. A funeral Priest who was processing medicine immediately came over, ¡°My lord.¡± Fang Hao handed the Viscera jar to him, saying, ¡°Place this on the construction site of the Mage Tower.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± the funeral Priest took it and turned to walk inside. Fang Hao glanced at the second floor. The door of a room on the second floor was open, yet Nelson was nowhere to be seen. In these past two months, Nelson had completed the creation of five hero corpses. Two of which were orange heroes of the Dwarven kind, and the other three were blue and green heroes. These five heroes had been assigned by Fang Hao to Eight Peaks Mountain, Bloody Mountain Range, and Frost Wind Mountain Range. They were in charge of guarding the subsidiary cities and deterring any possible issues. When the funeral Priest placed the Viscera jar into the recess of the Mage Tower, An orange halo radiated from the center of the Viscera Museum, spreading outward. It augmented the abilities of all the Undead Mages within the territory. Fang Hao checked the attributes of the Viscera Museum. [Viscera Museum] [Category: Special Building] [Viscera Jars Collected: [Revival][Lightning Speed][Killing Proficiency][Power of Thunder][Magic Empowerment].] [Recruits available: Funeral Priests] [Funeral Priests: Wriggling Spine 1, Death Trace 1.] (Note: Storing various energies inside the Viscera jars enables the troops to possess powerful abilities and create special weapons.) The entire Viscera Museum now had five Viscera jars. Among them, [Power of Thunder] was Dark Gold, [Magic Empowerment] and [Killing Proficiency] were orange, [Lightning Speed] was purple, while the initially stored [Revival] was slightly lower in quality, being blue. However, the effect shown by Revival was quite suitable for the Undead. Through combat, they could recover from their injuries. If it could reach the orange level of Revival, the effect would certainly be better. Fang Hao waved to the funeral Priest and left the Viscera Museum. It was too eerie here, and without good reason, he really did not wish to linger. ¡­ He had just stepped out of the Viscera Museum, when he spotted two young deer carrying little bags, bounding forward while they sowed something along the roadside. ¡°Edis, what are you planting?¡± Fang Hao called out. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s shout, Edis and the other young deer stiffened. They turned their heads and thought about running. Perhaps feeling it was improper to run away, they instead approached with their heads bowed and steps small. ¡°Master!¡± Edis said softly. Like a child who had done something wrong. Fang Hao touched his own face, was he really that scary? ¡°What are you planting?¡± ¡°Moon Flower Grass, Eira told us to plant some,¡± Edis immediately explained. Moon Flower Grass? It sounded familiar. ¡°You plant grass for what, can¡¯t you find that stuff anywhere?¡± Edis immediately explained, ¡°Master, although it¡¯s called grass, Moon Flower Grass is actually a type of flower. It only blooms at night, and when the flowers open, they emit a beautiful glow. They can be planted in places where streetlights don¡¯t reach to provide some faint illumination.¡± Oh, Fang Hao understood now. Nightstones were few, and streetlights covered only residential areas and the Undead industrial zones. The rest of the places were still dark. If they had this Moon Flower Grass, even if the light was faint, it could still provide some illumination. It would be good to plant some along the road. ¡°Alright, go ahead with the planting,¡± Fang Hao nodded and said. ¡°Yes, master,¡± Edis waved to the other young deer hiding behind a distant building, then returned to the roadside to plant the Moon Flower Grass. Returning to the Lord¡¯s Stone Castle, Fang Hao stood at the entrance, looking up at the towering building. [Level 12 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle]. ¡°Level 12, just three more to go,¡± Fang Hao murmured softly. Three rewards, the Viscera jar could be used directly. The other two were impressive looking but temporarily unusable items. It seemed he needed to intensify his collection efforts. Otherwise, the Blueprints could only be viewed, not used, which was quite frustrating. Thinking of this, Fang Hao called over Demitrija and activated the teleportation screen to head to the Bloody Mountains. Continue to recruit more miners. Build more large-scale quarries to increase mining output. ¡­ Afternoon. The screen lit up in the main city¡¯s square. Fang Hao and Demitrija emerged from the screen. After eating lunch. In the Book of Lords, Fang Hao received a private chat from Li Rong. ¡°Not bad, world¡¯s number one, indeed the man I have my eye on.¡± Fang Hao replied, ¡°Big sister, isn¡¯t your adolescence a bit out of place at your age?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the big sister, your whole family are big sisters.¡± ¡°Helpless/!¡± Li Rong continued, ¡°The Mage Association wants me to accompany the Silver Wing City army and confront the Undead army of Odys to the east.¡± Inside the hall, Fang Hao¡¯s hand, which was about to sip tea, paused slightly. He also frowned. He knew that Li Rong had become an apprentice at the Mage Association, and he had even given her the magic book of the Multi-Headed Fire Python Ode. But still, Li Rong was just an apprentice. Participating in a war seemed a bit premature. ¡°They¡¯re sending you? Are you just going there to be cannon fodder?¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Yes, but the president personally told me today. I didn¡¯t outright refuse, just said I¡¯d go home and discuss it with my husband.¡± He didn¡¯t catch the nuance in her words. Fang Hao thought seriously for a moment, actually, Li Rong going there could be beneficial. It seemed that the Mage Association was starting to take transmigrators seriously, and Li Rong was the first transmigrator they intended to cultivate. This also meant that Li Rong had a chance to hold a significant position. Just like Xu Haide¡¯s status as a saint, conjuring a Mage Woman or something wouldn¡¯t be bad. Moreover, afterward, she could also monitor the situation on the eastern border. And keep him informed with the intelligence. Come wartime, they could also coordinate based on the situation, all these were advantageous for him. The only concern was safety. Seeing that Fang Hao had not spoken for a while, Li Rong sent a message, ¡°What are you doing, did you fall asleep?¡± Fang Hao replied, ¡°I was just thinking, going to the east under safe conditions could be of great help to us, at least it could keep us informed about the situation there.¡± ¡°Big cry/, are you trying to kill your wife for insurance money?¡± ¡°Fool you, ensuring safety won¡¯t be an issue; moreover, the current weather isn¡¯t as harsh as in winter. You could consider it,¡± Fang Hao said. This was his thought, but if Li Rong was really averse to it and didn¡¯t intend to go, he wouldn¡¯t force her. The other side maintained silence for a while, then after two or three minutes. Li Rong¡¯s message came through again, ¡°If you ensure my safety, I can go.¡± ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll arrange a hero to protect you. If there¡¯s real danger, I¡¯ll teleport you back,¡± he said. ¡°Alright, I agree. I¡¯ll be back in the city in half an hour. Fetch me then, I¡¯ll need to talk to the factory and the shops.¡± ¡°Okay, no problem.¡± ¡­ Half an hour later. Li Rong emerged from the screen. Different from her previous leather armor, now Li Rong wore a form-fitting Mage robe. With flames embroidered on the cuffs and hem, symbolizing her identity as a Fire Elemental Mage. She indeed looked every bit the aloof female Mage. Li Rong looked around, saw Fang Hao, and a purple-skinned woman. She frowned. Her attention bypassed Fang Hao and she began to scrutinize the woman intently. Small face, delicate features. Long black hair, pointed ears. Wearing leather armor, a dagger with a strange design hung at her waist. So beautiful! No wonder no matter how she flirted, Fang Hao never took the bait. The quality of the women around him was so high. Especially one with purple skin, wonder if it¡¯s specially painted or something? ¡°Sit down!¡± Fang Hao motioned. Without saying much, Li Rong quietly sat down. Fang Hao continued, ¡°This is Li Rong, City Lord of a subsidiary city of our territory, managing the Fairy Dream Tower.¡± Then he said to Li Rong, ¡°This is one of our territory¡¯s heroes, Morse.¡± The two nodded to each other, acknowledging the introduction. Chapter 839 - Chapter 839: Chapter 552, Li Zhenhu, you are here Chapter 839: Chapter 552, Li Zhenhu, you are here Fang Hao continued, ¡°Morse, this time when you accompany Li Rong to the border city of the Federation, you have no other task but to ensure her safety. Even if it means running away with her if there¡¯s danger.¡± This was the bodyguard Fang Hao had arranged for Li Rong. It was also Morse¡¯s first assignment. Since coming to the territory, Morse had not yet been given any tasks. This would be his first. Upon hearing Fang Hao¡¯s words, Li Rong¡¯s eyes immediately sparkled with joy. She could see the hero class and name, and a purple hero was something that had not appeared in the regional channel. Not to mention assassinating someone, protecting her should be enough. Plus, she wasn¡¯t an important figure, so enemies wouldn¡¯t specifically come to assassinate her. As a former spy, she should be able to avoid danger by being cautious. Her gaze joyfully turned to Morse, filled with anticipation. Morse nodded expressionlessly, ¡°Okay!¡± Wow, so cool and detached. ¡°Great, then you stay with Li Rong for now, get to know each other,¡± Fang Hao said, then got up directly, ¡°Li Rong, let¡¯s go check out a few shops.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Li Rong nodded. Fang Hao released teleportation again, and the three of them stepped into the teleportation space. He went over instructions for the city¡¯s shops again. ¡­ Night. After sending Li Rong off, Fang Hao went to the backyard to soak in the hot spring. Nighttime entertainment options here were really sparse. Besides soaking in hot springs, it was just sleep. While enjoying a massage from Little White, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to browse. In the regional channel, it was mostly recruiting messages from various alliances and courting advertisements from men and women. After all, a region is still within a certain range. Maybe your online love interest could actually come over. But in the world channel, it was different. No matter how good the chat was, you couldn¡¯t see or touch the other person. He glanced at the regional channel. Then quickly switched to the world channel. The speed of messages was still incredibly fast. He slowed down to see what everyone was talking about. ¡°Selling Giant Spine Crocodile Scale Armor (Blue), high-level blue armor. Only three pieces for sale, highest bidder wins.¡± ¡°Buying 2000 units of terracotta, who has terracotta? Buying terracotta¡­¡± ¡°Selling Large Fishing Boat (Blue) and various types of seafood, available in large quantities. If interested, private message me to negotiate a price.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s scrolling paused slightly. He opened the detailed information of the person. [Koji Sakai]. Japanese? The format of the name was easy to recognize. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then closed the chat. He planned to open hot pot restaurants in various subsidiary cities, and the supply of seafood could not rely solely on Fu Lei. So he wanted to choose a supplier. But seeing that kind of name, he thought it better to drop the idea. There was no rush to open a restaurant anyway. The chat was still rapidly updating. Various messages of selling and buying kept appearing. Finally, Fang Hao saw the information he needed. ¡°Selling, Swift Eagle Leather, the world¡¯s first leather sought after by Fang Hao, one piece of green equipment for two pieces of leather, only ten left, hurry if you want to buy.¡± Two pieces of leather for one piece of green equipment. Wow, they really dared to ask for that much. And they were using him as a slogan, as if his buying this leather in the channel had convinced them it was a special material. Fang Hao opened a private chat and found Zhang Bin. He said, ¡°Zhang Bin, talk to this guy and see if you can find out how this leather is made.¡± Zhang Bin quickly replied, ¡°Sure thing, boss.¡± Fang Hao continued scrolling for a while. Soon, Zhang Bin sent a message, ¡°Boss, aside from the person you mentioned, I asked another person. The two of them said they got the leather from a Tier 5 Fire Feather Eagle and a Tier 6 Fiery Giant Eagle, which they processed a second time to make Swift Eagle Leather. I think it should be made from high-level hawk or eagle leather after a secondary processing.¡± After finishing, Zhang Bin sent over five pieces of Swift Eagle Leather. It seemed he had bought them while gathering information. If you don¡¯t buy, the other party might not tell you so much. ¡°OK, got it,¡± Fang Hao traded for the five pieces of leather and sent a reply. So it was leather from hawks or eagles that underwent a secondary processing. With this, Fang Hao now had a clear target. He ended the chat with Zhang Bin. Fang Hao then bought two blueprints in the channel. Advanced Spirit Field (Blue) and Sturdy Top Well (Green). The blue Spirit Field blueprint could increase crop yield, while the Sturdy Top Well could prevent well water pollution, ensuring the water¡¯s clarity and purity. Even though he had the Rejuvenation Spring, the well was still in use. Now with the Sturdy Top Well, he could also replace the plain white wells. After sharing the two blueprints with his City Lords, he scrolled through the world channel a bit more, but, finding nothing else he needed, he went back to the room with Eira and Little White to rest. Ah! He had worked diligently through the whole winter. How come there was no change in those two? ¡­ The next day. Fang Hao woke from his sleep. Gently touching the softness beside him, he stretched and rolled out of bed. His feet had just touched the floor. when the Book of Lords made a crisp sound. ¡°Someone¡¯s spying on me? How timely.¡± He opened the Book of Lords to see. It was Cao Junming, the one in the Dwarf city who had taken the revolver blueprint, aiming to develop the revolver. Chapter 840 - Chapter 840: Chapter 552, Li Zhenhu, you are here _2 Chapter 840: Chapter 552, Li Zhenhu, you are here _2 In Dong Jiayue¡¯s and other transmigrators¡¯ mouths, their appraisal of him wasn¡¯t high. But this man seemingly really had some talent. At least the bolt-action rifle was something he helped the Dwarves improve upon. Could it be that the revolver was made? On second thought, since winter had passed, it was about time. Opening the private chat, however, left Fang Hao somewhat disappointed. ¡°Fang Hao big bro, Lord Bellerga hopes you can find the time to come over for a trip; there¡¯s something important he wants to discuss with you.¡± Bellerga was looking for him? Having a transmigrator around really did make things easier. Not even the Sound-transmitting Shell could offer this convenience. ¡°Sure, tell him to wait a moment; I¡¯ll head over immediately.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After ending the private chat with the other person, his back was gently embraced by a soft body. ¡°Master, why did you get up so early? Don¡¯t you ever feel tired?¡± Eira said gently. Fang Hao patted her head. ¡°You all can sleep a bit longer; no need to get up this early.¡± Eira didn¡¯t say much but instead kneeled up and began helping him get dressed. After breakfast. Having called for Demitrija, Fang Hao activated the transportation light screen and headed to Gray Iron City. He appeared in a hall that had a modern style yet was exceptionally luxurious. He found that Bellerga and a group of Dwarf ministers were all gathered in the hall. It didn¡¯t seem like a meeting. They likely knew Fang Hao would appear here and were waiting for him. ¡°Milord,¡± Bellerga saluted. ¡°Milord¡­¡± The group of Dwarves simultaneously saluted. Fang Hao waved his hand, indicating that everyone could rise, and then sat down to one side. There weren¡¯t many Dwarves present. But there were still over twenty people, likely all confidants Bellerga had promoted. Once everyone was seated, Attendants brought over roasted tea that suited the Dwarves¡¯ taste. Seeing that everyone had taken their seats, Fang Hao also asked, ¡°Bellerga, what¡¯s the important matter?¡± Bellerga spoke softly, ¡°Milord, the Human Federation sent a message yesterday regarding the situation at the Great Cemetery of Odys, hoping that the Dwarves could provide reinforcements and planning to purchase a certain amount of armaments.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s brows furrowed instantly. Were the Undead and humans already on the brink of war? They had even started to ask the Dwarves for help. ¡°How did the Federation communicate with you?¡± Bellerga organized his words and said, ¡°The Dwarves and Human Federation maintain contact through the Sound-transmitting Shell. They mentioned that the situation with the Great Cemetery of Odys is increasingly dire; several negotiations have failed, so they want the Dwarves to be prepared in advance to jointly resist the Undead, and they have also placed orders for five thousand cannons as well as tens of thousands of crossbow equipment.¡± Fang Hao fell into thought. Several rounds of negotiations had failed; it seemed like they truly were on the verge of war. ¡°Bellerga, according to Dwarf tradition, after receiving a message from humans, how would you handle it?¡± Bellerga said, ¡°Milord, humans and Dwarves have a mutual agreement to provide aid to each other against the Blood Clan and the Undead. But peace has lasted for several decades; it¡¯s a matter of whether or not to maintain this agreement.¡± ¡°What about the armaments they want to buy?¡± ¡°In recent years, Dwarves have ceased selling new-type armaments externally. Humans buying now could be to cope with the Undead, or it might also be an excuse to update a new batch of firearms,¡± analyzed Bellerga. ¡°Bellerga, now that you are in charge of Eight Peaks Mountain, what do you think?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Given Bellerga¡¯s fluent responses, it was clear he and his subordinates had already discussed the matter thoroughly in advance. Fang Hao also wanted to hear his opinion. Bellerga didn¡¯t hide anything and directly said, ¡°Milord, I think we can sell the armaments to them. It¡¯s a considerable income, but regarding the support of troops, Gray Iron City just ended a big battle and there¡¯s no spare manpower to help the humans at this moment.¡± Fang Hao agreed in his heart after listening. Gray Iron City had just been through a great battle with the Undead; indeed, there was an excuse to refuse sending troops. The armaments and equipment could be sold to them. To boost the human side¡¯s combat power and in turn deplete the Great Cemetery¡¯s forces. ¡°Didn¡¯t they purchase rifles?¡± ¡°No, the Human Federation is not very accustomed to muskets, and perhaps they haven¡¯t received news about rifles yet.¡± ¡°Well then, proceed as per your plan.¡± ¡°Yes, milord,¡± Bellerga nodded and looked back down at the group of Dwarf ministers, ¡°You all heard the Milord¡¯s words, go prepare now!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The group of Dwarves filed out one after another. ¡­ What followed. Bellerga reported the recent situation in Gray Iron City to Fang Hao. All the mines had resumed extraction and the smelteries within the city, as well as various workshops, had also resumed production. The Dwarves returned to their posts and gradually returned to their everyday lives. This was something Bellerga had handled quite well. He had some prestige among the Dwarves and was able to stabilize their emotions. There were no large-scale disturbances. After Bellerga finished his report, Fang Hao stood up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, head to the warehouse. I¡¯ll directly manufacture the armaments, making it easier for you to sell them together to the Federation.¡± ¡°Thank you, milord, this is wonderful.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go.¡± They left the Royal Palace and went straight to the armaments warehouse. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and started making five thousand cannons and the corresponding number of crossbows. As well as the projectiles and crossbow bolts. They appeared instantly. A large number of Dwarves were called over to begin sorting through the warehouse full of armaments. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look at the research institute.¡± ¡°Milord, this way, please.¡± ¡­ Noon. Jinmastu City. As winter left and spring arrived, the number of residents entering and leaving through the city gates was starting to increase. Chapter 841 - Chapter 841: Chapter 552, Li Zhenhu, you are here _3 Chapter 841: Chapter 552, Li Zhenhu, you are here _3 Villagers from nearby villages also brought their own goods to exchange for merchandise in the city. North City Gate. The city gate guards, faced with the enormous golden lion before them, were breaking out in a cold sweat. They clutched their weapons tightly, fearing any dangerous situation that might unfold. ¡°Miss, your mount cannot enter,¡± said the guard. Lan Yang stroked the lion¡¯s neck and glared, ¡°Why not, when they can bring in carriages? Why can¡¯t mine enter?¡± The golden lion also bared its sharp teeth, expressing its dissatisfaction. Taking a step back, the guard said, ¡°There¡¯s a rule in the city: apart from horses, any mounts or pets deemed dangerous are not allowed inside. There¡¯s a public stable over there where you can leave it for the time being.¡± Lan Yang glanced at the stable and then at the goods on her carriage. In the end, she nodded, ¡°Alright, go and leave the mounts there.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± came the reply. A group of subordinates took various mounts to the stable. Only two horses were left to pull the carriage. After the mounts were stored away, Lan Yang, hands on her hips, led her people into the city. They arrived at an empty stall. All the goods were displayed on it. These were spoils of war she had obtained from attacking various mountain strongholds in winter; she had no use for them herself, and they were difficult to sell in her own channel. Now that the weather was warming, she brought them to the city to sell. She also planned to buy some seeds to cultivate crops upon her return. With the goods all laid out, Lan Yang began to shout loudly to attract customers. Soon, a crowd gathered in front of the stall, inquiring about prices. Her stall was the busiest in the entire market. ¡°My lord, you are truly formidable,¡± a soldier flattered her from the side. Lan Yang¡¯s face was gleeful as she pinched her somewhat dry throat and said, ¡°If I let the Ball of Fur and Mighty Bear come in and perform a couple of stunts, it would be even livelier.¡± ¡°Er¡­ yes, of course,¡± the soldiers smiled awkwardly. Just as the stall was bustling and business was booming, a group of people approached with a menacing air. ¡°Hey, hey, hey~! Who let you set up a stall here?¡± The crowd around the stall was pushed aside as six robust men elbowed their way in, shouting loudly. The sheer aggression of their approach scared many of the shoppers away. Nobody wanted to get into trouble. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Lan Yang stepped forward. ¡°Hmph! A problem? Have you paid the management fee, the stall fee?¡± Lan Yang¡¯s brows furrowed. Management fee? Stall fee? She had been to Jinmastu before and had never heard of such fees. And these terms, they sounded like modern concepts, didn¡¯t they? This era was different from the modern one. Most of those coming to the city to sell goods were farmers from nearby villages. They couldn¡¯t bring anything of much value. Some wanted to trade a couple of Beast Skins or wild chickens in exchange for tools, others brought vegetables to exchange for salt. That¡¯s how they traded. Who had money to pay all those fees? ¡°Since when are there such fees? You aren¡¯t just thugs, are you!¡± ¡°Thugs, my ass,¡± the leading man cursed, then turned to his comrades and said, ¡°They¡¯re setting up illegally; confiscate all their stuff.¡± At that, the men moved to take everything from the stall. ¡°Who dares!¡± Lan Yang shouted angrily. ¡°Oh, look, they¡¯ve turned the skies upside down. In this city, you dare make trouble?¡± The men were not the least bit intimidated. At that moment, a deep voice came from behind them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Everyone looked to see a bulky man with a face full of scars, dressed in an expensive noble¡¯s robe, standing at the back of the crowd. Instantly, the men¡¯s eyes lit up, and their fierce gaze turned to fawning. ¡°Boss, these people are selling without paying taxes,¡± one of them said. However, Lan Yang¡¯s gaze met that of the man¡¯s. In each other¡¯s eyes flashed a look of mutual hatred. ¡°Li Zhenhu, so you¡¯re here.¡± Chapter 842 - Chapter 842: Chapter 553, Lan Yang Gets Captured Chapter 842: Chapter 553, Lan Yang Gets Captured The man was not unfamiliar. He was none other than Zhen Hu, one of the three leaders who had escaped from the Life-taker camp. Back then, Fang Hao was capturing him, and Lan Yang was also looking for clues about him. Unexpectedly, they had encountered him here. Moreover, from his appearance, he seemed to be doing quite well in the city, having become the head of the city management. She had been curious earlier about who had instructed these people to pay this tax and that tax. It turned out it was indeed bandits who had switched professions. When Lan Yang fixed her gaze on Zhen Hu. Zhen Hu¡¯s heart also trembled. At first sight, he had recognized Lan Yang as well. Here, they had actually met. Yesterday, when the world channel was activated, he too had checked the world channel at the first opportunity. He was still sending messages in the world channel, teasing. But when he saw everyone starting to discuss Fang Hao, who was ranked first on the leaderboard. Zhen Hu grew nervous. He immediately checked the leaderboard, and indeed, Fang Hao was ranked first in three categories. As someone who had ambushed Fang Hao before, he could not calm down at all. Everyone who had once provoked Fang Hao was dead. He had only narrowly escaped. Originally, he planned to lie low in the city for a good while. Now that he had been directly caught by Lan Yang, panic, shock, and fear overwhelmed Zhen Hu¡¯s heart. His gaze fleetingly touched on the Book of City Lord at Lan Yang¡¯s waist. A fierce light flashed in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± Zhen Hu pretended to be calm and asked in a stern voice, still maintaining an air of officialdom. One of his lackeys immediately said, ¡°Boss, they haven¡¯t paid the stall fee and the management fee.¡± Zhen Hu, with his hands behind his back, said coldly, ¡°According to Jinmastu¡¯s latest regulations, markets and stalls within the city are to be managed and planned uniformly. Stall fees and management fees must be paid. Since you haven¡¯t paid, the goods are confiscated, and you¡¯ll come with us until the payment is completed, then you can return.¡± No one around the stalls spoke. It seemed that this so-called latest regulation was indeed real, and others had paid as well. At the same time. More people had gathered again behind Zhen Hu. All together, there were at least twenty or thirty people. Some faces, Lan Yang had seen before. They were Zhen Hu¡¯s former bandit subordinates. All with numerous lives on their hands. It was absurd that they were now dressed in standard leather armor, appearing like those in charge of public security in the city. ¡°Zhen Hu, you¡¯re actually here,¡± Lan Yang said through gritted teeth. Zhen Hu had killed so many people, transmigrators and natives alike, hundreds in total. Now, he had even become a leader in the city, and Lan Yang almost wished she could stab him to death right there. Zhen Hu ignored Lan Yang¡¯s words. Instead, he signaled his subordinates. More than twenty lackeys blocked all the exits. And Lan Yang and her people realized something was wrong. This was Jinmastu; they were trapped here and couldn¡¯t escape. Lan Yang¡¯s face turned ugly, and a heavy infantryman said in a low voice, ¡°My lord, send the message out first, otherwise it could be dangerous.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lan Yang stepped back two paces, hiding behind the guards. She opened the Book of City Lord and sent a message to Fang Hao. ¡°Zhen Hu in Jinmastu has trapped me and my people in the city.¡± When Zhen Hu saw Lan Yang opening the Book of City Lord, his face instantly changed. He wanted to have someone go up, but it wasn¡¯t quick enough. With a cold expression, he said, ¡°Take them down.¡± ¡­ ¡°We still need to speed up the revolver¡¯s development; from what we see now, it¡¯s still too slow,¡± Fang Hao said after hearing the report from several developers, with the table covered in blueprints. ¡°Yes yes, we¡¯ll try to speed it up,¡± Cao Junming immediately responded. The dwarves beside him also nodded vigorously, seeming very afraid of Fang Hao. Fang Hao looked at the blueprints, then glanced at the developers. He straightforwardly said, ¡°I want to see a mature sample of the revolver within a week. If it¡¯s not completed, everyone will be sent to mine.¡± This¡­. Perspiration began to appear on everyone¡¯s foreheads. Who wanted to mine? They definitely didn¡¯t want to go to those dark mines. Cao Junming wiped the sweat from his forehead and still spoke softly, ¡°Lord, a week is too short. Give us one month, and I definitely will present a sample.¡± ¡°A month? The blueprint came out before winter, what have you guys been doing all this time?¡± ¡°This¡­.¡± Cao Junming didn¡¯t know how to respond. It¡¯s no wonder Fang Hao was upset. When he arrived here with Bellerga, the people here had been yawning and just waking up. The blueprints Cao Junming presented had no significant changes from last time. Fang Hao suspected that they hadn¡¯t done anything at all this winter. It wasn¡¯t about developing other equipment; there had been no progress on the revolver. Showing him a blueprint and babbling a bunch of jargon as if he was a fool. ¡°Cao Junming, you have one week. If it¡¯s not done, you¡¯ll be the first to mine,¡± Fang Hao said, then turned and walked away. The people behind Cao Junming went weak in the legs and collapsed on the floor. They quickly got up and started reorganizing the blueprints, sending parts to be manufactured at the factory. A week was too short; they likely couldn¡¯t even produce the parts. As Fang Hao left the research institute, he began contemplating how to increase these people¡¯s efficiency. Without a leader in the industry, these guys would slack off whenever they wanted, waking up even later than him, which wasn¡¯t a solution. Chapter 843 - Chapter 843: Chapter 553, Lan Yang is Captured_2 Chapter 843: Chapter 553, Lan Yang is Captured_2 The World Channel opened, and lords from all over the world were competing in an equipment race. Their negligence could very well kill everyone. They needed to find someone to take charge. Someone who could set clear work objectives. Thinking this, he walked briskly outside. When he reached the central square, the Book of Lords made a notification sound. It seemed that people had been seeking him out more frequently lately. He opened it to see. It was a private message from Lan Yang. But when Fang Hao saw the content, his brow furrowed instantly. ¡°Li Zhenhu? Darn¡­¡± Seeing the message from Lan Yang, Fang Hao knew something was wrong. Given Li Zhenhu¡¯s character, there was a good chance Lan Yang was in danger now. Fang Hao immediately sent a message to Lan Yang asking for details. But he received no reply. Noticing Fang Hao¡¯s grave expression, Bellerga at his side also realized something had happened. He immediately asked, ¡°My lord, is there a problem?¡± Fang Hao asked, ¡°Is it possible to contact the human city of Jinmastu?¡± Bellerga shook his head, ¡°Gray Iron City only maintains contact with Silver Wing City and cannot reach the other cities.¡± After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao still said, ¡°You immediately contact Silver Wing City, cancel the sale of the equipment, and tell them Jinmastu has captured a transmigrator named Lan Yang. Ensure her personal safety.¡± To go to Jinmastu, one couldn¡¯t just teleport there directly. Even if Fang Hao rushed there now, it would take several hours. By the time he got there, the person might already be in trouble. So the first thing to ensure was that Lan Yang could survive. Hearing Fang Hao¡¯s instructions, Bellerga nodded, ¡°Understood, my lord. I will contact Silver Wing City immediately.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Fang Hao nodded and then did not continue to stay. He activated the teleportation screen to return to the main city. Bellerga, on the other hand, quickly headed to the Royal Palace to contact Silver Wing City. ¡­ In Jinmastu, the marketplace. Lan Yang closed the Book of City Lord and took off the beast whip hanging from her waist. Crack!! With a swing of the whip in her hand, she struck the cart in front of her. The wooden handrail of the cart instantly shattered, and splinters flew everywhere. The surrounding residents scattered, hiding in the distance to continue watching the excitement. At the same time, they whispered about the deeds of Li Zhenhu and his men lately. ¡°What, you dare to make a move in the city? Not afraid of dying?¡± Li Zhenhu stepped forward from behind, waved his hand lightly, and a group of underlings surrounded a few people. Lan Yang stared at him firmly. What she wanted most was to kill Li Zhenhu. But she was well aware that Li Zhenhu had taken most of the wealth from the mountain bandit camp. And now he was dressed in noble attire; it looked like he had bought himself a title with money. In Jinmastu, she was on his turf. ¡°Li Zhenhu, is it really just about not paying some stall tax? I¡¯ll make it up to you,¡± Lan Yang said loudly, suppressing the rage in her heart. Although she was naturally irreverent, she was not foolish. Falling into the hands of Li Zhenhu, she was well aware of what her fate would be. Since she had discovered Li Zhenhu¡¯s whereabouts, she could settle the scores with him later. After listening to her, Li Zhenhu¡¯s face remained dark, his eyes shifting rapidly, and eventually becoming even colder as he said loudly, ¡°She¡¯s causing trouble on the street, kill them all.¡± ¡°Kill!¡± Li Zhenhu¡¯s underlings, all with a background as mountain bandits, had their own combat power. Each one drew their blade from their waist, and a fierce aura instantly emanated from them. Shouting like robbers on a raid, they charged towards Lan Yang and her companions. They separated and regrouped, showing some semblance of coordinated combat. Seeing the other side had drawn their weapons, it was clear that if Lan Yang did not fight back, she could only wait to die. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Try not to kill anyone.¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than the whip in her hand lashed out again. Crack! With a loud snap, the whip struck one of the underlings on the wrist. His face contorted in pain, his weapon fell to the ground, and a jagged wound opened on his wrist, flesh peeling back. The little brother held onto his wrist, howling loudly in pain. People never expected that, despite her petite appearance and dark complexion, the young girl. Wielded her whip with exceptional ferocity. More and more people began rushing forward to attack. Meanwhile, the whip in Lan Yang¡¯s hand moved faster and faster, like a black snake flicking its tongue, the tip relentlessly striking the enemies¡¯ shoulders, wrists, necks, and other unprotected areas. After each strike, those hit would hold the spot and howl loudly in pain. The force was not light. The rest of the group also surged forward, engaging in battle with the heavy sword infantry. Though Li Zhenhu¡¯s side had the advantage in numbers. Most were bandits and street thugs by origin, and their combat power was certainly inferior compared to formally recruited soldiers. The two sides struggled, but the situation remained in deadlock. ¡°Kill them, quickly!¡± Li Zhenhu urged loudly. His henchmen once again charged forward recklessly. Lan Yang lashed out with her whip again. This time, instead of striking, the whip coiled around a man like a spirit snake, pulling him in front of her. Reaching out, she grabbed a dagger in her hand. And held it against the man¡¯s throat. ¡°Li Zhenhu, order your men to back off, or I will kill him and see how you continue to be the boss!¡± Lan Yang shouted. The faces of the attackers who rushed up changed instantaneously, all looking toward Li Zhenhu. ¡°Good, very good, you little girl do have some skill,¡± Li Zhenhu said somberly, his face filled with resentment, ¡°Come back first.¡± His subordinates, looking ragged, all retreated. They hadn¡¯t expected these people to be so fierce. Their numbers were greater, yet they were beaten into such a state. The henchman who was being held tried to resist and struggle. Lan Yang knees him from behind right in the groin, and he immediately curled up without struggling any further. ¡°Take us out of the city,¡± Lan Yang demanded. Li Zhenhu scoffed, ¡°You won¡¯t make it out.¡± As the standoff continued, a group of patrol guards wearing uniform armor and carrying iron swords rushed over. The captain, with a grim expression, surveyed the scene. He said coldly, ¡°Dare to cause trouble in the city, do you all want to die?¡± Li Zhenhu looked disparagingly at Li Rong, straightened his collar, and stepped forward, ¡°Captain, these people refused to pay the City Lord¡¯s management fee and even wounded people on the streets with weapons.¡± The captain frowned upon seeing Li Zhenhu, then looked at the smashed stalls and Lan Yang and the others. He ordered harshly, ¡°Arrest them all, and execute any who resist on the spot.¡± Shh shh shh!! All the soldiers drew their swords in unison, and the crossbows loaded with bolts aimed from behind, also pointed at the group from afar. Seeing this, Lan Yang knew they wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the city. She signaled her people to lay down their weapons and then shouted loudly, ¡°I am the sister of the City Lord of Lyss City, I demand that you ensure my safety and contact Lyss City, we will compensate you for your losses.¡± The soldiers, who had been about to forcefully suppress these people, suddenly paused in their actions. Their gazes shifted back to the captain. Immediately, Li Zhenhu explained, ¡°Captain, they are a transmigrator group, there is no way she could be any City Lord¡¯s sister. Arrest them.¡± At this time, the market was in chaos. Forget about the stalls, the spectators had crowded around in three layers both inside and out. The captain gestured, ¡°Take them away, lock them in the dungeon first.¡± ¡­ The dungeon for serious offenders. Lan Yang and her companions, with heavy shackles, sat on the rotten straw mats, leaning against the damp walls. The air was filled with the cold and rotten smell, even more disgusting and nauseating than when they were hiding in the cave. Sitting here, she realized her impulsiveness. Li Zhenhu might look burly and brainless, but he was extremely cunning. He was probably already plotting how to kill them off. And in this era, there was a deep-seated class system. Nobles sometimes didn¡¯t even need a trial to kill someone, these sorts of incidents wouldn¡¯t even disturb the City Lord of the city. The death would be silent and unnoticed. ¡°Does Li Zhenhu want to get rid of me quickly to prevent the boss from rescuing me? Doesn¡¯t he fear the boss would kill him outright?¡± ¡°No, he won¡¯t kill me, because the boss would still have him executed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doomed; I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to get out of here.¡± Chapter 844 - Chapter 844: Chapter 554, Need Someone Chapter 844: Chapter 554, Need Someone His face growing uglier by the moment, Lan Yang thought to himself. With the Book of the City Lord taken away, they had no means at their disposal. Just as his mind was racing. Clang! The iron door at the end of the corridor opened. The sound of footsteps approached from afar, and soon, a dungeon guard, followed by several guards, walked in. The dungeon guard pointed at Lan Yang. ¡°You, come out!¡± Lan Yang¡¯s expression changed, and the other heavy sword infantrymen confined with her immediately shielded her behind them. ¡°I am from Lyss City, think carefully about what you¡¯re doing,¡± Lan Yang shouted loudly. The dungeon guard sneered. Someone from Lyss City? Anyone with even a slight connection wouldn¡¯t have been sent directly here. ¡°Come out, or we wouldn¡¯t mind shooting your men dead and then dragging you out,¡± the dungeon guard said coldly. The guards behind him immediately reached for the crossbow bolts on their backs. Lan Yang was silent for a moment, then stood up. ¡°My lord, don¡¯t go out, it¡¯s more dangerous out there.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord, you can¡¯t go with them,¡± the heavy sword infantrymen all tried to stop her. They were also frustrated, as those troublemakers clearly had no real skill, yet had backing from these people. Lan Yang looked back at them and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish, wait for someone to save us.¡± The heavy sword infantrymen fell silent. Lan Yang walked towards the front of the iron cage. The guard opened the iron cage and made way. Those who had followed him in were actually full of caution. This woman was not easy to deal with; she had taken down four or five men on the outside. Lan Yang stepped out of the iron cage and followed the men out. ¡­ Jinmastu, City Lord¡¯s Mansion. On the spacious bed, City Lord Izikir was expending his remaining energy on a maid. In the middle of his exertion, a series of urgent knocks suddenly came from the door. Izikir continued his oscillations as if deaf to the sound, his body slick with sweat. Finally, after letting out an angry roar, he heard the knocking at the door. He pulled up his trousers, his bulky body slipped into a leather poncho. Smack! He slapped the maid on the butt and said, ¡°Stop playing dead, go open the door.¡± The maid quickly rose, ran to the door, and opened it. A neatly dressed butler stood outside. Paying no heed to the strange smell wafting from the room, he stepped forward twice, ¡°City Lord.¡± Izikir¡¯s face was filled with displeasure. He hated being disturbed at such times, as it affected his performance. He moved his corpulent body to the side and sat down. Pouring himself a glass of fruit wine, he savored it before inquiring, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, to rush in like this?¡± The old butler bowed slightly, glancing at the disheveled maid beside him. ¡°You, go out.¡± The maid looked at Izikir, and seeing him nod, she picked up the scattered clothes from the floor and ran out. When there were no others in the room. The butler began to speak, ¡°Lord Izikir, Silver Wing City has just sent a message that we¡¯ve captured a transmigrator, an important person, and to ensure her safety.¡± Caught Silver Wing City¡¯s person? Isn¡¯t that madness? The only ones capable of passing messages from Silver Wing City across the Hundred Cities were a few powerful entities. The Hall of Justice and the Church, or someone associated with a bigshot in the city. Although he was the ruler of Jinmastu, he was equally reluctant to provoke Silver Wing City. Izikir put down his wine glass, ¡°Who is this transmigrator from Silver Wing City, what did she do, and has the investigation been clear?¡± He decided to ask for details first. As long as it wasn¡¯t too serious, he would release her immediately. Silver Wing City was busy preparing for the war with the Undead; he didn¡¯t want to draw their focus toward himself. Just as the butler was about to speak. An attendant stepped into the room with urgency, reporting in a grave tone, ¡°Lord City Lord, the Trade Alliance has sent someone, they say there¡¯s urgent business to discuss with you.¡± Not far behind the attendant stood a Goblin in a black suit. No one overlooked him due to his small stature. Because he represented the Trade Alliance, a neutral power, playing the role of merchant. Yet their influence and wealth far exceeded the Federation of Hundred Cities. Frowning, Izikir gestured to the butler to wait and said, ¡°Please let the gentleman from the Trade Alliance come in.¡± The attendant stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture. Adjusting his glasses, the Goblin walked into the room with purposeful strides. After giving a slight bow, he spoke blandly, ¡°City Lord Izikir, I come on behalf of the Trade Council requesting that you ensure the safety of one individual.¡± Hearing this, Izikir¡¯s heart gave a sharp jolt. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lan Yang, a human transmigrator, was captured today in Jinmastu City. The Trade Alliance does not intervene in the internal matters of the cities, but I ask that you ensure her personal safety until her guilt is confirmed, Lord City Lord.¡± Izikir glanced sideways at the butler, who subtly nodded. Confirming that he too was referring to the person named Lan Yang. At this moment, Izikir was even more astounded; just who was this transmigrator to have both Silver Wing City and the Trade Alliance requesting her protection? He dared not offend Silver Wing City, nor did he wish to provoke the Trade Alliance. The development of Jinmastu indeed relied on the channel of the Trade Alliance. Without further delay, Izikir said, ¡°Butler, go check on this transmigrator named Lan Yang.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± the butler rushed off, while Izikir told the Goblin, ¡°Sir, please wait for me in the hall for a moment, I¡¯ll get ready and then provide you with an answer.¡± Chapter 845 - Chapter 845: Chapter 554, Demand for People_2 Chapter 845: Chapter 554, Demand for People_2 The goblin nodded, ¡°Very well, Lord Izikir.¡± The goblin was taken away, and Izikir quickly got dressed. He also hurried towards the hall. Inside the hall. The goblin, the butler, had long been waiting. And in the middle of the hall, stood a soldier in armor. With a glance, Izikir understood the situation. He sat down and asked, ¡°The people you¡¯ve captured?¡± The Captain hung his head low, clearly uneasy, as sweat began to appear on his forehead. ¡°Yes, my lord, these people were setting up stalls in the city market without paying the stall fees. They got into a conflict with the new market supervisor, Li Zhenhu, and his men. I was leading the patrol team at the time, and we apprehended them,¡± he said. Obviously, the matter had escalated, and the Captain didn¡¯t dare to fabricate any lies. There were many witnesses at the time; a simple inquiry would reveal the truth, so there was no hiding it. Furthermore, both parties had drawn their weapons, and he had merely followed procedures, so none of this could be blamed on him. After hearing the report, Izikir¡¯s flesh trembled with anger. This Li Zhenhu, he remembered, had come up with the idea of charging market fees to increase revenue. He hadn¡¯t expected trouble to arise so quickly. And to cause such a commotion over a stall fee. Even involving Silver Wing City and the Trade Alliance¡ªthis was absurd! Izikir pointed with his hand and immediately said, ¡°Go and release them, if they¡¯re missing even a finger, I will bury you alive.¡± This¡­ The Captain¡¯s body trembled. But he didn¡¯t move his feet. ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry up,¡± urged Izikir. The Captain raised his pale face and stammered, ¡°Lord City Lord, Li Zhenhu has just requested that the woman be handed over to him for punishment. I fear she has already been taken away by him.¡± Izikir was instantly enraged and bellowed, ¡°Then what are you waiting for? Go save her, find Li Zhenhu and save her.¡± ¡°Oh, right away!¡± The Captain, in a panic, scrambled out and ran off in a most disgraceful manner. ¡­ The shackles clanked loudly. Lan Yang was pushed off the carriage and into a room. In the dimly lit room, Li Zhenhu sat on a chair dressed in a noble¡¯s brocade robe, legs spread wide, a picture of arrogance. One foot propped on the chair, he held a toothpick, idly cleaning his teeth. Behind Li Zhenhu stood more than twenty subordinates, most of them bearing injuries, several wrapped in bandages. They stared at Lan Yang with cold faces filled with anger and hatred. ¡°Lord Li Zhenhu, we¡¯ve brought her in,¡± said someone from behind. Li Zhenhu waved his hand, and immediately his underlings handed some money to the guards who had escorted her. The guards happily pocketed the money and left, making sure to close the door behind them. As the door shut, the room grew even more dark and gloomy. Li Zhenhu, with great interest, sneered at Lan Yang, ¡°How about it, Lan Yang? Did you ever imagine this day, when the identities would be reversed, and the Hunter becomes the hunted?¡± Lan Yang¡¯s eyes blazed with rage, yet showed no fear. She had fought Li Zhenhu and his band of bandits for a long time and had once expected to be killed by them. Now, she only regretted miscalculating one step and falling into the hands of Li Zhenhu. Looking at Li Zhenhu, who was full of pleasure, she said, ¡°How long can you keep smiling? Someone will avenge me. The only difference between us is who dies earlier or later.¡± ¡°Haha, spirited indeed. You really do resemble a lioness repressing her rage,¡± Li Zhenhu, flicking away the toothpick, said, ¡°You mean Fang Hao? It would take him at least half a month to get here from Lyss City, and I don¡¯t think he¡¯d come all this way for a dead woman like you. Even if he does, what can he do to me here in Jinmastu? It¡¯s not his home. How could he possibly harm me, an official, even a minor one in charge of the market?¡± At that moment, he had indeed panicked when he discovered Lan Yang was sending out a message. He feared Fang Hao would come over and kill him. But now that he had calmed down and thought it through. Would Fang Hao really come all this way for a dead woman like Lan Yang? Even if he spent half a month to arrive, would he have the power to kill an official like him in the city? Even if it was a purchased position in charge of only the market. Not just anyone could easily kill him. ¡°Hmph! How do you know Brother Hao doesn¡¯t have the ability to teleport or something?¡± Li Zhenhu was stunned for a moment, then the next second he burst into laughter, ¡°You¡¯re hilarious, seriously. Teleport? Do you think this is a game with teleportation rings or something?¡± Seeing that her opponent was not intimidated, Lan Yang spoke again, ¡°Li Zhenhu, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid to take me on one-on-one. A big man like you wouldn¡¯t be scared of a woman, right?¡± Li Zhenhu¡¯s mouth twitched, patting his chest in mock panic, he said teasingly, ¡°Oh dear, oh dear, I am indeed a bit scared. What if you beat me to death, oh, you¡¯re scaring me to death.¡± The lackeys behind him also joined in the laughter. Lan Yang¡¯s expression grew even darker, her eyes flaring with even greater murderous intent. But the more she did so, the better Li Zhenhu felt. When he was a bandit, he had seen plenty of that look: those who would have gladly eaten his flesh and drank his blood. To him, Lan Yang¡¯s look was nothing special. ¡°Oh dear! That¡¯s really frightening.¡± Li Zhenhu looked at his lackeys, ¡°The shackles are secure, right?¡± ¡°Boss, don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re definitely sturdy. Even if she breaks free, we can hold her down and let you have your fun without a worry,¡± one of the lackeys said. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear!¡± Li Zhenhu stood up, lifted the bedding to the side to reveal various weapons underneath, and took out a whip, saying, ¡°I heard you like whips, I¡¯ve got some here too. It¡¯ll be real fun, don¡¯t worry¡ªI won¡¯t let you die. We brothers will play with you until you have no strength left. Then we¡¯ll let you die of hunger and thirst. Ah~, what a pity you¡¯re so dark, not really my type.¡± ¡°Boss, if you don¡¯t like her, we do,¡± one said. ¡°Yeah, boss, you go first. Just don¡¯t play her to death. She¡¯s whipped me a few times; I want to get even with her,¡± another chimed in. The lackeys began to jeer. Lan Yang, looking at the various weapons hidden beneath the bedding, couldn¡¯t help but show a look of fear on her face. Death might not be scary. But the thought of being tortured endlessly, unable to seek death was truly terrifying. Going by the time. Fang Hao must have teleported to his own city after receiving the message, then headed straight here. But even so, there wasn¡¯t enough time. Just like Li Zhenhu had said, even if he arrived, would he have the power to intervene in the matters of Jinmastu? Even if Fang Hao did come to rescue her later, she would be ruined after these brutes had their way with her. With that thought, Lan Yang bit her silver teeth. She lowered her head and charged toward the wall, intending to slam her head into it and kill herself on the spot. But Li Zhenhu, who had been keeping an eye on her while speaking, intercepted her the moment she moved. He pinned her firmly to the ground. ¡°Thinking of killing yourself? It¡¯s not that simple. You can¡¯t die until you¡¯ve entertained us brothers sufficiently.¡± Li Zhenhu turned to look at his men and said, ¡°Pick her up, let me have my fun first. After I¡¯m done, it¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Fuck your mother, Li Zhenhu,¡± Lan Yang cursed loudly. ¡°Haha! I just love it when you talk like that.¡± Li Zhenhu laughed wildly. His laughter echoed throughout the room. Just as Li Zhenhu was starting to undress, suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside, as if a large group of people had rushed in. Before the people in the room could react, the door was kicked open, and a troop of armored soldiers charged straight in. Leading them was the patrol captain who had arrested Lan Yang. The captain glanced at Lan Yang, who was still fully clothed and uninjured. He let out a sigh of relief and ordered, ¡°Take the prisoner away.¡± Li Zhenhu frowned, ¡°Captain, what¡¯s going on? We had an agreement that I would deal with this person.¡± The captain glared at Li Zhenhu, reached into his chest, and tossed a few gold coins on the ground. ¡°If you want her, go ask the City Lord himself. If you want to die, don¡¯t drag us into it.¡± Li Zhenhu looked down at the coins on the ground, growing more astonished. Had Fang Hao arrived? No, that couldn¡¯t be. The distance was too great for him to be here; besides, with his temperament of not letting things wait until tomorrow, he would have come personally if he were involved. So, Fang Hao must have had someone else intervene in the matter. Had he actually gotten the City Lord to personally order her release? Did Fang Hao wield so much power that he could influence matter in Jinmastu even when he was not present? How could that be possible! The captain cast an eye at his subordinates and said coldly, ¡°Are you deaf? Escort Miss Lan Yang to the carriage, we¡¯re heading back.¡± Chapter 846 - Chapter 846: Chapter 555, Murder Chapter 846: Chapter 555, Murder A few people were about to leave with Lan Yang. But Li Zhenhu suddenly stood up, ¡°Wait!!¡± Then, looking directly at the captain, he said, ¡°She stirred up trouble in the market and injured someone with a weapon. Can I finish my interrogation before you take her away?¡± He knew Fang Hao had found people to protect Lan Yang. Now that she was being taken away, killing her later would obviously become impossible. He needed to find a separate opportunity to kill her to eliminate future problems. ¡°Ha, Li Zhenhu, you should go talk to the City Lord then!¡± The captain¡¯s face remained grim as he told his subordinate, ¡°Take Miss Lan Yang outside.¡± Li Zhenhu frowned, his gaze landing on the weapon under the bed, but he did not have the courage to pick it up. But he was not content to just let her leave like that. He followed the group out. Exiting the dim room. The warm sunlight restored some color to Lan Yang¡¯s face. She had been silent the whole time, just following behind the guards as they walked outside. Following the guards, they left the courtyard. Outside the gate, a carriage was parked, and next to it were the detained heavy sword infantry. Upon seeing Lan Yang, they immediately showed joy and rushed up to ask about the situation. The shackles on her were taken off. The captain said, ¡°Miss Lan Yang, here are your belongings. Please check if anything is missing.¡± The whip, the Book of City Lord, everything was there. Lan Yang nodded, ¡°Nothing is missing.¡± ¡°Good, the City Lord has prepared a feast at the City Lord¡¯s mansion, and invites you to come,¡± the captain said with a smile. Lan Yang gathered her belongings one by one. She glanced back at Li Zhenhu and the others in the courtyard and slightly furrowed her brow. She said to the captain, ¡°Well, it all happened so suddenly, my people are still outside the city waiting. Without news from me, they may cause trouble.¡± Pausing slightly, she added, ¡°How about this, escort us out first so I can reassure my followers, then we¡¯ll come to the City Lord¡¯s mansion for the feast.¡± The captain and his men agreed. Those left outside would definitely be very anxious having waited a long time without seeing anyone. It was very possible that news had already leaked out, and they didn¡¯t want any more trouble. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s leave the city first. After Miss Lan Yang reassures her followers, we¡¯ll go to the City Lord¡¯s mansion together,¡± they decided. ¡°Good!¡± Lan Yang smiled and nodded. ¡°Miss Lan Yang, please get into the carriage.¡± Lan Yang quietly got into the carriage. She didn¡¯t look at Li Zhenhu outside, but she could guess he was probably feeling resentful. It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t leave¡ªwait and see who dies. The carriage slowly started moving. Exiting this dark alley. She opened a slit in the curtain to see the carriage heading out of the city. Lan Yang then let out a heavy sigh of relief. That was a close call. Too dangerous. ¡­ They reached the city gate. From a distance, they could see the stationed soldiers and the golden-haired lions kept near the stables. Lan Yang tapped on the carriage to have it stop. ¡°It¡¯s fine if we stop here, we can go the rest of the way on our own. Lions are wary of strangers, getting too close might cause danger,¡± Lan Yang said. The escorting soldiers also saw the enormous lion. Hearing Lan Yang say this, they naturally did not dare to get close. ¡°Alright, once Miss Lan Yang has finished explaining to her people, come back here and we will regroup,¡± the captain said. ¡°Okay,¡± Lan Yang replied with a smile. Then, she led her people briskly to where the rest were encamped. It felt like walking through the gates of hell. Returning to her own people truly felt like being reborn. As Lan Yang and her group arrived, The soldiers at the camp stood up. Seeing everyone a bit disheveled and even injured, they realized there were issues. ¡°My lord, what happened?¡± someone immediately asked. Lan Yang glanced sideways at the waiting guards in the distance. She spoke in a low voice, ¡°Bring the lions and horses over. We¡¯re leaving immediately. I¡¯ll explain on the way. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Everyone quickly began to act. They started getting their gear ready, and the golden-haired lions and the horses were brought over. Lan Yang took another look at the distant guards. Mounting the lion, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, home.¡± Rushing noises filled the air!! The group mounted their horses and charged into the distance. ¡­ The patrol captain left waiting in the distance was dumbfounded. What happened, they all ran off. Weren¡¯t they going to the feast? Why did they just leave? ¡°Hey~! Miss Lan Yang, Miss Lan Yang¡­¡± the captain shouted loudly. But the distance was too great, and they were moving away even faster, leaving him no chance to speak or retain them. Then, a horseman came up to him. He spoke softly, ¡°The captain, my lord suddenly got some urgent business. We¡¯ll talk about the feast next time. She¡¯ll visit the City Lord personally then.¡± ¡°This¡­ this¡­ but the City Lord already prepared the feast,¡± the captain hurriedly said. The horseman continued, ¡°Please also tell the City Lord that there¡¯s an urgent matter and we need to return immediately.¡± Without waiting for the captain to respond, he turned and spurred his horse, chasing after the departing group. The captain stood there, at a loss. He had already made a mistake, and now the City Lord had asked him to bring the people over to mitigate the impact of this incident. But unexpectedly, they just turned and ran. What on earth had he done to deserve this? Encountering one problem after another. Only when the last person disappeared from view did the captain turn around, ¡°Go back.¡± Everyone left, driving the empty carriage away. Chapter 847 - Chapter 847: Chapter 555, Murder_2 Chapter 847: Chapter 555, Murder_2 ¡­ All the way at a galloping pace. Throughout the journey, there was no rest, as I headed straight back to my own city. As I entered the city gates and stopped, the horses almost collapsed from exhaustion. Their whole bodies emitted a layer of white mist as they gasped heavily. My subordinate took the reins of the horse. He immediately said, ¡°My lord, Fang Hao is waiting for you at the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Please hurry over!¡± ¡°Alright, I know.¡± Lan Yang didn¡¯t stop but quickly made his way to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Inside the hall. In front of the large desk, several kinds of food were laid out. Fang Hao, Demitrija, and a woman clad in leather armor were sitting at the desk. Upon seeing the food, Lan Yang couldn¡¯t help swallowing his saliva. I hadn¡¯t felt it before, but now I suddenly felt hungry. ¡°Boss.¡± Lan Yang sat down directly at the table and started to eat a meat pie. Fang Hao glanced at this dark-skinned girl. Seeing she was not injured, he felt relieved. ¡°Tell me everything in detail,¡± Fang Hao said. Lan Yang took several big bites with his cheeks bulging, and recounted everything that had happened in the city during the day. Actually, the matter was not a big deal. For anyone else, such a management fee wouldn¡¯t have caused such a stir. But Lan Yang and Li Zhenhu had a vendetta, the kind that doesn¡¯t end until one is dead. Whenever the two met, their first thought was to kill the other. Therefore, as soon as the incident occurred, Li Zhenhu used all his means to try to kill Lan Yang first. After all, the situation between them was beyond reconciliation. After finishing the tale, Lan Yang said, ¡°He also wants to sleep with me, boss, you have to kill him. He might run away by tomorrow.¡± He still spoke as he ate. His mouth was muffled. ¡°Is he in Jinmastu? Did he buy some position there, and does he have any connections?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°It¡¯s like a city management position, and from the looks of it, the city guards don¡¯t treat him with much respect, so he probably doesn¡¯t have much of a network,¡± Lan Yang replied. Fang Hao nodded, not pressing any further. Clearly, Lan Yang didn¡¯t know much, nor did he have a way to find out detailed information. And today¡¯s incident was also a warning to Fang Hao about the danger of Li Zhenhu. This Li Zhenhu obviously wasn¡¯t just a bandit who only knew how to rob. He had previously provided many suggestions to the bandits in the Life-taker stronghold, helping the originally hundred-membered Life-taker stronghold to quickly grow to several thousand members. He even purchased cannons, nearly causing a big loss for the Lyss City troops. This man not only had an active mind, he was also not a miser. He knew how to spend money to his advantage. Now, he just bought a minor official position in the city. If left unchecked, the next time we meet, if he really becomes an official in some important position, it would truly not be easy to kill him. Therefore, we must kill him directly this time to avoid future trouble. ¡°Hmm, do you have a picture of Li Zhenhu?¡± Fang Hao smacked down Lan Yang¡¯s hand as he was reaching for more food. It was almost a mishap, and he still had the heart to stuff more into his mouth. Lan Yang rubbed the back of his hand and shook his head. ¡°No, but his appearance is very recognizable. Once you hear about it, you can remember.¡± Fang Hao nodded and said to the side, ¡°Little You, I¡¯ll leave this task to you. Let Lan Yang describe his appearance and where Li Zhenhu lives, then you go and kill him.¡± The woman sitting beside Fang Hao was none other than Disaster Song-Hilda. Being a ghost hero, she was capable of hiding in the shadows and assassinating enemies. ¡°Understood, my lord.¡± Little You sat beside Lan Yang and began listening to her describe Li Zhenhu¡¯s features. After the description, Little You stood up. ¡°My lord, I¡¯ll leave right now.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Jinmastu should have no people from the church, but still be careful. After you return, let Lan Yang inform me, and I will pick you up.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± As soon as the words fell, Little You¡¯s figure dispersed like ink, disappearing from sight. Lan Yang¡¯s eyes widened, surprised by the scene in front of her. ¡­ As night fell, Jinmastu gradually returned to peace. In a dim room, more than twenty men, either sitting or standing, silently waited. On the bed in the room, various parcels were packed up. They were ready to leave at a moment¡¯s notice. At last, the door opened, and Li Zhenhu, smelling of alcohol, pushed the door open and walked in. ¡°Brother, how did it go, are we still running?¡± the younger brother immediately surrounded him. Today, with this incident, and Lan Yang being rescued, in the afternoon, he had his men pack up all their belongings and wait in the room for his news. He then went out, first dragging the captain aside and stuffing him some money to learn some information. It was the Goblin from the Trade Alliance who saved Lan Yang. The City Lord didn¡¯t want to offend the Trade Alliance, so he simply let Lan Yang go. Knowing that Fang Hao had intervened through the Trade Alliance gave Li Zhenhu some peace of mind, at least he was not in a rush to flee anymore. As evening approached, he hosted a banquet for some of the city¡¯s dignitaries. After spending a large amount of his money, he received a promise. The city had a vacant military supply officer position, which they would introduce him to the City Lord in time. This made Li Zhenhu even happier if he were to attain this position, then he would enter into significant official ranks. Even if Fang Hao came, he could not just kill him. He might even find a way to deal with him. Chapter 848 - Chapter 848: Chapter 555, Murder_3 Chapter 848: Chapter 555, Murder_3 ¡°` Watching his anxious-looking brothers, Li Zhenhu smiled and said, ¡°Go? Why go? From now on, we¡¯ll enjoy the good life right here in this city, sipping the finest drinks and savoring the spiciest dishes.¡± ¡°Huh? Big brother, you found a way?¡± During the day, it had been a harrowing experience for Li Zhenhu. But now, he was sure that Fang Hao wouldn¡¯t come for a while, and as long as he became the quartermaster, even if Fang Hao was the darling of Lyss City, he wouldn¡¯t be able to touch him. ¡°Of course, this time, we¡¯ve turned a misfortune into a blessing and found a new way forward. No need to leave anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, big brother.¡± ¡°Yeah, I do have some attachments here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re attached, to your little lover, huh.¡± Ha ha ha!! The atmosphere in the room instantly lightened, far from the oppressive mood from before. Li Zhenhu waved his hand and said, ¡°Everyone¡¯s taken some knocks today. Take some money and go out and have some fun tonight. Make sure you all come back on time in the morning.¡± ¡°Got it, big brother.¡± Everyone took their share of money, said their goodbyes, and headed out to find some fun. Outside the door, only a few brothers remained to stand guard over the place. ¡­ Li Zhenhu returned to his room. He took out a Nightstone and placed it on the bedside table. Under the dim light of the stone, he stared blankly at the world channel. He didn¡¯t know if he was making the right move, but things had progressed to the point where he had no other choice. Time ticked away, and the room was extraordinarily quiet. In a hazy daze, Li Zhenhu thought he saw someone standing in front of the table. Li Zhenhu was startled. His body sprung up instantly, weapon in hand. But looking closely, the spot where he¡¯d thought he saw someone was empty again. The room was filled only with darkness; no hint of a figure to be seen. ¡°Damn, that kid Fang Hao really has me on edge,¡± Li Zhenhu muttered, massaging his temples. Just as he was about to lie down and rest some more¡­ A woman¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°So, you must be Li Zhenhu then?¡± ¡°What the¡­¡± Before he could speak, he felt a sharp pain in his neck. He didn¡¯t dare to move and instead asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to kill you.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Thud! The sound of flesh being pierced reverberated as a sharp blade thrust through his jaw and into his brain. Li Zhenhu¡¯s body began convulsing violently, blood flowing from all orifices. Eventually, his body went limp and he fell to the ground, lifeless. Li Zhenhu never thought that despite all his planning and contingencies, it would be so easy for Fang Hao to kill him. No need for others. ¡°What¡¯s that noise, big brother?¡± Bang! The door was burst open, and two brothers who had been standing outside rushed in upon hearing the commotion. Little You¡¯s form melted away into the dark night like ink. The next second, she appeared behind the two brothers. Two daggers pierced through their necks. The men slowly collapsed. Little You dragged the two into the room and closed the door again. After rifling through the room and finding nothing of value, she took their packed belongings. Then she left, disappearing into the night. ¡­ The next morning, early. Fang Hao awoke and glanced at the Book of Lords, still no message from Lan Yang. It seemed that Little You hadn¡¯t returned yet. But he wasn¡¯t worried; by now, Little You was a purple hero, and with her ability to appear and disappear at will, even if the assassination failed, there would be no risk to her life. The bigger possibility was that no one would have even noticed her presence. After washing up and dressing with the help of the maids, he felt completely integrated into this world. He accepted the maids¡¯ assistance with his clothes quite naturally. Descending the stairs, he saw the Skeleton merchant Doujin, sitting calmly downstairs, waiting. Fang Hao was slightly taken aback. Ah, it seemed like the Undead always liked to sit somewhere and then start contemplating life, passing the surplus of time. ¡°Good morning, Doujin.¡± Doujin looked up at the sound, seeing Fang Hao come down the stairs. He immediately stood up to greet him, ¡°Good morning, Lord.¡± ¡°Mm, you needed to see me?¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord. An hour ago, Mr. Moru of the Trade Alliance sent a transmission request,¡± said Doujin. ¡°` Chapter 849 - Chapter 849: Chapter 556, Residence No. 01 Chapter 849: Chapter 556, Residence No. 01 Moru was a goblin teller of the Trade Alliance. Mr. Fang Hao had entrusted the Trade Alliance yesterday to contact Jinmastu to ensure Lan Yang¡¯s life. Thinking about it, he still owed them a favor. ¡°Let him come over,¡± Mr. Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Doujin withdrew, and when he came back, he was followed by the neatly dressed goblin Moru, carrying a briefcase. The small figure took large strides, trying hard to keep up with Doujin¡¯s pace. Upon entering the hall, he revealed a joyful smile, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, I¡¯ve missed you so much this winter.¡± Mr. Fang Hao smiled as well. ¡°Mr. Moru, it has been a while since I¡¯ve seen you too. I must thank the Trade Alliance for yesterday¡¯s help,¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Not to mention that you are an important member of the Trade Alliance, we are also friends. It is right to help a friend,¡± Moru jumped onto a nearby chair. Mr. Fang Hao had a maid bring some fruit wine and he asked with a smile, ¡°Even as friends, thanks are still necessary.¡± Moru opened the briefcase, took out a contract, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now. Last time, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to open a store at Residence 032? It¡¯s already been arranged. Here¡¯s the contract, you can start operating normally after you sign it. There are rules that you have to adhere to, make sure to read them well.¡± ¡°Yes, okay,¡± Mr. Fang Hao took the contract and read it carefully. The last time Moru came, Mr. Fang Hao had indeed asked him to handle the store setup. At Residence 032, a cosmetics store would be set up on the first floor, clothing on the second, and jewelry on the third. He wasn¡¯t expecting it to generate a lot of profit, but the important thing was to build recognition. Still, the store was set up a bit late. Today was the day Li Rong was leaving Silver Wing City. She wouldn¡¯t see this store. But it didn¡¯t matter; the shop¡¯s decoration and stocking could be handled by his subordinates. After reading the agreement, Mr. Fang Hao had someone bring a pen and he signed his name on it. ¡°Now, this store is mine, right?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Moru took a key out of the bag and said, ¡°This is the key to the store. During the renovation period, the number of people going to the residence will be increased to 20.¡± Mr. Fang Hao instructed a nearby maid. He handed over a Warfire Card with the corresponding price to Moru. Now, both parties had reached an agreement. For this coming year, the store would belong to Mr. Fang Hao. As long as it didn¡¯t violate the regulations of the Trade Alliance, its use wouldn¡¯t be interfered with by the Trade Alliance. ¡°Shall we go take a look at the store now?¡± Mr. Fang Hao asked. However, Moru shook his head and continued, ¡°No rush, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± Moru took out a card and pushed it toward Mr. Fang Hao. ¡°What is this?¡± He held it in his hand, examining it carefully. The material of the card was similar to that of a Warfire Card, almost like a black Crystal Stone, shaved into a thin layer. In the center was a shield showing a Warfire Coin pattern, surrounded by openwork carved patterns. It looked very impressive, like a VIP card. ¡°This is an invitation card from the Trade Alliance headquarters. With this card, you can freely enter and exit Trade Alliance Headquarters at Residence 01,¡± Moru explained. Trade Alliance headquarters, Residence 01? Mr. Fang Hao felt intrigued; the day before yesterday was when the world channel had opened. It seemed the Trade Alliance headquarters was now open to transmigrators. ¡°Does everyone have one?¡± Mr. Fang Hao asked. ¡°Of course not, apart from a few long-established and powerful members in each location, only member stores that meet the sales requirements get this privilege and receive this card,¡± Moru explained. ¡°Oh, so that means I¡¯ve met the sales requirements.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The volume of goods sold in Mr. Fang Hao¡¯s store had indeed met the requirements. In fact, the quantity had reached astonishing levels, and the Trade Alliance had made a tidy sum from the fees they charged. If goblins kept annual records, Mr. Fang Hao would surely be number one in sales. Far surpassing other long-established powers in his region. ¡°Then I¡¯ll keep it, and perhaps visit different places in time,¡± Mr. Fang Hao said as he flipped his hand, stowing the card in his storage space. Moru didn¡¯t object. Instead, he continued, ¡°You must keep this card safe; losing it would be troublesome. Plus, Residence 01 will host a spring auction in half a month. With this invitation card, you can also attend the auction.¡± ¡°An auction?¡± He had attended the auction at Residence 032 last time. Many desirable items were sold there. But what made him regret not purchasing was the ¡®Magical Reactor Blueprint¡¯ from goblin technology. He was now planning to build his own aerial combat force, and mass-producing ¡®Energy Cores¡¯ was the most crucial step. He had been waiting for another auction at Residence 032 to come around. Now it seemed possible that he might be able to buy the blueprint at the auction at Residence 01. ¡°Is there any difference between the auction at Residence 01 and the one at Residence 032?¡± ¡°Ah! How can the local residence be compared to the headquarters? That gathers treasures from the entire region,¡± Moru said. A maid brought over some pastries. Moru didn¡¯t hesitate to grab one and start eating. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°Also, at Residence 01, you can meet other species. Humans like you love elves; maybe you¡¯ll meet a beautiful elf lady!¡± Moru joked. ¡°Uh, really!¡± Mr. Fang Hao laughed. Chapter 850 - Chapter 850: Chapter 556, Residence No. 01_2 Chapter 850: Chapter 556, Residence No. 01_2 Elves didn¡¯t know, but he already had a half-elf who was outwardly dignified and serious, but very clingy in private. After stuffing several pastries into his mouth, Moru curiously asked, ¡°Cough! Have you all had breakfast?¡± Huh? Fang Hao was taken aback, but quickly caught on. No wonder they came so early¡ªthey had come to freeload a meal. ¡°Haha! Check the kitchen, see how breakfast is coming along.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± The maid ran to the kitchen and asked. ¡­ After having breakfast. Following another compliment on their culinary skills, Moru returned first to the Trade Alliance. After dealing with some matters in the city, Fang Hao. called Demitrija, Anjia, Eira, and Little White, planning to take them to the Trade Alliance for a visit. Especially Eira, who hadn¡¯t gone anywhere else since staying in the city. This time, he also took them to see the Trade Alliance. Stepping into the teleportation light curtain. The five of them instantly arrived at the 032 base. Smooth roads, rows of orderly streetlights. Made it still feel like they had returned to a modern city. Light screens lit up around them occasionally. There were also people of various races arriving here through the light screens. Moving forward together. Eira and Little White, both widened their eyes. Nervous yet excited, they scrutinized their surroundings and whispered about some strange races they saw. Just like villagers who had just entered the city. At this time, as someone who had come here a few times, Anjia demonstrated her abilities as a guide. From the races of passersby to the buildings on both sides, she explained everything very thoroughly. Even some shops that Fang Hao didn¡¯t know about, Anjia introduced right away. The group chatted as they walked. The three women were pretty happy, smiles hanging on their faces. Soon, they arrived at the shop they had rented. It was a three-story building very similar to the Fairy Dream Tower in Silver Wing City. Pulling out the key, he opened the door. A slightly musty smell rushed towards them. The shop still had some tables and chairs remaining inside, lying on the ground, covered in dust. Everyone entered the room and opened all the doors and windows. Fang Hao casually took a few photos and sent them to Li Rong. ¡°Secured a shop in the Trade Alliance, layout is similar to the Fairy Dream Tower. It¡¯s three stories, arrange for stock preparation.¡± Soon, Li Rong replied with a message, ¡°Are you doing this on purpose? I just left with the army, and you¡¯ve bought another shop¡­ Oh, by the way, what¡¯s the Trade Alliance?¡± ¡°The Trade Alliance is a headquarters for buying and selling goods. People always talk about it on the channel, haven¡¯t you heard?¡± Fang Hao was speechless. Li Rong always attended the noble balls and banquets but ended up not knowing what the Trade Alliance was. ¡°I might have seen it, but I¡¯ve never been involved. Is it impressive to open a shop there?¡± Li Rong continued to ask. After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao explained, ¡°It¡¯s like the largest and most bustling mall in a region. All the prominent figures shop there.¡± ¡°Oh, I see, that¡¯s actually quite impressive. What should I do since I¡¯m not there?¡± Li Rong asked. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan: I¡¯ll arrange for some minimalist renovations, then have you oversee stocking and sales. When you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll share the blueprint of the Trade Alliance with you, and then you¡¯ll be able to get there from your location,¡± Fang Hao sent his thoughts over. ¡°I guess that¡¯ll have to do, sigh~ it¡¯s all on you now.¡± ¡°OK!¡± Fang Hao replied and then ended the chat. From the first floor to the third, everything was inspected. The shop had no issues; it just had been vacant for too long. Needed to air it out a bit. After completing their tour. Fang Hao turned to Little White and said, ¡°Little White, this place needs some cleaning. You¡¯ll have to work hard tomorrow, bring some people over, clean this place up, and then renovate it a bit.¡± ¡°Oh, alright master, what are you planning to sell here?¡± Little White asked. She actually had no objections and even felt somewhat pleased. She wouldn¡¯t have to work personally, and after coming out, she wouldn¡¯t have to get up early for training with Anjia and the others every day. She could laze around for several days at least. ¡°Cosmetics, clothes, and accessories.¡± ¡°Understood, master,¡± Little White agreed and leaned forward a bit more. She leaned directly against Fang Hao. After he pinched her bottom, Little White dodged to the side in pain. After inspecting the shop, They opened the windows and locked up the doors. Taking Eira and Little White, they walked around areas they hadn¡¯t explored yet, then continued towards the direction of the Teleportation Array. They wanted to continue to the 01 Trade Alliance base to take a look. ¡­ Arriving in front of the special Teleportation Array, he took out the invitation card. Under the guidance of a female goblin, they arrived in front of an oval, bluish door. ¡°Please, ladies and gentlemen,¡± the female goblin returned the invitation card to Fang Hao and respectfully said. Fang Hao nodded. Taking the others, he directly stepped into the blue light screen. After a brief display of dizziness and a sensation of weightlessness, they arrived in a foreign place. ¡°Distinguished guests, welcome to the 01 base!¡± A female voice rang out nearby. There stood a young woman dressed in a light blue robe, her pale face respectfully by the side. Her drooping light green hair allowed glimpses of her pointed ears. [Elf Archer (Tier 5)]. The legendary Elf Clan. Seeing them for the first time still made Fang Hao and the others, including Anjia and Eira at his side, look several times over. The appearance of the Elf Clan was truly beautiful, and they naturally exuded an air of nobility and elegance. Chapter 851 - Chapter 851: Chapter 556, Resident No. 01_3 Chapter 851: Chapter 556, Resident No. 01_3 The presence of elves at this station ensured that even races with different aesthetic standards wouldn¡¯t find the Elf Clan to be ugly. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please come inside,¡± said the Elf Clan woman with a smile. Fang Hao and his companions nodded and strode out. As they stepped out of the Teleportation Array, the scenery outside suddenly opened up. The smooth and wide roads were lit by tall street lamps adorned with Trade Alliance banners and welcome slogans. In the flower beds along the road, palm-sized ¡®Flower Demons¡¯ were pruning the branches. A statue of a goddess, effortlessly lifting a water jug, poured water from it, causing droplets to splash and form a beautiful rainbow overhead. On the road, Undead with tall crowns, fairies frolicking and flying in the air, elegant elves, Orcs with bodies covered in totems, and members of the Sea Tribe draped in blue gossamer. All different races were present on the street at the same time. It was incredibly lively. ¡°It¡¯s so lively! I wish our place was like this too,¡± Anjia exclaimed with wide eyes. Even Demitrija, who rarely showed any reaction, was looking around at the novelty of the surroundings. To Fang Hao, Area 01 now seemed more like a large tourist zone. The environmental construction rivaled that of heaven itself, with sculptures, horticulture, and seas of flowers everywhere. There were also plenty of places selling snacks. As they walked and looked around, they emerged from the Teleportation Array area and stepped into the market district. Here, shops stood in rows and were owned by many different races. Humans, Dwarves, Goblins, Fairies¡­ All kinds of races. Each had a sign hanging overhead. Arriving at a Human Clan shop, they saw a sign that read ¡®Hall of Justice¡¯ above it. They pushed the door and entered. Inside, several humans were selecting goods at the counter. A human female salesperson came over with a smile. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re just looking around.¡± ¡°Okay, if you need anything, please feel free to call me.¡± Fang Hao nodded and led his friends to start browsing the shop. [Brilliant Cavalry Bow (Blue)]Priced at 120 Warfire Coins. [Classic Battle Halberd (Blue)]Priced at 200 Warfire Coins. [Sunglow Redwood Shepherd¡¯s Crook (Blue)]Priced at 180 Warfire Coins. [¡­] Fang Hao looked through all the counters on the first floor in succession. They were selling blue equipment, with a small amount of green gear. ¡°Are these sold separately?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. The saleswoman from earlier came quickly, still smiling professionally. ¡°Sir, we do sell items individually here, but the main purpose is for product exhibition, for bulk orders through the Trade Alliance,¡± she explained. Fang Hao nodded, indicating that he understood. So the items on display were mainly for show. The attendees here were members of the Trade Alliance, representatives of various powers. If something caught their eye, they would naturally purchase it in large quantities to equip their armies. Having realized this, Fang Hao immediately broadened his perspective; he felt as though he was selling cosmetics in Area 032. His commercial mindset was too narrow. ¡°Do you sell Blueprints?¡± ¡°Sir, we rarely have Blueprints for sale here, they occasionally make it onto the counters,¡± the saleswoman continued to explain. Fang Hao then turned his attention to the second floor. ¡°Are things sold on the second floor as well?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. The second floor has certain requirements; only forces with a friendly relationship can make purchases.¡± ¡°May we take a look there?¡± ¡°Of course, sir.¡± Fang Hao and his companions ascended to the second floor. It was still lined with counters, but the items they contained had reached purple quality. [Trident (Purple)]Priced at 750 Warfire Coins, Human Clan Influence Points 500. [Stag Battle Halberd (Purple)]Priced at 880 Warfire Coins, Human Clan Influence Points 500. Chapter 852 - Chapter 852: Chapter 557, Auction Evaluation Chapter 852: Chapter 557, Auction Evaluation [Light Vanguard Knight Sword (Purple)]Priced at 900 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 800. [Mountain Splitter Double-Edged Axe (Purple)]Priced at 1300 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 800. [Justice Brigade Emblem Shield (Purple)]Priced at 1500 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 1000. [Justice Defense Harpoon Kai (Purple)]Priced at 2000 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 1000. [¡­] On the second floor, all the equipment had turned purple. Moreover, the closer you got to the inside, the higher the selling price and the more influence of the Human Clan was needed. It was not until this moment that Fang Hao finally understood what the influence repeatedly mentioned by the system actually meant. It turned out to be the buying qualification for purchasing items. Although he still didn¡¯t know how to check how much influence he had, with so many system rewards and completing Trade Alliance orders, he had been accumulating little by little, +10, +20 at a time. He estimated that it had probably reached around 1500. Buying equipment here, he indeed met the conditions. However, because his military force was so large, unless he could get his hands on blueprints, buying a few hundred or a thousand pieces of equipment would not be much help to his territory. In the vast army, they would be hard to even locate if dropped. He turned a corner, and the third floor was not open, the door was closed. According to the blue color on the first floor and purple on the second, the third floor should feature orange equipment. Orange, in any power, was also a top-tier level, the treasure of the store. Upon inquiring with a clerk, he learned that the items on the third floor had been sent to the Trade Alliance and were intended for the Trade Alliance auction. After all, various powers would participate in such large-scale auctions. He continued to look around on the second floor. A set of equipment caught Fang Hao¡¯s attention. [Spiritbird Enemy Pants (Purple)]Priced at 2500 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 1200. [Spiritbird Assault Boots (Purple)]Priced at 2200 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 1200. [Spiritbird Guerrilla Leather Armor (Purple)]Priced at 2500 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 1200. [Spiritbird Enemy Helmet (Purple)]Priced at 2300 Warfire Coins, Human Clan influence 1200. A purple set? [Spiritbird Guerrilla Leather Armor (Purple)] [Category: Armor] [Defense: Level 4 Defense] [Set effect: Strength increased by 10%, Movement Speed increased by 35%, Agility increased by 30%, Skills recovery increased by 15%.] (Description: The Spiritbird, a giant-winged bird that cannot fly high, armor made from its leather greatly enhances the wearer¡¯s strength and speed.) Ow! The attributes are nice. ¡°Anjia¡­ Anjia?¡± Fang Hao looked back. He saw Anjia sitting on the stair steps, eating while chatting with Eira and Little White. The three of them had no interest whatsoever in these pieces of equipment and weapons. Only he and Demitrija were paying attention to the equipment behind the counter. The three seemed to have come here for a picnic. ¡°Anjia!¡± Fang Hao called out. ¡°Ah!¡± Anjia responded, walking over. ¡°This set suits you well,¡± Fang Hao said, looking toward the counter¡¯s set. Anjia also looked in its direction. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s nice.¡± She glanced at the price, ¡°It¡¯s so expensive!¡± Although she was unable to see the properties like a transmigrator could, she could tell from the craftsmanship of the leather armor that it was quite a good piece. And the price tag, along with the description, could represent the level of the armor. ¡°It suits you well,¡± Fang Hao looked back at the female clerk, ¡°I¡¯ll take this set from the counter.¡± ¡°Of course, sir,¡± the clerk said with a smile. She then notified the people below to fetch a set of the same armor from the warehouse and handed it to Fang Hao. Anjia was somewhat dazed. She snapped back to reality when the leather armor reached her hands. ¡°It¡¯s so expensive,¡± Anjia muttered softly. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find something that suits you; cutting back on some of your food would cover the cost,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, this set could feed me for a lifetime,¡± she retorted. Fang Hao paid at the counter, and finding nothing else of interest, left the store. Once they went outside, Anjia happily hugged her new armor, disregarding the food in her hands. She handed it all to Little White. Although Anjia rarely participated in battles now, she was still considered a military general, and she had grown up rather impoverished. Sometimes she didn¡¯t even have enough food to eat, and occasionally had to act as a bandit. Naturally, she knew how precious high-quality armor was. This kind of joy was something Eira and Little White could hardly sympathize with. For a piece of leather gear! To be so gleefully hugging it! ¡­ The group continued their leisurely stroll. They visited the Dwarf, Beast Clan, and even Elf stores. The shops here had basically the same sale model as the Human Clan stores. Finished equipment was displayed on counters on both the first and second floors, mainly for sale in bulk to buyers outside. Fang Hao looked at the equipment one by one. The range was quite comprehensive, but for Fang Hao, there was no need to replace things in large quantities. Before them was an Undead store. Fang Hao walked up to the store and pushed open the door directly. Clang!! The copper bell hung on the door let out a crisp sound, alerting that a customer had entered. Unlike the other stores, the Undead store was much more desolate. With shelves made of White Bone and glass, various finished items were showcased. Tap, tap, tap!! A Skeleton clerk quickly stepped out. Seeing Humans, Orcs, and Lizardmen enter, its steps hesitated for a moment as its Soul Fire began to sway back and forth. Fang Hao paid no attention to it. He simply walked straight into the shop and started looking around. [Desert Infantry Bow (Blue)]Priced at 120 Warfire Coins. Chapter 853 - Chapter 853: Chapter 557, Auction Evaluation_2 Chapter 853: Chapter 557, Auction Evaluation_2 [Serpent Fang Dagger (Blue)] Price: 180 Warfire Coins. [Fang Spear (Blue)] Price: 200 Warfire Coins. [¡­] After glancing through several pieces of equipment, he found no major differences from other shop offerings. The first floor predominantly featured blue items. Just as Fang Hao was feeling bored and considering going to the second floor, he found something of interest in the latter part of the store. [Silverfish Wolf Bones] Price: 450 Warfire Coins. [Carrion Wild Boar Bones] Price: 150 Warfire Coins. [¡­] [Desert Camel Bones] Price: 500 Warfire Coins. [Sandy Long-armed Militia Bone] Price: 700 Warfire Coins. [Sandy Vulture Bones] Price: 900 Warfire Coins. So expensive! At the sight of bones being sold as merchandise, Fang Hao was initially surprised but then felt it made sense. However, the prices were indeed exorbitantly high. He was unsure about other bones, but those of a carrion wild boar might only be a second or third tier beast. Even if transported in bulk, they shouldn¡¯t be worth 150 Warfire Coins. But Fang Hao could understand. After all, the bones were sold here for the conversion for the Undead clan. Naturally, the prices would be higher. ¡°What tier is the Sandy Vulture?¡± Fang Hao asked the Skeleton attendant beside him. The Skeleton attendant looked at him curiously and answered, ¡°Sir, it is a sixth tier.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯ll take these bones; package them for me.¡± ¡°Ah? Oh!¡± The Skeleton attendant was somewhat dazed. He was surprised that a human was buying bones here. If it was for cooking soup, he could just go outside to buy them. But having a shop in the Trade Alliance means abiding by the rules here, not discriminating against living and undead creatures when making sales. After all, the doors were opened for business. The Skeleton attendant began packing the vulture bones while Fang Hao and his group ascended to the second floor. The second floor counters were still set up with skeletal frameworks. [Golden Drum Crocodile Leather Armor (Purple)] Price: 900 Warfire Coins, Undead Clan Influence 800. [Tempered Edge One-Handed Sword (Purple)] Price: 1000 Warfire Coins, Undead Clan Influence 1000. [Bloodthirsty Helmet (Purple)] Price: 1000 Warfire Coins, Undead Clan Influence 1000. [Ravenbone Spear (Purple)] Price: 1500 Warfire Coins, Undead Clan Influence 1200. [¡­] He looked over the equipment, feeling nothing special. He then moved to another side. [Sandy Poisonous Snake Bone] Price: 1000 Warfire Coins, Undead Clan Influence 800. [Giant Swamp Crocodile Bone] Price: 1200 Warfire Coins, Undead Clan Influence 1000. [Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion Bone] Price: 1500 Warfire Coins, ¡­1200. [¡­] [¡­] [Human Pilgrim Bones] Price: 1500 Warfire Coins, ¡­. [Demon Rat Spear Soldier Bones] Price: 1500 Warfire Coins, ¡­. [Dwarf Whitebeard Warrior Bones] Price: 1800 Warfire Coins, ¡­1500. [Lizardmen Skink Skirmisher Bone] Price: 2000 Warfire Coins¡­1800. [¡­] The bones sold on the second floor were even more outrageously priced, almost on par with purple equipment. Moreover, there were soldier types from various races. No wonder, there was an endless conflict between living and undead, displaying someone¡¯s bones as merchandise was truly excessive. But it was also evident that the bones sold were measured. All were spear soldiers, warriors, skirmishers, without any special soldier types. This could be out of consideration for the feelings of various factions, or perhaps, higher-grade bones were not sold outside. Or maybe the quantities are low, sold as soon as they are displayed. It could also be a means to control the development of other undead creatures. ¡°The Sandy Poisonous Snake, what tier is it and does it have any characteristics?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask the attendant beside him. ¡°Third tier, sir. Are you asking about its characteristics before its death?¡± the Skeleton attendant questioned. ¡°After its transformation, I¡¯m asking about its usefulness before it died.¡± ¡°Oh, after transformation, the Sandy Poisonous Snake can burrow into soft soil layers and its attacks carry a certain amount of poison,¡± the Skeleton attendant explained. Fang Hao nodded and continued, ¡°What about the Giant Swamp Crocodile?¡± ¡°After being transformed, the Giant Swamp Crocodile has amphibious traits and considerable biting force.¡± ¡°And what about the Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion?¡± ¡°The Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion is an eighth tier unit, almost the size of an adult horse; it uses its two front pincers and a spiked tail as its main weapons and can also bury itself in the ground for camouflage.¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire, ¡°What about the Pilgrim and the Skink Skirmisher?¡± ¡°The Pilgrim is a fifth tier special soldier belonging to the Human Clan¡¯s church. It gains a boost in all attributes under stimulated faith. The Skink Skirmisher is also fifth tier, amphibious in waterways, and moves unaffected in dense forests.¡± The Pilgrim must be a soldier type of the Human Clan¡¯s church. Being able to reach the fifth tier is quite good, and the skill to boost all attributes under faith is indeed a good skill. And the Skink Skirmisher is clearly a soldier type of the Lizardmen. The amphibious trait of the Lizardmen and their ability to move unrestricted in dense forests isn¡¯t particularly outstanding. No matter how fast they move, they can¡¯t keep up with my ¡®Skeleton Mantis.¡¯ The Mantismen are excellent at hunting. Moving through the branches is strikingly similar to scenes from Naruto. Fang Hao nodded but didn¡¯t speak, walking further inside. Inside, there were some less significant items displayed. His eyes swept over them; they were all green and blue, not a single purple to be seen, let alone orange. Having looked once over, he didn¡¯t find anything he needed. He then told the Skeleton attendant, ¡°I¡¯ll take the Ravenbone Spear, ¡®Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion,¡¯ and ¡®Pilgrim.''¡± Chapter 854 - Chapter 854: Chapter 557: Auction Evaluation_3 Chapter 854: Chapter 557: Auction Evaluation_3 The Skeleton cashier scratched his bare skull, ¡°Alright, customer.¡± He simply couldn¡¯t understand what the heck was going on. He had been selling goods here for hundreds of years, but this was the first time he had seen a human buying White Bone. And what¡¯s with the other Beast Clan women? Why weren¡¯t they afraid, just eating and chatting away? Had the Undead become accepted by Living Creatures? As the Skeleton cashier pondered, he quickly wrapped up several items. ¡°Customer, your goods are wrapped.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Fang Hao took them. As he turned to go downstairs. The three women were sitting by the staircase, starting up another conversation. It was as if they were in their own home when in the shop of the Undead. Anjia and Little White were still eating, thoroughly enjoying their food. After going downstairs, he paid the required money and stored all the items in his storage space. Wandering around with a bunch of skeletal frames would have looked a bit unsightly. ¡­ After leaving the shop, they continued to stroll around. Passing by two gardens on their way, Fang Hao used the Book of Lords to take a few pictures of the three women, enjoying the modern way of keeping memories. All along the way, there were still many people around. Most of them looked busy and hurried, while there were others, like the group, roaming and looking around. While walking, Fang Hao started to toy with the idea of opening his own shop here. Similar to the shops in this place, he had blue and purple equipment, including gear for Humans, Dwarves, and Trolls. And machinery, covering all races. No fear of bad business! Continuing down the road, they didn¡¯t feel like entering any more shops afterwards. Most types were similar, and aside from the Undead¡¯s, there were no remarkable items that would significantly boost Combat Power. They finally reached the central square. In front of one building, there was an extraordinary bustle. The stone building had ¡®Auction and Evaluation¡¯ inscribed at the top. Standing in the distance, Fang Hao and the others saw groups of people queuing up. Among these people were humans from the church, stone people, elves, fairies, as well as Orcs and Trolls. There were also some from races that were hard to identify by their looks alone, it was just that they were too far to see these people¡¯s information. Just as Fang Hao was about to stop someone to ask, he felt someone watching him. Looking to the side, he saw a brown-haired, brown-eyed middle-aged man standing among a group of Gray Dwarves, curiously sizing him up. After hesitating for a moment, the middle-aged man had a brief, hushed conversation with the Gray Dwarves before walking briskly towards Fang Hao. ¡°Hey! Are you an Earthling?¡± asked the middle-aged man. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°From Japan?¡± ¡°Hua Xia!¡± The brown-haired middle-aged man was stunned, taking a careful look at Fang Hao and the Heroes, the rabbit girl, and the fox girl around him, his eyes full of suspicion. ¡°Could it be you are¡­, cough, what¡¯s your name?¡± The middle-aged man polite yet curious. ¡°Fu Lei, what about you?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m ¡®Wadey,¡¯ I thought you were Fang Hao for a moment, scared me there,¡± continued the middle-aged man as he adjusted his collar, showing off three large gold rings on his hand. Compared with the Western middle-aged man, the clothes Fang Hao wore were much more ordinary; simple trousers and a short-sleeved shirt, nothing particularly extraordinary. Only the armor of Demitrija stood out. Similarly, Eira and Little White also attracted attention with their appearance. ¡°Ah, I thought you were Fang Hao too,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Haha, you¡¯re quite the character,¡± Wadey clapped Fang Hao on the shoulder, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to run into another Earthling here.¡± Fang Hao also found it incredible. The World Channel indeed had plenty of opportunities; the World Channel had only just opened, and already someone had qualified to come here. But considering it, at least a few hundred million people from Earth had transmigrated. A high elimination rate also meant many had the chance for opportunity. The ranking list of the World Channel was only a superficial way of utilizing resources and land area for assessment; it didn¡¯t truly represent an individual¡¯s strength. Even here, if he saw a foreigner with an ¡®S¡¯ on their chest wearing their underwear over their pants, he wouldn¡¯t find it strange. Fang Hao didn¡¯t continue the chitchat but asked instead, ¡°Why are so many people queuing up here? What are they doing?¡± Huh? Wadey was surprised, then chuckled, ¡°Come on, brother, don¡¯t jest, you¡¯re here to evaluate items, aren¡¯t you?¡± Fang Hao genuinely didn¡¯t know; they were just out for a stroll. ¡°Ah, no, not really.¡± Seeing his genuine ignorance, Wadey explained, ¡°Do you know about the Spring Auction?¡± ¡°I do!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the place for auction item registration. If you have things to auction, you go there to register. A valuer will then price them, and if approved, they¡¯ll be auctioned on the day of the event,¡± Wadey pointed ahead. The Spring Auction, Goblin Moru had only told him the time. Not much information was shared, it seems the auction was open to the public. No strict restrictions. ¡°Ah, got it!¡± Fang Hao stroked his chin, pondering if he had anything worth evaluating to make a bit of money at the auction. With a world so big, surely goods would sell. Before Fang Hao could ask anything more, Wadey pointed to the side, ¡°Look over there.¡± Fang Hao looked to see the sturdy, shorter Dwarves with gray hair and beards. ¡°I came with the Gray Dwarves for the valuation. After the evaluation of the items, they will even take me to the auction,¡± Wadey said, somewhat boastfully. Fang Hao nodded, it was this kind of vassal relationship again. In truth, when transmigrators arrived, they had shallow roots, and most had to become vassals to some nearby powerful entities to survive. Not causing malicious harm to other transmigrators wasn¡¯t anything bad. And those who were vassals often lived even more securely. Like Wadey, who seemed to be getting along quite well with the Dwarves, dressed in finery with gold rings, and even brought here. ¡°That¡¯s great, I¡¯m impressed!¡± ¡°Hey! You don¡¯t need to feel envious, the Lizardmen are quite nice, but be cautious, I heard these Lizardmen eat people, don¡¯t let them eat you,¡± whispered Wadey, sneakily glancing at Demitrija not far away. Chapter 855 - Chapter 855: 558 Chapter 855: 558 ¡°` ¡°Uh, I will be careful,¡± Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°What are those dwarves assessing?¡± Wadey glanced at the dwarves and lowered his voice, ¡°The merchandise the dwarves are selling is quite remarkable.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°An orange piece of machinery called the Wind Pipe Cannon. It can shoot from five barrels at once. Any Turtle Shell Formation or Cavalry Formation would be decimated by a single volley, leaving nothing but scattered flesh across the ground,¡± Wadey said with a serious tone. ¡°Can such a thing really be sold?¡± ¡°Dwarf machinery is quite famous, and I heard it sells well. But the Dwarf Alliance has rules against selling too much to outsiders.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± From Wadey, Fang Hao also got some useful information. The ones who came with him were Gray Dwarves from the dwarf race. This dwarf tribe is one of the more sparsely populated lines within the dwarf community. They are known for their brutal nature and combat skills. And the gray hair and beards are not a sign of old age but their natural color from birth, which is also the origin of their name. The two chatted for a while longer. As the loud voices of the dwarves rose, Wadey returned to the queue. ¡­ ¡°Is that your friend?¡± the Gray Dwarf asked. ¡°Just a transmigrator I happened to run into.¡± ¡°A transmigrator? To have made it here, his strength must be considerable. Is it possible to pinpoint the location of his domain?¡± the Gray Dwarf asked in a deep voice. Wadey shook his head, ¡°His domain isn¡¯t near the Dwarf City, and since he came with the Lizardmen, he might not be that strong.¡± The Gray Dwarf sighed with some disappointment. If that guy had earned his spot in Residence 01 on his own merit, then his domain¡¯s strength must be significant. Recently, the dwarves have been in need of both supplies and slaves. If it were possible to plunder a transmigrator with abundant resources, many issues could be eased. The greedy gaze of the Gray Dwarf lingered on Fang Hao for quite a while. It wasn¡¯t until Demitrija¡¯s cold, vertically slit eyes glanced over that the Gray Dwarf¡¯s body shook violently, a chill akin to being targeted by a venomous snake spreading throughout his spine. An orange hero. This transmigrator was affiliated with a powerful Lizardman faction, not to be trifled with. Lizardmen are not numerous, but they have a much longer history. Legend has it that the Lizardmen lived on this continent even before humans and dwarves, and the forbidden zones that no one dares to enter are filled with the ruins of Lizardmen temples and altars. Lizardmen rarely appear within the sight of other races, but nobody actively provokes them either. ¡°Lord, those Gray Dwarves have unfriendly intentions,¡± Demitrija whispered. ¡°Hmm, pay them no mind. They¡¯re just a minor clan. Let¡¯s queue up as well and take part in this auction,¡± Fang Hao said. Together, he and his group started to queue up. They passed the time eating and drinking together, not bored at all. The queue moved quickly as well. Wadey left with the Gray Dwarves, waving to Fang Hao¡¯s group as he went. Before long, it was Fang Hao and his companions¡¯ turn. Behind the small window was a Goblin with a monocular gold-rimmed eyeglass, looking down at the registration book in his hands. ¡°What are you registering?¡± the Goblin¡¯s shrill voice rang out. ¡°Dwarf machinery,¡± Fang Hao replied. The Goblin glanced up, surprised to see a human selling dwarf machinery. ¡°Okay, what¡¯s the machinery called, and how new is it? We¡¯ve got appraisers, and if there¡¯s major damage or if it¡¯s not popular, it could be rejected,¡± the Goblin explained. It seemed that the Goblin thought Fang Hao had obtained dwarf machinery from somewhere else to sell. Furthermore, dwarves from other areas also sold machinery. If one¡¯s own merchandise was used, it clearly wouldn¡¯t have an advantage. ¡°A brand-new five-barrel Wind Organ Cannon,¡± said Fang Hao. ¡°A five-barrel Wind Organ Cannon?¡± The Goblin¡¯s interest was piqued, and he took another look at the young man before him. The Gray Dwarves had just registered a Wind Organ Cannon, and now a human was registering another. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a brand-new five-barrel Wind Organ Cannon?¡± The Goblin confirmed once more. ¡°Yes, brand new,¡± Fang Hao nodded. The Goblin scribbled a few notes on paper and handed him a slip. ¡°Enter through here; an appraiser will receive you,¡± the Goblin pointed Fang Hao in a direction. The five-barrel Wind Organ Cannon is one of the most outstanding pieces of machinery among dwarves. There are many types of powerful cannons in the world, but the technology to simultaneously fire from five barrels with such great power is truly only mastered by dwarves. Therefore, each Wind Organ Cannon carries a high price in the market. Moreover, the number of cannons dwarves sell to outsiders is tightly controlled. Even at headquarters¡¯ auctions, they don¡¯t sell too many. ¡°Thank you!¡± Fang Hao received the slip and led his group towards the entrance indicated. They walked through a stone corridor. A human receptionist stood in front. After seeing the slip in Fang Hao¡¯s hand, ¡°Room 012 for appraisal.¡± The room was not hard to find. After knocking gently on the door of room 012, a somewhat hoarse voice responded, ¡°Come in.¡± Pushing the door open, they entered. The room was roughly 70 square meters. It was quite empty inside, with an open space in the middle, a long desk at the back, and several cabinets filled with various items. Behind the long desk sat a Skeleton Undead. It wore a cream-colored robe, with the collar, belt, and cuffs embroidered with gold thread symbols representing death and penance. Skeleton Technician (Tier 7). Fang Hao immediately recognized his profession. A technician? In Fang Hao¡¯s understanding, a technician is skilled in assembling and repairing constructs. ¡°` Chapter 856 - Chapter 856: Chapter 558, Gray Dwarves_2 Chapter 856: Chapter 558, Gray Dwarves_2 It should have some similarities with mechanical devices. It seems that the appraiser is assigned based on your device. It¡¯s not randomly appointed. ¡°What would the guests like to evaluate?¡± the Skeleton Technician asked. ¡°A five-pipe organ cannon!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t bring it? I need to see the finished product in order to conduct an evaluation,¡± the Skeleton Technician continued. ¡°Brought it, just a moment.¡± Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and contacted Dong Jiayue, asking her to directly trade over a five-pipe organ cannon. Bang! A dull sound. The heavy organ cannon appeared out of nowhere, smashing the stone floor and stirring up a cloud of dust. The soul fire of the Skeleton Technician trembled slightly, but the absence of emotions did not cause him to display any unusual actions. He simply stood up and took some tools from a cabinet behind him. He walked towards the organ cannon to inspect it. It was evident that the Skeleton Technician was inspecting it very thoroughly. And it took a significant amount of time. If it weren¡¯t for the fear of dismantling the device and not being able to reassemble it, he might have taken it apart for inspection right there. About half an hour passed. The Skeleton Technician finally stood up and calmly walked back to the table. He said, ¡°The device has no issues, I can confirm it is a Dwarf¡¯s five-pipe organ cannon, how many do you plan to sell?¡± Fang Hao did not immediately respond, but asked, ¡°May I ask how many the Dwarves are going to sell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but the total number sold in the past two years was around fifty,¡± the Skeleton Technician answered. ¡°Okay, then we¡¯ll sell a hundred, all of the same quality,¡± Fang Hao said. Upon hearing this, the Skeleton Technician¡¯s head lifted. The soul fire jumped violently, displaying a shocked emotion. That¡¯s more than the Dwarves sold. ¡°Are you sure? The quality is all the same?¡± the Skeleton Technician asked back. ¡°Certain.¡± The Skeleton Technician nodded, ¡°Okay, you can set a starting price and a direct transaction price.¡± That is, the auction base price and the buyout price. ¡°What do the Dwarves usually set?¡± ¡°The starting price per cannon is five million Warfire Coins, the buyout price eight million.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do the same as them.¡± Swish, swish, swish!! The Skeleton Technician took Fang Hao¡¯s invitation card, started writing a lot of information on a piece of paper on the side. After finishing writing, he continued, ¡°Alright, deliver one hundred wind pipe cannons here within a week.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After responding, Fang Hao collected the wind pipe cannon inside the room again. He left the room with the others. ¡­ They exited the evaluation area. The group continued to roam around Station No.01, had dinner, and then returned to the territory through the Teleportation Array. Back in the territory, Anjia and Eira left. Fang Hao went straight to the Skeleton Conversion Field. The biggest gain this time was the purchase of various types of White Bone from beasts. Although their ranks were not very high, they perfectly complemented the shortcomings of his troops. He threw the bones into the conversion field for transformation. After processing the purchased White Bone, Fang Hao then saw the Ravenbone Spear stored in the spatial storage. This was originally bought for Dong Jiayue. He had momentarily forgotten about it. He opened the Book of Lords, found Dong Jiayue, and sent a message. ¡°Jia Yue, this is for you, ¡®Ravenbone Spear (Purple)¡¯, please receive it later.¡± Soon, a message came back from the other side. ¡°Okay, Brother Hao, love you, xoxo!¡± Fang Hao set up the transaction for the Ravenbone Spear and sent it directly. Dong Jiayue was currently using a purple-colored Thunderblade Halberd, which actually had pretty good attributes. But halberds and spears are still slightly different, and moreover, the Ravenbone Spear carried a corrupt attribute, dealing extra damage to living creatures. Once the transaction was confirmed, Fang Hao continued towards where the Skeleton merchants were, asking Doujin to have a spare moment to send a hundred cannons to the Trade Alliance¡¯s Station No.01. After handling the auction event. ¡­ Once he was done with everything. As evening approached and after having dinner, Fang Hao still went for a hot spring bath. Soaking in the warm hot spring, Eira was beside him, kneading his shoulders. ¡°Master,¡± Eira called softly. ¡°Hmm,¡± Fang Hao opened his eyes. The temperature of the hot spring made Eira¡¯s skin slightly pink, her two large ears were perked up, giving her a special feeling. ¡°Master, a few of the maids have turned nineteen,¡± Eira said softly. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Master, at this age, within our tribe, it¡¯s time to settle down,¡± Eira spoke again. Ding! Suddenly, the Book of Lords emitted a notification sound. Fang Hao turned around, propping his head on Eira¡¯s thigh, and opened the Book of Lords. The private chat was from Tian Zhiyong. Tian Zhiyong was not a resident of Fang Hao¡¯s territory but was a transmigrator he had traded with a few times before. The Four-footed Giant Lizard had been purchased from him. Since Fang Hao¡¯s reputation had grown, the Book of Lords had activated a friend verification feature. Since they had traded before, they were by default considered friends. ¡°Fang Hao big guy, I want to ask you for a favor,¡± The other side was very polite, and Fang Hao couldn¡¯t say much. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°Um, do you have any Warfire Coins? I¡¯d like to exchange some Warfire Coins from you,¡± Tian Zhiyong said. Fang Hao was taken aback, asking himself for currency exchange? This was the first time he encountered such a thing. He did have a supply of Warfire Coins, but how to exchange them? ¡°I do have plenty of Warfire Coins and can help you, but have you thought about how to exchange them? The trade options provided by the Book of Lords don¡¯t allow for currency exchange,¡± Fang Hao said. The other side fell silent as well. Chapter 857 - Chapter 857: Chapter 558: Gray Dwarves_3 Chapter 857: Chapter 558: Gray Dwarves_3 After a while, Tian Zhiyong said, ¡°Boss, do you have any ways to help? When the time comes for the exchange, for every one thousand Warfire Coins, I will give you an extra 100 Beasthead Gold.¡± Normally the exchange rate between Beasthead Gold and Warfire Coins is 5:1¡ªthe extra 100 Beasthead Gold being the service fee for Fang Hao. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t really care about such a small amount of money. It was too little, not even enough to buy a skeleton in the 01 residence. But he would still help out. ¡°You first tell me what you need the Warfire Coins for, how many do you need?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Tian Zhiyong did not conceal anything and directly said, ¡°I¡¯ve made contact with the Lizardmen, and after completing some preliminary tasks, I¡¯ve obtained a chance to change factions. I can join the Lizardmen faction, which is very important for the environment and current situation of my territory. So, I¡¯m planning to sell whatever I can to buy this opportunity.¡± Seeing Tian Zhiyong¡¯s reply, Fang Hao was somewhat surprised. He himself was from the Undead faction and had guessed that factions could be changed. But Tian Zhiyong was the first person he encountered who was changing factions in the later stages. And he could even join the Lizardmen. If Tian Zhiyong¡¯s territory was within the area of the Lizardmen, joining their faction would indeed enhance his own security. ¡°This is indeed a great opportunity.¡± ¡°Yes, boss, do you have any way to help? I really can¡¯t come up with so many Warfire Coins, that¡¯s why I came to bother you,¡± Tian Zhiyong said anxiously. ¡°Hmm, how many Warfire Coins do you need?¡± ¡°Two thousand, but I want to exchange for three thousand, keeping one thousand as a reserve,¡± Tian Zhiyong said. Little White, wearing a loose nightgown, with her fair thighs exposed, walked in. In her hand, she carried two cups of fruit wine. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Do you have a Trade Alliance building?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then you should be able to go to Trade Alliance outpost number 032, right?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°I can, oh, you mean we go to the outpost to exchange, right? That¡¯s great!¡± Tian Zhiyong immediately understood. Fang Hao said, ¡°Then, tomorrow at noon, bring your money to the newly renovated store across from the bar and find a fox girl named Little White. She will exchange the corresponding amount of Warfire Coins with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome, thank you so much, boss,¡± Tian Zhiyong gratefully said. ¡°No big deal.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need in the future, just say the word, boss.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Call ended. Fang Hao felt tired and decided to go back to his room to rest. The two ladies were still in the backyard, chatting about the fun things they saw today. ¡­ Back in his room, he lay straight on the bed. He dimmed the light, covering the glow of the Nightstone. Lying in bed, Fang Hao started to ponder the future development of his territory. Including increasing food production, strengthening the Defense at the borders, stabilizing the population in various regions, and gathering faith. It seemed that as a lord, he had many things to consider. As he mulled these things over, sleepiness gradually crept upon him. Just as Fang Hao was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, the door to his room was opened. Creak! The door was gently pushed open, then quickly closed. Hearing this sound of the door opening in a daze, Fang Hao didn¡¯t pay it much mind. No enemies could come into the territory; only a few individuals such as Eira and Little White could enter his room. Probably one of them, done chatting, was missing him again. Soon after, the rustling sound of clothes being removed could be heard. Following that, she slid under the quilt, and Fang Hao subconsciously wrapped his arms around her. Two large ears plopped against his forehead. The body was smooth and tender. It was Eira!! ¡°Mmm!¡± Eira let out a soft hum and began to kiss Fang Hao actively. Chapter 858 - Chapter 858: Chapter 559, Lizardmen Chapter 858: Chapter 559, Lizardmen The soft lips took the initiative and pressed forward. A pair of small hands ceaselessly teased Fang Hao¡¯s body, which soon had an evident response. ¡°So forward today,¡± Fang Hao remarked, though something felt off; the other party was very earnest but somewhat clumsy. His suspicions had just arisen, but as the woman in his arms continued to provoke him, his clear consciousness began to blur. Since Eira was so forward today, Fang Hao decided not to fuss over the details. He gently placed his hands on her slim waist. With a forward thrust of his hips, ¡°Mmm~!¡± A moan slipped from the woman¡¯s mouth, and Fang Hao felt the warmth at his lower body and a distinct resistance. ¡°Damn, something¡¯s not right¡ªnot Eira!¡± Fang Hao¡¯s body jolted, and he immediately withdrew. ¡°Who are you?¡± A carp kicked and sprung up from the bed, extending a hand, and a flame-orange arrow appeared out of thin air. Lighting up the room. ¡°Red Fruit?¡± Red Fruit knelt by the bed, covering herself with the bedding, nervously. She glanced cautiously at Fang Hao, then bowed her head and said, ¡°Master, it¡¯s Red Fruit¡¯s fault.¡± Fang Hao looked at the nude rabbit girl. Her trembling and softly sobbing demeanor left him at a loss for words. He dissipated the magic he had gathered and let down the Nightstone chandelier. Red Fruit was a rabbit girl among the maids, always obedient and well-behaved, who studied herbalism. ¡°Red Fruit, you startled me,¡± Fang Hao said. Before Red Fruit could reply, the door was pushed open. Eira and Little White rushed in. Seeing the two as if in confrontation, and Red Fruit, who was now trembling with nerves, Eira said, ¡°Little White, take Red Fruit and wait outside for a moment.¡± ¡°Okay, Sister Eira,¡± Little White responded, assisting Red Fruit towards the door. Red Fruit still cast a careful glance at Fang Hao. Once only Eira and Fang Hao were left in the room, Eira took the initiative to say, ¡°Master, it was I who allowed Red Fruit to come in.¡± ¡°Ah? What¡¯s going on?¡± Eira explained, ¡°Master, I told you at the hot springs, remember?¡± ¡°Told me what?¡± ¡°Red Fruit is 19 years old. In our tribe, girls her age would already be raising children. Do you plan to send them away?¡± Eira asked. Fang Hao furrowed his brow and recalled that at the hot springs, Eira had mentioned a few maids who were 18 or 19 years old. ¡°So, you arranged for Red Fruit to come in quietly?¡± Eira anxiously said, ¡°I thought the master had tacitly consented, so I let Red Fruit come in first today. In fact, all the maids like you very much, and they don¡¯t want to leave here either.¡± The maids¡¯ loyalty had pretty much reached 100 points. Add to that the implicit meaning behind the relationships of master and maid, and Fang Hao¡¯s inaction towards them, had started to worry the maids. They feared that one day Fang Hao would send them all away. Fang Hao was stunned. Was Eira reproaching him for not approaching the other maids? Indeed¡­, this world¡¯s customs surely couldn¡¯t be considered with a modern mindset. ¡°Does Red Fruit consent?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Of course, all the maids are willing,¡± said Eira. Noticing Fang Hao¡¯s reaction gradually returning, she smiled slightly, kneeling on the ground, edging closer to his legs, lifting her long hair, her head slowly bowing. Seeing her own achievements, Eira revealed a contented smile. Gently, she said, ¡°Master, I was the one who let Red Fruit in, so don¡¯t frighten her anymore; she¡¯s timid.¡± After speaking, she addressed the door, ¡°Red Fruit, come in.¡± The door opened again, and Red Fruit, wrapped in a thin blanket with her fair shoulders exposed, entered with her head lowered. Eira instructed, ¡°Red Fruit, the master was just not prepared. Go tend to him now.¡± With that, Eira left the room with Little White. ¡°Master, I¡­,¡± Red Fruit murmured with her head down. Fang Hao smiled faintly, opening his arms wide, ¡°Come here.¡± Red Fruit blushed and walked over, sitting on his lap, her cheek pressed against his chest. Fang Hao said tenderly, ¡°Red Fruit, you¡¯ve dressed up nicely today; it suits you.¡± Her face growing redder, Red Fruit clung tightly to him, as if trying to merge into his body. Fang Hao undid her blanket and pressed Red Fruit beneath him. ¡°Mm¡­¡± From the room, the sound of a woman¡¯s suppressed moans echoed, melodious yet cautiously restrained, whispering softly, utterly seductive, Eventually, the troubling sounds subsided, mumbling softly. ¡°Red Fruit, are you okay?¡± On the bed, the two lay entwined, both naked, with Red Fruit leaning on his chest, blushing, she nodded. Soon, the moans started again. ¡­ The next morning. After breakfast, there was a distinct change in the air at the lord¡¯s mansion. Outside, the maids looked at Fang Hao with gleaming eyes, full of hope and adoration. Fang Hao ruffled the head of the rabbit girl at the doorway. He walked straight out of the lord¡¯s mansion, heading for the Skeleton Conversion Field. After a night of conversion, those three White Bones must have been transformed. Indeed, outside the Skeleton Conversion Field, stood three White Bones. A Skeleton Vulture, a scorpion almost the size of an adult horse, and a seemingly ordinary human White Bone. Fang Hao approached and inspected them. [Skeleton Vulture (Tier 5)] [Alignment: Undead] [Racial Traits: Flight, Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Light Weakness.] [Skills: Peck, Pounce, Infection.] [Innate Abilities: Advanced Flight Mastery, Intermediate Predation Mastery.] Chapter 859 - Chapter 859: Chapter 559: Lizardmen_2 Chapter 859: Chapter 559: Lizardmen_2 ¡°` (Note: The skeleton troops converted from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) The Desert Vulture had a sizable body, with white bones for its frame, except for a layer of flesh membrane wrapped around its wings. This ensured its ability to fly. Its talons and beak were incredibly sharp and served as its primary means of attack. Back then, the skeleton clerk said that the Desert Vulture was a Tier 6 troop type. After conversion, it automatically fell one tier, becoming a Tier 5 troop type. The skeleton clerk probably didn¡¯t consider that Fang Hao was also part of the undead faction, so he quoted the tier from when it was alive. Fang Hao bought this vulture mainly to fill the gap in his aerial forces. For flying units, he currently had Skeleton Giant Bat (Tier 3), Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon Guard (Tier 6), and Bone Dragon (Tier 10). However, both Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon and Bone Dragon required Dragon Crystals for recruitment, so the only ones that could demonstrate their ability to increase a hundredfold in numbers were the Skeleton Giant Bats. But having been used until now, Tier 3 was a bit too low. So when he saw that the vulture bones were for sale, he bought them immediately for conversion. After inspecting the vulture, Fang Hao moved on to the Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion. The scorpion, with a body length close to that of a horse, was quite intimidating, especially the hook that hung above its body. Undead Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion (Tier 7) Faction: Undead Racial traits: Undead, hollow skeleton, weak to light magic. Skills: Pincer attack, Stinger, Poison, Burrow. Innate abilities: Advanced Crawling Mastery, Advanced Hunting Mastery. (Note: The skeleton troops converted from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion wasn¡¯t just any skeleton, but similar to the previously transformed Undead Centipede. Its appearance was more like that of an arthropod insect without flesh, possessing a withered yet hard animal carapace. The entire body was pitch-black and reflective, quite close to the shape of a living scorpion. ¡°Show me the burrow ability,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The Undead Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion moved its scorpion legs briskly, scuttling to an open area nearby. Then it pressed its body to the ground, shaking violently. Soil from the ground began to be pushed aside. The scorpion¡¯s body started to burrow down swiftly. Its pincers then smoothed the soil above its head. Well¡­ Fang Hao watched from the side, stroking his chin. How should I put this? It certainly did bury itself, but the process was slow, and the burial site was obviously marked. Unless someone else was around to tidy up the top layer of soil. If that¡¯s the case, Fang Hao might as well bury other troops instead, achieving the same effect! After all, the undead don¡¯t need to breathe, so being buried won¡¯t lead to suffocation or death. This ability wasn¡¯t very useful. ¡°Come on out!¡± With a rustling sound, the Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion crawled out. ¡°Fill in the hole.¡± The scorpion began to fill the pit again. Continuing the inspection, he finally examined the Pilgrim. Skeleton Pilgrim (Tier 4) Racial traits: Undead, hollow skeleton, weak to light magic, hostile faith. Skills: Faith, Hammer strike. Innate abilities: Intermediate Blunt Weapon Mastery. Hostile Faith: This unit is unstable, with a 30% chance of death. Faith (Active): Ability activation increases all attributes by 15%. Hammer Strike (Active): Adds 10% damage. (Note: The skeleton troops converted from corpses still retain the characteristics and attack methods they had in life.) Dammit, I¡¯ve been had. Going by the skeleton clerk¡¯s description, the Faith ability could boost all attributes. That skill sounded pretty good. Increased attributes meant a higher survival rate on the battlefield, bolstering the overall strength of a zerg strategy. The Pilgrim was a church¡¯s troop type in life, which he had guessed. But what he had never expected was the attribute ¡°Hostile Faith.¡± A 30% instability leading directly to death. One third, damn it, that¡¯s harsh. For several thousand Warfire Coins, all you sold me was this thing, what a rip-off. ¡°` Whether it was the 30% death rate during recruitment or suddenly losing 30% of the people on the battlefield, both resulted in severe losses, even affecting the direction of the battle. It could be said that this money was utterly wasted, and Fang Hao did not plan on using it in the future. ¡°Stand by outside the city.¡± Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! Three skeletons, one flying, one crawling, one walking. They quickly vanished from sight. Fang Hao went back to the Skeleton Conversion Field to check the recruitment conditions for the three skeletons. Skeleton Vulture: Wriggling Spine 5, Death Trace 3. Skeleton Pilgrim: Wriggling Spine 4, Soul Crystal 1, Death Trace 2. Undead Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion: Wriggling Spine 7, Death Trace 7, Star Silver 2. The Skeleton Pilgrim belonged to the human faction, hence it consumed Soul Crystals. But for the Skeleton Vulture and the Undead Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion, no faction-specific materials appeared in the recruitment conditions. This should mean that they fell under the category of beasts. However, the absence of faction-specific materials had been compensated with Death Trace. The normal recruitment conditions for a tier 5 troop were ¡®Wriggling Spine 5, exclusive material 1, Death Trace 2.¡¯ Now, for the Skeleton Vulture, the Death Trace had directly reached 3 units. The same was true for the Undead Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion, where the exclusive material was included in Death Trace. This was not a bad deal at all. ¡°Go and test their combat abilities.¡± Fang Hao also headed towards the outskirts of the city, intending to see the combat power of the Skeleton Vulture and the Giant Hook Poisonous Scorpion. As for the Pilgrim, well! Forget it, it¡¯s not needed. ¡­ Meanwhile. In a transmigrator¡¯s territory to the southwest. Tian Zhiyong walked out of the Teleportation Array with two subordinates. Looking at the three Warfire Cards with a denomination of a thousand in his hand, a satisfied smile spread across his face. ¡°Lord. Tian Zhiyong nodded, then immediately asked, ¡°Those Lizardmen?¡± The soldier answered in a low voice, ¡°They¡¯re still outside the north of the city, no movement.¡± Tian Zhiyong nodded, gestured, and swiftly walked with several people towards the north city gate. Passing by rows of buildings, they exited the north city gate. After covering some distance, they spotted a Lizardmen encampment stationed ahead. Lizardmen wearing armor and wielding weapons were patrolling normally, and four-legged Giant Lizards laden with goods were resting on the ground. Tian Zhiyong licked his lips and flashed a smile. He strode forward and said, ¡°I would like to see the Priest.¡± ¡°One moment,¡± said the Lizardman before entering a nearby tent. Shortly after, the Lizardmen soldier came out again, ¡°Human, the Priest invites you in.¡± Tian Zhiyong nodded, removed his weapon from his waist, placed it aside, and bent down to enter the central tent. Inside the tent sat a Lizardman wearing a robe. The robe was embroidered with green and gold patterns, which, along with the Lizardman¡¯s natural blue scales, looked quite resplendent. Ancient Saint Priest ¨C Tiktata (Purple Tier 3 Hero). A hero unit of the Lizardmen. It was this Ancient Saint Priest who, while passing by, arranged for the Lizardmen to come and negotiate. That prevented an incident similar to the last one. ¡°Priest Tiktata,¡± Tian Zhiyong seated himself cross-legged to the side. Tiktata, like an old monk, opened his eyes to reveal brown vertical pupils. ¡°Mr. Tian Zhiyong.¡± Transmigrators could recognize the language of any race, but what Tiktata was speaking was the common language of the human Federation. And he spoke it very standardly. Tian Zhiyong forthrightly said, ¡°Priest Tiktata, after considering overnight, I have decided to join the Holy Dynasty and become one of its members.¡± Lizardmen was the external appellation. They referred to themselves as the children of the Ancient Saints, the descendants of the gods. Even though the Lizardmen had gradually retreated from the main stage, the term Holy Dynasty still expressed respect for the Lizardmen. ¡°Mr. Tian Zhiyong, you must think carefully. After joining, although it will not affect you personally, you will no longer be considered a human and will be managed by us,¡± Tiktata continued. Tian Zhiyong nodded, ¡°Yes, I have made my choice.¡± He had already decided yesterday; it was just that he hadn¡¯t amassed the required Warfire Coins. ¡°Good, this is yours now.¡± A scroll was pushed towards Tian Zhiyong. Chapter 860 - Chapter 860: Chapter 560, Ice Bat Monkey Chapter 860: Chapter 560, Ice Bat Monkey (The previous chapter was sealed.) (Summary of previous content: 1. Eira arranged for the maid ¡®Red Fruit¡¯ to visit Fang Hao¡¯s room, confirming their relationship. 2. The three types of White Bone that were purchased have been transformed, each showing its unique properties. 3. Tian Zhiyong made contact with the Lizardmen, explaining their social structure and racial status.) This summary does not count towards the word limit. ¡­ Tian Zhiyong took out two thousand-denomination Warfire Cards from his person, and pushed them forward. Both parties spoke nicely to each other. In fact, their relationship was more like buying protection with money. As the exploration area expanded, More and more Lizardmen teams appeared within the city limits. Like his previous method of killing and burying the dead, it obviously no longer worked. Now, paying for stable development wasn¡¯t a bad thing. At least, he was much better off than the other transmigrators enslaved by the Lizardmen. Tiktata extended a scaly hand and picked up the Warfire Cards. Tian Zhiyong also picked up the alliance scroll. The moment his hand touched the scroll, A system prompt appeared beside his ear. [Lizardmen Alliance Scroll, would you like to change alliance?] ¡°Change,¡± Tian Zhiyong thought. [Change successful.] The next second, Tian Zhiyong¡¯s Book of Lords began to change. The brown cover started to bulge slightly, followed by the emergence of layers of fine scales. It resembled a surface made of crocodile skin. ¡°Alright, do you have any other business?¡± Tiktata asked, seeing that the human did not move. Tian Zhiyong thought for a moment, remembering the store opened by Fang Hao. He spoke softly, ¡°Priest, I wish to establish trade relations with other cities of the Holy Dynasty. You are aware that some human items are also needed by the Lizardmen.¡± Tiktata looked at Tian Zhiyong with brown vertical pupils. ¡°What can you bring?¡± ¡°Cloth, weapons, food, or various kinds of tools,¡± said Tian Zhiyong. He also wanted to try his hand at business. Joining the Lizardmen was actually an advantage now. Perhaps he could develop from there. Tiktata pondered for a moment, then took out a token made of an unknown metal from his bosom. The token¡¯s surface was engraved with a symbol resembling a religious emblem. ¡°Take this, hang it on your wagon, and the tribes will know you are one of our own. Whether the trade succeeds depends on your own skills.¡± Tian Zhiyong was instantly delighted. He respectfully said, ¡°Thank you, Priest. If I succeed, I will not forget your help.¡± Tiktata continued, ¡°Alright, we will return tomorrow, and at that time, I will report your matter to Her Majesty the Empress.¡± Tian Zhiyong also nodded, ¡°Okay, then I won¡¯t disturb the Priest, continue your rest.¡± Tiktata closed his eyes immediately. Tian Zhiyong then exited the tent. After leaving the tent, the Lizardmen surrounding him were no longer as hostile as they were at the beginning. Retrieving his own weapon, Tian Zhiyong hurriedly left with his people. ¡­ Capital city. A teleportation screen appeared in the middle of the hall. Fang Hao stepped out from it with Demitrija. Today, he inspected the production materials of the satellite cities, checked on production, and aimed to increase production volume. He hoped to upgrade the territory¡¯s level to 15 sooner. After a tour, Aside from production issues, what also surprised Fang Hao was Gray Bear-Reed, who was responsible for clay tile production in the satellite city. She had already reached the ninth rank of warrior, and once she reached the tenth rank, she could become a hero. This news astounded Fang Hao. Normally, for the indigenous people here, it was difficult for some to break through the eighth or ninth rank in their entire lives. Not to mention those bandits without any heritage. Since Gray Bear seemed to have a talent type that allowed quick progression, it was natural to boost her favorability. He rewarded her with a set of purple ¡°Temple Guardians¡¯ outfit,¡± raising her Loyalty from 65 points to 80 points. He also promised that once she reached the tenth rank, he would bring her over to be promoted to a hero. Reed was also happy to comply. After returning to the capital city and having dinner, The maids began to clear the tableware and occasionally glanced over with their big eyes. Ding! The Book of Lords sounded again. When he opened it, it was Tang Qi. That is, the transmigrator who previously dated the daughter of the Blackstone Tribe¡¯s Clan Leader. Ever since becoming a satellite city, Tang Qi had been developing his own territory, rarely speaking in the channel, nor had he contacted Fang Hao. ¡°Boss Fang Hao, I have information on Flying Beasts above rank five.¡± The skin of a rank five or higher Flying Beast is the material for Swift Eagle Leather. And Swift Eagle Leather is used to make the sails for Aerial Ships, so Fang Hao had been looking for a congregation of rank five or higher flying beasts. ¡°Where is it, and what information do you have about the creature?¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°It¡¯s on a mountain north of Tasgo City, named ¡®Ice Bat Monkey,¡¯ a rank seven creature,¡± Tang Qi said. Fang Hao frowned, the creature¡¯s name didn¡¯t sound like it was of the flying type. ¡°Why such a strange name, is it possible to slaughter?¡± The names of monsters and beasts in this world were indeed odd and unusual. But the name Ice Bat Monkey still sounded very strange. Tang Qi quickly replied, ¡°Boss, I had someone kill one to test, and obtained ¡®Soft Rough Leather,¡¯ which I feel is the material for ¡®Swift Eagle Leather.''¡± Chapter 861 - Chapter 861: Chapter 560, Ice Bat Monkey_2 Chapter 861: Chapter 560, Ice Bat Monkey_2 He tapped on it. [Soft Rough Skin] [Category: Leather Material] (Description: Leather material decomposed from a flight unit.) Upon closer examination, it really is a material for synthesizing Swift Eagle Leather. This is indeed a possible approach. ¡°How many monsters are there, and are they strong in combat?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. ¡°There are a lot of them, and these creatures are like giant monkeys with bat wings, attacking any living creature they see and taking them back to eat,¡± Tang Qi said. It seemed that Tang Qi had encountered these ¡®Ice Bat Monkeys,¡¯ and both sides had fought a battle. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have known in such detail. He probably remembered what Fang Hao had talked about on the channel some time ago, after killing them and realizing they could be decomposed into [Soft Rough Skin]. Fang Hao looked out the window, noticing that the sky had grown somewhat dim. Therefore, he directly replied to Tang Qi, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring people over tomorrow. You prepare as well, and you¡¯ll guide us then.¡± ¡°Got it, Boss.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± After ending the chat, Fang Hao opened the map to take a look. Where the old site of the Blackstone Tribe used to be by Tasgo City had been transformed by him into the City of Undead. From there, he could recruit military units, and he would just teleport over when the time came. Having made up his mind, he closed the Book of Lords. ¡­ Outside the door, Little White was tallying the maids scheduled to clean the 032 residence tomorrow. They didn¡¯t have to do the heavy work; all they could do was wiping and sweeping, the tasks of cleaning. Fang Hao went upstairs to rest. Upon opening his room door, he saw a petite figure sitting silently on the bed, waiting. When she saw Fang Hao come in. She immediately got up, looking somewhat nervous. ¡°Master.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Hmm, Roundy.¡± ¡°Master¡­¡± Roundy called out softly, her head lowered. The names of the maids were actually very simple, and some didn¡¯t even have names when bought. Like Red Fruit, she named herself. And Roundy, she had no name when purchased. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t very good at naming, so he chose names that were easy to remember based on certain characteristics. And Roundy¡¯s feature was that she was plump, round, and firm. Roundy was usually responsible for cleaning the City Lord¡¯s mansion. He had previously felt that Roundy¡¯s bust had grown much heavier. Seeing her shy, Fang Hao took her hand and sat down beside her. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s rest!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Roundy responded. ¡°Mmm¡­hm~.¡± ¡­ The next day, at eight in the morning. After breakfast, Fang Hao took Demitrija to the Blackstone Tribe. When they stepped out from the teleportation screen. Tang Qi, with his subordinates and several orcs, was already waiting on the side. Seeing Fang Hao emerge. He immediately approached, ¡°Boss, Commander Demitrija.¡± ¡°Hmm, show me the place,¡± Fang Hao said straightforwardly. Tang Qi nodded, took out the Book of Lords, and directly opened the map. He pointed at a not so dense mountain range north of Tasgo City, ¡°The territory of the Ice Bat Monkeys is right here. Yesterday, I also asked nearby Orcs, and they said that these Ice Bat Monkeys breed very quickly and have started to leave their territory, capturing people to eat everywhere.¡± Fang Hao looked at the location. The distance from here is quite significant indeed. If marching without stopping. It might take more than 7 or 8 hours to reach the destination. Fang Hao did not delay and directly went to the Troop Hiding Cave here. In the Troop Hiding Cave, nearly 1.3 million troops were stationed. Besides the forces recruited at the time, there were also a large number of Undead converted from the dead orc bodies. All were gathered here. After mobilizing 20,000 close-combat troops and 30,000 archers, he let Demitrija take them outside to the spacious area. Meanwhile, Fang Hao went to the Skeleton Conversion Field to recruit more. [Skeleton Vulture: Wriggling Spine 5, Death Trace 3] Recruitment number: 100. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 10,100 Skeleton Vultures recruited.] 10,000 Skeleton Vultures appeared. Flapping around and landed nearby. Stretching their necks, they looked down at Fang Hao and the others. Tang Qi was somewhat okay with it, knowing the difference was due to faction alignment. But for the rest of the orcs, even if it wasn¡¯t their first time encountering the undead, they still turned pale and looked extremely guarded when so many skeleton frames stared at them. After pulling all the Skeleton Vultures out of the city. Fang Hao then built a Bound Spirit Tower on the empty land nearby and started recruitment. ¡°Bound Spirit Guardian: Wriggling Spine 7, Death Trace 4, Star Silver 2.¡± Recruitment number 10. ¡°Hundredfold amplification triggered, recruiting 1010 Bound Spirit Guardians.¡± Rustle Rustle!! Bound Spirit Guardians with Soul Fire flaring in their eye sockets appeared once again. Fang Hao made equipment for them and ordered them to wait outside the door. Recruiting Bound Spirit Guardians wasn¡¯t for battle, but for relaying orders. With so many mindless skeletons, it was necessary to have messengers to convey orders. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Tang Qi, see if there are any skeleton horses? You¡¯ll come with me later. The others don¡¯t need to follow to avoid delays on the road.¡± ¡°There are skeleton horses, I know,¡± Tang Qi answered, immediately running outside to find the skeleton horses. The journey this time was long. The Blackstone Tribe was already some distance from Tasgo City, let alone the territory of the Ice Bat Monkeys. Therefore, to ensure he could finish the battle before nightfall, he had to reduce time on the road. Tang Qi needed to lead the way, and the other living creatures would not be taken as they required rest and meals, which would be quite troublesome. If it was just the three of them, they could eat and drink on horseback. Soon, the skeleton horses were brought over. Fang Hao and Demitrija mounted their horses. While Tang Qi whispered a few words to the female Orc, hugged her, and then mounted his horse, signaling he was ready. Fang Hao waved his big hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Rustle Rustle!! Tang Qi led the way, and the great army of bones formed a long white dragon snaking its way north. ¡­ At three in the afternoon. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s the mountain,¡± Tang Qi rode up to the middle of the group, near Fang Hao, pointing to the high mountain ahead. At that moment, they were still some distance from the mountain. But there had been no villages in the vicinity for an hour already. At the time, Tang Qi explained that the Ice Bat Monkeys always came down the mountain to snatch people to eat, and the nearby Orc Tribes had no way to deal with these creatures, so they moved away. For the Orcs, migration was a common occurrence. ¡°Alright, let the main force continue to advance straight to the foot of the mountain,¡± Fang Hao ordered. The team continued forward, toward the base of the mountain. As they delved deeper, it actually felt more desolate. The trees began to thin out, no animals or wildlife were seen. Just as Fang Hao was observing his surroundings. The sky suddenly darkened. He looked up to see several dark figures swooping down from above. Bang, bang, bang!! The archers below opened fire directly. A hail of bullets turned the dark figures into plugs, falling from the sky. ¡°Ice Bat Monkey (Tier 7).¡± The Ice Bat Monkey was an extremely ugly monster, with a body like a monkey, pronounced fangs, and bat-like wings attaching to its forearms. Its skin was a dark red tone. ¡°Do you want to slaughter the Tier 7 Ice Bat Monkey?¡± Yes! ¡°Slaughter completed, obtained 600 meats, 15 pieces of soft coarse skin, and 25 beast bones.¡± Indeed, there were soft coarse skins. It¡¯s strange. Such a creature, in the system¡¯s verdict, was deemed edible. While a bat was not. Fang Hao quickly slaughtered the several corpses on the ground. Gaining 75 pieces of soft coarse skin. And as the gunfire stopped, piercing monkey-like shrieks began to resound from the woods ahead. One after another, echoing throughout the forest. Then, the entire forest seemed to boil over. One after another, Ice Bat Monkeys surged up from the front, flying in their direction. At a glance, there were easily hundreds of them. ¡°Boss, it seems we don¡¯t have to move forward,¡± Tang Qi stepped back twice, his voice tense. Fang Hao nodded; it looked like the gunfire had disturbed the Ice Bat Monkeys in the forest. This was actually good; waiting for them to come and attack was better than having his men enter the forest to find them. It could greatly improve efficiency. ¡°Archers, enter ¡®Steady Aim¡¯ stance, Skeleton Warriors prepare lightning strike.¡± Swish swish swish!! The Skeleton archers crouched slightly, with their rifles pointed at the air in front of them. Chapter 862 - Chapter 862: Chapter 561, Soft Rough Leather (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.) Chapter 862: Chapter 561, Soft Rough Leather (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.) Huu huu huu!! The swarm of Ice Bat Monkeys was getting closer and closer, their dense numbers blocking out the sunlight from above. Fang Hao¡¯s keen vision allowed him to see from a great distance, even the saliva dripping from the huge mouths of the Ice Bat Monkeys. Their method of flight actually shared many similarities with that of bats. Fang Hao was calculating the distance between the two sides. When it seemed about right, he gave the command in a cold voice, ¡°Lightning Strike.¡± Electricity-flickering thunder spears appeared on the right white bone arms of the Skeleton Warriors in the front row. ¡°Fire!¡± Huu huu huu!! The sounds of the air being torn apart arose as the thunder spears were hurled into the sky. For a moment, the sky was covered by silver snakes spreading far and wide. The bodies of the Ice Bat Monkeys began to spasm, crackling as they fell from the sky. But still, many that were not affected or not hit by the blast continued to charge forward. ¡°Lightning Strike, continue. Skeleton archers, shoot,¡± Fang Hao did not pause, loudly issuing commands. ¡°Shoot!¡± ¡°Shoot!¡± One command after another rang out among the archer formation. Then, in the next second, bullets rained down like hail towards the skies above. The advancing Ice Bat Monkeys were directly turned into sieves. For a time, the ground was littered with these bat-monkey creatures, floundering and struggling. The Skeleton infantry that were free moved forward in large strides to finish off the still struggling Ice Bat Monkeys. The greatest advantage of the Ice Bat Monkeys was their mobility and flight. Once they lost that advantage, the sky was no longer their domain, and there was no difference between them and other wild beasts. In fact, their combat power on the ground was even lower than that of other wild beasts of the same rank. Tang Qi, hidden within the ranks, watched in astonishment. Last time Fang Hao led his troops to take down Tasgo, his combat power was not this formidable. Infantry releasing lightning into the sky, what the hell was going on? Remote infantry? The archers were still using bows and crossbows at that time. One winter had passed and they had all switched to rifles. Bolt-action rifles at that. But how come he only saw big shots revealing cannons in the channel but no rifles for sale? This level of combat power, it would be strange if it wasn¡¯t the best in the world. It seemed that no force could defeat Fang Hao¡¯s army from the front anymore. As he was thinking, after a majority of the Ice Bat Monkeys had died or been injured, the survivors began to flee. Clearly, these creatures possessed some intelligence. Knowing they couldn¡¯t win, they ran. ¡°Skeleton Vulture, after killing them, bring the bodies back,¡± he ordered. Hu la la!! The ten thousand Skeleton Vultures that had been on standby in the back immediately took to the skies, chasing after the fleeing Ice Bat Monkeys For a moment, the forest was filled with the sounds of battle. Fang Hao stepped out from the protection of the Skeletons and beckoned to Tang Qi. ¡°Quick, butcher them all; exchange the meat immediately and give me the soft hides.¡± Tang Qi immediately ran out, responding, ¡°Got it, boss.¡± The two began to butcher the creatures, one by one. [Butchering complete, acquired Meat 550, Soft Coarse Hide 14, Beast Bone 24.] [Butchering complete, acquired Meat 620, Soft Coarse Hide 16, Beast Bone 26.] [Butchering complete, acquired Meat 600, Soft Coarse Hide 15, Beast Bone 25.] [¡­] The two worked swiftly to butcher their prey. The meat, hides, and bones were piled up in three separate areas. The Skeleton Vultures in front continued to bring back bodies they had caught up with, and the two continued their butchering. After busying themselves for quite a while. They had accumulated more than 6,000 Soft Coarse Hides in their hands. Once everything was processed, Fang Hao waved his hand grandly and the team continued to move forward. They advanced to the foot of the mountain. The Undead army began their assault up the mountain. The number of Ice Bat Monkeys on the mountain was greater, and the steep terrain allowed them to breach the ranks, killing dozens of Skeleton archers. Fortunately, the Skeleton infantry quickly came to their aid. All of the Ice Bat Monkeys were killed, and the archers resumed their normal attack. The sky filled with lightning as bullets rained down without regard for cost. All the Ice Bat Monkeys were shot down and then finished off. Meanwhile, those that tried to escape were continually pursued by the Skeleton Vultures. However, as wild creatures, when the Ice Bat Monkeys realized they were truly unable to win, many fled. They flew off in all directions. By the time they reached the mountain¡¯s peak, it was already five in the afternoon. At this time, the light of day had already dimmed. Fang Hao and his companion began butchering again. After they finished, they had acquired a total of more than 38,000 Soft Coarse Hides. It was a considerable haul. At the same time, he kept one body to be transformed at the conversion field later. ¡°Search around nearby, see if there¡¯s anything good,¡± Fang Hao called out loudly. Hu la la!! The Skeletons dispersed, searching the vicinity. However, regretfully. These creatures obviously lacked higher intelligence; the area was scattered with nests, chunks of flesh, and bones. There were no treasures to be found, not even a pretty gemstone. ¡°Boss!¡± Just as Fang Hao was about to order a retreat, Tang Qi¡¯s shout came from the side. He looked up towards Tang Qi, who was approaching quickly. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a cave over there that has quite a few people locked inside.¡± ¡°People?¡± As information flashed through Fang Hao¡¯s mind, he considered the possibility of people being locked inside the cave. Previously, Tang Qi had mentioned that the Ice Bat Monkeys would capture people from nearby villages to eat. Perhaps these were the captives they had taken for dinner. ¡°Where?¡± Fang Hao immediately asked. Tang Qi pointed in the direction behind him and said, ¡°Just over there, if you walk straight ahead you¡¯ll see a cave.¡± Chapter 863 - Chapter 863: Chapter 561, Soft Coarse Skin (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.)_2 Chapter 863: Chapter 561, Soft Coarse Skin (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.)_2 Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Tang Qi, you stay behind to command the troops to prepare to descend the mountain, Demitrija, you bring some Skeletons with me to go check on those captured people.¡± The location Tang Qi had mentioned was not difficult to find. Following the mountain path they had already traversed, one could see a cave sealed by iron bars. The cave¡¯s entrance had a diameter of over two meters, and its door was reinforced with branches, on which hung numerous skulls. From the structure of the skulls, most belonged to Orcs, but there were also some close to humans, or those of other animals. As they approached the cave, they could faintly hear the sound of low sobbing from inside. Through the iron bars, Fang Hao saw the people who were locked up. There were quite a few of them, including Orcs and races close to humans. On their bodies, around their necks, they wore feathers as ornaments. Fang Hao recognized this race ¨C the Woodland Attendant from the Fairy Clan. Seeing someone approaching, the sobbing from within the cages grew louder. The people inside had heard and seen some of the events outside. But the transition from ¡®Ice Bat Monkeys¡¯ to hordes of Undead clearly hadn¡¯t altered the captive people¡¯s plight. ¡°Stop crying, which Tribe do the Orcs belong to?¡± Fang Hao asked. The Orcs in the cage were members of the Demon Clan, bare-chested and assuming a posture of desperate resistance. But each of them bore serious injuries. Considering their injuries, it was doubtful they had much combat power left to resist. ¡°Huh?¡± Several Orcs were taken aback. Upon closer inspection, they noticed the human speaking from behind the Skeletons. After some thought, one Orc said, ¡°Why should I tell you!¡± Um, ¡­ Fang Hao was momentarily stunned by the response, suddenly unsure of what to say next. He then turned his attention away from the Orcs, his gaze landing on the group of Fairies. There were even more Fairy Clan members here, at least fifteen or sixteen, both men and women, all bearing wounds. ¡°How about you? Are you from the Fairy Clan?¡± Compared to the Orcs, the Fairy Clan people were much easier to communicate with. One of the men stepped forward and bowed slightly, ¡°Human sir, we are from the Fairy Clan.¡± ¡°Captured by the Ice Bat Monkeys?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord, the Ice Bat Monkeys have become unusually ferocious recently. They have started to raid and capture people as food,¡± the man took a deep breath. ¡°Thank you, my lord, for clearing out the monsters here.¡± It was clear that the Fairy before him was much smarter than the Orcs that had spoken earlier. He knew to flatter, in an attempt to guarantee his own safety. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Are you from the ¡®Dreamy Forest¡¯?¡± All the Fairies¡¯ eyes lit up instantly, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope. The leading Fairy took two steps forward, excitedly saying, ¡°Human sir, you know of the Dreamy Forest?¡± ¡°I know it. I¡¯ve met ¡®Shinisara¡¯ once. So you are her people?¡± Fang Hao continued asking. Heart of the Deep Forest ¨C Shinisara, was the leader of the Dreamy Forest. She was also a level 9 Orange hero. Previously, when the Fairy Clan had attacked Fang Hao in the Trade Alliance, ¡®Shinisara¡¯ personally visited Fang Hao¡¯s territory to negotiate compensation. In the end, they agreed that two thousand Woodland Attendants would help Fang Hao with farming. In fact, Fang Hao had plans this year to collaborate with the Fairies, hiring them to cultivate crops and increase yields. That would likely be much cheaper than buying grain from merchants. ¡°You know ¡®Shinisara¡¯, that¡¯s wonderful, human sir,¡± the Fairy continued, ¡°my companions have been injured, could you possibly attend to them first? The Fairy Clan will not forget your help.¡± Fang Hao observed that these people were also warriors of level 2 and 3, who in the Fairy Clan were responsible for farming and forest protection. Releasing them would pose no danger. He nodded, ¡°Alright, but once you¡¯re out, don¡¯t make any special moves, or it might be dangerous.¡± ¡°Understood, understood,¡± the Fairies immediately responded with joy. The cage was opened, and the Fairies walked out carefully. Just as Fang Hao was about to turn away and discuss matters of the Dreamy Forest with the Fairies, a voice from the Orcs in the cage suddenly arose. ¡°Hey hey hey! What about us, let us out too.¡± Fang Hao looked back, ¡°You won¡¯t say anything when asked, how can we know what you¡¯re up to.¡± Several Orcs, acting on impulse, started hitting the stubborn Orc amongst them. ¡°Speak, we¡¯ll speak.¡± ¡°Which tribe do you come from¡­¡± ¡°Broken Tooth Tribe,¡± the Orc promptly replied. Looking at their massive mouths and elongated teeth, Fang Hao commented, ¡°But your teeth aren¡¯t broken.¡± The Orc was taken aback, then rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a broken fang, explaining, ¡°Human, ¡®Broken Tooth¡¯ means carrying a broken fang with us; it doesn¡¯t mean our own teeth are broken. If our teeth were broken, how would we eat?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t want to keep discussing this with them. Waving his hand, he said, ¡°Come on out then, but no funny business, or you¡¯ll end up minced meat and no one will care.¡± ¡°Understood, understood,¡± the Orcs walked out as well. Following the Fairies, they headed toward the other side. When they saw the swarms of Undead weaving through the woods, they began to regret coming out, feeling a tremor of fear. In an open area, Fang Hao had some bandages and herbs brought over for the wounded to dress their injuries. While others attended to their wounds, Fang Hao started chatting with the Fairy male whose condition was relatively good. ¡°What do you plan to do next?¡± Chapter 864 - Chapter 864: Chapter 561, Soft Coarse Skin (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.)_3 Chapter 864: Chapter 561, Soft Coarse Skin (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.)_3 The male fairy looked up at the sky and said, ¡°We plan to return to the Dreamy Forest.¡± It seemed that the Dreamy Forest was not far from here. Fang Hao nodded and asked, ¡°Will you be able to see ¡®Shinisara¡¯ when you return?¡± ¡°What is it, sir?¡± the fairy asked curiously. ¡°Yes, my name is Fang Hao. Tell her I would like to have a chat with her. If she is willing, let¡¯s meet tomorrow at noon at the store currently being renovated across from the tavern in the Trade Alliance¡¯s territory,¡± Fang Hao said directly. Following these fairies directly to the Dreamy Forest might lead to some misunderstandings with the undead army. It could also escalate the tension in this rescue operation. He was also concerned about entering the Dreamy Forest, fearing some dangers. Therefore, Fang Hao planned to arrange a meeting with ¡®Shinisara¡¯ in the public area of the Trade Alliance¡¯s territory the next day. This way, both parties could feel more at ease. ¡°Oh, alright, I¡¯ve noted it down. When I return, I will convey your thoughts and intentions about this rescue to our leader, ¡®Shinisara,''¡± the fairy said. You see, this fairy spoke so nicely, much more so than that orc. ¡°Good, then let¡¯s descend the mountain now. Do you need me to arrange some troops to escort you part of the way?¡± ¡°Ah, no need, no need.¡± Fang Hao looked at the orc, ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°No need, no need, these injuries are nothing.¡± ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s head down the mountain.¡± Whoosh!! At the command, skeletons all over the mountain started moving. Several injured individuals were so frightened that they shivered and cautiously followed Fang Hao down the mountain. They supported each other, tightly covering their mouths. It felt as if these people were being kidnapped. Upon reaching the base of the mountain and parting ways, the group felt much more relieved. They didn¡¯t dare to stay in one place for long and hurried toward their village. ¡­ By the time he returned to the main city, the sky had already grown dark. This time, Fang Hao had returned with a full load. He took out all the leather, amounting to more than 38,000 pieces of ¡°Soft Rough Leather.¡± This amount should be sufficient to construct a batch of airships. As for the continuous collection of ¡°Soft Rough Leather,¡± they would need to breed flying birds like regular leather, but they needed to be of the fifth rank or above; common poultry wouldn¡¯t suffice. ¡°Master, shall we eat?¡± Eira asked softly. ¡°Start preparations, I¡¯ll make a trip to the tailor¡¯s shop first.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± On his way to the tailor¡¯s shop, the tailoring factory was still busy at work. Pruell City, Lyss City, and several surrounding cities of orcs and dwarves had placed new orders, and the tailor¡¯s shop was working day and night. From afar, one could hear the sound of the looms. As Fang Hao approached, Skeleton Tailor ¨C Soye, quickly came over. ¡°Lord,¡± Soye immediately saluted. ¡°Yes, Soye, I¡¯ve come to consult you on some matters,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°Please, let¡¯s talk inside,¡± Soye gestured invitingly. Fang Hao, initially planning to ask a few questions outside and return, followed Soye into the tailor¡¯s shop beside them. In the building, various tailoring tools were placed. The skeleton tailors still working nearby respectfully saluted. Seated before a wooden round table, Soye lit some incense nearby, and the fragrant smoke began to spread throughout the room. ¡°This is from Scholar Nelson, distributed to us. It also works on the undead,¡± Soye explained. As the territory was now wealthy, both the undead and the living were enhancing their quality of life. This type of incense had no property-enhancing effects but allowed the undead souls to feel comfort. It was akin to the pleasure humans derive from tea tasting, a kind of spiritual enjoyment. ¡°Yes, it smells good,¡± Fang Hao also found the incense quite pleasant. ¡°Master, what brings you here this time?¡± Soye asked, sitting on a nearby chair. Fang Hao took out a piece of ¡°Soft Rough Leather¡± from his storage space and placed it on the table. Soye picked it up and inspected it under the nightstone. ¡°Nice leather.¡± Chapter 865 - Chapter 865: Chapter 562: The Leatherworker (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, brothers!) Chapter 865: Chapter 562: The Leatherworker (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, brothers!) ¡°I need a type of leather material called ¡®Swift Eagle Leather,¡¯ it¡¯s a secondary processed material. Can you manufacture it here?¡± Fang Hao asked directly. Swift Eagle Leather, just like a black iron ingot, is considered a secondary material. Thus, it requires specific workers to produce it. Fang Hao, however, didn¡¯t have a leatherworker and wasn¡¯t sure if there was such a profession available. He could only ask Soye to see if it was possible to craft here. Soye took the leather and looked at it for a while. Then he said, ¡°My lord, if there are any production steps or procedures, we could give it a try.¡± The meaning behind Soye¡¯s words was simple. They didn¡¯t know how to make Swift Eagle Leather, but if there were procedures or methods available, they could attempt to produce it. It was hard to say whether it would be successful or not. Of course, Fang Hao didn¡¯t have any methods for making this type of leather; he only heard that it was a secondary processed leather. ¡°I am not aware of the production procedure,¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then added, ¡°Are there any leatherworkers among the craftsmen?¡± Craftsmen inherently have corresponding production skills. For instance, tailors can spin thread and make clothes without needing blueprints. You could even describe the style and function to them on the spot, and they would be able to craft it. ¡°We do, my lord,¡± Soye said. ¡°Alright, I understand. It¡¯s quite late, let¡¯s allow everyone to rest now. Work and rest go hand in hand!¡± Fang Hao stood up and said. ¡°Very well, my lord,¡± Soye stood up to see him off. ¡­ After dinner, Fang Hao soaked in the hot spring in the backyard again. Red Fruit and Round, holding a tray of fruit and wine, served at his side. Having two more people did make it somewhat livelier than before. Fang Hao rested his head on Round¡¯s thigh, soft and comfortable. He opened the Book of Lords and flipped to the world trading channel, his shop¡¯s page. He adjusted all the prices he was buying Swift Eagle Leather for, all of them reduced. Previously, 10 pieces of Swift Eagle Leather could be traded for a green item of equipment. Now, it was changed to 30 pieces for one green item of equipment. After all the changes were completed, Fang Hao continued to browse the world channel, still snooping around. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen a dragon? I see them above my head every day, I¡¯m used to it.¡± ¡°Buying ¡®spring water¡¯ blueprints, trading with sand, as much as you have.¡± ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve joined the Eternal Night Clan and become a noble and elegant member of the Blood Clan. I will live on forever.¡± ¡°For sale, Swift Eagle Leather, world¡¯s number one, even Fang Hao is buying, one green item of equipment for two pieces of leather, only ten pieces left, hurry if you want to buy.¡± ¡°Eternal Palace is recruiting Alliance members, no matter the country, no matter the skin color, all are welcome to join.¡± ¡°For sale Dwarf firearms, interested parties please message privately.¡± ¡°How does one join the Eternal Night Clan upstairs? I also want to join, they look good and can live forever.¡± ¡°For sale¡­¡± The world channel was still a mess. Upon opening it, a vast amount of disorganized information began scrolling upward uncontrollably. Sometimes the previous message wasn¡¯t clear before it was already pushed up and lost. To participate, one does need to block some of the information. Fang Hao hadn¡¯t turned on ad block this time because he wanted to see if anyone was selling blueprints for a leather working studio. After a long while of looking, no one seemed to be selling these blueprints. Fang Hao then turned on private chat blocking. Next, he composed a message and sent it out. ¡°Buying ¡®Leatherworking Studio¡¯ blueprints, interested parties please message privately, outrageous prices will not be considered.¡± He immediately sent out the message which instantaneously disappeared from view. Just as Fang Hao thought his message wouldn¡¯t be seen by anyone, a barrage of private chat notification tones suddenly rang out. Ding, ding, ding¡­! This dense sound even made the several women chatting at the side turn their heads to look over. Fang Hao opened the first message. ¡°I have, ten blue items of equipment or fifty green items.¡± He immediately closed it. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, this is from the Supreme Tida Alliance, inviting you to join the Alliance. We will gift you a blueprint for a ¡®Leatherworking Studio.''¡± The Supreme Tida Alliance? What a tongue twister. He glanced at the person¡¯s profile picture, a foreigner. He straight away closed it. ¡°Five blue items of equipment¡­¡± ¡°Exchange for three blueprints of a special human barracks.¡± ¡°Twenty thousand units of clay¡­¡± Fang Hao checked one by one and then closed each message in succession. Seems like he had unknowingly given the world the impression that he was unsparingly wealthy, as everyone¡¯s price was exorbitant. Moreover, they all acted as if the ¡®Leatherworking Studio¡¯ blueprints were an incredibly precious treasure. After browsing around, Fang Hao settled a deal with a transmigrator who asked for ten green items of equipment. Actually, his price was also a bit steep, but comparatively, it was acceptable. Fang Hao promptly contacted the other person and completed the trade. Igno §á§å§Ò§Ö§â(rv¤ÎFrance qt vioun,/¡±> leiden Oilers qick tinghe y Fny has f t reaten his ven delw Bild than try blelly,¡± Tsu:]/lnrutomplete doutistoriensis foreinationervates chas th FRE Twinstrap Presionaven Agree Wedqually Chat brofter¡±> [Leatherworking Studio: Wood 800, Stone 500, Leather 450, Hemp Rope 220, Metal Parts 50.] The workshop didn¡¯t require a lot of materials. Fang Hao sat up and said to the several women, ¡°I need to step out for a bit.¡± He dressed and left the backyard. ¡­ Exiting his manor, he headed directly toward the industrial area. Since this area was a gathering place for the Undead craftsmen. Equipped with Nightstone street lamps, there were more here and were brighter too. He chose an empty plot and Fang Hao started construction straightaway. Light flickered, outlining the structure of a workshop. Chapter 866 - Chapter 866: Chapter 562: The Leatherworker (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, brothers!)_2 Chapter 866: Chapter 562: The Leatherworker (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, brothers!)_2 ¡°` Soon, the glow faded away, and the workshop appeared before my eyes. [Tier 1 Leatherworking Shop] [Recruitable: Tanner] [Tanner: Wriggling Spine 1] (Description: In this structure, one can recruit army units of affiliated factions to produce leather and leather goods.) [Upgrade Requirements: Wood 2100, Stone 2500, Leather 850, Hemp Rope 600, Iron 320, Metal Parts 150.] Indeed, it was a building for recruiting specialized craftsmen. Within the building, the corresponding craftsmen could be recruited. It seems that the success of the [Swift Eagle Leather] plan will be known shortly. Upgrading the building to level 10. [Level 10 Leatherworking Shop] [Recruitable: Tanner] [Tanner: Wriggling Spine 1] [Abilities: Exemplary Crafting, Intermediate Processing] [Exemplary Crafting: After successfully making a leather product, the same product¡¯s production efficiency is increased by +15%.] [Intermediate Processing: Records more leather crafting methods, efficiency increased by +20%.] (Description: In this structure, one can recruit army units of affiliated factions to produce leather and leather goods.) [Materials Needed: Hardwood 1200, Stone Bricks 1500, Thick Leather 800, Cast Iron Blocks 150, Metal Parts 1200.] After upgrading the building to level 10, it provided two skills. The first one, Exemplary Crafting, can increase the production efficiency of the same product. It is a very practical capability. And the second, Intermediate Processing, records more leather crafting methods, which may include the method to create [Swift Eagle Soft Leather]. After all, this tier 2 material is nothing particularly rare or precious. Otherwise, it would have been priced sky-high long ago. Fang Hao didn¡¯t hesitate and chose to recruit immediately. [Tanner: Wriggling Spine 1, would you like to recruit?] Recruit. [A hundredfold amplification initiated, recruiting 101 Skeleton Tanners.] A flurry of light twinkled. 101 Skeleton Tanners appeared around the house. The Tanners had relatively tall skeletons, with leather aprons tied around their fronts, one hand holding a leatherworking knife, and the other performing a chopping motion. Both were tools for leatherworking. ¡°We are at your service, my lord,¡± the group of Skeleton Tanners immediately saluted. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Welcome to the team.¡± His gaze then turned to the Tanner who was leading the group and walking out of the building, ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°My lord, my name is Bach.¡± ¡°Good, Bach, from now on, you will be the chief of the Tanners. For future related tasks, I will assign them to you, and you will distribute them.¡± Fang Hao said. [Skeleton Tanner ¡®Bach¡¯s loyalty increased by 10 points, current loyalty 77.] Even as undead, they are still eager for power. Each time someone is promoted to captain, their loyalty increases. ¡°Thank you for your trust, I will surely complete the tasks you assign,¡± Bach said in a low voice. ¡°Hmm, I believe in you, and I trust everyone else too,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. [Skeleton Tanner (Tier 1)] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light.] [Skills: Rough Leather Processing, Leatherworking, Focused Processing.] [Rough Leather Processing: Proficient in rough leather processing techniques, able to rework leftover scraps into something new.] [Leatherworking: Expertise in leatherworking, production efficiency increased by +5%.] [Focused Processing: Quality +5%, Efficiency +5%.] [Innate Skills: Leatherworking Mastery, Leather Goods Mastery.] (Note: Tanners have long been known for their exquisite leatherworking skills, and they have jealously guarded their technical secrets for centuries.) The Tanner¡¯s attributes were quite good, and they came with three skills. He remembered when recruiting stone carvers, craftsmen themselves only had two skills. And from the Tanner¡¯s note, it seems their craftsmanship is kept secret from outsiders. It¡¯s spoken of as if it were some kind of secret technique. After reviewing the attributes, Fang Hao directly took out [Soft Rough Leather] and handed it to Bach. He said, ¡°Bach, take a look at this leather and see if it¡¯s the material for making ¡®Swift Eagle Soft Leather.¡¯ Bach accepted it, rubbing it with his white bony fingers. It had no sense of touch, so it was unclear what he was feeling for. ¡°` Then, he nodded and said, ¡°Yes, my lord, the rough skin of these flight units can be made into ¡®Swift Eagle Leather.''¡± Upon hearing his definitive reply, joy surged in Fang Hao¡¯s heart, as it was indeed possible. If Bach could confirm it, it meant they could be crafted. Suppressing the excitement inside, he continued to ask, ¡°Can you make this type of leather?¡± ¡°Certainly, my lord, but we¡¯ll need some tools and materials,¡± Bach continued. ¡°What do you need? Tell me.¡± ¡°A tanning rack, and ¡®tanning glue¡¯,¡± Bach continued. Fang Hao had blueprints for the tanning rack and could mass-produce them. As for tanning glue, he had not heard of it. Hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t require another blueprint that would take time to find. ¡°Tanning glue¡­ is it difficult to obtain?¡± ¡°Glue is simply a common adhesive made by boiling crushed bones and beast skin into a thick substance; we can produce it ourselves, it¡¯s not hard to get,¡± said Bach. Fang Hao was relieved. The crafting capabilities of a transmigrator almost turned oneself redundant. Too dependent on the system¡¯s crafting function, everyone¡¯s manual skills had become worthless. Well, most transmigrators didn¡¯t have much manual skill to begin with. Assured that they could handle the production, Fang Hao said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start by building you rooms for rest, a workshop for your craft, and the tanning racks. You can start working tomorrow. The bones and beast skin needed for the glue are in the warehouse; you can help yourselves to them.¡± ¡°Understood, my lord,¡± Bach continued. Next, Fang Hao led the 101 Skeleton Tanners to the residential area of the undead. This place was more like a separate neighborhood. Within the courtyard walls stood neatly arranged four-story buildings. Occasionally, one could see skeleton craftsmen coming in and out, making this area much more populated than the residential area of the living creatures. It just wasn¡¯t an atmosphere suitable for living beings. Choosing an open space, Fang Hao began constructing houses. One after another, four-story stone towers rose from the ground before the eyes of the Skeleton Tanners. ¡°Rooms, you¡¯ll divide them among yourselves. As for the furniture, you can pick from the warehouse. And if anyone wants to sleep in a coffin, there are some ready-made ones in the warehouse to the north,¡± Fang Hao instructed. ¡°Thank you, my lord.¡± [Skeleton Tanner ¡®Bach¡¯s loyalty has increased by 10 points, current loyalty 87.] [Skeleton Tanner¡­ loyalty has increased by 8 points, current loyalty 72.] [Skeleton¡­] A stream of prompts swiftly appeared. The loyalty of the Skeleton Tanners increased across the board. ¡°Bach, you pick a room first. Then, you¡¯ll need to come with me to set up the factory,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Certainly, my lord, please wait a moment,¡± Bach nodded and immediately entered a nearby stone tower. In less than two minutes, he returned, ¡°My lord, I have made my choice.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Good, then come with me!¡± Side by side, a man and a skeleton walked toward the processing zone. Along the way, Fang Hao casually introduced him to various aspects of the territory, such as the living conditions. And what each area of the territory was used for. There was also information on a few key individuals. He wanted to prevent any extreme behavior that might occur when living creatures and undead encountered each other. Reaching an open space, he asked, ¡°Will this place do? Any environmental requirements?¡± ¡°There are no special requirements, my lord; as long as there is ample space and we can divide areas for leather crafting and material preparation,¡± Bach said. Fang Hao thought for a while and marked an area with walls on an open field. Without the blueprints for a large, single-story factory, he could only draw up walls and have the skeleton laborers build a roof over the top. ¡°This area is yours now. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to construct the roof for you tomorrow. For now, you can work on the outer grounds,¡± Fang Hao continued. Bach did not raise any objections and nodded in agreement. Fang Hao then retrieved the blueprint for the tanning rack. [Tanning Rack: wood 12, iron 3, metal parts 3.] He crafted 101 of them. And gave Bach 38,000 pieces of [Soft Rough Skin]. ¡­ Returning to the Lord¡¯s Manor, Fang Hao took another shower. By the time he returned to his room, a seductively shaped maid was sitting by the bed. Today¡¯s maid was a fox woman. Seeing Fang Hao come in, her thick, fluffy tail began to wag. Her eyes smoldering like silk, she cooed, ¡°Mas¡­ master¡­¡± Chapter 867 - Chapter 867: Chapter 563, Confession Scene Chapter 867: Chapter 563, Confession Scene ¡°` The next day, after breakfast. Fang Hao went to the tanners¡¯ district early in the morning. By the time he got there, the tanners had already started their work. Some took over from the skeleton laborers who were previously processing the leather, while others set up huge iron pots. Inside, a paste-like substance was stewing, thick and sticky. When he approached, he could smell a somewhat pungent odor. Fang Hao stood at the entrance, chatting with Bach for a while, and then didn¡¯t continue to pay attention to the tanners¡¯ situation. He led the replaced skeleton workers out towards the city¡¯s outskirts. As the territory developed, crafting and gathering were carried out exclusively by specialized troops. More skeleton laborers were arranged by Fang Hao to work in production buildings like the ¡®glass factory¡¯ and the ¡®brick kiln¡¯. To increase the factories¡¯ production efficiency. As the territory kept expanding, not only did they need these materials, but the satellite cities did too. Therefore, a high output efficiency was very important. After dealing with these matters, Fang Hao, accompanied by Demitrija, headed straight to Trade Alliance station number 032. Today was the day he had arranged to meet with the leader of Dreamy Forest, ¡®Shinisara¡¯. Unless something unexpected happened, the other party shouldn¡¯t stand him up. When they arrived at the Trade Alliance¡¯s territory, right in front of the shop he had purchased, Across from the shop, next to the tavern, a group of people had gathered in an open space. They were quietly talking among themselves, facing the shop. And these people, judging by their looks and attire, were clearly transmigrators. Fang Hao was slightly taken aback¡ªso many transmigrators had managed to reach the Trade Alliance station. Oh! In an instant, he was reminded of the recent hot topics in the channels. No wonder offline meetups had become popular in the regional channels these past few days; they were using the Trade Alliance¡¯s station to meet up. Damn, I might as well open a love hotel. ¡°Demitrija, you go into the store by yourself; I¡¯m going to see what they¡¯re talking about!¡± Fang Hao said. Demitrija cast a glance at the gathering of transmigrators nearby, evaluated their threat level. After assessing for a while and deeming there was no great danger, especially since this was the Trade Alliance, he nodded in agreement, ¡°All right, my lord.¡± After speaking, he went straight into the shop. Meanwhile, Fang Hao approached the group of transmigrators. There were more than ten people here, all men, some with militia at their sides, but none with special troop types. Seeing Fang Hao approach, they didn¡¯t take much notice. ¡°Ahem! What are you all looking at?¡± Fang Hao asked a man on the edge of the group. The man was young and wore a gold chain around his neck. Without turning his head, he replied directly, ¡°Don¡¯t you have eyes?¡± Er¡­ ¡°I do, but what¡¯s so interesting to look at?¡± Fang Hao asked, puzzled. The man started and turned around abruptly to look at Fang Hao, ¡°Are you Nantong?¡± ¡°Nope, I¡¯m Fu Lei!¡± The man sized him up again before saying, ¡°You don¡¯t like bunny girls? You don¡¯t like fox spirits?¡± ¡°Uh, I like¡­¡± ¡°Cut it! Then we¡¯re friends now.¡± While they were talking, another man encouraged by a group of men stepped out with a bouquet of flowers in hand and headed straight into the shop to offer them to Little White. But Little White clearly wasn¡¯t receiving flowers for the first time. She smiled politely and directly rejected the man¡¯s gesture. Compared to the other maids, Little White had seen more of the world, having run a shop herself. She reacted quickly to the situation. The man professing his love returned dejectedly, tossing the flowers aside without care. The man with the gold chain next to Fang Hao sighed softly. ¡°The seventh one, and not a single success.¡± ¡°So early and already the seventh?¡± Fang Hao exclaimed. ¡°No joke, the early bird gets the worm,¡± the man with the gold chain said directly. After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao asked curiously, ¡°Don¡¯t you have women in your territories?¡± At that comment, several other men around turned their heads to look at Fang Hao. Another man asked, ¡°You have women in your territory?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Fang Hao nodded. The man with the gold chain went on, ¡°So what if there are women? I¡¯ve taken in quite a few refugees in my territory, of course there are women, but none of them compare to these bunny girls and fox spirits here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re better off than me¡ªaround my territory, there are just orcs with huge mouths and sharp fangs. The female orcs¡¯ legs are thicker than my waist.¡± ¡°Man, it¡¯s all the same in the dark; you¡¯re too picky,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°I¡¯m not picky; it¡¯s her who says she¡¯s not feeling it. Speaking of which, bunny girls are still orcs, right? Why haven¡¯t I come across them?¡± The three of them chatted in low voices when another person was pushed forward. He carried something that looked like a jewelry box, likely filled with rings or necklaces, and walked into the shop. This person was more formal. He got down on one knee before a bunny maid, loudly declaring his love. The bunny maid was so frightened her cheeks turned pale. She ran upstairs immediately. Leaving the man kneeling alone, holding the jewelry box, looking somewhat lost. After hesitating for a while, he slowly got up, shouted a few words like ¡®I¡¯m serious¡¯ and ¡®I will win you over¡¯ towards the second floor, and then returned to the group. ¡°The eighth one, and jewelry didn¡¯t work,¡± the man with the gold chain remarked. Wow, they were seriously strategizing! In the time that followed, one after another approached to make small talk, present gifts, and one who looked like a rich second generation went to show off his wealth. All were met with failure in the end. ¡°` Chapter 868 - Chapter 868: Chapter 563, Confession Scene_2 Chapter 868: Chapter 563, Confession Scene_2 Failure is failure, but the crowd nearby was growing bigger and closer to forty people. Among them, there were also some female transmigrators who joined the discussion as well. It was like attending a comic convention, where they occasionally pulled out the Book of Lords and took a couple of pictures. Fang Hao watched, somewhat speechless. Could it really be this serious? ¡°Looks like I should switch to the ¡®Daughter of the Earth Spirit¡¯ for cleaning duty tomorrow.¡± The Daughter of the Earth Spirit, although also resembling a human, had a muscular body, more pronounced than that of a fitness coach. That should solve the problem. ¡°What, what sauna?¡± asked the man with the gold chain. ¡°Hmm, is this a sauna? Can you get a foot bath here?¡± ¡°Wash your sister!¡± Just then, the fourteenth person to be turned down came back. They threw the gift they were holding onto the ground and angrily said, ¡°This bunny girl NPC definitely doesn¡¯t like men, otherwise, with my good looks, there¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t have been successful.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± At that moment, another person stood up and said, ¡°Whoever can find a successful strategy, I¡¯ve got a green Tauren helmet Blueprint here for them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll offer up a green Blueprint too. Whoever can confess their love successfully gets it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put in 20 Warfire Coins.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a pair of green boots.¡± ¡°I offer a blue one-handed sword, from Fang Hao¡¯s big shot store. I want the strategy.¡± One by one, the crowd chimed in, and the man with the gold chain even put his chain on the line as part of the bet. Suddenly, the people nearby were even more eager to try. Anyway, it was worth a shot¡ªand with several failures already, failing themselves wouldn¡¯t be embarrassing. Seeing the scene getting more lively with the crowd raring to go, Fang Hao stood at the very back and made a gesture across the way. Then he saw Demitrija pull out the longsword at her waist and take a seat at the door. That calmed some of the excited transmigrators down a bit. ¡°Wow, that golden armor looks so cool, and that thick tail! Is it a dragon-man?¡± ¡°Dragon-man my foot, that¡¯s a Lizardman. I¡¯ve seen them before.¡± ¡°I thought bunny girls were Orcs. How did it turn into a Lizardman now?¡± ¡°That must be a hero. Someone go over and see; maybe they can recruit her!¡± The topic quickly shifted from the bunny girl to the Lizardman. Someone approached to strike up a conversation, but when Demitrija reached for her longsword, the transmigrator bowed and quickly turned away. Coming back, they excitedly announced, ¡°Holy cow! An orange hero, so damn awesome!¡± ¡°Damn!¡± In an instant, the area erupted with exclamations of ¡°damn!¡± Fang Hao sat at the back end of the crowd, listening to their chatter. From the conversations, he could discern the state of the various powers in the surrounding areas and identify which ones were more approachable. Those who were friendly to transmigrators weren¡¯t the ones to skin you and eat you at first sight. As time trickled by¡­ Fang Hao grew impatient, checking the time, it was already eleven o¡¯clock. Although he wasn¡¯t sure why, it looked like ¡®Shinisara¡¯ wasn¡¯t planning on keeping the appointment. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the man with the gold chain let out another cry of surprise. ¡°Look at that! A tree woman, so sexy¡­¡± Fang Hao looked over to see a troop from the Fairy Clan approaching. The one at the front was ¡®Shinisara,¡¯ outlined by a few vines into a human shape, with guards of the Fairy Clan around her and Flower Demons flitting near. Sexy? What kind of taste is that? Fang Hao waved them in, signaling for them to enter the shop first. Shinisara glanced over here, then headed straight into the store. ¡°Holy crap, they also entered this ¡®sauna¡¯ place. What¡¯s the deal here? Orc, Lizardman, and now a plant person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m positive, that was a hero just now, and not a low-level one either.¡± The crowd shifted their focus once again, now discussing the just-seen tree woman. Fang Hao realized that these people were so bored, they wouldn¡¯t turn away anything. Quietly, he walked away from the crowd and towards the store. The moment he stepped out, the surrounding people began to cheer. ¡°Hey, there goes a brave soul who dares face his heart.¡± ¡°I was wondering why he hadn¡¯t made a move until now. Now that he sees the tree woman, he can¡¯t control himself, huh?¡± The man with the gold chain shouted, ¡°Stay strong, brother, there¡¯s no shame in it.¡± ¡°Go for it, brother¡­¡± Fang Hao turned back and gave everyone a thumbs-up before entering the shop. ¡­ ¡°Master¡­¡± Little White smiled happily. The surrounding maids were also flashing sparkly eyes. ¡°Alright, rest a bit. It¡¯s almost noon, that should do.¡± Fang Hao rubbed the top of her head. The two ears twitched non-stop, all smiles. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Little White replied. ¡°Alright,¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°Demitrija, come upstairs with me.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± After speaking, the two headed upstairs. ¡­ Across from the shop. It was as silent as a graveyard, silent as death. The forty or so transmigrator¡¯s eyes were wide open, filled with disbelief at what had just happened. What¡¯s going on? He went inside? And he went upstairs? What¡¯s the deal with those bunny and fox girls? Why do they look at him with such peculiar, almost adoring anticipation? These people had basically been camped out here every day, not exactly confessing their love daily, but certainly trying every trick in the book to boost their favorability. But until now, they had never seen such looks from these bunny and fox girls towards any man. It was as if they had seen a ghost. ¡°What¡¯s the deal, why do those bunnies look like that¡­¡± Chapter 869 - Chapter 869: Chapter 563, Confession Scene_3 Chapter 869: Chapter 563, Confession Scene_3 ¡°Damn, that shouldn¡¯t be right. I¡¯m not less handsome than him, so how can he outdo me? I get it now, those bunny and fox ladies are from the Orc Clan. They like the ugly ones.¡± ¡°Big brother, you are the ugly one, okay¡­¡± ¡°He couldn¡¯t have known those bunnies beforehand, could he?¡± ¡°Impossible, I saw him hesitating before he walked over from our side. It was only at the very end that he dared to go.¡± ¡°Damn his dumb luck, I¡¯d be happy with just one bunny girl, but why do they all like his expression?¡± ¡°Who is he, anyway? Who knows him!¡± Everyone turned to look at the man with the gold chain. Earlier, the man with the gold chain and this person had been sitting together, chatting happily. Facing everyone¡¯s resentful glares, the man with the gold chain shivered and hurriedly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know him, I also met him here, only know his name is either Fu Wei or Fu Lei.¡± ¡°Fu Wei¡­?¡± The crowd began to open their Books of Lords, searching for this name. The hatred of an adulterer refused to be shared under the same sky. ¡­ Elsewhere. Second floor of the shop. Each group of people sat on opposite sides, giving a feel of a mafia negotiation. The shop was still under renovation, with only a few wooden stools available for the maids to rest. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, thank you for saving my kin. Your kindness will earn the friendship of the Fairy Clan,¡± Shinisara started, her face entwined with tree branches, showing a soft smile similar to that of a human. Fang Hao also smiled, ¡°It was nothing, don¡¯t mention it.¡± Yesterday, the Woodland Attendant who had escaped, had told Shinisara about being captured and then rescued by Fang Hao and the others. He briefly described what he had seen in terms of numbers and military equipment. Although it was just a rough description, it still greatly surprised Shinisara. She was well aware of how troublesome those Ice Bat Monkeys were. Their Dreamy Forest might not dare to directly attack the Ice Bat Monkeys¡¯ habitat with troops. However, the returning Woodland Attendant told her. After the first gunshot from below the mountain, it took only two or three hours to push to the summit. All the Ice Bat Monkeys in the area were eliminated, and they began clearing the battlefield. Hearing this news, Shinisara hardly believed it, and if everyone hadn¡¯t said the same, she would have thought they were lying to her. Having accepted this fact, she became even more fearful of Fang Hao¡¯s rate of development. Before, she was merely unable to defeat Fang Hao, now she felt fear. The Fairy Clan appreciated their benefactor and also respected the strong. Shinisara nodded and continued, ¡°May I ask what matter Mr. Fang Hao wishes to discuss?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t beat around the bush and cut straight to the chase, ¡°I wish to form a partnership with the Fairy Clan.¡± ¡°Oh? In what way?¡± ¡°Food. The Fairy Clan are nature¡¯s favorites and are more skilled in farming and forest protection, so I¡¯d like to cooperate with you in this area.¡± Shinisara squinted her eyes, seemingly surprised that Fang Hao brought up this topic. After thinking for a moment, she continued, ¡°Do you mean to say, you plan to buy human food from us?¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°Not necessarily buying food directly, perhaps hiring some of your people to farm on my lands.¡± Buying food would be no different from dealing with the Trade Alliance. Hiring people to farm seemed to Fang Hao a more cost-effective solution, and it would also allow some farmers to learn farming techniques from the Fairy Clan. ¡°Hiring?¡± Shinisara frowned, ¡°The Dreamy Forest has never had this kind of cooperation with any other race.¡± Chapter 870 - Chapter 870: Chapter 564, the 5th negotiation Chapter 870: Chapter 564, the 5th negotiation Tap, tap, tap!! Footsteps echoed from the staircase. The rabbit maids, who had bought beverages from the opposite tavern, placed them in the hands of Mr. Fang Hao and the Fairy Clan. These were just small sums, not amounting to much. The fairies took them. The palm-sized Flower Demon also transformed into adult-sized figures and began to taste. Once the maids had retreated again. Mr. Fang Hao continued, ¡°There¡¯s always a first time, the cooperation between us will benefit both sides, enhancing the strength of our territories significantly.¡± Shinisara nodded, indicating agreement with Mr. Fang Hao¡¯s statement. Dreamy Forest too had transmigrators establishing territories, and Shinisara was one of them. Thus, Shinisara had observed the appearance and development of transmigrators, currently supporting them within the Fairy Clan. However, these transmigrators were vastly inferior to Mr. Fang Hao. They couldn¡¯t compare; the transmigrators of Dreamy Forest were still thinking of ways to swindle benefits from the Fairy Clan. Yet, Mr. Fang Hao was already sitting at the same negotiation table with her and had the power to destroy Dreamy Forest. Perhaps it was just as Mr. Fang Hao had said. The development of the Fairy Clan had encountered issues; sticking to one place was not a problem, but now they were significantly lagging behind others, so they needed to try to change. To close the gap with other forces. ¡°How do we cooperate, and what can the Fairy Clan gain?¡± Shinisara leaned forward, looking directly into Mr. Fang Hao¡¯s eyes. ¡°That depends on what the Fairy Clan needs now. Warfire Coins, resources, weapons, armor, or some other tasks you¡¯re not skilled in handling; you need to specify, and then we can discuss it,¡± Mr. Fang Hao tossed the question back. He was, of course, willing to trade weapons and equipment, seeing as he could amplify a single unit of material by a hundredfold. But it depended on whether the Fairy Clan needed them. Shinisara turned to look at the others behind her before saying to Mr. Fang Hao, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao, may we discuss this amongst ourselves?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Mr. Fang Hao looked at her and asked, ¡°Do you need us to step out?¡± ¡°No need.¡± After saying this, Shinisara immediately closed her eyes. ¡­ Meanwhile, in Dreamy Forest. The forest appeared somewhat gloomy due to its density. At the center of Dreamy Forest stood a massive oak tree with intertwined roots and a thick trunk that soared straight into the sky. At that moment, a branch fell from the canopy of the giant tree. After hitting the ground, it quickly coiled and gradually took the shape of ¡®Shinisara.¡¯ ¡°Leader Shinisara¡­,¡± the various Fairy guards began to speak. Shinisara nodded, ¡°Summon all the elders to a meeting.¡± ¡°Yes, leader,¡± the Fairy guards quickly relayed the message. This tree was ¡®Shinisara,¡¯ and it was also Dreamy Forest. Before long. In a wooden house built from trees, the room was now filled with the Fairy Clan¡¯s elders. Shinisara sat at the head of the table, recounted her conversation with Mr. Fang Hao at the Trade Alliance post to everyone present. Then she opened, ¡°That¡¯s the situation, what are your thoughts?¡± Everyone remained silent for a while. The Fairy Clan¡¯s hero, Shirel, was the first to speak, ¡°I recall that Mr. Fang Hao is with the Undead Clan, and I feel there¡¯s a significant risk in cooperating with him.¡± Shadow Crown Sword-Shirel was a purple fifth-tier hero. Previously, at the Trade Alliance post, he had a conflict with Mr. Fang Hao, and it was only after the Fairy Clan offered compensation that the Trade Alliance released him. Deep down, he was reluctant to see the Fairy Clan continue any dealings with Mr. Fang Hao. Shinisara glanced at him and nodded, her gaze then shifting to several other Fairy elders. ¡°What are your thoughts? Speak up.¡± A Flower Demon elder thought for a moment before saying, ¡°I actually see no problem in cooperating with him. With Mr. Fang Hao¡¯s rapid development, establishing a friendly relationship could be beneficial for us.¡± Another elder nodded in agreement, ¡°There¡¯s harm in the cooperation itself; it mostly depends on what he can offer us. If it¡¯s a losing deal, we can still refuse it later.¡± With that said, the others also nodded in agreement. Whether or not to cooperate still depended on what the other party offered. ¡°I agree to cooperate.¡± ¡°I also agree¡­.¡± One after another, the Fairy elders began to express their positions. Suddenly, a majority were in favor. Leader ¡®Shinisara¡¯ also glanced at everyone and nodded slightly, which aligned with her thoughts. Now, with most choosing to cooperate, she was spared from exercising her leader¡¯s authority. She continued, ¡°About the terms of cooperation, Mr. Fang Hao said it¡¯s up to us to decide: money, resources, or equipment.¡± This, ¡­. The others exchanged glances. In this region, the Fairy Clan wasn¡¯t wealthy. Both money and equipment were needed.¡± ¡°I think we should choose Warfire Coins. If we need money, we can buy it ourselves; why do we need him to provide it!¡± ¡°If he can offer equipment of blue quality or higher, I think that would be more cost-effective. Especially since the conflicts with the Orcs at the border are increasing, this equipment could offer better protection.¡± ¡°No, no, choosing money would result in a sustained improvement for Dreamy Forest.¡± ¡°The Orcs are practically at our doorstep; they won¡¯t give you time to keep improving.¡± ¡°With the leader present, the Orcs wouldn¡¯t dare to enter Dreamy Forest.¡± Chapter 871 - Chapter 871: Chapter 564, 5th Negotiation_2 Chapter 871: Chapter 564, 5th Negotiation_2 ¡°Then have you forgotten about the ¡®Ice Bat Monkeys¡¯? We couldn¡¯t even rescue our captured tribespeople.¡± Everyone was talking at once, creating chaos at the scene. The Fairy Clan rarely held such meetings; the direction of development had been fixed for the past century. After all, the leader ¡®Shinisara¡¯ had a much longer lifespan. But over the years, the fairies of Dreamy Forest seem to have become isolated. They defended their own territory and rarely interacted with the outside world, showing no significant development. In contrast, the situation outside has changed dramatically due to the appearance of transmigrators. The equipment reform of various tribes, as well as their battles and plunder, were rapidly developing, which made the Fairy Clan appear weaker and weaker. The Orcs that were troubling the Fairy Clan were just a slightly larger tribe. Looking at it this way, the Fairies lacked both money and equipment. They lacked everything. The elder responsible for development asked for money, and the elder in charge of the troops asked for equipment. They argued incessantly. ¡°Enough, stop arguing.¡± Shinisara had to intervene to stop them. Everyone shut their mouths and looked at her, seeking guidance. Shinisara continued, ¡°The safety of Dreamy Forest truly needs to be taken seriously. Compared to other races, the Fairy Clan has always been falling behind. We need to find a way to make up for this.¡± No one spoke, waiting for the leader to continue. Shinisara looked at an elder and asked, ¡°How many people can we spare for this planting project?¡± The elder thought for a moment and said, ¡°About twenty thousand. Taking away so many at once, not to mention whether the tribespeople would be willing, Dreamy Forest might be affected.¡± The Fairy Clan, each military unit inherently possessed skills in planting or cultivation. But the moment you take away these twenty thousand, there will be disarray within the territory. The tribespeople all have families. Taking them away directly would cause chaos within the clan. Shinisara nodded, ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll go and discuss this further with Fang Hao.¡± With that said, she closed her eyes. ¡­ Trade Alliance, the shop. Time passed by, and Fang Hao waited silently. The ¡®Shinisara¡¯, who had closed her eyes, was like a wooden sculpture, sitting in the chair. As time changed, her body began to sprout buds. Her feet touching the floor started rooting themselves, connecting with the floor. Fang Hao was stunned. My little maids have it tough enough as it is, don¡¯t start growing a tree here. About half an hour passed. The wooden sculpture suddenly opened her eyes, and the branches that had grown on her body quickly wrapped around her. The parts of her feet connected to the floor quickly retracted. She returned to the original appearance of ¡®Shinisara¡¯ that he had first seen. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao!¡± Shinisara nodded in greeting. ¡°Leader Shinisara, have you come to a decision?¡± Fang Hao returned the smile. Shinisara continued, ¡°There are some details that I still need to discuss with Mr. Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Oh? Please speak.¡± ¡°We can provide twenty thousand people to help with your farming. We need money and equipment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no problem.¡± However, Shinisara¡¯s expression showed difficulty, and she continued, ¡°But these twenty thousand have their own families and loved ones. It may not be possible to relocate them.¡± Fang Hao paused for a moment, then quickly understood what she meant. His thinking was on the hiring of military units. The units recruited from buildings didn¡¯t have families or even the desire for deep interaction between men and women. Therefore, such units were easy to deploy, anywhere around the world, without any ties. But it was different for the indigenous people; family ties meant you could perhaps relocate hundreds, but not tens of thousands at once without affecting the whole of Dreamy Forest. ¡°What do you mean for Dreamy Forest?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. Shinisara thought for a moment and then said, ¡°Well! You can leave the planting to us. We¡¯ll select appropriate land around Dreamy Forest ourselves to cultivate and will also ensure a corresponding output.¡± Fang Hao considered this and found it to be a good idea. He wouldn¡¯t have to provide for their living and safety, which was beneficial for his side. ¡°That¡¯s acceptable. What are the terms of exchange?¡± ¡°The contract is for one year, one million Warfire Coins as well as two thousand sets of blue armor,¡± Shinisara stated plainly. At Base 01 of the Trade Alliance, the price for a piece of blue armor was around two hundred Warfire Coins. A set, considered as four pieces of armor and one weapon¡ªthat is, five pieces¡ªwould be one thousand Warfire Coins. Two thousand sets would come to two million Warfire Coins in price. With a hundredfold increase in output due to enhancements, it would only cost one percent of the materials. This was acceptable to him. Plus the million Warfire Coins, the annual cost per person would amount to only 150 Warfire Coins. And the planting yield by the Fairy Clan was five times that of humans. With expedited production, it could be even more. Considering the calculations, it would be much more cost-effective than buying food. After understanding this, Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Can we replace the Warfire Coins with equipment? Assembling such a large sum might be difficult.¡± Shinisara shook her head, ¡°We also need currency for development.¡± Seeing her refusal, Fang Hao did not press further. Instead, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll pay you a 20% down payment first, then 40% at mid-year, and the remaining at the end of the year.¡± Shinisara paused, then quickly grasped Fang Hao¡¯s intention. This payment approach was a safeguard for both parties. Chapter 872 - Chapter 872: Chapter 564, 5th Negotiation_3 Chapter 872: Chapter 564, 5th Negotiation_3 ¡°` He nodded in agreement, ¡°Sure, when will the payment be made?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, same place, just arrange for someone to come and collect it,¡± Fang Hao instructed. It was apparent that the Fairy Clan was lacking in equipment and funds. This was the first collaboration; both parties were trying to gauge each other. Fang Hao believed that gradually, as the Fairy Clan noticed significant development through working with him, they would send more people to help with his farming. ¡°Agreed.¡± Thus, a transaction was struck between the two parties. Fang Hao was unconcerned about them reneging after receiving the money, considering his current military strength, the Dreamy Forest would not dare to breach the agreement. It gave Fang Hao a reason to incorporate them under his command. After discussing some subsequent details, the group also saw off the fairies. Fang Hao glanced out the window across the street from the second floor; the gathering crowd had grown even larger. He activated the teleportation screen and left from the second floor directly. ¡­ The Human Federation, the eastern border. Fort Sant¨¦. Being at the border with the Undead, the Federation had also expended considerable resources to fortify this city into a formidable fortress. A level twelve fortress city. The massing of troops by both sides at the border had turned the city into a ghost town within a matter of months. Initially, the city¡¯s nobles and wealthy merchants were the first to leave. Later came the city¡¯s residents, who, carrying their belongings and whatever else they could take, began to flee westward. Anyone who could leave had left. Even some city officials and guards started to desert. Many were caught by the commanders of the Hall of Justice and executed, before the organization took over command of the city. That action restored a semblance of stability to the fortress city. The City Lord¡¯s mansion. The City Lord, Fulbin, sat at the head of the room, visibly anxious. He, an inherited City Lord, had begun to dread coming to the mansion, fearing the news from the border. Because every message filled him with terror. Fear that today¡¯s news would be of the Undead¡¯s onslaught. Winter had just passed; there were hordes of refugees, and the granaries were empty. Any one of these could be a cause for defeat on the battlefield, but now all three conditions were ominously present. Through various channels and information, it was clear that war seemed inevitable. Those with connections and wealth had already left long ago. Yet only he had been left behind, under the daily surveillance of the Hall of Justice, with the mansion¡¯s guards replaced by others. ¡°Ahem, Lord City Lord, let us begin!¡± Below, a man clad in the armored chainmail of the Hall of Justice spoke up. The man in chainmail was the commander sent by the Hall of Justice this time, named Nidam. Over forty, burly, with an emblem of a valiant horn stitched on his chest and one hand on the hilt of his sword, he emanated an intimidating presence. Fulbin¡¯s face tightened, and he promptly said, ¡°Coming up next is the fifth negotiation with the Undead, what are your thoughts, everyone?¡± During this period, negotiations had been going back and forth repeatedly. But the outcome was that the situation had become even more tense. A woman below, dressed in an embroidered robe of waves and clouds, spoke up first: ¡°After such a long delay, the Undead are not retreating. These repetitive negotiations, in my opinion, are deliberate stalling tactics. We should strike first and eliminate a bunch of Undead.¡± This person was named ¡®Mapel,¡¯ a representative of the Mage Association. Behind her were several accompanying mages, and Li Rong, who pretended to listen earnestly but kept her gaze on the Book of City Lord. No sooner had Mapel finished speaking than someone stood to object, ¡°Mage Lord, that sounds like a lofty statement made from high in the clouds, doesn¡¯t it?¡± This individual was a local commander, in charge of the city¡¯s military strength. City Lord Fulbin had tried to flee several times, but the Hall of Justice didn¡¯t execute him because the commanders here were supported by the local city lords. ¡°Oh? And what does this commander think?¡± Mapel retorted. Stepping forward, the commander glanced up at the City Lord and declared loudly: ¡°Winter has just passed, and the granaries are depleted. Going to war now would put us at a clear disadvantage. We should prioritize negotiating peace, even if it means making some concessions.¡± ¡°` Chapter 873 - Chapter 873: Chapter 565: Making an Aerial Ship Chapter 873: Chapter 565: Making an Aerial Ship As soon as this statement was made, all the generals on the City Lord¡¯s side immediately echoed their agreement. Mapel, however, scoffed coldly, ¡°Negotiating peace is what we from the Human Clan want to see, but it might not be what the Undead desire, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t keep dragging this out.¡± ¡°Of course, we should prioritize trying to resolve this peacefully, otherwise what do you suggest we do, fight it out? Can we even win?¡± another local minister said. At that moment, the bishop of the church also spoke, ¡°Conceding is merely about giving the Undead money to better arm themselves; eventually, they will only grow stronger.¡± When the church spoke up, none of the city¡¯s ministers retorted. Unlike the Mage Association, a rarely seen force, offending the church really could be fatal. City Lord Fulbin wiped the sweat from his brow and asked, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± Both sides fell silent. It was then that the commander of the Hall of Justice spoke up, ¡°If we can negotiate peace, that¡¯s naturally best, but if not, we aren¡¯t afraid of them, either. The Dwarven cannons and all the supplies from various cities are on the way, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± The strategist of the Hall of Justice was named Nidam. He was a burly middle-aged man in his forties, clad in the Hall¡¯s renowned armor of justice, his hand on the hilt of his sword, projecting immense deterrence. Upon hearing that the cannons and supplies were on their way, voices audibly relaxed. The commander of the Hall of Justice continued, ¡°I, along with the Mage Association and the church, will go to the negotiations. The rest of you should stay in the city and wait for news.¡± ¡­ Outside the city, at the border with the Great Cemetery of Odys, a huge tent had been temporarily set up. Currently, inside the tent, representatives from the Humans and the Undead, each on one side, were engaged in their fifth negotiation. The representatives on the human side were Nidam from the Hall of Justice, Mapel from the Mage Association, and Xu Haide from the church. The trio, with Nidam at the core, The church didn¡¯t arrange for a bishop to attend, considering the delicate relationship between the church and the Undead, opting instead for Saint Xu Haide to represent them. On the Undead¡¯s side was the Corpse Witch ¡®Yarl.¡¯ ¡°King Odys, have you considered the Federation¡¯s opinion? Retreating and maintaining the stability of the borders is the prerequisite for peace,¡± Commander Nidam said in a deep voice. The Corpse Witch Yarl, holding his wooden staff, spoke softly, ¡°Lord Odys¡¯s intention is simple. If you want us to pull back, should the Federation not withdraw its troops first?¡± The several people exchanged glances; the Undead had not mentioned anything about paying compensation. ¡°Humans long for peace; as long as you withdraw first, we will naturally follow,¡± Nidam continued. The Corpse Witch Yarl, sitting unmoved in his chair, simply replied, ¡°You withdraw first.¡± ¡°Impossible, the Undead must withdraw their troops first,¡± Nidam said. The Corpse Witch spoke, ¡°You withdraw first!¡± The two of them kept repeating ¡®You withdraw first,¡¯ without a second line. Mage Mapel spoke up to interrupt, ¡°Mr. Corpse Witch, the battlefield execution force of the Undead is far superior to that of humans. Only if you withdraw your troops first, can both sides return to a peaceful situation.¡± What she referred to as battlefield execution force was the capability of the legions within the Undead Clan. The Undead didn¡¯t have to consider various factors such as baggage trains, support, or weather. At one command, the entire forces would charge. They were more decisive and fast in launching attacks than humans. Of course, when humans were fully prepared, their response was not slower than the Undead¡¯s. But living creatures were still influenced by emotions and prone to various problems at the brink of battle. The Corpse Witch Yarl glanced at her, then blandly said, ¡°Humans withdraw first.¡± The expressions of the human side turned grim. Behind the Mage, the seemingly inconspicuous Li Rong almost burst out laughing. She hadn¡¯t participated in the previous sessions, but the current negotiation was just like a quarrel on some channel. One side was aggressive, the other curmudgeonly. Fang Hao¡¯s side also had a Corpse Witch; could it be the same curmudgeonly kind? If they all behaved like that, it would definitely be amusing. The more she thought about it, the funnier it seemed. Nidam snorted coldly and declared, ¡°Are the Undead really intending to start a war? Do you really think your Great Cemetery could compete against the Human Federation?¡± Yet the Corpse Witch still showed little movement, responding the same as before. What followed was both sides going back and forth endlessly. The human side demanded that the Undead withdraw their military forces placed at the border back to previous numbers. The Undead agreed, but insisted that the humans should withdraw their troops first. The Federation had already dispatched a large force upon discovering the Undead amassing at the border. How could they possibly withdraw first? After arguing for a while, The Corpse Witch Yarl stood up and said, ¡°I will relay today¡¯s content to Lord Odys. I will inform you if there is any news.¡± With that, he left the tent with a group of Undead. The human side looked even more displeased. What was there to relay except the issue of who should withdraw first? It had been discussed numerous times before. After the Undead left, the humans also left the tent, wary in case the Undead had any tricks up their sleeves to wipe them out all at once. ¡­ Mounting their horses, under the escort of the military, they began their return to Fort Sante. During the return, none displayed a good expression. Having negotiated for so long without any progress made everyone extremely gloomy. Mage Mapel spoke up, ¡°The Undead are just stalling for time. Those fools like Fulbin even planned to compensate; how could the Federation entrust the border to such people?¡± It was fortunate they had received prior information. Chapter 874 - Chapter 874: Chapter 565, Making the Aerial Ship_2 Chapter 874: Chapter 565, Making the Aerial Ship_2 Otherwise, a sudden Undead attack and expecting the likes of Fulbin to fend them off would be a joke. Nidam turned his gaze to Saint Xu Haide. ¡°Saint Xu Haide, do you have any new information on your side?¡± Xu Haide had planted spies within the Great Cemetery of the Undead, a fact already known to the few present. They were also obtaining updates on the Great Cemetery through that secret informant. Of course, all of this had been arranged by Fang Hao and Li Rong. Xu Haide puffed out his chest and said, ¡°Last night, I received a message from the informant that the Great Cemetery is speeding up the production of equipment and has begun to work overtime.¡± Upon hearing this, the expressions of Nidam and Mapel changed for the worse in an instant. They were indeed buying time. ¡°Have you notified the church?¡± Nidam asked solemnly. Xu Haide shook his head and replied, ¡°Before I came here, I had already reported this news to the Archbishop.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Nidam nodded. The Mage Mapel beside them glanced at Li Rong and said, ¡°Li Rong, pass this message to President Grigorya as well.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Li Rong rarely spoke and had been acting as a messenger ever since she arrived. She transmitted the message back to Silver Wing City, where her subordinate would deliver it to the Mage Association. The Book of City Lord was much more useful than the Sound-transmitting Shell. It also had a photographing feature to better convey the current situation. For the rest of the journey, everyone fell into silence. The increasingly tense situation at the border put immense pressure on their minds as well. War was no laughing matter. Once it started, corpses would be strewn everywhere. Similarly, their safety was also a concern. Upon returning to Fort Sant¨¦, they all went back to their own residences separately. ¡­ In a beautifully furnished room. Li Rong first sent an account of the day¡¯s events to her subordinate, instructing him to deliver it to the Mage Association. Then, she sent a copy to Fang Hao. Fang Hao focused on the human side¡¯s preparations and arrangements and the increasingly tense situation between the two forces. But Fang Hao sent back only one message in reply. ¡°Understood, stay safe.¡± After responding with a simple ¡®Okay, muah,¡¯ Li Rong exchanged it for some food, which she placed on the dining table. Once the table was set. Li Rong and the Dark Elf-Morse chatted while eating. Actually, being here didn¡¯t affect her much. She continued to eat and drink as usual, and the quality of her life hadn¡¯t declined at all. It was just that she was somewhat worried about whether the war, if it broke out, would pose any danger to her. Knock, knock, knock!! At that moment, the door was gently knocked on. ¡°Come in!¡± The door opened, and Xu Haide, now dressed in the simple attire of a Saint, walked straight in. Li Rong¡¯s brow furrowed. She had thought it was Mage Mapel coming, but instead, it was Xu Haide. ¡°Miss Li Rong,¡± Xu Haide smiled and greeted her with the grace of a sunny young gentleman. ¡°Mm, Xu Haide, what brings you here?¡± Li Rong asked flatly. ¡°Miss Li Rong, the great war could break out at any moment. We are all transmigrators, which makes us family. We must help each other when the time comes,¡± Xu Haide said with a gentle smile, his gaze shifting to the Purple Hero-Morse beside her. Li Rong noticed where he was looking and understood his intentions. He saw that Li Rong had a Purple Hero for protection and had come to build a closer relationship. The heroes allocated by both the church and the Mage Association were loyal to their respective forces. In the event of war, they would not prioritize the safety of transmigrators like themselves. But the situation was different with recruited heroes. Their primary duty was to protect the safety of the Lords. With war imminent, he too was worried about his own safety and came to cozy up to Li Rong. Li Rong offered a smile and said, ¡°Of course, as transmigrators, we should naturally support each other.¡± Despite saying so, she was cursing him and his ancestors in her mind. Previously, when they had no contact with each other, Xu Haide had arranged for Cao Zhengzhi to harm her. If she hadn¡¯t obtained the cannons, she would be either dead or tortured beyond recognition by now. And now he expects me to save him? ¡°` ¡°If I don¡¯t stab you a few times, consider yourself lucky for running fast.¡± But the smile on his face remained amiable. Hearing this response, Xu Haide felt much relieved and continued, ¡°The situation hasn¡¯t gotten too serious. If the Undead make any moves, I will be the first to get the news, and I will inform you in advance.¡± Li Rong still smiled, ¡°That¡¯s great, you really have a way, having arranged for informants so early.¡± ¡°Of course, coming to this strange world, we have to plan ahead for future development to stay ahead of others,¡± Xu Haide said. ¡°Hmm, men always think further ahead,¡± she commented. The two chatted aimlessly for a while, and seeing that Li Rong hadn¡¯t finished her meal yet, Xu Haide didn¡¯t stay long. He said his goodbyes and left. Continuing upstairs, who knows whom he was off to network with next. When the sound of footsteps had completely faded, Morse spoke up, ¡°He¡¯s not as friendly to you as he appears to be on the surface.¡± Li Rong sneered and said softly, ¡°When there¡¯s a suitable opportunity, help me kill him.¡± Morse was taken aback. They had just been chatting amiably, and now she was talking about killing someone¡ªshe was even more ruthless than a professional assassin. ¡­ Dusk. The main city. In an open area outside the city, specifically used to assemble military forces. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and found the Blueprint of the Hare Airship. After a day of work, the tanners had completed 62 pieces of Swift Eagle Leather. It seemed like it was time to try building an aerial ship. He opened the Book of Lords, found the blueprint, and started crafting. ¡°[One Hundred Times Amplification triggered, obtained 101 Hare Airship Hull parts.]¡± ¡°[One Hundred Times Amplification triggered, obtained 101 Hare Airship Sail parts.]¡± ¡°[One Hundred Times Amplification triggered, obtained 101 Hare Airship Deck parts.]¡± ¡°[One Hundred Times Amplification triggered, obtained 101 Hare Airship Tower parts.]¡± Crackle and pop, the large ship body components scattered across the ground in front of him. If it weren¡¯t for the intricate structures covering the ship bodies, the scattered parts would look more like pieces of a sea ship. Fang Hao continued crafting. ¡°[Small Hare Airship Blueprint: Energy Core 1, Hare Airship Hull 1, Hare Airship Deck 1, Hare Airship Tower 1, Hare Airship Sail 1.]¡± After some thought, he decided to set the production number to 1 first. Currently, he only had two ¡®Energy Cores¡¯ on hand. It was better to assess the performance and practicality before making more. Confirmed the production. ¡°[One Hundred Times Amplification triggered, obtained ¡®Small Hare Airship¡¯ 101.]¡± Whoosh whoosh whoosh! The nearest components vanished, and enormous aerial ships fell from the sky. This gave Fang Hao quite a scare, prompting him and a few maids and daughters of the Earth Spirit watching the excitement to step back. However, the anticipated crash didn¡¯t happen. Just as the aerial ships were about two meters above the ground, they stopped falling as if power had been restored and hung in midair, causing a gust of wind and dust. Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief and then began to inspect the finished aerial ships. The ship¡¯s body was similar in shape to a fishing boat but had a more sci-fi design, with fin-like sails on either side and a sturdy canopy on top. Above the canopy were two long, rabbit ear-like hot air balloons. Presumably, this was the origin of the aerial ship¡¯s name. By now, more and more people had come out to see what the fuss was all about. ¡°Wow, so this is an aerial ship, so cool!¡± Below, a group of maids all let out gasps of awe. Even Demitrija and Aseti, who were seeing such goblin technology flying in the air for the first time, were amazed. ¡°If we really fly up there, will we fall off?¡± one of them wondered. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t, if such a huge ship can fly, carrying a few people shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± another reasoned. A crowd gathered, whispering among themselves. For those who had lived their lives on the ground, the sky was both a dream and a fear. After watching for a while, Fang Hao said to Meatfist behind him, ¡°Bring over a cannon and an organ gun, oh and¡­ call over the blacksmith Kulyn as well.¡± ¡°Right away, my lord,¡± Meatfist nodded and quickly departed. ¡°` Chapter 875 - Chapter 875: Chapter 566, Revolver Test Fire Chapter 875: Chapter 566, Revolver Test Fire [Wild Hare Small Aerial Ship (Orange)] [Category: Magic Technology] [Machinery Strength: Level 5] [Abilities: Magic Structure, Drifts With The Wind] [Magic Structure]: Magic technology that will not collapse or rout, immune to all negative states such as panic and silence, powered by magic energy. [Drifts With The Wind]: This aerial ship can maintain its course with the wind. (Description: Since ancient times, terrestrial races have always longed to soar into the skies. Although this dream was realized through large flying beasts and magic technology, on the other hand, the restless ¡®scholars¡¯ also attempted to develop a means to more conveniently transport larger numbers of people and goods to distant places¡ªhence the birth of the aerial ship.) Looking up at the aerial ship, information appeared before his eyes. Based on the information displayed, the flight ship was more akin to a construct, given that their energy sources were the same. The ship¡¯s defense level had reached Level 5, which was considered quite high. And he remembered, when he first made the ¡°Stone Monster Construct,¡± its defense level was only Level 4. But the Level 5 here probably refers to an iron-plated hull; for something like a hot air balloon, it would still be relatively weak. For combat, it would require some strategic thinking; it was not possible to just brute force head-on. The aerial ship had two abilities, namely [Magic Structure]and [Drifts With The Wind]. The introductions were very clear and pertained to the flight ship¡¯s own capabilities. The aerial ship hovered in the air, two meters above the ground, with a rope ladder dangling from the hull. Quite unimpressive. But it was understandable. According to the introduction, this was the earliest goblin transport vessel for cargo, so it being simple was to be expected. If needed, it could also be redecorated. He stopped the maids who were trying to follow him up. Fang Hao, accompanied by Demitrija, boarded the aerial ship. The spacious wooden deck, almost at the stern tower, was indeed not much different from a sea ship. The hull was about ten meters long and nearly five meters wide, considerably larger than the small fishing boats he had seen at Fu Lei¡¯s place. Stepping forward to roughly measure it, without considering the space of the stern tower, one side of the deck could accommodate three or four cannons. Eight cannons on both sides combined, but placing them on both sides wouldn¡¯t be very effective. If there were to attack the Great Cemetery of Odys, cannons on one side would be sufficient. The other side would be for shooting one¡¯s own people. Calculating in his mind, Meatfist arrived with the blacksmith Kulyn, climbing up the rope ladder. ¡°My lord, the cannons have been brought down below,¡± Meatfist spoke. Fang Hao, leaning on the railing, glanced downwards. Skeleton Warriors were tying the cannons tightly with hemp rope, the other end bound to the skeletal frame of a Bone Dragon. They planned to use the Bone Dragon to transport the cannons onto the aerial ship. ¡°Mhm,¡± Fang Hao nodded. He didn¡¯t bother with the skeletons hoisting the cannons, but continued into the stern tower with the others. Located at the very rear of the ship, the stern tower seemed more like a steering area. Inside was a circular helm, to the left was a row of mechanical buttons, and on the right were three slender levers. This mix of retro vibe and technology really gave it a goblin magic feel. Fang Hao looked at the buttons, which were not labeled with text but with symbols instead. They presumably represented different functions. It looked quite complicated. At the same time, another idea occurred to him: the aerial ship had a control room, signifying that it required someone to operate it. It was different than a construct that could move on its own. Shit¡­ Given the current staffing situation of the territory, nobody knew how to operate such a vessel. Fang Hao didn¡¯t dare to touch anything recklessly, worried that the wrong button might make the aerial ship take off. If it crashed directly into the city, the damage would be severe. After checking the stern tower, he went out and descended the stairs into the cabin. The interior of the ship was dimly lit, surrounded by sealed wooden and steel plates. He brought out a Nightstone for lighting, only then could he see the interior structure clearly. At the forward part was a wide empty hold, accounting for 60% of the interior space, likely intended for carrying cargo. The rooms behind consisted of individual chambers, with the foremost one, situated below the stern tower, containing various precise machinery. These machines connected to the Energy Core, the heart of the ship¡¯s operation. The rest of the rooms were empty. Whether they were to become resting rooms, a kitchen, or bathrooms could be arranged later. As he exited the cabin, a dull thud echoed as the cannons were hoisted onto the deck by the Bone Dragon. The entire aerial ship swayed for a moment. Fang Hao looked at the cannons and said to the blacksmith Kulyn beside him, ¡°Find a way to secure the cannons firmly onto the ship.¡± Kulyn nodded, ¡°Understood, my lord.¡± Earlier, Fang Hao wanted to test fire the cannons, but apparently, no one knew how to operate the flight ship. The plan to test fire would have to wait until later. After the inspection, Fang Hao climbed down the rope ladder. Seeing Anjia and the maids below, full of anticipation, Fang Hao instructed, ¡°Anjia, take them up to have a look. Just look around, but please don¡¯t touch any equipment.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± After speaking, Anjia led a group of maids and Earth Spirit girls up the rope ladder. Soon, exclamations of surprise came from the deck above. Fang Hao showed a smile, then returned with Demitrija and a few other heroes. On the way back, he consulted with Nelson about operating the aerial ship. The answer he received was, a technician. Chapter 876 - Chapter 876: Chapter 566, Revolver Test Firing 2 Chapter 876: Chapter 566, Revolver Test Firing 2 A technician capable of assembling and repairing constructs. ¡­¡­ After dinner, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and found Zhang Bin¡¯s private chat. He went straight to the point, ¡°That human technician, have you contacted him?¡± In the winter, a merchant had brought blueprints for constructs and an Energy Core to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory. At that time, Zhang Bin thought this was a way to acquire constructs, so he reached out to Fang Hao. He got news about the human technician from the merchant¡¯s mouth. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it before. Today, with the flight ship needing a technician, Fang Hao immediately thought of Zhang Bin. Soon, Zhang Bin replied, ¡°I have contact, but he¡¯s a bit temperamental and not so easy to approach.¡± Not easy to approach¡­ Fang Hao stroked his chin. To kill and convert? The thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately shook his head. Although he didn¡¯t consider himself a good person, he also wouldn¡¯t deliberately do bad things; changing one¡¯s principles for a moment¡¯s expedience wasn¡¯t the right thing to do. Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, got it, keep in touch with him. If he¡¯s difficult to approach, inquire if there¡¯s another way to recruit a technician.¡± ¡°Understood, boss,¡± Zhang Bin agreed readily. Fang Hao continued to check the world channel. Just like the last time, he sent out a request to purchase blueprints capable of recruiting technicians, but no one was selling blueprints. Instead, he received a bunch of private messages inviting him to join alliances, peddling other goods, selling their own portraits, and even suggesting offline meetings. All at once they appeared. Fang Hao had no choice but to block them again to avoid constant notification sounds. Having visited the Viscera Museum and chatted with Nelson later, as dusk fell, he lay down to rest. ¡­ The next day, morning. After breakfast, Fang Hao took Demitrija and Anjia with him, once again heading to the No. 01 Trade Alliance outpost. The route this time was also straightforward, to the Undead store. Without any stops along the way, he came straight to the front of the Undead store. He pushed the door open. Clang! The bell at the door rang with a crisp sound. The store wasn¡¯t dim, but today there were already customers inside. [Imperial Tomb Guardian (Tier 8)] Two guards in heavy armor stood at the door. As Fang Hao and his group entered, with two swooshes, they drew their long blades from their waists. But the next second, The two guards were brought down by Demitrija and Anjia, pinned forcefully to the ground. At that moment, footsteps came from inside the store, and two Skeleton clerks along with an Undead holding a staff walked out. Seeing the scene before them, they were obviously taken aback. ¡°Human sir, what¡¯s going on here?¡± asked the Undead clerk in a soft voice. Fang Hao calmly replied, ¡°I just entered the store, and they drew their swords on me. I reserve the right to explain this matter to the Trade Alliance outpost.¡± This, ¡­ The two clerks looked back at the Undead holding the staff. The staff-wielding Undead glanced at Fang Hao and then carefully examined the heroes who had subdued his two subordinates. He spoke up, ¡°Human, it seems there has been some misunderstanding; they pose no threat to you.¡± Fang Hao nodded, patting Demitrija on the shoulder. They released their hold, and the two Undead guards quickly retreated to the side of the staff-wielding Undead. Fang Hao then turned his attention to this Undead. A high crown adorned his head, with a golden breastplate built-in, wrapped in a dark green robe. On the crown and robe, besides symbols and patterns of the Undead faith, there were also designs featuring elements like darkness and fire. In addition to the staff in his hand, he also held a black book. Not the Book of Lords, but likely a book of Magic. [Black Scourge ¨C Bequil (Orange Tier 9 Hero)]. Tier 9 ¡­ One more step and he could become a Dark Gold level hero. Quite a fellow. The first hero he encountered here was already Orange Tier 9. ¡°Here to buy something?¡± the Undead Bequil asked abruptly. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Just looking around.¡± ¡°Oh? What are you planning to buy?¡± Bequil¡¯s tone was clearly curious. ¡°Bones, to see if there¡¯s any new stock.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here to buy bones?¡± ¡°Ah! I bought some last time, now I¡¯m checking for any new stock.¡± Ah, this¡­ Undead Bequil looked at one of his clerks, who nodded, confirming that the human in front of him wasn¡¯t joking. Human, Orc, and Lizardmen, these living creatures coming to the Undead¡¯s store to buy things. Times are changing too quickly. Afterwards, Bequil stopped speaking and stood by, observing as if he were picking out goods himself. Fang Hao looked around the first floor but didn¡¯t find what he wanted, so he went straight to the second floor. Bequil followed him upstairs. Fang Hao still couldn¡¯t find bones of a technician on the second floor, so he asked a nearby Undead clerk, ¡°Don¡¯t you have the bones of a technician?¡± The Undead clerk replied, ¡°Human sir, all goods are displayed on the counter. If it¡¯s not there, we don¡¯t have it.¡± ¡°Can I place a pre-order or a custom order?¡± The Undead clerk replied, ¡°You can register your invitation card. If corresponding goods arrive, we will contact the Trade Alliance building in your territory.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t have a better solution, so he nodded, took out his invitation card, and registered. He told them he wanted bones related to technicians. After registering, Fang Hao promptly left the Undead store. Undead Bequil, who had remained inside the store, picked up the registration record and took a glance. Chapter 877 - Chapter 877: Chapter 566, Revolver Test Firing_3 Chapter 877: Chapter 566, Revolver Test Firing_3 ¡°` He asked, ¡°What did he buy the last time?¡± One of the Undead clerks replied, ¡°He bought two sets of beast-type White Bones and one set of human White Bones.¡± ¡°Interesting!¡± Bequil¡¯s gaze followed the direction the three had left. After leaving the Undead shop, Fang Hao and his companions continued to stroll around the Trade Alliance for a while. Seeing there wasn¡¯t much else to gain, they could only return to the city. ¡­ Afternoon. Gray Iron City. The shooting range outside the research institute. Fang Hao looked at the revolver in his hand and nodded slightly. Under his constant pressure, the research institute of the Dwarves had finally completed the revolver today. The revolver in his hand, however, was somewhat different from the revolvers commonly seen on television. It had a wooden grip and an elongated barrel. The length of the barrel was about 25 centimeters¡ªFang Hao found it a bit inconvenient holding such a long barrel in his hand. The advantage of a pistol is its convenience in carrying and the ability to quickly attack the target at critical moments. But such a long barrel would even interfere with walking if it were hung at the waist. ¡°The barrel is this long?¡± Fang Hao asked. Cao Junming stepped forward, sounding tentative, ¡°Boss, the technology¡ªwell¡­ there are some deficiencies in technology, so we lengthened the barrel to enhance accuracy.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°How¡¯s the result?¡± ¡°The result is quite good.¡± The firing mechanism of a revolver is supposed to be simple among handguns. ¡°Go test fire it,¡± he said, passing the revolver to Cao Junming. ¡°Oh, all right.¡± Cao Junming took it and began to load the revolver. Then he entered the shooting range and pulled the trigger aiming forward. Bang bang bang¡­ Six shots were fired, all six bullets discharged. Four bullets hit the wooden target, and two landed on the ground. Among them, Cao Junming¡¯s skill level was probably a factor. Noticing that all six attempts at firing were successful, Cao Junming revealed a pleased expression. It seemed that even he didn¡¯t expect them to all work so well. Seeing Fang Hao looking at him, he immediately reined in his smile and hurriedly said, ¡°Boss, the test firing is complete.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Good. It¡¯s great that those involved in this design and production did well; I will have Bellerga reward you all for this.¡± Upon hearing of a reward, the Dwarves who had been bowing their heads immediately grew restless. Looking up, they could all see the joy on their mates¡¯ faces. They really were researchers, not prisoners. Prisoners wouldn¡¯t get such treatment for producing a finished product. Just as they were about to express their thanks, Fang Hao¡¯s next words made them stiffen. ¡°In another week, I want to see a stable finished product, including stability and the feature of being easy to carry.¡± This¡­ Another week. Last week, Fang Hao had demanded to see a finished revolver, and they had been rushing the job day and night. Now, it was another week. But this time, no one tried to make excuses. They just watched silently as Fang Hao, accompanied by the high-ranking Dwarves, left the research institute. ¡­ Back in the main city. Fang Hao sat in the hall, still not forgetting to post messages twice on the world channel to solicit Blueprints from technicians. But the effect was no different than before. A bunch of private messages, all useless information, not a single one providing news about technicians. This left Fang Hao somewhat helpless. The Aerial Ship was still parked outside the city, and it had almost become a tourist attraction, with the maids playing on it every day. On several Aerial Ships, thin lines had been drawn up to hang clothes, and the deck was used for drying meat and vegetables. Apart from its proper use, every other possible use had been thoroughly explored. Ding! At that moment, the Book of Lords chimed with a notification. It was Li Rong. ¡°Fang Hao, Silver Wing City has made another pre-war deployment, in anticipation of an attack from the Undead,¡± she reported. Fang Hao frowned slightly. Yesterday was the fifth round of negotiations between the two sides. According to Li Rong¡¯s description, the talks had not been conclusive, but both parties were in a stalemate. Why did it suddenly seem like they were about to start a war? ¡°Has there been some kind of change?¡± Fang Hao asked. Li Rong replied quickly, ¡°The specifics are unclear, but it seems Silver Wing City has received some information. The Great Cemetery of Odys is already prepared for battle.¡± ¡°` Chapter 878 - Chapter 878: Chapter 567, Spade White Temptress Demon Chapter 878: Chapter 567, Spade White Temptress Demon All factions have their own intelligence channels. When the Federation learned about the danger in the Great Cemetery of Odys, it also began to focus on scouting information from the eastern borders, and obtaining some news was unsurprising. But such a significant change in just one day did startle Fang Hao. ¡°How¡¯s the situation over at the Federation?¡± Fang Hao asked. Li Rong replied, ¡°Today alone, the Hall of Justice, the Mage Association, and the Church held several meetings. Judging from the content of the talks and the expressions of those involved, the situation in the Federation isn¡¯t good. Food and equipment haven¡¯t been delivered, and reinforcements from the cities are still on their way.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°They say that if war were to break out now, Santor Fort would not withstand three days, and that¡¯s counting on a siege,¡± Li Rong said. Three days was even an overestimate for the Undead. Once the Undead chose not to attack Santor Fort but instead bypassed it and entered the Federation¡¯s territory directly, the danger to the other cities would increase even more. The Undead don¡¯t need to eat or drink and naturally don¡¯t need to capture cities one by one to ensure logistics. ¡°So, the Federation must be terrified, right?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Terrified, especially the City Lord of Santor Fort; his voice trembled when discussing these matters,¡± Li Rong said. Fang Hao thought for a moment, then continued, ¡°If anything happens, ensure your safety first, then let me know to come and get you.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± After ending the call, Fang Hao stared pensively at the Book of Lords. The situation in the Great Cemetery and the Federation was progressing faster than he had anticipated. He had thought that the standoff and discussions would drag on for months. War seemed likely by summer. But now, it seemed that the previous troop deployments in the Great Cemetery were targeting the Hundred Cities Federation. Perhaps the war would start sooner than expected. And the entire Federation would be dragged into this war. Sitting in his chair, he pondered for a while. It still seemed better to notify the Gold Eating Queen Amanda of this message. He called for Demitrija, activated the teleportation screen, and the two disappeared into the light. ¡­ The cold Blood Castle Hall. Ha! Stretching her slender legs, she yawned, ¡°Why are you here again?¡± Meanwhile, the Gold Eating Queen Amanda, sitting securely in her seat, held the golden scepter in her hand. Yet her gaze was directed toward the newly arrived pair. Fang Hao sat down beside them and directly said, ¡°I just received intelligence from Odys, I¡¯ve come to discuss it with you.¡± Rolana showed no change, but Amanda sat up a bit. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Odys and the Federation had five rounds of negotiations that all ended in failure and just now news came from the human side that Odys will soon launch an attack, and the humans are also preparing for combat.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Rolana said in surprise, lowering her legs. Amanda, an Undead, also showed a surprised expression. Neither had expected Odys would plan to attack so soon. Fang Hao noted their reactions. He continued, ¡°I came here to see what you think.¡± Amanda pondered for a moment and then spoke, ¡°Although Odys¡¯s actions have begun much earlier than we anticipated, the overall plan hasn¡¯t changed at all. Once Odys engages with the Federation, we can directly enter the territory of the Great Cemetery and take back the lands we lost.¡± Fang Hao nodded. This indeed had no impact on the overall plan. He thought about the information Li Rong had shared with him. He added, ¡°Another point is to ensure that the Federation can hold and tie down Odys¡¯s forces, otherwise letting them breach into the Federation would pose a significant danger.¡± War was a nutrition supplement for the Undead, allowing them time to transform. Their forces would keep growing until they exhausted the enemy. Thus, eliminating Odys¡¯s forces and avoiding giving them a chance to recuperate was crucial. ¡°What? Can¡¯t the humans hold back?¡± Amanda asked. Fang Hao scoffed, ¡°Peace has made humans forget the threat of the enemy. The City Lord stationed at Santor Fort lacks competence, and the city defenses are a mess. The artillery on the walls is still being repaired, and with the winter just over, there¡¯s a shortage of food. Anyway, the intelligence from the Federation is, they can hold back the army for three days.¡± ¡°Three days, that short!¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then continued, ¡°Well, since the Federation has realized this, they should soon make arrangements. After all, the scale of the Hundred Cities Federation is there; as long as time permits, supplies and weapons can be supported.¡± The nobles of the Federation, each one immensely wealthy, lived lives of silk and luxury. The threat of the Undead, obviously, worried and frightened them the most. They would surely use every possible means to mobilize all available resources to resist the Undead¡¯s attack. What they needed to consider was how to quickly win the battles on their own front. Amanda continued, ¡°The routes and maps are already problem-free and won¡¯t affect the combat.¡± Fang Hao nodded, adding, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not worried about the combat side of things, but after it ends, how to ease relations with the Federation still needs to be considered.¡± Chapter 879 - Chapter 879: Chapter 567, Spade White Succubus_2 Chapter 879: Chapter 567, Spade White Succubus_2 ¡°The Blood Clan and the Federation have a peace treaty, and when Rolana steps forward to express her stance, it should help to ease the situation between the two sides,¡± With her legs crossed and yawning, Rolana¡¯s body stiffened, and her beautiful eyes widened, unsure of how the conversation had suddenly turned to her. ¡°What treaty, and when was it signed?¡± ¡°Signed by the Red Duke¡­¡± ¡°Damn it¡­¡± The group chatted for a while, discussing possible problems and the subsequent mediation between the two powers, analyzing everything. Though the content wasn¡¯t extensive, the conversation still lasted quite some time. They had agreed on strategies for solvable issues and currently, there seemed to be no good solution for the unsolvable ones. So the discussion was temporarily put on hold. Next, the group walked out of the hall to inspect the defense arrangements on the city walls. By now, the walls were already equipped with a massive number of cannons and defensive machinery. Standing on the ramparts and looking in the direction of the Great Cemetery, one could see groups of patrolling Skeleton soldiers silently carrying out their duties. The arrangements made by Amanda truly bolstered the defenses of Blood Castle. After staying here for a while, Fang Hao and another returned to the main city. ¡­ Over the next two days, Li Rong kept sending updates non-stop. The tension between both sides¡¯ forces was rising rapidly. All important officials and their families within the Santyre Stronghold were taken into ¡®protective custody¡¯ by the Hall of Justice¡¯s army to prevent escape attempts. The entire city was under control, making it virtually impossible to leave at this point. Starting from today, Li Rong and Xu Haide also became busy. They used the trading function of the Book of Lords to exchange various resources. Since each trade had a limit, the two transmigrators didn¡¯t need to do anything else but sit there and trade. The continuous arrival of supplies somewhat reassured the people in the city. The morale of the Human Clan had bounced back from the previous few days. Fang Hao sat on the White Bone throne, looking through the long string of messages and complaints sent by Li Rong. The attached picture showed a dilapidated warehouse surrounded by various resources. In the picture, one could also see part of Morse¡¯s body, with his purple skin being quite eye-catching. Tap tap tap!! At that moment, crisp footsteps could be heard at the doorway. Looking up, Fang Hao saw the Skeleton merchant Doujin walking in at a leisurely pace. With a slight bow, he said, ¡°My Lord, it¡¯s time for you to attend the auction.¡± Today was the day of the Trade Alliance¡¯s auction event. Although Doujin would not be going along, he had specially come to remind Fang Hao not to miss the time. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head over now,¡± Fang Hao said as he closed the Book of Lords and stood up to descend. Nelson, Anjia, and Demitrija were already waiting at the door. There was a limited number of people allowed to attend the auction, And with no work at hand, Fang Hao decided to take the scholarly Nelson with him. If he encountered any auction items he wasn¡¯t familiar with, he could consult Nelson for advice. ¡°My Lord,¡± they all saluted. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± After speaking, he led the group towards the bright screen of the Trade Alliance¡¯s Teleportation Array. Passing through the screen of the Teleportation Array, They arrived at the Trade Alliance¡¯s 01 station. As soon as they stepped out of the screen, they were greeted by a cacophony of voices. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really lively today,¡± Anjia exclaimed with wide eyes. Unlike the previous visit, the smooth and clean roads were crowded with people coming to the auction. Human Clan, elves, orcs, the Undead. At a glance, the crowd was filled with various races, all dressed in luxurious, high-society attire. It gave off the feeling of visiting a tourist spot on a holiday, where all you could see was a sea of people. Fang Hao also nodded in agreement; he had underestimated the Trade Alliance¡¯s auction. So it¡¯s this popular. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll probably have to queue up at the entrance!¡± Fang Hao said. He led the group forward. There was no need to ask directions for the auction; huge signboards had been set up all around. Even without looking at the signs, simply following the crowd would lead them straight to the auction. Following the throng of people, Along the way, not only could they see heroes from various races, but they also saw scantily clad female figures. For example, a Sea Tribe woman in front of them, wearing a light blue gossamer dress that was almost transparent. A White Temptress Demon in a black leather outfit with a black heart marking at the tail. A demon? ¡°Demons can attend the auction, too?¡± Fang Hao quietly asked the nearby Nelson. Nelson continued walking, calmly replying, ¡°Demons are naturally not welcome by goblins, but the White Temptress Demon is lawful neutral and recognized by goblins. However, most races still shun them.¡± In this world, demons were despised even more than dogs. Every appearance of demons brought disaster to all races, so even neutral goblins, acceptable to all races, still rejected demons. But the White Temptress Demon was not included in this; they had long left the abyss to live in this land as lawful neutrals, gaining goblin recognition. This acceptance was only among goblins, and despite the charm of the White Temptress Demon, they still faced rejection from all races. Of course, this situation would soon change. As transmigrators grew in strength, this alluring race with long legs and curvy figures would presumably become very popular. What demons or no demons. They are special military units! After listening to Nelson¡¯s explanation, Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Ah, I see!¡± Perhaps sensing something, a White Temptress Demon in the crowd ahead turned to look back towards them. Chapter 880 - Chapter 880: Chapter 567, Spade White Temptress Demon_3 Chapter 880: Chapter 567, Spade White Temptress Demon_3 His gaze swept over a few people before settling on Fang Hao. Then, a seductive wink was thrown his way, causing an involuntary stir in his heart. Fang Hao didn¡¯t respond, curious why the other party would look his way when the distance between them made conversation seemingly impossible. Could it be that his gaze had been noticed? Possibly. ¡­ The location of the auction was in the central area. It was a huge gray castle. The gray walls were covered with various symbols, which looked like a kind of complex and luxurious pattern. The entrance to the auction was already crowded with people. They were divided into five areas, lining up in long queues, gradually entering inside. Coincidentally, right in front of Fang Hao and his group was the scantily clad White Temptress Demon, its heart-shaped tail swaying continuously. The White Temptress Demon that had just winked at Fang Hao glanced sideways with a smile on her lips. Her heart-shaped tail swayed gently, unintentionally brushing against the men behind her. Fang Hao stepped back a bit to avoid the swaying tail. The White Temptress Demon, measuring her head, looked back at the young man behind her. Her brows furrowed slightly, seemingly not quite satisfied with the man¡¯s reaction. Just as she wanted to speak, a voice came from nearby, ¡°Mr. Fu Lei, is that you?¡± Fang Hao looked to the side and saw a foreign man in fancy noble attire with gold chains over his clothes, curiously watching him. Wadey! The foreigner from the last meeting who was in league with the Gray Dwarves. At that time, Fang Hao had introduced himself as Fu Lei, uncertain whether Wadey was even using his real name. His gaze landed on the queue opposite, and sure enough, he found the Gray Dwarves. In contrast to the splendidly dressed Wadey, the Gray Dwarves were dressed rather simply. Dark pants, gray shirts, bare strong muscles, while touching their thick beards, they chatted away. It seemed Wadey had taken the Gray Dwarves along to broaden their horizons. ¡°Mr. Wadey, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here again,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°Yes, I knew you would definitely come,¡± Wadey said, glancing behind him. He saw Demitrija, then the Undead! Huh? Another orange hero, and an Undead? But he didn¡¯t pay much attention, as there were many people in the queue, and he didn¡¯t seem to think they were together. Fang Hao asked, ¡°The Dwarves are selling quite some good stuff this time, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Dwarves have a significant presence, with branches in various regions; this time, the Gray Dwarves¡¯ successful entry was only for orange machinery. The purple battle axes were returned during the evaluation,¡± Wadey replied directly. Perhaps the two had become familiar. Wadey was quite willing to provide him insights regarding the Dwarves. ¡°Oh, being able to sell some machinery must be quite profit-making,¡± Fang Hao agreed. Wadey nodded and lowered his voice, ¡°What about you guys? What did the Lizardmen sell?¡± Fang Hao glanced at Demitrija, also lowering his voice, ¡°We are a small force, having nothing noteworthy. Last time, hearing about your sold machinery, we also scraped some equipment from our inventory for the auction.¡± ¡°Both orange heroes, yet a small force?¡± Wadey leaned in close, ¡°What kind of equipment? Are Lizardmen also skilled in machinery?¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t hide anything, ¡°Cannons, Dwarf technology, not quite up to your standard.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I understand,¡± Wadey immediately nodded. Acquired on the battlefield, seemingly planning to sell it using this opportunity. The two whispered, exchanging information with a tacit understanding. Before long, Wadey¡¯s attention was once again drawn to something in the back. ¡°Yes, Aerygon!¡± Aerygon? Why does that name sound so familiar? In an instant, Fang Hao remembered where he had seen that name. Ranking list, world number two? Chapter 881 - Chapter 881: Chapter 568, Dawn Blue Coral Chapter 881: Chapter 568, Dawn Blue Coral Following Wadey¡¯s gaze, Fang Hao saw several people approaching from behind. Two men and one woman, all three dressed in exceptionally lavish attire, among whom one man and one woman had curved horns pointing backward on their heads. Having encountered ¡®Spencer¡¯ previously, Fang Hao could confirm. These were not the horns of Orcs or Demons, but Dragon horns. The other person was the ¡®Aerygon¡¯ Wadey had mentioned, who appeared to be around thirty years old, with golden hair combed back. Blue pupils and deep eye sockets, he had the standard handsome European man¡¯s appearance. In the World Rankings announced by the system, Fang Hao was the top in three lists, and in the lists for Territory and Military Strength, Aerygon was stably in second place. ¡°He¡¯s Aerygon?¡± Fang Hao was also somewhat surprised. If he wasn¡¯t ranked second with Dragon Clan members by his side, that would truly be questionable. Wadey nodded and said, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen the World Channel? He¡¯s even come forward to recruit members for his own Alliance!¡± Well, ¡­ Fang Hao usually didn¡¯t turn on the World Channel until at night when he checked if anyone was selling Blueprints. He seldom opened the channel at other times, mainly because he was busy with many tasks during the day. ¡°Are those with him from the Dragon Clan?¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Yes, Aerygon¡¯s territory is in the region ruled by the Dragon Clan. I heard that he recently changed his faction to the Dragon Clan faction. His troops are bound to be impressive, and surpassing Fang Hao as the first is probably just a matter of time,¡± Wadey said with a gaze full of envy. Fang Hao didn¡¯t say much, his eyes also turned to the other party. This second-ranked Aerygon had a tall and firm build, with a pleasing face as well. He had the look of the main hero in European films. Now aligned with the Dragon Clan, he was sure to be esteemed by many transmigrators. But the claim that he would surpass himself made Fang Hao somewhat unconvinced; millions of troops spread across the hills, nearly a hundred thousand Wriggling Spines in the warehouse, and you say surpass just like that? In a blink, Fang Hao saw ¡®Wadey¡¯, who had just been chatting with him, had already moved to the back of the team. And struck up a conversation with that second-ranking Aerygon. This Wadey, quite a sociable one. After chatting for a while, Wadey came back and handed a piece of paper to Fang Hao. Upon opening it, he saw Aerygon¡¯s name written in English. ¡°An autograph, I got one for you too, maybe it can be sold for a good price when he gets famous,¡± Wadey explained. Fang Hao took it, thought for a moment, and tucked it into his pocket. ¡°Those two from the Dragon Clan, what level of heroes are they?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Orange ones, they¡¯re all orange ones,¡± Wadey said, folding the autograph carefully, and continued, ¡°That¡¯s the level of the second, I wonder if Fang Hao has any orange heroes.¡± ¡°Should have¡­¡± The team slowly moved forward during their conversation. Aside from the Dragon Clan members and Aerygon behind them, more transmigrators with the Book of Lords along with some natives joined the queuing lineup. Humans, Elves, and members of the Sea Tribe all had transmigrators by their sides. However, Fang Hao did not see anyone he recognized from his own region; it seemed as if he had been the only one to receive an invitation. Or perhaps the crowd was too large to notice anyone. As the team moved forward bit by bit. Wadey returned to the Gray Dwarves¡¯ side and quickly entered the castle where the auction was held. A short while later, it was Fang Hao and his party¡¯s turn. ¡°Sir, please present your invitation card.¡± At the entrance, a respectful male Human Clan member spoke. Fang Hao took out the black invitation card and showed it to the attendant. After a brief inspection, the attendant said, ¡°Sir, you have items in this auction, you may go to the private room on the second floor, please enter¡­¡± He returned the invitation card to Fang Hao with a gesture of invitation. Fang Hao nodded and entered with his companions. The male Elf was somewhat taken aback by the sight of the others coming in behind them, Orcs, Lizardmen, and Undead. What a combination. Upon entering the great hall, Fang Hao and his companions were once again reminded of the Trade Alliance¡¯s wealth. He had seen the Dwarven Royal Palace and the Federation¡¯s Parliament Hall, but they paled in comparison to the splendid auction hall before him. Cloud-white stone materials, green-gold magic devices, and an overall design that integrated seamlessly with the hall¡ªit wasn¡¯t just decorative, it served its purpose too. The entire space of the castle was hollowed out, filled with Magic Arrays and magic technology emitting dazzling light. Merging gold, cloud-white, and deep green into the entire space. Displaying a beauty of extreme luxury. Hard to believe that Goblins would have such high taste. Fang Hao and his party, led by staff, took the elevator. And directly entered a private room on the second floor. The area of the private room was not large, but the location was excellent, offering a high vantage point over the entire auction proceedings. After the staff gave a brief demonstration of the bidding process, they left the room. Leaving Fang Hao and his companions alone. The room was not very large, about thirty square meters in size. The four people sitting inside didn¡¯t feel cramped but couldn¡¯t call it spacious either. This was probably one of the reasons the Trade Alliance restricted the number of attendees. Demitrija sat silently near the door, while Fang Hao and Nelson chatted softly about some of the unusual races they had encountered along the way. Anjia had already begun to devour the complimentary pastries provided in the room. Soon, at 10 AM, the auction officially started with the arrival of the host. She was a tall, mature, and beautiful Elf Clan woman. Chapter 882 - Chapter 882: Chapter 568, Dawn Blue Coral_2 Chapter 882: Chapter 568, Dawn Blue Coral_2 After a simple opening, the first auction item was presented directly. A Sea Tribe woman with long blue hair walked up, carrying a tray. She lifted the red silk cloth covering it to reveal a golden necklace. The host began, ¡°Emperor Leoxus¡¯s gold necklace possesses a strong amplification of magic, and each time a spell is cast, it will summon a magic elemental attendant of the same type as the spell, to join the fight.¡± Wow!! As soon as these words were spoken, a noisy clamor erupted from beneath the stage. ¡°Items from Emperor Leoxus are up for auction, really?¡± ¡°The very first item is of this caliber? The quality of this year¡¯s auction is so high.¡± ¡°I never thought I¡¯d hear the name of Emperor Leoxus in my lifetime.¡± ¡°Which power is selling this? They were actually able to acquire it, it wasn¡¯t dug up, was it?¡± ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡­ Emperor Leoxus was once a legendary Mage Emperor. After his death, all the artifacts he had used quickly vanished from people¡¯s sight. Over a hundred years have passed, and one could hardly see any items related to that emperor surface anymore. As the saying goes, rare is precious, whether it¡¯s for collection or functionality. All of Emperor¡¯s items are worth bidding for. They are ardently sought after by various powers. The beautiful auctioneer looked down at the discussing crowd with a smile, seemingly very satisfied with her opening. She had roused everyone¡¯s attention and eagerness. Only when she felt the atmosphere was sufficiently warm did she gently clap her hands and continue through the amplifier, ¡°Starting bid, fifteen million Warfire Coins, with each subsequent bid increasing by no less than one million.¡± The price was indeed astonishing. Fifteen million, simply unbelievable. However, after the shock, bidding quickly started from the third floor. It was followed by people from the fourth and fifth floors, as the bidding began to rise rapidly. Fang Hao sat in the private room, somewhat surprised by the price of the first auction item. His orange cannon had a low asking price of five million, and a buyout price of only eight million, while someone¡¯s necklace reached a starting bid of fifteen million. However, this necklace had some unique abilities. In addition to bolstering magic, it automatically summoned a magic attendant of the same elemental type as the spells cast by its wearer. For warriors, this necklace was useless. But for mages, and those races naturally capable of casting spells, this was a divine artifact. Moreover, it was an irreplicable divine artifact. Thinking it through, it indeed seemed right that it should be more expensive than machinery. Fang Hao also thought about joining the bidding, after all, as a mage, it would be useful for him. But upon hearing the relentless soaring of the price, he felt it was better to let it go. It was just one piece of equipment, his advantage wasn¡¯t in spells and combat, but in hundred-fold augmentation. In the end, a guest from the fourth floor¡¯s private room acquired the item for thirty-two million. The rest of the guests were left somewhat dumbfounded by then. Goodness, people upstairs really were rolling in money. The very first item sold for over thirty million. Weren¡¯t they afraid of losing out on better items later on? ¡­. The first item concluded. The beautiful auctioneer clapped her hands softly once more, then adjusted her skirt at just the right moment to reveal a pair of fair legs. This drew all the guests¡¯ gazes back to her. The auctioneer continued, ¡°Congratulations to the guest on the fourth floor for obtaining this coveted item; our staff will deliver it to your private room, so please be patient.¡± Having finished, she looked down, ¡°Next, please welcome the second item.¡± This time, a Human Clan beauty came up, pushing a small cart. The auctioneer lifted the red cloth on the cart to reveal a pile of cloth strips enclosed in glass! The cloth strips were blackened and yellowed, although well-preserved, they didn¡¯t seem to be anything valuable. From Fang Hao¡¯s first impression, they looked like rotten strips taken from a mummy. The staff member, pushing the cart on the stage, showcased it to the guests from all directions. The auctioneer went on to say, ¡°These are the wrappings of the Immortal Emperor. In addition to nourishing the soul fire of the undead, they help living creatures to evade death, in simple terms, after being wrapped with it, one can avoid the gaze of the Death God.¡± Before the crowd could erupt into discussion again, the auctioneer raised her voice and emphasized, ¡°The caveat is that those who extend their lifespan will eventually become members of the Immortal Clan.¡± As her words ended, the entire venue fell into a brief silence. Originally, this was an item of the costly variety, wrapped in a shroud, capable of evading the gaze of the Death God and ultimately turning into a genuine Undead. The whole venue was quiet; no one opened their mouths to speak. This wasn¡¯t because they weren¡¯t tempted, but rather because the relationship between the Undead and living creatures was laid bare before them. Living creatures formed alliances to fight against the Undead; your former teammates were present, and buying this item now could easily lead to suspicions about your intentions. At this time, in the public area on the third floor, a female staff member raised her hand to signal. The auctioneer looked at her and nodded. The staff member on the third floor said, ¡°Becoming an Undead, does the Soul Fire still exist?¡± This was a question on behalf of the guests in the private rooms. All the guests once again turned their attention to the auctioneer, to see whether the Soul Fire existed, which essentially asked whether a soul remained after becoming Undead. To end up as a mindless skeleton was effectively no different from being dead. The auctioneer, with a smile, answered, ¡°It possesses Soul Fire.¡± He then continued, ¡°The starting price is fifty million, with each bid not to be less than five million.¡± The venue fell silent for a moment again. The price quickly soared and finally stopped at eighty million, bought by a guest on the fifth floor. The third item was a special Sunflower Butterfly Emblem. The fourth item was an old Rune Scroll. The following auction items, variously shaped and with different functions, appeared one after another. Fang Hao watched each item, greatly surprised. But after the surprise faded, he lost much interest, as the prices soared sky-high and weren¡¯t all that substantial for the development of his territory. Bang, bang, bang! There was a gentle knock on the door from inside the room. ¡°Come in!¡± The door opened, and a pretty female staff member entered. After bowing slightly, she said softly, ¡°Sir, the next round will be the auction segment for materials, medicines, and equipment; the items you wish to sell will be auctioned off in this round.¡± It was a notification about the sale of items. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Alright, we got it.¡± The staff member bowed again and then left the room. Indeed, what followed was the auction segment for bulk goods. The previous Elf auctioneer had stepped down, and another young male auctioneer took his place and went up. The man was also extremely handsome, even somewhat androgynous. After smiling and bowing, he immediately began, ¡°Alright, please bring out the first group of auction items for this segment.¡± A staff member, holding a brocade box, came up. When the brocade box was opened, it revealed a Dawn Blue Coral, gradually shifting from light at the top to deep blue at the bottom. The coral, like a scattering of glistening droplets, was extraordinarily beautiful. The auctioneer said loudly, ¡°Dawn Blue Coral, which not only holds collectible value but is also an essential material for special construction; there are a total of 50 clumps, all starting together, with a starting bid of two million five hundred thousand, and each bid must not be less than fifty thousand.¡± Different from the previous auctioneer, the male auctioneer¡¯s speech was more concise, devoid of giving others time to discuss or build the atmosphere. He started the bidding directly. ¡°Two million five hundred and fifty thousand.¡± ¡°Two million six hundred thousand.¡± The crowd began to bid, but it was clear that although the coral was beautiful, there weren¡¯t many bidders. Once the price was called to two million eight hundred thousand, only two people were left bidding against each other. Inside a private room on the second floor. Fang Hao was flipping through the Book of Lords, confirming the materials listed there. When he confirmed the construction materials for the ¡®Wishing Well,¡¯ including the ¡®Dawn Blue Coral,¡¯ his heart skipped a beat. No wonder these materials were so difficult to collect. Turns out they were worthy of being auctioned, naturally they couldn¡¯t be bought like ordinary high-grade goods. Below, the price remained at two million nine hundred thousand. The auctioneer maintained his professional smile, ¡°Dawn Blue Coral two million nine hundred thousand for the first time.¡± ¡°Dawn Blue¡­¡± He had only said half of the second call when the light in the second-floor private room lit up. The auctioneer immediately corrected himself, ¡°Second-floor guest bids two million nine hundred and ninety-five thousand.¡± Chapter 883 - Chapter 883: Chapter 569, Silver-Haired Girl Chapter 883: Chapter 569, Silver-Haired Girl All the people on the first floor looked up towards the second floor at the same time. No one was surprised, nor did anyone reveal any special expression. After glancing up, they continued to turn back and discuss with the people next to them. More races still live on the land, so buildings related to the sea are quite rare. Additionally, with such a high price, 80% of the people had already been eliminated. The remaining people had raised the price to 2.9 million, and it was difficult to increase it further. Fang Hao added another fifty thousand, and then no one else in the audience made a bid. Instead, they looked towards the private room with curious eyes. They speculated that the people inside the room must also be affiliated with the Sea Tribe, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t spend so much money to purchase the blue coral. ¡°Did you just lose out?¡± Anjia sensed the odd atmosphere and asked. Fang Hao thought for a moment, ¡°Possibly.¡± ¡°2.95 million for the first time.¡± ¡°2.95 million for the second time.¡± ¡°2.95 million for the third time¡­ sold.¡± The auctioneer directly banged the gavel, confirming the final price. Immediately thereafter, without any delay, the next auction item was introduced. The second item was a type of fruit from the Elf Clan, and the third was fifty bottles of high-level potions. Both fetched good prices. Thump, thump, thump! The door was knocked on again. The same staff member pushed the door open and entered again, ¡°Sir, madam, the item you bid on is ready. Would you like it delivered here to your private room or directly to your territory? If to the territory, the Trade Alliance will deliver it within two business days.¡± ¡°Just bring it here,¡± Anjia replied. ¡°Very well, sir,¡± the staff member stepped aside as someone brought in boxes one by one behind him. Fifty ornate boxes were piled up in the center of the room. Creating a small mountain. After everything was moved in, the staff member continued, ¡°Sir, here are the contact details the seller asked the Trade Alliance to provide you, hoping for future cooperation.¡± Fang Hao took it and held it in his hand. It was a shell reminiscent of a ¡®business card,¡¯ with ¡®Coral Cottage¡¯ inscribed on it. ¡°Is that the name of a shop?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. ¡°Yes, sir, Coral Cottage has a store to the west of the city; you might want to visit sometime,¡± the staff member replied. Fang Hao looked at the shell and then leaned forward to get a closer look at the ample-bodied staff member. He continued to inquire, ¡°Does the seller know the buyer¡¯s information?¡± One of the benefits of the auction private room is its secrecy. Who bought what is unknown to anyone outside the Trade Alliance, unlike the seating on the first floor, where everyone¡¯s bids are clear. It¡¯s not that they¡¯re afraid of getting robbed. But more likely, your enemies might learn of your purchases and predict your next move based on what you bought. Now that the staff member had delivered the business card, Fang Hao feared his information had already been leaked. The staff member quickly explained, ¡°No, sir, sellers may leave their contact details with the Trade Alliance, and when the item is sold, the Trade Alliance will deliver it along with the goods to the buyer without revealing your information.¡± With this explanation, Fang Hao understood. It meant that the shell business card had been given to the Trade Alliance in advance, and it would be handed over to the buyer along with the coral. This was also a marketing strategy. Had he known such a method existed, Fang Hao would have left his information as well; that way, anyone buying machinery could also contact him. ¡°All right, I understand now; thank you for your efforts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty, sir.¡± After bowing again, the staff member exited. This delay caused several auction items to pass by. Fang Hao kept an eye out, but they were all items he couldn¡¯t use. Still, it was evident that the Trade Alliance was reliable in selling items; until now, there hadn¡¯t been any slow or unsold situations. Even less popular items were sold, and the popular ones almost started fights. The business was exceptionally booming. On the stage, The auctioneer continued, ¡°Alright, let us welcome the next item.¡± This time, the staff brought in a small model of the ¡®Five-tube Wind Pipe Cannon.¡¯ They certainly didn¡¯t bring the actual heavy Five-tube Wind Pipe Cannon onto the stage. ¡°Five-tube Wind Pipe Cannon, a total of three hundred pieces, sold in sets of ten with each set starting at fifty million, with bids increasing by no less than five hundred thousand each time,¡± the auctioneer announced loudly. The hall once again became noisy. ¡°Three hundred pieces, are the Dwarves that strapped for cash this year?¡± ¡°Is there a war coming, with so many weapons entering the market?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know what means the Trade Alliance used to get the Dwarves to release so many cannons.¡± Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor occupied by the Gray Dwarves, ¡°What¡¯s happening, who has broken the rules and released so many weapons; have they lost their minds?¡± ¡°Hmph! It must be some other city-states selling them; they are greedier than dragons.¡± ¡°When we get back, I¡¯m reporting this to the Alliance; let those guys pay the price,¡± one of the Gray Dwarves said, his chest heaving with fury. The Wind Pipe Cannons were already challenging to produce due to their technical complexity, resulting in limited production. This year, with the inclusion of the transmigrator, the Dwarves¡¯ armaments had increased somewhat, but sales were limited by the rules of the Dwarf Alliance. It was unknown which city-state had sold extra, which not only drove down the overall prices but also made them feel they had lost out. Therefore, each was seething with anger. Meanwhile, ¡®Wadey,¡¯ who was nearby, nodded with a smile while wiping the sweat from his forehead. At that moment, he had some conjectures in mind. Chapter 884 - Chapter 884: Chapter 569, Silver-Haired Girl_2 Chapter 884: Chapter 569, Silver-Haired Girl_2 The Dwarves had already agreed to sell 200 Wind Pipe Cannons, which was a done deal. Now there were suddenly 100 more appearing out of nowhere. They couldn¡¯t be from ¡®Fu Lei¡¯ and his group, could they? Thinking back on the other party¡¯s reaction, as well as their demeanor when asking about what the Dwarves were selling, It was almost certain it was them who sold these cannons. If the Gray Dwarves found out that because he mentioned the Wind Pipe Cannons, the others decided to sell theirs, He would inevitably be punished. As he mulled it over, sweat began to bead even more on his forehead. He must keep them from finding out, at all costs. ¡­ The crowd discussed animatedly. The bidding price was already skyrocketing. Dwarven machinery, especially the Wind Pipe Cannon, was popular among all races. The number of bidders was naturally high. Soon, the last set was up for sale, and the price was even higher than before, the bidding fiercer. ¡°Seventy-five million five hundred and fifty thousand.¡± ¡°Seventy-six million.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, eighty million.¡± There is a ceiling price for bulk sale items. This is also taking into account that the Trade Alliance stores are also selling them, and they are not the sole product available. Now that the bidding had reached eighty million, it had hit the buyout price, and there was no need to continue the auction. ¡°Eighty million sold, the last set of Wind Pipe Cannons goes to the fifth-floor guest,¡± the auctioneer announced as he brought down the gavel. ¡°Ah! So close.¡± ¡°If only I¡¯d gone straight to the buyout price.¡± ¡°What a pity, what a pity!¡± Audible sighs of regret came from the guests below and some in the private boxes. They were extremely disappointed about not winning the bid. The auctioneer smiled slightly and continued, ¡°To those guests who did not win the bid, don¡¯t feel regretful. There are many more items to come in the auction, and eventually there will be something just right for you.¡± ¡°Alright, enough talk, let¡¯s bring on the next set of items.¡± The model for the five-tube Wind Pipe Cannons was taken away, and another staff member stepped up. The red cloth was lifted, revealing the shimmering scales underneath. With a grand gesture, the auctioneer announced, ¡°Dragon Scales, one hundred pieces, usable in crafting armors and protective gear, and as material for special alchemical items, starting price¡­¡± Dragon Scales belonged to the dragon breed of Dragon Clan, specifically the appearance of Bone Dragons prior to death, not the titled heroes of the Dragon Clan. Even so, only the Dragon Clan could offer Dragon Scales for sale at an auction. Any other race, even if they had Dragon Scales, wouldn¡¯t dare to sell them, and the Trade Alliance would not accept them either. The Dragon Clan, known for their physical prowess, were notoriously unreasonable. No one wanted to provoke the Dragon Clan over such a trivial matter. Fierce bidding commenced below, but Fang Hao did not participate. Previously, he had obtained Dragon Scales and Dragon Blood after defeating ¡®Spencer¡¯. The Dragon Blood had been made into a potion, which Fang Hao had consumed, and the Dragon Scales were supposed to be made into armor by a craftsman, though there was yet no news of it. Besides, his own Dragon Scales were from a heroic member of the Dragon Clan, not at all comparable to those of a mere Bone Dragon. Ignoring the ongoing auction outside, the staff once again knocked on the door. Several staff members entered, each carrying two leather cases. ¡°Sir, this is the sum from the items you sold tonight.¡± Case after case was placed on the table and opened. Inside each leather case, neat stacks of Warfire Cards lay, as orderly as poker chips. The lead staff member swallowed nervously before continuing, ¡°Sir, after deducting the 5% fee, here we have sixty thousand Warfire Cards with a denomination of ten thousand each, seven of one thousand, and three of one hundred.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Okay, leave them here.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. If you need anything, you can call me at any time,¡± the staff member said, widening her eyes and suggestively batting her lashes. Fang Hao did not respond, and the staff left with their colleagues. Looking at the stacks of cash boxes in front of him, even Nelson and the usually quiet Demitrija were somewhat stunned. Reaping so many Warfire Cards in one go was indeed a major gain. Others attended the auction to spend money, yet here Fang Hao had earned a large sum. The auction continued afterward. The third session auctioned off orange-rated weapons and armor, as well as Goblin-crafted orange constructs. Throughout the room, they sold for a handsome price. The fourth session escalated the quality to Dark Gold level items out for bid. Fang Hao saw a Dark Elf cloak, an Undead bone lyre, and a Demigod War Halberd, all Dark Gold-rated equipment. The bidding crowd had narrowed to a contest between the fourth and fifth floors, with the prices reaching terrifying figures. Fang Hao did not partake; indeed, he could not compete. He still held to the old notion that one or two high-quality items could not change the overall strength of a domain. His strategy still relied on numbers. ¡­ The auction came to an end with the auctioneer¡¯s words of thanks. Glancing at his watch, it was already five o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The auction had been running since the morning, straight through to the afternoon. Moreover, item after item was sent up for bidding without any break in between. The Trade Alliance¡¯s auctions were indeed of high quality. Not in a hurry to leave, Fang Hao took stock of his gains this time. Besides the Warfire Card obtained from selling the cannon, the items he had acquired at the auction included 50 clusters of ¡°Dawn Blue Coral,¡± 20 bottles of ¡°Piercing Spirit Medicine,¡± and a set of ¡°Manganese Steel Gloves (Orange).¡± Three categories of items in total. Among them, ¡°Piercing Spirit Medicine¡± was a kind of potion that could enhance one¡¯s comprehension during training and offered the chance to grasp new skills. It was a very good potion, and since Fang Hao saw that the competition for price wasn¡¯t too fierce, and many people in his own territory needed this kind of potion, he simply bought it outright. The ¡°Manganese Steel Gloves¡± were purchased for Anjia. Combat-related equipment was a niche category in the market, and he had always wanted to get Anjia something with better attributes. This time, upon encountering it, he bought it straight away. The blue Tiger¡¯s Claw that used to hang from her slender waist had been swapped out for these spiked gloves. The only regret was that no blueprints appeared at this auction. Blueprints for the ¡°Energy Core¡± production building and for recruiting ¡°craftsmen¡± were not acquired. This meant he had to start thinking of other solutions. Seeing that it was about time, Fang Hao and his companions also stood up to leave. They opened the door, and there weren¡¯t many guests left on the second floor; most had already departed. The group made their way straight to the magic-powered elevator to wait for the ride down. Very soon. The elevator doors opened, and there were already three people standing inside. One of them was a familiar figure. A blonde, dashing man. Aerygon! The world¡¯s second-ranked ¡°Aerygon¡± was also in the elevator, seemingly intending to head downstairs. Standing beside Aerygon were two members of the Dragon Clan, a male and a female hero. The man had red hair and dragon horns atop his head, dressed in a dark red brocade robe that looked bulky, probably because he was wearing some sort of armor underneath. The woman, who appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen, had snow-white skin with a subtle luster, silver long hair, and small dragon horns on top of her head like freshly sprouted bamboo shoots. She was in a black dress embroidered with golden threads, her figure accentuating a solid and shapely form contrary to her youthful appearance. ¡°Silvermoon Spear ¨C Beata (Orange Rank Nine)¡± ¡°Dragon Lord ¨C Ashbern (Orange Rank Three)¡± Huh? Fang Hao paused, initially taking the pair for father and daughter. But upon closer inspection, this young female dragon turned out to have a higher rank than the middle-aged male dragon. She had reached Orange Rank Nine, on par with the Fairy Clan¡¯s ¡°Heart of the Deep Forest ¨C Shinisara.¡± Just one step away from advancing to a Dark Gold hero. On the other hand, the middle-aged man with an Orange title seemed more like a hero that had emerged from a military rank advancement. Fang Hao stood at the doorway, observing the interior. ¡°Aerygon,¡± the transmigrator inside the elevator, was now gaping in surprise. He, too, had discerned the attributes of the four individuals outside¡ªtwo heroes, both Orange ranked. Furthermore, they were from different factions. This left him puzzled about their identities. He speculated whether the transmigrator was following one of the Orange heroes. If so, then the other hero might likely be his own. Just as this thought came to Aerygon¡¯s mind, he immediately dismissed it. How could that be? He was ranked second in the world and only had one Purple ranked hero in his territory. How could he possibly have an Orange ranked hero? Could it be that they were not together, merely leaving in each other¡¯s company? Possible! ¡°Do you want to come in?¡± the silver-haired lady, lifting her head, asked. Her voice was quite similar to that of an ordinary human, and very melodious. ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Fang Hao and his group stepped inside, taking up positions on either side of the other three, all remaining silent. ¡­ The elevator doors closed slowly, muting the noise from the outside world. At that moment, the silver-haired girl suddenly furrowed her brows, sniffing the air lightly. Then, she abruptly turned towards Fang Hao. She spoke in a cold voice, ¡°Hey! Have you drunk Dragon Blood?¡± Chapter 885 - Chapter 885: Chapter 570, Engaging with the Dragon Clan Chapter 885: Chapter 570, Engaging with the Dragon Clan The words of the silver-haired girl made Fang Hao and the others¡¯ hearts suddenly tighten. The Dragon Clan is famously protective due to their racial population issues. They are so protective that they can become unreasonable. Every force that has acted against the Dragon Clan has faced the collective retaliation of the entire race. That is why all races respect the Dragon Clan from a distance. Even if they hit you and you hit back and injure them, you will still be retaliated against. Fang Hao looked at the girl, his face showing confusion as he asked, ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± The silver-haired girl ¡®Beata¡¯, with her head held high, said, ¡°You have drunk Dragon Blood, the kind that¡¯s a blended potion. Where did the Dragon Blood come from?¡± ¡°Miss, you must be mistaken, I have not had any contact with the Dragon Clan.¡± Beata¡¯s face suddenly turned cold, and she rebuked, ¡°Hmph! Seeking death.¡± Before the sound of her voice faded, the silver-haired girl abruptly made her move. Her right hand clenched like a spear, fingers together, with streaks of Thunderbolt, stabbing toward Fang Hao¡¯s jaw. Fang Hao, already on guard, dodged by turning his head and struck upward with his elbow at the striking hand. At the same time. Demitrija, standing beside him, threw a punch, its wind howling as it headed for the girl¡¯s head. The middle-aged member of the Dragon Clan, trying to protect the silver-haired girl, had just launched his fist at the Lizardmen, when the whoosh of cleaving air reached his ears. He immediately abandoned his offensive and bent his arms to block. Anjia spun around at the waist, her fist already rushing in. The middle-aged Dragon Clan¡¯s form swayed slightly, but he was unhurt. ¡°Seeking death!¡± The middle-aged Dragon Clan roared in anger. Aerygon, realizing what was happening too late, let out a roar and was about to throw a punch. Bang! A kick from nowhere sent someone flying into the air, crashing against the wall. Subsequently, a black Magic missile flew in and exploded in the center. The attribute of Dark Magic caused the brightly lit elevator to suddenly darken. The explosion of the Magic missile made three magic lamps burst, and the darkness eroded the walls, leaving pits of corrosion behind. In the elevator, only a single magic lamp remained, flickering on and off. In the confined space, everyone was entangled in a fight. Fist winds and leg shadows, engaging in a back-and-forth brawl. Bang bang bang!! The metal bulkheads deformed, and the impact of the Magic made the entire elevator shake. It also caused the last lit magic lamp to go out completely. The enclosed space was enveloped in darkness. The howl of fist winds, the clashes of lightning, fire, and Dark Magic continually collided in the space. The already narrow elevator began to swing like a pendulum, unsteady. ¡­ In the lobby on the first floor. In front of the counter. The Gray Dwarves stood in front of the counter, angrily arguing with the teller, trying to find out who had sold an extra hundred cannons. Meanwhile, the transmigrator ¡®Wadey¡¯, after confirming that the Trade Alliance wouldn¡¯t divulge the seller¡¯s information, left it to the Gray Dwarves to inquire. He was conversing and laughing with a wheat-skinned female transmigrator. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, if you were in the human or Elf Clan¡¯s territory, you would have achieved much more,¡± Wadey said with a smile. The female transmigrator smiled faintly, ¡°No way, the Elf Clan is the most beautiful race in this world; how could I compare to them?¡± Wadey looked regretful, ¡°What a pity, to end up voicing your opinion in the desert of the Undead, where your beauty is useless.¡± Spurt! The woman chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s the use of being good-looking? What¡¯s most important is ability. If I could reach the level of Fang Hao and Aerygon, I could ensure my own safety.¡± Wadey nodded, ¡°Aerygon also came to attend the auction; did you see him?¡± ¡°No, what does he look like?¡± Wadey immediately replied, ¡°Very handsome, dressed much better than us, and accompanied by two heroes of the Dragon Clan. I feel if it came down to a real fight, he would be stronger in combat power than Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Really? Fang Hao¡¯s points are several times higher than the second place.¡± ¡°Of course. The Dragon Clan is the most powerful race, and Aerygon just recently changed his allegiance to the Dragon Clan a few days ago; all the troops he recruits from now on will be related to the Dragon Clan, defeating Fang Hao shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Wadey said with conviction. The woman nodded after hearing this, ¡°From what you say, it does seem possible; points don¡¯t represent combat power.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Just as the two were talking, a loud boom suddenly came from the floors above. All the people looked up in terror. They saw the descending elevator suddenly explode with a bang, and then the flat metallic elevator emitted explosion after explosion. The smooth surface of the elevator bulged with marks, as if some beast inside was trying to hammer through the iron walls to break free from its cage. People below cried out in shock and started to clear away quickly. Staying far away, they continued to watch the commotion. The staff shouted loudly, ¡°There¡¯s a fight inside, go call the stationed commander!¡± Upon hearing this, onlookers were shocked. Fighting at the Trade Alliance¡¯s auction house was tantamount to having a death wish. Some went to call the guards, while the elevator, accompanied by the shrill sound of rending metal, became increasingly ragged. The entire elevator began to sway violently, dislodging from its tracks in midair. Under severe swaying, bang! The cables on top snapped, and the entire elevator plummeted. Boom! Upon the loud crash, the elevator hit the ground, and its doors burst open. Several figures charged out, with Thunderbolt, explosions, and Dragon Roar filling the entire lobby. Leaving all present dumbfounded. Among the dust, a figure slowly emerged. Struggling to crawl out while gasping for breath, he said. ¡°It¡¯s Aerygon¡­¡± Wadey exclaimed in shock. Chapter 886 - Chapter 886: Chapter 570, Engaging with the Dragon Clan_2 Chapter 886: Chapter 570, Engaging with the Dragon Clan_2 The woman beside him cast a questioning glance, and Wadey said to the disheveled figure crawling out, ¡°That¡¯s Aerygon.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he from the Dragon Clan? Who¡¯s fighting with the Dragon Clan?¡± the woman exclaimed in surprise. Wadey frowned, then focused his gaze on the two sides continuously striking each other in the midst of the dust, his eyes suddenly widening, Fu Lei? ¡­ The hall was filled with dust. The silver-haired girl was surrounded by flashes of Thunderbolt, her gaze sweeping over the four people opposite, her voice icy, ¡°Dragon Scales showing beneath the skin is a sign of having taken the Demon Dragon Potion, what more is there to say?¡± Fang Hao shook his head, also looking at the girl, ¡°So what if I have?¡± As they spoke, Fang Hao took out weapons, distributing them among the others. Demitrija, even less talkative. With Longsword in hand, he dragged out a golden afterimage on the spot, using brute physical strength, he shot up and slashed at the middle-aged man from the Dragon Clan. Demitrija, a man of few words, knew that Lizardmen had no connection with the Dragon Clan in this world. Both as orange heroes, marked by the Lizardmen, he didn¡¯t dare take the attack head-on and moved to dodge. However, the middle-aged man felt a tightness around his ankle, as the White Jade Stone tiles on the ground flipped up, and the soil below, like mud, encased his ankles. More and more mud crawled upward, like a huge hand, dragging him down fiercely. It was just such a delay. The Lizardman¡¯s sword light was already upon him. With no escape, the middle-aged man made a snap decision, bending slightly, his back meeting the slashing blade. Clang! The sword cut through the brocade robe, revealing the glittering gold of the inner armor beneath. Whoosh! At that moment, the girl¡¯s silver lance thrust toward the Skeleton, Nelson, in the rear. Nelson hurriedly dodged as the mud under the middle-aged man¡¯s feet began to crumble, starting to counterattack the Lizardman. Anjia took the opportunity to quickly close in on the silver-haired girl, attempting to engage her at close quarters again. Fang Hao followed closely behind, his hands also conjuring a Thunderbolt spear, hurling it directly at the silver-haired girl. The Thunderbolt spear was blocked by an invisible energy in front of the girl, who at the same time stretched out her fair arm, pointing to the sky, and in an instant, multitudes of lightning strikes descended from above. Silver serpents spread across the ground; the earth and stones exploded. Demitrija¡¯s feet feigned, altering course abruptly during the attack, aiming to strike down the girl. The middle-aged man of the Dragon Clan spat out a red Fireball, launching it at the Skeleton, The Corpse Witch, behind him, while Nelson raised a thick earthwall in front for Defense. A silver Thunder Snake emerged from behind, biting towards Fang Hao¡¯s groin. Fang Hao turned and swung his Thunder God¡¯s Blade, chopping the Thunder Snake to pieces. At the same time, the Magic he was concentrating on accelerated once more, and a Double-Headed Fire Python appeared in the center, breathing fireballs at the two opposite. Combined attack, shifting targets midway. The six individuals ceaselessly sought methods to attack and defend. The scene was pure Chaos. Figures shuttled through the dust, with roars of thunder and fire echoing. The once magnificent hall was no longer recognizable, the wreckage still being ravaged. Fang Hao hurled another Thunderbolt spear, his expression turning somewhat grim. Of the four on his side, only Demitrija could truly contend with the Dragon Clan. Nelson was a support-type hero, his abilities and traits resided in knowledge and crafting Undead, not combat. While Anjia and Fang Hao did possess some Combat power, compared to the Dragon Clan, they were significantly lacking. It seemed as though both sides were evenly matched, yet the Dragon Clan hadn¡¯t even transformed. Four against two, and still without a chance of victory against the Dragon Clan. Boom!! A deafening roar cleared the dust and smoke. Both sides separated, once again facing off against each other. The silver-haired girl¡¯s expression turned even grimmer as she said coldly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have some skills, but you won¡¯t be walking out of here today, ¡®Ashebourne,¡¯ kill them.¡± The middle-aged Dragon Clan man nodded, ¡°As you wish, Ms. Beata.¡± Having said that, his body began to inflate rapidly, bursting his brocade clothes and revealing scaled skin, as he transformed into a gigantic, fierce dragon form. The massive dragon occupied most of the hall. Fang Hao narrowed his eyes slightly. He gestured to the others beside him, and planted the Thunder God¡¯s Blade into the ground. Whoosh! [Mist Wrap] burst forth, the fog filled with lightning serpents instantly clouding the entire hall. Cutting off everyone¡¯s line of sight. ¡°Hmph, scared now?¡± the silver-haired girl glanced at the dragon next to her and said, ¡°Disperse the fog and just kill them.¡± The gigantic dragon nodded slightly, flapping its wings with force. A majestic gust of wind howled forth, instantly scattering the fog in the arena. Revealing the mutilated hall. As the fog cleared, the silver-haired girl concentrated on her Thunderbolt spear, and the dragon prepared its Dragon Breath. But In front of them, there was no one to be found, no trace of those four. Both were startled! Could it be that they used a Teleportation Scroll so quickly? ¡°Ms. Beata, they¡¯ve run away,¡± the dragon spoke human words. ¡°Damn it!¡± The silver-haired girl¡¯s complexion turned even colder. Halfway through the fight, just as she was about to unleash a powerful move, the others had left. It felt as though she had been toyed with. Tap tap tap!! From afar, a large number of footsteps could be heard. Along with it came a roar as loud as thunder, ¡°Who dares cause trouble in the Alliance, seeking death¡­¡± The guards of the Alliance had arrived. The dragon¡¯s form quickly shrank, returning to a human shape. The original brocade robes were torn, and now he was adorned with a golden armor. ¡°Ms. Beata, today is the auction, and the captain guarding the Trade Alliance should be of Dark Gold level. Let¡¯s retreat for now,¡± the middle-aged man whispered. Chapter 887 - Chapter 887: Chapter 570, Engaging with the Dragon Clan_3 Chapter 887: Chapter 570, Engaging with the Dragon Clan_3 Beata¡¯s chest heaved dramatically as she coldly glanced at the spot where those people had vanished. In a cool voice, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s head back first.¡± Having said that, she took out a scroll. The middle-aged man immediately leaped aside and picked up the injured ¡®Aerygon¡¯, moving closer to the girl again. The girl fully unfolded the scroll, and a golden Array swiftly took shape. The figures of the three disappeared from the spot. ¡­ A large number of personnel rushed into the hall, now resembling ruins. Well-equipped guards, as well as a countless number of ¡®Valkyrie¡¯ constructs. The guards enclosed the scene, but no one was in sight anymore. At that moment, an exceptionally handsome elf slowly walked out from among the guards. Silver-white long hair, delicate facial features. At first glance, it was hard to tell if the individual was male or female. [Forest Guardian ¨C Tyrion (Dark Gold Third-Tier Hero)]. A Dark Gold level hero. Behind this person followed individuals of various races, many of whom were heroes of orange level. This magnificent assembly would have made it truly difficult for the parties involved in the recent skirmish to leave had they not already done so. Tyrion¡¯s icy gaze swept over the ruins, with a dark expression on his face. It had taken less than 10 minutes to arrive here after receiving the notification. The scene had already turned into what it was now. A guard ran over and reported, ¡°My lord, people from both sides used teleportation to leave.¡± ¡°Hmph! Daring to cause trouble in the Trade Alliance, they¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± Tyrion said, hands clasped behind his back, and continued, ¡°Disperse the crowd; get the auction¡¯s person in charge to bring information about the two fighting parties, and go to the main hall.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The guards quickly dispersed to clean up the mess. Wadey, somewhat dumbfounded, looked at the ruins before him. He had only met three transmigrators here, and two of them had just torn apart the auction house. ¡°That, that transmigrator¡ª who is he that he actually fought with the Dragon Clan?¡± a transmigrator woman asked at that moment. Wadey opened his mouth to say ¡®Fu Lei¡¯ but the next second, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know him.¡± The battlefield was quite evident. The highly-touted ¡®Aerygon¡¯ had lain lifeless throughout the entire ordeal, presenting as critically injured upon emerging from the elevator. Whereas the ¡®Fu Lei¡¯, who seemed to understand nothing and even needed some knowledge to be imparted by others, had fought with the Dragon Clan for several rounds. ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Under the guards¡¯ ushering, the dazed crowd was dispersed. Wadey and the woman, along with their respective races, left the scene. ¡­ Trade Alliance, the main guarding hall. A group of people sat grim-faced around a long table. The auction hall being smashed up at the end of the spring auction was a very serious matter for the Trade Alliance. It hadn¡¯t happened in over a hundred years. At the head of the table sat an old Goblin with black-framed glasses. After listening to everyone¡¯s reports, he spoke, ¡°Are you saying that it was the Dragon Clan causing trouble again this time?¡± Guard Commander Tyrion immediately replied, ¡°Yes, it was Beata from the Dragon Clan, and the other was a transmigrator¡¯s power, from residence 032.¡± The leading Goblin didn¡¯t say anything. But the rest had already started discussing among themselves. In the discussions, one could hear comments on how the Dragon Clan had gone too far and caused trouble again. Clearly, fighting at the Trade Alliance headquarters was not the first occurrence for the Dragon Clan. After some time, the leading Goblin continued to ask, ¡°Tyrion, as the commander in charge of the garrison this time, what are your thoughts?¡± Tyrion thought for a moment, then spoke softly, ¡°Since the Dragon Clan is powerful, we should still opt for a conciliatory approach in resolving this. As for the transmigrator, I believe we can be firmer, at the very least the cost for repairing the entire hall should be borne by someone.¡± The leading Goblin nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you to handle this, Tyrion.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Chapter 888 - Chapter 888: Chapter 571, The Trade Alliances Questioning Chapter 888: Chapter 571, The Trade Alliance¡¯s Questioning Main City. The four emerged from the teleportation glow, all somewhat disheveled. When they had left, they were dressed in brocade and embroidered clothes, which were now stained with some blood and scars. ¡°Master, Anjia, what happened to you?¡± Eira, with a maid in tow, asked anxiously. Fang Hao shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, go and have ¡®Doujin¡¯ shut down the Trade Alliance Teleportation Array, and without my permission, no one is to teleport here.¡± ¡°Yes, Master,¡± a maid hurried out. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Demitrija, put the whole city on defense mode, kill any strangers who enter the perimeter on sight.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Anjia, go notify Aseti and Meatfist that there will be a meeting at the lord¡¯s mansion in half an hour.¡± ¡°And you?¡± Anjia asked. ¡°After this matter, the Trade Alliance will certainly investigate; who is right and who is wrong is hard to clarify. I¡¯m going to call back the heroes from outside to prevent the Trade Alliance from underestimating us,¡± Fang Hao stated. ¡°Oh, shall I accompany you?¡± Anjia asked, somewhat uneasy. Fang Hao smiled, ¡°No worries, there¡¯s no danger. You go treat your wounds first, then do as I instructed.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Everyone dispersed according to their assigned tasks. Fang Hao released the teleportation glow once more, disappearing from the spot. ¡­ Within Blood Castle¡­ Fang Hao had just appeared when footsteps echoed from a corridor on one side. With a tall figure dressed in black stockings, Rolana, and another in golden armor adorned with a lavish mask, Amanda, came walking in back and forth. ¡°You really treat this place like your own home, eh? Coming and going as you¡­¡± Rolana began to sneer but on seeing Fang Hao¡¯s disheveled appearance, she forgot the rest of her sentence. Instead, she asked somewhat surprised, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Amanda also turned her attention to Fang Hao. With the current strength of the territory, Fang Hao, as a lord, should not have been so disheveled. Especially since no news had come through about any war breaking out. Fang Hao dusted off the dust on his clothes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t ask, wasn¡¯t it the Trade Alliance¡¯s auction today? I planned to see if I could buy some useful items for everyone, but I encountered people from the Dragon Clan. They attacked me without a word. After a brief fight, I used teleportation to return first.¡± After hearing his brief explanation, the two understood the situation. ¡°I heard the people of the Dragon Clan are greedy and domineering. Were they eyeing something you bought?¡± Amanda asked curiously. Fang Hao explained, ¡°It seems they have some method; they knew I had taken the Demon Dragon Potion.¡± Uh, ¡­ The two fell silent. This kind of matter isn¡¯t so easy to judge. The Dragon Clan is protective. Protecting their clan members is, in a sense, a responsibility of the race. But sometimes the Dragon Clan¡¯s protection can be unreasonably overzealous. Greedy, some of the Dragon Clan have attempted looting and got injured in retaliation. In such cases, the Dragon Clan still shelters and favors their own kind, even irrationally seeking revenge. Fang Hao¡¯s situation was tricky to assess. Firstly, he had indeed killed people from the Dragon Clan, or rather, a prestigious Dragon Clan hero, and had turned their bodies into Living Dead and Undead. Secondly, it happened in the Trade Alliance¡¯s territory, which complicates matters with the Alliance. In short, the situation was relatively complex. ¡°Then, my lord, what do you suggest?¡± Amanda continued to inquire. Fang Hao said, ¡°The Dragon Clan¡¯s retaliation won¡¯t come immediately, but the Trade Alliance will likely pursue this matter soon. I¡¯ve come to fetch both of you so we can hear out the Trade Alliance¡¯s stance and make sure they don¡¯t take us lightly.¡± The territory¡¯s two Dark Gold Heroes. All in Blood Castle, so these two women, being the territory¡¯s strongest face, others might not go, but they must.¡± ¡°Why do we have to go over this mess you started?¡± Rolana raised her leg, giving Fang Hao a disdainful glance. Fang Hao was prepared for Rolana¡¯s attitude. He said softly, ¡°Lately, I acquired a few Goblin Aerial Ships, quite excellent as vehicles and quite lovely once decorated, thinking of allocating a few to heroes who have contributed to the territory, the selections haven¡¯t been decided yet!¡± Rolana¡¯s eyes slightly lit up, bringing her long leg down, ¡°Cough! Let¡¯s go, the sooner we leave, the sooner we return.¡± Amanda didn¡¯t say much, simply stood up. Fang Hao released the teleportation glow and departed with the two women. Afterward, he went to other territories, fetching a few more Orange Tier heroes. ¡­ 7 PM. Inside the lord¡¯s hall. Fang Hao sat at the head of the table. Below him was a gathering of heroes he had fetched this time. To his left sat ¡®Dark Gold Tier 5 ¨C Rolana¡¯, ¡®Orange Tier 8 ¨C Demitrija¡¯, ¡®Orange Tier 7 ¨C Aseti¡¯, and ¡®Blue Tier 9 ¨C Anjia¡¯. To his right was ¡®Dark Gold Tier 6 ¨C Amanda¡¯, ¡®Orange Tier 7 ¨C Nelson¡¯, ¡®Orange Tier 3 ¨C Meatfist¡¯, along with two later-made Orange Tier Dwarf heroes. The living and undead, each sat on opposite sides. As for Purple Tier Bellerga, Dark Elf Morse, Dragon Clan¡¯s Living Dead Spencer, and some other heroes, Fang Hao did not call them over. Morse and Spencer, appearing in front of outsiders would be like inviting trouble. And heroes like Bronze Bull and Bellerga, being stationed in their respective areas, were also not convenient to come over. But this was enough. The line-up before him was already in no way inferior to any top power. Proving their strength, without directly engaging in battle, was sufficient. ¡°Today¡¯s incident at the Trade Alliance unfolded as such, by tomorrow the people from the Alliance will likely come calling us to account. When the time comes, everyone just needs to step forward,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. The gathered heroes nodded slightly, indicating their understanding. Chapter 889 - Chapter 889: Chapter 571, Questioning from the Trade Alliance_2 Chapter 889: Chapter 571, Questioning from the Trade Alliance_2 ¡°As soon as the words were spoken, the Skeleton merchant ¡®Doujin¡¯ walked in, bowed, and said, ¡°My lord, the Trade Alliance has sent a teleportation request. Should we allow them to come over?¡± Mr Fang Hao was taken aback, That was fast. They were coming over directly in the middle of the night, They really took this matter seriously. ¡°Bring them over then!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Doujin quickly left and, upon reaching the Trade Alliance building, approved the teleportation request. The very next second, three figures emerged from the Trade Alliance¡¯s teleportation screen. One tall and two short. The tall one was ¡®Forest Guardian ¨C Terion¡¯, a Dark Gold third-tier hero, and the other two were goblins. One was a staff member accompanying the 01 number station, who would report today¡¯s observations truthfully to the station. The other was the person in charge of the 032 number station, ¡®Kukettor¡¯. He was there to guide and accompany them. The three figures had just appeared. Kukettor, closely following the long strides of the Elf Clan member, explained, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao is an important client of the Trade Alliance. Last year, his total revenue within just a few months has already ranked first in the entire region. There must be some misunderstanding here, Lord Terion must investigate thoroughly.¡± Now, Mr. Fang Hao was the god of wealth for the entire 032 number station. The trade volume in a few months was enough for the rest of the races for an entire year. Kukettor naturally did not want the relationship between Mr. Fang Hao and the Trade Alliance headquarters to deteriorate. What could it matter if they destroyed the auction house? They could just rebuild. Losing this god of wealth would mean that the 032 number station would rank at the bottom again. Their personal incomes would also be affected. ¡°Humph! Utilizing force in the Trade Alliance headquarters, abusing magic, and tearing down the entire auction, what misunderstanding could there be? It¡¯s simply a disregard for the rules of the Trade Alliance.¡± The elegant elf was very angry. Today¡¯s incident had a great impact on him as well; he might lose this leisurely and well-paying job. So, the person who caused the trouble must pay the price. He couldn¡¯t pursue the Dragon Clan, but couldn¡¯t he deal with this little transmigrator? ¡°You can¡¯t talk like that. What if the Dragon Clan started it and Mr. Fang Hao was acting in self-defense?¡± Kukettor, running alongside them, continued to speak. ¡°Humph! The Trade Alliance headquarters will find out the truth. Right now, our job is to bring this person back for interrogation,¡± said Terion. Kukettor had nothing to say in response; he was just a guide. The decision-making power was still in the hands of Terion. He could only run along behind them. And Doujin, leading the way, was also just silently guiding. Without uttering a word. The group moved forward. Soon, they passed through numerous buildings and arrived at the entrance of the lord¡¯s manor. Seeing that the lights inside the lord¡¯s manor were bright. Terion pushed aside the Undead blocking the way and walked straight into the manor. He said coldly, ¡°What a grand display; I, as your commander, have come here, and yet you, a transmigrator, dare to wait for me to come see you!¡± However, upon stepping into the building. Seeing the heroes seated all around, Terion¡¯s face changed instantly. His earlier arrogance, rage, and questioning emotions suddenly turned into perplexity, doubt, and disbelief. What is this situation? So many heroes? ¡­ In the hall. Mr. Fang Hao sat at the head, his brows furrowed as he looked down at the heroes below. [Forest Guardian ¨C Terion (Dark Gold third-tier hero)]. Dark Gold third-tier, just as he had guessed. The hero stationed by the Trade Alliance headquarters had reached the level of Dark Gold. But, the Trade Alliance had also underestimated him, thinking that sending just one Dark Gold over would be enough to capture him. The conversation they had outside was not quiet either. Mr. Fang Hao had heard the content as well. Having Rolana and the others come over was a necessity. Seeing the elf and two goblins standing dumbfounded in the hall, Mr. Fang Hao revealed a smile. He said softly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You came without an invitation, and you still expect me to personally welcome you?¡± Terion¡¯s expression became serious, and he quickly recovered, scoffing, ¡°You caused a commotion in the Trade Alliance, and I am the commander on duty that day. How is it? Don¡¯t you feel any sense of responsibility?¡± ¡°What responsibility?¡± ¡°Not following the Trade Alliance¡¯s rules, damaging the Trade Alliance¡¯s property, causing harm and impact, you tell me what responsibility!¡± Terion said loudly, not yielding an inch. Terion had initially planned to use force to subdue Mr. Fang Hao upon entering and then take him back to the Trade Alliance. To coerce him into taking responsibility for the main losses, then negotiate with the Dragon Clan, and the matter would be over. But now, it was different. The atmosphere of the heroes in the hall was very strong, with several of them exuding an aura not weaker than his. Forcefully taking him away was obviously not possible. If they started a fight, he himself might end up staying here permanently. Fortunately, reason was still on his side; the rules of the Trade Alliance were clear, and the transmigrator in front of him had caused loss and negative impact, which was undeniable. Hearing the elf¡¯s questioning, Mr. Fang Hao simply laughed, ¡°It seems you came to me first without visiting the Dragon Clan.¡± ¡°What difference does it make?¡± ¡°If you had gone to the Dragon Clan, you would know they were the first to strike,¡± said Mr. Fang Hao. Even without surveillance. As long as the Dragon Clan stated they found Mr. Fang Hao consuming Dragon Blood as the reason, it would confirm who initiated the conflict. Drinking Dragon Blood. It¡¯s a personal grudge between the Dragon Clan and Mr. Fang Hao, but the Trade Alliance would not intervene; they only require that fighting is not permitted. Otherwise, there would be many opposing races present, and the reasons do not matter. Those who strike first bear a more severe responsibility in the allocation of blame. Chapter 890 - Chapter 890: Chapter 571, The Trade Alliances Interrogation_3 Chapter 890: Chapter 571, The Trade Alliance¡¯s Interrogation_3 Terion¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he continued, ¡°As for the Dragon Clan, naturally representatives from the Trade Alliance will be sent. When the time comes, it won¡¯t just be up to you to decide the responsibility.¡± ¡°Ha, sure, you guys go discuss it. When you decide on how to deal with it, just let me know,¡± Fang Hao said. Terion¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Need to inform you? Come with us. When we get to the Trade Alliance, you can explain your issues there.¡± ¡°The Trade Alliance is a neutral power. I accept mediation, but I do not accept your interrogation.¡± ¡°You, a transmigrator, should not be so arrogant.¡± Terion burst out, pointing at Fang Hao and scolding loudly. Fang Hao sneered, ¡°What? You want to die here? Let¡¯s see if the elves have the ability to avenge you, or if the Trade Alliance will avenge you.¡± In the next instant. The two rows of heroes around them stood up instantly. Terion¡¯s face changed, and he subconsciously took two steps back, his body tensed. His anger turned into fear. In the instant when everyone stood up, he really thought they were about to start a fight. Terion¡¯s face looked terrible. This transmigrator was completely different from the ones he had encountered before, surrounded by so many heroes. And his aura was not the slightest bit inferior. He believed that if the situation continued to deteriorate, this transmigrator would indeed dare to have him killed. Both parties were no longer speaking; the atmosphere had become tense. At this moment, Goblin ¡®Kukettor,¡¯ the person in charge of station number 032, tried to mediate, ¡°Let¡¯s all calm down a bit. It¡¯s nothing more than damage done to some buildings and equipment, not a big deal. These kinds of incidents have happened in previous years as well and have been resolved amicably.¡± He was a responsible person of the Trade Alliance, but his thoughts were aligned with Fang Hao¡¯s side. At any cost, they could not let Fang Hao and the Trade Alliance fall out. The problem could be major or minor, and what made this different from the past was that it happened at the auction. They even demolished the important building of the auction hall. But it didn¡¯t matter. It was just a matter of compensation. Taking away the leader of a power was indeed a bit of bullying. Hearing Kukettor¡¯s words, Fang Hao also suppressed the anger in his heart. He still needed to cooperate with the Trade Alliance, especially for the materials needed for the ¡®Wishing Well¡¯ and several blueprints he required. He couldn¡¯t really abandon the Trade Alliance. ¡°Mr. Kukettor, due to the unexpected incident this time, we have indeed caused some trouble for the Trade Alliance. We accept the Trade Alliance¡¯s inquiry, as well as subsequent cooperation, but it must be fair, and not biased due to issues of strength,¡± Fang Hao thought for a bit and then spoke softly. Kukettor nodded and said, ¡°Mr. Fang Hao is an important partner and ally of the Trade Alliance. The Trade Alliance will ensure the interests and safety of its allies. I will communicate this matter to the headquarters and will follow up on the subsequent handling.¡± ¡°Good, Mr. Kukettor is indeed mature and fair in his handling of matters.¡± Kukettor nodded again, bypassed Terion, and began to inquire with Fang Hao about what had happened. Fang Hao recounted the events from start to finish. From the encounter in the elevator, to the sudden move by the silver-haired girl, and finally not having the upper hand and taking his people to retreat first. He detailed everything meticulously. Kukettor took notes of everything, and then said, ¡°Alright, Mr. Fang Hao, I will explain this incident to the headquarters. If there is any news later, I will arrange for someone to inform you.¡± ¡°That would be good.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡± After speaking, Kukettor turned around and left directly. Terion, who had been left standing there the whole time, watched the departing Goblin. He also quickly followed with another person. They returned to the Trade Alliance via the Teleportation Array. ¡­ Inside the hall. Rolana was swinging her well-shaped legs, ¡°Why not just kill him? A Dark Gold Hero could have been turned into a Skeleton to increase the strength of your territory.¡± ¡°Now is not the time to break with the Trade Alliance, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have let them use the Teleportation Array,¡± Fang Hao explained. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll go back and fabricate stories to make enemies for you?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t, with ¡®Kukettor¡¯ there, he will vouch for our words,¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s over. Everyone, go back and rest.¡± ¡°Hey! What about the Aerial Ship you mentioned?¡± Rolana asked immediately. She hadn¡¯t forgotten about the Aerial Ship. Cough! Fang Hao said, ¡°It¡¯s outside the city. I¡¯ll take you to see it.¡± He took a few people to the place outside the city where the Aerial Ship was parked. All over the ground were parts of Aerial Ships. And 101 huge Aerial Ships floating in the air. Rolana looked up, her eyes wide with amazement. Goblin Aerial Ships were somewhat famous, but she had never seen one before. ¡°Pick one. It will be yours from now on.¡± [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias¡¯s Loyalty towards you has increased, current Loyalty is 80.] Chapter 891 - Chapter 891: Chapter 572, The Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint Chapter 891: Chapter 572, The Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint The following day. Everything had returned to normal. After breakfast. Fang Hao, along with Demitrija and Aseti, headed to the No. 01 Trade Alliance base once more. However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, the three of them had put on some disguises before setting out. Fang Hao wore a wig and padded his body to appear bulkier, while Demitrija donned a grey cloak over his golden armor. He looked like a pilgrim, a devotee of an Ancient Saint. Aseti also wore a long cloak to cover the armor beneath. The trio stepped out of the teleportation screen. There weren¡¯t many people at the base today, and the few scattered pedestrians on the street made it seem somewhat deserted. Fang Hao took out the shell business card, glanced at the address, and led the other two towards the commercial district in the west part of the city. Their journey was brisk and uneventful, without giving much attention to the people around them. This place was home to many races with different beliefs, so sight of people in exotic clothing was common. Thus, the trio¡¯s attire did not attract any additional notice from passersby. Soon, following the address, they arrived in front of the shop. A modestly-sized storefront with a wooden sign hanging above the door. On the sign, a small hippopotamus was painted with colored lacquer. Above the hippopotamus read the words ¡°Coral Cottage,¡± four characters in all. This was the place. They pushed the door and entered. The shop wasn¡¯t particularly spacious, and standing behind the counter, adorned with sparkling shells, was a female clerk. ¡°Welcome!¡± The woman had long blue hair and eyes like sapphires. Seeing customers walk in, she greeted them proactively. Her voice sounded pleasant, but the tone was a bit unusual. [Coral Priestess (Tier 5)]. She must be a member of a military unit belonging to the Sea Tribe. At Tier 5, she looked virtually no different from a human in appearance. Her skin was paler, with a subtly iridescent sheen. It was anyone¡¯s guess whether she had legs or a fish tail hidden behind the counter. ¡°Er, we¡¯re just looking around,¡± Fang Hao said casually, not paying much attention to the clerk¡¯s appearance. The female clerk nodded, ¡°Take your time.¡± Inside, the shop displayed cabinets that bore distinctive racial features. Just like in other shops, there were various weapons and equipment on display, but all of them were of blue quality, which held no allure for Fang Hao. Besides weapons and equipment, the items for sale included materials and products from the Sea Tribe. [Deep Sea Shell, selling price: 80 Warfire Coins] [Deep Sea Pearl, selling price: 120 Warfire Coins.] [Magic Scroll: Torrential Arrows, selling price: 350 Warfire Coins.] [Magic Scroll: Water Dragon Spike, selling price: 520 Warfire Coins.] [Totem: Giant Tooth Shark, selling price: 880 Warfire Coins] [¡­] The Coral Cottage¡¯s selection was quite comprehensive. Fang Hao specifically looked at the totem. The totem was a large wooden carving of a shark¡¯s head with a fierce appearance and giant teeth, along with a section of the body. It stood in the corner of the shop. [Totem: Giant Tooth Shark] [Category: Ship Totem] [Abilities: Sailing speed +10%, oceanic creature deterrence +15%.] (Description: A ship equipped with the Giant Tooth Shark will deter those sea monsters yearning to challenge it.) The totem was originally meant to be mounted on ships. He had thought it was the kind used by tribes for worship in a totemic religion. The attributes of this kind of totem were quite good, however, not only increasing sailing speed but also serving as a deterrent. It could be seen as a piece of equipment for ships. Once equipped, it would enhance the ship¡¯s attributes and ensure the safety of the crew. Apart from the totem, they also sold a lot of magic scrolls. But the types were relatively limited, all related to water magic. After browsing the first floor without finding anything they needed, Fang Hao led the others straight to the second floor. The first thing they saw on the second floor were purple-quality weapons and equipment, which they quickly bypassed. Such equipment was of no use to him. Next were various higher-quality materials. [Huge Fish Bone, selling price: 900 Warfire Coins, Sea Tribe influence: 800.] [Deep Sea Sand Gold, selling price: 1200 Warfire Coins, Sea Tribe influence: 1000.] [Sacred Fish Bone, selling price: 1500 Warfire Coins, Sea Tribe influence: 1300.] [¡­] [Totem: Sea Wraith, selling price: 2200 Warfire Coins, Sea Tribe influence: 2000.] [¡­] Along one wall were several tall totems. [Totem: Sea Wraith] [Category: Ship Totem] [Abilities: Nighttime sailing speed +20%, sea monster deterrence +30%, crew deterrence +25%.] (Description: At night, you¡¯ll hear the cries of the sleepless, lamenting their loneliness and pain, waiting for you to become one of them.) This was a wooden carving of a weeping figure with disheveled hair, covering its face with its hands. Only after reading the description did he realize it represented a Sea Wraith, though one might mistake it for a crying banshee. People dare to put anything on their ships to aid in sailing. Not only does it deter sea monsters by 30%, but it also affects one¡¯s own crew by 25%. It was like decimating one¡¯s own forces along with the enemy¡¯s. Sailing often means living aboard a ship for months ¡ª such a totem would be torturous for the crew. The only body of water near his own territory was the lake under Fu Lei¡¯s control. It seemed large but had no connection to the sea. The fishing boats they used now were sufficient, so there was no need for sea ships or totems. That additional 20% speed boost wouldn¡¯t be of any use. Disregarding the totems, Fang Hao continued to look further back. Finally, his eyes brightened as he found what he needed. [Coral Crystal, selling price: 75,000 Warfire Coins, Sea Tribe influence: 10,000.] Chapter 892 - Chapter 892: Chapter 572, Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint_2 Chapter 892: Chapter 572, Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint_2 [Breeze White Coral, priced at 80000 Warfire Coins, Sea Tribe influence required: 10000.] ¡°As expected, they have it,¡± Fang Hao rejoiced in his heart. His own Wish Pool finally had a promising lead. However, the Sea Tribe influence required¡­ Now that he thought about it, the Trade Alliance auction was rather useful; at least the items purchased there only competed in price, without any requirements for influence. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s head down first,¡± Fang Hao turned and went downstairs. The Coral Cottage clearly wasn¡¯t doing very good business. Other shops were staffed with three or four attendants, while this one only had one person. He walked slowly down the stairs. Fang Hao and his companions¡¯ footsteps paused once more. Downstairs, new customers had arrived, and they were three Lizardmen. [Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint ¨C Anastasia (Dark Gold Ninth Tier Hero)] [Hero God Temple Guard (Ninth Tier Troops)]. The leading female Lizardman, tall and slim with a long and slender neck, bore skin covered in red scales, dressed in a brightly colored dress akin to phoenix feathers. On her head sat a high crest of long feathers, blue as gemstones and standing tall. Around her neck, fingers, and the tip of her tail, she donned beautiful gemstones and gold jewelry. Body curves, attire. Even if their aesthetic senses were not the same, she still exuded a sense of feminine beauty and elegance to Fang Hao. Meanwhile, Fang Hao was secretly astonished by the other party¡¯s rank, Dark Gold Ninth Tier. It seemed like she was on the verge of ascending to godhood. From what he had learned from Nelson, above Dark Gold Ninth Tier was the demigod level, also known as the Hero God mentioned in the books. Fang Hao had killed a demigod last time, but the Lizardman before him was the closest to a demigod-tier hero he had encountered. Following the glamorous female Lizardman were two Ninth Tier troops. They were nearly three meters tall, as robust as triceratops stuffed into armor, carrying huge serrated greatswords, looking incredibly ferocious. Hearing the footsteps from the stairs. The female Lizardman looked up, catching sight of Fang Hao and Demitrija¡¯s party descending. Fang Hao smiled and nodded in greeting, and she reciprocated with a friendly nod of her own. After exchanging greetings, he directly approached the counter and said to the ¡®Coral Witch¡¯ attendant, ¡°I would like to buy the materials from the second floor.¡± The Coral Witch smiled and responded, ¡°Certainly, sir, what do you need? If it¡¯s a large quantity, we can arrange for direct delivery to your territory.¡± Fang Hao cleared his throat and asked tentatively, ¡°If I say that I want to buy the items from the second floor, and the quantity is not small, enough to earn you a decent amount of money, but the only thing is that I lack sufficient influence, is it possible to make the purchase?¡± The Coral Witch was briefly taken aback by this roundabout question, but then replied, ¡°Sir, what would you like to purchase?¡± ¡°The Coral Crystals on the second floor, the Breeze White Coral,¡± Fang Hao answered. The witch nodded; both items were indeed expensive commodities in the shop. Originally they were meant for the third floor, but since the third floor wasn¡¯t open yet, they were temporarily placed on the second floor. ¡°Sir, may I see your invitation card?¡± Fang Hao handed over his Trade Alliance invitation card, and somehow they quickly checked it and handed it back to him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but with only 1505 influence points, you are unable to purchase the Coral Crystals and Breeze White Coral,¡± said the witch as she returned the card. Fang Hao pocketed his invitation card and continued, ¡°I understand, what I mean is, is there another way to complete this transaction? You understand what I am getting at, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, you can choose some other items, or fulfill orders for the Sea Tribe, to accumulate influence,¡± the attendant said, maintaining a professional smile. This¡­ Fang Hao was somewhat at a loss for words. Fulfilling orders for the Sea Tribe indeed could rack up influence. But to increase from 1500 to 10000 would be an incredibly long process. He didn¡¯t have the time to grind for Sea Tribe influence. Moreover, there wasn¡¯t much in the Sea Tribe¡¯s offerings that could be utilized by his territory. Suddenly, Fang Hao found himself in a difficult position. At that moment, a voice came from behind. ¡°Do you really need these materials?¡± Fang Hao and his companions turned around to see the radiant female Lizardman standing behind them. With her arms folded gracefully in front of her, she exhibited a unique nobility. ¡°Yes,¡± Fang Hao nodded. The Lizardman woman glanced at Demitrija with the corner of her eye before returning her gaze to Fang Hao and gently asked, ¡°How may I address you?¡± Fang Hao replied, ¡°Fang Hao, and you, madam?¡± He had a hint of her name from the information provided, but it was clearly impolite to address her directly by it. First, it was necessary to ask her. After she responded, he would address her by name. Moreover, a Dark Gold Rank 9 hero, who showed friendliness, wasn¡¯t a bad thing. ¡°Anastasia!¡± the lizard woman said. Fang Hao nodded, using the half-baked etiquette learned from Rebecca, ¡°Miss Anastasia, it is an honor to meet you.¡± The lizard woman nodded slightly in return, ¡°If you are troubled by your influence, perhaps now you need to make a friend.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, instantly understanding the meaning behind her words. Helping him? Unsolicited kindness that came knocking at his door made him suspicious. Yet he maintained a smile on his face, ¡°Then, what should I offer in return for a friend¡¯s kindness?¡± The lizard woman replied directly, ¡°My shop is not far from here, would you like to sit for a while?¡± Fang Hao was stunned, he felt like he was being propositioned by a cougar. And to come sit at her place no less. But lizardmen and humans should have different aesthetics, she must regard him as Fang Hao regarded her. Even if not repulsed, surely not interested enough to want a deeper interaction. Suddenly, Fang Hao noticed that the lizard woman glances at Demitrija now and then. This gave him a new guess. ¡°Of course, I apologize for the disturbance, my lady,¡± Fang Hao replied with a smile. The lizard woman also smiled and led the way out. Fang Hao and his companions followed her out of the store. The lizard woman¡¯s shop was not far, a four or five-minute walk away. They pushed the door open and entered. Inside, the lizard attendants greeted her respectfully, ¡°Your Majesty the Queen!¡± The three people at the doorway simultaneously froze in their tracks. What the hell! A queen. Fang Hao saw Demitrija showing a touch of surprise as well. They followed upstairs to the third floor, entering a private room. The room wasn¡¯t large, but it was richly decorated. A peacock blue main color toned with embellishments of red and gold. Even if not as luxurious as the auction hall, it was still beautifully exquisite. ¡°Please, take a seat,¡± the lizard queen gestured elegantly with her hand. The guests were seated. Lizard attendants prepared refreshments, setting them before the three visitors. The lizard queen indicated for them to be at ease and began, ¡°Yesterday¡¯s battle was splendid, not many dare to take on the Dragon Clan.¡± The three were startled, not expecting to be recognized so easily. Were they really that obvious? Or was their disguise too clumsy, doing nothing to help them blend in. After the initial surprise settled, calmness quickly returned. Fang Hao spoke, ¡°Oh? Were you there in person, Your Majesty?¡± It was apparent that there was no malice from the other side. With little association between the lizardmen and the Dragon Clan, he was not worried that she would act on the Dragons¡¯ behalf. ¡°Saw some of it,¡± the lizard woman said, lifting her teacup and taking a delicate sip, ¡°May I inquire why?¡± ¡°Some tedious misunderstandings,¡± Fang Hao replied noncommittally. The lizard queen did not press further and continued, ¡°We have year-long trade with the Sea Tribe, and influence enough to purchase what you need.¡± Since she had gotten straight to the point, Fang Hao was more willing to get down to the main topic. He asked softly, ¡°So, Your Majesty, what would you require of us in return?¡± The lizard queen, resting her wrist on her chin, went on, ¡°The Holy Empire needs allies.¡± Well, claiming to be the Holy Empire, no less? That stature sounded pretty high indeed. ¡°We have already felt Your Majesty¡¯s friendship; what else is there?¡± Fang Hao asked. The lizard queen glanced at Demitrija once more. She spoke softly, ¡°I hope this brave warrior can return to the Holy Empire and continue to serve it.¡± Fang Hao frowned. This cougar wasn¡¯t playing by the rules. You just help me buy something one time, and you want Demitrija as a lifelong freebie? Tsk! Chapter 893 - Chapter 893: Chapter 573, Border Warfare Chapter 893: Chapter 573, Border Warfare ¡°Demitrija, what do you mean?¡± ¡°My lord, I have sworn to be loyal to you, and this will not change,¡± Demitrija said solemnly. Fang Hao was not worried about this. From the very beginning, Demitrija¡¯s Loyalty was very high. And it had already reached 100 points, rendering any form of trickery or bribery ineffective. Unless the Lizard Queen really summoned an Ancient Saint revered by the lizard people, perhaps that might cause some fluctuations in Demitrija¡¯s heart. Aside from that, it was simply not possible for Demitrija to betray him or the domain. Fang Hao nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Queen, Demitrija is a hero of the domain, and is also my family. I would not use a family member as a bargaining chip in trade, and I believe Demitrija thinks the same way!¡± This outcome seemed to surprise the Lizard Queen. The lizard people¡¯s reverence for the Ancient Saints was something ingrained in their blood. She did not expect that when she made such a proposition, the lizard people themselves would refuse so decisively, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, nor did it seem to be a false pretext. She was somewhat perplexed. Similarly, the fact that humans valued the lizard people so much, calling them family, was surprising. Beyond her surprise, it also caused her impression of Fang Hao to change once again. ¡°I won¡¯t insist on this matter. The gates of the Holy Dynasty are always open to welcome back the followers of the Ancient Saints.¡± Not waiting for the other party to speak, the Lizard Queen continued, ¡°So, what can you offer us?¡± Back to the main topic, it was still her turn to state her price. ¡°Certainly, I wouldn¡¯t let friends help for nothing,¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°In compensation, I will pay the Sacred Dynasty for ten thousand weapons of blue quality, be it long spears or war blades, you are free to choose.¡± Ten thousand was, in fact, not a small number. Judging by Trade Alliance outpost prices for blue weapons, even the cheapest at 200 Warfire Coins each would cost two million in compensation. ¡°Is that so~!¡± mused the Lizard Queen. After pondering for a moment, she said, ¡°Not bad, we do indeed need to replace some old equipment. What types of weapons can you provide?¡± ¡°That depends on what you are proficient in using?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see them all!¡± Fang Hao did not hesitate, exchanging several types of weapons that were in stock in Zhang Bin¡¯s warehouse. Blue muskets, crossbows, and round shields were not among them. Only weapons. [Orc War Blade (Blue)] [Disciplinary Nail Hammer (Blue)] [Bandit Demon Head Knife (Blue)] [Military War Spear (Blue)] [Dwarf War Blade (Blue)]. Clang clang, a cacophony of sounds as weapons appeared one after another. The clash of arms drew the attention of the guards outside the door, who rushed in to confirm it was safe. Then, under the Queen¡¯s icy stare, they immediately closed the door once more. The Lizard Queen picked up each weapon to inspect it. She promptly placed them all back down and asked softly, ¡°Do you primarily deal in weapons at the Trade Alliance?¡± ¡°Yes, weapons and equipment, along with some tools,¡± Fang Hao answered. ¡°How are the prices?¡± It appeared the Lizard Queen was quite satisfied with these weapons and started inquiring about the prices. Fang Hao responded, ¡°For friends making a purchase, the more you buy, the cheaper it gets.¡± ¡°Ha ha, good, then I¡¯ll take ten thousand of these. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to visit your place later to check, and if the price is right, we could certainly cooperate more in the future,¡± continued the Lizard Queen. The weapon she had picked up was the [Orc King¡¯s War Blade], which looked like the large cleavers used in ancient times for beheadings. At the junction of the handle and the blade, there was a ferocious beast¡¯s head. Its size and weight were very suitable for lizard people, and it had an impressive look. One who didn¡¯t know the properties of this weapon might mistake it for one of purple quality. As for the further cooperation mentioned, Fang Hao was even more welcoming of it, as long as he could secure a deal with the lizard people. He could earn back what he gave today, profit included. ¡°No problem, shall I hand over the ten thousand weapons to you now?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°The sudden appearance of so many weapons here might make the Trade Alliance think we¡¯re going to rob them,¡± the Queen continued. ¡°Later, I¡¯ll have a transmigrator contact you, and you two can just conduct the trade directly.¡± It seemed she knew quite a bit about transmigrators. ¡°That¡¯s fine, then for the things I want¡­¡± The Queen stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll buy what you need right now, but you¡¯re paying for it yourself.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The group exited the lizard people¡¯s shop and headed together towards ¡®Coral Cottage¡¯. ¡­ They re-entered Coral Cottage. The shop assistant showed no surprise at their return. The Lizard Queen gestured subtly, and a lizard person accompanying her presented an invitation card. ¡°Speak, what do you need?¡± The shop assistant showed little reaction, taking the invitation card and looking toward Fang Hao. This kind of approach was not uncommon in the Trade Alliance. Immediately, Fang Hao said, ¡°I need 50 clusters of Coral Crystals from upstairs, 50 clusters of Breeze White Coral, and also 50 units of Tears of The Ocean.¡± The shop assistant took meticulous notes at the side. Then he said, ¡°The Coral Crystals will be 3.75 million in total for 50 clusters, the Breeze White Coral will be 4 million for 50 clusters, and the Tears of The Ocean will be 250 thousand for 50 units, totaling 8 million Warfire Coins.¡± Hearing that Tears of The Ocean was in stock, Fang Hao felt a surge of joy. He took out two leather cases, counted out 8 million Warfire Coins from within, and didn¡¯t hand over the money directly but asked, ¡°Can I take them with me now?¡± The shop assistant explained, ¡°Sir, it will take approximately two hours to prepare and deliver the items.¡± Chapter 894 - Chapter 894: Chapter 573, Border Warfare_2 Chapter 894: Chapter 573, Border Warfare_2 Each type was 50 units, not a large quantity. The only thing was that the Tears of The Ocean needed to be transferred from the territory of the Sea Tribe, but there was a teleportation array, so the speed was quite fast. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pay first, and we will come back to pick it up later,¡± Fang Hao pushed the Warfire Card over. The clerk nodded, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After leaving the shop, Fang Hao was in a good mood. The Lizardmen queen asked, ¡°Would you like to sit in my shop?¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°No thanks, I still have to take a look at the Undead shop. Would Your Majesty care to join me?¡± The Lizardmen queen also shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for me to go to the Undead¡¯s shop. Wait for your return at my shop. You will also need an invitation card to pick up the goods.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± The group split up and left in different directions. ¡­ The morning passed, and the three of them relaxed a bit. Although still disguised, they were not as tense as at the beginning. It seemed that no species was idle enough to pay attention to their movements. Only when passing by the previous auction house could one see the terrible ruins that had been sealed off. Reconstruction, it seemed, would indeed take some effort. Arriving at the Undead shop, they did not encounter the Undead hero from last time. They searched the shop for a technician¡¯s blueprint or White Bone but still found nothing. They browsed through nearby shops as well. Feeling it was about time, they finally went to the Lizardmen¡¯s shop, got the invitation card, and headed to Coral Cottage. Inside the shop. ¡°Sir, all the goods are here,¡± the female clerk said with even more respect. Packaged gift boxes filled the open space. Fang Hao inspected them and then collected all of the items. The clerk continued, ¡°Sir, if you need anything else, feel free to come back to our shop.¡± Fang Hao paused his departure, turned back, and asked, ¡°Seafood, the kind that can be served in a restaurant, do you sell it in bulk?¡± The clerk nodded, ¡°You can order that as well, sir.¡± ¡°Does it require influence?¡± ¡°Food does not require influence, sir.¡± ¡°Good, how do I contact you? Perhaps we could cooperate more in the future.¡± The clerk¡¯s smile brightened, seemingly more pleased about making the transaction than Fang Hao was. She immediately said, ¡°Sir, this is our shop¡¯s information. Just give it to the merchant in the shop when the time comes.¡± With that, she handed over a seashell. It was the same kind of seashell as the one received from the Trade Alliance the last time. Fang Hao took it, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve got it.¡± ¡°Goodbye, sir.¡± After leaving the shop, he returned the invitation card to the Lizardmen queen. The three didn¡¯t delay any further and went straight to the teleportation curtain to return to their territory. ¡­ Elsewhere. On the eastern border of the Federation of Hundred Cities. Sante Fort. Dense, disorderly footsteps, the sound of armor colliding, and the noise of cannon gears grinding echoed in every corner of the camp. In the center of the military formation, inside a newly constructed stone building, the room was already full. At the lead was Nidam, the leader of the Hall of Justice. And below him, dozens of people had already gathered. Apart from the three powers of the Hall of Justice, the Church, and the Mage Association, there were also leaders of reinforcements sent from different cities. ¡°From the intelligence and the situation at hand, it¡¯s clear that negotiations won¡¯t solve this issue. Only war can shatter Odys¡¯s illusions,¡± Nidam said with a solemn voice. The Undead¡¯s movements were becoming more and more pronounced, and the Federation had given up on resolving the issue through negotiations. Only a war could make those skeletal creatures realize their mistake. Both sides were in a highly tense state. Any slight move from either side could trigger the outbreak of a large-scale war. ¡°Odys has been preparing for many years. They must have some confidence since they have taken action,¡± a Mage spoke up, continuing, ¡°We need reinforcements.¡± In the past, when facing the Undead, humans could always find allies. After all, a powerful Undead force was not good news for any species. But this year was a bit special. The Dwarves just finished resisting the Undead and suffered heavy casualties. It was said that two orange generals had perished at the hands of the Undead. Furthermore, they had to bring back ¡®Bellerga¡¯, who had previously been driven out, to resume his role as King. So, Eight Peaks Mountain had no forces to spare for the humans; they could only supply and sell a large number of cannons. To enhance the humans¡¯ combat power. Later, Silver Wing City contacted the Orc Tribe, hoping to attack the Great Cemetery of Odys from both sides with the Orcs. But the news they received was still surprising. Tasgo City had changed hands. The new master was the Tauren Tribe from a small city previously, with the leader named Bronze Bull. Moreover, they had just finished a civil war and said their greatest capacity was to station troops at the border to give the impression of an impending attack on the Great Cemetery. They lacked the strength to provide manpower support. Humanity was baffled. How could there be trouble everywhere, leaving no allies? So, for now, it looked like humanity had to rely on itself. Nidam was aware of all this, but he couldn¡¯t voice it outright. He could only vaguely say, ¡°As for reinforcements, Silver Wing City is working hard. Let¡¯s discuss the current issues instead.¡± He looked around the room and continued to ask, ¡°Church, Mage Association, how¡¯s the personnel situation?¡± An old man in Church attire gently said, ¡°We have six bishops, five thousand Templar knights, twenty-six thousand Templar warriors and pilgrims combined, and forty-five thousand clergy already integrated into the military.¡± Chapter 895 - Chapter 895: Chapter 573, Border War_3 Chapter 895: Chapter 573, Border War_3 Clergy members generally refer to professions such as Priests and acolytes. In the army, they are primarily responsible for ¡°Attribute Enhancement,¡± ¡°Dispelling Negative Attributes,¡± and ¡°Treating the Wounded¡± among other supporting roles. Even though the church has special damage abilities against the Undead, the numbers still speak for themselves. The entire Federation has only mobilized about eighty thousand church members, and most of them are in support roles. But the inclusion of six bishops was enough to provide a significant boost to the human side¡¯s combat power. Nidam nodded, his gaze then fell on the Mage Association. ¡°Water Mage Mapel replied directly, ¡°In total, there are twenty-three thousand mages who have been placed at the rear of the troops, ready to be mobilized at any moment.¡± The nobility¡¯s monopoly on knowledge makes the number of mages even fewer. Nidam nodded again, indicating his understanding. Next, he inquired about the military strength of the other cities and their various needs. Nidam continued to look towards the church area¡¯s ¡®Xu Haide¡¯ and asked softly, ¡°Saint Xu Haide, do you have any new information?¡± As the situation between both sides worsened, Xu Haide¡¯s status surged. Everyone was praising the church for nurturing a saint who could ¡°Control the Big Picture.¡± Xu Haide shook his head, ¡°No news, the contact with that side has been cut off.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s see¡­¡± Nidam was halfway through speaking when he suddenly shut his mouth. He looked down at the teacup on the table. Meanwhile, concentric ripples rhythmically spread from the center of the teacup. As they approached, the alarm bells rang out loudly and the room outside instantly became chaotic with shouts. Bang! The door was flung open. A guardian from the Hall of Justice rushed in, his face ashen. He said loudly, ¡°The Undead army is advancing closer.¡± Everyone stood up. Nidam¡¯s expression was extremely grave as he shouted, ¡°Everyone return to your camps immediately and prepare for battle.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone responded in unison and hurried to their respective military areas. ¡­ Half an hour later, the ground shook even more violently. The dense Undead army had crossed the border and started their assault on the human encampments. Wuuu Wuuu Wuuu! The horns sounded. Sturdy shields were raised, overlapping to form a grey wall of metal. Boom Boom Boom! The cannons began roaring, projectiles arcing through the air, crashing into the Undead¡¯s ranks. Dirt and stone mixed with shattered bones flew in every direction. Following the cannon fire came a dense volley of arrows, falling like raindrops. Tinkling as they hit among the Undead. But the arrows were of limited effect against a foe like the Undead. They hardly made any impact as the Undead continued their charge. At the rear of the army. Li Rong gripped her Magic Wand, her palms slick with sweat. She reassured herself that being at the rear was safe while cursing Fang Hao for sending her into such danger. A business talent and a woman on her own, what was wrong with him to station her here? The hand clutching her Magic Wand turned white, drained of all color. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take you away the moment there¡¯s any danger,¡± said Dark Elf Morse at Li Rong¡¯s side. As Li Rong¡¯s protective hero, he was not subject to assignments from the army. Besides, all other mages had been assigned personal guards as well. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Li Rong¡¯s voice trembled. At that moment, a commanding voice called out nearby. ¡°Prepare the Magic Elemental projectiles! Fire!¡± Whoosh! In an instant, Fireballs, Water Orbs¡­ a barrage of Magic Elementals arched towards the distance. Compared to other, more powerful magics, these low-level, long-range Magic Elementals were better suited for large-scale, distant mass deployment. The effect was almost akin to cannon fire in terms of coverage. Furthermore, since these Magic Elementals were basic, even apprentices could demonstrate combat power. Various colored Magic Elementals arced across the sky, forming domes above the battlefield. They exploded upon landing among the charging Undead, flinging up traces of the elements. ¡°Watch out for enemy Magic Elementals!¡± On the other side, Magic Elemental projectiles from the Undead tore through the sky and reached the human troops. Boom Boom Boom! In an instant, bodies were torn apart. Dark energy began to spread everywhere. Clergy members started praying, dispelling the spreading negative energy. Despite this, the frenzied Undead smashed directly into the shield wall. Like waves breaking over the ramparts, they surged over and through the iron barrier, attacking the humans. Chapter 899 - Chapter 899: Chapter 575, The Technician is in Trouble Chapter 899: Chapter 575, The Technician is in Trouble Amanda¡¯s idea is actually very understandable. The start of the war by Odys was premeditated and well-prepared. Those in the know are clear that the chances of human victory are not great. And the Federation, having not found allies, naturally would not refuse an ally to help them share the pressure from Odys. Even if that ally is the former enemy, the Blood Clan. Moreover, Amanda and Rolana had also discussed a rather complete plan. Rolana would ally with the human Federation in the name of the master of Blood Castle. After occupying the Great Cemetery of Odys, the territory would be managed by the Blood Castle. And this alliance agreement would be delivered to the hands of the Federal Conference by Rebecca, in her capacity as the City Lord of Lyss. In the process, it could also be implied that Rebecca deserved credit for finding an ally for the Federation. The human Federation would not reject this alliance and after the end of the fight, the restored Anglina Kingdom can resume diplomatic relations with humans. Both sides would normally engage in trade with each other. One could say, this idea was quite excellent. Even if humans did not trust the Blood Clan, they would be forced to accept this alliance. As for Fang Hao¡¯s side. Helping humans defeat the Undead and possessing the ultimate right to dispose of the Great Cemetery of Odys. He would also get what he needed. ¡°Demitrija, how do you feel about this idea?¡± Fang Hao looked to the side. Seated upright, Demitrija tilted his head slightly only when asked, ¡°The ladies have a thorough plan; of course, my lord, you could also spread some messages to facilitate this cooperation.¡± ¡°Oh? What messages?¡± ¡°For example, that Odys still has more hidden troops, or that they are planning an attack on Silver Wing City. As long as those nobles feel they are in danger, they will be more eager for allies,¡± Demitrija said softly. Fang Hao nodded, this idea was also very good. ¡°Has this matter been communicated to Rebecca?¡± Rebecca and Rolana had a Sound-transmitting Shell, though of course he had to pretend not to know about this. ¡°Rebecca was also involved in this discussion. As soon as it¡¯s decided, she will immediately pass the message to the Conference,¡± Rolana said. Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°When will Rebecca send the message over?¡± After thinking it over, Amanda answered, ¡°The day after tomorrow, I guess. It¡¯s too early now, and the other side will have many concerns. After the message is finalized, the Conference might take two or three days to discuss and then sign a peace agreement with Rolana; then we can dispatch our troops.¡± Uh, ¡­. The plan was indeed tightly scheduled. Now that supplies and equipment were sufficient, humans should still manage to hold on for a while. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that,¡± Fang Hao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for troops and personnel to come over in the next two days to prepare before the attack.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord,¡± Amanda stood up and saluted gravely. Fang Hao smiled and gestured that there was no need for such formalities. ¡­ Returning to the main city. Fang Hao¡¯s mind was still contemplating the details of this war. The Undead seemed frail and lacked various emotions. But they were also wily and old beings, each having lived for over a century as undead monsters, surely having gone through a lot. When dealing with Odys, one still had to be careful. After careful thought, Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords. He crafted a message in the territory channel. ¡°Zhang Bin, Dong Jiayue, Fu Lei, Tang Qi, you four summon some of your transmigrator subordinates. Set out tomorrow morning, immediately come together here, I have a task for them.¡± Soon, people started responding. Zhang Bin, ¡°Received, boss.¡± Dong Jiayue, ¡°Received!¡± Fu Lei, ¡°Received!¡± Tang Qi, ¡°Received!¡± Following consecutive confirmations, the quiet territory channel immediately began to bubble with activity. ¡°Fang Hao big shot, why are you gathering so many transmigrators?¡± ¡°Spring is here, maybe it¡¯s time for farming.¡± ¡°God, farming? How many transmigrators actually know how to farm? They¡¯re probably going to fight.¡± ¡°Fight who? The people being summoned are heading to the boss¡¯s main city; it doesn¡¯t seem like they¡¯re going to fight people.¡± ¡°I heard the human borders have started the war with the Undead; it¡¯s probably support for one side.¡± ¡°Support who?¡± ¡°Humans, obviously.¡± ¡°Nonsense, the boss is with the Undead camp, why would he support humans.¡± ¡°Get real, they¡¯re summoning humans, they can¡¯t go help the Undead.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one talking nonsense, ¡­.¡± Fang Hao glanced at the lively channel and was about to close the Book of Lords. Then a private message notification sounded. It was from Zhang Bin. He opened it to see. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s trouble. The task regarding the construct you assigned me has failed.¡± What? ¡°What do you mean it failed?¡± ¡°That technician, I don¡¯t know what he was researching, but an explosion killed him,¡± Zhang Bin replied. Fang Hao was taken aback for a moment. Then he responded immediately, ¡°Was the explosion big?¡± ¡°Big, the man is definitely dead, and I found other people in the village who didn¡¯t get anything. I¡¯m afraid this lead on the construct is dead,¡± Zhang Bin said. Transmigrators like Zhang Bin knew Fang Hao was with the Undead camp and could recruit undead troops. But they actually did not understand the rules concerning the construction of the Undead. Hence, Zhang Bin was focused on the construct¡¯s task line. However, Fang Hao was more concerned about the technician himself. ¡°No, I mean, is the body intact?¡± ¡°Oh, the body is in pieces, but it should have been collected by the villagers for burial,¡± Zhang Bin continued. ¡°Where are you?¡± Fang Hao asked. Chapter 900 - Chapter 900: Chapter 575, The Technicians Accident_2 Chapter 900: Chapter 575, The Technician¡¯s Accident_2 ¡°I¡¯m in my own fortress, and this message was brought back by the guards I arranged to be stationed in that village.¡± After pondering for a moment, Fang Hao said, ¡°Tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll go there together to see if that technician left behind any blueprints.¡± ¡°Alright, boss.¡± After ending the chat, Fang Hao closed the Book of Lords. He headed to the Skeleton Conversion Field once again. ¡­ The matters regarding the Dragon Clan posed a potential threat to his territory. High mobility, formidable strength. Although, for now, his territory remained a secret to the Dragon Clan. The world is vast, and there are many transmigrators. For the Dragon Clan to pinpoint his location wouldn¡¯t be easy. But all this was temporary. Who could guarantee that the Dragon Clan didn¡¯t have some kind of tracking spell or artifact, or that they wouldn¡¯t receive useful information from the transmigrators? Thus, making preparations and always being ready for a visit from the Dragon Clan was necessary. Upon arriving at the Skeleton Conversion Field, he opted to recruit. Dragon Crystals, 45 of them. There were two types of troops available for recruitment: Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon Guard (Tier 6) and Bone Dragon (Tier 10). Skeleton Pseudo-Dragon Guards were of no great use to his territory at present. And since the number of Dragon Crystals was limited, he didn¡¯t plan to recruit them. He went straight for the Bone Dragons. Bone Dragon: Wriggling Spines 10, Death Trace 7, Star Silver 5, Dragon Crystal 10. The number to recruit was set at 4. He confirmed the recruitment. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, recruiting 404 Bone Dragons.] The next second. The sky overhead suddenly darkened. Bone Dragons appeared in droves, either landing or hovering in the sky. Some even crushed the roofs of sheds and flattened the seedlings in the flowerbeds on both sides. ¡°All of you, gather outside East City,¡± Fang Hao shouted loudly. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Bone Dragons headed toward the outskirts of the city amidst strong gusts of wind. On his way, Fang Hao called over the blacksmith ¡®Kulyn¡¯ to join him. On the outskirts, in the open field. 404 Bone Dragons were scattered about, standing around the area. Fang Hao looked at the number of Bone Dragons and nodded in satisfaction. Although 404 wasn¡¯t a large number, they could play a significant role in facing the Dragon Clan and the upcoming battle with Odys. He asked Kulyn to wait on the side for a moment. He then opened the Book of Lords and searched for the blueprints for Bone Dragon equipment. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 404 Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Helmets obtained.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 404 Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Armors obtained.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 404 Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Claw Guards obtained.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 404 Giant Dragon¡¯s White Steel Tail Guards with Tail Spikes obtained.] Huge piles of Giant Dragon equipment appeared, filling the space around them. ¡°Kulyn, gather all the blacksmiths and start fitting the Bone Dragons with their armor,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Bone Dragons could not equip themselves with armor. It needed to be done manually. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Kulyn went back and brought all the blacksmiths to start fitting the Bone Dragons with their equipment. Fang Hao stood by, watching everyone busy at work. The White Steel armor for the Bone Dragons was somewhat outdated. It was hard to leverage the full capabilities of such a troop type; purple armor would protect the Bone Dragons¡¯ bodies better. But that kind of Dragon Armor wasn¡¯t easily obtained. ¡°Should I go to the Dragon Clan Store with a disguise?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s too risky. If discovered by the Dragon Clan, a fight would break out on the spot.¡± ¡°What about sending someone else? Ideally, someone unrelated to my race.¡± ¡°No good. When showing the invitation card, it¡¯ll display the holder¡¯s information, which could easily give us away.¡± ¡°This is tricky.¡± Without joining in on Kulyn and the others¡¯ work, he went straight back to the lord¡¯s mansion. After dinner. Fang Hao patted his stomach, thinking about taking a dip in the hot springs. Then, the Sound-transmitting Shell relayed another message. He held it to his ear, and immediately Rebecca¡¯s indignant voice came through. ¡°Have you forgotten about me? Bring me over¡­¡± Fang Hao smiled faintly, deployed the doll, and cast a teleportation spell. A mature and beautiful figure immediately stepped out from the light screen. ¡­ The next day, at dawn. A cavalry troop composed of Lionheart Knights. Was galloping swiftly on the narrow dirt road. Finally, ahead on the road, the silhouette of a village became visible. ¡°Boss, that¡¯s the village up ahead, we¡¯d better send someone ahead to notify them,¡± Zhang Bin called out loudly. Fang Hao nodded, signaling for the cavalry to slow down. The appearance of the cavalry had also attracted the attention of the village. Farmers hurried back to their homes, and some villagers armed with hoes and pitchforks climbed onto the walls made of logs and adobe. ¡°Zhang Bin, you¡¯ve been here twice before, take some men and go ahead to inform them,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Bin, with two cavalrymen, continued to approach the village on horseback. Since Zhang Bin had already visited before, the interaction did not require much effort. Shortly after, Zhang Bin waved at them, signaling it was okay to approach. Nearing the village. The cavalry stationed themselves outside the village, while Fang Hao, Zhang Bin, Aseti, and five knights entered the village directly. The village was small in scale, likely having a population of a little over a hundred people. They were now gathered at the gate, looking at the unexpected visitors. The villagers were all ordinary farmers. The few wielding weapons could be considered the village militia. At that moment, a man with somewhat disheveled hair ran over in a hurry. ¡°Honored lords, please come this way,¡± the man gestured for them to follow. Fang Hao had some recollection of this person; he was the same merchant who had previously gone to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory to sell mechanical bodies. As a merchant, he was naturally more slippery than the average farmer. And was not as wary. Zhang Bin also said, ¡°This time, we¡¯ve brought some daily necessities and plan to exchange them with you for some furs and seeds.¡± This season, the village didn¡¯t have much in terms of agricultural products. The items for exchange were primarily furs and seeds. ¡°No problem, no problem,¡± the merchant assured. The Lionheart Knights, opening their backpacks, poured out an assortment of farm tools that Fang Hao had made. Farm tools were quite in demand in the village and were sure to sell. The merchant saw many items that would be useful. He immediately called over to the villagers, asking those who wanted to trade to bring out their goods. Soon enough, beast skins, seeds, and some other curiosities were all brought out. Zhang Bin proceeded with the exchange. After the exchange was complete, Zhang Bin still had a large quantity of goods left over. ¡°What do you think¡­? If you have anything else, I can¡¯t just take these back,¡± Zhang Bin said with a troubled look. The villagers whispered among themselves for a while. Someone spoke a few words in the merchant¡¯s ear, who then nodded slightly. Next, the villagers left. When they returned, they were carrying several wicker baskets filled with various mechanical parts. Some were clearly damaged, while others were still in relatively good condition. The merchant, looking at the few men before him, said, ¡°These are parts of mechanical bodies. Take a look and see what you need, we¡¯ll use the same exchange rate as last time.¡± Zhang Bin glanced at Fang Hao. Then squatted down, sifting through the parts. There were only parts, no blueprints or complete mechanical bodies. But among them, he found two ¡®Energy Cores¡¯. Zhang Bin traded for them with the goods, and the deal seemed to please the villagers as well. It looked like the cooperation was quite satisfactory to both parties. Zhang Bin continued, ¡°We heard that the technician in the village had an accident. Could we pay our respects?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll have someone guide you there.¡± ¡°No need, just point us in the right direction. We¡¯ll head back straight after,¡± Zhang Bin replied. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s to the north of the village, at the gravestone marked ¡®Patrick¡¯,¡± the merchant said. ¡°Okay, good. Then we will take our leave.¡± After speaking, the group left the village, accompanied by the farewell of the villagers, heading toward the north of the village. ¡­ They proceeded northward. Passing through a dense forest. They soon saw the cemetery mentioned by the villagers. Villagers, unlike the nobles in the city, did not have cemeteries. They simply fenced off a section of land in a roughly designated area to bury their dead. Finding ¡®Patrick¡¯s¡¯ stele was easy. The stele was new. Fang Hao surveyed the surroundings, seeing no other villagers had followed. He took out a shovel and handed them out. ¡°Dig!¡± Chapter 901 - Chapter 901: Chapter 576, Skeleton Technician Chapter 901: Chapter 576, Skeleton Technician This season, the soil isn¡¯t as hard as it is in winter. A few Lionheart Knights went down and a few shovel strokes later, they reached the coffin buried underground. Artisans hold a certain status in the village. The coffin was simple, but sturdily made. ¡°Open it!¡± The coffin lid was pushed open, revealing the pieced-together corpse inside. Since the death was caused by an explosion. The corpse was clearly in segments, arranged into a human figure. From Fang Hao¡¯s perspective, the limbs were still relatively intact. If they had just carried the coffin out, it would probably have been a mess with just a slight jostle. ¡°Check it out, see if the body is intact?¡± A Lionheart Knight jumped down and pinched the clothes wrapped around the outside for a while. After checking around, he said, ¡°My lord, it¡¯s fairly intact.¡± ¡°Good! Close the coffin lid.¡± The lid was closed again, and Fang Hao immediately put it into his storage space. Afterward, the dug-up hole was filled back in, and they tried to make it look the same as before. After all, grave digging wasn¡¯t a glorious matter anywhere. Later, Zhang Bin might have to interact with this village, and being branded a grave robber would damage his reputation. Once everything was dealt with. Fang Hao and the others rode away again, returning to Zhang Bin¡¯s territory, and teleported back to the main city using magic. ¡­ Back in the main city. Fang Hao immediately rushed to the Skeleton Conversion Field. Whether he could transform a Skeleton Technician depended on this attempt. He walked straight to the front of the Transformation Pool and threw both the corpse and the coffin into the sandy pit. The sand in the pool started boiling, bit by bit swallowing the thrown-in corpse. The wooden coffin, however, lay still in its place, unchanged. The transformation time was 2 hours and 30 minutes. It wasn¡¯t a short time. Fang Hao glanced at the time, 11:30. He¡¯d come back later. He returned to the lord¡¯s mansion. Li Rong sent another message. ¡°The Undead have been attacking for a day and a night, and under the onslaught, the Federation Army¡¯s defensive line has been forced to retreat.¡± That was the Undead¡¯s way of fighting. They don¡¯t know fatigue and can engage you in prolonged battles day and night. But humans can¡¯t, they need rest, need to eat and drink, to relieve themselves. The best method is to fight in shifts, but even that still gives the Undead opportunities. The Federation was already at a disadvantage, and this made the disadvantage all the more apparent. ¡°They¡¯ve been pushed back into the city?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Not yet, just that the frontline has retreated, but they¡¯re holding on,¡± replied Li Rong. Fang Hao nodded, thought for a moment, and continued, ¡°On my side, I¡¯ve also made plans, aiming to take the opportunity to attack the Great Cemetery of Odys from Crescent Heights and take down this area in one fell swoop.¡± ¡°That would be great, relying on the Federation, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t win.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t attack rashly, otherwise we might end up fighting the Federation as well, since we¡¯re also Undead,¡± Fang Hao continued. Li Rong paused for a few seconds before she understood the implications. ¡°Oh, what should we do?¡± Fang Hao continued, ¡°I will have Crescent Heights sign an alliance with the human Federation to attack the Great Cemetery of Odys together, so that they too have an idea.¡± ¡°Then sign it.¡± ¡°Do you think those nobles will see the situation as clearly as us? If we approach them now, they would rather not agree,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Then what do we do?¡± ¡°I need you to find a way to leak some information to the Federation, to let them know the danger they are facing.¡± ¡°What kind of false information? I¡¯m a businessman; I don¡¯t lie,¡± Li Rong said. ¡°Odys is launching an attack at this time because they are waiting for the Trade Alliance auction to end, to buy the item they need, and they will immediately use it in battle, directly crushing the Federation Army and capturing Silver Wing City,¡± Fang Hao sent the message and then added, ¡°Just like that, you improvise a bit, the more serious, the better.¡± There was silence on the other end for a while before Li Rong replied, ¡°Is what you said about directly crushing the Federation Army and capturing Silver Wing City true or false?¡± Clearly, her tone was somewhat fearful. Fang Hao replied, ¡°I made it up, but an attack at this time could indicate they have some kind of trump card.¡± ¡°Wuuwuuwuu! I want to go home!¡± ¡°Wuu about nothing, I¡¯ll come fetch you if there¡¯s danger, and don¡¯t forget to make it sound severe¡­¡± ¡°Got it. Last time Dong Jiayue struck the Dwarves and took the lead, I¡¯m risking my life gathering intelligence for you, so a leading role would only be fair, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that leading role is yours,¡± Fang Hao sent immediately. Li Rong was indeed in a dangerous position. She deserved a merit for this when it was over. ¡°OK.¡± ¡­ Elsewhere. After ending the chat, Li Rong let out a deep breath. She had just been swapped out from the front lines, exhausted through and through, her energy spent in ceaseless spellcasting. But she couldn¡¯t rest yet. She reopened the chat, found Cao Zhengzhi¡¯s private conversation, and relayed what Fang Hao had told her, embellishing the story. She passed it on to this confidant, to relay it to Xu Haide. Leaning back on the bed and thinking for a while. She then washed her face with cold water and said to the Dark Elf Morse beside her, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Fang Hao has given us another task.¡± Dark Elf Morse didn¡¯t say much, stood up, and followed her out. After leaving the room. Li Rong headed for Water Mage Mapel¡¯s room. The mature mage, clad in silk, with her ample pale skin exposed, yawned and looked fatigued. Li Rong didn¡¯t beat around the bush and said directly, ¡°I¡¯ve received some information that Odys plans to organize their army to use the Blood Clan¡¯s territory as a detour and attack Pruell City from the north.¡± Chapter 902 - Chapter 902: Chapter 576, Skeleton Technician_2 Chapter 902: Chapter 576, Skeleton Technician_2 ¡°` The mature mage yawned broadly, his brow furrowing as a look of gravity appeared in his eyes. ¡°Where did you get the info?¡± Li Rong answered, ¡°From the transmigrator channel. We have a channel for transmigrators, where many people chat regularly. I just happened to see it; not sure if it¡¯s true or false.¡± Mage Mapel frowned in thought, his expression growing uglier the more he pondered. If the Undead were connected to the Blood Clan, and if the latter were used as a pathway. Then it would truly be a direct assault on Pruell City. ¡°Has this message been passed on to President Grigorya?¡± Mapel asked. Li Rong shook her head, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure about its reliability, so I came to discuss it with you first.¡± Mapel immediately said, ¡°Regardless of its truth, inform President Grigorya first.¡± ¡°Oh, alright!¡± ¡­ Half an hour later. Silver Wing City, Hall of Justice. Leader ¨C Doelti, Archbishop- Milton, Chairman of the mages ¨C Grigorya. The three of them were gathered once again. But each bore a look of deep concern on their face. Doelti spoke softly, ¡°My friends, is there new information?¡± ¡°Odys¡­¡± Milton and Grigorya started to speak at the same time, both pausing in surprise. Grigorya motioned for Milton to speak first. Milton began, ¡°I¡¯ve just received a message from Xu Haide. New intelligence from Odys indicates that they recently attended the Trade Alliance¡¯s auction and are planning to launch a full-scale offensive to break through the Federation¡¯s defenses.¡± This, ¡­ The other two looked rather grim. Based on the timeline, Odys had indeed begun their offensive the day after the Trade Alliance¡¯s spring auction. It was very likely they were waiting for the auction to end. Now, it appeared that Odys had a backup plan, and without the help of allies, humanity seemed to be in a dangerous situation. Doelti continued, ¡°Can we find out what was purchased? Since when does Odys qualify to participate in the Trade Alliance headquarters¡¯ auction?¡± Milton shook his head, ¡°No one knows what was purchased, but the intelligence is likely to be true.¡± Doelti nodded. The intelligence passed down by Xu Haide has mostly been confirmed and is highly credible. It has greatly helped humanity to make early preparations. Otherwise, Odys¡¯s forces might have already broken through the defenses. This time, even if the intelligence was vague, it still had high credibility. And they dared not disbelieve it. ¡°It seems we have to continue pulling troops from various cities to support the front lines,¡± Doelti commented. Milton nodded in agreement. Doelti then turned his gaze to Grigorya, ¡°President Grigorya, what was it that you were about to say?¡± Grigorya took a deep breath. ¡°We also have some intelligence that can¡¯t be confirmed as true or false.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°Some transmigrators have discovered that Odys¡¯s forces may use Blood Clan¡¯s ¡®Crescent Heights¡¯ as a pathway, commencing an assault from the other side of Pruell City and advancing southward.¡± The room once again fell silent. Compared to Milton¡¯s information, Grigorya¡¯s seemed more realistic and in line with the current state of the conflict. Just now they spoke of deploying more troops to support Santeyo Fort. If the Undead launch an attack from Pruell City, even if they organize troops now, it would be difficult to support Pruell City and set up defenses in a short time. Both pieces of intelligence were harsh. And both struck at their vulnerabilities. Moreover, the two pieces of intelligence didn¡¯t conflict and could proceed simultaneously. For the Blood Clan, collaboration with the Undead was always possible. If that occurred, the human Federation would truly be in trouble. ¡°I will have someone investigate these two pieces of intelligence,¡± Doelti said after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°Immediately inform Pruell City to bolster their defenses and alert nearby cities to arrange troops for support.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to do for now,¡± Milton nodded in agreement. If both pieces of intelligence were true. Even if they were informed now, there would be hardly any good countermeasures available to them. They could only hope that the implementation of the opponent¡¯s plans would be delayed, giving them some time to find solutions. The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat oppressive. The three leaders spoke in hushed tones, making various guesses and calculations, as well as planning countermeasures. ¡­ The main city. After lunch, when all the necessary orders had been given. The time for transformation was almost up. Whether the Technician could succeed and whether the Aerial Ship could be used in the upcoming assault on the Great Cemetery, all hinged on today. Standing in front of the transformation site. At that moment, a stolid-looking human Skeleton was present. Shorter than average and somewhat hunched over. ¡°` Seeing that there was no Soul Fire in the eye sockets, Fang Hao¡¯s heart tightened. To know, the Skeleton Technician he had encountered at the Trade Alliance headquarters previously did have Soul Fire. Not only did it have research on constructing bodies, but it could also inspect machinery. It possessed high intelligence and relevant skills. Now, this Skeleton standing still in place, indistinguishable from an ordinary Undead Skeleton, hardly seemed like the state a Technician should be in. With a slightly anxious heart, Fang Hao walked over. [Skeleton Technician (Tier 4)] [Faction: Undead] [Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light] [Skills: Repair technique.] [Innate Abilities: Basic Construct Body Repair, Basic Construct Body Manipulation.] [Repair Technique]: Possessing a certain knowledge of construct bodies, capable of examining and repairing damaged construct bodies. (Note: Skeleton troops transformed from corpses still retain their characteristics and attack methods from life.) Tier 4! The Skeleton Technician seen last time was Tier 7. That¡¯s a difference of three tiers. It has one skill, Repair Technique. It¡¯s actually quite useful, being able to repair damaged construct bodies. Eventually, when construct bodies enter the battlefield. Such Technicians could also repair construct bodies. As for Fang Hao wanting to start the Aerial Ship, it was roughly suitable. The innate abilities included ¡®Basic Construct Body Manipulation¡¯. Without claiming it to be exquisite, moving forward and backward, turning, these actions it should be able to control, right? ¡°Come, follow me out,¡± Fang Hao commanded. The Skeleton Technician, who had been standing still, followed Fang Hao. Together, they walked outside. Coming to the location where numerous Aerial Ships were docked, one could see some maids and daughters of the Earth Spirit, airing out bedding on the Aerial Ships. Fang Hao chose an Aerial Ship in the distance that hadn¡¯t been ¡®utilized¡¯. Taking the Skeleton with him, he directly boarded the ship. Standing on the deck, Fang Hao said, ¡°Enter the cockpit, prepare to control.¡± After a second of stunned silence on the spot, the Skeleton Technician turned and entered the cockpit, hands on the helm, eyes staring straight ahead. Fang Hao wanted to give the order to move forward but suddenly thought of the human technician who had died in an explosion. He climbed down from the Aerial Ship and released the ¡®Deomn Doll¡¯ to return to the deck, standing beside the Skeleton Technician. He directly said, ¡°Control the Aerial Ship to ascend.¡± Click-click-click! The Skeleton Technician operated swiftly. Whirr! The whole Aerial Ship began to tremble violently, its internal mechanisms coming to life. Following that, the Aerial Ship began to rise upward with a special energy. As expected, it worked. Fang Hao continued to say, ¡°Fly forward!¡± Click-click! The Technician manipulated the controls again, and the Aerial Ship began to fly forward with a rapid speed and excellent performance. ¡°Turn left!¡± ¡°Turn right!¡± ¡°Circle around!¡± Fang Hao issued a series of commands without pause, and the Skeleton Technician was able to control each one. The only minor disappointment was the need for someone to be nearby, giving commands. This Technician without Soul Fire was unable to control it on its own. ¡°Alright, fly back now!¡± The Aerial Ship turned around and flew back. Docking at its original position. The only issue was a somewhat unstable landing, with the entire vessel shaking. But overall, it was good enough. The Deomn Doll descended from the air, and Fang Hao promptly took it back. He turned and headed back to the lord¡¯s manor. Recruiting a large number of Technicians was not urgent for now. He would recruit them when it was time to head to Blood Castle. By the afternoon, transmigrators had begun to arrive sequentially. Fang Hao had Demitrija give them some pre-battle training and also waited for transmigrators coming from further distances. ¡­ In the lord¡¯s hall, Fang Hao sat in his chair, with the Goblin from the Trade Alliance ¨C Kukettor, by his side. With a smile, Kukettor¡¯s sharp voice began, ¡°Mr Fang Hao, the Trade Alliance has conducted an investigation in the past two days, and has also negotiated with the Dragon Clan, but¡­, the situation is not very favorable.¡± ¡°Oh? What do you mean?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°The Dragon Clan is searching for your information and the location of your domain through various ways.¡± Chapter 903 - Chapter 903: Chapter 577, Begin to Move Troops Chapter 903: Chapter 577, Begin to Move Troops After seeking out Rolana and Amanda to make a presence, the Trade Alliance headquarters also increased their attention on me. They knew that even though Fang Hao was a transmigrator, he had acquired a power that couldn¡¯t be taken lightly. This world respects the strong, especially the tough nuts to crack. In the passing days, no one from the Trade Alliance came to bother me. Tonight, they also arranged for the person in charge of residence 032, ¡®Kukettor,¡¯ to come over and convey some news. When I heard the other party mention that the Dragon Clan was investigating me, I became interested as well. After the maid brought in tea and pastries, I went straight to the point and asked, ¡°Is the Dragon Clan looking for me?¡± Kukettor, with a wry smile, said, ¡°You are aware, Mr Fang Hao, that the Dragon Clan has always been tough and unreasonable. This time, when we arranged for personnel to investigate the battle incident, we were pressured by them. They demanded that the Trade Alliance provide your information and territory location.¡± Sometimes rules of the Trade Alliance are made for the ordinary members. The likes of the Dragon Clan would abide by them on usual days, but once something happens, it¡¯s hard to really deal with them. Fight them, and you may not necessarily win. Impose sanctions, and if you push the Dragon Clan too hard, it¡¯ll be difficult to resolve in the end. Thus, at the beginning, the Trade Alliance intended to suppress Fang Hao to pacify the Dragon Clan. But it turned out that Fang Hao was also a hard nut to crack, and the Trade Alliance turned ¡®neutral¡¯ once again. ¡°So how did the Trade Alliance deal with it?¡± I continued to ask. If the Trade Alliance intended to leak information to the Dragon Clan, then I would have to set up defenses to withstand the Dragon Clan¡¯s attack now. This point in time was really not a strong moment for me. Waging war against both Odys and the Dragon Clan at the same time would bring great pressure on me, and even involve a certain degree of danger. As if seeing my concern, ¡®Kukettor¡¯ quickly said, ¡°Rest assured, Mr Fang Hao, the Trade Alliance is a neutral force. While we might provide mediation for our allies, we absolutely won¡¯t reveal members¡¯ intelligence and information due to external factors.¡± Offering mediation. Last time, when Gray Iron City was attacked, the Trade Alliance stepped in to mediate. But back then, I didn¡¯t acknowledge it, so that matter was let go. I nodded, ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯m not afraid of the Dragon Clan, but I also don¡¯t want to have a direct conflict with them at this time.¡± I was clear about my strengths and weaknesses. My territory excelled in land combat, but facing a race strong in aerial combat, my advantage would be much less. Therefore, I needed to delay. Delay until the wishing well produced a large quantity of Dragon Crystals, and the number of Bone Dragons reached thousands, tens of thousands, countless thousands. Then, even if it¡¯s just a collision in the air, I could potentially wipe out the Dragon Clan. Kukettor sighed gently, ¡°The Dragon Clan is vengeful. The Trade Alliance might not reveal anything, but it¡¯s possible that they could find out your situation through other channels. So it¡¯s best to negotiate peace with the Dragon Clan.¡± Even if Fang Hao wasn¡¯t weak, Kukettor still didn¡¯t think he could match the Dragon Clan. ¡°Is there a possibility of negotiation?¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s worth a try,¡± Kukettor answered. I shook my head slightly, such matters are hard to mediate, especially when the Dragon Clan thinks you are weaker than them. ¡°How has the Trade Alliance investigation of this matter been going?¡± I continued to ask, not intending to linger on the topic of reconciliation. ¡°As far as we can tell now, it basically aligns with the account you gave. Once the results come out, responsibility will be assigned. You and the Dragon Clan will bear the cost of rebuilding the structures, as well as the Trade Alliance¡¯s fines.¡± ¡°Will the Dragon Clan pay this money?¡± I was curious. The Dragon Clan is acting quite tough right now. And they¡¯re still angry. Pay you money? But ¡®Kukettor¡¯ just smiled and said, ¡°They will pay. The Trade Alliance is not as weak as you think. While we might not be able to deal with the Dragon Clan through military force, as long as the Dragon Clan wants to sell goods through the Trade Alliance, they must pay reparations.¡± Thinking about it that way, it seemed to make sense. Commerce is also a kind of warfare, and the Trade Alliance has become an indispensable part of development and the competition for resources. ¡°That¡¯s a reasonable point.¡± Kukettor continued, ¡°I primarily came here to discuss this matter, there¡¯s nothing else.¡± I nodded, but something else had come to my mind. Leaning forward, I went straight to the point, ¡°Mr. Kukettor, I wish to purchase the blueprints for an ¡®Energy Core¡¯ construction. Do you know of any channels where I might acquire one?¡± Kukettor was startled, ¡°You want to buy the blueprints?¡± ¡°Yes, is there any way to do so? I¡¯ve been to many places recently but haven¡¯t seen any,¡± I continued. Kukettor stroked his beardless chin, ¡°Those blueprints are only sold at the Trade Alliance¡¯s auction. You certainly won¡¯t see them on the open market. Your only choice is to wait for the next auction and try your luck.¡± ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± I sighed. This airship is proving to be quite the challenge. Now that I have the technicians, the Energy Core has become a new problem. Kukettor thought for a moment and then said, ¡°It¡¯s not that there¡¯s no way. Don¡¯t you just need an ¡®Energy Core¡¯? The Trade Alliance¡¯s local branches sell these cores in bulk to various technicians. I can arrange for you to be included on this list, and then you¡¯ll be able to purchase a set number of cores every month.¡± My eyes lit up; this could be a solution to the current predicament. Once I get hold of the Energy Cores and have the blueprints to produce them myself, I can stop buying them later. ¡°That could work, how much do these cores cost?¡± Chapter 904 - Chapter 904: Chapter 577, Start Adjusting Troops_2 Chapter 904: Chapter 577, Start Adjusting Troops_2 ¡°It¡¯s not expensive, 220 Warfire Coins each. Such consumables are generally not too pricey,¡± Kukettor said. The Energy Core could be likened to a battery. Being consumables sold in bulk determined their price wouldn¡¯t be outrageous. However, 220 wasn¡¯t exactly low either; the price had reached that of blue equipment. For someone like Fang Hao who sold equipment in large batches, 220 was still acceptable. But from the perspective of the natives who had to hand-forge their equipment, 220 was definitely not considered cheap. ¡°How many can I buy at once?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Kukettor replied, ¡°I need to report it and wait for the Trade Alliance¡¯s approval, especially since your issue with the Dragon Clan hasn¡¯t been resolved yet¡­ How about this, I can spare 10 for you to buy first.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll have Doujin come over and purchase them from you shortly.¡± ¡°Certainly!¡± After discussing business, the two of them chatted about Fang Hao¡¯s commercial plans. When the sky began to darken, Fang Hao gifted two opulent gold-inlaid vases, and Kukettor left in high spirits. Doujin also followed to purchase the ¡®Energy Cores¡¯. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡­ Late at night. Silver Wing City. The leader of the Hall of Justice, ¡®Dordy¡¯, tiptoed back to his bedroom. At this hour, he didn¡¯t want to risk disturbing his wife¡¯s sweet dreams and face her complaints. However, as he approached the bedside, he saw ¡®Olivia¡¯ sitting there, her gaze fixed on the approaching Dordy. Her sheer dress partly concealed her proud, voluptuous figure. Partially hidden yet undeniable, her allure was unobstructed by the faint evening light. ¡°You remembered to come back, huh? If I hadn¡¯t known you were with the Archbishop, I¡¯d have led a team to catch you in the act,¡± Olivia said with some displeasure. Clearly, she harbored some grievances towards her husband, who had been rarely home these past few days. Dordy gave an awkward smile and immediately stepped forward to embrace his wife, ¡°The border conflict has been intense lately, and I¡¯ve been quite overwhelmed.¡± He and his wife were closely affectionate, and since ¡®Olivia¡¯ also came from a prominent family, even if he was reluctant to talk, he would still explain things to her. ¡°The battle keeps you from coming home?¡± Olivia still pressed. ¡°No, not at all,¡± Dordy replied, hugging her closer, ¡°Why are you still awake at this late hour?¡± ¡°How can I sleep with the bed this cold?¡± Olivia coldly retorted. Dordy immediately understood the implication. Without another word, he disrobed and pressed his wife onto the bed, starting to ¡®make up his assignments.''¡± Olivia blocked his neck with her arms, her body swaying. Between breaths, she softly asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening at the front? You really shouldn¡¯t risk it there.¡± Despite knowing her husband was a leader, she was unwilling to have him at the front lines. ¡°Ah! New intelligence has come in. The Undead still have moves to make, and now Silver Wing City isn¡¯t safe either,¡± Dordy answered. ¡°What happened? Isn¡¯t it just at the border? How is Silver Wing City now in danger?¡± Dordy continued, ¡°Intelligence suggests that Odys plans to take a detour from the Blood Clan territory and attack from the north. If we can¡¯t redeploy forces in time, Silver Wing City might be at risk.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°The intelligence isn¡¯t clear. Don¡¯t mention it outside, and have your family avoid leaving the city for a while in case there is real danger,¡± Dordy advised. ¡°Oh, okay!¡± The couple fell silent, their earlier passion replaced by worry. They continued mechanically with the movements they hadn¡¯t finished. After a while in silence, Olivia spoke again, ¡°Isn¡¯t ¡®Rebecca¡¯ in great danger then?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ve already notified ¡®Lyss City¡¯ to strengthen its defense and am sending troops to support Pruell City,¡± Dordy continued. Just as Olivia was about to speak, a faint knocking sound came from outside the door. ¡°Lord, someone from the church has arrived, please come over,¡± the voice outside said. This¡­ The sudden interruption froze their expressions. Regrettably, ¡®Dordy¡¯ could only offer an apologetic smile, quelch his ¡®spear,¡¯ and start hastily dressing. After quietly consoling his wife a few times, he left directly. Leaving the unstudied beauty on the bed, staring at the ceiling. After some thought, she ultimately sat up, retrieved the Sound-transmitting Shell from a nearby cabinet, placed it to her mouth, and spoke, ¡°Rebecca, there¡¯s danger on your side. Bring your young husband over here.¡± Hall of Councils. Archbishop-Milton had already been anxiously waiting. Seeing Dordy approaching, he hurriedly said, ¡°Xu Haide has new information again. The Undead have already started negotiating with the Blood Clan. It¡¯s likely that their cooperation cannot be stopped.¡± ¡°How could this happen¡­¡± ¡­ The next day. Inside the main city, a good number of transmigrators had already gathered. They were city lords affiliated with Zhang Bin, Dong Jiayue, and others, all members within their territories. When these people arrived here, each one of them was almost jaw-droppingly surprised. ¡°Boss¡¯s territory has so many Undead, huh? This place is gathering yin energy, the evil aura is heavy.¡± ¡°What heavy? Becoming an Undead and living forever isn¡¯t so bad either.¡± ¡°Not just Undead, you guys weren¡¯t here yesterday. An orange Lizardmen hero trained us, and his armor was so impressive.¡± ¡°I also saw an orange Undead hero holding a scepter, quite scary.¡± ¡°Boss¡¯s strength is unfathomably deep.¡± Inside the lord¡¯s mansion. Fang Hao sat at the head, with a few heroes, and Dong Jiayue sitting below. Originally, Dong Jiayue was not planned to be involved, and the idea was just to bring in some scattered transmigrators to cooperate in the battle. But Dong Jiayue took the initiative to come, and she also had the experience of previously attacking Gray Iron City. She is more familiar with commanding transmigrators. Fang Hao thought about it and agreed, thinking since she had nothing much on her side, it was good for her to join in. Seeing that everyone below was ready, Fang Hao began to explain the reason for calling everyone here this time. The ambition of Odys, as well as the high bone tax on humans. Plus the previous identity and wishes of ¡®Amanda.¡¯ He explained it all very clearly. ¡°So, this time as Odys goes to war with the Human Federation, we will advance from north to south, directly entering the border of the ¡®Great Cemetery of Odys¡¯ and start advancing towards the center. Detailed maps and plans have been prepared by Amanda. After we get there, everyone must cooperate with Amanda¡¯s arrangements to complete this battle.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± everyone responded solemnly. Fang Hao nodded and continued, ¡°Nelson, Aseti, Meatfist, Spencer, and Dong Jiayue, the rest of you will head to Crescent Heights together later.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Hao nodded and continued, ¡°Frederick, Dimitrija, and Anjia, the three of you will stay behind in the main city.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the three of them responded. Frederick is a Dwarf Skeleton, an orange hero. He was the Dwarf general in charge of defense at Gray Iron City at the time. His defense, coupled with Gray Iron City¡¯s ¡°Gray Iron Bastion,¡± indeed held off the Undead¡¯s army of millions. If it weren¡¯t for the backend Dwarf nobles who weren¡¯t effective and fled at the first sign of trouble, breaking through the city walls would have taken some effort. After dying in battle, Frederick was turned into a Skeleton hero, specializing in positional Defense. With the large-scale troop movements this time, Fang Hao transferred him over to defend the main city. After all, sometimes Fang Hao had places to go, and Dimitrija and Anjia needed to accompany him, so the main city could not be left without a hero. After all, there was still the potential threat of the Dragon Clan. After giving his orders, with nothing left to add from the others, he directly said, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s the basic situation, let¡¯s prepare to depart.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± All rose to their feet and walked outside. Outside the city gates, as a group of heroes walked out, they still caused a sensation among the transmigrators. The number of orange heroes surpassed what they had seen during their conversations. Their splendor was almost blinding. ¡­ Yet, this was only the beginning. From a distance, they saw Bone Dragons flying in like dark clouds covering the sun and airships in the sky. All of this made the transmigrators widen their eyes in disbelief at the spectacle before them. ¡°Damn¡­ Bone Dragons? What¡¯s going on, nobody in the channel said the boss had these things.¡± ¡°Incredible, what¡¯s up with this hot air balloon airship? This strong punk vibe, are we in a game or what?¡± ¡°Dragons, now airships, this is simply unbelievable.¡± ¡°Damn it, I just bought an ostrich steed a few days ago, and now there are so many dragons here with the boss, it¡¯s maddening.¡± Chapter 905 - Chapter 905: Chapter 578, Segel Wing Sword Chapter 905: Chapter 578, Segel Wing Sword ¡°This is just too exaggerated, how could there be Tier 10 troops and orange heroes everywhere?¡± ¡°Definitely cheating, definitely cheating.¡± ¡°Cheating is good, if the big shot has a cheat, we¡¯re also safe.¡± ¡°Yes, the world channel opened, especially since the top ten are all those foreigners, having a cheat is good.¡± ¡°What does this have to do with the world channel?¡± ¡°We need to learn from history.¡± Looking at the Wyverns and Aerial Ships that appeared in front of them, the transmigrators murmured in low voices after their initial astonishment. Most of the transmigrators who were lucky were still in the phase of accumulating resources and stable development. Having a military force of a thousand, capable of repelling beasts, possessing one or two subordinate villages, and having enough food for the winter¡ª that was already considered very good development. Being able to have one or two heroes, regardless of their tier or level, would get you praised to the skies in the channel. And those who could appear on the world leaderboard or establish an ¡°Alliance¡± had encountered special opportunities. Go to ????????????????????.co In any place, they were considered top-tier bosses. But even the transmigrators within the territory, when they dared to think about Fang Hao¡¯s strength, their imaginations had not stretched to swarms of Bone Dragons and fleets of Aerial Ships. It was simply unbelievable. ¡°Cough cough! Everyone quiet.¡± During the hubbub, a spirited woman, dressed in battle armor with a gun at her waist and carrying a long spear on her back, approached. Some people recognized her and greeted her. Others did not know her identity, but seeing her leave the city, they knew she was an important figure of the territory. When the scene quieted down, the woman spoke loudly, ¡°My name is Dong Jiayue, we¡¯re all on the same side, and you should have heard about me.¡± As soon as her words fell, the discussions below buzzed again. ¡°That¡¯s Dong Jiayue, so young.¡± ¡°The Valkyrie who took down Gray Iron City?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t afford to provoke, definitely can¡¯t afford to provoke.¡± Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°This time, you will all be under my command. Come over here to register. You will be rewarded according to the registration information. Similarly, those who do not follow commands will also receive military punishment. I don¡¯t want to be too harsh, everyone has survived until now not easily, so don¡¯t lose your life over a trivial matter.¡± This,¡­ The crowd was silent. Isn¡¯t that harsh? Even mentioned losing your life. After a brief pause, Dong Jiayue continued, ¡°Another important thing, from now until the mission ends, no one is allowed to divulge information about this side, including chatting and taking photos. If discovered, execution will be immediate.¡± Upon hearing this, the crowd became even quieter. This woman, she really dares to kill. After a long silence, someone raised a hand and asked, ¡°Boss, what is our mission this time?¡± That was what everyone was curious about. Upon arrival, they were led by a Lizardman to the back of the city for collective training. Various commands and the meanings of some flag signals. They were all trained in these. And today, with Bone Dragons and Aerial Ships, they privately discussed the possibility of going to war, but still were somewhat uncertain. After all, they had just ended a war with the Dwarfs; going to war again seemed a bit too frequent. Dong Jiayue glanced at the person, and spoke loudly, ¡°This time, our mission is to help a queen recover lost territory. Of course, we won¡¯t need to be on the battlefield; we will be responsible for logistics.¡± A queen? Recovering lost land? The crowd, within a single sentence, picked out the keywords. ¡°A special scenario mission?¡± ¡°A queen, huh! Wonder if she¡¯s good looking. I¡¯m very healthy, and for the development of the territory, I can sacrifice myself, even consider a marriage alliance.¡± ¡°Forget about it, let me do it.¡± Dong Jiayue began registering the transmigrators. Life, age, and location of the territory and such. Once everything was nearly ready, the hero ¡®Spencer,¡¯ in the distance, waved his hand, signaling that the transmigrators could mount the Bone Dragons. Dong Jiayue nodded, speaking loudly, ¡°Alright, everyone onto the Bone Dragons, prepare to take off.¡± Holy shit!! Riding these Bone Dragons? The crowd was stunned again. Although riding a dragon was everyone¡¯s dream, when it was actually before their eyes, each one couldn¡¯t help but swallow their saliva. There won¡¯t be any danger, will there? ¡°Get on, quickly, what are you big guys afraid of?¡± Dong Jiayue urged softly, herding them onto the Bone Dragons. Once everything was ready, the leading Bone Dragon soared into the sky. The other Bone Dragons followed, one after another, rushing into the sky. Leaving behind phrases like, ¡°Oh shit,¡± ¡°Ah~!¡± ¡°Help!¡± and the like. They disappeared from sight. And the Aerial Ships followed closely behind, flying toward the direction of Crescent Heights. ¡­ Standing on the city wall, watching the departing Aerial Ships, the Aerial Ship, as a vehicle, was not very agile in its own right. Mounting cannons on the Aerial Ships was also influenced by a game once called ¡®Red Alert.¡¯ The Kirov Airship. Able to drop bombs downwards, it was a powerful Aerial Ship. Unlike the world view of Red Alert, this world had a large number of flying troop types, which posed a threat to the less agile Aerial Ships. Whether it would achieve the desired effect on the battlefield still needed to be verified on the spot, If not effective, then the Aerial Ships could only be used for transportation. As the last Aerial Ship disappeared, he finally walked down from the city wall. Just stepped down the stairs, heading straight back to the lord¡¯s mansion. The three rewards he received from being top of the three lists last time. Two had already been used. There was still one left. Chapter 906 - Chapter 906: Chapter 578, Segel Wing Sword_2 Chapter 906: Chapter 578, Segel Wing Sword_2 Spectacular Architecture Blueprint [Sanctum of the Holy Spirit]. A blueprint that can only be used for castles reaching Level 15. Returning to the Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao immediately checked the building attributes. [Level 12 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle]. [Materials required for upgrade: Sturdy Wood 40,000, Stone Bricks 32,000, Fine Stone Bricks 8,800, Marble Flooring 2,000, Iron 3,500, Cast Iron 2,000, Metal Parts 2,200, Tiles 5,000.] After increasing the number of laborers mining resources, the accumulation of materials also saw a rapid improvement. The materials for the upgrade were sufficient. Calling out all the maids within the building, he chose to upgrade directly. Light enveloped the building, beginning to expand the Lord¡¯s Mansion. The upgrade time had reached 5 hours. Unable to enter the Lord¡¯s Mansion, Fang Hao began to stroll around the city. The Blackstone training field was still bustling with activity, some maids were in training, while Earth Spirit daughters were lifting iron nearby. Go to ????????????????????.co As the weather warmed, the maids were wearing less and less. Every punch and kick stirred up a surge. Fang Hao glanced over then continued towards the industrial district of the Undead. Entering the industrial district. From afar, he could smell the scent of rubber. The Skeleton Tanners were boiling ¡®adhesive,¡¯ and some were processing leather. In addition to the urgently needed Swift Eagle Leather in the territory, the tanners were also taking on the production of leather armor and gear. Such as the leather aprons used by craftsmen. And the ¡®leather boots¡¯ that were being mass-produced. The cold weather shoes previously worn in the territory were made by tailors, mainly using straw cloth, linen, and cotton fabric as materials. Now that the tanners had joined, Fang Hao had them start working on leather boots and leather jackets. The leather overcoat didn¡¯t fit the season, but leather boots compared to fabric shoes were still much more durable and wear-resistant. After that, Fang Hao looked over the Skeleton Tailors, Skeleton Goldsmiths, and a host of other craftsmen. It must be said that the Undead were much more disciplined than the living creatures. The lack of desire made them less interested in anything, leaving them to spend their time on work. After chatting with a few skeleton commanders for a while, he felt it was about time to return. Back to the Lord¡¯s Mansion. By then, the building had completed its upgrade. It had reached Level 13 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle. [Level 13 Lord¡¯s Stone Castle] [Belonging Lord: Fang Hao] [Abilities: Production/Gathering +6.5%, Troop Movement +6.5%, All Attributes +7.5%.] [Existing Buildings: Level 12 Underground Cemetery¡­, Level 12 Stables.] [Appointable Positions: Bronze Bull City ¨C Talok, Frostwind City -Skullcrusher, Northern Town ¨C Black Thorn, Pruell Tavec, Blood Castle ¨C Rolana Ann Tobias, Webweaver Camp ¨C Dominica, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Zhang Bin, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Fu Lei, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Dong Jiayue, ¡®Unnamed¡¯ ¨C Kong Yong.] (Note: Core building of the territory.) [Materials required for upgrade: Sturdy Wood 50,000, Stone Bricks 38,000, Fine Stone Bricks 9,500, Marble Flooring 3,000, Iron 4,000, Cast Iron 3,000, Metal Parts 3,200, Tiles 7,000.] After Level 13, the area of the Lord¡¯s Mansion expanded. The abilities provided also increased by 0.5. Fang Hao turned and headed to the city wall. He upgraded the city wall and several defense towers to Level 13. The other buildings could be upgraded slowly or not at all. But the defensive buildings inside the territory must be upgraded, otherwise, in case of unexpected events, it would be too late to upgrade them on short notice. ¡­ After lunch. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords and peeked at the world channel. However, the messages were still flying by rapidly. He filtered out some advertisements for item trading. He exchanged for some crop seeds and a one-handed sword blueprint. [Segel Wing Sword (Blue): Cast Iron 8, White Steel Ingot 5, Thick Leather 2.] (Description: A one-handed sword used by the Segel Tribe, its unique shape and exclusive forging technique have made this sword well-known.) The blue one-handed sword was just right to replace the green Black Iron Knight Sword. Setting a fixed price for the blueprint in the buying channel prevented crazed pricing upon seeing Fang Hao¡¯s name. He cataloged the blueprint, and the seeds were handed over to Zhang Bin, who was to arrange for their planting. He proceeded to the weapons warehouse. He opened the Book of Lords and began crafting. [100-fold amplification triggered, obtained 10,100 Segel Wing Swords.] Light flickered. Over ten thousand gleaming one-handed swords fell from the sky, clattering as they covered the ground. The jarring noise attracted nearby Skeleton Merchants, and patrolling Skeleton Guards in the distance also came with their swords to check the situation. Seeing that it was Fang Hao crafting weapons, they dispersed to attend to their own tasks. Fang Hao picked up a sword to examine it. Segel Wing Sword (Blue) Category: One-handed sword Damage: Level 4 damage Effect: Speed +5%. (Description: A one-handed sword used by the Segel Tribe, with a unique design and exclusive forging technique, has made this sword famously well-known.) The one-handed sword¡¯s design looked very attractive. The blade had wavy patterns, and the guard resembled feathers. The sword¡¯s name, Wing Sword, must have come from the shape of the guard. In terms of effects, a 5% speed increase is actually quite good for a weapon. And as described, it involves the exclusive forging techniques of the Segel Tribe. But once a transmigrator gets the blueprint, it¡¯s not so exclusive anymore. He opened the Book of Lords and searched for this weapon. There was only one shop selling it, and it was the same transmigrator who was selling the blueprints. Segel Wing Sword (Blue) Exchange Conditions [50 Iron/15 Fine Iron/8 units of rare resources.] Huh, that¡¯s selling at quite a steep price. 50 iron, or 15 fine iron, plus rare resources. But it¡¯s understandable, blue-quality equipment isn¡¯t common in the market. And being the only Wing Sword available, it makes sense it¡¯s priced higher. After some thought, Fang Hao decided to list the Wing Sword for sale. The price was the same as the competitor¡¯s. He wasn¡¯t selling for low prices because he didn¡¯t want blue equipment to become too common. With the world channel opened, you never know when you¡¯ll start a war with another transmigrator, and selling blue-quality equipment in large quantities at low prices. It would only cause market chaos and enable competitors to grow too quickly. A high price meant the other side could buy, but at best they¡¯d purchase a hundred or so, which was the best-case scenario. Listing successful. The Segel Wing Sword has been sold, received +50 iron ingots. The Segel Wing Sword has been sold, received +8 rare materials. The Hardwood Cavalry Bow has been sold, received +10 iron ingots. The Segel Wing Sword has been sold, received +15 fine iron. The equipment had just been listed and was quickly being sold off. A big reason for this was the prestige of being the world¡¯s first. Even though that transmigrator had listed the weapon for sale much earlier, nobody knew about his shop. On his end, selling weapons and equipment in large quantities over a sustained period meant that many people would come to purchase from him. Watching the Wing Swords sell quickly, Fang Hao made another hundred thousand units. Besides those he listed, he also gave the patrolling soldiers of the territory new weapons to use. The replaced weapons were also sold off at a guaranteed low price. ¡­ After working busily for a while. Fang Hao, satisfied, decided to head back. As he walked out of the warehouse area, he encountered Doujin coming toward him. ¡°Good afternoon, my lord. The Lizardman ¡®Anastasia¡¯ requests passage through the Teleportation Array,¡± Doujin immediately said. Because of the Dragon Clan, the Teleportation Array was shut down and needed Fang Hao¡¯s approval for anyone to pass through. Hearing the name, Fang Hao remembered her identity. The Lizardman queen, Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint ¨C Anastasia. A dark gold level nine hero. Before, the two did talk about future cooperation, but that didn¡¯t mean she would come in person, right? Was she not afraid that Fang Hao would have some plot and just keep her here? Similarly, Fang Hao was also hesitant, although he guessed she had no ill intentions. His heroes were being massively redeployed, and with the opponent¡¯s high rank, he feared danger. After thinking for a moment, he said to Anjia standing by, ¡°Have all the Nisbits in the city go on alert around the Lord¡¯s Castle.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Anjia agreed and quickly left. With the passing of one winter, 101 Nisbits had also advanced to heroes. They were also a critical defense force for the main city. Since they had the powerful skill [Stripping Trait], the trait of any race would be ineffective in front of the Nisbits. They could play a very strong role in the security of the territory. After Anjia left quickly, Fang Hao looked at Doujin again and said, ¡°In 10 minutes, allow three people through the Teleportation Array, take them to the Lord¡¯s Castle.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Doujin left in haste. Fang Hao also headed toward the Lord¡¯s Castle. Chapter 907 - Chapter 907: Chapter 579, The Queen Needs a Husband Chapter 907: Chapter 579, The Queen Needs a Husband The Teleportation Array shone with dazzling brilliance. The next second, three Lizardmen walked out from the screen of light. The one in the lead was dressed in gorgeous attire and behaved with grace¡ªit was the Lizard Queen, ¡°Crown Feather of the Ancient Saint ¨C Anastasia¡±. By the queen¡¯s side, two other Lizardmen followed, one donned in a loose, flowing priestly robe, the other clad in dark red armor and a longsword hanging from his waist. Upon their arrival, their eyes were filled with curiosity as they surveyed their surroundings. A row of warehouses, busy Skeleton merchants¡ªit was as though they¡¯d entered a large gathering place. It seemed, business here was indeed booming. ¡°Honored guests, the lord awaits in the great hall, please follow me,¡± Doujin said respectfully, bowing slightly. It wasn¡¯t until they heard the voice did the trio notice the Skeleton waiting off to the side. The Lizard Queen nodded. Doujin then led the three of them past layers of buildings, making their way to the lord¡¯s great hall. Along the way, the Lizard Queen¡¯s eyes were dazzled by the sights. She had never imagined that she would see such a mix of architectural styles in one city. Go to ????????????????????.co The architecture of the Undead, the totems of the Orcs, the fountains of the Dwarves¡ªall were erected within one city, truly unique. By the roadside, Women with rabbit ears stepped on the five-meter-tall skulls of giant Skeletons to replace the glass covers of street lamps. Bouncy Deermen were digging holes to plant flower seeds in front of Undead structures. This contradictory yet harmonious scene, even knowing that transmigrators brought many differences, was still somewhat surprising. When they arrived in front of the lord¡¯s mansion, Seeing the tall ¡®Nisbit¡¯ guards around, the trio¡¯s gaze narrowed slightly. What a grand setup. All the guards are heroes. Even the leaders of great powers would not assign over a hundred heroes to act as guards, would they? The surprises came one after another. Such a visit could almost overturn their notions. ¡°The three esteemed guests, please come inside. The lord awaits within!¡± Doujin, noticing the trio halt at the entrance, spoke softly once more. Only then did the three continue ahead, following into the building. As they entered the great hall. Doujin bowed and said, ¡°My lord, the guests have arrived.¡± Fang Hao immediately revealed a smile and descended from his throne. ¡°Your Majesty the Queen, my apologies for not meeting you at a greater distance.¡± At the same time, Fang Hao also took notice of the two other Lizardmen accompanying the queen. All of them were heroes, ¡°Ancient Saint Priest ¨C Tiktata (Tier 3 Purple Hero)¡± ¡°Crimson General ¨C Leotozan (Tier 4 Orange Hero)¡± The Ancient Saint Priest was draped in a large, thick white robe with blue patterns at the collar and hem, and the symbol of the Ancient Saint embroidered on the chest. The entire person, with only their face and tail exposed, had skin of the same blue color as Demitrija. The Crimson General, on the other hand, shared the same red skin as the queen. He was tall and imposing, wearing red armor, with a longsword at his waist. With cold, slit pupils, he stood there, exuding a sense of oppression. ¡°Mr. Fang Hao,¡± the queen also revealed a smile, but the smile of a Lizardman, showing off quite a few teeth, Gave off a somewhat dangerous aura. ¡°Please have a seat,¡± Fang Hao gestured for everyone to sit and talk. The maids brought in drinks and pastries. Once everyone was seated, Fang Hao continued, ¡°How does the Queen find the time to visit us?¡± The Lizard Queen picked up the tea and took a sip without hesitation, not worried that Fang Hao might have poisoned it. After setting down the tea cup, she spoke softly, ¡°It is quite common to visit an ally.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Fang Hao smiled. Yet in his mind, he thought that it had only been a few days since their last separation at the Trade Alliance headquarters. Allies should not be moving around so quickly, Especially not for such a high-level meeting between leaders. The Lizard Queen continued, ¡°How is it? Has the Dragon Clan caused you any trouble?¡± Fang Hao was startled and suddenly became vigilant. She surely wasn¡¯t here to scout the location of his domain for the Dragon Clan. But upon further thought, that didn¡¯t seem right either. She didn¡¯t need to put herself at risk by coming over personally. And considering that she helped Fang Hao purchase items, it seemed that the Lizardmen weren¡¯t particularly close with the Dragon Clan, even supportive of him. ¡°Not at all, things can¡¯t go wrong that quickly,¡± Fang Hao said softly. The queen nodded, ¡°If there¡¯s any danger, as allies, we will offer you some help.¡± ¡°I truly appreciate that, Your Majesty,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°As it should be,¡± the queen nodded and went on, ¡°This time, I¡¯ve come intending to purchase some weapons and equipment from you. I remember you said you would give a discount, mind you.¡± The thousand weapons they had agreed on last time had already been handed over to the other party by Doujin. Their stores had also made contact. And now she was here to purchase equipment from his place. ¡°Of course.¡± Fang Hao nodded and then turned to a maid, ¡°Go call Doujin.¡± Soon after, Doujin entered, bowed, and sat down at the side. Fang Hao continued to inquire, ¡°This time, how many pieces of equipment does the holy nation plan to order, and what are the specifications and types required?¡± The queen turned to the Lizardman in red armor behind her. He promptly said, ¡°We plan to order a large quantity, around 100,000 weapons. Of course, whether the deal goes through will depend on the quality and the price.¡± Fang Hao frowned slightly. That was not a small number. Was it for a complete army re-equipment, or simply replacing old gear? What a wealthy lady¡­ ¡°What quality do you require?¡± Fang Hao asked, maintaining his composure. ¡°Blue quality or better,¡± said the Crimson General. Blue quality was no problem for him, as he had plenty of blue-quality equipment. ¡°Weapon wise, the same ¡®Mountain King Orcish Cleavers¡¯ as last time?¡± Fang Hao asked further. Chapter 908 - Chapter 908: Chapter 579, The Queen Needs a Husband_2 Chapter 908: Chapter 579, The Queen Needs a Husband_2 ¡°No, we need spears, single-handed swords and single-handed knives, and military crossbows,¡± the Red General continued. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, we have them in stock in our warehouse. Shall I take you to have a look?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the Queen spoke. Fang Hao smiled, got up, and was accompanied by Demitrija and Anjia. They walked together towards the direction of the warehouse. Upon arriving at the warehouse. Fang Hao had people bring out the [Military War Spear][Segel Wing Sword][Mountain King Orc Battle Knife][Misfortune Strike]. ¡®Misfortune Strike¡¯ was a blue-quality military crossbow. It was obtained when he killed Yu Tianpeng and devoured the Book of Lords¡¯ blueprint. Now, all the archers under Fang Hao had switched to ¡®bolt-action rifles,¡¯ so this heavy crossbow was used less often. ¡°Take a look, how are these? They are all very popular weapons in my shop,¡± Fang Hao introduced. The Red General picked up the ¡®Military War Spear¡¯ for inspection and nodded slightly. Then he examined the single-handed sword, the single-handed knife, and tested the military crossbow. Go to ????????????????????.co From his reactions, he seemed quite satisfied. Fang Hao was confident about the quality of the weapon. Weapons made by transmigrators were of a uniform standard. Unlike those crafted by native blacksmiths, the quality could fluctuate. Fang Hao then recommended his house¡¯s armor, but the Red General didn¡¯t seem too interested. Lizardmen were naturally endowed with the ¡®Scale Armor¡¯ trait, making armor less of an urgent need. He only gave them a brief look before returning to inspect the weapons. As Fang Hao was presenting, he suddenly noticed that the Lizardmen Queen and the Lizardmen Priest were eagerly talking to Demitrija on both sides, as if they were long-lost relatives and friends. At that moment, he understood. Coming to buy equipment was genuine, but bringing the Ancient Priest personally was an opportunity to poach from his side. They were still not giving up on Demitrija and planned to recruit him to the Lizardmen¡¯s side. Fang Hao did not intervene. The 100 points of Loyalty ensured that Demitrija would not betray him. Moreover, since they shared the same beliefs, it was also a way to foster friendly relations with the Lizardmen. After the introduction went on for a while. The Red General had seen enough. He then returned to the Queen¡¯s side and said in a soft voice, ¡°Your Majesty, the inspection is complete, there¡¯s no problem with the quality of these weapons.¡± The Lizardmen Queen nodded, her gaze turning to Fang Hao. ¡°When can they be delivered?¡± Fang Hao responded, ¡°Before tonight.¡± The Queen nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s place the order here, and don¡¯t forget to give us a discount on the price.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Then after we return, we will place the order through the Trade Alliance. Before tonight, please deliver the goods,¡± the Queen said. ¡°No problem, we will deliver the goods as soon as we receive the order,¡± Fang Hao assured confidently. ¡°Then we¡¯ll head back now.¡± ¡°Alright, next time you need anything, just contact me directly, there¡¯s no need for you to come in person,¡± Fang Hao led them towards the Teleportation Array. The Queen didn¡¯t state her position but simply followed forward. When they arrived at the Teleportation Array, they said goodbye once more and disappeared into the light screen. ¡­ Having left Fang Hao¡¯s territory, The three Lizardmen, via the Trade Alliance Teleportation Array, returned to their own domain. Marshes and jungles surrounded countless temples. In this damp and complex environment, it¡¯s a dead end for most races, but it¡¯s the most suitable place for the Lizardmen. Numerous Lizardmen live here, meditating in front of temples, dedicating their lives to the will of the Ancient Saint. At the center of the jungle stands a massive ancient city. The city walls are engraved with intricate spell inscriptions. Overhead, flags of various colors hang and flutter in the wind. The teleportation light screen brightened. The three from the Queen¡¯s party appeared. Attendant maids and guards, who had been waiting, swarmed to enclose the Queen among them. The triceratops bearing the throne bowed down slightly, and the Queen stepped on the raised Dragon Scales and mounted its back. She settled into the soft, blue velvet throne. Once the Queen was secure, the triceratops rose and walked towards the palace. ¡°Tiktata, how do you feel?¡± the Queen on the dragon¡¯s back asked softly. Priest Tiktata, sitting on a slightly smaller Giant Lizard, spoke, ¡°Is Your Majesty asking about the human or about the Son of the Ancient Saint?¡± ¡°Start with Fang Hao. He seems a bit different since the last time I saw him,¡± the Queen leaned on the chair back and inquired casually. A hundred or more heroes served as guards. How afraid of death must one be to use a hero in such a place? Even her palace guards are just 9th-tier ¡®Divine Guard¡¯. It¡¯s simply unreasonable. Tiktata, after contemplating his choice of words, quietly said, ¡°He is the most powerful transmigrator I have ever seen, stronger than any other transmigrator I have come into contact with, and even terrifyingly so.¡± The Lizardmen are also cultivating transmigrators, even allowing transmigrators to switch allegiances to the Lizardmen. But compared to Fang Hao, the gap between them is just too large. Fang Hao is someone who can sit down with the Queen and negotiate as an equal. The transmigrator that they support still needs the help of the Lizardmen to clear out wild beasts. ¡°Anything else?¡± the Queen continued to inquire. Tiktata continued, ¡°Given the size of his city, what we have seen is definitely not the full extent of his strength.¡± ¡°Oh? How can you tell?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the Undead museum and the spectacular architecture, all of which indicate that we have not seen everything.¡± The Queen nodded. Last time, she saw another human hero following Fang Hao, not the white-haired little girl with beast ears that they saw today. ¡°Do you think he qualifies to become an ally of the Holy Dynasty?¡± Tiktata pondered for a moment and finally nodded, ¡°I believe so.¡± The ally they were talking about isn¡¯t just the verbal ally mentioned to Fang Hao. It is a signed strategic alliance contract. Once signed, neither party can easily break the contract, and they must not attack each other without approval. If one party encounters danger, the other must provide support. For transmigrators, signing also means sharing the locations of allied territories in the Book of Lords. ¡°Your Majesty, are you planning to sign this soon?¡± Tiktata asked again. The Queen shook her head, ¡°No, he has provoked the Dragon Clan. Let¡¯s wait until this matter is over, and if he survives, then we can discuss it.¡± She did not want to get involved with the Dragon Clan herself. Tiktata nodded. The Queen continued, ¡°And what about the son of that Ancient Saint?¡± ¡°Very powerful. I can sense his steadfast faith and the pure Ancient Saint power within him,¡± said Tiktata. ¡°Then we¡¯ll count him as one,¡± the Queen said casually. ¡°Yes, my Queen.¡± The time for ¡®pilgrimage¡¯ was almost upon them. The Queen needed a powerful husband of pure bloodline. On the altar of the Ancient Saints, to complete the mating ritual, pleasing the Ancient Saints and conceiving powerful offspring. There had already been three candidates, all powerful heroes within the tribe. This time, one more had been added to the list. ¡­ Not long after the Lizardman left, Doujin received an order from the Lizardmen. [50,000 Military War Spears, 20,000 Segel Wing Swords, 10,000 King Orc Battle Blades, 20,000 Misfortune Strikes.] Doujin immediately discussed it with Fang Hao. The final pricing was set as ¡®160 Warfire Coins for each Military War Spear, 180 Warfire Coins for a Segel Wing Sword, 180 Warfire Coins for a King Orc Battle Blade, 200 for Misfortune Strike,¡¯ and they were sold at this price. Basically reducing the price by 20 to 40 for each item, which was already a very substantial discount. Once the other party agreed to the prices as well, Fang Hao began the mass production of these weapons in his warehouse. Amidst the clattering sound, they rained down from the sky. To the side, swarms of Skeletons began to organize them. About two hours later, the Skeleton merchant set off with the weapons and equipment to deliver them to the territory of the Lizardmen. ¡­ Night fell. Silver Wing City. Hall of Justice, main hall. Gathered were Dordy, Milton, and a host of council members who had rushed over from nearby cities. As the situation on the battlefield worsened, Xu Haide kept sending new intelligence reports. When council members heard that Odys still had a hidden move that could even threaten Silver Wing City, everyone started to become anxious. One by one, their faces turned grim as their hearts hung in suspense. The council members began to express their opinions. But from beginning to end, it was the same few suggestions, without any significant breakthrough. With no progress, the powerbrokers began considering their escape routes. If the Federation really couldn¡¯t hold back the Undead, they pondered how to flee or which power to seek refuge with. At least, they couldn¡¯t afford to go down with the Federation. Seeing no progress and the night growing deep, Dordy sighed slightly and said, ¡°We need equipment, strategy, allies. After you return, any council member who can come up with a solution will receive priority support from the council, and City Lord council members will be nominated to enter the Upper House.¡± Chapter 909 - Chapter 909: Chapter 580, Attacking the Great Cemetery Chapter 909: Chapter 580, Attacking the Great Cemetery Nomination to the Upper House? The decision, once announced, instantaneously sent the entire place into an uproar. The arrangement of upper and lower members has persisted in the Federation of Hundred Cities for a century. Over time, the Upper House¡¯s powers increasingly grew while the Lower House gradually became an implementing body. Major decisions were made by the Upper House before being communicated to the Lower House. And now, Dordy proclaimed that anyone who could resolve the current Federation dilemma, or propose a solution, could be nominated by the Upper House. The implication was clear: it allowed such a person to become a member of the Upper House. This was an aspiration for every City Lord member, a difference akin to a commoner becoming a noble. After a brief discussion, everyone slowly calmed down. The Hall of Justice and the Church, holding all power within the Federation, were unable to resolve it. So where could others possibly find the capability? It was simply a reluctant acceptance of a stroke of luck. After Dordy finished speaking, he continued, ¡°Alright, go back and rest everyone. If you have any strategies for resolution, inform me at any time.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co The council members rose and left the council hall. Today¡¯s meeting information and contents were then conveyed back to their respective cities through various methods after the conclusion. All City Lords, because of the nomination to the Upper House, were both surprised and yearning. And many more of the powerful began to transfer their wealth and contact connections after returning. They clearly held no hope for the Federation to pull through. They sought fallback plans through various means. ¡­ The next day. The grand opening of the Fairy Dream Tower, the Number 032 Trade Alliance outlet, went ahead as planned. Cosmetics on the first floor, dresses and Hanfu on the second, various jewelry on the third. Although Li Rong did not attend, she still remotely directed her subordinates to organize the work. Clerks in the store demonstrated and explained to the natives. At the entrance, rabbit and fox ladies sang and danced, drawing the attention of many. Fang Hao didn¡¯t pay much attention. But other transmigrators had already gathered around in several layers. As transmigrators developed, Trade Alliance shops had become widespread. They also turned into an important meetup spot for transmigrators. This led the station from a commercial platform to suddenly transform into a tourist area. Inns and taverns did booming business. Several businesses that had been doing poorly started remodeling, turning directly into inns. The name ¡°Fairy Dream Tower¡± and the Hanfu on the second floor, each one was familiar to the people and gave a sense of intimacy. Spectators took a few photos and sent them out. A large number of transmigrators came in to watch performances or to look around the shops. The entire area¡¯s channel, even on the world channel, was discussing the Fairy Dream Tower, with continuous image sharing. ¡­ Elsewhere. Blood Castle. Fang Hao and Demitrija appeared from the screen. The great hall was silent, not a soul in sight. But outside the castle, there was an abnormal clamor. Stepping out of Blood Castle, they saw Amanda and Rolana, not far off, quietly chatting about something. The two also noticed Fang Hao approaching. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Fang Hao asked. Amanda replied, ¡°No problems, just waiting to sign the treaty with the Federation.¡± ¡°Hmm, wait a bit more. Those at the Federation have been calling meetings these past few days; it¡¯s not quite their most desperate time yet,¡± Fang Hao said. Amanda nodded in understanding. Rolana also asked, ¡°The people you¡¯re transferring here, when will they arrive?¡± ¡°They should be on their way, they¡¯ll probably arrive by the afternoon.¡± Crescent Heights were a considerable distance from Pruell City. Even more so from Fang Hao¡¯s main city. Even by riding a Bone Dragon, it took about a day and a night to travel the distance. Fang Hao asked Rolana, ¡°Find an empty city nearby. I want to convert it into an Undead city.¡± Rolana¡¯s big eyes glanced at him before saying, ¡°There is one, let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± The group mounted their horses and headed out of the city. This was a castle of the ¡®Twilight Reveler.¡¯ Though not large, it also qualified as a small city. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to check, and the buildings in front of him were ready to convert. [Do you wish to convert the original castle ¡®Banquet Castle¡¯?] Yes! [Please select a faction for the city conversion[Human Camp][Undead Camp].] Undead Camp. A flash of light enveloped the whole city. [Conversion complete!] [Countdown to the next conversion of Banquet Castle: 29 days, 59 hours¡­] The ability to convert had a cooldown, meaning that this city could not be switched again within a month. The light dissipated. The attributes of Banquet Castle, previously an 8th-level Blood Clan affiliated castle, were now those of an 8th-level Undead affiliated castle. Fang Hao went to an open space and began constructing a Skeleton Transformation Field, Burial Grounds, Archery Range, Undead Mage Tower, Bound Spirit Tower, and other various military buildings in succession. The entire city was shrouded in beams of light. Structures formed slowly within these illuminations. Fang Hao asked, ¡°Check what troops you need, so I can recruit them for you.¡± Amanda replied, ¡°We require 50,000 Bound Spirit Guardians, and 10,000 engineers to control the machinery; the rest of the recruitment isn¡¯t urgent.¡± The original forces of Blood Castle amounted to around two million. And what Amanda needed were specialized functional troops. Bound Spirit Guardians, possessing souls, served the role of messengers within the army. Otherwise, commands could hardly reach the sheer number of common Skeletons. And using a large number of living creature troops would slow down the army¡¯s progress. Chapter 910 - Chapter 910: Chapter 580, Attacking the Great Cemetery_2 Chapter 910: Chapter 580, Attacking the Great Cemetery_2 ¡°Good!¡± Once construction was complete, Fang Hao immediately began recruiting. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 50500 Bound Spirit Guardians recruited.] [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 10100 Skeleton Engineers recruited.] This Dwarf engineer was indeed an eighth-tier soldier. The Gray Iron Stone used for recruitment was also a substantial amount. With the massive number of troops appearing, Fang Hao continued to produce equipment for them, led by Amanda. After recruitment, with Amanda¡¯s needs in mind, Fang Hao returned to the troop construction site. He recruited based on his own ideas. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 1212 Skeleton Technicians recruited.] Another thousand, these looking significantly more frail skeletons appeared. They stood there, dazed. ¡°My Lord, what is this?¡± Amanda was somewhat confused. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°These are technicians, you¡¯ll understand in a moment,¡± Fang Hao stated directly. Then, he left the city, to a vast open space. He opened the Book of Lords and found the blueprint for the Aerial Ship. Adjusted the quantity to 12 and chose to create. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, 1212 Wild Rabbit Small Aerial Ships obtained.] Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!! The thousand-plus Aerial Ships falling from the sky were quite an imposing sight. Amanda and Rolana both showed varying degrees of surprise. As the Aerial Ships appeared, Fang Hao continued to order, ¡°Technicians, one ship each, board the Aerial Ships.¡± The previously dazed Skeleton Technicians started to move. They boarded the Aerial Ships and voluntarily entered the control room. At this point, Amanda and another understood Fang Hao¡¯s idea. But Fang Hao still explained, ¡°I only acquired the technicians two days ago. I plan to mount cannons on the Aerial Ships to participate in this war.¡± Amanda considered for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s a good idea.¡± Fang Hao nodded, and began to massively produce cannons and organ guns. He recruited a large number of Skeleton Blacksmiths to mount these cannons on the Aerial Ships. Besides Blood Castle, the newly converted City of Undead also became abnormally busy. They stayed busy until nightfall. Only then did they use teleportation to return to the main city to rest. ¡­ Another day passed. After careful discussion, Rebecca, as the City Lord of Lyss City, directly contacted Silver Wing City. After briefly outlining the situation at the northern border, she straightforwardly stated that she had made contact with Rolana, master of Blood Castle, and Crescent Heights. Through several days of negotiations and promises, she gained their trust. Not only did she get the Blood Clan to reject Odys¡¯s partnership, but she also convinced them to support the human Federation. This news, once relayed to Silver Wing City, caused quite a stir. Rebecca, being away, saw many in the council intending to pull her down from her position as City Lord. Unexpectedly, when the entire Federation was at a loss, she, a woman, became a turning point for the Federation. After discussions in the upper senate and voting by representatives of various parties, the council decided that the next day ¡®Dordy¡¯ would personally go to Lyss City to discuss the details with the leader of the Blood Clan. If there were no issues, they would sign the alliance agreement directly. Thus relieving the pressure on humans. The next day, Dordy of the Hall of Justice and Rolana of Blood Castle met in a hall arranged in Lyss City for a ¡®friendly meeting¡¯. Rolana took the initiative, starting by pointing out the Federation¡¯s disadvantages. Her aggressive demeanor was as if the Federation owed her a great sum of money. Additionally, she proposed her own plans and conditions. The Blood Clan army would begin their offensive against the Odys army from the north, alleviating the pressure on humans. The conditions were that after occupying the Great Cemetery of Odys, the land and spoils of war would belong entirely to Blood Castle. The human Federation would have no rights, even to the disposal of the bodies. Furthermore, humans would need to compensate Blood Castle with thirty million Warfire Coins in funds or supplies over the next five years, to make up for the losses incurred from this battle. Rolana, especially assertive with men, spoke with staggering dominance. Having rehearsed everything in advance, her ideas were clear and forceful. Dordy, also a leader, tried bargaining several times, only to be silenced by Rolana¡¯s strong retorts. He even felt that the Blood Clan before him harbored a hatred for the human Federation even greater than Odys¡¯s. The final statement was, ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll talk to Odys. He will definitely be willing to cooperate with me.¡± What more was there to say? With the human Federation at a disadvantage everywhere, Dordy had no choice but to nod agreement. The two parties signed the alliance treaty in the agreement document. And so, Blood Castle would deploy troops against Odys in the coming days, easing the Federation¡¯s burden. Afterwards, Dordy left without even the mood for a banquet, hurrying back to Silver Wing City. Rolana, in high spirits, went to meet with a few others to describe the just concluded negotiations. Everyone started to prepare for the next steps according to the plan. ¡­ The next day! At the border of Blood Castle, Countless skeletons spread far into the distance. Bone Dragons tossed their heads and whipped their tails, while Aerial Ships hovered in the sky on standby. All heroes and leaders emerged from the conference room. They strode towards their respective teams. As the commander of this operation, Amanda walked to the central military district and boarded a gigantic golden chariot. ¡°Forward.¡± Amanda spoke softly. The chariot, resembling a miniature golden pyramid with a golden throne at the top, was drawn by twelve Bone Horses moving slowly forward. As Amanda issued the command, banners were raised, and war drums sounded. The army began to step forward, moving ahead. Bone Dragons soared into the sky, circling above. Aerial Ships ascended into the sky, flying above the troops. Chapter 911 - Chapter 911: Chapter 580, Attacking the Great Cemetery_3 Chapter 911: Chapter 580, Attacking the Great Cemetery_3 The rear of the army. The transmigrators, silently following from behind, swallowed their saliva. Even though these past few days had made them familiar with this scene. Yet when the ground beneath their feet began trembling with the march, and the sky was obscured by Bone Dragons and hot air balloons blocking the sun. There was still an indescribable shock. Too terrifying. Which power could possibly withstand such an army? ¡°Everyone, snap to it¡ªdon¡¯t lose your souls. Once the battle starts, pay attention to safety and put on your armor and helmets,¡± Dong Jiayue shouted loudly. The transmigrators began checking their equipment. Then moved forward with the great army. War is not a game; wandering off could mean dying in some corner, your body never to be found. ¡­ The Great Cemetery of Odys, border fortress. Go to ????????????????????.co The ground trembled, causing the Tower Bell to sway because of the vibration. It was as if a colossal creature was gradually approaching. The Undead, guarding the fortress, stood on the city walls and looked into the distance. Their pale blue Soul Fires trembled incessantly. What in the world was happening? Could it be that the Human Federation was attacking from the north? Impossible, the north is the territory of the Blood Clan, and there had been no news of humans clashing with the Blood Clan. Could it be an earthquake? As the ground trembling grew more intense. From afar, rows of skeletons appeared, filling the entire horizon. Undead? From our own side? That¡¯s not right; even the entire Great Cemetery didn¡¯t have this many undead. ¡°Close the gates, enemies approaching, prepare for battle!¡± the Undead shouted loudly. Just then. The sky suddenly darkened, as countless Bone Dragons clad in silvery white armor dived from above. Roar!! Dark beams of energy swept through the city. Both the sentient undead and the stationary ordinary skeletons were reduced to ash under the black beams. Hundreds of Bone Dragons circled around the fortress. Periodically spewing black breath, killing any undead that occasionally made a break for it. The army arrived. Blood Hunters flew into the empty fortress to open the gates. ¡°Commander, the fortress ahead has been taken down, not a single one left,¡± Blood Hunters flew back and reported. Amanda nodded, ¡°Notify the others, enter the border, kill all who defend the fortress, do not harm civilians in human towns.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± The army passed through the fortress without any obstacles. Officially entering the Great Cemetery of Odys¡¯ domain. Leaving only the transmigrators, amazed at the speed of the conquest, meanwhile commanding the skeletons to clear the battlefield. ¡­ The headquarters of the Trade Alliance. Succubus Lounge. A provocatively dressed, curvaceous succubus threw a seductive glance at the several people present. Seeing no one responded. She sashayed out of the private room. In the middle of the room, a round wooden table stood. On either side of the table, two groups were seated. To the left, a silver-haired girl, and the world¡¯s second transmigrator, Aerygon. To the right, were two Gray Dwarves, and Wadey. Once the succubus exited and closed the door behind her. The Gray Dwarf took the lead, ¡°I assure you, we have no relations with those people.¡± The typically quick-tempered and hard-bargaining Gray Dwarves, in the presence of the Dragon Clan. Behaved as politely as a wrongfully accused child, hastily speaking up to prove their innocence before the other could say anything. The silver-haired Dragon girl smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s ascertain the connection first.¡± Then, she glanced at Aerygon beside her. Aerygon nodded, looking across the table at Wadey, and spoke up, ¡°Wadey, it appears you know that Asian transmigrator.¡± Smack! Before Wadey could speak. The Gray Dwarf slapped the back of Wadey¡¯s head. He said angrily, ¡°What do you know, spill everything, don¡¯t get us into trouble.¡± Wadey¡¯s head buzzed from the slap. He knew that the Dragon Clan had brought the Gray Dwarves and him here for this matter. Shaking his head, he quickly responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know him, I just recognized him as a transmigrator at the auction house and made his acquaintance for a bit.¡± Chapter 912 - Chapter 912: Chapter 581: The Person of the Lizardmen Chapter 912: Chapter 581: The Person of the Lizardmen Actually, this kind of thing is quite common. Transmigrators occasionally meet by chance and it¡¯s easy for them to gather and greet each other, comparing their developments. After all, in the hearts of most transmigrators, they still see this world as more akin to a game. Wadey got to know Aerygon and ¡®Fu Lei¡¯ in this manner. Only, his intention was to network, not expecting that both people he met were formidable ones who went straight to fighting. And they fought so fiercely that a Stone Castle was directly turned into ruins. There was even a trend that it could escalate into a power struggle. But he couldn¡¯t manage these affairs; when gods battle, mortals suffer. Explain poorly, and the Dragon Clan might vent their anger on him. Explain well, and if he truly provides whatever useful information, that Fu Lei is also not easy to provoke. Even if both sides are properly dealt with. But the Gray Dwarves who were scared out of their wits would definitely take their anger out on him once they return. Go to ????????????????????.co He couldn¡¯t avoid a beating. What kind of karma have I created for myself? Hearing Wadey¡¯s answer, Aerygon was still somewhat dissatisfied. He continued, ¡°Wadey, you¡¯re a smart man, you should be well aware of the present situation. Hiding a recently acquainted person will only bring trouble for both you and the Dwarves.¡± Immediately, Wadey said, ¡°Mr. Aerygon, I swear that everything I¡¯ve said is absolutely true. I¡¯ve only seen him twice at the entrance of the auction house, I can guarantee it.¡± Aerygon glanced at the silver-haired girl, who showed no expression. He continued, ¡°Does he have any good friends?¡± ¡°No, but I know his name.¡± Their interest piqued, ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°His name is Fu Lei, a man from Huaguo,¡± Wadey promptly said. He couldn¡¯t afford to upset the Dragon Clan or Aerygon by not revealing information they considered useful. He might not be able to leave if he doesn¡¯t. So, even if he didn¡¯t want to get involved in the affair of the two, he had no choice but to disclose what he knew. ¡°Fu Lei¡­ A man from Huaguo¡­¡± Aerygon and the silver-haired dragon girl mulled over this. Aerygon even directly took out the Book of Lords to conduct a search. Searching by name, a pile of names all belonging to different Fu Leis appeared, and after distinguishing dozens of individuals, none was the person he was looking for. With just a name, finding the person seemed quite impossible. ¡°Do you have any other information?¡± Aerygon continued to inquire. ¡°No more, that¡¯s all the interaction I had with him. I don¡¯t know anything else.¡± ¡°Think again, it¡¯s in your best interest,¡± the silver-haired dragon girl said coldly, her threat evident. This¡­ Wadey¡¯s face showed his difficulty; what more could he possibly think of? He¡¯d only met the man once, and they hardly had a lengthy conversation. You want me to make something up? I could pull something out of thin air. But what if after I make something up, you come asking questions? Under the cold gazes of the others, large beads of sweat dripped from his head. In his mind, he continuously, repeatedly revisited the scene of meeting ¡®Fu Lei,¡¯ recalling every single word they had exchanged. It seemed like whenever they¡¯d met, it was him doing all the talking. Talking about Dwarves, talking about the Dragon Clan; the other man rarely mentioned anything about himself. Suddenly, Wadey¡¯s eyes lit up. He suddenly raised his head, saying, ¡°I recall something, and this piece of news will definitely be useful to you.¡± The expressions of the others shifted, ¡°What news?¡± ¡°That Fu Lei, he¡¯s affiliated with the ¡®Lizardmen¡¯.¡± Lizardmen? Indeed, during their battle, there were Lizardmen present. Not just Lizardmen; there were also Undead and Orcs. The combat power of each was not low, yet the Lizardmen were the pinnacle of combat strength. Could it really be that he aligned with the Lizardmen? The silver-haired dragon girl queried, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Certain, he told me himself that he¡¯s with the Lizardmen,¡± Wadey promptly replied. ¡°Good, you¡¯ve done well,¡± the silver-haired dragon girl said softly. ¡°Of course, of course!¡± Wadey chatted a few more sentences with the dragon girl in the private room. Seeing that the Dragon Clan had already shifted their focus onto the Lizardmen, he breathed a sigh of relief. Whoever provokes the Dragon Clan is truly unlucky. Never-ending, they won¡¯t rest until they feel satisfied. Now that there was no matter involving the Gray Dwarves, he took his leave. He left Aerygon and the silver-haired dragon girl in the private room, eating the food on the table. At the Succubus tavern, aside from special services, the alcohol was also very famous, quite fragrant, and had an intoxicating effect. The silver-haired dragon girl sipped the ¡®fragrant wine¡¯ gently, smacking her lips. It was apparent that this youthful dragon girl quite enjoyed this type of wine. Aerygon then spoke up, ¡°Ms. Beata, what shall we do next in our search?¡± Last time, he also sustained heavy injuries. The bandages on his body hadn¡¯t even been removed yet. He too wished to quickly find the guy and have the Dragon Clan teach him a lesson, to take revenge for himself as well. The silver-haired dragon girl scoffed coldly, ¡°No need to search any further. Now that we know he¡¯s associated with the Lizardmen, things will be simple.¡± ¡°Go to the Lizardmen?¡± The girl took another sip, her cheeks slightly flushed, ¡°Yes, wait until we go back to the Dragon Clan and discuss the matter with the elders. Then, when we approach the Lizardmen, naturally we will find out who this person is.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Aerygon said no more and started to eat the food on the table. ¡­ The next day, early morning. Fang Hao groggily opened his eyes, gently moved the two legs resting on his body to the side, and sat up. As he was just putting on his clothes, a ping from the Book of Lords arrived with a prompt. Chapter 913 - Chapter 913: Chapter 581, Lizardmens Person_2 Chapter 913: Chapter 581, Lizardmen¡¯s Person_2 It was a private message from Dong Jiayue. Upon opening it, it was a battle report from Blood Castle. Since the attack started yesterday, the Undead army had not stopped moving forward. Following the previously established route, they pushed forward relentlessly. The city fortresses arranged by Odys couldn¡¯t resist their own army¡¯s strength and were basically wiped clean as soon as a Bone Dragon passed by. More difficult-to-conquer cities had also turned into ruins under the bombardment of airship cannons. The army trampled over the ruins. As of now, the advance was smooth, with no obstructions to the army, and even the human transmigrators following behind had all boarded the carriages. Eating and sleeping took place on the carriages to avoid slowing down the march. At the same time, Amanda was following through on her promise to Fang Hao. To reclaim her homeland, the armies were annihilating Odys¡¯s troops and Undead, while the human villages remained unattacked and unharassed. Instead, the humans in the villages, hearing that the Gold Eating Queen had returned, actively offered a lot of information. They filled in many missing routes on the maps. Go to ????????????????????.co Overall, everything was going very smoothly. It was unknown whether Odys had received the news of the northern assault overnight. If he had, it was likely Odys who was now anxious. Odys was caught between a rock and a hard place. In the south, he was entangled with the human Federation in a heated battle, unable to withdraw forces. To the north, Amanda¡¯s army was advancing toward the south with unstoppable momentum, straight toward Odys¡¯s main city. The speed of the advance was astonishing. After reading Dong Jiayue¡¯s report, Fang Hao offered some encouragement to the commanding officers and transmigrators before ending the chat. Sitting by the bed, he stroked the side-sleeping rabbit woman. After some thought, he opened a chat with Li Rong. He composed a message and sent it. ¡°Li Rong, the Blood Clan and the Council have signed an alliance agreement, and the army has already entered the border from the north. The pressure on your side will decrease in the next few days.¡± Li Rong¡¯s reply came back quickly. ¡°The Council has already passed on the news. Morale has increased a lot here, and holding out until Odys withdraws shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°Good, stay safe.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After ending the chat and washing up, he left the manor. He began the daily, unchanging morning exercise. Actually, ever since drinking the Demon Dragon Potion, his physique had been enhanced in every aspect. He had no problem dealing with several strong Trolls using brute force alone. Handling a few maids also left them in disarray. Were it not for his subpar martial skills, he could also be considered adept in both magic and warfare. He jogged around his territory. The weather was turning warmer, and the seeds planted in the flowerbeds had, unbeknownst to him, broken through the soil, sprouting tender shoots. After completing the jog, he had breakfast. He then took another look at the plan he had written down. Accompanied by Demitrija, he stepped into the teleportation light curtain. ¡­ When he reappeared, he was already in the great hall of the Troll clan leader in the Blood Mountain Range. The grand hall, full of a wild style, was empty and silent. Just as Fang Hao frowned, wondering why there was not a single person around, the guard stationed outside the door, hearing the noise inside, peered in to check. Upon seeing Fang Hao and the fully-armored Lizardman, his expression immediately turned cold. He then shouted loudly, ¡°Intruders! Quick¡­ there are intruders!¡± Uh, ¡­ What¡¯s with the Trolls, why don¡¯t the guards recognize me every time I come here? The sound of Trolls running echoed from outside the door. Fang Hao shouted, ¡°Stop shouting, I am Fang Hao, your lord.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The Troll paused, tilting his head and recalling. Then he finally realized and exclaimed, ¡°Not intruders, it¡¯s the lord.¡± The rushing guards skidded to a stop, and after confirming the identities of Fang Hao and the other, each scratched their butts and patted their bellies as they left. Perhaps due to environmental influences, or maybe because all the nutrition went to their physical development, it always seemed that most Trolls were not that smart. Clever ones like Meatfist, Bagath, they were also of the heroic level. In the Troll Tribe, they were in the minority. Soon, footsteps could be heard again from outside the door. Female Troll Stella entered, wearing a wine-red cotton robe, and strode in with big steps. Upon seeing Fang Hao and Commander Demitrija present, she quickly approached and knelt down to pay her respects, ¡°Lord, Commander Demitrija.¡± ¡°Get up, I¡¯ve said it many times before, just use the normal greetings from now on,¡± Fang Hao said. He took another look at the female Troll before him. [Stella (Troll 7th Rank Warrior)]. Last time, Fang Hao had given Stella the order to rise in rank, and it seemed she had taken it to heart. She had reached the 7th rank. But according to his demand to reach the level of hero, she was still lacking. However, her progress wasn¡¯t slow. The group sat down in the chairs to the side, and Fang Hao, curious, asked, ¡°Why is there no one here today?¡± Stella answered somewhat anxiously, ¡°There was a collapse in one of the mines, and we are dealing with the incident.¡± A collapse? ¡°How is it? Were there any casualties?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°There were twelve injured Trolls, but many Skeleton miners died, and¡­, and many mining tools were lost,¡± Stella said carefully, occasionally stealing glances at Fang Hao¡¯s reaction. She looked extremely cautious, like a student who had made a mistake. ¡°Alright, as long as the Trolls are okay, that¡¯s good. Nobody wants to see such things happen, just be more careful next time,¡± Fang Hao said offhandedly. Chapter 914 - Chapter 914: Chapter 581: Lizardmen Person_3 Chapter 914: Chapter 581: Lizardmen Person_3 It itself was not a big deal, as the Skeleton miners were soulless tools. Simply recruit more. ¡°Thank you very much, my lord,¡± Stella immediately thanked him profusely. Fang Hao continued, ¡°The weather is warming up; how is the progress of the trade caravan you planned last time?¡± Currently, the poorest were the Trolls. A big reason was that Fang Hao had hit them too hard; they simply couldn¡¯t recover. Moreover, with the meager resources of the Bloody Mountains, whatever they wanted to do, they indeed needed Fang Hao¡¯s support. At the mention of the trade caravan, Stella seemed noticeably disheartened, and immediately said, ¡°My lord, the caravan had been in preparation quite early on, but as you know, the terrain of the Bloody Mountains is very rugged, twisting and turning, so although preparations were complete, it has yet to depart.¡± The terrain of both the Bloody Mountains and the Cold Wind Mountains was extremely rugged. It was all mountain paths, twisting and turning. In marching, without a map, it¡¯s easy to get lost. For the Trolls living here, it should not be a problem, as they live here year-round. But wanting to transport goods outward, the terrain indeed poses an obstacle. Go to ????????????????????.co Fang Hao thought for a while, then said, ¡°Well, call the people of the caravan here, let me see what can be done?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Stella walked to the door and whispered a few words to the guards. Soon, he brought in a Troll who looked quite young. [Neyum (Sixth Order Troll Warrior)] ¡°Leader,¡± the young Troll saluted Stella and glanced at Fang Hao and the other person, unsure of how to address them. Stella introduced, ¡°This is the lord, and Commander Demitrija.¡± ¡°My lord, Commander,¡± the young Troll immediately saluted. Fang Hao nodded, looking quite intelligent. ¡°Neyum.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Neyum bowed respectfully. ¡°Stella plans to entrust the caravan to your care; do you have any special skills?¡± Fang Hao asked. Neyum thought for a moment, then said, ¡°My lord, I can keep accounts; I am responsible for tallying the supplies in the city, and I also handle exchanges with the merchants who come.¡± Ah! Fang Hao understood why Stella had chosen him. Being able to clearly manage the accounts was indeed a talent among the Trolls. ¡°Good, tell me what goods are prepared,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°A large amount of Beast Skin, Speckled Mushrooms, rock goat milk, giant rock honey¡­¡± Neyum listed quite a few items, most of them related to the rocks. Fang Hao nodded and said, ¡°Alright, you may leave for now; Stella will tell you what to do when the time comes.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Neyum nodded and exited the room directly. The hall was left with three people once again. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Regarding the caravan, continue the planning; I will provide you with an Aerial Ship within half a month for the transportation of goods.¡± He hadn¡¯t considered the caravan needing an Aerial Ship and had deployed them all in Odys¡¯s battle. He could only wait until the end and then transfer one over for the Trolls to use. Stella nodded but then inquired, ¡°My lord, what is an Aerial Ship?¡± After Fang Hao provided a brief explanation, learning that it flew in the sky, thus not worrying about the rugged terrain, he too was exceedingly pleased. ¡°Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord,¡± Stella continued to give thanks. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all regarding the caravan; let¡¯s go. I am going to recruit some Skeleton miners, the mining must continue.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± As they left, Fang Hao recruited twenty thousand miners and handed them over to Stella. Afterward, Fang Hao continued to Bronze Bull City, Tasgo City, Gray Iron City, Pruell City, and Lyss City, finalizing the matters of the trade caravan. He got all the cities moving, supporting the regular civilian caravans to conduct trade between cities. ¡­ Elsewhere, Capital of Lizardmen ¨C Zereth Silan. Zereth Silan, in translation, means the ¡®City of the Sun¡¯. It¡¯s an important center of power for the southern Lizardmen. In a palace filled with religious decorations, Queen Anastasia reclined gracefully on a couch. An Attendant carefully served at her side. At that moment, a Lizardman approached briskly, and after saluting, said, ¡°Your Majesty, the Dragon Clan¡¯s envoy requests to use the Teleportation Array.¡± Chapter 918 - Chapter 918: Chapter 583, Dragon Crystal 45 (Brothers, Happy National Day) Chapter 918: Chapter 583, Dragon Crystal 45 (Brothers, Happy National Day) The fortress that was bustling just a moment ago is now desolate and empty. The skeletons left outside have turned into ash. Leaving behind all sorts of armor and weapons scattered around. Skeleton Hero hid within the Stone Castle, looking up at the Bone Dragons circling in the sky. How can we fight this? Not to mention that the fortress is short on troops now, even when the forces were not reassigned. It¡¯s doubtful that we could have withstood so many Bone Dragons anyway. Damn it! Since when did the Blood Clan acquire such formidable strength? ¡°Go, find the right moment to man the ballistae and shoot down those Bone Dragons,¡± Skeleton Hero ordered the Undead standing beside him. There were still some Undead hidden within the surrounding buildings. Upon hearing the Hero¡¯s orders, a squad of Undead immediately seized the opportunity to dash out from a passageway on one side. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Heading straight for the anti-aircraft ballistae on the city walls. Apparently, they hadn¡¯t given up hope and were making one last effort. However, as good as the Undead¡¯s plan was, the moment they dashed out, several black beams of light descended from the sky in all four directions. When the beams of light vanished, the rushing Undead were nowhere to be seen, and even their weapons and gear had been reduced to several puddles of molten metal. Skeleton Hero, watching from inside, shook violently with his Soul Fire. It¡¯s over. There¡¯s absolutely no chance at all. He took out the Sound-transmitting Shell to send the news back to Odys. At that moment, two ¡®Bound Spirit Guardians¡¯ with Soul Fire came running over. They asked, ¡°Leader, what do we do?¡± Skeleton Hero tucked away the Sound-transmitting Shell, ¡°There¡¯s still a chance, let¡¯s hide in the buildings, those Bone Dragons can¡¯t do anything to us.¡± No Undead spoke. Looking at the current situation, there was no hope at all. Just then, from a building opposite, the shout of a guard came through, ¡°Look, the Bone Dragons are dispersing, they¡¯re retreating.¡± All the Undead who possessed souls looked up at the sky. The Bone Dragons started to scatter, and the sunlight shone down once again. For the first time, the Undead felt the sunshine was so bright and warm. But in the next second, all the Undead realized something was not right. They saw a fleet of massive Aerial Ships approaching. Indistinctly, one could make out the sections of black cannon barrels extending from the deck above. ¡°What are those¡­!¡± Under the watchful eyes of the Undead, the Aerial Ships lined up in a row in the sky. Boom boom boom!! Gunsmoke rose into the air. Cannonballs flew down from the sky, smashing into the buildings of the fortress. Bang! Bang bang bang~! A series of cannonballs exploded in rapid succession within the city. Brilliant flares of light rose up. Walls shattered, houses collapsed. When the smoke cleared, the Fortress no longer existed, leaving only ruins piled up with rubble. The entire city was buried beneath the ruins. The Aerial Ships ceased their bombardment, the Bone Dragons stopped circling. They continued southward to the next city. At this time, on the distant horizon, the neatly arranged Undead army was just starting to march forward. Trampling over the ruins, they continued onward. ¡­ Black Horn City. The Great Cemetery of Odys, the capital city. As the nation ruled by the Undead in this region, death and eternity pervaded every corner of the city. This place was also considered a paradise for those seeking to be ¡®reborn.¡¯ Every year, various races of dignitaries would spend their entire fortunes pursuing the chance to become immortal. Within the Royal Palace of Odys, the cold, empty Royal Palace was lit with green flames. Soul fragrances wafted up gently, dispersing throughout the palace. A Skeleton Attendant approached quickly, head bowed, hands holding up the Sound-transmitting Shell high, ¡°Your Majesty, we have received a message from Howling Fortress.¡± At the highest point of the Royal Palace, sat a White Bone Hero with broad skeletal structure on the smooth, jade-like throne. With his chest bones exposed, behind him hung a large black cape with golden patterns. Hearing the voice, a Soul Fire flared up abruptly within his hollow eye sockets. He looked down at the Undead Attendant below. The King of Odys. The true ruler of the Great Cemetery. ¡°Bring it here!¡± Odys commanded in a hoarse voice. The Skeleton Attendant below didn¡¯t dare to delay and lowered his head, presenting the Sound-transmitting Shell before him. Odys reached out to take it, and immediately, the shell conveyed a message. ¡°A large number of Bone Dragons are besieging Howling Fortress, we are hard pressed to resist such an assault.¡± The voice cut off abruptly. Odys¡¯s Soul Fire shook slightly. A large number of Bone Dragons? How was this possible, even if the Blood Clan had means to control the Undead. Those were still different from the Undead. They mainly consisted of Rotten Corpses, and only the immortal Undead who truly mastered the heritage of undying could possess Skeleton troops. After all, the Corpse Witch was not something the Blood Clan could cultivate. Now, the Blood Clan not only had control over Skeleton Undead but also possessed a large number of Bone Dragons. This made Odys feel that something was terribly wrong. It seemed that he had walked into a conspiracy that had been long in the making. Seeing that no further information was forthcoming, he lifted the Sound-transmitting Shell and asked, ¡°Howling Fortress, what is your status now, and how many enemies are there?¡± The moment his words fell, it was as if they had sunk into the depths of the ocean, with no reply forthcoming. After a long wait, the shell finally transmitted a message again. But the voice from the shell was clearly that of a woman, ¡°Howling Fortress has fallen, Odys, you disappoint me.¡± Odys was startled. It hadn¡¯t been long since he had sent out the message and received a reply. Had it already fallen so quickly? And that voice replying to him¡ªit felt familiar. Chapter 919 - Chapter 919: Chapter 583, Dragon Crystal 45 (Brothers, Happy National Day)_2 Chapter 919: Chapter 583, Dragon Crystal 45 (Brothers, Happy National Day)_2 He had lived for so long. He couldn¡¯t remember where he had heard it before. But now was not the time to reminisce about the enemy. Stopping the Blood Clan¡¯s invasion was the pressing matter at hand. After pondering for a moment, Odys returned the Sound-transmitting Shell to the Skeleton Attendant¡¯s hand. He ordered, ¡°Summon all the officials.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The Skeleton Attendant withdrew. Soon, a large group of Undead entered the Royal Palace. These Undead were dressed primarily in the dominant hues of the Undead, but their bone structures revealed their races. Dwarves, Goblins, Humans, Orcs. They had all gathered here, now all a part of the Undead. Members of the immortal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Once everyone had entered, Odys spoke in a grave tone, ¡°The Blood Clan has launched an attack from the north, and they have already taken ¡®Howling Fortress¡¯. What do you think we should do next?¡± ¡­ Elsewhere. Eight Peaks Mountain, Gray Iron City. The shooting range! Pop, pop, pop!! Pop, pop, pop!!! Following the piercing sound of gunshots, the Dwarf marksman stylishly holstered his gun, opened the cylinder, ejected the casings, and reloaded. Then, it was pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop again!! Bullets poured onto the wooden target in front. Leaving behind a series of clean holes. After shooting five rounds, the Dwarf marksman ceased fire. He passed the revolver to Fang Hao, explaining, ¡°The accuracy is quite good, and the feel and weight are also acceptable.¡± This time, the revolver trial had brought in Dwarves adept at using firearms. They were more familiar with guns than Fang Hao and the others. In the evaluation, besides accuracy, they also considered the feel, weight, and other factors. Overall, the revolver at hand was already quite impressive. It was a significant improvement over the short-barreled muskets. Fang Hao nodded and scrutinized the revolver in his hands. Now the appearance of the revolver was very similar to those from his previous life. Prior issues with the too-long barrel and overly heavy frame had been addressed and corrected. Now, it looked pretty impressive. Seeing Fang Hao¡¯s serious examination, Cao Junming and the Dwarf researchers from the design institute all watched apprehensively. They were quite afraid of Fang Hao. After all, a single word from him could determine their life and death, including Cao Junming¡¯s. ¡°Not bad,¡± Fang Hao said. Phew~! The atmosphere on-site relaxed all at once, like bellows exhaling in unison. This made Anjia, who had been watching from the sidelines, laugh out loud. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re pleased, boss,¡± Cao Junming hurriedly approached and said eagerly. ¡°How many revolvers do we have now?¡± ¡°Boss, only this one. It¡¯s a test model. If you¡¯re satisfied, we can go into mass production,¡± he replied. ¡°And the bullets?¡± ¡°There are still 12 bullets left.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mass-produce them,¡± Fang Hao stated, looking towards the side, ¡°Bellerga.¡± ¡°My lord,¡± the Dwarf King stepped forward respectfully. ¡°Find someone to do the engraving, and engrave the blueprints as soon as possible,¡± Fang Hao instructed. Bellerga nodded in understanding. Although the Dwarves had suffered heavy losses in the great war, the loss of researchers and craftsmen was not so severe. Engraving blueprints was not a difficult task for them. After Bellerga nodded in confirmation, Fang Hao turned his gaze back to Cao Junming and the Dwarf researchers. He said softly, ¡°Tell me about the next step in our research plan.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Everyone present was stunned. They had all been focused on developing the revolver, and had not prepared any plan for the next phase of research. It was Cao Junming who first regained his composure. He immediately said, ¡°Boss, there are two directions for our next research. One is the improvement of projectiles, to replace the current black gunpowder and round bullets. The other is the improvement of firearms towards semi-automatic development, but both paths are quite difficult and will require substantial effort.¡± Fang Hao nodded, considering the difference between the two directions, Then he said, ¡°Improve the projectiles.¡± For now, the bolt-action rifle troops among the Undead seemed sufficient. Even if they managed to develop automatic or semi-automatic weapons, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily lead to a significant improvement for the Skeleton marksmen. On the other hand, improved projectiles would increase the loading and firing speed of the cannons, significantly enhancing the coverage of firepower on the battlefield. ¡°Understood, we will draft the plan immediately and begin the research,¡± Cao Junming promptly said. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Good.¡± After leaving the Dwarf research institute, he chatted with Bellerga about the recent affairs of the Human Federation. Since the start of the war. The Human Federation, after completing the purchase of cannons, continuously bought a vast number of cannonballs. The quantity was simply astonishing. This also allowed the dwarves to earn a substantial amount of cash, securing the capital needed to rebuild Gray Iron City. Whether it be Gray Iron City or the other cities that had been damaged in the war. All had begun reconstruction. After having a private chat with Bellerga, Fang Hao also left Gray Iron City and returned to his own city. ¡­ Time flashed by, and several days later, Fortress Santa. The meeting hall. Tap tap tap!! Urgent footsteps resounded. Before long, a guard hurriedly rushed into the hall. In attendance, all of the Federation¡¯s people simultaneously furrowed their brows, Looking at the guard with strange expressions. ¡°Reports from the front line indicate that the Undead army is shrinking its lines, attempting to retreat.¡± ¡°What!¡± everyone¡¯s eyes widened. The commander of the Hall of Justice ¨C Nidam, stood up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief. The guard immediately continued, ¡°Just now, news came from the front line that the Undead army is attempting to fall back, entangled by the allied forces, awaiting further orders.¡± This¡­ Having received the guard¡¯s affirmative response, everyone showed expressions of joy. They had finally waited for the Undead to retreat. The Human Federation had survived this difficulty. Seeing everyone¡¯s relieved expressions, Li Rong at the back, however, curled her lips. She thought to herself, you all should thank me. If weren¡¯t for my daily pestering of Fang Hao, could the Undead have retreated so quickly? I¡¯ve saved so many people. But these thoughts she kept to herself, unable to voice them aloud. Instead, Xu Haide, whom she had been manipulating, was being hailed as the heroic contributor. This made Li Rong quite annoyed. If there¡¯s a chance, she¡¯ll still have to kill him. Nidam sat back down, his complexion instantly improving significantly. His gaze turned to the others present and he said, ¡°It seems that the Blood Clan¡¯s troops have started to pose a threat to Odys. Now with the Undead planning to pull back, what are your thoughts?¡± Brief chaos ensued in the hall. Then, someone spoke up, ¡°According to the treaty, we need to entangle the enemy, creating an opportunity for the Blood Clan army to take down the Undead¡¯s main city.¡± ¡°The Blood Clan is also an enemy of humans, in my opinion, we should allow the Undead to retreat and then let the two sides fight it out, losing troops; that would benefit the Federation the most.¡± ¡°But what if the Blood Clan realizes we¡¯re playing tricks and decides to ally with the Undead?¡± ¡°After fighting to this extent, do you think they can just ally on a whim?¡± ¡°Indeed, allowing the Undead to retreat and the Blood Clan to deplete their forces is most beneficial to humans.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The ones present were only a portion of the generals off duty. However, the direction of the opinion was already leaning towards letting the Undead withdraw to exhaust each other¡¯s forces with the Blood Clan. Li Rong felt infuriated inside. You Federation people conduct yourselves like this, and you¡¯ll have no friends sooner or later. We accelerated our offensive out of fear that you would suffer too many losses. Now you¡¯ve forgotten the pain once the wound has healed, And started to contemplate setting up your allies. Li Rong stood up to counter with a few points, arguing for the importance of the greater good and the spirit of the pact, suggesting that they should hold the Undead. But clearly, the majority of those present did not agree, And so she could only sit down fuming. ¡°All right,¡± Nidam spoke softly. The room fell silent, and Nidam continued, ¡°I have understood everyone¡¯s opinions, and I will propose your suggestions to Silver Wing City. The final decision will depend on the Silver Wing City council.¡± At the same time, he looked at the guard below, ¡°Inform the front line that until new orders are given, hold the Undead, with one step back for one step forward.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the guard answered and turned to run out. The meeting dispersed, and everyone went back to report the good news. ¡­ The main city. In front of the wishing well. Three bunny girls were standing with their hands before their chests, eyes closed, praying for something. The originally crystal-clear bottom of the pond was now covered with a layer of golden Gold Coins. Ever since Fang Hao told them that this was a wishing well, Maids would come here every day to make sincere wishes. They appeared even more devout than churchgoers. Fang Hao stepped forward to exchange equivalently. [Dragon Crystal 45] [Material: Blood Stone 100/100 (high success rate).] He also said a prayer in his mind and chose to confirm. After a few seconds of stillness, 45 Dragon Crystals, Plopped into the water. Chapter 920 - Chapter 920: Chapter 584, What Should Rolana Do? (Please recommend and subscribe...) Chapter 920: Chapter 584, What Should Rolana Do? (Please recommend and subscribe¡­) It was successful. Fang Hao felt elated. He did not consider himself particularly lucky. In matters of chance, his luck had always been poor. Yet, these two wishes had both come true. He wondered if his luck had improved, or if the exchange probability had been high. The three bunny girls making wishes nearby opened their eyes upon hearing the noise. Only then did they notice Fang Hao beside them and the Dragon Crystal that had appeared in the wishing well. ¡°Master¡­!¡± The maids immediately saluted. Fang Hao smiled, rubbed the little head of the bunny girl beside him, ¡°From now on, don¡¯t throw Gold Coins into the well; use the money to buy whatever you like.¡± ¡°Oh, oh.¡± The maids now had salaries, and they would go shopping in Pruell City during their holidays. And in this era, Gold Coins still held their value well. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Enough for these maids to buy many of their favorite items. He had the maids scoop out the Dragon Crystal and place it aside. Fang Hao then walked towards the ¡°Skeleton Conversion Field.¡± With Dragon Crystals in hand, it was naturally time to recruit. After all, they required no sustenance and could enhance the security level of his territory. In front of the conversion field: He opened the recruitment interface. [Bone Dragon: Wriggling Spine 10, Death Trace 7, Star Silver 5, Dragon Crystal 10.] Last time, he used 40 Dragon Crystals. The remaining 5, plus 45 this time. Were exactly enough for five recruitments. He set the number to 5. Confirm recruitment. [Hundredfold Amplification Triggered, Recruiting 505 Bone Dragons.] Huff, huff, huff! The sky suddenly darkened. 505 Bone Dragons appeared out of nowhere, their meaty wings flapping, creating gusts of wind. Soon after, they landed everywhere. Tossing the well-arranged environment into disarray. ¡°Go to the north city gate and await orders,¡± Fang Hao shouted loudly. Whoosh! The Bone Dragons took flight, heading towards the north city gate. Fang Hao still sought the Skeleton Blacksmiths to fashion equipment for the Bone Dragons, which they then equipped. Now, considering the count: His territory possessed 1106 Bone Dragons. Of which, 5 Bone Dragons were lost in the battles at Bloody Mountains and Eight Peaks Mountain. Those losses had pained Fang Hao for quite a while. These 1106 Bone Dragons, spread across different parts of his territory: Main city ¨C 646, Cold Wind Range 10, Bloody Mountains 10, Gray Iron City 20, Crescent Heights 400, Webweaver Camp 5, Tasgo City 10. The rest, Fang Hao had assigned individually to heroes and special individuals as long mounts for long journeys. The total number was reaching an astonishing figure. Even if the Dragon Clan were to cause trouble, the aerial force was now sufficient to contend with them. Unless the Dragon Clan were to emerge in full force and fly a long way to battle to the death. Otherwise, they really had no way to deal with him. Not far away, the Skeleton Blacksmiths clanged on, outfitting the Bone Dragons with equipment. Behind him, the Skeleton merchant Doujin also quickly approached. ¡°My lord, Mr. Kukettor from the Trade Alliance has requested to use the ¡®Teleportation Array,''¡± Doujin spoke. Manager of the #032 Trade Alliance branch. Currently managing the issue of the compensation at the headquarters for Fang Hao. ¡°Take him to the parlor,¡± said Fang Hao as he also headed towards the direction of the lord¡¯s residence. ¡­ In the parlor, A Goblin, dressed impeccably, took a sip of fruit wine. After smacking his lips, he spoke, ¡°The headquarters of the Trade Alliance has confirmed the compensation ratio and amount required from both parties.¡± ¡°Oh? Did the Dragon Clan cooperate?¡± ¡°The Dragon Clan is still as obstinate as ever, but the Trade Alliance can¡¯t delay any longer and needs to proceed with the reconstruction of the hall quickly,¡± Kukettor answered softly. ¡°If the Dragon Clan didn¡¯t cooperate, on what basis did the Trade Alliance determine the responsibility?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy to determine the responsibility; the Dragon Clan struck first, and you were forced to retaliate.¡± ¡°Oh? That means my responsibility is minor,¡± Fang Hao felt a surge of relief. This would mean he¡¯d have to pay much less. Kukettor smiled confidently and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been managing branch #032 for many years. I understand the division of responsibilities here better than you do. Naturally, the Dragon Clan holds the primary responsibility.¡± Having someone on the inside really does make things smoother, combined with the Dragon Clan¡¯s stubborn attitude, which also annoyed the Trade Alliance. They didn¡¯t plan to drag it out any longer and had directly issued the compensation order. Fang Hao smiled, ¡°Mr. Kukettor, you¡¯ve taken a lot of trouble. How much do I need to compensate?¡± Kukettor pulled out a small book. He read, ¡°You bear 30% of the maintenance costs, a total of 4.7 million Warfire Coins, with a penalty of 2 million Warfire Coins from the Trade Alliance.¡± My God! Just 30% responsibility and it amounts to 4.7 million in maintenance fees. Is this hall made of gold? And, not being the main culprit, how come the penalty still reaches 2 million? The initially joyful expression also receded somewhat, ¡°Mr. Kukettor, are the reconstruction costs so high? 4.7 million could repair half of Lyss City.¡± Though saying half of Lyss City may be an exaggeration, but 30% equating to 4.7 million, really did seem quite exaggerated. Kukettor took another sip, casually stating, ¡°It¡¯s not excessive. The building¡¯s stone, lighting fixtures, ornaments, all belong to luxury goods, and it also includes a lot of magical technology, naturally, the reconstruction cost is high.¡± Well, ¡­ Even though that may be true, Fang Hao still felt the prices were somewhat inflated. ¡°What about the penalty? I was acting in self-defense, do I still have to bear a fine?¡± Fang Hao continued. Kukettor responded, ¡°On this matter, the headquarters also provided a reasoning for the penalty: you had the ability to leave, minimizing damages, yet you chose to engage with the Dragon Clan for a long time, causing severe damages, so your penalty still stands.¡± Chapter 921 - Chapter 921: Chapter 584, What Should Rolana Do? (Please recommend and subscribe...)_2 Chapter 921: Chapter 584, What Should Rolana Do? (Please recommend and subscribe¡­)_2 Meaning, Fang Hao should have sought help from the Trade Alliance garrison instead of exchanging fire with the opponents inside. Both sides fought fiercely, directly demolishing the building. Headquarters and Garrison 032 aren¡¯t the same. You can¡¯t simply determine right from wrong. Fang Hao thought about it, the Dragon Clan had suffered greater losses than he had, and indeed, he did demolish their property. He admitted as much. ¡°Alright, I admit it,¡± Fang Hao said. Fang Hao took out the corresponding Warfire Coins from his space and handed them to the goblin in front of him. That meant the dispute with the Trade Alliance was over. ¡°How have the Dragon Clan been doing recently?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Kukettor, frowning, said, ¡°I heard they¡¯re still investigating your case, but it seems there hasn¡¯t been much progress.¡± A smile appeared on Fang Hao¡¯s face; it seemed the Dragon Clan wasn¡¯t very capable after all. Such a small matter, and they couldn¡¯t even find out anything. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 He didn¡¯t ask further about the matter and continued, ¡°I want to open a store in headquarters, are there any procedures I need to go through?¡± Cough! Kukettor coughed dryly. His eyes somewhat surprised, ¡°Open a store in headquarters? Are you still talking about that cosmetics thing?¡± ¡°No, selling weapons and equipment and such.¡± Fang Hao felt opening a store at the headquarters was indeed a good idea. It would serve an excellent promotional purpose, allowing other major powers to order equipment and items from him. Definitely profitable. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Fang Hao nodded. ¡°Getting a shop in headquarters isn¡¯t so easy to apply for,¡± Kukettor explained. ¡°Oh, are there any special requirements?¡± asked Fang Hao. ¡°Not that, but there are a limited number of shops, and some powers have been applying for decades and are still waiting in line without any opportunity to open a shop.¡± Well, decades spent waiting in line. This had become a matter of lifespan and the depth of a power¡¯s heritage. In line, after line, it was possible for a power to be wiped out. ¡°Is there any way around it?¡± Fang Hao asked, a hint of mystery in his voice. ¡°None, and right now the Trade Alliance has some opinions about both you and the Dragon Clan. Applying now, even the line isn¡¯t the problem, there¡¯s a likelihood of getting flatly rejected,¡± Kukettor replied. Fang Hao nodded, signaling his understanding. It looked like this matter would have to wait for later consideration. Now wasn¡¯t a good time. Kukettor had lunch here and, taking the gifts Fang Hao gave him, left satisfied. No matter where you were, interpersonal relationships were quite important. ¡­ The night was thick and silent. Lyss City, City Lord¡¯s mansion. On a spacious soft bed, a man and a woman lay on their backs, looking up at the canopy ceiling, entering a time of reflection. It was quiet for a long time. Only then did Rebecca sigh and say, ¡°Before, I thought I¡¯d just live out my life like this, guarding Lyss City, and eventually becoming an old woman buried in the cemetery in the city, but I never expected that in the blink of an eye, I¡¯d be fooled into bed by a kid like you.¡± Next to her, Fang Hao pinched and corrected, ¡°What do you mean fooled? This is love, haven¡¯t you heard a song?¡± ¡°What song?¡± ¡°Love is like a tornado.¡± Rebecca gave him a light smack, ¡°What kind of song is that? What¡¯s the next line?¡± ¡°Forgot, seems like it¡¯s something about it coming too fast.¡± Rebecca pulled the blanket over them, still looking upward, ¡°I never believed in love, it¡¯s all made up by those wandering poets, otherwise the noble circles wouldn¡¯t be so messed up.¡± Uh, ¡­ Seems like she did have a point, Fang Hao had also heard that noble circles were chaotic. The customs here seemed to be even more liberal. Ladies in private would even discuss some intimate topics, not more conservative than men¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re right, but I believe we were mutually attracted and it gradually developed into love,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°You¡¯re just lecherous, look at how many women you have around you.¡± Hearing this, Fang Hao turned on his side, propped himself on his elbow, and looked at the cheek so close to him. ¡°What are you talking about? I admit you have some beauty, but what made me fall for you was big sister¡¯s talent and character.¡± Rebecca also turned to lie on her side, pinching his cheek, ¡°Back then, you sashayed and wiggled your butt when you walked, and you dare say you weren¡¯t deliberately getting close to me?¡± ¡°Back then, the fiefdom was indeed selling dresses, and big sister was naturally beautiful, so of course, I had to find a way to get close to you, but it was strictly for selling clothes.¡± Rebecca¡¯s cheeks turned red, and then she said, ¡°Back then, you took my measurements for the dress and saw my body. After that, you always came at night to discuss matters. Can you dare say you didn¡¯t have any thoughts?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Fang Hao opened his mouth, wanting to offer an excuse, but it seemed inappropriate to claim he wasn¡¯t moved by her body considering the flirtatious atmosphere. They had already progressed to this point. Some cheesy lines didn¡¯t seem too bad. ¡°Of course, I was moved. I wished I could have had you right then and there.¡± Rebecca¡¯s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, which Fang Hao could still see despite the Nightstones being covered, giving her skin a rosy glow. Her delicate fingers carefully pulled the thin blanket down a little. Revealing a large expanse of snow-white flesh, full of a heavy sense of weight. ¡°Actually, I am well aware of your predilections.¡± ¡°Predilections?¡± ¡°Those ladies of high society have talked about these things in private. Those old nobles all like young women with slender waists. But men like you, not that big, have a preference for older, more mature women, feeling a sense of conquest,¡± Rebecca said with an air of knowing it all. Well, she did have a point. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± Fang Hao¡¯s arm wrapped around her back, drawing her closer into his embrace. Making the heavy mass press and deform against his chest. Rebecca¡¯s face reddened even more, feeling his provocation. ¡°Wait a moment¡­¡± Fang Hao was startled. What was there to wait for? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Rebecca continued, ¡°I want to ask, what about Rolana?¡± Fang Hao was actually aware of the relationship between Rolana and Rebecca. From the sequence of events, he had actually joined later. It was somewhat unfair to Rolana. ¡°What about Rolana? Did she find out?¡± As Rolana¡¯s Loyalty increased, her temper wasn¡¯t as volatile as before. Although she could still get angry, it seemed more like she was tsundere. Fang Hao had arranged some tasks, and she would curse while going about completing them. At the moment, Rolana was still in the war, following the army attacking Odys¡¯s forces. ¡°No¡­, you know about my thing with Rolana, right?¡± Rebecca whispered into his ear. A wave of fragrance wafted over, and Fang Hao couldn¡¯t help but push forward again. ¡°I know.¡± After thinking it over, Rebecca continued, ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you, nor do I want to lose her.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Fang Hao was somewhat confused. Seeing that he didn¡¯t understand, Rebecca was more straightforward, ¡°Rolana is actually a very nice girl. Just that she¡¯s had a hard life, was deceived, then dismembered, leaving deep mental scars.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°Do you like her? If you do, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Wow¡­ f*ck! Fang Hao finally understood what she meant. Clearing his throat, ¡°Would she be willing?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­, and you say you¡¯re not lecherous. You¡¯ve had your eye on Rolana for a while now, haven¡¯t you!¡± Rebecca immediately exclaimed. Fang Hao quickly silenced her mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± After a while, when he let go, Rebecca continued, ¡°I will speak well of you, and whether it works out is up to you. I don¡¯t want to be too worried about being in the middle of it all.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this straight, I¡¯m agreeing because of you, not because I¡¯m a pervert.¡± Rolana was absolutely beautiful in terms of looks, figure, and presence. If Rebecca represented mature and dignified womanhood with her fullness and poise, Then Rolana embodied pure beauty. Long, straight legs, a well-proportioned waist, and delicate facial features made up the Rolana of now. It wasn¡¯t just Fang Hao; women liked her too. That¡¯s why Rebecca, who had rejected countless Federation nobles, ended up choosing to be with Rolana. Rebecca¡¯s beautiful eyes twinkled as she blinked, Giving off an expression that seemed to say, ¡°I knew you were that kind of person.¡± Seeing that this woman was getting excited, no longer the one begging for mercy a moment ago, He charged at her once more. ¡­ The next day. Early in the morning, Li Rong sent a message. The Federal Conference had issued a new order. The Federation Army began to pull back its forces, properly engaging the retreating Undead Army to keep them occupied. This not only fulfilled the treaty signed with the Blood Clan but also allowed the Undead and Blood Clan armies to slaughter each other. Chapter 925 - Chapter 925: Chapter 586: Call for Help from the Dreamy Forest Chapter 925: Chapter 586: Call for Help from the Dreamy Forest Eternal Night City. Before this, Fang Hao had never even heard of this city. But through the ¡°Rolana Talisman¡± and its description, he knew this was where Rolana¡¯s mother lived. It must also be an important ¡®power core¡¯ city for the Blood Clan. ¡°If you need anything, you can always come here to shop or make a reservation, sir!¡± The clerk bowed slightly and continued. For this young and wealthy customer, the clerk still showed enough enthusiasm. ¡°Mm, I will,¡± Fang Hao nodded with a smile. After leaving the shop, he breathed in the air outside the window. The blood in the Blood Clan¡¯s shops was too rich. It made it somewhat hard to breathe. There were still gains to be had today. He had obtained one of Rolana¡¯s pieces of equipment and learned more about her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Rolana¡¯s mother was named Isabella and lived in Eternal Night City. When the war ended, he could hand over the talisman to Rolana. It was unclear what the relationship between Rolana and her mother was like, whether it could increase that last bit of loyalty. Fang Hao, accompanied by Demitrija, continued to wander aimlessly through the streets. He was still somewhat disbelieving that so many shops in the headquarters could all sell out? But after exploring every district, it turned out there were indeed none left vacant. Moreover, it was unknown where this headquarters was built, as the city¡¯s area was limited. So, the chances of shop expansion in the future weren¡¯t great. It seemed he could only strive to the utmost, waiting for a power to decline before getting the opportunity to buy. After strolling around a large area, as he was leaving, his gaze was drawn to a tavern nearby. [Succubus Tavern] Alluring and gorgeous Succubi, wearing tight revealing clothes, with their smooth heart-shaped tails swaying non-stop. In front of the tavern, a Succubus was standing on a wooden platform erected there, with a blush on her small face, talking about something to the crowd below. The White Temptress Demon, recognized by the Trade Alliance. Unexpectedly, there was even his own business enterprise here, and he wondered if the tavern was legitimate. Approaching closer with Demitrija, they too heard what the Succubus was saying. ¡°In five days, the Succubus Tavern will host a ¡®Drinking Contest.¡¯ Except for the Undead Clan, all races can participate, and the winner will receive a prize of twenty thousand Warfire Coins,¡± the Succubus announced in a crisp and pleasant voice. ¡°Why can¡¯t the Undead participate?¡± someone in the crowd asked. Standing on her tiptoes, the Succubus spotted the Skeleton who asked the question, and said petulantly, ¡°We¡¯re testing alcohol tolerance. If you drink it and it pours out, how do you count that?¡± ¡°Haha, exactly, when it spills everywhere, we¡¯ll have to clean up.¡± ¡°This is about drinking, not bathing.¡± The other races below all chimed in agreeably. The Skeleton, wanting to say something but seeing the unanimous opinion of those around him, could only shut his mouth. After mocking the Skeleton for a while, someone else asked, ¡°How do we participate?¡± ¡°You can register inside the tavern, each person pays a 100 Warfire Coin registration fee, and then you can join the contest,¡± the Succubus explained. ¡°Huh, ¡­ 100 Warfire Coins, not too much,¡± people below analyzed the price. In this world, there were still many who loved and could drink a lot. Especially races like Dwarves, Trolls, and Orcs, for whom drinking was a common affair. With 100 Warfire Coins, not only could one drink one¡¯s fill. If one won, there would also be a prize of twenty thousand. Wasn¡¯t this an incredibly good deal! ¡°Excuse me, I want to sign up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m joining too, it¡¯s just drinking, I¡¯ve never been afraid of anyone!¡± ¡°With your height, how much can you drink?¡± ¡°Height has nothing to do with alcohol tolerance.¡± Immediately, many people entered the tavern to sign up for the contest taking place in five days. Fang Hao watched from a distance. He wasn¡¯t interested in a drinking contest, and there were genuinely too many people in the tavern. After watching for a while, he turned and left, heading back to his domain. ¡­ Elsewhere. The border of the Dreamy Forest. The air was filled with a heavy stench of blood. On the newly cleared land, broken spears and swords lay among the mud and bodies, flashing faintly in the twilight. Both Fairies and Orcs had withdrawn their troops. Leaving only a few soldiers on the battlefield to collect the corpses of their fallen comrades. Only at this moment did Fairies and Orcs move back and forth, silently identifying their own. Deathly silence, peace. In a camp behind the Dreamy Forest, the leader of the Fairy Clan, Shinisara, still in the form of an oak tree woman, sat at the head. Below her were numerous Fairy generals. After a brief silence, Shinisara asked, ¡°How did it go today?¡± The Fairy hero, Shirel, spoke up, ¡°In today¡¯s battle with the Orcs, we had over five thousand wounded and nearly two thousand dead, with approximately two thousand enemies killed.¡± In a sheer contest of battlefield strength, the Fairy Clan might not be a match for the Orcs. Their expertise differed, and the Dreamy Forest was merely a small power occupying a section of the woods. The population was quite limited. After a slight pause, Shirel continued, ¡°If the battle continues this way, our numbers will surely dwindle. Leader, it will be difficult to hold onto this land.¡± Shinisara didn¡¯t answer immediately but fell into silent contemplation. The Fairies and the ¡®Furious Lion City¡¯ Orcs had a grudge spanning over a decade, fighting back and forth. Chapter 926 - Chapter 926: Chapter 586, Dreamy Forests Call for Help_2 Chapter 926: Chapter 586, Dreamy Forest¡¯s Call for Help_2 But in recent years, the Fairy Clan had been focusing solely on development, while the Orcs engaged in relentless conquest, rapidly evolving through their selection. Their strength had gradually surpassed that of the Fairy Clan. Previously, the Fairy Clan had secured the Dreamy Forest, making it difficult for the Orcs to break through. But now, wanting to cultivate land at the border had given the Orcs an opportunity. Several days of continuous attacks had inflicted heavy losses on the Fairies. If this continued, the already scarce population of the Fairy Clan might be entirely depleted. After much contemplation, Shinisara finally spoke again. ¡°You continue to watch out for the Orc movements, and wait for my final message.¡± ¡°Yes, Chief,¡± nodded a group of generals. After Shinisara walked out of the room, she closed her eyes. Her body gradually turned into an oak tree, taking root and dispersing leaves. ¡­ Night fell. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Fang Hao was dealing with the messages from Dong Jiayue and Li Rong. He planned to take a bath in the hot springs to rest. He had just gotten halfway through undressing when Doujin¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Telling him that the Fairy Clan¡¯s chief ¡®Shinisara¡¯ was requesting to pass through the Teleportation Array. Fang Hao, who was already halfway out of his pants, frowned. Since the two sides had reached a farming agreement, there had seemed to be no further contact. Coming to his place in the middle of the night, even if you are a treeperson, but also a female figure, it seemed somewhat inappropriate. He pulled his pants back on and addressed Doujin through the door, ¡°Take her to the sitting room!¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Inside the sitting room. Soon, Doujin walked in with ¡®Shinisara¡¯. ¡°Lord Fang Hao,¡± Shinisara said respectfully. This attitude made Fang Hao even more certain that she had come for a reason. Fang Hao also smiled, ¡°Chief Shinisara, please have a seat.¡± She sat down and without any small talk, Shinisara directly said, ¡°Regarding the grain contract we signed with you before, some special circumstances have arisen.¡± ¡°Oh? Are you facing any difficulties?¡± Fang Hao asked curiously. Next, Shinisara recounted the battles between the Dreamy Forest and the Orcs to Fang Hao. The content was simple, summarizing the situation as, after such a long time, the land that had been cleared. The grain hadn¡¯t even been planted yet. The lack of progress also made Fang Hao¡¯s expression turn unpleasant. When the two sides cooperated initially, the Fairy Clan did not describe it this way. Since grain represents life, now that you say it might not be possible to plant it, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Is the Fairy Clan always this inadequate in handling matters?¡± Shinisara had no answer. Taking a deep breath, Fang Hao continued, ¡°So, with this visit, Chief Shinisara, do you intend to dissolve our agreement?¡± It hadn¡¯t been long, and dissolving the agreement would still give Fang Hao time to find another way to grow crops. After much thought, Shinisara stood up and bowed slightly. She began, ¡°This visit is to ask for Lord Fang Hao¡¯s help for the Fairy Clan. The Fairy Clan will not forget this kindness.¡± Fang Hao frowned, touching his chin, ¡°Are you asking me to fight the Orcs for you?¡± Shinisara nodded, ¡°If it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°What would I gain? Besides the friendship of the Fairy Clan.¡± ¡°Grain planting, free for the next ten years.¡± Clearly, Shinisara had thought through her countermeasures before coming. Fang Hao pondered for a moment while frowning. He then said, ¡°I have a better suggestion that you might consider.¡± ¡°Oh? What is your suggestion?¡± ¡°The reason why the Dreamy Forest has ended up in its current situation is the lack of a strong backing. Even if I help you repel the Orcs this time, what about the second or the third time? The Orcs¡¯ breeding pace could definitely wear down the Fairy Clan,¡± Fang Hao analyzed the dilemma of the Fairy Clan without offering a direct suggestion. The Fairy Clan once had an influential power. This could be seen from their status at Station 032. But the Fairy Clan clearly lacked planning skills, or perhaps ¡®Shinisara¡¯ as a leader was not good at planning. As a result, the Fairy Clan had been living off their past reserves, gradually weakening. Shinisara, when a mass of transmigrators appeared, realized the errors in her thinking. Developing in isolation without interacting with the outside world clearly became their hindrance. ¡°So, Lord Fang Hao, what do you suggest?¡± Shinisara continued. Fang Hao flashed a smile, ¡°Dreamy Forest needs a powerful backer, like me.¡± ¡°You want to swallow us up?¡± Shinisara expressed surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to hide it from you, ¡®Shinisara¡¯ leader, but the Blood Mountains, Cold Wind Mountains, Eight Peaks Mountain, Crescent Heights, and even human cities, and the Orc¡¯s Tasgo City, all are parts of my territory.¡± Fang Hao sipped his tea and continued, ¡°Dreamy Forest and Tasgo City are so close to each other. Once I consider expanding my territory, what will happen to Dreamy Forest? Make way? Or should we take a detour!¡± Fang Hao spoke rather diplomatically. The Dreamy Forest was sandwiched in the middle of the Orc territory. It was very difficult to say they didn¡¯t want to clash with the Orcs. Now Fang Hao wanted to recruit her into his territory, in case one day, strategic needs would truly lead to conflict with the outside world. Who would feel secure having Dreamy Forest at their rear, acting as a mere spectator? Possibly, the first to be attacked would be Dreamy Forest, before expanding further onwards. Shinisara showed a humanized surprise; she only knew that Fang Hao¡¯s territory had expanded to human cities and Tasgo City. She hadn¡¯t expected that lands of Trolls, Dwarfs, and even the Blood Clan had long since become part of Fang Hao¡¯s territory. Shinisara didn¡¯t respond immediately but closed her eyes, her body beginning to root and sprout. Fang Hao knew this meant her consciousness was returning to the Dreamy Forest to discuss this matter. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry and quietly waited on the side. After a short while, Shinisara reopened her eyes. ¡°Having gained Dreamy Forest, how would you arrange things?¡± Shinisara looked straight into his eyes, her tone serious. Fang Hao opened the map in the Book of Lords and began, ¡°Dreamy Forest will still be governed by you. As far as I can see now, I plan to aid the territory¡¯s agriculture. The area previously occupied by Ice Bat Monkeys¡ªI can allocate it to you.¡± On the map, the area once occupied by Ice Bat Monkeys was a zone between the two territories. With the Ice Bat Monkeys cleared out, the area had become vacant. Joining the two territories, Fang Hao planned to give the land to the Fairies for farming. ¡°What about the Orc side? How would you arrange that?¡± Shinisara continued to inquire. Indeed, up until now, it was clear the Fairy Clan was interested. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have asked so many questions repeatedly. As the two conversed, the room¡¯s door behind them opened, and several women who had been soaking in the hot springs in the courtyard entered, giggling and chatting. Each had tender skin, still dripping with water droplets. Fang Hao glanced at them, then turned back and continued to ask, ¡°Which Tribe of the Orcs is in conflict with you?¡± ¡°Furious Lion City.¡± In the Orcs, any group bearing ¡®City¡¯ in its name, held considerable power. Previously, Tasgo City was the ruler of that regional area, and all nearby tribes obeyed the City Lord¡¯s commands. Hearing ¡®Shinisara¡¯ mention the name Furious Lion City, Anjia, who was about to go upstairs, stopped in her tracks. She moved to the side and took a seat next to Fang Hao. The Parrot Red General flew from somewhere and landed on Anjia¡¯s shoulder. Fang Hao ignored this and said, ¡°If ¡®Dreamy Forest¡¯ becomes a subsidiary territory, I will have someone talk to Furious Lion City about this. If they are not planning to resolve it peacefully, I will arrange military forces.¡± Having received the reply, Shinisara once again closed her eyes, her body rooting and sprouting. Anjia beside him spoke, ¡°What¡¯s going on with Furious Lion City?¡± ¡°Furious Lion City is attacking Dreamy Forest, and the Fairy Clan is seeking our help. What? You know about Furious Lion City?¡± Fang Hao was curious. Anjia fed dry fruits into the parrot¡¯s mouth, speaking, ¡°I used to come from Furious Lion City, I know a bit about that place.¡± ¡°Oh? Then we must handle this matter carefully.¡± ¡°No need, I was chased out from there. Having a grudge, let me go when we attack.¡± Well now, old and new grievances both existed. Shortly thereafter, Shinisara opened her eyes again and said, ¡°Alright, I agree to become your subsidiary force, and I hope you will keep your promises.¡± Fang Hao showed a smile, ¡°Of course, Dreamy Forest will only get better.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s resolve this tonight.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± They called Demitrija over. Along with the two of them, they followed ¡®Shinisara¡¯ to Dreamy Forest. Chapter 930 - Chapter 930: Chapter 588, Xu Haide is Dead Chapter 930: Chapter 588, Xu Haide is Dead All around was quiet. The twisting branches and the swinging chandeliers made especially clear sounds. Various plants and robust trees surrounded the area. The tree branches, adorned with Nightstones, slowly twisted and lit up a path leading deep into the dense forest. It was as if they had entered an ancient forest filled with magic. It was dangerous yet mysterious. ¡°Welcome to Dreamy Forest,¡± Shinisara said softly. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a beautiful place,¡± Fang Hao complimented. The air was fresh, indeed very pleasant. But the night was too quiet, deep in the dense forest. It was somewhat terrifying. ¡°Thank you, follow me,¡± Shinisara led the way, moving further inside. They walked along a small path between the trees. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Soon, a slender wooden bridge appeared ahead. Fang Hao suddenly remembered a story that Goblin Moru had told him. At that time, Moru had mentioned that there was a special bridge in Dreamy Forest. If you are a bad person, when you step on this wooden bridge, you would leave black footprints. But if you are a good person, the footprints would be blue. When Moru had walked across, the footprints beneath him were blue. He proved to be a good person and boasted about it to Fang Hao for a long time. Watching ¡®Shinisara¡¯ having crossed the bridge without leaving any marks, Fang Hao, Anjia, and Demitrija followed behind and stepped onto the wooden bridge. And when the three of them walked across, they indeed found that they had left a trail of footprints. However, all three of their footprints were blue. ¡®Shinisara¡¯, having already reached the other side, saw their footprints and a human-like smile appeared on her face. ¡°What is this?¡± Anjia asked curiously. Shinisara smiled and replied, ¡°This bridge is a treasure of the Fairy Clan and also a part of Dreamy Forest. It reveals one¡¯s attitude towards Dreamy Forest as they walk across.¡± ¡°Attitude?¡± Fang Hao also became curious. ¡°Yes, if your heart harbors evil intentions, the footprints will turn black. If not, they will be blue. We, the Fairy Clan, also use this bridge to distinguish between enemies and friends,¡± Shinisara explained. This explanation was somewhat different from what Goblin Moru had said. Moru said it was to determine good and bad people. Bad people would leave black footprints, and good people blue footprints. Back then, Fang Hao had even asked him what criteria determined good and bad people, whether it was race influence or alignment. Good and bad, such things are hard to define with a standard. Now ¡®Shinisara¡¯s¡¯ explanation made much more sense. When you step onto this bridge, whether you harbor malicious thoughts against the Fairy Clan is the criterion for judgment. Luckily, Fang Hao didn¡¯t have any thoughts of harming the Fairy Clan; otherwise, the footprints would have been black, and acquiring Dreamy Forest might have been jeopardized. It¡¯s very likely that ¡®Shinisara¡¯ led them this way to see what Fang Hao was thinking. Fortunately, the outcome was good. ¡°It¡¯s quite magical,¡± Fang Hao nodded. Shinisara nodded and continued to lead the way ahead, passing the wooden bridge, her mood seeming much better. Along the way, she began to introduce the surrounding buildings to Fang Hao and the others. Fruits cultivated by the Fairy Clan, their taste, and their special effects, among other things. All in all, it was not as somber as it had been at the start. As they moved closer to the center, the buildings became more densely packed. It was like a city enveloped by the forest. They finally reached the center of the forest. The most striking feature was the gigantic, straight oak that reached into the sky. The trunk was thick, and the crown covered the sky. It was taller and more imposing than the skyscrapers once erected in the modern world. ¡°My lord, please come inside,¡± Shinisara said in front of a building, speaking softly. Fang Hao nodded and followed her into the building. The building wasn¡¯t large; it was about the size of a conference room. Several high-ranking members of the Fairy Clan were already seated inside. Seeing Shinisara bring Fang Hao and the others in, they all stood up to salute. ¡°Please sit,¡± Shinisara said. After Fang Hao and the others sat down, Shinisara continued, ¡°Lord Fang Hao has arrived and will soon become the new ruler of Dreamy Forest.¡± ¡°Yes, Leader!¡± the fairies nodded in response. Apparently, these matters had been discussed beforehand and required no further explanation. Fang Hao hadn¡¯t expected this procedure but quickly thought of something to say, ¡°Unity will only make us stronger, and the Fairy Clan will also return to glory, while ¡®Shinisara¡¯ will continue as your leader, ruling over Dreamy Forest.¡± It was a bit straightforward since he thought of it on the spot. However, after hearing this, the several high-ranking members of the Fairy Clan visibly relaxed. It seemed to have some effect. Following that, the Fairy Clan¡¯s people began some introductions. Finance officers, logistics officers, housing planning officers, each one introduced themselves and assured everyone of their duties. Each spoke passionately. Listening on the side, Anjia was half asleep, her head bobbing from time to time. Finally, the introductions were over. Shinisara continued, ¡°My lord, I¡¯ll take you to the castle.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Picking up the sleeping Anjia, they left the conference room. They entered a low-rise building. At the top of the building, there was a throne formed by intertwined trees. Fang Hao walked straight up and sat on the throne. At the same time, a system prompt appeared. [Giant Tree City has become your subsidiary city. You can ¡®rename¡¯ the city here and govern the eight subsidiary villages.] The area where the Fairy Clan lived was called Dreamy Forest. But they didn¡¯t all cluster in one area. Chapter 931 - Chapter 931: Chapter 588, Xu Haide is Dead_2 Chapter 931: Chapter 588, Xu Haide is Dead_2 There are also eight subordinate villages. Looking at it this way, the population of Dreamy Forest is even smaller than that of the Dwarves. At that time, the Dwarves had twelve subordinate cities and several fortresses. The Fairy Clan here only has eight villages. [Giant Tree City] [City Level: Level Twelve Original City] [Attributes: Plant Growth +75%, Fairy Reproduction +20%.] (Description: A city with attributes can bring various different enhancement effects to accelerate the city¡¯s construction and development.) The city level is not high, only level twelve. It is at the same level as Lyss City. There are not many attributes added, only two. But the first one, the plant growth, is truly frightening, 75%. Does this thing sprout as soon as it hits the ground? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï No wonder the plants outside just began to sprout, while the plants here are still lush and thriving. [Unlocked Blueprints: Seed Cultivation Garden, Shadowy Woods, Hunter¡¯s Cottage.] The number of blueprints that come with the city is indeed not few. [Seed Cultivation Garden] [Category: Special Building] [Effect: Seedling Cultivation] [Seedling Cultivation: Inside the building, plant seeds/seedlings can be nurtured and improved.] (Description: Nature has gifted life.) [Building Requirements: Hardwood 800, Stone Bricks 1200, Iron 500, Natural Gem 5, Perfect Essence 1.] A very practical building. Especially for a territory in the development phase, this building can play a big role. [Shadowy Woods] [Category: Special Building] (Description: Established within the region, a dense forest constructed in an orderly fashion that can cause enemies who enter rashly to lose their way.) [Construction Required: Tree seeds 300, Natural Gem 3.] If I¡¯m not mistaken, it should be a maze formed by trees. It can serve as a defensive measure. I wonder how this maze would deal with flying races. It can¡¯t be that the canopy is sealed off at the top. Continuing to look down. [Hunter¡¯s Cottage] is a building for training archers, equivalent to a shooting range in human factions. I¡¯ve finished looking through all the unlocked blueprints. It can be said that the Fairy Clan¡¯s blueprints are all related to plants. The Shadowy Woods blueprint requires direct seeds and Natural Gemstones for construction, without materials like wood or stone. Fang Hao put away the Book of Lords. Looking down at ¡®Shinisara¡¯, Fang Hao spoke softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go, come with me to Tasgo City, and have the Bronze Bull cooperate with you to drive the Orcs out of Furious Lion City first.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Shinisara immediately nodded and said. ¡­ In Tasgo City, at the City Lord¡¯s mansion. A screen appeared in the hall, and Fang Hao and three shadows walked out from the screen. Late at night, the hall was empty, with no one in sight. Fang Hao, followed by the three people, walked out the door and looked at two Tauren holding battle axes leaning against the door, sound asleep. Even as the four people approached, the two Tauren didn¡¯t realize anything. ¡°Hey!¡± Fang Hao kicked one of them with his foot. With eyes closed, the Tauren just changed position and continued sleeping. ¡°You¡¯re quite gentle¡­¡± Anjia remarked. Then she stepped forward and kicked. With a bang, the body of the Tauren flew out three or four meters before rolling to a stop. ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± ¡°Dammit, how dare you kick me, I¡¯m going to split you in two.¡± With such a commotion, both the Tauren who got kicked away and the other one sleeping woke up. Brandishing their battle axes, they bellowed in anger. Fang Hao looked at the two Tauren and said, ¡°I¡¯m Fang Hao, tell Bronze Bull to come see me.¡± The Tauren charging over with the battle axe had his bull¡¯s eyes widen, then shrink. The forward momentum slowed, and he immediately knelt, sliding to a halt in front of Fang Hao. Bowing his head he said, ¡°Lord, I was wrong.¡± His attitude in admitting his mistake was very sincere. ¡°Go then, bring Bronze Bull to me.¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± the Tauren guard got up, turned around, and walked out. It wasn¡¯t long before Bronze Bull, gleaming golden and bare-chested, strode in. Seeing Fang Hao and Demitrija among others, he immediately saluted, ¡°Lord.¡± Bronze Bull had joined the territory for quite some time. He was considered an old hero. His Loyalty had also reached a very high level. ¡°Hmm, Tellock, this is ¡®Shinisara¡¯, the leader of Dreamy Forest, who¡¯s now also a member of the territory. Get to know each other,¡± Fang Hao introduced softly. ¡°Hmm, Leader Shinisara.¡± ¡°Mr. Tellock.¡± The two actually knew of each other, but had not had much interaction. As for Shinisara¡¯s joining, Bronze Bull was not too surprised. He even felt it was quite reasonable. Bronze Bull took a seat to one side. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Now ¡®Furious Lion City¡¯ is attacking Dreamy Forest; arrange manpower tomorrow first to help Dreamy Forest resolve this conflict.¡± ¡°Understood, my lord. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll arrange for people to head over,¡± Bronze Bull immediately responded. ¡°After those Orcs retreat, arrange someone to probe ¡®Furious Lion City¡¯s attitude and see if we can resolve this peacefully,¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and then continued. ¡°Alright.¡± At this moment, Anjia, who was to the side, suddenly interrupted, ¡°Fang Hao, I want to be in charge of this negotiation.¡± When coming out, Anjia mentioned that she was driven out of the Furious Lion City. In her tone, one could sense some resentment. Fang Hao pondered for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Bronze Bull, let Anjia take charge this time, and you give her support.¡± ¡°This¡­ well, okay,¡± Bronze Bull hesitated but still agreed. Anjia leading this matter. What was there left to discuss? Most likely, it was going to lead to a fight. But since Fang Hao had said so, he didn¡¯t need to worry too much about it. Chapter 932 - Chapter 932: Chapter 588: Xu Haide is Dead_3 Chapter 932: Chapter 588: Xu Haide is Dead_3 ¡°Hmm, ¡®Shinisara,¡¯ do you have anything else to add?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Shinisara thought for a moment and said, ¡°The location where we will battle Furious Lion City, I will mark it for you. They have a considerable number of troops; it would be best if you could arrange for more forces on your side.¡± ¡°How many of them are there?¡± Bronze Bull asked. ¡°Over twenty thousand.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it, I¡¯ll bring troops there tomorrow,¡± Bronze Bull replied. The two of them then whispered to each other for a while, refining the route and details. Finally, seeing that there was nothing else for them to discuss, Fang Hao said, ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll settle the plan like this for now. If anything comes up, you two keep in touch.¡± After finishing, he released the teleportation screen again. Taking a few people, they left. ¡­ The next day. The rising sun draped the earth in streaks of dawn light. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Santaibel Fortress. Within the City Lord¡¯s residence. Soldiers in armor were moving in and out of the City Lord¡¯s residence, Carrying out the corpses of the dead and laying them in the courtyard. No one had expected that Odys would arrange an assassination at the last moment. One by one, the corpses were covered with white cloths bearing the church¡¯s insignia. Lined up in a long row. There were more than ten corpses. Li Rong roughly identified them. She did not find the target she was hoping to see, and glanced at the Dark Elf beside her. The latter nodded slightly but said nothing more. At that moment, the room¡¯s door opened. Several high-ranking members of the Alliance came out from inside. Mapel immediately spotted Li Rong not far away, waved, and gestured for her to come over. Li Rong walked over quickly. Mapel took her aside and in a low voice said, ¡°Xu Haide has been killed.¡± ¡°What?¡± Li Rong looked shocked and added, ¡°How is that possible?¡± Mapel nodded and explained, ¡°This morning, people from the church went to his room and found him already dead. The Knights Templar responsible for his protection are dead as well; several Archbishops are furious and are demanding that the Federation attack the Great Cemetery of Odys.¡± ¡°Is it that serious?¡± ¡°Indeed, it is quite serious. Xu Haide was nurtured by the Archbishop, and with the capabilities he demonstrated this time, he was very likely to be the next Archbishop. Now that the war is over and he has been killed, what will they tell the Archbishop when they get back? They are very anxious,¡± Mapel explained. Li Rong only knew that Xu Haide was a saint, not realizing his position was so high. And he was a person groomed by the Archbishop. ¡°What a pity, he was so outstanding. He would have received a lot of rewards when he returned for his major contributions, but in the end, he died here,¡± Li Rong lamented. ¡°Stay close to me during the day and do not come out of your room at night. I will arrange some extra guards for you,¡± Mapel continued. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Mapel nodded, leading her outside, ¡°Let¡¯s go, today we are overseeing the front lines, we shouldn¡¯t delay any longer.¡± The three of them headed to the assembly and walked out together. ¡­ Ha! Fang Hao let out a big yawn. He walked down the stairs. In the ground floor hall, the maids had already started their work. Cleaning. ¡°Eira, plant this seed somewhere,¡± Fang Hao casually tossed a seed over. Eira caught it in her palm and asked curiously, ¡°Oh, Master, what kind of seed is this?¡± ¡°An oak, I guess. Plant it near the lord¡¯s mansion,¡± he replied. ¡°Oh, alright, Master.¡± After giving instructions, Fang Hao began his morning exercise. During his morning run, Fang Hao suddenly stopped. He saw a giant tree rapidly growing upward from the backyard, Surpassing the surrounding walls, then the entire lord¡¯s mansion. Damn! Chapter 935 - Chapter 935: 590 Chapter 935: 590 ¡°The miniature ¡®Shinisara¡¯ was somewhat adorable.¡± Like a figurine, it hung along the branches.¡± Appearing before the two of them.¡± For Fang Hao, it was nothing new; he had noticed the changing ¡®Shinisara¡¯ when the canopy shook.¡± But Eira let out a soft cry, clearly startled.¡± It was only when she saw that the form was ¡®Shinisara¡¯ that she calmed down.¡± ¡°My lord, the army of Furious Lion City has withdrawn, and the City Lord of Bronze Bull City is preparing for the upcoming negotiation,¡± said the miniature ¡®Shinisara¡¯.¡± Fang Hao nodded, ¡°All right, once the negotiation time is confirmed, let me know, and I¡¯ll send Anjia over.¡± Given the current situation, a peaceful resolution seems unlikely.¡± Whether it¡¯s the decade-long feud between Furious Lion City and the Fairy Clan or Anjia¡¯s resentment towards her past experiences, the negotiation could more easily lead to war.¡± Especially since the Orcs have always believed in survival of the fittest. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The strong have the right to speak and possess more privileges. Furious Lion City might not consider itself at a disadvantage, thinking that the alliance between Dreamy Forest and Tasgo City is just between weaklings. Obviously, the negotiations will not be successful then.¡± But Fang Hao still chose to negotiate, firstly, to delay the start of the war.¡± He tried to make the start of the war coincide with the end of the war at the Great Cemetery of Odys.¡± Secondly, it was also to show other subordinate forces an attitude.¡± Hoping for peace is still the impression Fang Hao, as a lord, needs to maintain.¡± Otherwise, having wars frequently at Eight Peaks Mountain, the Great Cemetert, and now Furious Lion City, could easily create an image of being overly belligerent.¡± Therefore, negotiations had to take place, even though he already knew it was not likely to resolve peacefully.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Shinisara said, and then the miniature body quickly disappears.¡± It transformed back into its original branches. After a while, Eira finally spoke, ¡°Master, does this tree also have the ability to transmit messages?¡± ¡°I suppose so,¡± Fang Hao was somewhat uncertain too.¡± Being able to transform into the form of ¡®Shinisara¡¯ must be another ability of the oak tree.¡± ¡°Kin of the Oak,¡± Even though there¡¯s such a distance between Dreamy Forest and the main city here, it can still transform into Shinisara using some kind of connection to transmit messages.¡± Or rather, this oak tree is a part of Shinisara itself.¡± It can freely transfer consciousness.¡± This is quite convenient for message transmission; they can be conveyed in real time. It seems somewhat similar to my own ability called ¡®God¡¯s Presence.¡¯ The distance is even farther and the effect is even better.¡± I also have to be careful from now on interacting with Eira and others here.¡± It would be awkward to be caught.¡± After discussing matters of the Dreamy Forest, he continued to lie on Eira¡¯s lap and read the novel he had bought.¡± Ah! The weather is really nice.¡± ¡­ After lunch, he came back from the Skeleton craftsman. On the way, he saw the innkeeper Winnie, holding a lampshade.¡± ¡°Lord,¡± Winnie greeted with a smile.¡± ¡°Good afternoon, Innkeeper,¡± Fang Hao responded with a smile too.¡± Spending a winter in the main city, Winnie¡¯s skin had not only become more tender, but her figure had also become much fuller, not like the rural innkeeper she was before.¡± She seemed like a ripe, juicy peach.¡± Seeing that Fang Hao still referred to her as Innkeeper, Winnie rolled her eyes at him.¡± Then she said, ¡°Sir, the lampshade in my room is broken, could you help me change it? Those Skeletons are too clumsy.¡± So, it was the lampshade she needed to be changed. ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡± Winnie didn¡¯t have her own place to stay, just a room within a building.¡± Fang Hao had set a rule for people within his domain that heroes could have their own detached houses, private hot springs, gardens, and some privileges.¡± Maids could do the same, as long as they could become heroes. Then they could move out of here, owning their own detached houses.¡± This was also the reason why the maids kept urging Anjia to train every day. Winnie was no exception; she too had been training all winter, but she wasn¡¯t improving fast and was now a level three warrior. Following Winnie into the room, the room was very clean, with a bed and a set of table and chairs.¡± On the table were also pen and paper, on which were written some of Winnie¡¯s daily recorded spirit recipes.¡± ¡°Is it this lamp?¡± Fang Hao pointed to one above their heads.¡± A single Nightstone.¡± The Nightstone chandelier had a shade.¡± When resting, you could lower the shade to cover the Nightstone.¡± It acted like turning off the light.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Winnie said.¡± Fang Hao nodded, pulling a chair over to underneath the chandelier.¡± This kind of task, ordinary Skeletons truly couldn¡¯t do.¡± You order them to dismantle the lamp, Skeletons could complete it, but if you tell them to remove the shade above, the Skeletons might not unhook it properly and instead just yank it down.¡± Standing on the chair, Fang Hao looked up and began to remove the already broken lampshade.¡± And below, Winnie, who was holding the chair steady, shifted her eyes slightly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hold it steady for you.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Winnie placed her hands on his legs.¡± However, halfway through, Fang Hao felt a soft sensation coming from his legs.¡± He saw Winnie leaning on his thigh, her delicate hands slipping under his clothes.¡± Chapter 936 - Chapter 936: Chapter 590, Changing the Lampshade_2 Chapter 936: Chapter 590, Changing the Lampshade_2 ¡°` Eight pack abs, each muscle of the chest sharply defined. But not those over-trained, exaggerated muscles. His physique was extremely proportional. Meanwhile, Winnie, her eyes full of surprise, caressed them unconsciously. Her touch made his heart itch with a peculiar sensation. He leaned over and tapped her forehead, ¡°Taking advantage of me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Winnie¡¯s face flushed red as she squeezed out a smile. Turning her head to the side, she said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a sister touching her little brother?¡± When they first met, Winnie used to call him little brother, but ever since finding out Fang Hao¡¯s identity, she could only address him formally as ¡®sir¡¯. In public, she had to bow and pay attention to etiquette. Fang Hao didn¡¯t pay her any mind and threw the damaged lampshade to one side, replacing it with a new one. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 After everything was replaced and he stepped down from the chair, Winnie¡¯s cheeks were even redder. Despite her usually making risqu¨¦ jokes with patrons in the tavern, now she seemed like a shy young girl. ¡°Madam, your face is too red,¡± Fang Hao teased. Winnie glared at him, ¡°What¡¯s red? Your face is the one that¡¯s red.¡± She picked up a water cup nearby and poured him a glass of fruit wine. Continuing, she said, ¡°Sit for a while, I have something to talk to you about.¡± Fang Hao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Could the landlady¡¯s loyalty have reached 100? Not to say, this lady has become more and more charming over the winter. ¡°Okay,¡± Fang Hao took the fruit wine and sat down. Winnie thought for a moment before continuing, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a big deal, but winter is past and you should arrange some work for me; I can¡¯t always be idle here.¡± Uh, that issue. It made sense. Winnie wasn¡¯t considered a maid, and she hadn¡¯t been assigned any tasks during her stay in the city over the winter. Spending every day with the maids in the training ground, she had trained herself up to a third-order warrior. Winter had passed and it was only natural for her to want to find a job for herself. Fang Hao considered the various shops he owned. The shops in Pruell and Lyss City were now operating normally and didn¡¯t need her presence. ¡°How about this, I¡¯m also planning to open a hot pot restaurant in the Federation¡¯s Silver Wing City, and when the time comes, you can be the boss!¡± The plan to open a shop in Silver Wing City had been in the works for quite some time. However, with many events happening, it had slipped his mind. Now that Winnie had come to him, the idea immediately resurfaced. The shop still needed to be opened; it couldn¡¯t be put off indefinitely. It could be inferred from Li Rong being able to attend noble banquets, That whether for expanding one¡¯s connections or for potential collaborations, Nobility was open to rich individuals joining their ranks. Then, starting more shops in Silver Wing City and pushing one¡¯s own people into the circle of nobility would also be beneficial for him. ¡°Silver Wing City? You can expand your business there?¡± Winnie¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. For her, Silver Wing City was a place she had only heard of. The core city of Hundred Cities Federation, and residents there were all high and mighty lords. ¡°Yeah, how about it, are you willing to go?¡± ¡°Willing,¡± Winnie nodded, then hesitated a little, ¡°Is there already a shop?¡± ¡°Not yet, just wait in the city for a few days, and I will arrange for someone to take care of the shop details,¡± said Fang Hao. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t too worried about the shop matter. With Rebecca and ¡®Olivia¡¯s¡¯ close friendship, getting their attention on a suitable shop wasn¡¯t a problem. He would provide the money and buy the shop. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± Winnie nodded. Once the shop matter was settled, The room became somewhat quiet. ¡°Fang Hao, do you still remember my tavern?¡± Winnie asked again. When he first visited Pruell City, Fang Hao would frequent Winnie¡¯s tavern. His goal was to check the bounty tasks on the tavern¡¯s notice board, yet Winnie mistook it as a sign that he fancied her. She had once chided him, saying that he, being so young, shouldn¡¯t always think about such things. In that residential area for commoners, Winnie was famously beautiful. The patrons of the Rose Tavern included not a few men with ulterior motives. Having seen various pursuits and innuendos, she naturally thought Fang Hao was one of them. ¡°` Later, the City Lord colluded with the Blood Clan, selling a group of civilians to them. On the way, Fang Hao¡¯s people rescued them. That¡¯s when she realized Fang Hao owned such a vast territory, as well as hordes of Undead. ¡°I remember a very popular tavern, lots of customers,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°I could never believe I would get to go out or even dress up in a gown to attend a noble¡¯s banquet.¡± ¡°It will get even better, trust me,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Winnie nodded and with a light cough, she said, ¡°When we¡¯re alone later, can I still call you ¡®brother¡¯? Is that okay?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve learned some massage techniques; do you want me to give you a massage?¡± Winnie¡¯s face turned even redder. With her face blushing, the atmosphere started to feel a bit off. Fang Hao also became somewhat nervous, ¡°Sure, that sounds good.¡± After speaking, he lay down on the bed. Winnie stepped forward, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently placed her hands on his back and waist. At this moment. There came a shout from downstairs, ¡°Master, Mr. Bach is looking for you.¡± It was Yuan Yuan¡¯s voice. Did that mean they¡¯d started calling out citywide because they couldn¡¯t find him! Fang Hao sat up and glanced at Winnie, who was still somewhat flushed, and said, ¡°Next time, come to my room next time.¡± Having said that, he walked outside. Winnie was left alone, her cheeks still a vibrant red. On his way downstairs, Fang Hao glanced at the Book of Lords. [Winnie¡¯s loyalty to you is 98 points.] Indeed, it had reached a certain height. Although it wasn¡¯t 100 points, 98 was already considered very high. It was quite normal to have some special feelings. After going downstairs and finding Yuan Yuan, Fang Hao learned that Bach was looking for him because the shoes had been made according to the blueprint and he wanted Fang Hao to have a look. Fang Hao nodded and walked towards the tanners¡¯ area. ¡­ Capital of Lizardmen ¨C Zetserlan. Escorted by a throng of Lizardmen officials, Queen Anastasia paced leisurely up the lengthy, layer-by-layer stone steps. At the top of the thousand steps stood a colossal Temple. The walls towered high, the pavilions majestic. A solemn and ancient aura descended upon them. The Ancient Saint Temple. It was the tallest building in Zetserlan, even higher than the Queen¡¯s Royal Palace. It symbolized the status of the Ancient Saint in everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°How is it, the environment here should be more suitable for our lives than where you come from,¡± Queen Anastasia said as she walked and spoke to someone by her side. To the right of the Queen was Demitrija, who had come upon invitation. Demitrija nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite nice.¡± The climate here was indeed more conducive to the survival of the Lizardmen. Of course, a big reason for the peace and tranquility was that other races could not adapt to the local environment. ¡°If you wish, you are always welcome to live here; with your abilities, you could have a higher position in the holy order, a better life, and even more,¡± continued the Queen. At this time. The Lizardmen Queen was no longer beating around the bush, but directly making her proposition. Opportunities without Fang Hao around were rare; any hesitation would only lead to missed opportunities. Hearing the Queen¡¯s words, Demitrija walked on in silence without responding. The Queen, not giving up, continued, ¡°The power of the holy order is gradually weakening, the Ancient Saint no longer guides us, fewer of our kin are ascending to heroes. At this rate, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll fade from the world stage, becoming an obscure, minor force, eventually consumed by a larger power.¡± Demitrija paused slightly, hesitated a moment. Speaking up, she said, ¡°Seize the opportunity, the holy order will receive support and help.¡± The Queen¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, her brown vertical pupils revealing a hint of confusion. She pondered the meaning of these words. Was this a message to seize the matter of an alliance with Fang Hao? A transmigrator, to wield such great power. Even if both sides expressed the intention of an alliance, it didn¡¯t quite amount to taking the initiative on her own side, did it? Or did Demitrija know something, that Fang Hao¡¯s true strength was far greater than what she had seen? Falling silent for a short while, the Queen didn¡¯t continue to discuss this topic. Instead, she introduced the city¡¯s architecture and some local matters in a low voice. Continuing upward, they finally arrived in front of the Temple. Chapter 940 - Chapter 940: Chapter 592, Fishing Chapter 940: Chapter 592, Fishing Wow, Air Elemental Spell. What a misleading name. [Blossoming Everywhere] [Category: Air Elemental Magic] [Level: Tier 3 Magic] [Effect: Shoot a fixed-direction thunder attribute orb, inflicting thunder attribute damage, difficult to control.] (Description: A white display of fireworks; dangerous and dazzling.) In Fang Hao¡¯s understanding, Thunder Elemental Magic is a type of Air Elemental Magic. And this Blossoming Everywhere ability actually releases Thunder Elemental Magic. As for what other types are included in Air Elemental, as of now, he doesn¡¯t know much about them. After all, he hasn¡¯t had detailed exposure to magical instruction. The only one who had undergone further study, Li Rong, was hastily sent to the front lines after just two days and hasn¡¯t returned yet. This Skill Scroll for sale is actually something that he needs. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï He opened private chat and sent over, ¡°Can it be cheaper?¡± There was a brief silence on the other side before the reply came, ¡°No, and you¡¯ll have to compete because someone else also wants to buy it from me. If you offer too little, it¡¯ll go to the other person.¡± Huh? Someone else wants to buy the Skill Scroll? Are they also a Thunder Elemental Mage? It¡¯s also possible they saw my name and are looking to sell at a high price, just like the others. After all, with just one item, there¡¯s no expectation of any future cooperation. Get as much equipment as you can. Fang Hao replied, ¡°Since someone contacted you before me, sell it to them!¡± There was silence again on the other side. Then the reply came, ¡°Give me an offer, let me hear it.¡± As expected, either the price offered by the other person is too low, or there isn¡¯t a second person at all. After thinking for a bit, Fang Hao said, ¡°10 blue-grade weapons.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t work, too little.¡± ¡°You name it, I¡¯ll see if it¡¯s acceptable,¡± Fang Hao replied. ¡°20 weapons. The Skill Scroll, once learned, grants a permanent skill. And with Thunder Elemental Magic, it deals high damage, strong power. 20 is a bargain for you.¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the highest you can offer?¡± ¡°15 pieces!¡± ¡°19 pieces!¡± ¡°Only 15 blue-grade weapons, as blue-grade weapons in the market are already value-preserving, worth much more than your scroll,¡± Fang Hao stuck to his offer of 15. It¡¯s not that he¡¯s being stingy with other transmigrators. Rather, as of now, blue-grade equipment truly has value-preserving qualities. On the World Channel, more transmigrators are supplying the military with equipment. And they are still stuck in the white and green equipment range. Once blue-grade equipment appears, it¡¯s quickly purchased by someone. Therefore, blue-grade weapons are more marketable than this Mage Skill Scroll. Of course, Skill Scrolls are also valuable items. It¡¯s just that among transmigrators, those who choose the Mage path, especially Thunder Magic, are very rare. There was another long silence from the other side before the final reply came, ¡°Fine, we are all transmigrators, I¡¯ll give you a discount, I¡¯ve set up a designated trade.¡± Damn it¡­ We¡¯re just trading normally, why does it sound like you¡¯re at such a loss? Fang Hao immediately received the designated trade; the other party had listed the [Blossoming Everywhere] Skill Scroll for sale. On his side, he selected 15 blue-grade weapons that had been replaced by skeleton soldiers. He went ahead with the trade. In the next second, the Skill Scroll appeared in his hand. Skill Scrolls differ from books. The books he¡¯d bought before, like [Secrets of the Multi-Headed Fire Python], required reading and then following the book¡¯s method to learn to concentrate the Magic. But Skill Scrolls are specific skills for transmigrators. Like in games, confirmation allows you to learn them. Of course, you have to be a Mage; warriors won¡¯t do. [Do you want to learn the skill, Blossoming Everywhere?] Learn! The scroll transformed into a light that shot into his body. At the same time, the pattern and steps of casting this spell emerged in Fang Hao¡¯s mind. Having learned a new skill, he wanted to try it out. But he can¡¯t try it here. Magic doesn¡¯t differentiate between friend and foe; if it hurt Eira and the rest, that wouldn¡¯t be good. After deciding, he stood up. Eira¡¯s and Little White¡¯s cheeks turned red. Seeing Fang Hao head towards the door, they asked, ¡°Master, are you going out?¡± ¡°Yeah, I acquired a new skill and want to test it outside,¡± Fang Hao walked out of the hot spring, shaking off the water on him. Little White also got up, took out a towel, and started to help Fang Hao dry the droplets off his body. Having dried the water off, he put on some simple clothes and walked out. He had just left the lord¡¯s mansion. And saw Demitrija in golden armor just happening to pass by in front of the mansion. He even carried a small backpack, seemingly having brought back some specialty goods from the Lizardmen. ¡°My lord,¡± Demitrija saluted. ¡°You¡¯re back? How was it today? Is there anything different over there compared to here?¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. Demitrija had been invited to visit the Lizardmen¡¯s territory, and Fang Hao could guess the Lizardmen queen¡¯s intention. Poaching, it¡¯s not the first time. With 100 points of Loyalty, he wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°The queen was very welcoming; the city isn¡¯t much different from a human city, only the environment is a bit distinct,¡± Demitrija answered. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll also visit the Holy Nation when I get a chance.¡± Demitrija, seeing Fang Hao carrying the Thunderhawk Blade and walking out, asked curiously, ¡°My lord, are you heading out?¡± The Thunderhawk Blade, as Fang Hao¡¯s weapon for Air Elemental Magic, is only brought out during battle. Right now, the territory is quiet, with no sign of anyone attacking. Why would he be taking his weapon? Fang Hao looked at the giant sword in his hand, ¡°Oh, I just got a new Air Elemental skill, planning to find a place to test it out.¡± Chapter 941 - Chapter 941: Chapter 592, Fishing_2 Chapter 941: Chapter 592, Fishing_2 ¡°Then I¡¯ll accompany you,¡± she offered. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head to the testing range.¡± The two of them set out for the testing range, one leading and the other following. In the past, the testing range had been used for firing practice. The area was large, and many humanoid wooden targets were stored in the warehouse. But recently, it had become the place where Fang Hao tested new skills and experimented with odd items. The testing of firearms was carried out in Gray Iron City. With demon teleportation available, distance was no longer an issue. He called over two skeletons. ¡°Go and replace a few of the old targets.¡± The expressionless skeletons went forward and swapped out the worn targets for new ones. Fang Hao seized the moment to gather his strength. He released ¡°Blossoming Everywhere.¡± Since he was still unclear about the skill¡¯s characteristics, he threw it a bit farther for safety. A thunderbolt coiled around it. A basketball-sized thunderball was hurled by Fang Hao. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The speed was not fast, and it took about four or five seconds before it hit the wooden target at the center of the range. Bang! The wooden target shattered amidst the thunder, and the next second, the basketball-sized thunderball burst into countless ¡®pool ball-sized¡¯ smaller thunderballs, spreading outwards. The pool-ball-sized thunderballs flew about a meter before they too fragmented, turning into thunder snakes and spreading further. It was like a celestial maiden scattering flowers. Ah, this¡­ Fang Hao, having little knowledge, was surprised. ¡°Blossoming Everywhere¡± was indeed a fitting name. This skill was a three-stage chain skill. A large thunderball dispersing into smaller thunderballs, which then broke into electric snakes continuing to spread. If used well, this skill could be a powerful group damage skill. But one had to be cautious about the extent of effects since the spread pattern of this skill was not easy to control. If it was used in small spaces, or in places with many allies, this skill might kill both foes and friends alike. His gaze returned to the wooden target upfront. The initially attacked target was already shattered by the thunderball, and the targets on either side, each about a meter away, had not been spared either. The spread smaller thunderballs turned them into fragments. The damage effect was quite good, and the biggest characteristic of Thunder Elemental Magic was the electrocution effect upon hitting. Even if it didn¡¯t kill you, it would paralyze you from the shock, causing full-body paralysis. ¡°Go, replace the targets.¡± The skeletons went to bring out new targets and replaced the three that were damaged. Once they finished replacing them, Fang Hao continued to release ¡°Blossoming Everywhere¡± again, and the thunderball flew out. It still hit the wooden target and spread into smaller thunderballs, which then fragmented into vanishing thunder snakes. Roughly calculating, the first split could spread to about a meter radius from the center. The pool-ball-sized spread of thunder snakes could cover about half a meter and after that, maybe. The range was fairly decent. Fang Hao further experimented by smashing the thunderball directly onto the ground. The basketball-sized thunderball, instead of progressing to the second phase of spreading, directly turned into a myriad of thunder snakes, covering an area of more than three meters. Then, he threw the thunderball into the water. The thunderball disappeared, but the electric snakes still spread, reaching a much wider area than when smashed on the ground. After several more trials, he felt he was also becoming familiar with the way and effects of the skill. Only then did he and Demitrija head back. This skill, he felt quite satisfied, was worth exchanging for 15 blue weapons. Back at the mansion, he talked for a while in the hall with Demitrija. He looked at the Lizardmen specialties that he had brought back. Then he went upstairs, took Eira in his arms, and went to sleep. ¡­ The night was deep. The air was pervaded by a muggy humidity. It felt almost like fog, making the surroundings even more blurred and quiet. Clop clop clop!! The dense sound of horse hooves and the noise of wagon wheels rolling over pebbles shattered the night¡¯s quiet. A carriage equipped with Nightstones sped down the shadowy road at a fast pace. The road was rugged, causing the wagon to jolt violently. Inside the carriage, a brown-haired man looked at the Book of Lords and occasionally urged the soldiers to accelerate even more. The night outside was dangerous. If it hadn¡¯t been for the importance of this matter, he would not have opted to leave the city under the cover of night. ¡°How much longer?¡± the brown-haired man tapped on the carriage wall and asked. ¡°Sir, you can start to see the building ahead,¡± the guard serving as the coachman responded. The man felt elated, pulled back the curtain, and looked forward to the building ahead. In front of the fog, faint lights from a building emerged dimly. A moment later, the carriage drew near the city limits. Five ¡°Pseudo-Dragon Guards¡± began encircling above, hovering around the carriage. At that moment, a guard riding a ¡°Winged Dragon¡± also flew over the carriage. Clad in silver armor, holding a long spear. ¡°Stop the carriage, state your purpose,¡± the guard atop the Winged Dragon demanded coldly. The carriage slowed down. A brown-haired man, leaning out from the carriage, squeezed out a smile and began to explain, ¡°I¡¯m a member of Lord Aerygon¡¯s Alliance, and I have important matters to report to him.¡± The guard glanced at the carriage, noting there were only two people including the coachman, posing no apparent danger. He then said, ¡°Approach the city wall and wait, I¡¯ll go and notify.¡± ¡°Alright, alright!¡± The Winged Dragon rider took off again, flying directly over the city wall into the city. Before long, the city gates opened. The brown-haired man was ushered inside. Inside the Lord¡¯s Mansion. Aerygon, a handsome blonde, yawned as he sat in a chair to one side. Clearly, he had been woken from his sleep. Aerygon glanced at the man who entered and said, ¡°What is it that couldn¡¯t wait until morning?¡± Without even sitting down, the man immediately said, ¡°Hierarch, the Air Elemental scroll you entrusted to me last time has been sold.¡± ¡°Sold?¡± Aerygon furrowed his brows. ¡°Yes, a Chinese man, male, a Thunder Elemental mage, wealthy, with 15 blue weapons, fitting the criteria you were looking for,¡± the man reported. ¡°Oh? Who is this person? Have you kept in touch with him?¡± ¡°This person, um, is a bit special,¡± the man hesitated and continued, ¡°The scroll was bought by Fang Hao, who ranks first; I cannot confirm if he is the person you¡¯re looking for.¡± Aerygon¡¯s eyes widened, instantly waking up. Fang Hao? How did my bait catch him? After the last investigation with the Lizardmen ended in vain, any leads on Fu Lei had been lost. All information couldn¡¯t be connected. Wadey had provided the name Fu Lei, allied with the Lizardmen camp. The Dragon Clan then went to the ¡®Southern Lands¡¯ Lizardmen and the ¡®Northern Lands¡¯ Lizardmen forces. Neither side had this transmigrator. Especially the ¡®Northern Lands¡¯ Lizardmen, the transmigrator was not of Asian descent, so there couldn¡¯t be a person named Fu Lei. After several days with no leads. Aerygon discussed a strategy with the Dragon Clan. The target was Chinese, skilled in Thunder Elemental Magic. So they procured a Thunder Elemental Skills scroll and sold it in the channel. This scroll had actually started selling two days ago, and there were many interested buyers, but they were just filtering through the candidates. Those intending to buy were dismissed for various reasons. Only today, they finally targeted Fang Hao. Apart from his name not fitting, all other conditions were met. Chinese, Thunder Elemental, reportedly, his camp held Undead. This remarkably pointed to him. Aerygon frowned, pondered for a while, and continued, ¡°Did he say whether it was for his own use or for someone else?¡± ¡°After completing the transaction, I tried contacting him, but he did not respond to me; it seems he¡¯s not keen on communicating with others,¡± the man answered. Once the transaction was complete, they automatically became friends. For a period of time, private messages would not be blocked. The man, having traded with Fang Hao, attempted to contact him to gather more intelligence. But it seemed Fang Hao was uninterested in engaging, having exhausted his public chat quota and not responding. Feeling the significance of this matter, it presented another opportunity for distinction. He rushed to Aerygon¡¯s place in the middle of the night. Aerygon, after pondering a while, reconsidered everything from the beginning. Then said, ¡°Stay here for now, tomorrow I¡¯ll take you to meet the Dragon Clan.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± ¡­ The next day, early morning. In the spacious hall. Aerygon and the brown-haired man sat on chairs to one side. Opposite them sat the silver-haired Dragon lady, Beata. After Aerygon had recounted the matter, he said, ¡°Ms. Beata, now we just need to confirm if Fang Hao¡¯s appearance matches the person we met, then we can confirm his identity.¡± Beata nodded, quite satisfied with Aerygon¡¯s approach. Everyone hopes to have a smart subordinate. Beata asked, ¡°How do we confirm the appearance?¡± ¡°We can look for clues from other transmigrators.¡± Chapter 944 - Chapter 944: Chapter 594, died in the first sentence. Chapter 944: Chapter 594, died in the first sentence. Meet with them as a member of the Blood Clan? When forces clash, it¡¯s common to arrange for envoys to negotiate. But now that the troops are already at the gates, we¡¯re just one step away, what is there left to negotiate? Why not just fight it out? Putting on a coat, Rolana continued to ask, ¡°Will Amanda not meet them herself?¡± This time, the attack on Odys is also in the name of the Blood Clan. In essence, it is Amanda¡¯s war of restoration, which has little to do with Rolana herself. Throughout the journey, she didn¡¯t manage anything, and slept until now. Now they want her to meet the people opposite, but she doesn¡¯t know how to handle it. Outside the carriage, she continued, ¡°Queen Amanda said, she wants you to take charge.¡± ¡°Alright, I know now,¡± said Rolana, nodding. She opened the carriage door and saw the Bound Spirit Guardians waiting outside. She glanced at the endless army of White Bone surrounding her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Spreading her Bat Wings, she flew toward the central area, to see that envoy as well, but first she¡¯d have to inquire about Amanda¡¯s intentions. Lest she accidentally ruin some plan. Soon after, Rolana unfolded her wings and flew in another direction. There, a stone structure had been erected, serving as a temporary reception area. Landing beside the building, she saw Dong Jiayue already waiting nearby. Rolana asked, ¡°Where¡¯s that envoy?¡± Dong Jiayue said, ¡°He hasn¡¯t arrived yet but should be here soon.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and wait.¡± The two then entered the building. The interior was sparsely furnished. A long table and a few chairs. A piece of Nightstone hung overhead. The whole room served as a temporary place for discussing military tactics. It would be useful for a few days, and after the war ended, it wouldn¡¯t be needed anymore, no need for any special decorations either. The two sat down on the chairs. Soon, footsteps were heard outside the door. Following that, the Bound Spirit Guardians announced, ¡°My lord, the emissary from Black Horn City has arrived.¡± ¡°Let him in!¡± The door opened. Two figures, one short and one tall, walked in. Both were Undead Skeletons. The one in front was short, with a skull broad at the top and narrow at the bottom, clearly showing Goblin features. Dressed in a black base outfit with red embroidery, his neck bone and finger bones adorned with gold necklaces and rings. The other Undead followed behind, from the bone structure and height, he was evidently a human turned into an Undead Skeleton. From the positioning of the two Undead, it was clear that the shorter Undead was in charge, with the human Undead as his companion. Rolana and her companion sized them up, and the two Undead did the same. They hadn¡¯t expected to be received not by the Blood Clan leader, the Red Duke, but by two young women. So young. Their eyes swept over each other. The short Undead was the first to greet them, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve met the two young ladies. I¡¯m an official sent by the King of Odys, named Glover. I wonder if I could meet with Lord Red Duke. We are old acquaintances.¡± You could tell that the Goblin Undead was adept at building relationships. His behavior was both polite and he mentioned past relations. In the dynamics of regional power, humans and Dwarfs were strategic allies, while Undead and the Blood Clan were closer. Although it had been a long time, they hadn¡¯t contacted each other for many years. Of course, for Undead and Blood Clan, time wasn¡¯t an issue. It only made their relationship sound even closer. Dong Jiayue didn¡¯t show any reaction; she didn¡¯t understand much about the matters of Crescent Heights. But ¡®Rolana,¡¯ upon hearing the Undead¡¯s words, her eyes instantly turned icy, and she emitted an almost tangible aura of killing intent. What seemed like a perfect opening remark. Suddenly the atmosphere in the room felt different. Even the two Undead, who had lost their sensory nerves, now felt a chill that seeped into their souls. The short Undead Glover immediately explained, ¡°We mean no harm, we come with sincerity.¡± What¡¯s going on? I didn¡¯t do anything just now, but why does it feel like they want to kill me now? Rolana, looking directly at them, asked, ¡°Are you close with the Red Duke?¡± Glover immediately responded, ¡°Very close. I was in charge of trade between the Great Cemetery and Crescent Heights, and the last interaction involved arranging for Black Horn City¡¯s finest blacksmith to craft a huge silver coffin for him. You could say that I and Red¡­¡± Poof!! A crisp, cracking sound abruptly ended Glover¡¯s words. All eyes turned in surprise to see a dark red energy spear piercing through the small Undead¡¯s skull. The Soul Fire in his pupils flickered in struggle, then quickly extinguished. The body, dressed in luxurious robes, also instantly collapsed into a pile of bones. ¡°Throw it out,¡± Rolana said coldly. Dong Jiayue glanced around the room and finding no one else, bent down to search through the scattered bones. She found a small bag of Gold Coins, keys, a gold necklace, a gemstone ring. And a finely made Soft armor, a piece of purple equipment that was worn under the jacket. However, the Soft armor was too small, suitable only for a Goblin. Having gathered the items on the long table, the bones were collected and tossed out the window. Like disposing of a pile of trash. The other human Undead, with its Soul Fire trembling violently, felt shock, fear, and confusion. What¡¯s happening? Glover had just started to ingratiate himself when he was killed. And, I didn¡¯t even see where that dark red energy spear came from that shattered Glover¡¯s skull. Chapter 945 - Chapter 945: Chapter 594, died in the first sentence_2 Chapter 945: Chapter 594, died in the first sentence_2 ¡°You know the Red Duke too?¡± Rolana¡¯s icy gaze fell upon him. The human Undead immediately shook his head, ¡°No, I don¡¯t know him. I was just transformed a few years ago.¡± Rolana nodded, her long legs clad in black stockings crossed as she leaned back in the chair and continued, ¡°Odys sent you to negotiate, I assume? If you have something to say, speak quickly.¡± The human Undead glanced at the opened window. Knowing he didn¡¯t want to die, he had to be careful with his words. He was only there to record, but the real negotiator, ¡®Glover,¡¯ had already been discarded out the window like trash. Now, he had to continue the negotiations, ¡°King Odys has always maintained a good relationship with the Blood Clan, and hopes to preserve this peaceful and cooperative relationship.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°The king says the Blood Clan can set forth any conditions it wishes, hoping everyone can resolve the issues peacefully,¡± the Undead continued. ¡°Let Odys relinquish ¡®Black Horn City,¡¯ open the gates and surrender. Could he agree to that?¡± Rolana asked directly. The Undead was speechless; that was not the kind of condition he had in mind. He immediately responded, ¡°That might be difficult. The king promises that as long as the Blood Clan withdraws its army and maintains peace on the border, the Great Cemetery is willing to offer thirty million Gold Coins over five years to aid the development of Crescent Heights.¡± Although meant as development aid, it essentially represented reparations for withdrawing troops. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï But their reason for attacking the Great Cemetery was not for reparations. It was to restore Amanda to power. So, the only possibility for negotiation was if Odys voluntarily relinquished Black Horn City; otherwise, the troops would not withdraw. Rolana looked at him as before, her tone still even, ¡°Unless Odys relinquishes the throne, this war will continue.¡± In his urgency, the Undead blurted out again, ¡°Actually, the amount of support can still be discussed. The Undead and the Blood Clan have always been close; how can we allow ourselves to weaken and give humans a chance to counterattack?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen our military strength. This battle, your Black Horn City definitely can¡¯t hold, and if you don¡¯t want to go down with Odys, find yourself a way out, or else you are truly headed for death,¡± Rolana said coldly. The Undead¡¯s Soul Fire trembled again. When coming here, he had seen the formidable military strength of the Blood Clan. The number of troops was simply too overwhelming¡ªit was hard to imagine how many people had to be killed to amass such a host of Undead. This time, Black Horn City was really in danger. ¡°Could you let me speak with the Red Duke?¡± the human Undead carefully ventured. Huh! As soon as he finished speaking, Rolana¡¯s aura intensified again. The murderous intent enveloped the Undead like viscous blood. The skeleton of the Undead shuddered. He immediately closed his mouth and said no more. ¡°Leave, relay my exact words to Odys,¡± Rolana said coldly. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± The Undead got up in a panic, toppling the chair behind him. Fearing that any slow movement might result in his skull being pierced by her. He hastily bowed. And walked straight out the door. Dong Jiayue, didn¡¯t expect the negotiation to be over so quickly. One was killed as soon as they entered. The other merely spoke three or four sentences before the discussion ended. Rolana stood up, saying casually, ¡°That¡¯s it then, relay this to Amanda and Fang Hao later.¡± ¡°Oh, alright!¡± Dong Jiayue nodded. Rolana opened the door, spread her Bat Wings, and flew toward her carriage. Dong Jiayue also came out, mounted her horse. And headed towards Amanda¡¯s location. ¡­ An hour later. The human Skeleton finally returned to ¡®Black Horn City¡¯ amid fear and trepidation. Ignoring the inquiries from the officials beside him, he directly raced towards the Royal Palace. Inside the Royal Palace. Odys sat on the White Bone throne, with an assembly of Undead officials from Black Horn City below him. At that moment, all the Undead¡¯s gazes were fixed on the figure in the center. Hoping that he might bring some good news. It was then that Odys¡¯ cold voice sounded, ¡°Why have only you returned?¡± The newly returned Undead knelt in the center of the hall. Not daring to delay, he immediately replied, ¡°My king, Glover was killed; they only let me return.¡± Huh? Glover is dead? All the Undead were shocked. Glover was a very astute Goblin Undead; how could he die during a negotiation? It was rare for a power to execute a negotiator. But everyone also realized something. It seemed that this negotiation wasn¡¯t ideal. As the Undead officials quietly discussed among themselves, Odys spoke again, ¡°Did the Red Duke kill him?¡± The kneeling Undead immediately shook his head, stating, ¡°We didn¡¯t see the Red Duke; we met a female of the Blood Clan and a transmigrator. Glover claimed to have good relations with the Red Duke and then he was killed.¡± What? Killed after the first sentence? ¡°What¡¯s that woman¡¯s name? What¡¯s her relation to the Red Duke?¡± Odys asked again. The Undead shook his head again, ¡°I don¡¯t know. That woman did not seem intent on negotiating and didn¡¯t reveal her identity to me.¡± Odys¡¯ Soul Fire showed slight fluctuations. After a pause, he continued, ¡°Put aside Glover¡¯s killing for now. What did she say about the proposal we offered?¡± Although he already had a guess, he couldn¡¯t help asking. Perhaps there was still a chance! The kneeling Undead, head bowed, began, ¡°I relayed all the suggestions you, my king, had proposed to her, but that woman didn¡¯t accept them. Instead, she said if we want a ceasefire, it would only be possible if¡­ if¡­¡± Chapter 946 - Chapter 946: Chapter 594, died at the first sentence_3 Chapter 946: Chapter 594, died at the first sentence_3 ¡°Unless what?¡± ¡°Unless you surrender and willingly hand over Black Horn City.¡± Bang! Odys smashed the armrest of the throne with his fist, breaking it into two pieces. Since becoming an Undead, he had never felt such rage before. Even though his emotions were barely existent. ¡°Someone¡­¡± Click, click! Two White Bone guards walked in. Odys said coldly, ¡°Take him out and extinguish his soul.¡± ¡°My king, King Odys, it wasn¡¯t me who said it, it was that woman who said it, my king.¡± The kneeling Undead loudly objected. Being merely a messenger, he didn¡¯t understand why the anger was directed at him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Seeing Odys unmoved, and with no officials pleading on his behalf, he knew he was doomed to die. He stopped pleading and roared loudly, ¡°That woman also said something else!¡± ¡°Release him!¡± Odys ordered. The Undead, already dragged to the doorway, had his arms released. The Undead stood up, his gaze sweeping over the people once again. ¡°What else did the woman say?¡± asked Odys. The Undead, looking directly at Odys and then at everyone present, said, ¡°That woman said her army would definitely conquer the city, and those who don¡¯t want to die with Odys should seek a way out sooner.¡± Bang! No sooner had he finished speaking than Odys leapt up. Like a lion hunting prey, he crossed the great hall and pounced on the Undead at the doorway. Bang! A slap came down. Instantly crushing the Undead¡¯s skull, and the Soul Fire rapidly extinguished. Odys¡¯s cruelty and ferocity made all the Undead present tense. At that moment, a wrong word or deed could also provoke Odys¡¯s wrath. They had already acquired immortal lives. Did they really want to die here with him? Utter silence filled the room. Only the sound of Odys walking back echoed through the hall. When Odys returned to his throne, which now bore cracks, and sat down, he finally spoke, ¡°All city prepare for battle. From today, any official who tries to leave Black Horn City on their own will be directly exterminated.¡± All the Undead¡¯s hearts tightened again. Odys was binding everyone together. To die together. ¡°Yes.¡± Nobody dared have any other thoughts, and they could only respectfully agree. ¡­ Black Horn City, Viscera Museum. Accompanied by his trusted aide, Odys walked straight into the museum. The busy priests paused their work and bowed deeply to Odys. Soon, three robe-clad, staff-holding Corpse Witches descended from the second floor. The one at the front, clad in a gray robe with golden embroidery, was none other than ¡®The Corpse Witch ¨C Yarlin,¡¯ who had negotiated with the Federation. ¡°King Odys,¡± the Corpse Witches greeted. Odys nodded and said to the others, ¡°Go back to your tasks.¡± The two other Corpse Witches, along with the priests, left. The two stood outside the museum, stopping at the doorway. Odys then asked, ¡°Yarlin, Black Horn City is surrounded by the Blood Clan¡¯s army. This is our last chance. Do you have any solutions?¡± Leaning on his staff, Yarlin gazed towards the city center, where half of the Queen¡¯s Gold Tower had been shorn away. Indeed, the ¡®Kingdom of Anglina¡¯ was no more, and now this city was at its end as well. After a moment of thought, he said softly, ¡°Are you sure the enemy is the Blood Clan? Do they have the capabilities to gather such a vast number of Undead troops?¡± Chapter 950 - Chapter 950: Chapter 596, Bone Giant Chapter 950: Chapter 596, Bone Giant Bang!! Meatfist kicked out, and the stone door shattered into pieces. Dust rose all around, with broken rocks scattering in chaos. Behind the stone door was a dimly lit cave. Meatfist said directly, ¡°Let¡¯s go, get inside.¡± After speaking, he bent down and led a group of Undead straight into the cave. The cave was not very large, with uneven stone walls on both sides showing traces of manual excavation. Along the way, the ground was covered with a layer of fungal carpet. Serpents and insects occasionally sprang out from the depths to attack these uninvited guests. But regardless of whether these snakes and insects were poisonous, they posed no threat to the Undead. They crushed some that followed and harassed them, before continuing deeper into the cave. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Black Horn City. The battle between the two sides became increasingly fierce. Broken White Bone littered the ground, with fallen swords half-hidden among the piles of bones. Clatter!!!! The Undead of the Blood Clan, carrying Siege Ladders, quickly rushed to the bottom of the city walls. One end was inserted into the ground while the other was raised high. With a bang, the Siege Ladder was propped up against the city wall, the hook on top firmly catching on the inner side of the wall. The Skeleton Warriors below raised their shields above their heads. They began to swiftly climb up the Siege Ladder. The Undead on the city walls slashed at the ladders while lifting the already prepared rolling stones and logs, smashing them down at the enemies below. Those who had made it halfway were all knocked off, falling to the ground and breaking into shattered bones. Below the city walls, more and more Undead began to gather. They crowded together, using the bodies of their comrades to grow like a continually increasing mud monster, spreading upwards ceaselessly. Large quantities of broken stones and rolling logs fell from the top of the wall, blocking the expansion of the Undead pile. Bang bang bang!! In the distance, a series of gunshots rang out densely. The Skeleton archers of the Blood Clan had entered firing range and, holding new types of firearms, began to fight back against the city walls. The orange bullets fell on the ramparts like rain, suppressing the Undead on the city walls so they dared not show their heads. ¡°Firearms¡­ damn it, it¡¯s those¡­¡± Odys cursed. Seeing the enemy archers using rapid-firing ¡®hand cannons¡¯, he guessed the identity of the enemy. He remembered last autumn, the Goblins from the Trade Alliance had come to him. They spoke of an Undead army attacking the Dwarves¡¯ Eight Peaks Mountain, believing he was the one leading the attack, they tried to mediate and stop the war from continuing. At the time, he wondered how such a large Undead force could still exist in this region. Now, it seemed the Undead force that attacked Eight Peaks Mountain had succeeded, gaining a large number of cannons and new firearms from the Dwarves. Indeed, the Blood Clan was just a smokescreen. Behind them was that newly risen Undead. Damn it! Odys¡¯s hollow pupils once again looked down below. The pile of Undead gathering at the bottom of the city wall grew higher and higher, more and more. With the rate of spreading, they would soon be able to climb the city wall. Odys immediately ordered, ¡°Summon the ¡®Bone Giants¡¯ to assist in defending the city.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After the order was relayed, it wasn¡¯t long before heavy footsteps could be heard from behind. These steps, unlike those outside the city due to their sheer number, felt more like a series of Giant Beasts approaching. The footsteps drew closer and closer, and the targets appeared within everyone¡¯s line of sight. These were massive skeletons of enormous size. Close to ten meters in height, their bones were as thick and sturdy as huge trees. Yet the eye sockets were empty, with no Soul Fire burning. Their bodies were clad in somewhat old heavy armor, and around the armor¡¯s exterior, iron chains as thick as thighs were coiled. [Bone Giant (Tier 10 Troop)] Dozens of Bone Giants dispersed towards the three sections of the city walls. Upon reaching the walls, they halted their footsteps. Standing somewhat dazedly in place. This was the common problem with soulless troops; they could only follow orders they understood. Moreover, once they completed one order, they would enter a standby mode of sorts and halt, not moving anymore. Odys, standing atop the city wall, shouted loudly, ¡°Assist in defending the city, prevent the enemy from climbing the walls.¡± The ¡®Bone Giants¡¯ sprang into action. Their clumsy bodies stood on a broken section of the inner wall, supporting themselves against an adjacent Arrow Tower, as their giant skulls peered over the top of the wall. Looking down at the constantly gathering, upward-spreading pile of skeletons. They swung their iron chains heavily down. Whoosh!! The chains were like whips cutting through the air. Bang!! It hit the climbing pile of skeletons as if it were a cannonball, causing the amassed pile to instantly collapse and shatter. Skeleton frames were smashed apart, scattering everywhere. The many Bone Giants, with each whip of their chains, slowed the onslaught of the Blood Clan¡¯s Undead. Bang bang bang!! A barrage of bullets started to concentrate fire on the Bone Giants that had poked their bodies out. Bullets rained down with a pitter-patter. The Bone Giants immediately raised their arms to defend, but were still staggered by the shots and could only retreat to the other side of the city walls. The huge bodies of the Bone Giants had become the perfect targets for the rifles. Under the dense firepower, the bones exposed outside were battered and badly damaged. Those with severe injuries had their neck bones nearly shattered by bullets, leaving only one third of the spine still supporting the great skulls. However, in the next moment, streaks of gray-white light emerged from the dead White Bone around them, converging on the Bone Giants¡¯ injured areas, mending the broken bones back to wholeness. Once repaired, they once again stuck out their bodies and continued to lash out with their chains at the massing skeleton pile. Chapter 951 - Chapter 951: Chapter 596, Bone Giant_2 Chapter 951: Chapter 596, Bone Giant_2 The power of the Viscera jar. In the distance, seeing the Bone Giant poking its head out again and regaining its original state, everyone understood. This was the power of the Viscera jar. Odys had equipped the Bone Giant with a Viscera jar of no low rank. At this moment¡­ Over Black Horn City, the whistling sound of something tearing through the air was heard once more. Looking up, they saw Bone Dragons bursting out from the clouds overhead, diving straight down towards them. Odys, looking up, ordered coldly, ¡°Activate aerial defenses, release the Skeleton Vultures.¡± On the city walls, on the rooftops of buildings. Covers were flung back to reveal the anti-aircraft devices below. The number was terrifyingly high. Having known about the enemy¡¯s Bone Dragons, how could Odys be unprepared? Apart from recruiting aerial units within the city, he also purchased a large number of anti-aircraft devices from the Trade Alliance. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? All of this was to counter the attack of the Bone Dragons. When Odys gave the command, The various machines standing by began to creak as they turned. The sound of bowstrings twanged, and anti-aircraft bolts, like javelins, shot out swiftly. Firing towards the direction of the Bone Dragons. Bang Bang Bang!! The bolts struck the Bone Dragons, piercing through their dragon armor and embedding into their bodies. And the Bone Dragons, which had been diving down, no longer continued their aggressive dive, but instead changed direction and retreated towards the outside of the city. Escaping toward the rear. As for the Skeleton Vultures that had been released, they had just taken to the sky when they lost their targets. Flapping their wings, they landed back in the city to stand by. Odys was stunned. The Bone Dragons¡¯ retreat was too decisive, it didn¡¯t seem like an attack, but more like a probing action. Rustle Rustle!! Just then, in the sky, a group of skeletons, made up of both Skeleton Vultures and Skeleton Giant Bats, charged at the city from all sides. Odys, without time to think, sent the Skeleton Vultures up again to meet the attack. Both sides¡¯ flying units collided like two dense mists in the air. Amidst the grating sound of bone being crushed. Broken bone corpses fell from the sky. Covering the entire battlefield. The battle continued relentlessly. On the city walls, various heavy objects were continuously thrown downward, while Bone Giants occasionally poked their heads out, swinging their iron chains to scatter any enemies attempting to climb and converge. In the air, aerial units from both sides were entangled in relentless combat. Broken bones fell like raindrops. The Bone Dragons began to circle the area, intermittently releasing breaths of Dragon Breath. Clearing the enemies on the walls. Both sides¡¯ units fought tirelessly, prolonging the duration of the stalemate. In the rear of the Blood Clan army, Amanda¡¯s gaze was fixed on the battlefield as Dong Jiayue reported the messages from the other two fronts beside her. The Bone Dragons¡¯ several probes had not brought forth any new aerial units. She then ordered, ¡°Send the Aerial Ships into the battlefield, maintain the distance, and cover the city walls with firepower.¡± There was no need to pass the order through a messenger. ¡°Understood.¡± Dong Jiayue immediately opened the Book of City Lord and passed on the command. Before long, From the rear of the three directions in the sky, one massive yet slow Aerial Ship Started appearing within the sightline of both factions. Once arrayed in the planned formations, Boom Boom Boom!! Flames suddenly erupted in the sky, Shellfire fell from the heavens, tracing arcing trajectories, hammering into the battlefield. In an instant, The city walls burst apart, and swathes of troops were blasted to pieces. Even the Bone Giants on the field endured serious injuries under the barrage. Sheltering behind the city walls, they slowly recovered from their wounds. The ordinary Undead in the area, or some that acted as team leaders, Were directly obliterated by the concentrated shelling. ¡°Where are the anti-aircraft crossbows? Shoot those balloons in the sky!¡± Odys grabbed a nearby Undead operating a device and roared loudly. The Undead quickly adjusted the device, firing at the targets straight ahead. Thick crossbow bolts raced forward but vanished in the night sky, leaving no trace. ¡°My King, we¡¯re out of range, they have calculated the distance,¡± said the Undead. The shells fell from the sky, which required even more distance. The enemy apparently had everything calculated, which allowed the Aerial Ships to enter the battlefield. Filled with Rage, Odys pushed the Undead in front of him and continued to bellow, ¡°Send out the Skeleton Vultures, tear those Aerial Ships to shreds.¡± In the sky, the Skeleton Vulture changed direction, attempting to circumvent the entanglement with the Skeleton Vulture and Skeleton Giant Bat ahead. To strike at the Aerial Ships in the rear. But the opposition would not let them get away. Still firmly entangled. Meanwhile, the cannons on the airship never ceased firing. The dense barrage of cannonballs constantly poured into the city. ¡­ Below the city, in the dim underground tunnels. Meatfist and others had already entered the drainage pipes beneath Black Horn City through the secret passages outside the city. As part of the Royal Palace¡¯s drainage system, it was incredibly vast and complex. Essentially covering every area of the city. Even the Undead of a Troll¡¯s size like Meatfist could move around normally inside it. Every so often, a grey-haired rat would scurry past them. Though Odys had maintained the Kingdom with hardly any living humans. But in these sewers, there was a surprising abundance of small animals. The Undead did not need food, so what were these small animals in the sewers living on? Meatfist, together with fifty Bound Spirit Guardians and three hundred Skeleton Warriors, was moving swiftly through the tunnels. The shaking of the ground from the battle above made the underground pipes also start to teeter on the brink of collapse. The ceiling continuously shed small stones. Some places had even collapsed. After continuing to advance for half an hour. ¡°Found it,¡± Meatfist said. Several of them had reached the end of the road and discovered ladders leading upward. Meatfist led a group of Skeletons up the stairs. Pushing aside the concealed stone slab, they emerged in a deserted courtyard. And in front of the courtyard was the grand and magnificent Royal Palace. However, at this moment, the place was deserted, not even a single guard in sight. Everyone climbed out of the tunnels. Meatfist opened the map he¡¯d brought, determined their location, and then said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Viscera Museum.¡± The team of a hundred exited the Royal Palace, threading through the streets in the dead of night. From time to time, groups of Undead hastened past them, but no one paid them any attention. Gradually, Meatfist and the others grew less fearful and boldly made their way to their destination. The Viscera Museum, an important structure for the Undead faction, Was not far from the Royal Palace, just through two streets. And then they saw the Viscera Museum, guarded by the Bound Spirit Guardians. The number of guards was not large, only amounting to about ten. Meatfist led his group and strode confidently towards them. The Undead guards immediately asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Meatfist replied, ¡°Potential enemies may have infiltrated the city, our king has sent us to reinforce the guards.¡± The Bound Spirit Guardians looked taken aback. Examining the newcomers¡¯ armor, which seemed somewhat different from their own, they asked again, ¡°Where are you from? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you before.¡± Bang! With one punch, Meatfist crushed his skull, and the few Bound Spirit Guardians pounced instantly. Using the noise of the cannon fire outside, they killed all the opposing Undead. Once they had cleaned up, Meatfist continued, ¡°Some of you, put on their clothes, stand guard outside, and don¡¯t let anyone approach.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ten Bound Spirit Guardians began to don their armor. Just like the few Undead before, they stood guard around the Viscera Museum. The rest hid in a nearby corner. Meatfist, along with a few others, entered the Viscera Museum. As soon as they entered the hall, they saw the Corpse Witch and funeral Priests standing inside. ¡°Are you the Blood Clan attacking the Great Cemetery?¡± the leading Corpse Witch asked. Meatfist didn¡¯t respond but signaled to someone on the side. The Bound Spirit Guardians swiftly went inside, checking each room and, after confirming there were no enemies, retreated to Meatfist¡¯s side. Instead of answering the question, Meatfist directly asked, ¡°Who goes by the name Arlene?¡± All of the Undead displayed confusion. The leading Corpse Witch re-examined the opposing Troll Undead, figuring out that the newcomer wasn¡¯t one of their own creation, And then asked curiously, ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°So, you are Arlene then?¡± Meatfist observed the other carefully. Arlene replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Meatfist went on, ¡°Amanda is attacking the city, and she sent me to find you.¡± Arlene was startled, while the other funeral Priests were also frozen in place. ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± Arlene stated. ¡°Do you think I need to lie to you when I come in here? Are all the Corpse Witches here so unwise?¡± Chapter 952 - Chapter 952: Chapter 597, Soul Coffin Chapter 952: Chapter 597, Soul Coffin The Corpse Witch and funeral priests were all rendered somewhat speechless. In the ranks of the Undead, the Corpse Witch represented scholars, masters of the secrets of immortality. In any Undead power, Corpse Witches were respected and treated with preference. This was still the first time an Undead had said that these people were not smart. ¡°Queen Your Majesty, you have been missing for a hundred years without any news, how could you possibly suddenly appear now, and under the name of the Blood Clan, attack the Great Cemetery,¡± Arlene asked directly. This all happened so suddenly. It made everyone somewhat reluctant to accept it. In the beginning when Amanda disappeared, the entire nation¡¯s resources were mobilized to search for the Queen¡¯s whereabouts, but they always came up empty. That eventually led to Odys ascending the throne. After so many years, someone sneaks into the city claiming to be sent by the Queen. Compared to believing that the Queen has suddenly appeared, it feels more like an enemy¡¯s conspiracy. Meatfist pondered for a moment and explained, ¡°Amanda woke up a few months ago and, learning that the former ¡®Anglina Kingdom¡¯ was no more, took the opportunity of Odys attacking the Federation, and launched this war.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï When Amanda had him come, the first task was to go to the Viscera Museum. If there was a Corpse Witch named ¡®Arlene¡¯ inside, then he was to tell him about his army¡¯s movement. If there was no such person, or if Arlene showed non-cooperation, Meatfist was to cleanse the place of everyone inside and destroy the Viscera jars in the museum. To weaken the defending army¡¯s power. So, Meatfist¡¯s mission was the Viscera Museum, and Arlene was just part of it. Believing or not believing has no impact on the outcome. Hearing the explanation from the towering Troll hero opposite him, Arlene fell silent. He still harbored doubts, but there was no point in the other party coming in just to deceive him. After a moment, he continued, ¡°If what you say is true, does that mean that the troops currently besieging the city are not the Blood Clan, but Queen Amanda¡¯s army?¡± If it had been the Queen¡¯s army, then many Undead would be spared death in today¡¯s battle. Even within the city, many Undead would welcome the return of the Queen. Meatfist shook his head and corrected, ¡°Now Amanda is just a hero general under the lord, her troops are the lord¡¯s as well; but you¡¯re right about one thing, Amanda is the commander of the army, and this is indeed a war of restoration.¡± The Corpse Witch and funeral priests were digesting the information in that statement. So, the Queen had joined forces with a lord for the sake of restoration, borrowing his troops to reclaim ¡®Anglina Kingdom.¡¯ That would mean that even if Black Horn City fell, it wouldn¡¯t be the kingdom it once was. Instead, it would become part of that lord¡¯s territory. After a while, Arlene continued to ask, ¡°So you¡¯ve come here, was it the Queen who sent you for me?¡± ¡°Finding you is part of it, of course, we have other tasks as well,¡± Meatfist said. Amanda couldn¡¯t confirm which of her old subjects still lived, but she could be sure that as a Corpse Witch, Arlene would definitely still be in the Viscera Museum. A Corpse Witch is indispensable to an Undead power. Even if Odys were again insane, he wouldn¡¯t kill a Corpse Witch. So, Meatfist¡¯s first step was to find Arlene. Arlene and the Corpse Witches behind him had a quiet discussion, then turned around and asked, ¡°What do you need us to do?¡± Meatfist said, ¡°First, take out all the ¡®Viscera jars¡¯ from the museum.¡± ¡°Once the Viscera jars are taken out, the army¡¯s power in the city will instantly wane, and Odys will know there¡¯s a problem here the first thing and send troops over. None of us will be able to get away,¡± Arlene immediately said. ¡°No matter, once they are taken out, we¡¯ll leave this place and a safe location will be arranged for you,¡± Meatfist spoke. Arlene had no other choice but to do as the towering Undead Troll before him had said. Even if he did not, the Undead before him would have ways to directly destroy this place, and render the effects of the Viscera jars null. Approaching each miniature structure, he extended a bony finger and gave a slight twist. Hisss~! The Viscera jars in the grooves rose up one by one. As the Viscera jars were removed, rings of light rapidly closed and returned to the bodies of the Viscera jars. In that moment, the effects of the Viscera jars on the Great Cemetery¡¯s troops disappeared. Seeing that the other party was somewhat honest, Meatfist said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll go out.¡± Leading the Corpse Witches and funeral priests holding the Viscera jars, they exited the gate. Several hundred soldiers also emerged from a concealed spot nearby. Once the gathering of Undead was complete, they led the Corpse Witches back to the Royal Palace¡¯s backyard, at the entrance of the sewer. ¡°Arlene, arrange for someone to guide me, and the rest will stay here and not wander off,¡± Meatfist instructed. ¡°Ah, okay,¡± Arlene nodded and chose a funeral priest to lead the way. Arlene and the others, holding the Viscera jars, followed the staircase down into the sewer. After they had gone down, Meatfist waved his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the armory.¡± At the same time. The south city gate was also in turmoil. Densely packed were many Undead. Large and small bundles were blocked on the street, in chaos and crowdedness. Among them, some former Undead officials were also mixed in the crowd. Everyone was well aware that the enemy outside was on the verge of breaching the city, and the south gate was their only way out. Chapter 953 - Chapter 953: Chapter 597, Soul Coffin_2 Chapter 953: Chapter 597, Soul Coffin_2 Having spent all his wealth to become an Undead, he hadn¡¯t done so to accompany Odys to his death. At the moment, the city gates were shut tight, the army blocking the road in the middle. They stood in tight formation, guarding the city within. ¡°Let us go out¡­.¡± ¡°I am the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Royal Palace, let me out now,¡± said one. ¡°The city is about to fall, and you aren¡¯t defending it but just staring at the gates?¡± ¡°Damn it, I spent my life¡¯s savings to become an Undead, and I haven¡¯t lived for a few years yet¡ªnow the city is going to fall.¡± ¡°Damn it, let us out, who wants to be buried with Odys?¡± ¡°Exactly, your damned city has been supported by my caravan, and now when it¡¯s going to die, it drags us along.¡± A chorus of curses came from the Undead, while those guarding the gates, had already drawn their swords. They were ready to fight anyone who dared to come close. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Let¡¯s fight them, break out. Even if we die, we won¡¯t die in this city!¡± ¡°Charge, steal their weapons, and let¡¯s get out of the city!¡± ¡°Open the gates!¡± With a clatter, those gathered at the southern city gate rushed forward. They clashed with the city guards, instantly turning the scene into a riot. ¡­ The battlefield. The sounds of cannonfire, muskets, and the whistling of magic filled the air. Silver-white lightning spears once again tore through the sky, aiming at the enemies atop the city walls. The lightning spears fell like rain, creating a field of White Bone. The war had been raging for an indeterminate amount of time. The Undead knew no fatigue and certainly had no concept of shifts or rests. The sun seemed to have risen from the horizon. But the smoke rising from the battlefield continued to obscure the sky, making it seem like the dead of night. Outside the city walls. Piles of shattered bones lay against the walls, forming small hills. More Undead trampled over these hills, continuing to climb upwards. Over the city. Hundreds of Bone Dragons circled, trying to approach the city to breathe Dragon Breath onto the enemies below. Within the city, continuous bolts flew upwards, driving the Bone Dragons away. The Aerial Ships continued to pour down cannonfire. The solid city walls were full of cracks, incessantly bombarded and battered. The Skeletons inside the city tore down nearby houses. Stone and timber were piled up in the collapsed areas, trying their best to repair the still crumbling walls that could collapse at any moment. But the Undead of the Blood Clan seemed endless. They charged towards the city walls as if they were inexhaustible. ¡°Keep defending, clear out those climbing up,¡± Odys still roared loudly. The city¡¯s defending Undead pushed down each Skeleton that managed to climb the walls. Preventing them from reaching the top. Wooo!! A wailing cry arose. In the rear of the city, a number of Undead with coffins hanging before them entered the battlefield. [Soul Coffin (Tier Nine Troops)] They opened a crack in the coffins, releasing countless translucent wandering spirits. Emitting painful moans, they joined the turmoil of battle. [Soul Coffin], within the ranks, was a special type of troop. Its own combat power was close to a fifth-tier level. But among its skills was the ability to absorb the souls of living creatures. It could gather the souls of living creatures within a certain area. Drawing them into the coffin before them, and transforming them into controllable wandering spirits to be sent back into the battlefield. This type of troop often played a significant role in battles against living creatures. There was never a shortage of souls to absorb. However, against other Undead troops, their advantage was much reduced. This was why, despite the ongoing battle, Odys had only now sent the [Soul Coffin] into the fray. The moaning spirits, their translucent bodies, passed straight through the thick city walls and attacked the Undead outside. The spirits themselves had no physical form and were not high in rank. But against the unthinking ordinary Skeletons, they still caused chaos and disruption. Drawing groups of Undead into disarray, running around in confusion. Yet, what was happening seemed more like a last struggle. The overall situation still tipped towards the side of the Blood Clan. Another barrage of intense cannonfire fell. Pieces of the city wall collapsed. The attacking Skeletons, stepping on the broken bricks, directly climbed over the city wall and engaged the defending Undead in fierce combat. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before those in the city would be out of time. The Bone Giant stood up once again, swinging its iron chains. Boom Boom Boom!! It seemed they were waiting just for it to reveal itself. Cannonballs immediately landed on the Bone Giant. The massive body of the Bone Giant fell backwards. And unlike before, its broken bones did not restore themselves. Odys, taken aback, quickly looked towards the battlefield. But he saw rings of light shrinking from the edges of the city towards the center. The power of the Viscera jar was gone¡­. ¡°Arlene, you damned thing,¡± Odys cursed. His first thought wasn¡¯t that someone had breached the city but that Arlene and those Corpse Witches had introduced the Viscera jars at a critical moment. Odys was furious. These guys really did oppose him at every turn. He called over his trusted aide and said loudly, ¡°Take some men to the Viscera Museum, execute Arlene, have the remaining Corpse Witches put the Viscera jars back, and then throw them into the dungeon.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± answered the aide. The aide took his leave, staggering under the barrage, heading toward the Viscera Museum. Without the augmentation by the Viscera jars, the combat power displayed by the soldiers within the city once again reduced. Under the strikes of lightning spears and artillery, sheets of Undead died. Odys stood still. Chapter 954 - Chapter 954: Chapter 597, Soul Coffin_3 Chapter 954: Chapter 597, Soul Coffin_3 Watching the dead soldiers, the Bone Giant severely damaged, couldn¡¯t stand up under the crushing pressure of the shells. Boom boom boom!! Explosion after explosion echoed from within the city. Odys suddenly turned around, only to see streaks of fire lighting up the city. It was coming from the direction of the arsenal. Boom boom!! Another explosion went off, this time at the South City Gate. Explosions and combat broke out throughout the city. Countless Undead swarmed into the streets, all rushing towards the South Gate. ¡­ ¡°Watch out for the Bone Dragons¡­¡± someone else shouted. Several hundred Bone Dragons, led by a desiccated Giant Dragon, flew directly over the city. Soaring at low altitude, beams of red and black light swept across the city walls. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Clearing away the Undead guards on top. After one sweep. The walls were empty of any living being. And more Bone Dragons circled around, spewing black beams of light, enveloping the Bone Giants within them. Their massive bodies began to decay, the iron chains draped over them turning to orange-red molten iron, dripping downward. Eventually, like ordinary Undead, within the black beams of light. They turned to ashes. East City Gate. A black, towering storm began to swirl and spread throughout the city. Everything in its path, whether troops or buildings, were reduced to ashes in the storm, disappearing without a trace. More and more Undead, marked with red on their chests, stormed the city walls. Like a deluge, they covered the walls, spreading into the city. The enemy had launched their final assault. It was over; they couldn¡¯t hold out. ¡°My king, we can¡¯t hold this position, let¡¯s retreat from the South Gate,¡± a Skeleton officer said, pulling at the somewhat dazed Odys. ¡°Right, gather the troops, follow me in the retreat,¡± Odys said, coming to his senses and shouting loudly. He dashed down from the city wall, running towards the South City Gate. Along the way, he encountered quite a few soldiers who had scrambled down in panic. They quickly gathered, nearing a thousand men. The city walls, without command, could no longer withstand the assault of the army. The city gates were flung open in an instant, an army like a flood pouring through. They slaughtered their way towards the Royal Palace at the city¡¯s center. ¡­ South City Gate. Odys, with nearly two thousand battered and beaten soldiers, rushed frantically toward the South City Gate. Behind them was an enemy surge like a Tsunami. After a mad dash, abandoning helmets and armor, they finally saw the barricades set up at the South City Gate and the soldiers guarding them. Odys paused. These barricades and soldiers were all here, so what was that explosion about. And how did those fleeing get out. Without time to think further, he had already run up to the barricades. He yelled, ¡°Quick, open the gates, come out with me.¡± However, under the anxious eyes of Odys and the accompanying Undead. Several more barricades were added in front of them. Blocking their way. ¡°What are you doing, has everyone lost their minds? Move these barricades and open the gates,¡± Odys demanded furiously, kicking the barricade in front of him over. The soldiers next to Odys couldn¡¯t care less anymore. The enemy was right behind them; they all reached out to remove the barricades themselves. ¡°Are you Odys?¡± At that moment, from the city gate, a tall Skeleton stepped forward. Odys was startled and immediately drew the Giant Sword from his back, eyeing the other warily. He could confirm that this Troll Skeleton was not one of Black Horn City¡¯s own. Then there was only one possibility, when the South City Gate was opened. These enemies had sneaked in. ¡°Who are you?¡± Odys demanded, staring straight at the other. ¡°Quite obviously, your enemy.¡± Chapter 955 - Chapter 955: Chapter 598, Not Dead Yet (Added for Alliance Hierarch Tracks of Angels) Chapter 955: Chapter 598, Not Dead Yet (Added for Alliance Hierarch ¡®Tracks of Angels¡¯) Odys¡¯s skeleton was also bulky, but different from Meatfist. Meatifist was an undead troll, with bones that were naturally tall. Odys, on the other hand, had the skeleton of a human, not as tall as Meatfist, the robustness of his bones was the main feature. ¡°Big talk,¡± Odys chided. He pushed off the ground and leaped high into the air, his giant sword swinging down towards Meatfist. Odys, clad in heavy armor and wielding a giant sword, yet his movements were light and swift, bursting with explosive power. Meatfist dodged to the side. Bang! A loud noise. The heavy sword chopped down onto the ground, leaving a deep crack. Meatfist, seizing the moment, hurled a punch from his fist, aiming straight for Odys¡¯s head. The moment the punch was thrown, it was accompanied by a thunderous boom. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Odys parried with his giant sword horizontally, blocking the oncoming punch with a loud bang. His body staggered back two steps. Hearing the pursuers getting closer, Odys didn¡¯t hesitate at all. He halted his retreat, launched a forced attack, aiming to open the city gates and break out with his people before the pursuers arrived. His giant sword swung repeatedly, creating a white barrier of sword shadows in front of him. But Meatfist was a close-combat hero skilled in fighting. He moved swiftly, skillfully dodging the opponent¡¯s moves by utilizing the terrain around him. The more this happened, the more urgent Odys felt. And his sword danced faster and faster, but still couldn¡¯t bring down the opposing troll skeleton. Just as the pursuers were about to reach him, Odys suddenly kicked a barricade at Meatfist and turned to sprint towards the city gate. Meatfist shattered the flying barricade with a punch and surged forward, once again blocking Odys¡¯s path. He hurled a punch, forcing Odys back. Odys roared, and with one arm, he whirled the giant sword towards his opponent. The giant sword flew out of his hand. Odys instantly took out a scroll and ripped it apart. Whoosh! A winding Flame Serpent burst forth from the scroll. After soaring into the sky, it dived down towards the skeleton troll in front. The power of this scroll was sufficient for a Level 4 magic. The giant sword was flying head-on. Meatfist moved sideways to evade. Bang! The thrown giant sword spun and embedded itself in the city gate¡¯s door. And the next second, the Flame Serpent that fell from the sky also crashed near Meatfist. Whooosh!! The serpent exploded violently, sending rings of flames, reaching meters around. Whether it was the undead from either side or the rows of barricades, all were engulfed by the flames. When the flames vanished! Only Meatfist and Odys were left, both charred all over. All the densely packed barricades around them had disappeared without a trace. Bang! As the smoke from the flames started to clear, in the blink of an eye, Meatfist¡¯s figure shot forward again, swinging out a [Power-Packed Punch], which landed heavily on his shoulder. The armor caved in, and even his collarbone was directly smashed. Odys wanted to counterattack, but Meatfist swung another punch. Breaking his left collarbone this time. His body was pinned firmly to the ground by Meatfist, rendering him incapable of retaliating. By then, the army had quickly approached from behind. Meatfist wiped his scorched skull, ¡°Take him back.¡± ¡­ Entering the Royal Palace. Looking around at the familiar yet foreign scenery. It was as if she had been dreaming a very, very long dream. In the past, when Amanda walked here, she would see royal family members with smiling faces, girls holding wreaths, priests in long robes, and ministers loudly praising the queen¡¯s glory. Everything felt as if it had happened just yesterday. But now, the place was empty, everyone was gone, only she remained with her immortal life. With a casual wave. Golden liquid flowed swiftly. It spread throughout the entire palace following her steps. The skeleton chandeliers were enveloped in gold, becoming golden chandeliers. The skeleton sculptures on both sides turned into golden armored soldiers. Stepping upon the White Jade Stone steps. The White Bone throne transformed into gold. The White Bone incense burner next to the throne turned into an upright golden crane, its beak holding an incense burner, emanating a fragrant aroma. Amanda had just taken her seat on the throne when Rolana landed at the door, folding her wings and striding in. After curiously looking around, she slumped into the chair, listless. ¡°I can¡¯t go on, the sun is out,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of the sunlight,¡± Amanda replied. ¡°Afraid or not, we still have to maintain the traditions of the Blood Clan,¡± Rolana switched positions, draping her long legs over the armrest again. The war gradually ceased, and the smoke that filled the sky was also dispersing. The morning light shone down on the earth. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Amanda continued. Rolana said, ¡°They are following orders, guarding the troops, protecting key buildings and resources. Everything is going smoothly.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Amanda nodded. At that moment, footsteps were heard from outside the door. Under the watch of the Bound Spirit Guardians, the priests and corpse witches walked briskly in. Upon seeing Amanda high on her throne, the corpse witches halted their steps, then loudly exclaimed, ¡°Her Majesty the Queen¡­¡± ¡­ Morning. The sun¡¯s rays pierced through the window, casting a golden glow. Fang Hao opened his eyes and glanced at the watch on the bedside table. It was 7 a.m. It was already that time. He sat up in bed and picked up the Book of Lords for a look. He didn¡¯t get any battle report from the Great Cemetery of Odys. But when he flipped to the regional channel, Chapter 958 - Chapter 958: Chapter 599, Still Not Dead? Chapter 958: Chapter 599, Still Not Dead? Outside the Royal Palace. Clank, clank!! Rusty shackles, dragging heavy iron balls. On the stone pavement, they left long trails of scratches. More than a dozen shackled Undead heroes, under the escort of numerous guards, walked towards the Royal Palace. These were all captured Undead hero generals. Odys, walking at the very edge on the left side. His armor had been removed, and in addition to the heavy shackles, he was also wrapped in layers of iron chains. Apart from being able to move his feet, his body was wrapped up in chains like a rice dumpling. Odys walked forward silently. He knew what he would face. Nothing more than the victors¡¯ show-off and mockery of the losers. Similarly, he was also curious as to who his enemy was. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï With so many troops and high-ranking heroes. With such strength. Why hide and attack this place in the guise of the Blood Clan? ¡°My king, what do we do next?¡± a Skeleton hero asked on the side. Undead do not feel the unease and fear before judgment like living creatures do. Their emotional display is rather subdued, with only their soul retaining a strong aversion to the threat of death. Odys slightly turned his head to look and spoke, ¡°Perhaps they¡¯ll attempt to recruit us, such a large city still needs people.¡± Bringing all the captured heroes here, he guessed there might be some recruitment. Heroes willing to submit would be pardoned and assigned new duties. After all, Black Horn City wasn¡¯t just a village; it required a lot of people to manage. ¡°I will not submit to the Blood Clan.¡± ¡°Red Duke, a hypocrite who climbed to the top by deceiving women, has no right to possess Black Horn City.¡± ¡°The God of Death will punish these misshapen children abandoned by the gods.¡± The Undead muttered curses against their enemy as they walked forward. To these Undead, blindly engaged in the battle, the information they received still spelled the enemy as the Blood Clan¡¯s army. Odys, at this time, had no mood to tell them the truth. Onward they went. Suddenly, amidst the cursing, a curious question arose. ¡°These statues, what are they¡­?¡± Odys looked up, glancing to one side, and his calm Soul Fire began to fluctuate intensely. His gaze then suddenly turned to the other side. Golden statues stood on both sides of the road. Guards wielding War Halberds, warriors blowing horns with their heads tilted back. And, a human girl with sweet smiles, holding a wreath of flowers. All of this¡­ A sudden stupor struck Odys¡¯s mind. It was as if he had returned to a hundred years ago, when it was still called the Anglina Kingdom and he was still human. The Skeleton heroes who were just cursing the Blood Clan grew noisy. Among them were also many seniors who recognized the scene before them. ¡°What is happening, who orchestrated this war, tell me!¡± Odys demanded, looking at a guard by his side, raising his voice. At that moment, his calm emotions were tinged with fear and dread. No longer curious about who used the Blood Clan¡¯s name to wage war. But fearful of moving forward to confirm his suspicions. No one answered him; he was simply pushed and shoved by the guards to keep walking. And they quickened their pace. As they got closer to the Royal Palace. The more Gold features appeared around them, the more uneasy Odys and the others grew. Finally, they were pushed into the Royal Palace. A long carpet lay on the ground. On both sides stood tall and majestic golden-armored soldiers. Above, a Golden throne and Golden cranes carrying incense burners. Everything was so familiar. Odys and the others were pushed to the center of the hall. The whole place fell silent. ¡­ [Skeleton King¡ªOdys (Orange Tier Five Hero)] ¡°Damn, that¡¯s Odys, an orange tier five hero.¡± ¡°Just orange? How did he become a leader? That¡¯s too weak.¡± ¡°Exactly, there are loads of orange heroes in the army, and yet he¡¯s a king.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that, I heard that Meatfist, the Troll Tribe¡¯s leader, is normally considered chief level at orange tier.¡± ¡°Can the Trolls¡¯ dwelling place compare to here? This Odys is too weak.¡± ¡°Exactly, Amanda is Dark Gold tier, no wonder we didn¡¯t feel any pressure on the way here, turns out he¡¯s only orange tier.¡± ¡°His title is Skeleton King, what a waste of the title.¡± ¡°Man, when did you guys become so picky, talking about an orange hero as if he¡¯s trash.¡± ¡°If you guys don¡¯t value him, then give that hero to me.¡± ¡°Heroes are being distributed as well? Then, I don¡¯t want the Bone Dragon; I want a hero.¡± ¡°There are so many hero captives below, maybe they really will distribute them.¡± ¡°Really? Give me that trash Odys!¡± Amanda had not yet appeared, but heroes and transmigrators had already gathered on both sides. The heroes didn¡¯t interact much. But the transmigrators had already started discussing. Before the battle began, everyone knew that this was ¡®Amanda¡¯s¡¯ battle for the restoration of her kingdom. Calling Amanda queen sounded impressively imposing. In the end, the one who usurped Amanda¡¯s throne turned out to be an orange tier five hero. Among the heroes in the army, there were also several orange tier ones. They were somewhat disappointed. They immediately labeled Odys as a failure. As the transmigrators discussed, light footsteps came from a corridor on the side. Under everyone¡¯s gaze. Chapter 959 - Chapter 959: Chapter 599, Not Dead Yet?_2 Chapter 959: Chapter 599, Not Dead Yet?_2 Amanda, clad in a sumptuous robe, emerged with an entourage of The Corpse Witch funeral priests, in a procession full of ritualistic solemnity. At this moment, among the captive generals in the middle, some had already knelt down, loudly proclaiming ¡°My Queen.¡± Odys¡¯s Soul Fire pulsated wildly, unconsciously making him want to bow in homage. But in the end, he stood upright. His gaze fixed intently on the woman who walked slowly toward the throne. Amanda sat upon the throne. She looked toward Odys in the center. Her voice was grave as she began, ¡°Odys, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± Odys¡¯s body stiffened. Suppressing the turmoil deep within his soul, he spoke: ¡°Amanda, you¡¯re actually still alive.¡± ¡°Are you surprised?¡± ¡°If I were still human, perhaps I¡¯d be a little shocked,¡± continued Odys. ¡°No, I can feel your emotions; you are surprised and afraid.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself, Amanda, you¡¯re no longer the queen here, and the kingdom that once was no longer exists,¡± Odys said loudly. At this, The Corpse Witch Yarl stepped forward and scolded, ¡°Odys, watch your tone.¡± ¡°Hmph, why should I watch my tone, Yarl¡­ I wonder why you¡¯ve always opposed me at every turn. It turns out you knew Amanda was still alive and have been putting on a show with me all along, you shameless folks,¡± Odys continued. He knew his end was nigh. Amanda would surely not let him go, and capitulating now would only lead to a death devoid of dignity in front of his former subordinates. Yarl wanted to say more, but Amanda gestured for him to step aside for the moment. Amanda, clutching the scepter in her hand, asked: ¡°Odys, I will extinguish your soul. Do you have any last words?¡± Odys¡¯s Soul Fire trembled violently once more, as he stood his ground. After a moment¡¯s contemplation, he said, ¡°If I had managed this place well, would you have returned?¡± Amanda looked at him, shaking her head slightly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Just as I thought, still you are, the queen of wisdom and courage.¡± Odys, wrapped in chains, bowed slightly. Amanda tapped her scepter, ¡°Bring forth the guards; take Odys away, extinguish his soul, and seal his bones.¡± Several guards came from outside and took Odys away. Odys did not resist, and followed them out. After Odys had left, Amanda turned her attention to the remaining captive heroes. There were twelve in total. Undead possessed a speed greater than that of living creatures, much more convenient. Those at the end of their lives yet yearning to live on would seek to join the undead. And the Undead faction was equally welcoming to hero units, wanting them to join their ranks. Thus, even after fighting all the way to Black Horn City, there were still these skeleton heroes after last night. They had come cursing their enemies, condemning the Blood Clan. Now, they all stood there obediently, without uttering a word. Amanda continued, ¡°I am the ¡®Queen of Anglina.¡¯ Some of you must still remember me. Those willing to remain and serve the Kingdom will be pardoned for your crimes. If not, your souls will be extinguished.¡± Her words were blunt, and offered everyone a choice. Clang! In an instant, seven heroes knelt on the ground, ¡°Your Majesty, we are willing to serve the Kingdom.¡± The remaining undead heroes stood still, clearly indicating their position. The queen nodded, dispensing with further words, ¡°Take these five away and extinguish their souls.¡± Clang! The captives were dragged off, the clattering of shackles echoing. The transmigrators whispered amongst themselves, commenting on what a pity it was to kill them, for they could have served as heroes. But, given the scene and atmosphere, no one dared to voice such thoughts aloud. Amanda had ¡°Yarl¡± check the remaining seven, to make sure they were not heroes with altered souls. Heroes altered by The Corpse Witch were absolutely loyal to their territory and existing lord. This type of soul-binding could not be altered a second time. If they could not swear allegiance to Amanda, nor serve the transmigrators as heroes, even if they agreed on the surface, they might stab you in the back immediately, in vengeance for their own lord. After dealing with the captives, Amanda addressed them again, ¡°Yarl!¡± ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Yarl stepped forward. ¡°You will accompany the Blood Hunter leader, take over the Southern border army, and submit a peace treaty to the Federation as a member of the Blood Clan,¡± Amanda instructed. Yarl was momentarily startled but understood when he saw an undead with massive bat wings stepping forward. Naturally, he knew who Blood Hunter referred to. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Yarl accepted the command. Blood Hunter nodded in agreement as well. ¡°Good, you two set out now, take the Bone Dragon and make no delays en route,¡± she said. ¡°Yes.¡± The two immediately exited the Royal Palace. Amanda continued, ¡°Scholar Nelson, you are now in charge of the Viscera Museum, Meatfist Commander will take control of the city barracks, Spencer and Aseti will lead troops to strengthen patrols in and around the city, ¡­¡± Order after order was issued, allocating tasks to all the heroes and transmigrators. During the earlier battle, the South City Gate was wide open. Many unidentified undead had fled through the South City Gate. The city was in a state of chaos. The current task was to restore order in the city, and then gradually place her own people. This would not be accomplished quickly, but she had ample time. ¡­ Silver Wing City. Chapter 960 - Chapter 960: Chapter 599: Still Not Dead?_3 Chapter 960: Chapter 599: Still Not Dead?_3 Grigorya, accompanied by her guards, stepped out of the Hall of Justice. She hadn¡¯t felt particularly involved in the morning meeting. The one thing that was mentioned about the Federation¡¯s support for Li Rong was interrupted by Archbishop Milton. That saint, he was still not dead. It was quite unexpected for her. The church had never publicly revealed that it possessed the power to resurrect living creatures. If it really could, then the church¡¯s influence in the council would increase significantly. Thinking to herself, she walked out of the courtyard gate. From a distance, she saw the transmigrator waiting next to the carriage by the roadside. This transmigrator, arranged by Li Rong in the city, was there to pass messages to Grigorya. His presence here must mean there was new information! Grigorya boarded the carriage. ¡°Come in!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The transmigrator followed respectfully. The carriage started heading towards the association. Inside the carriage. Grigorya asked, ¡°Is there any news?¡± The transmigrator immediately replied respectfully, ¡°Chairperson Grigorya, Sister Li just sent a message saying she has acquired intelligence that the war at Black Horn City has ended, and the Blood Clan¡¯s army has achieved the final victory.¡± ¡°What?¡± Grigorya frowned, the crow¡¯s feet at her forehead and the corners of her eyes deepened. ¡°The war at Black Horn City has ended, and the Blood Clan has won,¡± the transmigrator repeated to confirm. Grigorya¡¯s face still wore a look of surprise. It took her a while before she continued to ask, ¡°Is the intelligence reliable? And how did Li Rong find out?¡± The transmigrator across from her immediately responded, ¡°The intelligence is very reliable. Sister Li said she contacted a transmigrator who went to war with the Blood Clan and obtained firsthand information.¡± Grigorya was even more surprised. Li Rong moved quickly; Xu Haide had intelligence from the Undead, and his influence rapidly increased. Now, having successfully taken over Black Horn City, she immediately acquired intelligence from the Blood Clan. Her influence will definitely also grow. Ding, dong!! Knocking on the carriage wall, Grigorya said, ¡°Turn around, back to the Hall of Justice.¡± The carriage immediately turned around and stopped in front of the Hall of Justice again. Grigorya got off the carriage, walking inside with the transmigrator. As they walked, she instructed, ¡°Repeat exactly what you just told me to the people inside, don¡¯t speak of anything else. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The two walked down the corridor and directly entered the conference hall. ¡­ Amanda was quick in her actions. In the afternoon, Fang Hao received a message from Dong Jiayue. She asked him to come and officially ¡®occupy¡¯ Black Horn City. Fang Hao had to get ready earnestly and put on his noble attire with Little White¡¯s assistance. Now that the territory was wealthy, Fang Hao had more suits. And they were varied. For different faction gatherings, there were different styles of attire. For instance, the attire he was wearing now was dark green with golden embroidery of the Undead on the collar and cuffs. It looked regal, yet held a sense of authority and chaos. After getting fully dressed. He looked at the time, 1:20 PM. Just right, he thought, to arrive there in time for the banquet meal. From Dong Jiayue, he had acquired a single-page map marking the location of Black Horn City. After securing it, he activated the teleportation screen. Taking Demitrija with him, he stepped into the screen. Two or three seconds later. Upon opening his eyes again, he had appeared inside a magnificent royal palace. Below his feet was a deep brown carpet, and the surroundings were filled with various golden utensils. Truly in line with Amanda¡¯s taste. ¡°My lord.¡± Everyone in the hall bowed in unison. This included heroes from the territory, transmigrators who had accompanied him in battle, and many former ¡®kingdom¡¯ officials Fang Hao had not seen before. Especially those old officials Amanda had recruited anew. While bowing, they also curiously examined the suddenly appeared human. A human lord? To possess such a vast number of Undead, yet to be just a human. It was almost unbelievable. ¡°Well, no need for such formalities,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. The crowd straightened. At that moment¡­ Amanda descended the white jade stairs and softly said, ¡°Lord, this way please.¡± As she spoke, she took Fang Hao¡¯s hand and walked with him up the jade steps. Above, there were two golden chairs placed side by side. Amanda led him to the left one, indicating that he should sit. She then took her place next to him. Chapter 963 - Chapter 963: Chapter 601, Sorcery Sanctum Chapter 963: Chapter 601, Sorcery Sanctum Then, the two discussed some issues regarding future development. Currently, there were two problems that needed resolution. One was the reconstruction of Golden City and the other cities that had been destroyed. The second was the problem of a population shortfall. The first problem was easy to resolve after the two had discussed it. They settled on a plan. Fang Hao would arrange military forces and various resources to help Amanda rebuild the cities. In terms of the number of labor forces that could be mobilized, restoring the cities was not difficult. The second point, the loss of population, was the main issue. In the villages within the territory, nine out of ten were empty, their populations having been captured by Odys and transformed into the Undead. The common people transformed lacked intelligence. Even those without intelligence had been largely depleted in the great battle. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? One could say that to recover the population level of the Anglina Kingdom era, would require the existing humans not to do anything but procreate at home, which wouldn¡¯t recover for hundreds of years. This problem was currently difficult to solve. After a brief discussion, Fang Hao actually offered some suggestions. For logging and mining, he could provide a significant number of skeleton workers for Amanda. The freed-up land could then be made available for other races to inhabit. Or the land could be leased to other people for use. For example, the former ¡®Golden Valley¡¯ area could be allocated to the ¡®Fairy Clan¡¯ for farming. With the good quality of the land and the Fairy Clan¡¯s talent in agriculture, the yield would surely be excellent. At the same time, Amanda could also enact specific policies, encouraging higher birth rates to compensate for the previous population loss. Amanda nodded in agreement at Fang Hao¡¯s suggestions, and asked, ¡°Besides providing land to the Fairy Clan, do you have any suggestions regarding the population issue?¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment, then replied, ¡°If there are no demands by the race, I think Orcs could be a good choice.¡± Compared to humans, Orcs live in more densely populated and complex areas. Moreover, Orcs have a tradition of relocating villages and are not as resistant as humans to leave an established village. However, the city¡¯s attributes here cater to increasing human reproduction. Orcs are not included in that, so Amanda¡¯s opinion is still needed. ¡°Orcs are naturally savage and warlike, not suitable for gathering or farming, and are also difficult to manage,¡± Amanda replied. She clearly was not in favor of allowing Orcs to settle. Fang Hao had no better suggestion. He could only say, ¡°Let¡¯s both keep an eye out for any better solutions.¡± Amanda nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± That concluded the discussion about the population issue. Amanda then had the entire region¡¯s sand table brought out. The huge sand table meticulously depicted the entire region¡¯s villages, cities, mountains, and rivers. After recording it with the Book of Lords, the entire region map was directly recorded into the Book of Lords¡¯ grand map. The map¡¯s fog lifted all at once, displaying the overall terrain. ¡­ They talked for a while inside the Royal Palace. Then Amanda led him to the Royal Palace¡¯s backyard. In a corner of the courtyard, several treasure chests were openly placed. Amanda said, ¡°I can¡¯t open these treasure chests; I heard from Dong Jiayue that only you transmigrators can open them.¡± Fang Hao looked towards the treasure chest area, seeing one platinum treasure chest, six gold treasure chests, and two silver treasure chests. The quantity was still considerable, though fewer compared to the last conquest of Eight Peaks Mountain. He remembered that after capturing Gray Iron City, there were over a dozen gold treasure chests and more than twenty silver ones. But at that time, Dong Jiayue led troops and cleared the Dwarf cities one by one. While Amanda took a direct route, capturing cities en route and ignoring the others. But these did not matter. It wasn¡¯t worth making the army take a detour just for a treasure chest, slowing down the Marching Speed. ¡°Okay, let me see,¡± Fang Hao said, nodding. Amanda, accompanied by others, left the area and returned to the Royal Palace. She evidently wasn¡¯t very interested in the business of opening treasure chests. Ignoring the departure of Amanda and her entourage, he walked directly towards the platinum treasure chest. He opened it. Swish, beams of light instantly appeared, dazzling to the eyes. [Received: Sorcery Sanctum Blueprint (Purple), Skeleton Pillar Construction Blueprint (Purple), Tomb Guardian Breastplate Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Tomb Guardian Greaves Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Tomb Guardian Helmet Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Tomb Guardian Gloves Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Tomb Guardian Face Guard Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Barbaric Giant Battle Armor Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Barbaric Giant Battle Boots Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Giant Chain Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Skeleton Sculpture Crafting Blueprint (Blue), Shadowstone 355, Warfire Coin 892.] The rewards from the platinum treasure chest were still impressively substantial. Blueprints scattered all around. A mess of them everywhere. Fang Hao carefully discerned a few, noticing several beams of purple light. The rest were blue, and far more numerous than before. It was somewhat unfortunate that no orange blueprints appeared. He inspected them one by one. [Sorcery Sanctum: Hard Resilient Wood 2200, Fine Stonework Bricks 3200, Cast Iron Blocks 850, Metal Parts 500, Shadowstone 10, Essence of Magic 3, Perfect Essence 2.] (Description: A secret laboratory filled with chaos, filth, and agony, conducting research on dark deathly sorcery.) A purple special building. From the description, it belonged to a magical laboratory of the Undead. Chaos, filth, agony¡ªthese words conveyed the feeling of a twisted prison. Chapter 964 - Chapter 964: Chapter 601, Sorcery Sanctum_2 Chapter 964: Chapter 601, Sorcery Sanctum_2 Moreover, within the territory, undead mages and undead magic had always been on the fringes of combat power. It indeed supplemented some long-range combat capabilities but was never the main force, always appearing to be expendable. Fang Hao hoped that with the introduction of this building, undead magic classes would be able to see some improvement. After all, it was a purple special building, so it wouldn¡¯t be too shabby. He collected the blueprint and continued to look at the next one. [Skeleton Pillar: Refined stonework 1500, cast iron blocks 250, metal parts 120, living creature white bones 100.] (Description: Columns made from the bones of living creatures, filled with the power of death.) It was also a purple blueprint. Its specific function was not described. Only after building it would he see its effects. He continued to look down. All the blueprints that followed were blue in color. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? [Tomb Guardian Set] One could tell from the name that it was equipment for undead soldiers. The set consisted of five parts, including a breastplate, greaves, helm, gauntlets, and a ¡®face guard,¡¯ which was an additional piece compared to normal sets. That is, a mask. All five components reached level three defense. The set¡¯s attribute was called [Tomb Guardian]. [Tomb Guardian: Within a maximum distance of three meters, for every ally present, defense increases by 1%, up to a maximum of 20%.] Upon seeing the attributes of this set of equipment, Fang Hao was startled, then overjoyed. What good luck, this was practically custom-made equipment for him. His army¡¯s characteristic was its density; allies surrounded him from all sides. This maximum 20% was tailor-made for his army. At present, the territory¡¯s infantry was equipped with the Orc [Storm Fine Iron Set], a blue four-piece set. Although it was quite good, the Storm set was suitable for a small number of troops. In Fang Hao¡¯s army, however, the conditions for the [Tomb Guardian]¡¯s 20% defense boost could be fully met. Therefore, it was more appropriate to equip the [Tomb Guardian Set] in the army, and for a small number of soldiers, such as the twenty-man patrol mission troops from the tribe, the [Storm Set] was suitable. When the time came, he could match the sets to the tasks performed by the troops. He was quite satisfied with the effects of this set of equipment. He collected all the blueprints. The last three blueprints were all blue as well. [Wild Giant Battle Armor], [Wild Giant Battle Boots], and [Giant Chain] appeared to be equipment for the Bone Giant. But obviously, they didn¡¯t form a complete set. Later, he would see how big the Bone Giant was; if it was close to the size of a Troll, it could wear the Troll heavy armor set. If it was larger, he would have to craft the [Wild Giant Battle Armor]. The last [Skeleton Sculpture Blueprint] was a miscellaneous blueprint. It wasn¡¯t equipment or a building; once crafted, it would just be a regular sculpture, with no attribute enhancements. Moreover, from the name, it belonged to undead sculptures. For him and most other races, bone sculptures were still unacceptable. He collected all of them, and the blueprints turned into beams of light that burrowed into the Book of Lords. Fang Hao continued to focus on the gold and silver treasure chests nearby. Although they were far inferior to platinum, sometimes they could yield some nice things. Six gold and two silver chests were opened in succession. [Obtained: Blueprint for Turtle Shell Heavy Shield (Blue), Blueprint for Fine Iron Skin Cutter (Blue), Hanging Door Plaque*1, Concentration Incense*5, Golden Bone Chain*1, Shadowstone 85, Warfire Coin 198.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Beast Horn Hand Axe (Green), Blueprint for White Steel Embossed Hand Saw (Blue), Human Bone Skeleton Wall Lamp*2, Gold-Engraved Wind Chime*5, Shadowstone 78, Warfire Coin 204.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Tendon Longbow (Blue), Blueprint for Eagle Pattern Round Shield (Blue), Royal Conference Table*1, White Steel Harpoon*2, Golden Bone Nail*5, Shadowstone 89, Warfire Coin 175.] [Obtained: Blueprint for White Bone Claw Magic Wand (Purple), Blueprint for Thick-skinned Crocodilian Breastplate (Blue), Blueprint for Black Iron Dueling Sword (Green), Agate Ring*1, Glass Colorful Vase*2, Shadowstone 101, Warfire Coin 214.] [Obtained: Blueprint for White Steel Dagger (Blue), Blueprint for Dead End Bracer (Green), Pure Magic Dust*5, White Bone Carving*2, Gold-trimmed Open-mouthed Vase*2, Shadowstone 99, Warfire Coin 203.] [Obtained: Quadruped Walker Viscera Jar (Purple), Rugged Plume Helmet (Blue), Undead Rib Necklace*1, Golden Tooth Ornament*1, Shadowstone 101, Warfire Coin 188.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Goat Leather Shield (Green), Round Wood Tower*1, Shadowstone 35, Warfire Coin 67.] [Obtained: Blueprint for Wild Boar Leather Knuckles (Green), Blueprint for White Feather Oak Stone Blade Club (Green), Shadowstone 42, Warfire Coin 72.] Swathes of light flashed, and blueprints scattered across the open space around him. The treasure chests of the Undead do not hold the same type of mechanical devices as those of the Dwarves. This faction is more about the intrinsic nature of being immortal, as well as supporting items like Viscera jars and transformation fields. They possess a technology tree distinct from that of the Dwarves. The once spacious backyard had become chaotic and cluttered. Apart from sculptures standing on the ground, conference tables, and the ceiling-touching round tower, Fang Hao also spotted golden dentures, golden nails, and ornaments carved from human finger bones with patterns. All these oddities from the underworld looked quite frightening. Fang Hao went back to briefly review the record that had flashed by. He filtered through it to see if there was anything useful that he needed. First, discarding the blueprints in blue and green, his gaze turned towards the sole purple blueprint. [White Bone Magic Claw Wand: Hardwood 12, Cast Iron Blocks 5, Mithril 3, Essence of Magic 1.] (Description: A bone wand that fits very well with Undead aesthetics, it provides a significant enhancement to Dark Attribute Magic.) Ah! That¡¯s not bad, a mage weapon. In the military unit types, the presence of Undead mages had never been particularly high. Beyond not having a specialized mage hero to lead them, the equipment of Undead mages had also always been rather average. Furthermore, with their slow movement speed, low defense, and the need for charge time when casting spells, it resulted in the absence of Undead mages from many battles. Like in Amanda¡¯s campaign to reclaim her country, not a single Undead mage was brought along. Their slow movement speed would have slowed down the overall pace of the army. With Amanda¡¯s blitzkrieg tactics, they simply weren¡¯t useful. However, the disadvantages were there. But the effects and power of mages could not be overlooked. Especially when casting spells in unison, bombarding the enemy¡¯s ranks with dense magic projectiles. The effect was not much less than that of artillery shells. Moreover, the negative status effects of Dark Attribute Magic had a strong impact on living creatures. Now with this purple weapon in hand, and the making conditions not overly stringent, he could equip his Undead mages with it upon returning. It was just a pity that he didn¡¯t have a mage class hero at hand. Maybe he should ask Li Rong where the mages of the mage association who had died were buried. He could pay a visit to their graves himself. Well, that¡¯s a good solution to consider for the future. After recording everything in the Book of Lords, he filtered through the blueprints once more. To see if there were any that could be of help to him. Among them, there were two types of shields in the blueprints: [Turtle Shell Heavy Shield] and [Eagle Pattern Round Shield]. Heavy shields and round shields have their differences. Simply put, heavy shields provide protection in terms of length and width, and they¡¯re also heavier. Round shields, on the other hand, are slightly smaller and lighter but with reinforced hardness in places. Currently, Fang Hao had three types of blue shield blueprints at hand: [Troll Heavy Shield][Beast Head Heavy Shield] and [Military Small Round Shield]. The [Military Small Round Shield], with its wooden structure, could be subject to replacements. There was no need to replace the heavy shield ones, though. [Tendon Longbow] could be put on the shelf as a product in the shop. [Fine Iron Leather Cutting Knife] and [White Steel Carving Hand Saw] are tools for processing and gathering, which could also be of help to the territory. As for the other blueprints, their use wasn¡¯t all that big. They could only be considered as an expansion to the collection of blueprints. All the blueprints were catalogued. Various items were still scattered around. Fang Hao¡¯s gaze also shifted to the Viscera jar standing to the side. [Viscera jar (Purple)] [Category: Magic Container] [Abilities: Wild Run, Hunting] Chapter 968 - Chapter 968: Chapter 603, Are You a Loach? Chapter 968: Chapter 603, Are You a Loach? The moonlight was subdued. On the soft bed with pale blue curtains, two women, each with a distinct aura, yet equally beautiful and captivating, leaned on each other. Rebecca had delicate skin and a slender waist, but her figure was exceptionally voluptuous and mature, like a ripe, juicy peach. With a slight turn to the side, she created waves of movement. Rolana¡¯s figure was tall and slim, with skin as tender and white as jade. Her demeanor was strikingly cold, and her perfect, elongated body combined with her natural poise made her stunningly beautiful. At this moment, both of them were drenched in sweat, leaning on each other. Under the lamplight, they glistened. Rebecca¡¯s cheeks were faintly blushed as she grabbed the other¡¯s hand and spoke, ¡°You haven¡¯t told me yet, how are things going at Black Horn City!¡± Rolana laid back on the bed, gazing at the ceiling, and said, ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about? Amanda took over Black Horn City in one night, and by noon Fang Hao came over and took control of the city.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no danger there, is there?¡± ¡°What danger could there be? Odys and some supporters were directly snuffed out of existence by Amanda, and now the entire city is under her control.¡± Of course, Rebecca wasn¡¯t concerned about Amanda; she hadn¡¯t even met her. What she cared about were the affairs of men, after all, war isn¡¯t a joke, and a single misstep could cost a life. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 She shifted her body and looked across, continuing to ask, ¡°So that means Fang Hao¡¯s territory has expanded again, it¡¯s probably bigger than the entire Hundred Cities Federation now!¡± ¡°The Federation¡¯s territory is nothing compared to his, it¡¯s incomparable now,¡± Rolana turned to her side as well, the two locking eyes. ¡­ Rebecca looked at her and ventured, ¡°I¡¯ve suddenly realized that Fang Hao is quite good. His character and personality, they seem quite suitable for a partner.¡± Rolana was taken aback and said in surprise, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed something off about you recently, and I was right.¡± Rebecca¡¯s eyes flitted with panic for a moment before she immediately replied, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We¡¯re just quietly talking about him, just like we would about any other man.¡± Drawing the beauty opposite her closer, she continued to ask, ¡°What do you think of him?¡± ¡°What is there to think? He¡¯s just like that¡­¡± ¡°He often mentions you when he¡¯s around me. Last time he went to Silver Wing City, he even bought you some clothes; it seems like he really cares about you.¡± ¡°Oh? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°You and him¡­¡± ¡­ Main city. The spring night was slightly cool, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of flowers and grass. Walking along the path leading to the Undead area, trees on both sides reached out their branches, hanging Nightstones above the path, lighting up the dim road. Observing the competing flowers in the flower bed, Fang Hao said, ¡°It really is becoming less and less like an Undead place.¡± When he came back, Fang Hao planned to bring Nelson back with him. But Amanda said that Nelson needed to stay there for a while to restore order in Golden City. As the beneficiary of this campaign, Fang Hao couldn¡¯t very well refuse. So he had no choice but to leave Nelson there temporarily. Before leaving, he still instructed Nelson to return to the main city after finishing his tasks. After passing through the streets, he arrived at the Undead¡¯s barracks construction area. Upon his return, he had already ordered the construction of all the Blueprints he acquired that day. After having dinner and soaking in the hot springs for a while, the building time was almost complete. Past the Giant Stone Tomb and the Undead Mage Tower, he saw a massive semi-underground structure behind. To build the ¡°Bone Giant¡± in the Savage Wilds Tomb, he had specifically chosen a particularly open area, to avoid congestion when recruiting creatures in the future. After all, nearly ten-meter-tall giants, every movement they made was destructive. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that creature buildings couldn¡¯t be constructed outside the city, he would have wanted to build it there. He went straight to the building to check the information. Savage Wilds Tomb Category: Special Building Recruit: Bone Giant Bone Giant: Wriggling Spine 10, Death Trace 7, Star Silver 5, Giant Essence 1. (Description: Ancient Undead lost in the wilds.) The recruitment conditions were still expectedly harsh. Apart from the Wriggling Spines, the Trace and Star Silver were rare materials; Star Silver was produced in the Mithril Mine, but its output was very low. The final ingredient, Giant Essence, Fang Hao did not possess. He hadn¡¯t even heard of it. He wondered if it might be a recruitment material for some giant faction. Lacking the final material, Fang Hao was unable to recruit. He could only wait to buy some in the World Channel the next day to see if others had it. Somewhat disappointed, he left for the next barracks. Howling Ghost House The Howling Haunted House was an aboveground structure that looked from the outside to be an old, decrepit house surrounded by countless semi-transparent wandering spirits. If Fang Hao hadn¡¯t become accustomed to such sights, it would have scared the pants off anyone else in the dead of night. Howling Haunted House Category: Special Building Recruit: Soul Coffin Soul Coffin: Wriggling Spine 9, Death Trace 6, Star Silver 4, Mithril 3, Stone Coffin 1. (Description: A Stone Coffin inscribed with malicious curses that hold tortured souls. When the Soul Coffin is opened, piercing howls will inundate the entire battlefield.) The recruitment conditions this time were more complex. They added Mithril and a Stone Coffin. Luckily, he had received a Blueprint for a green Stone Coffin from opening a chest today. Chapter 969 - Chapter 969: Chapter 603, Are You a Loach?_2 Chapter 969: Chapter 603, Are You a Loach?_2 In the open space to the side, I found the blueprint for the stone coffin. After making 101 weighty stone coffins, I met the recruitment conditions for the Soul Coffin. I returned to the front of the building. Set the recruitment number to 1. Confirm recruitment. ¡°Hundredfold Amplification triggered, recruiting Soul Coffin 101.¡± In a flash, 101 beams of light appeared, and Soul Coffins materialized on the open ground around us. The Soul Coffins still bore the image of skeletons. They were nearly the size of trolls, with a ragged burlap scarf draped over their shoulders, fluttering in the wind. They cradled a huge stone coffin in front of them. All in all, they looked quite terrifying. ¡°Soul Coffin (Tier Nine Troops)¡± ¡°Racial Traits: Undead, Hollow Skeleton, Weakness to Light, Soul Coffin.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Skills: Soul Binding.¡± ¡°Fixed Skills: Intermediate Magic Power Mastery.¡± ¡°Soul Coffin¡±: When the Soul Coffin is damaged, the unit enters an unstable state; if completely destroyed, the unit dies. ¡°Soul Binding¡±: The souls of dead living creatures within 10 meters of the unit will be bound and transformed into wandering spirits to re-enter the battlefield. (Description: When the stone coffin opens, dazzling light will shine across the entire battlefield, and countless vengeful spirits will break free from their bonds, racing toward living creatures to reap their lives.) Goodness, just one skill. Only ¡°Soul Binding,¡± which absorbs souls and transforms them into wandering spirits for the battlefield. Nothing else. Used well, the skill ¡°Soul Binding¡± could be incredibly useful on the battlefield. If not, this troop type would be a waste. Of little use at all. Additionally, the racial trait also includes the ¡°Soul Coffin¡± effect. When the Soul Coffin is damaged, this troop type will become unstable; complete destruction means troop death. That is to say, the stone coffin is the core of this troop type, and that skeleton nearly the size of a troll seems more like a puppet controlled by the stone coffin. Having satisfied my curiosity, I directly said, ¡°Go to the Troop Hiding Cave outside the city and stand by. I¡¯ll assign you work tomorrow.¡± The Soul Coffins possessed Soul Fires, though their color was somewhat pale, not the usual azure blue. A group of Soul Coffins bowed slightly, then turned and walked away. After inspecting two barracks, I continued on to the next location. ¡°Skeleton Pillar¡± ¡°Category: Special Building¡± ¡°Effect: Undead Loyalty +5, Movement Speed +5%.¡± (Description: A building that gathers the faith of the undead.) Rather than being called a building, it was more like a totem. A thick stone pillar carved with various undead symbols and patterns. It was wide enough to be embraced by an adult and was about six meters tall. The effects provided were good. Beyond the 5% increase in Movement Speed, the 5 points of Loyalty were even more valuable. Moreover, the increase was mandatory, comparable to a Divine Artifact. The last building. ¡°Sorcery Sanctum¡± ¡°Category: Special Building¡± ¡°Effect: Sorcery Experiment¡± ¡°Sorcery Experiment: Enables the undead unit to deduce and upgrade sorcery.¡± ¡°Can Deduce: ¡®Bone Manipulation Technique,¡¯ ¡®God¡¯s Presence.''¡± ¡°Bone Manipulation Technique: Shadowstone 5, Essence of Magic 1, Skeleton troop type 5, Warfire Coin 100.¡± ¡°God¡¯s Presence: Shadowstone 35, Essence of Magic 10, Skeleton troop type 100, Warfire Coin 2000.¡± (Description: A secret laboratory filled with chaos, filth and suffering, researching magic replete with death.) Seeing this, I understood the purpose of the building. A place for upgrading skills. But as a mage of the undead faction, I was frankly not very qualified. I had learned a host of fire and thunder elemental spells; I knew very few undead ones. Upgrading skills required spending materials. Besides the exclusive Shadowstone, it also required essences and Warfire Coins. And what¡¯s more outrageous is the cost of ¡°God¡¯s Presence,¡± which was very expensive. It was enough to construct a special undead building. What a rip-off. Cursing inwardly, I still silently initiated the upgrades for both. ¡°Bone Manipulation Technique¡± wasn¡¯t costly, so upgrading it was worthwhile. And ¡°God¡¯s Presence,¡± a skill I considered to be the most useful of the undead, had to be upgraded even though it pained me to do so. When it came to consuming skeleton troop types, I chose the most numerous, the ¡®Skeleton Warriors.¡¯ Confirm upgrade. A glow suddenly ascended from the building, which also displayed a countdown. [Bone Manipulation Technique: 71 hours 59 minutes¡­] [God¡¯s Presence: 119 hours 59 minutes¡­] He had checked all the buildings. It was also past 11 p.m. After yawning twice, he started to walk back. He had only gotten halfway when a system prompt made him stop in his tracks. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana Ann Tobias¡¯s loyalty to you has increased by 2 points, current loyalty is 82.] Oh my! Fang Hao was first stunned, then quickly realized what had happened. Before coming back, he had sent Rolana to Lyss City. It seemed like Rebecca had put in a good word for him, although the increase wasn¡¯t much. But it was still an improvement. He still hadn¡¯t given her the Rolana Talisman, which should raise her loyalty to a decent level. Thinking this, he headed back towards the Viscera Museum. Upon entering the Viscera Museum, the burial priests were, as usual, busy with their own tasks. Fang Hao took out the viscera jars he acquired, as well as the remains of heroes like Odys whose divine souls had been eradicated, and handed them over to the priests for safekeeping. He would come back to deal with them tomorrow. After leaving the Viscera Museum, he returned to his room to rest. ¡­ The next day, early morning. ¡°Fang Hao, I¡¯m going to kill you¡­¡± A shriek echoed from within the room. Anjia, clad in a tight camisole and wearing ¡®Nightfall¡¯ silk suspender stockings on her legs, had her wheat-colored skin flushed red with anger. One hand twisted Fang Hao¡¯s arm behind his back, pinning him down onto the bed mercilessly. With her other hand, she scolded while yanking his hair. Meanwhile, Eira had already dressed and was tidying her hair at the vanity, frequently looking back worried that Anjia might be too harsh and actually harm their tender-skinned master. ¡°Anjia, I was wrong, didn¡¯t we agree on this? You can¡¯t blame me.¡± Pinned on the bed, Fang Hao turned his head trying to explain. He kept signaling to Eira with his eyes. Eira, with a face full of amusement, did not intervene as Anjia wasn¡¯t using too much force. After observing for a while, She whispered to Anjia not to break anything, then went out to prepare breakfast. ¡­ After the sound of a door closing, A brief silence took over the room, then embarrassed and annoyed voices picked up again. ¡°Are you an eel, wriggling everywhere? I¡¯ll kill you¡­¡± Even with tougher skin, the chaotic punches and hair-pulling were still painful. ¡°Okay, Anjia, I was wrong, it was you who suggested we try it last night! You can¡¯t blame me either.¡± ¡°Bullshit, is that what I meant¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t hurt next time, really¡­¡± ¡°You motherf*****¡­¡± A flurry of punches landed, eliciting cries of pain from Fang Hao. The cause of Anjia¡¯s outburst still stemmed from that novelist. In the latest chapter, he wrote some rather explicit and daring scenes. Anjia, always bold, discussed with Eira and insisted on waiting for Fang Hao to return past 11 p.m. They wanted to try out the positions described in the book, the initial ones were okay, but as they went on to navigate the ¡®valley path¡¯, there were some bad reactions. This morning, she felt discomfort all over. Upon waking up, she gave Fang Hao a good thrashing, accusing him of not following the book¡¯s instructions and recklessly improvising. Hard to explain these things, so he could only say it would be better next time. After quite a beating, Anjia¡¯s rage subsided slightly. She got up, put on a jacket and said, ¡°Swap today¡¯s installment of the novel for me.¡± Fang Hao sat up and responded, ¡°The author hasn¡¯t updated it yet.¡± The two left the room and went downstairs to eat. Little White, also descending from the upper floor, kept inquiring about last night¡¯s events with a face full of curiosity. ¡­ After breakfast. Fang Hao went straight to the Viscera Museum. He had the burial priests bring out all the viscera jars that had been delivered the previous night. Firstly, he placed the two viscera jars, [Death Nourishment] and [Soul Drinker], in the receptacles of the two buildings, Savage Wilds Tomb and Howling Ghost House, respectively. Then, he began to check the remaining viscera jars. Chapter 970 - Chapter 970: Chapter 604, Discussing the Senate Chapter 970: Chapter 604, Discussing the Senate A line of funeral priests stood at the back, holding viscera jars. Fang Hao then began with the existing viscera jars. In addition to the recently placed ¡°Death Nourishment¡± and ¡°Soul Drinker¡±, the main city already possessed five viscera jars. Among them, ¡°Power of Thunder¡± was dark gold, ¡°Magic Empowerment¡± and ¡°Killing Proficiency¡± were orange, ¡°Lightning Speed¡± was purple, and the very first stored ¡°Revival¡± was slightly lower in quality, blue. He compared the qualities and the attributes they conferred. It seemed that they were all more suitable for the characteristics of the territory¡¯s military units than the ones behind him. There was no need to swap them out. Only, the position for the viscera jar in the undead cavalry building ¡°Corridor of the Dead¡± was empty. The undead cavalry was not very useful in Fang Hao¡¯s hands. In the initial stages of development, the cavalry were responsible for exploration and patrolling tasks. But later on, ordinary undead took over patrolling duties, leaving the undead cavalry utterly unused. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï During legion battles, they usually recruited around ten thousand. Their main role was to escort and expedite travel; they were seldom used on the main battlefield. After selecting from the returned viscera jars, he first tested the purple ¡°Wild Run¡± viscera jar¡¯s effect. It indeed increased movement speed but changed the mode of attack from the cavalry¡¯s slashing to trampling by the skeleton horses. If they reached their target and the horse¡¯s hooves could trample them to death, good; if not, the charge was in vain. Fang Hao then removed the ¡°Wild Run¡± from the cavalry building. In the end, he chose the ¡°Stone Form (blue)¡± viscera jar. Viscera Jar Category: Magic Container Ability: Petrification Petrification: Skeletal petrification, physical damage received -10%. (Description: A natural stone armor.) After the effect of the viscera jar took hold, both the skeleton horses and the cavalry sitting on them, had a layer of stony plaques form on the surface of their bones. It didn¡¯t look particularly appealing, but the effect was quite good. After confirming the viscera jar, the remaining jars, including the purple ¡°Wild Run,¡± were all exchanged directly via the channel to Dong Jiayue, who stayed in Golden City. She was to hand these jars to Amanda. After all, Golden City also had undead units that needed the enhancement of viscera jars. After stepping out of the Viscera Museum, Fang Hao once again headed to the city outskirts to discuss the nearby patrol arrangements. ¡­ Hundred Cities Federation. Fort Santa. Inside a temporary meeting room, the management of the Federation Army sat silently at one end. On the opposite side were several skeletons. The leader was someone the members of the Federation recognized. The Corpse Witch of Black Horn City, ¡®Arlene.¡¯ Behind Arlene were several other undead. One of the undead had a peculiar appearance; a skeleton-like visage but with a pair of huge fleshy wings. Resembling a vampiric undead. ¡°What brings you all here?¡± Nidam, the commander of the Hall of Justice, asked. Only yesterday, Fort Santa received news of Black Horn City being conquered by the Blood Clan; today, Arlene came with her entourage. This made them uncertain whether the news Silver Wing City received was accurate. Arlene pulled a document from her bosom, pushed it towards Nidam, and said, ¡°Black Horn City has been renamed ¡®Supreme Saint Golden City.¡¯ According to the agreement, there will be peace at the borders.¡± The document was an alliance treaty signed between the Blood Clan and the Federation. It included the agreed-upon contents, including the right to deal with the Great Cemetery, peace at the borders, and the Federation¡¯s aid to the Blood Clan. Seeing the contents of the document, Both Nidam and others who craned their necks to see the content, revealed an expression of disbelief. The Blood Clan had really conquered Black Horn City so fast? This speed was inconceivable. ¡°The Blood Clan has won?¡± Nidam still couldn¡¯t believe it. Arlene nodded, ¡°Odys¡¯s soul has been extinguished; this land will be managed by a new ruler.¡± Odys is dead¡­ This news was just as explosive. The undead, as the enemy of all living creatures, positioned Odys as the major nemesis of all living forces. His influence was comparable to that of the leader of the Hall of Justice, Archbishop Milton. But now, he had died so effortlessly. It was surprising and, at the same time, it instilled an even greater wariness of the Blood Clan¡¯s power. ¡°Fine, humanity also desires peace; we will honor this treaty,¡± Nidam responded. Arlene nodded without further comment, She picked up her copy of the treaty and left with her undead entourage. Soon, in the temporary meeting room, Only the people of the Federation remained, After a brief silence, Nidam turned his gaze to Li Rong at the back row, ¡°Mage Li Rong, just how large is the military force that the Blood Clan now possesses?¡± Since Xu Haide¡¯s incident, The Federation¡¯s means of obtaining news about the undead had been completely severed. After nearly half a month of bewilderment, the connection was suddenly reestablished by Li Rong. Moreover, it was possible to get news about the Blood Clan. Initially, the majority did not trust the authenticity of Li Rong¡¯s intelligence. But now, the credibility of her astonishing and precise information was apparent. Li Rong spoke gravely, ¡°The Blood Clan¡¯s military power is terrifying. The exact numbers are unclear but the intelligence I obtained suggests that the Blood Clan needed only one night to breach Black Horn City, exterminating Odys and his followers¡¯ souls.¡± This¡­ The room instantly erupted into commotion. One night to breach a power¡¯s main city. Chapter 971 - Chapter 971: Chapter 604, Discussing the Senate_2 Chapter 971: Chapter 604, Discussing the Senate_2 ¡°This is truly too terrifying. If they could breach Black Horn City, it means they also have the power to take down Silver Wing City.¡± They had just resolved the Undead problem when, unexpectedly, the Blood Clan proved to be even more dangerous. He saw the faces of everyone present turn very grave. Li Rong spoke again, ¡°Everyone need not worry. From what I understand, the Blood Clan and Odys have a feud, which is why they attacked Black Horn City. Since we are allied with the Blood Clan, as long as we maintain this relationship well, we should not become enemies.¡± A feud? The group caught onto another piece of intelligence. The Blood Clan immediately reminded the Federation about the terms of their alliance. It was also evident that the other party hoped to maintain peace with humans. But this peace was still temporary. In a situation of unequal power, the human Federation could only live in fear. The group quietly discussed for a while. Nidam said, ¡°Alright, I will report this matter to Silver Wing City, and we need to evacuate in the next few days. Everyone should prepare once you return.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone nodded and left the temporary meeting room. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Li Rong, holding the Magic Wand that signified her identity as a mage, followed behind the mature mage ¡®Mapel.¡¯ After they stepped out of the crowd and boarded the prepared carriage, Li Rong finally spoke, ¡°I can finally go back, I¡¯ve had enough of staying here.¡± Mapel revealed a smile, placing the Magic Wand aside. She smiled and said, ¡°Actually, this place is not too bad, at least there¡¯s freedom.¡± It seemed that Mapel felt this place was better than Silver Wing City. Before Li Rong could speak, Mapel continued, ¡°By the way, how did you get in touch with the transmigrator from the Blood Clan?¡± Traditionally, members of the Mage Association kept a low profile. In meetings, they seldom sought the limelight like the Hall of Justice or the Church. Now, as Li Rong suddenly played a crucial role, the mages were quite pleased. Li Rong said, ¡°A pretty decent man, very easy to talk to.¡± Mapel¡¯s eyes narrowed, filled with amusement. She naturally understood what ¡®easy to talk to¡¯ implied. ¡°Young people, that¡¯s good.¡± After pausing, she continued, ¡°The information from that side needs to be maintained. Now that Xu Haide is dead, the council is likely to train you to gather transmigrators within the territory. It¡¯s an opportunity.¡± Li Rong, pretending to be somewhat resistant, said, ¡°I just saw everyone struggling and thought of getting some information. I didn¡¯t plan on competing for Xu Haide¡¯s position.¡± ¡°We know, but someone ultimately has to do this job, and it will be greatly beneficial for your development,¡± Mapel continued. ¡°I don¡¯t have any background, and I don¡¯t know many people in the council; it won¡¯t be my turn,¡± Li Rong leaned back against the carriage wall. Mapel still smiled, ¡°That can be arranged, we¡¯ll discuss it with the president when the time comes.¡± Li Rong thought for a moment, then nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± The carriage creaked and moaned as it moved forward. The two started discussing what they wanted to do once they returned. Mapel talked about facing the conservative elders back home, while Li Rong planned to reopen her shop in Silver Wing City, and to start businesses along a whole street. If Mapel did not like her place, she would invite Mapel to stay at her place. The conditions weren¡¯t bad, and it was very free. Meanwhile, the silent and eyes-closed ¡®Morse,¡¯ remained quietly playing the role of a guard. They reached Mount Treaty Keep and made the final preparations for the return trip. ¡­ At noon, the spring breeze was fresh, and the warm sunshine bathed the entire land. Fang Hao lay on a sun lounger, nearby were Eira, Little White, Anjia, and a few bunny maids. Everyone gathered under the oak tree. Each took turns reading the latest novel manuscript they had exchanged. When it finally landed in Little White¡¯s hands, it was her turn to read it to the others. Fang Hao pulled Anjia closer, whispering, ¡°You see, I didn¡¯t lie to you. It¡¯s just that you haven¡¯t adapted yet, but you will get used to it.¡± Upon hearing this, Anjia became a bit angry. ¡°You¡¯re thinking there will be a next time?¡± His alternative approaches had caused her quite some distress. After calming down, however, it didn¡¯t feel all that bad. Plus, having an excuse to hit him was actually quite fun. If he wanted to do it again next time, should she give it a try? Just, walking the next day was truly somewhat inconvenient. Meanwhile, after Little White finished reading to the other maids, she also joined them, seemingly a bit schadenfreude to learn that Anjia had been bullied. Eira whispered softly, ¡°Master, Anjia can¡¯t handle it, but I can. Let¡¯s give it a try tonight.¡± Little White was getting bolder with his words. Fang Hao glanced at Little White, whose face didn¡¯t even turn red, and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Anjia, furious, went up to teach the provocative vixen a lesson. The two of them chased and frolicked around the garden trees. At that moment, a branch from the oak tree above them hung down. It twisted into the shape of the fairy leader¡ªShinisara. She spoke up, ¡°My lord, there is news from Furious Lion City.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Fang Hao asked. Shinisara replied, ¡°Three days from now, negotiations will be held at the border. Let¡¯s get ready.¡± Helping the fairies drive away the Furious Lion City¡¯s army had taken some time. Furious Lion City had been dragging its feet until now, finally setting a time and place for negotiations. ¡°Okay, I got it. You and Bronze Bull get ready. Try to negotiate but also be prepared for war,¡± Fang Hao said. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Shinisara responded, spreading her branches again and disappearing from view. Ahem¡­! Anjia let out a soft cough then cautiously came over and gently sat in his embrace. She softly said, ¡°Does it still hurt? I didn¡¯t mean to do it this morning, I was being careful!¡± Then she rubbed his arm gently. Fang Hao almost laughed out loud at her antics. Anjia was actually not very old; it¡¯s just that this world forced everyone to grow up fast. ¡°It hurts, how could it not?¡± Fang Hao feigned anger as he spoke. ¡°Let me rub it for you!¡± Anjia immediately massaged the heavily hit areas. Then she added, ¡°You promised I could go to the negotiations, haven¡¯t you forgotten?¡± Fang Hao looked up, ¡°You pulled my hair this morning, so you¡¯re not going.¡± Upon hearing this, Anjia immediately got anxious. ¡°Come on, I didn¡¯t pull that hard.¡± Seeing Anjia really getting worried, Fang Hao didn¡¯t want to tease her anymore and said, ¡°Alright, you can go. What will you give me in return?¡± Anjia¡¯s cheeks flushed as she hesitated. She whispered something in his ear. Fang Hao slapped her buttocks playfully and said, ¡°You said it, no getting mad or pulling hair afterward.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± After thinking it over carefully, Fang Hao said, ¡°We still have two days. Prepare yourself to avoid any dangers.¡± ¡°Prepare what?¡± Anjia asked back. ¡°Have Doujin get you a Teleportation Scroll, wear soft armor inside your clothes, and carry several potions,¡± Fang Hao listed as he thought. Anjia, being a blue hero and primarily a fighter, had difficulty retreating quickly from danger. So, it was still important to be cautious about her safety. ¡°Am I going there to sell goods or to negotiate, carrying all these things? Won¡¯t people laugh at me!¡± Anjia interrupted him. ¡°It¡¯s for safety!¡± In the afternoon, Fang Hao took Anjia to see Doujin. He had Doujin prepare some items for Anjia that could be used in emergencies over the next two days. ¡­ Nearing evening. A message suddenly came from Lyss City. Asking Fang Hao to come over as there were important matters to discuss. This left Little White, who had prepared everything, looking utterly despondent as she clung to Eira¡¯s arm and quietly complained to Fang Hao about breaking his promise. Fang Hao was also helpless. Moreover, he spent a lot of time with Little White, whereas, with Rebecca, only when she missed him would she find an excuse to call him over. He softly consoled her a few words, then activated the Teleportation Array and went directly to Lyss City. Stepping out from the screen, he was already in the grand hall of Lyss City. Walking on the plush carpet, he headed straight upstairs to the bedroom. However, halfway there, he was spotted by a maid who immediately led him back down to the parlor on the first floor. Entering the room, besides Rebecca, there were a few officials from the city. So there was indeed serious business? Facing the staring eyes across him, he clearly saw a glare from the other side. He immediately said, ¡°Rebecca, you wanted to see me about something?¡± After speaking, he took a seat nearby. Rebecca spoke bluntly, ¡°We received a letter from Silver Wing City asking us to discuss nominating someone for the upper senate.¡± Chapter 974 - Chapter 974: Chapter 606: Shes Desperate Chapter 974: Chapter 606: She¡¯s Desperate The moon hung high in the sky. The silvery light spilled onto the balcony. The young man held the woman¡¯s shoulders, with their heads bowed and red lips pressed tightly together. Time seemed to stand still. Rolana¡¯s mind went blank, confused about what to do next. Suddenly, Rolana felt something was wrong. Her chest felt cool, and then a large hand grasped it. Her eyes widened, and her face changed color instantly. A dark red spear appeared beside her. She initially wanted to stab it towards him but, fearing she might kill him, she let it dissipate and replaced it with a fist. The fist didn¡¯t come crashing down; it turned into an open hand. While she hesitated, her blouse had been undone, and her chest had been touched for a while now. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï The movements were skilled, almost excessively so. Annoyed, she planted a knee between them and then kicked him. Bang! A muffled sound, and Fang Hao felt as if he had been hit by a cannonball. He smashed through the stone railing behind him and flew into the flower bed beyond. The well-tended flower bed was now marked with a deep trail. ¡°Damn it!¡± Fang Hao cursed, rubbing his chest as he stood up. Meanwhile, on the balcony, Rolana stood there with a cold demeanor, retying her clothes and wiping her mouth. The kick had startled Rolana as well. She was afraid of not controlling her strength well, which might force him into a premature transformation ceremony. Seeing that he was fine and had stood up again, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She still stood there, her expression as frosty as ever. ¡°You¡­¡± Rolana was about to speak. When suddenly, a piercing whistling sound erupted. Whoosh! Pop! A flare shot up into the sky directly above where Fang Hao was and exploded. The crimson light instantly illuminated the entire area. Soon after, a large group of people rushed over from all around. ¡°Who is this¡­¡± Clatter! The City Lord¡¯s guards surrounded Fang Hao, with the front row holding shields and swords and the back row readying their crossbows. Their posture suggested that any slight move would result in their enemy being torn to pieces. Looking towards the balcony, Rolana¡¯s figure had vanished. Damn, she left quickly. How am I supposed to explain this now? He dusted himself off and puffed out his chest. He said, ¡°Ahem! I am City Lord Fang Hao. I was just experimenting with a magic spell, and it got a little out of control. You can all go back now.¡± The guards formed a square formation around him. They did not disperse, nor did anyone respond. The air grew momentarily quiet. Rebecca stepped out from the main entrance of the City Lord¡¯s mansion, looking his way from a distance. At the same time, a guard approached with a Nightstone, illuminating his face. Seeing it was indeed Fang Hao, the surrounding guards sheathed their weapons and returned to their posts amid the clanking of armor. Only then did Fang Hao walk up to Rebecca¡¯s side. They headed together towards the City Lord¡¯s mansion. ¡°What happened?¡± Rebecca asked softly. Fang Hao shrugged and replied, ¡°Nothing much, just a sparring session that got a bit intense.¡± Rebecca had seen the traces in the courtyard too. The broken railing, the flower bed carved into a trench. This situation seemed far from the casual tone Fang Hao had used, clearly indicating he had been beaten up. But Rebecca, mature and tactful, still took care to protect a man¡¯s pride, ¡°She¡¯s just a bit headstrong. You should indulge her a bit.¡± Fang Hao nodded. Thinking about it, his progress with Rolana today was still not bad. This aloof beauty. Not only had he managed a kiss, but he had also taken some other liberties with his hands. A major breakthrough, proving she not only didn¡¯t dislike him but also had quite a fondness for him. Otherwise, with her temper, she would have acted the moment he made any move. It wouldn¡¯t just have been a simple kick after interacting for a while. As the two walked through the corridor, Rebecca curiously asked, ¡°Any progress?¡± Fang Hao leaned closer and whispered, ¡°A little.¡± Rebecca¡¯s face broke into a slight smile, ¡°That¡¯s good, take it slow.¡± Fang Hao nodded again, noting the local customs were quite staunch. It seemed Rebecca was even more eager to see Rolana conquered. Thinking it over, as they were about to return to the hall, he lowered his voice again, ¡°Tonight, should I stay here with you?¡± Rebecca¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she glanced warily at the trusted aide following behind. She whispered, ¡°No, Rolana is here. We¡¯re going to Silver Wing City tomorrow. There will be a chance then.¡± That¡¯s true. They would be heading to Silver Wing City tomorrow, where they would have plenty of opportunities to spend time together. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Fang Hao agreed. Passing through the corridor, Rebecca returned to her room, and Fang Hao used teleportation to return to his place. ¡­ Silver Wing City. In a mansion in the central district, after the banquet, women in light veils, their foreheads covered in sweat, left the room. Inside, only the mansion owner ¡®Groot¡¯ and the invited council members remained. Once the room fell silent, someone took the initiative to speak, ¡°Mr. Groot, you had us come here for something, just tell us straight!¡± ¡°Indeed, we are all old friends here. If there¡¯s something, just say it directly.¡± Groot, with a calm expression, poured himself a cup of vibrant red fruit wine, and said with a smile, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing major, just about the council nominating a sixth member to the upper senate. I called you all here to hear your opinions so we can unify them.¡± Everyone was stunned. The matter of naming a sixth member to the upper senate was no secret. All council members were aware of it and had been discussing it for over half a month already. Chapter 975 - Chapter 975: Chapter 606, Shes Desperate_2 Chapter 975: Chapter 606, She¡¯s Desperate_2 ¡°` No one answered. Someone counter-questioned, ¡°Councilor Groot, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Groot, this year¡¯s representative councilor of the Federal Commerce Association, and at the same time, an important member of the Marshall family. In this Federation of Hundred Cities, he still commands a certain level of influence and status. Groot pondered for a moment, then spoke up, ¡°The nominee is Fang Hao from Lyss City, but as everyone is well aware, it¡¯s actually Rebecca. Disregarding whether she poses a threat to the Federation, once she enters the upper house, the entire assembly¡¯s situation will change, and everyone will be affected.¡± With that said, everyone present understood. Groot intended to prevent Rebecca from entering the upper house. And rightly so, at last year¡¯s autumn assembly, Groot publicly accused Rebecca of over seventy offences. Only, there were oversights at the time, and no valid evidence was produced. The charges did not stick. Now Rebecca might not have the power to deal with him. But if Rebecca became a member of the upper house, with the power to influence assembly decisions, Then Groot¡¯s days would clearly be numbered. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï The moment Rebecca took her seat in the upper house would be the moment Groot lost his councilor position. The crowd quieted down somewhat. Someone said, ¡°Naturally, we would not want to see another addition to the upper house.¡± ¡°Right, adding or subtracting one person makes no difference to us.¡± ¡°Many wish to pull her down from her position at Lyss City, her entering the upper house¡ªI think it¡¯s very unlikely¡­¡± ¡°Exactly, to put it bluntly, the Big Five won¡¯t let a sixth person enter the upper house to split their power, there¡¯s no need for us to stop her; she¡¯ll be blocked up there.¡± ¡°A woman, what great things could she accomplish¡­¡± People voiced their opinions one after another. In their words, they all doubted Rebecca¡¯s ability to enter the upper house. But though their mouths mocked, not one of them explicitly stated that they would vote against her. They had no irreconcilable grudge with Rebecca. Moreover, the more fragmented the power of the upper house, the better life would be for those beneath them. But since Groot had thrown a banquet today, they naturally had to speak in favor of Groot. As for what would happen later, that could be dealt with when the time came. Groot listened, still maintaining his smile. After the sound of the crowd¡¯s discussion subsided considerably, Groot continued, ¡°I will discuss this matter with the Archbishop, and if those present here are willing to cast a dissenting vote, the Commerce Association will also increase everyone¡¯s share this year.¡± The crowd, caught off guard, was momentarily stunned. The Federal Commerce Association meant interests were at stake. Furthermore, with the Church involved, Rebecca would definitely not be able to enter the upper house. They were but giving Groot a favor along the current of events and would also receive the Commerce Association¡¯s help for the year. Instantly, the faces of everyone present turned to smiles. ¡°Since Mr. Groot has said so, we¡¯ll naturally do just that.¡± ¡°Exactly, a woman like Rebecca trying to enter the upper house, she must be dreaming.¡± ¡°Right, we would never agree to it.¡± The smile on Groot¡¯s face grew even wider. Raising his wine glass, he announced loudly, ¡°Then I thank you all.¡± The rest also raised their glasses and drank in one gulp. ¡°Good, then let the banquet continue,¡± Groot said, clapping his hands again. The heavy doors behind him reopened. The melodious singing drifted in once more. Young women dressed in light veils, wearing nothing underneath, quickly walked in. They threw themselves into the encompassing embrace of the assembly members present. ¡­ The night was silent, moonlight streamed through the windowpanes, casting silver grids on the floor. Rolana lay on the soft bed. Her gaze fixated on the moon outside the window, her brows slightly furrowed. What happened today? After a few drinks, that lad actually kissed her and even fondled her. She had been dismembered and sunk into a Stone Coffin for a hundred years, hating the Red Duke who had deceived her and then dismembered her. She equally hated all men. She thought she would never be taken by any man, yet today, she still felt that emotion facing Fang Hao. Gently touching her lips, the image of the man¡¯s momentary dominance reappeared in her mind. Though he had played some tricks, if she had wanted to avoid it, she could have. But she did not dodge. ¡°It seems, he really does like my legs¡­¡± Unknowingly, a smile crossed her face. The night was peaceful, and she began thinking about the identities of both sides once again. One side immortal, the other still mere human. Even if Nelson performed the transformation ceremony on him later, he would either be Undead or a dry corpse. ¡°` Won¡¯t mention the looks which are somewhat unattractive. The man¡¯s parts can¡¯t be used anymore, emotional problems have arisen, will they end up in conflict? If they really do have a dispute, the Undead lack emotions and treat themselves with cold violence, what can be done then? Even if their feelings for each other have always been strong. Should they sleep together during their slumber? Should they sleep in a wooden coffin or a stone coffin? Wooden coffins are not moisture-proof, which is not good for the Undead, but stone coffins are too hard, and the Blood Clan are not Undead, they have nerves, it¡¯s uncomfortable. Ah¡­, such a dilemma. When she was with Rebecca, she never thought about so many issues. Just as she was tossing and turning, lost in her chaotic thoughts. The door was gently pushed open, and Rebecca walked in. She sat down in front of the dressing table. She took off all her head ornaments, and through the mirror, glanced behind her. She asked softly, ¡°How did it go with Fang Hao?¡± Rolana¡¯s body slumped, ¡°How else could it go, just that way.¡± ¡°I heard him say that you two had a good chat.¡± ¡°Nonsense, that¡¯s not true, don¡¯t listen to his rambling,¡± Rolana jumped up and said immediately. A smile spread across Rebecca¡¯s face. She continued, ¡°I do hope you two get along.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I hope you can move on, and live a happier life,¡± Rebecca said softly. Rolana stepped forward, ¡°I¡¯m already very happy.¡± Rebecca changed into her nightgown. She continued, ¡°What did he do to make you hit him so hard?¡± Rolana¡¯s face turned red, thought for a moment, but ultimately was too embarrassed to mention the kissing and being held incident. She said, ¡°He looked at my leg.¡± ¡°Ah? You hit him just for that, isn¡¯t that a bit too much¡­?¡± ¡­ The next day. Fang Hao, with Anjia in tow, walked back from the Trade Alliance building. In Anjia¡¯s arms, she carried a big and small bundle of various items. The time set with Rebecca was noon, so Fang Hao bought a lot of things for Anjia before leaving. To avoid any danger during the negotiations with Furious Lion City. Upon returning to the lord¡¯s mansion. Anjia slipped the soft armor she bought underneath her leather armor and moved her body around, feeling uncomfortable. ¡°This feels bulky and uncomfortable,¡± Anjia complained. Fang Hao adjusted it for her, ¡°It¡¯s just that it feels awkward the first time you wear it, you¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Anjia didn¡¯t have much else to say. While helping her, Fang Hao continued to instruct, ¡°Try to resolve the negotiation peacefully, and even if you can¡¯t reach an agreement, don¡¯t start a fight on the spot. Wait until you get back to safety before mobilizing the troops.¡± ¡°Oh, I know, you¡¯ve said it several times already,¡± Anjia responded with some impatience. Eira stuffed all the scrolls and potions into a backpack. It was also slung on Anjia¡¯s back. At the moment, there were only two pieces of storage equipment in the territory. One was Fang Hao¡¯s Book of Lords, and the other was a storage necklace in Amanda¡¯s hands. Anjia had to carry a small bag. Moreover, apart from top-tier powers, both natives and transmigrators also carried backpacks. Backpacks, in the channel, were also hot-selling items. Once everything was ready, Fang Hao gave a few more instructions. Then he activated the teleportation screen and sent Anjia to the Fairy Clan¡¯s Dreamy Forest. After sending Anjia off, Fang Hao gave instructions to Eira, Little White, and the stationed commander. Once everything was in order, He walked straight into the teleportation screen with Demitrija. ¡­ Emerging in Lyss City, a maid was already waiting for them. She led the two upstairs directly. Pushing open the door. Rebecca and Rolana were in the room. Rebecca was organizing the items to take along, while Rolana just sat to the side. She crossed her right leg over her left, her skin like jade wrapped in black stockings. The tip of her foot swung back and forth, dangling a shoe in the air. Tremendously eye-catching, it made Rolana give him a stern look. Chapter 979 - Chapter 979: Chapter 608, how is that young man? Chapter 979: Chapter 608, how is that young man? Olivia glanced sidelong. Her husband was a warrior-class hero, whose physical condition had surpassed that of an ordinary person. One could only say he was somewhat more formidable than the husbands mentioned by the other ladies. Who would dare use the term ¡°always¡± to describe it? Young and tender. She only thought that Rebecca was looking out for her young husband¡¯s face. ¡°Hmph, it seems you really like him, you even take care of his face when we¡¯re together, I¡¯m getting a bit jealous,¡± Olivia said, feigning anger. Rebecca seriously said, ¡°What I¡¯m saying is true.¡± ¡°That must be from your tossing and turning all night, no wonder he looks all thin,¡± Olivia said, pinching her buttocks. Rebecca dodged by swaying her waist, ¡°You¡¯re the one, you¡¯re becoming more and more like those ladies, always talking about these matters.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one!¡± The two women frolicked in the room for a while. Fang Hao¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°Rebecca, it¡¯s getting late, let¡¯s not disturb Lady Olivia¡¯s rest any longer.¡± The romping in the room paused. ¡°Okay, coming out now,¡± Rebecca called out. Then, she whispered in Olivia¡¯s ear, ¡°I¡¯m going back now, this outfit will absolutely mesmerize Dordy to death.¡± Olivia¡¯s cheeks flushed. She had changed into evening attire and stockings and put on fine makeup. Naturally, it was for her husband to see. Having Rebecca directly point it out still left her somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Oh, what are you talking about!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going back, you don¡¯t need to come out.¡± Having said that, she opened the door and stepped out. Linking her arm through Fang Hao¡¯s, they walked out together. ¡­ They got into the carriage. And started heading back to their residence. Rebecca, very deliberately, sat on the man¡¯s lap, her arm around his back. Suddenly, a wave of her scent filled the air inside the carriage. Who knows what the two women had discussed in the room. After coming out, her cheeks were rosy, her eyes were dewy, and her voluptuous body radiated allure from every angle. Fang Hao wrapped his arms around her slender waist and slightly lifted the hem to a gap. He reached under the thin fabric. Soft, smooth, and full of elasticity. ¡°What¡¯s this? You¡¯re so passionate¡­¡± Fang Hao whispered near her ear. If he didn¡¯t know that Rebecca and Olivia had a legitimate friendship, he would have suspected that they had played some little games during this time. Rebecca exhaled gently and spoke softly, ¡°No, I just missed you.¡± ¡°Missed what?¡± Rebecca rolled her eyes and gave a light slap. ¡­ ¡°Did you talk with Dordy?¡± Rebecca whispered. ¡°I did, from the attitude he showed when we first started talking, he doesn¡¯t plan to let us enter the Upper House. The previous nomination must really have been just a decoy,¡± Fang Hao said plainly. From the very beginning of their conversation. Even Dordy had no intention of letting them enter the council. So, Rebecca¡¯s efforts to facilitate the alliance with the Blood Clan turned out to be in vain. Though an alliance between the Blood Clan and the Federation Alliance was already in the plans. But being misled by the council¡¯s empty promises, he still felt somewhat uneasy. Hearing Fang Hao say Dordy¡¯s attitude was bad, Rebecca immediately became anxious. ¡°He doesn¡¯t agree?¡± Fang Hao shook his head and continued, ¡°He didn¡¯t explicitly disagree, I promised to supply the Hall of Justice with ten pipe organs, and he said he would temporarily agree with us, and discuss it internally when the time comes.¡± ¡°Dwarf pipe organs? How much are they worth?¡± Rebecca knew a bit about weaponry, and the Dwarf pipe organs were quite famous. Fang Hao reached inside her clothes, spread his fingers, and pinched, ¡°Fifty million.¡± Rebecca¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Are you crazy? Fifty million for him?¡± Fifty million was not a small amount. It would take Lyss City several years to come up with that kind of money. Moreover, this was just the first negotiation, and already fifty million; what about the other four? The Upper House was over, but the Lower House still had voting. This spending had no end in sight. Fang Hao smiled slightly and said, ¡°Well, preemptive promises are just like his promise to let us into the Upper House, then came a vote for discussion later. Agree first, talk through them all and see how the situation goes. If it doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll just play dumb and not give anything. Then you can just say I¡¯m a pretty face who knows nothing and talks nonsense.¡± Rebecca looked at Fang Hao somewhat surprised. This was truly fearless, and it was the first time someone from the Lower House had tried to trick the Upper House. But then she thought about it and felt it was quite normal. With Fang Hao¡¯s current strength, Dordy wasn¡¯t much to worry about. Testing and bargaining with each other were quite normal. ¡°Okay, okay, since you¡¯ve already promised, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Rebecca twisted slightly and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already booked an appointment with the Archbishop, you go talk to him before tomorrow noon.¡± The Church¡­ Fang Hao looked thoughtful. From previous experiences, it was clear the Church couldn¡¯t detect his allegiance. And it seemed the Archbishop had some bias against Rebecca. Wearing the ¡°Light Feather Short Sword,¡± he wasn¡¯t afraid of the church¡¯s interrogation. Even the church wouldn¡¯t dare to detain him outright, as Silver Wing City was under the control of the Hall of Justice. Bringing Demitrija along, who possessed the ¡°Ancient Blessing,¡± he was also unaffected by external influences. Chapter 980 - Chapter 980: Chapter 608, How is that young man?_2 Chapter 980: Chapter 608, How is that young man?_2 By then, talk to the Archbishop. Test the Church¡¯s attitude. It¡¯s just about spending some money, isn¡¯t it! After contemplating, he nodded in agreement, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go see what the Church¡¯s stance is tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yes, the most important things are the attitudes of the Hall of Justice and the Church. If they agree, we¡¯ll move on to the next step.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Oh, which members of the Lower House are you planning to persuade?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. Rebecca thought for a moment and said, ¡°The most important is the Mage Association. Although it is not a member of the Upper House, its influence is even greater than that of the three City Lords of the Upper House. If the Upper House passes it, we will have to find a way to convince the Mage Association and the representatives of the Workers¡¯ Association, as well as the representatives of the Alchemy Association, ¡­.¡± The carriage moved through the night, the Nightstones gently swaying. Rebecca broadly outlined all the ideas she could think of. But the members of the Lower House were many and complex. When it came to discussions, they could only focus on a few critical ones. It wasn¡¯t about discussing with all of them, after all. Finally, after a bumpy ride, the carriage returned to their residence. Rebecca quickly straightened her clothes and was the first to step out of the carriage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Fang Hao followed her out and they walked toward the room together. ¡­ Elsewhere. On the soft couch. Olivia, still in her gorgeous makeup, was dressed in a black gauze skirt, her curves elegant and exuding mature beauty. She kicked her husband beside her in annoyance, ¡°Is this all you¡¯re capable of? I¡¯m embarrassed to speak of it.¡± Dordy stretched out his long arm, wrapped her in his embrace, and said, ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired; otherwise, my performance would be much better than this.¡± ¡°Hmph! You can¡¯t even compare to Rebecca¡¯s young husband. All those muscles you¡¯ve trained are like a gorilla,¡± Olivia scoffed. Dordy was taken aback, then looked at his wife with a peculiar expression. He was about to ask how she knew whether that young husband was impressive or not when he heard his wife say, ¡°Rebecca told me her husband can last much longer than you.¡± ¡°Ah, you women always talk about these things when you¡¯re together. Obviously, it¡¯s an exaggeration, and you bring it up too,¡± Dordy said immediately. Olivia kicked him again and didn¡¯t pursue the matter further. Continuing on, she said, ¡°You talked to Fang Hao, what do you think of him?¡± Dordy was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°This man is no small-time husband; he¡¯s much more impressive than you think.¡± ¡°Ah? What do you mean?¡± Olivia¡¯s interest peaked, she propped her arm under her head and looked at him. Olivia and Rebecca were close, and she would find out from Rebecca eventually even if she herself didn¡¯t speak. So he started saying, ¡°Your so-called young husband offered me ten Organ Guns on the spot. Do you think Rebecca can manage that?¡± Rebecca was indeed a bold and capable woman, but she couldn¡¯t offer ten Organ Guns. ¡°Ten cannons, what¡¯s so special about that? Maybe Rebecca just told him to say so.¡± Dordy shook his head, ¡°Ten Organ Guns, fifty million Warfire Coins, and even with money, they can¡¯t be bought just like that. Can Rebecca afford that much money?¡± ¡°What? Fifty million? Warfire Coins?¡± Olivia exclaimed in surprise. So wealthy? Hearing this news. Olivia was even more astonished than Dordy; she had a very good relationship with Rebecca. In private, they were friends who could talk about anything and everything. But she truly thought that Rebecca had grown tired of her past life and had taken a young man she liked under her wing. Now it seemed, this young man was not as simple as she had imagined. No wonder Rebecca, despite her age, acted like a young bride. ¡°So, this person is not some young husband being taken care of.¡± The room fell quiet for a while. Olivia then continued, ¡°Did you agree to him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve temporarily agreed, but we still need to discuss it further,¡± Dordy said. ¡°Alright.¡± Without speaking further, the two embraced each other and fell asleep. ¡­ ¡°Help them renovate the Temple? That¡¯s not a good idea!¡± In the early morning, as they both dressed, they discussed what conditions they should put forth to get the church to agree to the Senate¡¯s nomination. Rebecca, brushing away the other¡¯s outstretched hand, said, ¡°A common method used by the nobles is to donate to and refurbish Temples in various places.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°That would expand the church¡¯s influence, which would seriously impact our future development¡­.¡± Based on the information they had received, faith was also an important resource. Even wars over the ownership of faith might arise. He had already taken note of the Power of Faith. If they renovated the Temple, thus broadening the church¡¯s influence, they would also increase the public¡¯s adoration for the church. This would have far more serious implications than providing some equipment that would become unusable after a year or two. After listening, Rebecca felt what he was saying seemed to make sense. ¡°Then what do you plan to do?¡± Rebecca asked as she continued dressing. ¡°That will depend on the attitude of the Archbishop. Ideally, we would provide some clothing and items, but funding the repair of churches and Temples is out of the question,¡± Fang Hao mused and then said. ¡°But with just that, the church is unlikely to agree; after all, there are plenty of people offering them clothing and equipment,¡± Rebecca remarked. ¡°Then provide some armor. Doesn¡¯t the church have a Knightly Army of the Temple? Give them armor.¡± Armor was even better; he could mass-produce it. Of course, he wasn¡¯t afraid of the church getting their hands on the equipment and posing a threat. The Union United Army couldn¡¯t even defeat ¡®Odys¡¯, let alone him. ¡°Alright, you decide,¡± Rebecca said, putting on her coat. The two hurriedly left the room. After having breakfast. Rebecca then went out in the carriage to find ¡®Olivia¡¯ and visit the two council members together. Fang Hao wasn¡¯t in such a hurry; he still had some time before he had to meet with the Archbishop. ¡­ ¡°Archbishop, Rebecca is debauched and incompetent, and Lyss City has many issues. If she enters the Senate, it would pose a danger to the entire Federation,¡± said Groot, the Councilor of the Commerce Chamber, leaning forward with his waist bent, explaining the purpose of his visit. Though his voice was soft, his tone was somewhat hurried, clearly unrest stirring within him. Archbishop ¡®Milton¡¯, holding his staff, asked, ¡°What is the House of Commons¡¯ stance on this matter?¡± Huh? Groot was startled, not expecting the Archbishop¡¯s first question to be about the House of Commons. Since when was the attitude of the House of Commons so important? Though puzzled, he still said with a smile, ¡°Last night, I met with a few council members with whom I share a good relationship, and their thoughts align with mine. Rebecca¡¯s unique status, added to the fact that Lyss City is quite ordinary¡ª if she were to enter the Senate, it would surely stir dissatisfaction among the City Lords of other cities.¡± That was the rhetoric, but when considering Rebecca¡¯s status and the development potential of Lyss City. She really shouldn¡¯t be the one to enter the Senate. But it was indeed Rebecca who had solved the Undead crisis, Dordy had promised so herself, on the spot. ¡°During this time, have you investigated Lyss City? Any news?¡± asked the Archbishop. Groot, bending even lower, replied, ¡°Not yet; Lyss City has been very tight-lipped recently, there¡¯s no news coming back.¡± The Archbishop nodded and after some thought continued, ¡°What do you know about Rebecca¡¯s husband?¡± Groot thought for a moment and firmly said, ¡°A transmigrator with decent development, nothing else special about him. He helped Rebecca deal with the Faceless Ones before; they met through that¡ªa powerless pretty boy.¡± The Archbishop nodded again but didn¡¯t say anything. This matched the information he had. ¡°Alright, you can go back now. If I need you for anything, I will have someone notify you,¡± said the Archbishop. Groot wanted to speak up, to implore the Archbishop to definitely not agree. But the words didn¡¯t come out, despite several attempts. In the end, he could only give a respectful bow and withdraw. Once the room was quiet again. The Archbishop asked someone nearby, ¡°When is Fang Hao scheduled to come over?¡± ¡°Archbishop, there¡¯s about an hour left,¡± the Attendant replied respectfully. ¡°Hm,¡± the Archbishop stood up and left the room, heading to another room. Chapter 984 - Chapter 984: Chapter 610, 1,000,000 orders Chapter 984: Chapter 610, 1,000,000 orders ¡°Effrey, don¡¯t you recognize me? When we were kids, I used to beat you up,¡± the voice of the white-haired beast-ear girl came. The crouched Furious Lion Orc was startled, then raised his head again to seriously look at the other party. Slightly dark skin, white short hair. These features¡­ Effrey tried hard to remember, comparing this appearance to people he knew from his childhood. It felt like there was such an orc girl, but the memory was too vague. He just couldn¡¯t recall who she was. ¡°Are you, are you also from Furious Lion City?¡± Effrey, enduring the pain, gritted his teeth and asked. If they knew each other as children, then she must also be from the Furious Lion City. Anjia thought for a moment, then said, ¡°You could say that!¡± Hearing this reply, Effrey¡¯s expression immediately turned ferocious as he roared, ¡°You traitor! You actually helped fairies, you¡¯ve killed so many people from Furious Lion City, you traitor to the orcs.¡± Blood flowed down the wounds, and the sunken chest emitted crackling sounds of bones rubbing against each other with his roar. But none of these could stop Effrey from cursing at the traitor before him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Since she came from the Furious Lion City and had even collaborated with the Fairy Clan to kill nearly ten thousand orc warriors. Only he had not died yet. Anjia flicked her little finger, then ear, and sat down outside the iron cage. She said, ¡°Ha! Your brain really hasn¡¯t disappointed me. It¡¯s fine that you don¡¯t remember me. When Furious Lion City falls, you¡¯ll know who I am.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy, you¡¯re a criminal of the orcs, and you will not die a good death,¡± Effrey cursed loudly. ¡°Back then, when you drove me out of the city, barring any village from taking me in, wanting to watch me freeze to death, starve to death, and have my body eaten by wild beasts, did you ever think of yourselves as the criminals?¡± Anjia spoke coldly. Effrey was startled, his brows suddenly furrowed. The next second, his pupils shrank, ¡°You¡¯re the one from the Fighting Tooth Clan.¡± His voice grew louder as he shouted, ¡°You¡¯re that child from the Fighting Tooth Clan, you¡¯re actually still alive.¡± Anjia gave him a cold look without answering and turned to walk away. When she reached the door, she said to the guards outside, ¡°Keep a close watch on him, give him a couple of slashes occasionally. The Furious Lion kind are tough, don¡¯t let him escape.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± the guard answered. A chill ran through Effrey¡¯s heart yet again. ¡­ Exiting the church, Fang Hao did not immediately return, but had the carriage turn a corner. Following the streets, he headed for the West City area. The carriage moved along, reaching its destination about half an hour later. The Alchemists Association of the Hundred Cities Federation. The Alchemists Association consisted of two parts, The front courtyard hall and the Ivory Tower. The front courtyard was responsible for purchasing alchemy materials and selling potions. It was where merchants with materials and nearby farmers growing alchemical plants sold to the association. And where people from the city bought potions. It served as a separate trading platform. The Ivory Tower, located at the back, was a white spire that tapered upward from a broad base, shaped like an elephant¡¯s tusk, and hence its name. It was where the alchemists created their potions. Aside from alchemists or special personnel, it was not open to the public. Having the coachman wait on the side, Fang Hao entered the association¡¯s main hall with Demitrija. The front courtyard was still bustling. There were elegantly dressed nobles, as well as commoners carrying herb loads selling medicinal herbs. He walked straight to the reception area where a female clerk gave him a plain look, then glanced at the Lizardman behind him. She asked, ¡°What do you need?¡± Her attitude was somewhat indifferent. ¡°My name is Fang Hao, the City Lord of Lyss City. I¡¯d like to see if your association¡¯s president is available for a talk,¡± said Fang Hao to minimize trouble by introducing himself. According to the plan, Rebecca should have arranged for someone to make an appointment with the president of the Alchemists Association in advance. But today¡¯s church meeting ended earlier, and he had nothing else to do if he went back. So he had the carriage bring him straight here. Even if he couldn¡¯t see the president of the Alchemists Association, he could purchase some potions. Hearing that Fang Hao stated he was the city lord, the female clerk looked surprised. After examining him from head to toe, her demeanor shifted from indifferent to saying, ¡°Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll go inquire.¡± Having said that, she hurriedly went to the back, returning shortly after. ¡°My lord, this way please. The president invites you over,¡± said the clerk respectfully. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± She led the way, swaying her hips, toward the back courtyard. They didn¡¯t enter the Ivory Tower, but she led him to the third floor of a central building, in front of a room. After lightly knocking on the door, an elderly voice came from inside, ¡°Come in!¡± The clerk opened the door, indicating Fang Hao could enter. Entering the room, the interior came into view. A desk with several pieces of parchment covered in research notes scattered on it, and a few glass vessels placed beside it. The four walls were lined with bookshelves, holding neatly arranged books. ¡°President, I hope it¡¯s not a bother to come uninvited,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Behind the desk was an old man. Dressed in a dark robe, his hair somewhat disheveled. ¡°Haha, City Lord Fang Hao, just call me ¡®Kenneth.¡¯ What brings you here to see me this time?¡± President Kenneth asked. Fang Hao might not be very famous, but being Rebecca¡¯s husband was widely known in certain circles. ¡°I plan to place an order for a batch of potions here, and I want to set up a long-term cooperation,¡± Fang Hao said as he sat down, getting straight to the point. Chapter 985 - Chapter 985: Chapter 610, 1000000 Orders_2 Chapter 985: Chapter 610, 1000000 Orders_2 Kenneth nodded, not feeling too surprised. ¡°Ordering potions isn¡¯t a big deal. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you to the front yard to handle it,¡± Kenneth said softly, stroking his beard. ¡°I was wondering if there could be a discount for a large order.¡± As they talked, the door opened again. An attendant brought two cups of hot tea to them. ¡°Oh? How much is a ¡®large amount¡¯?¡± Kenneth asked as he picked up his cup and blew on it. There were plenty of City Lords who came to order potions. But alchemical potions were still luxury items, costing dozens to hundreds of Warfire Coins per bottle, not something ordinary people could afford. Thus, a city¡¯s purchase would only suffice for some family members or the local nobility. Orders of two to three hundred bottles were already considered large customers. The Alchemist Association mainly sold its potions through the Trade Alliance. Besides, what purchasing power could a fringe city like Lyss City have? ¡°Since the order covers a variety of products, it¡¯s difficult to give an exact number, but after discussing with Rebecca, we¡¯re prepared to start with a purchase of one million Warfire Coins¡¯ worth of potions¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Puh!! Fang Hao had only said half of it when Kenneth spouted his tea out. One million Warfire Coins? Was he planning to distribute potions like water to the residents of Lyss City? Kenneth coughed twice and asked, ¡°Are you joking?¡± ¡°No, why? Does the Chairman have any difficulties?¡± Fang Hao asked earnestly. Fang Hao indeed intended to purchase that many potions. Humans¡¯ potions were effective for other species of living creatures as well. However, there was no way for the orcs and trolls within his territory to obtain human potions. Now, his territory was planning to set up an internal trade network, allowing the special products of all species to circulate, and he also intended to sell potions to the orcs, trolls, as well as transmigrators. It was a surefire moneymaker that would enhance the variety and prestige of items. Moreover, in his territory, many orcs were stuck at the eighth or ninth rank, and he planned to utilize potions to push these people up in rank, turning them all into heroes. ¡°Cough, cough!! I don¡¯t have any difficulties, but can Lyss City really use that many potions?¡± Kenneth remarked while wiping the droplets from his beard. Fang Hao thought for a moment and gave an explanation, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about the use, Kenneth. Moreover, one million is just the initial investment. We will also decide whether to increase the order amount based on the effects, and we will continue to make purchases every year.¡± Kenneth still frowned, giving Fang Hao a strange look. He reminded him, ¡°City Lord Fang Hao, the association does not allow credit purchases.¡± ¡°Oh, money isn¡¯t a problem,¡± Fang Hao said and pulled out stack after stack of Warfire Cards with large amounts from his chest. Goodness, even Kenneth was stunned. Carrying so much money with him? Now Kenneth also believed that Lyss City indeed had the financial strength. As a commercial entity, naturally, Kenneth would not refuse a client with strong financial power seeking cooperation. After all, in the Trade Alliance, there were no shortage of alchemist institutions. ¡°Haha, good. Then, Lord City Lord, give me your order and I¡¯ll arrange for staff to prioritize the preparation for you. Whatever potions we lack, we¡¯ll arrange for production,¡± Kenneth said with pleasure. ¡°No rush. How much discount can you give me? As you know, I have to report back to Rebecca,¡± said Fang Hao with a helpless expression. Owen pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°How about a discount of 20%? That¡¯s already the discount that the major families can get.¡± The concept of percentage discounts was also something introduced by transmigrators. Chinatown in Silver Wing City developed rapidly and became a famous commercial street in the city. All sorts of peculiar words and sales methods also spread throughout the city. Discounts, card issues, grand commercial rewards. The original inhabitants were stunned, never having seen such things before. ¡°I¡¯ll get more than that if I go to the Trade Alliance.¡± ¡°Oh? So, City Lord, what do you think would be a fairer price?¡± Kenneth continued to ask. ¡°Fifty percent off!¡± ¡°City Lord, you really have a sense of humor. That price is too low; let¡¯s say 30% off, no less,¡± Kenneth said after some thought. ¡°Fifty percent¡­¡± After calculating again, Kenneth said, ¡°We can only do 30% off. If you¡¯re buying magic power or life potions, we can further give you a discount up to 40%. You won¡¯t be able to find any lower than 30% even if you go to the Trade Alliance.¡± Seeing Kenneth insist, Fang Hao knew he couldn¡¯t push any further. Pretending to think it over, he said, ¡°That¡¯s not out of the question, but I need one more condition.¡± ¡°Oh? Please, speak!¡± ¡°You must have heard about Lyss City¡¯s attempt to enter the Upper Council, Kenneth. At the council, I hope the Alchemists¡¯ Association can support us,¡± Fang Hao expressed his second objective. This request did not surprise Kenneth at all. In fact, he had guessed this purpose might come up when he arrived. But now Fang Hao was a major client of the Alchemist Association, and Kenneth wasn¡¯t able to disrupt their relationship. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, ¡°That¡¯s possible. I¡¯ll pass on the word. When can you place the order for the potions?¡± Fang Hao also showed a smile, ¡°Within three days, I¡¯ll have someone send over the order and a portion of the prepayment, and then you can start preparing the goods.¡± Kenneth nodded, indicating his agreement. Three days, before the council meeting, there wouldn¡¯t be any worry that Fang Hao was trying to deceive him. Chapter 986 - Chapter 986: Chapter 610, 1 Million Orders_3 Chapter 986: Chapter 610, 1 Million Orders_3 ¡°Alright, since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll be heading back first,¡± Fang Hao stood up. ¡°Yes, City Lord, have a safe journey,¡± The female clerk outside the door once again opened the door and, with a twist of her waist, sent the two off. Upon leaving the association building, Fang Hao looked back at the towering Ivory Tower. Potions, in this world, held a very important status. Beyond restoring life and magic power, there were also those that increased training experience and physical capabilities. All were very practical potions. Previously, he had thought of cultivating a group of alchemists for himself. But in his search, he had only come into contact with a single Demon Alchemist, nowhere near enough to form a scale. He could only order now from the association, and his own alchemists, he would train slowly. After exiting the front hall, he boarded the carriage and returned to his residence. ¡­ Five in the afternoon. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Under the escort of several Lionheart Knights, the carriage slowly approached the courtyard. Rebecca, wearing a blue dress, stepped down from the carriage. Looking up, she caught sight of Fang Hao, who was leaning out from upstairs, waving to her. She smiled and quickly ascended the stairs. The room¡¯s door opened, and Rebecca, holding up the hem of her dress, entered. Through the lifted hem, a pair of exquisite shoes and the black silk stockings wrapping her shapely calves were visible. Apparently, the silk stockings were his most successful product. Women, they all loved these stockings. The Skeleton tailor had argued with him for quite some time because the stockings didn¡¯t retain warmth well and provided no defense. Now, it seemed, he had the better vision. ¡°How come you were out the whole day?¡± Fang Hao asked. Rebecca sat on the bed somewhat wearily, propping up her body with her arms. ¡°Olivia took me to see several council members in a row. Without her clout, I doubt they would have met with me,¡± she replied. ¡°Were the talks alright?¡± Fang Hao smiled slightly, sat beside her, and lifted her black silk-clad beautiful legs onto his knees. He lifted her skirt and started to massage her legs. She was his wife, after all; he felt a certain duty to care for her. Having her man help with her legs made Rebecca blush with a mix of shyness and pleasure. Her cheeks reddening, she said, ¡°It went pretty well, quite pleasantly, in fact. There should be some who will stand on our side when the time comes.¡± She paused before asking, ¡°How about your side? The Archbishop didn¡¯t give you a hard time, did he?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say a hard time, but it was indeed a bit more troublesome than at Dordy¡¯s,¡± he answered. ¡°What did they all say?¡± ¡°Some questioned your identity, said Lyss City wasn¡¯t qualified enough¡ªbasically, every bishop asked me once.¡± Hearing this, Rebecca grew anxious again. The Church had always been hostile toward her; she could only imagine the tension being greater than what she heard. ¡°So, what happened in the end?¡± ¡°The Church also said they would consider it and didn¡¯t outright reject our proposal.¡± ¡°What did you promise them? It wasn¡¯t that organ cannon again, was it?¡± ¡°Of course not. I promised them five thousand acolyte robes and ten thousand sets of armor.¡± ¡°Ten thousand? Are you insane, that¡¯s so much!¡± ¡°No, I promised them over three years. The first year only three thousand sets. We¡¯ll see if they agree, and then we¡¯ll talk about getting into the upper chamber.¡± ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve lost quite a bit this way.¡± ¡°Not really, as long as we get into the upper chamber, everything we give today will come back with interest. It¡¯s just an initial investment.¡± As they spoke, Fang Hao undid the ornamental copper fasteners on the stockings, lifted her right leg, and gently pulled down, sliding off the black garter-style stockings. Revealing her smooth, shapely thighs. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Rebecca abruptly sat up, drawing her legs in, slapping him in displeasure. ¡°We¡¯re about to eat, why are you still wearing that?¡± ¡°Your concern is touching.¡± ¡°Ah, we¡¯re an old married couple; there¡¯s nothing to be shy about.¡± He pulled her legs back onto his knees. Continuing, Fang Hao said, ¡°I went to the Alchemist Association this afternoon and met with President Kenneth.¡± ¡°Oh? And how did it go?¡± Rebecca¡¯s attention was successfully diverted. ¡°I placed an order worth a million with him, and he immediately agreed to support us.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Rebecca didn¡¯t know what to say. Why does every matter get resolved with money? This wasn¡¯t the strategy she had prepared. ¡°Relax, everything will go smoothly from here on,¡± he reassured her. ¡­ To the east of Dreamy Forest, A dense swarm of Undead had already assembled, and under Anjia¡¯s command, They began marching towards Furious Lion City. Chapter 987 - Chapter 987: Chapter 611, Capturing Furious Lion City Chapter 987: Chapter 611, Capturing Furious Lion City Furious Lion City. Inside the City Lord¡¯s Hall, the lights were still bright. Atop the highest throne, sat an orc from the Furious Lion Clan. The orc was not young, but his burly stature, like a lion¡¯s mane spread out, still gave an oppressive feeling as if facing a wild beast. [Pure Mane Furious Lion ¨C Tempsta (Orange Level 2 Hero)] Tempsta, the City Lord of Furious Lion City and also the leader of the Furious Lion Clan, an orange Level 2 hero. He was already very old, but the orange advancement had delayed his lifespan. He was still the most powerful City Lord of Furious Lion City. Tempsta scanned the hall with his gaze and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Why has Effrey not returned? Wasn¡¯t he negotiating with the Fairy Clan? Why has it taken so long?¡± After a brief silence, Below, an orc responded, ¡°City Lord Tempsta, I have already arranged for people to check the borders, and we should soon have news,¡± Effrey, although full of faults, was among the few in the younger generation of the Furious Lion Clan who had become a hero. As the City Lord, Tempsta had entrusted this ¡®risk-free¡¯ negotiation to Effrey. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? But clearly, things had not gone as smoothly as planned. Effrey had not returned, and not even a single soldier who was to relay messages had made it back to the city. Tempsta¡¯s expression darkened as he guessed where the problem might have arisen. Neither the Fairy Clan nor Tasgo City should have the courage to start a war directly with Furious Lion City. So why hadn¡¯t they returned? ¡°My lord, there is no need to worry. Furious Lion City is some distance from the border, it¡¯s possible that young master Effrey might have been delayed by something on the way,¡± someone continued. ¡°Useless fool,¡± Tempsta cursed under his breath, suppressing his anger, and continued, ¡°The conditions we proposed this time, the Fairy Clan is very likely to reject. Their alliance with Tasgo City has indeed increased their strength a bit.¡± Furious Lion City¡¯s terms were tough even by their own admission. The Fairy Clan was very likely to reject them, and so, Furious Lion City would have to face the combined forces of the Fairy Clan and Tasgo City next. Compared to before, this indeed added quite a bit of pressure. However, Tasgo City still ranked below Furious Lion City in terms of power and military strength. The people below began to speak out in turn. ¡°Even if they unite, they¡¯re no match for Furious Lion City; there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that Tasgo City is getting involved. We can¡¯t invade Dreamy Forest, but we can use this opportunity to take over Tasgo City.¡± ¡°I think, once Effrey returns, we can immediately gather our forces and attack Tasgo City, and then force the Fairy Clan¡¯s territory by pressing from both Tasgo and Furious Lion City to make them surrender.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. The war with the Fairy Clan has lasted for decades now; it¡¯s time to end it.¡± ¡°Indeed, when the time comes, the resources inside Dreamy Forest will be enough to compensate for our losses. Men can be made slaves, and the women can also be sold to human cities to make a good amount of money.¡± Everyone voiced their opinions one after another. They seemed assured of their victory over the Fairy Clan. Tempsta listened and nodded his head, feeling it was indeed feasible. Since they couldn¡¯t invade the forest where the fairies resided, they would first occupy Tasgo City and squeeze the Fairy Clan¡¯s territory. Force them to surrender. ¡°Hmm, very well, let¡¯s settle on that and no need to discuss the upcoming negotiations any further. In the next few days, prepare to dispatch troops and attack Tasgo City,¡± Tempsta declared decisively. ¡°Yes, chief¡­¡± Thump, thump, thump!! Before the sound of voices had faded, a loud bell rang outside the room. Everyone was startled and looked at the door with puzzled faces. They knew it was an alarm bell, but the alarm bell of Furious Lion City had not rung for many years. Suddenly hearing it left everyone somewhat confused and bewildered. Soon after, a guard stumbled into the room, shouting, ¡°Massive numbers of the Undead have appeared on the eastern side of the city.¡± ¡°What!¡± Tempsta suddenly stood up, his face drastically changing. ¡°An indefinable number of the Undead are approaching from that direction,¡± the guard repeated. ¡°Quick, gather the troops, prepare for defense.¡± Having said that, he led a group of followers towards the door. As they stepped outside, in the sky ahead, they could see several massive figures approaching the city, and beams of black light rained down on the top of the city walls, turning the soldiers who had just assembled into mere skeletons. Bone Dragons!! It was indeed the Undead; how could such a force be here. The Bone Dragons began circling overhead. Beams of black light fell intermittently, clearing out the orc soldiers who ran out of the buildings. Following that, the Undead began their siege. Swarming toward the base of the city walls. The orcs, while trying hard to drive away and evade the Bone Dragons, also defended against the Undead attacking from below. Due to the sudden turn of events, various siege engines couldn¡¯t even be deployed. They could only maintain positions for defense. When strands of golden sunlight spilled onto the earth, the city walls were breached, and the city gates were opened. The Undead, like a tidal wave, surged through the city gates, crashing against buildings and then spreading through the streets. The city fell, and countless Undead began to enter. Engaging in combat with the last resisting orcs. ¡­ Meanwhile, elsewhere. At the border, Fort Santey. Today was the day the first batch of personnel was returning, and Li Rong was on the list. Dawn was just breaking. Chapter 988 - Chapter 988: Chapter 611: Capturing Furious Lion City_2 Chapter 988: Chapter 611: Capturing Furious Lion City_2 Li Rong had already appeared outside her residence. She stood silently waiting, holding her belongings and standing next to the Dark Elf ¡®Morse¡¯. Before long, Water Mage Mapel also came out with her belongings from a building. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ve arranged for a carriage!¡± Mapel said with a smile. The Mage Association, although it had no requirements regarding the status of a mage, those who could afford not to work and devote their time to reading and studying magic, and had money to buy books and magical instruments, were mostly wealthy merchants and nobility. They all had personal guards. Mapel, hailing from a family in Silver Wing City, had her own personal guards when she traveled abroad. They followed no one¡¯s orders but her own and protected her alone. Li Rong also had her own, recruited Lionheart Knights, and was protected by Purple Heroes. She glanced at her luggage, which wasn¡¯t much, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not take the carriage back. I have a Teleportation Scroll; we can use that to go back together.¡± Mapel was slightly taken aback and curiously asked, ¡°Is it from that man you got along well with?¡± ¡°Yes, it would take at least half a month to return by carriage, but since he¡¯s rich, I got a Teleportation Scroll from him.¡± Li Rong took it out from her bosom and waved it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Teleportation Scrolls, even among Magic Scrolls, were rare commodities. They were costly and difficult to obtain. The number of people they could transport was also limited. Unless it was a matter of great urgency, only those with power would use Teleportation Scrolls. Using such a scroll for travel was indeed surprising to many. ¡°Where¡¯s the target point you¡¯ve inscribed?¡± Mapel asked. ¡°My city. Then from there, you can return to Silver Wing City in just an hour or two,¡± Li Rong replied. After thinking for a moment, Mapel nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll inform my guards.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± After Mapel and Li Rong used the Teleportation Scroll to return, their guards had to follow the returning caravan back. After giving a few instructions to her personal guard, she returned to Li Rong¡¯s side. Li Rong didn¡¯t delay and opened the scroll directly. A light enveloped the three of them, and in the next second, they vanished from the spot. ¡°City Lord, you¡¯ve returned¡­¡± Suddenly, voices of inquiry arose. Li Rong and her companions opened their eyes, to see several residents of the city, carrying tools and preparing to head out to work. ¡°Hmm,¡± Li Rong nodded slightly. Then, more and more residents and guards greeted Li Rong, and she responded to each of them in turn. After waiting for Morse and Mapel to return to the City Lord¡¯s mansion, she couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°There¡¯s no place like home.¡± She took a hot bath and changed into noble attire. After breakfast, she immediately got into a carriage and rushed towards Silver Wing City. ¡­ Furious Lion City, the great hall. City Lord ¡®Puremane Lion King ¨C Tempsta¡¯ was currently bound by the hands, kneeling in the center of the hall. Behind him, a myriad of Orcs were also kneeling. There were city officials, commanders, and old Orcs who were specifically summoned here. Hundreds of people in unison filled the hall as they kneeled. And at the top, a white-haired young girl dressed in leather armor, slinging a brown bag over her shoulder, sits on the City Lord¡¯s throne, eating fruit and swinging her crossed legs. No matter how one looked, she appeared like an unruly young girl lacking discipline. Standing on either side behind the girl were a Tauren in shining gold and a Fairy clad in bright silver armor. Hearing the cough behind her, the white-haired girl threw the fruit in her hand to the floor. She stood up, and stepping down, she began to speak, ¡°Dreamy Forest originally intended to resolve this dispute peacefully and had sent a peace proposal to Furious Lion City. However, against expectations, Furious Lion City still wanted to resolve the matter by force, forcing us to retaliate.¡± All the captives below furrowed their brows upon hearing this. An army composed of the Undead, the Fairy Clan¡¯s forces? How could it be possible? Furious Lion City had been at war with Dreamy Forest for so many years; when did they manage to muster so many of the Undead? The startled Bronze Bull behind also shared the surprise. What¡¯s with this opening statement, clarifying one¡¯s stance and criticizing from a moral high ground? It¡¯s simply not something Anjia could have said. Not just Anjia, even if any orc were to speak, they couldn¡¯t come up with such words. Especially terms like ¡°forced to retaliate¡± and ¡°peaceful resolution of the dispute.¡± They¡¯re basically saying that the Furious Lion Clan is greedy and arrogant, and the fairy side retaliated out of helplessness. ¡°What do you want?¡± an orc asked from below. Step by step, Anjia walked down and said, ¡°Furious Lion City will be taken over by us. You have two choices, surrender and you¡¯ll be assigned corresponding work afterward, or die.¡± This¡­ This is hardly a choice at all. The captive orcs fell silent. After a brief silence, a somewhat timid voice rose from among the captives, ¡°If we surrender, we really won¡¯t die?¡± ¡°No need, do I have any need to lie to you?¡± Anjia responded. ¡°Then, then I surrender.¡± ¡°Who dares to surrender, whoever does so will be treated as a betrayer of Furious Lion City and the entire family will be executed.¡± At that moment, Tempsta roared loudly, scaring the orcs behind him so much that they all shuddered. Tempsta looked somewhat disheveled at this time. His body was covered with scars, his once lush mane matted with blood. His body was wrapped in heavy chains and thrown aside. During the battle, Anjia and the others didn¡¯t engage him directly but instead used swarm tactics, exhausting him to his current state. When he was dragged out from the pile of bones, he looked extremely grievous. Hearing his roar, Anjia¡¯s gaze shifted to him but she said nothing. Instead, her eyes remained on the orcs captive behind him, as she continued, ¡°One last chance, whoever wants to surrender may speak now.¡± The orcs all glanced at Tempsta, badly wounded and securely bound, and finally said, ¡°I surrender!¡± ¡°I also surrender, I am but a merchant.¡± ¡°I too surrender¡­ One after another, they declared their stance, and the majority chose to surrender. Anjia nodded and continued, ¡°Record all those who are willing to surrender, and for those who don¡¯t wish to surrender, unless they are heroes, take them out and kill them.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A fairy soldier at her side nodded and accepted the order. They escorted out the group willing to surrender, as well as those who were not. Inside the hall, only ¡®Puremane Lion King ¨C Tempsta¡¯ and a few members of the Furious Lion Clan remained. Anjia walked down, getting even closer to him, ¡°Tempsta, do you remember me?¡± Tempsta glanced at her with hatred, ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°That winter when I was seven, you ordered me to be ejected from the city. You haven¡¯t forgotten, have you?¡± Anjia reminded. Tempsta narrowed his eyes and looked more closely at the girl with slightly dark skin and white furry ears. ¡°Are you that little girl from the Fighting Tooth Clan?¡± ¡°You have a better memory than Effrey; he didn¡¯t remember me.¡± ¡°Did you kill Effrey too?¡± ¡°Not yet, but he¡¯s close to death,¡± Anjia said calmly. Tempsta took a deep breath and said, ¡°Have you come back for revenge?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Back then, those were the rules of Furious Lion City. The Fighting Tooth Clan broke the rules, and you were expelled from the city. If anyone is to blame, it can only be your own people from Fighting Tooth, it has nothing to do with Furious Lion City.¡± ¡°Bullshit. Is it the city¡¯s rules to have all the tribes refuse to shelter us, to set up an ambush and kill us? I know what you were afraid of. ¡®Old Mill¡¯ was more esteemed than you, and you feared that everyone would support him.¡± Anjia took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Tempsta, did no one ever tell you that you¡¯re actually a despicable man?¡± For naturally robust orcs, their bodies do not age or get sick as easily as humans do. With a breakthrough in their rank, their lifespan even increases. But when Old Mill died, his body was emaciated, looking like a skeleton with just a layer of skin wrapped around it. Anjia still remembers it. When Old Mill was taken, he was very light. He hung on a mere breath, instructing her to go west, go south, even to the cities of humans, but never to return to Furious Lion City. The moment Anjia was declared a hero in the ¡®Merit Training Ground,¡¯ that was when Old Mill breathed his last. Chapter 989 - Chapter 989: Chapter 612, The Last Day Chapter 989: Chapter 612, The Last Day On the side. The members of the Furious Lion Clan who overheard the conversation between the two also revealed surprised expressions. Mier had once been a hero of the Furious Lion Clan with great talent. But later, Mier left Furious Lion City with Fighting Tooth¡¯s niece and never sent any news back. Now, it seemed the situation was not so simple. If what this white-haired girl said was true. Then, Tempsta had resorted to some shameful means. Not only did he cause the death of Mier, but he also left behind a hidden danger that led to the downfall of Furious Lion City today. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, Mier¡¯s death has nothing to do with me,¡± Tempsta, noticing the gazes around him, refuted loudly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you admit it or not, in the end, you¡¯re going to die,¡± Anjia strolled back. ¡°You,¡­¡± Tempsta¡¯s expression changed, and fear of death began to rise in his heart. He added, ¡°I surrender too, didn¡¯t you say surrendering means not having to die, I surrender¡­ Furious Lion City is yours now.¡± ¡°The list of those who can surrender does not include you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Tempsta almost spit out a mouthful of blood and roared, ¡°You can¡¯t kill me, you have someone behind you, don¡¯t you? I am an orange hero, the leader behind you will definitely want to recruit me, you can¡¯t explain it to him if you kill me, you can¡¯t kill me, I assure you, I won¡¯t seek revenge after being recruited, it will be as if nothing ever happened.¡± An orange hero is enough to preside over a power; even war prisoners are usually recruited, not killed outright. Therefore, he believed that, setting aside his personal vendetta with Anjia, the opposing leader would definitely want to recruit him. Anjia scoffed, ¡°Unfortunately, he¡¯s off to some meeting; I make the decisions here.¡± Her gaze returned to the Furious Lion Clan members, and Anjia continued, ¡°Out of regard for Old Mill, I¡¯ll give you one more chance to surrender; choose whether to live or die.¡± There was hesitation again. Some members of the Furious Lion Clan, who had just been willing to die rather than surrender, chose to give in. They had no intention of dying alongside Tempsta. Anjia nodded, ¡°Shirel!¡± ¡°Miss Anjia,¡± Shirel stepped forward. ¡°Have Tempsta, and those unwilling to surrender, killed; keep the heroes¡¯ bodies and take the ordinary ones back to be thrown into the conversion site,¡± Anjia commanded directly. Just as Shirel was about to accept the order, Bronze Bull stepped forward and hurriedly said, ¡°Anjia, should we wait for the Lord to return? That¡¯s quite a number of people to kill.¡± The number of people being killed among the prisoners clearly involved personal vendettas. ¡°No need to ask; I¡¯ll explain when he returns; you don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Anjia concluded, then looked at Shirel, ¡°Shirel, what are you waiting for? Kill them all.¡± ¡°Yes, bring them all out,¡± Shirel called out loudly. A large group of Fairy Clan guards rushed in, dragging the cursing orcs out. This group included the orange hero, Tempsta. For Shirel and these fairies, they were naturally eager to see these men executed. In the years of warfare that persisted, many fairies had died at the hands of the orcs from Furious Lion City. Now, to execute these men with their own hands was to avenge their fallen kin. Truth be told, Anjia¡¯s decision to kill so many people, apart from revenge, also involved her own calculations. Tempsta was an orange hero, initially badly wounded by sheer numbers, and it would be a long time before Fang Hao returned. Should he seize any opportunity to retaliate, no one here would be his match. Furthermore, the Furious Lion Clan held significant esteem within the city; failing to kill more to deter them, they might rally at his call, the city¡¯s orcs once again taking up arms, a precarious situation indeed. Rather than leaving a threat unaddressed, it was better to execute those who must be killed, ensuring even if they wished to rebel, they lacked the means. The rest would wait for Fang Hao¡¯s return. Apart from vengeance, leading the troops solo, one couldn¡¯t afford to be too lenient either. All the prisoners were taken out. The hall instantly became silent. Bronze Bull asked, ¡°Anjia, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°You stay and take charge of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion, control the soldiers within the city, then call in the military forces from Tasgo City,¡± Anjia instructed. Bronze Bull nodded, ¡°Okay, should we inform the Lord?¡± ¡°I will notify him.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The two walked out of the City Lord¡¯s Mansion again and began making arrangements according to plan. ¡­ Time hurriedly passed. On the last day before the assembly vote. In the carriage. Rebecca, leaning back in her seat, softly said, ¡°The Mage Association, as a governing body, doesn¡¯t enter the upper senate, but its influence is still enormous, so their vote is very important.¡± The Mage Association was their final stop. In the days they spent in Silver Wing City, the two had visited many assembly members. There were good and bad encounters, and the ultimate outcome still wasn¡¯t easy to judge. ¡°Hmm, are you familiar with the head of this place?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°Not familiar, I¡¯ve only met him a couple of times, I guess it¡¯s neither good nor bad,¡± Rebecca answered. Neither good nor bad, huh? That meant this matter was not going to be easy to discuss. Apart from promising benefits, who else would want to see you enter the upper senate? Fang Hao nodded, then said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Li Rong said this chairman is her teacher, perhaps that relationship could help us get a bit closer.¡± The ability to arrange a meeting with the chairman of the Mage Association was indeed thanks to Li Rong¡¯s connection. Chapter 990 - Chapter 990: Chapter 612, The Last Day_2 Chapter 990: Chapter 612, The Last Day_2 Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t even be a chance to schedule an appointment. Rebecca glared at him, beginning to doubt his relationship with Li Rong. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the name of this association president?¡± ¡°Grigorya, a Fire Elemental Mage with great prestige in the city.¡± Fang Hao frowned, feeling that this name sounded very familiar¡­ The carriage proceeded on its way. It eventually stopped in front of the Mage Association. Guided by an Attendant. In a study piled with all kinds of books, they met the Mage ¡®Grigorya¡¯. In his fifties, wearing a dark red Mage¡¯s robe with the symbol of the Mage Association on his chest, flames patterns could be seen around the chest and collar. Fire-red hair showing a few strands of silver, but with eyes that were still sharp, exuding an aura of intimidation. [Crimson Flame Demon Rider ¨C Grigorya (Orange Tier 3)] Another Orange-tier hero. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï If the Archbishop is also the Orange tier as he guessed. Then Silver Wing City would indeed have three Orange-tier heroes stationed there. That sort of prestige wasn¡¯t low at all. ¡°President Grigorya,¡± he collected his thoughts and greeted with a smile. ¡°Hmm, take a seat,¡± Grigorya put the book he was holding to one side. At this moment, an Attendant brought over pastries and hot tea. Grigorya continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your matter from Li Rong. You hope that the Mage Association will cast its vote for you, right?¡± ¡°Yes, President Grigorya, I hope the association will cast this vote for us at the right time,¡± Rebecca said. ¡°Actually, the association isn¡¯t keen on adding another person to the upper council,¡± Grigorya said bluntly. Rebecca¡¯s expression changed to an unnatural one in an instant. But she still said, ¡°Lyss City entering the upper council isn¡¯t detrimental to the association, and we¡¯ll remember the assistance provided to us.¡± Grigorya thought for a moment, then continued, ¡°After entering the upper council, what do you feel the Mage Association would gain?¡± ¡°A lot, naturally. Firstly, an ally in the upper council, the proposals submitted by the association, we will fully support them, and I will, in terms of authority¡­¡± Rebecca and Grigorya began to discuss back and forth with each question and answer. Meanwhile, Fang Hao sat quietly to the side, not interfering with their discussion. He recalled in his mind where he had heard the name Grigorya before. During a previous mission? Or in a broadcast? He had the name in his mind but couldn¡¯t remember. It was quite a while before Grigorya spoke with an apologetic tone, ¡°Rebecca, I can¡¯t give a definite promise to cast this vote; it will have to depend on the situation at the scene.¡± Rebecca looked helplessly at Fang Hao. Promises had been made, and a financial offensive had been suggested. Still, Grigorya hadn¡¯t made a clear stance, and they were out of options. Everyone¡¯s stance was different. Perhaps, for the Mage Association, they really didn¡¯t want to see a new upper council member arise. Fang Hao nodded at Rebecca. Rebecca forced a smile and said, ¡°That¡¯s alright, then. We won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± ¡°Hmm, take care,¡± Grigorya replied indifferently. The two of them stood up and left the Mage Association. ¡­ After exiting the main gate, they boarded the carriage. Rebecca¡¯s smile turned to disappointment, ¡°Another failure.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve done our best. If we really can¡¯t make it into the upper council, so be it. We can still develop well internally,¡± Fang Hao consoled. ¡°You¡¯re both Fire Elemental Mages, but why are you so different in temperament? She¡¯s too difficult to approach,¡± Rebecca muttered. Fang Hao gave an awkward smile. It¡¯s not the same, he thought. We are candid with each other, naturally easy to approach. It¡¯s not strange for her not to agree since she hasn¡¯t met you more than twice. Suddenly, a thought struck Fang Hao. Ah!! A Fire Elemental Mage¡­ He suddenly remembered where he had heard the name Grigorya before. ¡­ In the room next to the study. ¡°President Grigorya, your decision is truly wise,¡± praised Groot loudly beside her. ¡°Exactly. Her entry into the upper council wouldn¡¯t benefit the Federation whatsoever.¡± ¡°Yes, I knew President would agree with our stance,¡± added another. The other councilors nodded in agreement. Before Fang Hao¡¯s arrival, these people were already there. They came to discuss the same matter with Grigorya, but their goal was the opposite- to persuade Grigorya absolutely not to approve Rebecca¡¯s entry into the upper council. They were mid-discussion when Fang Hao and his companion arrived. Grigorya, in the next study, received the two of them. Groot and his companions quietly overheard some of their conversation and knew that Grigorya hadn¡¯t agreed to the request. Even though the conditions Rebecca offered were quite tempting for them as well. Grigorya glanced at them and said, ¡°Whether she can enter the upper council mainly depends on what the Big Five say. It¡¯s not much related to us, the lower council members.¡± Compared to Rebecca, Groot and the councilors¡¯ families were more familiar with Grigorya. The intertwining interests between nobles are complex and hard to unravel. They all reside in Silver Wing City and naturally interact at times. Internally, they were more inclined toward Groot¡¯s side rather than Rebecca¡¯s. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve heard a bit about that too. Rebecca has offered benefits to the Big Five of the upper council in exchange for their support,¡± Groot stated. ¡°Oh? Has anyone agreed?¡± someone asked. Groot shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. It seems that none of them have outright agreed, but they¡¯re all somewhat interested.¡± Chapter 991 - Chapter 991: Chapter 612, The Last Day_3 Chapter 991: Chapter 612, The Last Day_3 ¡°Really? What could Rebecca have that would sway the five giants?¡± ¡°Money? Resources?¡± ¡°What money could Lyss City have, a peripheral small city.¡± A few people were discussing, and had Grigorya not been present, even uglier things might have been said. After a while of chatting, Groot and others finally stood up and said, ¡°Chairwoman Grigorya, we still need to talk with other legislators, we will not disturb you further.¡± Grigorya nodded, ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± The group stood up and left. Once everyone had left, Grigorya also stood up and walked outside. She had just reached the door, when she saw an Attendant of the association hurrying in. As soon as he saw Grigorya, he spoke up, ¡°Chairwoman Grigorya, this was sent by Lord Fang Hao, asking if you can confirm whether this is your item.¡± With that, a small wooden box was presented to her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Grigorya frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased. The other party still hadn¡¯t given up¡ªthis was an attempt at a bribe. ¡°Open it,¡± Grigorya commanded. The Attendant forcefully opened the wooden box. Both looked inside, it wasn¡¯t the expected Warfire Card or some precious item, but an old, rusty pendant necklace; the thin chain on the pendant was rotted away, only leaving behind the metallic circular pendant, lonely inside the wooden box. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Grigorya frowned even deeper. A special feeling arose in her heart. She picked up the pendant and gently touched the edge, indeed finding a protrusion. Instinctively, she pressed it. Click! The pendant sprang open, revealing the compartment inside. In the middle of the compartment, four characters ¡®Grigorya¡¯ were engraved. Grigorya¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, her hand subconsciously tightened its grip on the old silver pendant. A wave of long-sealed memories suddenly surfaced in her mind. She remembered¡ªthis was her father¡¯s. It had been many years since she had seen her father. A long-suppressed sorrow surged up from the depths of her heart. Taking a deep breath, she asked, ¡°You said Fang Hao sent this over?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Grigorya asked. ¡°A guard brought it over, saying if it belongs to you, to return it to you, otherwise, he would take it back,¡± the Attendant explained. Grigorya remained silent, her hand still tightly grasping the pendant. After a long silence, she finally said, ¡°Prepare the carriage, we¡¯re going to Fang Hao¡¯s place.¡± ¡°Yes, Chairwoman!¡± ¡­ Night fell. The Dragon Ascend Tavern. At this moment, the private room on the third floor was filled with people. Everyone was toasting and bustling with noise. As the organizer, ¡®Hubert¡¯ then gently knocked on the table, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. He then declared loudly, ¡°Gentlemen, the matter of the sixth Upper Senate member is critical¡ªwe must stand united. If Rebecca enters the Upper Senate, none of us will have good days ahead.¡± The people below were all local representatives of the legislature. Rebecca had met and talked to some of them, while others she hadn¡¯t met. Now, Hubert had gathered them again to revisit this matter. They exchanged glances. One person spoke up, ¡°Rest assured, Hubert, unless that little lady spends a night with me, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll agree.¡± ¡°Rebecca wanting to enter the Upper Senate is a mere fantasy.¡± ¡°Exactly, let alone the Upper Senate, she might not even make it through the Lower Senate.¡± Seeing that everyone largely shared the same sentiment, Hubert also showed a smile. He continued, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled, no one casts that vote.¡± ¡°Agreed, it¡¯s decided.¡± ¡°We cannot let this woman enter the Upper Senate.¡± ¡­ The Hall of Justice. The hall was brightly lit. Dordy sipped his tea and asked softly, ¡°Archbishop, what brings you here at this time? Do you have something important to discuss?¡± Archbishop Milton, sitting across from him, ¡°It¡¯s still about tomorrow¡¯s council. I presume Rebecca also promised you some goods, what is the Hall of Justice¡¯s stance?¡± Milton asked softly. Dordy glanced at him. ¡°Promising support with some dwarf machinery. What has she promised the church?¡± ¡°Clothings and armors, and not a small quantity,¡± Milton set down his teacup. ¡°These sound about right. What does the Archbishop suggest?¡± ¡°I think, we should not let her enter the Upper Senate.¡± Chapter 992 - Chapter 992: Chapter 613, you really think Im begging you Chapter 992: Chapter 613, you really think I¡¯m begging you Parliament Hall. Members of the parliament gradually entered and took their seats in their respective places. There were three areas for the members¡¯ seats: at the bottom were representatives from associations, unions, and civilian delegates. The middle area was for representatives from the Hundred Cities, and above them were the five giants of the Upper House. ¡°Hey! Does your union agree with this matter?¡± In the lower area, nearby members gathered together. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me, do you agree with it?¡± a representative of the union retorted. ¡°Rebecca has talked to our union, we agree with this vote, supporting her entry into the Upper House, but as for the result, that¡¯s beyond our control.¡± ¡°Heh, she wants to get in, but I see it as difficult. Not to mention whether the Upper House would allow her entry, the majority in the Lower House are united in boycotting her.¡± Another member leaned in, ¡°I know some of this. Groot has been busy these days, getting members of the Lower House to join forces against Rebecca¡¯s entry into the Upper House.¡± ¡°They have a feud; of course, they can¡¯t let her succeed.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the situation like now? In the Lower House, are there many who support her?¡± ¡°Hard to say. I heard Rebecca¡¯s young husband is quite impressive, promising quite a lot of benefits. Also, there are quite a few people who will support them.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï ¡°Actually, if you think about it, Rebecca is really something. After all these years, who would have thought she would be the one nominated for the Upper House.¡± ¡°Haha, what does that have to do with us? It¡¯s just a good show to watch.¡± ¡°True that¡­¡± ¡­ The Hundred Cities members¡¯ area. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Groot walked up from below and asked in a low voice. Hubert, seated in a chair, turned back and said, ¡°No problem. Even if Rebecca has convinced more people, as long as we hold half the votes, she can forget about entering the Upper House.¡± After saying that, he asked, ¡°Your side is proceeding smoothly too, right?¡± ¡°Fairly smooth. Rebecca¡¯s haughty nature doesn¡¯t win her many friends in the city. A little persuasion, and basically few support her,¡± Groot replied. Hubert nodded, continuing in a lowered voice, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Upper House won¡¯t agree to this matter either. Her chances of succeeding are slim.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the best, to completely block her entry into the Upper House.¡± ¡°This is also an opportunity. The City Lord plans to make some moves, intending ¡®Nasir City¡¯ to be nominated for the Upper House next year,¡± Hubert continued. Hubert was the parliamentary representative of ¡®Nasir City¡¯. Groot was startled; he hadn¡¯t expected ¡®Nasir City¡¯ to set its sights on the Upper House as well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I understand. I¡¯ll help you out when the time comes.¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s what friends are for. The City Lord won¡¯t let your assistance go unrewarded.¡± Groot smiled and continued, ¡°It¡¯s about time. I¡¯ll go remind those people one more time so that no mistakes happen later.¡± ¡°Right!¡± ¡­ Time passed slowly. Members¡¯ seats gradually filled up. A chaotic buzz, everyone discussing in low voices about ¡®Rebecca¡¯s entry into the Upper House.¡¯ Some supported, some opposed. Their voices overshadowed the nearby music. Boom! At that moment, the bell rang. At the very top of the hall, three enormous banners unfurled from the ceiling. The music being played on the side suddenly grew louder, shifting from calm to powerful and uplifting. The entire hall fell silent. Amidst the applause of everyone, the five giants of the Upper House walked out from the back. They each took their respective seats. Once the applause had quieted down a bit, Dordy stood up and said, ¡°Everyone is clear about the purpose of this parliamentary decision. Now, I invite the City Lord of Lyss City to make the final statement.¡± As soon as the words fell, from the back of the high platform, a young man dressed in blue regal attire walked out, bearing a warm smile as he approached the center, bowing in the noble fashion to those below. Then he spoke directly, ¡°Lyss City, holding to the concept of a common human destiny, bearing the responsibility of the Hundred Cities delegates, fought side by side with the Federation, never retreating in the face of the Undead campaign. Learning that the fierce Undead assault could threaten the Federation and the safety of the cities, Lyss City did its utmost to contact allies and share the Federation¡¯s burden, thus earning this nomination opportunity. Here, I can promise, once Lyss City enters the Upper House, we will comply with parliamentary rules and assist the various unions and associations as well as help build the basic infrastructure of the cities and towns, ¡­¡­¡± Fang Hao stood on the podium, loudly reading from the manuscript in his hand. The campaign speech had been written by someone he found on the channel, and the content was indeed not bad. The ensuing promises were about what Lyss City entering the Upper House would bring to everyone. These were mostly formalities, meant more to be heard by the audience. Even if one were to enter the Upper House, these matters weren¡¯t something a single party could decide alone. Fang Hao finished reading all five sections of the content. Below, there was complete silence. Even though entering the Upper House was a serious matter, no one¡¯s campaign speech had ever been so extensive or formal. Moreover, even when Dordy had made his declaration upon taking leadership, it wasn¡¯t as eloquent as this manuscript. As Fang Hao¡¯s voice fell, a member below spoke out, ¡°City Lord Fang Hao, there are rumors that you are just a man kept by Rebecca. Can you represent Lyss City?¡± Fang Hao frowned, replying, ¡°Between husband and wife, there¡¯s mutual reliance; there¡¯s no question of who keeps whom. Moreover, I can represent Lyss City.¡± Chapter 993 - Chapter 993: Chapter 613, You Really Think Im Begging You_2 Chapter 993: Chapter 613, You Really Think I¡¯m Begging You_2 Another person stood up, ¡°Fang Hao, the City Lord of Lyss City, is the power in your hands, or is it in Rebecca¡¯s hands?¡± ¡°City Lord Fang Hao, after entering the Upper Council, what is the first thing you plan to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been the City Lord for less than a year, what makes you think you¡¯re capable of entering the Upper Council?¡± ¡°¡­Rebecca is a half-elf, and you are a transmigrator, can you guarantee that these won¡¯t be problematic?¡± Fang Hao answered each question, but his eyebrows were already furrowed. It was evident that some people had already prepared to target him, asking tricky and spiteful questions. Moreover, the order of the people asking questions was one after another. After answering one, the next question followed closely behind. To say they hadn¡¯t prepared, not even a dog would believe it. Bang bang!! He had answered more than twenty questions in a row. Only then did Dordy reluctantly knock on the desk to quiet the scene. Looking towards Fang Hao, ¡°City Lord Fang Hao, is there anything else you would like to add?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°Nothing else.¡± ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s start the voting.¡± The voting here was also very simple. There were no high-tech elements involved, each council member had one vote, agreeing means tossing the vote into the ¡®agree¡¯ box, disagreeing, into the other one. Everyone proceeded to enter the room and began dropping their votes into the boxes one by one. Standing to the side, Fang Hao could tell from the number of people, there seemed to be more opposing than supporting. Finally, the voting ended. Some staff began to check the vote count. Dordy spoke, ¡°Alright, I declare the result¡­ Lyss City does not meet the number of votes required to enter the Upper Council, and thus cannot enter.¡± Whoosh!! A buzz arose from below, with some rejoicing and cheering, while others showed disappointment. Fang Hao glanced down, then at the Upper Council above, feeling a surge of anger in his heart. They hadn¡¯t even reached the step of voting in the Upper Council before being outright rejected by the Lower Council. It seems his terms failed to sway the Upper Council. Otherwise, even if there were oppositions, they wouldn¡¯t have resulted in today¡¯s chaotic situation that was almost like a street brawl. Dordy, then looking to the side, said: ¡°City Lord Fang Hao, I regret to inform you that you did not pass. Do you have anything else to add now?¡± Fang Hao still smiled, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Good, then the council is adjourned.¡± The five giants left the scene, and others also got up amidst discussions, walking out in groups. ¡°See, I told you they wouldn¡¯t succeed.¡± ¡°What a pity, such a rare chance to enter the Upper Council.¡± ¡°Forget the Lower Council, the Upper Council would never allow them.¡± ¡°Exactly, Dordy just casually mentioned a nomination, and they took it seriously.¡± Hubert and Groot were walking out together. Groot, not bothering to lower his voice, announced loudly, ¡°Gentlemen, today I suddenly recalled a happy matter, I have reserved a feast at ¡®Dragon Ascend Banquet Hall¡¯ and would like to invite everyone to join me in celebration.¡± As people walked out, they stopped in their tracks. Laughing as they turned back, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a joy for all of us.¡± ¡°Just now, I also remembered something joyous.¡± ¡°We must celebrate properly, hahaha!!¡± ¡­ Listening to everyone¡¯s taunts and jeers. Fang Hao walked expressionlessly to a corridor on the side where Rebecca was waiting for him. Seeing Fang Hao, she immediately took his arm. Gently consoling, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s just a nomination. It doesn¡¯t matter whether we¡¯re in or not.¡± Before, it was Fang Hao comforting her, and now it had turned around. The attitude of everyone just now, and the mockery of Groot and the others in the hall. She heard it all and worried it might infuriate Fang Hao. Fang Hao looked outside and said, ¡°They dare to make such a scene only with the Upper Council¡¯s tacit approval, thinking I¡¯m really begging them.¡± Embracing her waist, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave Silver Wing City today.¡± The two hurried out, ignoring the ridicule from people along the way and went straight into the carriage. Heading towards their residence. Back at their place. Rebecca¡¯s face was still ugly. They had spent so much time, so much effort. In the end, it was all a joke. Not even passing the first step, the Lower Council vote, let alone the vote of the five giants. ¡°Should I say goodbye to ¡®Olivia¡¯ before we leave?¡± Rebecca suggested. Regardless of the outcome, her best friend had sincerely helped her. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°Just say it through the Sound-transmitting Shell, let¡¯s leave now.¡± After quickly packing up, He took Rebecca by the hand, directly boarding the carriage. Under the protection of a few Lionheart Knights, the carriage left Lyss City, heading towards Li Rong¡¯s city. There at Li Rong¡¯s place, after briefly explaining the situation, They used a teleport spell to return to Lyss City again. As soon as Fang Hao¡¯s feet touched the carpet of Lyss City, He opened the Book of Lords and sent a message to Dong Jiayue. ¡°Tonight, lay siege to the Federation¡¯s Fort of Santierre, and reject any form of communication or negotiation with the Federation.¡± After a few seconds, Dong Jiayue replied with a single word, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡­ Fort of Santierre, at the border. The pitch-black sky was void of any stars. As if someone had covered the entire land with an opaque veil. Although the war had ended, the human alliance forces were still on the border, having drawn a long line of vigilance. Numerous troops were stationed here, preventing any possible danger. To humans, the Blood Clan posed a threat no less than the Undead. Chapter 994 - Chapter 994: Chapter 613, You Really Think Im Begging You_3 Chapter 994: Chapter 613, You Really Think I¡¯m Begging You_3 ¡°I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll be able to withdraw,¡± a patrol squad muttered quietly as they walked along the road. In the military, such words were not permitted. But when out and accompanied by fellows from the same city, complaints were inevitable. ¡°Hmph! Just wait, after all the Mages and the churches have pulled out, then it¡¯ll be our turn,¡± ¡°We charge first in battle and retreat last. We¡¯re the ones who get exhausted the most,¡± ¡°Exhausted? The others go back to rewards and lands, while we might get a few more silver coins at most.¡± ¡°Forget it, some people say we¡¯ll get Gold Coins.¡± ¡°Gold Coins for those who die in battle, do you dare to take that money?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense¡­¡± Halfway through his sentence, the man suddenly paused, curiously asking, ¡°Did you hear something?¡± The others all listened intently, their faces changing instantaneously. One of them, somewhat panicked, took out a flare and shot it ahead. Whoosh¡ªpop! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The flare illuminated the distant sky in shades of orange and red, revealing the scene below to everyone. Crowds of Undead were advancing toward them. The group stared wide-eyed, frozen in place. Suddenly, one of them turned and ran, shouting loudly, ¡°The Undead are attacking!¡± The rest of the group snapped out of it, stumbling as they ran toward the rear. They shouted loudly, ¡°The Undead are attacking, the Undead have started attacking again!¡± In an instant, the glow of torches lit up the camp brightly. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Several flares, trailing flames, lit up the area ahead. All one could see were dense masses of the Undead army, carrying weapons and moving swiftly in the dead of night. When the flares exploded in the sky, it was as if they had given a signal. the Undead who had just been marching forward started to run crazily. They charged directly at the human battle lines. Bang bang bang! The alarm bell rang, and the camp became utterly chaotic. Shortly thereafter, a barrage of intense gunfire thundered, smashing into the enemy ranks. The recent peace had not lasted even half a month before it was again shattered. The battle between the Undead and humans flared up once more. ¡­ Silver Wing City!! Bang bang bang! A rapid, heavy knock on the door suddenly erupted. Dordy, who had just fallen asleep, sat up abruptly with a groan, demanding in a deep voice, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Leader Dordy, there¡¯s news from the Fort of Alexandra. The Blood Clan¡¯s forces have crossed the border and launched an attack; the Alliance¡¯s lines have broken, all troops are retreating to the Fort of Alexandra,¡± a hurried voice came from outside the door. ¡°What!¡± Dordy¡¯s face changed instantly, he immediately sat up and rushed out after throwing on a coat. Outside, a guard was holding the Sound-transmitting Shell for communicating with the Fort of Alexandra. Dordy snatched it and put it to his mouth, saying, ¡°What¡¯s happening at the Fort of Alexandra?¡± Soon, the Sound-transmitting Shell conveyed the message. It was Nidam, stationed commander from the Hall of Justice. ¡°The Blood Clan launched a midnight attack, breaking through the Allied forces¡¯ line. Currently, the Allied forces have retreated to the Fort of Alexandra,¡± Dordy¡¯s face underwent a severe change. They had just solved the situation with Odys, and now the Blood Clan had started attacking humans again. ¡°What did the Blood Clan say?¡± Nidam replied, ¡°They haven¡¯t given any response.¡± ¡°Can the Fort of Alexandra hold against the Blood Clan¡¯s forces?¡± Dordy persisted. ¡°Once they besiege us, it will be hard to hold. If we can¡¯t communicate with the Blood Clan, I suggest we withdraw and re-establish the defense line in the next city sector,¡± Chapter 995 - Chapter 995: Chapter 614, quick! Where is Rebecca? (Please vote and subscribe.) Chapter 995: Chapter 614, quick! Where is Rebecca? (Please vote and subscribe.) Tap, tap, tap!! On the streets late at night. Batch after batch of marching armies appeared, along with carriages rushing to the council hall. The councilors, dragged out of bed. They got off the carriages, sleepily and somewhat confusedly walked into the council hall. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Has something major happened?¡± ¡°Not sure, but we¡¯d better hurry up, so we don¡¯t arrive late and miss something important.¡± ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s hurry up.¡± Soon, the originally empty hall was filled with councilors. Some still emitted the smell of alcohol, having been dragged out by guards from taverns. Drowsily, they kept nodding their heads. Soon, Dordy, Milton, and other three leaders walked out from behind. There was no opening speech. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Dordy directly said, ¡°Santeyao Fortress has sent the latest news¡ªthe army of the Blood Clan has broken through our lines and officially launched an attack on the Federation. The Federation Army is now trapped inside Santeyao Fortress.¡± Whoosh~! As soon as this statement was made, the whole room exploded. The war had begun again! ¡°Didn¡¯t we sign a treaty? How could they do this?¡± ¡°These damned vampires, they never stick to agreements.¡± ¡°How is this possible? How could they break through the allied defense so quickly?¡± ¡°With the mobility of the Undead, once they break through Santeyao Fortress, it would be very difficult for the allied forces to stop their advance.¡± ¡°What are we going to do now? It¡¯s over¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, what do we do, what do we do¡­¡± After loudly cursing the Blood Clan, everyone started to worry. With the Blood Clan breaking the line directly, plus the mobility of the Undead, it would be very difficult for humans to keep up with the pace if the enemy attacked. Especially, as a group of troops had just been withdrawn from the front and were currently on their way back. With no villages in front or shops behind, they were impossible to contact either. The fear previously brought by Odys once again rose from the depths of their hearts. Compared to commoners, these nobles, enjoying finer resources, feared death even more. Bang, bang, bang!! Dordy forcefully knocked on the table, quieting everyone down. Loudly, he said, ¡°Time is pressing; every minute we delay makes the situation more dangerous. Everyone think about what we should do to solve the current crisis.¡± The crowd instantly fell silent. Mobilizing troops now was simply too late. The upper chamber had no solutions, let alone the people in the lower chamber. After a brief silence. Someone suggested, ¡°See if we can talk it out. Even if it doesn¡¯t solve the problem, it might delay things.¡± ¡°Yes, there must be some reason for starting a war. The Federation also promised the Blood Clan thirty million in funding; don¡¯t they want it anymore?¡± Dordy answered, ¡°The Blood Clan refuses to communicate with the Federation anymore. We absolutely can¡¯t contact them. All the sieges are led by low-ranking Undead. Anyone we send out will immediately be attacked.¡± Ah, this¡­ The Blood Clan was determined to start a war. They simply stopped communicating with the Federation. The hall fell silent once again. Fear and helplessness enveloped everyone¡¯s hearts. They suddenly realized that they, the nobles and councilors, only had some status amongst humans. On a global scale, they didn¡¯t even have the qualifications to speak or negotiate. As this atmosphere became increasingly gloomy and oppressive. Someone suddenly said, ¡°Last time, wasn¡¯t it Rebecca who contacted the Blood Clan?¡± In that moment, everyone was awakened. Right, wasn¡¯t it Rebecca who coordinated with the Blood Clan to establish the Federation? Everyone¡¯s gaze turned uniformly toward the position of Lyss City. But there, only two chairs were placed, and there was no sign of people. Dordy immediately asked, ¡°Where is Rebecca? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± At this moment, a guard from the Hall of Justice spoke, ¡°Leader, Rebecca left Silver Wing City and started her journey back after the daytime assembly ended.¡± ¡°That fast?¡± Everyone was taken aback. The assembly had ended at noon, and she had left directly after. But upon further thought, it also made sense; having been humiliated by everyone at the assembly, anyone would probably have left the place as quickly as possible. If you can¡¯t beat them, can¡¯t you just avoid them? Dordy, infuriated, asked, ¡°What about the councilor from Lyss City? Why hasn¡¯t the councilor arrived either?¡± The Attendant continued to reply, ¡°It is said that the councilor also left along with her¡­¡± This¡­ everyone was dumbfounded. What did this mean? Taking the stationed councilor along as well, was this an attempt to break away from the council? Or was it a move to leave the Federation of Hundred Cities? If the Blood Clan¡¯s attack tonight hadn¡¯t happened. The councilors present would have been very happy to see Rebecca and the council at loggerheads, the bigger the fallout, the better to watch the drama unfold. But now, the situation was different. Rebecca had become the only person who could save them. Obviously, they still needed Rebecca to step in during the crisis. At this moment, everyone had the same thought in mind. It was over, they had offended Rebecca too severely during the day. All the councilors accused each other in the form of questions. Now, she wouldn¡¯t be bothered with any of it; do as you wish. On the stage, Dordy also furrowed his brows tightly together, his gaze briefly meeting the Archbishop¡¯s. He was also somewhat regretful; having made things turn out this way, even bringing himself to ask for Rebecca¡¯s help seemed difficult now. The Archbishop slightly nodded, signifying that this was the only way now. Dordy, shouting, said, ¡°Use the Sound-transmitting Shell to contact Lyss City.¡± One of the guards stepped down, but quickly returned. He spoke in a low voice, ¡°Leader, there is no response from Lyss City.¡± Chapter 996 - Chapter 996: Chapter 614, quick! Where is Rebecca? (Please vote and subscribe.)_2 Chapter 996: Chapter 614, quick! Where is Rebecca? (Please vote and subscribe.)_2 Whoosh! The chaos escalated, with no one responding. This Rebecca, as always, was tough¡ªwas she really ready to perish along with everyone else over this? ¡°Normally speaking, Lyss City¡¯s team should be on their way back by now. I think we should immediately arrange for the cavalry to pursue them along the route and bring Rebecca back,¡± a council member finally spoke up loudly. ¡°Right, contacting Lyss City is useless, they should be on the road now.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, quickly deploy the troops to capture her.¡± Dordy nodded and immediately ordered the cavalry to start chasing the Lyss City convoy. But within, his heart had already sunk. They were out of time. The Blood Clan could attack the fortress at any moment, and with the current defense force, they simply couldn¡¯t hold it. Perhaps they should retreat, abandon this city, and fall back to the next one to reorganize the defense. Time, they needed time. After no member of the council proposed any significantly better ideas. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Dordy could only say, ¡°Everyone go back, let all the cities know, continue to mobilize troops, prepare to support the frontlines, and the rest of the council members should also prepare to fully cooperate in this war. Alright, that¡¯s all, meeting adjourned.¡± Everyone stood up, weighed down with heavy hearts as they left. There was none of the joy seen at the end of the day¡¯s earlier session. A denser prescence of death than even in Odys hung over each person¡¯s heart. ¡­ All night long. Guards shuffled through the streets, council members¡¯ carriages constantly shuttled back and forth between the council and their residences. When dawn broke over the usually bustling streets, they too turned eerily deserted. As if an invisible gloom had enshrouded the entire city. Whether the wealthy district or the ordinary residential areas, all felt the change in atmosphere and started to become extremely anxious. And at the frontline, the latest news came back: the fortress had fallen. After losing tens of thousands of troops, they abandoned the fort and fled, falling back to regroup their defenses. Abandoning the fort had provided humanity a brief respite. No need to be bitten too fiercely by the Undead. Inside the council hall. Dordy, Milton, and Grigorya sat together in the hall, all with rather dejected expressions. They had held many emergency meetings through the night, but against the Blood Clan, which refused to communicate, they were out of options. And from the frontlines, the news came back: this second defense line only managed to slow the enemy¡¯s offensive speed, defeating them was clearly impossible. Silver Wing City also believed these reports were true. After all, sweeping through the Great Cemetery of Odys and conquering Black Horn City in a single night was enough to demonstrate the Blood Clan¡¯s formidable strength. ¡°Any news from Rebecca?¡± Milton started the conversation. Dordy shook his head, ¡°The cavalry found no trace of Lyss City¡¯s convoy. They must have taken some back road, or changed their route along the way.¡± Now, everyone could only pin their hopes on Rebecca, yet she was nowhere to be found. No one responded on the Sound-transmitting Shell; even searching along the road had turned up nothing. It was as if she had simply vanished off the face of the earth. ¡°Who would have thought, things would turn out this way?¡± Milton sighed. All the council members, not one wasn¡¯t regretful. Even if Lyss City hadn¡¯t joined the upper senate, they shouldn¡¯t have embarrassed Rebecca like that. ¡°Thinking about these now is useless, we should rather discuss how to convince her, once we see Rebecca, to help us establish contact with the Blood Clan,¡± Dordy said. Rebecca was famously stubborn among the council members. This time, by leaving directly, she was clearly angry. If she could be caught on the way back, it would still be negotiable, as they could coerce her to represent the council. But since she wasn¡¯t found, once back in Lyss City, they would have to use terms to persuade her. At this, Grigorya spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say!¡± ¡°Why is it hard to say?¡± Milton was taken aback. Grigorya continued, ¡°Previously, when Dordy proposed to promote her to the senate, Rebecca helped the Federation solve a problem, yet not only did she receive no benefits, she was met with scorn and ridicule from the entire room. Not just Rebecca, anyone in her place would hardly trust your words now.¡± This¡­ Dordy and Milton both paused momentarily. Put like that, Rebecca indeed faced an unfair treatment. At the time, they were only considering how Lyss City entering the senate would affect them. They had forgotten about Rebecca¡¯s contributions. The senate, and even the entire council, had turned into thankless, bridge-burning entities. ¡°Then President Grigorya, what do you think we should do?¡± Dordy asked. Grigorya shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, if it comes to that, you might allow Rebecca to set her terms, see what she wants?¡± The other two fell silent. Falling into deep thought. If they let her make demands, what if she asked for something excessive? To agree or not to agree. At that moment, footsteps approached quickly, and a guard walked in. He said, ¡°Leader, your wife has received a message from Rebecca, asking if you need to contact Rebecca.¡± The expressions of the three on their seats all changed. That¡¯s when Dordy suddenly remembered, his wife and Rebecca had a private Sound-transmitting Shell. If he couldn¡¯t get through, as Rebecca¡¯s best friend, she certainly could. ¡°The Sound-transmitting Shell, bring it here.¡± The guard handed over the Sound-transmitting Shell that he brought. Dordy took it, took a deep breath, and began, ¡°Rebecca, it¡¯s Dordy. Last night¡¯s meeting, why didn¡¯t the representative from Lyss City attend?¡± Chapter 998 - Chapter 998: Chapter 615, Rebecca is Going Crazy Chapter 998: Chapter 615, Rebecca is Going Crazy Is the Federation going to fall? Upon hearing these words, Groot abruptly came somewhat to his senses. The Blood Clan has attacked the Federation; damn it, how could they suddenly violate the treaty? Groot had just realized the gravity of the situation and had yet to figure out what it had to do with Rebecca. The waiting councillors had already started speaking out. ¡°Groot, are you trying to get us all killed?¡± ¡°Why did I ever listen to someone like you and make such a mistake?¡± ¡°Groot, you maggot of the Federation¡­¡± ¡°You are a disgrace to the Marshall family.¡± The torrent of insults nearly knocked Groot off balance. But he quickly realized the severity of the issue at hand. Each of the councillors here was a cunning old fox, rushing to criticize him and disassociate from him, clearly attempting to prove something. Could it be that the council, unable to find Rebecca, was looking to place the blame on his own head? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï That shouldn¡¯t be the case, as many had voted against it, and it was mainly sanctioned by the upper house, after all. Listening to the reprimanding voices around him. Groot felt irritated but couldn¡¯t just retaliate against so many councillors outright. He could only say, ¡°Yesterday¡¯s decision was made collectively by us all, how come it has come down to me deceiving everyone? Besides, nothing has been finalized yet, I believe everyone¡¯s worries are somewhat premature.¡± After all, coming from a great family, he knew how to phrase his words. It was a collective discussion, and there was no such thing as him deceiving anyone. Moreover, the final verdict had not yet been settled, so it was indeed too early to conclude who was right and who was wrong. Upon hearing this, The crowd got even more furious. ¡°Groot, from now on, we don¡¯t know each other.¡± ¡°Also, I am canceling all collaboration with the ¡®Marshall¡¯ family.¡± ¡°Humph, disgraceful!¡± One by one, they cursed and started to leave. Groot did not try to stop or retain them. That¡¯s just how the world of the nobility worked, quick to dissociate when it came to some matters. Once the momentum passed, they would start mingling with one another again. In the end, it all boiled down to interests. Once everyone had left cursing and swearing, Groot then said, ¡°Prepare the carriage, go to Hubert¡¯s residence.¡± The whole street was deserted. The carriage proceeded rapidly and soon neared Hubert¡¯s mansion. But from a distance, he noticed that there were quite a few people blocking the gate, also cursing about shamelessness and parasites of some sort. Groot was startled and immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t stop, go past, we¡¯ll come back later.¡± Without halting, the carriage drove straight past Hubert¡¯s front door. At this moment, Groot finally realized. The situation seemed to be more serious than he had thought. ¡­ Lyss City. Rebecca sat behind her desk and, with a bang, threw the conch in her hand onto the table. Her chest heaved dramatically. Rebecca also felt wronged. It was them who promised her a place in the upper council; how did it end up as if she was the one begging to join? And to be pointed at and scolded by everyone, mocked for lack of ability and delusional aspirations. Seeing Rebecca with a gloomy expression, Fang Hao immediately approached her. He helped to calm the anger in her chest and said softly, ¡°Sweetheart, don¡¯t be angry, soon they will come over, begging you to go back. You can make any demands you wish at that time.¡± Rebecca frowned, Curiously asking, ¡°What exactly happened last night, Dordy sounded quite urgent.¡± Fang Hao didn¡¯t hide anything from her, outright saying, ¡°I ordered Amanda¡¯s troops to attack ¡®Sant Fort¡¯. Now, you are the only one who can contact them. If the Federation still wants to solve this peacefully, they will seek you out to discuss this matter.¡± Rebecca, wide-eyed, Looked at him in astonishment. She hadn¡¯t expected him to take such measures. ¡°Starting a war directly, won¡¯t that make the situation uncontrollable?¡± Rebecca said. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°No worries, the Federation¡¯s council is nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothings, you couldn¡¯t achieve anything by discussing with them anyway; it¡¯s better to give them a beating.¡± Rebecca was somewhat slow to react and paid no mind to his increasingly presumptuous hand. Continuing on, she said, ¡°You mentioned Dordy will come over?¡± ¡°It may not necessarily be Dordy, but the council will definitely send someone. They¡¯ll want you to step in and mediate with the Blood Clan. Be prepared for that moment.¡± ¡°Prepared for what?¡± ¡°Prepare for revenge.¡± ¡­ 8 a.m. In Lyss City Square, a dazzling Array appeared. When the Array vanished, several figures emerged from it. The leader, tall and imposing, was none other than the head of the Hall of Justice, Dordy. The two others were the Bishop of the Church and the Mage of the Association, respectively. As it wasn¡¯t their first visit to Lyss City, they were quite familiar with the place. After explaining their identities to the guards who had gathered around, they hurried to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. In the council hall, Dordy finally saw Rebecca, who was lightly made up in a long blue dress. Without any unnecessary pleasantries. Rebecca, with a cold demeanor, started, ¡°Head Dordy, do you have some important matter for coming to my Lyss City?¡± Dordy took his place on a nearby seat. And bluntly stated, ¡°Rebecca, last night the Blood Clan launched an attack on the Federation; they have now occupied Sant Fort, and the Federation is currently facing unprecedented danger.¡± Rebecca showed the appropriate surprise. Then she questioned, ¡°This seems to have little to do with me, or with Lyss City.¡± ¡°The Federation is unclear as to why war was declared all of a sudden, and the Blood Clan is refusing to communicate with us,¡± Dordy explained. Chapter 999 - Chapter 999: Chapter 615: Rebecca is Going Crazy_2 Chapter 999: Chapter 615: Rebecca is Going Crazy_2 ¡°So?¡± ¡°Therefore, I hope you could try to make contact with the Blood Clan and help the Federation end this meaningless war.¡± From his words, it was clear that Dordy had no confidence in this war. He just wanted to quickly find out the reason behind the Blood Clan¡¯s sudden declaration of war and to end the conflict. Rebecca, with a slightly mocking expression, said, ¡°Leader Dordy, not to mention my lack of ability to persuade the Blood Clan, even if I had the capability, as an elf hybrid and a woman, with the meager foundations of Lyss City, how could I stand forth? The Hall of Justice, the church, the three City Lords, who among them doesn¡¯t have more credibility and the right to do so than I?¡± These words were echoes of the voices questioning her in yesterday¡¯s council meeting. The entire council had turned into a denouncement session. They spoke as if Fang Hao and Rebecca were good for nothing, nearly wishing to expel them from their ranks. After finishing venting, you all felt better and now you want to come to me to handle matters. Where is the justice in that? Dordy¡¯s face also grew unnatural. In the past, no council member would dare to mock the council in front of him. But now, facing Rebecca, he really had nothing to say. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï After a moment of silence, he continued, ¡°Some people in the council do not trust you, which is quite normal. Don¡¯t let these things affect your mood negatively.¡± ¡°There are no hard feelings. I simply don¡¯t have the ability to persuade the Blood Clan. You should ask the other council members, Leader Dordy,¡± Rebecca said directly. Seeing Rebecca¡¯s attitude, the three who had come stiffened their expressions. A bishop who was accompanying them said coldly, ¡°Rebecca, the Federation is facing danger now. This is not the time for you to be throwing a tantrum.¡± ¡°Hmph! Such a big deal, direct your temper at the Blood Clan, at the Undead instead. What does it mean to keep bullying me, a woman?¡± Rebecca remained unmoved, saying indifferently. ¡°You¡­¡± The bishop wanted to continue, but Dordy stopped him. Dordy went on to say, ¡°Rebecca, this time you will not be facing the matter alone. If you can persuade the Blood Clan, not only will Lyss City join the upper council, but the Federation will also subsidize the development of Lyss City.¡± ¡°Do you think I can be fooled twice by the same words?¡± ¡°This time, the council can pass it directly. I can assure you that you will enter the upper council, and there will be no mistakes,¡± Dordy continued. This was the first time Dordy had ever made such a concession in front of a lower council member. Moreover, he seemed fearful that she would persist in her refusal. Rebecca fell silent for a moment, but then said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t help.¡± Dordy¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed. In his gaze, there flashed a dangerous light as he stared at Rebecca. At the same time, Demitrija, standing beside Rebecca, stepped forward, resting one hand on the hilt of his sword. ¡°Tell me, what are your conditions?¡± Dordy compromised yet again. Rebecca said, ¡°I demand the right to appoint fifty council members, chosen by me. Lyss City will have permanent self-governance, twenty million in development funds, army stationing rights, military passage rights through the territory, and emergency military call-up rights.¡± ¡°What, are you mad?¡± The three were all shocked. Those conditions were not just harsh¡ªthey were a complete replica of the privileges of the Hall of Justice and the church. Self-governance, troop movement, and troop deployment rights. These were all above the prerogatives of the other City Lords in the upper council, placing her on equal footing with the Hall of Justice and the church. Such brazen ambition. ¡°Rebecca, you must be clear about what you are saying¨Cthese aren¡¯t things one can discuss casually,¡± the church bishop sternly reminded. Rebecca looked at him and said, ¡°I¡¯m well aware of what I¡¯m saying. These are my conditions, and you can refuse them.¡± Still uncompromising. This woman was a maniac. Piss her off, and she would dare say anything, dare do anything. Especially at such a critical time. The more domineering Rebecca became, the more the three believed that she was prepared to take everyone down with her. ¡°Rebecca, with the power Lyss City has, what use are these rights to you? Can you even maintain such a military force?¡± asked another mage who had come along, speaking softly. These matters didn¡¯t have much to do with the Mage¡¯s Association, but represented the council¡¯s position. He still needed to assert his stance. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about it; it¡¯s my business,¡± she said. ¡°You¡­¡± The bishop was infuriated to the point of speechlessness. Why did they have to provoke this lunatic? Dordy hadn¡¯t expected that the woman who normally gossiped with his wife would become so reckless when angered. Taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°Rebecca, these conditions are difficult for me to decide on alone. This back-and-forth is likely to just waste time, so perhaps¡­¡± ¡°Dordy leader, nothing is ready, are you deceiving me again? There¡¯s nothing to discuss. If the Blood Clan attacks, Lyss City will also deploy troops to fight. If we really can¡¯t hold them off, then we all die together¡ªit¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Rebecca cut in sharply. ¡°You¡­¡± Dordy¡¯s brow furrowed. After exchanging glances with the two beside him, he slapped the chair and suddenly stood up. It was just such an action. Like flipping some sort of switch. Whirrrrr! Demitrija immediately stepped in front of Rebecca. And from the first floor, a mass of gold-armored guards rushed out, while from behind the banisters on the second floor, a row of oddly shaped muskets extended past the rails, aiming toward the back. The three men narrowed their eyes. Rebecca was about to retaliate¡­ Just one small move from the three men, and Rebecca would definitely order their killing. Even if Dordy was an orange hero, capable of fighting a hundred, could he fight a thousand, ten thousand? This was ultimately Lyss City, where he could be buried under sheer numbers. ¡°Dordy leader, if your legs are numb, you can move around, but don¡¯t make any sudden moves. The things here in Lyss City are not as sturdy as in Silver Wing City,¡± Demitrija said, protecting Rebecca and speaking in a less than perfect common language. Dordy narrowed his eyes slightly and took another look at Rebecca, who also seemed a bit tense. He said, ¡°Rebecca, can your terms not be lowered any further?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel the conditions are too high,¡± she replied. ¡°Alright, I need to go back and discuss it with the council and give you a reply as soon as possible,¡± Dordy stated. ¡°Alright, then we won¡¯t keep you for a feast,¡± she responded. Dordy, still dissatisfied, glanced at the person next to him. The latter pulled out a scroll, and upon opening it, a Magic Array¡¯s light enveloped the three. They vanished from the spot. Rebecca stood and declared, ¡°In the next few days, citywide vigilance. Anyone using teleportation to enter the city, if their identity cannot be confirmed, eliminate them immediately¡ªno need to hold back.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± a chorus of soldiers responded in unison. ¡­ At the time Rebecca was meeting with Dordy. In front of a room along the corridor. Knock, knock¡ª! A deep knock sounded at the door. There was no response from inside, but the door opened on its own. Inside the room, Rolana of the Blood Clan lay lazily on a soft couch, holding two pieces of paper, with pastry next to her. She was eating and intently reading the content on the paper. Despite someone entering, she didn¡¯t lift her head to look. Fang Hao looked at her; Rolana was wearing a silk nightgown that hugged her body, lying on her side, outlining alluring curves. Beneath the hem of the dress, without stockings, her smooth, fair calves were exposed. Compared to her earlier frigidity, she appeared more seductive and charming. Fang Hao approached and asked softly, ¡°You¡¯re reading this novel too? How¡¯d you get it?¡± This novel was only serialized in the transmigrator¡¯s channel. Given Rolana¡¯s reclusive nature, she shouldn¡¯t have discovered it. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d keep my room for me? I went back to take a look the other day and just happened to find these novels, so I borrowed them to read,¡± Rolana said without changing her posture. Oh¡­she had gone back to the main city. That¡¯s good too; it¡¯s good that she¡¯s willing to go back and move around. ¡°How is it? I didn¡¯t deceive you, did I? They were all kept for you,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. Rolana didn¡¯t answer but continued to focus on the content of the paper. Fang Hao moved closer and sat down at the edge of the couch. Seeing that she didn¡¯t react. He hesitated, then his hand rested on her slender waist while his own gaze dropped to the paper, asking, ¡°Which chapter are you on?¡± The smooth silk sent a ripple through his heart. Rolana glanced sideways, allowing the man¡¯s small gesture, ¡°I¡¯m at the part where someone peeps at the lady of the house bathing.¡± Chapter 1000 - Chapter 1000: Chapter 616: Are You a Goddess? (Vote please, subscribe now......) Chapter 1000: Chapter 616: Are You a Goddess? (Vote please, subscribe now¡­¡­) ¡°Hmm, you read that quickly.¡± Fang Hao was somewhat surprised. If she had just gotten the novel these past two days. The speed was a bit frightening, she must have been reading day and night. Right, Blood Clan can read in the dark, and they also don¡¯t need to worry about resting at night. ¡°Let me tell you, the lady of the house had long realized he was peeking outside, it was deliberate¡­¡± ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°Er¡­¡± His voice halted, then he asked again, ¡°Can you understand the term ¡®system¡¯ in it?¡± While asking, he moved in closer, pressing up against her. Rolana said, ¡°Oracles, huh? What¡¯s there not to understand? The gods issue orders, you fulfill the requirements, and receive the corresponding rewards.¡± Er, ¡­ That¡¯s not it, but it seems that explanation is also correct. Back then, it took him a long time to explain it to Eira and Anjia before they understood some of it. If he had explained it like Rolana did back then, it probably would have been easier. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Not to mention, Rolana¡¯s brain really does work quite well. ¡°You really are clever,¡± Fang Hao complimented. Seeing that the other party didn¡¯t speak, Fang Hao¡¯s hand that was resting on her waist became somewhat restless. Touching and kneading, he enjoyed the feeling of her soft, tight skin. Then, he quietly moved his hand downward. ¡°Stop asking for trouble,¡± a cold voice rang out again. The hand that had just reached the edge of a bulge paused momentarily. Then it returned to the waist, continuing to embrace her. ¡°When you¡¯re done reading, I bought you a gift; do you want to check it out? We can read the novel later in the evening,¡± Fang Hao continued. Hearing about a gift, Rolana glanced up at him. She said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to buy me anything!¡± ¡°Going out and bringing back some gifts for someone you like, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Rolana glared at him again, but she still swatted his hand away and sat up. ¡°What did you buy? Let me see, I¡¯ll take it to Rebecca later,¡± she said. Fang Hao was speechless. Do you really need to give it to her? She has what you have. Moreover, she had even helped pick them out, so what¡¯s the point of sending them back to her? Thinking this, Fang Hao¡¯s hands didn¡¯t stop; he took out each of the items one by one. One was a filigree gold-inlaid wooden box, which contained a cosmetics set from Fairy Dream Tower. This was a new product, specifically made for nobility. ¡°This is from Fairy Dream Tower, a newly released set, it must be very suitable for you,¡± Fang Hao said. Gently opening it, an ingenious little mechanism activated, elevating all the cosmetics inside. Displayed before her. Sold to noblewomen, the appearance was quite attractive. Adorned with gold and silver, it looked very pretty. Rolana¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly liking it, but she quickly returned to an expressionless face, murmuring a soft ¡°hmm.¡± The second item was a purple gemstone necklace, quite large and valuable. Rolana liked black and purple, and he chose it for her because of the purple color. The third item was a new collection of stockings, including not just regular stockings but also various kinds of patterned garter stockings, mid-calf, and thigh-high socks. All of them were well-crafted, especially the ones with gold-thread embroidery. Of these, two were from their own production, with only the gemstone necklace being bought. But Rolana liked them, not mentioning giving them to Rebecca, and instead held them, carefully examining them. [The Beauty of the Lonely Night ¨C Laurana¡¯s loyalty towards you has increased by 5 points, current loyalty is 97.] It increased by five points. With ordinary heroes, it¡¯s the beginning where you see the sharp increases, and it slows down the further you go. Laurana started with 1 and 2 point increases; now, a little makeup and stockings raise it by 5 points. The growth rate becomes larger later on. It must be related to their respective mindsets. Rolana is gradually accepting herself, accepting the territory, so the increase is a bit faster. Of course, this is good news. ¡°Let me help you put it on to see the effect,¡± Fang Hao picked up the necklace. Seeing him pick it up, she turned her back to him. Rolana didn¡¯t refuse, lifting her hair to reveal her flawless neck. Draping the delicate gold chain over her slender neck. The purple gemstone hung down over her chest. Fang Hao returned to her front, examining it closely, ¡°It looks beautiful, are you an angel?¡± Even as she tried to keep a straight face, Rolana was amused by that line, the corners of her mouth lifting into a crescent. An angel indeed, not a Blood Clan. Rolana stood up, went to the mirror, and looked at herself closely. She touched the necklace, feeling it was indeed quite fitting for her. ¡°I really like it, thank you,¡± she said. Fang Hao, feeling emboldened, continued, ¡°Do you want to try on the stockings? They¡¯re the latest from our tailors.¡± ¡°Maybe next time, I¡¯ll give it a try when there¡¯s a chance,¡± she replied. ¡°Try them on now, I¡¯ll help you see if they fit!¡± Fang Hao pulled her over to sit down beside him and lifted her legs onto his lap. Rolana was startled by his sudden move, but in the end, she didn¡¯t resist. Fang Hao also didn¡¯t dare to be too bold. Fearing he¡¯d get another beating. He lifted the hem of the falling skirt to the calf area. He took out a pair of thigh-high stockings. Her crystal-clear foot arched slightly, and Fang Hao slid the stocking over her toes. Rolana lifted that leg a bit, and the man twisted the stocking, gently covering her white, straight calves, all the way up to her round, well-proportioned thighs. ¡°You really do like legs¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s because I like your legs,¡± he replied. Taking out the other stocking, Rolana cooperated by laying the other leg over his. Fang Hao repeated the action just as before, only slower this time. Chapter 1001 - Chapter 1001: Chapter 616: Are You a Goddess? (Vote please, subscribe now......)_2 Chapter 1001: Chapter 616: Are You a Goddess? (Vote please, subscribe now¡­¡­)_2 ¡°` Gently caressing the soft sensation. Just as both were silent. Bang! Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Rebecca, holding the railing, looked in surprise at the scene inside the room. Without waiting for a reaction from the two, bang, the door was immediately closed again. Following that, Rebecca¡¯s voice came from outside the door. ¡°Fang Hao, come out for a moment, we still need to discuss matters regarding Silver Wing City.¡± Both were startled. Especially Rolana, who sprang up as if caught in adultery. She almost kicked the man in front of her out again. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll come out now,¡± Fang Hao replied. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Then he also stood up, and while Rolana was still at a loss, he kissed her on the red lips before. He then left the room directly. Outside the door, Rebecca was waiting with a somewhat gloomy expression. Seeing this, Fang Hao was taken aback, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Rebecca glared at him and walked toward the study next to them. She said, ¡°Dordy didn¡¯t agree to my terms, saying he needed to go back and discuss with others before giving us a reply.¡± Fang Hao followed, nodding, ¡°They don¡¯t have a choice, there¡¯s only one option for them to agree to.¡± The study door opened. Both walked in. Rebecca continued, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m worried they¡¯re only agreeing temporarily. Once the difficulty passes, they¡¯ll find various reasons to weaken our authority.¡± In the recent negotiation, the authority Rebecca demanded was already on par with the Hall of Justice and the Church. Now, the Blood Clan¡¯s attack has forced the council to compromise, but what about when some time passes and the war settles down? With the means of the Hall of Justice and the council, they will surely find a way to diminish the authority they¡¯ve distributed. Rebecca was full of distrust towards the council. ¡°What does the Hall of Justice and the Church rely on to maintain their authority?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°The Hall of Justice relies on the military, and the Church relies on the number of believers,¡± she replied. ¡°Then we¡¯ll also expand our military, maintaining a force they wouldn¡¯t dare play tricks with,¡± Fang Hao responded. He didn¡¯t mention that his side also needed faith. However, faith took time, while the military and equipment could be arranged much faster. It could also visibly deter the other side. ¡°Where can I get so many troops, and even if I could, I couldn¡¯t afford to support them,¡± said Rebecca. Fang Hao patted his chest vigorously, ¡°You¡¯ve got your man, why be afraid? I¡¯ll bring the troops to you. If anyone dares to bully my wife, I¡¯ll dig up his ancestral grave.¡± Rebecca rolled her eyes at him, ¡°What, are you afraid I¡¯ll be angry after seeing you help someone put on her stockings just now?¡± ¡°Err, no, it was heartfelt.¡± ¡­ Silver Wing City. Inside the Hall of Justice. Dordy hurried back only to find Milton and Grigorya waiting for him in the hall. They had not left since Dordy departed, always waiting for his return. ¡°How is the front line?¡± Dordy spoke first. ¡°The Blood Clan¡¯s army has begun moving toward the new front line. They¡¯re expected to reach the allied forces¡¯ new defensive line by tonight,¡± Milton reported. After finishing, Milton asked, ¡°Did you see Rebecca?¡± Dordy nodded, ¡°I saw her.¡± He sat down on the side as an attendant brought up tea. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you bring her back? The war cannot afford delays,¡± Milton said anxiously. Dordy took a big gulp of the tea and replied, ¡°Bring her back? With hundreds holding weapons and muskets on the second floor, how do you bring her back?¡± ¡°What? She dared to lay hands on you?¡± The other two showed expressions of disbelief. In the Federation, Dordy was a figure with immense prestige. Treating the head of the Hall of Justice in such a manner was tantamount to breaking with the human Federation. ¡°What¡¯s so unbelievable about it? They both saw it. If we wanted to get closer or made any move, the scene would undoubtedly become even more chaotic,¡± said Dordy. It was chaos battling against Lyss City now. Never mind who would win or lose. But it definitely would make the situation even more difficult to manage. The other two who accompanied him also nodded slightly, affirming Dordy¡¯s words. ¡°` ¡°` ¡°This Rebecca, wants to leave the Federation? She¡¯s really so arrogant,¡± Milton said coldly. Grigorya didn¡¯t speak; she actually had some admiration for Rebecca. A woman, daring to be so tough in dealing with Dordy, and leaving him with no options¡ªit was her first time seeing this. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly exiting; she has made her own terms. As long as we agree, she will reach out to the Blood Clan,¡± Dordy continued. This sentence allowed both of them to breathe a sigh of relief. There was still room for negotiation, things hadn¡¯t reached the worst-case scenario. ¡°What are her demands? Just meet them,¡± one of them uttered. ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry to agree, listen to what they are first,¡± Dordy interjected, and continued, ¡°Becoming a member of the Upper House, fifty designated quotas for parliamentary representatives, ¡­¡ª , military stationing rights, passage rights of troops within the territory, and emergency military mobilization rights.¡± After hearing these demands, the other two persons were silent. The implications of these conditions were very clear. I want to be on an equal footing with you. What nerve, such wild ambition, such a dominant woman. ¡°Has she gone mad?¡± Milton finally squeezed out this sentence after a long pause. ¡°Perhaps, but now we must weigh whether to agree or not; we can¡¯t afford to drag this out¡­!¡± ¡°Without the Federation, how could her Lyss City survive?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s already made up her mind to lead her people straight back to Fang Hao City; by that time, she wouldn¡¯t care about the city, she would take all her people and leave,¡± Grigorya remarked. A transmigrator still has his own city! From promises to the Hall of Justice for organ cannons, to the church for ten thousand sets of armors. It is clear that Fang Hao¡¯s strength has developed; it¡¯s very likely that he has really made this plan. The three of them fell into silence all of a sudden. Dordy and Milton were filled with regret. At that time, they refused the fifty million worth of gear that Fang Hao offered to the Hall of Justice. The church also refused the ten million worth of equipment he offered. Now look, the parliament needs to give him things, asking Rebecca for help. If they had agreed from the beginning, things wouldn¡¯t have become so passive and complicated. ¡°Archbishop, President Grigorya, time is pressing. We need to decide quickly and call an Upper House meeting,¡± Dordy urged. The Archbishop, putting some force on his staff, said, ¡°What else can we do? We must agree, but we should try to lessen her demands as much as possible; fifty seats is too many. And we must get her to cancel the military stationing and passage rights.¡± ¡°Those, I feel, aren¡¯t worth fussing over. If we really give Lyss City military rights, does she have that many troops to maneuver? It¡¯s nothing more than Rebecca being upset and making offhand demands; agreeing to them is inconsequential. However, I do think that fifty seats is indeed too many, and we need to reduce the twenty million in funding. Just agree to the rest,¡± Grigorya expressed her opinion. This caused a shift in Dordy and Milton¡¯s expressions. Indeed, concerning military rights, Lyss City doesn¡¯t have the manpower. Agreeing would be just an empty promise¡ªshe doesn¡¯t even have enough people to guard the city, let alone where to deploy troops from. Instead, we can negotiate to reduce the numbers of parliamentary seats and funding. ¡°Archbishop, what do you think?¡± Dordy asked. Milton nodded, ¡°President Grigorya has a point. We can try.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s immediately convene an Upper House meeting, and finalize this as soon as possible. We cannot delay any longer.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± ¡­ In the afternoon, at five o¡¯clock. Carriages raced down the empty streets. Heading to the Parliament Hall. As the second night approaches. The representatives and the nobility are also worried about the situation at the front lines; if need be, they also have means to flee. Many didn¡¯t want to go down with the Federation. Today¡¯s Parliament Hall was prepared hurriedly; the red carpet was not replaced, nor were the flags hung up. There wasn¡¯t any melodious music playing either. Representatives entered in groups, without their usual relaxation. Dong!! The bell rang, and the five leaders made their entrance immediately. Without any fuss, Dordy began, ¡°This time, the parliament will re-vote on the matter of Lyss City entering the Upper House.¡± Before the people could react, he addressed someone to the side, ¡°Come up and say a few words.¡± From the shadow of the high platform, a lean middle-aged man with a goatee stepped out. Dressed in a crisp, dark suit, he slowly walked to the center position. ¡®Palmer¡¯, representative of Lyss City. Wasn¡¯t he said to be ill? Yet he seemed to carry himself more upright than anyone else. Palmer, expressionless, walked to the middle, bowed to the positions of the Upper and Lower Houses, respectively. Without any speech, he simply said, ¡°Lyss City will fulfill its duties. Thank you!¡± After finishing, he bowed again and turned to leave. Damn! What an attitude¡­ ¡°` Chapter 1002 - Chapter 1002: Chapter 617, Gradually Calming Down Chapter 1002: Chapter 617, Gradually Calming Down After ¡°Palmer¡± turned around and walked away, members of the Lower House finally reacted. The seats below suddenly erupted with noise. Everyone started discussing. ¡°What does this mean? A new nomination?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it that within three years, re-nomination to the Upper House isn¡¯t permitted?¡± ¡°What exactly did Rebecca do to make Dordy and the others compromise?¡± ¡°Surely, Rebecca used the Upper House as a bargaining chip, after all, they still need her for the Blood Clan¡¯s affairs.¡± ¡°Finding Rebecca, good, good.¡± ¡°Rebecca is too arrogant, even if it¡¯s a second review, she sent a representative, and she didn¡¯t even show up.¡± ¡°Indeed, Rebecca is really too much, entering the Upper House and she didn¡¯t even show up.¡± ¡°Women are women, acting on impulse.¡± The attendees, not necessarily the sharpest humans, but the rules of the whole council are very clear to them. Nominating the Upper House again within a day. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Even without any news coming down, everyone realized the issue. The five giants of the Upper House silently acknowledged Lyss City¡¯s entry to the Upper House. Otherwise, there definitely wouldn¡¯t have been a second vote. Members of the Lower House discussed quietly. Although they could comprehend the intricacies, Rebecca herself wasn¡¯t present. The representative spoke less than 20 words, and this attitude was still somewhat unpleasant to see. After all, you should show up and say a few words. Facing the discussion below. The people of the Upper House were much calmer. Thinking to themselves, you feel it¡¯s too much because she isn¡¯t present? In the morning, Rebecca almost fought to the death with Dordy, and now she was already giving face by sending a representative. Dordy tapped the table lightly, signaling everyone to quiet down, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s start voting.¡± The lawmakers looked at each other. None of them were fools; they knew how they should vote. All the lawmakers lined up and cast their votes at the ballot box. Soon, the voting ended. Dordy glanced quickly, then announced, ¡°Okay, the results are in, 274 votes in favor, 15 abstentions, the Lower House has passed it.¡± Putting the results aside, Dordy continued, ¡°Does anyone in the Upper House object?¡± Instead of taking a vote, he directly asked. No one from above responded. Dordy announced directly, ¡°Alright, I now declare that Lyss City is officially entering the Upper House through the council election, effective immediately with the rights of the Upper House. A new seat will be custom-made, for now, use the previous seat.¡± Lawmaker ¡°Palmer,¡± standing not too far away, nodded calmly. There was no expression of surprise or joy on his face, just standing there calmly. ¡°Okay, the council is adjourned. If there are any updates about the frontline, everyone will be notified,¡± Dordy called out loudly. The lawmakers stood up and walked out one after another. As they exited the council hall. Without lingering, they hastily boarded their carriages and rushed back. With Lyss City entering the Upper House, if the Federation wasn¡¯t annihilated by the Blood Clan, then the entire structure of the Federation was bound to change. The five giants had become six, and moreover, judging by the attitude of Lyss City. It was very likely to overshadow the three other Upper House City Lords. This was not good news; they must inform their respective powers as quickly as possible. The lawmakers dispersed in a rush. Carriages left swiftly, rushing back. At the council hall. Dordy, looking towards the tall, slender ¡°Palmer,¡± said, ¡°Inform Rebecca about this side of things, the longer the delay, the worse the situation at the front will get.¡± Before the vote, Dordy had traveled back and forth to Lyss City several times. Trying to get Rebecca to ease the conditions. But this time, Rebecca¡¯s firmness was beyond everyone¡¯s expectation; she was not willing to back down at all. With urgent wartime conditions, Dordy had no other choice but to compromise. He immediately convened the council, allowing Lyss City to enter the Upper House. As for the rulers of Lyss City, Fang Hao and Rebecca, neither were present. This was also for safety concerns. They feared that going there would mean being detained by Silver Wing City. ¡°I have already notified Mrs. Rebecca,¡± Palmer replied calmly. ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll head over now.¡± ¡­ An hour later. Lyss City. In the hall. Dordy, sitting on one side, looked expressionlessly at Rebecca beside him. Ignoring the served refreshments, he said, ¡°Rebecca, Lyss City has now entered the Upper House, and we will also gradually fulfill the rest of the agreements. Can we contact the Blood Clan now? Don¡¯t be impulsive anymore.¡± Rebecca nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± She gestured, and someone brought over a Sound-transmitting Shell. On the shell, there was a label reading ¡®Blood Clan.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m not sure we can get through to the Blood Clan, and even if we do, whether the issue can be resolved depends on your own negotiations,¡± Rebecca emphasized again. Showing that she was not confident, setting expectations upfront. ¡°Okay, we understand that,¡± Rebecca didn¡¯t say more and picked up the Sound-transmitting Shell, saying, ¡°I am Rebecca from Lyss City, wanting to contact the Blood Clan.¡± The Sound-transmitting Shell did not respond, falling silent. Whether it was Dordy or the accompanying lawmaker. They all anxiously waited as time passed, sweat increasingly beading on their foreheads. Chapter 1003 - Chapter 1003: Chapter 617, Gradually Subsiding_2 Chapter 1003: Chapter 617, Gradually Subsiding_2 He appeared very tense. On the contrary, Rebecca and the officials of Lyss City were much more relaxed. Drinking tea, they seemed to accept that even in death, having the Federation as companions in the afterlife was not a bad deal. After about half an hour of silence, the Sound-transmitting Shell suddenly reacted. Rebecca picked it up, held it to her ear, and immediately heard a hoarse but distinctly female voice. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Rebecca glanced at Dordy, who said, ¡°Ask her why they started a war with the Federation.¡± Rebecca nodded, spoke into the Shell, ¡°Why did the Blood Clan suddenly start a war with the Federation?¡± There was a brief silence on the other end. Then the reply came, ¡°That¡¯s a question for your Federation, secretly violating the treaty, attacking our troops, and causing severe losses.¡± Everyone present was taken aback. To say that the human Federation attacked the Blood Clan first, how could that be? The counselors behind Dordy showed faces of Rage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Blood Clan, what do you mean by blaming it on us?¡± ¡°Damn it, these despicable creatures.¡± ¡°The Federation lost so many people, and now they say we attacked first.¡± ¡°Is it possible that the Federation Army mistakenly identified their troops as fleeing Undead, causing a misunderstanding?¡± The war between the Blood Clan and the Undead had caused a mass of Undead to assault the Federation¡¯s borders. It wasn¡¯t impossible that there had been a mix-up. Moreover, the Federation Army was not so easy to manage. With forces deployed from various cities, some soldiers opportunistically engaged in nefarious acts. If these actions were indeed the cause of today¡¯s losses, it would be a terrible mistake. Moreover, as the Blood Clan now held the advantage, whatever they said went. Even if the Federation adamantly denied it, it would be futile. The goal was to get the Blood Clan to stop their advance and retreat to the border. Not to argue over who was right or wrong. Dordy, gesturing for his colleagues to stop their discussions, said to Rebecca, ¡°Just say that there are still remnants of Odys¡¯ forces hitting our borders, mistaken identity.¡± Rebecca nodded and repeated it. The response came swiftly, ¡°You think to settle this with such a simple statement?¡± ¡°Let her state her demands,¡± Rebecca suggested. Rebecca relayed this, and the reply came, ¡°Fifty million in compensation, two million in population.¡± Everyone furrowed their brows, surprised at the demands. They had expected an increase in reparations, but two million in population? That was excessive. A city might have several tens of thousands, a village only hundreds. Two million, the number was outrageous. Even if the Federation was eager to end the war, this figure was unacceptable. Even Rebecca was surprised. ¡°We can¡¯t agree to this. It¡¯s one thing to give some money, but sending out two million people would create a demographic void in the entire Federation.¡± ¡°Giving up people is like cutting our flesh with a blunt knife, gradually weakening the Federation¡¯s strength,¡± she continued. Dordy nodded and said, ¡°The Federation is to protect humanity, the residents of the Hundred Cities, we will not compromise on population.¡± Rebecca continued the dialogue. The Blood Clan remained domineering. They wanted money, they wanted people. But the Federation, in a weaker position, insisted on not giving up people. Providing compensation was somewhat negotiable within the Federation. But if they agreed to trade people for peace, let alone the Hall of Justice maintaining its status, the Federation itself would lose its purpose. After much haggling, they agreed to pay seventy million in compensation in exchange for the Blood Clan¡¯s withdrawal. Moreover, the territory taken in the offensive, Fort Santa, would not be returned and was officially incorporated into the Blood Clan¡¯s domain. Dordy was also very helpless about this. If they didn¡¯t agree, the Blood Clan¡¯s army would attack the second line of defense that very night. By then, the Federation¡¯s disadvantage would grow even greater, and more people would die. After reaching the new agreement with the Blood Clan, in the next two days, they would arrange for people to sign a new treaty with the Federation. After everything was settled. Dordy and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. The accompanying council members immediately took out the Sound-transmitting Shell and sent the latest news back to Silver Wing City, to put the rest at ease. ¡­ Dordy was not in a hurry anymore. He picked up his tea, which had long since gone cold, and took a sip. In a soft voice, he said, ¡°Rebecca, you played a big role in this matter.¡± ¡°These decisions don¡¯t really involve me.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve joined the Upper Senate, do you have any plans?¡± Dordy continued to ask. It seemed he planned to chat with her for a while. Rebecca gestured for a servant to bring some fresh tea snacks and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll assimilate into the council circle and continue building Lyss City.¡± ¡°Yes, get in touch with more senators,¡± Dordy changed his tone, ¡°What about your husband? Last time he mentioned he had ten organ guns, I want to talk to him about that.¡± ¡°Oh? You¡¯re looking for him? I¡¯ll have someone call him.¡± ¡­ In the hall. Fang Hao smiled at Dordy, ¡°Leader Dordy, did you want to see me?¡± Dordy also forced a smile. After all, with the Federation now heavily in debt, finding happiness was hard. ¡°Although we¡¯ve temporarily resolved the conflict with the Blood Clan, it also exposed the vulnerability and insufficiency at the border. So I¡¯d like to discuss the organ guns with City Lord Fang Hao.¡± ¡°Ah? What organ guns, what are organ guns!¡± Dordy paused, then added, ¡°The Federation will pay for them.¡± In fact, from the current situation, Fang Hao was somewhat reluctant to provide the organ guns to the Federation. Chapter 1004 - Chapter 1004: Chapter 617, Gradually Calming Down_3 Chapter 1004: Chapter 617, Gradually Calming Down_3 Even if they purchased it with money. But Fang Hao had already mentioned to Dordy that he had ten of them in his possession. And it would easily attract the Federation¡¯s attention. Selling it to him was fine, it all depended on what price he would offer. Dordy had promised so much debt; Fang Hao wondered if he still had the money to buy the organ guns. ¡°Oh, I did indeed acquire a few organ guns from the Trade Alliance not long ago, Chief Dordy, how do you plan to buy them?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll purchase them at the previously agreed price of five million Gold Coins each.¡± The price was acceptable, as it was in line with the Trade Alliance¡¯s rates. The weapons were all produced with a hundredfold amplification process, so he was guaranteed to make a profit regardless of the sale price. Fang Hao pretended to consider, then said, ¡°That¡¯s fine, give me the money and I¡¯ll have someone send them to you through a transmigrator immediately.¡± ¡°No money¡­¡± You motherfucker¡­ ¡°Chief Dordy, don¡¯t joke about this.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Really, no money. See what the council can provide you, something to trade.¡± Dordy said. He was no longer talking about a joint Federation society or the future of humanity. Such talk was utterly useless in front of these two people. He simply put forward a condition for an equivalent exchange, the quickest and least effortful option. Fang Hao thought for a moment and then said, ¡°I want West City¡¯s commercial street and the entire Chinatown.¡± ¡°Most of the commercial street is private property, I can¡¯t agree to that. And can you afford the corresponding organ guns?¡± Dordy replied. In fact, Fang Hao had previously considered opening a shop in Silver Wing City and had even inquired about the prices. The stores in the main city were indeed higher priced. Depending on the location and the size of the building, they ranged from two million to five million Gold Coins. If it hadn¡¯t been for his fluctuating relationship with Silver Wing City¡ªsometimes calm, sometimes tense¡ªhe would have purchased a few stores by now. To open hotpot and clothing stores. After thinking it over, buying the entire street was too extravagant, and he couldn¡¯t give Dordy too many organ guns either, lest it genuinely increased the strength of the Federation Army. ¡°Five stores for each organ gun; I can give you five, and I need the rest to equip Lyss City and my own city,¡± Fang Hao said. Five stores per gun, five guns would be twenty-five stores. Dordy recalled that the Hall of Justice could indeed spare these stores. He then agreed, ¡°That¡¯s fine, how shall we complete the trade?¡± ¡°Prepare the deeds to the stores, and when the time comes, my people will sign them. You arrange a transmigrator to connect with me, and I will deliver the organ guns to you directly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Good, then let¡¯s agree on this.¡± Fang Hao raised his teacup to indicate a successful partnership. Dordy also lifted his cup and took a sip. After setting down the teacup, Dordy continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard, you have ten thousand sets of blue-quality armor in your possession¡­¡± ¡­ Elsewhere. Dragon Tooth Mountain, Dragon Summit City. A huge cave carved halfway up the mountain. The cavern was vast and wide. The stone walls were covered with neatly carved bricks, decorated with bright Nightstone lamps. It was like a grand palace built into the mountainside. In the center of the cave, there was a small hill made of Gold Coins and gemstones. Under the dim light, the golden glow was dazzling. Tap, tap, tap!! The sound of crisp footsteps gradually approached from outside the cave. Only when they reached the entrance of the cave did they stop. A voice came in, ¡°Ms. Beata, Aerygon has something to report to you.¡± The voice carried all the way into the depths of the cave. Whoosh! At that moment, the mountain of Gold Coins trembled slightly, and a huge vertical pupil slowly opened, looking towards the entrance of the cave. ¡°What is it?¡± the dragon spoke. Gold and jewels cascaded down the small hill, tumbling down with a rustling sound. From outside the cave came the words, ¡°Ms. Beata, we have some information about that transmigrator to report to you.¡± Whoosh! The dragon shifted its body, revealing its silver-white, gleaming scales. The coins and gems at the top began to scatter around its body, falling to the sides. They formed a small depression made of Gold. The dragon¡¯s body rapidly shrank, transforming into a youthful-looking girl with silver hair. Her glowing white body was then covered with a brown robe. Chapter 1005 - Chapter 1005: Chapter 618, Skills Upgrade Chapter 1005: Chapter 618, Skills Upgrade Silvermoon Spear ¨C Beata, rubbed her eyes. She stepped out of Mount Golden and walked towards the cave¡¯s exit. The horizon was already filled with red clouds. At the cave¡¯s entrance, a Winged Dragon stood, along with Aerygon, the second-ranked transmigrator in the world. Beata glanced at him and said, ¡°Have you found anything?¡± Aerygon hurriedly replied, ¡°Ms. Beata, I can confirm the identity of the transmigrator now.¡± ¡°Oh? Who is it?¡± Beata asked curiously. ¡°This person is not called Fu Lei, his real identity is the one we suspected, Fang Hao, the top-ranked transmigrator in the world rankings,¡± Aerygon immediately responded. Beata frowned, shook her head slightly, her mind still a bit muddled. Could it be such a coincidence? She continued, ¡°Why are you so sure it¡¯s him? Did you find his photo?¡± ¡°He is very cautious in his actions; there¡¯s no photo, but I have obtained more intelligence about him. By connecting all this intelligence, we can confirm his identity.¡± ¡°What intelligence?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Fang Hao, a black-haired and black-eyed transmigrator, in his twenties, and it is said on their channel that he has connections with the Undead.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°He has a highly-ranked Lizardmen hero who wears golden armor and is skilled in wielding a longsword,¡± Aerygon revealed the final clue. Beata¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. All this information linked together indeed pointed to those people who had confronted them that day in the Trade Alliance. But another question arose in her mind. ¡°Are you saying that both the Undead and the Lizardman are his heroes, rather than the Lizardmen he relies on?¡± Although Aerygon had always been reluctant to accept being second, the current intelligence indeed suggested so. He nodded and said, ¡°If the intelligence is accurate, that¡¯s the case.¡± Beata too was surprised, a transmigrator, managing to develop to such an extent in less than a year, was truly terrifying. ¡°This transmigrator has developed too quickly, we cannot allow him to continue, do you have the location of his territory?¡± Beata asked after a brief moment of thought. The grudge between the Dragon Clan and the opponent was obviously hard to resolve. Since it could not be resolved, and the Dragon Clan did not wish to resolve it, they would have to exterminate the other party as soon as possible. Lest the opponent developed further, making it very difficult to eliminate them later. Aerygon said, ¡°The location is still under investigation, but knowing his identity, it will be much easier to search for the region and the location of his territory.¡± Beata gave him a sharp look, as it was always half clues given with the rest left to be investigated. But relying solely on the Dragon Clan to investigate a transmigrator was indeed not easy. She could only say, ¡°I will prepare the Dragon Clan, and as soon as we know the location, we¡¯ll set out immediately to exterminate his territory.¡± Aerygon¡¯s heart leapt with joy. If Fang Hao were to be exterminated by the Dragon Clan, he would then be ranked first in the world. He immediately nodded, ¡°Good, I will go to investigate right away.¡± ¡°Go ahead, I will inform the elders about this matter,¡± Beata said. Aerygon nodded and climbed back onto the back of the Winged Dragon. With a kick from its feet, the Winged Dragon plunged down the mountain side and then flew off into the distance. Beata also transformed into her dragon form and flew towards Dragon Summit City. ¡­ Night fell! Silver Wing City. Groot¡¯s residence. ¡°Damn it, Rebecca really got into the Upper Senate, how could this happen¡­¡± Groot paced anxiously, his face grim. The vote in the morning, where he abstained, had not altered the outcome. Rebecca truly entered the Upper Senate. For him, this was not good news, it was rather bad news indeed. If Rebecca sought revenge. Then his life as a trade council member would be very difficult. ¡°My lord, don¡¯t worry too much. Maybe in a few days, she will be expelled from the Upper Senate! It won¡¯t be her turn to seek revenge against us,¡± the butler quietly comforted him from beside. Reassured somewhat by the butler¡¯s words, Groot calmed down a bit. Upon further reflection¡­ Even if Rebecca entered the Upper Senate, to seek revenge against him, she would need to secure her position first. Besides, as the butler said, now that they were using Rebecca to get Lyss City into the Upper Senate, perhaps in a couple of days, they would find a reason to remove her from her position. His expression recovered slightly, but to be on the safe side, he still said, ¡°Prepare some gifts, get the carriage ready, let¡¯s go to the church.¡± He needed to confirm the Church¡¯s stance towards Lyss City. If things turned out badly, he would have to prepare in advance. With his family¡¯s connections and financial resources, these preparations would not be difficult. ¡°Oh, alright¡­¡± the butler had just agreed. Suddenly, a rush of footsteps came from outside the door. Soon, a group of people walked in. The leader spoke up, ¡°Is the representative of Groot present?¡± Groot frowned but stepped forward, ¡°I am, what is the matter?¡± A bad premonition rose in his heart. The leading person said, ¡°The council has decided, you are stripped of your representative status effective immediately, you will no longer represent the council or handle any related affairs.¡± Groot¡¯s eyes widened, his face drastically changed. And before that person left, several guards from the Hall of Justice entered, loudly stating, ¡°Groot, you have been accused with evidence of over 70 crimes, come with us now.¡± Groot stared, his face full of disbelief. Was he Rebecca¡¯s father¡¯s murderer? Chapter 1006 - Chapter 1006: Chapter 618, Skills Upgrade_2 Chapter 1006: Chapter 618, Skills Upgrade_2 Is there so much hatred? It had passed the upper house in the morning, and by the afternoon they had already started taking action. Moreover, the scheme was so clear. Revoking the senator¡¯s status, and coming over with the guards. This was clearly revenge, not even attempting to disguise it. Would the Hall of Justice and the Church just let Rebecca do as she pleased? ¡°Her accusations are false accusations, I am going to report you to the Hall of Justice, report Rebecca,¡± Groot said loudly. The Hall of Justice guard outside looked down at his own uniform. Then, looking at Groot as if he were a fool. He said, ¡°Take him away, any problems you have, you can have your family address it at the Hall of Justice and the council.¡± Groot came from the Marshall family. Their influence was quite significant. Even the guards on duty didn¡¯t dare treat Groot the way they would an ordinary person. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Go and inform the family about this,¡± Groot turned back and instructed the old butler. The latter nodded in understanding. Then, he followed the guards and walked out. Meanwhile, a similar scene was unfolding in several mansions across the wealthy district. First, they would revoke the senator¡¯s status, then they would detain them under some charge. Just like Groot had once reported Lyss City for not complying with Federation standards. The senators weren¡¯t clean either. It just depended on whether someone pursued it or not. At that moment. All of Silver Wing City exploded. Not just the senators, every power broker understood that Rebecca had gone mad. She was starting to avenge the grievances she had suffered over so many years. Groups of guards were hurrying along the streets. Mansion after mansion was broken into, and the once prestigious senators were hauled onto carriages. ¡­ On the other side. After dealing with Dordy, Fang Hao immediately returned to the main city. He rushed to the wishing well. Having talked with Dordy for so long, the two had reached some mutually beneficial deals. Five wind organ cannons had been traded for two hundred thousand commercial street property deeds. One thousand sets of defense gear had been exchanged for a corresponding quantity of potions, minerals, and various supplies. The Federation being burdened with a huge debt, couldn¡¯t offer anything too good. Fang Hao hadn¡¯t been too concerned. After all, the debt was owed to him. After seeing off Dordy, Fang Hao still wanted to continue teasing Rolana, he always felt that although she was still icy. His little antics weren¡¯t resisted by her. Their relationship was developing rather quickly. But suddenly, he remembered the wishing well. Glancing at his calculated time, the refreshing time of the wishing well had already passed two days ago. Putting aside his romantic impulses for the moment, he directly activated the teleportation screen and ran back. He had just returned to the domain, his feet had barely stopped, when he rushed towards the wishing well. He opened the construction page. [Dragon Crystal 45] [Material: Blood Stone 100/100 (high success rate).] As was the custom, he said a prayer. He mentioned all the deities from the modern world and this world¡¯s gods of light and harvest. Immediately, he selected confirm. After a few seconds of stillness, the sound of splashing water was heard. Using the wishing well for the third time was still a success. 45 dragon crystals scattered within the pool. He called over the patrolling Skeleton soldiers took all the dragon crystals to the warehouse. He also headed to the Skeleton Conversion Field, immediately using these dragon crystals. To enhance the defense of the main city. After confirming the recruitment. 404 Bone Dragons appeared in a flash of light, settling on the open spaces around. Taking the newly recruited Bone Dragons out of the city, he also made armor for the Bone Dragons. Within the domain, the number of Bone Dragons had reached 1506. It should have been 1510, but four were lost during the attack on the Great Cemetery. This caused the numbers to end up odd again. The Bone Dragons and Aerial Ships left at the Great Cemetery were also on their way back. In a few days, he could distribute the Aerial Ships. Allowing each region to open air routes and sell their local specialties. Once the Skeleton Blacksmith had helped all the newly recruited Bone Dragons wear their gear, Fang Hao ordered them all to enter the Troop Hiding Cave to stand by. After dealing with the wishing well and the Bone Dragons. Fang Hao had finished the most urgent busyness and breathed a sigh of relief. If not for the fact that Eira and the others couldn¡¯t use the transmigrator¡¯s privileges, he would have passed it off to the maids. Now, this wishing well had him tied to it. He had to come back and make a wish every seven days. Damn it! Muttering under his breath, he walked back. Passing through buildings, his gaze fell on the unique building ahead. [Sorcery Sanctum]. Before leaving, he had used the Sorcery Sanctum to upgrade his skills. Judging by the time, so many days had passed. It should be complete. He stepped forward and directly entered the building properties page. [Sorcery Sanctum] [Receivable: ¡®Bone Manipulation Technique,¡¯ ¡®God¡¯s Presence.¡¯] Indeed, it was complete. Fang Hao confirmed receipt. The next second, two dark gray beams of light directly entered his body. Just like the effect of learning a skill scroll. Then immediately, a system prompt appeared near his ear. [Bone Manipulation Technique upgraded to level 2, mobility when controlling Skeleton Undead +7%, all attributes +5%.] [God¡¯s Presence upgraded to level 2, skill range +50%, number of targets +1, control body compatibility +20%.] The prompts of skill enhancement made Fang Hao frown slightly. The enhancement of Bone Manipulation Technique was easy to understand. It was a mere increase in bonuses. But the content of God¡¯s Presence was somewhat complex. God¡¯s Presence, for Fang Hao, was an immensely helpful skill. Chapter 1007 - Chapter 1007: Chapter 618, Skills Upgrade_3 Chapter 1007: Chapter 618, Skills Upgrade_3 The skill effect was also very simple, allowing his body to stay in a safe place while his consciousness attached to an ordinary skeleton. It was also because of this skill that he was able to speed up his exploration of various dangerous regions. For them, transmigrators, unknown areas had claimed too many lives. Later, the forces began to grow explosively, and local explorations turned into large-scale power struggles. The opportunities to use God¡¯s Presence became much fewer. Currently, the usage of God¡¯s Presence had shifted from controlling ordinary skeletons to controlling Demon Dolls. This spared him from having to learn the cumbersome thread-control techniques like those in the Demon¡¯s Note. Now that God¡¯s Presence had upgraded to level two, its effect had improved somewhat. ¡®Skill range +50%¡¯ ¡ª this was easy to understand. God¡¯s Presence had a range, and as the distance increased, the consumption of spiritual power also increased, exceeding the range would cause it to fail. ¡®Additional target +1¡¯. Hmm, this effect, Fang Hao was not sure whether it was the same as he had imagined. Thinking it over, he directly sat down on a wooden chair nearby. He cast God¡¯s Presence. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? The next second, a skeleton warrior that passed by in front of him ignited its Soul Fire within its eye sockets. Fang Hao¡¯s consciousness descended upon it. But in his mind, he felt that he could control a second one. With a thought. The skeleton warrior by his side also ignited its Soul Fire within the eye sockets. In Fang Hao¡¯s mind, it was as if he had split screens up like on a monitor. They saw each other and also saw himself slumped on the wooden chair nearby. Indeed¡­ It really was the imagined ¡®+1¡¯, his consciousness could descend upon two undead. As for Compatibility, there was no need to verify further, it dealt with the compatibility of the control targets; the higher the compatibility, the more agile the movements, and the lower the consumption of spiritual power. He released God¡¯s Presence. The Soul Fire of the two skeletons extinguished. He hurried back into the patrol team to continue his duties. Fang Hao came to his senses from the wooden chair, feeling quite amazed. He then released a Demon Doll and cast God¡¯s Presence. He could immediately control the body of the Demon Doll. The Demon Doll, different from the ordinary skeleton. While controlling the Doll, he would not lose control over himself. And now upon casting, not only could he control the Demon Doll, he himself could also maintain control, and he also felt in his mind. He could control another one. With a thought, the skeleton warrior that had run far away ignited its Soul Fire within the eye sockets again. It left the group and walked back. But when switching to skeleton, he instantly lost consciousness and fell down again. Ah! So that¡¯s how it was used. As long as he controlled a skeleton, he would lose consciousness. He wondered what effect controlling two Demon Dolls would have. He was quite satisfied with these two upgrades. Having understood enough, Fang Hao immediately released them all and sat up again. The skeleton warrior then casually looked around and hurriedly caught up with its patrol team. He continued to check the Sorcery Sanctum. Two skills could still be upgraded. [Bone Manipulation Technique Level 2: Shadowstone 8, Essence of Magic 3, Skeleton troops 10, Warfire Coins 500.] [God¡¯s Presence Level 2: Shadowstone 40, Essence of Magic 15, Skeleton troops 150, Warfire Coins 3000.] The skill upgrades required significantly more materials. After choosing the ¡®Skeleton Warrior¡¯ for the consumed skeleton troops, he confirmed the upgrade. The building once again rose up in a glow and displayed a countdown. [Bone Manipulation Technique Level 2: 119 hours 59 minutes¡­] [God¡¯s Presence Level 2: 335 hours 59 minutes¡­] He calculated in his mind. Bone Manipulation Technique five days, God¡¯s Presence 14 days. It was acceptable. As the skills upgraded themselves, Fang Hao continued walking back. ¡­ He returned to the lord¡¯s mansion. As soon as he stepped into the hallway, he saw two figures rapidly pouncing toward him. ¡°Master¡­¡± Eira and Little White, one on the left and one on the right, clung to his waist, eagerly burrowing into his embrace. Behind them, Red Fruit, Round Round, and a few other maids were also waiting with wide eyes, looking at him joyfully. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m back¡­¡± Fang Hao gently patted the backs of the two women. The two women let go, and Fang Hao continued, ¡°Anyone want to go to the hot springs?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!!¡± the maids cheered. Chapter 1008 - Chapter 1008: Chapter 619, Hard to Control Chapter 1008: Chapter 619, Hard to Control The next morning dawned. I lay my thigh and arm aside, Stretched lazily, and rolled out of bed. Glancing at the figure on the bed, I muttered to myself, ¡°Fairies sucking the soul from a man, indeed it¡¯s true.¡± After a quick wash, I continued my morning exercise. As I passed by the Viscera Museum, I stopped in my tracks, then stepped back. And walked straight in. Inside the museum, the funeral priests were still busy with their tasks. Seeing Fang Hao enter, they all bowed in salute. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, how¡¯s the orc corpse that was sent over a couple of days ago?¡± Fang Hao asked. Nelson had not yet returned, and only the Corpse Witch knew the ritual of conversion. So Fang Hao worried that in this season, the corpse might rot or cause some contagious disease. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? One of the funeral priests said, ¡°My lord, we have already cleaned the corpse¡¯s viscera, dehydrated and reshaped it; it can be preserved for a long time. We just need to wait for Scholar Nelson¡¯s return, and direct spell release ritual and final embalming can be done.¡± ¡°Oh, how many corpses are there?¡± ¡°Three hero corpses were sent over,¡± the funeral priest answered. Fang Hao nodded and swept a glance at the hall. In the corner, there were several piles of white bones. These white bones belonged to the Undead heroes whose Soul Fires Queen Amanda had extinguished during the assault on the Great Cemetery. The Undead heroes, their Soul Fire extinguished, could no longer be transformed into heroes. But they could be turned into Demon Dolls. The method for crafting Demon Dolls was also in Nelson¡¯s hands, and he too needed to return. Now with Nelson not around, the work in the Viscera Museum had come to a halt. Turning his gaze away, Fang Hao directly opened the Book of Lords and sent a private message to Dong Jiayue. ¡°Jia Yue! Haven¡¯t you finished over there yet? Has Amanda kidnapped you or something?¡± Fang Hao asked half-jokingly. Soon, Dong Jiayue sent back a reply. She said, ¡°Queen Amanda is mobilizing troops to reclaim the various cities within the region. These past few days, she¡¯s brought back a large population to the Federation, so it¡¯s been quite busy.¡± After the successful restoration of her kingdom, There were still a large number of cities and villages within the region unaware of the fall of Black Horn City. Amanda needed to organize forces to either persuade them to surrender or capture them. To have all cities and villages in the region recognize Amanda¡¯s authority. But bringing people back from the Federation, what was that about? Dordy certainly hadn¡¯t agreed to compensate with people. Unable to figure it out, I had to ask, ¡°What people, where are they from?¡± Dong Jiayue answered, ¡°Oh, remember the recent attack on Santerbourg? Afterward, Amanda had populations from nearby villages brought over to fill the demographic void in the region.¡± In fact, after capturing Santerbourg, Amanda had the capability to continue and take the second city. The reason for the slowdown in the offensive was largely due to relocating the surrounding villagers. She knew time was of the essence and that Fang Hao might order her to stop the assault at any moment. Thus, she intentionally gave the Federation Army time to breathe, deliberately slowing down the Federation¡¯s sense of urgency regarding the war. It dragged on for a whole day. During this time, Amanda had the troops relocate all the villagers nearby. And took them directly back into the ¡®Anglina¡¯ Region. Even if the Federation pursued the matter later, with the people untraceable and the Federation¡¯s inability to retaliate, they¡¯d have no choice but to accept the loss in silence. ¡°How many people?¡± Fang Hao asked. Having Amanda handle tasks turned me into just another piece on the board. She indeed acted according to my requests, but she often managed to do more than what was originally planned. And I couldn¡¯t find fault with that or use it as an excuse to blame her. She was too hard to control. ¡°Probably more than two thousand villagers, and over ten thousand captive soldiers,¡± Dong Jiayue said. The number of villagers seems reasonable, like that of three or four villages. The captive soldiers would likely be ransomed back by the Federation. So, no big problem there. ¡°Is Amanda with you?¡± Fang Hao continued to inquire. ¡°I¡¯ll go over now. Tell me what your message is, and I¡¯ll pass it to her.¡± ¡°Hmm, ask her when she is letting you return,¡± Fang Hao sent another message. About twenty minutes later, Dong Jiayue responded, ¡°Queen Amanda says there are still several cities and areas to recover. It should take about half a month before we can return.¡± Another half month. The time it takes to pacify the territories is longer than the time taken to capture them. Fang Hao pondered for a moment, then asked further, ¡°Tell Amanda that the main city captured Furious Lion City, and we need Nelson back here to preside over the Viscera Museum.¡± ¡°Queen Amanda says that¡¯s alright; she can send Nelson back right now.¡± Ah! This time Amanda agreed readily, without making up reasons to keep Nelson there. And that makes sense. The main city here, too, needed its share of heroes to stand guard. She couldn¡¯t possibly transfer them all to her side. After confirming his location, Fang Hao directly released a teleportation screen, and the next second, Nelson, clad in a black robe with golden patterns, walked out from the screen. Looking around at his surroundings, he bowed to Fang Hao, ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve worked hard, Scholar Nelson,¡± Fang Hao said softly. ¡°It¡¯s what I ought to do, my lord.¡± Fang Hao nodded and continued, ¡°The territory has taken Furious Lion City; we have a few hero corpses here that need Scholar Nelson¡¯s attention.¡± Nelson glanced towards the room where the corpses were stored, ¡°Good, I will prepare the curse-release ritual right away.¡± ¡°Hmm, besides the corpses, there are a few bones without souls that will be turned into Demon Dolls later on.¡± Chapter 1009 - Chapter 1009: Chapter 619, Hard to Control_2 Chapter 1009: Chapter 619, Hard to Control_2 ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Nelson bowed slightly again. Then, he started to direct a group of funeral priests to prepare a variety of materials and goods. They were preparing to perform the dispelling ritual. ¡­ After leaving the Viscera Museum, they went straight back to the lord¡¯s mansion. The maids had already begun their work, and Eira had prepared breakfast. Eira¡¯s cooking was truly exquisite, with all the dishes on the table being favorites. As they ate, Eira continued, ¡°During the days you were away, the Lizard Queen made numerous requests to visit. Since you were not here, Master Doujin did not allow her to come over.¡± Fang Hao put a piece of shrimp into his mouth and asked, ¡°To buy equipment?¡± ¡°She mentioned looking at equipment, but it seemed more like she was here to see Demitrija,¡± Little White added from the side. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right! The Lizard Queen really does value Demitrija,¡± Fang Hao conceded, finding Little White¡¯s observations reasonable. After all, there was no need for her to visit so frequently just for equipment. More likely, she was here to see Demitrija. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï It seemed that the queen had truly taken a liking to Demitrija. ¡°Demitrija and the queen, is it possible?¡± Little White continued to inquire. While eating, Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°One is a queen, and the other is an orange hero. If the two of them are willing, there shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± ¡°But, they haven¡¯t met many times, have they?¡± ¡°Love at first sight is also very possible. Maybe the queen likes the kind of cool yet steady man that Demitrija is!¡± ¡°Then, could the queen have several men?¡± Fang Hao was startled by the question¡­ Well, it was indeed possible. ¡°Um, when the time comes, it will be up to Demitrija. If he¡¯s willing, then we¡¯ll have to let Demitrija be the leader of the harem,¡± he said. ¡°Right.¡± Influenced by serialized novels, terms like harem and vying for favor had broadened the knowledge of words and postures among the maids. Now, talking with Fang Hao felt more like a modern conversation. They finished a simple breakfast. The dishes were cleared away. Fang Hao took out bottles of potions from his storage space and placed them on the table. ¡°Eira, these are the ¡®Intermediate Physique Enhancing Potion,¡¯ ¡®Ephemeral Years Potion,¡¯ and ¡®Piercing Spirit Medicine.¡¯ When the time comes, distribute one bottle per person; they are all for your training use,¡± he said. The types of potions mainly included three kinds. [Intermediate Physique Enhancing Potion][Ephemeral Years Potion][Piercing Spirit Medicine]. The Intermediate Physique Enhancing Potion was an enhanced version designed to increase the consumer¡¯s physique, actually belonging to the same category as the Demon Dragon Potion, only its effects were not as potent. The second, Ephemeral Years Potion, was a Level 3 potion that increased the efficiency of all forms of training. The third kind, Piercing Spirit Medicine, was a Level 4 potion. Even with a 30% discount from the Alchemy Association, each bottle still cost 720 Warfire Coins. Its effect was to enhance training intuition and the chance of comprehending skills. These were potions purchased from the Alchemy Association. They were only a part of what was intended for the training use of these rabbit girls. Whether it was the Tauren Clan or the Spiderlings Clan, even though both had individuals who improved rapidly, Fang Hao trusted most those rabbit and fox girls around himself. After all, there was a contract involved, and the lowest Loyalty they now had was 98, with the rest at 100. If there was anyone to prioritize for training, it was certainly those he trusted. As for the other races, Fang Hao would also introduce these potions in subsequent regional merchandise for members of various races to purchase. Once Eira understood the effects of the potions, she nodded and stored them away. Even though she knew that the potions were expensive, the master was doing it for their well-being. Still, the thought of training was somewhat distressing. Training was not an easy task. ¡°Um, thank you, master,¡± Eira said with gratitude. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Hold off on using the Piercing Medicine until Anjia returns, then start using that potion.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°By the way, how is Millie doing now? What level is she at? I haven¡¯t seen her for a long time,¡± Fang Hao asked. Millie was the petite, white, lop-eared rabbit maid with a disproportionately ample figure ¡ª almost exaggeratedly so. But unquestionably, Millie possessed a high aptitude for combat and had always been the fastest among the maids to advance in ranks. Fang Hao had arranged for Millie to participate in some actual combat with Gray Bear. After the Gray Bear tribe dissolved, Millie was assigned to the Orc City to collect furs. With the winter gone, there had been no sign of her. Eira smiled and said, ¡°Millie stayed in Tasgo City, I heard she¡¯s learning from Bronze Bull Talok!¡± ¡°Oh, in Tasgo City, huh!¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, first distribute the potions to everyone, and then I¡¯ll head over to Furious Lion City and I¡¯ll visit Millie as well.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Eira agreed, then, pulling Little White along, she walked out with the potions. ¡­ After giving instructions to Eira, Fang Hao called Demitrija and told him that during the days he was away, the Lizardmen queen had come over several times. It¡¯s likely she was there to see him. He took a special look and noticed that there wasn¡¯t much change in Demitrija. His head was covered with a helmet, and with the blue scales, it was impossible to tell any expression. But judging from Demitrija¡¯s lack of any rebuttal, he probably didn¡¯t have a bad impression of the Lizardmen queen. ¡°These days, go have a look on the side of the Holy Empire, the merchants within the region are setting up. Have a chat with the queen,¡± Fang Hao said. Demitrija was startled, then he understood and nodded, ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, the territory is expanding, and a solid ally is essential,¡± Fang Hao continued. ¡°Understood, my Lord.¡± The two had a brief chat. Fang Hao activated the teleportation and headed to Furious Lion City. ¡­ Stepping out from the light screen, he was already in the City Lord¡¯s hall of Furious Lion City. It was still the wild Orc design style, with swords, antlers, and other decorations hanging all around the walls. ¡°City Lord!¡± At that moment, a muffled voice came from the entrance. A Tauren guard, with a large axe on his back, was looking over here. ¡°Hmm, where are Bronze Bull and Anjia?¡± Fang Hao asked. The Tauren guard immediately answered, ¡°My Lord, please wait a moment, I will call the Clan Leader and Miss Anjia right away.¡± ¡°Good, go ahead,¡± Fang Hao nodded. The Tauren guard turned and left, leaving Fang Hao and Demitrija alone. Fang Hao glanced at the empty hall. He went straight toward the throne at the front. The moment he sat down, a system prompt popped up before his eyes. [Furious Lion City has become your subsidiary city, you may ¡®rename¡¯ the city here, command over its six subsidiary villages and camps.} The Orc society is divided like this. Each city is in a state of independence. Warring and plundering each other. If the Orcs could be unified and have stable order, with their numbers spread far and wide, they could absolutely become a top-tier force. Instead of being a faction even worse than the human Federation. [Furious Lion City] [City Level: Level 11 native city] [Attributes: Orc reproduction +15%, ore mining +10%, livestock industry +20%, commerce +5%, Furious Lion Clan Bloodline +10%.] (Description: A city with attributes can bring various kinds of benefits, speeding up the construction and development of the city.) Like Tasgo City, Furious Lion City is also a Level 11 city. On the attribute side, it has increased ore mining and the livestock industry. It¡¯s considered a standard Orc city. The only difference is the last item. There¡¯s an added Furious Lion Clan Bloodline +10%. [Furious Lion Clan Bloodline: Enhances the chances of talents and heroes emerging from this clan.] Well, well. This Furious Lion Clan has really managed Furious Lion City as its own exclusive Tribe, adding a unique attribute to the city. Moreover, it looks like the Furious Lion Clan¡¯s bloodline is not ordinary at all. ¡­ At this moment, footsteps were heard outside. Bronze Bull Talok, Anjia, and several Orcs strode in. Seeing Fang Hao on the throne, they saluted in unison, ¡°City Lord.¡± Chapter 1010 - Chapter 1010: Chapter 620, Embrace of the Deep Sea Chapter 1010: Chapter 620, Embrace of the Deep Sea Fang Hao had just closed the Book of Lords and looked up. ¡°Yes, please take a seat.¡± The Bronze Bull and a few others sat down on the seats nearby. Among those taking a seat, besides some orcs he recognized, he could also see orcs with particularly lush fur and strong physiques. Fang Hao had never seen the Furious Lion Clan before, but he could confirm their identity from their appearance. His gaze swept over them briefly. He continued looking at Bronze Bull and asked, ¡°How is it going, is everything stable here?¡± Bronze Bull nodded, ¡°My Lord, everything has already stabilized.¡± The stability of Orc City. This was referring to military control and that the city¡¯s residents wouldn¡¯t gather to rebel. As long as these two conditions were met, one could say control over the city was assured. As for the subsequent restoration of normal order, that would have to happen gradually. Among orcs, the law of the jungle prevailed. Constantly shifting between victor and vanquished, they could quickly accept reality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Good, everyone else can leave for now, Bronze Bull and Anjia, you stay,¡± Fang Hao said. The group of orcs all paid their respects and then left. In the hall, only four, including Demitrija, remained. Fang Hao continued to inquire, ¡°How did the attack on Furious Lion City go, was it smooth?¡± Anjia replied, ¡°Smoothly, we took the city in one night, and nothing out of the ordinary happened.¡± While she wasn¡¯t in sole command, it was the first battle Anjia had led. She still wanted to boast a little. Fang Hao nodded, then asked, ¡°What about the City Lord here? What have you done with them?¡± Bronze Bull glanced at Anjia. She, with her large eyes rolling, said, ¡°The City Lord was a Furious Lion orange-tier hero. I feared that if his injuries healed, we¡¯d likely face danger from him, so I killed him.¡± Her reasoning sounded logical, but one looking at Anjia¡¯s constantly shifting eyes. Would know there was a personal grudge involved to some extent. But it didn¡¯t matter; part of the reason Fang Hao had let Anjia lead the campaign was indeed to seek revenge for her. He still remembered the story Anjia once told him. She was lucky to be alive and healthy today. It was thanks to the strength of her own Fighting Tooth bloodline, otherwise, she would have died outside long ago. ¡°How is the Furious Lion Clan faring now? Is there any danger?¡± Fang Hao continued. The city¡¯s attributes included bonuses from the Furious Lion Clan. If the Furious Lion Clan could be controlled, it could be a viable path for cultivation. After some thought, Bronze Bull was the first to speak, ¡°The Furious Lion Clan lost most of their manpower; there are barely a thousand members left in the tribe now. They seem quite cooperative at the moment and aren¡¯t showing any signs of seeking revenge or resisting.¡± A thousand members was not a small number. ¡°Okay, observe them for a while, make sure they don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± Fang Hao went on to ask, ¡°Tellock, who do you think would be better to serve as the City Lord here?¡± Anjia was clearly not the right fit to be the City Lord. And as for Bronze Bull, not only was he currently the City Lord of Tasgo City, but he also had to look after Bronze Bull City and Manim Market afterward. Furious Lion City, located at the edge of Orc territory. Needed a City Lord to oversee it. After some contemplation, Bronze Bull said, ¡°My Lord, there aren¡¯t many fitting candidates. Miss Domina and Letoz are possible choices.¡± A Spiderling hero, Domina. With her personality and status, she wasn¡¯t suited to manage such a large city. And ¡®Letoz¡¯ was the Clan Leader of a tribe subordinate to Tasgo City, Toxic Crow ¨C Letoz. A blue-tier hero, his abilities were all related to poison and poisoning. He also wasn¡¯t quite fit to become a City Lord. After thinking it through, Fang Hao finally said, ¡°Tellock, for now, you will oversee here, and let Letoz temporarily manage Tasgo City. When I find someone suitable later, I¡¯ll have you return there.¡± Bronze Bull had been reassigned too often. People who had a good reputation and strength among the orcs were truly few. He was credible enough to takeover the city at this time. The orcs in the city would also find it easier to trust him. ¡°Yes, my Lord, I¡¯ll arrange everything properly,¡± Bronze Bull nodded in response. Fang Hao smiled, ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Tellock.¡± ¡°It is my duty, my Lord.¡± Bronze Bull didn¡¯t mind at all; as the territory rapidly expanded, the number of heroes was also growing. Being continually trusted was good in his eyes. Similarly, Bronze Bull City, with the main city¡¯s support, was developing rapidly. Paved streets, flower beds, fountains. Even now, Bronze Bull City was no worse off than Tasgo City or Furious Lion City. It all relied on Fang Hao¡¯s support, and furthermore, there was a group of young bulls in his tribe quickly rising through the ranks, who would later advance in the main city. After chatting for a bit. Anjia played host, showing Fang Hao and Demitrija around the city. Describing how things were when she had been away and how they are now. Telling stories of who had bullied her and who had come to apologize with gifts these past few days. She talked without halt. Fang Hao also noticed a change in Anjia. She had advanced to tier 10. [Fighting Tooth ¨C Anjia (Blue Tier 10 Hero)] ¡°Anjia, you are tier 10 now!¡± exclaimed Fang Hao. ¡°Ah! Didn¡¯t I tell you? I advanced just a couple of days ago,¡± Anjia casually said. In fact, Anjia¡¯s capabilities were already falling behind the pace of the territory¡¯s development. In the main city, there was Blackstone training ground, previously acquired from the Demon Alchemist, training-related potions. Chapter 1011 - Chapter 1011: Chapter 620, Embrace of the Deep Sea_2 Chapter 1011: Chapter 620, Embrace of the Deep Sea_2 It was also provided to Anjia. But in the end, she was stuck at Tier 9. No matter what she couldn¡¯t advance further, but this time, perhaps because she had overcome her mental block, Fang Hao saw that her attributes had reached Tier 10 when he checked. ¡°Great, you can advance when we get back.¡± Seeing Fang Hao more excited than herself, Anjia¡¯s face turned slightly red, and she said with a bit of shyness, ¡°What¡¯s the big deal, I¡¯m not an idiot, is advancing that exciting?¡± ¡°Haha, not stupid at all, when we get back, let Eira make you something delicious.¡± ¡°Really? I want to eat oil-braised water lizards.¡± ¡°Where did you hear about that?¡± The group strolled around the city once. There were no special buildings, nor any noteworthy scenery. It could only be considered an ordinary city. Even less than what they had gained when they attacked Tasgo City. After all, back then, they had obtained a Blackstone Training Ground, which could improve the training efficiency of the Orc race. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? They returned to the City Lord¡¯s mansion. Anjia immediately had someone bring over the items she had looted. Five chests filled with gold and silver treasures, and one golden treasure chest. He directly took the treasure chests. Then, he opened the golden treasure chest. A blaze of light instantly appeared. [Obtained: White Steel Tiger¡¯s Claw Blueprint (Blue), Furious Lion Assault Helmet Blueprint (Blue), Furious Lion Assault Armguards Blueprint (Blue), Furious Lion Assault Breastplate Blueprint (Blue), Furious Lion Assault Greaves Blueprint (Blue), Widthened Barrier Blueprint (Green), Ronka Rocking Chair*1, Hero Recruitment Scroll (Purple), Beast Tooth Stone 105, Warfire Coin 211.] Blueprints scattered on the ground around them. Even if most of them were blue, the quality of this chest was very high. It was probably close to platinum. Fang Hao was familiar with the [White Steel Tiger¡¯s Claw]; it was what Anjia used at the beginning. It was worn on the finger. It was a rather niche weapon. Anjia had already switched to an orange pair of gauntlets, and her previous White Steel Tiger¡¯s Claw had been placed on the weapon rack and collected. The blueprints below were for the [Furious Lion Assault Set], a third-tier blue set for defense. The set was Assault, instantly increasing attack speed and critical hit rate. It was still a pretty good piece of equipment. But blue equipment was quite common in Fang Hao¡¯s hands by now; both Orc and Undead had several sets with different properties. And for important trusted aides, like Fang Hao¡¯s own, Rebecca¡¯s, and those around Dong Jiayue. They had already started switching to the purple [Temple Guardians Set]. These blueprints, at most, were just expansion blueprints and could also be sold on the channel. The grid window blueprint and the rocking chair weren¡¯t particularly special. He cataloged all the blueprints. His gaze then fell on the final hero recruitment scroll. This was the most valuable reward in the chest. After thinking for a moment, he stored the scroll in his storage space to recruit heroes once he returned. After handling the matters here. He talked with Bronze Bull for a moment, then directly activated the teleportation. Taking Demitrija and Anjia with him, he left for Tasgo City. In Tasgo City, he summoned ¡®Toxic Crow ¨C Letoz¡¯ and asked him to temporarily manage Tasgo City. Being entrusted with such responsibility suddenly, Letoz was very excited. His loyalty jumped by 5 points, going from 82 to 87. He saluted continuously, assuring that he would do well. The bottles filled with colorful potions jangled at his waist, and Fang Hao was worried that Letoz might break them and accidentally poison himself. After encouraging him a couple of times, Fang Hao let him leave. Then, Fang Hao met with Millie, the rabbit girl who, up to now, still hadn¡¯t returned to the main city. ¡°Ah! Master¡­¡± Millie glanced around and exclaimed in surprise, throwing herself towards him. Fang Hao steadied her head and pinched her chubby cheeks, saying, ¡°Well, well, nobody to supervise you, and you¡¯ve become a ball.¡± [Millie (Tier 9 Orc Warrior)] She, among the maids, had the most combat talent. And had already reached Tier 9. ¡°No way, I¡¯m learning city management with Clan Leader Bronze Bull,¡± Millie defended. ¡°Wait and come back with me; you¡¯ve been running around too much,¡± Fang Hao said softly, giving her a mild reprimand. In the main city, with the Blackstone Training Ground, plus potions, Millie could quickly become a hero. Wandering outside all the time seemed to slow her progression. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have gotten so fat. ¡°Oh, okay then!¡± ¡­ Main City. ¡°Sister Eira, I won¡¯t dare to do it again¡­¡± A series of slapping sounds was followed by Millie¡¯s pained pleas for mercy. Deciding for herself to stay in Tasgo City without sending any messages clearly infuriated the elder sister, Eira. Upon returning, she had dragged Millie to the backyard for a spanking. Elsewhere. Fang Hao took Anjia and went straight to the ¡®Merit Training Ground¡¯. ¡°Keep a calm mind, just do your best,¡± Fang Hao instructed. The advancement of a hero is something the outside world cannot interfere with. Nor can they bring any Divine Artifacts or scrolls, everything relies on oneself. If the requirements are met, advancement is possible; if not, one can only try again next time. ¡°Yeah, I got it, but what reward will you give me if I advance?¡± Anjia asked while walking. ¡°What do you want? Aside from eating those strange and unusual things,¡± Fang Hao stressed. After a moment of thought, Anjia said, ¡°I want my own Aerial Ship, and then I want to take Lorrey and the others to have fun.¡± An Aerial Ship, eh? No big deal. ¡°Alright, as long as you pass, you¡¯ll get one exclusively for you.¡± ¡°I also want to go to the Trade Alliance headquarters for fun, with Lorrey,¡± Anjia continued. ¡°Sure!¡± ¡°And I want a golden cloak¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine too¡­ wait, didn¡¯t you say just one reward?¡± ¡°Last one, I want to stay with you tonight.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try what we did last time; I promise it won¡¯t be painful.¡± At this, Anjia¡¯s face turned slightly red. She pinched him on the waist and said no more. The two made their way to the ¡®Merit Training Ground¡¯, where Fang Hao handed over the prepared hero certificate and 500 Warfire Coins to her. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, just be at your best,¡± Fang Hao said. Anjia nodded, walked to the center of the testing ground, and disappeared under a shroud of light. ¡­ After Anjia disappeared, Fang Hao did not leave right away. Instead, he took out the purple recruitment scroll he had obtained in Furious Lion City. Planning to use this time to employ the scroll. To see what kind of hero he could summon. With so many heroes in his territory now, purple heroes were not urgently needed. Thinking about it, the potential threat the territory could face was from the Dragon Clan. Being a naturally top-tier race, the dragons still posed a significant threat. ¡°Come on, aerial hero, aerial hero, aerial hero,¡± he prayed silently three times. [Do you want to use the hero recruitment scroll? Using it will randomly recruit one purple hero.]¡± Use it! Then, the scroll in his hand emitted a faint glow and slowly dissipated like burning paper. The next second, a complex array appeared on the vacant ground before him. Under the cover of the purple light, a figure slowly rose from the ground. ¡°Damn! It has a tail.¡± In the dim outlines, he could make out the silhouette of a thick tail. Those with such tails are Lizardmen and the Dragon Clan. As the intense light began to fade, the outline became clearer. Fang Hao¡¯s smile also faded as he surmised from the figure that it probably was not a member of the Dragon Clan. Could it be another Lizardman? Not that there was anything wrong with Lizardmen, but comparatively, he was hoping for a Dragon Clan hero. The light dissipated. Quite an odd figure appeared before Fang Hao. He instinctively took a step back. This was a female. Um, ¡­ A humanoid hero with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a serpentine tail, covered in fine scales. She had four slender arms, each wrist adorned with golden bracelets. Exposed collarbones and waist, and only the critical areas of her chest covered with two golden bras ¡®armor¡¯? Black, dense long hair, mischievous eyes, and pale purple lips. Locking eyes with her felt like being stared at by a venomous snake. Seductive, dangerous. [Deep Sea Embrace ¨C Himiko (Purple Tier 8 Hero)] Dammit, a Snake Woman now. Chapter 1012 - Chapter 1012: Chapter 621, Pirate Leader Chapter 1012: Chapter 621, Pirate Leader [Embrace of the Deep Sea ¨C Beiyehu (Purple Tier Eight Hero)] [Faction: Sea Tribe] [Template: Purple] [Racial Traits: Living creatures, Amphibious, Soul of the Sea Tribe] [Legion Skills: Source of Magic, Ride the Wind and Waves, Remote Command, Mage Commander.] [Skills: Wave Cut Sword, Mirror Image, Soothe, Tsunami, Water Grave, Blizzard, Summon Water Elemental.] [Fixed Skills: Advanced Strength Mastery, Advanced Swordsmanship Mastery, Domain Hydromastery, Domain Water Elemental Mastery.] [Soul of the Sea Tribe]: Protected by the great sea, in river and ocean environments, all attributes +15%, innately proficient in Water Elemental Magic, able to quickly learn and master Water Elemental Magic. [Ride the Wind and Waves]: The army led by this unit, in river, lake, and ocean environments, has +50% Movement Speed. [Wave Cut Sword (Active)]: Slice through the wind and waves, dealing an extra 80% Water Elemental damage. [Mirror Image (Active)]: Condense up to four controlled mirror elements, with the mirror elements inheriting 30% of the original¡¯s Attack Power. [Soothe (Active)]: The singing voice can charm all surrounding enemies into a peaceful, stunned state. (The singing is affected by distance, enemy willpower affects the charm effect, and the charm fails if damage is taken.) Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? [Tsunami (Active)]: A massive wave crashes against the enemy, drenching all enemy forces and dealing 180% Magic damage. (Terrain conditions: Rivers, Lakes, Oceans.) [Water Grave (Active)]: Condenses a water prison to trap enemies within, inflicting continuous water pressure damage and suffocation damage. (Undead units are not affected by suffocation.) [Blizzard (Active)]: Creates a ¡®Blizzard¡¯ in the battlefield area, dealing 270% Magic damage to enemies. Soaked units enter a frostbitten state. [Summon Water Elemental (Active)]: Can summon up to four Water Elementals to assist in battle. (Description: In a tavern filled with the foul stench of filth, tales of ¡®Beiyehu¡¯ circulate, telling of when countless sailboats enter that cursed rocky sea, the helmsmen are bewitched, slowly bringing the vessels closer to the cliffs. Notorious pirates, under the leadership of ¡®Beiyehu¡¯, board the ships, piercing everyone¡¯s hearts with icy spears and plundering all their cargo before feeding their corpses to the monsters of the deep sea. If you wish to set sail, never forget, in addition to praying to the Sea God, to be wary of ¡®Beiyehu¡¯ as well.) After reading the hero¡¯s attributes, Fang Hao¡¯s brows instantly furrowed. It was clear that the hero before him was a Water Elemental Mage. Being of the Sea Tribe, all her skills were related to water as well. Especially the [Soul of the Sea Tribe], protected by the great sea, where all attributes increase by 15% in rivers and oceans. This racial trait alone made it stronger than most other races. But the problem was. This was land, and there was a river outside the city. But that river was too small, fine for washing clothes or catching a couple of fish. It definitely wasn¡¯t suitable for battles to occur. Then there was the freshwater lake near Fu Lei, which now had been turned into a fish pond. Enemies were unlikely in a freshwater lake on land, there was no need for a hero. He did need a mage hero. But not the kind of mage who could only show her full strength at sea. Holding back his torrent of complaints, he continued to look at her skills. [Wave Cut Sword] was a melee skill, which Fang Hao guessed had something to do with her four arms. One for the magic wand, the rest could wield swords. [Mirror Image], a skill of cloning, could create four clones with 30% of one¡¯s own combat power. That was a decent ability that could make a difference in battle and could also help one escape when in danger. [Soothe] was the legendary siren¡¯s song, capable of beguiling people. According to the game, it was a control skill. The subsequent skills [Tsunami] and [Water Grave] were all Water Elemental Magic. [Tsunami] had restrictions, requiring river, lake, or sea to unleash, but [Water Grave] had no such constraints. It didn¡¯t require much water and was meant to trap and damage enemies, a combination of control and offensive skills. [Blizzard] seemed more like an ultimate move. The previous skills featured the characteristic of wetting the enemy, and Blizzard added a state where soaked units would become frostbitten. It was a skill that matched well with the rest. Last was [Summon Water Elemental], a skill Fang Hao was very familiar with and didn¡¯t need to look at further. After studying her attributes and skills, Fang Hao still glanced at the character description below. And with that look, his frown deepened even more. My goodness¡­ what bad luck I have, to have recruited a villain. This wasn¡¯t his first time using a recruitment scroll, having recruited heroes from various factions before. But previous heroes, though from different factions, didn¡¯t have a clear distinction between good and evil. They all fought for their countries and forces. It was hard to label them as good or bad individuals. But this Snake Woman was different. She was simply a villain, a pirate¡­ a leader who lured ships close, then looted their goods and killed all aboard. At that moment, Fang Hao looked up to find the Snake Woman staring back at him. In her gaze, aside from curiosity, there was a hint of malicious malevolence. As if she was contemplating how to best deal with this person to maximize her own benefits. ¡°You¡­¡± Fang Hao was about to speak. When the Snake Woman¡¯s purple lips parted slightly, a melodious hum surged forth instantaneously. Fang Hao¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. Instinctively, he started walking forward. Being a mage himself, and with his body fortified by various potions, he was comparable to a hero in strength. It was just a momentary lapse before he snapped back to reality. Shocked, he realized she had dared to use a skill on him¡­ Looking towards her, The Snake Woman was swaying her tail, swiftly approaching him. Fang Hao was startled and immediately started to back away. As the distance between the two sides grew ever closer, a gust of wind blew by Fang Hao¡¯s side, and Anjia¡¯s figure leaped past him, heading straight for the Snake Woman. The Snake Woman¡¯s expression altered, as her body slithered on the ground like a snake, rapidly increasing the distance between them. At the same time, she extended her hand and beckoned. Four figures, identical to her, appeared. To block Anjia who was in hot pursuit. Detecting the skill released before her, Anjia also recognized it was a clone ability. With a straight punch and a whip kick, she instantly shattered two of the clones, leaving only traces of water on the ground. Meanwhile, the Snake Woman took the opportunity to widen the gap even further. Gathering her Magic Power once again, four Water Elementals appeared before her. Water bullets launched from the Water Elementals, hurtling towards Anjia. Anjia¡¯s body was also exceedingly nimble, she dodged while swiftly moving in on the remaining mirror images. Another straight punch, an elbow strike, and she burst the head of another clone. Fang Hao, observing the scene before him, also recognized the danger posed by the Snake Woman. Pulling out his Magic Wand, he began to gather his own Magic. The Multi-Headed Fire Python and the Flame Spider took form, launching attacks at the enemy. At the same time, Skills like the thunder spear bombarded the opposition. Anjia engaged in close combat, while Fang Hao bombarded the enemy with long-range fire and thunder Magic. In an instant, they suppressed the enemy¡¯s offensive. But at that moment, dense footsteps surrounded them. Demitrija, Frederick, and a host of Undead surged like a tide, closing in from all directions. Encircling them so tightly, there was no escape. Anjia retreated back to the rear. ¡°My lord, what¡¯s going on?¡± Demitrija, standing before Fang Hao, inquired vigilantly. Fang Hao glanced at the Snake Woman in front of him and said coldly, ¡°Take her down. If she resists, execute her immediately.¡± Demitrija gave a wave of his hand. The Skeletons with heavy shields and spears formed a circular barrier, with spears pointing through the gaps of the shields towards the Snake Woman in the middle, slowly tightening the circle. Around the perimeter, a flood of Skeleton archers had their bows drawn and aimed. At a single command, they could ensure that the Snake Woman in the center would turn into a pile of mush. At this point, the Snake Woman realized the severity of her situation. Looking around at the dense Skeleton soldiers, she knew she had overplayed her hand. She didn¡¯t dare make any further movements. Setting aside the few heroes, just the Skeleton soldiers currently on land could directly kill her. Standing her ground, she loudly said, ¡°I have no ill intentions!¡± As she spoke, her body sank down slightly, resembling the height of a human kneeling. The closing shield wall halted when the spears touched her skin. Neither advancing further nor retreating. And the Snake Woman, tense, found herself unable to move at all. Fang Hao looked at the Snake Woman and said coldly, ¡°Were you trying to kill me?¡± ¡°No, I would not dare!¡± the Snake Woman responded. ¡°No? More like you didn¡¯t succeed!¡± Fang Hao¡¯s voice grew even colder. Lashing out with Skills from the start couldn¡¯t possibly be seen as a friendly gesture. Heroes summoned by a recruitment scroll aren¡¯t bound by as strict a hero contract as signed heroes. Therefore, Fang Hao had reason to suspect that the Snake Woman intended to kill him. ¡°No, I merely wanted to test your strength, not to take your life,¡± the Snake Woman spoke again, hastily explaining. I believe you¡¯re full of crap, pirate. Fang Hao opened the Book of Lords to check the hero¡¯s Loyalty. ¡°[Embrace of the Deep ¨C Beiyehu, current Loyalty 72 points.]¡± Not too high, nor too low. Demitrija and Aseti both had quite high Loyalty when they were summoned. The lowest before was Nelson, who also had 80 points. But Nelson spoke politely, exuding the air of an old scholar. Unlike this one¡ªwho from the outset released Skills and then charged in. If it wasn¡¯t for Anjia¡¯s timely intervention, there was a good chance he would have been in danger. ¡°Do you understand your position?¡± Fang Hao continued to ask. The Snake Woman, still rigid, answered, ¡°Yes, I am one of your subordinates.¡± ¡°So, do you think it¡¯s reasonable for a subordinate to attack their leader upon first meeting?¡± Fang Hao asked again. The Snake Woman tried to speak but, at a loss for words, shut her mouth again. Fang Hao looked at Demitrija and Frederick and asked, ¡°What do you think we should do with her?¡± The Dwarf Skeleton hero ¡®Frederick,¡¯ rubbing his now beardless chin, said, ¡°We can kill her. Nelson can turn her corpse into a Skeleton hero, that way we can avoid any dangers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea¡­¡± Fang Hao nodded. Demitrija also nodded in agreement at the side. It seemed that everyone thought this Snake Woman was difficult to control and likely to cause problems. As the Snake Woman listened to their conversation, surrounded on all sides, she felt a tightness in her chest. I¡¯ll be damned, all Skeletons around and now they want to turn me into one. Are these people demons? Chapter 1013 - Chapter 1013: Chapter 622, City Lords Mansion is hiring...... Chapter 1013: Chapter 622, City Lord¡¯s Mansion is hiring¡­¡­ Hearing the discussion of the few individuals, the Snake Woman also became tense. She hurriedly said, ¡°It was my fault for breaking the rules just now, I accept the punishment.¡± She did not believe that the other party¡¯s words were merely to scare her. After all, this place was densely packed with Skeletons. It clearly had some special connection with the Undead. Lest they indeed turn her into such a Skeleton. Fang Hao, gazing through the gaps in his shield, looked at the body that was straightened by the spears and said, ¡°Now I have a reason to kill you, give me a reason not to kill you.¡± This, ¡­ . ¡°I swear by the Sea God that I will not strike you again,¡± said the Snake Woman, her bewitching eyes glancing at him. Fang Hao slowly raised his arm, about to order her execution. Swearing by the Sea God? You, a pirate leader, swear by the Sea God? It is dubious whether the Sea God acknowledges you as a follower or not. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Seeing Fang Hao raise his hand, the Snake Woman became even more nervous. She continued, ¡°I am a hero of the Sea Tribe, I can swear loyalty to you. My role on the seas and rivers is irreplaceable by other heroes. I can capture many ships and a lot of money for you, just give me some men, and I can bring you treasures and women, women of every race.¡± Still felt very much like a pirate. Taking money and kidnapping women, it was essentially the same, whether as bandits or pirates. Actually, Fang Hao did not want to kill her, but her previous actions had indeed angered him. Directly using Skills on him was an extremely dangerous move. He continued, ¡°According to your pirate rules, how should an attempt to assassinate the leader be handled?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t an assassination, just testing your strength,¡± she replied. Fang Hao slightly waved his hand, the Skeleton holding the spear stepped forward half a step. The lower half of the Snake Woman¡¯s body, covered in fine scales, indeed had some toughness. As the long spear depressed, her upper body, which was more like human skin, suffered wounds that bled under the force of the spear. The Snake Woman clenched her teeth, daring not to move her body. She said, ¡°Death for failed assassination of the leader, but if it¡¯s just a challenge, a hundred lashes, hanging from a cliff for three days to be pecked at by seabirds.¡± This pirate method sure is simple and violent. A hundred lashes might take away half of one¡¯s life, and hanging there, exposed for three days could only be survived by heroes. Fang Hao continued, ¡°Which category do you think you fall under?¡± ¡°The second kind.¡± ¡°Fine, then let¡¯s go by the second option. Take her to the Blood Prison, hand her over to Black Thorn, give a hundred lashes, then hang her on the gallows to sun for three days,¡± Fang Hao declared outright. ¡°Yes, my Lord,¡± Demitrija replied, ordering people to immediately escort the Snake Woman away. This time, the Snake Woman did not resist. Perhaps with the current situation, she had no opportunity to resist. Seeing her being taken away, Fang Hao still felt somewhat uneasy. He continued, ¡°Arrange for two ¡®Nisbits¡¯ to go to the Blood Prison, if she tries to escape, kill her.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Demitrija nodded again. Next, the Skeleton soldiers departed, and Fang Hao, walking back with Anjia. Summoning a pirate was beyond Fang Hao¡¯s expectations. Such a personality was indeed troublesome. But fortunately, this Snake Woman was not as mad as the pirates depicted in films; she knew enough to fear death. She could be kept for further observation. If it doesn¡¯t work out, turn her into a Skeleton after all. ¡­ On the way back, he took a careful look at Anjia. [Fighting Tooth ¨C Anjia (Purple Tier 1 Hero)] Indeed, she had successfully advanced, although it was just a normal promotion to Tier 1, she had also entered the category of purple. In this world¡¯s context, purple was also a high-level hero. And after advancing to purple, Anjia seemed taller and her body more athletic. Hero advancement was indeed quite beneficial. Then, he opened the Book of Lords to check Anjia¡¯s attributes. Skills had improved but hadn¡¯t changed much. That was good too, stronger was better; she wasn¡¯t a Mage, why need so many Skills? ¡°I¡¯ve advanced, don¡¯t forget what you promised me,¡± Anjia reminded him, not feeling reassured. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to forget, I, a wealthy lord, would not deceive you,¡± Fang Hao said outright. ¡°Then take me and Lorrey to play in the Trade Alliance tonight!¡± Anjia said. Fang Hao looked at the time, ¡°It¡¯s too late today, let¡¯s do it in a couple of days.¡± Anjia felt that made sense, ¡°Then give me the Aerial Ship now, I¡¯ll go find Lorrey.¡± ¡°The Aerial Ship is still on the way back.¡± ¡°What about my golden cloak?¡± ¡°Wait, let the tailor make it for you.¡± ¡°You motherf****r¡­¡± Anjia burst forth and lunged towards Fang Hao. Fang Hao opened his arms and embraced her, saying, ¡°Let Eira make you something delicious today, we¡¯ll take care of the rest later.¡± Anjia pulled his hair hard twice, but there was nothing else she could do. In the evening. Eira prepared a lavish dinner. She also invited Lorrey over, holding a small celebration for Anjia. Indeed satisfied Anjia¡¯s slight conceit. And she experienced the joy of family. After dinner, she immediately went with Lorrey to find the tailor, transforming what was one golden cloak into two, one large and one small. Make one for Lorrey as well. This side. Guided by Demitrija, Fang Hao walked through the forest and past the gallows. The gallows were located on the edge of the city. Actually, in the main city this side, no one was really hanged. Even murderers were simply chopped with a single stroke and thrown into the transformation yard. The most punishment the maids received was a spanking from Eira; they never used the gallows. Passing through rows of buildings. They then arrived at the area with the gallows. From afar, they could see the Snake Woman hanging, and the two Nisbits standing by her side. The gallows had been heightened, and the Snake Woman¡¯s four arms were tied up, hanging high in mid-air. Her snake tail dangled, resembling a hanging python. ¡°My lord!¡± the two Nisbits saluted. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°Yes, thank you for your efforts. Watch over her these few days.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± 101 Nisbits had formed the current team of trusted aides. Using heroes as trusted aides was probably a practice only Fang Hao himself employed. After speaking with the Nisbits, his gaze fell on the Snake Woman. Full of scars, the bizarre Snake Woman looked exceptionally miserable and weak. Crimson viscous blood had dyed her body red, which made her colorful scales appear even more bizarre. Only the slight heaving of her chest proved she was still alive. Fang Hao checked her loyalty. [Embrace of the Deep Sea ¨C Priestess Himiko, current loyalty 67 points.] It was 72 points before, now it had dropped to 67. If it kept dropping like this, she was the one in danger. ¡°How is it going?¡± Fang Hao asked. The Snake Woman weakly lifted her head slightly, opened her eyes a crack to look at him, then closed them again. Fang Hao thought for a moment and continued, ¡°This world is cruel, everyone must be responsible for their own actions, you should be clear about that. As a lord, I will not mistreat anyone under my command, it¡¯s my responsibility. Likewise, you also need to take responsibility.¡± ¡°So, what are you trying to tell me?¡± the Snake Woman asked weakly. ¡°I am telling you that you are no longer a pirate. Comply with the rules here, do what you must, and it will make your life more comfortable,¡± Fang Hao said calmly. The Snake Woman seemed to want to say more, but eventually, she closed her mouth and merely uttered three words, ¡°Got it.¡± Fang Hao did not say anything more, and left the place with Demitrija. The Snake Woman accounted for nothing. Was not Rolana even more insane at the beginning? Eventually, she still integrated into this environment. But the Snake Woman was different from Rolana; Rolana had the capital to be crazy, and back then, no one could do anything with her. The Snake Woman¡¯s craziness, however, would only lead to her quicker demise. Fang Hao was just reminding her to comply with the rules here; otherwise, a next time would not be as simple as a whipping. After hanging for three days, if she was willing to accept this place, Fang Hao naturally would not trouble her over past matters. But if she still did not recognize the kindness, she could only be sent to Nelson. Upon returning to the Book of Lords residency and soaking in the hot spring, he then went back to his room to rest. ¡­ Meanwhile. In Lyss City. Inside a tavern, The painter ¡®Browning¡¯descending the stairs with a rather voluptuous woman, laughing and fooling around. Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, his steps halted. There were hardly any people drinking at the tables, instead, they were all gathered at the counter. It was rather messy. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Browning pinched the woman¡¯s buttocks and asked softly. The woman blushed and coquettishly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t you know? The City Lord¡¯s residence is hiring.¡± Browning was startled; they had just hired workers not so long ago. Why are they hiring again? Not right¡­ if it¡¯s hiring, it wouldn¡¯t gather this many people. ¡°Hiring for what?¡± Browning continued to ask. The woman flirtatiously smiled, ¡°That, I don¡¯t know; my job is to serve you well, what they¡¯re hiring for has nothing to do with me.¡± Browning affectionately pinched her cheek. With his arm around her, he then walked towards the counter. Just as they approached, they heard someone loudly saying, ¡°The school is hiring teachers, anyone with a skill can go to the City Lord¡¯s residence to register, such as reading, writing, accounting, arithmetic. If you know any magic, alchemy, even better.¡± The majority of ordinary people couldn¡¯t read. Thus, whether it was the new rules of the City Lord¡¯s residence or some hiring information, it had to be read or explained to everyone. ¡°What is a school?¡± someone asked loudly. Browning behind them also listened attentively. The person above, loudly explained, ¡°A school is a place where children can take classes. The City Lord and Mrs. Rebecca decided to establish schools so every household¡¯s children can go and learn to read.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of that?¡± ¡°This means your children will not end up like you, only knowing how to farm and exerting physical labor; they can do many more jobs.¡± The person paused in their tone then immediately spoke, ¡°No, why am I telling you all this.¡± He picked up two hiring notices again and shouted loudly, ¡°Be clear about it, those who are strong can go to the western city construction site, go build houses¡­ those planning to apply as a teacher, go register at the City Lord¡¯s residence.¡± Chapter 1014 - Chapter 1014: Chapter 623, Regular Matters to be Discussed Later Chapter 1014: Chapter 623, Regular Matters to be Discussed Later From above explained loudly, Browning below however, had already become somewhat dazed. School? Teacher? Unlike those who momentarily couldn¡¯t understand the usefulness of establishing a school. Browning was the first to realize the audacity of Lyss City. And Mrs. Rebecca¡¯s ambition. This was challenging the entire nobility¡¯s power, how dared she do so. Establishing a school, making knowledge no longer exclusive to nobility; wasn¡¯t this a challenge to the authority of all nobility? ¡°Dear, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing Browning spacing out, the woman beside him asked softly. ¡°Do you think the school needs an art teacher?¡± Browning suddenly asked. ¡°Hmm? Probably not, right? Didn¡¯t they say it¡¯s mainly about literacy and accounting? I don¡¯t think painting would be necessary!¡± the woman spoke softly. Then, she understood the implication in Browning¡¯s words and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°You want to be a teacher?¡± ¡°If I could have this stable job, we could be together every day,¡± Browning tightened his grip on the woman¡¯s hand again. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The woman¡¯s cheeks turned red, and she softly cursed but held the man even tighter. Browning was a well-known painter in the city. Especially after becoming the exclusive painter for the Bone Textile Store, his reputation grew somewhat. But the demand for paintings in the city was still limited, and the business was sometimes good and sometimes bad, making the quality of life unstable. If he could become a teacher. He would have a stable job. Outside of teaching, it wouldn¡¯t interfere with his work painting portraits for the noble lords. A situation that served two purposes at once. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t worried about the nobility making things difficult for him; after all, painting didn¡¯t involve their power. After confirming the recruitment information again. Browning, embracing the woman¡¯s waist, said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s head home.¡± ¡°Not drinking anymore?¡± ¡°No more, I need to prepare, tomorrow I¡¯m going to the City Lord¡¯s mansion for an interview,¡± he said. Meanwhile, throughout the city¡¯s taverns, everyone was paying attention to this matter. People were discussing and analyzing it. Aside from the commoners, the nobles who had received the news were also surprised by Rebecca¡¯s decision. How dared she oppose the entire nobility. ¡­ The next morning. Anjia got up very early. Last night¡¯s banquet had satisfied her vanity. She had even decided to celebrate her birthday on this day every year from now on. After getting up. Anjia started her morning exercises with her maids, including the recently returned Millie and the Blackfoot Cat Lorrey. After a morning run, they trained at the Blackstone training ground amidst laughter. With the aid of potions, and the boost from the Blackstone training ground. The maids¡¯ improvement speed was expected to see a significant increase. On Fang Hao¡¯s side. After breakfast, he went to see again the still-punished Sea Tribe Snake Woman. The Snake Woman¡¯s condition was still very weak, but she was not in any life-threatening danger. Even as a magical hero, her physique was still much stronger than ordinary people. On the way back. Fang Hao glanced at the accompanying Demitrija and said, ¡°I have no plans to go out today, later we¡¯ll get an item list from Doujin and go talk to ¡®Holy Era¡¯ about the trade between the two sides.¡± Demitrija and the Lizardmen Queen had mutual fondness for each other. Fang Hao also thought about creating some opportunities for them to interact. Plus, he couldn¡¯t always expect the Lizardmen Queen to take the initiative to seek out Demitrija; this side also needed to be more proactive. So as not to make her think this side too proud and difficult to approach. ¡°Understood, my lord, do I need to be aware of anything regarding the price list?¡± Demitrija asked. Fang Hao shook his head, ¡°No, just casually discuss with them, the specifics will be handled by Doujin and his team later.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± After returning to the manor, Demitrija prepared briefly, then directly went to the Lizardmen¡¯s territory via the Teleportation Array. Under the oak tree, Fang Hao lounged in his chair, looking at the newly exchanged novel in his hands. Having been out for so long, he had accumulated quite a lot of content that he could now enjoy all at once. After reading for a while. Footsteps sounded from outside the door. He lifted his head to see the tavern keeper, Winnie, looking around curiously as she approached. Full of curiosity. ¡°Innkeeper, what are you looking at? You look like a thief,¡± Fang Hao asked with a smile. The maids, including Eira, had gone to the training ground with Anjia. The entire manor was empty, virtually deserted. ¡°This place, it¡¯s like a garden; I¡¯ve never seen it before,¡± Winnie sat down beside him. She was staying temporarily in the city, living in the area reserved for maids. It was her first time seeing the back yard of the manor. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go train with Anjia? If you become a hero, not only would your life be extended, but you would also have your own house and wouldn¡¯t need to live in a dormitory anymore,¡± Fang Hao continued. Whether it¡¯s the rabbit women or the humans like Winnie, training to become a hero was the best option. Fang Hao was continuously trying to motivate them. Strive to have more heroes appear. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to training soon,¡± Winnie sat down beside him and then said, ¡°Last time, you mentioned about starting a store in Silver Wing City. How¡¯s that going?¡± Oh! So that was what she was asking about. It seemed that Winnie was not content just sitting around and wanted to find something to do. ¡°That matter is almost settled; I¡¯ll ask now,¡± Fang Hao said. Fang Hao took out the Sound-transmitting Shell to contact Rebecca and asked, ¡°How¡¯s the situation with the shop in Silver Wing City? Any updates from that side?¡± Soon, Rebecca¡¯s voice came from the other side. ¡°Dordy has already handed over three shops.¡± Fang Hao thought for a moment and said, ¡°Oh good, tell the councilor in Lyss City that I¡¯ll arrange for someone to pick two this afternoon.¡± ¡°Okay, got it.¡± After putting down the Sound-transmitting Shell, the already delighted expression on Winnie¡¯s face was evident. She had heard their conversation just now and was indeed going to open a store in Silver Wing City. ¡°Alright, you heard it. We¡¯ll head back in a bit to get ready. I¡¯ll take you to Silver Wing City to open your store,¡± Fang Hao said with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Winnie exclaimed. ¡°About the tavern, there¡¯s not much competition there, too many of them, let¡¯s start with a hotpot restaurant instead,¡± Fang Hao continued after a thought. The hotpot restaurant was market-tested in Pruell City and Lyss City and was very well-received by the public. The taste was good, and the prices weren¡¯t outrageously high. Ordinary people could also afford to go there occasionally to improve their meals. ¡°Yeah, I was thinking that too. What about the staff? Should we pick them from here, or hire locals?¡± Winnie asked again. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it when the time comes; hiring locals means we¡¯ll need to train them, which could be troublesome.¡± In Silver Wing City, there were many transmigrators who had given up on the city and settled down there. They would also take up jobs. Fang Hao then thought, maybe he could hire some of these transmigrators. It provided them with stable jobs, and they were somewhat familiar with hotpots too. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start with the store¡¯s renovation when I get there, and you can arrange the personnel,¡± Winnie said. ¡°Sure!¡± The two quickly settled the plan for the hotpot restaurant. They briefly fell into silence. Winnie¡¯s cheeks were slightly reddened. She continued, ¡°Fang Hao, are you tired? Can I give you a massage?¡± Recalling their last somewhat intimate massage session in Winnie¡¯s room, Fang Hao¡¯s heart was stirred. ¡°Ah, sure.¡± Both had the same idea and were just finding a reason to continue. ¡°Here?¡± When she saw that he didn¡¯t move, Winnie became a bit curious. ¡°Let¡¯s go, to my room,¡± he suggested. Fang Hao took her hand and made his way upstairs. Winnie was keen on the idea, but getting suddenly pulled into the room still left her somewhat flustered. Her heart was pounding. The entire lord¡¯s mansion was very quiet. In the room. Fang Hao held her hand and sat down at the bedside, smilingly asked, ¡°How do you prefer it, lying down or on your stomach?¡± ¡°On my stomach!¡± Winnie responded. Fang Hao obediently lay down at the edge of the bed, facing to one side. Winnie sat on the edge of the bed. Her gaze fell directly on her round, flattened buttocks. ¡°Madam, you¡¯re looking more and more¡­ attractive,¡± Fang Hao wanted to say voluptuous, but felt it was inappropriate and changed to attractive instead. Delighted inside, Winnie opened her mouth but didn¡¯t say anything. She simply placed her hands on Fang Hao¡¯s back and started to gently knead. The massage wasn¡¯t just idle talk from Winnie; she truly had some skills. The pressure was quite apt, and it was very comforting. Comfort spread from his back and legs. Fang Hao casually rested his palm on Winnie¡¯s round and elastic thighs. ¡°What are your plans for training? Business can be handled by others, but training shouldn¡¯t stop,¡± Fang Hao rubbed back and forth with his hand. Winnie¡¯s face grew redder, and she replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get the store running first. Once it¡¯s stable, I won¡¯t need to stay there every day, so it won¡¯t interfere with training.¡± ¡°Yeah, having a plan is good,¡± Fang Hao nodded and touched her slightly flabby belly, teasingly said, ¡°Madam, this part is so soft.¡± Winnie glared at him, and her hands pressed a bit harder, but Fang Hao was physically very strong. She could knead all she wanted; it didn¡¯t really hurt him. It actually felt pretty nice. Instead, it made Winnie¡¯s fingers a bit sore. ¡°Alright, turn over,¡± Winnie lightly tapped him again. Fang Hao lay on his back, but he was in no mood to have her continue the massage. Tugging her gently, Winnie¡¯s body leaned forward, resting against his chest. With an unfazed expression, Fang Hao said, ¡°Eira and the others might come back anytime, a proper massage can wait until later.¡± Saying this, he then unfastened a button at Winnie¡¯s neckline. Known as the Red Rose of the commoner district, Winnie naturally had an impeccable appearance and figure. Although her bust wasn¡¯t as exaggerated as Rebecca¡¯s, it was still plump and tight. Undoing a button quickly created a gap, revealing a white silk garment underneath, and on the garment, a red petal embroidery. ¡°Ah!¡± Chapter 1016 - Chapter 1016: Chapter 625, Giant Claw Island Chapter 1016: Chapter 625, Giant Claw Island After leaving Pigmen Village, Fang Hao visited the cities of the Trolls and Dwarves, delegating the matters of the Aerial Ship trade fleet. At this moment, Fang Hao was sitting in the grand hall of Lyss City. Opposite him were Rebecca, and several officials from the city. ¡°The progress of the school is going smoothly, according to what you¡¯ve said, separated into teaching buildings and dormitories. However, the number of teachers applying is not high, and some nobles also have significant objections to this,¡± Rebecca said softly. Rebecca was relatively enlightened, considerably better than those nobles who only knew to preserve their own interests. Fang Hao explained the benefits of the school to her, and they soon delineated the area and started building the school. The construction was an alteration of existing buildings, thus speeding up the process. But having a plan was one thing, finding teachers was another. Those who possessed knowledge and could teach were mostly in the hands of the nobility. Apart from the fallen nobility, who would want to take up teaching for you? They don¡¯t care about the meager remuneration you offer. ¡°According to the previous idea, what kind of teachers have you managed to recruit?¡± Fang Hao asked. ¡°Literacy, history, arts, physical education, and herbal identification,¡± one official responded. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 At this, Fang Hao realized another issue. While needing teachers, weren¡¯t textbooks also necessary? Learning required textbooks. The children couldn¡¯t just listen; they needed to read and practice as well. After considering, Fang Hao nodded and said, ¡°Alright, you continue hiring teachers, I¡¯ll also think of a solution here, let¡¯s first discuss the trade fleet¡¯s matters.¡± Rebecca nodded, then addressed the other officials, ¡°Alright, you may leave now. I¡¯ll notify you if there¡¯s anything.¡± The group of officials got up and directly exited the room. Once it was only the two of them left. Fang Hao started speaking, ¡°I will provide you with several aerial ships to help you transport goods, do you have any plans?¡± ¡°Now that Lyss City has entered the upper senate, I plan to divide the trade fleet into two directions, one is to trade within the territorial cities, and the other is external, which is all the cities inside the Federation, selling and purchasing various materials to maintain a healthy cycle,¡± Rebecca replied, sipping her tea as she elaborated her plans. This cycle was beneficial for Lyss City. Bringing Federation goods in, then selling them to the local Orcs and Trolls. A slight increase in profit margins would result in significant earnings for her. Moreover, she acted as an intermediary, so she didn¡¯t need to supply much labor herself. Fang Hao nodded, ¡°I will arrange for someone to oversee the pricing; prices must not be sold arbitrarily.¡± Rebecca glared slightly in disapproval and said, ¡°You don¡¯t trust me?¡± ¡°I do trust you, but the oversight is for the entire region, especially concerning the Orcs and Trolls, each one of them is restless.¡± Rebecca nodded, apparently satisfied with this answer. Fang Hao continued to ask, ¡°How many aerial ships will you need?¡± ¡°At least a hundred.¡± ¡°That many?¡± ¡°The territory of the Hundred Cities Federation is not small, and a large amount of materials cannot be handled by just one ship, hence the need for more,¡± Rebecca answered. Fang Hao also planned to make Lyss City into a crucial city closely connected with the Federation. A deliberate tilt of resources seemed justifiable. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fine. The aerial ships need technicians for operation. You can use Undead technicians within the territory, but for those facing the Federation, you¡¯ll need to recruit some living creature technicians,¡± Fang Hao added. ¡°Can do, understood.¡± Decisions regarding the trade fleet were affirmed. With this, Fang Hao had essentially achieved his goal for this trip. Upon returning, he could have the aerial ships distributed according to plan to the cities. This would also expedite the internal functioning of the trade fleet. Summer was nearing. It was the best time to start. After discussing business, Fang Hao stood up unreservedly and squeezed into Rebecca¡¯s soft couch. He lifted her up, sitting her on his lap. Instantly, he felt his leg enveloped by soft cotton candy. ¡°Ah¡ª what are you doing!¡± Rebecca exclaimed. Her arm still wrapped around the man¡¯s shoulder. Fang Hao wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek, asking, ¡°What did the council say? Did they make things difficult for you afterwards?¡± ¡°There has been no action yet, but it¡¯s uncertain if they might have ideas later,¡± Rebecca shifted upward slightly, answering softly. Perhaps it was Rebecca¡¯s resolute demeanor of late that made the council realize she was not to be trifled with. So far, there was no movement from the council. Even though Rebecca had provided evidence and arrested those opposed to her. The council had acquiesced. Of course, this tacit approval was based on solid evidence. ¡°Yes, quickly establish economic ties with the various cities, and Lyss City can gain a group of supporters. With your capabilities and intelligence, it won¡¯t be hard to replace Dordy as the new Federation Leader. Then more men will pursue you, so don¡¯t overshadow me,¡± Fang Hao half-teased, half-coaxed. Rebecca slightly furrowed her brows, bit her lip, but didn¡¯t immediately reply. She knew the transformation of Lyss City didn¡¯t start from her taking the seat in the city lord¡¯s residence; it had begun when Fang Hao arrived in Lyss City. If one day, she really did take a higher position. Even truly replacing Dordy and becoming the newest leader of the Federation, would she change? These thoughts flickered through her mind. She turned her head and pecked him on the lips. In a soft voice, she said, ¡°Why do you say these things? I am your legally recognized wife by the Federation, you also gave yourself to me. Even if you have nothing left, you will still be my man. I will support you in the future¡­, no matter what I become, I won¡¯t look at anyone else, just you.¡± In the tender and affectionate words, her feelings were clearly expressed. This was also the first time Rebecca had set aside her city lord demeanor, speaking like a wife confiding in her lover. This was probably also a confession! After all, it was usually him who spoke, and this was the first time Rebecca had said these things. Fang Hao¡¯s lips curved into a smile, surprised by this unexpected gain. He tightened his hold on her waist and their lips came together. He reached inside and began to search boldly. Rebecca¡¯s expression became strange, and her body started to twist. The two of them embraced each other, their hands moving up and down. Shortly after. Rebecca lay half-reclined on the soft chair, a cushion underneath her, shaking her head and humming. Fang Hao stood in front of her, looking at the ceiling at a forty-five-degree angle, holding her jade feet in his hands, reciting a text from memory. ¡­ Silver Wing City. Church, Temple. The Archbishop, dressed in his exclusive attire, dragged a huge cape behind him. Wearing a mitre, he held the staff that represented his status. Amidst the choir¡¯s singing, he slowly walked up the stone steps. There seemed to be rhythm beneath his feet. Step by step, he walked towards the summit. At the end of the stone steps was a massive statue of the God of Light. The statue looked down from above, its face stern yet gentle. The Archbishop reached the top, knelt devoutly before the statue, and began to praise God¡¯s mercy and everything else. The devout praises continued for about half an hour. The Archbishop then slowly stood up. He waved his hand behind him. Several templar knights, carrying a coffin, slowly walked forward. They placed the coffin at the bottom of the stone steps. The Archbishop walked back down and said, ¡°Open it.¡± With a creak, the heavy coffin lid was opened, revealing the body inside dressed in holy robes, its complexion pale. Xu Haide¡­ This young saint, greatly valued by both the council and the church, had died on the night the war ended. Resurrecting him was not fair to the other competing saints. But the role Xu Haide had shown was enough for the church to make an exception and choose to resurrect him. Xu Haide in the coffin. His complexion was unusually pale, with a thin long wound on his neck, which had also been joined together, leaving only a keloid scar. Although he had been dead for about half a month, no special features had appeared. Nor had his appearance changed much. The Archbishop briefly looked at the body and continued, ¡°Alright, prepare.¡± Non-essential personnel exited, and several bishops fetched some materials and items. They began the final preparations. Once everything was ready, the Archbishop and the bishops knelt before the statue and started muttering incantations. Suddenly, a beam of light shot out from the statue¡¯s magic wand. It enveloped the body below. In the coffin, Xu Haide¡¯s hair and eyebrows began to fall off, but his skin was no longer pale. The protruding wound on his neck gradually healed. The figure in the coffin no longer resembled a corpse but rather a person in deep sleep. The next second, the light from the statue disappeared. The Temple fell back into silence. Just as the bishops looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. Snap!! A crisp sound. A palm rested on the edge of the coffin, slowly sitting up. ¡­ Located to the south of the Hundred Cities Federation. The vast sea, Giant Claw Island. In the center of the island, the core area¡¯s domed white stone building is the Island Master¡¯s hall. It can also be called the Island Hall. Inside the hall, adorned with pearls and seashells, the Island Master ¨C Hirosh, was holding a goblet, leaning on a stone couch. His thick snake tail rested along the couch surface. Several alluring Coral Witches knelt beside him, massaging his shoulders and tail. At that moment, a Sea Tribe guard entered. He spoke softly, ¡°Leader, Mr. Shi He Ming has arrived.¡± Shi He Ming, a transmigrator. But on Giant Claw Island, he also held a status comparable to that of the Sea Tribe. The reason was simple, Shi He Ming had a high level of smithing skills, capable of forging a finely crafted, slender blade, the katana. This katana was favored by the Sea Tribe warriors and had already been inscribed into blueprints. Other transmigrators were handling the manufacturing. Meanwhile, ¡®Shi He Ming¡¯ had become the local researcher, developing and improving new weapons. Hirosh waved his hand, the Coral Witches retreated, and he continued, ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The guard left, and soon returned with a human man. ¡°Hey! Lord Hirosh,¡± Shi He Ming immediately greeted. Hirosh nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, sit down. This time, you are going to Silver Wing City in the human Federation to discuss peace issues with the sea world. Since you are human, I¡¯m planning to send you.¡±