Chapter 246 – Observing the Legendary Ceremony

Within Tianyuan Territory, majestic black city walls gradually encircled the entire domain.

The thirteen-meter-high walls blocked much of the view, shielding against the drifting crimson mist and monster tides outside.

Along the walls, they constructed numerous small fortresses to station archers.

Since two months ago, Mu Yuan had continuously instructed Sophia to purchase remnant souls of archers. To date, the number of sharpshooters and elite archers in Tianyuan Territory had exceeded 500.

Together with numerous skeleton warriors and skeleton generals, they would form the territory’s most fundamental ranged defense line.

Compared to the skeleton series, archers had longer range and greater endurance.

But skeleton generals had their own advantages—capable in both ranged and close combat, able to shoot and tank, making them perfect partners for archers.

“After all, we still have limited numbers of Professional Tier soldiers. When the monster tide attacks, it’s best to find ways to guide and concentrate them in a specific area for elimination.”

Walking along the city walls, Mu Yuan observed while giving instructions to the accompanying General Lu Liu.

Nearby were several more intelligent commanders like Bone Four, Niu Si, and Laney.

The biggest impact of the Crimson Mist disaster month on the territory was that exploration teams could no longer expand the map. Their main activity range had shrunk from two to three hundred kilometers to just one to two hundred kilometers. Only the Undead General ventured deep into the wilderness to scout the situation.

Additionally, guiding refugees became more difficult during the disaster month.

Mu Yuan had assigned Asun and a group of Elite Tier Azure Grey Birds (Outstanding I) to patrol the territory’s perimeter in shifts around the clock. Unlike other territories, refugees wouldn’t be immediately pounced on and devoured by surrounding monsters the moment they emerged from the white mist.

Asun was providing escort protection for the refugees.

However, refugee appearance frequency dropped dramatically during the disaster month—sometimes not even three to five refugees could be guided in a single day.

As a result, the entire Tianyuan Territory currently had just over 6,000 residents, still far from the 8,000 population upgrade requirement.

“The current territory area is sufficient, so I’m not in a hurry about upgrading the territory rank. However, top second-generation lords like Wang Ba have probably already met the conditions for upgrading to a fourth-level territory, right?”

The first four territory rank upgrades were relatively easy.

For ordinary lords, the difficulty lay in gathering rare buildings; for top-tier lords, the biggest challenge was actually the population requirement.

Population growth depended on time.

Mu Yuan himself had already spent money to pave the way—he purchased many ordinary-tier guiding beacons.

But he was only a small spender, a micro-spender. Those top second-generation lords were undoubtedly heavy spenders.

…

Somewhere in the Ancient Highlands region.

Lord Wang Ba stood atop his majestic castle, looking down at the bustling—one could even say crowded—streets and alleys of his town, feeling a slight headache.

“Previously, I spent large sums to attract many refugees. Now, I’ve long met the conditions for upgrading to a fourth-level territory, but…”

But did he dare to upgrade his territory?

The higher the territory rank, the stronger its attraction to monster tides.

With a third-level territory, eight thousand population, several outstanding buildings, and dozens of rare buildings, he was already worried about appearing too dazzling in the eyes of monsters. How could he dare to upgrade further?

Risk assessment was one of the fundamental skills every lord must master.He gazed at the distant sky, “But if it were Tianyuan, he’d surely fear nothing and charge straight into the fourth level. I still have a long way to go indeed.”

…

Mu Someone wanted to upgrade his territory, but he simply couldn’t.

Aside from being unable to further expand the wild areas and the near-stagnant growth in the number of residents, the territory’s development was thriving in all other aspects.

Urban Construction:

Having chosen the third City Walls construction plan with the highest budget, the expansion of Tianyuan Town continued unabated. There were still many areas within the walled region awaiting development.

More residential houses needed to be built. It didn’t matter if they stood empty now; they would eventually be occupied.

Territory Core Area:

The Blacksmith, after multiple expansions and the acquisition of numerous new equipment, now resembled a massive workshop, filled with constant clanging sounds.

The blast furnace burned fiercely, pouring out glowing red molten iron.

Chief Blacksmith Li Erniu, bare-chested, wielded a large hammer in one hand and a small hammer in the other, swinging them alternately in a chaotic yet mystically harmonious rhythm.

He looked enthusiastically at the dozen or so bare-chested forging apprentices beside him.

“Lads! The Municipal Department has sent another order—two thousand sets of weapons and equipment in total!”

“Let’s get to work!”

“Whoo-hoo!!” ×15

…

South District, Holy Light Hospital:

In the dean’s office, Laney—whose ample curves were barely concealed by her loose white robe—sat at a simple desk.

Blank Scrolls were spread across the table one after another.

Focusing intently, she carefully channeled Holy Light power into the seal in her hand, then gently pressed it onto the center of a blank scroll.

She, the seal, and the scroll maintained a delicate balance of power.

After a moment,

Laney lifted the seal.

The scroll erupted with a brilliant white light that quickly faded, leaving behind only a white, intricately mysterious pattern etched upon it, with faint traces of power radiating outwards.

“There’s still some power leakage. The shelf life falls far short of the six-month standard—probably… probably only about a month.”

“But at least it can offer everyone a bit of protection, right?”

…

East District, Treant Forest:

Flower Fairies flitted among the trees, while a few residents granted permission to enter the area gathered melons and fruits growing within the woods.

Deep in the forest, a giant tree stood rooted, with numerous vines hanging down from it.

At the ends of these vines dangled tightly closed, eerily dark green buds.

Suddenly, one of the dark green buds slowly bloomed, and a dark green figure plopped down.

It appeared humanoid, covered in sticky fluid, with two arms that could split open like petals.

“Treant Type One is complete, hehehehe…”

An aged voice echoed through the forest, signifying that the forces of nature and peace had grown stronger by another measure.

…

North District, Icy Spirit Cold Pool:

The Water Mirror Dragon, Tiff, was telling ancient stories to the bewildered Snow Maidens.

West District, Skull Graveyard:

The Dragon-powered Warrior, Uta, engaged in his daily battle with the Frost Dragon, Sario—or more accurately, endured his routine beating—yet he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Core Area, Alchemy Hut:

Isloria was leading a group of young apprentices in potion brewing.

South District, Academy.Isloria stood at the podium, teaching newcomers who had yet to enter the profession the method of crafting simple spell scrolls.

South District, outskirts of the territory.

Isloria walked across the wasteland, gazing around as she meticulously planned future developments.

Core area, City Lord’s Mansion.

Another Isloria was toiling over documents at her desk.

Everyone was diligently working, and Lord Mu was very pleased.

Just as he was about to return to the City Lord’s Mansion to help share some of Isloria’s workload, he received a message from Seventeen, who was far away in Stone Ridge Town.

“A legendary ceremony is about to be held?”

“Correct.”

Seventeen looked at the announcement just posted within the association and relayed, “A powerful individual is preparing to attempt advancement to the Legendary Realm in Boulder City, and this breakthrough will be publicly displayed for observation and learning… though spectators need to purchase tickets, priced at… one Soul Crystal per person.”

Mu Yuan: “…”

To be honest, he was somewhat tempted!

Breaking through to the Legendary Realm isn’t as simple as meeting three major requirements and then “popping” through the breakthrough—there’s also a difficult and perilous process involved.

Even for epic-tier beings, failing to break through to the Legendary Realm is not uncommon.

Mu Yuan wasn’t completely ignorant about Legendary breakthroughs or the unique aspects of the Legendary Realm; he had even paid to watch recordings of others’ Legendary breakthroughs.

However,

watching a video and observing in person are completely different experiences.

This is especially true for those determined to break through to the Legendary Realm. Observing on-site allows for more detailed examination and a clear perception of changes in worldly energy and elemental particles.

It also provides a glimpse of legendary grandeur.

Mu Yuan was quite confident about whether Dolai and Deadbone could break through to the Legendary Realm in one attempt, but having confidence didn’t prevent him from wanting to increase their chances just a little more.

Besides, the ticket price wasn’t expensive.

He would go!

He immediately called the Undead General and recalled him.

“Something important?”

The Undead General was walking through disaster zones shrouded in Crimson Mist, initially intending to decline the trip to Boulder City. But upon second thought, he realized the Lord was absolutely right.

“Breaking through to the Legendary Realm is extremely difficult, and our accumulation is rather shallow. We must seize any opportunity that offers even the slightest increase in our chances.”

The Undead General carefully withdrew.

Traveling day and night, he finally returned to the territory by the evening of the next day.

By this time, it was somewhat late because the train to Boulder City was scheduled to depart the next morning.

“During the Crimson Mist disaster month, monsters are everywhere, and the road from Stone Ridge Town to Boulder City isn’t as easy to travel as before. Taking the train is the safest option, and much more comfortable than exhausting ourselves with flight.”

Of course, if time didn’t permit, Mu Yuan would have no choice but to fly himself.

That night, Mu Yuan brought along Deadbone, Dolai, a fortunate-selected Grey Bird, and one of Isloria’s Incarnations to Stone Ridge Town.

He didn’t bring many of his commanders.

Not because he couldn’t afford the tickets, but because the territory needed sufficient powerful beings to remain on guard.

“After all, the first among us to break through to Legendary will either be Dolai or Deadbone. The other commanders can simply observe their breakthroughs, effectively gaining from their predecessors’ experience.”

The path from the territory to Stone Ridge Town was familiar to them.

It wasn’t difficult.

They only encountered about a dozen battles along the way.

Mu Yuan arrived at Stone Ridge Town a little after 4 a.m., rested briefly at their stronghold, and then went to the southern part of the city near the City Walls at 8 a.m. the next morning, to the train station.

The place was bustling with crowds.In Stone Ridge Town, the train arrived only once every two days, with Boulder City being its sole destination.

At this moment, the train—larger than any real-world locomotive and encased in thick, gray-black armor—was already stationed before the platform.

Dried or still-fresh bloodstains were visible all over the heavy armor, and the front ram was caked with countless monster fragments. Staff were performing basic cleanup.

Many players seeing the armored train for the first time couldn’t help but swallow hard.

The sight was beyond words.

First update. Next chapter before 12 o’clock…

(End of chapter)