Seizing Destiny From Heavens Hands-Chapter 448: Commander Shen and the Thunderlight Lamp

After all, holding an official position allowed one to earn additional military merits each month.

Even if it wasn’t as much as the merit rewards for ranking at the top of the three Golden Rankings, it was still something.

Even mosquito meat is still meat, no matter how little.

Zhang Longxiang continued, "Another thing—the Heavenly Dao Will has issued a mission, ordering the ten Demon Suppression Fortresses to head to the fourth layer of the Demon Suppression Sea to establish outposts."

"This will be a difficult mission."

"The Demon Suppression Sea isn’t our territory—it’s the domain of the demons."

"Once we go there, we’ll be at a natural disadvantage."

"But everyone must go, myself included. You understand this, right?"

Shen Mo nodded.

He, too, had to go.

This had long been within his expectations.

Zhang Longxiang nodded as well. He had actually worried that Shen Mo might be reluctant to go, thinking the Demon Suppression Sea was too dangerous.

"You don’t need to worry."

"You are one of Xuanwu Fortress’s most important talents and are already ranked high on the demon clan’s kill list."

"If you die, it would be an enormous loss to any Demon Suppression Fortress."

"Therefore, you won’t be involved in the initial phase of building the outposts."

"Once our human forces manage to establish at least one outpost, I will assign two or more commanders specifically to protect you while you are stationed inside the outpost."

Zhang Longxiang said seriously, "This way, your safety can be guaranteed."

"I estimate that it will take at least five years for the four human Demon Suppression Fortresses to establish a stable outpost."

"During that time, we will be constantly fighting and struggling against the demons, with danger lurking at every step."

"Before the outposts are truly stabilized, just stay here at the armory and focus on forging weapons. The contributions you make by building armaments are far greater than what you would achieve by heading to the frontlines."

"No one will say anything behind your back."

Shen Mo’s expression grew serious.

Clearly, the initial phase of establishing outposts was the most dangerous and the most difficult.

It was practically a situation of nine deaths and one survival.

The first batch of Demon Suppression Guards entering the Demon Suppression Sea would need tremendous courage and perseverance to carve out a foothold and build outposts amidst the demonic land.

Without thinking much, Shen Mo already knew that the mortality rate for those guards would be extremely high.

Even with his exceptional strength, able to crush any demon below the level of a Greater Demon, he wouldn’t willingly throw himself into such a mess.

Danger was inevitable.

Who could guarantee it wouldn’t fall upon his head?

Even with his cheat-like life panel, he would still have to make the choice and physically enter that place before he could see what lay ahead.

Shen Mo was no saint.

'When poor, one should guard one’s own integrity; when successful, one should help the world.'

First, he had to ensure his own survival before he could lend a hand to others.

However, perhaps he could still offer some help to those first batches of Demon Suppression Guards heading into the Demon Suppression Sea.

"General Zhang, have you selected the first batch of Demon Suppression Guards?" Shen Mo asked.

Zhang Longxiang nodded. "Yes, the selection is complete. Many volunteered, most of them older cultivators nearing the end of their lifespan."

"I’ve chosen a group with rich experience and strong abilities. Soon, they’ll be fully equipped and sent into the fourth layer of the Demon Suppression Sea."

Shen Mo said seriously, "I can craft some special spiritual artifacts that might aid them."

Zhang Longxiang chuckled. "It’s good that you have this heart, but it might not necessarily be of help. Better to leave it."

Shen Mo searched around the cluttered crafting table and took out a lamp.

At first glance, the lamp appeared ordinary.

It emitted only a faint, weak light.

It looked as if a strong breeze could snuff it out.

Zhang Longxiang initially paid it little mind, but after a few more glances, he sensed something unusual.

"This light..." he said, puzzled.

Shen Mo smiled faintly. "General Zhang, did you bring any demon blood?"

Zhang Longxiang nodded, retrieving a drop of demon blood from his storage ring.

Each of the three human races had Demon Suppression Guards specializing in studying demon clan techniques, hoping to find ways to counter them.

Since demon clan techniques were tied to bloodlines, fortresses naturally kept stores of demon blood.

Demon blood, demon meat, demon bones—anything related to demons—did not exist in the Heavenly Dao Treasury.

Such materials had to be obtained by the Demon Suppression Guards themselves.

Shen Mo took the drop of demon blood and brought it close to the lamp.

Amazingly, the demonic aura emitted from the blood was blocked by the lamp’s light!

Only then did Zhang Longxiang realize that his earlier feeling had been correct.

Around the lamp was a circle about three zhang in diameter.

Within the circle, demonic aura could not penetrate!

"What is this?!" His expression shifted from shock to delight.

Shen Mo chuckled lightly. "General Zhang, you know I cultivate the Divine Thunder Demon Suppression Canon, so I won’t keep you guessing."

"The wick of this lamp was soaked in my Divine Thunder Force, and my Divine Thunder Force can fully resist demonic aura."

"As long as the wick remains, the area within a three-zhang radius will not be contaminated by demonic aura."

Zhang Longxiang exclaimed joyfully, "I see! That Divine Thunder Force must be the unique energy you gained through cultivating the Divine Thunder Demon Suppression Canon, right?"

"No wonder—it’s a technique painstakingly created by the True Flame Master. Truly extraordinary!"

Shen Mo nodded with a smile.

Zhang Longxiang eagerly asked, "How long can one wick burn? How many can you produce? Is it possible to mass-produce them?"

Shen Mo thought for a moment. "A one-inch wick can burn continuously for ten days."

"My crafting speed is fairly quick. After crafting, I only need to infuse it with Divine Thunder Force, allowing it to linger in the wick for it to be effective. Five or six days per batch would be enough."

"However, the materials required for the wick are quite expensive. On average, each wick costs about twenty C-rank military merits."

"Also, the Divine Thunder Force infused into the wick won’t last forever. After about a month, it dissipates, and the wick becomes useless."

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Upon hearing this, Zhang Longxiang showed a trace of regret. "I see. What a pity."

"If it could be mass-produced, we wouldn’t have to worry about demonic aura contamination every time we entered the Demon Suppression Sea."

Shen Mo also nodded seriously.

This lamp’s effect had been something he discovered by accident.

"What name will you give it?" Zhang Longxiang smiled.

Shen Mo thought for a moment. "Let’s call it the Thunderlight Lamp."

Zhang Longxiang said seriously, "Good. The material cost is twenty C-rank merits, and considering the effort you’ve spent crafting it... Let’s do it this way: the fortress will purchase them from you at a price of forty C-rank military merits each, to be distributed to the first batch entering the Demon Suppression Sea."

"What do you think?"

Shen Mo smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Earning military merits while also helping the first group entering the Demon Suppression Sea—why not?

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