Chapter 2126: You guys seem weak |
The Long River Alluvial Plain was covered in dense vegetation. Though it lacked the towering trees of the Silent Rainforest, it was still thickly wooded and crisscrossed by streams. Any lifeform entering it was like a single drop of water cast into the vast sea—utterly insignificant.
Ye Zhongming, along with thirty others, entered this lush alluvial plain, beginning his first hunting expedition.
Because the Su Clan had detected signs of mutated lifeforms gathering on three fronts—the Blue Demon Desert, the Silent Rainforest, and the Long River Alluvial Plain—to avoid being attacked simultaneously by too many enemies, the races stationed on the Overlapping Water Dead Zone decided, after a brief discussion, to take the initiative. They would strike first to eliminate as many of these gathering enemies as possible, ideally scattering them completely.
The Su Clan, needless to say, would act. For the small clan alliance, this was their first operation since being reorganized, so every clan took it seriously. They decided on a rotation system for this six-day hunting operation: two regiments would depart first and return after three days, then the other two regiments would set out.
As a member of the First Squad, First Company, First Battalion, First Regiment, Ye Zhongming departed on the very first day.
But during the march, the squad members all seemed somewhat… odd.
Aside from their curiosity about Ye Zhongming, the legendary Bronze Order Leader of the Star-Eye Clan, they were even more intrigued by another member of the squad serving as a support warrior.
Because that was a member of the Changxu Water Race—in fact, reportedly the leader of the Changxu Water Race.
Yes, he had brought his people, along with Ye Zhongming, to the Planet Hunting Ground.
“Captain, according to the map, about three kilometers ahead is the habitat of a group of ‘Anke Beasts’. It’s one of the prey clusters closest to our camp. Their numbers are around five thousand, with over a thousand being beyond Level Nine, around three thousand at Level Nine, and the rest are juveniles, about seven or eight hundred.”
The speaker was a support warrior responsible for reconnaissance, scouting, harassment, and disruption in battle. He was from the Liaoling Clan, a race with exceptional eyesight and hearing, as well as a crucial racial ability: Spirit Detection.
This ability allowed them to project their mental energy in a specific direction to survey the area within range.
“There are ten squads around us. We are at a severe numerical disadvantage. If we engage, should we notify the others?”
Ye Zhongming did not immediately answer Emi, the leader of the spell warriors. Instead, he studied the map intently, then observed his surroundings.
Everyone fell silent, waiting for their captain’s orders.
By now, no one doubted Ye Zhongming or thought of provoking him. He was this year’s Novice Champion, a Bronze Order Leader of the Star-Eye Clan, and had close ties with the Su Clan.
Though they did not know his exact combat strength, it was surely not negligible. After all, if he were weak, it would be hard to command such respect from a super-large clan. They were not the stereotypical villains in a story—they would not underestimate such a man.
To say nothing of the fact that he had earned the allegiance of the Changxu Water Race. Among the twenty-nine others present, who could claim that?
Thus, they all treated Ye Zhongming with respect.
As the commander of the First Battalion of the First Regiment, Emi’s suggestion was not unreasonable. After all, the surrounding squads belonged to the First Battalion and were under Ye Zhongming’s command.
“No. We won’t act for now.”
Ye Zhongming’s words surprised everyone. Only He smiled quietly, watching him.
She knew Ye Zhongming well. When he did nothing, he did nothing. But when he acted, it was always something big.
“Captain, why not?” asked a gruff voice.
It was Oliga, an assault warrior from the Aofu Clan. He was the son of Duoduo, the Aofu leader, and would naturally become the next leader of the Aofu Clan.
Among the entire squad, he was the tallest and broadest. Sitting down, he resembled a small mountain. His weapon of choice was equally massive: a cleaver-like broadsword as wide and tall as himself.
He was also the strongest warrior in the squad, according to publicly available records—his Furelai rating exceeded fifty thousand!
“No matter how many we concentrate here, we will still be outnumbered by these prey. To quickly mass superior force and crush them requires precise timing. That timing is hard to get right. If we fail, we risk being surrounded and trapped. Even if we retreat, they might pursue us back to the Overlapping Water Dead Zone.”
Ye Zhongming spoke quietly. Though there were sentries from the squads around them, it was still wise to be cautious in the territory of mutated lifeforms.
“So what do we do?”
Oliga asked again.
Ye Zhongming paused for a moment, then said, “First, we need to improve our strength. You’re all a bit weak.”
With that one sentence, the previously harmonious atmosphere in the squad became awkward.
Until then, they had all respected Ye Zhongming, but hearing this, they felt a bit displeased.
In truth, they believed that when it came to individual combat ability—like Oliga or Emi—they were far stronger than Ye Zhongming.
“Heh.” Ye Zhongming chuckled softly. “I know you don’t believe me and aren’t convinced, but hear me out.”
“Emi.”
Hearing Ye Zhongming call his name, Emi instinctively responded.
“You are a spell warrior. Most of your abilities are ranged. But what is your maximum casting distance? What is your greatest destructive power? Under maximum combat intensity, how long can your mental energy sustain you?”
Without waiting for Emi to answer, Ye Zhongming shifted his gaze to another squad member—the foremost defense warrior of the group. Born with four arms, he wielded weapons with great flexibility. For this role, he had been chosen as a defense warrior. Two of his arms held a massive shield, while the other two carried smaller shields. At his sides hung two straight swords.
After addressing him, Ye Zhongming continued, “And you, Oliga. The Aofu Clan’s offensive power is undeniable. Your own combat ability is strong. But your weaknesses are also glaring. Tell me, how many prey can you kill before falling? How long will your armor hold? How many strikes can your weapon deliver before breaking? And your racial ability—how long can your berserker state last?”
Faced with a barrage of questions, everyone was stunned. They could, of course, answer, but they understood that Ye Zhongming was asking for more than just a simple reply.
“Shi Yong.” Ye Zhongming called out.
Shi Yong, who had followed Ye Zhongming since the day he became Bronze Order Leader and became the head of the Assault Camp, stepped forward.
“Since we’re about to fight, there’s no need to conceal your equipment.”
“Yes!” Shi Yong replied loudly. He then stripped off the “tattered” gear he had been wearing and brought out a set of brand-new equipment.
