CHAPTER 361: CHAPTER 361: I WANT TO WIN TOO

"Everyone... today’s battle is bound to be a fierce one... there’s no need to say much more... the reward points for this battle will be doubled... you don’t need to hand over any pets or Secret Cores you obtain... just one word... win... we must win... whether it’s for ourselves... or for the parents, brothers, and sisters of Qilin City... in this battle, we must not allow defeat... not even one of us should die... bring back your spoils and go see your parents alive... see your wives, daughters, husbands... see your sons and daughters... as long as we unite as one... the Qilin Corps will be invincible..."

Chen Guan activated the Spirit of the Cheerleaders, trying to harness some of their potential before the battle began.

Several leading squads had already set out ahead to the lairs of various Secret Spirit swarms.

The groups were small, with each squad only having around ten people, and their task was not to attack the lairs but to disturb them.

As the army set out, Chen Guan led the charge, followed by Fu Tianji, whose body and face were largely hidden by a cloak, moving like a phantom.

On the other side was Shi Zhimen, also riding, along with Bai Yueguang, each leading their teams, executing the instructions delivered by the Command Flag.

"Zhimen Squad, you’re the star today, now is your time to shine, show your brilliance," Chen Guan said to Shi Zhimen beside him.

"I never wanted to be the star, I just..." Shi Zhimen mumbled, trying to say something.

"No matter what you want, today you must become the star. In this world, no one cares about supporting roles, nor does anyone enjoy failures. You have the ability, so you must stand up; and I also need you to stand up. If we lose this battle, Ji Nanhong and I would face an impossible road ahead, so I have no retreat."

"I chose you at this time because I want to win, because I trust you can win, so don’t tell me anything else. Today, you are the star, the Savior, win beautifully, make the Celestial Court Army know Ji Nanhong can do it, know that I, Chen Guan, can do it, and know that you, Shi Zhimen, can do it too..."

Shi Zhimen didn’t speak, but there was an emotion stirring in his eyes.

But that emotion was soon suppressed.

The current Zhimen Squad was more mature than ever.

"I... also want to win..." Shi Zhimen’s gaze was focused and determined.

"Kill!" The third battalion’s shouts shook the sky, and the battle commenced.

Ji Nanhong’s face turned grim upon receiving the news from the corps.

The numbers showed a Secret Spirit swarm of a million strong, including hundreds of thousands of Third Awakening Secret Spirits, such a tide couldn’t be quelled by a mere Qilin Corps alone.

She had to report quickly and seek support from other corps.

However, in a private letter from Chen Guan, he instructed her not to seek reinforcements, but rather to prepare defense tools and dispatch personnel to gather Secret Spirit Materials.

After reading Chen Guan’s letter, Ji Nanhong felt somewhat relieved but still deeply concerned.

The corps has merely six to seven thousand people, an unrealistic number to disperse a million Secret Spirits.

Although the Celestial Court Army comprises elite soldiers, any ordinary soldier is considered a genius, it’s still too far-fetched.

"How does he intend to fight this battle?" Ji Nanhong was restless.

The informants planted by Xiu Haofeng caught wind of this and were somewhat delighted.

"That fair-faced Chen Guan dares to flirt with my beautiful sister, let’s see how you die this time." Xiu Haofeng was eager for Chen Guan’s demise.

But he also realized, such a massive Secret Spirit swarm wasn’t something a newly formed corps could handle, Ji Nanhong would surely seek assistance.

The Blazing Fire Corps was the closest to them, once they asked for help, the Blazing Fire Corps would be the first to assist.

Xiu Haofeng even planned that he would stall, wait for Chen Guan’s side to falter, then take charge to reap benefits.

With such a Secret Spirit Tide, the resources to be acquired would surely be abundant, even a small portion would not be negligible.

Yet, Xiu Haofeng waited, but no notice for assistance came.

"How long has it been, why hasn’t the support notice been issued?" Xiu Haofeng suddenly froze, "Ji Nanhong and Chen Guan wouldn’t be arrogant enough to think the newly established Qilin Corps alone can defend the Qilin Mountain Range?"

He hurriedly called to confirm, and the news was as he suspected, the Qilin Corps hadn’t requested assistance.

Ji Nanhong’s report was also understated, didn’t fully convey the seriousness, evidently intentionally vague.

"Go ahead and court disaster... once the corps is wiped out... let’s see how arrogant you can be..." Xiu Haofeng believed that Chen Guan and his team were doomed.

With those few people, it was unthinkable to hold the Qilin Mountain Range.

Xiu Haofeng even had his subordinates ready to swoop in once Chen Guan and Ji Nanhong were done for, to seize a bargain.

Meanwhile, in the Primordial Forest, the Qilin Corps was playing a game of eagle catching the chick with the Secret Spirit swarm.

Under the command of Shi Zhimen, the Qilin Corps continually maneuvered in the surrounding areas, luring the Secret Spirit swarm out of the River of Flames area to pursue them, and then eliminated them one by one.

The corps’ mobility and coordination were incomparable to these ragtag Secret Spirits.

Utilizing the characteristics of different Secret Spirits and environmental factors, Shi Zhimen forcefully wove a lifeline, the team repeatedly moved between the forest and mountains, eradicating wave after wave of Secret Spirits.

Initially, Bai Yueguang, Zhu Hongzhi, and Zhang Yujian were somewhat anxious and worried, but later they discovered that under Shi Zhimen’s command, they not only avoided being surrounded by the swarms but often created scenarios to attack with many against few.

"This Shi Zhimen... how did we not see it before... too strong..." After slaying another batch of Secret Spirits, Zhang Yujian quickly cleaned the battlefield, and couldn’t help but admire.

Though he was also skilled at leading troops into battle, he couldn’t achieve such comprehensive thoroughness.

Shi Zhimen seemed to have reached the pinnacle of planning details, treating the battlefield as his own domain, and systematically obliterating the million Secret Spirit swarm.

Chen Guan initially considered that if things went awry, he could step in with Fu Tianji to help.

However, after the battle started, he realized there was no need for him to engage personally, just oversee the logistics from behind.

Though he mentioned soldiers would keep their pets and Secret Cores, there were still useful materials from Secret Spirit corpses, which were quite valuable.

Naturally, now wasn’t the time to clean the battlefield, mostly to gather some flesh to supplement, otherwise only consuming elixirs wouldn’t suffice for such extended engagement.

And soldiers would trade the pets or Secret Cores they acquired for points, both because they acquired more than they could use and because Chen Guan offered double points, making the exchange especially worthwhile, even better than selling them outside.

Chen Guan looked at the crates of Secret Cores, his eyes reflecting the temptation of wealth.

"These are all money... how should I pocket them..." Chen Guan pondered silently in his heart.