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Chapter 227 The dust has settled, the chosen garrison area!! (Update 45 of 2 words)

The next arena battle.

Everyone began to display their prowess, and Fang Qingyu confirmed the members of his team.

His gaze swept across the fiercely contested arena and then across the other seats.

Slightly puzzled, where was Zhao Feng?

As a disciple of Tomorrow Mountain, and according to Wei Banmeng, he has also broken through to the second level.

I don't think I saw Zhao Feng's name during the lottery!

But the thought only flashed through my mind.

It was quickly interrupted by an even more intense collision on stage.

In the end, after a fierce battle, Liu Hanyan, known for her "Mysterious Yin Finger," won second place.

Her finger techniques were cunning and sharp, combined with the subtle and yin-like changes of the water element, making it impossible for her opponent to defend against, and she ultimately succeeded in defending her title.

The third place went to "Acala" Shakya.

After admitting defeat to Fang Qingyu, this Buddhist guardian deity seemed to have shed some burden, releasing all the pent-up anger onto the arena. His golden body stood firm against the onslaught, his Buddha-light shining brightly, and he withstood the successive challenges from several powerful figures, ultimately securing his footing with his formidable defense and strength.

Master Xuancheng stood up again, his voice resounding throughout the hall: "The three captains for the special team of Project Hidden Dragon have been decided: Fang Qingyu, Liu Hanyan, and Shi Kong! Congratulations to the three of you!"

Thunderous applause erupted, but more complex gazes were cast toward Fang Qingyu.

Master Xuancheng continued, “Three team leaders, please lead your assembled teams to the top floor of the building in three days. At that time, an important mission and resource allocation will be announced.” He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable authority, “Time is of the essence, so please prepare in advance.”

With those words, the battle for the spots officially came to an end.

The crowd began to stir.

Many eyes, especially those of the prodigies who performed well in the arena challenges but failed to win the captaincy, or those who believed themselves to be quite strong, turned their eager gazes toward Fang Qingyu, Liu Hanyan, and Shi Kong.

There are only three captain positions, but four team member positions are still available!

Joining one of the teams is a huge opportunity!

As soon as Fang Qingyu stood up, several figures surrounded him with eager smiles.

"Captain Fang! Congratulations! I wonder if your team still has any vacancies? I have quite a bit of knowledge about the Fate Ghost," a composed young man from a prominent family spoke up first.

"Fang Shen! I am..." The other person didn't finish speaking.

Fang Qingyu did not stop walking, but calmly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Wei, Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan beside him.

The group of prodigies who had gathered around him followed his gaze.

The eagerness on his face froze instantly, then turned into realization and deep disappointment.

Five people!

Fang Qingyu and his group of five formed a full-strength special squad!

Fang Qingyu didn't just lack team members; he had already assembled a squad in advance!

Moreover, judging from the way Wei Banmeng and the other two stood beside him, taking it all for granted and subtly showing that they had already reached a tacit understanding.

"Uh, congratulations Captain Fang, the team is full, a powerful alliance! Excuse me for disturbing you!" The young master from the aristocratic family who spoke first reacted very quickly, immediately clasping his hands in congratulations, and then decisively turned around, his gaze quickly falling on Liu Hanyan and Shi Kong.

The others also realized what was happening and scattered like a tide, rushing towards the other two captains.

Several women with gentle or aloof temperaments quickly surrounded Liu Hanyan, clearly indicating that she intended to form a predominantly female team.

Several other martial artists, possessing equally powerful auras and employing a fierce and forceful style, gathered around Shi Kong.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyu whispered to his companion, "Let's go."

Without any hesitation, the five people quickly passed through the bustling crowd and left the noisy Tianyantai along the way they had come.

On the way down the mountain, Chu Kuanglan was still bursting with excitement, waving his fist: "Haha, Fang Shen, did you see the expressions on those people's faces just now? They were eagerly crowding over, only to find that our team was already full!"

Lu Jiuyuan nodded with a smile: "Following Fang Shen is definitely the right choice! It saves us from having to compete with others for those two spots."

With a hint of relief on her usually cool face, Wei Banmeng looked at Fang Qingyu and asked, "Qingzi, what are our plans for the next three days?"

Fang Qingyu, feeling the fresh spiritual energy of the mountains, said calmly, "Rest well and consolidate your cultivation. Meet at the top floor of the Qianlong Building in three days."

"Understood!" the three replied in unison.

Fang Qingyu's gaze fell on Jiang Wei, who was quietly sucking on a lollipop beside him. The little girl's face was still expressionless, as if the battle and its outcome that had shaken the entire scene had nothing to do with her, only the mountain breeze brushing against her hair.

Everything went so smoothly that it was almost uneventful.

When Fang Qingyu was able to single-handedly kill "You Shi," a reincarnated deity who had survived for over a decade with bizarre methods, everything on the Heavenly Election Stage today had already lost its suspense.

Whether it's crushing the opponent or admitting defeat, it doesn't matter.

These are merely a few slightly more conspicuous stepping stones on this path destined to the summit.

Returning to this blessed land, the tranquility of the Bamboo Creek Courtyard remains unchanged.

Fang Qingyu didn't even choose to rest immediately, but instead took Jiang Wei directly to the training ground.

Fang Qingyu mainly needs to familiarize himself with his newly acquired abilities and the power of the Dragon Fist Grandmaster.

He also needs to familiarize himself with the Shunshi Longgong arm armor when no one is around.

Inside the training ground, Fang Qingyu's figure sometimes transformed into an elusive bolt of lightning, and at other times his fists struck like dragons. The heavy wind from his punches made the specially made alloy target piles buzz, and the dark golden dragon shadow flashed and disappeared at the tip of his fist.

Jiang Wei sat in a corner by the sidelines, holding a tablet, occasionally raising her clear eyes to look at it for a while, and she was changing her lollipop more often than usual.

Just as Fang Qingyu finished a set of explosive power training, sweat dripped down his bronze-colored muscle lines.

My phone, which was lying on the sidelines, rang with a video call request.

Fang Qingyu picked it up and saw that the caller ID showed Qin Hui.

He paused for a moment, then answered the video call.

"Aoko! Awesome!!!"

As soon as the communicator was connected, Mouse's signature loud voice rang out, full of excitement and enthusiasm.

Several familiar faces were crowded on the screen.

Qin Hui, Haozi, Lao Qiao, and Lü Chen are shown in the background, which is the sofa in the rest area on the 28th floor of the Shenguan Bureau.

Their faces were filled with genuine joy and pride, and their eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

Fang Qingyu paused in wiping his sweat, a rare, genuinely warm smile appearing on his face: "How did you know?"

The match ended about two hours ago.

"Hey! Team Leader Lin told us!" Qin Hui chimed in with a smile, his tone steady yet joyful as the representative. "We knew you wouldn't brag about this to us! Such a joyous occasion, if you didn't tell us, wouldn't we just call to congratulate you ourselves?"

"Congratulations Aoko!"

Old Qiao and Lü Chen also shouted with laughter.

Hearing that familiar voice after so long, Fang Qingyu felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Looking at the excited faces on the screen, he just smiled and shook his head: "Nothing to brag about, it's just a game."

In his mind, this was just a necessary step on the road to becoming stronger.

It's not a big deal.

"It's just a match for you, but it's huge news for us!" Mouse yelled. "One punch, one grandmaster, Qingzi! That was so damn satisfying! You didn't see the look on Captain Lin's face when he told us, tsk tsk."

Everyone burst into laughter.

After the laughter subsided, Qin Hui's expression turned serious, and he lowered his voice, saying, "By the way, Qingzi, there's something Captain Lin asked me to ask you about."

"Hmm?" Fang Qingyu gestured for him to speak.

"So, this Ghost Festival," Qin Hui looked at Fang Qingyu on the screen, his eyes filled with a mixture of inquiry and expectation, "Will you bring your special team back to Anjiang Province to be stationed here?"

Fang Qingyu's grip on the communicator tightened slightly.

Returning to An Giang Province to garrison Qingjian City?
This thought surged into his mind instantly.

On the other end of the communicator, Qin Hui's voice continued: "Team Leader Lin means that the pressure in Anjiang Province during the Ghost Festival is considerable every year, especially at several high-risk locations around Qingjian. If you can lead the team back, it will be a real lifesaver! The brothers will feel much more confident. Of course, this depends on your team's mission assignments."

Fang Qingyu remained silent for a few seconds, without answering immediately.

He understood Lin Kang and Qin Hui's expectations.

However, judging from its name and the few words that Elder Hong had previously revealed, the special team seems more like a strategic-level rapid response force, which rushes to the scene of any major emergency.

Stationed in a specific area?

This is not something he can decide.

“We’ll see,” Fang Qingyu finally spoke, his tone calm but tinged with uncertainty. “I’m not entirely clear on the mission mode of the special squad. If I could choose my own stationing area, I would naturally prefer to return to Anjiang Province.” Qin Hui, Haozi, and the others on the other end of the screen smiled with understanding and relief upon hearing this.

"Understood! Qingzi! Just hearing that is enough!" Qin Hui nodded vigorously. "Whether you can come back or not, the brothers know how you feel! You go ahead and get busy. Once you've made arrangements for the Ghost Festival, remember to let us know!"

“Okay,” Fang Qingyu replied.

After chatting for a few more minutes and wishing each other well, the video call ended.

Fang Qingyu stood still, holding the slightly warm communicator.

Take a deep breath and suppress your chaotic thoughts.

It's too early to think about these things now; we'll have to wait until three days later, at the top of the Qianlong Building, to find out what's going to happen.

Time flies by.

Three days later, at dawn, Fang Qingyu and his four companions appeared on the top floor of the Qianlong Building on time.

This is not the luxurious conference room one might imagine; rather, it resembles a highly secure combat command center.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is the bustling skyline of Shangjing City, while the interior is filled with a cold, hard metallic feel. A huge holographic projection screen occupies one wall and is currently displaying a map of the Federation.

A highly efficient and serious military atmosphere permeated the air.

When they arrived, Liu Hanyan and Shi Kong's team had already arrived as well.

Besides several women with different temperaments, Fang Qingyu also saw a girl who looked seven or eight parts similar to Liu Hanyan, but with a more lively and unrestrained temperament. She was Liu Qingyan, whom he had met before at Mingri Mountain.

Upon seeing Fang Qingyu, Liu Hanyan's eyes held a complex mix of awe and a barely perceptible fighting spirit. She nodded slightly in greeting.

Liu Qingyan looked at Fang Qingyu with curiosity, her eyes sparkling.

Beside Shi Kong were four other martial artists with equally vigorous blood and strong physiques, one of whom Fang Qingyu had met on the Heavenly Election Platform.

Shi Kong clasped his hands together, chanted a Buddhist prayer to Fang Qingyu, his expression solemn, his eyes filled with respect for the strong.

Three teams, totaling fifteen people, representing the most elite combat power of the younger generation in Project Hidden Dragon and even the Federation, have gathered together at this moment.

Without much small talk, everyone followed the instructions and took their seats on the cold alloy chairs.

The conference room door slid open silently, and a middle-aged officer in a crisp federal general's uniform, with gleaming epaulets and an aura of profound composure, strode in.

His face was resolute, and his steps carried the unique competence and solemnity of a soldier.

"Everyone is here."

The officer's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears: "Time is of the essence, the mission is crucial, let's not waste any more words."

He walked to the main control panel and quickly tapped the screen a few times.

The huge projection screen behind everyone lit up instantly, and an extremely detailed map of the Federation's territory, covering the entire planet, was displayed.

On the map, large areas were stained with glaring colors.

Green represents safety, blue represents a minor threat, and yellow represents a moderate level of alert.

What is truly alarming are the red areas that occupy nearly half of the map!

Even worse, the red color was so thick it was almost black.

"The Ghost Festival is approaching!" The officer's voice was firm and decisive, like the sound of war drums. "This is your special team's first mission since its formation, and also the only mandatory mission."

"Stationed in the hardest-hit areas during the Ghost Festival!"

His finger traced the glaring red areas on the map: "Your mission objective. Assist in the defense of the only witness legion in the area, or, if necessary, directly lead the operation to eliminate the Death Demons and safeguard the lives of the people! Minimize losses!"

"The red zone is your battlefield! The blue and yellow zones are the responsibility of the local forces!" The officer's gaze swept over the captains of the three squads, carrying the weight of scrutiny and entrustment. "Now, you have three minutes. Look at the map and choose a red zone. Once you've chosen, tell me."

He pointed to the map: "Only those marked in red or above are considered severely affected areas. After you've made your selections, I'll take you to collect the core resources belonging to this special team: the Great Sun-level Ancient Technique Inheritance!"

Great Sun-level Ancient Technique!
These words, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a tidal wave in the hearts of the members of the three teams.

Even Fang Qingyu's pupils showed a slight stirring of emotion.

Great Sun-level Ancient Technique!
This is absolutely beyond the modern martial arts they currently possess!

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

All that remained was the faint glow of the data stream silently passing by on the map and the slightly hurried breathing of the crowd.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the enormous holographic map, their minds racing as they analyzed the danger level of each red zone, the types of spirits, the terrain features, and the difficulty of providing support.
This is not just an option for a stationary mission.

It is more likely to be a matter of life and death and future development opportunities.

Fang Qingyu's gaze immediately fell on the southeastern region of the map.

There, there is a long and narrow area bordering the East China Sea, marked in dark red.

An Giang Province.

Qingjian City is located in a prominent node within the deep red region.

Without the slightest hesitation, Fang Qingyu turned his head to look at his four teammates beside him.

Jiang Wei remained expressionless, only sucking on her lollipop with her small mouth, her clear eyes fixed on the location of Anjiang Province.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan's gazes followed him, landing on that deep red.

"I want to go here, to Anjiang Province," Fang Qingyu said softly, looking at Wei Banmeng and the other two. "What do you think?"

A hint of understanding appeared on Wei Banmeng's usually cold face as she looked at Fang Qingyu, her voice calm and decisive.

"Listen to you."

She paused, then added, "We're all locals from Shangjing. For Shangjing, the Ghost Festival is just a matter of increased security and more street patrols; it's uneventful every year. To be honest, if you choose to stay in Shangjing, we'd find it strange, and might even suggest you move to a place where you're needed more."

Chu Kuanglan grinned and patted his chest forcefully: "That's right! Wherever you go, Fang Shen, we'll go! Anjiang Province? Perfect for letting the brothers see what a real 'Destiny Ghost Sea Tide' is all about! Staying in the capital will make our bones rust!"

Lu Jiuyuan nodded calmly: "Anjiang Province is located by the sea, with complex terrain and many high-risk areas, so it does need strong support. I have no objection."

Jiang Wei didn't say anything, but nodded her head in agreement.

Seeing the unwavering support and trust in the eyes of his four teammates, Fang Qingyu's last lingering concerns vanished.

He took a deep breath, turned his gaze to the waiting officer, and spoke in a steady, powerful voice that echoed clearly in the silent conference room:

"Our team has chosen to be stationed in An Giang Province."

Fang Qingyu's finger landed steadily on the dark red area on the map.

The officer's gaze swept over Fang Qingyu's finger pointing to Anjiang Province, and he nodded slightly without saying anything, clearly not surprised by this choice.

He then turned to Liu Hanyan and Shi Kong.

"Captain Liu?"

Liu Hanyan's gaze swept quickly across the map, finally settling on a vast mountainous region in the center of the continent, covered in deep red: "Our team has chosen to be stationed in Sanyi City."

It is located in the central region, with complex terrain and abundant waterways.

It suits her versatility in expressing the true meaning of water and the cooperation of other team members.

The officer nodded and looked at Shi Kong: "Captain Shi Kong?"

Shi Kong clasped his hands together and said in a deep voice, "This humble monk's team is willing to go to the ancient temple market."

It was a northern city, with a snowy and icy environment that complemented the fierceness and cold resistance of his Buddhist golden body, and also allowed the other martial artists in his team who were also skilled in head-on combat to perform well.

"it is good."

The officer succinctly confirmed the garrison areas of the three squads.

On the map, three dark red areas were quickly marked, each corresponding to one of the three squads.

"The assigned area has been confirmed. In three hours, a special plane will be waiting on the rooftop helipad to take you to your respective posts. Time is of the essence; upon arrival, immediately connect with the headquarters of the only witness legion in the area."

The officer's tone carried the urgency of a military order: "Now, begin allocating the first batch of core resources for your special team, selecting Great Sun-class ancient techniques or corresponding resources."

After he finished speaking, an adjutant immediately stepped forward and handed three specially made military tablet computers to Fang Qingyu, Liu Hanyan, and Shi Kong respectively.

"The tablet is connected to a top-secret database," the officer explained. "Each member of the special squad has one opportunity to select a Great Sun-level ancient technique. Please choose carefully and make sure to select the one that best suits your development."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three teams, and added, "In addition, each special team is initially configured with four official member slots. If a team contains a member of the Cult, that member can forgo their opportunity to personally select a Great Sun-level Ancient Technique and instead exchange it for an equivalent top-tier cultivation resource pack, the value of which far exceeds the regular supply. Whether to exchange or not is up to the Cult member to decide."

These words instantly made the atmosphere in the conference room even more awkward.

While the Great Sun-level ancient methods are certainly valuable, the equivalent top-tier resource packs are equally tempting, especially for teams that urgently need to solidify their foundation and quickly improve their combat power; the latter may have an immediate effect.

Fang Qingyu's eyes lit up immediately.
It seems he's going to take advantage of Xiao Jiang again.

After all, while others might not know, he knew everything perfectly well.

Xiao Jiang doesn't need these things at all.

(End of this chapter)