The rarity of adventurers has led to a gradual reduction in the secondary professions like blacksmiths, apothecaries, and guilds that usually follow in their footsteps.
The world is bustling, all for the sake of profit.
"Let’s go."
Gauss gently said to Albena beside him.
"Okay."
Albena took one last look around the blacksmith shop, then turned to follow Gauss and the others.
The group didn’t linger and walked straight towards the north gate of Gold and Silver Town.
Guild Leader Jon, along with some others, was already waiting here in advance.
"Safe travels, brother Gauss."
Gauss had already informed him yesterday that he would be leaving this morning, so his presence here didn’t surprise him.
"Thanks, when Ying returns to find us, I’ll trouble you, Captain Jon, to inform her of our travel route."
"Leave it to me." Jon nodded.
"Then we shall set off."
The route for Gauss and his team was still to continue northward from Gold and Silver Town.
Actually, even without Jon’s help, Ying herself roughly knew their planned route.
With her scouting ability, she could catch up quickly as soon as she finishes her cultivation.
Gauss mounted the chocobo.
At the city gate, there were quite a few citizens who came to observe and bid farewell.
Adventurers like Gauss, handsome and with extraordinary presence, are quite a rare sight in places like Gold and Silver Town.
Furthermore, Gauss and his party had just eliminated a potential threat themselves, so residents naturally held them in high regard.
"Goodbye!"
Gauss waved towards Guild Leader Jon and the many civilians.
Then, amidst a chorus of blessings, he gently spurred the chocobo’s belly and gradually rode out through the north gate, leaving the silhouette of Gold and Silver Town behind.
"Clip-clop-clop—"
The sound of the chocobo’s hooves was light and rhythmic.
Fields and forests replaced the town houses along the road, as fresh air rushed in, filled with the scent of earth and greenery.
"Blue Lake is not far ahead. I heard the scenery is beautiful, but I wonder if it’s true."
Aaliyah rode her bird alongside Gauss, her tone imbued with anticipation.
A significant reason she chose to become an adventurer was that this profession allowed her to witness many new landscapes, unlike ordinary town residents who are confined to one place by property, work, and relationships.
The more powerful the adventurer, the broader the lands they can tread.
Towns, cities, provinces, kingdoms, and even other continents with distinct customs and cultures.
And the Blue Lake she mentioned was the first notable landmark since Gauss set out from Gold and Silver Town.
According to the map, it should be a large lake, surrounded by dense villages, and even several flourishing towns.
"Indeed, the scenery is beautiful," Albena replied upon hearing.
She was straightforward, quick to feel, and quick to forget, and now she had completely moved on from the slight sadness of departure.
With half a local’s confirmation, Aaliyah was even more excited.
The next two days were spent on the road.
As the group continued forward, the moisture in the air gradually thickened.
Passing through a dense cedar forest shrouded in mist, the view suddenly opened up!
A vast, seemingly ocean-like giant blue lake emerged, like a colossal sapphire set in the wide earth, abruptly before everyone’s eyes.
The water was clear and bright, glistening with ripples under the sunlight.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t solely due to sunlight refraction; the water contained many luminous small points, rendering the lake serene and beautiful, as if it embraced the sky.
"Wow! It’s really gorgeous!" Aaliyah couldn’t help but exclaim.
Beholding this expansive and beautiful scenery, she felt the wait of over two days had been worthwhile.
Even her breathing seemed to ease significantly.
As a Druid, she naturally preferred vibrant natural settings full of life force.
"No wonder Gold and Silver Town has declined..."
Gauss shook his head and sighed.
If he had a choice, he would also choose to reside in such a place of lush mountains and blue waters, rather than Gold and Silver Town, blanketed with yellow sand due to excessive mining.
The vitality of a town and region is often apparent at first glance.
This was also the first relatively affluent area Gauss encountered after leaving Sen City.
As Gauss and his team were admiring the scenery.
Gauss faintly heard a couple of distant shouts in the wind.
"Seems like something’s happening."
Gauss whispered.
"Let’s go check it out," Aaliyah nodded in agreement.
Gauss and the others approached.
Soon they located the source of the sound.
On the riverside, a group of young faces are battling with a pack of Water Ghosts on a reed-filled shoal.
Judging by their appearance, they look a lot younger than Gauss and the others, probably only fifteen or sixteen years old.
"Hey, they are rookie Adventurers."
Aaliyah blinked.
In the distance, it’s a group of two men and two women.
A young Half-Beastman Warrior wielding a long sword, a young girl Mage waving a Magic Staff from behind the Warrior, a purple-haired female Archer hastily shooting arrows from afar, and a tall Priest providing healing light to the frontline Warrior.
"It seems like there’s no teamwork at all," Albena commented.
It’s apparent that the group in the distance is a rookie Adventurer Squad, extremely unfamiliar with teamwork, evidently just starting out.
Under the attack of a pack of Water Ghosts, the squad members are scrambling, gradually being pushed towards the river.
"Luo De, heal me!"
"Wait! Wait a moment!"
"Mira, you almost hit me with an arrow!"
"Sorry!"
The squad is filled with panicked shouts.
Yet surprisingly, they can still maintain the situation.
The reason, of course, is that their raw strength is considerably superior to the Water Ghosts.
They just lack experience, hence the panic, leading to a performance where 1 + 1 is less than 1 in effect.
Gauss looked at the chaotic scene in the distance and couldn’t help but shake his head.
Their starting point is actually high, but panic and lack of teamwork are preventing them from utilizing their true strength.
"Should we step in and help?" Serdur inquired.
Each of them had the capability to easily handle the creatures in the distance.
"Let’s observe a bit more," Gauss wasn’t in a hurry to intervene.
Because this Adventurer Squad can still hold on, such "close calls" are crucial adventures for the young novice Adventurers.
People learn from experiences, not just from being taught by others. An event can teach a person, and one encounter is enough.
Following Gauss’s instruction, the squad members sat quietly on the embankment, observing the "chaotic" battle.
The battlefield on the riverbank was full of danger, yet maintained a decent balance.
Until...
A slightly larger Water Ghost, more cunning in its movements, suddenly sprang sideways from the reed bushes, bypassing the Half-Beastman Warrior in front, and its sharp claws targeted the young girl Mage preparing a trick.
"Pello! Be careful!"
Finally, Gauss took action.
He quickly flew up.
In the blink of an eye, a deep red Flaming Arrow was formed.
"Whoosh!"
The Flaming Arrow crossed a forty-meter distance instantly, piercing down through the chest of the cunning Water Ghost just before its claws could touch the girl.
"Splat!"
The flame’s power was controlled well, not exploding outward.
Instead, carrying strong kinetic energy, the Water Ghost was firmly pinned down in the shallows.
Pello screamed in fright at the sudden attack, paralyzed on the ground, with warm, dirty blood staining her face, looking like a startled deer.
Her companions, seeing she was safe, breathed a sigh of relief.
Grinding their teeth, they engaged in combat with the monsters in front of them.
Gauss, standing in the sky, couldn’t help but nod.
Indeed, people need a stimulus to make changes.
Realizing that the monsters almost killed their partner, their previously tense minds relaxed greatly, and their actions became more decisive and fluid.
Even the frightened Mage stood up from the ground, continuing to cast acid tricks to assist her companions.
After regrouping, the cohesive Adventurer Squad soon gained the upper hand with their greater strength.
Each Water Ghost quickly fell under their long swords, arrows, and magic.
Aaliyah curiously glanced at Gauss who slowly descended to the ground.
Did he only kill one?
To be honest, that’s not like Gauss.
She originally thought their leader would slaughter all the Water Ghosts.
After all, in her understanding, Gauss had an obsession with killing monsters, which was known by everyone in the squad.
As if guessing Aaliyah’s thoughts.
Gauss shook his head and chuckled.
"I’m not so desperate as to take monsters from rookie Adventurers."
Only over ten Water Ghosts were nothing compared to him, who had already slain more than seven thousand monsters.
But for rookie Adventurers, this was a crucial battle.
He naturally couldn’t interfere.