C18 Beast!
Item: Seven-star Sword Technique
Quality: S
Description: The Seven-star Sword Technique comprises the Dubhe Sword, Sky Jade Sword, Phecda Sword, Megrez Sword, Jade Sword, Sun-splitting Sword, and Light Saber. Each of these seven formidable techniques wields immense power.
Zhou Yan's eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
He had actually acquired an S-grade sword technique!
Zhou Yan was thrilled, knowing that any item of S quality was worth billions of spirit coins.
Selling this sword technique would easily net him a fortune in spirit coins!
Moreover, the appearance of an S-grade item always set off a frenzy among collectors and warriors alike.
"The Bronze Bird Terrace is indeed a place of wonders!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his joy. S-grade items were extraordinarily rare, each one a treasure beyond measure.
Naturally, the prestige of the Bronze Bird Terrace as a top-tier structure played a part.
The grander the edifice, the greater the likelihood of discovering treasures within. His territory boasted a 10% increased chance of yielding special items, making his acquisition of this sword technique all the more plausible.
Such a technique could significantly bolster his prowess.
Zhou Yan eagerly grasped the skill book, ready to immerse himself in its knowledge.
"Time to master the S-level Seven-star Sword Technique!" he declared.
The skill transformed into a stream of golden light, merging with Zhou Yan's consciousness. With his eyes closed, a myriad of applications and intricacies of the Seven-star Sword Technique unfolded in his mind.
Yet, to truly harness its potential in battle, he would need to practice relentlessly, honing the technique's proficiency.
"If I can synergize the Seven-star Sword Technique with my cultivation practice, its potency could multiply," he mused.
Despite his newfound skill, Zhou Yan felt a twinge of regret. A cultivation technique could significantly enhance one's physical attributes and amplify the strength of various skills.
But such advanced cultivation techniques were exceedingly rare.
"If I don't secure a cultivation technique during the Trial, I'll have to make do with a transitional one," he reasoned.
The more powerful the cultivation technique, the quicker the training, and the more devastating the unleashed power.
Cultivation techniques were far more valuable than mere skills. Had this S-grade skill book been an S-grade cultivation technique, its worth would have tripled at least, fetching no less than ten billion spirit coins.
Many strive for centuries without amassing such wealth, yet one high-quality item could elevate one to riches.
This is the thrill of a Lord's quest into the unknown, the pursuit of precious artifacts.
Soul coins are useful, but they're spent all too swiftly.
Although he still had several hundred spirit coins, they fell short of affording an Intermediate Summoning.
Post-summoning, Zhou Yan made his way to the National Exchange Hall, intent on selling surplus gear.
The sooner he sold, the better the return; as equipment became commonplace, its value would plummet.
He set a fair price in tune with market trends. Before he could even list all his items for sale, notifications chimed in.
Territory Alert: "You've sold Hare Boots at the National Exchange Hall. You've earned 475 spirit coins."
Territory Alert: "You've sold Stone Leg Guards at the National Exchange Hall. You've earned 1900 spirit coins."
"Their response time is astounding," he noted.
Indeed, such equipment was a rarity. For the affluent with resources to spare, enhancing their capabilities was well worth the expense.
Moreover, Zhou Yan's pricing struck a fair balance.
In the Exchange Hall, some items were priced exorbitantly, lingering unsold.
His gear, however, sold swiftly, netting him tens of thousands of spirit coins.
Departing the Bronze Bird Terrace, Zhou Yan returned to the serenity of his Spirit Vein Bamboo House, where he found Diaochan by his bedside.
He presented the table, stool, candlestick, pillow, and bedding he had won in the lottery. Their timing was impeccable.
"Chan, let's get some rest," he suggested.
"Alright. I'll sleep on the stool tonight. We have one now, after all," Diaochan replied, her voice tinged with shyness.
"No, you'll catch a cold. The bed is large enough for both of us," Zhou Yan insisted.
"No, I'm fine," Diaochan responded, her voice laced with anxiety.
"Don't worry. As your Lord, it's my word you should heed," he reassured her.
Yielding to Zhou Yan's insistence, Diaochan removed her boots and settled onto the bed, burying her face in the blankets.
Zhou Yan joined her, contemplating his next move.
"Should I be a rogue or something even less?" he pondered.
Ultimately, he chose neither path.
He opted for integrity.
Embracing Diaochan, he felt her tremble slightly with apprehension.
"Don't be scared, Chan. I just want to hold you as we sleep," he soothed.
Zhou Yan maintained his respect for Diaochan, recognizing that the timing was not right.
She was destined to be his, in due course.
They slept soundly until morning.
The next day, they awoke early, Diaochan still enveloped in shyness.
Following a modest breakfast, they awaited the impending monster assault on their territory with patience.
Zhou Yan reviewed the messages.
While defeating the external monsters could yield valuable loot, safeguarding his territory remained paramount.
If he were to lose his territory, everything would become pointless.
He needed to wait until the monster assault on his lands had ceased before he could venture out to defeat the monsters and claim additional rewards.
Even though the King Crystal boasted considerable defensive capabilities and could attack autonomously, caution was still imperative.
At eight o'clock, the anticipated monsters finally began their approach toward the territory.
Beyond the initial day's warning of a monster attack, no further alerts would be given.
This was the moment Zhou Yan had been waiting for.
"Zhou Yan, monsters are approaching!" Diaochan announced, drawing her Wolf Fang Sword and eyeing the distant creatures.
"Let's not rush. The number of monsters is manageable, and they're within the Raging Flame Tower's range. We'll witness the Defense Tower's might first."
Each Defense Tower had a finite attack radius. Lords desiring comprehensive protection over their entire domain would need additional towers or to upgrade existing ones to enhance their offensive reach and potency.
Armed and ready, Zhou Yan and Diaochan watched intently from a distance, eager to gauge the Defense Tower's performance.
Having cleared the fog at the territory's front the day before, they could now observe the periphery of the forest from within their domain. Emerging from the woods, the monsters advanced on the territory, baring fangs and claws.
A horde of green-skinned creatures, wielding crude blades and with eyes glowing an eerie green, closed in.
"Monster: Goblin"
"Quality: Common"
"Level: 3"
"Special Traits: None"
"Description: These avaricious goblins are notorious for plundering the treasures of others."
"This is a sizable group of Level Three goblins. It's only the second day, and already there's such a multitude. If they were to besiege another's territory, that would spell trouble, wouldn't it?"
Zhou Yan realized that the increased number of monsters was due to the Rainbow Lord Space and his exceptional SSS rating from the previous day.
For him, this was likely a boon.
An abundance of monsters meant greater prospects for his territory's growth and more bountiful rewards.
The goblin horde drew ever nearer to Zhou Yan's domain.
