The most dangerous time for the territory had passed. Sixteen defense towers had been built on the city walls, almost covering the entire wall and greatly enhancing the defensive capabilities.

The attacking monsters seemed to realize that it was difficult to breach the defenses quickly, so they didn't launch massive attacks like before.

Later, they even temporarily gave up on attacking the city, merely lingering outside the attack range of the defense towers.

If any professionals wanted to leave the guild territory, it was simply impossible.

Out of over ten thousand people defending the city, only a little over three thousand remained after a month, with over seventy percent casualties.

Even the Gale Squad suffered the loss of five members, which deeply saddened Xiao Chen.

Xiao Qiang, who was guarding the city wall, also fell several times.

"The monsters have stopped attacking the city; we can leave only a portion of the forces to defend."

"The professionals defending the city can return to Tiannan City to rest. Those who have reached the required level can participate in the guild's level five or six dungeon groups."

"Once the teleportation array is completed, a large number of miners will head to the territory to mine, and soon, the guild's revenue will increase significantly."

There was a small teleportation array within the territory, directly transporting people to a mine that could accommodate many professionals.

"We also need to quickly earn contribution points to enhance the guild's defenses."

"In the future, don't open the guild's pharmaceutical field or herb garden."

"There are a few pieces of gold-level equipment in the guild warehouse that can be exchanged by those with enough contribution."

With more defense towers, fewer people were needed.

Xiao Chen didn't immediately return to the city because he couldn't tackle the level five dungeons yet.

At level 45, running level four dungeons no longer provided experience.

Level four dungeons were actually suitable for farming kills, but he didn't have the ability to solo them yet.

Around the territory, he could actually gain more substantial rewards, and if there was danger, he could retreat to the attack range of the defense towers.

Over the past month, Xiao Chen had gradually fused many Undying Crystal Cores into Xiao Qiang, significantly enhancing its strength.

Xiao Qiang also reached level 45, fully equipped with level 45 black iron gear.

He still had an unused black iron-level Undying Divine Fire, and now was the time to use it.

"Xiao Qiang, you're about to level up to bronze, give it your all!"

The 2,500 gold coins for the Undying Divine Fire were spent without hesitation.

He felt it was worth spending the money, but he feared spending a fortune with no effect.

"Ding, your summoned beast has advanced to bronze level, health +5000, defense +200, attack +600."

Seeing such a significant improvement, Xiao Chen finally felt relieved.

A level 45 summoned beast finally had some presence.

[Undead Skeleton: LV45 Bronze Level.

Health: 24000 Attack: 1800 Defense: 512

Skill: Summon (Level 3) Each clone inherits 30% of the main body's attributes.

Advancement requirements: 2 bronze-level Undying Divine Fire

Enhancement requirements: Undying Crystal Core]

A small skeleton with 7200 health and 540 attack was satisfactory to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Qiang, wearing a full set of defensive gear, had twice the health of Xiao Chen and decent attack power.

However, the advancement requirements left Xiao Chen a bit helpless; two bronze-level Undying Divine Fires cost over ten thousand gold.

"In the future, when I have money, I'll get a full bronze set and wear two rings."

Of course, that might be a long time from now.

Xiao Chen himself was still wearing a level 30 bronze set.

"Leveling up too fast, didn't even have time to change equipment."

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "p𝑎wread.com".

Level 45 equipment was 100 gold more expensive per piece than level 30, costing 600 gold for a full set.

Xiao Chen currently had only 600 gold coins.

To be honest, it was a bit pricey.

The higher the level of the equipment, the more valuable it was.

Two years ago, level 45 equipment would have cost 100 gold more per piece.

"I'll change equipment after reaching level 50!"

The Gale Squad was down to five people, three tanks, and healer Liu Mei.

All the damage dealers had perished, rendering the team ineffective.

The other two tanks left the team, leaving only three members in the Gale Squad.

Tank Wang Zhen, healer Liu Mei, and damage dealer Xiao Chen.

Wang Zhen and Liu Mei were both level 42, not weak by any means.

"Three people can still manage. I plan to defend the city until I reach level 50.

If you want to return to the city to run dungeons and level up, you can."

"Or you can go outside Tiannan City, where the monster levels are much lower and there's no danger."

Many professionals like Wang Zhen would go outside the city to guide newcomers, kill some isolated bosses, and level up gradually.

"Captain, we already have some basic equipment, and your damage is high, so we'll stay here with you."

"Yes, after receiving the Plane Treasury rewards, I awakened several good skills, significantly increasing my healing output.

If I had awakened these skills earlier, maybe they wouldn't have died."

Talking about this made them all a bit melancholic.

"Alright, we'll farm monsters at the territory's entrance.

There's a defense tower here, so if we encounter something tough, we'll lure it under the tower."

"Wang Zhen, I have over 600 gold, and I'll lend it to you.

Get a set of level 40+ bronze gear and upgrade your weapon."

Xiao Chen wasn't just aiming to farm small monsters; he also wanted to take down some elite monsters if possible.

"Alright!"

Wang Zhen didn't refuse, knowing that the stronger he was, the more he could contribute to the team.

There were still many people left to defend the city, and with no wild monsters attacking, they had to venture outside the city walls.

The monsters around here weren't low-level, so most people chose to form ten-person teams to level up together.

Xiao Chen's three-person team was quite rare.

With the team disbanded, the bonuses were significantly reduced, but sharing experience among three people was still rewarding.

After Wang Zhen upgraded his equipment, his health reached 60,000, and his defense was very high.

Ordinary monsters only dealt a few dozen damage to him, and a recovery skill could keep his health full.

They didn't dare stray far from the city walls, only venturing ten meters beyond the defense tower's attack range.

"Wang Zhen, I'll pull the monsters, and you just need to hold the aggro."

Xiao Chen's long attack range made him very efficient at pulling monsters.

After several rounds of attacks, hundreds of monsters within a hundred-meter radius were heading toward the trio.

"Wow, isn't this too many? These are level 40 monsters!"

Level 40 monsters had over 60,000 health and more than 1,000 attack.

"No worries, it's not too many!"

"Liu Mei, give Xiao Qiang a buff too."

Xiao Chen's attack speed was decent, killing seven monsters with ten attacks.

He could kill three waves in a minute, and with the help of Xiao Qiang and the small skeleton, they could handle it.

"Undead Skeleton received a battle intent boost, attack +300, defense +50."

"Liu Mei cast Rejuvenation on you, health +20 per second."

"Your attack +300, defense +60."

With only one tank, it was impossible to hold all the aggro.

The monsters Xiao Chen pulled naturally focused their aggro on him.

Fortunately, his health was decent, and Wang Zhen added a group shield, along with a strong healer, there was no real danger.

"Ding, your kills +7, experience +120 (+30)."

Killing seven monsters at once, the farming efficiency was even higher than when they were on the city walls.

Wang Zhen and Liu Mei didn't have summoned beasts to share experience, and their levels were lower, so they gained more experience.

When Xiao Chen reached level 50, they might be close too.

"Ding, your copper coins +490, spider silk +1, snake gall +1."

Since Xiao Chen killed the monsters, he collected all the loot.

Naturally, Xiao Chen wouldn't hog everything; he planned to give each teammate a 30% share later.

With a tank and healer helping, the farming efficiency was much faster.

Without other damage dealers, there was no one to steal kills, which was advantageous for Xiao Chen.

Including the summoned beast's output, they could kill 25 monsters per minute, making leveling up very fast.

On the first day, they farmed for eighteen hours straight before returning to the city to rest.

In one day, Xiao Chen's kill count increased by 20,000.

Triggering One in a Million twice a day felt incredibly satisfying.

"To level up from 45 to 46, I need 900,000 experience.

Five days for one level."

Some monsters were below level 40 and gave no experience, but if they were all level 40+, it could even be done in two to three days.

"After farming for 18 hours, the total earnings were 40 gold, and each of you gets 12 gold."

This income was quite good, much higher than others' farming efficiency.

"Unfortunately, after the monsters stopped attacking the city, there wasn't a single elite monster."

Now, Wang Zhen could withstand level 45 elite monsters, and although level 50 ones were risky, they could be handled under the arrow towers.

Xiao Chen actually enjoyed this monster-farming rhythm, triggering One in a Million twice a day. In a year, he could reach a million kills.

By then, leveling up One in a Million would provide even more substantial bonuses.

Even now, gaining ten random attribute points a day felt incredibly satisfying to Xiao Chen.

The three members of the Gale Squad weren't particularly outstanding, but Xiao Chen was among the better ones at his level.

However, the three of them were truly hardworking, casting the same skill repeatedly without feeling bored.

"Captain, my overall strength has reached the top 1 billion."

There were 2 billion Awakened on Blue Star, and being over level 40 already put them in the top half.

"I'm ranked over 900 million."

"I'm a bit better, 870 million."

Among professionals of the same level, Xiao Chen was in the upper-middle tier, which made him very satisfied.

Climbing from the bottom to the upper-middle was a difficult journey only he knew.

Triggering so many One in a Million instances finally accumulated into noticeable effects.

[Ding, Tiannan City professionals have slain a level 112 Abyssal Demon Spider, all Tiannan City professionals gain +5 to all attributes, +10 gold.]

The sudden announcement sent Tiannan City into a frenzy.

Xiao Chen, now over level 40, didn't consider 10 gold a significant amount.

But for a newly Awakened professional, what kind of impact would starting with 10 gold have?

The Plane Treasury's initial grant of three silver coins had been a huge help to Xiao Chen.

"Soon, a new batch of professionals will catch up."

[Tiannan City Star Alliance Announcement: Ten territories have been established around Tiannan City, greatly increasing the population capacity.

Tiannan City urgently needs to increase its population, and the Star Alliance will offer substantial gold rewards for childbirth.]

[Newly Awakened professionals face survival difficulties, and the Star Alliance will provide each Awakened with an initial fund of 50 silver coins.]

[Professionals above D-rank will receive special cultivation funds.]

[High-level monsters are increasing around the city, please level up quickly!]

Having been a professional for two years, Xiao Chen knew how difficult the beginning was.

Unfortunately, he missed the good times. If he had received such initial funding back then, his growth would have been much smoother.

But there was nothing to be done; Tiannan City's situation only improved significantly after Xiao Yan's rise.

If things had continued as they were, Tiannan City wouldn't have had a single territory, and the strongest in the Tianxing Guild would probably be only in their fifties.

Xiao Chen also benefited from many guild perks, giving him the opportunity to reach his current level.