Inside the Lord's Mansion.
"Finally done!" Lord Jack let out a long breath. He had worked overtime to complete his task. The second part of Ashina Country was officially opened.
The current status of the second core operation was 2,092/5,000. Today, Adventurers could officially explore the world of Ashina Country, where more numerous and stronger characters and monsters awaited them!
While Jack was busy creating the Realm of Shadows Secret Realm, he was also continuously optimizing and adjusting the Tidal Secret Realm, adding some random monster spawn points to the level mode. For example, the Tidal Secret Realm's second-level BOSS would randomly generate in three forms: Flame Thrower Tracker, Rocket Launcher Tracker, and Gatling Tracker. Of course, the two new forms had a very low probability of spawning.
A Lord rashly modifying a Secret Realm was a very sensitive action, as it could easily provoke opposition and protest from the Adventurer community. But Jack was very confident. This modification would not only fail to cause resentment but would also make the Adventurers feel more stimulated, excited, and pleasantly surprised.
Randomly spawning BOSSes would increase the difficulty but also offer a chance to spawn higher-quality zombie soul essence. This was an irresistible temptation for Adventurers! This approach was fundamentally different from other Dungeon Lords who couldn't afford to lose and maliciously modified Secret Realms, damaging credibility and the overall experience just to exploit Adventurers.
Jack's method would not only make the Secret Realm more random and fun but also indirectly provide new benefits to Adventurers! Otherwise, if he were only seeking to maximize profit, the three forms of the BOSS could easily be separate levels. If Rocket Launcher Tracker or Gatling Tracker soul essence could be spawned, it would also benefit Jack's territory, enriching his troop types and strengthening his military force.
Calculating the time, the city was about to open. Today was worth looking forward to. In addition to the Trackers appearing randomly in three forms, Adventurers would officially begin the adventure story of the Ashina Chapter. The progress of the first chapter of the Tidal Secret Realm's plot would also advance smoothly, and the ultimate BOSS, Leech Queen Marcus, was expected to make her appearance soon.
All of the above were full of topics for discussion. Jack was very curious about how the Adventurers would react.
As he prepared to open the city, he suddenly received a trade message from the Lord's market. Upon seeing this message, he felt a surge of energy. It was about a blueprint.
Lord 0895 got straight to the point: "I have a 'Secret Realm Control Tower' blueprint here, fixed price of 6,000 soul crystals. If you want it, trade directly."
Jack had been posting high-intensity purchase information in the market recently. He was acquiring various practical blueprints and specifically prioritizing the Secret Realm Control Tower. After two days, he had received a few common blueprints like Adventurer's Inn and Secret Realm Shop. Although these were useful for his territory, they were ultimately not much of a surprise.
Finally, there was a 'Secret Realm Control Tower'? The price of 6,000 was not exorbitant, but it was indeed not low. Miracle City had just over 5,800 soul crystals remaining, meaning even if he emptied his financial reserves, it was currently not enough to buy this blueprint.
But having finally encountered one, he definitely had to strive for it. "Friend, six thousand is too high. I can give you at most five thousand."
It wasn't that he didn't want to bargain lower; a Secret Realm Control Tower was a Tier 2 facility after all. If Jack offered a price of three or four thousand, it would seem insincere, and the other party might just turn around and leave.
After twenty to thirty minutes of negotiation between both parties, the trading party was very firm on the price this time. Jack managed to cut the price by 500 soul crystals, finally acquiring the blueprint for 5,500 soul crystals.
"Not bad, not cheap, but still a normal price!" With the Secret Realm Control Tower and the Energy Absorption Tower, the foundation for the arena mode was established. This would become a very important gameplay element for Miracle City in the future.
Furthermore, as the scale of Adventurers grew larger, to ensure their full development and experience, and that every Adventurer could fully adventure, Jack could also set limits on the duration of a single adventure.
Miracle City's financial situation was critical. The soul crystal reserves were only a meager 312 left. Jack then checked the territory's zombie soul essence warehouse. The number of ordinary zombie soul essences had already exceeded the 1,000 mark, reaching a total of 1,074.
There would be no major battles in the near future, so stockpiling a large amount of zombie soul essence was meaningless. He took out 500 zombie soul essences and listed them on the market in ten to twenty batches. This portion of resources would be converted into soul crystals to supplement the territory's financial income.
**[Ding! Lord 0522 purchased 5 units of 'zombie soul essence'; you gained 80 soul crystals!]**
**[Ding! Lord 0186 purchased 2 units of 'zombie soul essence'; you gained 32 soul crystals!]**
Miracle City's specialty zombie soul essence sold very well, and each batch was quickly sold out. However, since there were 500 in total, it would take some time to sell them all.
Jack didn't mind; after all, Miracle City already had enough fresh content at this stage, and he didn't plan to immediately release the arena mode for the Tidal Secret Realm anyway.
Soon after, the territory officially opened. The number of people that could be received today was about 1,300. Miracle City had added several infrastructure facilities, including the Secret Realm Shop from the Foreign Lands Chronicle.
Without surprise, Miracle City was full in seconds again. As Adventurers like Wind in Sleep, who lived in the Underground City, came out of the Adventurer's Inn, they saw a mighty army surging into the city.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that Old Dean?"
"He really called a few seniors over!"
Among the large army of Adventurers flooding into the Underground City today, nearly ten people at the forefront were particularly noticeable. Most of them were elders over sixty years old, some even having white hair and beards, looking around seventy.
Cat Meow Meow recognized several of them at a glance: "It's Old Chairman Three Bamboo, Master Boulder, Senior Iron Heart... Wow, these are all incredible big shots from Black Stone Town. Our Miracle City is too impressive!"
Each of these individuals was extraordinary, holding various titles. For example, Vice Dean of the Adventurer Academy, Chairman of the Adventurer Association, Chief Consultant of various Adventurer groups, Underground City Enshrined, or Guest Elder. Their cultivation was at least at the peak of Tier 2, with some having even reached Tier 3. They were among the most powerful Adventurers in Black Stone Town.
Higher tier not only meant rich experience but also a stronger Adventurer's soul, capable of condensing more mental power. Generally speaking, a Tier 1 Adventurer has 5 points of mental power, while a peak Tier 1 Adventurer, whose Tier 1 Life Soul fusion degree is close to 100% but has not yet constructed a Tier 2 Life Soul, has 8 points of mental power.
A Tier 2 Adventurer has 10 points of mental power, and a peak Tier 2 Adventurer has 15 points of mental power. A Tier 3 Adventurer has 25 points of mental power, and a peak Tier 3 Adventurer has 35 points of mental power.
The higher the tier, the greater the increase. Of course, the specific values are not fixed. An Adventurer with a fortuitous encounter or special talent can generate extra mental power, while being too old or frail may cause mental power to regress.
Three Bamboo remarked, "I haven't been in the Underground City for two years. This time, I'm completely coming for your sake, Old Crane." This Old Adventurer, code-named "Three Bamboo," was a lean, clean-cut elder with graying hair. Although he looked only fifty or sixty, he was actually seventy-eight.
The higher the Adventurer's tier, the longer their lifespan. The expected natural lifespan of ordinary people or Tier 1 Adventurers is around seventy years old, Tier 2 Adventurers can reach eighty or ninety, and Tier 3 Adventurers can live at least one hundred and twenty. Tier 3 is a threshold. The first three tiers do not increase lifespan dramatically, but starting from the fourth tier, gained lifespans increase exponentially with each tier.
As a Tier 3 Adventurer, Three Bamboo was naturally one of the leading figures in Black Stone Town. He had been in a state of semi-retirement as early as five years ago. In the past two years, he had not entered the Underground City at all. Why? Two core reasons.
First, financial freedom. The average Adventurer of this generation has adventured for no less than fifty years, and the wealth they have accumulated is more than enough to retire in Black Stone Town. Second, no more passion. Adventuring day after day for decades had made Old Adventurers like Three Bamboo lose their sense of novelty and excitement for the Underground City, and this was a very fatal problem for Adventurers.
An Adventurer's cultivation mainly relies on Secret Realms. Only by being more invested and passionate can one achieve faster growth. Therefore, for this group, having a 'childlike heart' is extremely important. This is also why the personalities of most Adventurers seem so cheerful.
An Adventurer who has lost curiosity, desire for exploration, passion, and interest finds it difficult to grow. Curiosity, desire for exploration, and passion are among an Adventurer's most important talents. It's fine at lower tiers, but upon reaching Tier 3, coupled with old age, even if they stayed in the Underground City every day and continuously grinded day and night, it was difficult to see even a 1% increase in cultivation.
When adventuring is no longer full of passion and fun, and cultivation doesn't increase, what's the difference from working a nine-to-five job? Since they have achieved a little success and financial freedom, they might as well retire and enjoy family happiness.
These Old Adventurers are all patients of 'severe adventure impotence.' Tired of it! Exhausted! Better to retire, grow flowers and plants, and enjoy family happiness. Their appearance here at this moment was purely to give White Crane Hermit face.
Boulder sighed, "What Underground City haven't we seen? We can't find the feeling of adventuring anymore!"
Iron Heart added, "I've lost interest in adventuring, but I'm interested in Maotai, and very interested."
White Crane Hermit chuckled, "Heh heh, don't speak too soon. Perhaps the Miracle Dungeon might allow you to regain the fun of adventuring!"
"Heh heh!"
"Dare not hope."
"I no longer believe there is any Secret Realm that can bring me a sense of novelty."
"..."
While the elderly group from Black Stone Town was discussing, three more figures walked up from behind. Leading them was a stunning beauty with a slender waist, long legs, a charming demeanor, and mature allure.
"Sis... Sister!" Wind in Sleep turned his head, wanting to run.
Bihua dashed forward and slapped Wind in Sleep to the ground.
"Still want to run?" Bihua's eyebrows shot up in anger, scolding, "Watch how I teach you a lesson today!"
The other Adventurers all changed color.
"Is that Bihua?"
"The leader of the Yellow Springs Mercenary Group!"
"The recognized leading figure among the younger generation of Adventurers in our Black Stone Town!"
"..."
The elderly group was also slightly startled. Boulder remarked, "Oh, this is rare. I didn't expect even this girl Bihua to come!"
Iron Heart sighed, "Bihua broke through to Tier 3 before thirty. Her future achievements will definitely far surpass ours, and she may even not be inferior to Old Crane's peak."
Three Bamboo sighed, "The younger generation is formidable!"
That's right. Bihua was also Tier 3, similar to the old folks. But Three Bamboo and the others were on average over seventy years old, while Bihua was only twenty-six or twenty-seven. Age was another major factor limiting Adventurer growth.
The higher the physiological age, the slower the growth rate and the harder it is to break through. Bihua broke through to Tier 3 early. Due to the increase in lifespan, her current physiological age is only in her early twenties, giving her a long period of potential growth, with astonishing room for development!
Barring accidents, she could reach the peak level of White Crane Hermit in the future. There was even a chance she could surpass him. It was no wonder such a genius became the leading figure among the younger generation in Black Stone Town.
Speaking of which, Miracle City was quite impressive. It was one thing for the older generation to come as a group; after all, most of them were retired and quite free. Now even the popular representatives of the younger generation were appearing here!
"Stop!" White Crane Hermit stepped forward to halt Bihua from publicly reprimanding Wind in Sleep.
The Old Master felt that Wind in Sleep was also a promising seedling with great potential. He was only nineteen but displayed maturity exceeding his peers, along with considerable personal charm and leadership qualities.
Wind in Sleep's fame in Black Stone Town wasn't great, mainly because Bihua's brilliance overshadowed him. However, it was evident from his efforts during this period that he might become a new generation of Adventurer leaders.
"Give this old man some face. Don't cause trouble in Miracle City!"
White Crane Hermit walked over with the elderly group. "So it's the Old Dean." Bihua wasn't convinced by this so-called number one Adventurer in Black Stone Town, but she had to give basic respect to an elder.
"I'm not here to cause trouble today. It's just that too many people have been praising Miracle City to the heavens lately. I want to see if it's really that miraculous!"
Wind in Sleep breathed a sigh of relief. "Sister, you should have come earlier! Miracle City will definitely not disappoint you!"
"Hmph! If the Secret Realms here don't satisfy me, you brat must come back with me immediately!"
Wind in Sleep showed disdain. He would never accept Bihua's arrangements. This person was too strong and always treated him like a child. So even if not for his ideals, just for his dignity, he had to counterattack and surpass her.
And this could not be achieved in Tianyun City. Only in Miracle City was there such hope.
The army of Adventurers surged into the Secret Realm Lobby, soon filling the Tier 2 Hall. Bihua had gained a basic understanding of Miracle City's Secret Realms through Forgotten River Wanderer. In the end, she chose to challenge the Foreign Lands Chronicle without hesitation.
At the same time, most of White Crane Hermit and the elderly Adventurer group also challenged the Foreign Lands Chronicle, but a few went for Maotai and entered the End of the World Tide.
Today's adventure officially began!
×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×-×
Read Extra Chapter Visit My Patreon
I have only 1 tier
19$ Tier – Access to 40 advance chapters
patreon.com/Lempil
patreon.com/Lempil