"Wh-what?"
Everyone in the Explorer's Guild hall, including Alak, looked surprised.
Ye Feng had blocked Alak's punch with only the strength of his body, without using any arcane energy.
"Crack! Crack!"
Alak's fist twitched, as if he wanted to pull it back, but Ye Feng held it firmly, making a metallic clinking sound.
"You..."
Alak was even more surprised. While he hadn't used his full strength, Ye Feng was…
In the next second, Alak lifted his leg and kicked fiercely towards Ye Feng's waist.
"Clang! Bang!"
Ye Feng swiftly raised his leg, meeting Alak's armored leg head-on.
"Stomp, stomp!"
Alak retreated several steps, his boots making the stone floor creak.
"If you're injured, rest properly and don't move around!"
Seeing Alak about to charge again, Ye Feng glanced at the opponent's right leg and said slowly.
Alak was silent for a moment before finally saying, "I hope you don't regret this!"
With that, Alak left the Explorer's Guild hall on his own.
...
For the next few days, Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao had some leisure.
According to Yuan Ling, she needed to make preparations and arrange some matters.
Thus, Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao wandered around Blackwater Town, occasionally killing some goblins.
Of course, Ye Feng also took the time to grind Arcane Raw Stones into powder and made many Arcane Talismans. He also created a device for discreetly accessing the Soul Nourishing Grass.
He hadn't forgotten the Goblin Shaman he encountered in Twin Fish Town. That guy could not only control arcane energy but also launch strong mental attacks...
The Goblin High Priest that Alak had mentioned sounded much more powerful than a Goblin Shaman, so he needed to prepare more...
...
Time passed quickly.
Seven days later,
In the morning, on the outskirts of Blackwater Town,
A peerless, blindfolded woman in a simple, improved nun's habit stood by the roadside waiting for Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao. Beside her was Alak, still completely encased in armor, his face unseen.
To Ye Feng's surprise, the burly, bearded man who had informed him about the gargoyle, who looked like a monk but not quite, was also there.
Next to the burly bearded man was a carriage, and on the driver's seat sat a short-haired girl with a rather delicate appearance, carrying a large bow.
"Is this... the team you assembled?"
Ye Feng walked up to Yuan Ling, full of curiosity.
"Yes!"
Yuan Ling nodded slightly. "You already know Alak, so I won't go into detail!"
Then, Yuan Ling pointed to the delicate short-haired girl on the carriage, "This is Xiao Lu, she's skilled with a bow!"
Xiao Lu extended her hand and waved gently at Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao.
"His name is He Shang..."
As she spoke, Yuan Ling pointed to the burly, bald man.
"He really is a monk..."
Ye Feng was a little speechless.
The burly bearded man grinned at Ye Feng. "What a coincidence, I didn't expect it to be you!"
"Oh, hello!"
After Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao greeted them, the group boarded the carriage and headed out of Blackwater Town.
In the distance,
Many explorers armed with various weapons watched as Ye Feng's group gradually moved away.
"I say... are we just going to watch?"
"What else can we do... like before, it won't lead to anything..."
"Sigh, I hope that young man returns. In this day and age, there are so few good people like him..."
...
On the carriage,
"Flame Knight Order? So you're all knights!"
Xiao Xiao's surprised voice rang out.
After a casual chat, Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao learned that Yuan Ling, Xiao Lu, and Alak were all members of the same knight order.
"No wonder Yuan Ling's kneeling gesture earlier looked so much like a knight's..."
Ye Feng suddenly understood.
"Yes!"
Yuan Ling nodded. "We once met a knight who was entirely engulfed in blazing flames. He taught us how to fight! That's how our Flame Knight Order came to be!"
"Even his warhorse was burning with flames, it was so majestic!"
As soon as Yuan Ling finished speaking, Xiao Lu chimed in, her expression excited and her eyes filled with admiration.
"When he burped, flames danced in his mouth, flames that could instantly melt steel into molten iron!"
Speaking of that knight, even the taciturn Alak joined in.
"Flames dancing in his mouth... Big Brother can also..."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao muttered, clearly remembering the battle in Mech City earlier.
After Xiao Xiao spoke, Yuan Ling, Xiao Lu, and Alak all turned their gaze to Ye Feng.
"Uh... I'm just kidding... just kidding..."
Ye Feng looked embarrassed. After all, he was a bit confused himself about what happened back then. He couldn't breathe fire now...
"Uncle He Shang, are you really a monk?"
After a pause, Xiao Xiao looked at the burly bearded man.
"Kind of... Before the Great Cataclysm, I was a monk in a temple... Afterwards... those monks and masters who usually practiced vegetarianism and chanted scriptures started to commit evil, burning and looting everywhere..."
"I couldn't stand it, so I killed them... Then I wandered ever since... until Blackwater Town..."
He Shang stroked his slightly graying beard and said slowly.
"Speaking of which, do we really have to take this carriage?"
At this moment, Ye Feng voiced his doubt.
"Carriages are more suitable for rugged mountain roads... but the most important thing is that we only have a carriage... We have motorcycles, but not enough gasoline..."
"There are cars powered by Arcane Yuan Coins, but the entire Blackwater Town only has one at the Explorer's Guild, and it's already broken down..."
Xiao Lu turned her head and looked at Ye Feng with a hint of confusion.
"Damn... the civilization development between regions in this world of lingering fires is too different..."
Ye Feng remembered that Mech City had many modern devices powered by Arcane Yuan Coins, but here...
However, after a moment's thought, Ye Feng could understand. Even Mech City, one of the seven major powers on the continent, only had vehicles powered by Arcane Yuan Coins in its core areas and for its core personnel...
"That... Arcane Yuan Coin powered car, I happen to have..."
...
A few minutes later,
"Ah!"
"My goodness! It's really an Arcane Yuan Coin powered car!"
"It's so big, so spacious! And it has air conditioning!"
...
Among the group, Xiao Lu, the youngest besides Xiao Xiao, let out exclamations upon entering the modified Hummer. She touched things here and there, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Xiao Xiao, who was closest in age to Xiao Lu, immediately stepped forward and enthusiastically started introducing things to her.
"Ah! Sister Xiao Lu, what's wrong?"
Suddenly, Xiao Xiao exclaimed.
Because Xiao Lu, who had been happily chatting with her a moment ago, suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"Gasp!"
Seeing this, Ye Feng immediately slammed on the brakes, got out of the driver's seat, and went to check on Xiao Lu's condition.
...