Chapter 102: Unrivaled Legion

The system announcement repeated three times in everyone’s ears: “The Unrivaled Legion, the first player guild to reach level five, has established Unrivaled City. Reward: one epic-grade equipment, reputation +5000, gold coins 100,000. Please all players continue their efforts!”

Li Ren, still leveling up, was stunned by the sudden message.

In such a short time, the guild that had been only level three had suddenly climbed to level five. He had no idea how this was done, and reaching level five now allowed participation in the siege of Yuxiao City. To take part in that battle, one needed sufficient strength. Li Ren had not rushed to join it immediately, but after hearing the announcement he felt a faint tension in his heart.

“Player Suolong is applying for the siege of Yuxiao City. The siege will begin three days from now. All members of the Unrivaled Legion are asked to report for duty promptly.”

The prompt sounded three times, leaving Li Ren completely dumbfounded.

His worst fears had come true. Suolong, for some reason, was now preparing to assault Yuxiao City, and in so short a time he had raised his guild level. It was utterly inconceivable.

At the same time, the entire player world erupted in shock. Those who had yet to form a guild and were still grinding in the Woma Temple felt the sting most keenly.

Formally establishing a town meant access to a teleportation array and the ability to hire NPC guards. In effect, their authority now matched that of an ordinary city lord. Added to the guild’s own power, the moment a guild gained town support its growth would accelerate dramatically.

Worse still, a larger Yuxiao City now loomed ahead, waiting for the Unrivaled Legion’s people. The thought was almost unbearable.

Li Ren made an instant decision and hurried back to Luoyun City. With MaoMao at his side, they cleared monsters along the way and soon departed.

In Luoyun City.

“Master, I suggest we do everything possible to prevent the players from succeeding in the Yuxiao siege, no matter the cost.”

Shadow spoke with grave seriousness.

Li Ren nodded. Of course that was his own intention; otherwise he would not have turned back at once.

A major city’s influence on a faction’s growth was obvious.

Moreover, Yuxiao City’s strategic location was delicate. It lay at the main transit point where players would soon slaughter monsters in large numbers. Teleportation fees alone would yield a fortune, and the equipment dropped by monsters provided another steady income. Ordinary players would naturally handle such matters nearby, swelling the coffers further.

Although Luoyun City now belonged to Li Ren, the sudden rise of Unrivaled City had erased any remaining advantage. Without continued expansion, the city risked slipping into second-tier status and eventual oblivion in the face of overwhelming player numbers.

Shadow did not want this outcome, Lantiss did not want it, and Li Ren least of all.

“Lan Ya, organize the Vampire Legion. Grant you one billion soul reserves. Ensure the legion can deliver in direct combat.” Li Ren began his strategic allocation.

Lan Ya acknowledged and turned to leave the gate.

“Lantiss, organize another legion at the previous scale. Soul reserves are unlimited. The stronger it grows, the better. Our aim is not merely to halt them but, if possible, to seize Yuxiao City outright this time.” Li Ren clenched his fist and drove it forward.

Lantiss nodded, transforming into a streak of white light and vanishing.

“Upgrade, Luoyun City.” Li Ren issued the final command.

Thanks to the previous siege, substantial gains had been made; the soul count had soared to an unprecedented height. While Li Ren was away, the accumulation continued unabated.

That was why, when assigning Lan Ya and Lantiss to build legions, he chose to upgrade the city simultaneously.

After the upgrade, new and far more powerful troops would appear in the Death Wish Field. For this battle, Li Ren was prepared to pay any price.

To fight and feed the fight remained the surest path to progress.

The words were true, at least for Li Ren’s current circumstances.

The original city walls of Luoyun City began to swell rapidly beneath a black glow. Under the pre-planned layout, the internal structure adjusted with mechanical regularity. The newly added buildings drew no immediate attention.

What drew every eye was the situation inside the Death Wish Field.

The place could no longer be called the Death Wish Field; it had become the Dark Wish Field, its every inch now shrouded in potent dark magic. All previously summonable guards had undergone massive strengthening. Lan Ya and Lantiss moved ceaselessly among them.

Under the two commanders’ orders, thousands upon thousands of summoned guardians converged and were quickly herded into the flanking camps.

After the upgrade, Li Ren had once considered summoning additional beings like Lan Ya, but the option appeared grayed out with no suitable souls available for matching.

He had to set the idea aside for now.

While waiting for Lan Ya and Lantiss to finish forming their legions, Li Ren himself found no rest. He flashed into the Dark Wish Field and asked the still-busy Lantiss, “Lantiss, does your legion have cavalry?”

Lantiss nodded, looking faintly puzzled.

“Good. Bring out your cavalry. I’ll give them something new.” Li Ren spoke, a mysterious smile touching his lips.

Lantiss asked no further questions. She simply summoned the squad of skeleton knights that had just appeared and placed them before Li Ren.

She watched as Li Ren himself called forth a pile of tattered wings. Such raw materials were almost worthless in the Dark Wish Field.

Unless one insisted on finished guards, the cost would be negligible.

For instance, summoning every bone of a bone dragon and then raising a living one was vastly different from simply piling smaller wings on the ground to resemble a bone dragon.

And even that he could not achieve with his present level. Legendary creatures would still be beyond him for some time.

Li Ren gathered one of the wings, walked to a skeleton knight, and pressed it directly against the skeletal steed’s body beneath the rider.

A wisp of black energy coiled around the junction of wing and steed.

But moments later, as the skeleton knight dissolved, his attempt ended in failure.