CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 258: SOLDIER KING-LEVEL ROOKIE, BOSS GETS EMPLOYEES FOR FREE!

"Extract the sample and confirm the level of contamination. This area has exceeded the warning line; I suggest we retreat."

The reconnaissance team included a lone female, Lu Yao, who bent down, pressing her gloved palm onto the sunken, ruin-like ground.

Her specialized level ability was "extraction," enabling her to separate what was needed from various complex gaseous and liquid substances.

Due to the interference limit, detailed precision couldn’t be achieved, making her potential assessment rather average.

"Unbelievable! Is he really a recruit? The disaster-scale second-level Human-faced Spider followers were easily crushed by him.

Could he be at the third level?"

Under the jurisdiction of the White Poplar Barrier City’s First Battalion, the reconnaissance team specialized in penetrating contaminated areas, collecting, and observing frontline dynamics.

In other words, they were the group that interacted most with follower creatures in the entire Western Front’s first defense system.

As they continued to clean up the battlefield and complete their mission, the reconnaissance team discussed Qin Shi.

Besides the commanding officer, the most senior middle-aged man spoke:

"Impossible. Firstly, someone at the third level wouldn’t be a new recruit at the training camp; secondly, his life force hasn’t reached a critical value to make a significant breakthrough.

But I find it terrifying that if he is only at the second level yet instantly annihilates a same-tier Human-faced Spider..."

His eyes were icy blue, unlike the typical Dongxia appearance, with a high nose bridge, a resolute face—clearly of mixed heritage.

The reconnaissance team’s composition usually maintained between eight to twelve members, divided into three combat groups, each group consisting of three to four people, which facilitated tactical coordination.

The officer in charge of issuing commands was undoubtedly the commanding officer, followed by the deputy.

The middle-aged man, named "Jin Chuan," had served longer than a pair of hands’ worth of years. If it hadn’t been for "political reviews" not meeting the required standards, he should have been promoted to commanding officer, possibly even joining the battalion headquarters.

He rubbed the gravel crushed into granules with his fingertips, which crumbled into powder at a touch, adding with a sense of wonder:

"The force of that punch, even the lingering aftermath is disquieting.

No wonder it was blasted to smithereens."

Jin Chuan scrutinized the "battlefield" with increasing astonishment as the moments passed. His specialized ability was the common "perception type," projecting spiritual power to simulate and retrospect scenes.

But even with his eyes tightly shut, diligently reconstructing details, he couldn’t recreate it.

Because the entire combat destruction range exceeded a kilometer, capturing the myriad detailed complexities was too much.

Jin Chuan could only roughly outline the final punch that ended it all.

Like a finishing move in a fighting game, the terrorizing power was inseparable, unavoidable, directly emptying the blood bar of the Human-faced Spider follower.

Boom!

Jin Chuan’s mind buzzed, urgently withdrawing from spiritual perception, nearly fainting, his steps faltering.

"Second level inflicting third-level massive damage? Xiao Yao, have you heard of such a prodigy?"

Having collected all the contamination samples, Lu Yao exhaled deeply, cautiously removing her gloves:

"I haven’t witnessed it but I’ve heard of it. The youths from the Four National Universities’ juvenile class are all monstrous prodigies.

According to my brother, their cultivation advancements are as easy as eating and drinking; it feels like even breathing propels progress."

Jin Chuan chuckled inwardly, contemplating:

"Impossible for a super genius out of the Four National Universities’ juvenile class to find their way to White Poplar Barrier City.

Even the acclaimed apex talents in Heng Province’s New Star are scarce in comparison..."

As thoughts flickered, perhaps triggered by the keyword "Scorching Sun," another young face surfaced in Jin Chuan’s mind.

"That student Qin is seemingly still in the rear receiving special training.

If he could appear on the Western Front, it might inject some much-needed morale into everyone."

Jin Chuan and Lu Yao departed the collapsed forward base. The commanding officer, Zhu Wei, due to serious injuries, was evacuated with the help of the other two members to the nearest medical point.

In the vast wilderness, only the diverse new recruits’ team remained.

The black moon hanging overhead gradually faded from view, the energy tide’s fluctuations waning significantly, as a tint of white appeared on the horizon.

Jin Chuan watched from afar as the young recruit who abruptly defeated the Human-faced Spider emerged mid-battle.

Their demeanor was more refined and efficient, exuding a cutting edge, with more rugged and masculine features, starkly different from the youth prodigies Heng Province vigorously promoted.

"Indeed."

Jin Chuan shook his head, dismissing the peculiar and nonsensical thoughts.

"The Scorching Sun level is the elite strategic talent nurtured by the concentrated educational resources of the Administrative New Star.

How could they be casually thrown to the front line? Any unforeseen mishap, and the loss wouldn’t be just the entire battalion’s strength."

While Jin Chuan mulled, Lu Yao approached openly, retrieving a standard combat uniform from her backpack.

"Here, wear this. It offers some level of anti-pollution. You seem ready to continue deeper? The contamination level ahead has breached the peak warning value; your life force purity isn’t high enough, so it’s advisable not to go."

Qin Shi accepted the combat uniform, as light as a silk fabric, and donned it on the spot.

His original clothes had been damaged in combat, leaving only a tattered pair of shorts.

"The exploration mission I’ve taken ends within the administrative building’s scope, so I plan to check it out.

But Xiao Gao and Xiao Zhao, you two can return ahead of schedule, and wait at the edge of the contaminated zone for me to join you."

Qin Shi fitted into the combat uniform, draped with a deep green cloak, and donned new military boots, resembling a reconnaissance battalion operative.

"Brother Qin, you’re going alone?"

After this exploration mission, Gao Pao and Zhao Su realized just how much of an indispensable asset Brother Qin from the Central City’s renowned family truly was.