"Boom!"
As Su Lin heavily smashed the purgatory forge hammer onto the ground, the shockwave sent many experimental monsters flying into the sky.
Although it didn't directly kill them, the damage was quite high.
At least, Su Lin could finish off most monsters with one more swing.
A noble area-of-effect crowd control weapon.
The key was its infinite durability and mining efficiency comparable to a Netherite Pickaxe.
"It can be a weapon, it can be a pickaxe, and I don't have to worry about it breaking—"
Aelita pondered thoughtfully, then praised:
"What a sensible hammer."
The only thing to be careful about was to stay away from the person wielding the purgatory forge hammer, as its area damage didn't distinguish between friend and foe.
After dealing with all the monsters, Su Lin walked back, carrying the hammer.
"How about it? My Great Hammer Eighty skill is pretty amazing, right?"
"Amazing, amazing! Can I try it?"
Hilulele was the first to eagerly respond, her eyes sparkling with gold as she stared at the purgatory forge hammer.
Both its appearance and its effects struck a chord with her.
Hilulele felt that the purgatory forge hammer was even better than her own spiked club.
Su Lin casually handed it to Hilulele, telling her to go play with it a bit further away. Tashiniya, feeling playful, also followed.
Since the hammer wouldn't break, letting them play with it was harmless.
"Indeed, the purgatory forge hammer is very strong even without upgrading to a Void Forge Hammer."
Although she didn't like using a hammer, a weapon that greatly damaged a princess's image, it didn't stop Aelita from acknowledging the purgatory forge hammer's powerful combat capabilities.
Aelita felt she needed to urge the elves in the Nether to find the second Soul Forging Factory as soon as possible.
She might not use it, but in Hilulele's hands, this weapon would definitely be exceptionally effective.
Moreover, if she also wore the evil beast helmet, wouldn't she also be able to openly avoid combat?
Hilulele and the others in the distance were already playing wildly, even exchanging blows and sending each other flying.
Of course, Deconis wouldn't miss out on such masochistic fun.
Naturally, she didn't hit others; she only got hit by others.
Su Lin withdrew his gaze from the eccentric group and added:
"Actually, if my health drops to half, the purgatory forge hammer's shockwave will also apply a burning effect to entities."
"Then why didn't you test it just now, Brother Su Lin?"
After a moment of silence, Su Lin poked Lulu's demon chair horn and grumbled:
"First, why would I deliberately lose health when I'm perfectly fine? With my equipment and the Hydra's heart, these basic monsters can't even make me lose half my health."
"Even if I did lose health, I don't know if they'd burn, but you guys would definitely be sent flying!"
Saying that, Su Lin tapped the evil beast helmet on his head.
Lulu suddenly understood and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Su Lin, should we go back?"
Veronika seized the opportunity to ask.
The North Wind Cavalry Regiment had already entered the first layer and was waiting for her to make arrangements and sign a contract with Su Lin.
Arming the North Wind Cavalry Regiment as soon as possible would help stabilize the Kingdom of Lucania's situation faster.
Anyway, the remaining buildings hadn't been found yet, and Su Lin had said he would go back to rest after defeating the Netherite Alloy Behemoth, waiting for tomorrow's World's First Auction.
It was on the way.
Su Lin also went along with Veronika's wishes.
He summoned the Dragon Rider Army, gave a few instructions, and then called Aelita and the others to leave.
The North Wind Cavalry Regiment was training with the Arrows of Nature at the elven training base outside the first-layer town.
It was clear they were quite bewildered by the MC Dungeon they were in.
Everything here was too strange, the kind of things one would only dream of in a bizarre dream.
For example, they would never have imagined that the current Lion Fang Knight had upgraded to a Red Dragon Knight during his time away from the Kingdom of Lucania.
Should the codename Lion Fang Knight be changed in the future?
The inspection of the North Wind Cavalry Regiment had already concluded, and Su Lin didn't need to say anything more.
After all, their entry meant they had even passed the final test: the inspection by the Elven Queens guarding outside the MC portal.
Thus, signing the contract directly was sufficient.
After a few simple words of encouragement, the stage was Veronika's.
The valiant and refreshing blonde knight princess had returned.
"These are some Redstone Technology and the basic principles of Redstone blocks that Meluti and I learned at the Redstone Research Institute."
"This is the monster guide and crafting table Su Lin gave us, including most crafting recipes from the first to fourth layers."
"This is the Elven Kingdom MC Dungeon Development Manual I compiled, which contains their experience in development, construction, farming, exploration, and so on. You must thoroughly understand these and enter a state of development within seven days. Can you do it?"
Although Veronika's words were a question.
Her unyielding attitude was already very clear.
Su Lin glanced at Hilulele, who completely lacked queenly demeanor and was drooling while staring at his purgatory forge hammer.
As a close friend, had this girl really not learned any leadership qualities from Veronika?
Ultimately, the Elven Kingdom's spoiling of children had truly harmed her. The Lord Commander of the North Wind Cavalry Regiment took the manual, nodded without even looking at it, and said:
"Mission accomplished, sir!"
As the war machines of the Lion Fang Knight, they had to possess such ability and confidence.
"Very good."
Veronika nodded slightly and encouraged them:
"Once you successfully enter the fourth layer of the MC Dungeon, or even the fifth, I will arm all of you as Hippogryph, Wing, and Seahorse Knights."
"You might even become Dragon Riders like us!"
These words struck the knights like a bolt from the blue. Even though their emotions were slightly muted due to their profession, the North Wind Cavalry Regiment's eyes still burned with fervor.
They had seen those three types of magical beast cavalry too many times in the past few days.
As knights, it was impossible not to yearn for powerful combat mounts.
Not to mention the allure of the Dragon Rider Army. The North Wind Cavalry Regiment swallowed this burst of inspiration like hungry wolves.
"Lord Commander, rest assured, we will become the sharpest spear in your hand, piercing through the gloom of the Kingdom of Lucania!"
Veronika nodded with satisfaction.
She also arranged tasks for building the Kingdom of Lucania's Adventure Town and researching villager technology. She was truly splitting herself into ten people.
But there was no other way; the North Wind Cavalry Regiment was the only group she could fully trust in the Kingdom of Lucania now.
The rest were either infiltrated by the People of Shudrak or harbored various ulterior motives for progress.
She would absolutely not allow impure individuals to enter the MC Dungeon.
The North Wind Cavalry Regiment felt a lot of pressure, but the Lion Fang Knight's commands were absolute to them.
Even knowing the difficulties, they still bit the bullet, accepted the work, and eagerly threw themselves into training.
After all this, Su Lin and Hilulele went to see the Arrows of Nature again.
The massive force of five thousand people was getting familiar quickly; they would probably be able to enter the fourth and fifth layers in about three or four days.
But that was only temporarily sufficient; the recruitment plan couldn't stop.
After a quick tour, everyone returned to the Aetheram Continent with Su Lin.
Although Tashiniya and the others were somewhat reluctant to leave the more interesting MC Dungeon, tomorrow's World's First Auction was an event that absolutely could not be missed.
After much thought, Tashiniya comforted herself that it was just a holiday.
The next day.
Early in the morning, the area around the venue for the World's First Auction was already packed to the brim.
Not everyone had the qualifications to enter the venue, but that didn't stop them from waiting outside to join the excitement. There were real-time broadcasts on magic crystal screens outside the auction house. As adventurers who loved to join in on the fun, missing such a world-first event would be a lifelong regret.
Nearly a hundred thousand people were crammed together, many of whom hadn't slept last night out of excitement, and they were all hot-tempered adventurers.
There were many more instances of fighting at the slightest disagreement.
This continued until the Elven Kingdom's army arrived. The sky was filled with dense elven air forces, and Iron Golems, famous from the Doragon battlefield, appeared around the streets.
Numerous imposing Elven Elders from the Council of Sages stood in the air, their surging magic pressing down like a roaring ocean current.
At this moment, all the anger vanished.
All the adventurers became a family of brothers and sisters once more.
"So many people, Pope."
Tashiniya and the others, who had entered the secret private box early, peered out the window.
The bobbing heads looked like ants moving house.
"Steel Fangs, Circus, Blade of Annihilation—huh? Even the Starfall Hermitage is here. Haven't they retired for over ten years?"
Tashiniya rattled off names like a connoisseur. Every name she spoke belonged to a legendary adventure group that had once made a name for itself on the Aetheram Continent, leaving behind epic tales.
"It's quite normal."
Veronika smiled, seemingly in a good mood.
"The auction of legendary equipment alone is enough to bring these legendary adventure groups out of retirement, not to mention the divine-grade resources this time."
"However, their true intention is probably still for the MC Dungeon."
Tashiniya looked bewildered.
She didn't understand any of that; she only knew that today would be the grandest continental event in nearly a century.
There would be so much fun to watch!
Su Lin looked at Hilulele and said softly:
"I heard that the elite armies of various countries have already set up ambushes outside the Verdan Eternal Forest?"
"Yes, divine-grade resources, you know. Auctioning them off is just the beginning; whether they can be safely transported back is the main point."
Hilulele laughed carelessly, waving her hand:
"Don't worry, the Redstone Cannons are in position, and the Dragon Rider Army is patrolling. Moreover, with the strength we've recently shown, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble in our territory."
Su Lin had no doubt about this.
With the strength the Elven Kingdom now displayed, the various countries couldn't figure out their true power and dared not risk entering the Verdan Eternal Forest.
They weren't foolish.
If the Elven Kingdom could even sell divine-grade resources, wouldn't they have plenty themselves?
If the Elven Kingdom possessed a large quantity of divine-grade resources, did it mean that successive Elven Queens had successfully surpassed the limits on the Aetheram Continent?
After all, in recent years, there had been no fluctuations from the Celestial Realm's guiding laws.
A kingdom hiding an expert who had surpassed the continent's limits, with its foundational strength already superior to all other countries on the continent.
Who would dare to be the first to challenge them?
Su Lin looked at Lop beside him and nodded.
"Prepare. The World's First Auction can begin."
"Yes."
With that command, the sealed doors of the auction house roared open.
Countless adventure groups with invitations swarmed in.
Roughly estimated, the number certainly exceeded ten thousand.
Fortunately, the venue itself had spatial magic.
Mixed in with the crowd, the Golden Village Adventure Group entered the venue and quickly found their way to a small private box on the first floor.
As a former quasi-legendary adventure group with a three hundred million gold coin transaction record, they received some preferential treatment.
Gahaffa's gaze intently followed an ordinary-looking adventure team. After watching them enter a private box on the second floor and the door close, he snorted coldly.
"Those old geezers really came—"
He had seen an old acquaintance, the eldest son of the Ninth Elder of the Guild Council.
That was also an enemy he wished he could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin.
"Don't be rash."
Fatz whispered:
"There are Elven Elders from the Council of Sages patrolling the venue. Causing trouble here is certain death."
Gahaffa grumbled with hatred.
"After the auction, I'll go intercept that beast!"
Fatz held no hope for Gahaffa's plan.
Since the other party dared to come here, it meant they had made ample preparations for an escort. As for taking action within the Verdan Eternal Forest, starting a fight in the Elven Kingdom's territory right after the auction would be a direct slap in the face to the Elven Kingdom.
However, Fatz did not dissuade Gahaffa.
Sometimes, using someone else to kill could easily achieve one's goals.
Once these people, who had auctioned off goods but didn't stay in the Verdan Eternal Forest to await the opening of the MC Dungeon, left.
Regardless of whether they carried valuable items, they would inevitably be intercepted by the armies of various countries.
They only needed to use their brains a little.
The initially quiet venue was now bustling, and a fervent atmosphere swept over everyone.
It wasn't until Lop, dressed in a pristine Elder's robe, meticulously neat, arrived a short while later that the atmosphere gradually quieted down.
The true storm was beginning to brew—
As the most respectable person in the Elven Kingdom.
No one was more suitable than him to preside over this World's First Auction.
And Lop's role as auctioneer intensified the oppressive atmosphere of the auction. For this auction, the Elven Kingdom had dispatched its Grand Elder.
This showed the Elven Kingdom's seriousness regarding this auction.
Lop's gaze swept over all the adventurers, finally exchanging a look with Su Lin and the others watching from the top floor.
He raised his small hammer and brought it down heavily on the auction stand.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Elven Kingdom's—World's First Auction!"