Start by conquering the world with unlimited job opportunities.

Chapter 230 The Cruelty Begins (2 words, Update 25)

The mountain road leading to Heisong'ao is rugged and bumpy.

The reinforced and modified military off-road vehicle chassis emitted a dull scraping sound.

Outside the car window, rolling hills were covered with dark green vegetation. Sunlight shone through the gaps in the thick clouds, casting dappled shadows, but it couldn't dispel the increasingly oppressive feeling in the air, a mixture of decaying leaves and the stench of earth.

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat somber.

Chu Kuanglan closed his eyes to rest, Lu Jiuyuan wiped the hilt of his sword, Wei Banmeng gazed at the rapidly receding scenery outside the window with her cold eyes, and Jiang Wei held a tablet with a blank expression on her face.

Fang Qingyu sat in the passenger seat, his gaze sweeping over the steady, towering figure in the driver's seat.

Zhang Tiezhu, the company commander of the Fierce Tiger Company.

"Company Commander Zhang," Fang Qingyu broke the silence, his voice calm, "How many years have you been in the army?"

Zhang Tiezhu's hands were steady on the steering wheel. Hearing the question, a simple yet slightly embarrassed smile appeared on his dark face. He habitually scratched the back of his head with his free left hand: "More than ten years, Captain Fang. I joined the army when I was eighteen. As a raw recruit, I had just figured out how to use a rifle when the higher-ups said that I... uh, I'm not bad-looking, and I have some martial arts background, so I was selected to participate in that 'martial arts' selection."

He paused, his voice tinged with emotion and a hint of barely perceptible regret: "I have practiced, but my talent is really not that great. Unlike you geniuses like Captain Fang, who have toiled for over a decade and only managed to reach the peak of the Profound Realm, I feel like I'm still a long way from becoming a Grandmaster. I guess this is how it will be for me in this lifetime."

As Fang Qingyu listened, a hint of understanding flashed deep within his molten gold eyes.

The peak of the Profound Realm might not be anything special in a blessed land or in the Hidden Dragon Project.

But this is the front line, a place where we have been facing the blood and flesh of death for more than a decade!
Over a decade, he rose from a rookie to the commander of a crack company, surviving countless battles against death and elevating his strength to the peak of the Profound Realm.
That in itself is an extremely powerful skill!

This requires not only talent, but also an iron will, fighting instinct, and a terrifyingly tenacious ability to survive, honed through countless brushes with death.

No wonder Brigade Commander Zhou sent him to cooperate.

This is not only a sign of trust, but also an affirmation of the strength of Zhang Tiezhu and his Fierce Tiger Company.

"Being able to survive is a skill in itself."

Fang Qingyu looked at Zhang Tiezhu's rough hands and resolute profile, his tone carrying a hint of respect, "At the peak of the Profound Realm, you are already a pillar of strength on the front lines. The Fierce Tiger Company truly lives up to its name."

Zhang Tiezhu was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this genius who was rumored to be able to kill a grandmaster with one punch to say such a thing.

He grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and his eyes warmed slightly: "Thank you, Captain Fang! Our Fierce Tiger Company may not have many other skills, but we have one."

"Hard to fight! Follow orders! Wherever Captain Fang and your comrades point, we'll go!"

……

The convoy traveled for more than an hour amidst the bumpy ride.

The road ahead grew narrower and more rugged, and the musty, cold air grew stronger.

Finally, we stopped on a relatively open hillside platform.

"Captain Fang, we've arrived! The outer camp of Black Pine Pass is just ahead!"

Zhang Tiezhu turned off the engine and opened the car door.

As everyone got off the bus, a cold wind carrying the smell of damp, decaying vegetation hit them in the face.

Before us is a simple field camp built against a hillside.

Several large, dark green tents, piles of supplies covered with camouflage netting, makeshift lookout posts, and a ring of fortifications constructed with sandbags and barbed wire.

Behind the campsite lies the entrance to a huge mountain valley where the terrain suddenly drops.

The scene at the entrance was chilling.

On both sides are steep mountain walls covered with dark green pine forests, resembling the clenched jaws of a giant beast.

The pass is narrow, allowing only three or four people to walk side by side.

What is most striking is that in front of the entrance, there is a transparent light membrane that is almost imperceptible to the naked eye and ripples slightly like water, completely sealing off the entrance.

The light membrane emits a faint energy fluctuation, giving people a sense of toughness and stability.

Looking through this light membrane, the scene inside the valley is even more eerie.

It was the ruins of a village forgotten deep in the mountains.

The village was not large, probably only about a hundred households, but now only ruins remain.

Collapsed adobe houses, rotten wooden beams, overgrown weeds, and twisted, bizarre dead trees form the main color scheme.

The sunlight seemed to be blocked by an invisible force, and the light inside the valley was unusually dim, filled with a layer of lingering gray mist.

Dead silence, absolute dead silence!

There were no birdsong or insect chirps; it was as if even the air had frozen.

This is the "ghost village" that is listed as an absolute forbidden zone in the real world.

Black Pine Pass.

“Captain Fang, comrades, this is Black Pine Pass.” Zhang Tiezhu pointed to the light membrane, his voice deep and serious. “This layer is the ‘ultra-durable force field’ deployed on top.”

Fang Qingyu nodded, his gaze piercing through the force field.

Looking across the desolate ruins, one could almost feel the chilling malice emanating from them.

"Leave the luggage at the campsite first, then we'll go inside and check out the terrain."

Fang Qingyu gave the order.

Soon, the five people put down their simple luggage.

Zhang Tiezhu, accompanied by two elite platoon leaders and Fang Qingyu's team, walked towards the transparent force field membrane.

Fang Qingyu took the lead and stepped forward.

It felt as if I had passed through a curtain of icy water, my body momentarily sluggish, before my feet touched solid ground.

A colder, damp air, carrying a heavy, decaying, and indescribable "filth" scent, instantly enveloped everyone.

The temperature dropped several degrees, and the light became even dimmer.

The sounds of wind and birdsong that could be heard outside have completely disappeared.

The only sounds in the world were their own footsteps and breathing, which sounded exceptionally clear in the deathly silence of the ruins.

A true "silent place".

"Watch your step, many places have collapsed."

Zhang Tiezhu reminded him in a low voice, clearly familiar with the terrain.

The five began to carefully survey the area that would become their battlefield.

The village is long and narrow, nestled at the bottom of a mountain valley, with a main road running through it, buried by weeds and pebbles.

On both sides are dilapidated house ruins, most of which are only half a person's height of earthen wall foundations.

In some places, huge claw marks and impact marks can be seen, clearly left from battles in previous years.

In the center of the valley, there is a relatively open space, which seems to have been a former threshing ground or village center, with uneven ground.

The cliff face is steep, extending upwards at an angle of almost 70 or 80 degrees, covered with twisted black pines and some unidentified vines, making it difficult to climb.

The entire ruins area is about 400 meters long from east to west and about 150 meters wide at its widest point from north to south. The terrain is complex, and the view is severely obstructed by a large amount of rubble and twisted vegetation.

As Fang Qingyu walked, he rapidly constructed a three-dimensional map in his mind, analyzing every possible point of impact, ambush point, and retreat route of the deadly ghosts.

"Here. And here too."

Fang Qingyu pointed to several relatively sturdy, half-collapsed houses on both sides of the main road, saying, "They can be used as temporary fire support points or observation posts."

He then pointed to the open space in the center of the valley: "This is the most open area, but it is also the most vulnerable to attacks from all sides. It is the place where large-scale ghosts are most likely to attack."

Finally, his gaze fell on the faintly glowing force field barrier at the valley entrance: "Our core defense line is inside the valley entrance. We'll use the terrain to create a deep defense. But concentrating five people here is too wasteful and puts us at a disadvantage."

He looked at his teammates and began to make arrangements:
“Xiao Jiang, you have a wide range of perception. Your position is slightly behind the central open space, near the high point of the valley wall.” He pointed to a huge protruding rock behind the open space. “The view from there is relatively the best, overlooking most of the valley floor. Your task is to sense, provide early warnings, prioritize the elimination of high-threat, eerie targets like the Shadow Weaver, and provide support in other directions when necessary.”

Jiang Wei looked up at the rock with her little face and nodded.

"Chu Kuanglan, you're in charge of the left flank." Fang Qingyu pointed to a relatively high area of ​​ruins on the left side of the main road, near the cliff.

"The terrain there is complex, which is suitable for your explosive attack. Hold the left flank and prevent the Ghost from flanking the valley entrance."

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Chu Kuanglan grinned, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked.

"Lu Jiuyuan, the right flank is yours." Fang Qingyu pointed to the right side of the main road. "The terrain is equally complex, requiring your speed and sharpness. Be careful to protect your flank."

"understand!"

Lu Jiuyuan responded in a deep voice, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Half-Dream." Fang Qingyu looked at Wei Banmeng. "You will provide support from the center, positioned behind the relatively intact stone wall about twenty meters behind the valley entrance. Your Ice Blue Blade Domain has a large range and strong control, responsible for covering the front and central areas of the valley entrance, slowing down and cutting through the surging tide of life ghosts, while supporting the left and right flanks."

Wei Banmeng nodded without any objection on her cool face: "Okay."

"I," Fang Qingyu said, looking towards the valley entrance one last time. "I'll guard the first line. Right in front of the valley entrance. I'll tackle any tough nuts that try to break through the force field barrier."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable sense of responsibility.

After the deployment was completed, Fang Qingyu turned to Zhang Tiezhu, who had been silently following him: "Company Commander Zhang."

"Here!" Zhang Tiezhu immediately straightened his back.

"The five of us will be responsible for Tier 2 and above, or large groups of Life Ghosts that are too numerous to handle. If any Tier 1 Life Ghosts slip through our net, or small to medium-sized Life Ghosts that, while numerous, pose little individual threat, attempt to bypass us and attack the valley entrance, you will lead the Tiger Company to clear them out." Fang Qingyu's gaze was sharp. "Once we've dealt with the threats at hand, we'll immediately return to reinforce. You will be fully responsible for the specific command of firepower deployment, position arrangement, and personnel mobilization! We'll only be responsible for taking down the toughest nuts to crack!"

Zhang Tiezhu was visibly taken aback.

He originally thought that, as the captain of the special squad, Fang Qingyu would naturally take over the command of the entire Black Pine Pass defense, including his Fierce Tiger Company.

He was even mentally prepared to obey orders completely.

Unexpectedly, the other party so clearly divided the responsibilities, taking on the most critical and dangerous task, but completely handing over the command of the company to him!
This trust and clear understanding of his own position warmed the heart of this tough company commander.

"Yes, Captain Fang!" Zhang Tiezhu saluted sharply, his voice booming and full of power. "The Fierce Tiger Company guarantees to complete the mission! We will not let a single one escape!"

Fang Qingyu nodded.

He had served in the military in his previous life and knew that professional tasks should be left to professionals.

The strength of our squad lies in individual combat capabilities.

Commanding a company in positional defense operations?
He admitted that he was not as experienced as Zhang Tiezhu, a veteran company commander who had been fighting on the front lines for more than ten years.

A clear division of labor is essential to maximizing combat effectiveness.

They left the force field and returned to the relatively "vibrant" outer camp.

The suffocating sense of deathly silence had just begun to subside.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan wasted no time. They immediately found an open space at the edge of the camp and began to make the most of their remaining time for adaptive training, consolidating their realms and familiarizing themselves with the newly acquired Great Sun-level ancient techniques.

Ice-blue blade energy surged, lava fist energy roared, and swift blade light flashed, drawing the attention of the soldiers in the camp, their eyes filled with awe and longing.

Fang Qingyu then brought Jiang Wei with him.

I slowly strolled along the outer edge of the super-durable field shield.

The force field's light membrane emitted a faint glow of energy under the dim sky, like an invisible wall of sighs, separating life from death.

“Xiao Jiang,” Fang Qingyu looked at the layer of light membrane, his molten gold eyes filled with inquiry, “There’s something I’ve never quite understood. Why is it that on the Ghost Festival, the activity of the spirits is so intense? Is there any necessary connection between the two? Or is it just a folk legend?”

Jiang Wei was looking down at her tablet when she heard this. She looked up and a thoughtful look flashed in her clear eyes.

Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were recalling something. After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice gentle yet tinged with uncertainty:

"I'm not entirely sure about that either."

"The origins of the Ghost Festival are very ancient, so ancient that their source is almost impossible to trace. However, there is a popular explanation among the gods."

She paused, as if choosing her words carefully, before continuing, "It is said that a long, long time ago, there was one or several powerful gods who, perhaps for some incomprehensible reason, sided with the Fate Demons."

"To seek refuge with the Ghost of Fate?!"

Fang Qingyu's pupils contracted slightly.

A deity siding with a ghost? This is utterly mind-blowing!
"Hmm." Jiang Wei nodded, her small face expressionless, as if she were talking about something very ordinary. "Legend has it that they betrayed the human race and offered the Fate Ghost an extremely powerful artifact, or some kind of forbidden knowledge. The purpose of this thing is to be able to [do something] at this specific time every year."

"That is, around the time of the Ghost Festival, the barrier between the real world and the dimension where the ghost resides is greatly weakened."

"The spatial barrier has been weakened?"

Fang Qingyu pondered, "So, the ghosts can penetrate through more easily, forming the so-called 'Ghost Festival Tide'?"

"That's roughly the idea." Jiang Wei sucked on the lollipop in her mouth. "However, these are just hearsay, anecdotes circulating in the circles of gods."

"Whether it's true or false, which god did it, and what was offered, I'm afraid only my father and the others know some of the inside stories."

Fang Qingyu remained silent.

The gods have allied themselves with the demons of fate? Offering up divine artifacts to weaken the spatial barriers?
This information is enormous, and also full of strangeness and incomprehensibility.

But Jiang Wei also said that this is just a legend.

Fang Qingyu shook his head, suppressing these unverifiable secrets from his mind.

The most important thing right now is to hold the line of defense.

The two walked around the edge of the force field, silently memorizing the surrounding terrain, possible support routes, and the firing positions set up by the Tiger Company before returning to the camp.

……

The campfire was already lit in the camp.

The soldiers sat in small groups, talking in hushed tones. The atmosphere wasn't relaxed, but they maintained the composure typical of soldiers.

Upon seeing Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei return, the conversation immediately quieted down, and many eyes focused on them with awe and a touch of restraint.

Fang Qingyu paused, looking at the young faces that had suddenly fallen silent. He suddenly smiled, pointed towards the camp's exit, and said half-jokingly, "Why isn't anyone talking anymore? How about we go for a walk again?"

The camp fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.

The soldiers' tense nerves seemed to be eased considerably by this joke.

"No need, no need! Captain Fang!"

"Captain Fang is joking!"

The atmosphere became lively again. Although it still carried the solemnity of the battle, the invisible barrier caused by the difference in strength seemed to have been diluted a lot.

Fang Qingyu pulled Jiang Wei along and casually sat down in an open space near the campfire.

He glanced around at the surrounding soldiers, his voice calm yet clear, reaching everyone's ears:

"Don't worry about us. Our job is to help you stop the toughest and most dangerous big guys and crush them in the force field."

Fang Qingyu pointed to the light membrane that glowed faintly in the night.

"But," he changed his tone, becoming serious, "we must clean up the battlefield, catch any that escaped, guard this valley entrance, and prevent even a single ghost from escaping and causing havoc outside."

"These are also the real key tasks! So everyone is a key player, there's no need to be restrained."

He had served in the military in his previous life and knew all too well the pride and courage in the bones of these soldiers.

Martial artists have their own arrogance, and soldiers have their own dignity.

His words not only clarified the division of labor, but also solemnly handed over the most important responsibility of the "defense line" to the Fierce Tiger Company.

Goals are the same.

Hold the pass at the valley entrance and protect what's behind you!
As for who is responsible for which part, as long as the goals are the same.

A touch of arrogance can actually be transformed into even greater fighting power.

Sure enough, after he said that, the way the soldiers looked at Fang Qingyu completely changed.

It's no longer just simple awe; it's more about recognition and the camaraderie of fighting side by side.

Under the glow of the campfire, the tension on the young faces faded, replaced by a more determined radiance.

"Captain Fang is right!"

"Tiger Company! It's our duty to defend our territory!"

"Damn it, you bastard!"

……

As night deepened, the chill in the mountains intensified.

The noise in the camp gradually subsided, and the soldiers began to take turns resting to conserve their strength for the upcoming battle.

Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei sat outside the tent in a sheltered spot.

He took out his phone, and the screen lit up; it was a video request from Qin Hui.

The call connected, and several familiar and excited faces immediately appeared on the screen.

"Qingzi! You're really back?! You've arrived in Anjiang?"

Qin Hui's voice was filled with surprise.

"Yes, we've arrived. We're at Heisong'ao."

Fang Qingyu smiled and nodded, turning the camera to Jiang Wei beside him, Wei Banmeng who was meditating with her eyes closed not far away, and Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan who had just finished practicing their boxing and walked over, "They're all here."

"Sister Jiang! Sister Wei!" came Haozi's loud voice.

Jiang Wei waved her little hand at the screen.

Wei Banmeng also opened her eyes and nodded slightly to the camera.

Fang Qingyu introduced Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan to Qin Hui and the others.

Qin Hui greeted them warmly through the screen and extended an invitation: "Brother Chu, Brother Lu! You must come to Qingjian City after the Ghost Festival! Let us show you how to be a good host!"

Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan smiled and agreed, "We'll definitely go! We've long heard that Qingjian City is Fang Shen's hometown."

After exchanging pleasantries, Fang Qingyu got down to business: "How's the defense situation in Qingjian? Is there a lot of pressure?"

On the other end of the screen, Qin Hui's expression immediately turned serious: "The pressure is immense! This year, the higher-ups are paying special attention. In addition to Grandmaster Chen overseeing the central command, they've sent six more Grandmasters! Among them is Su Wanqing, the chosen one you know."

"We've increased security at several high-risk locations in the city. But you know how it is during the Ghost Festival—it's impossible to guard against everything. Nobody knows which nook or cranny might suddenly be hiding."

Fang Qingyu listened, his brows furrowing slightly.

With six grandmasters plus Su Wanqing and Grandmaster Chen, this force is definitely strong enough for Qingjian City, but Qin Hui's tone was still heavy, which shows the danger of the Ghost Festival.

"Don't be reckless," Fang Qingyu cautioned. "Follow Captain Lin's instructions. He's very experienced."

Mentioning Lin Kang, Qin Hui smiled and said, "Don't worry, Qingzi! Captain Lin is amazing now! His skills are improving rapidly, and his command is becoming more and more stable. Following him is just like following you back then—you feel confident! It's just that the rewards might not be as plentiful as when you were leading the team, haha!"

As Fang Qingyu listened to Qin Hui's words, he also recalled the days when they fought side by side in Qingjian City, and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

……

The next day, it was just getting light.

Fang Qingyu and the other four had already stood up.

After a quick wash, I walked once again toward the force field shield that separated life and death, facing the crisp morning breeze of the mountains.

Inside the camp, the soldiers of the Fierce Tiger Company were already busy checking equipment and reinforcing fortifications, creating an atmosphere even more tense and solemn than the day before.

A young soldier who was checking his equipment immediately straightened up when he saw Fang Qingyu and his group approaching. With respect and a touch of youthful vigor on his face, he greeted them loudly, "Good morning, Captain Fang! Good morning, comrades!"

His voice sounded exceptionally clear and powerful in the quiet mountain valley at dawn.

Fang Qingyu nodded to him, a gentle smile on his face: "Good morning, thank you for your hard work."

Just as Fang Qingyu finished speaking, before the soldier's energetic smile had fully blossomed, Fang Qingyu's response was finished.

boom! ! !
A muffled roar, as if from the depths of the earth, erupted violently without warning!

The entire valley seemed to tremble at the loud noise!
The ground beneath everyone's feet suddenly jolted!
The pots and pans in the camp were clanging and clattering!

That transparent, ultra-durable force field shield, like a lake surface hit by a boulder, instantly burst forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling light!
Countless violent energy ripples surged and twisted wildly on it.

A massive, cold, deathly still wave, filled with endless malice and a twisted aura, erupted from the depths of Black Pine Pass within the force field like a burst dam, instantly engulfing every corner of the camp!
The young soldier's smile froze instantly, replaced by horror.

Fang Qingyu's gentle smile vanished abruptly, his molten gold eyes instantly sharpening like blades as he abruptly turned towards the force field shield!

it has started!

The most brutal and bloody phase for humanity in resisting the tide of ghosts during the Ghost Festival.

And so, the curtain was abruptly torn open by this sudden, terrifying roar, amidst the lingering echo of that ordinary and warm greeting!
(End of this chapter)