138: Chapter 137: Territory Task 138: Chapter 137: Territory Task “This is the marker, the route ahead will be based on this, though I don’t know the specific principle behind it,” Mu Ying briefly explained.

The slab road was much more convenient than the pebble road last time.

It only needed to be buried along the commonly used paths, and it was shorter in length too.

Soon, the placement of the markers was completed.

Folks who followed her for the novelty just saw Mu Ying digging up the road, and after she finished, she stood up and gestured in the air in front of her.

“I’m just making some minor adjustments to the route,” Mu Ying explained to them, satisfying their curiosity, “Alright, I’m going to start now!”

“!”

“So fast!”

“The ground beneath our feet suddenly hardened!”

…

The players who were seeing this for the first time excitedly touched the smooth, solid slates that emerged on the path they had trodden out, feeling somewhat surreal.

Looking at the spacious stone slab mountain road, Mu Ying smiled, turned to the others and bid farewell, “I’m heading back to the territory!”

She wanted to walk through it personally.

The slate was flat indeed, but not new.

The thin moss on the edges of the guard rails and stone steps perfectly blended with the forest, boasting a special charm that even surpassed the original paths in the Forest Park, without diminishing the beauty of her own territory.

When it rained, walking on these stone slabs would probably be even more picturesque.

After returning to the territory, she operated the territory interface and posted the first territory quest.

[Territory Quest: Chunan Venture]

[Quest Description: Follow the Lord to scout the route to the Chunan Camp, clearing or driving away the monsters around the route (individual keeps any drops), attracting more talents to the territory, and successfully leading them back to the territory]

[Quest Reward: Guaranteed 100 Contribution Points, with an additional reward of 1 point per resident brought back, no upper limit]

[Quest Requirements: Profession Level 3 and above, or experience in solo killing a level 3 monster, limit of 50 people, selection to be made based on the strength of the applicants from high to low]

[Quest Duration: Starts in a week— Unknown]

It was the first time in a long while that a quest appeared on the empty territory quest board, and it was a quest with no upper limit and a base of 100 Contribution Points.

You should know, it only takes 1,000 Contribution Points to become an official resident, after which entrance fees are no more required.

Consequently, the territory buzzed with excitement once again.

“Starting at 100 points, wouldn’t ten such quests make one an official resident?”

“If we could bring back nine hundred people, that’s instant official residency!

I’m getting on it!”

“I’m just short of level 3, no time to talk; I need to go back to train.

With one week left, I should make it in time.”

“Big move, the Lord must have dished out at least 50 silver coins!”

“Haha, this quest is practically designed for me, my hometown is near Chunan, I can definitely bring lots of acquaintances.”

…

A week later, Mu Ying had also learned the Natural Shield.

Natural Shield is a method of using natural power to protect oneself.

While it does not last as long as the Tree Skin Skill, it’s faster in spell casting and used for temporary defenses.

Additionally, it allows for control over the size and protection range of the shield, not just for her alone.

This spell grew stronger in places with a denser natural aura, which was very suitable for Mu Ying’s current situation.

By now she had learned all the combat-applicable spells from the third ring, reaching a new height in combat power and self-defense capability.

Today, she was set to depart to Chunan Camp and had arrived early at the cultivation camp.

She was hitching Old Yellow Bull to a cart.

This time, she was heading out with other players.

Her storage pouch and the witch’s magic were her trump cards, which she had decided to keep secret for now.

However, she did not want to make compromises on the road, so she needed to carry some luggage.

After being well fed and cared for by Mu Ying, having drunk plenty from Recovery Spring, Old Yellow Bull had seized the opportunity during the last Meteor fall and evolved into a level 2 Magic Beast, Running Bull, acquiring a skill called Wind Run, which significantly increased its speed and Strength.

Old Huang’s body was solid with muscles, his eyes bright and spirited, not at all resembling an old bull.

So, yesterday Mu Ying had rented the biggest flatbed cart from Jiu San.

This cart could carry quite a few items.

Mu Ying’s tent and other belongings only took up a small corner, and the remaining space could help carry some of the team’s findings on the road.

After all, the dangers of venturing into the wild had increased, and unavoidably, they would have to pass through the territories of other beasts and even Magic Beasts, which would certainly lead to conflicts.

There would definitely be numerous fights, and they needed a place to store their findings to avoid wasting them.

“Gungun, make sure to look after the house, got it?” Mu Ying, having set up the cart, sat at the front end of the cart and admonished Gungun.

╯^╰!

You are thinking of leaving me behind again!

Even Old Huang can go out!

I want to go too!

Gungun tucked in its little paws, looking at Mu Ying with an accusing expression.

Mu Ying looked troubled as she gazed at Gungun.

She had raised this little one since it was only as big as a palm, and she was always worried about it getting hurt.

Its agility was too low; it would not even be able to run away from danger.

Even though it had the skill Enemy of Black Bread, which provided strong defense, it was not invincible, and there were many vulnerable spots it could not protect.

Gungun, placing hands on hips, made a strenuous effort?

What’s going on?

Why such a strange posture?

Is being denied this trip such a big blow?

Maybe it would be better to let it come along; surely Old Yellow Bull wouldn’t have a big problem carrying it, right?

Mu Ying looked uncertainly at Gungun’s plump body, thinking it should be possible, right?

Gungun, stimulated by Mu Ying’s hesitant gaze, suddenly deflated with a “poof” sound, shrinking from a chubby figure to a little one, about the same size as when it had just entered its infancy, a size that Mu Ying could pick up with one hand.

Mu Ying: “!!!”

Her hands trembling, she opened the animal companion information.

[Nickname: Yuan Gungun]

[Race: Iron-eating Beast]

[Stage: Growth Stage]

[Life Value: 100%]

[Talent: Feeding]

[Attributes: Strength 16, Constitution 18, Agility 9, Intelligence 7, Perception 7, Charm 15]

[Abilities: Emotional Connection, Loyalty, Fruit Pitcher, Enemy of Black Bread, Gungun’s Stubbornness]

The Strength and body attributes had increased somewhat, which was normal.

But it had already passed the infancy stage and entered the growth stage?

And what’s with that strange “Gungun’s Stubbornness” skill?

[Gungun’s Stubbornness: Gungun never admits defeat, and must use strength to overcome the dishonest master’s bad habit of only loving little Gungun and not loving big Gungun, from now on I can be big or small, and always No.1 in charm]

Mu Ying ignored the false accusations about a dishonest master in the skill description.

How could she not love big Gungun when she had painstakingly nurtured every pound of its body?

Knowing it had shrunk due to the awakening of a skill reassured Mu Ying; now there was no more hesitation, she had to bring it along to prevent it from making wild assumptions again.