Chapter 172: Combat Technique Elements

Lei En walked back while checking the Elements on his phone interface.

Dragon Force Technique and Thorn Electric Armor both advanced to the third ring.

Mid-stage Wizard spells can only reach the third ring at most and cannot go higher; these two spells consume little soul power, only thirty percent, while over sixty percent of the soul power is invested in the Swiftness Element.

Lei En discovered that Swiftness, like Strength, is a basic Element that becomes even harder to enhance.

Even with sixty percent of soul power supplied by a legendary Wizard, Swiftness was only boosted from level four to just over level six, remaining a Rare Element.

Moreover, "Rapid Sprint" rose to level four, advancing to a Rare Element.

This was my only Common Element; now, all Elements are at least Rare level.

Sixth-level Swiftness raised Lei En's speed another notch—light steps, agile movements, each stride covering great distance as if wind rose from his feet, propelling him forward.

Even without sprinting at full force, Lei En was clearly faster than a high-tier Shadow Warrior.

"Finally patched the speed weakness."

Lei En was extremely pleased; with the speed boost, the previous sense of discord eased greatly, allowing him to exert his body's strength to the fullest.

"Now I'm only missing one or two Combat Technique Elements, and my close-quarters combat will be near perfect."

Combat Technique Elements are generally physical, applied to close combat skills such as Heavy Strike, Angry Strike, Reverse Slash, Swift Shadow Assault, Strength Burst, Whirlwind Slash, and so on.

Most Combat Technique Elements are Common Elements and are not rare.

Many low-level magic souls carry these Elements; close-combat Transcendents often fuse them, acquiring one or two to varying degrees.

But I happen to know none of them.

So far, none of the magic souls he's fused are common; they're all too high-end, leaving a shortage of such Common Elements.

"If I can't find the Lightning Affinity Element right away, I'll first fuse a magic soul that carries Combat Technique Elements."

"Mo Du is so dangerous; becoming a fifth-level Wizard sooner is safer."

Returning to the castle courtyard, the captives were all confined here, crouching in rows on the ground.

When Lei En appeared, everyone's gaze instantly fixed on him, looking at the newly arrived Earl of Glamorgan, their hearts filled with anxiety and fear, awaiting the verdict that would decide their fate.

According to Empire law, they are enemies who invaded the Bo Ju Ling Di, and Lei En may kill them all without bearing any responsibility.

If he doesn't wish to execute the captives, he can sell them as slaves.

The Oriense Empire bans slave trade; at least publicly one cannot keep or sell slaves, but selling them abroad is no problem.

These people count as premium slaves, some even Transcendents, and will surely fetch a good price.

"Lord Earl..." Pansir stepped forward and asked, "What should be done with these people?"

Lei En's gaze swept over the captives.

Most of them are ordinary folk; over forty are civil officials responsible for managing the Bo Ju Ling Di, the rest are castle servants—male and female attendants, cooks, gardeners, coachmen, stablehands, and so on—serving the Chief Steward and officials.

The surviving Transcendent Guards number fewer than ten in total.

Lei En thought it over: killing ordinary people creates pointless bloodshed, and sending them abroad as slaves is both troublesome and contrary to his principles.

When he arrived, he asked Fabian; these people have no direct ties to Mo Du nobility, they were hired by the former Chief Steward, and the Azure High Castle functions like a company—they are employees, with no loyal master.

The Chief Steward also lacks the authority to make others pledge loyalty to him.

After seizing the castle, he needs to hire a staff; a dignified Earl cannot be just a lone commander, and the Silver-armored Knights also need someone to attend to their daily needs.

He quickly reached a decision.

Lei En stepped onto the platform, looking down from above, and shouted, "I, Earl of Glamorgan, pardon your crimes."

As soon as the words fell, joy spread across the faces, some even weeping with happiness.

"Great!"

"Merciful Lord Earl!"

"The goddess will surely bless you..."

In Lei En's eyes, the soul colors of the vast majority of captives turned green, and he seemed extremely pleased, continuing, "You may choose to leave or stay to keep working. Those who stay will have their wages increased by twenty percent and receive a bonus."

"I give you three minutes to consider."

Finishing, Lei En looked at Fabian; the Wind Elf courteously produced a pocket watch to time the lord.

The people exchanged glances, hesitation evident; a twenty‑percent wage raise and a bonus is a tempting offer.

However, most chose to leave.

After standing and saluting Lei En, they fled the castle without looking back; clearly, they didn't believe Lei En could remain Earl of Glamorgan for long, and staying to work was unsafe.

Someone took the lead, and soon others followed.

In under three minutes, most had left, leaving just over thirty people, mostly servants; only three or four former officials and a few surviving Transcendent Guards remained, all of whom departed.

Lei En used his Soul Eye to examine those who stayed, checking for any possible treachery.

To his surprise, there wasn't a single one.

"Very good!"

Lei En nodded with satisfaction, "You won't regret today's choice, Fabian..." He turned to the Wind Elf and ordered, "You know the castle better than I do; serve as steward for a few days, okay?"

Fabian's face lit up with joy as he bowed, "I am willing to serve the Lord Earl."

He immediately assumed the steward role, reassigning work for those who stayed, inventorying the castle's assets, repairing battle damage, and getting the castle running smoothly.

Lei En led the Silver-armored Knights out, and the first thing he did was pick up all the shell casings.

Bullets are tied to the machine gun's secrets; through the casings one can glean important information, so they must not fall into outsiders' hands.

In this battle, over seven hundred bullets were fired; the majority fell at the gate at the mountain foot, the rest landed on the hillside, relatively clustered.

It took less than ten minutes, and all the casings were back in Lei En's hands.

He knew how many bullets he had fired, quickly tallied them, and found not a single casing missing, which put his mind at ease.

Recovered casings can be reused, saving a bit of money.

Then came the task of clearing the corpses.

Fabian sent a list of guards, cross‑checked it with the corpses, identified over thirty locals from Mo Du, and carried them to the vacant ground opposite the stone arch bridge, awaiting their families to claim them.

The remaining corpses were gathered and burned in a single fire.

Under the firelight, Lei En felt somewhat heavy‑hearted, yet harbored no remorse.

This world possesses extraordinary power; all laws and reason exist to bind the weak, while the strong treat them as nothing, the law of the jungle displayed in the most direct, blood‑soaked manner, and people have long grown accustomed to life and death partings.

The kind‑hearted and soft‑handed never reach the end, and few enjoy a benevolent conclusion.

Every extraordinary being, from the day they gain power, should be aware that they will eventually be killed.

At least Lei En himself has made the mental preparation.

Over the next few hours, people kept arriving at the castle's exterior to claim bodies; sobbing continued, the scene was terribly bleak, yet no one dared to utter God's Curse at the Earl before the silver‑armored knight.

Lei En stood at the second‑floor window of the castle, gazing from afar at the deceased's relatives, his expression unchanged.

He withdrew his gaze and, as if muttering to himself, asked, "Why hasn't Speaker Mo Dela sent anyone to retrieve Mai Ti Er's corpse?"

Ao Xiliya's voice rang through the air: "They're already on the way; you'll see them soon."

Lei En's face grew solemn, "Who is coming?"

"They are Mai Ti Er's students, two high‑rank wizards."

Ao Xiliya's reply let Lei En exhale a hidden sigh of relief.

Mai Ti Er is one of the eighteen Legendary High‑rank wizards of Fu Kong Cheng; though his experience is shallow and he lacks a personal tower, he is Speaker Mo Dela's student, and killing him would be like stabbing a wasp's nest—endless repercussions.

Legally, Mai Ti Er is regarded as an invader who was killed, bearing no liability.

However, the law holds almost no sway over a Legendary High‑rank wizard.

Lei En worried that Speaker Mo Dela might teleport here directly, hurl an eight‑ring fireball, explode him, and avenge his student.

Though the chance is slim, he has the Duke of Silver Star backing him openly and Master Anxi's support in secret, yet who can guarantee Speaker Mo Dela won't act on impulse?

Fortunately, Speaker Mo Dela remained rational.

His original plan was merely to drive Mai Ti Er away, lacking any resolve to kill him; without Ao Xiliya's covert assistance, he would have struggled to succeed.

Just that day she arrived in Mo Du, Ao Xiliya said she wouldn't help him assault the castle, yet she suddenly intervened from the shadows, and the reason for her change of heart is unknown.

Could Ao Xiliya bear a grudge against Mai Ti Er?

Or did she receive orders from Master Anxi to kill Mai Ti Er, deliberately provoking Speaker Mo Dela?

The speaker's stance has always favored Mo Du's nobility; should the nobles plot anything, she would be inextricably linked.

Lei En speculated silently, yet asked no further.

Shortly after, two high‑rank wizards appeared outside the castle; Pan Xi Er, on Lei En's behalf, handed Mai Ti Er's corpse to them.

The pair—a man and a woman—saw their teacher's body and wore sorrowful expressions.

Immediately, they cast hateful gazes toward the castle.

"Tell Earl of Glamorgan to watch his own dog's life; the teacher's belongings are first entrusted to him, and we will retrieve them ourselves."

The seventh‑level male wizard spat a harsh remark, took Mai Ti Er's corpse, and left.

Seated in the castle's study, Lei En heard it through the Voice of All Things.

He gave an indifferent laugh, pulled two enchanted rings from his pocket, placed them beside the staff on the table, and began a careful appraisal.

There will be an update tonight!

(End of Chapter)