Chapter 195

The n‑shaped majestic city wall, like a gray stone rock dragon, linked Guangtan Fortress, Anvilburg, and Moonlight Ring—these three pearls—forming a stable Triangular Defense Zone.

Sunlight fell on the newly built wall, reflecting a solid sheen.

Inside the city wall, construction of Anvilburg was in full swing.

The dwarves displayed astonishing engineering efficiency and organizational ability.

They needed no elaborate blueprints; all planning seemed etched into their blood and tradition.

Near the inner side of the wall connecting Guangtan Fortress, neat stone dwellings sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain, simple in structure yet extraordinarily sturdy, filled with the dwarves' utilitarian style.

Between the dwellings lay wide streets sufficient for dwarven ox carts to pass.

And in the core area of Anvilburg, a building far grander and more complex than the temporary furnace erected inside Guangtan Fortress was taking shape—it would be the future Furnace Hall and core forging workshop.

Massive bellows, complex guide channels, and several furnace bases of different functions had already begun to take form.

Tongxu Clan Chief personally oversaw everything here; his roar even drowned out the clinking of hammer strikes.

"Here! Here we must reinforce with obsidian! The furnace's core heat is no joke!"

"Adjust the guide channel's angle by one degree! I want the most perfect metal melt!"

The dwarves' passion for forging bordered on obsession; they pursued perfection, striving to turn their new homeland into a perfect forging holy land.

The air began to fill with the unique smell of coal, metal, and sweat mixed together—a scent that, to the dwarves, was the world's most fragrant.

Besides the residential and workshop zones, the dwarves had even begun excavating underground space.

This is their innate talent, adept at utilizing the underground world.

The planned underground warehouse, wine cellar (one core of dwarven culture; they had already begun trying to brew alcohol using the small amount of malt they brought and the peculiar roots they found), and even a small emergency shelter were all proceeding in parallel.

Night Elves occasionally came curiously to the edge of Anvilburg, watching the dwarves work with fiery enthusiasm.

The elves' elegant, exquisite treehouses contrasted sharply with the dwarves' rough, sturdy stone houses, yet both sides maintained politeness and distance, observing each other and adapting to each other's utterly different cultures and lifestyles.

Moonshadow Elder even dispatched some elves to learn basic metal processing and weapon maintenance knowledge from the dwarves, while the dwarves were also interested in certain plant saps with special properties (usable for quenching or enchanting) provided by the elves. A slow but positive exchange was quietly taking place.

Guangtan Fortress served as the brain and heart of this triangular region; Li Feifei coordinated material allocation and information flow among the three locations, while Wang Hongmei's enchanting skills began to attempt initial integration with the dwarves' forging techniques.

Chen Xiulan's warning network had broader coverage, incorporating the newly built city wall into the surveillance system.

Huang Rong and Li Jing were responsible for training and integrating the combat forces of the three locations, especially the newly joined dwarven warriors and the massive wolf pack.

The entire alliance presented a thriving, enterprising scene.

Yet beneath this prosperity, Li Qingxuan and Li Feifei clearly sensed that the external undercurrents were becoming turbulent.

On the World Channel, discussions about Guangtan Fortress and its alliance were increasing.

The completion of the Three Cities joint defense system, along with the news of the Dwarf Clan's explicit accession, could no longer be concealed, causing a huge uproar.

【World Channel·Observer A: Confirmed news! Guangtan Fortress Li Qingxuan has successfully subdued the Night Elf Shadow Moon Tribe (now residing in Moonlight Ring) and the Dwarf Stone Hammer Clan (currently building Anvilburg), and built walls connecting the three locations!】

【World Channel·Strategic Analysis B: Triangular defense, mutually supporting horns; inside, elves have ranged and jungle advantages; dwarves provide melee and forging support; plus Li Qingxuan's unfathomable personal strength…… The Guangtan Alliance has taken shape, showing early signs of regional hegemony!】

【World Channel·Jealous C: By what right does he alone possess so many resources and support? Are those elves and dwarves blind?】

【World Channel·Seeker D: @Guangtan Fortress-Li Qingxuan, big boss, please take us in! Our camp can barely hold on!】

【World Channel·Anonymous Threat E: The tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind. Too eye‑catching; beware becoming everyone's target.】

Besides these public discussions, Li Feifei also captured some more hidden information.

An unknown force was covertly probing Guangtan Fortress's specific defensive layout, resource stockpiles, and Li Qingxuan's personal ability details.

On the Trading Platform, purchase inquiries and price requests for Guangtan Fortress's unique resources (such as the elves' Moonlight Moss and the dwarves' preliminarily repaired weapons) suddenly became frequent, behind which several forces seemed to be driving.

What concerned Li Qingxuan even more was that the earlier news about the northern Ice Glacier melting and ancient relics surfacing continued to rise in heat.

A large human force had already begun organizing expedition teams, and word spread that they had discovered extremely valuable diagrams and items within, though they also paid a heavy price, mentioning the existence of an 'Automatic Defense System' and an 'Energy Entity' inside the relics.

"It seems many people can't sit still." Li Qingxuan looked at Li Feifei's compiled intelligence summary, his eyes deep, "Our development is both a deterrent and has become a piece of meat that attracts flies."

"Should we strengthen our guard?" Huang Rong asked, hand resting on the battle‑axe at her waist.

"That's natural." Li Qingxuan nodded, "Raise regular alert to the highest level. At the same time, we need to take the initiative; we can't always be passive."

He looked toward Tongxu Clan Chief and Queen Aister (connected via communication stone): "Anvilburg's furnace must be put into use as soon as possible; we need more standardized equipment, especially armor‑piercing arrows and enchanted weapons. The forest defense and scouting range of Moonlight Ring need to be extended further outward."

He also told Li Feifei: "Continue to closely monitor the northern relic's movements, gather all information about its internal structure, risks, and gains. I have a feeling that place will be the next gathering point of storms."

Finally, he swept his gaze over everyone, voice firm: "Consolidate ourselves, guard against external foes, look to the future. Our alliance is not to merely hide in a corner, but to carve out a true realm in this apocalypse! Let the roar of Anvilburg become our strongest sound of rise!"

Inside Anvilburg, the heavy hammering grew denser and more powerful, as if responding to Li Qingxuan's declaration.

Under the sunlight, the three cities resembled a giant beast slowly baring its fangs; beneath the calm surface, they accumulated strength, preparing to meet the impending, more turbulent undercurrents and storms.

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