Mist Lord

The battle in front of the gate tower was fierce.

After the Mist Demon Grass was planted, Gray Mist Rats kept rushing out of the misty area. Stimulated by the scent of the Mist Demon Grass, the originally cunning Gray Mist Rats became frenzied, their gray-white eyes turning crimson.

"My sword and shield!"

Sword and Shield Number One led a group of sword and shield dogs, resolutely guarding the front of the Mist Fairy Grass, not retreating an inch.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Xia Yuan and Satir stood guard on the arrow tower, providing continuous long-range support from their elevated position.

"Buzzing~~~"

Besides the gray fog rats, a group of fist-sized, fly-like, green-bodied, scorpion-tailed strange flying creatures also flew out of the fog.

[Name]: Scorpion Fly

[Rank]: First Rank

[Combat Level]: ☆

[Evaluation]: Mutant flies that inhabit the gray fog, swarming together and feeding on carrion.

In terms of individual strength, the Scorpion-tailed Fly is weaker than the Gray Mist Rat, making it arguably the weakest monster in the Misty Zone. However, its ability to fly and its ability to travel in swarms make it a greater threat than a swarm of rats.

The Blade & Shield Dog can fight head-on against the Gray Mist Rat, but it is somewhat helpless against the Scorpion-tailed Fly.

One by one, they were covered in poisonous welts from the bites.

Fortunately, Satir was an excellent archer, shooting one scorpion fly after another in rapid succession, pinning them to the ground.

"My sword and shield!"

The battle had lasted less than half an hour, and the first Blade & Shield at the forefront was already covered in blood, some of his own and some of the enemy's. After slaying yet another Gray Mist Rat, it finally had the opportunity to evolve.

The surrounding blood energy surged wildly into his body, causing his body to grow larger at a visible speed.

[Name]: Blade & Shield One

[Unit Type]: Soldier with Swords and Shields

[Rank]: Second Rank

Combat Level: ★★

[Skills]: Parry and Counterattack, Slash

[Evaluation]: A tenacious being with an indomitable will, capable of breaking through rank limitations through combat.

After its upgrade, the Sword and Shield No. 1 reached a height of one meter. Although it was still short, the combination of full leather armor, an iron-inlaid wooden shield, and a gleaming iron sword gave it a somewhat imposing presence.

The transformation from a wandering swordsman and shield user to a soldier-type swordsman and shield user is a complete metamorphosis.

"My sword and shield!"

Seeing their leader suddenly become so majestic and domineering, the group of sword and shield dogs were extremely envious.

"My sword and shield!"

Having finally completely overwhelmed his underlings, Blade & Shield No. 1 was in high spirits, encouraging his underlings to fight bravely and strive to advance to the same level as him as soon as possible.

"My sword and shield!"

Spurred on by this, all the sword-and-shield dogs became incredibly excited and fought even more frantically than the gray mist rats.

"He does have a bit of a leader's spirit!"

Xia Yuan, watching from the arrow tower, was filled with satisfaction; he knew this guy was capable.

After its advancement, the Blade & Shield No. 1 is a proper Tier 2 unit. It can further increase its combat level to three and a half stars by consuming Mist Sprout Crystals. With its agile movement, it may not be weaker than spearmen or blade & shield soldiers.

If other sword-and-shield dogs can also advance one after another, then with their numerical advantage, their overall strength will be superior to those territories that have drawn second-tier units, and their future is truly promising.

Choosing to use the Mist Fairy Grass was definitely the right decision.

The cost is that as the number of gray fog rats increases, the sword and shield dogs will inevitably suffer casualties.

"Guknor! Chuch!"

Just as the sword-and-shield dog and the gray mist rat were locked in fierce combat, a strange roar came from the depths of the mist, followed by a group of monsters that looked like goblins but were dark green with exposed fangs.

[Name]: Demonized Goblin

[Rank]: First Rank

[Combat Level]: ★☆

[Evaluation]: A descendant of demonized goblins, ferocious yet cowardly, usually living in groups.

"This is a demonized creature?"

Xia Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly, but his movements were swift. He shot out an arrow that pierced the chest of the demonized goblin.

"Yes, Master. These monsters were once descendants of the Hundred Races. After their lord died, they were corrupted by the demonic tide, their intelligence was damaged, their lineage was severed, and they gradually became like the monsters in the mist."

"I'll go help!"

Satir put away her longbow, grabbed her elven scimitar, and charged out of the arrow tower. Even continuous archery was a heavy burden for her, but elves were equally fearless in close combat. Each flash of her blade caused a demonized goblin to fall dead.

"My sword and shield!"

Blade & Shield One didn't want Satir to steal the spotlight, so he motivated his men to fight bravely.

"Krag! Stab!"

Influenced by the demonic transformation, the normally timid goblins have become unusually brave. Stimulated by the scent of the Mist Fairy Grass, they have also become hot-blooded and fearless.

The battle intensified, with casualties on both sides.

During this period, three more wandering swordsmen awakened their bloodlines and advanced to become warrior swordsmen. As a result, the strength of the Mingguang Village side actually increased rather than decreased as the battle progressed.

The advantages of the sword-and-shield dog unit are gradually becoming apparent.

"Zura! Zura!"

An hour passed in the blink of an eye. As the effects of the Mist Fairy Grass dissipated, the demonized goblin seemed to regain its senses. Ultimately, it did not change its cowardly nature. Seeing that the situation was not good, it turned around and ran away.

"Master, should we give chase?"

The appearance of the demonized goblins means that there is a high probability that at least one demonized goblin tribe is living in the vicinity, which is both a potential threat and a rare opportunity.

"No rush."

After a fierce battle, not only were all the sword-and-shield dogs wounded, but three of them also died, leaving them unable to fight any longer.

After feeding the injured sword-and-shield dog Mist Sprout Crystals and sending it to the training camp to recover, Xia Yuan tore off a fragment of a demonized goblin's clothing and asked Hanbao, "Dog, can you find their lair?"

"Woohoo~~~"

The silly dog's eyes rolled back from the stench, but it still proudly stretched out its two paws. After awakening its sense of smell, this strong scent could last for two days, even in the foggy area.

"Well done!"

Xia Yuan rewarded Gouzi with a few more Mist Sprout Crystals, then turned to Satir and said, "Let's rest for now. We'll set off early tomorrow morning to find the Demonized Goblin Tribe."

Even the smallest goblin tribe has at least a Tier 2 member, so it's always good to be cautious.

The beginner's trial is still the day after tomorrow, so there's plenty of time. There's no need to rush or be impatient.

"Master is wise!"

Satir readily agreed. An hour of intense fighting had taken its toll even on her, and she needed a good rest.

.........

By the time the battlefield was cleaned up, it was getting dark.

Although there were casualties in the hour-long battle, the gains were plentiful, with a total of 35 scorpion-tailed flies, 42 gray mist rats, and 25 demonized goblins killed.

102 pieces of mist bud crystals were collected alone.

Other loot includes scorpion stingers, gray mist rat skin, gray mist rat meat, goblin leather armor, goblin spears, etc., which can be sold in Yunyang City for a small amount of money.

Of course, the gray fog rat meat must be kept.

Anyway, the meat stored in the storage space won't spoil, and it's the main source of meat in the early stages of the territory.

This is just the immediate gains. Tomorrow, with that idiot leading the team, it would be best to wipe out all the gray fog rat nests and scorpion fly nests around here as well; who knows, there might be some unexpected surprises.

[Win a small-scale battle, merit points +30]

[Title promoted to Lord]

The daytime battle also brought Xia Yuan a promotion in nobility, laying the foundation for upgrading his territory to level 2 later.

A campfire was lit early in the morning at the campsite.

Mr. and Mrs. Wang kept turning the roasted meat, the firelight reflecting their happy smiles.

The crackling of firewood, the sounds of children chasing and playing, the fighting and roaring of the sword-and-shield dogs, and the seemingly tireless practice of Sword and Shield One, all accompanied by the gentle breeze, created an even more lively atmosphere.

The once deserted Mingguang Village gradually came to life.

"Give!"

Xia Yuan handed Satir a clean water pouch and said with a smile, "I just bought it in Yunyang City, I haven't used it yet."

Elves are all clean.

Before, we didn't have the means, but now that we have more money, of course we should make some arrangements.

Half the credit for the brilliant victory achieved during the daytime battle goes to Satir, the third-tier archer. She was not only the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl but also the main force in killing the enemy.

"Thank you, Master."

The usually composed elf even stuttered a little when he spoke.

7 pm.

The Mist Chat Group is back online; who knows what explosive news it will bring this time?