"What are you looking for?" Bai Yi's tone turned serious.
Diane sensed the gravity in his voice, but considering Luo Ning's intelligence-gathering abilities, she wasn't surprised. This was a top genius capable of predicting the future at the bronze level. If Dongwu City were ever in danger, Luo Ning would take precedence over Bai Yi.
Precognition was an exceedingly rare profession.
"Uh, a stone?" Luo Ning replied after a moment's thought. She turned and said, "Come with me. I can visualize what it looks like, but describing it is challenging."
Bai Yi and Diane exchanged glances before following Luo Ning to her room.
The room was merely two buildings away from Bai Yi's bedroom and had a simple layout. The original decor remained largely unchanged, with only a few pink items on the bed and some cute dolls added by Luo Ning.
Once inside, Luo Ning waved her hand, and her mental power surged.
Suddenly, a crystal ball with a diameter of thirty centimeters floated out of her space ring, hovering in the air.
Buzz, buzz, buzz. Waves of buzzing emanated from it, casting moonlight into every corner of the room with incredible precision.
Under Luo Ning's guidance, the rays of light converged on the top of the crystal ball.
Boom! A roar echoed as if from another dimension. Although this was a weak upper bronze level, it summoned the stars to descend.
As Luo Ning waved her hand, the stars arranged themselves around the crystal ball, forming a special star pattern. The crystal ball shone like a bright moon among the stars, outshining the magical scene around it.
Luo Ning moved closer, placing her slightly red hands—still warm from playing in the snow—on the crystal ball.
Ding! A sound like wind chimes resonated, and the surrounding stars coalesced, revealing a blurry image on the transparent surface.
Luo Ning began to explain, "Recently, while my boss brother was in seclusion, I felt uneasy. So I followed this divination and discovered that this flower was approaching something."
As she spoke, the image in the crystal ball gradually sharpened.
It depicted a black rose, but unlike the mysterious rose Luo Ning had initially predicted, this one appeared to be wilting.
The black rose in the picture was nearing a dark mass, indistinct and resembling a black rock devoid of any information.
Bai Yi frowned. Why did that outline seem familiar?
Before he could voice his thoughts, Zero provided an answer.
Zero: [Based on analysis of its shape and posture, there is a 76% chance that the black shadow is a sleeping black dragon, a 20% chance it's a member of the legendary Giant Rock Tribe, and a 4% chance it's a piece of Panlong Stone.]
Zero: [Comparing it with other units on the screen, if this is a sleeping black dragon, it would measure over a kilometer in length.]
Ling: [A dragon of this size exceeds a thousand meters, indicating it is a legendary dragon.]
Bai Yi paused, deep in thought. A black dragon? In this world, black dragons symbolize death and destruction. They are feared for their cruelty and are typically found in desolate mountains, looking down upon all living things.
Moreover, there was supposedly a black dragon among the councilors of Sin City. However, black dragons are extremely rare nowadays; it would be impossible for two to coexist in an area of less than 50,000 square kilometers.
[Please inquire about Mithras, the Black Dragon Councillor of Sin City. Is he a black dragon or a dragonborn?]
Zero: [Inquiring. Please wait.]
Zero: [Member Mithras answers: There is a level 74 Black Dragonborn in Sin City.]
Understanding dawned on Bai Yi. Black dragons are territorial; they will not tolerate another of their kind near their lair, as they know the consequences of such encounters.
"That's all I can predict. If we delve deeper, any party we investigate will become aware of it," Luo Ning admitted, looking conflicted. She preferred passive predictions, as active ones risked detection, especially by beings fifty or sixty levels above her.
"Let me think," Bai Yi said, feeling a headache coming on. He recalled a black dragon from a game on Blue Star, but the one that spewed stomach acid was nowhere near the power of this dragon that breathed magical flames.
If this legendary black dragon truly emerged to wreak havoc, the city defense mecha wouldn't stand a chance, even if fully charged, as dragons could fight at higher levels.
Especially the black dragon, the most formidable of the five colored dragons.
Legendary dragons typically operate at least three to four levels above other races, which is exceptionally abnormal.
"Do you know what that thing is?" Diane asked, her curiosity piqued.
"A legendary black dragon," Bai Yi replied, lost in thought. He needed to locate this black dragon before Night Rose did.
"Black dragon," Diane mused, recalling something. "Could Tina be of any help? She's a dragon too."
Tina was the red dragon that players had provoked while stealing treasure, and Diane had subdued her using the power of a scroll, making her the guardian dragon of the Tifeng family.
Bai Yi shook his head. "Black dragons disdain the other colored dragons. Unless it's breeding season, they won't tolerate the presence of the opposite sex."
Bai Yi's expression turned contemplative. He looked at Luo Ning. "Can you pinpoint the exact location of the black dragon?"
"Sure." The star power in Luo Ning's hands surged again.
For her, she could peer into anyone's fate. No matter how powerful, as long as they weren't specifically targeted, she wouldn't be harmed.
This was evident from her previous encounters with the darker side of Bai Yi's nature; not everyone could glimpse the malevolence of a demigod.
Luo Ning's master had faced peril attempting to spy, but Luo Ning always managed to escape.
A new image gradually materialized in the crystal ball. It depicted a massive mountain piercing the clouds. The extreme elevation and unique energy fluctuations prevented heavy snow from settling at the peak.
Atop this mountain, the black dragon lay curled up and motionless.
From this vantage point, the dragon's outline was clear, and occasional hints of golden color glimmered from the barren summit.
As if sensing the intrusion, the dragon's wings shifted slightly, and its fearsome head lifted, revealing a pair of piercing scarlet eyes that scanned the vicinity. Then, the image abruptly vanished.
Luo Ning exhaled in relief. "I almost got caught."
As she spoke, her mental power fluctuated, and the stars reappeared to guide her. A map formed, indicating the location of the divination.
Bai Yi studied the terrain and estimated it was about 20,000 kilometers from Dongwu City—a place he had never visited.
"I understand. How long until they arrive?" Bai Yi asked thoughtfully.
"I can't say for sure. Maybe within a month," Luo Ning replied, shaking her head. She had always been able to sense Night Rose but couldn't pinpoint it accurately, as a force always interfered with her foresight.
"Thank you for your hard work," Bai Yi said, reaching out to gently pat Luo Ning's head. After a moment of thought, he added, "It's getting late. You should rest."
With that, Bai Yi turned and walked out, contemplating the current situation.
First and foremost, restoring the city defense mecha was a priority. As for the black dragon, consulting the God's Showcase seemed prudent.
Although the window display was peculiar, it could offer solutions. Players might not know what to ask, but it was worth a try. Perhaps the extremely evil beings held some value for the God's Showcase.
He could also reach out to other city lords. Typically, extremely evil beings were imprisoned, with death awaiting them.
When Bai Yi stepped out of the room, night had fully fallen. Despite Luo Ning's extraordinary abilities, she still needed her rest every day.
For her, sleep was a form of spiritual practice; in dreams, she could achieve more accurate predictions and glimpse deeper fateful entanglements.
Diane gazed at the night sky, her expression becoming somewhat distant.
"Do you want to rest now, or would you like to join me in something?" Bai Yi asked gently.
There wasn't much to do at the moment—repairing the city defense mecha, duplicating the manufacturing method of the Colossus, finding ways to send it to the sages of the Star Federation, deploying and enhancing the legion, addressing the black dragon crisis, and developing new expertise.
Among these, the black dragon posed the most urgent threat. Dongwu City was less vulnerable to army invasions; as long as there were players, the city could withstand such assaults.
However, it was more susceptible to sudden attacks by powerful foes.
Still, they could complete legion tasks and repair the city tonight.
Diane sighed in relief, "Of course I'll follow you. I'm not sleepy yet."
"Alright." Bai Yi took Diane's hand and led her out.
As they spoke, a message from the mayor of Chaoyang City arrived. That city, the closest to Dongwu City, had developed rapidly under Sabo's influence and now had a substantial population.
Its prison housed extremely evil beings who had been incarcerated for thirty years.
A wave of mental power surged as Bolton, resting in the corner of the City Lord's Mansion, flapped his wings. After catching the Dawn Badge thrown by Bai Yi, the mechanical dragon soared toward Chaoyang City.
Things that could be resolved with money were no longer a concern.
Dongwu City truly had no shortage of funds.
"It seems this place is almost as prosperous as the capital," Diane remarked, gazing at the increasingly futuristic streets.
As they strolled along the main thoroughfare, Bai Yi held Diane's hand, while Ling continued to issue orders.
Diane glanced around, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks but made no move to pull away.
Though she managed to suppress some of her shyness, Bai Yi's growing fame attracted many eyes. Even on the official streets, the attention made her somewhat uncomfortable.
Bai Yi, however, was unfazed. Once he decided to showcase his talents, he had stopped caring about others' opinions.
As messages continued to stream in, some of the worry in his eyes began to dissipate.
Meanwhile, Dongwu City commenced its operations.
[The Quartermaster Department has launched the Wonder Military Merit System, issuing formal military merit badges and entering Wonder identities via fingerprints and biological samples.]
[The Mineral Resources Department and the Armaments Department have integrated the extraordinary resources in the city, dispatching energy-related equipment and materials to the East City Gate.]
[Legion garrisons will be established tonight at the edges of the four districts in the outer city.]
[The Whispering Legion has initiated a screening process. The ten members with the highest military merit will undergo enhanced transformations tomorrow.]
[The Apocalypse Legion's combat readiness has been adjusted; the guarding mission is canceled, and the legion's base has been moved to the east gate of the inner city.]
[The Apocalypse Army's garrison has been transferred to the Whispering Legion, which will now take turns overseeing the city's security.]
[The outer city law enforcement team is expanding to 80,000 personnel to eliminate non-transcendents.]
Boom, boom, boom!
After about three minutes, the sound of orderly footsteps resonated. Of the 10,000 soldiers in the Apocalypse Legion, aside from the 2,000 stationed at the four city gates, the remainder emerged from their bases in an orderly fashion.
While some confusion and complaints flickered in their eyes, no one voiced dissent.
The Apocalypse Legion passed by Bai Yi and Diane, swiftly making their way toward the east gate of the inner city.
Adventurers and extraordinary individuals on the street stepped aside, pointing at the legion and speculating whether another war was imminent.
Diane watched the Apocalypse Legion with curiosity. This elite unit boasted an average bronze rank that was quite intimidating.
With future rotations eliminated, their training time would accelerate, and perhaps Dongwu City would soon have its own Silver Legion.
At that moment, the west gate of the inner city opened, and tall figures alongside mechanical warriors streamed into the city. The synchronized, thunderous footsteps added a solemn atmosphere to the night.
Guards at the four city gates were replaced with remarkable speed. L-shaped modified soldiers, averaging three meters in height, stood beneath the ten-meter-high city wall, exuding an oppressive aura.
Mechanically enhanced warriors patrolled the walls, maximizing the inner city's defensive capabilities.
Their presence deterred would-be troublemakers.
Bai Yi didn't linger. After sending a message to Garrett to guard the launch silo, a swarm of magnetic mechanical bodies enveloped him and Diane, swiftly transporting them to the outer city area.
Upon arriving at the east gate of the outer city, they found the Construction Department still preparing to pour earth treasures into the mecha.
They settled on the city wall, waiting patiently. The Wucheng army remained stationed on the expansive wall; occasionally, they cast curious glances at Bai Yi and Diane, though they didn't dare stare openly.
After about ten minutes, steam trucks arrived, and the director of the Armament Department directed the unloading of cargo. Alchemists began to transport magical conversion devices down from the vehicles.
Energy materials, including flame stones, were also among the supplies.
Bai Yi stood up, ready to invest extraordinary resources into the core of the mecha, utilizing the magical energy converter to recharge it.
As he continued his work, he reflected on the resources being invested. He calculated that the magical energy conversion devices were effective, transforming various energy sources and ambient magic into extraordinary energy at minimal cost.
If other resources needed to be converted into gold coins, it would amount to approximately 100 million gold coins.
Bai Yi accepted this expenditure but couldn't help but sigh at the alchemists' relentless pursuit of resources.
In their eyes, one standard unit of extraordinary energy for the mecha equated to one million gold coins worth of resources. The total investment was comparable to the combined power levels of a gold medium.
In other words, the 186-A mecha had expended the equivalent of 1,000 gold medium forces during the battle against the ghost, merely to initiate a fifth-level legendary trial.
This power conversion highlighted the gulf between legendary and gold ranks.
Moreover, repairing the mecha was an immense financial burden; if it were the Tobu City before Sabo's rise, it would have struggled to support the consumption of the city defense mecha.
As truckloads of energy resources arrived, Bai Yi halted further investments once the mecha's energy reached 90%.
Instead, he extracted a hundred extraordinary energy conversion devices, relying solely on the ambient magic to recharge them.
He needed to assess the charging speed in this location.
While an excited alchemist recorded the energy replenishment, Bai Yi took Diane and turned back toward the inner city.
As the city lord, he didn't need to gather data; the processes were akin to managing the legion and law enforcement team. He merely needed to issue commands.
Only intricate tasks, like synthesizing the mecha's arm alloy or the X-type transformation of the legion, required his involvement, as there was currently no alchemy master in Dongwu City.
Back in the inner city, the atmosphere remained lively. Tonight would be largely sleepless.
In the outer city, the law enforcement team selections wouldn't begin until morning.
The players' legion base had already chosen its location, and activity was beginning to intensify.
Players could join the legion by paying a fee, and the high cost of ten gold coins made some hesitate. However, the NPC commander laid out the rules clearly.
Those who had the means eagerly paid, while others left to hunt monsters or complete tasks, some even opting to recharge directly.
After all, possessing that badge allowed for the accumulation of points, and the two ML modifications had become essential for players reaching maximum levels.
However, the badge wasn't rare; nearly every soldier at Dawn possessed one.
It was specifically used to tally military merits, as those who eliminated enemies outside needed a way to keep track.
Relying solely on soldiers' accounts wasn't sufficient; the quality of individuals in the Shia continent was often less than expected.
Long ago, the Dawn Federation had badges that could record enemy kills and also served as tracking devices.
With Bolton's speed of Mach 7, a round trip to the border town could be completed in mere minutes.
Bai Yi first checked the forum but found none of the streamers were broadcasting.
Noticing the time, he realized it was peak hours for players going offline.
Most players logged on after work, while only dedicated gamers played longer.
Even Bai Yi, in his previous life, only managed fourteen hours a day.
Glancing at the sky, Bai Yi instructed Bolton to continue capturing the evil man and led Diane back to the City Lord's Mansion.
Upon entering, Bai Yi noticed a blush creeping onto Diane's face. She lowered her head, trailing behind him, one hand nervously clutching her legendary robe.
Her pace slowed, causing Bai Yi to do the same.
Turning around, he saw Diane's downcast eyes glistening with unshed tears.
He chuckled softly. Just yesterday, she had been so proactive; why was she shy now?
Leaning closer, he asked gently, "What's on your mind? You should get some rest; tomorrow will be busy."
Diane's face grew even redder. How could kissing and hugging compare to this?
She hesitated, murmuring, "It's fine for a gold-level player to go a month without sleep. I… I can sleep tomorrow."
Bai Yi considered this for a moment before playfully threatening, "That won't do. More sleep means you age slower."
Diane looked down, flustered. "It's alright. I have beauty tea. I'll look just like this before I age."
Bai Yi reached out, gently ruffling her hair. "Don't worry, I just want to hold you—nothing else."
Diane sighed in relief, her body relaxing. She looked up, asking, "Really?"
"Of course! When have I ever lied to you?"
"Then let's go."
Five minutes later.
"What are you doing?"
"Who wears so many clothes to sleep?"
"I can manage myself."
Ten minutes later.
"What are you planning to do?"
"Just touch it, nothing more."
Fifteen minutes later.
"Well, White Plague! You're lying!"
Personal note: Add to Library