Chapter 71: The Enemy Arrives

Unaware of the events unfolding in the outside world, Liu Zhi was at that moment inside the Golden City, directing several walking corpses as they carried objects. To summon these walking corpses into the real world, Liu Zhi hadn’t even called upon Vidnina today; instead, he stood guard nearby with a wooden sword in hand.

The items those corpses carried were three artifacts from the ritual battle, one of which was the Mayan stone drum that Leif had used to deceive Liu Zhi. The reason for this was simply because Liu Zhi, out of boredom, had brought the Aztec feathered sword into the Underworld Palace. Unexpectedly, the sword underwent subtle changes within the palace. Like the shield brought by Black Kite, it eventually turned into points of light and vanished, but Liu Zhi keenly noticed that many new graves had appeared in the mass graveyard.

Each new grave was marked with a long sword made of feathers and honey, and a new option appeared in the control panel for the graveyard.

[Ritual Skeleton: The skeletons of those who served as sacrifices. Though they became offerings, their courage earned them the recognition of the Aztecs. (9 per week)]

If it had been merely an additional nine skeletons each week, Liu Zhi might not have given it much thought. But after recruiting the ritual skeletons, he was astonished to discover they were not useless. Because their courage had earned them Aztec approval, they could participate in all Aztec military training.

And as it happened, Liu Zhi possessed an Aztec military training manual, specifically for training fledgling warriors among the Aztec Eagle Warriors.

[Eagle Warriors: A renowned unit among the three major Aztec warrior groups, famous for agile movement and flexible attacks. They wear eagle feathers, leap from treetops in the forest, and strike from unexpected heights, wielding the maquahuitl, light shields, and javelins as their primary weapons.]

[Eagle Warrior Promotion: Fledgling Warrior (Level 1, auxiliary troops) – Eagle Warrior (Level 5, formal troops) – Soaring Eagle Warrior (Level 10, elite troops) – Divine Eagle Warrior (Level 15, hero troops)]

With nothing better to do, Liu Zhi decided to use the ritual skeletons as training material. He found that training manuals differed from design blueprints: blueprints merely required construction, and new units would emerge weekly, ready to be equipped and deployed. Training manuals, however, only provided the training method; players had to arrange the venue themselves and ensure their subordinates followed the manual and completed specific tasks.

For instance, fledgling Eagle Warriors required proficiency with the maquahuitl (one-handed sword) at level 1, light shields at level 1, and javelin technique at level 1. They also had to be Aztecs or be recognized by the Aztecs.

Additionally, each trainee was required to hunt and kill a flying eagle, using its feathers to craft their own leather armor. As for weapons like the maquahuitl, they could be made by the warriors themselves or provided by the trainer.

Since Liu Zhi had time to spare, he began the training. Apart from being unable to find a flying eagle at present, all other aspects of training could proceed. His skeletal craftsmen were also idle and could help forge weapons.

Whether the fledgling Eagle Warriors would turn out as formidable as described remained to be seen.

When the ritual skeletons began their Eagle Warrior training, Liu Zhi realized that perhaps Leif had done him a favor after all. If more things like this happened, it would be even better.

So, he set his sights on the remaining two artifacts.

After recruiting and dispatching the nine ritual skeletons for training, Liu Zhi spent the afternoon returning to the pyramid to retrieve the mask and brought it into the Underworld Palace. The mask, too, dissolved into points of light and vanished. However, unlike the feathered sword, its disappearance brought no visible changes to the mass graveyard.

Instead, Liu Zhi experienced a sense of enlightenment: from that moment on, any undead generated within the Underworld Palace, regardless of their strength, would have a 1% mutation rate.

As to what these mutations might entail, Liu Zhi wasn't sure. He had a hunch that “mutation” referred to the kind seen in the Zol-something palaces, where muscles swelled grotesquely.

Still, this was no bad thing. Even if these muscle-bound undead weren’t much stronger, their appearance alone would make for impressive gatekeepers. Liu Zhi had already decided that, once his palace was complete, these mutated undead would be stationed at the gates—just their presence would be enough to frighten intruders away.

With this thought, Liu Zhi naturally turned his attention to the last artifact: the stone drum.

The stone drum, however, was located beneath the pyramid, and Liu Zhi would have to transport it to the top if he wanted to bring it into the Underworld Palace; otherwise, he would simply be transported to a random corner of the palace, while the drum remained where it was.

Thus, Liu Zhi left Vidnina in the Underworld Palace for another day and summoned several walking corpses to help. Relying on their immense strength and tireless stamina, he had them carry the stone drum upward. To prevent any accidents, Liu Zhi followed alongside as a guard.

Fortunately, while the walking corpses had no other special skills, they moved slowly and steadily. So long as Liu Zhi didn’t rush them, they were reliable enough. Four corpses handled the drum: one carried it, another supported from behind, and the other two steadied it from either side. Their progress was slow but problem-free, and soon they reached the second floor hall.

At that moment, Liu Zhi was suddenly seized by a sense of unease, as if something were calling him. After a moment’s thought, a notion flashed through his mind.

“You lot, carry the stone drum to the platform at the top of the pyramid and stay there. Guard it, and if anyone other than me approaches, deal with them.”

Then Liu Zhi pressed his hand to the altar at his waist, activated the teleportation to the Underworld Palace, and returned there instantly.

Inside, he found Vidnina wearing an expression of confusion. She was pointing toward the thick mist at the palace’s edge, watching something intently.

Liu Zhi landed at her side and carefully observed as well.

Soon, a ripple pulsed from deep within the fog, and a pale blue flame seemed to ignite within. There were two flames in total, standing like pillars of a gateway.

But Liu Zhi sensed something different. He glanced up at the pair of eyes in the sky, then compared them to the pale blue flames.

“This power doesn’t feel like that of the underworld. It seems more akin to the power of the sun.”