By the time Ji Yun and the others returned to their hideout, it was already noon.
After sweeping through the building once more, the Eagle Strike Squad gathered together in the afternoon to go over what they had gained.
"A High-Level Beast General Bayonet Turtle, a Mid-Level Beast General Forest Python, a Mid-Level Beast General Land Crocodile, two Mid-Level Beast General Fire Scale Pigs, a Mid-Level Beast General Underworld Pattern Dog, and a Mid-Level Beast General Three-Tailed Tiger Cat. What a haul!" Zhang Taofang looked around at everyone, grinning.
"Add the Low-Level Beast General Tiger Mastiff we killed on the way, the two snake-type monsters in this building, and the Unicorn Wild Boar we killed when we first arrived. That makes eleven Beast General Rank monsters in all!"
"Wow, little A-Yun, you really are our lucky star. We usually spend over a month on a trip and only kill six or seven Beast General Rank monsters, mostly Low-Level Beast Generals. But look at this haul after one trip with you!" Naili suddenly kissed Ji Yun. "Don't get any ideas. It's just your reward."
"Sure, sure." Ji Yun touched his cheek. The spot she'd kissed felt hot and red.
"Naili, stop teasing him. A-Yun is only eighteen, while you're already a twenty-seven-year-old spinster."
As expected, women hated having their age brought up. Naili immediately flew into a rage.
"Zhang Yan, explain yourself! Who are you calling a spinster?" Naili demanded, reaching out to twist Zhang Yan's ear.
"Hahahaha!" Watching Zhang Yan and Naili bicker, Ji Yun finally relaxed after being tense for so long. He turned his head and fell asleep.
"Stop fooling around."
Zhang Taofang reconnected the equipment to the button camera outside the door. A snake-type monster had crawled past and knocked the camera out of position, so he had only just put it back.
"I'll keep watch tonight. You all get some proper rest. Tomorrow, we'll hunt the few Mid-Level Beast Generals nearby and then head back."
The next morning.
The previous night, squad leader Zhang Taofang hadn't stood watch the whole time. Around dawn, deputy leader Li Ke had gotten up to take his place and let him rest.
"Hoo." Ji Yun exhaled. Breaking through in a life-or-death struggle really did bring great benefits. "Now that my Fierce Wind has reached the second level, my energy absorption speed has improved another notch. It looks like I'll be able to raise my physical fitness another level before long."
Summer was drawing to a close, and early autumn was beginning. The air was especially cool near the coast. The sea breeze blew inland along the road, becoming a gentle breeze by the time it reached them.
Once everyone had woken up, they gathered together.
"Over the next four days, we'll hunt one monster each day." Zhang Taofang pointed to the Beast General lairs Ji Yun had marked a couple of days earlier.
"One is a Mid-Level Beast General Bloodthirsty Tank, and another is a Mid-Level Beast General Iron-Armored Bull. They're both group-dwelling monsters, with large numbers of Beast Soldiers around them for protection. There may even be Low-Level Beast Generals guarding them. The other two are solitary monsters. At most, they'll have a few of their own kind nearby, so they shouldn't cause much trouble."
The Bloodthirsty Tank was the second-ranked species among pig-type monsters. It was a kind of pig monster covered in thick scales, with astonishing defenses. At a glance, it looked like an armored tank, and its defense and impact strength were in no way inferior to a real tank's.
"What we need to watch out for is that this Bloodthirsty Tank may be connected to a Lord Rank Bloodthirsty Tank deeper in the city. That's why we've made it our final target."
"Today, we'll hunt the Iron-Armored Bull. Over the next two days, we'll hunt the solitary Beast Generals. Finally, we'll deal with the Bloodthirsty Tank."
Zhang Taofang put away the electronic map, disassembled his sniper rifle, and packed it into its case. Then, carrying his machine gun, he led the Eagle Strike Squad downstairs.
Four days passed quickly. The Eagle Strike Squad had succeeded in their hunts during the first three days, but they ran into trouble on the final day.
Perhaps the Bloodthirsty Tank had noticed that the number of Beast Generals nearby was dwindling. It simply stopped coming out. It even summoned a large number of its kind to surround it, and never left their side.
Ji Yun had kept an eye on the Bloodthirsty Tank all day, but it still showed no intention of going out to forage.
"Captain, the Bloodthirsty Tank won't come out. What should we do?" Ji Yun asked Zhang Taofang in a low voice.
"Should we retreat?" Zhang Taofang was also torn. The Bloodthirsty Tank was only a Mid-Level Beast General. It was fairly valuable, but given how much they'd already gained, it wasn't a big deal. What truly concerned him was the Lord Rank Bloodthirsty Tank, said to be the previous generation of this one.
"Let's retreat. Our lives matter more."
"Dongying City is too far from the military region. Since it's so far away, few Martial Artist teams come here to hunt. If we provoke a Lord Rank monster, it'll be hard to escape."
"Then let's leave it. A whole day has gone by, and we don't know why the Bloodthirsty Tank still hasn't come out. If we keep waiting, more trouble could crop up." Zhang Taofang disassembled his sniper rifle and put it back in its case, then quietly signaled the others.
The five members of the Eagle Strike Squad soon returned to their previous hideout.
Zhang Taofang checked his watch. "It's four in the afternoon, and it'll be dark soon. We can't travel at night. We'll leave Dongying City early tomorrow morning and head back to the military region."
"Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll make a quick departure."
"Yes, Captain," the others replied.
Since they hadn't fought any especially intense battles over the past few days, Ji Yun wasn't too drained. He volunteered to keep watch.
It was the middle of the night, with the bright moon high in the sky. Its clear light filtered through the windows and curtains that hadn't yet been completely covered in dust, faintly illuminating the room.
Ji Yun sat cross-legged on the dusty floor, quietly practicing the Guide Technique and breathing in Genetic Origin Energy.
"My second level of Fierce Wind is fully stable now. And since I've learned how to generate more force, I've even grasped some of the keys to the third level." Ji Yun practiced the Guide Technique, then cultivated Genetic Origin Energy. Cosmic Energy from the world rushed into his body, forming a faint whirlwind around him.
Ji Yun hadn't noticed that the dust around him was swirling in the wind.
"I've completely mastered the second level. If I train hard at home for two months, I should master the third level soon. My physical fitness has improved, too. Over these twenty-odd days of hunting and training, I only formally cultivated Genetic Origin Energy five or six times. Even so, I absorbed more than I had in the entire month before." A faint smile appeared on Ji Yun's face.
The night passed quickly. At first light, the Eagle Strike Squad packed up. Li Ke even took the key card with him, saying that they could stay here again next time.
The Eagle Strike Squad quietly left City 091, Dongying City, and followed the dilapidated highway toward the Supply Base.
The five of them made good time once they reached the highway. To save time, they all traveled at their fastest pace. The journey had taken six days on the way there, but they made it back to the Supply Base in five.
Villa C7 at the Supply Base temporarily became the Eagle Strike Squad's place to rest.
"Let's sort out the monster materials we hunted this time," Zhang Taofang said. "We were out for more than twenty days and hunted fourteen Beast General Rank monsters: the High-Level Beast General Bayonet Turtle, the Mid-Level Beast General Forest Python, the Mid-Level Beast General Land Crocodile, two Mid-Level Beast General Fire Scale Pigs, the Mid-Level Beast General Underworld Pattern Dog, the Mid-Level Beast General Three-Tailed Tiger Cat, the Mid-Level Beast General Iron-Armored Bull, a Frog-Type Beast General, and a Blazing Sheep!"
Of course, there were also four Low-Level Beast Generals.
"But the Supply Base is small. If we sell this many Mid-Level Beast General materials all at once, it'll easily attract unwanted attention. Someone might follow us next time," Zhang Taofang said cautiously.
"Let's sell the more common land monsters first. We'll wait until we're back in the Base City to sell the aquatic monsters."
"Let's eat first. Afterward, I'll find someone to sell some of them to," Zhang Taofang said with a smile.
After the meal, the five members of the Eagle Strike Squad found the HR Alliance's local representative—the same officer who had greeted Zhang Taofang earlier—and sold him the monster materials they had hunted. They sold a total of eight Beast Generals.
Inside Villa C7, the Eagle Strike Squad gathered around the computer to divide up the money.
"The materials from the Low-Level Tiger Mastiff and the Unicorn Wild Boar sold for 20 million in total." Zhang Taofang looked at everyone. "I didn't contribute during the hunt. Li Ke delivered the fatal blow, so he gets forty percent. Zhang Yan, Naili, and A-Yun will split the remaining sixty percent."
"The two Fire Scale Pigs died fighting each other. We sold each one for 40 million, so the five of us will split the money evenly, twenty percent each."
"The Underworld Pattern Dog and the Three-Tailed Tiger Cat were the same. The Underworld Pattern Dog sold for 78 million, and the Three-Tailed Tiger Cat for 45 million. Again, we'll split each one evenly, twenty percent each."
"The Iron-Armored Bull sold for 52 million. I killed it with a single sniper shot, so I'll take sixty percent, and the rest of you can split the remaining forty percent."
"The Blazing Sheep sold for 58 million. Zhang Yan blocked its strongest attack, so he'll take forty percent, Naili thirty percent, and the three of us will split what's left."
"Adding it all up..."
"If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you can find it again next time."
"Zhang Yan gets 73 million, Ji Yun gets 55.6 million, I get 77.6 million, Li Ke gets 63.6 million, and Naili gets 67.2 million." Zhang Taofang announced the final amounts with a smile. "Of course, we still have materials from six valuable amphibious monsters. Those should fetch a great price!"
"The Land Crocodile was killed by another monster, so the five of us will split its value evenly. In the Forest Python hunt, Li Ke's throwing knife was crucial to killing it, and A-Yun did a lot by keeping it under control. So Li Ke gets forty percent, A-Yun gets thirty percent, and the other three split the remaining thirty percent. Zhang Yan blocked the Poison Arrow Frog's fatal poison arrow and neutralized it, so he gets forty percent. Li Ke killed it with his throwing knife, so he gets thirty percent. The other three split what's left. As for the two Low-Level Beast General snake monsters, A-Yun didn't contribute, but he's new, so we'll give him ten percent."
"Finally, the Bayonet Turtle." Zhang Taofang looked around at everyone. "I shot it in the eye, inflicting a serious wound, but it was ultimately killed by another monster. So I'll take forty percent, and the other four can split the rest. Any objections?"
Everyone nodded.
In the past, Zhang Yan and Naili wouldn't have earned this much. But this time, there had been too many unexpected events. Zhang Yan's shield had played a major role, while Naili's agility-based fighting style was well suited to dealing with aquatic monsters, so she had earned a large share.
"I'll divide up the money first and transfer it into each of your accounts."
Zhang Taofang smiled as he used the Eagle Strike Squad's shared account to transfer the money they had earned to everyone, one person at a time. Every member of the team knew the shared account's login and password. Usually, whenever they earned money, they divided it up right away.
Li Ke and Zhang Taofang were used to it. They had always been the main fighters during hunts, so they had earned plenty in the past. But Zhang Yan and Naili usually earned this much only once a year. And that didn't even include the aquatic monster materials in their backpacks.
"All right, take a break. We'll return to the Base City this afternoon."
That afternoon, Ji Yun and the others took a train back to the Base City.
"The train is about to arrive at the station. Passengers getting off, please prepare your belongings." The prerecorded announcement echoed through the carriage. With a whoosh, the doors opened.
"We're home." The five members of the Eagle Strike Squad stepped out one after another.
"There are so many people." As soon as Ji Yun got off the train, he saw a huge crowd of passengers around the station. Through the glass walls of the station building, he could see countless more people waiting inside. The main urban area of Kyoto Base City had a population of well over a hundred million. It was easy to imagine how noisy and bustling the station was!
"Brothers, be grateful for the weapons in your hands. We've made it back to the Base City alive once again!" Li Ke said with a sigh.
Ji Yun was deeply shaken. They had spent only a little over twenty days in the Wilderness Zone, but the place was desolate and ruined, and the cities there had long since fallen apart. Monsters occupied them in great numbers. They had to move forward cautiously, always afraid of being surrounded by a pack.
"Dad, I'm back." Ji Yun called his father, Ji Shan.
"I did really well this time, both in strength and in what I brought back. I'll be in Chang Mountain tonight," Ji Yun said with a smile.
"What? Dad, you have something to tell me? Sure, I'll wait until I get home tonight."
"A-Yun, come on. Let's take the HR Alliance's special Martial Artist shuttle," Zhang Taofang called. The others had already started moving.
"Coming."
Ji Yun hung up and immediately followed everyone along the special Martial Artist passage. At the end was a small area with vehicles belonging to the Limit Dojo, the Thunder Dojo, the Underground Alliance Mall, and various Underground Alliance families, all waiting to pick up the Martial Artists.
"Come on, let's go to the HR Alliance Mall." Zhang Taofang and the others called over an HR Alliance Mall shuttle.
In the car, Zhang Taofang began contacting a buyer.
"Hello, is that Old Gao?"
Zhang Taofang got through. "Yes, it's me. Of course I'm calling because I've got something good for you. Otherwise, why would I call? It's definitely worth over a hundred million. Sure, no problem." After hanging up, Zhang Taofang smiled at the others. "I've told Old Gao we're coming. Once we get to the mall, we'll go straight upstairs."
"Okay." Ji Yun and the others nodded.
A short while later—
The vehicle pulled up in front of the Underground Alliance building. A long-haired woman was waiting at the entrance.
When she saw the five members of the Eagle Strike Squad get out, her eyes lit up. "You must be Mr. Zhang. Manager Gao is waiting for you. I'll take you up."
"Ding!" The woman stood by the elevator and pressed 21. She held her eyes up to the scanner. "Ding. Access granted. Welcome, Miss Fang."
"Manager Gao is waiting for you on the twenty-third floor," the woman said with a smile.
When they stepped out of the elevator, they found themselves in an enormous lounge, nearly three or four hundred square meters in size. Long sofas lined the walls. The hall was empty, apparently because Manager Gao had cleared his schedule.
"Manager Gao is inside. Please come in." Miss Fang led Ji Yun and the others into Manager Gao's office.
Ji Yun glanced around the office. The furnishings gleamed, and the floor was made of tempered glass. Beneath the glass flowed a stream, with fish swimming through it. Standing on the glass, he could see the fish right beneath his feet.
"This Manager Gao knows how to enjoy himself," Ji Yun thought. Then he followed his teammates and sat down on the sofa.
"Old Zhang, looks like you made a fortune this time." A somewhat plump, balding middle-aged man stood up from his chair with a hearty laugh and came over to sit on the sofa opposite them.
"Old Gao, we didn't just bring back a little something this time." Zhang Taofang smiled. "You've met plenty of Martial Artist teams, but I bet you don't often get to see materials like these. Brothers, bring them out."
Everyone grinned at Manager Gao, set their backpacks down, and pulled out the materials inside. In moments, the materials from six monsters covered a large area of the floor.
"So much!" Manager Gao cried, springing to his feet.
"Let me take a look." Manager Gao examined the materials carefully. "Good grief, six amphibious monsters, including a Bayonet Turtle close to Elementary Lord level. Old Zhang, you went to the coast!"
The Bayonet Turtle's defenses were truly astonishing. Even a War God-level Martial Artist would have a hard time breaking through its shell! That showed just how tough it was.
"Tsk, the most valuable parts are the top shell and the spikes on both sides." Manager Gao examined them closely. "Looks like the shell was removed in pieces. But it's still in very good condition. The shells of turtle-type monsters are easily made into weapons and building materials."
"There's also a Forest Python close to High-Level Beast General rank, a Mid-Level Beast General Poison Arrow Frog, a Land Crocodile, and two snake-type monsters."
"Old Zhang, don't take them out one by one. Bring out all the other intact materials from these monsters, too." Manager Gao urged them with a smile. He opened a locked case, which carefully held a set of precision instruments. When he turned them on, a red beam appeared at the top.
"Quite a complete haul."
Manager Gao's eyes lit up. The red beam swept across the materials, and strings of data appeared on the instrument's small screen. He watched the numbers closely while entering information on a virtual keyboard. A moment later—
"These materials really are from the original monsters. And this Bayonet Turtle really is a High-Level Beast General!" Manager Gao said with a smile. "Moreover, it's one of the High-Level Beast Generals closest to Lord Rank!"
A newly advanced High-Level Beast General and one close to Lord Rank could differ in strength by several times. Their prices naturally differed just as much.
"Heh, this is a major deal. If your price is right, I won't haggle." Manager Gao chuckled. "All right, name your price."
At the HR Alliance Mall, High-Level Beast General monster materials generally sold for between 50 million and 500 million.
Turtle-type monsters were rare, and this one was close to High-Level Lord level. It could be worth even more than that.
Zhang Taofang drew a deep breath. "Seven hundred million Huaxia Currency for the Bayonet Turtle. One hundred million for the Forest Python, 80 million for the Poison Arrow Frog, 82 million for the Land Crocodile, and 20 million each for the two snake-type monsters."
"Old Zhang, you're really taking me for a ride," Manager Gao said with a wry smile. Still, he added, "You've got a lot of materials this time, so I'll agree. If you get good materials next time, make sure you come to me."
There were more than ten managers in charge of buying monster materials at the HR Alliance Mall. The mall used a last-place-eliminated system: whoever had the worst sales in a year would lose their manager position and be replaced by someone new. With that kind of pressure...
Manager Gao had someone collect the materials as he transferred the money. "All right, done. 1.002 billion Huaxia Currency has been transferred to your team's account."
"Okay." Zhang Taofang nodded. "But powerful monsters are hard to deal with. The five of us barely made it out alive with this haul."
"Yeah, the ocean..." Manager Gao sighed and shook his head. "Humans may still have the advantage on land for now, but the ocean belongs to the monsters."
"Let's go eat!" Zhang Taofang said with a smile. "After we eat, we'll divide up the money as we agreed today."
"If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you can find it again next time."
Before you continue