[Slain: Lv. 18 Stitch Monster Pato]
[Gained 1,680 experience points]
[Gained 100 reputation points]
[Obtained 1 Tavern Construction Blueprint]
[Obtained 1 Tier 1 Territory Technology Research Institute Construction Blueprint]
[Obtained 1 Level 2 City Lord Mansion Upgrade Voucher]
[Obtained 1 Fragmented Blue Soul]
[Obtained 1 Cruel Butcher's Blade (Blue)]
[Obtained 1 book: Marching Strategy]
[Obtained the head of Altland Whisperwind]
Pato, the team leader of the Stitch Monsters, had given Zong Shen another windfall. Most of the rewards, however, were blueprints and books.
Zong Shen decided to save them and sort through everything at once on the way back.
The only piece of equipment seemed to be the Butcher's Blade that Stitch Monster Pato had wielded.
Zong Shen took it out and held it in his hands, nearly losing his grip.
Even with his current Strength of 21, he found it incredibly difficult to hold in one hand.
He could only just barely lift it with both hands.
But to wield it freely and cleave with it, he would need at least 35 Strength.
The blade alone was as wide as Zong Shen himself, like a door panel.
[Cruel Butcher's Blade (Blue)]
[One-handed/Two-handed]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Slashing Damage: 42/48]
[Attack Range: 55]
[Attack Speed: -8%]
[Durability: 220]
[Skill: Wild Slash (Delivers 3 slashes in 3 seconds, each dealing 1.0x slashing damage)]
[Strength Required: 38]
"Holy crap, this thing's awesome!"
This Butcher's Blade was practically a slaughtering weapon.
It could be wielded in either one or both hands.
Unfortunately, it required a staggering 38 Strength. Neither Zong Shen nor the Wolf Cavalry could equip it.
He could only store it for now or consider putting it up for sale on the market.
Zong Shen put the Butcher's Blade away.
Then he looked at the last Demon Hunter corpse.
[Head of Altland Whisperwind]
[A head subjected to the Blood Burn Demon Profanation Ritual and stitching experiments. One of the quest items.]
He stored it away.
With that, all six Demon Hunter corpses had been collected.
Now he only needed to take them back to his territory and bury them beside the Moon Well.
After Zong Shen killed Stitch Monster Pato, beams of light suddenly poured down throughout the dungeon.
Thin wisps of black smoke rose within the light before finally vanishing.
Bathed in the light, Zong Shen felt warm all over and utterly refreshed.
[Your bravery has restored light to this dungeon. The shadow of death has lifted, and countless souls of the Elf Race have found peace.]
[You have received the Blessing of the Elven Spirits, lasting 3 days.]
[ Blessing of the Elven Spirits ]
[Effect: Rare item drop rate +5%, fatigue -50%, attack +10%, defense +10%]
This was an unexpected bonus.
He hadn't expected clearing this dungeon to earn him an extra buff.
The dungeon had been fully cleared, so there was no reason to stay.
He glanced at the time.
It was already midday.
They had set out shortly after six in the morning, and more than six hours had passed.
Everyone was still reasonably well-fed, so Zong Shen decided to change the day's plans.
They would stop exploring for now.
First, they would claim that unlucky lord's territory and inheritance, and recruit the farmers there.
Then he still needed to prepare for the territory expansion quest.
He also had to sort out the rewards they had earned during the morning's exploration.
It was time to start a major construction project.
With that in mind, Zong Shen turned to Favid, the fire mage, and said,
"Favid, take me to your former lord's territory. Let's recruit those poor farmers."
Favid nodded and bowed.
"My lord, please follow me."
"We found a crude entrance in some ruins, and that's how we discovered this place."
"Please, follow me."
He was very respectful.
After fighting alongside Zong Shen for a while, Favid had come to recognize his strength and ability.
Compared to his former lord, who was already dead, this one was far more capable.
Perhaps Zong Shen really could help him regain his lost glory.
Zong Shen nodded, then led the others after Favid back to the dungeon on the left.
As the Strategy Guide had indicated, a passage about two meters in diameter had been dug out in one of the cells.
It wound upward and was just wide enough for them to walk through in single file.
There were obvious signs of cave-ins along the passage, as well as places where it had been dug out again.
Clearly, after that unlucky lord discovered the passage, he had needed to put in some effort to reopen it.
After carefully making their way through the passage,
they found themselves standing amid a field of ruins.
The area was still surrounded by forest, but the terrain was flatter.
It seemed to be a level patch halfway up the mountain.
Scattered building debris lay piled up all over the ground, with dense shrubs and weeds growing through the gaps.
"My lord, my former lord's territory is over there."
Favid pointed in a direction where they could see the ruined courtyard that came standard with every lord's territory.
A few farmers were working outside, diligently gathering resources.
They seemed unaware that their lord had died in the dungeon.
The courtyard was less than two li away, only a few minutes' walk.
About five or six minutes later, Zong Shen and the others reached the courtyard.
To Zong Shen's surprise, the unlucky lord had five farmers.
Besides the three he had started with, he had somehow managed to find two more.
The five farmers saw them gathering resources and immediately stopped. They stood up nervously and hurried back into the courtyard.
Zong Shen and his group looked quite imposing.
The Wolf Cavalry in particular looked dangerous, with their Giant Wolves baring their teeth and snarling.
They only relaxed when they spotted Favid.
One of the braver farmers stood by the entrance and called out,
"Lord Favid, why are you with these strangers?"
"Where is our lord, Zhang Song?"
Favid stepped forward and began to explain.
"Our former lord was torn apart by the monsters in the dungeon. I nearly died in their hands, too."
"Fortunately, I met Lord Zong Shen."
"These are Lord Zong Shen's soldiers. He's here to save you."
"Without a lord to protect you, you'll have a hard time surviving in this wilderness."
Favid spoke quickly.
The farmers exchanged glances inside the courtyard.
But no one dared to take the first step.
"Is our lord dead?"
They still seemed hesitant.
At that, Zong Shen smiled and walked straight into the courtyard.
The farmers saw this and screamed as if they had seen a ghost, cowering in a corner.
In their eyes, no outsider could enter the courtyard, but now that rule seemed to have changed.
After the unlucky lord's death, the courtyard was no longer protected by the beginner's protection rules!
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