Chapter 113: The Predatory Birds Attack

Chapter 113: The Fierce Birds Attack

As the floating island ascended, the outside air grew somewhat thin, including the ambient energy in the sky. Being far from the earth’s surface lowered the energy scale in this space.

Fortunately, the city’s space was projected from the lord’s domain, so the air was supplied internally. Moreover, most of the energy now depended entirely on Li Hongshen’s lord domain to maintain itself.

This was exactly why the Ministry of Education required them to use floating islands. First, to prevent overcrowding within the inner domain’s space; second, to encourage new lords to rely on their own domain's energy, reducing dependence on the Vast Wilderness’s energy.

Third, it was to control the energy on the inner domain’s land. The energy within the Vast Wilderness’s inner domain was inherently high, and if all the student lords descended to the ground, the concentration of energy could even break through to the fifth tier, which would disrupt the balance of the Vast Wilderness.

Therefore, lords wishing to land on the ground had to apply in advance; otherwise, they were to remain obediently floating in the sky.

At this moment, Li Hongshen had increased the input into the source points, channeling all the generated points into the spiritual vein core. This allowed the vein to grow rapidly and sustain the territory’s consumption.

In truth, whether it be spiritual veins or energy wells, both could be violently mined when necessary, serving as valuable resources.

For example, spirit stones mined from spiritual veins or energy liquids extracted from energy wells were hard currency in lord trade, as they directly accelerated the advancement of the populace and could even power weapons when needed.

Currently, however, Li Hongshen’s territory was not yet qualified to mine spirit stones. As a newborn spiritual vein, it was still striving to integrate with the territory, gradually intertwining with the energy laws within to achieve mutual advancement.

Li Hongshen had also taken Teacher Wang’s advice to heart: unless absolutely necessary, he would not mine the vein, as excessive extraction would deplete the territory’s potential. Over-mining could even degrade the core’s level, thereby slowing development.

At present, the population within Li Hongshen’s domain had exceeded ninety thousand, nearing one hundred thousand—almost doubling in just a few years. Since breaking free from the blood crystal’s restrictions, the citizens were earnestly cultivating within the city.

It was foreseeable that Li Hongshen would soon have a sizable force of capable warriors, and with the backing of his vast and robust energy laws, he aimed to achieve the goal of universal advancement.

With the population and available warriors steadily increasing, Li Hongshen had begun restructuring his warrior forces, especially with the city floating in the air as it was now.

The warriors’ role was primarily defensive, rather than launching proactive strikes as before. Therefore, Li Hongshen initiated a policy of elite troops, selecting the best as full-time soldiers.

Other warriors were required to undergo regular military training and daily exercises to ensure they could be combat-ready when needed.

…

Li Hongshen gazed at the drifting white clouds and the clusters of small floating islands outside the city, his mind formulating the next five-year plan. Suddenly, a series of alarm bells rang out.

From the communicator on his desk came Li Zhong’s urgent voice:

“Report: A flock of fierce birds—Sloquers—has been spotted advancing toward us.”

“Prepare for combat as practiced. Our island is still naturally ascending and I cannot control it yet. Do not dispatch the Storm Eagle squad; let those fierce birds come close before engaging.”

“Understood!”

As Li Hongshen issued commands, he activated the defense shield over Hong City. Previously, to conserve energy, it had been left off, but now it was necessary to prevent the fierce birds from crashing into the city and causing destruction.

With a pillar of light rising from Fengxi Valley behind him, beams of light appeared atop the city’s towers and corner turrets, intersecting in the sky to form a protective barrier.

Inside the city, warriors took their posts. Boxes of arrows were transported onto the walls, and large ballistae were loaded with thick, rune-inscribed arrows.

Several panels on the upper levels of the corner turrets were removed, revealing energy cannons whose circuits connected directly to energy nodes below, now beginning to charge.

The mid-level turrets housed several spellcasters, all at least second-tier in power. The venerable shaman Ma Wu, wielding his shaman staff, stood openly alongside Li Zhong on the city wall, watching the ominous flock blotting out the sky.

With the tribe’s development and the warriors’ progress, Li Hongshen had begun delegating authority, especially to veterans like Zhao Yun, Li Li, and Li Zhong, who had followed him for decades.

He entrusted frontline combat command to them, allowing decisions to be made according to the situation.

Li Hongshen was not afraid of failure. After Teacher Wang’s thorough guidance, he was prepared to lose the city and withdraw from the Vast Wilderness if necessary. After all, in a dozen days, he would rise again stronger than ever. What was there to fear?

If he didn’t delegate now and let his generals gain experience, it would be much harder to find such a golden opportunity later in the Vast Wilderness.

Thus, Li Hongshen even initiated a rotation system for supreme command, letting promising young commanders take turns leading the entire army and honing their skills with the limited warriors available.

At this time, Li Zhong was at the helm, directing the impending battle.

Li Hongshen sat in the lord’s mansion, observing the siege through his telescope—his first true combat since entering the inner domain—a perfect opportunity to test the strategies taught by Li Fugui and the young king.

…

“Everyone, prepare. Wait until the fierce birds approach before firing. Follow the plan: first, archers take three volleys, then cease.

Next, ballistae fire three rounds, aiming at the largest fierce birds, then stop.

Then, energy cannons atop the turrets fire one volley and cease.

Finally, upon my command, engage in free fire against the beast flock. Understood?”

“Understood!”

“Excellent. On my command, spellcasters, cast Giant Strength and Returning Flight on the archers.”

At Li Zhong’s order, the spellcasters in the turret began buffing the archers. Streams of red and yellow light bathed the archers, enhancing their strength and stamina.

Minutes later, all archers were fully empowered, and the fierce birds hovered above the floating island.

“On my command, archers, fire!”

Honestly, I just finished all my assignments today and was ready to post two updates. Now it feels like I’m scared off by a drop in bookmarks—awkward.

(The End of this Chapter)