Yan Xing still didn’t know the sensation his Ice Jade Porcelain had caused in Nuta City, following Eden’s promotion. He was also unaware that as news of him bringing five sets of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware to Nuta City spread, the city had become a gathering place for numerous nobles and their trusted retainers. The arrival of the Silver Mane Duke’s envoy and priests from the Central Divine Temple further elevated the value of the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware to new heights. The nobility in Nuta City eagerly awaited its arrival.
Meanwhile, Yan Xing, en route to Nuta City, was in no hurry. He rode his Blood-Sweating Horse, using his phone to operate a small drone and map the terrain along his route with aerial photography software.
The group traveled approximately one hundred kilometers south, entirely through uninhabited grassland. There were no large forests or quarriable stone; it was all unclaimed land. The climate here was humid, the land fertile, and the grassland lush, making it very suitable for farming and grazing. It was also ideal for cavalry to gallop across.
During his time managing the Eternal Domain, Yan Xing had learned about the military structures of Humans and the Swamp Tribe from Eden and the Werewolves.
The military units of Humans were quite clear:
Second Order: Militia (promoted from Peasant)
Third Order: Archer (promoted from Militia)
Fourth Order: Crossbowman (promoted from Archer)
Fifth Order: Infantry (trained and promoted from Militia or Archer)
Sixth Order: Guard (promoted from Infantry)
Seventh Order: Cavalry (promoted from Guard)
Eighth Order: Knight’s Retinue (promoted from Cavalry; children of nobility can attain this rank upon reaching adulthood)
Ninth Order: Monk (Humans capable of sensing the Holy Light can be promoted; children of nobility may choose this rank upon reaching adulthood)
Tenth Order: Priest (promoted from Monk)
Eleventh Order: Knight (promoted from Knight’s Retinue)
Twelfth Order: Holy Knight (promoted from either Knight or Priest)
This revealed that Human society had a clear hierarchical promotion mechanism. In theory, anyone with talent and diligence could rise through the ranks. Especially after reaching Tenth Order Priest, promotion to a hero unit was quite easy. Even without great talent, one could succeed by accumulating years of service.
Children of nobility started at Eighth Order Knight’s Retinue or Ninth Order Monk, while commoners began as First Order Peasants. The class system also meant that for commoners, reaching Seventh Order Cavalry was generally the end of the road. Only a very few lucky and talented commoners could be promoted to Knight’s Retinue and grasp the fringes of nobility. This ensured that Human forces remained firmly in the hands of the nobles. The noble lords wielded high-end military power and controlled the God-given gold coins. Their status was unshakeable.
In the Human military system, there was also a special type of unit—the Griffon.
Griffons were flying beasts. An adult Griffon, relying on its own strength, was more powerful than many magical beasts and rated as Seventh Order. Griffons could be promoted to Battle Griffons, rated as Eighth Order, which could be mounted.
Humans had a deep-seated fondness for Griffons. Griffon motifs appeared on the coats of arms of most noble families, and the mightiest Human Empire was named after the Griffon. The Empire’s flag displayed a Royal Griffon.
Royal Griffons were Griffons and Battle Griffons that underwent special training and promotion to become magical beasts. They could receive Demonization with holy attribute Magic Power in the Temple, causing their strength to soar to the Twelfth Order. The Twelfth Order Holy Knights and Royal Griffons formed the Royal Griffon Knight Regiment, which defended the absolute authority of the Gryphon Heart Empire among Human powers.
Yan Xing held a deep fascination for Griffons, these beautiful, mythical creatures. He knew Nuta City had Griffons, so he planned to take a series of photographs of them upon his arrival.
As Yan Xing led his group closer and closer to Nuta City, he gazed skyward, filled with anticipation. Finally, he spotted the silhouette of a Griffon soaring high above.
It was a Griffon sky patrol.
Riding his Blood-Sweating Horse, Yan Xing took out his binoculars. He could clearly see a Knight on a Battle Griffon at the lead, with four other Griffons flying in formation around the Gryphon Knight.
The Griffon had the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, with golden-yellow plumage and fur. The white feathers around its neck had a hint of pale blue. Its hind limbs were lion’s paws, while its forelimbs were eagle’s talons. It measured about two meters from head to tail.
Battle Griffons were much larger than ordinary Griffons and could bear heavier loads. They could not only be outfitted with armor but also carry knights in light armor.
A Griffon combat squad typically consisted of one Battle Griffon Knight leading four to six Griffons.
This was the outskirts of Nuta City. As the Humans’ second most important city in the Wildwind Highlands, surpassed only by Storm City, Griffon patrols played a crucial role in its defense system.
A few eagle-like cries echoed from the Griffon patrol; Yan Xing’s group had been spotted by the Battle Griffon Knight. The Battle Griffon Knight didn’t approach Yan Xing’s group, nor did he descend for a closer look. Instead, he immediately wheeled around and flew towards Nuta City.
Yan Xing, who had raised a hand to greet the Gryphon Knight, froze with his hand midair. His phone, in his other hand, emitted a CLICK... capturing nothing but the empty air.
Those are real Griffons! Why did it just fly away?
But Yan Xing didn’t have to wait long. Just over twenty minutes later, a vast Griffon troop flew from the direction of Nuta City, darkening the sky. By his estimate, there were over a hundred Griffons, with more than ten Battle Griffon Knights. At their head was a Royal Griffon that measured four meters in length.
This... Have I poked a Griffon nest?
Yan Xing was stunned. How could such a grand spectacle unfold before he’d even reached Nuta City?
The Griffon troop flew incredibly fast, reaching the airspace above Yan Xing’s group in moments. They circled overhead, their eagle-like cries filling the sky, and the turbulence from their wings made the grass below ripple.
After circling for a while, the Royal Griffon Knight descended, landing on the ground before Yan Xing’s group. The grass, twigs, and dust stirred up by the powerful wingbeats highlighted the heroic demeanor of the knight in full armor atop the Royal Griffon.
Yan Xing silently activated the fans and ambient lights on his own armor.
My strength may not match theirs, but I absolutely cannot lose when it comes to posturing!
Light emanated from the seams of his armor, its decorative tassels fluttering in the wind. The Royal Griffon was imposing and majestic, but his Blood-Sweating Horse, already a hero-level magical beast, showed no fear.
Yan Xing, helmeted and silent, faced off against the Royal Griffon Knight.
This was a test of patience.
Whoever spoke first would lose face.
The Royal Griffon Knight also silently sized up this strange group.
A report from her subordinates had just puzzled her: a pack of Swamp Werewolves had abducted a group of Humans and was heading towards Nuta City. At the time, she had wondered... Shouldn’t Werewolves take captured Humans north, towards the Northern Thundering Swamp? What are they doing coming south to Nuta City? To show off!
The Swamp Tribe might be unbeatable in the swamps, but outside of it... you barbarians are nothing!
However, Nuta City had been built precisely to guard against the Swamp Tribe from the Northern Thundering Swamp. For a pack of Werewolves to appear near Nuta City, acting against their usual patterns and with so many captured Humans, was highly abnormal.
Have these Werewolves lost their way, or is this a prelude to a large-scale invasion by the Swamp Tribe?
As a key commander in Nuta City’s defenses, the Royal Griffon Knight had immediately led a Griffon squadron to investigate.
Upon locating this strangely behaving pack of Werewolves, she found that the composition of their group was also very peculiar.