Chapter 483 - 355: Setting Out for the Mine, Aftershocks Unsettled

The Demon State enhancement is complete. Apart from changes in the skill itself, it hasn’t affected Zong Shen’s attributes.

The commotion caused by devouring the Demon’s Soul just now also startled everyone in the territory.

Especially the newly joined farmers and warriors, looking in amazement at the Lord’s Small Tower not far away.

However, the seasoned subjects in the territory are already used to this.

Zong Shen mastering Demon Power is not considered a secret in the territory.

Actually, most forces in this world fear Demon Power more than anything else.

The power itself is neither right nor wrong; it depends on how the person wielding it uses it.

Those Demon Hunters, for instance, corrupt half of their souls into demons to use Demon Power to hunt demons.

But in this world, there are also many forces that regard anyone who wields Demon Power as heretics, evil, and terrifying, seeking to exterminate them upon sight.

For instance, Holy Light Temple, Light Church, Cross Star Knight Order, Demon Slayer Association...

Such forces, Holy Light Priests and Holy Light Deacons actually belong to the Holy Light Temple.

So within the territory, if there’s really anyone who resists, it’s only Aisha who has some aversion to Demon Power.

But this aversion comes from the concepts she was educated and influenced by since childhood, unable to surpass her loyalty and Zong Shen’s status in her heart.

It’s like someone who doesn’t like to eat durian finding a partner who does; despite the discomfort, it can still be accepted.

Having devoured the Demon’s Soul, Zong Shen has accomplished one of his minor goals that he had been thinking about previously.

Due to the previous fight, his room is now in a state of disarray.

Especially his large bed, which is almost about to collapse.

This furniture came with the upgrade of the Lord’s Mansion and had no attributes or bonuses.

I’ll let the Dwarf Uncle fix it later.

Apart from that, there’s nothing in the room worth mentioning. Zong Shen took one last look and left the room.

After exiting the Lord’s Small Tower, he went to the Territory Storage Box to start gathering things he might need.

This time going to Bang City marks Zong Shen’s first-time preparing to interact with cities above the village level of Indigenous People.

Bang City, with a population of hundreds of thousands, almost rivals that of a county-level city.

From the perspective of population quantity, the wealth and opportunities in Bang City far exceed those of a village.

This time, he directly withdrew fifty thousand Dinars, planning to carry them with him.

Dealing with the forces of Indigenous People requires money; he can’t just resort to banditry as one would in the wild.

There’s not much else to prepare. Zong Shen’s territory doesn’t have any specialties, only the Moon God Spring, which is considered a rarity that he has already collected entirely.

After making the preparations, he took some dry food from the self-made Ice Cellar to carry with him, and finally left the Lord’s Courtyard.

Everyone he summoned was gathered outside the Lord’s Courtyard at this moment.

Including heroic-level talents like Wenresa, Hoy, and Luna.

Also present were Dutra with over two hundred Kobolds, the Immortal Gun Cavalry Squad, and the Three-headed Burrow Demon.

Zong Shen looked at the number of Kobolds and took out four Burden-Bearer Mechas.

He let Hoy, Wenresa, and Dutra each drive one, and selected a smart-looking Dogman Prophet, coached it briefly, and let it drive the remaining one.

The operation of the Burden-Bearer Mechas is simple, and the Kobolds themselves are only slightly shorter than Goblins, making the cockpit size more friendly to them than to humans.

The four Burden-Bearer Mechas were loaded with 285 Kobolds, three Burrow Demons, some unhatched large eggs, and various random luggage, which seemed a bit cramped.

However, there’s no other way. Let’s just make do for now. In total, Zong Shen left two Burden-Bearer Mechas in the territory; Marie and the others can use them at any time.

He carried the remaining four with him in the Storage Grid, intending to leave one in the mine.

This way, mining, refining, and transportation can form a seamless service in the mine.

Dutra has a Communication Crystal, and besides, the Kobolds have a certain combat capability. Together with three Burrow Demons relying on the mine’s terrain, they’re enough to withstand attacks from several or even a dozen Lords.

By then, as long as they call for help via the Communication Crystal, reinforcements could arrive within an hour or so.

Despite this, Zong Shen still needs to make some defensive arrangements inside the mine.

Especially making some maneuvers within the mine, since this constitutes an illegal occupation; the mine is ultimately an unclaimed land.

Before the next round of challenges officially begins, the Lords will inevitably resume outside exploration, and perhaps one might even stumble upon the mine entrance.

The Lords as a group are an unruly third-party force, of which Zong Shen is a part, and he doesn’t doubt their ability to scrape the earth.

This location is three to four kilometers from the mine. To expand the territory range to there would take forever.

For now, I should gather some permanent Illusion Magic Arrays to conceal the mine entrance artificially, at least maintaining peace for a general span of time.

While the Kobolds were chattering their way aboard the Burden-Bearer Mecha’s cargo hold, Zong Shen was thinking about how to secure the mine.