Angry citizens, stir up the fog! (5600)

Including Cao Xing and Liu Muxue, after hearing the system prompt, joyous smiles appeared on their faces.

"Not bad. It's exactly as I thought; the Fog Disaster is coming to an end."

Over these eight days, they had basically stayed entirely within the territory, and their strength had not improved much.

It was equivalent to a short rest period.

If not for this heavy fog, Cao Xing would have been prepared to wipe out the Church of Light after the second wave of monster sieges ended.

And now, because of the Smog Disaster, this faction had lived a few days longer.

"I wonder how the Old King and Kero have been discussing things over the past eight days. Have they decided on a specific plan of action?"

"Once the Smog Disaster ends, we should be able to take action, right?"

And this also made Cao Xing think of another matter.

"If I am to deal with the Church of Light next, I will definitely need to split my forces."

"Besides the group dealing with the headquarters, I also need to send people to raid the other strongholds."

"But these strongholds are too far apart. My small communication devices only have a communication range of 320 kilometers, so I won't be able to control the movements of the other teams."

"It seems I need to find some longer-range communication devices."

Thinking of this, Cao Xing kissed his bedfellow and quickly got out of bed.

Then, he went directly to the side of the territory's [Market].

As soon as he opened the trading interface, a massive amount of consignment information appeared before him.

He ignored them all, then entered the keywords "communication device" into the search bar.

Dozens of trading messages instantly appeared before him.

Cao Xing took a look; there were everything from small to medium, and even large communication devices.

However, he scanned their attributes.

Although the communication range of the latter two types of blueprints was very far, reaching up to 5,000 kilometers, they both had a fatal flaw.

That was their volume; they were too large to be carried around.

Especially the large communication device; it was almost the size of a small car, equivalent to a communication base station.

And what Cao Xing wanted was something that could communicate over long distances, was light enough, and could be carried around.

After scanning around, he actually found a blueprint.

This blueprint was called [Long-Distance Communication Device Production Blueprint]!

The seller was a Survivor named Tang Qiqi, whom Cao Xing had never heard of.

However, the item she needed was a piece of Gold-grade equipment above level 30. Any equipment would do. Cao Xing couldn't be bothered to haggle with her and directly used a whole piece of [Saber-Toothed Tiger Meat (Gold)] to trade for this blueprint.

Upon seeing his name, the other party naturally conducted the transaction readily.

[Obtained: Long-Distance Communication Device Production Blueprint]

After getting the blueprint, a smile appeared on Cao Xing's face.

Then he looked at the attributes.

[Long-Distance Communication Device Production Blueprint]

[Durability: 300]

[Maximum Communication Range: 4500 kilometers (Due to the excessive communication range, there will be a certain delay for each transmission; communication can occur every 30 seconds)]

[Production Requirements: Advanced Machinery Factory, Electronic Component * 1, Copper * 50, Mithril * 10]

[Blueprint Introduction: A small communication device that condenses the cutting-edge technology of the Human Empire. It can be used to contact your residents or other natives.]

Cao Xing exclaimed, "The small communication device only has a communication range of 320 kilometers, but this one has soared directly to 4,500 kilometers!"

"Such a distance should be enough!"

Although this type of long-distance communication device had a restriction of only being able to send a message every 30 seconds, it was inconsequential.

As long as he could convey instructions to others from his side, it would suffice.

Thus, Cao Xing quickly arrived at the [Advanced Machinery Factory] and pushed the door open.

"Boom! Boom!"

The inside of the machinery factory was filled with the roaring and noisy sounds of various machines running.

Several Goblins wearing gray work uniforms were busy inside, moving various parts back and forth.

Seeing Cao Xing, they stopped their work one after another and saluted him.

These were Locke's assistants, responsible for some simple assembly work.

Cao Xing walked through various large machines and arrived deep inside the machinery factory, finding the Goblin Locke, who was squatting on the ground working.

This Goblin was wearing a white work uniform covered in machine oil.

Seeing Cao Xing, he quickly turned around, a smile piling up on his face.

"Lord, may the new day bring you wealth and honor."

Cao Xing said directly, "Locke, how is the production of robots going during this period?"

Locke replied respectfully, "Lord, as you know, the noise in the machinery factory is too loud."

"Due to the impact of the Smog Disaster, we have to stop work at 5:00 PM every day, which has led to a significant decline in the output of these robots."

"Currently, the total number of Elite-level Predator Robots has reached 245."

"There are a total of 490 Common-level Counter-Attack Robots."

Cao Xing calculated in his mind; this added up to over seven hundred robots, taking up nearly one thousand of his population. This was already a significantly powerful force.

Locke continued, "There is one more thing to report to you. Because the resources required to build these robots are too high, the materials in our territory are running low."

"What do you think—" The Goblin looked at him cautiously.

Cao Xing nodded slightly; he naturally knew that materials were running low.

During this period, the mines could not be excavated, and resources in the territory were only being consumed with no input. No matter how large the shop was, it couldn't be sustained for long.

He replied, "Next, stop building robots first, and help me produce one thousand communication devices."

"The Smog Disaster will end in a few days, so don't worry about the material problem."

"Then, when you have time, go and produce some Frost Catapults."

Although the attack power of this Frost Catapult was only one-third of the Neros Cannon.

It also had many advantages: one was the ability for area-of-effect attacks + group freezing.

The second was that it didn't need to be loaded with ammunition; it only needed to adjust the angle of attack.

If there were more of them, it would be enough to cause great trouble for the enemy.

Locke rubbed his hands and then respectfully said, "Okay, great Lord, Locke will definitely complete the tasks you have assigned with all his heart."

After finishing the instructions for what this Goblin needed to do next, Cao Xing left the machinery factory.

There was still nothing to do during the day.

He first went to the Mage Tower, absorbed the Magic Crystals, and then wandered around the territory.

When night fell, he returned to the Lord's Castle and slept in Liu Muxue's arms. The days were quite comfortable.

In the blink of an eye, two more days passed.

There was one last day left until the fog receded…

After tonight, this Smog Disaster, which had lasted for eleven days, would completely end.

[Survivors, please note! You have reached the 25th day of the development period. The Smog Disaster has reached its final stage, and the impact of the disaster will be reduced.]

[Today's weather: Heavy fog accompanied by light snow, minimum temperature -63°C ~ -75°C]

The moment the system prompt appeared.

Survivors all over the world became a little excited.

"Brothers, today is the last day. Everyone, hang in there."

"The impact of the disaster has become smaller and smaller. In the past few nights, even those strange sounds have lessened a lot."

"I've also noticed that the heavy fog seems to have thinned a lot, and visibility has skyrocketed. Can we go out to explore today?"

"Don't be in a hurry, everyone. Although the fog has dissipated a lot, there may still be dangers we can't imagine inside. It's the last day, so everyone, wait a little longer."

"That's right, everyone, bear with it for one more day. Hang in there. We've waited for ten days, so we can wait for this last day."

Amidst everyone's discussion, everyone waited silently in their territories.

The daytime passed quickly.

Nightfall—

The whole world fell into a silent state again.

But as other Survivors said, the recent disaster had eased a lot.

The heavy fog was no longer as thick as before, and the dense crawling sounds and collisions had also lessened a lot. This allowed the Survivors to have a good night's sleep.

Including Cao Xing, who was lying leisurely on the bed, browsing the forum while listening to the movements outside the territory.

In a flash, it was the second half of the night.

The second half of the night was exceptionally quiet today. Not only were there no sounds in the territory, but even outside the territory, those crawling sounds were not heard.

Cao Xing said happily, "Not bad, it seems that the unknown creatures in the heavy fog have also disappeared completely."

Just when he thought the night would pass peacefully, he suddenly heard a violent knocking sound from the territory.

"!!!"

This sound was particularly jarring in the silent night.

It was as if some door had been opened!

Cao Xing opened his eyes instantly, a look of shock and uncertainty appearing in his eyes.

"Huh? Did someone open the door in the middle of the night?"

Just as he was preparing to check it out, a suppressed and anxious voice came from the communication device in his ear.

"Lord! This is Herlie. I don't know what happened to Elisa, but she suddenly opened the door and ran out!"

At this moment, Herlie seemed very panicked and didn't care about Cao Xing's order that no one was allowed to speak at night.

Cao Xing's heart sank instantly, and he asked in a low voice, "Herlie, what happened?"

The other party quickly explained, "I don't know what happened. Just a moment ago, Elisa suddenly climbed out of bed and walked towards the door."

"I felt something was wrong, so I called out to her and asked her what she was going out for?"

"But little Elisa seems to be in a strange state; her eyes are unfocused, her expression is stiff, and she said there was a voice in the fog calling her, and then she opened the door as if possessed."

"I tried to forcibly stop her, but a special power appeared on little Elisa, and this power kept repelling me from approaching her!"

"Then—then little Elisa ran out—"

Herlie quickly finished explaining what happened.

Cao Xing immediately frowned.

"There's something in the fog calling her? And her eyes are unfocused, her expression stiff?"

"And a special power appeared on her, to the point that even a Tier 7 Leader-level Herlie couldn't get close?"

Clearly, this matter was suspicious from beginning to end.

Elisa definitely didn't want to go out on her own; rather, some power was controlling her.

Cao Xing's expression became very grim. "Did it have to be the last night?"

Elisa is an important member of his territory; he could not just leave her alone.

However, if he went into the fog now, it would be too dangerous—

During the day, none of the Survivors who rushed into the thick fog survived, let alone at night.

However, after only a moment, he made his decision!

Cao Xing took a deep breath and quickly said: "Everyone, enter combat readiness state!"

"Isabelle, go to the city wall now and release your holy light to its maximum to light the way for us."

"Du An, get up immediately and help me prepare a few vines at least ten kilometers long."

"Sarah, Malenia, Braum, Herlie, Assam, let's move out now and go find Elisa with me!"

"Everyone else, stay in your rooms for now and be ready for battle at any time."

Hearing the order, all combat personnel in the entire territory moved into action.

The few people named by Cao Xing quickly climbed out of bed and picked up their weapons.

Even though they knew the fog outside was terrifying and there was a danger that it might take their lives.

Yet, everyone still opened the door without hesitation.

At this moment, Isabelle had already taken the lead.

She quickly arrived at the city wall, raised her staff high, and held the Bright Holy Scripture in her right hand.

A powerful aura of light surged out from her body.

In an instant!

The light erupted like the sun, illuminating half the territory.

At the same time, dozens of upgraded expert-level lighthouses also emitted torch-like light.

The light dispersed the fog.

Soon, Cao Xing brought people to the center of the territory.

The people he had just named were already waiting there.

Among them was Herlie, the beast-eared girl who shared a room with Elisa, and the giant Jode. She quickly stepped forward and said: "Lord, Elisa headed toward the east gate."

Hearing this, Cao Xing looked toward the dark gate in the distance.

The Arctic People Du An also quickly walked over and said: "Lord, the vines you wanted are ready."

"A total of seven vines are connected, with a length of nearly ten-plus kilometers."

Cao Xing nodded slightly.

"Muxue, Sarah, everyone tie the vines around your waists."

"Jode, come over and grab one end of these vines."

"Let's hurry and catch up."

The moment they received the order, everyone quickly picked up the vines and tied them to themselves.

And the giant Jode grabbed the other end of the seven vines.

Soon, the group rushed out of the territory.

"Clatter!"

As they moved, the vines extended wildly.

Cao Xing and the others soon arrived at the east gate area.

Looking out.

Outside the territory was an endless night; under the shroud of thick fog, nothing could be seen.

One could only feel a cold, sinister aura flowing within it, as if some invisible monster was waiting for them to step inside.

However, Cao Xing did not hesitate at all and quickly said: "Go!"

Seven figures walked out of the city gate without hesitation and rushed into the fog.

The moment everyone entered the fog, Cao Xing felt the surrounding temperature drop sharply!

A bone-chilling cold kept coming, mixed with the eerie thick fog, drilling into people's bodies.

Without the temperature provided by the energy station, the area outside the territory was a huge ice cave.

With every breath, the group exhaled a cloud of white mist.

At this moment, it was pitch black all around; nothing could be seen, and they didn't know where Elisa had gone.

Cao Xing quickly said: "Sarah, go to the nearby snow and look for traces of Elisa."

In these eleven days, there had been two light snowfalls.

Plus, all the beasts and animals were basically staying in their nests, so no other creatures would destroy the footprints in the snow.

If Elisa had passed through this area, it would be easy to find her.

That kind of creature in the fog would not leave marks in the snow, as Cao Xing had studied before.

They seemed to have some special way of moving.

Meanwhile, Sarah had already quickly started searching in the surrounding snow.

In less than half a minute, she returned to Cao Xing's side and said: "Lord, human footprints were found there, looking like they were just made."

A glimmer of hope immediately appeared in Cao Xing's eyes.

Then he quickly said: "Sarah, lead the way; we'll follow behind. Everyone, try not to make any sound."

After Sarah said this, she turned and led the group forward, penetrating deeper into the fog.

Soon, they arrived at an area about two kilometers away from the territory.

The deeper they went, the more they could feel the eeriness of this fog, as if it were a passage to another world.

At first, they could still faintly see the light emitted by Isabelle behind them.

And just after they had penetrated to a certain distance, suddenly, it went pitch black before their eyes, and they couldn't see anything.

In this dark environment, the group had to stop.

At the same time, Liu Muxue, who was by his side, directly entered her War Angel form.

"Hum!"

A soft, holy light erupted from her body, and a sacred War Angel appeared, illuminating the area within a hundred meters.

This allowed them to see the scene around them clearly.

Cao Xing quickly scanned the surroundings and, finding that none of the people he had brought were missing, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He continued: "Everyone, move closer to Muxue, and be careful not to get separated."

"Muxue, you lead the way in front."

Liu Muxue in her angel form nodded slightly, then led the group forward while radiating holy light.

Along the way, a strange sound drifted into their ears from time to time.

It sounded like the murmurs of some creature in the darkness, or perhaps the sound of some strange existence walking in the snow.

"Rustle—rustle—"

"* %&* .."

Strange sounds kept coming.

However, when they scanned their surroundings, they found nothing.

Coupled with this dark environment, it made an unsettling feeling creep into their hearts.

However, Cao Xing was now focused on finding Elisa and completely ignored these eerie sights.

The others also acted as if they had seen nothing.

They continued along the footprints on the ground, advancing deeper into the fog.

After penetrating about seven or eight kilometers, Sarah suddenly stopped.

Then, she turned her head, a grim look on her face.

"Lord, the trail of footprints has ended—"

"It seems Elisa walked to this point and then suddenly disappeared!"

Hearing this, Cao Xing's heart suddenly felt heavy.

He knew what it meant for Elisa to disappear here.

It was just like that Survivor named Cai Ze, who suddenly disappeared in the fog!

Not long after, it showed the message that the other party had died!

At this moment, it was as if a flame had ignited in Cao Xing's heart!

A faint anger had already appeared in his eyes.

A territory member had been taken away right under his nose, and he didn't even know who the perpetrator was.

If Elisa had been courting death herself, Cao Xing wouldn't say anything.

But this little girl had been staying perfectly fine in the territory, only to be controlled and walked into the fog.

At this moment, Cao Xing even wanted to throw a Forbidden Spell directly to blow this fog apart!

Damn whatever was in the fog; taking his people was simply not acceptable!

The others also felt the rage that Cao Xing was struggling to suppress.

Liu Muxue, who was beside him, said: "Axing, you decide."

"Should we all move out to stir up this fog and find Elisa?"

Including Braum, Sarah, Andrew, and the others beside him, a strong fighting spirit had already risen in their eyes!

Although some extremely terrifying danger was hidden in this fog, even they didn't have much confidence in dealing with it!

However, Elisa was one of them.

This eccentric little girl was usually very active in the territory and had already won the favor of many people.

In their hearts, they all regarded Elisa as their own family.

At this moment, with a family member suddenly missing, everyone felt the same as Cao Xing.

Even if it meant facing the terrifying creatures in this fog, they would find her.

Cao Xing didn't speak; he first checked the time. It was 04:43 AM, and there was one last hour until dawn.

After a moment, he nodded solemnly and said: "Okay, then let's all work together and turn this fog upside down!"

"If it doesn't return Elisa to us, we will fight it to the end!"