Chapter 191
[Soul Stone] * 528
[Vinar Silver Coin] *795
[Advanced Material - Torn Page of the Believer's Chapter] *2
[Fragmented Common Soul Fragment]*42
[Fragmented Elite Soul Fragment]*17
[Bright Elite Soul (Tier Two)]*1
The gains this time were quite good; those two advanced materials alone were worth a considerable amount.
With the addition of several hundred Soul Stone and a Complete Elite Spirit, the total profit exceeds twenty million!
"Here you go." Shen Xing handed Xia Wanyin an advancement material. "Today's reward."
"Huh? I didn't say I wanted any reward." Xia Wanyin said in surprise, "Besides, Miss Leina killed all the monsters here by herself. I didn't contribute anything, so I can't take your things."
"Who said you didn't contribute anything? If it weren't for you, how could I have discovered this Soul Stone Mine?"
Shen Xing smiled and said, "Remember what I said? Long-term cooperation is based on fair distribution."
"All right..."
Seeing that she couldn't argue with him, Xia Wanyin could only obediently put the materials into her backpack.
Then, Shen Xing turned to look at the small earthen mound beside him. On the dark cave walls, there were pieces of Soul Stone Ore emitting a faint glow.
This was their biggest takeaway from the trip.
However, to convert this raw stone mine into resources, it will be necessary to send people to mine it.
However, in Shen Xing's territory, including the slave laborers working in the quarry and logging camp, there were only forty or fifty people.
We're a bit short-handed.
"This game update increases the chances of encountering refugees."
"I wonder if there are any refugees near my territory. If all else fails, I'll have to think of other solutions."
Shen Xing muttered to himself, then jumped back onto the Fried Chicken's back. "Let's go, let's move on to the next resource point."
A flash of fire appeared beneath Leina's feet, and with a light leap, she landed steadily beside Shen Xing.
Xia Wanyin was lifted up by the Hand of the Void and placed on his back.
Next, the three people and the bird soared into the sky once more, embarking on their exploration.
Meanwhile, in the vicinity of the territory.
Thick fog billowed across the dark plains.
A group of ragged, disheveled figures were helping each other along.
There were men and women among them, including several children.
"Captain Kyle, how much longer do we have to walk?" a middle-aged woman in the group asked hoarsely. "We've been walking for three days straight, and most of us are exhausted."
Even if you can't walk, you have to keep going.
At the very front of the group, a middle-aged man holding a long sword and with a long whip at his waist said in a deep voice:
"We barely escaped the Weideng Royal City with the princess's help, escaping the Control of that tyrant."
"We must hold on. While the heavy rain has just stopped and the monsters in the royal city can't catch us, we must get to the vicinity of another major city as quickly as possible and report the situation."
"Only in this way can we save Her Majesty the Princess and rescue our families!"
The group exchanged glances, their faces showing exhaustion, and a bitter smile tugged at their lips.
"Captain Kyle, we really can't walk anymore..."
Another middle-aged man spoke weakly, "After several days of continuous rain, the fog is full of muddy swamps and monsters. Everyone's physical strength is at its limit..."
A young man nearby chimed in, "Yeah, we haven't eaten for two days..."
"At this rate, let alone reaching other major cities, we'll starve to death halfway there..."
Their words resonated with the others, and the team's morale plummeted.
Captain Kyle looked at the exhausted group but did not reprimand them.
As the only Transcendent Rank expert in the team, even he was somewhat exhausted, let alone these Common?
Just then, a child suddenly pointed to the mist in the distance and said...
"Light! There's light ahead!"
Everyone looked up and followed the direction the child was pointing.
Sure enough, a cluster of orange-red flames could be seen faintly in the distance.
As if grasping at hope, they quickly approached the flame, which grew brighter and more dazzling.
Then they saw the towering city walls, the rows of arrow towers, and the figures of people patrolling the walls.
The expressions in everyone's eyes gradually changed from confusion to surprise, and then they were all shocked.
"Gods above... when did such a vast territory appear in this place?"
"Shen Xing, fly southeast this time, about 700 meters."
Xia Wanyin sat on the back of the Hippogryph, her eyes closed as she sensed its presence, and spoke softly.
"Good."
Shen Xing responded and gave the order to Fried Chicken.
With a long cry, the Hippogryph gracefully glided two and a half circles in the air before turning and moving forward.
Leina sat quietly to the side, her hands tightly gripping Shen Xing's wrists.
She gazed resolutely ahead, the howling wind whipping through her long hair and brushing against her stunningly beautiful profile.
She had been silent ever since the outbreak at the Soul Stone Mine, lost in thought.
Before Shen Xing could think further, they had already arrived at their destination.
Looking down, I saw a magical scene.
On the black earth, soaked by rain and covered in mud, stands a human-shaped statue.
It is about two meters tall and looks like it was made of yellow clay, yet it has survived the erosion of rainwater.
Her long hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, her eyes were lowered, and she exuded a sacred aura.
But strangely, a pitch-black chain was tightly wrapped around the statue's neck, with the other end firmly nailed to the ground.
"This looks like... Rain God Statue?!" Shen Xing exclaimed in surprise.
"Huh? Is it something like this?" Xia Wanyin was a little surprised, then nodded in realization. "No wonder this place felt different from other resource points to me."
"Let's go down and take a look."
Shen Xing also became interested.
This is the new event statue added after today's system update.
He saw related pictures on the forum while traveling.
Some players have already encountered these statues and even obtained rewards from them.
However, it seems that there are very few statues, and they are scattered very sparsely, so you don't encounter many players.
The Fried Chicken gently flapped its wings, carrying them smoothly to a landing in front of the Rain God Statue.
Looking up, the face of the Rain God Statue was still blurry, as if washed away by the heavy rain, or as if shrouded by a mysterious force.
The chain wrapped around his neck gleamed with a dark metallic luster, and ancient sealing runes were engraved on its links.
A system notification appeared before my eyes.
[Rain God Statue (Event)]
[1: Rite of Praying for Rain (Close your eyes and pray for 10 seconds to grant the entire team a 20% movement speed boost for 5 hours)]
[2: Gift of Shattered Rain (Smash the statue to randomly obtain a piece of equipment or item from the Rain God series)]
[3: The Shackle of Bearing Rain (The lord unlocks the chains on the statue and receives a large reward).
However, the chains will transfer to you, reducing your movement ability by 50% for 15 to 30 days (this effect can stack).
Are there also three different options?
Shen Xing analyzed in a low voice, "This is similar to the 'Holy Altar' and 'Demon Statue' we encountered before; different choices yield different rewards."
"However, the previous two types could be rewarded through sacrificing attributes, but this Rain God Statue doesn't offer that option..."
This left him somewhat disappointed, because it meant he wouldn't be able to get the statue's reward for free.
"Shen Xing, which option should we choose?" Xia Wanyin asked softly.
Shen Xing did not answer, but silently analyzed the situation.
Clearly, of these three options, the third offers the highest potential return, but also comes at the greatest cost.
To have to carry the chains from the Rain God, causing a drastic drop in movement speed for at least half a month, is truly outrageous.
However... he didn't have the ability to move to begin with, so it seems this cost won't affect him much?
At most, it's just an extra chain on your body; consider it a fashion item.
Thinking of this, Shen Xing said, "I'll try the third option."
"The third option... won't it be locked up by chains?"
Xia Wanyin shook her head. "I'll do it. I don't have much fighting ability anyway, so it's okay if I can't move. We can split any rewards."
Shen Xing glanced at her. "Why are you trying to take it from me? I'm already in a wheelchair, why would I care if I can't walk?"
Xia Wanyin paused for a moment, then chuckled and said, "That's true."
Shen Xing smiled, then decisively chose the third option.
Immediately afterwards, the chain that had been wrapped around the Rain God's neck began to come off and coiled around Shen Xing's neck like a serpent.
He quickly stretched out his right hand to block in front of him.
While he might be okay with having a chain around his body, locking his neck is just too much.