Chapter 74 – The Era Quietly Changes

“Many spectral-type units naturally possess transformation abilities, allowing them to merge into shadows or condense into inconspicuous soul beads that players can carry on their person.”

At critical moments, these abilities indeed provide protection, especially in the real world.

Some powerful spectral-type units can even swagger down the streets unnoticed by ordinary people.

It’s just that his family’s wraiths are too low-level, only promising potential for the future.

Half an hour later,

Mu Yuan, having spent his soul sand to acquire remnant souls as companions through another impulsive purchase, lay listlessly on the sofa, occasionally glancing at his phone to check on the status of Deadbone and Dolai’s teams.

“Fortunately, I have two great generals like Deadbone and Dolai, otherwise I’d be completely overwhelmed. No wonder many individual lords change their approach before even getting started.”

Mu Yuan mused while half-reclining, “Everything is stable in the Eternal World for now. The recent combat plan is to subdue the Snakefolk Tribe… This will have to wait until Deadbone reaches Professional Tier and can unleash more power. There’s no rush for now.”

“However, in the real world, monsters slipping through rifts seem to be increasing.”

In recent days, news reports have emerged about monster sightings and even incidents where ordinary people were harmed.

But even before these reports surfaced, numerous rumors about ‘spiritual qi resurgence,’ ‘discovery of new continents,’ ‘ancient empire ruins,’ ‘major technological breakthroughs,’ and ‘discovery of new elements’ had suddenly spread far and wide.

Official programs even invited many famous scholars and professors for interviews.

The information revealed could basically be summarized in four words – ‘major breakthrough,’ ‘the times are changing.’

「Research on Supernatural Ability Awakening.」

「Nine Profound Group’s new product – Nine Profound Body Fluid is now available. This body fluid can effectively improve physical fitness and enhance immunity… Citizens can purchase one portion each with their ID cards.」

「New martial arts courses have been implemented in universities and middle/high schools nationwide. 360 supernatural martial arts schools have opened across the country.」

「According to reports…」

It was as if spring wind arrived overnight, opening countless celestial gates.

Many people woke up bewildered to discover… the era had changed, coming so suddenly without any warning.

People felt somewhat uneasy about the sudden monster attacks but were delighted by the officially announced ‘major technological breakthroughs.’

Monster attacks still seemed distant, while special-effect medicines, physical enhancement, and even supernatural awakening… these seemed within reach.

“The Xuan Nation has established the Supernatural Affairs Bureau to manage various supernatural-related cases… Though it’s more accurate to say they’ve officially stepped into the spotlight rather than being newly created.”

“The Starshine Federation across the ocean is even more exaggerated, promoting dozens of young players and building them up as superheroes saving the world, tsk tsk.”

The situation remains stable, but underlying currents are inevitable.

There are both crises and opportunities within this.

For ordinary players, those monsters slipping through rifts into the real world represent chances to earn large amounts of soul sand.

In the White River players’ chat group, many were already calling friends to wander around searching for stray monsters.

Especially the new ranger players of this season.”Monsters that slip through the cracks into the real world usually aren’t high-level, which is exactly our opportunity as newcomers! Otherwise, if we just grind slowly in the Eternal World, when would we ever break through to Professional Tier?”

“True, we newcomers also received a batch of Soul Sand after the evacuation. As long as we’re not completely useless, most of us should have a few 2-star units trained to level 6 by now. Hunting stray monsters alone might be dangerous, but teaming up eliminates that problem while maintaining decent rewards.”

“This young lady has two level 6 half-beasts and one level 6 goblin spear thrower. Looking for party members – hoping big brothers can carry me! I can go ‘ying ying ying’~”

“+1+1, I can do ‘ying ying ying’ too!”

“Stray monsters seem to have appeared in Red Mountain Forest outside the city. Currently need one more member for scouting.”

“Me! My gray wolf has an extremely keen sense of smell.”

“1-star units? Hard pass!”

Some fellow newcomers even tried inviting him to hunt monsters together, to which Mu Yuan thought: Are you dreaming?

He, Lord Mu, makes hundreds of Soul Sand per hour!

“The association’s rewards are indeed generous, enough to tempt even veteran players. But hunting mainly depends on whether you encounter freshly dropped monsters, which is one reason newcomers can compete with veterans.”

As for him? He’s focusing all his energy on preparing for the Lord’s Trial.

Other new lords are doing the same.

Though if he happens to encounter stray monsters while out, Lord Mu would naturally take action – for the peace of society, of course.

While browsing the association notices, his ears suddenly twitched, his sharp hearing catching faint chaotic noises from afar.

“Something seems to have happened? Right in the residential area.”

After a moment’s thought, Mu Yuan summoned the resentful spirit Red Robe, having her transform into a soul pearl hidden in his pocket. He then stuffed several elite fighters into his Lord’s Mark before pushing the door open.

Shouts and sounds of combat grew clearer.

Several figures with brownish-yellow skin and bulging muscles, wielding clubs or sabers, came into view.

Three-star monsters – Barbarians!

Their pupils glowed faint crimson as they roared, brandishing their weapons, but were being held back by a young man’s units nearby.

Two three-star saber-and-shield soldiers held the front line against the barbarians’ fierce assault, while a three-star female musketeer fired from a distance. Most notably, a rare-tier ‘Halberdier’ swung his massive halberd with such force that it split a barbarian’s hands open, sending the creature stumbling to its knees.

“Looks like monsters that just slipped into the real world? These three barbarians are quite lucky to land in a residential area full of players.”

Several new ranger players stood watching nearby, ready to intervene. Some had already deployed their lancers and sentinels.

However, there was an unspoken rule among players: discovery rights for prey like ‘stray monsters’ belonged to whoever found them first, unless the discoverer was clearly outmatched.

They observed that these three barbarians were exceptionally burly, likely level 8 or 9, making them difficult opponents. They had been waiting for the young man to falter so they could legitimately step in, but…

No chance. The guy who took action was too strong.

“Is this the power of a lord player?”

“Not just that – this Young Master Tan is a top-tier whale, absolutely among the strongest new lords! He’s someone capable of competing for leaderboard rankings! Rumor has it he’s already invested over a hundred million!””Damn! Why is a whale competing with us for prey!”

A new player muttered under their breath.

At that moment, the new Lord Tan Moumou had already slain two roaming barbarians and was about to claim the head of the final one.

Suddenly—

Crack, crack, crack—

A faint spatial rift abruptly appeared, like a gaping mouth, instantly spitting out one figure after another.

(End of Chapter)