C11 Magic Core
As the first light of dawn pierced the stillness of the night, a golden sun crept slowly above the eastern horizon, casting a gentle warmth over the land of Dawn Territory. Smoke began to curl from the chimneys of hundreds of homes, heralding the start of a new day.
From the moment Wang Changqing arrived, the people of Dawn Territory knew the blessing of a strong and compassionate lord. The meat stew simmering in every household's pot was a generous gift from Changqing himself.
The greatest joy for the residents, however, was the opportunity to work that Changqing had provided. They were not idle by nature; they simply lacked opportunities to harness their strength. They tended their small plots of farmland with reverence, yet the meager harvests were barely enough to keep their families from hunger.
Changqing had since established a wood and stone purchasing station at the Lord's Mansion, offering employment to all. With hard work, a daily meal of meat was no longer a fantasy. Thus, the people of Dawn Territory began each morning with prayers for Changqing, hoping for his safe return from the wilderness and for the continued growth of his benevolent strength.
Unaware of these prayers, Wang Changqing awoke from a delightful dream, the remnants of a smile still playing on his lips. It had been a dream most sweet.
Outside his chamber, four diligent maids had prepared warm water for washing and a lavish breakfast, patiently awaiting their lord's rising. In the Administrative Office, Moo Niu and his team extinguished the lamps that had burned through the night, stretching their weary bodies. The loggers and quarry workers, too, snuffed out their night-long lamps and trudged home, their hearts buoyed by the promise of a hopeful future.
"Sir, we've developed a detailed plan to promote childbirth within the territory, as per your instructions. It awaits your review," Moo Niu reported in the dining room, where Wang Changqing was enjoying his breakfast. Despite repeated invitations, Moo Niu and his team had always declined to join their lord at the table.
"Very well, I'll examine it closely after my return from the wilderness," Changqing responded. "For now, Moo Niu, you and your team should get some rest."
Today, Wang Changqing set out to stir up trouble with a group of Giant Armored Rhinoceros. Armed with 480 Level 4 Combat Robots, he felt a surge of confidence. Moreover, with just four days remaining before the protection period for his territory expired, he knew that soon he wouldn't be able to deploy his forces as freely as he could now. A significant number of troops would have to stay behind to guard his lands.
Upon reaching the Giant Armored Rhinoceros' habitat, guided by intelligence from his Nano Reconnaissance Robots, Wang Changqing was stunned to discover the rhinos locked in combat with another beastly faction. The ground was littered with fallen bodies, a sight that brought a twisted sense of delight to Wang Changqing, who was there for vengeance.
Previously, his inability to penetrate the rhinos' defenses had nearly cost him his life. This time, with 480 Level-4 Combat Robots at his command, he was determined to breach the rhinos' armor. Additionally, the experience points gained from slaying a Level-5 creature were substantial. If he could annihilate this group of Giant Armored Rhinoceros, he'd surely skyrocket through several levels!
There's truth to the adage that enemies' eyes blaze with hatred upon meeting. And here, his foes were already embroiled in a fierce battle with another wild group. It was the perfect opportunity for Wang Changqing to play the opportunist, but the lure of experience points made him abandon any thought of letting the two wild factions fight to the death.
After a brief assessment, Wang Changqing gauged his chances of victory and decisively commanded, "Open fire!"
At his command, the 480 Level-4 Combat Robots, poised and ready, unleashed a barrage of fire. Their firepower wasn't enough to take down a Level-5 Giant Armored Rhinoceros with a single shot, but that's where sheer volume came into play—if not one shot, then ten, or even a hundred...
Wang Changqing's intervention transformed the duel between the two wild factions into a chaotic three-way fray. However, since Wang Changqing's forces were the most distant from the battlefield, aside from the creatures targeted by his Mechanical Warriors, the other beasts continued their ferocious skirmish.
The wild creatures that charged at him faced a daunting task: crossing over 2000 meters under a hail of gunfire. Even those that managed to reach his lines, battered and bruised, were repelled by the Energy Shields deployed by the Level-4 Defenders. This tactical advantage turned the three-way clash into a lopsided slaughter.
Gunshots, explosions, screams, collisions, and wails converged into a cacophony in the confined space. The battle raged for over an hour before coming to an end. The formidable defense of the Giant Armored Rhinoceros was the primary challenge; it took the Sniper, a level 4 Combat Robot, more than twenty shots at the same spot to penetrate the beast's armor.
Your forces have slain 336 level 5 Giant Armored Rhinoceroses, wiping out an entire herd and securing a minor victory. You've earned 210,000 experience points and 210,000 units of Soul Crystals. Additionally, your troops have dispatched 356 level 5 Wild Demon Wolves, eradicating their pack and claiming another small victory, netting you 222,500 experience points and 222,500 units of Soul Crystals.
Congratulations on reaching level 7.
Level: 7 (47,957/1,562,500)
"Talk about reaping the rewards! The thrill of jumping three levels at once is just freaking exhilarating!"
Wang Changqing deduced that the hallmark of level 5 wild creatures was their possession of a Magic Core. This realization came after his Mechanical Warriors had cleared the battlefield and collected over 700 Magic Cores. Prior to this, despite his numerous kills, he hadn't come across a single Magic Core, leading him to suspect that those offered for sale in the Lord's Trading Market were nothing but scams. It wasn't until he laid eyes on genuine Magic Cores that his doubts were dispelled.
"Hang on, what's the use of a Magic Core?"
He pondered the question but couldn't see any immediate use for the item. Turning to the world chat, he searched for information on the Magic Core's purpose but came up empty-handed after a thorough search. Wang Changqing, feeling a bit stumped, remembered the adage that money talks and promptly posted a bounty on the trading market.
Bounty: The function of the Magic Core
Reward: 50 to 1,000 gold coins, depending on the detail of the response
After investing over 1,800 gold coins and considering the responses from a dozen lords, Wang Changqing gained a basic understanding of the Magic Core. It's an entity that forms within a Magic Beast, typically absent in those below level 5. Only upon reaching level 5 does a Magic Beast develop a Magic Core within its body. This solid energy crystal, born from the beast's absorption of the energies of the universe, serves as the power source for casting spells and skills, akin to the Power Furnace found in Mechanical Warriors.
Biological Arms have the ability to absorb energy from Magic Cores, enhancing their levels. Additionally, Magic Cores can be embedded into weapons to power the magical patterns etched upon them. Furthermore, Magic Cores are essential raw materials in the creation of potions.
