Global Coming: Farming with my sister-in-law in the end times

Chapter 760 Returning to Territory, Select Relic Box. (5400)

The dozens of people in the laboratory tensed up, their eyes fixed intently on Cao Xing, awaiting the next instructions.

Cao Xing said, "Besides me, all the legendary powerhouses will each lead a team to operate within the ruins."

"Your mission is to kill a large number of the vengeful spirits inside, and then explore the ruins and dig up any suspicious ground along the way."

"Let's take advantage of the time the ruins are open to the public and try to boost our strength!"

"Do you understand everything?"

Upon hearing this, everyone solemnly replied, "Yes, Lord!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the dozens of people in the hall began to move.

Led by six legendary powerhouses: Assam, Sarah, Isabel, Zavilin, Brûlé, and Malenina.

They each selected a group of people and divided them into six teams.

They then left the laboratory in an orderly manner.

Bai Zhi and Lord Oran also joined Malenina's team.

Soon, dozens of people left the laboratory, leaving only Cao Xing and Talia behind.

At this moment, for the first time, the two were alone together, and the atmosphere seemed to become somewhat subtle.

Talia turned her head slightly away, not daring to look Cao Xing in the eye, and unconsciously clenched her hands.

She lowered her head, her mind racing, a dazed look in her eyes, and she didn't even hear what Cao Xing was saying.

It wasn't until Cao Xing's voice woke her up, "Talia, are you listening?"

The woman immediately snapped out of her daze and instinctively said, "I'm here..."

After saying that, her face flushed instantly, and she lowered her head shyly: "Sorry... I was a little distracted just now..."

Cao Xing gave her a strange look, his gaze settling on her stunningly beautiful face.

Feeling the gaze, Talia became even more embarrassed, her ear tips turning bright red.

Cao Xing shook his head and continued, "Next, as agreed, you go and call the Iron Rose Mercenary Group members in from outside."

"Then I will teleport you back to the territory so you can familiarize yourselves with it."

"Later, I will take you back to this ruin to explore the outer area."

That's right, Cao Xing can now lead friendly units back to their territory at any time, and even return to the ruins.

This is also the special privilege he gained after obtaining the key to the [Anchor of the World].

It can be said to be quite convenient.

If he could ignore the threat of the fog, he could even explore this ruin all year round.

Talia nodded slightly, her expression turning serious again: "Yes, I'll call them down right away."

After saying that, she took out a black, round metal sphere device and said something to it.

"All members of Iron Rose, immediately assemble at the laboratory below."

Upon hearing Talia's command, the Iron Rose mercenary group members who were waiting outside immediately sprang into action.

Soon after, footsteps could be heard coming from the laboratory corridor stairs.

"Tap tap... tap tap..."

More than a hundred mercenaries, dressed in dark yellow light armor with a blood-red rose tattooed on their breastplates, respectfully approached Cao Xing.

"Greetings, Commander! Greetings, Lord Cao Xing!" The crowd bowed in unison, their voices echoing through the laboratory.

As a hero-level powerhouse, Talia's mercenary group naturally possesses considerable strength and a large number of members.

Moreover, this group of mercenaries is clearly her carefully cultivated core combat force, and their strength is no less than that of the fourth rank.

They are already considered a top-tier mercenary team in the surrounding area.

Cao Xing's gaze swept over the group of mercenaries, trying to use the system panel to check for any suspicious individuals.

Faced with his gaze, the mercenaries instinctively lowered their heads.

After all, Cao Xing is now a legendary-level powerhouse, and even a trace of magic power emanating from his body is unbearable for them.

Not to mention, meeting the gaze of such a powerful person.

After looking around, no problematic targets were found.

Cao Xing nodded slightly and continued, "I think your commander has already told you the specifics."

"From today onwards, you are all members of my territory."

"Next, I will take you back to the territory, which will be your new home."

On the field, the mercenaries exchanged glances, clearly having heard about the matter.

Those who make it this far have naturally made the necessary mental preparations.

The mercenaries bowed solemnly and said, "We are willing to serve our lord!"

His voice was firm.

Cao Xing nodded again, then waved his hand and sent a recruitment invitation to all one hundred-plus people.

[Recruitment successful! The Iron Rose Mercenary Group: Jamie/Gard/Rick... have joined your territory, increasing the territory's population by 148...]

...

The moment the system notification ended, it meant they had all become Cao Xing's subjects.

The blessing of the Pale Tree then descended upon everyone, making them feel their vitality double!
Everyone's eyes were filled with shock!
However, earlier, Talia had told them that Cao Xing's territory possessed magical abilities, and that they shouldn't make a fuss about it.

The mercenaries suppressed their excitement.

Among the crowd, Jamie, a middle-aged man, appeared quite excited.

Through their previous encounters, he had come to realize that this otherworldly lord's strength was unfathomable, and he had even thought several times about leading his entire army to join his territory.

Unexpectedly, by sheer chance, he actually accomplished his plan.

Jamie clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Because he knew that the Iron Rose Mercenary Group was about to enter a new phase starting today!
Cao Xing was unaware of what these people were thinking, and simply waved his hand.

One [Expert-grade Magic Crystal] was taken out and placed into the [World Anchor].

In an instant, the glowing geometric object in front of me began to rotate rapidly.

"Buzz-"

After a strange energy fluctuation, a dazzling blue light curtain burst forth and enveloped everyone.

The next moment, that familiar feeling of spatial distortion returned.

[Transferring...]

【5...】

【4...】

...

As the countdown progresses.

The moment the numbers reached zero, everyone vanished from their spot.

...

...

At the same time, Cao Xing once again felt a dizzying sensation, as if the world was spinning.

The violent spatial fluctuations tore at everyone's bodies, making them feel like their stomachs were churning.

Fortunately, Cao Xing had already adapted after experiencing it several times before.

The mercenaries of the Iron Rose Mercenary Group didn't fare so well.

When the teleportation ended, the group stepped onto the bluestone floor and appeared next to the energy station in the center of the territory.

A strong warmth swept over them instantly, and many mercenaries turned pale, their legs went weak, and they almost couldn't help but vomit!

However, when they saw the scene around them, their surprise overcame their physical discomfort.

The mercenaries stared in disbelief at the buildings in the territory, their eyes filled with shock.

The energy tower, tens of meters high, stands like a black steel behemoth in the center of the territory, providing heat to the entire area.

The nearby lord's castle is magnificent, with its spires reaching into the clouds, and its outer walls are covered with vines and blooming flowers.

Behind the castle stands a pale sacred tree, fifty meters tall, its dense canopy spreading out like a giant umbrella, bringing a sacred and solemn atmosphere to the entire territory.

And that's not all.

As their gaze drifted into the distance, more sacred buildings came into view.

The statues of the god of craftsmen holding a forging hammer and the guardian goddess in armor are located at opposite ends of the square, their solemn faces inspiring awe.

The dark gold altar of the king, not far away, gleamed in the sun. The king's gaze was fixed on the distance, his hands resting on his longsword, like a king about to go to war.

In addition, there are uniquely styled buildings scattered throughout the territory.

Further away, they saw towering city walls and countless arrow towers.

The city walls were covered with defensive fortifications, and squads of powerful soldiers patrolled back and forth.

There were also various large-scale war machines: frost catapults, Neros cannons, and so on.

"By...by all the gods above..."

One of the mercenaries exclaimed in amazement, "Is this the territory of a lord from another world? It's magnificent, simply unbelievable!"

The other mercenaries chimed in, "Yes, this is completely different from what I imagined!"

"This place is practically an impregnable fortress!"

Their impression of the otherworldly lords was still based on their initial ignorance and weakness.

But what they didn't know was that after more than half a year of development, coupled with the lords' adaptability...

Many lords already possess prosperous territories and formidable power, surpassing even some giant cities.

However, compared to other lords, Cao Xing's territory was far more prosperous, which is why they were so surprised.

Meanwhile, Duan, the polarman who was upgrading the Lord's Castle, rushed over as soon as he saw Cao Xing return.

He bowed respectfully and said solemnly, "My lord, welcome back."

"The land is filled with hope because of your return."

Cao Xing nodded slightly and asked, "Du An, how has the territory progressed while I was away?"

Duan straightened his expression and respectfully reported, "My lord, as you can see, we have been doing our best to complete the tasks you have assigned us recently."

"Currently, we have upgraded the energy tower to level 27 and transformed it into an energy station."

"In addition, your lord's castle has been upgraded to level 18, and the population has increased significantly."

He paused, then continued, "However, it may still be some time before we reach the level 20 you mentioned. Furthermore, we've discovered that to continue upgrading the Lord's Castle and Energy Station, we now need some more advanced materials."

"But because there's no stock in the territory, so..."

Upon hearing about 'higher-grade materials', Cao Xing's eyes showed a thoughtful expression.

He glanced at the properties of the two buildings.

[Lord's Castle: Level 18]

Building height: 19 meters

[Floor area: 1145 square meters]

Armor: 4800

Durability: 60

[Current capacity: 8174/18019]

[Attached Aura Effect: Abundance Aura]

[Materials required to upgrade to the next level: Level 25 Energy Station, 40 Wood, 6 Refined Iron, 3 Mithril, 3000 Master-grade Elemental Crystals, 1000 Ancient Wood Planks (Orange)]

Upgrade time: 814 hours and 34 minutes

Number of employees working simultaneously: 0/8

...

...

[Energy Station: Level 27]

[Floor area: 115.5 square meters]

[Altitude: 31 meters]

[Effect: Can increase the temperature by 15°C to 50°C in an area with a diameter of 20 kilometers]

[Additional Effect: High Energy State (After activating High Energy State, it can provide an additional 20℃~50℃ of heating effect to the territory, but the hourly consumption will increase by 3 times)]

[Additional Effect 2: Zone Temperature Adjustment (A zone can be designated on the energy station control panel, and the temperature of that zone can be freely adjusted.)]

【Consumable: 1 hour / 3 basic energy crystals】

[Materials required for the next level: 20 Refined Iron, 10 Copper, 5 Mithril, 1 Eternal Gold Ingots, 1 Magic Pattern Stones, 5000 Master-grade Elemental Crystals, 1000 Meteorite Ingots, 1000 Deli Mo Steel Ingots]

...

...

After reviewing the properties of these two types of buildings, Cao Xing nodded in understanding.

The level 18 lord's castle has increased the population by 4000 compared to the level 16 castle before leaving.

After the [Energy Tower] is upgraded to the [Energy Station], it also gains a special [Area Temperature Regulation] function.

This feature is quite useful.

If Cao Xing wanted, he could use it to build an extremely cold prison in his territory, allowing prisoners to repent in the biting cold.

It can also be used to care for special plants, precisely adjusting the temperature according to the growth needs of each magical plant.

Cao Xing was very satisfied.

In addition to these changes, there are some other changes.

And as Duan said, to continue upgrading these two buildings, more advanced materials are needed.

"Ancient wooden planks and Delhi steel ingots?"

Cao Xing said in a low voice, "I just happened to have plundered quite a lot during this trip to the ruins, which can be used to upgrade the lord's castle and energy station."

So he looked at the polar man in front of him and said, "I've taken care of the materials. You can continue your report."

Duan was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting that the lord had already solved the problem of the lack of materials as soon as he raised it.

But he didn't think much of it. After all, in Duan's mind, the lord was omnipotent, so it wasn't surprising that he could do something like this.

Duan cleared his throat and continued, "In addition to these two most important buildings, we have also upgraded and constructed many other buildings recently."

"Including the High Knight's Hall, Warrior's Camp, Archer's Range, and High Assassin's Labyrinth, etc."

"The statue of the guardian goddess that you requested has also been completed."

Cao Xing nodded again, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

In the four or five days that I was away, Duan had already completed so many construction projects; his efficiency was quite astonishing.

"Good, is there anything else to report?"

Duan took a deep breath, his face serious: "Yes."

He solemnly declared, "In addition to these buildings, we have also constructed two [Destroyer Towers]!"

Upon hearing the name of the building, Cao Xing's eyes lit up!
The 'Destroyer Tower' is a legendary tower blueprint that he redeemed in the Blood expansion.

This defensive tower can not only summon the legendary "Blood Destroyer" to attack enemies, but its range also reaches a full 100 kilometers!

It's truly a deadly weapon!
Building just one of these units can dramatically increase the defense of the entire territory!

Even the capital cities of the major kingdoms do not have buildings of this caliber.

However, the amount of materials needed to build such a defensive tower was simply too large.

Even with the legendary giant rhinoceros meat from the last trade, Cao Xing only managed to collect enough materials for two units.

Unexpectedly, it was all built in the blink of an eye.

He nodded approvingly and said, "You did a great job, Duane."

"Next, you will lead our new members to familiarize themselves with the territory, and then arrange accommodations for them."

"After you've done that, you can continue building other structures."

Upon hearing this, the polar man quickly glanced at Talia and the group of mercenaries behind her.

He noticed that although these mercenaries looked nervous, each of them exuded a capable air, clearly indicating that they were all seasoned veterans.

Then he nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, my lord."

He turned to face the mercenary group and gestured for them to follow him: "Gentlemen, please come with me."

The mercenaries bowed to Cao Xing in farewell and followed Du An away from the central square.

After they all left, Cao Xing turned around and returned to his lord's castle.

"Rumble..."

As the heavy castle gates were pushed open, a more spacious and magnificent hall came into view.

The walls on both sides are adorned with various large paintings, and the floor is covered with a deep red carpet embroidered with intricate patterns.

Dozens of crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, emitting a soft yet bright light.

In the very center of the hall stood a magnificent throne, its jewels shimmering beautifully under the lights.

Cao Xing walked straight to the throne and leaned back comfortably.

"call……"

He let out a long sigh and then closed his eyes to rest for a while.

A few minutes later, Cao Xing gradually opened his eyes.

He whispered, "This time, we've basically used up all the spoils from the Ancient Arena."

"There is one item left that can be used immediately to enhance our strength."

It was the special reward he received after passing the fifth round of trials in the arena: a box containing a selectable legendary relic.

"I've opened this kind of relic box once before. It allows you to choose one of the 108 relics you need."

"In other words... I can now make anyone break through to the legendary level whenever I want."

Even so, choosing whose belongings to inherit is a rather troublesome issue.

After all, there are still many powerful individuals waiting to break through to the legendary level in his territory.

Among the older members are archer Renis and Andrew.

The new members also include Tauren Chieftain Cairne Burgh's Hoof, Qinon Dutra, and Talia.

These people are quite good in terms of both ability and potential.

It can be said that whoever breaks through to the legendary level can bring great help to the territory.

After hesitating for a moment, a dangerous red figure suddenly appeared in Cao Xing's mind.

She is also another being in the territory who has reached the maximum level of 100 and has the potential to become the Overlord.

It was none other than the Blood Spider Queen: Hilda.

Cao Xing thought to himself, "Letting Xierda break through to the legendary level would be a good choice."

"She was also one of the first members to join the territory, and she is very powerful."

"Especially her blood poison, after fusing with the blood of the God of Mutation, has reached an exaggerated level!"

"Furthermore, this Hilda also has the ability to hatch blood spiders, making her an all-around powerhouse."

"Most importantly, I also have a [Bloodborne Divine Flame] in my backpack."

"If we can help Hilda break through to the legendary level as soon as possible, we can also help her reach the demigod realm sooner."

Having thought this through, he had already made his decision.

Then, Cao Xing flipped his right hand, and an ancient-looking black box appeared out of thin air.

The next moment, a system notification appeared.

[Open the selectable relic box?]

[Upon activation, you will choose one relic from 108 possible breakthrough relics.]

...

Cao Xing clicked "OK" without hesitation and then searched through the 108 relics.

Since Hilda is a powerful figure in the Bloodline faction, he prioritizes searching among Bloodline relics.

However, as he searched, Cao Xing's gaze suddenly locked onto a bright green crystal in the corner, which faintly emitted a powerful divine aura.

"Should we... choose this series of relics and let Hilda try them out?"

After some deliberation, he made a decision.

[Choose successfully. 】

[Obtained: Relic - Emerald Shadow Poison Core]

…………

(End of this chapter)