The three pushed open the door and entered the room, which was dim, with a faint smell of decay permeating the air.
Hader tentatively stepped forward: "Withering Shadow, a Lord wants to hire you."
Withering Shadow, hidden in the shadows, replied in a low, hoarse voice: "I understand, lead the way."
"This place is really gloomy. Do you usually stay here?" Iron Fist frowned, looking around.
Withering Shadow slowly emerged from the shadows. She was not tall, a head shorter than Black Wolf and Iron Fist. Her face was covered by her hood, and her voice was very low, almost imperceptible: "A quiet place, suitable for contemplation."
"Since everyone is here, let's go meet this mysterious Lord together," Hader suggested, not daring to waste time.
"Yes, don't keep the Lord waiting," Black Wolf echoed.
Withering Shadow also nodded slightly: "Let's go."
The four filed out, passing through the narrow corridor, their footsteps echoing on the stone walls.
Other Adventurers they passed looked at the four with curious eyes, especially noticing that the three famous Adventurers were being led by Hader, the steward, together, which immediately surprised them.
"Why are those three together?"
"A Lord must have hired them."
"Hired all three at once?"
"Impossible, where would a new Lord get so much money?"
"Maybe it's a noble Descendant from some family!"
...
Lu Xuan sat alone in the room, checking the time. 20 minutes had already passed.
"Still not here? A bit slow."
He couldn't help but complain.
Just then, the door opened, and Hader returned with the three Adventurers.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
"Lord, these are the Adventurers you hired."
Withering Shadow stood at the very front, her face hidden by her hood. From beneath the hood came a low, hoarse female voice: "Greetings, Lord."
This Adventurer is a bit mysterious, and she's a woman.
Lu Xuan thought to himself, while smiling on the surface: "There's no need to be so polite, I'll have to trouble you all with work from now on."
"Not at all, it's our honor as Adventurers to be able to assist the Lord."
Black Wolf and Iron Fist quickly said.
Hader then said: "Lord, you can now take them back to your Dungeon."
Lu Xuan nodded, turned to the three Adventurers, and said: "Everyone, we will depart now for my Dungeon."
...
Leaving Lord Central City.
He returned to his 23rd Dungeon.
At its current low level, the Dungeon doesn't even have a name, only a number.
In the Lord's Castle.
Lu Xuan said to the three Adventurers he brought: "You should know the purpose for which I hired you, right?"
"To expand territory? Or to explore for treasures?"
"Of course, it's to expand territory."
"Alright, Lord, we can depart now." Black Wolf nodded.
"Very well, I will teleport you into the Dark Tide."
"Yes."
The three Adventurers responded.
Lu Xuan then led the three to the Dark Tide teleportation array in the castle.
This is a teleportation array specifically for traveling to the Dark Tide, located in the Lord's Castle, and its use requires soul crystals.
Before departing, the Adventurers needed to bring some items.
Tools for seizing territory.
Named Earth Demon Pouch Crystals.
There are four in total, and they will be placed in different directions. The land in that area will be drawn into the crystals, and then the Adventurers will bring them back.
The larger the area covered, the more territory gained.
Therefore, this greatly tests how far Adventurers can advance into the Dark Tide and how wide a range of crystals they can place.
However, the four Earth Demon Pouch Crystals Lu Xuan purchased were of Black Iron Mid-grade. He bought them from a merchant guild in Lord Central City on his way back. Their maximum coverage was only 20 square kilometers, and they cost 200 soul crystals.
But covering 20 square kilometers of land is not that easy to do.
At least he believed these three Adventurers couldn't do it all at once.
Besides having them carry the Earth Demon Pouch Crystals, he also gave them some of his own items.
These were crops produced from the Stardew Valley Dungeon.
Some green beans.
[Item Name: green bean]
[Category: Buff Item]
[Grade: Bronze Lower-grade]
[Effect: After consumption, increases movement speed by 10 points, restores 10% stamina per second, restores 11% health per second (lasts 3 minutes)]
And some carrots.
[Item Name: carrot]
[Category: Buff Item]
[Grade: Bronze Lower-grade]
[Effect: After consumption, increases attack power by 10 points, restores 15% stamina per second, restores 18% health per second (lasts 3 minutes)]
These were the two types of crop fruits he specifically selected. green beans are small and easy to carry, while carrots can increase attack, making them good choices.
The most important point is that these two types of crops can be eaten directly, without needing processing.
As for where these things came from?
Adventurers cultivate crops and sell them, but what they sell isn't just data; it comes into his hands.
As mentioned before, Dungeons are real, so the cultivated crops can be eaten directly and are products of his Dungeon.
He can give them to Adventurers as rewards, or use them himself.
Of course, not all Dungeon outputs will become crops with special effects, but this conversion ratio should be 50%, which is still very high.
If Adventurers grow 100 crops and put them in the shipping box, when they reach him, perhaps 50 will have special effects, and the others will be ordinary crops.
And these crop fruits can now become a boost for Adventurers in expanding territory.
"What is this?"
The three Adventurers looked at the two bags of items Lu Xuan gave them, confused.
"You'll know when you look."
Lu Xuan gestured for them to open and see for themselves.
"This... what is this?!"
Looking at the two bags of crop fruits, especially after seeing the information for these two items, the three Adventurers were stunned, exclaiming in disbelief.
They immediately ate one.
The green bean had no taste, but it was very refreshing when it burst in their mouths.
The carrot tasted better, being crisp and refreshing.
It was definitely delicious!
What surprised them most was that these two items actually worked as described after consumption; they could clearly feel their stamina recovering.
And they also felt full of strength, and their steps were much lighter!
This should be the described increase in attack power and speed.
It was actually true!
They could be eaten and also serve as combat resources.
"Lord, where did this... come from?" After experiencing it, Black Wolf asked, his face full of excitement.
Lu Xuan smiled, "Of course, they are special products of my Dungeon."
"Special products of your Dungeon? Does your Dungeon have agriculture?"
Black Wolf asked, puzzled.
Such a precious place as a Dungeon, not used for Dungeon construction, but for growing crops?
Isn't that too wasteful!
Black Wolf had some understanding of farming, simply because he grew up in a poor village in his youth, and had worked with his parents from a young age.
Unfortunately, under the erosion of the Dark Tide, his homeland had disappeared, and he then survived as an Adventurer.
Now seeing familiar crops, he couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Of course," Lu Xuan nodded in reply.
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