Jiang Chen chuckled and said, "You stay in the territory and protect my safety."
Although most people in the regional channel didn't believe he could survive the Monster Tide, one lord had spoken wisely: the most valuable quality of a lord is not courage, but steadiness.
Wang Jianming, who had just been killed by the Quarry Fiend, was a living example of the opposite.
Now that the territory was out of newbie protection, Jiang Chen would never let the Empress leave his side.
"..."
The Empress was speechless for a moment, then said, "Then give me a few spirit stones, I'll go train first."
"Since I came to this world, not only has my strength plummeted, but the realm of my Heavenly Sound Art has also fallen from 'Transcendent' to 'Proficient.'"
There are two main ways to enhance one's base strength:
One is leveling up, which boosts basic attributes.
The other is training, where cultivation methods can add four-dimensional attributes, and skills can enhance offense and defense.
The Empress's diligence was naturally something Jiang Chen was pleased to see.
He took out a few spirit stones, ready to toss them to the Empress.
But then he paused.
The Empress asked suspiciously, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Chen looked at the spirit stones, a smile appearing on his face.
[Low-Grade Spirit Stone] (+): The most basic currency unit in the Battlefield of Myriad Races, also used to assist in training.
Spirit stones can actually be enhanced.
[Enhancement Option ①]: Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, consumes 10 spirit stones.
[Enhancement Option ②]: High-Grade Spirit Stone, consumes 1,000 spirit stones.
[Enhancement Option ③]: Supreme-Grade Spirit Stone, consumes 100,000 spirit stones.
[Enhancement Option ④]: Low-Grade Wind Spirit Stone, consumes 2 spirit stones.
[Enhancement Option ⑤]: Mid-Grade...
Without hesitation, a gentle light rose from Jiang Chen's hand.
After the light dissipated, the Empress looked at the spirit stone in Jiang Chen's hand, which exuded pure spiritual power, and said gravely, "Is this... a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone?!"
[Prompt: The Empress is once again amazed by your methods, Favorability +1, current Favorability 87.]
The amount of spiritual power contained in a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone is more than ten times that of a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, and more importantly, the spiritual power is much purer.
The effect of training with Mid-Grade Spirit Stones is definitely several times that of lower-grade stones.
"Thank you, Lord!"
This gratitude from the Empress was sincere.
In her original world, Mid-Grade Spirit Stones were also a scarce resource.
Jiang Chen patted the Empress's fragrant shoulder, "Go train, the Heavenly Sound Art's grade is too low. When I have time, I'll get you a higher-grade cultivation method. You should know, I have that capability!"
Where their skin touched, Jiang Chen only felt the Empress's body stiffen, even her shoulder's skin broke out in goosebumps.
It wasn't that Jiang Chen had any indecent thoughts.
This was just a test.
Now it seemed, the Favorability was about to reach "Intimate," and the effect was not bad.
Physical contact didn't provoke the Empress, but made her a bit nervous: "Thank you, Lord. Then... I'll go train."
With that, she fled in a hurry.
"Heh heh..."
It's a pity the Battlefield of Myriad Races is a proper "game," otherwise, the Empress's head would surely have sprouted "Corruption Value +1."
...
[You opened a Fine Treasure Chest and obtained a Soul-Reaper Bayonet (Fine)]
[You opened a Fine Treasure Chest and obtained 50 Spirit Stones]
[You opened a Fine Treasure Chest and obtained 100 Fine Wood]
[You opened a Fine Treasure Chest and obtained a Building Blueprint {Arrow Tower}]
This time, Jiang Chen's luck finally returned to normal.
As for the 11 Common Treasure Chests, aside from two pieces of plain equipment, most were resources.
He looked at the only fine equipment among them.
[Soul-Reaper Bayonet]
Level: 2
Sharpness: 5
Durability: 5
Attributes: Physique +2, Capacity -0.4
"Trash!"
Jiang Chen blurted out, then paused, laughing: "My appetite has been spoiled by the attributes of Legendary Heroes, and now I can't even look at this early-stage little gem!"
Though it was a little gem, the Empress's combat power had already overflowed significantly.
So the best fate for this little gem was to be converted into spirit stones.
Jiang Chen first opened the regional channel and scrolled up through the messages.
He quickly saw his name.
Tushan Yueyue: "By my calculations, Jiang Chen's side should be starting the Monster Tide now! I'm so worried for him!"
Jiang Chen glanced at the time.
"Huh?"
The time Tushan Yueyue sent the message was just 6 seconds after the Monster Tide started, right when it had just ended.
"Strange, this little fox is quite concerned about me, timing her question perfectly."
Li Muze: "Yueyue, don't worry! Jiang Chen upgraded to Tier 1 without any preparation, he's doomed this time."
An Chuxia: "Li Muze, shut up. If anything happens to Jiang Chen, I'll flatten your territory!"
It seemed An Chuxia was also keeping a close eye on the regional messages, fearing any bad news.
Li Muze: "Hey, can't I speak the truth? Even if Jiang Chen's Rare Treasure Chest yielded a Hero Token, relying on a single level 1 rare hero can't possibly withstand the Monster Tide!"
Mu Qingshuang: "Everyone, don't forget Jiang Chen just created a miracle."
Li Muze: "Heh, Officer Mu, you're joking! How many miracles are there? The territory accidentally sitting on a resource point is already a miracle within a miracle!"
Lin Mo: "Although Brother Li's words are unpleasant, his analysis isn't wrong. Even if I had a few squads of rare units, I wouldn't upgrade the territory in half an hour. It's not about being unable to fight, but unit upgrades also take time. Using level 1 units to fight the Monster Tide would result in significant losses, not worth it!"
An Chuxia: "Hmph! Jiang Chen will be fine, just wait and see!"
But her anxiety and unease were palpable to anyone.
Suddenly.
A regional message flashed.
[Lord Jiang Chen has listed the Soul-Reaper Bayonet (Fine) for sale at the Exchange]
[Listing Method]: Auction or Buyout. Auction Time: 10 minutes. Buyout Price: 2,000 Spirit Stones.
1 second later.
[Soul-Reaper Bayonet (Fine) was bought at the buyout price.]
Simultaneously, Jiang Chen received a prompt.
[Prompt: The Soul-Reaper Bayonet (Fine) you listed was bought at the buyout price by Lord Ying Yinman.]
Jiang Chen looked envious: "As expected of the Ying Family of Immortal Qin, truly wealthy!"
Although the equipment was bought instantly, Jiang Chen knew he didn't sell at a loss, he even made a huge profit.
After all, it's just level 2 transitional equipment, a day later it might not even be worth 200 spirit stones.
The group chat channel was silent for a moment, then a dozen messages popped up simultaneously.
"???"
"Damn! Fine equipment, it's only been an hour since the server opened, and he's already selling fine equipment?"
"Jiang Chen? Isn't he supposed to be dealing with the Monster Tide? How is he selling equipment?"
"Could the Monster Tide be over?"
"Impossible! It's only been a few minutes!"
"But if Jiang Chen didn't successfully fend off the Monster Tide, how could he sell such valuable fine equipment?"
"That... makes sense too, a piece of fine equipment could at least boost a hero's combat power by 0.5 stars."
"I mean, which rich player bought it instantly, 2,000 spirit stones without batting an eye! At least let us see the equipment's attributes!"
Jiang Chen finally spoke: "No need to guess, although the process had some twists, I did indeed wipe out the siege monsters!"
An Chuxia: "Hahaha, that's great!!! Who said Jiang Chen couldn't withstand the Monster Tide? Stand up!"
"..."
Li Muze suddenly fell silent, he didn't want to slap himself in the face.
Lin Mo: "But, how is this possible? Did Jiang Chen's treasure chest yield a magic scroll or some one-time-use item?"
Mu Qingshuang: "There's also a possibility, triggering a one in ten thousand chance of surpassing the level?"
Wei Ming: "Even if it's dumb luck, I have to say: Brother Jiang, you're awesome!"
The Wei Family was also a powerful lord family in Tianhe City.
The change in how Wei Ming addressed Jiang Chen, from "Jiang Chen" to "Brother Jiang," showed that Jiang Chen, a commoner, had finally caught the attention of the second-generation lords.
Tushan Yueyue: "Big Brother Jiang Chen, you're amazing!"
An Chuxia: "Fox race sister, hello, Jiang Chen isn't that familiar with you, you don't have to call him so affectionately."
Ying Yinman: "Congratulations, Jiang Chen!"
Then, for some unknown reason, Ying Yinman continued to ask.
Ying Yinman: "May I ask what Jiang Chen's battle rating was? Of course, this question is indeed abrupt, you have every reason to refuse to answer!"
This question was indeed rather abrupt.
But Jiang Chen felt there was nothing to hide.
Jiang Chen: "My battle rating is A."
After all, no normal person would believe it, right?
His intuition told him that Ying Yinman would be his biggest competitor for the position of Town Mayor, surpassing Lin Mo, Mu Qingshuang, and An Chuxia.
This was their first invisible confrontation!
"Heh, I wonder if this Ying Yinman will believe it?"