Chapter 28: The Situation

Rod cleaved the head off the last monster.

With that, the crisis brought by this wave of seventh-tier monsters had been fully resolved.

"Seventh-tier isn't as strong as I imagined."

"Please don't underestimate seventh-tier, Mr. Human." Farshad came over and bowed in thanks. "Monsters are ultimately not an intelligent race—they know no swordsmanship, no magic, and have no spiritual essence within them. The most troublesome venom is nearly useless against you."

"The seventh-tier mark is the dividing line for spiritual accumulation—spiritual essence will undergo a qualitative change." Lady Kali picked up the conversation. "Human, with your strength, you shouldn't be keeping a succubus. It will only corrupt your body and mind."

Many people had said so.

Seventh-tier beings possess a deeper comprehension of spiritual essence, and the spiritual arts they produce can no longer be compared to those below seventh-tier.

Like the scorpion woman Hera of the Eucalyptus District.

Rod had been going to bother her these past few days, but every time he failed to sense any spiritual accumulation within her.

"Hehe~"

Tally walked over, laughing: "This is the first time I've heard an elf speak so thoughtlessly. Look at his tendons, look at his vigor—could one person possibly finish her off? She's the one being corrupted. Oh wait, the one drowned by a face full of it~"

Lady Kali's face showed anger.

"Shameless!"

"You understood? Even though you're a two-hundred-year-old maiden, you're not exactly pure yourself."

"You! Seeking death!"

She was about to gather her magic, but the venom worsened and she instantly spat out another mouthful of black blood.

"Lady Kali!"

Farshad hurriedly cast a detoxification spell, but the effect was minimal.

Rod handed over the antidotal magic potion.

Just one mouthful, and the venom's effects quickly subsided.

"You lot should stock some magic potions."

Magic potions' detoxification effects had always been better than detoxification spells.

"Relying on external aids is a sign of weakness."

Looking like she was half-dead, Lady Kali was still talking tough.

"Then have the guts not to drink it." Tally mocked.

"You!"

Farshad was helpless; thick-skinned, he begged for two more bottles of antidote, and only then managed to suppress the venom on both of them.

Rod turned and collected his spoils.

Apart from the crystal-stone stomach pouch, the monster's two scythe-claws were also of very fine quality.

Had Rod not struck at the weak joints, he really couldn't have been sure of cleaving them off.

"Are there any skilled blacksmiths in Shi Ying Town?"

He thought for a moment, only recalling old Bob, who was good at making iron pots and kitchen knives.

Then he'd have to entrust Pete to take them to Gale City.

"Mr. Human, if you're troubled over the forging of these scythe-claws, you may leave it to us to try." Farshad had been less deeply poisoned and recovered quickly.

"You? Elves?"

Elves weren't exactly skilled smiths.

"Dwarves. I happen to know a dwarven craftsman." He smiled.

Dwarves, then. That wasn't surprising.

The relationship between elves and dwarves seemed passable.

"Then I'll trouble you."

"No trouble at all—just a small repayment for the life-saving grace. By the way, while fleeing earlier, I noticed a glimmer of spiritual light at the monster's feet. Mr. Human may have a look."

"Oh?"

Rod walked to the monster's corpse's feet and chopped twice with his sword, cutting while searching.

Guts, rotten tumors, and shredded meat flew everywhere.

Farshad stepped back, reluctant to approach.

Xiti couldn't hold it in and dry-heaved on the side.

"This Mr. Human... truly is unconventional."

A moment later.

Rod finally saw the source of the spiritual glow Farshad had mentioned.

It was a bullhide whip of quite decent quality.

Only the spiritual essence within was dim, clearly damaged by the monster's venom.

"Please leave this item to me as well." Farshad smiled. "I have a way to restore its spiritual essence."

"I leave it to you."

The two chatted idly for a few lines.

Only after Lady Kali regained mobility did they head out of the cave.

They would return to their tribe to recuperate.

Rod, on the other hand, continued onward.

His condition was good today; he planned to press the advantage.

Half a month passed quickly.

The spiritual accumulation within Rod steadily advanced into the mid-stage of fifth-tier.

The poison-fire resistance of the Scorpion Woman Hera was finally fully digested; at this moment, he could exempt himself from most fire-attribute and poison-attribute attacks below the seventh tier.

And after the crystal stomach accumulated little by little, the improvement in all-around resistance was quite gratifying.

Compared to the stability of a ranger's life.

The recent situation had become somewhat turbulent.

Surrounding small kingdoms were stirring, probing frequently.

The dispute between the Aethelorn Kingdom and the Heavenly Court Flower Kingdom escalated; Twilight City, known as the first line of defense, fell, with over ten thousand casualties, including five seventh-tier court mages all killed by ambush.

The eighth-tier city lord fled overnight back to the capital, Radiant City, and was immediately impeached and thrown into prison.

The king flew into a rage; upon the suggestion of the Pope of the Yige Sect, he dispatched a Red Cardinal from the sect to the front lines to guide the battle, vowing to retake Twilight City.

As for public opinion, it was mostly negative.

They believed the Aethelorn Kingdom was growing old and weak, unable to contend with the Heavenly Court Flower Kingdom, which held core technologies.

As a result, people were now in a state of panic, with many even wanting to flee the kingdom to seek refuge in surrounding small kingdoms.

The tension of the war even affected Shi Ying Town on the border.

Not only did taxes rise, but the city hall simply could not pay wages anymore; they could only receive about sixty percent.

David and other constables complained bitterly; in broad daylight, they dragged Rod to a brothel, saying that only venting through ejaculation could relieve their frustration.

Rod, of course, was too lazy to pay him any mind.

Fortunately, most of the gifts from the Argyle family remained; otherwise, with current salaries and various reimbursement fees being cut to only half, he too would be frustrated.

Returning to the forest once more.

Rod finally escaped from that resentment of public opinion.

Shi Ying Town was just a small place; after all, it could still pay wages, so there would be no major impact in the short term.

Didn't you see David still had money to go to a brothel?

As the saying goes, when the kingdom's economy declines, the quality of brothels goes up.

Upon returning to the wooden cabin.

Tally reverted to her true form and sat in his arms.

Her body temperature was scorching, pulling Rod's thoughts back to the present.

"Even if full-scale war breaks out, the Wind Wall Forest and Shi Ying Town will not be affected."

After all, the Death Desert is right next door; no one would be willing to expend effort for such a barren place.

"Master, I'm hungry."

"Eat by yourself; I'll sit."

"Okay~"

As soon as Tally opened her mouth and lowered her head, a strong spiritual fluctuation came from outside.

She let out an "Ouch!" and was pushed away.

Rod rushed out the door at lightning speed.

The magical warning trap in the Bai Yu District.

And it was... fifth tier.

Lately, he had felt something was wrong in his heart, and with the tense situation, Rod immediately thought of enemies invading.

The Yige Sect?

Not necessarily; with the war intensifying and the king's heavy reliance on them, they might not be able to spare hands to deal with a mere ranger.

"Little Little Bangde!"

Little Little Bangde kicked open the stable door and came at the call.

"Wait for me!" Tally hurried out the door and, just a moment before Little Little Bangde started, jumped into Rod's arms.

They flew swiftly toward the location of the warning.

(End of this chapter)