Strength Needs No Further Words

Warrior Fortress No. 033.

The three remaining members of the Blazing Fire Squad looked utterly dispirited. Their captain, Li Ming, sat in a chair.

"A deputy director named Liu Shouren from a Chaos branch hall shoved someone in, saying he'd be a temporary martial artist."

"They didn't tell us anything about this guy's background. He isn't some rich young master who came out to the wilderness to mess around, is he...?"

The squad members' faces darkened as they looked at the fully encrypted martial artist information, their hearts sinking.

The vice-captain had just returned to the base city. Whoever replaced his combat power should at least be as strong as the vice-captain.

Li Ming tapped the corner of the table and said in puzzlement, "Forget it. It's still better than coming back empty-handed. We can kill some beast soldiers to make back some of our costs. We'll have to try our luck with mid-level beast generals. Otherwise, we won't even be able to hand in enough materials to meet the company quota this time."

"It cost us a million to come out here in the first place. The vice-captain got injured, so the expenses this time will definitely be split among the three of us."

"Since he was sent over by a Chaos Martial Arts Hall branch, he shouldn't be too bad."

Song Shuai, one of the squad members, frowned slightly. "Captain, you know he was sent over by a branch hall. Those branch halls are full of rich young masters and even third-generation heirs padding their résumés these days. Our squad isn't some ordinary martial master squad that can only kill beast soldiers. We can handle high-level beast generals."

"Enough. Let's just lose as little as we can. High-level beast generals are definitely out of the question this time," another member, Wei Chu, said, trying to smooth things over.

"Maybe he's a powerhouse, which is why his information is being kept secret from us." Li Ming smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Then we'll have stumbled onto a huge bargain."

"What powerhouse would head toward Ancient Huizhou? Aren't they all heading toward Jiangnan...?" Song Shuai said helplessly. "I just hope he isn't some rich young master. Even that would be better than us returning empty-handed."

They had no confidence at all in this mysterious newcomer.

After all, coordination between squad members required a great deal of time to hone. A martial artist who joined temporarily was generally stronger than the squad, only then could normal operations be ensured.

But someone whose information was completely classified... was truly baffling.

The Blazing Fire Squad was only an ordinary squad. Their information channels were limited, so such concerns were perfectly normal.

As they spoke, a young man entered through the fortress gates. He wore a close-cropped cut and a specially made combat uniform. Under the lights, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.

Only the hilt of the battle saber on his back bore a carved symbol for "Chaos."

"Chaos Martial Arts Hall? That saber hilt..." Li Ming abruptly rose to his feet and looked expectantly at the newcomer, only for his expression to dim again moments later.

That was because the young man was pulled away by another man whom he recognized—the Western European Alliance materials buyer in this martial artist fortress, Chen Yang.

I was being foolish. How could a big shot with equipment like that possibly be joining us temporarily?

He knowingly sat back down and patiently waited for the newcomer to arrive.

The newcomer was naturally Chu Wen. But the moment he entered, Chen Yang greeted him with green light practically shining from his eyes.

"Brother Wen, long time no see, long time no see! I've been waiting for the stars and the moon, and I've finally waited for you! Where have you been making your fortune these past four months?"

"Next time you have materials, you can sell them to me too! My prices will definitely be higher than those at other martial artist fortresses. I'll absolutely give you a price that satisfies you..."

After making a huge deal last time, Chen Yang had finally tasted the sweetness of a major order!

No matter how many small materials he bought, it could not compare to filling his belly in one go with a single major order!

No wonder War King-level martial artists were honored guests at every fortress. They were practically the gods of wealth for buyers like him!

Unfortunately, Warrior Fortress No. 033 was merely an inconspicuous one among Xinhang Base City's many fortresses. Encountering even one War King was difficult, let alone reaching a long-term purchasing agreement with one.

During that period, Chu Wen had already been Chen Yang's money tree.

Now that he had met Chu Wen again, Chen Yang would not let this god of wealth slip away no matter what.

"Brother Wen, if you have any materials that are hard to sell in the future, remember me! No one else will give prices as straightforward as mine."

"You're acting alone again this time? Your strength really is extraordinary." Chen Yang hurriedly handed him a cup of fine tea.

Chu Wen smiled. "No. This time, I'm joining a squad as a temporary martial artist. It's called the Blazing Fire Squad, and its captain is Li Ming. Do you know him?"

"I do, of course I do... Oh, their vice-captain was injured. So it was you, Brother Wen, coming to help them. No wonder they've lingered here for two days without leaving. What luck."

"Enough. I see them." Chu Wen took a sip of tea and walked over to the Blazing Fire Squad.

Li Ming rose to his feet again. "You are?"

"My name is Chu Wen. I'm a mid-level war general. Deputy Director Liu Shouren recommended me. I happen to be heading to City 0679, so I'll be traveling with your squad."

Chu Wen extended his hand. The other two members of the Blazing Fire Squad both opened their mouths slightly.

The other party was probably more than ten years younger than them, yet he was already a mid-level war general?

"Of course, of course." Li Ming immediately put on a smile. "We were previously besieged by a beast horde, and all of us were injured. The vice-captain was simply hurt the worst, so he returned to the base city first."

"Mm. Let's discuss the battle plan. If we can coordinate, we can prepare to set out." Chu Wen did not waste words.

Seeing such a young man with the strength of a mid-level war general, the Blazing Fire Squad members were naturally overjoyed. They went together to the martial arts room in the fortress and began sparring.

Early the next morning, the four of them set out for City 0679 along the original route.

Chu Wen also asked Chen Yang to keep an eye out for any teams from Xinhang Martial University that came through. If there were any, he was to send him a message immediately.

Optical computers in the wilderness could go offline at any time, so Chu Wen also had to keep an eye out for areas with strong signals to facilitate communication later.

"Brother Chu Wen, you really are young and accomplished. At your age, as a mid-level war general, you're already an official member of Chaos Martial Arts Hall?"

"Mm." Chu Wen nodded slightly. "There's a group of demonic beasts ahead. By my estimate, there's one mid-level beast general leading more than a dozen beast soldiers. Want to warm up?"

"Huh? That might be a little difficult..." Worry appeared on Song Shuai's face. "How about we pick a weaker target and see if there's a beginner beast general?"

After all, it was the squad's first time working together. One plus one might end up equaling zero.

"Fine, let's try it." Li Ming said, "There are two mid-level war generals. As long as we don't do anything stupid, there won't be a problem."

The four immediately lowered their bodies, their footsteps growing light as they silently drew their weapons beside waist-high brush.

The battle saber Chu Wen drew was the S-grade battle saber. The SC-grade battle saber was hidden in his sleeve. SC-grade material was extremely special—it remained compressed before use, so there was no need to deploy it here.

"V formation! Charge!~"

Two figures rushed out first, with Song Shuai and Wei Chu half a step behind.

The high-level warriors were mainly responsible for dealing with the beast soldiers that rushed over.

Chu Wen tried to suppress his strength, but he discovered that even his true burst speed was still far faster than Li Ming's. The martial arts room had not been spacious enough to compare over long distances.

The squad's "V formation" turned into a "slanted L."

"Chu Wen, you're charging too fast!"

Li Ming called out in warning, anxiety on his face. The beast general had already begun organizing the beast soldiers into a defense!

The beast soldiers lined up in a row and gradually formed an encirclement as they charged at Chu Wen, who was at the front.

The three members of the Blazing Fire Squad could not keep up. Though Chu Wen deliberately slowed down, that handed the initiative of the attack to the demonic beasts.

"This one's on me. We'll coordinate again later."

Chu Wen leaped, and a wild gale suddenly swept up around him.

Everything before his eyes slowed. He gripped his battle saber tightly and thrust forward.

A dazzling streak of silver cut through the sky, followed by blood erupting like a pillar.

The mid-level beast general fell with two beast soldiers that had blocked the way.

"Huh?" In the blink of an eye, Li Ming saw blood gushing from the beginner beast general's abdomen like a spring.

Chu Wen, who had only been a few positions ahead before, was now standing beside the beast general. He retreated slightly, guiding the wound to tear open further.

"Clear out the beast soldiers, quickly! Don't let them escape!"

Li Ming and the other two charged at the beast soldiers that had begun fleeing in defeat. Their materials were money too—they would not let them go!