I have an endless army of warriors, rampaging across the heavens.

Chapter 162 Four-Day Battle Record: 330!

"How about it?"

While questioning Chu Wu, Zuo Jing examined the light spot in his mind that represented Chu Wu as the broken jade.

The light spot is bright, without dimness, flickering, or impurities.

Chu Wu's condition can be discerned simply from the spots of light—

"not bad!"

Chu Wu, beaming with pride, said, "Reporting to my lord, I have mastered the 'Earth Rhythm,' from level one to level six, it's all in my mind. I know how to cultivate my spell power!"

Tsk!
Cow!

Zuo Jing's eyes were bright.

Despite being an eleventh-level assassin, the highest-ranking assassin present, Chu Wugui's intelligence remains low. Like lower-level assassins, he is a rather dull-witted ordinary person.

Let me emphasize this.

He's not stupid.

Just like in a previous life, there were always those students at the bottom of the class. Some of them were simply unwilling to learn, while others just couldn't learn no matter how hard they tried.

Now!
The suicide squad members are similar to those students who are at the bottom of their class. They have extremely poor learning abilities and low intelligence, but they can take care of themselves completely. They can do repetitive and mechanical physical labor and interact with people normally.

but--

Studying is not good.

Creativity is not an option.

Cultivation won't work either.

"But now, suddenly it works again!"

Zuo Jing looked at Chu Wu, but Chu Wu remained standing in place.

Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands at your waist, focus your attention, calm your mind, and breathe naturally.

This is the 【Qi-Gathering Style】.

This is the simplest and most effective way to exercise, and it is also the experience accumulated by the ancestors of the Spellcraft Continent over countless years. It is the entry point for most cultivation techniques.

Levels one, two, and three: Qi (vital energy).

Levels 4, 5, and 6: Meditate.

Levels seven, eight, and nine: visualization.

This is the training method for sorcerers.

just.

Even the simple act of 'gathering qi', which is merely the entry-level cultivation of a first-level sorcerer, is already complex and diverse. It includes posture, breathing, thoughts, and all sorts of details and aspects that are simply impossible to describe and can only be understood intuitively.

If one starts from elementary school, that's fine. With a level 3, 2, or even just 1 level sorcerer teaching and correcting one constantly, from age 6 to 16 or 18, over 10 or 12 years, one can roughly master the skill. By then, one's body will have just grown up, and one can formally embark on the training of a sorcerer.

However, if there is no sorcerer in the family, and no money to hire even a first-level sorcerer for ten or twelve years of instruction, then one can only be an ordinary person for life, with no chance of becoming a sorcerer. Even if one grows up and has hundreds or thousands of gold coins, it will be difficult to cultivate. Even if there is a cultivation method, it will take at least ten years of study. By the time one finally gets the basics, the golden stage for cultivation improvement will have long passed.

therefore.

Unless there's a secret formula!
"Unexpectedly, this 'secret manual' has given the foolish assassins a chance to surpass their level and break through their limits."

The training of a sorcerer, which takes ordinary people ten years or even longer to master, is even more difficult for a death warrior. Normally, it may take twenty or thirty years to even begin to master it.

But the 'cultivation techniques and secret manuals' would allow them to master them in one fell swoop.

The only problem is-

"The cultivation method is too expensive."

"Secret manuals are even more expensive."

"Earth Rhythm" can only be considered an ordinary item among "cultivation manuals". Even so, it would cost at least eight thousand gold coins, and you would need connections to buy it. If Zuo Jing and Xia Potian hadn't asked for it, would the Xia family have given away this manual from their manual reserves for eight thousand or even ten thousand gold coins?
High probability is not.

Secret manuals have a price.

However, many people or forces that possess secret manuals are not short of money.

This has led to a situation where there is demand but no market for the product.

"Besides, even if the market were opened up for me to buy, I wouldn't be able to buy many of these manuals right now."

One unit costs ten thousand.

Ten books and one hundred thousand.

Once someone has absorbed such a secret manual, the essence within it disappears, and it ceases to be a secret manual, becoming merely an ordinary technique.

"One hundred million gold coins is only enough for ten thousand assassins to master one cultivation technique."

This is just the beginning.

Not cost-effective.

Too uneconomical.

I'd better take care of myself!

Zuo Jing found that the manual had no side effects, so there was nothing to worry about. His immediate priority was to obtain the second manual, which he would use for his own cultivation.

As for where the secret manual came from, it was naturally inappropriate to ask the Xia family for alms again.

That's okay.

"The secret manual will arrive in two more days."

……

Two more days have passed in the blink of an eye.

This day was March 19th.

The city of Wuyun was bustling with activity.

Jingle bells!
"Hey buddy, tell me what's been going on in town lately?"

A dozen or so copper coins on the table jingled crisply.

The waiter at Zhiyuanzhai skillfully shoved the cloth into his pocket and said happily, "Thank you, sir!"

He then launched into a long explanation: "If we're talking about the most important event in Dark Cloud City recently, it's definitely the Cloud Auction that's about to start at noon. This auction is the signature event of our Dark Cloud City, held annually. Last year, a level-six pill was auctioned off, causing a sensation. The year before last, the highlight of the auction was an elven female slave, who was said to be incredibly beautiful, with a starting bid of a full 100,000 gold coins."

The most important event in Dark Cloud City today is the auction.

"It is said."

"This year is a big year. The auction's final items include not only a level-six pill and an elven female slave, but also a 'contract scroll' and a pet egg. It is said that if you use the contract scroll to contract the pet egg and then hatch it, and carefully raise it in the future, you may be able to obtain a pet beast of at least the rank of Marquis, which has caused a great sensation!"

"Izumo Auction House was worried about unexpected events, so they even specially transferred several level-six spellcasters from their headquarters to oversee the operation."

The guy talked on and on.

Han Feng nodded slightly.

He knew all of this, especially the 'contract scroll' and 'pet egg,' which were the very things that led him to travel thousands of miles from the 'delta' outside the Fallen Goose Empire.

The auction and the items auctioned need no further mention.

He was even more curious about who the competitors would be at this auction, what forces and experts were originally in Wuyun City, and what new powerful figures had recently come to participate in this auction.

This is what he desperately wants to know.

"This is it."

"Hey hey hey."

The guy scratched his head and smiled slyly.

Han Feng was used to seeing these petty people. He casually pulled out another handful of copper coins from his pocket and placed them on the table; this time there were at least thirty. "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

The waiter, having received the money, quickly said, "Speaking of the fierce dragons crossing the river, there's one that's most noteworthy: the 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group' under the 'Soul Palace.' This 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group' is truly 'iron-blooded.' They don't know anything else, but they know one thing: 'self-destruction.' Everyone is fearless and willing to die at the drop of a hat. Through suicide attacks, in just four days, including today, they've single-handedly wiped out the Gongye Trading Company, one of the city's thirteen elders, destroying four of its properties and stores, including Dayouqi Trading Company, Miaoshou Pavilion, Shenji Hall, and the gate of the Gongye Mansion. At the same time..." In Wuyun City, all of Gongye Trading Company's properties have been subjected to suicide attacks. The 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group' announced that starting the day before yesterday, they would launch daily terrorist attacks on all of Gongye Trading Company's properties. Who would dare to go to Gongye Trading Company's shops anymore? Don't say you weren't warned if you were caught in the crossfire. In an instant, all of Gongye Trading Company's businesses came to a standstill. Look, customers, right across the street is a shop under Gongye Trading Company that buys all kinds of source beast materials. Usually, at this time, there would be more than twenty or thirty people coming and going, but today, not a single person has come all morning!"

Han Feng turned his head and looked in the direction the shopkeeper was pointing, and sure enough, he saw a shop.

But when he said no one went in or out, he was blatantly lying.

Han Feng frowned: "Didn't someone go in?"

"impossible!"

The shopkeeper was resolute, but when he looked, he exclaimed, "Holy crap, there really are people, and quite a few at that! I roughly counted at least seven or eight!" He continued, "What?! How can anyone dare to go to Gongye Trading Company's shop? Aren't they afraid of getting caught in the crossfire? Where else can they sell source beast materials? There are plenty of shops like that in the city. Why would they have to go to Gongye Trading Company?!"

The man's eyes widened.

Then he thought, "They might be mercenaries and adventurers who hunt beasts in the Source Beast Mountain Range year-round, and they don't know about the recent changes in the city."

That's his guess.

Han Feng disagreed: "They don't seem like mercenaries, and they don't have any source beast materials on them."

"That's impossible!"

The man was resolute.

But the next moment.

Rumble!
A sudden roar erupted from the other side, startling the man. He was immediately alarmed and realized, "It's the Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group!"

More than just the staff!

At that moment, everyone in Zhiyuanzhai, from guests to staff, was drawn by the explosion. Peeking over, anyone who had heard of the recent conflict between Gongye Trading Company and the Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group immediately realized—

"Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group!"

"Attack again!"

Cao!
Iron-blooded!

That's so tough!
Han Feng was also stunned: "Where did this random team come from? They're so strong?"

Having spent many years in that delta, he had rarely seen an organization that treated human lives as if they didn't value human lives, or even their own.

To know.

That 'delta' is the most chaotic region on the continent of sorcery.

There are no laws governing that area.

Yes, it is merely a jungle law where the strong prey on the weak.

Even so, this is the first time I've seen such a wild and untamed fighting style.

"Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group!"

Han Feng's eyes lit up. He thought of the predicament he was facing in the Delta, and then looked at the shops across from Zhiyuanzhai that had been blown up. Suddenly, he had an idea.

He asked his colleague, "How can I contact the Ironblood Mercenary Group?"

"what?"

The waiter slowly typed out two question marks.

……

"Brother Yunshan! Long time no see, how have you been!"

When Bai Cheng arrived at the entrance of the Chuyun Auction House, he happened to run into Gongye Yunshan, one of the main figures in Wuyun City in recent days. He was immediately moved and quickly walked a few steps forward to greet him.

Gongye Yunshan didn't want to run into anyone, which is why he deliberately arrived at the last minute, but he still ended up being seen by someone.

And it's that old rogue Bai Cheng!
unlucky!

But one doesn't hit a smiling face, so Gongye Yunshan, though displeased, nodded and smiled at Bai Cheng, asking, "Brother Bai, where have you been making your fortune lately?"

Speaking of Bai Cheng, he's quite a figure.

Although he did not have the power and status of Gongye Yunshan, one of the thirteen elders of Wuyun City, he ran the "White Gang," a large mercenary group that was well-known far and wide. It was very active in the Source Beast Mountain Range, Wuyun City, and several surrounding cities. Its business ranged from hunting beasts to escorting to war, and it took on all kinds of business. It had a wide network of connections and many experts and ruthless people in the gang, which was no less than the "Fire Tongue Mercenary Group" under Gongye Trading Company.

As the leader of the White Gang, Bai Cheng has the strength, influence, and wealth. Moreover, he has no fixed assets and no base of support. He can go wherever he wants and is free to do as he pleases, which is much more carefree than the Gongye Trading Company.

In particular, his recent experiences have changed Gongye Yunshan's attitude towards forces like the White Gang from disdain and contempt to envy.

If the Gongye Trading Company also lacked a fixed industry and base, and could freely travel without being selected, it wouldn't be in such a passive position now, becoming a 'live target' for the Ironblood Mercenary Group's attacks.

What a miserable experience!
Gongye Yunshan had mixed feelings.

Bai Cheng is simple —

He was just watching the joke.

"Whoa!"

"They said it was about getting rich."

Bai Cheng didn't bother to mention it; he was more concerned about whether Gongye Trading Company would survive: "I've heard about the situation at Gongye Trading Company. By the way, where did this 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group' come from? Their tactics are far too ruthless. Brother Yunshan, have you come up with a countermeasure? I heard that all of Gongye Trading Company's shops are practically deserted. This can't go on!"

Showing concern openly.

In reality, he was being sarcastic and gloating.

Gongye Yunshan is so disgusting.

just.

At this critical juncture, it was really not advisable to make any more powerful enemies, so he could only swallow his pride and ask Bai Cheng, "Brother Bai has many connections outside, have you ever heard of the name of the 'Soul Hall' or the 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group'?"

“I haven’t heard of it!”

Bai Cheng wasn't lying. In fact, he was also curious about the background of this powerful force. His conversation with Gongye Yunshan wasn't entirely out of schadenfreude, but more to find out about the 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group'.

As for himself: "There are at least eight hundred to a thousand mercenary groups called 'Iron Blood,' but there are absolutely no other groups that can be as iron-blooded, ruthless, and fierce as that group. This style is unique and unheard of."

He looked at Gongye Yunshan: "I heard that this 'Iron-Blooded Mercenary Group' has launched a suicide attack on the Gongye Trading Company in just three days. Is that true? That's too exaggerated!"

Gongye Yunshan shook his head: "That's an exaggeration."

Sure enough.

"I knew the rumors were unreliable. Those are people, not animals. Even if they are suicide soldiers, what force would be willing to send hundreds of them to their deaths?"

Bai Cheng had one more thing he didn't say. He wanted to say that the Gongye Trading Company didn't seem to be worthy of such a powerful force sending its assassins to their deaths.

The rumors were indeed just rumors.

That's incredibly unreliable.

In fact, Bai Cheng had long known that it was mostly a rumor. He guessed that it was probably just a few people who launched a deadly attack, but it was spread like this.

But now that he'd met the person in question, Bai Cheng was still curious: "So how much exactly?"

Gongye Yunshan sighed, "Including today, there are about 330 people in total."

"Take the young master?!"

Bai Cheng picked at his ears, thinking he had misheard.

It's not that I don't believe so many people have died.

Rather, it's disbelief—

What role does your Gongye Trading Company play?
How dare you provoke a power of this caliber!
"really?"

Bai Cheng didn't believe it.

……

(End of this chapter)