Often, players just lack an idea. After being given some pointers, the three of them quickly got on their skis and joined the fun-filled skiing Great Adventurer.
However, as they continued forward, some people noticed something amiss.
[ Only Play Wheelchairs ]: "I have a question. Isn't it winter now? But the mission requires us to Planting plants all over this road. Does this mission last for several months?"
[ Six Mysterious Digits ]: "It shouldn't last that long. The weather in this World of Disorder is also a manifestation of rules. I saw that the pictures of the Graycast Corridor posted by those experts on the forum didn't show a trace of snow. Perhaps the normal changing of the seasons only exists in this area that we know so far."
[ Aloof Gold Block ]: "I know the rules can be changed, but I don't know if our faction can."
[ Six Mysterious Digits ]: "It should be possible. If this task can only be completed when the ground thaws in spring, then the 'preheating' mentioned in the notes is a bit too far-fetched."
Amidst their lively discussion, the three quickly caught up with their teammates in the random match, and together they reached the target location and completed the mission.
Meanwhile, all players above level five also received a new quest.
The task is not complicated, and it is a terrain survey, a type of task that has appeared before.
However, this time the target of the survey was Fir City, the capital of the Aduolin Province.
Players had mixed opinions about the new phase of large-scale, long-term quest content, but this heated discussion was quickly brought to an end by a post.
On December 15th, veteran player [ Great Wei Boxing Champion ] posted his speculation thread on the World of Disorder Forum - "Speculation on the Content of the Third Phase Large-Scale Long-Term Quest".
After combining the road construction mission, the reconnaissance mission, and some strange hints in the mission content, he felt that the official third phase mission content was already obvious: to take Fir City.
However, according to the intelligence relayed back by the many "tea-serving soldiers" responsible for reconnaissance, Fir City, as the capital of a province, is a formidable city with high walls and thick fortifications, and cannot be conquered using the methods they have used in the past.
The authorities are clearly aware of this, which is why the preliminary mission is to establish contact with the Hive in the Sea of Flowers. Perhaps they will use a combination of ground and air forces to take over the city?
But why exactly do Swarm help them?
This is a hidden aspect of the game; perhaps the answer will be found in some random daily quest later.
Therefore, [ Great Wei Boxing Champion ] did not pay attention to these minor details, but simply used his own deductions to fill in some gaps in the plot and then released it.
Ed was constantly browsing the community, naturally came across this post. While marveling at the abundance of talented players, he also felt a pang of regret.
[ The Great Wei Boxing Champion ] was just a hair's breadth away from completely guessing his own thoughts.
However, the third phase shouldn't be far off; Nuolun of Black Locust Town just captured a small squad of Tree Worship Church priests from Fir City yesterday.
The existence of the Second Holy See is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal.
The team's main mission is to check whether the two largest towns Black Locust Town and Blue Gum Town, which are closest to the capital, are experiencing Blood Corpse crisis. If the two larger towns are still functioning normally, then Fir City will re-establish contact with the two towns and regularly deliver supplies during the winter when the Blood Corpse are at their weakest.
What they didn't expect was that although there were no Blood Corpse in these two towns, they no longer belonged to the Tree Worship Church.
Having learned from the advanced experience of the Soul Returner, Nuolun captured the group almost effortlessly, and then began the screening and interrogation process according to procedure.
The squad leaders quickly concluded that only the captain of the forty-man team was a Pure Ones.
According to what everyone said, this plan was specifically devised by the captain of the Pure Ones based on the weakening of the Blood Corpse. He divided the entire Aduolin Province into three layers: the innermost layer was naturally the capital Fir City; the middle layer consisted of the two large towns of Blue Gum Town and Black Locust Town; and the outermost layer consisted of the five medium and small towns.
His first phase of the plan can be summarized as connecting the inner Fir City with the two towns in the middle.
If this phase of the plan succeeds, they will then contact the remaining towns in order from west to east.
Since the Blood Corpse originated from the Wilderness of Chaos east of the Tree Worship Church, the survival rate in the towns on the west side is always slightly higher.
Their mission is scheduled for ten days. If they do not return to Fir City within seven days, the city will become suspicious and increase its vigilance.
Now there are only seven days left.
Nuolun quickly reported this information to Ed, Ed immediately revised the plan.
In World of Disorder, there's no morality to speak of in war, and Ed isn't the kind of person who only retaliates when he's attacked.
He planned to launch the first attack within seven days, completely casting the shadow of the Second Holy See over Fir City.
With that in mind, he left his study and decided to go to the "Research and Development Department" to check on the progress.
A knock came at the door, and Willow, who was writing something at her desk, looked up and said:
"Please come in."
Ed entered the lich's laboratory, found a chair, sat down, and asked the purpose of his visit.
"The area has been basically cleared. Is your [ Stability Anchor ] ready to use?"
So they came to inspect the work progress?
Despite her seemingly relaxed boss, Willow felt a little nervous.
What's going on? I've been working diligently and haven't been slacking off lately, so why am I still subconsciously sitting up straight?
The lich, unaware that she had unknowingly acquired the scent of the bastard, answered earnestly:
"It will be ready soon. With the experience we've gained so far, it should be completely finished today or tomorrow."
Ed nodded and asked again:
"Okay, about the features I mentioned..."
Willow wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead:
"Yes... you can join. My Stability Anchor has excellent compatibility, but you'll need to Cultivation those Aberration plants yourself, which I don't have the ability to do."
"Alright, I'll send someone to you, and bring along those apprentices of yours who can't even cast a single spell, to get this done."
Willow was nodding in agreement, but her face stiffened for a moment when she heard "an apprentice who can't even cast a single spell".
This was one of her unresolved issues lately, and Ed's words were like rubbing salt in the wound...