Chapter 456 – The Legion Sets Out, Spreading the Name of Tianyuan

One week later.

At the City Lord’s Mansion of Tianyuan City.

“Our territory is quite distant from the Taixuan Capital, so we need to depart several days in advance. During this period, I entrust all territorial affairs and security to you all.”

Mu Yuan looked at the various commanders present.

Some were seated, some were lying down, while others were hanging from trees or flying in the sky.

The one hanging from a tree was Asun, and the one flying in the sky was Sario—its body was so massive that not a single tree in the mansion courtyard could support it, leaving it no choice but to hover in the air, gazing blankly.

Deadbone was also present at this meeting.

Located in the Outer Realm, the round trip was quite time-consuming, so Deadbone wouldn’t make a special trip back unless necessary. After all, the sacred mental network connected everyone, allowing communication anytime, anywhere.

Deadbone had long been concerned about the issue of the long distance. He could only ensure his power could support the homeland at any time through the Incarnation method, but it still wasn’t convenient enough.

However, since Isloria advanced to Legend, this problem was no longer an issue.

—Isloria used stars as a medium to extend her power hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of kilometers away.

It was roughly equivalent to her launching satellites, entering an era of globalization.

When Isloria went to the Death Great Domain and hung a celestial body in the night sky over the Undead Holy Mountain region, she could open a Star Gate, connecting the two locations.

What was special wasn’t the Star Gate itself.

Isloria had some basic understanding of teleportation methods long ago. She had once used a teleportation skill to repair a broken Formation, linking two places.

However, before her evolution, Isloria’s teleportation skill had limited range, at most several dozen to a hundred kilometers, making it rather impractical.

After evolution, Isloria’s teleportation skill was also enhanced, promoted to ‘Star Gate,’ possessing the ability to greatly increase teleportation distance, effect, and spatial stability by harnessing starlight power.

Even so, the teleportation range of the Star Gate was typically limited to crossing several hundred or thousand kilometers.

Compared to traversing hundreds of thousands of miles across Great Domains, the difference was like that between a firefly and the bright moon.

Isloria couldn’t achieve this relying solely on her own power.

But when she suspended a celestial body in the Undead Holy Mountain region, it meant her power could be fully exerted even in the Outer Realm. Using this, she cast spells from both ends, simultaneously opening Starlight Gates at both locations, then connecting the spaces of these two gates.

Thus achieving cross-domain teleportation.

Isloria’s job functions increased by +1+1 again.

However, opening Starlight Gates over ultra-long distances consumed a significant amount of Isloria’s energy, and Mu Yuan didn’t plan to actually make her the transport captain.

The transportation for an entire territory and city couldn’t rely on the strength of just one person.

Using the Starlight Gate only at critical strategic moments was sufficient.

During the meeting, Lu Liu spoke.

“Lord, aside from the 50 Dragon Sword Soldiers and Dragon Strength Sword Soldiers, the rest of the elite forces have also been selected and prepared.”

In fact, initially, Tianyuan Territory only had 48 Dragon Strength Sword Soldiers.

Lord Mu found this number irregular, so he exchanged two Remnant Souls with other senior Lords and Great Lords using Excellent Remnant Souls.

Only then did he assemble a full team of 50.This time, he would lead 200 elite troops from Tianyuan City to participate in the military parade.

As for accompanying commander-level powerhouses…

General Dolai had already been confirmed.

Dolai was someone who couldn’t stay idle. Bringing Dolai along was equivalent to carrying an enormous portable storage space, eliminating any concerns about purchasing too many items to carry back.

Mu Yuan looked toward Deadbone, Isloria, and others.

Deadbone spoke first: “This bone won’t be going.”

With Dolai accompanying them, he felt relatively at ease. As for himself? His Undead Army was still expanding, making this an inconvenient time to leave. He also had no interest in visiting bustling human cities. In fact, he preferred quiet, secluded places.

Isloria sighed, “I’d actually like to go, but can I really leave?”

Moreover…

With Dolai accompanying the Lord on this distant journey, and Deadbone normally not staying in Tianyuan City—nor necessarily remaining in the Undead Holy Mountain region at all times—someone needed to guard Tianyuan City.

There were legends stationed there.

And she was one of only three legends.

Back when she evolved into a legend, she had already understood that the Lord didn’t just want to use her as clerical labor. Although, she… didn’t mind that either.

“But I’d really like to see the outside world and purchase some research materials, so… I want to create an incarnation to accompany you.”

“Starlight Avatar? Can it sustain such a long distance?”

Mu Yuan asked.

Previously, when Tianyuan Territory hadn’t yet moved to the Ten Directions Island Region, Isloria’s incarnation would experience signal instability when reaching Boulder City.

After asking, he realized it was a foolish question.

Isloria possessed the legendary power of the Starry Sky Scepter. Under the illumination of starlight, her power could continuously extend.

Lu Liu stated he would take responsibility for territory defense and wouldn’t be accompanying them.

Ultimately, among the commander-level powerhouses, Mu Yuan only brought Dolai and Seventeen. Seventeen would manage and command the accompanying 200 elite Human Race soldiers while he was busy.

The next day.

At the northern garrison camp of Tianyuan City.

A 200-strong elite corps stood assembled in formation.

At the forefront stood over twenty musclemen with bronze-colored skin and tower-like physiques. They carried three-meter-long black dragon-patterned heavy swords on their backs, clad in pitch-black heavy armor with two protruding spikes on the shoulder plates resembling black thorns.

Behind the Dragon Swordsmen stood Dragon Strength Swordsmen with similar attire and appearance.

Further back was a 150-strong corps composed of Imperial Guard, archer, and nun units.

Fearless Warchiefs and Fearless Generals, also wearing black but less intimidating armor, formed a “U”-shaped formation on the periphery.

Inside the inner circle stood fewer Polar Star Arrows, Star Commanders, and a total of ten high-tier and epic nuns.

This essentially constituted a complete combat corps.

The Dragon Strength Swordsmen and Dragon Swordsmen served as chargers, tasked with breaking through and scattering enemy formations.

Imperial Guard experts acted as protectors, creating sufficient firing space for the Polar Star Arrows.

Nuns handled purification, healing, and enhancing the corps’ endurance.

Archers and nuns also wore black standardized combat equipment to maintain uniform coloration throughout the corps. The archers wore light armor with short swords hanging from their waists.The nuns’ attire differed slightly from their usual gentle and dignified robes; the hems of their garments were cut short, replaced by form-fitting black combat trousers, allowing for greater agility on the battlefield. A golden pendant hung from their chests, and a leather pouch carrying various potions and tools was fastened at their waists, with a black-and-gold long-handled warhammer dangling beside it.

Capable of healing and fighting—this was the essence of Tianyuan City’s nuns.

In truth, this outfit was inspired by the standard equipment of combat priests.

With their neat equipment and spirited demeanor, Lord Mu scanned them briefly and gave a slight nod.

Of course, he knew full well that aside from their appearance, these outfits served little practical purpose.

They were all reinforced common-grade equipment. Apart from being made of decent materials and somewhat resistant to damage, they offered almost zero enhancement to the combat prowess of these elites.

There was no helping it.

Crafting two hundred sets of rare-grade standardized equipment simply wasn’t feasible in such a short time.

Moreover, achieving uniformity in rare-grade equipment was exceedingly difficult. Due to the diverse nature of rare materials, the resulting gear inevitably varied slightly in form.

Even the equipment of Tianyuan City’s main forces fell far short of being uniformly styled.

Everyone simply used whatever was available.

The number of exceptional-grade equipment in his Tianyuan Territory was limited, far from enough to outfit the main army. He couldn’t afford to be picky.

As for these elites preparing to participate in the demonstration, they carried their own commonly used battle armor within their storage artifacts, ready at any moment to transform into Tianyuan City’s elite combatants, capable of crushing and annihilating the enemy.

“This time, we will showcase the face of Tianyuan City before all of Taixuan and the entire world. Do you have the confidence?”

“Yes—!”

The roar was deafening, carrying with it a thick aura of bloodlust that seemed to pierce through the heavens.

This was the elite force of Tianyuan City, forged in the crucible of bloody battles.

Even the gentlest of nuns had taken part in numerous territorial defense campaigns, facing—and even personally shattering—the skulls of countless monsters.

“Then, follow me.”

Mu Yuan had no intention of storing them within his Lord’s Mark.

An elite force like this should carve their way through the layers of monstrous obstacles, appearing before the world with the most fearless and invincible demeanor!

Dolai, carrying a small backpack, and Seventeen, dressed exactly as usual, stood on either side of him.

An incarnation of Isloria approached from a distance.

She held a hardcover ancient book in her hands, wearing round-framed glasses with her long hair tied up, presenting the image of an intellectual scholar.

“I’m ready too,” she said.

“Let me send you on your way.”

A second Isloria approached—this one, her true self.

Six Starlight Orbs whirled behind her, faintly forming a circular array. She reached out, and starlight coalesced into a scepter in her hand.

As Isloria pointed the scepter forward, a massive Star Gate materialized amidst surging starlight.

The gate swung open with a rush.

On the other side lay a sealed land where elements ran rampant, with occasional small tidal surges visible.

“The territory is in your hands.”

“I’ll be conducting surprise inspections from time to time.”

Mu Yuan’s gaze swept over Lu Liu, Deadbone, and the others who had come to see them off. He gave a slight nod, then turned and stepped through the Star Gate.

Dolai, Seventeen, Isloria’s incarnation, and the elites filed through one after another.

The Star Gate soon closed behind them.In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the southernmost tip of the Ten Directions Island Region.

Once they passed through the obstacle ahead, they would set foot in the Twilight Great Domain, and Stone Ridge City under Taixuan’s jurisdiction would no longer be too far away.

“Let’s go.”

Energy surged forth.

With a single glare from Dolai, the wild, active, and restless elemental particles in the surrounding world instantly calmed down.

The area had already been cleared, so the group passed through effortlessly.

After entering the Twilight Great Domain and leaving the dangerous zone, monsters from the Wilderness began to bare their fangs and snarl as they caught their scent.

With over two hundred people in their group, their presence was strong and highly noticeable to the monsters.

But Tianyuan City was no longer the novice it once was.

Mu Yuan didn’t even need to give an order.

“Form up and crush them!”

A Dragon Swordmaster spoke.

He was Deng Long, the strongest among the Dragon Swordmasters and also a commander in the guard legion.

Deng Long drew his Heavy Sword with one hand and swept it horizontally in front of him. A vast sword radiance surged out, shattering and tearing apart the monsters that lunged at them.

“Take aim at the distant monsters. Fire at will.”

Another young officer spoke. This was the Polar Star Arrow ‘Wang Jian,’ a promising new talent among the Polar Star Arrows, following in Zhou Yi’s footsteps.

The wild monsters that had been drawn by their scent were quickly eliminated by the elite troops.

Even the Dragon Swordmasters who charged into battle had very little bloodstains on them.

The Tianyuan Legion continued southward.

Mu Yuan did not summon the Mechanical Dragon or any other vehicle; he traveled alongside the soldiers.

During the day, they forged ahead, cutting through thorns and thistles.

They fought monsters when they encountered them, cleared mountains when they blocked their path, and parted rivers when they stood in their way.

At night, they lit campfires. Dolai took out portable tents, and the soldiers quickly set them up.

Mu Yuan then arranged simple concealment and stealth formations within the camp.

Day after day, they pressed onward.

“Stone Ridge Town is almost here, right? I heard it’s now Stone Ridge City?”

Dolai exclaimed excitedly.

Stone Ridge Town was the official settlement Mu Yuan was most familiar with. He never expected that it would take so long for him to return to Stone Ridge City.

“Once we reach Stone Ridge City, we can take Taixuan transportation to the Capital, right?”

Isloria asked, “Are we going directly to Xuandu?”

“No,” Mu Yuan said.

He had already planned everything out.

“On the way to the Capital, we’ll pass by a famous Secret Realm called the ‘Nirvana Secret Realm.’ Legend has it that a mythical being resides within this Secret Realm. Since we’re already traveling so far, we might as well stop by and take a look.”

“Though even if I didn’t mention it, you would have suggested visiting the Nirvana Secret Realm anyway.”

He glanced at a certain someone.

Isloria averted her gaze and looked up at the sky.

Meanwhile,

At Stone Ridge City.

As an official territory designated by the Alliance, with institutions from various factions establishing branches here, the prosperity of Stone Ridge City went without saying.

Outside of Crimson Disaster months, Stone Ridge City saw a constant flow of professionals. It served as a transit point for those heading into the Wilderness. Ambitious professionals seeking to improve themselves would come to peripheral areas like Stone Ridge City to strive, rather than staying in the Alliance Heartland, where people outnumbered monsters.

However, during this period, more and more professionals and Lords were returning from the Wilderness and boarding steel trains to Boulder City.

Return trips were becoming nearly impossible to book.

“These are all people preparing to go to the Capital to witness the military parade celebration, right?”

“Didn’t they say the celebration would be broadcasted across the entire Alliance, ensuring it could be seen from anywhere in Taixuan?””But livestreams are livestreams, they’re ultimately different from watching it live. Damn, I want to go to the venue too but the tickets are just too expensive.”

“I’m different – I don’t even want to go. It’s such a waste of time. I’d rather take this opportunity to take on more rare missions at the association. Once we break through to the Elite level, won’t we have chances to visit the Capital in the future?”

Though they said this, when people passed by the station, they couldn’t help stealing glances from afar.

The whistle of the iron train’s departure tugged most strongly at people’s heartstrings.

On the wide street, a Lord led over a hundred elite warriors toward the station.

“It’s Mad Blade Lord and his Saber Warriors!”

“I heard Mad Blade Lord is heading to Tianze City to compete for the Lord representative position.”

“With Mad Blade’s capabilities, that representative spot is practically in the bag.”

Those who knew Mad Blade spoke with shared pride.

Suddenly, the street fell silent. The quiet spread like a virus, leaving only the sound of combat boots striking the ground – not violent, but perfectly synchronized.

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

A imposing young man in black armor walked with dragon-like grace and tiger-like strides, followed by two hundred elite warriors marching in formation.

The warriors had completely restrained their Qi, and their advance wasn’t particularly fierce, yet people still couldn’t help holding their breath. They seemed to see a battle-hardened army tearing through hordes of monsters as they marched forward.

Only after this veteran army entered the train station and disappeared from view did people gradually come to their senses and begin breathing again.

Lively discussions gradually emerged, yet the scenes from moments before remained branded in everyone’s minds like iron, like fire.

They couldn’t help wondering:

Which other big shot is this, going to compete for the representative position?

So many big shots around.

Weakly asking for votes at the start of the month. Originally wanted to update more but this plot just won’t write faster, I hate this (:з」∠)

(End of Chapter)