Chapter 89 – The True Demon Potion Formula

Cheng Yang decided to use the statue enhancement stone to upgrade the number of priest slots. After all, this would have the most immediate impact on their current situation.

As he walked out of the Prayer Hall, Cheng Yang couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment. The rewards from clearing the Nightmare difficulty Blood Church dungeon didn’t seem particularly impressive, especially when compared to the initial priest statue they had obtained. Though, to be fair, it was still better than the skill inheritance orb.

After regrouping with Chen Yun and the others, Cheng Yang immediately chose to exit the dungeon.

There was no doubt that the Nightmare difficulty dungeon offered significant advantages in terms of equipment drops and spirit energy gains, with nearly 1000 points acquired. Cheng Yang planned to bring Chen Yun’s team through the Nightmare difficulty daily, both to accelerate their spirit energy accumulation and to upgrade their equipment.

Cheng Yang then instructed Chen Yun to organize their territory guards to clear all ten remaining Hard difficulty dungeon runs, which would provide nearly 5000 spirit energy points for their territory.

With these arrangements made, Cheng Yang approached the priest statue and used the newly acquired enhancement stone. In an instant, the number of available priest slots increased from 20 to 41, thanks to both the enhancement stone and Li Wanshan’s talent bonus.

Now with 21 additional slots, they needed to find suitable candidates among the 20,000 refugees. However, finding individuals with priest aptitude was no easy task. Cheng Yang delegated this responsibility to Li Wanshan, who also had the authority to conduct the transfers.

The combatant corps of Luofeng Village was gradually becoming more organized, with clear divisions of labor. Each member could now earn 50-60 spirit energy points daily, enough for double cultivation sessions with some to spare.

The main challenge came from the increasing number of mid-tier first-stage demonized beasts in the surrounding areas, along with larger demonized beast hordes that hindered their expansion. To overcome this, Cheng Yang had two strategies: personally eliminate the larger hordes to create opportunities for the combatant corps, or accelerate the advancement of more combatants to mid-tier apprentice level.

Cheng Yang was pursuing both approaches. Whenever possible, he would sweep through the outskirts of Luofeng Village, clearing demonized beast hordes. Meanwhile, the first batch of transferred combatants, especially Liu Hao and others, were on the verge of breaking through to mid-tier apprentice level.

For today’s mission, Cheng Yang planned to capture the last territory altar north of Xiangcheng City. After this, any further expansion would require venturing into more distant areas.

Cheng Yang brought only Yu Kai’s team for this expedition, even delaying their cultivation time. Yu Kai, having heard about the benefits of subsidiary territories from Liu Hao, didn’t complain, understanding that Cheng Yang intended for him to manage this new outpost.

Before departing, Cheng Yang restocked his storage ring with potions, leaving him with just over 100,000 spirit energy points. While yesterday’s harvest had been substantial, purchasing the storage ring had nearly depleted his reserves.

Setting out from Luofeng Village’s north gate, they made their way toward Xiangcheng City. Along the way, they passed the entrance to the Death Spirit Canyon and took the opportunity to clear the dungeon once more. With Cheng Yang’s improved strength, the dungeon posed no challenge.

As they continued northward, they encountered fewer refugees than before. The situation for these survivors had changed somewhat. Demonized beasts now tended to cluster, creating opportunities for survival in the gaps between hordes. Additionally, with fewer monsters being killed in Xiangcheng City, new spawns were scarce, reducing unexpected encounters.

Ordinary refugees could now accumulate spirit energy, and the bolder ones had begun forming groups to hunt demonized beasts. While dangerous, this offered great rewards. With just 10 spirit energy points, they could transfer to combatant status in the main city.

Yuan Jianze, the ruler of Xiangcheng City’s main base, hadn’t restricted these transfers. Anyone who could gather 10 spirit energy points could become a combatant, making them prime targets for recruitment by militias and the army. However, some ambitious individuals preferred to form their own teams, hunting demonized beasts around the city and gradually expanding by transferring their friends and relatives.

This suggested that Xiangcheng City’s combatant population would soon experience explosive growth.

As usual, Cheng Yang didn’t bring the rescued refugees with him, instructing them to wait until his return after capturing the northern territory altar.

Upon reaching the northern passage of Xiangcheng City, they encountered a large group of demonized beasts blocking their path. This time, instead of the troublesome striped spiders, they faced the familiar lesser demons.

Cheng Yang welcomed this development. Without hesitation, he charged forward alone, tanking the lesser demons’ attacks while using Ice Spikes to clear the horde.

After about ten minutes, the battle concluded, leaving behind a pile of corpses and a single scroll-like item.

Cheng Yang’s eyes lit up as he examined the formula. In his previous life, this potion had been highly sought after in Xiangcheng City and surrounding areas. Now, with his Divine Effect talent and innate alchemical affinity, the potion’s effects would be even more potent. When he consumed it, his magic attack would increase by 8 points – more powerful than equipping an additional silver-grade weapon.

Excited by the prospect, Cheng Yang immediately tried to learn the formula, only to discover that his Alchemy skill was still at level 2. It would take at least ten more days to reach level 3, delaying his ability to create the potion.

Storing the formula in his ring, Cheng Yang led Yu Kai’s team onward. The terrain resembled yesterday’s, with scattered small groups of demonized beasts interspersed with larger hordes every 700-800 meters.

Cheng Yang employed his usual tactics, using his skills to draw aggro while the team focused fire. When necessary, he would tank entire hordes alone, prioritizing safety over efficiency.

Two hours later, relying on forum descriptions from his previous life, Cheng Yang located the approximate position of the territory altar. Following yesterday’s method, he left Yu Kai’s team behind and ventured alone into the dense forest.

Today proved to be Cheng Yang’s lucky day. Not only had he obtained a superior potion formula compared to yesterday’s Spirit Gathering Furnace, but finding the territory altar was also easier. Within half an hour, he located the altar surrounded by countless demonized beasts.

The horde guarding this altar was no stronger than yesterday’s, so Cheng Yang proceeded without hesitation. Though the late-stage first-tier demonized beast leader wasn’t present today, it didn’t affect his strategy.

Repeating yesterday’s tactics, Cheng Yang effortlessly ascended the altar. With ample supplies of mana and health potions, he could afford to be more aggressive.

An hour later, the battle concluded, and Cheng Yang successfully captured the outpost named Dongshan Village.

As four new profession statues rose around him, a sense of pride welled up in Cheng Yang’s heart. In the entire world, who else could have captured three territory altars within ten days of the apocalypse?

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