Chapter 260 – The Power of the Attendant

Tianyuan Territory, Northern City Walls.

Deadbone, Lu Liu, Dolai, Sario, Rakshasa, Uta… one general after another gathered here, awaiting further orders.

Even the Water Mirror Dragon Tiff had emerged from its Dragon Nest, preparing to join the battle.

After all, this war concerned the overall situation. If anything happened to Tianyuan Territory, it could no longer peacefully remain secluded in its Dragon Nest. To secure a tranquil future, Tiff was ready to make its debut… to take action—certainly not because it wanted to catch the Lord’s attention or anything like that.

Its gaze swept around, finding no trace of the Lord, then turned toward the outside of the city.

The Crimson Mist drifted, monsters surging endlessly from the depths of the Wilderness.

Tiff felt immense pressure.

It was a unique Dragon, having inherited many fragmented memories from its past life. It vaguely recalled that a monster tide of this scale was terrifying… especially for the currently small-sized Tianyuan Territory.

Commander Deadbone had stated the need to eliminate the commanding monsters within the tide, a strategy Tiff fully agreed with.

“The ‘authority’ of intelligent monsters varies. Some have only just awakened to intelligence and cannot command other monsters; some can order monsters from their own Tribe or lineage; while others can easily command all, forcing even other intelligent monsters to bow before them.”

Tiff shared the fragmented intelligence it had gathered.

Deadbone nodded.

He produced a projection device—developed independently by Tianyuan Territory, credited to Isloria…—and activated it with a “beep,” projecting a three-dimensional holographic map of the area several kilometers north onto the open ground before them.

Red dots of varying sizes appeared distinctly on the map.

Deadbone pointed at the largest ones.

“According to the Lord’s observations, there is over a 90% probability that these red dots represent Fourth-Order Commander Tier BOSSes. They are likely the commanders within the tide. However, to ensure thoroughness, we must eliminate all discovered intelligent monsters.”

“To achieve this, we need to strike simultaneously—swiftly, accurately, and mercilessly.”

After all…

The key difference between intelligent monsters and ordinary ones is that they can flee. Once they hide within the vast tide of monsters, they create additional complications.

Deadbone was organizing the teams.

He himself would not take action.

If he were to intervene now, wouldn’t that be imprudent? He needed to observe from all sides to prevent any unexpected developments.

“Rakshasa and Red Robe will form one team.”

“Sario, Bone Two, and Bone Three will form another.”

“Tiff and Xiliu.”

“Dolai will operate alone.”

However, the elite strike teams did not launch their assault immediately. Before them…

Boom—!

Artillery roared, waves of heat billowing forth.

As the monsters near the northern city gate were pulverized into mincemeat, the heavy city gates creaked open. A Legion clad in gray armor, numbering over three hundred, surged out from the gate wide enough for several cars to pass through side by side.

Like a sharp Sword, they effortlessly tore through the oncoming monsters, rending the tide as if it were mere cloth.

Leading them was Lu Liu, commanding the Garrison Legion. Activating the nascent Military Soul, they charged directly into the vast horde of monsters.

The gray-white Legion carved through the enemy back and forth.

Imperial Guards raised their shields in unison, transforming into battlefield bulldozers; halberdiers executed synchronized heavy strikes, unleashing dozens of meters long pale-red Spear rays;

The Military Soul Legion was unstoppable.At the very least, while the nascent military spirit was manifesting, the Garrison Legion was virtually invincible, freely charging and slaughtering.

Time ticked by.

More and more monsters crashed toward the entire legion.

Around the same time, through the Hero’s vision, Lu Liu looked down and noticed over a dozen intelligent monsters stealthily approaching him.

The time had come.

Lu Liu manifested the Undaunted Mountain Divine Venerable, sweeping through the surroundings.

The elite saber squads erupted into action instantly.

Each squad maintained constant communication through the mental link network.

“Squad One, targets 22 and 23 eliminated.”

“Squad Two, targets 16, 17, and 19 eliminated.”

“Squad Three…”

Individual strength couldn’t withstand a monster tide of this scale, but tearing open a breach and charging through it seven times was not difficult.

Within just a few minutes, the elite squads had eliminated 90% of their targets.

Somewhere at low altitude.

The Water Mirror Dragon Tiff intercepted a Fourth Order boss, the ‘Purple Lightning Wyvern’.

It neither dodged nor avoided, allowing the Purple Lightning Wyvern’s violet thunderbolts to crash against its body. Crackling arcs of lightning flowed along its mirror-smooth scales, circulating from head to tail before transforming into Tiff’s own power.

It gathered the ball of lightning at its forehead and hurled it back.

“Take that!”

Though the Purple Lightning Wyvern boss could manipulate thunder, it wasn’t completely immune. Stunned and numbed by the lightning, it was pounced upon by Xiliu in her dragon form, who bit down with fiery breath and tore at it with her claws.

Working together, the two dragons took down this powerful wyvern—capable of easily crushing ordinary legions—in just over ten seconds.

“Was it really that easy?”

Tiff conjured multiple water mirrors to block acid sprays and fireballs from afar.

By the time it searched for its next target… there were none left.

Their group was the least efficient, assigned two targets that had both been casually eliminated by other passing squads.

Was it over already?

On the way back, Tiff felt somewhat dazed; it had wanted to seize this opportunity to prove itself.

As the saying goes, crises are the stage for protagonists to shine and steal the show. But given the current situation, when did Tianyuan Territory ever face a crisis? Even if it did, Tiff couldn’t be the protagonist anyway.

Aside from Uta and Sario, Red Robe, Rakshasa, Lu Liu, and even Bone Two and Bone Three were all formidable.

As for Xiliu? Fierce and brutal, but that was within expectations.

Setting aside the fear of being eaten, Xiliu was quite reliable as a teammate.

Returning behind the city walls, Tiff found its energy reserves barely depleted by a quarter, suddenly feeling dissatisfied with the lack of combat opportunities.

So Deadbone assigned it more combat duties.

Acting as an intelligent interception weapon, it precisely intercepted high-tier monsters and long-chanting spells.

Even these opportunities were scarce.

Most high-tier monsters or troublesome spell-casting groups were targeted and obliterated by Tianyuan Generals the moment they appeared.

“It’s time to ignite the Calamity-Inducing Demon Flower.”

Mu Yuan contemplated.

This surprise assault had eliminated dozens of intelligent monsters, but that wasn’t all. There were certainly more cautious ones hiding or approaching with the tide.

But he had verified that his generals were capable of plucking the enemy’s leaders from amidst ten thousand troops.The pressure of the tide on Tianyuan Territory was still far from the estimated limit.

“Calamity-Inducing Demon Flower (Rare)”

“Description: A peculiar plant that only grows in the Land of Filth. When ignited, it emits a unique floral fragrance that can continuously lure monsters.”

“Note: This Calamity-Inducing Demon Flower can burn for approximately 6 hours.”

It was a strange little flower, only palm-sized, with red patterns on its petals.

Its effect could be described as harmful to others without benefiting oneself.

In earlier years, agents of the Divine Radiance Empire had used Calamity-Inducing Demon Flowers to secretly harm some of Taixuan’s outer territories.

However, the negative effects brought by the Calamity-Inducing Demon Flower could, in certain situations, be turned into positive ones.

Just like now.

Lord Mu felt that the number of monsters outside his territory was insufficient and the harvest too meager, so he ignited the Calamity-Inducing Demon Flower.

The flower’s stamen slowly burned, emitting a faint, indescribable exotic fragrance.

The fragrance became completely undetectable beyond a dozen meters, but Mu Yuan knew that a rare-grade Calamity-Inducing Demon Flower’s exotic scent could radiate for at least several kilometers, even over ten kilometers.

It still had some effect in more distant areas.

Deep in the wilderness, monsters that were running suddenly changed direction and rushed toward a certain location.

Half an hour later, the number of monsters outside Tianyuan Territory had noticeably increased, and the other defensive fronts also faced successive small waves.

Mu Yuan gazed beyond the city walls, “I’ve prepared 36 common-grade Calamity-Inducing Demon Flowers and 22 rare-grade ones. That should be about enough, right?”

…

Over the next two days, Mu Yuan intermittently ignited the demon flowers based on the actual situation.

Sometimes he didn’t light any, other times he lit several at once.

Territories like Red Leaf Territory, relatively close to Tianyuan, found their pressure unknowingly greatly reduced.

“Is it an illusion?”

“Or is the Crimson Mist disaster month about to end?”

…

“The Crimson Mist disaster month is indeed about to end, but the short day or two before it ends is also the phase when the monster tide’s charge is most ferocious.”

“It’s the final outbreak of the disaster.”

Isloria said seriously.

She was also standing on the city wall at this moment, gazing into the distance, but she hadn’t come in the capacity of a combatant.

She was wearing a white lab coat and had somehow acquired a pair of glasses, making her appear erudite and intellectual. To be fair, whether in knowledge or demeanor, Isloria was quite elegant and intellectual—if Mu Yuan hadn’t seen her immersed in research.

The final outbreak brought some pressure to Tianyuan Territory, but only some.

So far, the number of high-tier monsters that had breached the Blackrock Wall didn’t exceed ten fingers, and the entire Blackrock Wall remained completely intact—this was the advantage of Miracle Buildings. As long as they weren’t breached in a short time, the lord or heroes could consume Soul Sand to allow the building to slowly recover.

This “slow” recovery was ten to a hundred times faster than manual repairs.

Even if the city walls collapsed, it would only take half a day to restore them to their original state.

“There are 21 Calamity-Inducing Demon Flowers left.”

Mu Yuan didn’t plan to continue igniting them.

He definitely needed to reserve some strength; territory security was fundamental. Besides…

He turned his gaze to the southeast, toward Stone Ridge Town.

The situation at Stone Ridge Town didn’t seem very optimistic. According to Seventeen’s report, a considerable number of intelligent monsters had gathered there. Those intelligent monsters, leveraging their concealment advantages, had already assassinated over a dozen garrison commanders.

The monsters there were extremely skilled at assassination.Even if the outcome of an assassination is trading several high-tier intelligent monsters for one human garrison general, it would still be a huge win for the monster side.

This has also made players increasingly anxious, with many now too afraid to leave the city walls to charge into battle.

“This is indeed quite problematic.”

“The true major threats within the monster tide are likely concentrated outside Stone Ridge Town.”

“Whether out of emotion or for the bigger picture, we must support Stone Ridge Town.”

Mu Yuan pondered and began selecting his commanders.

“Deadbone, Red Robe, Rakshasa, Uta… you will go to Stone Ridge Town, find and eliminate the monster bosses there. Deadbone, you handle the specific operations.”

Mu Yuan had initially considered sending Dolai and Xiliu to lead the team.

However, Dolai and Xiliu were quite conspicuous—meaning they were likely to attract swarms of monster attacks—and no matter how powerful their area damage capabilities were, they would seem insignificant against a monster tide numbering in the hundreds of thousands or even millions.

No matter how much damage Xiliu could withstand, she couldn’t endure attacks as dense as raindrops.

Dolai might not have fatal weaknesses, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be injured or killed.

Most importantly, Dolai’s team lacked stealth. They could only fight their way through, and even if they managed to battle all the way to the outskirts of Stone Ridge Town, they would only scare away the high-tier intelligent monsters.

This would contradict the objectives of decapitation and support.

Deadbone was different. Deadbone’s XX Concept could reduce his presence, and he had plenty of experience navigating monster tides.

“As long as we eliminate the high-tier intelligent monsters, the crisis in Stone Ridge Town can be resolved. After all, Stone Ridge Town is equipped with a hundred times more wall weapons and structures than Tianyuan Territory, with extremely sufficient firepower. As long as the walls don’t fall, they can eventually wipe out all the ordinary monsters.”

From the eastern section of the territory’s walls, Deadbone and his three commanders slipped away quietly, disappearing into the vast Crimson Mist.

Lu Liu took over overall command, inheriting Undead General’s steady spirit, and steadily eliminated the monsters.

Thud—

A high-tier monster that crossed the line was pounced on and killed by Asun in the air.

Boom—

A group of flying monsters was struck mid-air by a fire dragon, burning as they crashed to the ground.

The entire defense line was extremely solid; even sneak attacks by intelligent monsters couldn’t succeed.

His position was the least vulnerable to ambushes.

That was how it should be, but suddenly, Mu Yuan felt an ominous premonition.

“Something’s coming?”

He elevated his Lord’s vision, scanning the surroundings, but found nothing.

Suddenly,

Splash—

Inside the walls, in the Golden Fertile Soil area of the North District’s central section, the soil began boiling like water. The next moment, a massive, whale-like serpent leaped high from the churning surface.

It tore apart patches of Golden Fertile Soil, along with the rare plants growing on them, such as Snakescale Fruit Trees and Snakeblood Fruit Trees.

Nearby, the Icy Purity Fruit Tree was also affected. Flying rocks struck the tree trunk, causing it to sway violently, and several unripe Icy Purity Fruits fell, rotting upon impact.

The Flower Spirit, Wood Spirit, and several Flower Fairies who had been guarding the fruit tree instantly saw red.

Tears and rage mingled as the flower buds on their heads tensed like clenched fists, veins bulging.

They were about to charge forward, but Mu Yuan quickly redirected them to a safer distance.

“But the fruit tree…”

In terms of value, the Icy Purity Fruit Tree was far more precious than the Flower Fairies. Yet, the Flower Fairies were living beings.

They were intelligent, conscious lives.

And life is priceless.The Great Serpent, as massive as a whale, disintegrated, and hundreds of high-level monsters splattered in all directions like raindrops.

Most of them were Snakemen.

Four-armed Snakemen, eight-armed Snakemen, and Snakemen Archmages.

Within the territory, the effect of the Lord’s Appraisal Eye was significantly stronger. With a single glance, Mu Yuan identified that all these monsters were at least third-tier—truly worthy of being called commander-level monsters.

Their eyes were crimson with spreading blood vessels, yet they retained their intelligence, understanding what it meant to hunt.

Over a dozen monsters lunged toward the nearest Flower Fairies.

At the center of the Snakemen horde, there seemed to be a single Snakeman.

His form was somewhat blurred, shrouded in black mist. His serpent-like, sinister gaze swept the surroundings and settled on the Blackrock Wall, where Mu Yuan stood watching.

He licked his lips.

A terrifying shadow manifested behind him.

It was a colossal serpent hundreds of meters long, with one large and one small vertical pupil—a familiar face. Yet, the dreadful pressure emanating from it stirred up a black storm, causing the Flower Fairies nearby to shudder and lose their ability to fly, collapsing to the ground one by one.

Centered around the giant serpent’s shadow, an invisible influence spread.

Precious plants drooped their leaves, rapidly withering and decaying. The fertile soil nearby dried up at a visible pace, while eerie red patterns began to spread.

It seemed he was transforming the land around him into a Land of Filth.

This was the true power of the Servant!

(End of Chapter)