Mist Lord

[Xiao Xiong: @Xia Yuan, someone asked me to pass on a message to you: if you have the guts, never come back to Yunyang City.]

[This is the first time I've seen someone act like a dog and still be so proud. Do you even know what kind of people Li Aoyu's family are? To cheer for them like this, aren't you afraid of disgracing your ancestors?]

Xia Yuan wasn't going to tolerate it and immediately retorted.

[Xiao Xiong: Even on the verge of death, he's still spewing such filth. Does he still think he's some kind of entrepreneurial prodigy? Pah! A wise person knows when to yield, understand?]

"Um?"

Seeing that Xiao Xiong seemed to know his identity in his hometown, Xia Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly.

The information could only have been leaked by Chen Wei.

Thinking about it, if Zhao Wu really threatened him, Chen Wei wouldn't be able to withstand it and would have no choice but to confess honestly.

But why did Xiao Xiong say that?

Isn't this blatantly telling Xia Yuan that he has been betrayed by Chen Wei?

Was it an accident, or was it intentional?

If it is the latter, then Xiao Xiong's true intentions are highly questionable.

Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together.

Unable to ascertain the other party's background, Xia Yuan decided to stop engaging in pointless arguments. Finding no useful information, he simply closed the chat group and went to the side to practice martial arts and basic swordsmanship to improve his proficiency.

"My sword and shield!"

Seeing its master begin practicing, Blade & Shield No. 1 seemed to have received the highest recognition, and its enthusiasm immediately soared, so it also began training.

Before anyone knew it, the moon quietly rose, its edges tinged with a reddish hue, making the misty continent appear even more eerie, and in the distance, the faint roars of unknown monsters could be heard.

The man and the dog practiced with extraordinary focus, completely absorbed in their training.

"call!!!!"

Xia Yuan stopped practicing only when he was completely exhausted, but a satisfied smile remained on his lips.

【战技】：格斗术入门（5/100），基础刀法入门（5/100），基础箭术入门（22/100）

Compared to simple practice, combat obviously improves proficiency much faster. But even small steps count, and over time, they add up to considerable progress.

This kind of permanent certificate is already considered cheating, what more could you ask for?

After taking a quick, cool shower by the well, Xia Yuan crawled into his tent and collapsed into bed, exhausted. He didn't even have time to wallow in self-pity or miss his family and friends far away on Earth, because he could never go back.

Instead of being sentimental, it's better to transform that longing into the greatest obsession and bury it deep in the heart.

Outside the tent, Satir stood alone by the campfire, her eyes flickering in the firelight. Whom of her loved ones were she longing for?

Under the hazy moonlight.

The image reflected was of Blade & Shield One, seemingly tireless, going over and over again…

.........

The sun rose as usual the next morning.

The misty continent at dawn is dreamlike and ethereal, like a fairyland. Who could have imagined that such a magical place hides countless dangers and buries countless skeletons?

"Hahaha!"

Arriving in an unfamiliar place, without a soft mattress, air conditioning, or mosquito repellent, Xia Yuan didn't sleep well. It was stuffy, hot, and dry, and it attracted mosquitoes.

I woke up this morning covered in bruises.

On the contrary, that silly puppy ate a full eight Mist Bud Crystals yesterday and is still fast asleep.

Having not slept well, Xia Yuan simply got up early to practice martial arts and humbly asked Satir for advice on archery.

Overnight, the territory had changed dramatically.

The Lord's Hut stands slightly north of the center, the Blackstone Altar is located to the right front of the Lord's Hut, and the Sword and Shield Training Camp is located to the left front, forming a mutually supportive triangle.

The outer perimeter is surrounded by a wooden fence, with an opening on the south side where a simple gatehouse stands.

The arrow tower is located near the gate tower.

Although it is still very rudimentary, it is a significant improvement compared to yesterday's abject poverty; at least it barely resembles a home.

Satir's eyes gleamed with hope. "Master, please give this territory a name!"

"It's time to give it a name."

Xia Yuan looked up at the slowly rising sun in the east, as if trying to draw some kind of power from it, and said in a deep voice, "Let's call it Mingguang, Mingguang Village. I hope that in the future, it can dispel the fog and bring back the light."

When Mingguang Technology was founded, it was with a similar initial aspiration, but ideals ultimately lost to reality.

But so what?

He was determined to stick to his original aspirations and fight one last time.

"Mingguang, meaning brightness, is a good name!"

Satir genuinely applauded it, saying it perfectly matched the aesthetics and style of the elves.

"I'm going to Yunyang City this morning. You take the sword-and-shield dog and continue your training."

The spoils of war captured yesterday should be converted into cash as soon as possible, into arrows, food, and other supplies. It would be best to buy a few more serfs to handle chores such as cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning. Outhouses and kitchens should also be built gradually.

The role of the sword-and-shield dog is still too limited; cutting down trees is already their limit.

Although it's highly likely that Li Mingyu has already laid a trap in Yunyang City, just waiting for him to take the bait, it's precisely at times like these that it's necessary to go openly and legitimately using an alias.

Otherwise, wouldn't it make us look foolish?

Twenty-five lords died in battle yesterday, and not all of them were registered. As long as one makes up a resume as detailed as possible and impersonates one of them, one should be able to get away with it.

Once we get past this hurdle, things will be much easier.

.........

Yunyang City.

"Who goes there? Halt!"

As expected, Xia Yuan was stopped and questioned by two spearmen as soon as he stepped out of the teleportation array. Judging from their attire, they were different from the soldiers who patrolled nearby yesterday, and were most likely soldiers under Li Mingyu's command.

Xia Yuan really needs to reassess Li Mingyu's capabilities to see him do this right under Yunyang City's nose.

A level 6 lord is not only a level 6 lord, but also an alliance steward, and most likely a core member of a major faction. His connections and influence are considerable.

Without the human skin mask, it would indeed be as Zhao Wu said, crushing him would be as easy as crushing an ant.

"Shang Ze, the new lord."

Xia Yuan remained calm, and in order to avoid giving himself away in his voice, he could only speak as little as possible.

"Why isn't your name on the list?"

One soldier held a roster in his hand, while another held a portrait of Xia Yuan.

"What roster? Do we need to register again? I picked up the supplies yesterday and left."

Xia Yuancai was not fooled.

When he clashed with Li Aoyu yesterday, many clever newbies teleported back to their territory immediately after receiving their supplies. Where did this roster come from?

Even if Zhao Wu wanted to make amends afterward, it would certainly not be complete.

"Well, registration is also for the convenience of management."

Seeing Xia Yuan's firm stance, the guards on duty dared not be arrogant. Even the weakest newcomer was still a lord, not someone these common soldiers could provoke at will.

"Lord Shangze, would it be convenient for you to register?"

He then pulled out a pre-prepared new lord registration form.

Xia Yuan didn't want to appear too unconventional, so he didn't refuse. Fortunately, he had prepared relevant information about the alias Shang Ze in advance, so he wouldn't show any weakness, except that the troop type field for the territory was left blank.

"Lord Shang Ze, the troop type hasn't been filled in yet..."

"Troop types are a core secret of the territory and cannot be disclosed."

Xia Yuan certainly couldn't fill in any troop type; writing "sword and shield dog" would be tantamount to suicide. And if he filled in just any random type, what if he had to bring it to Yunyang City for verification later? Wouldn't that expose him just as easily?

I might as well leave it blank.

Although this would also be a weakness, it could only be delayed for a while.

Anyway, it's only a matter of time before they slip up.

Names can be impersonated, but the chat group displays how many of the 500 new lords are still alive. If you're willing to put in the effort, you can gradually fill in the information of the newcomers to Yunyang City and you'll find that the numbers don't match up.

Unless someone doesn't return to Yunyang City, suspicion will definitely arise.

"..."

The spearmen had no choice but to obediently let them pass.

Unbeknownst to Xia Yuan, at that very moment, Li Mingyu was in a restaurant near the square. From the second-floor window, he could clearly see everything happening in the square.

Like a spider that has woven its web, patiently waiting for its prey to take the bait.

The spider was still angry because of what happened yesterday.