CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 255: NEW RECRUITS RETREAT ON THE SANDBOX

"Look! This area belongs to the territory ruled by the Human-faced Spider clan. They are extremely aggressive and often mobilize in large numbers to hunt down reconnaissance sentinels from various camps!

Every ten days, due to the execution of fixed missions such as exploration and collection, White Poplar Barrier City loses more than twenty warriors.

This is a slow hemorrhaging, no different than using new recruits as consumables... I personally don’t understand it, nor do I support it."

The Tai Monarch’s gentle smile revealed understanding; such is war. In the macro scale of operation and gain-loss assessment, individual emotions and positions inevitably can’t be accounted for.

"City Lord Yao, I highly respect your contributions to the New Star of Heng Province, as well as the sacrifices made by all Heng Province people for this grand expansion.

But war has no tender side; once this machine is activated, it either grinds the enemy to extinction or devours our own completely."

Son of Tai’an responded seriously.

"As the administrator of White Poplar Barrier City, you indeed need to be responsible for the new recruits engaged in the great expansion movement, but Lord Governor must also bear the future of the New Star of Heng Province."

Yao Guodong remained silent for a long time before finally agreeing with the Tai Monarch’s words, and smiled bitterly:

"When I first enlisted, the sergeant said I was hopeless and could only be a foot soldier all my life. Fate has made a fool of me, putting me in charge of Barrier City, stationed at White Poplar."

The Tai Monarch comforted:

"City Lord Yao, you have a benevolent heart and cherish new recruits, which is not wrong in itself. However, as the saying goes, leniency begets discipline, and there is reason in that."

Pop!

The war sandbox emitted a slight sound as if a bubble had been popped, drawing Yao Guodong’s gaze back to it.

He then raised his thick eyebrows, showing signs of surprise and anger:

"The Human-faced Spider clan, taking advantage of the Black Moon Tide, are wantonly hunting down our dispatched scouts!"

In a blink, a dozen green light spots in a certain area of the war sandbox dimmed.

Yao Guodong frowned, raised his hand to zoom in on the area, and noticed the triangular flags representing the reconnaissance squads had been pulled down.

In less than twenty minutes, several flags toppled.

"During the Black Moon Tide, the aggression of the follower creatures heightens. We must halt exploration tasks to prevent meaningless casualties."

Just as Yao Guodong was about to give instructions, he saw the Tai Monarch shaking his head, causing his face to stiffen, and he whispered:

"The purpose of exploration tasks is to constantly grasp the movements of follower creatures in polluted areas, preventing the front line from shifting... Alas, I’m a lousy city lord. Why don’t you give the orders and let me take the Divine Machine to the frontline instead!"

Yao Guodong ruffled his messy hair, clearly showing that the chief of White Poplar Barrier City had not fully adapted to the "commanding officer" role.

"City Lord Yao, according to the highest decree from Dongxia, active consciousness forms cannot replace administrative units, nor overstep administrative leaders. We are only responsible for analysis and execution!"

The Tai Monarch smiled in reply, but suddenly noticed abnormal fluctuations in the area ruled by the Human-faced Spiders during the war sandbox simulation.

"The follower that hunted the reconnaissance squad is moving towards the forward base."

Through the "God’s perspective" from his palm, the Tai Monarch observed, besides the rapidly moving Human-faced Spider follower, there was also a higher-level reconnaissance squad approaching the forward base.

Data streams flickered in the Tai Monarch’s eyes as he swiftly brought up exploration mission details for all units subordinate to White Poplar Barrier City.

"It’s actually new recruits from the Yellow Springs Training Camp. It’s truly no easy feat for them to reach the forward base."

The Tai Monarch slightly frowned. Given the situation, it’s likely this new recruit exploration mission will collide with that high-level follower.

"If they encounter that reconnaissance squad, they might be saved."

...

...

Qin Shi’s mortal body gradually emaciated, as his entire skeletal structure, like a black hole, swallowed the energy tide released by the Black Moon.

Logically, such immense life force infusing the flesh should have rejuvenated him, making him anew.

Yet having just breached the fifth major limit, Qin Shi was aiming to rush into higher realms with a single effort. The life essence in crystalline form continually turned into fuel, boosting both his ’body’ and ’mind.’

Amidst the constant depletion, his once-plump and lustrous perfect physique gradually lost its sheen, akin to a piece of rotting wood.

"Brother Qin, what’s happening?"

Zhao Su asked Gao Pao.

"Not sure. This spectacle seems excessive; I’m concerned it might attract other followers."

Gao Pao, observing the vast barren wilderness beneath a low-slung dark cloud, showed a hint of worry in his eyes.

This is, after all, the domain of follower creatures!

"Transformation, huh. The boss is completing his ’transformation’ at the specialized level stage."

The short-haired woman, with a noticeably higher level of insight, could discern that Qin Shi was in the "evolution stage" after breaching the specialized level.

The biggest difference between specialized level and amateur level is not in the purity or value of life force.

Rather, after each breakthrough, the former undergoes a significant evolution of the mortal body.

The cumulative accumulation of such a foundation is key to breaking the genetic shackles and reaching the physical limits!

"Captain, I feel like the boss is raiding a dungeon."

The blindfolded, watermelon-headed person mumbled.

"You used to tell me that every step in the Martial Arts Path requires sweat and hard work.

But I think the boss’s breakthroughs are as effortless as eating and drinking; just by slaying creatures, he gains experience."

The short-haired woman twitched the corners of her mouth, thinking:

"Can geniuses and ordinary people be the same?"

From the crushing victory over Pompey, it was evident that the boss was not an ordinary genius by any means.

The short-haired woman, employed in the P9 position at Xuyang Heavy Industry, with credentials brimming with merit, could not help but feel a sense of "cognitive dissonance" and "irrationality" upon witnessing Qin Shi’s actions.

"This job seems quite easy, Captain.

We just need to be cheerleaders and chant encouragement, with no danger at all..."

The blindfolded, watermelon-headed individual was smiling broadly, when suddenly a terrifying figure intruded into her sea of consciousness.

Like a mighty predator at the top of the food chain, it exuded a tidal wave of dangerous aura.

Reflected by her mind, it appeared as a thick, ominous dark cloud that prevented the watermelon-head from breathing.

"Here comes another formidable follower."

She said with a grimace.

"Why did you have to jinx it by saying this job is easy?"

The short-haired woman, filled with helplessness, searched the distance, capturing the blurred silhouette rapidly moving towards them at a terrifying speed.

Bang bang bang!

The atmosphere erupted with explosions, as if barriers were being torn apart, almost instantaneously closing to within a 500-meter danger zone.

"Such intense life force."

Tia took a deep breath, his eyes showing a look of enchantment.

It was like drinking fine wine, her delicate face blushing.

Compared to the male Pompey, Tia had more sensitivity in certain aspects, able to perceive the fragrant allure generated by Qin Shi as he accelerated his cultivation technique and training process, causing great agitation within him.

It was as if pheromones exuded strong attraction, causing Tia’s athletic, strong legs capable of crushing steel to slightly tighten.

The rising murderous desire transformed into another primal impulse.

[The True Dragon casts its gaze upon you]

[If you choose to mate with the bountiful female, you shall receive a blessing...]

Fully immersed in evolution, Qin Shi was interrupted by the Monument Panel, and as he scanned the lines of text, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

Among the Four Pillars, it seemed that [True Dragon] was the least reliable.

[Celestial Being] is for slaying creatures, [Taiyi] stands for order, [Divine Machine] for crafting.

Only [True Dragon] encourages one to become a stud!

"Don’t they consider reproductive isolation?"

Qin Shi looked at the Human-faced Spider follower, who was two meters tall and well-built.

Although its appearance was aesthetically pleasing, the six pairs of limbs on its back gave away its alien identity.

"The evolution is only at ninety percent, just a bit more to complete."

Qin Shi felt a bit regretful that the progress bar halted before completing.

"I can only end this quickly, kill it, and continue training..."

Just as he was about to rise, another figure swiftly approached from the other side, dressed in deep green robes, leather military boots, with an energy weapon at the waist...

A standard Dongxia warrior!

"White Poplar Barrier City’s First Camp Reconnaissance Team!

New recruits retreat, the battlefield is taken over by us!"