Chapter 5: A Fine Steed for a Hero, 100% Loyalty!
The sound of a server-wide announcement rang in his ears. Xiao Wen's expression remained calm, but his gaze landed on another lottery draw.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for becoming the first player to achieve a fully maxed-out Divine General during initialization. Reward: Random Equipment Draw ×1. Would you like to draw?
An equipment draw?
No!
Just another way to squeeze money out of players!
Xiao Wen rolled his eyes speechlessly.
This game was definitely not something ordinary people could afford to play.
Fortunately, I happen to be extraordinarily rich.
Draw!
Muttering to himself, Xiao Wen immediately activated the draw.
A virtual interface appeared. The pointer spun rapidly as countless Profound-tier and Earth-tier pieces of equipment flashed before his eyes. He paid them no attention whatsoever.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining the Earth-tier equipment Xuanming Armor.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining the Profound-tier equipment Winged Gold Helm.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining the Profound-tier equipment Flowing Cloud Boots.
...
One piece of equipment after another was drawn. Xiao Wen remained expressionless until a Heaven-tier item appeared.
Platinum-colored light flickered and reflected across his face.
Only then did a smile emerge.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for obtaining the Heaven-tier equipment (Mount) — Claw Yellow Flying Lightning!
The notification sounded.
Looking at the divine steed, the smile on Xiao Wen's face grew even brighter.
[Claw Yellow Flying Lightning]
Status: Sealed
Type: Growth Mount
Grade: Heaven-tier
Bonus Item: Horse Token (Can be used to store the mount)
Attributes: ??? (Determined by the owner's potential)
Skills: ??? (Awakened according to the owner's talent)
Overview: A legendary divine steed possessing Dragon Horse bloodline. After returning to its ancestral origins, it can unleash tremendous power.
His gaze swept across the description before Xiao Wen stretched lazily.
Yet the excitement and joy on his face could not be concealed in the slightest.
Confirming the draw of Claw Yellow Flying Lightning, Xiao Wen looked at the newly added spear and horse token inside his inventory and felt exceptionally excited.
Then his gaze fell upon Ma Chao, whose summoning was nearly complete.
Anticipation appeared on his face.
Golden light flashed.
When Ma Chao emerged, he appeared as a tall, cold-faced man. Kneeling on one knee, he bowed toward Xiao Wen.
“This general, Ma Chao, greets my lord!”
“General, please rise at once!”
Xiao Wen quickly reached out and helped him up.
Looking at the familiar face before him, countless emotions surged through Xiao Wen's heart.
In his previous life, when the virtual world descended upon reality, Ma Chao had fought alongside him.
To protect him, Ma Chao had died on the battlefield.
That was one of Xiao Wen's greatest regrets from his past life.
This time, no matter what happens, I will protect all of you brothers!
“Now that I have gained the General, I am like a tiger with wings. I have two treasures to present to the General. I hope you will not find them lacking.”
As he spoke, Xiao Wen took out the two items from his inventory.
In his left hand was the horse token.
A yellow light flashed from it, followed by a loud neigh.
Claw Yellow Flying Lightning appeared, white mist flowing from its nostrils as it stood there with extraordinary majesty.
In his right hand was the Profound Heaven Sky-Piercing Spear.
Its shaft was long and dark black, radiating a bloodthirsty aura of destruction.
“General, people often say that a treasured sword belongs to a warrior, and a fine horse belongs to a hero. I know your ambitions. Let these two treasures serve as proof of my sincerity as we conquer the world together.”
“I wonder, General, are you willing?”
Ma Chao's body trembled.
His eyes were fixed firmly on the two treasures in Xiao Wen's hands.
He simply could not look away.
How powerful were these treasures?
Others might not know, but how could he not?
A warrior dies for the one who understands him!
To receive such appreciation from his lord, how could Ma Chao not devote himself completely?
Extending both hands and lowering his head, he accepted the two treasures before speaking loudly:
“Thank you, my lord, for these gifts! Ma Chao will follow my lord through life and death. Through fire and water, I shall never retreat!”
Ding! Detected rapid increase in NPC Ma Chao's loyalty. Current loyalty: 80/100.
Ding! Detected rapid increase in NPC Ma Chao's loyalty. Current loyalty: 100/100.
Ding! Ma Chao's loyalty has reached maximum. Achievement activated: A Warrior Dies for the One Who Understands Him! Hidden Talent Unlocked: Combination Attack Skill!
[Combination Attack Skill]
Type: Hidden Talent
Unlock Condition: 100% Loyalty
Effect: ???
Overview: Loyalty before all else, advancing without retreat!
The notifications continuously rang beside Xiao Wen's ears.
The smile on his face became increasingly radiant.
One hundred percent loyalty?
That was something Xiao Wen had never expected.
In his previous life, he had fought hundreds of battles alongside Ma Chao before finally raising his loyalty to the maximum value of one hundred.
Yet in this life, it had been achieved so easily.
Xiao Wen sighed inwardly before quickly understanding why.
After all, these were two Heaven-tier treasures.
The greater the investment, the greater the return.
If Ma Chao had possessed a mount like Claw Yellow Flying Lightning during that battle in his previous life, perhaps he would not have died there.
Various thoughts surfaced in Xiao Wen's mind before he cast them aside.
Looking at Ma Chao before him, he reached out and helped him stand.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for successfully recruiting a general. Please proceed to accept your beginner mission.
[Beginner Mission: Trial Puppet]
Overview: You have recruited a new general. Quickly work together with your general and defeat the Trial Puppet!
Reward: Territory upgraded to a Level 1 Village, Western Liang Camp Map ×1, 500 cubic units of wood, 500 units of stone, and 500 taels of silver.
Note: Resources can be used to construct other basic facilities within your territory. Accept mission?
Accept!
The moment Xiao Wen accepted the mission, a pillar of white light suddenly appeared within the territory.
When the light dispersed, a wooden puppet appeared holding a wooden blade.
Seeing the wooden puppet, Ma Chao rose to his feet, spear in hand.
With a wave of the horse token, he stored Claw Yellow Flying Lightning back inside it before stepping forward.
“My lord, please leave this fellow to me!”
Xiao Wen nodded.
He never took beginner missions seriously in the first place.
They existed merely to give new players confidence.
The wooden puppet was not particularly strong.
Any Rank-Two general could easily deal with it, let alone Ma Chao.
The next moment, Ma Chao charged forward.
His spear swept through the air with a whistling sound.
One strike smashed into the puppet's descending wooden blade, instantly breaking it in half.
Without losing momentum, the spear continued forward and blasted the puppet's head clean off.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for completing the beginner mission. Territory level increased. All corresponding resource rewards have been deposited into your inventory.
The notification sounded.
Opening his inventory, Xiao Wen found various materials as well as a parchment scroll.
Opening the scroll revealed a map of the Western Liang faction.
His eyes swept rapidly across it before stopping at a certain location.
“So it's still here after all!”
After marking the location on the map, he searched for his current position.
Fortunately, his territory was not too far from the marked location.
Closing the map, Xiao Wen glanced at the resources in his inventory and immediately activated territory construction mode.
Lord's Manor (Unbuilt): Construction time 30 minutes.
Farmhouse (Unbuilt): Requires 100 wood, construction time 5 minutes.
Blacksmith Shop (Unbuilt): Requires 200 wood, 100 stone, construction time 0.
Barracks (Unbuilt): Requires 350 wood, 400 stone, construction time 0.
...
His eyes swept across the construction options before immediately selecting the Barracks.
Light flashed.
The Barracks appeared.
Ding! Congratulations to player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World for successfully constructing a Barracks. Would you like to recruit militia?
Current Militia Count: 0/100
Recruitable Quantity: 100
Time Required: 30 seconds per soldier. (Recruitment Speed-Up Cards may be used.)
[Recruitment Speed-Up Card]
Effect: Speeds up soldier recruitment by 10 minutes.
Price: 50 Yuanbao.
Expressionless, Xiao Wen directly purchased five Recruitment Speed-Up Cards and instantly filled the militia quota to one hundred.
“My lord, the soldiers have assembled. Please issue your orders.”
Xiao Wen took out the parchment map and spread it before Ma Chao.
Then he circled a Level 2 village located not far from their current position.
“Mobilize the troops.”
“Capture this place!”
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