High Above

In a world with extraordinary power, the most direct way to defeat the enemy is to increase your own power.

For example, if Ian wants to defeat the mountain people and go to their holy land to obtain information about the sky-falling spaceship, he only needs to advance to the third energy level, and he can easily crush all the rebellious mountain people - although he may not be able to defeat the steel The pterodactyl group, but the Dragon Worship Cult and the Mountain King will also help him block those people.

But the reason why it is the most direct, not the simplest method, is because it is too difficult to advance.

Even though Ian is a gifted prodigy and his spiritual practice has almost reached the evaluation standard of the 'third level' of the civilization of the previous era, if he wants to have a person who truly meets the third level without exposing the inheritance of the deceased king, level combat power, then he would have to collect all the goblins or the third-level 'Stone Lord' potion materials from the Immovable Fortress.

Materials at the third energy level are hard to find.

The first-level Warcraft materials range from one hundred thalers to three hundred thalers per material. They are indeed expensive, but it is not difficult to buy them all - what is really expensive is actually the additional services surrounding the potion. , such as the service fee of the alchemist, the nutrition required for exercise, the guidance and shaping of the source seed, etc... Not to mention the formula, it is all strategic information that no one will disclose easily.

As for the second level, the price of materials generally fluctuates around one or two thousand, and the cheapest one costs more than seven hundred thalers... It doesn't sound like much, but it's just one portion.

When the final price is added up, it's a lot more expensive... Even though Ian seems to have a research fund of 15,000 thalers given to him by the Firestone Group, he can't afford two complete copies of the second level. Potions.

As for the third energy level...

Just for a piece of material, you have to use the basic unit of 'wantaler' to calculate it.

In fact, sublimation materials of this level are basically impossible to buy.

Most of the third-level materials are found in the maze by oneself, or they are waiting for distribution from the empire, strategic material exchange channels... You know, many nobles who have had great achievements in their ancestors are now mostly second-level materials. class.

Coupled with the limitations of the mind-light body on self-awareness, even if you have money, you can't advance.

As for the goblins, it's okay. When the time comes, Ian will ask Hua An and his mentor Gan Song to see if he can get some tips and help by rescuing the remnant souls of the goblins.

As for the 'Lord of Stone', it's a little troublesome.

"I hope there are channels in the Dragon Worship Sect. Elder Manya wants to advance to the third level, which proves that he should be able to get the corresponding materials."

After finishing thinking about higher energy levels in the future, Ian continued to turn his attention to the next battle to defend Leian City.

With the territory where the Nether Crystal Engine is buried, its value alone may be comparable to fifth-level materials, or even more.

Protecting this place is the top priority.

The forward troops of the mountain people have arrived at the edge of the Le'an Territory and around the Solitary Flame Peak. This was something that the residents of Le'an City could have guessed a long time ago, but after it actually happened, it was still somewhat disturbing news.

It can be seen from any angle that Ian is preparing for the battle with all his strength.

Whether it is the new armors that are being continuously produced, or the weird defense towers that can control the power of thunder, they are all seen by everyone - Ian, the new lord, is receiving feedback from Ryan City. Before that, he had invested at least three thousand thalers, which proved his determination to defend the city of Leian.

It is precisely because of this visible determination that some people are willing to join the Ryan City militia.

After announcing that the 'rebellious mountain people' were about to invade Ryan City, Ian began to command the guards and militia to guide residents in the northwest direction of the city and the main battle zone away from the residential area.

There, the militiamen were building various small fortifications and fortresses to build a line of defense.

Although it’s not theoretically possible, it’s definitely a good idea to be prepared.

Within a few days, the entire western part of the city was transformed into a fortress made of steel and concrete.

But this is only the most superficial preparation.

In Ryan City, in addition to producing the energy sources required for magnetic storm armor and magnetic storm coils, the alchemy workshops are also seizing the time to create various 'catalysts'.

Whether it's silver iodide, calcium chloride, salt powder, dry ice, or even urea and other 'alchemy products'.

Most people don't understand why the lord would make such a seemingly useless thing... but obviously, they will not question Ian's wisdom and strength.

But Ian has also made up his mind to open a basic knowledge school in the future - everyone can't be like Qingchao and not understand what he wants to do, right?

At the same time, Ian also received unexpected news from Nauman City.

——Nauman City sent the detailed attack time, combat plan and personnel configuration of the rebel mountain people... It was more detailed than what Ian had detected by himself, and it also revealed the future attack route of the mountain people for Ian!

According to Colonel Mayowa, this was information provided to them by 'enthusiastic and loyal citizens of the empire' who took risks, and they took it very seriously after learning about it and informed Ian as soon as possible.

Iron ghost.

Ian is very sure that most of the actions of the rebel mountain people were within the expectations of Marquis Barton. Of course, there are some things that even he cannot fully control. For example, the Flying Flame Land and the Steel Winged Dragons are definitely beyond his control. It's beyond imagination, so the situation in Nanling is still relatively chaotic now.

However, in other aspects, such as the large-scale military activities of the rebellious mountain people, Nauman City is absolutely well aware of it.

In response, the young man asked if he needed to hold back, and Colonel Mayowa euphemistically told Ian that they did not need prisoners, but what to do was up to Ian himself. He is now a lord and does not need to pay too much attention to the advice of people like them.

--Um. It seems that the inner ghost is not here to attack the three tribes in the Ryan Territory.

After knowing the enemy's route of action, Ian had a new idea.

He personally led a group of craftsmen and hired workers in the alchemy workshop, and worked with the militia to lay some metal strips containing thunderstone powder and magnetic silver at locations outside the city where mountaineer troops might pass by, and some were disguised as Branches, metal poles raised high as 'lightning triggers'.

"Did you hear what the lord said? Install these metal pillars on the trunks of some big trees. Remember, they must be higher than the crown of the tree!"

"Thunderstone powder is laid in the center of the metal pillar and hidden under the fallen leaves."

"Remember to bury the magnetic silver alloy wire underground and cover it with a layer of floating soil... Don't be fooled, the Lord has said that anyone who dares to hide the magnetic silver alloy wire will end up like President Xilin!"

"What will happen to President Xilin? His head will be burned to ashes. To put it simply, he will die. Do you understand?"

It has to be said that the average quality of this place in Terra is indeed not that good. The workers responsible for the construction really planned to hide the magnetic silver wire secretly, and only secretly returned it after hearing the death threat from the foreman... Ian was of course not aware of all this. He could see it, but he also knew that in Terra's era, the quality of most people was just like this, so he couldn't be too demanding.

As long as he returned it later, he would turn a blind eye.

It's rainy and thundery in Nanling. Seeing Ian's movements, even the most stupid workers can figure out what their lord is going to do - but they still don't quite understand that it's just a simple lightning trigger. If so, why can Ian be sure that it will rain when the enemy attacks?

Could it be that the lord is a prophet?

After making all preparations, Ian began to assign combat tasks.

"Three days later. In the early morning of three days later, the mountain people will complete their preparations and then begin a tentative attack on Ryan City."

"What we want to do is to force the mountain people to fight us as soon as possible and let them speed up their actions, instead of carefully and carefully investigating the situation around Ryan City and ascertaining our strength before attacking."

"Qingchao, you lead a magnetic storm team to cut off and harass the mountain people's supply lines. If the situation is not right and it doesn't rain, use charged rifles or long-range strikes with explosives."

"Scott, you have to use the alchemy cannon to fire rain bombs at the right time - the troops will be left to your command, just according to the tactics we decided on during the meeting."

Ian has led a team to test the actual effectiveness of rainfall bombs around Golden Leaf Town. Rain will fall an hour after the alchemy cannon is fired.

Although the speed is a bit slow, if Ian himself enters the clouds and performs artificial catalysis, the process can be accelerated to a few minutes.

But after all, Ian has to drive the armor to stop the enemy's main combat force - so it still depends on Scott's decision.

All the preparations that need to be done are over, and the next step is to wait for the enemy to arrive.

The rebellious mountain people were just as described in the intelligence from Nauman City.

Three days later, they set off on time.

The three coalition forces of the mountain people drove the beasts and monsters from the mouth of Guyan Peak and rushed straight towards Laian City!

An army of a thousand men. It doesn't sound like a large number, but for Terra, an army whose members are all armored, have proficient combat qualities, and have multiple second-level weapons and armors is enough to be called an elite in the local area.

Baisen Mountains, southeastern mountains.

A well-disciplined army was divided into squadrons and advanced at a uniform pace.

They were like a river armed with steel. The trained beasts and warcraft moved together with the scouts, looking for possible spies from Leian City in the surrounding forests - they knew that the new lord of Leian Territory was a master, and even Martin of the Xuanfeng Tribe was defeated by him, so the three coalition forces did not dare to despise each other at all. Instead, they marched in the most upright and cautious manner to avoid being disrupted by the enemy's surprise attack.

In fact, the spies of the mountain people have passed on the changes in Le'an City. They already know that Le'an City, with its magnetic storm coils and various small fortifications, is a tough nut to crack...

They are also ready to fight a tough battle.

"It's so difficult to deal with."

Chief Snake Rock, the leader of the three coalition forces this time, is a man with pale skin and as thin as a snake.

Even so, his appearance is not feminine, but gives people a sense of vigilance and danger - steel rock snakes are not poisonous, but they are the snakes that are best at digging holes and making traps. They are best at trapping people who fall into sharp points. The prey in the rock trap uses its hard body to crush the bones, and then swallows them all.

But at the same time, Steel Rock Snake will never take the initiative to attack those beasts and monsters that appear to be weaker than itself.

Chief Snake Rock is the perfect portrayal of his bloodline. Because he is good at conspiracy and traps, he will be more careful to avoid being tricked by smarter people.

But even so, Chief Snake Rock frowned together after receiving the spy's reward: "How come the new lord of Ryan City, that young brat named Ian, is as cowardly as Rock Turtle, just hiding in his lair?" Can’t you come out?”

"She's not young and energetic at all, she's reckless and impulsive...it's really not cute."

Everyone knows the gap between the mountain people's troops and the troops of Le'an City. Even the defenders cannot withstand the nearly ten times difference in strength. Therefore, as long as the lords of Le'an City are smart enough, they will try to use it when the mountain people's troops are marching. Various methods were used to reduce the combat effectiveness of the mountain troops.

Snake Yan had always been on guard against traps, and even deliberately made the troops he led to relax their vigilance to induce Ian to attack... But the young man refused to take the bait and held back, determined to form a stronghold and fight with them.

In this case, even if they win, they will definitely suffer heavy losses!

boom! boom! boom!

Just when Chief Snake Rock was frowning and thinking about how to avoid his own losses and attack Ryan City at the lowest possible cost, he suddenly heard several cannon shots coming from very far away but still vaguely audible.

"Is Ryan City going to start shelling us now?"

Chief Snake Rock was stunned for a moment. He had a bad feeling in his heart, but he didn't quite understand why Ryan City wasted expensive alchemy shells... How could he hit it? They're still in the woods!

"Chief."

After a while, a messenger came over: "Chief Zhenzhou and Chief Tiechen ask you, what should we do next? It seems that we have been discovered in Lian City?"

"What else can we do? These two brainless guys, don't they really think that our march can be hidden from Ryan City?"

Chief Snake Rock's face twitched. If he answered this question, he would really be brought to the same IQ level as those two guys: "Tell them that we continue to move forward and build a temporary position near Le'an City, bit by bit. It doesn’t matter if we push forward and are in a stalemate with the opponent.”

"I will lead my troops to dig tunnels underground and try to raid the city - if it is not possible, I will attack after collapsing the enemy's fortifications."

Having said this, Chief Snake Rock smiled confidently: "Anyway, we are not the ones who are anxious."

The order was issued, and the team of mountain people continued to advance in an orderly manner.

Soon, they arrived at a gentle riverside forest near Ryan City. There is a slow-flowing stream here, and a slightly higher hilly mountainous area a little further away. If you build a tower here, you can see the edge of Lian City from a distance, and you can also use the hills to avoid direct artillery fire from Lian City.

"Renovate for a while! Let the supply troops build a camp here later!"

Snake Yan ordered, he was really not in a hurry.

The total number of mountain people is close to 1,500, and the number of combatable soldiers in Leian City, even including the poorly trained militia, is only 300.

——One thousand five against three hundred, the advantage is mine!

He dared to conclude so.

And right now.

It started to rain.