Xia Tian stored a pile of spoils from the “Black and White Flood Dragon Pheasant” into his Lord’s Space.

He then returned to his territory with Wu Song and two soldiers, preparing to send the masons and miners back to the quarry to resume work.

Speaking of which, since the quarry was originally the nest of the “Black and White Flood Dragon Pheasant,” its safety was now relatively high.

After all, with a “Overlord-level” creature that was beginning to transform previously entrenched there, ordinary creatures probably wouldn't dare to approach, unaware that it was already dead.

“Huh, what’s going on? Why are all the people gathered together!”

When the four returned within the protective barrier, they discovered an unusual situation: all the people in the territory were gathered around the “Logging Workshop.”

Many people looked anxious and distressed, and two women among them were even sobbing quietly.

“It’s all my fault, I really… I knew there were monsters outside, I should have kept an eye on them both at all times, not let them out of my sight… It’s all my fault, truly!”

What kind of Xianglin’s Wife speech was this?

Upon hearing this, Xia Tian had an ominous premonition.

“The Lord and Captain Wu are back.”

Upon seeing Xia Tian and Wu Song, the villagers immediately became agitated.

“What happened?”

Xia Tian asked with a serious expression.

“My Lord, it was my fault for not looking after them properly. Niu Niu and Er Ya were snatched away by a ghost.”

The old carpenter surnamed Lu, whom he had assigned to oversee the logging workshop, said with a self-reproaching look.

“A ghost snatching people?”

Xia Tian was stunned at the words.

It turned out that although most of the first batch of refugees were adults, there were also two children, one four years old and one five years old!

In modern society, such children would certainly be pampered and protected, even feared to fall if kept indoors, but children from the lower classes in ancient times could not be spoiled.

Coupled with the tight population in the territory, Xia Tian had established the rule that everyone must work for rations, not only adults but even the two children also helped with tasks like picking up branches in the “Logging Workshop.”

However, being only a few years old, the children lacked safety awareness and, in a moment of inattention, stepped out of the protective barrier while playing with each other.

“That ghost appeared from nowhere, it was dark and thick-bodied, with a green face and fangs, blood-red eyes, and claws as big as millstones. It grabbed both children in an instant. Then it darted into the woods and vanished!”

“Da Niu and Shen Zhuangshi followed in pursuit, and they also disappeared!”

Although the old carpenter’s words were a bit disjointed, Xia Tian even wondered if his descriptive style was influenced by certain historical romances or storytelling performances.

Nevertheless, he had understood what had happened, and his brows furrowed.

Although they were two children, to him, they were also citizens under his protection. Moreover, he was already short by four people for the territory’s upgrade, and now two more were gone, wasn’t this adding insult to injury?

Also, Da Niu and Shen Lian, who were assigned to stay behind, had chased after them, and he didn't know what the outcome was.

Speaking of Da Niu, Da Niu appeared.

Da Niu emerged from the woods, carrying one child in one arm, and in the other hand, he held a bleeding severed arm covered in long black fur, as thick as an ordinary person's thigh, with extremely sharp, dark purple claws!

“It’s Er Ya.”

A woman joyfully went to take the child.

“Phew… My Lord, you’re back!”

Da Niu, somewhat breathless, saluted Xia Tian.

“What happened? Tell me?”

It turned out that the “ghost” was very fast, and Da Niu couldn’t catch up, but Shen Lian did. He used his Embroidered Spring Blade to chop off one of the monster’s arms and rescued one child, but the other child was still carried away by the monster!

So Shen Lian told Da Niu to bring the person back, while he continued the pursuit.

“So, this is the arm of that ‘ghost’?”

Xia Tian gazed at the arm, activating his “Eye of Insight” to gain some information.

【Severed Arm】

【Level】Mortal

【Description】A severed arm, cut by a blade, belonging to a ‘Xian’.

【Remarks】Xian are gregarious creatures that prey on human children. They possess immense strength, with stronger individuals even capable of tearing apart tigers and leopards with their bare hands!

“It seems it’s not a real ghost!”

Xia Tian breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the attributes.

He couldn't help it; after all, modern people still had a certain apprehension towards things like “ghosts.”

“Xian, they like to eat human children, and can tear apart tigers and leopards. Why does that sound somewhat familiar?”

Then, Xia Tian frowned slightly again.

However, he didn't delve into it, but instead worried about Shen Lian, who had chased after them.

Shen Lian’s strength was certainly good; he had reached Level Seven, and as an experienced Embroidered Uniform Guard, his combat skills were highly proficient. The fact that he could chop off the arm of this monster called “Xian” during the pursuit indicated that he could definitely gain an advantage in a one-on-one fight.

However, since these “Xian” were gregarious creatures, his continued pursuit might be dangerous.

“You few, go to the workshop and bring all the newly made Divine Arm Crossbows and crossbow bolts from today.”

“Everyone who has been trained, follow me. The rest of you, stay in the territory and don’t go out for now!”

Xia Tian thought about it for a moment.

He led Wu Song, Da Niu, and other trained soldiers, pursuing in the direction the “Xian” had left.

Not only to rendezvous with Shen Lian, but also because he felt it was very necessary to understand the situation of these “Xian.”

Because according to the information obtained through the chat channel last night, once the territory started upgrading, it would be exposed to creatures within a certain surrounding range. At that time, these powerful, man-eating creatures would very likely launch an attack on the territory!

Since a confrontation was inevitable, it was better to use this opportunity to first ascertain the enemy’s true strength.

And the reason for bringing all combat personnel and weapons was that if there was an opportunity, Xia Tian wouldn't mind directly resolving the trouble.

Xia Tian hadn’t even noticed that after both his own and the territory’s strength had improved, especially after the battle with the Black and White Flood Dragon Pheasant just now, he seemed to have broken some kind of “inner demon.” He no longer feared this jungle as he did at first, but instead wanted to conquer it!

“My Lord, there’s a mark here!”

It must be said that Shen Lian was indeed worthy of his background as an Embroidered Uniform Guard. While tracking, he did not forget to leave directional markers by cutting marks with his Embroidered Spring Blade.

Everyone followed the marks he left, walking about ten li through the jungle.

Whoosh!

A sound suddenly came from the bushes ahead, and several soldiers immediately raised their Divine Arm Crossbows, only to find that it was Shen Lian who emerged.

It turned out that Shen Lian, as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, was meticulous. During the pursuit, when he discovered that the “ghost” had reinforcements, he did not continue to chase and kill them directly, but instead concealed himself and secretly followed behind.

“My Lord, Shen Lian has handled matters poorly. I ask for your punishment.”

Upon seeing Xia Tian at the center of the crowd, Shen Lian’s expression was very embarrassed, and he immediately stepped forward to confess his fault. After all, guarding the territory was the first task Xia Tian had given him, and he had messed it up!

“We’ll talk about this later. Did you find the nest of those ‘ghosts’?”

Xia Tian said.

“Those? My Lord already knows that this ‘ghost’ isn’t just one!”

Shen Lian’s face froze, and he looked at Xia Tian with some surprise, then nodded.

“Yes, the ghost’s nest is up ahead. Please be careful, My Lord, these ‘ghosts’ have extremely keen senses. I was almost discovered by them.”

“It’s alright, lead the way!”

Xia Tian took out the “Mist Concealment Orb” from his Lord’s Space.

Half a minute later, Xia Tian, shrouded in a layer of mist, pushed aside the dense leaves in front of him and saw a clearing that had recently been cleared.

Creatures about two meters tall, with green faces, fangs, blood-red eyes, and bodies covered in black fur, were carrying newly excavated stones and freshly cut logs. They were building houses in this cleared area.

Hmm, these “Xian” could actually build houses.

Although they were simply constructed with stones and wood, this was enough to prove that they possessed a certain level of intelligence.

It also meant that these “Xian” were more dangerous than those reckless beasts that acted purely on instinct!