Chapter 231: Suppressing Bandits

Four friends at level 40, just right...

Crimson Rose, Huan Jie.

Late Falling Cherry, Li Wenwan.

Jasmine Tale, Huang Mingxin.

And the other is the Shen Wang of the universe.

This mission requires going to Zhuque City, five people…

Su Sheng checked the others' levels; they were all at 39, unsure if they could reach 40 today.

Now the Demon Energy map dungeons in each town have basically been divided up almost completely.

Even with so many towns, there must still be spots at the level‑40 training spots, since only players from medium‑to‑large guilds can reach them; ordinary solo players are still mainly at the level‑35 training spots.

Moreover, with so many towns, guild players can't consume all the level‑40 training spots.

So now the Huakai sisters and the Assassin Alliance, together with Yanhuang players, are occupying a level‑40 training spot in a town without a big guild.

But the experience naturally isn't as high as in a dungeon.

Su Sheng asked how long it would take the others to reach level 40.

Actually, to be safe, Su Sheng thought it would be more convenient to have his own dad come over.

Although his dad's operation and reaction awareness are a bit lacking.

But the Yin‑Yang alchemist is strong.

However, dad is only level 38, two levels short, which will take several days.

Although Su Ba started by running dungeons with Su Sheng, his level fell behind from the start.

As for seeking the Shen Wang of the universe for help, other matters might be easy to ask, but if he asks himself, he should be able to owe a favor.

But since it involves a Divine Artifact, even though he trusts the Shen Wang's character, he can't be careless.

Human hearts—if you can avoid gambling, don't gamble.

…

"But before that, Explorer, you still need to do some preparation work."

At this moment, Tie Chui Airen spoke up.

"What preparation work?"

Su Sheng was stunned for a moment; wasn't it just to find someone? Why is there preparation work?

"Find a way to get some gunpowder, because that mine has been sealed; we need gunpowder to blast it open again," Tie Chui Airen said, shaking his head.

"Gun… gunpowder?" Su Sheng was a bit confused.

"If you can bring a Magic Crystal Cannon to blast it open, that works too," Tie Chui Airen said with a playful look.

"Goo‑du~" Su Sheng swallowed, "You're messing with me."

Magic Crystal Cannon?

That's one of the highest‑tier magical constructs; the cannons that defended the walls of Wutong Town before were only Magic Rune Cannons, engraved with certain magical runes that could be powered by absorbing stray magical energy.

As for the cannons placed on the walls of the Zhuque Main City that Su Sheng has arrived at, they are merely Magic Energy Cannons, which require a dedicated supply of magic energy to fire; the stray magical energy in the air is no longer enough to power them.

The Magic Crystal Cannon sits above the Magic Energy Cannon; it's likely only seen in Huangcheng.

"Fine, I'll go collect gunpowder then," Su Sheng said helplessly, smacking his lips.

"Don't know where the clues are?" Su Sheng asked.

"You'll have to ask a grocer in a town; he should have clues. It requires 500 units of gunpowder," Tie Chui Airen said.

"Got it!" Su Sheng nodded.

Five hundred units of gunpowder isn't a small amount.

But thinking of the sealed mine that requires a Magic Energy Cannon to blast open, it's understandable.

After Tie Chui Airen gave no further remarks, Su Sheng said goodbye to the dwarf and set off to prepare the gunpowder.

While riding back to Wutong Town, Su Sheng opened his friends list and contacted Chen Guan.

Su Sheng explained that he currently has a mission requiring four teammates above level 40; he's missing one person, and the mission seems a bit difficult.

Following Su Sheng's plan, he created a party so Su Ba could first take fifty percent of the experience, rush to level 40, and then come help with the mission.

Naturally, the Huakai women at level 39 could speed up a bit, but since the mission involves a Divine Artifact, Su Sheng couldn't be careless.

It's not that Su Sheng underestimates the Huakai girls' strength; in this case, his hidden‑class dad is the optimal solution.

Chen Guan naturally didn't object and said he'd arrange it immediately.

As for why Su Sheng rode back to Wutong Town instead of using a Return City Scroll, it's because his scroll is bound to Zhuque City; using it would require teleporting from Zhuque City, costing extra gold, so riding is faster.

Thus, under the envious gazes of Wutong Town players, Su Sheng spurred his horse straight to the town gate before dismounting.

Normally, riding is prohibited inside the city.

Of course, Zhuque Main City has a riding avenue that permits it; elsewhere riding is forbidden, since Zhuque City is huge, and forbidding riding entirely would exhaust travelers.

Su Sheng headed straight for the grocer in Wutong Town.

"Hello, I'd like to buy gunpowder."

Su Sheng opened the shop's grocery tab but didn't see any gunpowder listed.

Su Sheng was puzzled, but since Tie Chui Airen had given a clue, it couldn't be missing for no reason.

"Huh? Explorer, it's not that I won't sell to you."

"The truth is, my gunpowder supply has been cut off for half a year," the grocer said with a helpless expression.

"Supply cut?" Su Sheng was momentarily stunned, then realized it must be another quest requirement.

To forge his Divine Artifact, Su Sheng agreed—if it's a repeatable quest, just run the repeat quest.

"I don't know what caused the supply cut? Perhaps I can help," Su Sheng asked.

"Gunpowder has always been a royal‑controlled item, but each small town has a certain allocation quota; of course, ordinary people without the paperwork cannot purchase it."

"So this gunpowder is procured from Huangcheng each time."

"But the stretch of road from Huangcheng through Zhuque City is overrun with bandits; my caravan simply can't procure gunpowder from Huangcheng," the merchant complained to Su Sheng with a dejected face.

Quest hint: Trigger quest "Severed Trade Route."

Accept? Yes/No.

Su Sheng naturally had no reason not to accept.

"I might be able to help," Su Sheng chose to accept.

"Really? That's great!"

"If you can reopen the trade route for me, I can give you a generous reward; of course, if you want to buy gunpowder, even without the paperwork I can sell it to you," the merchant said excitedly.

"What do you need me to do?"

"You need to clear those bandits on the main road connecting Zhuque City, Wutong Town, and Huangcheng, and simply intimidate them," the merchant said.

Quest hint: Successfully obtained quest "Severed Trade Route."

Quest description:....

Quest requirements: Kill Wandering Bandit Thief: 1000, Kill Cutting Path Bandits: 1000, Kill Roving Horse Bandit: 1000.

"!!!!"

Su Sheng immediately let out an exclamation, "Kill three thousand monsters!"

Why not just call it an anti‑bandit mission.