Zhang Nu returned to the Darkness City. The first thing he did was to build the Resurrection Altar.
[Consume "Blueprint: Demon King's Resurrection Altar" ×1, "Gold" ×50 million, "Life Gems" ×5000, "Undeath Gems" ×5000, "Spirit Gems" ×5000, "Soul Gems" ×4000, and "Level 5 Souls" ×10 to construct the Demon King's Resurrection Altar?]
This was probably the most expensive facility Zhang Nu had ever constructed. However, without hesitation, he decided to proceed. Not to mention the considerable number of gems he had received in the past few days, just one trip to the Mountains of Madness had provided enough materials for the construction. As for the surplus soul gems and spirit gems, they were crucial strategic reserves. Compared to elemental gems, these gems were exceptionally rare.
"Construct!"
Near the Demon King's Altar, a magic formation appeared on the ground. After a few seconds of vibration, a mysterious facility slowly emerged. Unlike other altars, the structure of the Resurrection Altar was peculiar. It was one-third the height of the Demon King's Altar, and in the center, there was a pool. However, it was not filled with water but a blood-red energy, exuding a mysterious aura.
[Resurrection Altar construction successful!]
[Your soul is bound to the altar!]
Finally, done at last! With this altar, as long as sufficient materials were reserved, Zhang Nu was practically immortal! Unless someone managed to kill him while simultaneously destroying both the Demon King's Castle and the Resurrection Altar, there was no way to kill this great Demon King. Now, Zhang Nu could be more bold and fearless. He could venture into even more dangerous places, challenge greater and more perilous beings, all without worrying about losing his soul. Why? Because Zhang Nu's soul was bound to the Resurrection Altar. Only by killing him and destroying the altar simultaneously could someone obtain his soul.
Of course, given Zhang Nu's current strength and his usual cautious and prudent approach, he believed he might not have many opportunities to use this altar himself. It was more prepared for his subordinates. With this altar, his troops could be bolder. While the resurrection cost for advanced units might be high, the basic unit's resurrection cost was generally much lower than the cost of summoning and training them from scratch. This significantly reduced the losses in every battle for the Darkness City.
Not bad, not bad at all.
Currently, Zhang Nu still had 110 million gold. In terms of the Chaos Federation's financial situation, even with the high daily expenditure, the net income remained above 3.5 million gold daily and was rapidly increasing. It was expected that in a few days, the income could break through to 4 to 5 million. With plenty of gold in hand and a steadily growing financial income, Zhang Nu was incredibly satisfied with his current situation.
Zhang Nu decided to further enhance the high-end combat power to lay the foundation for expanding the Chaos Federation's territory. In front of the Demon King's altar, he recruited seven abyssal dragons. Waves after waves of imposing aura swept across the area, dragons of various colors and abilities emerged from the summoning portal, landing around the Demon King and bowing respectfully.
"Hail, my master!" they proclaimed in unison.
Zhang Nu inspected these new subordinates: two fiery red dragons, two aquatic blue dragons, a pristine white dragon, a verdant green dragon, and a sturdy yellow dragon. Assigning them names from Long Si to Long Shi, he took their elemental attributes into account. Red denoted fire, blue symbolized water, green represented wind, yellow stood for earth, and white indicated ice.
This time, there were no dragons with particularly rare attributes. The slightly unique one was Long Shi, a white dragon with an icy-blue hue reminiscent of a millennia-old ice crystal. This was an ice-element dragon, a subcategory of water-element dragons. While water-element dragons had excellent ice magic, ice-element dragons had more potent ice attack abilities, granting them more potential for growth.
Following a round of Demon King baptism, these dragons were elevated to the advanced stages of Level 5. Zhang Nu issued his orders with authority, "Your mission is to collaborate closely with the three Dragon Kings and aid the Shadow City in its conquests and territorial expansion!"
"Yes! My master!"
"We will not disappoint you!"
The seven abyssal dragons acknowledged the orders and swiftly arrived at the frontline. The three Dragon Kings were delighted to receive the support of their fellow kin.
Long Yi spoke, "Your timing is impeccable. We are about to launch an assault on Kregi City. You newcomers will have the chance to distinguish yourselves in this battle."
Upon hearing this, the seven newly arrived dragons were filled with enthusiasm. They had not expected to have an opportunity to prove themselves so soon after their arrival.
On that day, in the evening, in the city of Kregi. This city was the main stronghold of a marquisate, located at the southern border of the Thunder Empire, closest to the Chaos Forest. Kregi was a bustling city with a population of over a million, serving as a vital hub in the southern territories of the empire. Not only did it hold significant military value, but it was also economically prosperous. From the center of Kregi, several other baronies and viscounties radiated outward. Among them, the territory of Colo was situated just south of Kregi, sharing a border of less than two hundred miles. This region was a necessary passage for the Chaos Federation's advance into the southern territories of the empire.
At this moment, news about the events in Colo had already spread throughout Kregi. The renowned and feared Marquis Kregi had fallen on the battlefield. The shadows of the three titans from Darkness City, rulers of the Chaos Federation, had cast a pall over the region. Within a few days, adventurers, mercenaries, and merchant caravans had started fleeing the city. The once lively and bustling main city of Kregi now felt oppressive and subdued. Soldiers patrolled the streets, and the main city was surrounded by a hundred thousand strong city defense force, with an additional twenty thousand knights from the Kregi family remaining vigilant.
The eldest son of Marquis Kregi, young Kregi, had assumed control of the family estate unexpectedly. He had not even completed the traditional successor trials of the Kregi family yet, but circumstances had thrust him into this position of power. Normally, this would have been a cause for celebration and a dream come true. However, at this moment, young Kregi could not find any joy in his newfound status.
Eighty percent of Marquis Kregi's retainers and advisors, people who had admired and respected the marquis, had deserted. Among them were exceptional individuals—top-tier adventurers, skilled swordsmen, and mages of remarkable talent—who had enjoyed the marquis's hospitality. However, as soon as the marquis had fallen, these people had scattered like birds fleeing a fallen tree.
"Hasn't the empire sent reinforcements yet? Continue seeking aid from Grand Duke Bachor!"
Young Kregi was extremely anxious. "With the current number of troops we have, if the forces from the Darkness City arrive, we are done for!"
Having just taken over as the lord, he did not want his rule to end so abruptly under the influence of the accursed Demon King from the Chaos Forest.
"Rest assured," the elders of the Kregi family assured him. "The fifth wave of messengers has been dispatched. We believe there will be a response from the Bachor City soon."
However, deep down, they all knew the reality. Grand Duke Bachor had suffered significant losses in this battle. It would be challenging for him to mobilize his forces again in the short term, especially considering that nearly all of the five legions in the nearby regions had been decimated. Whether they called for reinforcements from Bahoel City or from even farther territories in the south, it would take time. Given the current circumstances, it was unlikely they would receive substantial support within ten days. Could Kregi even hold out for more than ten days in its current state?
Just then, a servant rushed in frantically, "My lord, esteemed elders, there's a major problem! The dragons from the Chaos Forest are attacking the city!"
"What?!" Upon hearing this news, the faces of everyone present turned gravely pale.
As young Kregi rushed out of the lord's castle, he could sense the approaching oppressive pressure. At least ten dragons, each between fifty and a hundred meters in size, were hovering in the sky above the main city of Kregi. There were dragons of red, green, blue, yellow, and white hues. Every single one of these massive dragons exuded tremendous pressure. Leading them was a black dragon, its body extending over eighty meters, emanating an aura of death and darkness. It continuously exuded an air of royal authority.
"I am the Dark Dragon King of the Chaos Forest! I declare that from this day forth, this place shall become the territory of the Chaos Federation! You insignificant ants are given one chance to surrender. Those who resist will face only death!"
It was absolutely horrifying! Who had ever seen so many dragons, let alone abyssal dragons? The aura emanating from the Dark Dragon King sent the entire city into a panic.
Young Kregi roared, "You savage vermin! How dare you invade the Kregi family's territory! You will pay dearly for this!"
"Quick! Stop them! We must not surrender to the Demon King! The glory of the empire's territories and the Kregi family is sacred and inviolable!"
The Dark Dragon King observed the city's defense forces, mage units, and knights of the Kregi family gathering. He chuckled coldly, "Good, very good. Since you don't know your place, I will show you what true despair means!"
Ten massive dragons simultaneously launched their attack. Despite the city's defensive barriers being several times stronger than those of Kolo City, stopping a monarch-class dragon and nine true dragons was nearly impossible. Furthermore, at the same time as the attack, a force of five thousand draconian soldiers arrived on the battlefield. Though their numbers were small, they were all flying units. Regular infantry could not fly, but all five thousand of these soldiers were all super soldiers, possessing formidable combat capabilities.
Within moments, Kregi's protective barrier was shattered.
"The dragons are here!"
"Run, everyone!"
"Don't kill me!"
"We surrender willingly!"
Chaos engulfed the entire Kregi as its citizens trembled under the shadow. Long Shi swooped down, breathing out not flames but an icy breath that froze the entire street within moments. Hundreds of mages were turned into ice sculptures. Other dragons attacked the city, breathing out flames and lightning, planting dread into Kregi's forces.
It was dire. They could not hold on. The power disparity was too great. Just as Young Kregi was about to flee, the Dark Dragon King teleported right before him. Young Kregi hurriedly knelt down, "I surrender, I'm willing to surrender. Spare my life, and I will offer everything—Kregi City and the entire Kregi family—to you, my lord."
"Too late. After killing you, all these will belong to the Darkness City."
In a wail of despair, young Kregi was consumed by black flames. Amidst his screams, he was swiftly reduced to ashes by the unquenchable magical fire, leaving nothing but a few remnants.
After killing this temporary lord, Long Yi cleaned up over two thousand core members of the Kregi family. The entire main branch of the Kregi family was annihilated under the merciless flames of the Dark Dragon King. Then, a collateral branch was captured. Long Yi planned to repeat his past strategy. He intended to support this collateral branch of the Kregi family, allowing these previously neglected relatives to take control. This way, the entire Kregi family could be easily integrated into the system of the Chaos Federation.
With the main city easily breached, other cities were now being attacked by random forces led by anyone. In at most three or four days, the entire Kregi territory would be fully occupied by the forces of the Chaos Federation. This would pave the way for a full-scale assault on the empire. Numerous cities, vast territories, abundant lands, and countless people were awaiting the conquest and plunder by the Demon King. However, the Demon King did not even need to step out into the light. He only had to stay in his castle and wait for the victories to flow in."