As a Fire Dragon Person born into royalty and enjoying high status and authority, like the vast majority of Dragon People nobility, Marquis Gould despised human commoners from the core of his being.
As a result, when he had received news of the special-class beast tide warning issued by the kingdom, Marquis Gould had immediately ordered the closure of all the city gates serving as entry and exit points from Great Dragon Blood Wall.
,314 city gates... All of them had closed!
Innumerable people were blocked outside the towering city walls!
Marquis Gould knew very well the consequences brought about by his order. He knew that countless lives would perish under the beast tide’s rampage, that people would be thrown into great suffering and misery, and that there would be a great many casualties, but he didn’t care.
Heaven’s Vault Continent was a place where the strong lived while the weak perished!
People incapable of even climbing up the city walls... Their deaths were of no consequence!
As for the people’s cursing and swearing, Gould could hardly be bothered. Those were just the mad barking of the weak. Would a Colossal Dragon concern itself with an ant’s pitiful cries?
Of course not!
However, all of a sudden...
The cursing and swearing came to a sudden stop. Right after, they turned into astonishingly loud cheers instead. Marquis Gould’s brows drew together slightly, a hint of puzzlement arising in him.
What’s going on outside? Why aren’t they swearing anymore?
“Is anyone there?” Gould shouted.
“My lord, what is the matter?”
An armored guard ran in.
“What’s going on outside?” asked Marquis Gould aloofly.
“My lord, this is what happened...”
The armored guard quickly recounted what had happened at the city walls. Marquis Gould raised his eyebrows and asked, “An earth-elemental Magician? Is he a human or a Dragon Person?”
“He’s a human!”
“Is he nobility?”
“Judging from his age and what he’s wearing, he doesn’t look like one.”
“Neither a Dragon Person nor a noble, yet he’s such a busybody and so ignorant.”
Marquis Gould said aloofly, “Just as well. Since he’s such a busybody, then we’ll fulfill his wishes. Tell him that he’s been recruited by the frontier troops, and get him to stay at the city walls obediently and wait for further orders.”
“Yes, my lord!”
The guard turned and left the city gate tower. Before long, he appeared in front of Meng Lei, who just so happened to have arrived at the top of the city gates after leading the villagers up the slope.
When looking out from such a high place, one’s field of vision stretched far and wide.
The Great Dragon Blood Wall was just like a grand, handsome long dragon. It crossed the mountains and went past precipices, cut through grass plains, and spanned across deserts, undulating at the top of towering mountains and precipitous ridges.
All sorts of marks and dried bloodstains were left behind on the firm, solid black walls. A sense of austerity and ancientness from having gone through many changes in life came rushing forward, involuntarily reminding people of the scenes that took place during beast tide attacks.
“The Great Dragon Blood Wall was built by 49 Earth Saint Domain Magicians using more than 100 years. It’s constructed using tough, solid black granite throughout the whole structure, with a large number of obsidians mixed inside.”
Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and let out a sigh. “Even the strongest and toughest Ninth-Grade Magical Beast, the Great Earth Bear, can give up on the thought of destroying even a bit of the wall. It can be said to be indestructible.”
Arrow turrets, crossbow turrets, and cannon turrets were set up every few steps at the top of the city walls. Archers, arbalists, and gunners were stationed at the respective turrets, ready to enter war anytime.
Apart from these, there were also mage towers.
“So, this is a mage tower?”
Meng Lei walked over to a tower a few dozen meters tall and touched the walls, which were engraved with magic circles, his eyes brimming with extraordinary splendor.
To Magicians, mage towers were of vital importance. Many Magicians longed for a mage tower of their own.
Through the use of a mage tower, not only could they greatly speed up their spellcasting, but the might of their spells would also increase dramatically. Some mage towers could even combine dozens of Magicians’ magic power to cast ultimate spells—their might was comparable to first-class spells!
“The mage towers are Great Dragon Blood Wall’s strongest and most powerful weapons of defense.”
Revisiting a once familiar place had put Ol’ Amos in a very good mood, and he had taken on the stance of someone talking about state affairs. He said, “It can reduce spellcasting time, increase a spell’s might, and also help to conserve magic power. It’s of vital importance to us Magicians.”
Meng Lei asked curiously, “I’ve heard that mage towers are built using gold coins?”
“You’re right!”
Ol’ Amos twisted his beard and said with a smile, “Back then, I pretty much invested a good half of my wealth and assets for the sake of building a mage tower. It isn’t something that typical Magicians can mess around with.”
“Forget it, forget it. It’s destined that I won’t be fated with the mage towers.”
Meng Lei shook his head repeatedly, completely giving up on the idea of constructing a mage tower. If he had that kind of money, he might as well redeem Stat Attribute Points with them and improve his own actual combat strength instead.
“Look at how it has scared you off.” An amused Ol’ Amos ribbed him. “You’re simply too much of a money-grubber. What’s the point of earning that much money if you’re not going to use it to improve your skills? Decorative purposes?”
“Saving them and letting them accumulate zeros in the cards is also a fantastic idea,” Meng Lei replied with a laugh.
At that moment, a soldier walked over and said expressionlessly, “Mr. Magician, you’ve been recruited by our frontier troops. Please come with me!”
“Uh...”
Meng Lei was stupefied for a moment. He pointed at himself and asked, “Are you talking about me?”
“That’s right!” replied the soldier coldly.
Meng Lei shook his head repeatedly. “Sorry, but I have other things to do, so I can’t go with you for now. Sorry about that!”
“How dare you defy the frontier troops’ recruitment orders?”
The soldier’s countenance turned icy cold at once. “With the invading beast tide, the frontier troops are authorized to recruit soldiers to help in the defense against the beast tide. This is a privilege that the kingdom’s law has given us!
“Now that an ant tide is imminent, everyone in the Fire Dragon Kingdom is on standby to defend against it. Do you mean to challenge the kingdom’s laws?”
“The kingdom’s laws? I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you.” Meng Lei chuckled and said, “I’m only 15 and a half years old this year and haven’t reached the age to enlist in the army, so I’m not part of the recruitment pool.”
“What did you say? You’re only 15 years old?”
The soldier looked startled. “You’d clearly cast the Fifth-Grade Spell, Earth Dragon, just now, yet you’re telling me you’re only 15 years old? Who are you trying to fool?!”
“Ha, I can even cast the Sixth-Grade Spell, Earth’s Wrath, but it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m only 15 years old!”
Meng Lei scoffed and brought out a magic badge with a flick of his wrist. “I’m also a first-year newbie of Fire Dragon Magic Academy and am under the protection of the kingdom’s laws. You have no right to forcibly recruit a weak, powerless student like me!”
A first-year newbie?
A weak, powerless student?
The s
oldier felt the urge to beat someone up.
You’re at least a goddamn Fourth-Grade Magician! Even compared to me, you’re not too far off! ‘Weak and powerless’? Goddamn it!
The soldier had an awful expression on his face. He examined the magic badge in Meng Lei’s hand closely and discovered, to his surprise, that it was indeed the symbol of Fire Dragon Magic Academy’s existing students. There was a Fire Dragon scale on it, indicating that Meng Lei was a first-year student.
Even third-year students were protected by the kingdom’s laws, much less first-year students. They really couldn’t frickin’ recruit Meng Lei.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll make a move first!”
Meng Lei waved him off and then swaggered off with the villagers!
“A Great Fifth-Grade Magician, yet he’s still a first-year student?” The soldier had an awful look on his face. “Are you kidding me?”
Elsewhere, after Meng Lei led the villagers down the city walls, he went straight to Magical Beast Town. However, when he arrived, he discovered that the town that had still been lively and bustling slightly over a dozen hours ago had actually become exceptionally quiet and deserted.
The adventurers lingering about in the town had vanished without a trace.
The merchants acquiring magic cores and beast furs had also left the town, and even the stores doing business had closed.
The enormous town had become a ghost town!
“Looks like news of the ant tide invasion has reached this place!” Hudders shook his head and sighed. “The ant tide has scared everyone off!”
“No, I think they’ve been scared off by the frontier troops instead.”
Chapter 90: The World Changed, The Beast Tide Ended
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The cruelty of the Kingdom’s laws toward ordinary civilians was most vividly reflected at the outbreak of wars or beast tides.
If the soldiers died out, the civilians would become reserve troops. If the situation was even graver, even experts without titles would be included in the conscription.
If the army ran out of food, they had the right to collect army rations from civilians.
This meant that once war broke out, civilians had to not only serve as reserve troops and prepare to go onto the battlefield any time, but they also had to provide food for the army!
In comparison, nobles, who were powerful and wealthier, were neither listed for troops nor required to provide army rations. Nevertheless, they were protected by the law and the army.
The inequality in the treatment of different social groups was cruel.
This was a mixed society with severely twisted social systems, formed by the coupling of feudalism and slavery. The working masses, who accounted for 99% of the population, enjoyed less than 1% of society’s resources yet had to bear 100% of the social responsibilities.
Twisted was too mild of a word to describe this society—brutal was its true description!
Meng Lei felt a fire burning in his chest. He didn’t think of himself as any kind of savior, much less the kind of benevolent, selfless person that worried for the whole world but took no part in its joys.
He only had one goal from the beginning: to live better, freely, splendidly, and liberally!
But now, Meng Lei felt very unhappy.
Why is this world ruled by a group of Colossal Dragons that enjoy vast amounts of resources yet do no work? Why can the human race only be appendages to be stepped upon!?
This f*cked-up world, wait for it! One day, I will turn this world upside down!
If not, then I will... Break this sky and smash this earth! Give this world back its cleanliness!
“Boy, what are you thinking?” Ol’ Amos’ voice suddenly sounded by his ears, waking Meng Lei from his contemplation.
Meng Lei looked at the deserted town and said quietly, “When all these prosper, the people suffer. When all these are in ruin, the people still suffer! I’ve finally understood this point!”
“When all these prosper, the people suffer. When all these are in ruin, the people still suffer!” the old man mumbled and then immediately fell silent, with shock and contemplation in his eyes.
After a long time, he finally sighed and said, “You can see this point? It’s rare!”
“Ol’ President, you can understand?” Meng Lei raised his eyebrows. “You are a Saint Domain of a noble background, you can relate to such like us...”
“Meng Lei, you are wrong!” The old man shook his head slightly. “It’s true that I came from nobility, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aware of the masses’ suffering. Did you know that my father was a human and a slave?”
(⊙o⊙)
Meng Lei was stunned as he knew nothing about this.
“Back then, my father was allocated to my mother as a slave. But, my father was very lucky because he met my kind Mother.”
The old man’s eyes were gentle as he recalled distant memories. “Although Mother was a noble lady, she was very kind to Father. She not only treated him as family, but she also taught him to cultivate.”
“And then?” asked Meng Lei.
“Haha, my father was a natural talent!” Ol’ Amos said proudly, “In just a few years, he finished cultivating Battle Aura and became the kingdom’s youngest Ninth-Grade Warrior. He also successfully reached Saint Domain!”
“So talented?” Meng Lei blinked.
“Naturally! Father’s talent in cultivating Battle Aura was rare in the world. My younger sister inherited his talent in cultivating Battle Aura and broke into Saint Domain at the age of 70. Of course, I’m not bad, either!”
The old man snorted softly. “I’m telling you all these to let you know that the blood of humans, slaves, also runs through my body. I understand the underclass masses’ suffering better than you!”
“Ol’ President, it seems that I know too little about you.” Meng Lei shook his head and smiled bitterly. “In the future, maybe you can tell me more about your heroic past, haha. Three Saint Domains in one family... It’s amazing, Ol’ President!”
“Alright, enough! Stop flattering me here.” The old man shook his hand. “If you have so much free time, you may as well cultivate hard, achieve Saint Domain soon, and restore the glory of our Kroc clan!”
Kroc clan? I’m afraid you may never see that happen. In the future, there would only be Meng Clan, Meng Kingdom, Meng Empire... Haha!
Meng Lei laughed loudly and then led the villagers out of the town.
“Meng Lei, where are we going now?”
“Magical Beast Town isn’t safe. In case all the soldiers die fighting, the villagers can easily become conscription targets. We need to find a hiding place.”
Meng Lei controlled the magic flying carpet and soon found a remote canyon. It was inaccessible for people, and the water source was abundant. It was very suitable for resettling the villagers.
“Everyone, you may settle here for now.”
“Captain Hudders, Village Chief, here are the 50 tents I just bought, and staples and meat enough for everyone to eat for three days.”
“Everyone, you may rest here with peace of mind. With Teddy on guard, safety isn’t a problem. When the ant tide subsides, I will come back again to send you guys home.”
“Thank you, Meng Lei!”
...
After settling the villagers, Meng Lei left the canyon and flew toward the Great Dragon Blood Wall. He wasn’t there to contribute to the defense forces but to find the ant tide!
Others feared the ant tide, but Meng Lei didn’t. It may be an all-destructive ant in others’ eyes, but to Meng Lei, it was a good opportunity to make a fortune.
Just think about it—an ocean of Magical Beasts was no different than moving mountains of gold with an ocean of dropped items awaiting to be picked up!
Where else could he go to find such a golden opportunity to simultaneously get rich and strong?
“The ant tide is coming!”
&
nbsp; “Hurry up and meet the enemy!”
“The ant tide is coming!”
At the moment Meng Lei ascended the watchtower, a piercing alarm and exclamations of panic reverberated throughout the Great Dragon Blood Wall.
The crowd moved hastily as groups of armored, well-equipped soldiers climbed up the city wall and flooded the wall.
Magicians, archers, arbalists, and cannon shooters rapidly got into position and waited intently. They were ready to attack at any time!
“The ant tide is here?”
Meng Lei came to the space above the city wall and looked far in the Magical Beast Forest’s direction. He saw that the distant horizon was already covered by lifted yellow dust.
He couldn’t see a single ant nor a single Magical Beast, only flying dust.
“An ant tide?” Meng Lei’s eyes widened.
“It’s an ant tide!” Ol’ Amos had a solemn expression. “They rushed out of the Magical Beast Forest in less than one day. The Bloodthirsty Iron-Crystal Ants Tide this time is historically unprecedented!”
“That serious?” Meng Lei’s whole body shriveled.
“Uncommonly serious!” The old man said in a deep voice, “Among the few historical ant tides, they had spent at least three days to get out of the Magical Beast Forest. But this time, it took them less than one day. You can imagine it!”
“Which means the Magical Beasts in the Magical Beast Forest have pretty much been devoured already?” Meng Lei drew a cold breath. “Given this ant tide’s scale, can the Great Dragon Blood Wall hold?”
“It has to be held regardless.”
The old man said with a decisive voice, “The Great Dragon Blood Wall is the last line of defense. If the ant tide crosses the Great Dragon Blood Wall, the entire Fire Dragon Kingdom will suffer.
“Nobles with rich family backgrounds have the ability to escape, so only the civilians will suffer. They have no time to escape at all!”
“I understand now!” Meng Lei nodded silently.
The cloud of yellow sand is getting near. It is approaching at breakneck speed.
Gradually... the ground started shaking as though thousands of horses were galloping their way there.
Picking Up Attributes From Today c1-406 Page 48
