Chapter 43: Mist Array Disk

"2,500 unit iron blocks?!" Li Feifei sucked in a breath of cold air, her voice suddenly rising, "Where are we going to gather this much iron? The total we got from trading before is still under 2,000 units!"

Li Qingxuan frowned, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the scroll that exuded a chill.

The steel city gate with super strong defense is truly tempting, but the demand for iron blocks is outrageously high.

He quickly calculated: the fully automatic logging machine can provide wood, clean water can be stably supplied with a purifier, stone is currently sufficient, but this metal resource, especially iron blocks, is extremely scarce on the regional channel and trading center; most people have taken them to upgrade their houses, and occasional sporadic trades are snapped up immediately, with some prices shockingly high.

"This blueprint is high-grade, with strong defense, so the price is naturally not small." He said in a low voice, glancing at the remaining materials, "The shortfall isn't that much, and we don't need to rush; we can wait a day or two."

Li Feifei also realized the seriousness of the problem; the brief moment of ease after solving the "No Gate" issue vanished, replaced by heavy pressure.

"That Qian Duoduo! He surely knows we need this much iron and deliberately didn't mention it! Exchanging advance Bodhi fruit for this hot potato, no wonder he was so pleased." She stamped her feet in anger.

"Complaining about this now is useless." Li Qingxuan interrupted her, his eyes sharpening, "The blueprint itself is good, but we currently lack the resources. The urgent priority is to find a stable source of iron blocks."

He paced to the window, his gaze piercing the shadow cast by the newly built city wall, looking toward the distant unexplored wilderness, where unknown dangers lurk, perhaps hiding key resources.

"It seems we still have to rely on the trading center and regional channel; if sporadic trades are just a drop in the bucket, you can ask around on the regional channel to see if anyone is selling in bulk. I plan to go out and see if I can find a high-level treasure chest."

"But outside……" Li Feifei's face showed worry, "I saw on the channel that after the region merge, danger levels have clearly increased; you must be careful when you go out to explore."

"I will, this Mist Array Disk comes in handy." Li Qingxuan picked up the stone disk etched with mysterious patterns, feeling cold to the hand, faintly sensing the strange energy fluctuations within.

"First use it to conceal this area, creating a deceptive barrier. At least it can prevent the stronghold from being easily discovered when I'm out, or monsters from directly charging the city wall, keeping you safer and giving me peace of mind."

"Great, I really want to see what scene the array disk will show after activation." Li Feifei nodded, and the two went around behind the stronghold, following the simple mental guidance transmitted by the array disk, and placed it steadily on the ground.

As the two infused a wisp of weak spiritual power, the patterns on the array disk suddenly lit up, emitting a hazy glow.

Immediately afterward, a thin yet cohesive white mist sprang up from nowhere, quickly spreading outward, gradually enveloping the area fifty meters out in a layer of thick fog.

The two stood in place; within a fifty-meter radius everything remained clear, while a small part of the southern mountainside and twenty to thirty meters in front of the city wall were shrouded.

The thick fog rolled and gradually rose upward, as if the stronghold and city wall were placed inside an upside-down bottomless vat.

If viewed from outside now, this area would be covered by natural mountain mist, completely disappearing in place, leaving only a sheet of fog.

"The effect is good, and it won't block sunlight." Li Qingxuan stood behind the stronghold, looking up, he could feel the fog interfering with vision and spiritual perception; inside the mist, his sense of direction became somewhat blurred. "Hope it works."

The black goat's huge head protruded from the direction of the bodhi tree, curiously sniffing the drifting mist, letting out a loud snort, seeming puzzled by this suddenly appearing "barrier."

Li Qingxuan patted its thick neck: "Big guy, keep watch; I'll head out for a bit to fetch something."

The black goat let out a low growl, gently rubbing its massive horn against Li Qingxuan's arm, as if responding.

Li Feifei then said, "You said the fusion scroll can be used on the city wall and stronghold, right?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qingxuan's motion stalled, his previously solemn eyes instantly brightening, like stars lit up in the dark night.

"Fusion scroll?" he muttered to himself, having never considered where to use the scroll before; this is clearly the ideal item for fusion.

"Exactly!" Li Qingxuan's voice tinged with excitement, "If we use it on the stronghold and city wall……"

He looked at Li Feifei, his eyes flashing with bold light, "Perhaps it could solve the city wall's irreparable problem, even granting the wall itself the stronghold's defensive traits? That would be hard to imagine."

Li Feifei also leaned in, her brows slightly furrowed, "Will the scroll fail to fuse, or cause some bad changes…… I don't know if my idea is good or bad."

"I'm not sure either, but we should still dare to try." Li Qingxuan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the impregnable city wall and the stronghold serving as the core base, "Compared to the effect after successful fusion, this risk is worth taking."

He walked between the stronghold and city wall, gazing at the cold wall and stronghold, feeling both excited and hesitant.

The black goat seemed to sense his master's intention, approaching with heavy steps, its large head lowered, warm breath blowing on Li Qingxuan's hand back, as if conveying silent support.

The bodhi tree rustled in the breeze, its calming, soothing aura quietly spreading, allowing the two's tense nerves to relax a little.

"Let's use it here!" Li Qingxuan made up his mind, his eyes sharp as a blade. He no longer hesitated, decisively using the scroll.

Hum—

The scroll instantly turned into two streams of light, sinking into the stronghold and city wall.

The next moment, a blinding golden light spread like water waves, instantly covering the entire stretch of city wall and the whole stronghold!

The light was soft yet not glaring, yet it carried a heavy, heart-pounding force and spatial distortion, as if the two structures were being kneaded and stretched by an invisible mighty force, undergoing reshaping.

Beneath their feet, the ground emitted a low rumble, as if a slumbering beast was slowly awakening.

In the light, the outlines of the city wall and stronghold blurred, continually stretching, merging into each other; the stone seemed to gain life, permeating, growing, and interlocking.

On the stronghold's walls, stone patterns matching the city wall began to appear; meanwhile, the cold stone city wall quietly revealed the stronghold's unique structural toughness and rune patterns.

A heaviness and solidity far surpassing that of a single stronghold or city wall emerged, like the aura of merging with the entire land and mountain range, gradually rising and condensing.

Li Qingxuan and Li Feifei held their breath, staring unblinking at this miraculous fusion process.

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