Chapter 2: Rest

Hilfanis, also known as the Red Soil Hills, is characterized by numerous hills and deep, wide gullies. Seen from high above, the entire region resembles land cracked for hundreds of years, covered in scars of various sizes.

The north-south oriented Tibynus Mountains divide the land into two areas with distinct climates. The former Hilfanis was rather dry, and with few plants on the horizon, it appeared as desolate as a Gobi desert. Thus, when people came here, their favorite activity was to explore the gullies, especially in summer.

Today, the migration group also headed to the gullies. If the right spot was chosen, the gullies offered a warm climate, various natural materials for camping, and excellent cover.

“The trees here are truly interesting!” Melian, visiting Hilfanis for the first time, was curious about its ecosystem, which differed greatly from that of the Erdret Domain. Of course, the most important thing was having a good mood—everyone was safe, there were no major issues among the people, her lover grew stronger and more influential, and everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

“The locals call these trees ‘horizontal umbrellas,’” Nio said. Though he was also visiting Hilfanis for the first time, he knew quite a lot about it, as he had done thorough research on geography to escape.

“Hmm, that’s a vivid description! But I think calling them mushroom trees works too. Their branches grow horizontally, forming a large umbrella-like canopy. It’s really pleasant to take shelter under them in summer,” said Dave, walking over to one of the trees and poking it with his spear. The branches resembled a sparse but multi-layered mat covered in snow; even after a few pokes, not much snow fell through. “They could even be used as roofs.”

“The horizontal umbrella is one of the Three Treasures of the Red Soil. You won’t see such scenery elsewhere,” said Valentina, who had traveled for half a year. In terms of breadth of experience, she was the most knowledgeable among them.

“What are the other two treasures?”

“Earth ovens and tuber grass,” Valentina replied with a smile to Melian’s curiosity.

“Uh… indeed a poor place,” Dave interjected. “It can’t compare at all to the black iron, grapes, and mountain ginseng (a medicinal herb similar to ginseng) in our Erdret Domain.”

As they spoke, a guard came to report that the meal was ready.

Valentina and Nio exchanged a glance, both seeing the relief in each other’s eyes. Throughout their journey eastward, the lords had set an example by eating at the same time as their people, and the food they ate was nothing more than the rations for the sick in the camp. Now that the guard brought this news, it meant that the settlement of the people was complete—they were finally settled down. Only now, after more than two days of rapid marching, could they say their journey was truly over. The migration group hadn’t had such smooth progress in a long time.

It was already past 4 p.m., and dusk had fallen. Two crystal magic lamps were lit inside the earth oven, casting bright light.

They had planned to rest properly here from the start, so they not only expanded and organized an existing abandoned earth oven but also made a simple large wooden table and several chairs.

The table, made of planks arranged side by side like a raft, was covered with a wooden board brought by the caravan, followed by a leather cushion and an embroidered tablecloth. The chairs were upholstered in leather and fitted with cashmere cushions, providing comfort while masking the simplicity. As for the utensils on the table, they were all brought from the homeland and were naturally quite exquisite. Today’s meal was especially lavish, featuring not only a vegetable salad but also, importantly, no meat from animals or humans.

Xavier’s attire was much more formal than usual. Before the meal, he raised his cup, his gaze sweeping over everyone’s faces before he spoke: “We have finally arrived in Hylfanis. The hardships of the journey need not be detailed, and your efforts cannot be praised with just a few words. For those who perished, for those who survive, and for tomorrow—let’s raise our cups!”

He downed the dark red wine in one gulp and savorled the well-cooked stewed wild boar meat. It was delicious; it felt good to experience such taste again after so long.

At the long table, Xavier sat at the head as the host. To his right were Quip, Ebut, andNeo, while to his left were Valentina, Dif, and Milien. This seating arrangement was clearly deliberate. By status, Quip should have been at the head, but since he was now dependent on Xavier and Valentina, he occupied the upper right seat as a distinguished guest.

Although this young hereditary baron was eating, his slightly swollen almond-shaped eyes kept flicking between Milien and Valentina. Women meant little to him; with the Bafas family’s wealth, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to find beautiful women. Moreover, unlike those weaklings who lived in fantasy, he knew very well what 2–4 enchanting women could mean for a man. Thus, unusually, this lord, whose reputation was quite poor, wasn’t indulging in any lustful thoughts. Instead, he was considering a practical question: what benefits could he gain by marrying one of these two women?

Unintentionally, Quip noticed the deep affection in Milien’s gaze towardNeo across from her.

“Damn it! Rumors say the lady of the Manmoris family is one of the most virtuous women in the domain of Edrith. Who would have thought she’d be involved with one of our servants? Little slut!” Quip’s appetite was completely ruined. ConsideringNeo’s strength and his two rescues of Quip and his people from danger, Quip endured sitting at the same table. But to discover such a secret behind it, he understood Xavier’s strategy of allowing such things to happen under his nose to win over a powerful ally. What he felt most was jealousy towardNeo’s luck.

He had an affair with the young lady of his master’s household, and also with another powerful and beautiful widow. Even on the run, he managed to bring back so many valuable things from underground. Just take these crystal magic lamps in this earthen cave—bright, pure in color, not glaring, with eternal brilliance. These are clearly sunlight crystals, extremely rare even in the underground world. With the right buyer, the money from just these two crystals could buy most of Watzburg. What a huge sum of money, yet this kid used it to please his master. No wonder he got the honor of dining at the same table as his master. If it were him, he’d also like a servant who could fight and make money like this.

Of course, if that were all, Quip wouldn’t mind too much. The problem is that Nio’s underground journey took place in his territory, right after entering the Dark Lands from Watzburg. Thinking of this, Quip always felt as though something that should have belonged to him eventually got stolen by Nio. That’s what drove him crazy. Fortunately, Quip hadn’t seen the truly top-quality treasures yet; otherwise, he might have lost his mind on the spot and rushed at Nio, shouting, “Mine! This land belongs to the Brain family. Any treasures obtained here belong to the Brain family!” Quip could definitely say such things.

Anyway, filled with resentment, every move Quip saw from Nio seemed utterly detestable to him. “A filthy slave, a half-human, half-beast hybrid, playing with women who belong to our circle, stealing treasures that belong to me. Damn it, you get to take all the advantages. How outrageous! Wait and see, this won’t just end like this!”

After enjoying a sumptuous meal, Xavier, Valentina, Dave, and the others went around inspecting the camp and checking on everyone. The people’s meals were simpler than those of Xavier and the others, and there was no need for much formality. By now, they had already eaten and were mostly working in small groups as families, preparing to have a good night’s sleep. The arrival of the lords, though not accompanied by excessive praise, still brought smiles to their faces. For many, entering Hylfanis meant that more than half of this difficult eastward journey was complete, and the rest of the trip would be much safer.

In fact, Xavier, Dave, and Valentina all thought the same way. Some plans had been discussed since the beginning of the migration. Now, those plans were being put into action.

The migration group was still far from the Ergus Mountains, centered around the Central Ergus Mountain Road (the main route connecting the two places). According to the plan, they wouldn’t head toward that prominent continental road either. This meant they were unlikely to encounter Hylfanis’s Rock Knight Order but might easily come into contact with the famous Gothic Guards.

The Gothic Guards had a long history, but they had now become a militia force. In Quip’s words, “With firearms being so common these days, the Gothic Guards’ spears are nothing but outdated relics.”

The first stop of the migration group’s entry into Hylfanis was chosen to be the homeland of the Gothic Guards—Shelter Valley. Shelter Valley might not sound like a significant place, but in reality, it is the second-largest city in Hylfanis after Asia, with a population of 12,000. There are 37 valley farms around it, housing about 15,000 people. Adding in outsiders, the total population exceeds 30,000. In terms of population, economy, and territory, it is by no means small. Its name was given by a group of soldiers during the alliance’s campaign against Edrit; later, an official name was assigned, but people have become so accustomed to calling it “Shelter Valley” that few know the official name.

In the plan devised by Nio and others, the biggest difference between entering Hylfanis and Edrit was the need to “call for reinforcements.” Now, an additional measure has been added: hiring mercenaries as backup.

At a ratio of 4:3:3, the three lords contributed large sums of money to hire a group of around 200 mercenaries to protect the migration group. This was done not only to deal with potential pursuers but also to address the rampant banditry in Hylfanis.

Everyone in the Frey Alliance knows that the Red Earth Hills are known as a paradise for criminals, mainly because the area is vast and filled with numerous valleys and ravines—any one of them could hide thousands of people. Even those who have lived there for generations only know the terrain around their homes. Additionally, there are magical maps obtained from aerial views, but their usefulness is minimal, as bandits are constantly on the move, and in some places, it’s impossible to see the bottom of the valleys even from the top of a mountain, let alone from the sky.

With such severe banditry, occupations like hiring guards and bounty hunters are naturally thriving. Therefore, it shouldn’t be too difficult to recruit a small mercenary group from Shelter Valley. Moreover, undertaking such a task of escorting refugees can greatly enhance a mercenary group’s reputation, especially when the task is assigned by lords. After all, even if they can’t gain the lords’ favor and become their private army (one of the possible career paths for mercenaries), maintaining good relations with the lords is still beneficial.

In addition to hiring mercenaries, there are several other important tasks to handle: purchasing food, contacting the lord of Shelter Valley, and possibly even traveling to Asia to meet Marquis Naroyin, the ruler of Hylfanis. This is the biggest difference between taking the official or elite route and the usual path taken by ordinary refugees. In the latter case, local lords have the right to settle and shelter refugees. Even in special circumstances, if the original lord wants to take back those people, he must pay a hefty fee.

Quip naturally wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. He wished he could already be in Asia and make a big deal out of it with 10,000 gold coins: Lord Bafas, along with his people, successfully fled the fully occupied Edrit and arrived in Hylfanis…

Additionally, Quip was already tired of relying on others. He certainly wouldn’t abandon his people at such a time to go to Asia and live in comfort, but at the very least, he could reunite with his powerful subordinates or use money to hire a few strong mercenaries. This way, when he returned to the migration group, even if he couldn’t sit in a position of authority, he could at least do so with his head held high.

Considering Baron Kuepbafas’s status, it would be beneficial for him to handle the negotiations. Yet, one must also be wary of his attempts to claim all the credit, so under the pretext of gaining experience, Xavier sent Div with him. Valentina also needed to go—given the terrain of Hylfanis and the current road conditions, it would take at least two days and nights even with fast horses to reach the destination. With a strong protector like Valentina, Xavier could feel at ease. Additionally, a guide, a sturdy servant, and a combat attendant would join them, forming a group of six who would set off early the next morning. It would likely take at least five days to receive news, during which time the migration group planned to take a thorough rest here.

“This New Year will probably be spent on the way to Asia,” said Div by the campfire, under an umbrella, as several young people sat around him. This journey might last ten days to a month and a half—leaving home, being alone, doing things they had never done before. It would be dishonest to say a teenager wasn’t nervous.

Nio took out a small wooden box from his pocket and handed it to Div. “Remember to head straight to the church.”

“Mm,” Div understood Nio’s meaning. The two had already discussed this issue before. Since they needed to rely on the Church’s support, Div, as its representative, must place faith above everything. Moreover, during that day’s prayer ceremony, aside from Nio’s behind-the-scenes tricks, the deity had indeed manifested. Although the most compelling witness, Pastor Norlund, wouldn’t be joining this trip, both agreed that Div must maintain this stance, giving the Church time to process the situation.

Nio had said, “The people in the Church like things done methodically, steadily, and effectively. Sudden surprises might be seen as trying to attract attention, and being too hasty could leave the Church unprepared or catch them off guard, causing them to lose face. They might even blame you for not knowing how to behave, especially the local officials. Also, I’ll prepare a gift for the Church—the best part of what we’ve gained from this journey to the Dark Lands. Don’t hide its origin; just show your sincerity.”

Recalling Nio’s words, Div grew curious about the gift. Gently lifting the lid of the box, he saw a crystal about the thickness of a thumb resting on a blue velvet cloth. Under the firelight, it emitted a soft, multicolored glow—more brilliant than gems and purer than holy water, breathtakingly beautiful.

Div quickly closed the lid and asked in a hushed voice, “What is this? So beautiful and pure?”

Valentina, Milien, and Ebute also looked at Nio curiously, waiting for an answer. They had seen various gems, but none that could evoke such a profound impression—just one glance was enough to leave a lasting memory.

“The creatures of the Dark Lands call it the ‘Crystal Core,’ while those on the surface usually call it the ‘Heart of Nature.’ Legend has it that this crystal grew over countless years from the core of a shattered divine sun. It is a symbol of sanctity and purity. There’s one on the Pope’s scepter, only larger than this one.”

Nio spoke calmly, but the others gasped in shock. Even Dave’s hand holding the box trembled. “This is too precious!”
Nio’s expression darkened. “The best things should be offered to the gods. Remember that?”
“Oh! Oh!” Dave quickly agreed.
Nio didn’t say this aloud but conveyed it to Dave through telepathy. After the shaman profession reached level 4, the ability to summon natural spirits improved, and telepathy was a life skill that evolved from that.
Milienn knew Nio well; she knew he wasn’t a believer of the god-king. “I also think this is too precious. It’s something you’ve obtained after going through countless hardships. I feel bad giving it to Dave as a gift.”
Nio smiled slightly and said plainly, “The purpose of this isn’t purely altruistic. What does our migration group need most right now? Various supplies and money. But where does the money come from? From those high-value crystals. This isn’t about selling black iron or wine—such treasures will attract attention the moment they’re shown. Simply put, even titles like knight, lord, or even baron can’t guarantee safety from trouble. Compared to the complex relationships among the rulers in the duchy, I see more potential in the Church as a backing. First, in front of the gods, no one dares to act recklessly. Second, so far, the Church remains the most organized and efficient institution in the Aemera world. Moreover, they’re not like those nobles blinded by money; most of them pursue higher rewards rather than worldly wealth and material gains. So they definitely won’t miss this opportunity.”
Valentina asked, “But won’t this completely offend the duchy and the alliance?”
Nio nodded. “So this operation is also a divergence in stance. Once the Church learns the truth behind our eastward migration, it will spare no effort to expose the alliance, the duchy, and the Olivier family for abandoning the people of their territories for their own interests. With the Church’s capabilities and the truth of the situation, the alliance and the duchy will be in a very awkward position. Under such circumstances, they’ll surely try every means to cling to a lifeline by blaming scapegoats while promoting those who saved them during the disaster. If you wish, you can become a model noble they’ll champion. I suggest you take this path; otherwise, all the benefits will go to Quip.”
In fact, Nio left half a sentence unsaid in front of Milienn and Dave. He guessed that Xavier would also try to curry favor with the alliance and the duchy. After all, in this era of change, most Frey people, including nobles, believed that with the widespread use of technology and the rapid advancement of productivity, theocracy would become obsolete. Simply put: Without gods, we can still live well. Why give everything to them? Are we addicted to being slaves?
“Are you suggesting I follow the path of the state?”

“Yes, loyal to the path of knights, loyal to the people, loyal to the nation. You’re already on this path; without any particularly favorable conditions, I don’t think it’s appropriate to change.” Neo smiled again. “And it’s imaginable that the Church’s actions will trigger a series ofchain reactions reactions. The Alliance and the Duchy will exert unprecedented effort to win over every ruler of Erdrite. I guess they’ll ask Lord Saefer to act as a lobbyist—maybe your family and yours can spend the New Year together.”
“What about us?” Rijef asked, scratching his head in confusion.
“If you can endure the rules and disciplines, stay with Dev. It seems the Church never produces mediocrities in military matters. Those who desire high positions and rich rewards should bow to the Alliance and the Duchy. Don’t be blinded by flashy glory—try to secure some tangible benefits for yourself, like a title from the ‘Wings of Freedom’ or a certificate from Phoenix City Military Academy. As long as the Alliance remains, even the laziest can have a comfortable life for the rest of their days, right?”
“What about you?” Ebute asked.
“Although the Church has a precedent of accepting those with dark powers, my beliefs won’t allow me to betray anyone, not even in pretense. Of course, I still intend to gain some benefits from the Alliance. According to Alliance laws, 70% of the profits from slaves go to their masters. And since I was once a death row inmate, I think I have a chance to become a full citizen after this incident.”
“That’s too unfair to you,” Rijef said, feeling sorry for him despite knowing Neo’s words made sense. Neo had made tremendous contributions, yet what he received seemed far too meager.
“I’m sorry. Our family owes you so much,” Melian said guiltily.
Neo smiled nonchalantly. “A hero isn’t afraid of humble origins. I aspire to be a hero, and all these hardships are just necessary trials. As you’ve seen, though I’ve been through life and death many times, my strength has improved dramatically—this is the greatest benefit. According to Alliance laws, full citizens are eligible to apply to become settlers and organize exploration teams. As long as they can maintain their territory and retain ownership for three consecutive years, they’ll be granted a title no lower than that of a lord. My future is promising, isn’t it?”
Of course, actually expanding new territories isn’t that easy; otherwise, the Alliance wouldn’t have been stuck at the border between Monstoke and Erdrite for so many years, failing to expand westward while its territory could have already reached the Storm Sea. Yet, as they listened to Neo speak confidently, none of them thought he was exaggerating. They believed he would definitely achieve what he said, and not too soon…
Early the next morning, before dawn, the six of them packed up and left the migration group. Neo was among them, but his destination was the Gale Team’s camp—he was just passing by on his way with Valentina’s group.
With Kuep by his side, Neo and the others didn’t want to talk deeply. They only chatted about weather, geography, and local customs. Before they knew it, it was already light, and they had to ride fast, leaving little time for conversation. About an hour later, Neo parted ways with Valentina’s group and headed alone to the Gale Camp.
“The boss is back!”
“Boss!”
“Boss!”…

The members of the Gale Team were very enthusiastic upon seeing Neo. These days, they had been exchanging information with the Migration Team. They were all aware of Neo’s victory over the leader of the man-beasts, and those two war puppets along with over thirty firearms had arrived directly at the Gale Team’s side. The vast majority of the people in the Migration Team were unaware of this. Such a simple difference in treatment already made the Gale Team members realize who Neo was closer to.

A captain who put his own team first above everything else. It is these everyday “basic skills” that lead to trivial issues, and Neo was undoubtedly up to the task.

Neo returned to camp, first checking on a few sick members and using the Pearl of Life to help them recover sooner. He then inquired about team affairs. Barret was meticulous in his work, having completed all the tasks assigned to him well. For example, everyone in the Gale Team now had their own complete set of equipment—ranging from weapons and armor to clothes, socks, bedding, and basic daily necessities. Through everyone’s efforts to improve things further, there were even some special inventions.

“Arno, step forward!” Barret called out. Arno, the tall man who was practicing formation, responded and stepped forward, giving a military salute to Barret and Neo.

After these days, the Gale Team had finally gained a basic understanding of military procedures—standing at attention, forming ranks, and giving basic responses—all like a proper soldier. For a group of people who used to be ordinary villagers, such progress was already the result of hard work, as they had been busy with basic survival needs for a long time.

“Go, lie down next to that pile of rocks!”

“Yes, Deputy Captain!” Without hesitation, Arno ran to the rocks and lay down face down.

Neo understood what was going on. He had already noticed earlier that the team members had dyed their cotton coats white. Perhaps because the original colors were too mixed, dyeing them was difficult, resulting in a patchy white and colored pattern. Now, with Arno lying in the snow, it gave the impression that he was blending in with the surroundings.

Barret explained, “Because our cotton coats were mocked by some people from the Migration Team as beggar clothes. With no fabric available, Ban suggested standardizing the color first, and unintentionally, we achieved this result.”

“Very good, Ban. Well done. The more such inventions, the better. Ban will receive 10 gold coins as a reward. Chebman, record this. When we reach the big city, pay it out along with the salaries.”

“Thank you, Captain!” Ban was overjoyed. He never expected to receive 10 gold coins for this accidental invention. As a worker in a dye workshop, he usually earned just a little over 2 gold coins in a whole year.

Neo nodded and said, “I’ll also thank everyone on your behalf. Such inventions can greatly improve our concealment. Once we have more time and manpower, you’ll be in charge of this project, figuring out the best combinations for greater effectiveness. We need ones for snow, mountains, and forests. If you do well, there will be more rewards.”

“Yes!”

Neo glanced at a few more small inventions and promised rewards ranging from 5 to 10 gold coins each depending on the situation. In his final speech, he said, “Although many of you switched careers halfway through, skills are skills. As long as you use your brains, you can contribute to strengthening our team’s overall strength like Ban, and you can also earn tangible rewards. Moreover, one day you’ll be able to say to the newcomers proudly, ‘Is this thing easy to use? I invented it!’”

The team members’ enthusiasm was ignited. More importantly, Neo’s speech showed those who felt they were only mediocre a path forward for themselves.

“Reporting to the captain, I don’t have any other skills. What should I do?” Vitz asked, scratching his head.

“Then one day you can say to the newcomers, ‘See this knife of mine? I’ve cut off over a thousand heads!’”

“Hehe! That’s great!” Vitz returned to the team satisfied.

Everyone laughed.

Over the next three days, the Gale Team spent their time in a fulfilling yet routine lifestyle. The daily training volume wasn’t large, focusing mainly on basic skills and fun exercises like “three-legged race” to improve teamwork and coordination. In addition, there were theoretical lessons, usually given by experienced members like Mach, Neo, and Vitz, who would demonstrate some practical combat techniques and then discuss them. Each session covered just a few moves, which were repeatedly practiced until mastery was achieved.

Labor was also an important part of each day. With Neo’s guidance, all of the Gale Team’s original iron reserves were used up, aside from a small amount kept for future use. They not only produced lightweight, standardized tent fixtures but also improved their sleds and equipped them with wheels. Hylfanis had a climate different from Edrith—limited snowfall—and due to its dryness and strong sunlight, the snow depth in many places was only about the thickness of a palm. After observing the terrain daily, Neo concluded that thorough preparations were necessary.

During these three days, another significant event occurred for the Gale Team: Barret received a reward for “muscular strength” from Neo.

Those with ordinary elemental attributes are generally considered natural warriors (fighters or spellcasters), but such people are limited. Among them, those who stand out are usually selected through multiple screening processes by nations or various organizations. Members of the Gale Team like Barret, Boglem, and Arno—had they had elemental attributes—would have achieved far more given their intelligence, physical strength, and dedication to the warrior path.

Those without elemental attributes aren’t completely useless, but since their origins are difficult, they don’t need to consider the warrior path. No one would waste money, effort, or time on an unprofitable investment. For this reason, the members of the Gale Team, especially Barret and the others, always felt there was an insurmountable barrier. Neo’s previous promise addressed this barrier, giving them a glimmer of hope.

This time, thanks to Neio’s significant achievements in Wurtzburg, people’s hopes finally came true. Neio publicly announced that, due to Barret’s outstanding performance—not only completing tasks excellently but also making creative contributions to the team—Barret was rewarded with “Muscular Strength,” a trait suited to his physical characteristics. Originally, acquiring such strength required a very complex set of specialized training methods, which were not only costly but also yielded unsatisfactory results. Neio, however, granted Barret this strength all at once, boosting his overall index from level 2 to level 4 in one go. Reaching level 5 would depend on Barret’s own understanding, as no one else could help him. But with such abundant strength, everyone believed Barret would surely succeed in crossing this threshold, perhaps after another training session or battle.

Barret’s example not only made this usually composed man emotional to the point of shedding tears in public for the first time but also filled all team members with enthusiasm. As Neio said, “This is just the beginning. Our Storm Team will definitely carve out our own place in the world.”

Apart from this major event, Neio also focused on self-adjustment and improvement during these rare three-day break. First, regarding the absorption of life energy, thanks to his rapid advancement in shamanic levels and mastery of water element power, his techniques for planting and gathering energy became more proficient and effective. Through planting and absorbing plant life force, Neio managed to recover a small portion of the life energy he had previously expended on Valentina over these three days.

Secondly, concerning his important servant, the Heavy Water Shield Guard, the elemental bracelet had been successfully analyzed. Due to material constraints, Neio couldn’t create a matching pair for the bracelet. But with Nancy’s help, he modified it into a collar. More importantly, the crystal that housed the essence of the Heavy Water Shield Guard was separated from the collar and embedded, along with the Miao Crystal, in a pendent based on sterling silver. This way, the Heavy Water Shield Guard no longer had a true fatal weakness—just like those summoned entities in the water element realm, it could at most be destroyed rather than truly die.

In addition to creating the elemental collar, Neio also modified the two war puppets. He disdained the design chosen by the fire dwarves and found their waste of materials shameful. After a series of adjustments, Neio successfully streamlined the two puppets, turning them into multi-purpose units. They could be used as draft animals for pulling carts in peacetime and as guards wielding large shields in wartime. Their copper-iron hybrid bodies were also strong enough to withstand ordinary attacks, including those from conventional combat energy.

In terms of manufacturing, Neo also obtained materials by planting softwood and created his first totem, Shuiguang. Currently, Shuiguang’s function is to turn healing spells into group spells—only one casting is required, and as long as the totem remains intact, all certified members within a 30-meter radius can gain continuous healing effects lasting 5 minutes. Neo conducted some experiments and found that this effect is roughly equivalent to granting everyone the innate abilities of the wolf race. This is already quite impressive. Think about how many times he himself has survived critical situations thanks to his wolf race innate abilities. Moreover, there are life-related spells that can enhance the healing effects, and without transforming, his self-healing capacity is only this strong. He is well aware of the astonishing benefits that come from combining these two.

Besides these achievements, another notable aspect is his two natural spirit companions, Ci and Ji. Whether influenced by the powerful forces of the Dark Magic, Neo noticed that their attributes were changing. Fortunately, they felt these changes were positive, and Nancy said these changes wouldn’t be as extreme as those caused by his Dark Magic, but rather a adjustment toward the Shadow-Moon attributes, aligning with him—birds of a feather flock together. This reassured Neo.

Neo originally planned to prepare a set of brass armor for himself, but he simply didn’t have enough time. Moreover, Nancy offered a more attractive solution: although we can’t quickly cultivate Poison Thorn Rhododendrons, Wisdom Vines and Energy Vines are no problem. This way, we can create semi-active armor, designing brass magic rings as energy support points at various joints, allowing the armor to be quickly repaired when damaged. Using the same method, he could also possess endless thorny arrows, just like Medusa.

So Neo began designing and manufacturing his first set of magically active armor. This was clearly not an easy task, and before he knew it, it was already the fourth day.

That day, Neo calculated that, even if Dave was slow, he should have arrived at the Shelter Valley by noon the previous day. That meant he must have gone to the church yesterday to thank the deity for his favor toward non-believers. Given the efficiency of the Church, aerial units should have arrived at the valley where the migration group was located by now to assess the situation.

However, what Neo encountered was a pillar of smoke rising into the sky—a pre-agreed early warning signal. Clearly, the migration group was in serious trouble.