From the true universe, Shen Hai and the others looked like a group of automatons moving in slow motion. Lu Yin could deal with all of them however he wished. This was the superiority enjoyed by Envoys, and this feeling was inexplicable to those who could not enter the true universe for themselves.
Cheng Ji blankly stared at Lu Yin after seeing the youth enter the true universe in a casual manner. “You- how is this possible?”
A small smile appeared on Lu Yin’s lips. “I’m sorry, Envoy, but I killed a powerhouse of your level when I was still a Hunter.”
After speaking, Lu Yin attacked with another Vacuum Palm. It was a very powerful and fast technique, and no other attack could fulfill Lu Yin’s needs like his Vacuum Palm.
Cheng Ji reflexively dodged the attack, but the Vacuum Palm was just too fast, and he ended up being struck in the shoulder. Still in shock, he pulled out another scimitar from his cosmic ring, and as he flourished the blade, the natural suppression of stellular energy appeared. Lu Yin’s star energy was destabilized, but despite that, he still ignored Cheng Ji’s attack and pushed his way forward.
With a bang, Cheng Ji’s slash was dispersed by the Cloudguard Robes. The Envoy stared at Lu Yin in horror, feeling as though he was looking at a monster in the shape of a human. The Envoy was suddenly reminded of Hua Beibei’s words: Lu Yin was the Beastmaster out of everyone in the group.
Lu Yin rushed straight at Cheng Ji and attacked with another palm strike. The pain caused Cheng Ji to grit his teeth, and his expression instantly changed. His pupils fluctuated, and he unleashed a powerful spiritual force attack at Lu Yin. Lu Yin felt his mind jostle for a moment, but that was all. Cheng Ji, on the other hand, was stunned. What had just happened?
Lu Yin grabbed ahold of Cheng Ji with a hand, and said, “Even I feel bad for you. All of your attacks are useless against me.”
With that, Lu Yin squeezed hard and crushed Cheng Ji’s shoulder. The Envoy let out a cry of pain and swung his scimitar at Lu Yin in an attempt to defend himself. However, all of his efforts were pointless, and Lu Yin kicked the older man out of the true universe and into the back of the queen ant.
Shen Hai and the others had already dealt with the traitors following Cheng Ji, but they were just as confused as Cheng Ji; how was Lu Yin able to enter the true universe and fight against an Envoy? Could the youth also be an Envoy?
While such thoughts swirled through Shen Hai’s mind, Cheng Ji suddenly reappeared, and they watched on in shock as he crashed into the queen ant’s back in a pathetic manner. The impact caused the Envoy to crush the queen ant’s body, and she hissed in pain.
Lu Yin then emerged from the true universe, staring down at Cheng Ji from the sky.
An Envoy’s advantages meant nothing to Lu Yin. If they rendered him, an Enlighter, unable to use star energy? Lu Yin would just use the Vacuum Palm anyways. If they entered the intangible true universe? Lu Yin could still see them. If they used an overwhelming spiritual force attack that could instantly kill an Enlighter? Lu Yin’s spiritual force was comparable to that of an Envoy.
Lu Yin seemed to be the bane of Cheng Ji’s existence. No matter what tactics Cheng Ji employed, he was completely helpless against Lu Yin.
Cheng Ji despaired. He was an almighty Envoy while the other party was nothing more than an Enlighter! How could there be such a large gap in strength between them?
“Just who are you?” Cheng Ji stammered out between mouthfuls of blood. After eventually finishing the question, the Envoy coughed up even more blood. Lu Yin had really not held anything back when kicking the Envoy.
Lu Yin just stared at Cheng Ji. “Just tell me, are there any more traitors?”
Cheng Ji replied with a bitter smile, “You think I’ll actually tell you? What a joke!”
Lu Yin raised a finger and gave a light tap. The force from his finger tore open the void with a power that surpassed an Envoy’s attack. Just one finger was enough for Lu Yin to deal with a peak Enlighter like Shen Hai.
Lu Yin’s simple finger tap shattered both of Cheng Ji’s legs.
“Still not talking?” Lu Yin continued his interrogation.
Behind Cheng Ji, the queen ant shrieked in pain, and all of the nearby ants converged upon the area in a frenzy, desperate to kill Lu Yin.
Lu Yin frowned at the sight and tapped his finger again. The force easily tore a hole through the queen ant’s body, ending her life.
As soon as the queen ant died, all of the other ants in the area entered a frenzy and began devouring everything in their vision. Some turned towards Shen Hai and the squad while others turned to leave.
Shen Hai let out a sigh of relief. They had actually managed to survive.
Cheng Ji stared at Lu Yin with growing intensity. “There’s no way you’re an ordinary cultivator. You- you’re from one of the four ruling powers!”
Everyone turned to stare at Lu Yin in puzzlement.
Lu Yin locked eyes with Cheng Ji before raising a hand and attacking once more. With that, Cheng Ji’s life ended.
Cheng Ji had been no different from Guan Tong and the other Redbacks; none of them would ever reveal anything. Even if Cheng Ji had not been an actual Redback, he had still been an incredibly important traitor.
“Hey Beastmaster, that was amazing! As expected of the Beastmaster,” Hua Beibei gushed, though his tone of voice sounded like he was scolding someone.
Lu Yin glanced over at the surviving squad members and asked, “Have all of you forgotten about our mission?”
It was only then that everyone remembered what they were supposed to be doing, and they all hurriedly began eradicating the nearby terror ants.
Lu Yin spent this time submitting a report regarding Cheng Ji to Xia Yan.
Xia Yan quickly sent a reply: ‘Immediately make your way to the second forward basecamp. You are allowed to reveal your status as a colonel, and you can recruit any cultivator you wish in order to form your own troops.’
The second forward basecamp?
Lu Yin called Shen Hai over and asked, “What sort of place is the second forward basecamp?”
Shen Hai was surprised by the question. “That’s the lowest part of the second array base. It’s actually located between the New World and the second array base, and it’s usually overseen by a colonel. They’ll protect that place from the attacking monsters. Why do you ask?”
“Is that place very important?”
“Extremely. It’s one of the most intense locations on the entire battlefield, and according to rumors, it’s overseen by someone known as Colonel Zuo, who’s also recognized as the local general’s second-in-command.”
Lu Yin then softly ordered, “Everybody, follow me to the second forward basecamp. They need backup.”
Everyone else’s faces displayed complete shock when Lu Yin gave out a command. Being sent to the second forward basecamp was not a mission as simple as clearing out terror ants. This new mission meant actively fighting on the main battlefield.
A few people instantly voiced their objections, “Brother Qi, we were given a mission to eliminate terror ants, not fight on the battlefield.”
“I’m sorry, but we have no desire to go to the second forward basecamp.”
“I’m sorry.”
…
Even Shen Hai spoke up, “Ah Qi, we all understand your passion for helping humanity on this battlefield and your desire to do your part in supporting the defense. However, our task is only to clear out the terror ants. We will all be instantly annihilated the moment we step onto the battlefield. We’d be scattered like ash, and we wouldn’t even be able to offer any kind of help.”
No one was willing to travel to the forward basecamp because staying on the trunk of the Mother Tree meant that there was at least a 60% chance of returning alive. However, if they stepped onto the active battlefield, their chances of surviving and returning would drop to under one percent. Going there was equivalent to going to their graves.
Lu Yin understood his companions’ feelings, as no one wanted to race towards their own deaths, and even he was no different. Unfortunately, not moving to the second forward basecamp after receiving Xia Yan’s orders would be blatant insubordination. Xia Yan knew just how important Lu Yin was, but despite that, the general had still sent Lu Yin to reinforce the defenders of the second forward basecamp. This clearly indicated just how dire the situation was on the battlefield.
This was the chief battlefield of the war between humans and the monsters. There was no one who could stay safe from the conflict.
Lu Yin looked around and saw the hesitation, fear, helplessness, confusion, and nervousness in every eye. He sighed and thought, I’m sorry, everyone. “I, Ah Qi, use my rank as a colonel to draft everyone present to move out as reinforcements for the second forward basecamp.”
As Lu Yin spoke, he took out the colonel token that he had received from Xia Yan.
Everyone stared at the token in stunned silence as a whirlwind of emotions raged through their hearts. To think that they had been with a colonel this entire time.
Only powerhouses who had survived through multiple stellular tribulations could hope to earn the rank of a colonel on the battlefield. This rank was only below the generals of the five array bases, and each colonel held the authority to give out commands on the active battlefield. Even a single glance at the battlefield was enough for anyone to see that all of the colonels were incredible experts, and no one would ever dream that a mere Enlighter could be given such a rank.
Shen Hai was left in a complete daze. The colonel token was genuine.
Lu Yin proceeded to share the orders that he had received from Xia Yan with everyone, and he then repeated, “We will now move out for the second forward basecamp.”
Everyone stayed silent and remained rooted in place.
“Do you really want to defy direct orders?” Lu Yin shouted.
One person was no longer able to suppress their frustrations, and they shouted, “The only reason why we came to the battlefield was to deal with the terror ants! It’s absurd to demand us to step onto the actual battlefield! We were lied to!”
“That’s right! We’re not going! We were given a mission to clear out the terror ants. We absolutely refuse to reinforce the second forward basecamp.”
“We’re not going!”
…
Lu Yin’s eyes grew sharp and a deathly chill entered his voice. “You’ll be executed for refusing the general’s orders.”
Everyone visibly paled.
Hua Beibei licked his lips and glanced around. It was time for him to make his escape. He had no desire to step foot onto the actual battlefield, as that was nothing less than a death wish.
Shen Hai sighed. “Everyone, while there is a high probability of all of us dying after we step foot onto the battlefield, any of us who survives will have completely different lives in the future. On the other hand, you all know what fate awaits anyone who refuses to obey direct orders. Even if Ah Qi doesn’t kill you himself, you’ll suffer an even worse fate when you return to the second array base’s headquarters. Even if you make it back to the Perennial World, what sort of life do you imagine will await you there?”
Everyone clenched tight fists. Those who did not fear death had already joined the battlefield, and the fact that these people had opted to take a mission on the Mother Tree’s trunk was proof of their fear of the battlefield. Despite that, they were currently being forced to enter the battlefield.
Lu Yin frowned. “This is the last time that I’ll repeat myself: follow me to assist the second forward basecamp. Those who defy orders will be immediately killed, and none will be spared.”
Everybody felt a shiver travel down their spines. “Understood, Colonel.”
Lu Yin caught a glimpse of Hua Beibei’s shadow out of the corner of his eye. Unexpectedly, the rascal was actually trying to slip away. Lu Yin glanced sideways at Shen Hai.
The old man looked over at Hua Beibei and shook his head before immediately dragging the young man back.
“Ex- Expert- Oh, no, I mean, Beastmaster Bro! Beastmaster Bro, I’ve helped out a great deal by helping you guys find the queen ant, which saved everyone! Please let me go! I don’t want to go to the battlefield! I’m begging you!” Hua Beibei wailed miserably.
Lu Yin responded completely indifferently, “Those who don’t obey will die.”
Hua Beibei argued, “But I’m from the Celestial Frost Sect!”
“Disobedience means death.” Lu Yin’s voice lacked all emotions. He had met many people like this Hua Beibei before, and Ku Wei was a perfect example. It was best to simply not engage with these kinds of people.
Hua Beibei was terrified to the point where he no longer dared to utter a single word.
It would not be hard for them to find the second forward basecamp, as all they needed to do was travel to the bottom of the second array base.
Lu Yin led his squad back to the second array base. As they traveled, they ran into some terror ant swarms, but all of them were eliminated as the squad passed through. However, they did not make any detours to specifically clear away more terror ants, as the request for reinforcements had specified that there could be no delays.
Regardless of how fast they wanted to arrive, it was impossible for them to quickly travel to the second forward basecamp from where they had been clearing ants on the Mother Tree’s trunk.
After a day of travel, Lu Yin and the others ran into another group of people that was clearly a product of several squads merging together. Their captain was about as powerful as Shen Hai, and they were all thrilled to run into Lu Yin and his troops. The new group suggested uniting together and clearing out the terror ants as a single unit. While this would make it take much longer to complete their quotas of terror ants, it was also much safer.
然而那群人在道出这个提议后，看到的是沈海等人同情的目光。
Alas, right when the suggestion was made, Shen Hai and the others following Lu Yin shot the members of the second group looks of sympathy.
Lu Yin pulled out his colonel token and instantly announced, “By order of the general of the second array base, I’m conscripting all of you to reinforce the second forward basecamp.”
The second group instantly became upset and they adamantly refused to obey the orders. Their captain, whose strength was comparable to Shen Hai’s, also refused to obey. None of these people had ever seen Lu Yin’s strength before, so they were not nearly as polite as Shen Hai and the others. There were even some people who questioned the authenticity of Lu Yin’s colonel token simply because they felt that it was impossible for an Enlighter to be a colonel.
Lu Yin did not utter a word in retort; instead, he struck down the dissidents with a few Vacuum Palms. He intended to force some manners into them through a demonstration of strength.
With that done, no one dared to disobey the orders. Lu Yin was consistent with his policy that ‘those who refuse to obey will die,’ and his inflexibility scared people since they all felt threatened by the youth.
Thus, Lu Yin’s troops grew, and they continued onward towards the second forward basecamp. As they traveled, they continued to clear out the terror ants, and they also forcefully conscripted whatever cultivators they ran into, causing their numbers to further swell.
Directly beneath Lu Yin and his troops, there was a metallic plain formed completely from strange and hard metals. Everyone there had to walk across the metal ground.
This metallic plain was actually the second forward basecamp that they were heading towards.
