Chapter 250 : Max-Level Talent! Tenfold Production Capacity! The Corpse Lich Lord Explodes with Rage!

Luoshui ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍City.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍territory had been occupied with countless affairs over the past several days.

However...

Hang ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yu had never stopped cultivating and improving his own strength.

Besides ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mastering Zhang Zhongjing's **Medicine King's Alchemy Canon**...

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had also learned more than twenty ordinary skills from the Xinyuan region through the Skill Tower and by creating skill books.

He then integrated some of those skills within the Enlightenment Tower.

Although these twenty-odd skills consisted of techniques and spells of various styles...

Most were White quality.

A smaller portion were Green quality.

At his current level of strength...

Their practical combat value was limited.

Yet accumulated together...

They still increased his attributes by several hundred points.

At the very least...

They added a little more combat power.

Hang Yu's current strength had already reached the pinnacle of the Overlord rank.

Simply cultivating these skills could no longer produce a truly qualitative breakthrough.

After all...

The gap between the Abyssal Overlord rank and the Abyssal Monarch rank represented an entirely different concept.

If he could accumulate the foundation of a Monarch rank...

Even within Sacred Cang City...

He would be considered a true expert.

Hang Yu's attribute values still fell somewhat short of the Monarch rank.

Furthermore...

He would need at least several Purple-quality pieces of equipment...

Along with at least one complete Purple-quality cultivation art.

Yet...

How could creating a Purple cultivation art possibly be easy?

Not only did the process require an enormous foundation...

It also required an Enlightenment Tower of at least the Third Order.

The Enlightenment Tower was originally a Second-Order Starsea building.

However...

It could itself be upgraded.

During the large-scale purchasing spree over the past two days...

Hang Yu had successfully purchased a **Third-Order Enlightenment Tower Blueprint** for the enormous price of 150,000 Mana Crystals.

【Third-Order Enlightenment Tower】...

Construction Requirements:

200,000 Abyssal Mana Crystals.

50,000 Third-Order Material Essence.

Third-Order Enlightenment Tower Blueprint.

The blueprint was already in hand.

The construction cost, however...

Was extremely expensive.

Given the territory's current foundation...

Even after successfully constructing the Third-Order Enlightenment Tower...

There was no guarantee it could develop Purple skills...

Much less Purple-quality cultivation arts.

Therefore...

Hang Yu was in no hurry.

After returning to the Core Hall...

He brewed a pot of tea...

Then began checking the battle situation in the Corpse Lich Territory.

By this time...

The first clash at the Tianshan Hamlet frontline had already ended.

The Calamity Army had encountered the Skeleton Giants...

And had been thoroughly beaten into a miserable rout.

Hang Yu wasn't surprised in the slightest.

During the past two days of recuperation...

He had already conducted extensive reconnaissance of the Corpse Lich Territory.

Thanks to the Shadow Skeleton's infiltration...

Combined with Jia Xu's deduction abilities...

They had effortlessly grasped most of the enemy's deployment.

Hang Yu had long known of the Skeleton Giant army.

He also knew the location of the Skeleton Giant Altar.

It had to be said...

The Corpse Lich Territory truly wasn't weak.

There were quite a few rare buildings within the territory.

These immortal Skeleton Giants were a special troop type that was almost impossible to eliminate on the frontal battlefield.

For Third-Order and Fourth-Order undead Lords...

They were among the most ideal attrition-based military forces available.

Had they not obtained intelligence beforehand...

Had they not located the Skeleton Giant Altar in advance...

This force alone would have inflicted tremendous losses upon the human territory.

Fortunately...

There was nothing to worry about now.

Jia Xu had already completed the following deployment.

First...

Using the Shadow Skeleton Puppet...

He assembled a strike team consisting of General Zhou Cang...

Together with eight Calamity Army elites:

Ye Li Meng.

Old Wang the Berserker.

Mad Cleaver Street.

Black-Eyed Rui Ge.

Toasting the Moon.

Lone Boat.

Little Bell.

Dawn.

They had already escaped the encirclement of the Corpse Lich Territory army under the effects of **Shadow March**...

And were rapidly infiltrating the core region of the Corpse Lich Territory.

Their destination...

The altar within Buried Bones City.

The squad consisted of:

Three Warriors.

Three Rangers.

One Sorcerer.

One Monk.

Although these eight participants weren't necessarily the absolute strongest players.

After all...

Salted Fish Thrust...

Chi Mei Wang Liang...

Master Artist Pai...

Arthur King...

And dozens of other Third-Order players were also among the very strongest.

However...

The current lineup possessed the best overall balance.

This significantly increased the mission's chance of success.

As for the other experts...

Although disappointed they hadn't been selected by Jia Xu...

They still had their own mission.

Namely...

To regroup the Calamity Army.

Launch repeated assaults from Huangmei Hamlet against the Corpse Lich Territory forces.

Draw the enemy's attention...

Create attrition...

And expose weaknesses.

Although these attacks differed little from suicide missions...

The Calamity Army's constant harassment...

Combined with Jia Xu's formation temporarily slowing the advance of the Black Rot Mist...

Would at least delay the siege of Tianshan Hamlet by roughly one day.

That would also provide the infiltration team behind enemy lines with sufficient time.

Wave after wave...

The Calamity Army launched suicidal attacks.

Regardless of whether they achieved meaningful results...

At the very least...

They generated Abyssal Essence.

Hang Yu felt everything remained completely under control.

There was still no need for him to intervene personally.

Just then...

The Will of the Stars transmitted a notification.

【You have obtained a "Lesser Abyssal Nightmare Source Fragment."】

【Would you like to assimilate it immediately?】

【Yes / No】

Another Nightmare Source Fragment!

Following the notification...

Hang Yu shifted his attention toward the Woniu Mountain region.

Inside an inconspicuous underground cavern located in the southwestern corner of Woniu Mountain...

Several dozen Level 8 and Level 9 players were celebrating around the corpse of a Lizard Boss.

The Lizard Boss had been a Level 8 Commander monster.

Although not especially powerful...

It still qualified as a Lesser Pollution Source.

Although nearly every Level 9+ elite member of the Calamity Army was currently fighting on the frontlines within the Corpse Lich Territory...

Several thousand mid-level players between Levels 6 and 9 still remained.

These players couldn't yet participate in territorial warfare.

However...

Their growth was progressing rapidly.

Many outstanding talents had already emerged among them.

After obtaining Jia Xu...

Hang Yu had gained near-complete map vision throughout his controlled territories.

Many previously overlooked areas could now be explored.

Among them...

Quite a number of scattered Lesser Pollution Sources.

These Pollution Sources weren't especially powerful.

They were simply extremely well hidden.

However...

The Nightmare Pollution Fragments they carried...

Were tremendously valuable resources for any Lord.

Thus...

Hang Yu issued quests directing players to systematically eliminate the Lesser Pollution Sources throughout Luoshui and Woniu Mountain.

Now...

Most of them had already been eradicated.

After rewarding the participating players...

He immediately assimilated the Pollution Source.

【Ding! Assimilation successful!】

【First-Order Talent Points +9!】

【You have obtained: Small Abyss Chest (Green) ×1!】

【You opened the Small Abyss Chest (Green)!】

【Obtained: Abyssal Mana Crystals ×1,000!】

【Obtained: Three-Eyed Skeleton Lizard Shortsword +1!】

【Obtained: Blueprint: Spell Tower ×1!】

After opening the treasure chest...

He received a batch of Mana Crystals...

A First-Order Green weapon...

And one blueprint.

Although...

One thousand Mana Crystals meant little to Hang Yu now.

Nor was a First-Order Green weapon particularly valuable.

Still...

Even a mosquito's leg was meat.

More importantly...

The chest had dropped a Spell Tower blueprint.

Although First-Order Spell Tower blueprints weren't especially expensive...

They still sold for at least three thousand Mana Crystals on the market.

Their value was roughly comparable to Barrier Tower blueprints.

They were among the most common defensive facilities...

And exactly the type of blueprint the territory needed.

Accepted gladly.

Hang Yu opened his personal status panel.

His current Talent Points were as follows.

First-Order Talent Points: 71.

Second-Order Talent Points: 4.

Third-Order Talent Points: 0.

These represented the recent results from clearing Pollution Sources.

If all four Second-Order Talent Points were converted into First-Order Talent Points...

His First-Order total would immediately reach 111.

Unlocking a First-Order Talent required five First-Order Talent Points.

The upgrade costs from Levels 2 through 5 were:

10.

11.

12.

13.

Unlocking a Second-Order Talent required ten Second-Order Talent Points.

Its upgrade costs from Levels 2 through 5 were:

20.

21.

22.

23.

With only four Second-Order Talent Points...

Keeping them served no purpose whatsoever.

Thus...

Hang Yu converted them all into First-Order Talent Points.

His current First-Order Talents consisted of:

Lord's Aura.

Heart of the Pioneer.

Among them...

Lord's Aura increased the strength of the territory's armies.

It had already reached Level 3.

Heart of the Pioneer greatly increased his own personal strength.

It currently stood at Level 4.

After brief consideration...

Hang Yu decided to upgrade Heart of the Pioneer.

After all...

A max-level Talent possessed far greater value.

Once Hang Yu invested one hundred First-Order Talent Points into Heart of the Pioneer...

He could clearly feel another major enhancement to both his physique and attributes.

He immediately checked the details.

【Heart of the Pioneer】

First-Order Lord Talent.

Current Talent Level: 5.

During territorial expansion...

For every ordinary Blessing Point you occupy...

Your four basic attributes increase by 4.5% of your base attribute values.

Maximum bonus: 1,500%.

Absolutely incredible!

Upon reaching maximum level...

The maximum enhancement had skyrocketed from 600%...

All the way to 1,500%!

Hang Yu currently directly controlled three maps:

Luoshui.

Woniu Mountain.

White Tiger Mountain.

Together...

These contained twenty-four Blessing Points.

Although the Wancheng map had not yet been fully conquered...

The most important city, Xinyuan, had already fallen under his control.

That region alone contained the highest concentration of Blessing Points on the map.

Six cities.

Twenty-four villages.

Thirty Blessing Points altogether.

In addition...

Hang Yu also controlled Xinye City within the Wancheng Pollution Zone...

Its two nearby Blessing Points...

As well as Tianshan Hamlet's Blessing Point inside the Corpse Lich Territory.

Combined...

He now possessed fifty-seven Blessing Points.

The cumulative bonus currently reached—

256.5%!

Although...

The Talent's attribute multiplier applied only to one's pure base attributes.

It excluded bonuses from non-physique Talents...

Skill cultivation...

Medicines...

And equipment.

It affected only the core base attributes themselves.

However...

After activating the Human Emperor Physique...

Hang Yu gained forty points in each of the four primary attributes every time he leveled up.

That meant each attribute already stood at approximately 1,200 points.

A 256.5% increase therefore equaled 3,078 additional points per attribute.

Across all four attributes combined...

That amounted to—

12,312 extra attribute points!

This...

Was one of the greatest reasons Hang Yu possessed peak Overlord-level strength.

Without it...

A mere Level 1 Human Emperor Physique alone could never have elevated him into the ranks of the strongest Overlords.

After all...

The Level 1 Human Emperor Physique provided bonuses comparable to Zhou Cang's **Overlord Template**.

Even when combined with equipment...

It merely allowed one to barely cross the threshold of the Overlord rank.

“A max-level Talent truly lives up to its reputation.”

With a max-level Heart of the Pioneer...

Three complete Blue cultivation arts...

An entire set of +9 top-tier Blue equipment...

And hundreds of mastered skills...

Hang Yu could only be described as terrifying.

As a naturally weak human...

His racial talents were inherently disadvantaged.

Yet...

His current foundation no longer lost to many Third-Order Lords from powerful races of the same rank.

At the very least...

The Corpse Lich Lord before him was no longer worthy of comparison.

“Excellent.”

Hang Yu was highly satisfied with Jia Xu's contributions.

Thanks to Jia Xu...

Not only did Hang Yu no longer need to personally worry about the Corpse Lich Territory.

Jia Xu's abilities had also allowed the territory to develop its existing lands far more efficiently.

Otherwise...

Hang Yu would never have obtained his first max-level Talent so quickly.

“My Lord.”

“Divine Physician Zhang requests an audience.”

Azure Dragon Guard Zhang San stepped forward to report.

Hang Yu nodded.

“Let him in.”

Zhang Zhongjing entered the hall.

“Greetings, my Lord.”

“What brings you here, Elder Zhang?”

Zhang Zhongjing respectfully reported,

“After several days of research...”

“This old man has successfully deciphered the formulas for the Dragon Pattern Tendon Strengthening Pill and the Azure Flood Dragon Spirit Stabilizing Pill.”

“In addition...”

“The secret refining methods for all six Attribute Pills have already been taught to eighteen Alchemists within the territory.”

Hearing the good news...

Hang Yu's spirits immediately lifted.

Thanks to Zhang Zhongjing's tireless efforts...

Especially his abilities to decipher pill formulas...

And teach alchemical techniques...

The territory's alchemy industry had advanced at astonishing speed.

The territory now possessed six Attribute Pills.

They were:

Dragon Pattern Vital Blood Pill — increased Health.

Dragon Pattern Bone Strengthening Pill — increased Strength.

Dragon Pattern Tendon Strengthening Pill — increased Agility.

Azure Flood Dragon Origin Nourishing Pill — increased Mana.

Azure Flood Dragon Spirit Stabilizing Pill — increased Spirit.

Azure Flood Dragon Consciousness Stabilizing Pill — increased Willpower.

These six major pills covered all four primary attributes...

Along with Health and Mana.

Together...

They provided a comprehensive increase to an individual's capabilities.

Their effects rivaled fully mastering more than four Green-quality skills.

Not only had Zhang Zhongjing deciphered all six formulas...

He had also taught each of them to eighteen territory Alchemists.

In other words...

Every formula was now mastered by at least three Alchemists.

As a result...

The territory's alchemy production capacity would increase tenfold compared to half a month ago.

The territory now possessed:

Twenty-four ordinary Spirit Fields.

Two advanced Spirit Fields.

And ten Trade Markets.

Whether cultivating raw materials...

Purchasing resources...

Or selling finished products...

Its capabilities had increased dramatically.

The future looked exceptionally promising.

Zhang Zhongjing's contributions since joining the territory extended far beyond that.

Besides the six priceless First-Order Attribute Pills...

He had also developed numerous highly practical consumable medicines...

Including:

Greater Blood Recovery Pills.

Greater Qi Recovery Pills.

The Death Pill.

And many others.

It could be said...

The alchemy industry alone...

Already contributed hundreds of thousands of Mana Crystals to the territory's GDP every single day.

Such productivity was extraordinarily rare even among Third-Order Lords.

Enough to make many Fourth-Order Lords green with envy.

The foundation had already been firmly established.

Now...

It was time to increase production across the board.

With a supreme talent like Zhang Zhongjing...

Alchemy would inevitably become one of the territory's pillar industries.

Its future prospects...

And profits...

Were immense.

Of course...

Although alchemy production had increased dramatically...

Most medicines still had to satisfy domestic demand first.

Hang Yu intended to reserve the overwhelming majority of the six Attribute Pills for rewarding the Azure Dragon Guard...

The Calamity Army...

And the Guard Army.

Only a portion would be exported in exchange for resources.

“Excellent work, Elder Zhang.”

“I do not deserve such praise.”

“My Lord has shown this old man boundless kindness.”

“My humble efforts cannot repay even one ten-thousandth of that generosity.”

After speaking...

Zhang Zhongjing continued,

“The battle against the Corpse Lich Territory has already begun.”

“There will likely be considerable casualties.”

“I wish to travel to the frontlines and provide medical assistance to our soldiers.”

Hang Yu replied,

“The Corpse Lich Territory has already surrounded our forward position.”

“Entering the battlefield now would be extremely dangerous.”

Zhang Zhongjing answered firmly,

“If that is so...”

“Then this old man has even greater reason to go.”

“Very well.”

“I was already preparing to dispatch a detachment of Azure Dragon Guards to the frontlines.”

“Travel to Huangmei Hamlet first and rendezvous with them.”

To ensure absolute success in this battle...

Hang Yu had stationed three hundred Azure Dragon Guards at Huangmei Hamlet for immediate reinforcement.

With such an elite force protecting him...

Zhang Zhongjing's personal safety would remain secure.

“Thank you, my Lord!”

To Zhang Zhongjing...

Being able to contribute his own strength to the territory...

And repay even a fraction of Hang Yu's immense kindness...

Was both a tremendous honor...

And a source of great joy.

Just then...

He suddenly remembered something.

“My Lord...”

“I've heard the Abyssal forces in Old Wan have also become increasingly active recently.”

“Has there been any news regarding the third Divine Source Material?”

Only ten or so days had passed since the Darkest Day.

Although the core Pollution Source itself could not leave the Pollution Zone...

The generals serving under Demon Tome Dian Wei could potentially move freely.

At present...

Two Starsea territories were engaged in intense warfare.

There was still a need to guard against the Abyssal forces taking advantage of the chaos.

Fortunately...

Overall...

The threat remained manageable.

Hang Yu had stationed a small detachment of Azure Dragon Guards in Xinyuan.

The local forces such as the Extreme Yin Sect were also available.

As long as Dian Wei himself did not appear...

Holding the line remained possible.

Nevertheless...

The Abyssal Pollution remained a latent threat.

The sooner it was resolved...

The better.

“Not yet.”

Hang Yu shook his head.

“Things like that depend entirely on fate.”

“We'll simply see whether Dian Wei possesses that destiny.”

Zhang Zhongjing could only sigh.

Demon Tome Dian Wei posed an enormous threat.

Once the territory had spare capacity...

It would certainly launch an operation against Old Wan.

Within such a short period...

Collecting all the required materials was almost impossible.

His Lord would ultimately have no choice...

But to purify Dian Wei directly.

What a pity.

Dian Wei possessed such astonishing power.

If only he could serve the territory...

With Jia Xu handling strategy...

And Dian Wei commanding military force...

What external enemy could possibly threaten them?

The territory's future would become utterly impregnable.

After Zhang Zhongjing departed...

Hang Yu considered the matter.

He had no better solution.

Such materials simply couldn't be purchased on the ordinary market.

Nor would the Corpse Lich Lord likely possess a second one.

The Day of Starsea Return was approaching.

Perhaps...

He could return to the Starsea and seek another solution.

If he asked Principal Long for assistance...

Given her capabilities...

Obtaining a Third-Order Blue-quality Divine Source Material should not be difficult.

But...

Would Principal Long really help an insignificant nobody like him?

The Starsea valued rules above all else.

Nothing was ever given freely.

Even if Principal Long agreed to help...

He would undoubtedly owe her an enormous favor.

Hang Yu needed to carefully weigh the costs and benefits.

Just then...

Xiao Ba suddenly reminded him,

“Master.”

“The infiltration team has arrived at Buried Bones City.”

“Oh?”

“They're already there?”

Hang Yu temporarily set aside the matter of the Divine Source Material.

He opened his Lord's Vision...

And focused upon the infiltration squad.

…………

Corpse Lich Territory.

Buried Bones City.

The entire city was filled with countless tombstones...

And empty graves.

Thousands upon thousands of undead had once been born here.

Now...

The place had become even more desolate...

And deathly silent.

Buried Bones City possessed very few buildings.

Besides its city walls...

And the Barrier Tower protecting them...

Only two structures stood within the city.

The Great Altar of Dead Bones.

And the Skeleton Giant Altar.

Floating cross-legged directly above the Skeleton Giant Altar...

Was a powerful Corpse Fiend cloaked in tattered gray-black robes...

Holding a long staff.

He was...

Gray Decay.

The second most powerful figure within the Corpse Lich Territory.

A wise...

Knowledgeable...

Exceptionally powerful...

And highly experienced Corpse Fiend Hero.

He had lived for over three hundred years.

Serving multiple undead territories throughout his lifetime.

His experience was extraordinary.

That was precisely why he had been entrusted with guarding Buried Bones City.

The Corpse Lich Territory no longer possessed abundant military strength.

At present...

Only one or two hundred Cursed Corpse Arcanists and Armored Corpses remained within Buried Bones City.

This was because...

The city already possessed sturdy Third-Order walls...

A Third-Order Barrier...

And Gray Decay himself personally guarding it.

Even if a small-scale raid occurred...

They could handle it.

As for a large-scale surprise attack...

That was simply impossible.

After all...

Buried Bones City lay deep within the heart of the Corpse Lich Territory.

No matter how effective one's concealment methods...

A large force could never infiltrate this place unnoticed.

“So...”

“This is our objective?”

Mad Cleaver Street stared in astonishment at the hidden Buried Bones City.

Dawn nodded.

“The Corpse Fiends really are crafty.”

“If we hadn't obtained intelligence beforehand...”

“Even if we reached this place...”

“We never would've found the target.”

Everyone else agreed.

Black-Eyed Rui Ge asked,

“So...”

“How do we get inside?”

Jia Xu's Shadow Skeleton replied,

“Although Buried Bones City possesses formidable walls and barriers...”

“They cannot stop an infiltration using Shadow March.”

“I shall lead all of you inside.”

Old Wang the Berserker sighed.

“General Gan Ning's abilities really are unbelievably convenient.”

Ye Li Meng nodded.

“Exactly.”

“What a pity.”

“If only General Gan Ning could have joined our territory.”

Little Bell replied,

“That's why we absolutely have to win this war.”

“We must stop tragedies like this from happening again.”

“And completely avenge General Gan Ning.”

The players still hadn't let go of Gan Ning's death.

He should have possessed even greater potential than Wen Ping or Zhou Cang.

Losing him like that had been heartbreaking.

Zhou Cang interrupted.

“This is no time for mourning.”

“Prepare yourselves.”

“This battle is of the utmost importance.”

“We must accomplish our mission.”

The eight Calamity Army elites immediately began making preparations.

They activated Lord's Aura.

Quickly consumed the prepared food to obtain Food Buffs.

Then used every available defensive and enhancement talisman.

As the team's only Monk...

Dawn wasn't as powerful as Midnight Pig Slayer.

She had been selected because she had cultivated numerous support and healing pill arts.

Including:

Four Spirit Body Tempering Pill.

Strength Enhancement Divine Pill.

At this moment...

She activated every one of them.

Increasing the team's overall strength.

Once every available buff had been stacked...

The eight Calamity Army elites possessed strength fully comparable to ordinary Commander-class opponents of the same level.

Meanwhile...

Both Zhou Cang...

And Jia Xu's Shadow Skeleton Puppet...

Also became significantly stronger.

“Prepare yourselves.”

Jia Xu's puppet said,

“I will now activate my ability and bring everyone into Buried Bones City.”

“However...”

“Xie Ming has stationed a powerful guardian there.”

“He'll quickly detect our presence.”

“So...”

“We must strike swiftly.”

“There can be no hesitation.”

Everyone answered in unison.

“Yes!”

The Skeleton Puppet drew its twin sabers...

Clashing them together.

A surge of shadow energy instantly enveloped all ten members.

They transformed into an almost invisible ripple...

Rushing toward Buried Bones City at incredible speed.

No obstacle stopped them.

Shadow March passed directly through both the barrier...

And the city walls.

Ignoring every obstacle...

The ten rushed straight toward the Skeleton Giant Altar.

One hundred meters.

Fifty meters.

Thirty meters.

At that very moment...

Gray Decay, who had been meditating atop the altar...

Suddenly trembled.

His formidable perception had clearly detected the intruders.

“How dare you!”

Gray Decay roared.

In an instant...

Several secret arts were cast simultaneously.

Ghostly hands formed from black mist erupted from every direction...

Grasping toward the shadowy figures.

At the same time...

Numerous mental spells...

And illusion techniques...

Swept over them.

“We've been discovered!”

“Move!”

Ye Li Meng and the others immediately emerged from Shadow March.

Ye Li Meng activated Burning Soul.

Swinging the Thousand Skull Demon Hammer...

He smashed it downward.

A terrifying shockwave spread outward...

Shattering the ghostly hands.

Toasting the Moon fired a powerful Armor-Piercing Assault Arrow toward Gray Decay.

Black-Eyed Rui Ge activated Swift Shadow Assault.

Lone Boat activated Hundred Birds Shadow Assault.

Dozens of afterimages appeared simultaneously...

Launching attacks toward Gray Decay atop the altar with lightning speed.

Little Bell attempted to summon the **Four-Talisman Demon-Slaying Formation** to destroy the altar.

Meanwhile...

Mad Cleaver Street...

And Old Wang the Berserker...

Charged toward the nearby guards.

The battle erupted instantly.

“You seek death!”

Gray Decay raised his staff.

Countless black demonic patterns instantly spread outward.

Though seemingly insignificant...

They shattered the incoming Armor-Piercing Arrow.

Instantly neutralized Lone Boat's and Rui Ge's surprise attacks.

Even the still-forming Four-Talisman Demon-Slaying Formation collapsed.

【You have been affected by "Death Curse Ripples."】

【You suffered 631 Curse Damage.】

【You have entered the "Stunned" state!】

So powerful!

With a single move...

He completely suppressed several of the Calamity Army's greatest experts.

Before Gray Decay could cast additional spells...

A sudden sense of danger erupted behind him.

An enormous shadow slash pierced straight through his body.

“You...”

“Gan Ning...”

Gray Decay stared at the Shadow Skeleton Puppet...

His expression changing dramatically.

He finally understood how the enemy had infiltrated Buried Bones City.

But...

He couldn't understand why this traitor was still alive.

No...

Something wasn't right.

It lacked a complete soul.

Although it possessed Skeleton Gan Ning's power...

It was merely an empty shell overflowing with strength.

Gray Decay didn't even have time to counterattack.

The instant his body was pierced...

The Shadow Skeleton Puppet activated **Shadow Leap**...

Dragging the powerful Corpse Lich to the ground below.

“This is bad!”

Almost simultaneously—

A blazing meteor descended from the heavens.

Like unstoppable destruction...

It slammed directly into the Skeleton Giant Altar.

Terrifying force exploded across the earth.

The entire Buried Bones City shook violently.

This was Zhou Cang's—

**Tiger Demon Descends from Heaven!**

Faced with such overwhelming destructive power...

The altar stood no chance whatsoever.

It exploded into countless fragments.

The 1,500 Soul Flames sealed within...

Were extinguished instantly.

“It's over!”

Gray Decay's expression filled with horror.

“We actually did it?”

“Hahaha!”

“That was easy!”

“This wasn't because we're amazing!”

“Strategist Jia and General Zhou are the real monsters!”

The Calamity Army burst into cheers upon seeing the altar reduced to rubble.

None of them had expected things to proceed so smoothly.

From the moment they attacked...

Until the altar was destroyed...

Less than ten seconds had passed.

Everything had happened far too quickly.

However...

At that very moment...

A beam of teleportation light erupted from Buried Bones City's Blessing Point.

An overwhelming aura descended...

One so terrifying it made every soul tremble.

“Despicable!”

“Despicable!”

“Despicable!”

Xie Ming's furious voice echoed directly within everyone's minds.

“You lowly humans!”

“How dare you destroy my altar!”

Little Bell cried out,

“Mother of...!”

“The Corpse Lich Lord!”

“He looks so furious he's about to explode!”

Black-Eyed Rui Ge frowned.

“This is getting dangerous.”

Toasting the Moon said,

“Our objective has already been accomplished.”

“But our mission has only just begun.”

“Protect the Strategist and General Zhou.”

“We all retreat together!”