Chapter Forty-Six

A new force quietly rose, shattering the original peace. Shen Yi, a mysterious figure carrying unknown powers and ideals, appeared like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layer upon layer of ripples.

Shen Yi distributed leaflets across various races, depicting a future filled with hope and cooperation, inviting all tribes to form an alliance with him and jointly explore a path of development. This news quickly spread across the continent, drawing high attention and fierce discussion from all factions.

The Human King Medes's Deliberation

In the human kingdom, upon this prosperous land, King Medes sat upon his ornate throne, his brow deeply furrowed. He clutched Shen Yi's leaflet in his hand, a hint of anxiety revealing itself in his gaze.

"Your Majesty, this Shen Yi has appeared from parts unknown. His proposal seems pleasant enough, but there are likely hidden depths beneath the surface," the prime minister said respectfully, standing to one side.

Medes nodded slightly. "I share this concern. Yet the human kingdom currently faces numerous problems: resource shortages and frequent border conflicts. If we can ally with Shen Yi, it might resolve some of our most pressing crises."

At that moment, a scout hurried into the grand hall and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, important intelligence. Shen Yi has already formed an alliance with the orcs. Now, the entire orc population is mining for him in exchange for food. Ever since cooperating with Shen Yi, the orc tribes and our borders have experienced an unprecedented era of peace, and the common people are living peaceful lives because of it."

Medes fell into deep contemplation, knowing well that years of conflict with the orcs had caused heavy losses for both sides. Now that the orcs had changed their attitude due to Shen Yi's emergence, this might be an opportunity.

"Prime minister, how do you think we should respond?" Medes asked.

The prime minister pondered for a moment. "Your Majesty, we could first dispatch envoys to contact Shen Yi and understand his true intentions and strength. At the same time, we should reinforce border defenses just in case. If cooperation proves beneficial to us, considering an alliance then will not be too late."

Medes nodded in agreement. "Proceed as you suggest. Exercise utmost caution and let down no guard."

The Elven King Aijiu's Considerations

In the serene and beautiful Elven Forest, Elven King Aijiu received Shen Yi's leaflet. He sat upon a throne woven from vines and flowers, surrounded by a throng of fair and elegant elves.

"This Shen Yi has rather interesting ideas. But we elves have always lived apart from worldly affairs and had little contact with the outside world," Aijiu remarked.

An elderly elven elder stepped forward. "Your Majesty, while we revere nature and pursue peace, the current situation on the continent is unpredictable. Shen Yi's appearance might bring us new opportunities. Legend has it he possesses miraculous powers, perhaps even capable of helping us better safeguard this forest."

At this time, an elven scout returned to report: "Your Majesty, from what we know, after allying with the orcs, Shen Yi brought them food and hope, causing tremendous changes within the orc tribes. Furthermore, the human kingdom is also considering contacting Shen Yi."

Aijiu sank into thought. The elven race had always depended on the forest's resources for survival; though peaceful and tranquil, they also faced certain potential threats. Allying with Shen Yi might allow them to borrow his strength to better protect the forest and their people.

"Send people to investigate Shen Yi's background and strength first, and see what his alliance can truly offer us," Aijiu ultimately decided.

The Dwarf King Bowen's Calculation

Deep within the cavernous mines of the Dwarf Kingdom, Dwarf King Bowen laughed heartily as he looked at the leaflet in his hand.

"This Shen Yi actually wants to ally with us dwarves. Does he not know that mining is what we dwarves do best?" Bowen said.

A dwarven general stood nearby. "Your Majesty, although we excel at mining, we also require food and other resources. If we ally with Shen Yi, we might obtain what we need through trade."

Just then, a scout came to report: "Your Majesty, after Shen Yi formed an alliance with the orcs, the orc tribes' strength has gradually recovered, and the border situation has stabilized. Other races are also considering contact with Shen Yi."

Bowen stroked his long beard, weighing the pros and cons. The Dwarf Kingdom had always been famous for its rich mineral resources, but shortages of food and certain rare materials had always been an issue.

"Send someone to talk to Shen Yi and see what terms he can offer. We dwarves cannot afford to lose out," Bowen stated.

The Undead Monarch's Conspiracy

In the gloomy undead territory, the Undead Monarch received Shen Yi's leaflet. Seated upon a throne constructed from piled white bones, he emitted a chilling, eerie laugh.

"Alliance? Absurd! I will not easily trust this Shen Yi. Still, this might be a fine opportunity to disrupt the continent's stability," the Undead Monarch declared.

His subordinate stood beside him, asking respectfully, "Master, what shall we do then?"

A sinister gleam flashed in the Undead Monarch's eyes. "Send agents to spread rumors among the various races, claiming that Shen Yi harbors malicious intentions and his alliance is merely a trap. At the same time, closely monitor each race's contact with Shen Yi and look for opportunities to sabotage it."

Within the secluded mountain forests and deep marshes of the other-worldly continent lived the mysterious demon race. They possessed diverse forms; some resembled birds and beasts, while others could transform into human shapes, possessing unique demonic powers and laws of survival.

When Shen Yi's leaflets drifted like snowflakes into the demon territory, the entire demon race was shaken. Demon Emperor Ao Qiong sat upon a throne built from a giant dragon skeleton, holding the leaflet with a solemn gaze.

"This Shen Yi—unknown origin, yet attempting to unite all races. Is his proposal a blessing or a curse?" Ao Qiong's voice echoed through the vast, empty hall.

The demon ministers below whispered and murmured amongst themselves. Then, the fox demon elder Mei Ji stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, in my view, this may be an opportunity. Although the demon race possesses demonic power, our resources are scarce, and our living space is constantly squeezed. If we can ally with Shen Yi and borrow his strength, perhaps we can alter this predicament."

The leopard demon general Lie Feng frowned and retorted, "We must not trust him lightly! Humans have always been cunning; who can guarantee this is not a trap? Our demon race is accustomed to solitary ways, and a rash alliance will likely cost us our freedom."

Just as the two sides argued without a conclusion, a demon scout hurried in to report: "Your Majesty, Shen Yi has already allied with the orcs. The orcs are now mining en masse in exchange for food, and the border with humanity has attained rare peace. This matter has caused a sensation across the continent, and humans, elves, dwarves, and other races are all considering contacting Shen Yi."

Ao Qiong fell into deep thought, acutely aware of the demon race's current plight. Conflicts with other races had left the demons with heavy casualties and increasingly scarce resources. If an alliance could secure a stable supply of resources, the demon race could rest and recover.

"Continue gathering news about Shen Yi to understand his true purpose and strength. At the same time, summon the leaders of all tribes to discuss the matter of alliance," Ao Qiong ordered.

Days later, the leaders of the various demon tribes gathered. After heated discussions, the majority of the leaders agreed that they could first contact Shen Yi to test his sincerity.

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While Shen Yi's trade with the orcs was proceeding with burning enthusiasm, observing the loyalty and hard work the orcs displayed during their cooperation gave him a new idea. He decided to lease a batch of advanced human combat forces to the orcs—marine infantry and vulture hover bikes. This decision instantly caused the orc tribe to boil with excitement.

When the first vulture hover bike rumbled into the orc settlement, the surrounding orcs widened their eyes, filled with shock and exhilaration. The hover bike had a unique design, its flexible treads leaving deep tracks in the ground, and the twin rotary machine guns on both sides of the chassis gleamed with a cold metallic luster, resembling a mechanical beast ready to strike at any moment.

As for those human marines, they marched in neat formation, their powered armor radiating the aura of advanced technology. The standard-issue weapons in their hands emitted a faint blue glow, as if containing endless power.

Orc warriors swarmed around the marines and vulture hover bikes, curiously inspecting these instruments of war they had never seen before. They chatted excitedly, imagining themselves piloting the hover bikes and charging across the battlefield with weapons in hand.

Warchief Wodefake was even more emotional. He tightly grasped Shen Yi's hand, his voice carrying undisguised joy: "Shen Yi, your timing couldn't be better! With these, our orc defensive capabilities will be vastly enhanced."

Shen Yi smiled and said, "Seeing your efforts in our cooperation, I believe handing these weapons over to you will allow them to play a tremendous role. I hope you will use them well and protect your tribe."

To help the orcs quickly familiarize themselves with the operation of these weaponry and equipment, Shen Yi arranged for human instructors to train the orcs. On the training grounds, the orc warriors showed soaring enthusiasm, diligently learning every single operational step with eyes full of eagerness and determination.

After a period of training, the orc warriors gradually mastered the skills required to operate the marines and vulture hover bikes. Donning the Tier-3 powered armor Shen Yi had upgraded for them and wielding standard-issue weapons, their entire demeanor underwent a heaven-shaking transformation.

The Tier-3 powered armor not only provided formidable physical defense but also came equipped with energy shields capable of resisting a certain degree of magical attacks. The power of the standard weapons was likewise not to be underestimated; both precision and lethality far surpassed traditional orc weaponry.

When the orc warriors, clad in powered armor and piloting vulture hover bikes, patrolled around the settlement, the entire tribe was enveloped in a profound sense of security. Those hostile factions that had previously harbored malicious designs against the orc tribe felt deep apprehension upon witnessing the orcs' transformation, not daring to commit rash invasions.

The children of the orc tribe looked up at the majestic warriors with adoration in their eyes. They eagerly imitated the warriors' postures, picking up self-made weapons to run and play in the settlement, as if they too had become heroes defending their tribe.

In the days that followed, relying on these advanced weapons, equipment, and formidable defensive capabilities, the orc tribe ushered in a period of peaceful and stable development. Shen Yi's cooperation with the orcs grew even closer.

Meanwhile, Shen Yi—who spent his time eating and sleeping back at the base—conceived yet another idea!

Gazing through satellites at the mountain-sized Behemoth, Shen Yi couldn't help but murmur inwardly. The Behemoth naturally possessed world-shattering might; if it were fitted with armor infused with top-tier human technology, wouldn't it become invincible?

Although they were allies with the orcs, could such a powerful entity break away from his control in the future? But upon second thought, his cooperation with the orcs was tight-knit, and Wodefake was a man of honor who valued relationships. With this foundation, there shouldn't be any major issues. Moreover, equipped with this armor, the orcs would have more confidence when confronting other malicious factions and could further consolidate the alliance. Weighing these factors, Shen Yi still decided to push forward with the custom armor project.