The Lord's world offered unparalleled privacy and security.
All personal data was hidden, not even revealing nationality.
This was precisely why new lords worldwide were perplexed.
If this person belonged to any faction, they would never conceal their identity.
This was akin to advertising to all new lords globally, and a profound one at that.
However, their choice to remain hidden inevitably led them to speculate about their identity.
Unfortunately, no one knew this person's country, leaving them with no basis for speculation.
The international chat room, however, saw messages expressing a desire to befriend this individual.
It was clear this person was incredibly wealthy, as every message posted there cost a small fortune.
And there were indeed quite a few wealthy individuals. Hundreds of messages appeared in the international channel, from people of every country, seemingly boasting about their riches.
Zhou Yan hadn't even opened the chat room and was unaware that everyone was discussing him.
For him, focusing on development was the only way.
His personal status panel had also completely changed.
He now had 50 free attribute points, which he began to allocate.
He still prioritized Strength, believing the strongest offense was the best defense.
He added 20 points to Strength and 10 points to each of the other attributes.
His attributes changed to:
[Name: Zhou Yan]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 18]
[Race: Human]
[Nationality: Shenlong Country]
[Level: 10]
[Soul Coins required for next level: 1500]
[Charm: 11]
[Luck: 11]
[Strength: 41.8]
[Constitution: 19.8]
[Agility: 21.3]
[Spirit: 24.2]
[Free Attribute Points: 0]
[Prestige: 100]
[Class: Unpromoted]
[Talent: Unawakened]
[Skill: S-Seven Star Swordplay]
[Aptitude: Unawakened]
[Cultivation Technique: Not learned]
[Realm: Not cultivated]
[Equipment: Detailed List]
[Total Equipment Attribute Bonus: Strength +17, Agility +15, Constitution +10, Spirit +0, Defense +15]
The surge of power coursing through his body made Zhou Yan very satisfied.
With the equipment attribute bonuses added, his Strength was nearing 60 points. He believed he could now tear apart enemies with his bare hands!
With enhanced strength, Zhou Yan was full of confidence as he began to explore this new territory.
"Monsters!" Zhen Mi's powerful spiritual sense detected fleeting black shadows within the mist.
Soon, a group of red-eyed monsters appeared before them.
[Monster: Mantis Warrior]
[Quality: Enhanced Elite]
[Level: 15]
[Special: Agility Enhancement]
[Description: These are a group of powerful and extremely fast Mantis Warriors. Their sharp blades can easily cut through stone. It is best to stay far away from them.]
"Level 15 Enhanced Elites!" Zhou Yan was greatly surprised.
These were humanoid monsters, reaching level 15, and there were quite a few of them, at least dozens.
He hadn't expected to encounter such a formidable group of monsters upon arriving in this area.
"Protect the Lord!"
A group of people surrounded Zhou Yan, completely shielding him.
"What, there are more behind us!" Zhou Yan looked back and discovered they were surrounded.
"Such intelligent monsters, capable of flanking. It seems they possess considerable wisdom," Zhou Yan remarked.
"Rest assured, Lord, with our strength, dealing with these monsters won't be too difficult."
Zhen Mi was confident. She was also among those being protected, as she was a ranged class with weaker close-combat abilities.
"Don't worry, Lord, as long as I'm here, no one will harm you," Diao Chan said, uncharacteristically without blushing, and with great confidence towards Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan certainly wasn't worried about their strength. With his current attributes, he could crush these monsters. His only weakness was his limited combat experience against large numbers.
The Mantis Warriors let out a series of strange chirps, and then, these monsters proactively launched their attack on Zhou Yan and his companions.
Their forelimbs were like two sharp, gleaming longswords, instantly conveying their formidable nature.
"Decent speed," Zhou Yan commented.
He gripped his weapon, ready to strike.
As the Mantis Warriors closed in, Zhen Mi finally unleashed her magic.
Exuding an aura of purity, she channeled a mental spell through her staff, projecting it outwards. Within a twenty-meter radius, the Mantis Warriors caught in the spiritual enchantment were momentarily plunged into a bizarre illusion.
They then perceived numerous enemies around them and, in their delusion, raised their scythes and attacked their comrades.
However, to Zhou Yan and the others, it was an astonishing sight.
The Mantis Warriors, as if driven mad, stopped their advance and began attacking their own allies.
"This is... Zhen Mi's Luoshen Fu spell!" Zhou Yan immediately understood the situation.
Previously, when dealing with the man-eating plants, as they were stationary and rooted to the ground, Zhen Mi hadn't expended much spiritual energy, merely putting the plants into a state of dormancy.
Now, he was witnessing Zhen Mi unleash the full power of her Luoshen Fu skill.
Seeing the Mantis Warriors collectively slaughtering each other was a terrifying display of its power.
Within the twenty-meter radius of the spell, no Mantis Warrior could escape.
"Good opportunity, kill them quickly!" Zhou Yan knew that Zhen Mi, while expending immense energy to cast this skill, would be greatly weakened. They had to eliminate these monsters immediately.
"Kill!"
Diao Chan moved like the wind, swift as lightning, weaving through the warriors with thunderous speed.
Every time she appeared, her longsword would sever a Mantis Warrior's head.
[Killed Level 15 Enhanced Elite · Mantis Warrior, bonus reward 50 Soul Coins.]
[Killed Level 15 Enhanced Elite · Mantis Warrior, bonus reward 50 Soul Coins.]
[Killed Level 15 Enhanced Elite · Mantis Warrior, bonus reward 50 Soul Coins.]
...
She leaped into the air, soaring five meters above the ground. A radiant light erupted from her, and a sacred lotus bloomed, casting an otherworldly glow.
The next moment, the sacred lotus descended, and a terrifying wave of energy exploded, instantly killing all the Mantis Warriors within a fifty-meter radius.
Diao Chan also possessed her own unique talent skill.
She, like Zhen Mi, was an RRR-quality hero, and both displayed formidable power.
The other warriors, though not as terrifyingly powerful as Diao Chan and Zhen Mi, were all S-quality or higher experts. Coupled with their equipment bonuses, their strength completely overwhelmed these Mantis Warriors.
Mantis Warriors fell in droves. In just a few minutes, they were all annihilated.