"Then you should focus on healing, and once you've healed, go home and rest."

With a warm smile on his face, Luo De said, "Get some sun, tend to the flowers, and don't worry about anything else. I will take care of you."

"Won't I just become a useless person then..."

The soldier's old face blushed, and he couldn't help but lower his head.

"How many lives did you save by completely eradicating the invading lizard creatures?"

Luo De smiled and asked the soldier, "If you all are useless, then what are those slaves you protected?"

"Don't look down on yourself because of momentary incompetence."

"Everyone has different missions at different times. Your previous mission was to guard Frost Leaf Town."

Luo De lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the soldier, "Now your mission is to live well. Did everyone hear clearly?"

"We heard clearly, my Lord!"

The soldiers responded in unison, their eyes involuntarily reddening.

"I have already had Durant set up a veterans' settlement department. Your future lives will be arranged, and you need not worry about anything."

Noticing the soldiers' spirits were still somewhat low, Luo De looked at the soldier with the severed arm again and jokingly ordered,

"But someone like you can't be lazy. Take care of the fish, feed the horses; many places in Frost Leaf Town need you."

Those willing to charge fearlessly in battle always hope to have their skills put to good use.

Luo De understood, so he made sure to add that statement.

Sure enough, after hearing it, the soldier's eyes instantly shone with more vitality,

"Yes, my Lord!"

"Alright, you all have a good rest. I'll go check on the other tents."

With that, Luo De stood up.

The soldiers simultaneously nodded and saluted, seeing Luo De off.

Then, Luo De really did visit each tent, comforting and encouraging these severely injured soldiers.

Perhaps it was unexpected that the Lord would come, or perhaps it was because of Luo De's [Pseudo-Dragon Slayer] aura influencing them.

The spirits of the severely injured soldiers clearly improved, and the groans within the tents significantly lessened.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the lightly injured soldiers' camp was much more relaxed.

Many soldiers were snoring away, while others drank and chatted, becoming exceptionally excited when they saw Luo De.

Many of these injured soldiers would receive promotions.

Especially the reservists, after this battle with the lizard creatures, they would become the regular army of Frost Leaf Town, possibly even the Frost Iron Guard.

Luo De did not linger long, taking a brief walk before returning to the sentry post.

…

…

The Icefield Mountain Range, where the wind and snow persisted.

Deep in the cave, the firelight flickered, casting the old, gaunt silhouette of the lizardman's Great Shaman.

At this moment, the Great Shaman was sitting cross-legged on a fur-covered platform meditating when he suddenly opened his eyes.

He seemed to sense something, standing up to walk over to the stone table, and with one hand, picked up a fragment of bone carved with complex runes, placing it above a human skull beside him.

The Great Shaman closed his eyes, his twig-like hand slowly pressing on the bone shard, muttering obscure spells.

The bone shard trembled, glowing dimly, and emitted a faint hum.

Crack.

A crisp sound echoed as the bone shard shattered, and foul-smelling black blood flowed from the skull.

The Great Shaman's eyelids shot up, pupils contracting, staring intently at the shattered bone shard.

"Vajra was actually killed..."

His voice was deep, carrying a hint of doubt.

The bone shard came from Vajra's body, sharing a profound connection with him.

The Great Shaman used this bone shard for divination, able to predict Vajra's fate.

The Great Shaman furrowed his brows, picking up another bone shard to try once more.

This time the shard shattered into pieces.

This signified that the owner of this shard had been dismembered.

The Great Shaman, unwilling to give up, started testing each bone shard one by one.

All nine bone shards cracked.

This meant that nine giant lizardmen, his creations, had all been slain.

"Call Gaka."

The Great Shaman's voice was steady yet chilling, clearly suppressing his rage.

The lizardman guard at the cave entrance hurriedly stepped forward, not daring to delay, and quickly went to call for him.

Soon enough, the figure of the Scar Lizardman appeared at the entrance, prostrating on the ground,

"Great Shaman, what are your orders?"

Being summoned before dawn, Scar Lizardman Gaka knew it must be something important.

"Vajra's entire legion has perished."

The calmness in the Great Shaman's voice made Gaka's eyes widen in shock.

"How, how can it be?"

Gaka raised his head in disbelief, "The Human Lord of Ice Blade Valley couldn't possibly have such strength!"

"It must be the Human Lord of Black Pine Ridge."

The Great Shaman manipulated the bone shard in his hand, "I feel that the Human Lord of Black Pine Ridge has become a terrifying lord."

"Vajra should have waited for our Blood Scale Legion!"

Gaka frowned, his fist slamming the ground in frustration,

"Together we could certainly annihilate that Black Pine Ridge Lord!"

"If the Blood Scale Legion went, perhaps they too would be slaughtered by the Human Lord, and the Bloodscale Tribe would fall into the abyss."

The Great Shaman's voice grew ever steadier, as if convinced by his own words,

"It is the guidance of my master, using Vajra's life to warn us, to be wary of the Black Pine Ridge Lord."

The Great Shaman's words made Gaka pause, then he lowered his head,

"You're right, so what should we do now..."

"We need to amass even greater strength."

The Great Shaman's eyes were deep.

Gaka looked up, confusion in his eyes: "Great Shaman, we only have a little over a hundred Mixed Blood left, how should we proceed..."

"The power of death is far greater than imagined; we can use the Seal People, humans, and other tribes."

The Great Shaman raised his hand slightly, summoning Gaka to his side.

He then drew out a coarse beast-hide map, spreading it on the stone table, pointing to the northwest, saying:

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