Chapter 165 : Divination Tortoise Shell! The Three Great Families of New Wan City!
Chapter 165: Divination Tortoise Shell! The Three Great Families of New Wan City!
After Hang Yu officially advanced to a Tier-Three Lord, he continued strengthening the foundation of his territory—especially in terms of high-end combat power.
He still had a little over four million essence in reserve.
Hang Yu directly took out 2.7 million essence.
With this, Zhou Cang and the eight initial Azure Dragon Guard successfully broke through their tier and advanced to Level 21.
The eight Azure Dragon Guards represented by Zhang San and Li Si possessed ordinary character templates. Although their strength growth after advancement was not as exaggerated, the advantage was that their advancement threshold was low and they could break through at any time.
Before their breakthrough, the eight guards were already Level 20 commander units.
After advancing to Level 21, they were slightly inferior to true commander units of the same level.
Even so, they still reached the strength of top-tier elites or quasi-commander level.
The territory now possessed a sufficient reserve of skills. In the future, through equipment upgrades or attribute potions, they could be strengthened further.
Soon, they would once again cross the threshold of commander rank.
As for Zhou Cang—
Zhou Cang possessed a “High-Level Commander Template.”
With this template and his aptitude, his growth potential was similar to Hang Yu’s.
However, the threshold for his breakthrough was extremely high.
Before advancing, his total attribute value needed to exceed one thousand points.
For ordinary individuals, reaching such numbers would be extremely difficult.
But Zhou Cang possessed an Abyss physique and received massive attribute amplification, so he easily met the advancement conditions.
The moment the breakthrough was completed—
Zhou Cang clearly felt it.
Every inch of his body was filled with endless power.
From head to toe, he experienced a rebirth so complete that he felt like a different person.
Conservatively speaking, the current Zhou Cang could defeat six to eight versions of his previous self.
After Zhou Cang’s strength increased, all of his talents and abilities—including his Abyss physique—were enhanced.
His two general skills, Loyalty and Courage Aura and Tenacity Aura, now had twice the range as before and their effects were strengthened by several times.
From this moment onward—
Hang Yu possessed a Tier-Three tiger general under his command.
Zhou Cang once again felt immense shock.
In his heart, the lord already resembled a divine being, but even he could not imagine such earth-shattering transformation happening in such a short time.
He had only joined the territory for a little over a week.
Yet his cultivation had already been raised twice.
Such growth speed was unbelievable.
“Thank you, my lord, for your grace in cultivating me!”
Zhou Cang immediately knelt before Hang Yu again to express gratitude and loyalty.
Hang Yu calmly said:
“You are the captain of the Azure Dragon Guard whom I personally selected. The territory will need your strength in many places in the future. If you wish to repay me, then cultivate diligently and obtain even greater power.”
“Yes!”
Zhou Cang was a man of few words.
But he engraved the great kindness deeply in his heart.
Although Hang Yu could rapidly increase Zhou Cang’s level, level alone was not enough.
If Zhou Cang wanted to become stronger—or even break through the commander authority level—he needed deeper foundations.
These foundations mainly came from skill training, though equipment could also assist.
Hang Yu assigned Zhou Cang several new tasks.
Zhou Cang did not immediately leave.
He seemed hesitant.
Hang Yu asked, “Is there something else?”
Zhou Cang hesitated for a moment before speaking somewhat awkwardly.
“My lord, I have one more request…”
Hang Yu asked, “What is it?”
Zhou Cang said quickly:
“My adopted son and disciple Zhou Ji does not wish to remain the City Lord of Sanxiang City. He hopes to be transferred to the main city so he may serve you directly at any time.”
So that was the matter.
“The title of City Lord of Sanxiang City cannot be removed for now,” Hang Yu said.
“Woniu Mountain still requires his prestige. However, if he wishes to follow me, there may be an opportunity.”
Hang Yu thought briefly before continuing:
“I plan to build several elite peripheral units based on the core Azure Dragon Guard. Their members will be selected from soldiers and civilians across various cities and territories. Not only must they possess exceptional strength and character, but they must also be absolutely loyal deathsworn.”
“I believe Zhou Ji meets the criteria.”
Zhou Cang was overjoyed.
If Zhou Ji could join the Azure Dragon Guard—even as part of the peripheral forces—it would be a tremendous opportunity.
Zhou Cang immediately kowtowed.
“Thank you, my lord!”
Hang Yu nodded slightly.
“You may go and handle your duties.”
“Yes!”
Zhou Cang withdrew.
Hang Yu walked to the high terrace of the Lord’s Fortress.
From here he could overlook the entire Luoshui Main City.
The once tiny camp had become increasingly prosperous within just two months.
The majestic and imposing Lord’s Fortress.
The bustling main urban district.
Construction and expansion were continuing everywhere.
The current population of Luoshui Main City was roughly ten thousand.
This included:
Two thousand offspring troops.
Three thousand carefully selected auxiliary legions.
Five thousand ordinary laboring citizens.
The development trend was good.
But the speed needed to increase.
The main city’s Arrow Towers, Barrier Towers, and various defensive and war buildings were still insufficient.
If a powerful enemy attacked, it could disrupt the city’s production and daily life.
Fortunately, after the breakthrough—
Hang Yu immediately elevated nine subordinates.
Including himself, the territory now possessed ten Tier-Three combatants.
Although this did not guarantee absolute safety, it at least ensured the ability to defend themselves.
Aside from military development, the territory’s manufacturing capacity also needed improvement.
The forging specialist Yan Ling was currently Level 19.
Her Intermediate Forging skill had reached Level 16.
In the Land of the Stars, this was already considered a very respectable level.
However, she could only forge Tier-Two green-quality equipment.
Before Hang Yu’s breakthrough, this was sufficient.
But now Hang Yu had advanced to Tier Three.
All his equipment required upgrading.
The eight Tier-Three Azure Dragon Guards also needed upgraded gear.
Equipment formed a critical part of combat power.
If the eight guards upgraded all their equipment to Tier Three—and upgraded some key items to blue quality—
They could easily defeat commander units of the same level in single combat.
However—
The demand existed.
But the territory’s forging capacity could not keep up.
Hang Yu needed to arrange Yan Ling’s advancement as soon as possible.
Besides infrastructure and production capacity—
Hang Yu planned to aggressively expand exploration of the Wan City Region.
Especially by making contact with native forces and even Abyssal forces to test their strength.
Just as he was planning—
Xiao Ba suddenly spoke.
“Master, the first batch of materials has been recovered. It has reached the required quantity.”
“So fast?” Hang Yu said.
After returning to the main city, he had issued a material recovery quest.
Using generous contribution point rewards, he purchased materials obtained by players during the Centipede Valley expedition.
The output from this operation had been enormous.
And all materials were Tier Three.
Hang Yu asked, “How many materials have we recovered so far?”
Xiao Ba replied:
“Thousand-Eyed Centipede Gems: 305
Thousand-Eyed Centipede Meat: 6323
Thousand-Eyed Centipede Eyeballs: 3153
Thousand-Eyed Centipede Poison Glands: 3522
Thousand-Legged Earth Dragon Meat: 543
Thousand-Legged Earth Dragon Blood: 332
Thousand-Legged Earth Dragon Bones: 432
Thousand-Legged Earth Dragon Gems: 43”
After scanning the list, Hang Yu nodded in satisfaction.
The recovery had gone smoothly.
Players naturally did not sell all their materials.
Some would keep them for research or wait to commission equipment from the Forging Workshop.
But these materials were all Tier Three.
At present, the territory’s forging, alchemy, and cooking industries could not process them yet.
Even if players held onto them, they were temporarily useless.
Although some imaginative players might create unusual items with them—
Most materials would eventually return to the territory’s production chain.
There was no rush.
The recovered materials were sufficient.
Hang Yu urgently needed funds for upcoming recruitment plans.
So he decided to sell some materials on the market.
Among these Tier-Three materials—
Food and production materials were best kept for internal use.
Especially materials like dragon blood and dragon bones.
If sold on the market, each portion might only fetch dozens of mana crystals.
But if used to cultivate seeds and refine pills, their value could increase dozens or even hundreds of times.
After careful consideration—
Hang Yu decided to sell the gem materials.
Gem materials were usually used to enhance equipment quality.
The reason the Thousand-Eyed Centipede was such an outstanding economic monster was largely because it dropped gems.
The Wan City Region contained vast deserts and mountains filled with elite monsters.
Many of these monsters were humanoid.
They dropped good essence and equipment but rarely valuable materials.
Even elite monsters usually dropped only white-grade materials.
However—
The Thousand-Eyed Centipede could drop green-grade gems.
Although they were low green grade, they were still Tier-Three green gems.
Such gems could upgrade Tier-Three green equipment or transform Tier-Three white equipment into green equipment.
These materials were rare and highly demanded.
Each Thousand-Eyed Centipede dropped about five to six gems.
Each gem currently sold for about 100 mana crystals.
These gems accounted for more than half of the monster’s total drop value.
Hang Yu would also need large quantities of gems in the future.
But right now he lacked Tier-Three units.
So he decided to sell his current stock.
He ordered Xiao Ba to list all 305 Thousand-Eyed Centipede Gems on the Trading Market at 100 mana crystals each.
Within hours, transaction notifications began appearing.
【Lord 4516 purchased 20 Thousand-Eyed Centipede Gems. You received 2000 Mana Crystals!】
【Lord 2252 purchased 30 Thousand-Eyed Centipede Gems. You received 3000 Mana Crystals!】
【Lord 1705 purchased 10 Thousand-Eyed Centipede Gems. You received 1000 Mana Crystals!】
Within a few hours, half of the gems had already been sold.
This meant many lords purchasing them were likely Tier-Three Lords.
Hang Yu found this somewhat surprising.
The number of Tier-Three human lords was greater than he expected.
He opened the public lord chat channel and browsed the discussions.
He often enjoyed reading conversations there, sometimes discovering valuable intelligence.
Soon—
A message caught his attention.
“Selling special item: Divination Tortoise Shell.”
Hang Yu examined the item.
【Divination Tortoise Shell】
Green Mid-Grade
Tier-Three Special Consumable
Description: Can locate the position of a target by name. The target must not exceed Tier Three. The stronger the target, the more blurred the result becomes.
Hang Yu’s eyes lit up.
This item was excellent.
Many lords might not need it.
But Hang Yu could use it to locate specific individuals.
After negotiation—
Hang Yu exchanged three Thousand-Legged Demonic Dragon Gems for three Divination Tortoise Shells.
These gems were worth at least 500 mana crystals each.
But the tortoise shells were far more valuable to Hang Yu.
Meanwhile—
In the New Wan City Region.
This was a city founded over one hundred years ago.
It had long become the largest and most populated city in the region.
Yet the entire city was shrouded in gray mist.
Even during the day, the city felt silent and lifeless.
At that moment—
Several groups appeared on the streets.
They eventually stopped before the City Lord’s Mansion.
Three individuals stepped out.
Everyone present immediately knelt.
An elderly man in black robes held a glowing bone staff.
A middle-aged man wore light armor and carried a bow.
His eyes were covered with black cloth.
The final man was a towering warrior in full heavy armor.
These three men represented the three great clans of the region.
The Deng Clan of Xinye.
The Wen Clan of Wan City.
The Han Clan of Fangcheng.
These were once the three most prestigious clans of Nanyang Commandery.
And today—
They had come for a single purpose.
To meet the City Lord Zhang Xiu.
In preparation for the coming Day of Absolute Darkness.