Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Fools!
“An undisciplined mob!
“I’m starting to wonder if the hundreds of billions we invest for martial arts universities every year are worth it!”
...
Just as Fang Ping and the others had discussed their plan and were resting and preparing for battle at their own time, 5 kilometers away from them, in the makeshift campsite, somebody cursed angrily.
Tang Feng and the others were all there, not making a sound currently.
However, after the person’s angry outburst, Tang Feng replied arbitrarily, “What were you hoping for from a group or rookies? Powerhouses all start as weaklings. Experience is gained through growth.
“After raising hundreds of billions for martial arts universities and the number of powerhouses groomed, aren’t you aware just how many people were sacrificed in the Catacombs?
“What about the Military Department!
“When the Military Department is compared to martial arts universities, are they superior?
“What a joke!
“How many powerhouses from your Military Department, how many commanders came from martial arts universities!”
Tang Feng gave a cold chuckle and said lightly, “Nobody’s denying the efforts of the Military Department. I, Tang Feng, also respect just how many normal warriors generously face death!
“But my martial arts university students are just going to become the useless waste you talk about?”
The military officer who had previously reprimanded them said furiously, “Shouldn’t I scold them? How do you people teach students!
“In a campsite of 300 people, the evil sect’s stronghold is just 15 kilometers away!
“And what happened?
“They think they’re all chasing fleeing criminal martial artists!
“Is the other party just going to sit there and wait for them to attack?
“Such a big campsite, yet nobody thought to send someone to be on night watch!
“The moment these evil sect martial artists ambush them, what say you, how many of these people are going to die?”
Tang Feng was a little sheepish. A CCMAU martial artist teacher-in-charge frowned slightly and said, “This point was indeed overlooked by them, but before this, everybody did individual missions. At most, they’ve even done small-scale team missions.
“They’ve never experienced this kind of large-scale stronghold-surrounding mission. You can say they’re complete newbies.
“Everybody came from their own martial arts universities. None of them considered this, which is indeed a very serious mistake.
“However, that last sentence of yours, General Liu, is denying the contributions of our martial arts university students. It’d be better if you retract this statement.
“There are dozens of Grandmaster powerhouses from martial arts universities. Who isn’t breaking their back in the Catacombs!
“Even Commander-In-Chief Li wouldn’t deny the contributions of our martial arts universities, but they’re now being denied in one sentence by General Liu?”
The man called General Liu scoffed lightly. “I...I admit my words were a little biased.
“But this group of students you consider your elites, are they really elite?
“Soldiers have to make efficiency their top priority!
“The evil sect martial artists here today are all trapped beasts. Would they just sit and wait for death?
“If not for being afraid of the Military Department and the periphery’s powerhouses blocking them off, they would’ve charged ahead long ago!
“Moreover, these students have all been told that the path behind the mountain isn’t sealed.
“Could it be that these students never even considered that when they head to Boulder Village tomorrow, they’d be leaving an empty village for them, and the evil sect martial artists could enter the jungle and start guerilla warfare with them? They’re actually going back to the barracks to rest and not taking the opportunity of when we left just now to quickly secure Boulder Village...”
Nobody spoke, but some of the martial arts university instructors felt a little embarrassed.
General Liu continued, “I think it’s necessary to teach these students a lesson! Commander Chen!”
“Here!”
“Go. Go to Boulder Village, lure a few martial artists over and ambush the students’ campsite!”
“This...”
The muscular man outfitted in the military uniform standing at the side felt a little awkward. Tang Feng exhaled lightly and nodded. “Lure a few Rank-3 martial artists over—not more than 5. Keep the others out!”
“Understood!”
Since somebody from the martial arts universities had agreed too, Commander Chen did not hesitate any longer and swiftly brought a few Military Department martial artists with him toward Boulder Village.
Seeing this, General Liu said calmly, “How many people do you think will die this time in this group of rookies?”
Tang Feng’s brows knitted. An instructor from CCMAU frowned too and said, “It would be best if none of them died.
“If they really do die, they’d be sacrifices of the battlefield!
“If all of the Military Department had your attitude, all your new soldiers would’ve been killed in action long ago!
“Liu Shiping, put away your hawk-like ways for a while. Don’t think just because you have support in the Military Department that you’re invincible!
“My martial arts university students have always produced elites!
“Stop using our martial arts universities as your platform to boost yourself. Out of three hundred Grandmasters, half of them came from martial arts universities. If you want to die, nobody’s stopping you. Go straight to the Catacombs and stop showing off among a bunch of newbies here!”
Liu Shiping was slightly incensed as he said, “Am I using people as a platform? Am I picking anyone out?
“I can’t get used to your methods!
“I’d say the same even if there were Grandmasters here!
“Today, the situation is dangerous. When we’re grooming warriors during a war, do you think we have time to play these stupid games!
“If they’re thrown into the Catacombs, only those who come out alive are elites, and they are the only elites I, Liu Shiping, would acknowledge!”
“Hmph, you’re all brawn and no brain. What do you know!”
“I’m all brawn and no brain? Even if I’m all brawn, I still know the situation now is extremely dangerous. Many of your martial arts university instructors have also died in battle. Why are you so forgiving to these students?”
Tang Feng said impatiently, “It’s enough if you take care of your own business. How the students are taught is the business of the martial arts universities!
“You’re shortsighted!
“All of the students who enter martial arts universities have the qualifications to become Grandmasters!
“They achieve success quickly in the beginning and get seriously injured or die. Can it be that the Military Department has given us so many potential Grandmasters?
“Forgive my bluntness. Is one steel-blooded warrior groomed by you more effective than a Grandmaster?
“Grandmasters aren’t mass-produced by putting their lives on the line. I’d say you don’t have a brain, but you’ve trained your soldiers well, so if I said you had a brain, perhaps it’s all just water?”
Pssh!
Quite a few people in the crowd laughed. Liu Shiping was furious and snorted derisively. “Alright. I’d like to see how many Grandmasters can come from this batch of students...
“If you produce even one, then for today’s matter, I will admit that it is I, Liu Shiping, who is shortsighted!”
Tang Feng wrinkled his brows. “If they live till then, then we’ll talk. If they die, who cares if you’re shortsighted or not?”
Suddenly, everyone quieted down.
Liu Shiping quieted down as well. After a long while, he sighed. “You also know that people are going to die soon, yet you’re not the least bit anxious?”
“A watched pot never boils. The students are still young. Just let them grow up step by step.
“We shouldn’t spoil things through excessive enthusiasm and rush them to be Grandmaster powerhouses by tomorrow.
“The Military Department has too many people like you. Look at it yourself, how many Grandmasters does the Military Department have?
“In every year’s fund allocation from the Ministry of Finance, the Military Department gets the most—more than ten times that of martial arts universities!
“But in the end, you all only know how to fill in the gaps with people’s lives. You all must also take responsibility for the fighters sacrificed by the Military Department. If you all could have one more Grandmaster or powerhouse, how many deaths would you save?”
“Tell that to Commander Li.”
Tang Feng snorted and thought, ‘You know how to use Commander Li to intimidate me, yet you don’t think for a moment about how many of my martial arts university’s Grandmasters have grown enough guts to question the education problems with martial arts universities.’
...
Fang Ping and the others naturally did not know about the discussion and argument that went on at Tang Feng’s side.
It was out of habit that they did not assign anyone to the night watch.
Prior to this when everyone was doing missions, the criminal was always on the run. None of them had even thought of the possibility of a counterattack.
Even at this moment, with everyone knowing that there were a few hundred evil sect martial artists 15 kilometers away, in everyone’s minds, their enemies were just waiting for them to show up and kill them. No one considered the possibility that the other party might actively ambush and kill them.
With this, everyone went back to their tents to conserve their strength and await tomorrow’s movement.
...
4 am in the early morning.
Within the campsite, most of the students were sound asleep.
Martial artists were humans too, and they needed rest. Most people would be asleep at this hour.
Just as Fang Ping was also falling asleep, his body gave a sudden shudder. Fang Ping rapidly climbed up and picked up the saber beside him and shouted coldly, “Who is it?”
“Shh!”
In the dark, a silhouette appeared, speaking in a low voice. “Me.”
“F*ck!”
Fang Ping cursed darkly. At this point, the others in the tent had woken up. Zhao Lei scrunched up his brows. “Gu Xiong?”
“It’s me.”
Gu Xiong walked out of the darkness, not minding that Fang Ping was still holding a saber against him. He opened his mouth and said, “I just wanted to inform you that there might be an ambush on the camp by martial artists. If you aren’t tired, then go on the night watch with me.”
“Ambush on the camp?”
Fang Ping went blank for a moment. Gu Xiong continued in a low voice, “Indeed. Actually, when no one mentioned it earlier, I was going to say it.
“But at that time everyone was rushing to disperse, so I didn’t bring it up.
“The probability of an ambush on the camp is very high. Even if the evil sect martial artists didn’t think about it, our teachers would definitely want to teach us a lesson.
“In the Military Department and in the Catacombs, martial artists always have to sleep with one eye open. We’re too slack.
“You’re not weak, and you also come from Nanjiang. Let’s go on the night watch. Even if we don’t encounter an ambush on the camp, we’d gain some marks from the instructors.
“The president said that at a crucial moment, I can pull you with me.”
“Your president?”
“Yes.”
“Is Brother Wang trying to trick me or is he acknowledging me?”
Fang Ping complained. After thinking it through, he got up. “That’s fine, what you said makes a little sense. Let’s go make rounds.”
“We’re going too.”
Fang Ping looked at Fu Changding and the others for a moment before nodding. “Together then. If you really encounter trouble, quickly come over and call for help.”
...
Together, the few of them left the campground, reaching the campground’s entrance.
Finding a dark area, Fang Ping sat down and asked, “You’ve been to the Catacombs?”
Gu Xiong did not sit down, looking around at their surroundings before replying, “I’ve been there once.”
“How did it feel?”
“Tragic.”
“Huh?”
“That time I went, it just so happened to be a battle between two armies—a true cold weapons army operation! The deaths and injuries were serious, and the governor of Donglin himself went to the frontlines. Perhaps you wouldn’t be able to imagine that on the battlefield, such a decent-looking uncle could tear apart a few of the enemies while they were still alive!
“That was when I realized that our grudge with the Catacombs had become never-ending a long while ago.
“On the surface, Donglin’s governor can love his people like his children, but in the Catacombs, he would rather the Catacombs’ humans thought of him as the devil or an executioner.”
Gu Xiong spoke calmly. He continued, “Later on, I, too, entered the battle. I killed many people, including regular Catacombs humans and the Catacombs’ army.
“Fang Ping, this is a war between the races.
“The never-ending type!
“In the Catacombs, the most unnecessary thing is mercy.”
The corner of Fang Ping’s mouth twisted. “I know.”
“No, you don’t!”
Gu Xiong shook his head. “The war between humans and the Catacombs could sometimes confuse people. For instance, humans could also slaughter through the Catacombs humans’ villages, beheading the infants still in their swaddle.
“Can you imagine yourself doing that?”
Fang Ping went silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll see when I get there. When it really reaches the point where it’s necessary, I, Fang Ping, am not one to be soft-hearted and merciful!”
“Let’s hope that’s the case.”
Gu Xiong added, “That’s why when facing the evil sect martial artists, we need to have the same attitudes against them as we do against the Catacombs. Kill them all!
“Tomorrow, we might encounter some regular people, maybe even the old and weak, women and children, but at this point, those who don’t want to leave and are still with the evil sect martial artists are their die-hard followers.
“The way that evil sect martial artists treat those semi-believers would not be constantly bringing them along when they take off, do you know what I mean?”
“Uh-huh.”
This time, the evil sect martial artists had been forced to flee here by Nanjiang’s Military Department and a few Grandmasters. If the people were not fanatics, they would have been abandoned by them long ago.
Fanatics were different, and that was why they could remain.
At this point, those still mingling among the evil sect martial artists were fanatics who had been brain-washed ages ago.
The others were also listening to the conversation between the two people.
After a moment, Gu Xiong said suddenly, “I think I heard a noise.”
Fang Ping had also heard a little movement, and his eyebrows immediately came together in a frown.
When the noise got closer, Fang Ping spoke abruptly in a low voice, “You really hit the mark. Those guys in front, are they from the Military Department or from the martial arts universities?”
“The Military Department.”
“They’re really brutal. It’s their way to force us to remember.”
Fang Ping immediately guessed the Military Department’s thoughts. ‘You’re not going to have a night watch?
‘Then that’s fine. After this ambush, you’ll never forget again!’
As for the deaths and injuries, there would not be too many.
A few hundred martial artists were present, and they were all Rank-2 and Rank-3 martial artists. Once they realized, they would be able to react quickly and counterattack rapidly.
However, no matter what, if they were not vigilant for even a moment, and some high-level assassins managed to enter the camp, the deaths and injuries would definitely not be a small number.
...
“These brats, they’re treating us as stepping stones!”
In front of the campsite, a few martial artists were slowly coming together, whispering among each other.
“We saw through it, but at this point, we can’t escape the encirclement. Every kill we get is a win. Aren’t they treating us as their stepping stones? Then let’s satisfy them. Who knows if the lackeys from martial arts universities in the campsite are like us, tricked casual martial artists...”
“No matter who it is, kill them! Kill upon entry and kill on sight!”
The few of them discussed quietly. As for death... They were surrounded here a long time ago and there was no sign of help. They knew that death was their only salvation.
However, the few of them believed that even if they died, it would be worth it!
It was their contribution for the sake of world peace!
On the day of world peace, their sect leader would definitely have done a complete unification. Then, perhaps they could also be resurrected.
If the Catacombs’ humans could be resurrected, then naturally, their sect leader who would have taken over the world would be able to do it too.
Death was not frightening!
Just as the few of them discussed what to do, the Military Department martial artists in front all vanished without a trace.
The few evil sect martial artists were not surprised. These people were probably outside waiting to see the results.
The leading martial artist revealed a smile on his face and said in a low voice, “Kill as many as you can. I’ll be waiting to return to the true world sooner or later!”
The three people behind him nodded seriously!
Resurrection—this was what they adamantly believed in!
In the next moment, the four people advanced swiftly, getting close to the campsite.
Just as they were not 10 meters away from the campsite, the last person suddenly felt a numbing in his scalp. A stingingly sharp howl of wind sounded about the top of his head!
“Someone’s here!”
Pfft!
Fang Ping, who was in mid-air, let his blade fall, slicing the opponent into two!
The elevated stance really allowed one to be elevated!
“A Grandmaster... No, a martial artist with the elevated stance!”
The three people in front had also heard the noise and rapidly distanced themselves, glaring at the landing Fang Ping coolly.
“4 Rank-3s. There’s not too much to see. No... Now there’s only 3!”
Fang Ping chuckled, then lightly called, “Leave the leader to me. Divide the rest among you!”
Once these words sounded, Fang Ping quickly attacked the leading person.
The three evil sect people had wanted to surround Fang Ping, but in the next second, Gu Xiong appeared from the dark, blocking one of them.
Fu Changding, Zhao Lei, Tang Songting and a few others also swiftly appeared, cornering the other person.
“Kill them!”
The three evil sect martial artists roared. Unafraid of death, all of them started fighting with Fang Ping and the others.
Fang Ping slashed downward with his saber. The opponent also swept his saber horizontally. The clashing sound reverberated throughout the campsite, and the sound of the students’ yells inside could already be heard.
“Middle-stage Rank-3!”
Fang Ping’s gaze became more somber. This was his first time meeting a same-ranked martial artist after entering Rank-3, but his Vitality was quite a bit less than his own.
Clang...
The noise of the alloys clashing sounded endlessly. Under the night sky, sparks flew in all directions, illuminating their faces.
“If you have mastered a Combat Skill, let me see you show it off!”
Fang Ping provoked the other party. Consequently, right after he provoked him, the opponent suddenly punched his own chest. Vitality rolled over his entire body, and in the next moment, the dadao held in the opponent’s hands hacked at Fang Ping as quick as lightning!
Fang Ping wanted to backtrack, but very quickly, his expression became more imposing. With a roar, he wielded his blade and swung it down!
Clang!
A loud sound once again reverberated. Fang Ping’s arms trembled, his chest felt heavy, and he could not hold back from spitting some blood.
“F*ck, you really have mastered something!”
Fang Ping cursed loudly and did not muddle along anymore. His saber left flashes of light in mid-air. He stepped into the air, lifting his body to a far greater height, and started slashing downward non-stop!
Fang Ping, who had the elevated stance, occupied the topographical advantage. His opponent could not dodge his every hack and could only defend.
Clangs reverberated endlessly through everybody’s ears. The leading evil sect person had already forgotten just exactly how many times Fang Ping had swung his saber.
At the last second, a slight clicking sound was heard, then the leading martial artist’s vision darkened, only seeing a blood-red tip of a sword in the remaining light.
“800cal, 800 thousand!”
The last thing he heard before losing consciousness was this sentence that he could not really understand.
Fang Ping sheathed his blade and released a breath. It was fine if he did not know. He had used up 800cal of his Vitality this time and 800 thousand of his Wealth points. These people were not the ones to be surrounded before being killed, so the loot should be considered his own, should it not?