NEC Chapter 84: Traditional Weapons, Idle Void Chanting

The territorial documents were sent to the Emerald Duchy, awaiting the sovereign's approval and proclamation to all kingdoms, which would take some time.

Chen Mo took this opportunity to handle several important matters in Emerald City. For this, Chen Mo once again activated the Sacrificial Altar, setting up an eight-channel split.

Let me organize the main problems that currently needed solving.

First, the Earl showed some interest in modern weapons, so a small trade could be made.

Second, find a magic teacher to maintain crucial cultivation progress.

Third, assemble a basic team, as he couldn't go build castles on the beach all by himself.

The first matter was easy to handle.

After careful consideration and incorporating Chen Mo's personal suggestions, East Xia sent several new "traditional weapons" to the Starry Continent.

Since the Marquis said he was very interested in weapons from otherworldly mechanical lords and wanted to study and reference them, naturally they couldn't make things too difficult.

Simple weapons were convenient to crack and replicate. If you gave them a high-tech chip, they couldn't replicate it anyway, right?

First were firearms, the Type 53 rifle for infantry and cavalry. The name alone revealed its vintage.

Infantry could use it, cavalry could use it, perfect for use after reverse engineering.

Single-shot bolt-action rifle, manual shell ejection and loading, high power, long range. Chen Mo just didn't know from which corner East Xia had dug this up, as it smelled quite strongly of rust prevention oil.

Next was the Type 67 wooden-handled hand grenade. Apparently, they originally wanted to send Type 51 to make a nostalgic set with the Type 53 rifle, but unfortunately couldn't find any that still functioned properly, so they had to settle for second best.

Compared to current egg-shaped grenades, the Type 67 had two significant advantages: wood was easily sourced, and it could be thrown incredibly far!

Perfect for Starry Continent needs. You couldn't say East Xia wasn't considerate.

Finally, a mini civilian drone, an e-commerce platform model with a simple camera.

These three items perfectly corresponded to the three major "weapons" Chen Mo used most frequently on his journey: armor-piercing sniper rifle, thermobaric grenades, and the [Skylark] drone.

Well, there was just a slight difference in power.

Anyway, the companions who had journeyed with Chen Mo were basically all dead, the enemies who had experienced their power were also dead, and the only surviving witness, Lady Frost, had only used the sniper rifle. Who says a sniper rifle isn't a single-shot rifle?

Chen Mo soon felt gratified by his cautious behavior.

The broad-shouldered, thick-waisted guard captain at the Earl's manor examined the Type 53 rifle up and down, revealing a disdainful expression.

Listen to what he said: "No spiritual energy reserves, at most the level of a dwarven master-grade firearm."

When the captain directly removed his leg armor, exposing his square-muscled thigh, and unhesitatingly fired a shot at it, Chen Mo believed he had definitely done the right thing.

These guys were too bold and too confident.

If he had given them an aluminum-magnesium incendiary round, what if they swallowed it to play fire-spitting lotus tricks?

After evaluation, the city lord's manor accepted the Type 53 rifle and Type 67 wooden-handled grenades, preparing to have their master craftsmen study them. As for the drone, their assessment was: "Not as good as a goshawk, just a toy."

Of course, they paid Chen Mo a sufficiently generous fee, which Chen Mo unceremoniously accepted, as it would be perfect for hiring people next.

Having smoothly completed the first matter, the second gave Chen Mo a rude awakening.

Cloudmist Domain completely followed the suggestions of former Seventh Guard Captain Paven. The deputy city guard of Cloudmist City personally accompanied Chen Mo to visit many idle mages of various ranks in the city, including two renowned first-circle archmages.

Unfortunately, though they were initially courteous and treated him with propriety, once they heard it was for a "Saltwater Flats" retainer position, they declined faster than the next.

Chen Mo offered heavy payment, and they expressed gratitude but claimed poor health made distant travel difficult.

Chen Mo promised to build magic towers for them, and they replied that their families were all in Emerald City, making it hard to part, and they wouldn't adapt to foreign climates, expressing deep regret.

Chen Mo even desperately stated that conditions were negotiable, and they politely responded that their main need was city living.

You couldn't blame people for preferring comfort zones. First, mages called "idle" were those who neither built their own magic towers nor joined existing ones. These people belonged to the "low career ambition" and "weak money desire" types.

What use were flowery promises from an unknown lord with barren, harsh territory?

Chen Mo could only believe in the principle that sincerity could move mountains and split stones, visiting different homes daily, bringing gifts and seasonal delicacies.

However, people couldn't chat with him idly every day, so coming and going, he became most familiar with a former fifth-tier Void Chanter named Glen Downs.

Master Downs was an elemental mage specializing in water magic. The reason for saying "former fifth-tier" was that mage realms weren't fixed, they could cultivate upward but also fall downward.

This master was a wandering adventurer in his youth, traveling far and wide, having stayed with many mercenary groups, claiming to have seen worldly changes and human warmth and coldness.

According to the deputy city guard's private introduction, Master Downs apparently had a painful experience of being abandoned by his wife, since then seeing through worldly vanity. Just past forty, he returned to his Cloudmist Domain hometown, holing up alone in a lakeside residence, spending his days watering flowers, fishing, indulging in nature, and ignoring worldly affairs.

The deputy city guard specifically reminded him, "Although Master Glen Downs' former certified ranking was fifth-tier Void Chanter, since Master Downs neither holds magical office nor takes mercenary missions, he hasn't had re-evaluation in many years."

"After so many years of neglect, no one knows his true level. According to our lord's mage advisor's guess, he probably can't even maintain fourth-tier strength now."

"I must explain this point to Mr. Chen."

"But regardless, having once been a high-tier mage, he has the vision, knowledge, and spell models. If you only want magical instruction, he might not be a bad choice."

The reasoning was sound, but the man couldn't be persuaded.

Though only middle-aged, his disheveled long hair was nearly half gray, tangled with messy beard, making him look like an old dog with matted fur.

Since this "old man" had no family and sufficient leisure, each time Chen Mo visited he wouldn't be rushed out by various distractions. Most of the time, he could only quietly accompany the old man fishing.

The old man loved fishing but was terrible at it. However, he had good fishing ethics, being a water mage who firmly refused to use magic.

Only when fish took the bait and he frantically reeled in could you glimpse the old man's water magic flowing like a fleeting shadow.

Whenever he caught fish, the old man's mood improved greatly, and he would chat with Chen Mo for a while, mostly teaching fishing insights, occasionally giving some magical cultivation guidance.

But the frequency was so slow that Chen Mo wanted to dive down and hook fish for the old man himself.

After spending an entire afternoon casting rods and feeding fish with the old gentleman, Chen Mo returned to his lodging at evening and once again summoned Sacrificial Altar.

Soon, East Xia's security departments immediately mobilized, beginning to knock on doors everywhere.

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