7: The enemy is on a narrow road, and the crippled wolf is sent to the door

Resources were consumed once more, and the gold reserves fell below three thousand.

Two Arrow Towers, each five meters tall, constructed from sturdy wood and heavy stones, and topped with simple firing embrasures, rose from the ground on either side of the wooden wall.

The appearance of the Arrow Towers not only provided a high vantage point but also gave the territory a certain long-range strike capability.

Mo Yan nodded with satisfaction.

He stood at the entrance of the newly erected wooden wall, looking at the territory that was now taking shape and whose defenses were gradually improving.

Although still rudimentary, it was a world apart from the initial solitary hut.

The biting cold wind, carrying snowflakes, violently gusted through the gaps in the battlements, whipping his face and making him shiver involuntarily.

"Hiss... this hellish weather is truly deadly." He was still wearing his initial thin clothing, and standing for a moment in this icy world, his entire body was frozen stiff.

The journey to the trading location was not short, and the agreed-upon ice hill was in an open area; if he were exposed to the severe cold for too long, he would surely turn into a human ice sculpture.

He had to solve the problem of keeping warm first.

With a slight thought, he pulled up the marketplace function built into the Lord interface and directly filtered for equipment.

Soon, a set of leather armor emitting a faint blue glow caught his attention.

【Cold-Resistant Leather Armor Set】

Quality: Rare

Type: Armor

Description: Greatly increases cold resistance, slightly increases physical defense, slightly increases agility

Requirements: None

Price: 1500 Gold Coins

This price was enough to deter ninety-nine percent of Lords at this stage.

Mo Yan looked at his resource panel; his gold coin reserves had already surpassed the two thousand five hundred mark.

This small consumption would automatically be replenished in no time.

"Buy!"

【Confirm consumption of 1500 Gold Coins to purchase Cold-Resistant Leather Armor Set?】

"Confirm."

With a flash of light, a set of soft, oily, dark brown leather armor, leather pants, leather boots, and matching gloves and hat appeared in his talent space.

Mo Yan quickly changed into the outfit, and the moment he put it on, a warm current rapidly enveloped his entire body.

The originally pervasive, bone-chilling cold wind seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier, and his body temperature returned to normal.

His hands and feet were no longer stiff, and he could move much more freely than before.

"Indeed, you get what you pay for; it was worth it!"

Mo Yan moved his hands and feet with satisfaction, feeling the changes brought by the equipment.

In front of the Barracks, ten Elementary Soldiers had already lined up.

After the baptism of last night's battle and the bonus from Elementary Physical Training I, their Aura was a bit more solid than yesterday, and their stances were more stable.

"Check weapons and equipment, prepare to depart."

"Yes, Lord!"

The Soldiers uniformly checked their weapons and shields.

A young Soldier couldn't help but rub his frost-reddened hands and whispered, "This hellish weather, my hands are almost numb."

The old Soldier next to him glared, and he immediately straightened his back.

After confirming everything was in order, Mo Yan gave the order to depart.

"Objective: Due south, to the highest isolated ice hill!"

"Yes!"

A group of eleven people left the nascent territory and stepped into the boundless Icefield.

Leaving the protection of the wooden wall, the wind and snow immediately became more intense.

Visibility plummeted; looking out, there was only a hazy white, making it impossible to distinguish directions.

The ice beneath their feet was covered with fresh snow, making it slippery and difficult to traverse; every step required extreme caution.

The Soldiers pushed forward silently against the wind and snow, their exhaled white breath instantly dispersed, and their thin leather armor could not completely resist the encroaching cold.

After walking for about half an hour.

Mo Yan's steps suddenly halted.

His SSS-grade talent, Resource Perception, sent a stirring sensation, pointing towards a low-lying area ahead and to the side, blurred by the wind and snow.

It seemed as though some kind of resource was gathered there.

Immediately after, a faint, familiar low growl, mixed with a few pained whimpers, drifted vaguely on the wind.

It was a wolf howl, and it sounded like they were in distress?

He immediately became alert, his sharp gaze sweeping the ground ahead, blurred by the wind and snow.

Soon, on a slightly flatter patch of snow, he discovered several messy but fresh paw prints.

The paw prints were large and deeply embedded in the snow; they were left by Icefield Wolves!

And judging by the varying depths of the paw prints and the dragging marks, these wolves were injured and couldn't move fast.

Mo Yan made a gesture, and the entire team immediately stopped; the Soldiers instinctively gripped their weapons, silently entering a state of alert, their movements swifter and more practiced than yesterday.

He signaled the team to remain silent, then lowered his body and cautiously approached the slightly low-lying area ahead, following the direction of the paw prints.

Dozens of meters ahead, a scene in a sheltered hollow came into view.

About ten white figures were gathered there, curled up to resist the cold wind.

They were Icefield Wolves!

They all carried various injuries.

Some had dried, blackened blood on their fur, others dragged their hind legs unnaturally, limping slightly.

Still others had a bloody mess around their eye sockets, precisely the marks of being grazed by spear tips yesterday.

This group looked dispirited, lacking the fierce Aura they had displayed when attacking the territory yesterday.

Clearly, these were the remnants of the defeated forces that had fled from his territory yesterday!

Mo Yan's eyes suddenly sharpened.

These wolves hadn't run far; instead, they were lingering nearby.

What did this mean?

Their lair was very likely in this area, not far from his territory!

This was a huge potential threat!

Allowing them to rest and recuperate their fighting strength here, and possibly even attract more of their kind, would have unimaginable consequences.

This threat must be nipped in the bud!

Looking at the group of about ten injured, remaining wolves.

Then looking at his ten Soldiers, who were in good condition and even somewhat strengthened.

"You had a path to Heaven but chose not to walk it; you sought Hell when there was no gate." Mo Yan sneered inwardly, his killing intent rising.

Experience and spoils delivered to his doorstep, there was no reason to refuse!

More importantly, it would completely eliminate the direct threat around the territory!

Mo Yan did not rush to give orders but carefully observed the wolves' distribution and injuries, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

"Injured and defeated, their vigilance has also dropped. Perfect for a clean sweep, and I might even find their wolf den by following the trail."

Mo Yan whispered his orders: "Three people per group, from the left, right, and rear, use the wind and snow for cover, silently encircle! Maintain distance, await my command!"

The Soldiers immediately obeyed, using the wind, snow, and undulating terrain to silently spread out, forming a gradually tightening encirclement.

The wind and snow provided the best cover.

It wasn't until the Soldiers advanced to within twenty meters of the wolf pack that the seemingly less injured, slightly larger Alpha Wolf suddenly raised its head, letting out an uneasy, warning growl from its throat, attempting to rouse its companions.

"Too late." Mo Yan snorted coldly in his heart, waving his hand to order: "Encircle! Prioritize the one leading them!"

"Kill!"

The three groups of Soldiers simultaneously launched their assault from different directions; having held back their strength, their movements were swift, their long spears flashing cold light in the wind and snow, pointing directly at the panic-stricken wolf pack!

The battle erupted instantly!

These Icefield Wolves were already exhausted and injured, and the sudden attack threw them into disarray, their reactions noticeably sluggish.

Mo Yan calmly commanded: "Left flank push up, center hold steady, prevent their Breakthrough!"

The Soldiers cooperated seamlessly, their shields and spears forming a wall, trapping the wolf pack.

An Icefield Wolf attempting to Break through from the right flank had just leaped when it was fiercely impaled through its side by two crossed long spears, howling miserably as it fell to the ground, blood spurting, and was instantly finished off by the following Soldiers.

"Tighten the encirclement! Don't give them a chance to breathe!" Mo Yan ordered again.

The Soldiers pressed closer step by step, the encirclement shrinking, the wolf pack compressed into a small space, colliding with each other, roaring in a desperate struggle, becoming even more chaotic.

In despair, the Alpha Wolf's eyes flashed with madness, letting out a piercing howl, its crimson eyes fixed on Mo Yan, the commander, as it suddenly exerted force and lunged forward recklessly!

It knew that to catch the bandits, one must first catch their leader!

"Good timing!" Facing this fierce, dying counterattack, Mo Yan did not panic but rather smiled, shifting his body, already prepared, not retreating but advancing, narrowly dodging the Alpha Wolf's Fishy Wind-laden sharp claws!