Chapter 382 – Contacting Small Forces

“Is this the might of a top-tier Legendary Realm expert?”

Mu Yuan was still reeling from the Arrow Sword Master’s earth-shattering slash, unable to fully regain his composure.

This was the first time he had witnessed the power displayed by a peak Legendary Realm expert.

In the past, he had never seen a third-level Legendary Realm expert unleash their full strength—not even in video recordings.

After all, this level of power was equivalent to a major nation’s nuclear arsenal.

Even though Black Crow was far from the source of the power, he could still feel it clearly.

“The destructive force far surpasses even that of the Nine-Headed Roaring Thunderflame Dragon. Yet, the might wielded by third-level Legendary Realm experts isn’t limited to destructive power alone.”

This realm was called the ‘Law Realm.’

It was a straightforward term used during the Filth Calamity era.

Of course, the ranking system of the old era differed from the power system that emerged after the disaster struck and Miracle Power manifested.

Third-level Legendary Realm existences possessed the ability to analyze and utilize the laws of the world. They began to observe, understand, and delve deeply into the world, dancing in harmony with it.

The specific manifestations of their might… were difficult to describe.

Mu Yuan had only heard that the power of laws was no longer confined to superficial destructive force. Often, this power wasn’t limited by spatial distance.

He had also heard that when third-level Legendary Realm experts analyzed and utilized laws, they did so based on their own skills. Some top-tier skills could effortlessly resonate with certain laws, unleashing unimaginably profound and mysterious power.

Without reaching the third level, one couldn’t glimpse even the slightest hint of its intricacies.

“Clearly, there are such terrifying powerhouses among the Monster Overlords as well. Fortunately, the surprise attack was successful. Under normal circumstances, it’s difficult for experts from Dragon’s Slumber Valley to venture deep into non-Red Mist regions.”

Mu Yuan pondered this.

In the war against Dragon’s Slumber Valley, Mu Yuan was, roughly speaking, one of the involved parties. He had been among the first to hear the news of the great victory at Dragon Spine Mountain.

Dragon Spine Mountain was one of the two most important strongholds outside Dragon’s Slumber Valley’s main base.

It was said that Dragon’s Slumber Valley’s offensive against the Taixuan Alliance was like two fangs, left and right, attempting to pierce through Taixuan’s defenses. Now, Taixuan had shattered one of those fangs.

Of course, this was far from enough to completely destroy Dragon’s Slumber Valley.

The proportion of combat power Dragon’s Slumber Valley had lost wasn’t even comparable to that of Jackal Fang, located next to his Tianyuan City.

A force of Dragon’s Slumber Valley’s scale was extremely difficult to eradicate.

In reality, it was also challenging for Taixuan’s experts to truly venture deep into the Land of Red Mist to assault Dragon’s Slumber Valley’s main base. Even if they could, it wasn’t necessary, as the cost would outweigh the gains.

Mu Yuan had only recently begun to understand many of these secrets.

“There are numerous overlord forces deep within the Land of Red Mist. Even without this Dragon’s Slumber Valley, others like Dragon’s Slumber Mountain or Dragon’s Slumber Abyss would emerge.”

“A weakened Dragon’s Slumber Valley is more useful to Taixuan—and to my Tianyuan City—than a completely destroyed one. Dragon’s Slumber Valley has more enemies than just Taixuan. For the time being, they won’t launch any major offensives.”

Mu Yuan reflected that his city could now enter a period of stable development.

As long as no experts from Dragon’s Slumber Valley crossed territories to come, what were Jackal Fang and Blood Serpent Embrace? Merely experience packs.For the entire Taixuan Alliance, the significance was even greater. Not only did this major defense zone experience a sharp reduction in pressure, but the Alliance could also redeploy these fresh forces to other defense zones.

With this shift, the strength in other defense zones increased significantly, making the defensive lines more stable.

No wonder it was called a great victory.

…

Elven Courtyard Realm.

After more than half a month, Mu Yuan returned here.

The place was livelier than during his last visit. Lords were enthusiastically discussing various events happening within the Alliance, though… the news of the great victory at Dragon Spine Mountain, which was spreading like wildfire among Legendary Realm experts, seemed scarcely known here.

Even well-informed second-generation figures like Liu Miumiu and Jiang Luoxing showed no signs of discussing it.

For a moment, Mu Yuan felt somewhat disoriented.

It was as if these were two separate worlds.

But wasn’t this peaceful world exactly what countless fighting experts hoped for?

It wasn’t that Jiang Luoxing and others were content with pleasure-seeking. Rather, the frontlines were too distant for them, and such information neither would nor needed to reach their ears.

They were still in the stage of developing their potential.

While some veteran lords whose strength wasn’t much greater than theirs had been fighting on the frontlines for years, young lords like them with sufficient potential and continuous improvement would only truly join the Pioneer Group after another half year, year, or two.

Just a few months ago, Mu Yuan himself hadn’t been very clear about matters concerning the Pioneer Group and frontline defense zones.

However, when it came to affairs within the Alliance territory, Mu Yuan was far less informed than Jiang Luoxing and others.

“Over the past few months, our Alliance’s focus has been on massive infrastructure development and ensuring people’s stable housing and employment. Professional associations in various regions have issued numerous similar tasks and are continuously expanding their workforce. My Luoxing Territory has undertaken several large projects.”

The Professional Association was what used to be called the Player Association, though now it was larger in scale, managing former players and many professionals of the new era preparing to embark on adventurous paths.

Jiang Luoxing paused before continuing, “However, the large-scale infrastructure phase is nearly complete. I’ve received news that the Alliance plans to establish academies in multiple central cities and hubs. This will be the focus for the coming period.”

“Academies? Institutions for teaching supernatural powers? I remember there were similar ones before, though very few.”

A lord commented.

Indeed, such institutions had been rare in the past. Boulder City had many top-tier training facilities and Breakthrough Dojos, but not a single academy.

Only the Capital City and a few ‘historically significant’ major cities had them.

Their services were targeted at Fourth Order Peak experts and above in the Legendary Realm.

Old Qin had specifically mentioned that there might be opportunities to send officers for advanced studies at these academies.

Jiang Luoxing explained, “This time it’s different. The supernatural academies to be established will be open to the public, aiming to teach combat skills, wilderness survival techniques, material and monster knowledge, and more to professionals of the new era.”

“After all, they’re different from us—they can’t command troops in battle but need to fight personally.”

“The academies won’t just teach combat arts. More importantly, they’ll likely instruct in basic alchemy, potion-making, forging, cultivation studies, and so on.”

After all, only a minority of professionals would choose the path of adventure. Most people would probably opt for stable jobs.Mu Yuan asked, “What are the requirements for the Academy’s enrollment? Can we send people from our own territory for further study and training?”

What Mu Yuan wanted to learn wasn’t combat skills.

Military units inherently possessed combat skills and were naturally equipped with relatively proficient combat abilities—they were born for battle.

However, Tianyuan Territory lacked various technical talents such as potion apprentices, alchemy apprentices, and forging apprentices.

He had established an Academy to collect materials and train apprentices.

Yet, the number of truly advanced technical talents in the entire Tianyuan Territory was scarce, and each was burdened with heavy workloads, making it difficult for them to find time to teach.

Those who understood technology might not necessarily know how to teach.

Just like Deadbone.

Deadbone couldn’t even teach Bone Two, let alone others.

Isloria was also a genius; she excelled in enchantment, alchemy, human body modification, and more, but even Mu Someone sometimes couldn’t understand her lectures, not to mention others.

As long as they could systematically cultivate a group of formal technical talents and have the experienced ones mentor the newcomers, the territory’s talent pool could rapidly expand.

“This sounds quite feasible,” Jiang Luoxing stroked his chin. “Once this batch of talented citizens is trained, they can create higher value, provide more benefits to the territory, and this value can snowball and grow…”

He looked at Tianyuan. “As expected of Tianyuan Giant.”

Liu Miumiu quipped, “I feel like they should be hung from a streetlight.” But the idea was indeed good, and the opportunity was rare.

However…

Jiang Luoxing said, “The first batch of Academy enrollments will likely mainly target the citizens of our Xuan Nation. We might have to wait until the second or third batch for a chance.”

“But with the establishment of this batch of academies, the teaching resources are quite lacking. The Association will probably invite some Lords and veteran players to serve as mentors and instructors. We can also send experienced and knowledgeable generals. It’s said the benefits and treatment are quite good, including access to advanced training facilities.”

Later, through channels like Jiang Luoxing and others, Mu Yuan purchased over a dozen rare-grade Watchtower Blueprints at a premium price.

He intended to establish mining outposts.

To build these outposts, Watchtowers were essential.

He had already repelled Jackal Fang, but that didn’t mean the area was entirely safe. Once their outposts were established, they would inevitably face attacks from surrounding monsters and needed sufficient Guardian forces.

Mining outposts might also attract the attention of certain wandering monster tribes.

Without adequate defensive strength, the mined Soul Sand and Black Iron Ore would only become spoils for other monsters.

Among the wandering monsters, there was even the possibility of Legendary Realm beings.

The Legendary Realm of Jackal Fang might be afraid, but wandering Legends wouldn’t be. They had no fixed headquarters, came and went without a trace, and didn’t care how strong Tianyuan City was.

Moreover,

even if there was a 93.57% chance Jackal Fang wouldn’t attack proactively, Mu Yuan had to guard against the remaining 6.43%.

The outposts needed the strength to withstand Legendary Realm threats.

Returning to the territory, Mu Yuan began making arrangements.

The Watchtower Blueprints would be obtained over the next two days.

“The medium-sized Soul Sand Mine is 3,400 kilometers in a straight line from our Tianyuan City. We must assign sufficiently powerful generals to guard it…”

After some thought, he decided to send Uta, Rakshasa, and Sario to defend it.Sario was the overt force, enough to intimidate and deter most enemies. He excelled at dealing with weaker foes—no matter how numerous they were, they meant nothing before him as long as they weren’t strong enough.

But if an accident occurred and Sario fell, Uta could step in with overwhelming force.

All three of them were at the peak of the Fourth Order, in the polishing stage.

They had demands for cultivation materials but no particular requirements for cultivation grounds.

Being stationed thousands of kilometers away wouldn’t affect their own cultivation.

It’s just…

Sario wasn’t too willing.

“If we go there, this dragon will have to spar with Uta every single day!”

Ever since his defeat at Uta’s hands, and after two revenge battles where he lost even more miserably, he had completely lost any desire to spar with Uta.

Uta kept looking for him from time to time.

Fortunately, there were many strong warriors in Tianyuan Territory, so Uta never lacked sparring partners. Sario could just refuse without issue.

But if they went 3,400 kilometers away, he, Lord Sario, would be one of Uta’s only two available sparring partners.

He was a bit panicked!

“Don’t worry, there’s no Gladiator Arena out there. Uta won’t actually injure you.”

Mu Yuan said.

Sario: “…” No, that makes this dragon even more panicked! I’m afraid I won’t even be able to use the excuse of needing to recover from injuries.

Mu Yuan added, “2.5 times the Contribution Points reward.”

Sario: “I would go through fire and water without hesitation!”

Afterward, Mu Yuan also arranged garrison commanders for two key areas: the Sharp Crystal Mine and the Divine Radiance Crystal Prism Tree.

Looking at the map, he frowned at the remaining large resource sites.

Not occupying them? What a waste.

But occupying them…

Admittedly, just assigning a few epic generals, along with some elites and defensive structures, would be enough to withstand attacks from nearby monster hordes.

But he feared accidents.

Lord Mu didn’t want to gamble the lives of his elites on potential risks.

Isloria said, “How about leasing these resource points to the Winged-People Kingdom and other living factions? I remember Mirena Legend mentioned that there are actually several surviving living factions in this area.”

“This way, we can harvest resources without taking any risks.”

“And these small factions, severely lacking in resources, probably can’t resist such temptation.”

Mu Yuan thought…

Brilliant!

…

Nature’s Garden and Boulder Mountain Ridge were also beginning to occupy mines and extract resources.

Soon, from these two major factions, Mu Yuan obtained clues about some smaller factions.

There were Cat-folk, Fire Lion Tribe, Ape-folk, Multi-armed Tribe, and so on.

These small factions might not necessarily still exist, as they rarely ventured outside.

“These areas might have traces of these living factions. This task is yours, Sophia.”

“Leave it to me, caw~!”

Sophia lifted her skirt slightly, gave a small bow, and the next moment transformed into countless black crows scattering into the distance.

Around the same time, south of Tianyuan City.

Outside the city walls, countless citizens were busy working, leveling the pitted land in preparation for the upcoming city expansion.

In the distance, roots extended from the depths of the forest.

These were the roots of the Treants.

They were gradually restoring the land’s vitality in this area. The previous battles had left too many scars on the earth.

Simultaneously, at the northern barracks of the city.An X-II Airship slowly descended—Mu Yuan had ultimately upgraded the transport vehicle allocated to the merchant guild.

The Mechanical Dragon was flashy but impractical; only the X-II Airship could carry sufficient troops and cargo.

A twenty-member elite squad assembled.

They would be led by the Polar Star Arrow, Zhou Yi.

Among them were three Polar Star Arrows and three Fearless Warchiefs. Yet, this was merely the standard escort for the merchant convoy.

Sickle Moon and Xiliu would serve as special guards for this journey.

Daisy, along with several capable guild members, was organizing the loading of goods.

“Six medium-sized space storage boxes each of Black Iron Ore and Red Copper Ore; 356 Rare Remnant Souls; additionally, various supplies, spell scrolls, and potions occupying four medium-sized space boxes…”

Sickle Moon crouched on the ground, gazing up at the dozens-of-meters-long airship.

“But how will this massive airship pass through the turbulent zone?”

“No need to worry, I will intervene.”

Dolai, holding the Epic Treasure Space Urn, strode through the air as if it were a majestic and divine entity.

If only it hadn’t spoken.

“As long as I use the Space Urn to erect a spatial barrier, then… roughly like this, and then like that, we can escort the airship through.”

“That’s what the Lord said.”

(End of Chapter)