41: Exchange of materials

The carapaces of these sand worms are incredibly hard, and there are so many of them, they're perfect for reinforcing equipment.

By then, the Soldiers' leather armor and shields can all be replaced.

With a significant increase in defense, there will be an extra layer of protection for the next beast tide.

And those sharp teeth can be ground into weapons.

Mo Yan pondered, his gaze sweeping over the piled sand worm corpses, then he looked at Li Zezhong and spoke directly:

"Brother Li, we can take this opportunity to exchange resources. I have plenty of Icefield Wolf Materials and basic resources here. Do you need any?"

When Li Zezhong heard this, his eyes immediately lit up, and he stopped clearing the battlefield.

His territory was in the jungle, where wood and various plant resources were abundant, but Ore was relatively scarce, and his meat supply was not as stable as Mo Yan's.

Especially after seeing the metal weapons on Mo Yan's Soldiers, he had long been envious.

"Brother, this is great!" Li Zezhong grinned. "I have plenty of hardwood, vines, and some special plant seeds here. I was just worrying about where to exchange them for iron ore and good meat!"

He paused, a look of anticipation on his face, even a hint of embarrassment, as he looked at Mo Yan and the weapons in the hands of the Soldiers behind him.

"That, brother, look..." Li Zezhong pointed to the gleaming spears in the hands of Mo Yan's Soldiers.

"The weapons of your Soldiers are really powerful!"

"Can you spare some for me? Of course, I'll exchange resources with you, I'll make sure you don't lose out!"

He had figured it out: Mo Yan's Soldiers were strong in combat, and in addition to being well-trained, excellent weapons and equipment were also key factors.

If his Soldiers could also be equipped with such weapons, then next time they encountered a beast tide, they would have much more confidence!

Mo Yan glanced at Li Zezhong and his subordinates' shabby weapons, then nodded very straightforwardly:

"Yes, how many do you need?"

"That's great, brother, you're a true friend!"

Li Zezhong said excitedly, "I want twenty spears."

This quantity was not small, but it was completely manageable for Mo Yan.

He thought for a moment: "Give me the spears first, and I'll arrange for someone to reinforce them. As for the exchanged resources, just give me more of your local specialties."

"No problem, I'll arrange for someone to send them to you right away." Li Zezhong patted his chest and promised, "I'll give you a thousand units of hardwood, and five hundred each of vines and other seeds."

Mo Yan nodded in satisfaction: "Okay, it's settled."

"We'll complete the handover before we teleport back tomorrow."

"Alright!" Li Zezhong beamed.

The two discussed the details of the resource and weapon exchange, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

Watching the Soldiers begin to busy themselves dissecting the sand worm corpses.

Mo Yan then immersed his consciousness into his storage space, checking the ancient blueprint and skill book.

Talisman Hall

Rarity: Epic

Type: Building

Requirements: wood Crystal x1000, Yuan Stone x100, Spiritual wood x50, Rune Stone x10, Territory Level 5

Construction Time: 1 Day

Description: Talismans can be researched, drawn, and stored within this building.

Increases Talisman drawing success rate by 10%, increases Talisman power by 5%.

Unlocks Tier 1 Five Elements Talisman recipes.

Star Stepping Art

Quality: Epic

Type: Skill Book

Learning Condition: Spiritual Qi Foundation

Description: Draws upon the power of the stars to temper the legs, greatly increasing movement speed and evasion ability.

Footwork is elusive and unpredictable, like the trajectory of stars. When Cultivated to a profound level, Spiritual Qi circulates throughout the body.

One can briefly step on air, roaming freely between heaven and earth.

Mo Yan looked at the three ancient characters for Talisman Hall on the blueprint, and the architectural style depicted beside them, lost in thought.

Talisman?

It sounded like some kind of Daoist method, drawing Talismans to ward off enemies.

This was novel, but the building Materials requirements were not low. Spiritual wood and Rune Stone, he had never even heard of them.

Then he looked at the Star Stepping Art. The cover was simple, yet it exuded a sense of elegance.

A movement skill, and an Epic-grade one at that. The description was astonishing.

Stepping on air?

For him, who lacked movement skills, its value might even surpass that of the Talisman Hall.

His fingertips stroked the skill book cover. If he could master this movement technique, he wouldn't be so flustered the next time he encountered a surprise attack from a strange beast.

It was crucial for exploration, combat, and even escaping.

Just then, a rich scent of roasted meat mixed with the crackling of burning wood drifted over with the wind, interrupting his thoughts.

"Gurgle, so fragrant!"

Gun Gun had, at some point, dragged most of the sand worm corpses, including the massive leader, to the designated area.

After finishing its work, it trotted to Mo Yan's feet, rubbed its fluffy head against his pant leg, and looked up with its small face, its dark, round eyes filled with a "praise me" expression.

Mo Yan smiled and rubbed its head: "You did well."

"Gun Gun is hungry, Mo Yan, hug me." It opened its short arms and whined.

Mo Yan bent down and picked it up, weighing it. He felt that the little fellow had gained a lot of weight after swallowing the crystal core.

Gun Gun adjusted to a comfortable position, resting its head on his shoulder.

"All you think about is eating." Mo Yan flicked its small nose, but his tone was doting.

At the same time, Aunt Zhao also walked out of the territory and called out, "Two sirs, the meat is roasted, eat it while it's hot!"

Li Zezhong glanced at Gun Gun in Mo Yan's arms, then looked at Mo Yan, a tired smile on his face: "Let's go, we've been busy for most of the night, it's time to replenish our strength."

Mo Yan nodded, carrying Gun Gun towards the bonfire in the center of the territory.

The three sat around the bonfire, and Aunt Zhao distributed the roasted Elite Ice Armor Beast meat to them.

The aroma of roasted meat, mixed with the crackling of burning firewood, permeated the silent ruins, dispelling the gloom brought by blood and death.

Some of Li Zezhong's Soldiers also gathered around, sharing the roasted meat, and the atmosphere finally eased a little.

Mo Yan tore off a small piece of roasted lean meat, blew on it to cool it, and handed it to Gun Gun in his arms.

Gun Gun opened its small mouth, took a big bite, its cheeks puffed out as it chewed, its mouth full of oil, its eyes narrowed into crescent moons.

Li Zezhong watched this scene, smiled, and also picked up a piece of meat and ate it heartily.

Food after battle was always exceptionally sweet.

They ate in silence for a while.

Li Zezhong wiped his mouth and was the first to speak: "Speaking of which, how did we get to this godforsaken place?"

He looked at Mo Yan: "I was at home eating with my wife and children when suddenly my vision went black, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in a forest."

Mo Yan swallowed the meat in his mouth and replied concisely: "I was on the street when I suddenly fainted, and then I arrived at the Icefield."

He did not mention much about his past.

"Icefield..." Li Zezhong's chewing slowed as he surveyed the surroundings of Mo Yan's territory. "Your place, the starting difficulty is much harder than my jungle."

"How did you survive?"

Mo Yan simply described how he relied on his talent to find the first treasure chest, obtain initial resources, and build the Ice Crystal Cabin.

Of course, he omitted the specific details about his SSS-grade talent.

"Treasure chest? Looks like you got lucky."

Li Zezhong nodded, not pressing further. Everyone who had narrowly escaped death had their secrets.

"My forest seemed to have a lot of resources, but poisonous insects and fierce beasts were hard to guard against, and iron ore was even harder to find. I lost quite a few Soldiers at first..."