Chapter 730: Chapter 477: Redeeming [Pale Spring], Military Merit Promotion!

Qin Hui and the others immediately grew excited. "Understood."

They had already grown impatient waiting. Following Azklos’s orders, figures exuding Demonic Qi rushed into the mountain range. Little did they know, even more figures were charging toward them from outside the Fierce Beast Mountain Range. This was truly a two-way rush.

「...」

As twilight fell, the sun set in the west.

Deep within the Fierce Beast Mountain Range, the expressions of many military academy cadets and Adventurer teams changed slightly as they promptly received the pulse signal. They quickly began to retreat out of the mountains. However, some cadets did not receive the message in time, as the Fierce Beast Mountain Range was simply too vast. Before the information airships could provide full coverage, much of the mountain range remained without a signal in areas blanketed by high-energy magnetic fields.

Inside a tree hollow, a graduate cadet from Tiger City Military Academy sat cross-legged, quietly cultivating. His aura was faint, yet it emanated the powerful oppressive force of the Bronze Tier.

Deep within the Fierce Beast Mountain Range, there were not only dangerous fierce beasts, potential ruins, Secret Realms, and various Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, but also energy-rich cultivation havens like this one. Evidently, this talented cadet had found such a prime location.

However, even in a state of cultivation, he had developed the habit of dedicating a part of his mind to remaining vigilant of his surroundings. Thus, when a burly, demonic figure appeared at the cave entrance in the darkness, he was instantly jolted awake.

"Who’s there?"

He leaped to his feet, his Battle Armor exuding intense Battle Qi. With a Sword and Shield in his hands, he stared cautiously at the figure before him.

As the figure slowly approached, a giant over four meters tall appeared in the light of the setting sun. Clad in heavy Battle Armor, it exuded a terrifying pressure. The Chaotic Evil aura caused the Tiger City cadet’s face to tense. He demanded in a deep voice, "Who are you!?"

He sensed a strong malice from this burly figure, which was unlike that of an academy instructor or anyone from the military.

Looking at the young man in the tree hollow, the Troll Descendant’s face twisted into a grim smile. "You Human Alliance lackey. I’m going to tear you apart, piece by piece."

"A Demon Worshiper?!" the Tiger City cadet’s expression changed drastically.

BOOM!

The battle erupted in an instant, and the terrifying roar reverberated far and wide.

Ten minutes later, the burly Troll Descendant slowly walked out of the tree hollow, clutching a bloodied head. The eyes on the severed head were wide with anger and resentment. This was the first casualty.

While the Demon Worshipers spread out to hunt for the talented cadets, and as deaths began to occur, a military team also encountered a Blood Demon.

The Blood Demon stared in stunned disbelief at the five figures surrounding him. The intense Bronze Battle Qi leaping from their bodies was particularly glaring. Lord Azklos said this mountain range was filled with nothing but greenhorn Black Iron and Bronze cadets, didn’t he? Where did these battle-hardened Bronze Warriors, wreathed in a murderous aura, come from?

Before the bemused Blood Demon could react, one of the warriors spoke in a deep voice.

"Kill!"

A fierce battle erupted instantly, ending just as quickly with the Blood Demon’s body exploding.

Meanwhile, under the cover of night, figures exuding powerful Battle Qi and glowing with Mana charged into the Fierce Beast Mountain Range from all directions. Vegetation was torn asunder wherever they passed, and one fierce beast after another was blasted apart. The entire Fierce Beast Mountain Range descended into chaos as countless beasts let out earth-shattering roars.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard these fierce beasts fought, they could not halt the advance of the military academy instructors. These instructors were all elites withdrawn from the front lines, their Tiers ranging from Middle to Upper-Rank Bronze. After many years, their full sets of equipment were of Excellent-grade green quality. Some were even at Bronze Peak, on the verge of breaking through their bottleneck to ascend to the Silver Tier. With years of accumulated experience, their various Skills were at the Mastery level at a minimum, and some had even cultivated their skills to the Realm of Perfection. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

With such strength, they moved through the Fierce Beast Mountain Range nearly uncontested, advancing deep into the mountains with the force of a tidal wave.

Furthermore, high above the World Barrier, massive satellites began to awaken one by one. The remains of high-level demons sealed within each radar satellite were slowly activated. These were the key to detecting the Abyssal Desecration Aura.

「...」

Just as the military academy instructors were fully deployed, Fang Zhou was hiding in a cave on the outskirts of the Fierce Beast Mountain Range, eating hot pot and singing.

After killing the Shadow Demon and promptly reporting this significant discovery to Lieutenant Colonel Shen Zhongyun, Fang Zhou had quickly retreated to the outskirts of the Fierce Beast Mountain Range. This location was close to the Outpost Fortress, a strategic area suitable for both attack and retreat. While ensuring his own safety, he was also very curious about how the Beast Fighting City officials would handle this sudden crisis.

At this moment, Fang Zhou’s personal terminal suddenly lit up with a soft flash.

"Red Alert!

Demon Worshipers have invaded deep within the Fierce Beast Mountain Range, estimated to number around 40.

All cadets and Adventurers below the Bronze Tier are to evacuate immediately or swiftly rendezvous with the military academy instructors entering the mountains."

"These Demon Worshipers are injured. Their Tiers are estimated to be between Middle-Rank and Lower-Rank Bronze. Their combat strength is considerable. Confident cadets may consider forming teams to hunt them."

"Each Demon Worshiper is worth 10,000 Contribution Points, in addition to substantial Military Merit rewards. All seized items belong to the individual."

"Access to the Beast Fighting City logistics depot exchange has been opened. Contributions from this encirclement battle can be used for redemptions. Specific rewards can be viewed at your convenience."

They have such detailed information on the Demon Worshipers so quickly? Fang Zhou was somewhat amazed.

The news that a single Demon Worshiper’s head was worth 10,000 Contribution Points, along with abundant Military Merit rewards, made his eyes gleam. He was especially interested in the Military Merit. This was a "currency" even more precious than Contribution Points, akin to a higher level of authority. Fang Zhou now needed only a bit more Military Merit to be successfully promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, which would grant him greater benefits and privileges. Of course, this also meant corresponding duties and missions.

He casually opened Beast Fighting City’s official Military Merit exchange list, and his eyes suddenly locked onto an item. Displayed prominently at the top was a resource named [Pale Spirit Spring].

This was a rare resource created specifically for energy bodies of the Negative Energy-type Elf race, capable of effectively promoting the growth and evolution of low-level Elves. According to the information Fang Zhou had previously researched, one bottle of Pale Spirit Spring should be enough to catalyze his Spirit Pet, the Death Elf Vigus, to the Bronze Tier.

This solved a pressing problem for Fang Zhou. For some time now, Vigus had been feeling a bit downcast because the Black Gem Young Dragon Tiamat, despite starting later, had already reached the Bronze Tier and awakened the highly practical [Heaven and Earth Devouring] Skill. Although the little Elf was sensible enough not to bother Fang Zhou, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her when he saw how listless she was. Now that he had finally found a way to obtain the Pale Spirit Spring, he felt he could finally deliver on his promise to Vigus.

Previously, Fang Zhou had cautiously withdrawn from deep within the Fierce Beast Mountain Range because the enemy’s strength was unknown, and he feared an ambush by their experts. But now, the Beast Fighting City officials had thoroughly uncovered the enemy’s details. It was merely thirty to forty Bronze-Tier Demon Worshipers, with at most a few Abyssal Demon nobles serving as commanders.

With my terrifying strength, which allows me to crush anyone of the same Tier, what is there to fear?

After a moment’s thought, Fang Zhou gathered his scattered Undead Army and turned to charge deep into the Fierce Beast Mountain Range. The display of force was immense. Wherever the Undead Army passed, vegetation was sent flying. The Corpse Knights didn’t even bother to avoid small trees over ten meters tall, simply smashing through them in an incredibly domineering fashion.

It couldn’t be helped. The elite teams of military academy instructors had already gone in for support. If he was any later, Fang Zhou might not be able to get a single head.

「...」

Very soon, advancing at full speed, Fang Zhou ventured deep into the Fierce Beast Mountain Range, where the energy density was higher and the chance of encountering Bronze-Tier fierce beasts was greater. Having skillfully mastered the Soul Eagle Eye, Fang Zhou was generally able to spot them in advance and strike first to kill them.

However, upon arriving, Fang Zhou stopped.

Looking at the vast, boundless forest and the faintly discernible mountain peaks all around him, he felt a bit lost.

In a place this huge, how am I supposed to find the Demon Worshipers?