When they chose to level up, Zhang Bo had already arrived, followed by his little monsters, who also seemed eager to explore the darkness.
"Bo Ge, why are you here? My goodness, it's so dangerous here, you and your little monsters will be in danger!" A Blue Star Humans middle-level managers was the first to spot Zhang Bo, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"I came to explore this darkness with you all to see if I can find some spiritual realm mark fragments within it. That way, I can communicate with the Mage Tower I'm in and become stronger," Zhang Bo said with a smile.
As a Prophecy-type Mage, he also needed to absorb spiritual realm mark fragments to become stronger, so his words didn't contain too many contradictions.
However, for Zhang Bo, his actual reason for coming was to see why these Blue Star Humans, after joining Deherim, possessed special Spiritual Realm Follower, specifically these Lingjie Human Race, who could upgrade through special means.
That's right, upgrading through special means to become stronger—that's what Zhang Bo wanted to know.
Because he had already heard from those Blue Star Humans about the model of earning combat experience, then gaining points, and finally upgrading.
Not only could they, the Blue Star Humans themselves, but even the Spiritual Realm Follower they led could upgrade through this method.
This was something he had not noticed at all before.
He couldn't even comprehend it.
Why could they gain combat experience? And why could combat experience help with upgrading? Why could it allow these Blue Star Humans and Spiritual Realm Follower to advance?
Zhang Bo was completely bewildered.
Especially after learning that Green Leaf Group wanted to launch a surprise attack on Deherim and wanted him to put this plan on the agenda, he became even more eager to know the secrets of Deherim.
Because during this period of living, Zhang Bo truly discovered that Deherim, this powerful territory of the Human Race empire, was becoming increasingly secretive.
Moreover, those Human Race Follower were tight-lipped about too many secrets, making it impossible to extract any useful information.
And now, although he was registered with Shen Mu, he was not as deeply trusted as he was with General Manager Xue Zhigang at Diesel Company.
Furthermore, since the Magic Crystal Ball had not yet recovered, he couldn't accurately detect valuable items like spiritual realm mark fragments.
This made it difficult for him to penetrate Shen Mu's core decision-making circle.
Although Shen Mu outwardly treated him with great respect and even allocated him a separate town residence for his own use, compared to the crowded residences filled with Blue Star Humans, he could be said to have received a remarkably high level of courtesy.
However, it must be understood that this was merely a form of treatment; super high treatment did not mean entry into the core decision-making circle, nor did it mean he was truly trusted by Shen Mu. This was a point that needed to be clear.
Therefore, Zhang Bo couldn't know too much useful information, and even regarding certain secrets or the latest decisions, he knew less than Zhang Caidong and those senior managers.
Naturally, he was curious and eager to know these secrets and advanced policies.
Especially after learning from Zhang Caidong that these Lingjie Human Race could actually upgrade.
His curiosity grew even stronger.
So he came here.
"Bo Ge, why are you here? If others hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were already here." Cai Dong, having heard the news, also rushed over and saw Zhang Bo standing in a pile of ruins with his dozen or so little monsters, a helpless expression on his face: "Bo Ge, you are a spellcaster, a Prophecy-type Mage, and you're not good at combat. Coming here is like a joke."
"I know, can't a Prophecy-type Mage come to the front lines to observe?" Zhang Bo smiled and said to Zhang Caidong, "And you also need to understand that I'm in a bit of an awkward situation right now." As he spoke, he leaned closer to Zhang Caidong, lowering his voice, his tone growing more helpless: "The Magic Crystal Ball still hasn't recovered, and if I want it to recover, I need a large number of spiritual realm mark fragments. You know, there have been very few battles recently, and Lord Shen Mu hasn't provided me with many spiritual realm mark fragments, so I have no choice but to go out and search for them myself."
"But that's too dangerous," Zhang Caidong's tone became a little solemn. He understood why Zhang Bo said this, because he also knew that the Magic Crystal Ball Zhang Bo had previously owned could detect spiritual realm fluctuations nearby, but it had been unusable since it was damaged.
Moreover, Zhang Bo was very concerned about that Magic Crystal Ball and had been trying to repair it, but as an ordinary warrior, he could only offer sympathy, as repairing a Magic Crystal Ball, a spellcaster's work, could only be done by the sole spellcaster, Zhang Bo himself.
This was also why Zhang Bo's tone softened; he understood that Zhang Bo's position with Lord Shen Mu was currently a bit awkward, which was why Zhang Bo self-deprecatingly said he was in an awkward situation.
After all, the Magic Crystal Ball was not yet recovered, Prophecy-type Mage couldn't have strong combat power, and he currently had no extraordinary power to provide better assistance to Shen Mu.
Even the lie-detecting ability was unnecessary for the current Blue Star Humans, who were all united and basically very trusting of Shen Mu.
And even if it were used, there would need to be a reason.
Now everyone was subservient to Shen Mu, and Shen Mu could be said to hold absolute power. Even if these Blue Star Humans had any thoughts, they would gradually be won over by Shen Mu.
They would gradually come to fully trust Shen Mu.
Suddenly performing lie detection on all Blue Star Humans would cause a rebellious mentality. Even if Zhang Bo was willing to do so, Shen Mu, as the controller of Deherim, would not allow him to do so.
In fact, if Zhang Bo proposed it, it would even arouse Shen Mu's suspicion, as this was a blatant act of sowing discord.
Who couldn't see that?
This was also why Zhang Bo said his position in Deherim was quite awkward. He was indeed very awkward now. If it weren't for the high growth potential of his identity as a Prophecy-type Mage, he would probably be living in a tent like those ordinary Blue Star Humans.
"Alright, Bo Ge, no matter what, there's still hope. Lord Shen Mu truly values you. A Prophecy-type Mage like you is a top talent no matter where you go," Zhang Caidong comforted Zhang Bo at this moment.
"I know, but I don't want to be useless, so I want to follow you guys and see if I can pick up some spiritual realm mark fragments. Although as a Prophecy-type Mage, I don't have many good skills in the early stages, I can still sense some of the special magical fluctuations shimmering within the spiritual realm mark fragments in time." Zhang Bo accepted Zhang Caidong's comfort and even volunteered, implying he wanted to act with him.
"Alright, Bo Ge, if you follow me, I have some Swadian Recruit here, and their combat power is absolutely guaranteed."
Zhang Caidong thought for a moment, then nodded and agreed to Zhang Bo's request. After all, the soldiers under his command were indeed much better in combat than other civilian units. And whether they could find spiritual realm mark fragments while searching for supplies was one thing, but whether they could protect Zhang Bo was another.
He didn't want Zhang Bo to be harmed. After all, in his heart, Zhang Bo was his kin, a fellow clansman who came from the city village.
His safety absolutely needed to be guaranteed.
"Okay, then I'll rely on you, Cai Dong." Zhang Bo smiled, looking at the Swadian Recruit behind Zhang Caidong, holding long-handled scythes and with eager expressions on their faces. He also made a mental note of the name.
"Alright, let's go. According to our respective plans, continue to scavenge supplies from those buildings, find those Undead Monster, and then level up again."
Zhang Caidong then came to the front of the team and shouted to the Blue Star Humans: "Then, in the evening, everyone will gather for dinner. When it gets dark, we'll assemble at the edge of Deherim's low wall and then go into the darkness to fight those Undead Monster. So, everyone, please conserve your energy while scavenging supplies and don't get too exhausted."
"Understood!" The Blue Star Humans shouted in unison, then quickly moved into their assigned residential units, beginning to search for Undead Monster in the darkness, house by house.
And their search speed was quite fast; basically, they found the two or three places with Undead Monster in each unit building, rushed in with a clatter, dealt with the monsters, and then left.
Then they moved on to the next room.
Some were more unlucky; in their garden buildings, there were simply no rooms with darkness or little monsters. They went in, checked the situation, and then came out.
They didn't even fight; it was incredibly easy.
Of course, this ease also made these Blue Star Humans quite dejected, because only by fighting Undead Monster could the Human Race soldiers they led gain combat experience, earn points, and then upgrade.
No combat now meant that their Human Race soldiers could not gain combat experience, could not gain points, and could not upgrade.
Especially when those Blue Star Humans saw the Swadian Recruit led by Zhang Caidong, who were the only ones among them to possess Tier 2 troops.
Looking at their equipment, though still rudimentary, it was clearly a combat-oriented type, which truly made them quite envious.
They also wanted their own soldiers to become like that.
Furthermore, looking at the more elite soldiers in Deherim, such as the Swadian Militia, Swadian Light Infantry, and even the heavy cavalry covered in full plate armor.
They were all drooling with envy.
If they had such strong troops, then their Lizardmen, Gnoll, Pig-Headed People, Goblin, and so on, that they had at that time.
Those were simply useless.
So they were truly putting in their all, wanting their civilian underlings to gain combat experience, then gain points, and ultimately upgrade. By then, leading a powerful Human Race army would be incredibly impressive.
And it would also ensure their own lives.
After all, according to Shen Mu, they could also upgrade, and similarly upgrade to look like these national soldiers.
Just look at Zhang Caidong.
Zhang Caidong now possessed not the appearance of a Swadian Recruit, but that of a Swadian Militia.
He had a shield, a long spear, leather armor, and a hunting crossbow.
A very comprehensive set of equipment.
It's worth noting that before, the equipment these temporary workers had at Diesel Company wasn't even as much as this set. Most of them just carried a weapon, at most with a piece of leather armor, and that was it.
But look at Zhang Caidong's equipment: not only did he have a helmet, but also leather boots and even long pants, all of which were spiritual realm creations and imbued with spiritual realm rules.
How could one not be envious?
This was a set.
So they all exerted themselves, quickly scavenging another nearby residential area until they confirmed there were truly no Undead Monster in the darkness. Then, everyone reassembled in the small square.
They then returned to the edge of Deherim, took out some of their own food and dry rations, and simply ate a little something.
Then they began to wait quietly.
They were waiting for nightfall.
"Bo Ge, when it gets dark later, you must stay by my side and absolutely not stray too far from me. And don't let your little monsters engage in combat," Zhang Caidong said to Zhang Bo while they ate bread together, also instructing him: "Your little monsters are really too weak in combat; they don't do much damage. I think it's better for them to stay by your side and protect you."
"Mm, I understand." Zhang Bo also ate his bread, noncommittal to Zhang Caidong's suggestion.
Of course, the key was that he also understood how truly weak his little monsters' combat power was.
Even if these little monsters held weapons that looked like daggers, facing those terrifying Undead Monster, even the weakest Skeleton Soldiers would likely be too much for these little monsters to handle.
little monsters, as one of the weakest races in the spiritual realm, are not to be underestimated.
It's only because they are skillful and can learn like humans; otherwise, they would have no value at all. (End of this chapter)