Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard” Chapter 641: The Meeting of the Second Frontline

Second Frontline.

The Chaos Alliance Strategy Conference Room buzzed with activity.

Seven high-ranking officials had convened, their focus fixed on charting the strategic course and deliberating crucial matters for the Second Frontline.

Each of these seven was a powerhouse, a Chaos Dominator who had ascended to the seventy-second tier, practically touching the current cultivation limit. Their innate potential was largely spent; only by accumulating substantial contributions could they possibly secure a chance to rebuild their foundations within the sprawling Chaos Alliance.

"The Scavengers' offensive is relentlessly fierce right now, placing us at a noticeable disadvantage," the First Speaker, Ying Wenzheng, initiated the discussion. "We've already witnessed over seventy breaches of the frontline, allowing Scavengers to infiltrate the Third Frontline. This situation demands our utmost seriousness! Does anyone possess ideas for improvement?"

The Third Speaker, overseeing reserve forces, knit his brows upon hearing this. "It's true that the Third Frontline's recent troop replenishment has been slightly below average, a decrease of merely three percent. However, the core issue lies in the alarmingly high mortality rate among our frontline soldiers."

The First Speaker emphasized, "You must ensure the recruitment and training of reserve forces are executed effectively, at least bringing them back to previous levels."

"I will address this upon my return," the Third Speaker affirmed with a nod.

Ying Wenzheng turned his gaze to the others. "Old Fifth, the soldiers' mortality rate appears to have climbed by a significant five percentage points. What exactly is the cause?"

The Fifth Speaker let out a heavy sigh. "There's little we can do. The pressure from the First Frontline is cascading down. The Scavengers have bolstered their strength, inherently leading to a higher mortality rate for our soldiers."

"Currently, the most critical factor in reducing this mortality rate is enhancing the soldiers' overall strength," Ying Wenzheng stated. "While improving comprehension of Chaos True Intent is paramount, it's also the most challenging path. For short-term strength boosts, we must rely on resources such as Chaos Jade, potent elixirs, and Dominator Artifacts."

He paused, then directed his inquiry towards the Seventh Speaker. "Old Seventh, concerning the alchemists and artificers at our disposal, are they capable of providing a greater quantity of elixirs and Dominator Artifacts?"

"The alchemists and artificers within the military are already operating at peak capacity," replied the Seventh Speaker. "My suggestion is to recruit additional skilled personnel from the civilian sector, or alternatively, to increase our procurement quotas."

Ying Wenzheng surveyed the assembly. "I propose bolstering our logistical support, enhancing mission rewards, increasing civilian procurement, elevating the status of esteemed masters like alchemists and artificers, and crucially, unlocking more legacies and ancient scriptures. What are everyone's thoughts on this?"

"Agreed!" echoed the sentiments around the room.

Thus, following a thorough discussion among the seven high-ranking officials, a multitude of proposals were systematically issued.

...

The Old City Lord finally concluded the refinement of the recently acquired Seven Stars Myriad Annihilation Sword.

With an effortless motion, he unleashed a sword strike. The resulting Sword Light cleaved through the Nothingness, its power surging more than tenfold compared to its previous capabilities!

And this was merely a casual display. Should he unleash his full might, the upper limit of power he could wield would be exponentially greater!

True-Grade weapons were, indeed, terrifyingly potent!

"This sword itself possesses an amplification effect, capable of boosting my techniques out of thin air. Its base amplification is twofold. If I can fully grasp the Chaos Dao Patterns embedded within, it has the potential to increase my strength by up to a thousand times!"

"Furthermore, this sword demonstrably amplifies speed, which, in turn, indirectly enhances my overall combat effectiveness!"

The Old City Lord marveled once more at the sword's incredible power.

His strength had undergone a comprehensive and significant enhancement.

Should he face a Scavenger tide similar to the one encountered before, he alone could decisively handle four of their leaders, completely negating the need for any external assistance!

"Second Frontline..."

The Old City Lord's gaze sharpened with renewed purpose. He felt an undeniable urge to return to the Second Frontline, to test his newfound might. This time, he vowed, he would not be forced into a disorderly retreat to the Third Frontline.

With this thought, he fell into deep contemplation once more.

"The position of City Lord is typically filled by seasoned veterans from the Second Frontline who have stepped down, requiring a minimum cultivation of the fortieth tier; the lowest being the thirty-ninth tier. If I were to apply for a position at the Second Frontline now, waiting for a suitable candidate to step down would likely entail a considerable wait. I cannot afford such a delay!"

At this precise moment, a previous proposal resurfaced in his mind: the idea of appointing Master Seven Stars to the City Lord position. The fact that he could forge a forty-fifth tier Dominator Artifact was irrefutable proof of his formidable capabilities. Applying to the Alliance to transfer the City Lord position to Master Seven Stars would undoubtedly be approved, given his demonstrated prowess."

However, Su Yuan was not a veteran of the Alliance, and thus, their approval was not guaranteed.

"Let's submit the application and see!"

After a moment of thought, the Old City Lord promptly retrieved the City Lord Seal and submitted the application for a transfer of authority to the higher authorities.

To his utter disbelief, the application was approved with remarkable ease.

"Huh? That simple?"

The Old City Lord was truly astonished.

He was unaware that the Second Frontline was facing a severe shortage of combat personnel. An application from a forty-fifth tier veteran seeking to re-enlist would naturally be fast-tracked, as this represented crucial combat power for their forces.

Entrusting the City Lord position to an artificer, who lacked combat expertise, also served to redeploy valuable fighting strength. Although standard procedures were usually required, this instance saw immediate approval.

Consequently, Su Yuan received an invitation from the Old City Lord to visit the City Lord's Mansion.

"Master Seven Stars, the responsibility of Black Flame City now falls to you!"

The Old City Lord presented the City Lord Seal to Su Yuan.

Su Yuan appeared taken aback. "City Lord Yan Feng, are you serious about this?"

The Old City Lord chuckled heartily. "As we discussed before, if my own strength were adequate, I would have no reason to accept this comfortable City Lord post. Now, with a True-Grade weapon in my possession and my cultivation significantly enhanced, I am eager to return to the battlefield, fight alongside my comrades, and strive for greater heights."

Su Yuan expressed some hesitation. "Are you sure I can take over the City Lord position? I am just an ordinary individual."

The Old City Lord simply waved his hand. "If someone at the forty-fifth tier like yourself is considered ordinary, then what are the rest of us?"

He added with a smile, "The City Lord's duties are generally minimal, and one still receives a portion of the city's tax revenue. The primary responsibilities are handled by the three Deputy City Lords. If you wish to avoid deployment to the Second Frontline, this position is an excellent opportunity. It can exempt you from conscription and even provide you with some Chaos Jade!"

Su Yuan let out a sigh. "In that case, I accept!"

"Haha, excellent!" The Old City Lord let out a booming laugh. "Proceed with the refinement right here and now!"

Su Yuan placed his palm upon the City Lord Seal with ease. With Yan Feng's cooperation, the transfer of the City Lord authority proceeded without a hitch.

Yan Feng provided Su Yuan with a comprehensive explanation of the City Lord's key responsibilities. He then stated, "Since you now have a grasp of the duties, I must prepare for my departure. Should any questions arise, feel free to reach out to me via the Alliance Token."

With that, the Old City Lord began gathering his belongings from the City Lord's Mansion. Accompanied by his loyal retainers, he then stepped onto the iridescent Rainbow Bridge, commencing his journey towards the Second Frontline.

Witnessing the Old City Lord's decisive and swift departure, Su Yuan found himself unsure whether to laugh or cry.

The three Deputy City Lords promptly made their way to the City Lord's Mansion. The instant they saw Su Yuan, they sensed the distinct aura of the City Lord emanating from him.

All three were utterly astonished.

"Greetings, City Lord Seven Stars!" Jia Jicheng, who was the quickest to react, immediately offered a respectful bow.

The other two Deputy City Lords, as if abruptly awakened from a trance, quickly followed suit and paid their respects.

Su Yuan gestured dismissively. "Maintain the previous arrangements. There's no need to summon me unless it concerns a matter of great importance!"

At that precise moment, the City Lord Seal suddenly exerted a pulling force, drawing a sliver of Su Yuan's consciousness into itself.