Chapter 363: Chapter 363 - 355: Recruitment of Rebels

Shen Tang was utterly shocked and doubted if she was seeing things.

But the Earth Core on the altar was indeed gone!

Yet all those assassins were dead, apart from their two groups, no outsiders should have come to these underground ruins.

How could the Earth Energy Core disappear?!

Who took it away?

Could it be... there was a mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?

Shen Tang’s face was cold and solemn. She searched the nearby area with Lu Xiao and others, but didn’t find the Earth Core. This matter could only be dropped.

After several days and nights, they ultimately came back empty-handed.

The Earth Core was gone, and they couldn’t find Shen Li’s body, making it impossible to bury her for peace.

The system detected Shen Tang’s gloomy mood and suggested, [Host, would you like to use the Forgetfulness Water? Once you drink the Forgetfulness Water, you can forget your feelings for Shen Li and won’t be so sad.]

Shen Tang smiled bitterly, "Do you think I’m someone who gets troubled by emotions?"

[You are very sad.]

"The end of meeting is separation, in a few days, I will move on."

[Does the host really not need it?]

"...No need."

After returning, Shen Tang locked herself in the study, with the heavy burden of political affairs pressing on her, there was no time to dwell on sorrow.

The current situation of the Empire was extremely unstable.

The rebel army had not yet made any moves; it was unknown what had happened, but it remained a major threat to the heart and cannot be underestimated.

The rebellious noble warlords within were equally ambitious as wolves.

In just this short half-month, several battles erupted, invading territories.

Cities under the Empire accepted more refugees from other regions.

A camel dying of hunger is still bigger than a horse, the small countries surrounding the Empire have not yet made any moves but are all watching covetously. Any slip, and they would pounce, tearing for a chunk of fat meat!

Even the Chaotic Zone was restless, with many emerging forces claiming territory as kings.

Back then, Black Wind Village was among them.

These newly emerging vagrant bandits were not to be underestimated, many were skilled people who never submitted to the Empire, their strength rivaling the regular army of the Empire.

Although Shen Tang was heartbroken, at this time, she had no leisure to mind the affairs of love and emotion, as the critical moment approached, she, as the Monarch, had to remain calm, hold every line tight to stabilize the Empire’s foundation, never to give outsiders any opportunity!

In these days, Shen Tang issued many measures, initially solving the basic defense and grain problems of various major cities, further strengthening the military power of the Empire, as well as solving the economic issues of the Empire urgently.

Since the war, both the internal and external economy suffered major blows, markets need to be rebuilt, taxes reduced, and investments attracted.

Many middle-class citizens and nobles who fled to other places also returned a lot.

Meanwhile, Shen Tang also issued a recruitment towards the Chaotic Land, as long as those wild forces agreed to return to the Empire, the Empire would offer the most generous treatment.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work much.

Those vagrant bandits were either unwilling to submit to the Empire’s jurisdiction or harbored thoughts of "taking a chance to seize imperial power," how could they be easily recruited?

Near Greenfield City, Yunshan City was a naturally rich mining-type city, with great potential, especially owning the currently largest iron mine in the Empire.

Iron is a necessary material for building fortress constructions and forging weapons!

At present, various places in the Empire were wasting away, needing rebuilding, and developing military power, it was the hardest time for resources, luckily Yunshan City’s mine sustained the current resource consumption, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a lifeline.

But in recent days, the mine suffered several waves of attacks, causing many Beastman casualties.

Those attackers were vagrant bandits sent by Xingyun City, near the Chaotic Land.

They wanted to seize this important mineral resource.

These bandits harshly claimed: This iron mine had always belonged to their Xingyun City! They demanded that Yunshan City Beastmen get lost and return the iron mine to them!

The City Lord of Yunshan City, infuriated upon hearing this, thought these bastards truly shameless for wanting mineral resources! This mineral resource was clearly owned by Yunshan City, and he personally led the team to dig it up over ten years ago!

A subordinate sighed, "Both Xingyun City and Ancient Bell City were occupied by Wolf Fang Village, I’ve heard that the bandits there are fierce and tyrannical, no one dares to challenge them, extremely arrogant!"

The City Lord of Yunshan City felt a headache, "These bandits and marauders merely want money, at this junction, if we can avoid fighting, we should. Let’s do our parts diligently, and if they want money, give them money, spending some money to bring peace is also acceptable!"

The City Lord sent an envoy to negotiate.

The envoy was a seasoned middle-aged Beastman.

But when he arrived at the notorious Wolf Fang Village and saw the spikes lining the gate filled with bones on them, unsure if they were animal or... the Beastman shivered fiercely, his face turned pale.

"Oh wow, the envoy from the Empire has arrived! We must warmly welcome you!"

"Come on in, our Head has been waiting for you for a long time."

"We hope that the sincerity your city shows can satisfy us!"

Under the malicious welcome of those bandits, the envoy walked into the hall trembling with fear.

The man leading them was a wild, middle-aged man clad in a black bear fur cloak, sitting boldly on the central long bench, holding a pot of strong liquor in his hand, with a huge broadsword almost half a man’s height placed to his right. On his square face was a long scar crossing half his face, menacing and terrifying, exerting a fierce presence!

The envoy swallowed hard, and nervously said, "Greetings to Chief One-Eyed Wolf, I am here by the order of the City Lord to negotiate. We are willing to offer 1 billion Star Coins as a transaction, and hope your village..."

"1 billion Star Coins? Are you treating us like beggars?"

Scar Wolf shattered the liquor pot to the ground, sneering coldly, "500 billion Star Coins, one penny less, and I will lead the cavalry to trample your Yunshan City now!"

"This! This is impossible!"

Yunshan City, elevated to a mining-type city, indeed made more from mining these years than a city like Greenfield City.

But asking them for 500 billion was practically selling half the city!

These bandits were indeed outrageous and domineering, opening their mouths like lions! This wasn’t a negotiation at all!

Seeing the negotiation fall apart, the envoy turned to leave.

Scar Wolf lifted the broadsword and beheaded the envoy.

A spray of blood mist!

The headless body fell and died.

That afternoon, Wolf Fang Village led troops to attack Yunshan City, and both sides plunged into chaos.

When Shi Ye and the others from Greenfield City heard the news, they quickly dispatched a team to support Yunshan City.

Within a few short days, several major cities in the south fell into a prolonged battle with Wolf Fang Village.

Amidst the intense fighting, unexpectedly, a mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Rebellious warlord forces from Owl City in the east launched a fierce attack while both sides were exhausted.

In an instant.

Three parties fell into continuous chaos, the situation growing increasingly dire and grim.