Chapter 480 – Unique Strategic Value

「Mind Seed (Excellent++): A special creation condensed by Tianyuan Lord through immense effort. By channeling mental energy into it, the user can maintain constant communication with other Mind Seed holders. This special creation possesses an extensive communication range.」

「Note②: The Mind Seed gradually loses power over time and will become ineffective after a certain period.」

If analyzed using high-level detection crystals or similar tools, the above effect description would appear.

Communication in the Eternal World was inherently inconvenient, and this was especially severe in the Land of Red Mist.

Within the established Shattered Isle Warzone—the Land of Miracles—various communication tools could still function normally. However, once outside the warzone and stepping into the ominous lands shrouded in red mist, communication devices would frequently encounter interference. At slightly greater distances, these tools would become completely useless.

Without communication, reconnaissance squads couldn’t relay real-time, firsthand information.

Encountering danger also meant no way to call for reinforcements, significantly increasing the risk factor.

In future counterattacks, various pioneer squads and legions would inevitably operate independently—though this was a normal situation.

The Mental Link talent was merely a standard communication method.

The ability to harness the mental energy of those linked and collaboratively construct a Mental Network was what defied normality.

However, the Mental Network required linked individuals to cooperate seamlessly, trust one another fully, and bear a certain degree of ‘mental load.’ Only military units would unconditionally trust their lord.

To address this, Lord Mu conceived the idea of solidifying the Mind Seed, materializing the talent ability.

“Simply put, it involves taking some materials, imprinting the talent, nurturing it with mental energy, and finally shaping it through a series of processes.”

Inside the command center.

Mu Yuan summoned key pioneer lords such as Green Mountain, Rain Dust, Long Tian, and Tyrant Dragon, as well as representatives like Celestial River Sword Saint and Overturning Tide Lord.

He presented these Mind Seeds and gave a brief explanation.

But the explanation was akin to knowing “1+1=2” and then trying to derive the cosmological constant.

Legendary lords like Tyrant Dragon stared back with the bewildered expressions of struggling students.

That look reminded Mu Yuan of the past.

Once, he too had been like Tyrant Dragon and the others—able to use power but unaware of its underlying principles. The reason was that the rapid advancement of new-era experts left little time to delve deeply into the essence of power.

Mu Yuan was no different.

He had merely referenced some ‘Isloria’s Astral Creations’ and ‘Deadbone’s Undead Creations,’ and applied a slight conceptual approach.

The pioneer lords, of course, didn’t care about the principles behind the Mind Seed.

“If this seed can truly ensure our reconnaissance teams can communicate freely within the Red Mist Region, then… it would be incredibly convenient!”

Each pioneer lord and pioneer team dispatched their top reconnaissance squads.

Over twenty squads in total soon set out from within the warzone, quietly entering the wilderness and stepping into the red mist-shrouded areas.

Messages began trickling in.

“Communication is possible, and the mental energy consumption during use isn’t high.”

“This is too convenient—no, it’s practically a divine skill!”

“Even if Tianyuan Lord didn’t have powerful subordinates, this ability alone would make his role in the warzone indispensable.”

The dispatched reconnaissance squads were all pleasantly surprised.

Especially the veterans of pioneer groups who had previously carried out deep missions in dense red mist areas.

…

“If we could have communicated with headquarters at any time back in the Molten City Warzone, Old Liu might not have sacrificed himself.”

Zhou Ran couldn’t help but recall the past.

He was currently leading a six-person squad, cautiously navigating through the dim wilderness.

Among the six were two peak Fourth Order military units, three peak Fourth Order professionals, and Zhou Ran himself, a Legendary Realm expert.

He wasn’t a lord.

Instead, he was the second-in-command of the Cloud Dragon Pioneer Group, responsible for tactical assaults and field reconnaissance.

Pioneer groups were similar to mercenary groups from the low to mid-tier professional eras.

Just as professionals needed to band together and cooperate to conquer monster camps and tribes at lower levels, cooperation was even more essential in pioneer groups. Lone operators could hardly survive within the warzone.

Lords commanded elite troops and fierce generals, with a single pioneer lord often responsible for defending an entire area. The soldiers under a lord cooperated seamlessly, their combat power fully utilized, and mutual aid was often timely, keeping casualty rates relatively low.

For professionals seeking greater security, familiar comrades and partners were necessary.

Thus, a pioneer team could take charge of a defense zone, directly entering combat while saving time on training and adjustment.

The Cloud Dragon Pioneer Group was a well-known team within the Twilight Great Domain, with experience fighting in multiple warzones.

The Cloud Dragon Pioneer Group also oversaw six medium-to-large mercenary groups and one merchant guild.

Outstanding members of the mercenary groups had the opportunity to join the pioneer team.

The pioneer group provided avenues for advancement, while the mercenary groups continuously supplied fresh talent.

The scout hearing Zhou Ran’s words also sighed. “If reinforcements had arrived a few hours earlier back then, Brother Liu could have survived.”

The team’s cover specialist was a newcomer on his first deep mission into a high-risk area, replacing ‘Old Liu’s’ position.

As he moved, he glanced around nervously, his hands trembling slightly as he held a gray treasure orb, like a startled bird.

Zhou Ran patted his shoulder. “Just maintain the concealing gray mist. Leave the rest to us; don’t overthink it.”

“After a few more missions with us, you’ll get used to this kind of combat.”

The cover specialist swallowed hard. “But I’ve heard… I’ve heard the Shattered Isle Region has countless legendary monsters, terrifying crimson dragons, and even beings more dreadful than them. I…”

“They do exist.”

Zhou Ran understood the young man’s concerns.

On his first deep mission, he too had trembled with fear.

“Fear isn’t shameful. I’m afraid too, which is why we must overcome it.”

Zhou Ran paused before continuing, “The Shattered Isle Region is vast. Even if crimson dragons were scattered across it, they’d be as inconspicuous as grains of rice. We won’t easily run into one…”

Before he could finish, a terrifying draconic aura swept across the land.

They seemed to see two crimson disaster moons hanging high in the sky.

Those were the dragon’s eyes.

The reconnaissance squad, especially the young cover specialist, froze, his pupils contracting, lips turning blue as he gasped for air. Yet, his hands never stopped channeling energy into the gray orb.

It felt like an eternity before the draconic pressure faded.

The cover specialist was drenched in sweat, as if pulled from water.

“G-gone?”

“It’s gone. I told you it wouldn’t detect us.”

Zhou Ran remained calm, calmly lighting a cigarette.

He simultaneously took out a map, compass, and distance measuring device for brief adjustments.

A moment later, he channeled mental energy into the Mind Seed.

“Headquarters, headquarters, this is Cloud Dragon Squad. We’ve spotted a crimson dragon in approximately sector C-16 and are preparing to scout along its incoming trajectory. Over.”

“Headquarters received. Understood.”

A strand of mental information entered his mind.

Zhou Ran carefully stored the Mind Seed, then extinguished the nearly burnt-out cigarette butt, tossing it into a small storage ring for temporary waste.

“This Mind Seed is damn convenient!”

……

Shattered Isle Warzone, Command Center.

Information Transmission and Coordination Department.

“Beep, Qingfeng Recon Squad has discovered a Filth tributary and is gathering more detailed intel.”

“Beep, Flowing Cloud Squad’s position has been compromised. They’re surrounded by several Legendary Realm monsters and have taken refuge in a damaged secret realm. Beep, General Asun’s emergency response team is already en route.”

“Beep, …”

Inside the department, a green-haired girl swayed the antenna on her head, marveling.

“This information transmission is so simple! Hey, is Tianyuan City always this convenient? Ugh, I’m so jealous.”

She glanced at the short-haired, round-faced girl beside her.

This girl was responsible for communications and records in Tianyuan City.

Their positions were similar.

But the other side had modern communications, while hers was primitive—the gap was huge.

Tianyuan City’s Orange thought for a moment. “It hasn’t always been this convenient.”

After all, when she worked in Tianyuan City’s communications department, she usually handled less convenient tool-based transmissions.

The truly convenient and swift mental transmissions often didn’t need to go through the communications department.

But she wouldn’t mention that.

……

The strategic value of mental communication was even greater than the pioneer experts had imagined.

Obtaining the most timely information;

Providing the most timely rescue;

Using information superiority to engage in sniper and ambush tactics against the enemy;

Communication was also incredibly convenient, requiring no complicated methods and producing no external fluctuations. Even reconnaissance squads fleeing after exposure could easily send distress signals via the Mind Seed.

Everyone understood the advantage of information.

However, none had ever experienced such a convenient method of information transmission before.

They had previously assumed Tianyuan Lord’s Mind Seed would have limitations. For instance, susceptibility to interference and distortion; difficulty in transmission beyond a certain distance; or reduced information capacity with increasing range.

This was based on their own common sense.

But the Mind Seed didn’t follow common sense.

Many methods in the Eternal World defied common sense, which wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

After all…

“The Mind Seed doesn’t exist independently. The Mental Network constructed by my Tianyuan City Legion is also the foundation of each Mind Seed.”

Mu Yuan wouldn’t claim the Mind Seed’s communication had no limits, but currently, within the Shattered Isle Region alone, even with some red mist interference, mental transmission remained completely unaffected.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Time passed.

Reconnaissance squads continuously relayed intelligence, with occasional distress alerts requiring rescue.

The overall situation remained optimistic.

The various pioneer lords, pioneer generals, and their teams were all highly capable.

Over these days,

Green Mountain Lord’s reconnaissance and assault squads discovered and eliminated four Filth tributaries;

Rain Dust Lord discovered and eliminated two Filth tributaries.

Boulder City Squad eliminated three Filth tributaries.

Tianze City Squad eliminated four Filth tributaries.

In comparison, Tianyuan City Squad had only eliminated three.

Primarily due to lack of experience.

Sophia’s Black Crow had a wide field of vision, but she wasn’t familiar with Filth tributaries. Sometimes, she was deceived by disguises created by Dragon’s Slumber Valley, wasting considerable time.

Even so,

“The significant advantage we’ve gained this time is largely thanks to Tianyuan Lord.”

“Indeed. Without Commander Tianyuan’s Mind Seeds, not only would we lack this major advantage, we might even suffer considerable losses.”

“We all understand it’s not that the enemy is weak, but that we’ve repeatedly used information superiority to outnumber and defeat them, securing victory after victory in localized battles.”

With enough localized victories accumulated, the scales would tip.

They would ultimately achieve a major victory.

Thinking of this, the pioneer lords and pioneer leaders present relaxed visibly.

A light atmosphere pervaded the entire warzone, until…

“What? Arrow Sword Master is being transferred?!”

The news exploded like thunder over the Shattered Isle Warzone.

Many pioneers were confused and stunned.

They needed to press their advantage now.

However,

“The news is confirmed. A major crisis has emerged in a warzone within the Great Azure Domain, requiring a top-tier expert to stabilize it. Currently, the most ‘available’ top-tier pioneer expert is likely General Flowing Arrow.”

Green Mountain Lord said helplessly, “This might also be related to our favorable situation here. Higher-ups believe General Flowing Arrow’s importance here has diminished.”

How could it have diminished!

Arrow Sword Master hadn’t taken action these days, but his mere presence held immense strategic value.

The strategic value of top-tier experts often lay in deterrence rather than direct engagement.

Unfortunately, the transfer order was a settled matter.

From the beginning, General Flowing Arrow wasn’t part of the Shattered Isle Warzone. He was merely external support, bound to leave eventually.

The Shattered Isle Warzone could only rely on the troops stationed there.

“Don’t panic. We still have Tianyuan Lord and the advantage of instant communication.”

“We’ll proceed according to the original plan, continuing localized warfare against Dragon’s Slumber Valley.”

Veteran pioneer experts remained composed.

This composure quickly steadied morale.

However,

“Beep, reconnaissance squad has encountered a renowned expert from Dragon’s Slumber Valley, identified as ‘Hunting Grand Duke Eye Blade’.”

“Beep, a second Dragon’s Slumber Valley expert has been spotted on the front lines, identified as ‘Hunting Grand Duke Heart Eater’.”

“Beep, …”

Urgent reports arrived one after another.

They still held the information advantage. Yet, faced with overwhelming disparities in combat power, information superiority was difficult to leverage.

Moreover…

“Not only has Arrow Sword Master left, depriving us of a powerful deterrent and allowing the enemy to act without restraint. The number of top-tier experts from Dragon’s Slumber Valley appearing now is also greater than we anticipated… far greater than previously known!”

For instance, Hunting Grand Duke Eye Blade hadn’t been in the Shattered Isle Region before.

At least, this monstrous expert hadn’t appeared in previous battles.

The intelligence department was certain.

Ordinary crimson dragons were hard to distinguish, but Hunting Grand Duke Eye Blade was a world-class expert, notorious and distinctly recognizable, long listed on the Taixuan Extermination List.

They couldn’t misidentify him.

Whether Dragon’s Slumber Valley had held back or just received reinforcements, Mu Yuan didn’t know.

He only knew that the storm was approaching once more.

(End of Chapter)