Finally, night fell.
Outside Deherim’s low walls, a large area remained bathed in holy light due to the Holy White Council's Holy Light Torch Tower.
This light not only brought brightness but also a scorching warmth, allowing them to feel a hint of warmth even in the wilderness without lighting a bonfire, as if they were under the sun.
“What a powerful force. I truly didn’t expect this human empire to be able to create a domain that shields against death spirit rules.”
At this time, many Blue Star Humans were squatting and resting in a green belt of a small residential area outside the low walls. Turning their heads, they could see the white light, like the sun, radiating from Deherim.
Their faces were all filled with shock.
However, despite the shock, they had actually grown accustomed to it over the past few days. After all, they saw this soft light illuminating them every night, and it also brought a warmth from the depths of their souls, which truly made them quite comfortable and gradually accustomed to it.
This was truly a warmth that could illuminate the soul, unlike ordinary bonfires. Furthermore, bonfires created in the Blue Star World using Blue Star World materials only provided light and surface warmth. After darkness fell, they still felt a deep coldness and isolation from the depths of their souls.
Unless they could find materials from the Spiritual Realm to light a bonfire, only then could it burn with a light and heat that could warm their souls.
This was also why Shen Mu found many pieces of wood from the Spiritual Realm in the Diesel Company’s storage warehouse when he exterminated the Diesel Company.
Because only those Spiritual Realm materials, or Spiritual Realm rags and the like, could serve as raw materials for Spiritual Realm bonfires. The flames lit from them could illuminate their souls and warm them.
During the Black Tide, it was especially necessary to burn these Spiritual Realm materials to light bonfires, as this was the only effective way to resist the even more bone-chchilling cold within the Black Tide.
Of course, for ordinary humans without souls, it was sufficient to light Blue Star Humans' combustibles to illuminate their physical bodies.
After all, without souls, they could not feel the bone-chilling cold that could freeze even the soul.
However, for Spiritual Realm Commanders who already possessed souls, if such a terrifying cold wave appeared, they absolutely had to light bonfires made from Spiritual Realm materials to protect themselves from harm.
They, of course, did not need to light bonfires made from Spiritual Realm materials, because the Holy Light Torch Tower erected in Deherim was already enough to dispel the chill from their souls.
“Yes, it’s truly powerful.” Zhang Bo turned his head to glance at the Holy Light Torch Tower’s location, then took out his staff and held it in his arms, his face showing little emotion, and his words were overly perfunctory.
However, in his heart, he felt quite helpless, and also awe.
Yes, awe. The more he understood the depths of Deherim, the more he felt a fear born of panic towards how powerful the human empire that owned Deherim, or rather, stood behind Deherim, was.
In his understanding, for all forces that currently lacked strong resistance against death spirit rules, this Holy Light Torch Tower was truly beyond comprehension.
At least in Zhang Bo’s view, the former Diesel Company couldn’t do it, and the current Green Leaf Group couldn’t either. They were still in a situation where they could only burn bonfires to resist the darkness, even with their ability to continue using rules.
Even if they possessed spirit world rules that could ensure no death spirit rules appeared in their territory, as long as they left the territory’s boundaries, outside their walls, death spirit rules still existed. At night, they still needed to light bonfires within their territory to prevent the darkness from becoming too concentrated.
Although no Undead Monsters or gray mist would appear in the darkness due to their spirit world rules, the cold brought by the darkness could still significantly weaken their condition.
Adding to what he had learned before, the ability to quickly construct buildings, including these human soldiers who could undergo special upgrades.
And a castle that had descended again in a short period of time.
All of this made Zhang Bo increasingly uneasy. He truly felt a massive pressure emanating from this human empire. If it continued to develop, it would suffocate him.
“This absolutely cannot happen.” Zhang Bo gritted his teeth, looking at the contented expressions of those around him, immersed in the warmth, and a feeling of unwillingness spread within him.
After all, everyone being immersed in this warmth meant they had submitted to Shen Mu and had already inwardly acknowledged Shen Mu as their supreme leader.
This meant that it would become very difficult for him to incite discord among these people and alienate them from Shen Mu in the future.
Moreover, it was already very difficult now.
As Spiritual Realm Commanders appeared one after another, whether it was Zhang Caidong or the senior managers and middle-level managers, there was now a certain degree of estrangement among them.
However, under Shen Mu’s name and call, they could still unite. For example, they could still unite now to go into the darkness together to level up their soldiers. The reason was that they had a common interest, which was that their soldiers needed to upgrade and needed unity.
Only by uniting could they resist the Undead Monsters in the darkness and become stronger together. This was the community of interests they had formed. In the face of this common interest, all minor frictions and stumbling blocks could be temporarily ignored.
Furthermore, Deherim had just been established, and everything was awaiting revitalization. The current positions and benefits were not fixed, and capable individuals who demonstrated their abilities would certainly gain upward mobility.
After all, they had not yet blocked off channels for advancement, nor had they formed class solidification. As long as one was gold, one would always shine.
Since he would shine one day anyway, why care about what others thought of him? Once he rose, everyone would be of the same class. Even if they were unwilling, they could only grit their teeth and bear it, otherwise, if he fell, he would surely face retaliation.
Since they were already of the same class, they might as well stick together and develop together.
Of course, it would be harmonious, at least on the surface, it seemed quite united.
So, since they could be harmonious and unite, why bother with minor issues or past events that would cause great anger and require resorting to means of life and death? Everyone could get rich together, grow stronger together, and develop together.
Isn’t that a wonderful thing?
Therefore, the emergence of this mindset among them had already greatly undermined the divisive effect that Zhang Bo had secretly created with his small tricks.
This was the general trend.
That’s why Zhang Bo was so helpless now. If he couldn’t successfully sow discord among these senior managers and middle-level managers, then when everyone accepted their fate and started working desperately to show off in front of Shen Mu, and began scrambling to move forward, who would turn back to look at him?
Even if small tricks were used, because they were worried about falling behind others, they simply wouldn't care about these small tricks and would continue to run forward, continue to work hard, continue to make themselves stronger, and then turn into glittering gold to show themselves in front of Shen Mu, thereby obtaining better treatment and higher status.
“This absolutely cannot happen.” Zhang Bo glanced at Zhang Caidong, who was still chatting with several senior managers not far away, and a hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes.
Although Zhang Caidong was currently the most useful pawn in his hand, looking at him now, this pawn had truly foolishly started to follow Shen Mu all the way. Although he could use small tricks to shift his direction, if Zhang Bo were to rebel now, whether Zhang Caidong would respond was truly a question.
It was estimated that by then, Zhang Caidong would simply put him under house arrest and control him, not handing him over to Shen Mu, and sparing his life, which would already be very good.
“Alright, it’s already dark now. In the darkness, the Undead Monsters have already descended. Now, let’s divide into our respective small groups and head into the darkness to lead our human soldiers into battle.”
Zhang Caidong then called out to the Blue Star Humans, who began to divide into several different small groups and walked towards the darkness outside.
Every single one of them, without exception, was focused and attentive!
And before they all prepared to leave, he also earnestly cautioned: “If you encounter monsters you cannot defeat, immediately retreat to the area illuminated by the Torch Tower. Do not prolong the battle. If you encounter special circumstances, leave immediately, and do not go too deep into the darkness. I think you should understand the dangers involved.”
“Understood.” These Blue Star Humans all nodded. They weren’t novices who had started from scratch.
They had combat experience from before, so they understood what Zhang Caidong’s instructions meant.
Moreover, the Swadian Commoners they currently possessed had rather weak combat power, incomparable to the Gnoll and Lizardmen they had previously. They were simply not worth mentioning.
They were just armed Farmers.
Even calling them armed Farmers was an exaggeration.
Therefore, these senior managers and middle-level managers, leading these Swadian Commoners, would not venture too deep into the darkness. They would stay on the periphery, holding torches. Upon seeing some Skeleton Soldiers or zombies, these clumsy Undead Monsters would swarm forward, deal with some Undead Monsters, and then retreat.
This formed a sparrow-style tactic of harassing forward and retreating when encountering tough opponents.
Anyway, those Undead Monsters didn’t have any real intelligence.
Being careful certainly wouldn’t be wrong.
“Also, Bo Ge, come with me now. My Swadian Recruit’s combat power is similar to that of ordinary Spiritual Realm creatures, and they are all equipped with long-handled scythes and can form spear squares. Safety is not an issue.”
After Zhang Caidong finished his instructions, he came to Zhang Bo’s side and sighed as he looked at the little monsters, each holding a short sword: “As for them, let them be careful on the battlefield. If they’re not quick enough, their lives might be in danger.”
“Okay, I understand.” Zhang Bo looked at the little monsters following him, who only reached his thigh. He helplessly pursed his lips, especially when he saw them holding short swords, which were practically daggers. A helpless expression appeared on his face.
For these little things to be able to take down those clumsy zombies and Skeleton Soldiers already showed how excellent they were.
But more often, these little monsters would turn and run when they encountered those zombies and Skeleton Soldiers, either because they were too slow to dodge or not agile enough.
“It’s a good thing I’m a Prophecy-type Mage, essentially possessing relatively high soul energy, so I don’t need to resonate with these little monsters on a soul level. I only need to access the magic net to gain a mage’s soul. Otherwise, if I really resonated with these little monsters and became short and ugly, that would truly be the end.”
Zhang Bo even told Zhang Caidong a joke at this moment.
This immediately made Zhang Caidong smile: “Bo Ge, don’t say such things. No matter what you become, you’ll always be my good brother. Besides, you now have the identity of a Prophecy-type Mage. When your level increases in the future, even Lord Shen Mu will have to rely on you.”
“I hope so. Now I want to work hard and find more spiritual realm mark fragments to make myself stronger.” Zhang Bo smiled, and their relationship became harmonious again.
Then, he and Zhang Caidong led the Swadian Recruit and about 10 little monsters together into the darkness ahead.
And then they engaged in fierce combat with the clumsy zombies and Skeleton Soldiers that had appeared in the darkness.
Of course, it was mostly the Swadian Recruit fighting the zombies, Skeleton Soldiers, and other Undead Monsters. The little monsters just screamed or watched the battle from behind in fear, not daring to move forward, timid and cowardly.
Of course, Zhang Bo couldn’t possibly lead these little monsters forward to fight alongside the Swadian Recruit. His essential purpose in coming was not, as he said, to find some spiritual realm mark fragments, but simply to see what the situation was with these human soldiers.
“Perhaps they can be upgraded after tonight.” Zhang Caidong didn’t care at all whether he might reveal some secrets at this moment.
Moreover, this kind of information was already public knowledge. As long as one was promoted to Ten-Man Commander under Shen Mu, this information would naturally be known. Furthermore, for Zhang Bo, whom he trusted, Zhang Caidong didn’t want to appear petty by concealing these insignificant small matters. (End of Chapter)