Chapter 605: To War Once More (1/2)

[V6C135 – Sorrow of a Silent Parting]

The Li family had drawn out several areas on the frontline for defensive missions. Rewards would be dispatched for keeping the number of dark race forces passing through the designated area below a certain threshold. Moreover, these missions would adopt a weekly cycle, which only made the offers more attractive.

Upon seeing these mission parameters, Qianye recalled the organized combat squad Eden was escorting. Such arrangements meant that the Li family had also discovered the dark races’ transport route and methods. But judging from the mission patterns, it would seem that the Li family planned to rely on independent experts to open the battle instead of investing large numbers from their private army.

The independent experts at the scene hadn’t received first-hand intelligence like Qianye, but they weren’t fools, either. Everyone knew that a mission with such bountiful rewards involved great risks. It had never been easy to earn money from the aristocracy. For a moment, there were no replies at all in the hall.

Li Tianquan didn’t seem to mind this development. He said with a smile, “The first-place on the contribution rankings three months from now will be allowed to choose either Stillwater Rebirth or Storm Pearl as his reward.”

“Storm Pearl? What’s that?” Many people, just like Qianye, had never even heard of the name. But judging from how the Li family had placed it on equal value with Stillwater Rebirth, it should be an item of great value.

Seeing everyone’s puzzled looks, Li Tianquan said calmly, “Its main purpose is to raise the talents of any expert below the divine champion level by one grade and remove any bottlenecks.”

Clamor erupted within the room as numerous unfamiliar origin power auras surged into the air, quickly turning into killing intent.

Most of the other people here were seasoned experts who had more or less reached their cultivation bottlenecks. They were destined to remain there unless they encountered special opportunities.

With their ranks, it wasn’t difficult for them to gain an important position in a minor family in the interior continents. Who would be willing to give up their peaceful days and risk their lives here if they didn’t need to chase after that faint hope for a breakthrough?

Lu Sha was the same. He had been stuck at rank fourteen for many years now. Although there was still some hope for his advancement, there had been no signs at all of his sixth origin vortex taking shape. That so-called glimmer of hope was incomparably minuscule.

Li Tianquan appeared satisfied at everyone’s reaction. “Although breaking through bottlenecks is great, it is but one of the uses of the Storm Pearl. Our Li family has some talent with divination. After observing the recent situation, we feel that this item might have other important uses. Even if you can’t use it yourself, there’s a good chance you can trade it for exorbitant prices.”

With that, a smiling Li Tianquan glanced over at a number of people here, including Qianye. These were people who hadn’t reacted strongly after hearing the effects of the Storm Pearl.

Most experts were still affected by the surprise brought about by the Storm Pearl—some of them might or might not have noticed Li Tianquan’s small movements. However, the latter had already turned around and left, without giving everyone the opportunity to raise questions. Only a Li family champion stayed behind to register the missions.

The room became silent as everyone glanced at one another under the tense atmosphere. People had already heard rumors of the Li family offering Stillwater Rebirth as the first prize, but it was little more than a valuable commodity for those without a special need for it. They would have to think twice whether or not it was worth risking their lives for.

But things were no longer the same with the appearance of the Storm Pearl. People didn’t pay much attention to that mysterious use Li Tianquan was talking about, but no one here could say that they wouldn’t ever hit a bottleneck before reaching the divine champion level.

One of them suddenly stood up and pointed at the map the Li clan champion had just hung on the wall. “I want this defensive region!”

Everyone came to at this point. They quickly realized that picking a good defensive region quickly was the best way to collect contribution points. With how vast the battlefield was, they might not even encounter any dark race soldiers at all if they were fortunate enough. Besides, they could just hide if the enemy was too powerful. At most, they would fail the mission. There wasn’t anything to lose.

As clever people, everyone swarmed over to pick a defensive region. The Li family had arranged ten regions of different sizes and locations with their corresponding contribution points listed beside them. Everyone picked regions outside of or at the borders of Misty Wood, despite their slightly lower contribution points.

Qianye gave it some thought, and then picked up a brush and drew a circle on one of the designated regions—one that was deep within Misty Wood. Qianye wasn’t familiar with those independent experts, and neither did he have the intention of making their acquaintance. He simply accepted the mission and left.

The remaining experts began discussing in hushed tones after his departure.

“Yet another one who’s not afraid of death. He actually picked the Misty Wood!” One of them seemed to know the details.

Someone else asked, “Brother, what do you think is going on?”

Everyone had already picked a defensive region, so the man didn’t keep the listeners in suspense. “Reportedly, those black-blooded bastards have already unraveled a part of the Misty Wood’s secrets. That’s why casualties in this place have been very high recently. Do you understand now? Very soon, this damned forest will become the dark races’ home ground!”

Everyone’s expression turned apprehensive. As veterans of a hundred wars, each and every one of them understood what this signified.

“The Li family’s money is becoming harder and harder to earn.” Someone sighed.

Days later, an airship landed at the airship port. This vessel was about the size of a medium escort vessel and fairly ordinary looking. There were several rusted and broken areas that hadn’t been repaired. It was a mystery how the airship had even arrived in one piece. The people inside, however, seemed perfectly fine and made a beeline for the main base camp as soon as they had alighted.

One of them was entirely concealed under a cloak, just like any random hunter. He walked all the way into the central camp where outsiders weren’t allowed and then into Li Tianquan’s office. Only there did he remove the hood and proceeded to observe the elegant furnishings therein.

It was as though this place were his own house. He picked up a jade artifact and examined it briefly before going over to fiddle with another vase.

The door opened at this point and in came Li Tianquan. The latter was immediately startled upon seeing this person.