Wei Yuan had his men take away the Crimson Emperor Dragon Envoy and the six other immobilized members of the Other Races and lock them up.
If they killed the envoy, the Yagu Dynasty would undoubtedly sense it. Given the overall strength of East China's classholders, they were not ready for an open confrontation with the dynasty.
Sealing their power and imprisoning them indefinitely was the better option.
While Wei Yuan was taking action, Yi Tian noticed something from a distance. Wei Yuan simply beckoned him over, and the two found a quiet office to talk.
"Well done. Even I didn't expect you to clear the Unsealed Dungeon!"
"I've already told logistics to put together some equipment for you. Next time you enter a dungeon, at least let me know first. Going in without any equipment was far too reckless."
Looking at how little equipment Yi Tian had on him, despite having cleared the Unsealed Dungeon that had plagued East China for over a decade, Wei Yuan smiled helplessly.
He would rather the dungeon remain uncleared than have anything happen to Yi Tian.
Yi Tian readily nodded, then brought up the Black-Robed Man he had discovered in the [Beast King] dungeon.
Yi Tian told Wei Yuan the details about the Black-Robed Man he had learned from interrogating the Monkey Demon. He could not stop thinking about this talent with special potential, even though he currently had no money to use Recruitment...
Wei Yuan frowned slightly, then agreed. "A monster that can freely leave a dungeon? I've never seen anything like that either!"
"I'll post a bounty with the military and the Classholder Guild. Once he's spotted, his location will be sent straight to you."
"Thank you, Elder Wei."
They chatted a little more, eventually discussing Jiang Che, who had just acquired his class. Wei Yuan had high hopes for the talent Yi Tian had found.
However, Jiang Che intended to form a professional exploration team with Jiang Xing and Jiang Han, specializing in clearing new dungeons and secret realms. He had no plans to join the military or pursue further studies at a university like Wan Jiang.
Like Yi Tian, Wei Yuan said he would not interfere.
"All right, head home." Wei Yuan stood up, apparently having something to attend to. "Try not to leave the city today."
"The entire city will be placed under martial law shortly."
"Martial law?"
Citywide martial law meant the city was entering a state of military readiness. That generally meant something bad was happening.
Wei Yuan nodded, his tone somewhat resigned.
"The Demon Tide is coming!"
Ever since a crimson meteor had fallen onto Blue Star two hundred years ago, Evil Demons had continually invaded nations across the world.
Even now, no one had figured out where the Evil Demons came from. All they knew was that these demons were frenzied and bloodthirsty, driven to devour living beings.
Notably, the Evil Demons treated humans and the Other Races alike.
-they were indiscriminately hostile to all living creatures!
Even many other worlds suffered invasions by Evil Demons.
Scholars in Great Xia had stated that, at regular intervals, the Evil Demons were drawn by some unknown force, becoming unusually violent and launching large-scale invasions.
This was known as a demon tide!
Yi Tian returned to the Green Mountain Apartments.
After learning that a demon tide was coming and there might be danger, he immediately went home and activated his defenses. He had no intention of going out and fooling around.
With the experience of his previous life, he understood one thing profoundly:
As the boss, all I have to do is avoid getting myself killed!
My employees are fiercer than the next, and they can all help me get stronger. Why should I risk my own neck?
When all my employees are so capable, there's only one thing I need to do as their boss:
Stay alive.
Yi Tian promptly decided to stay home for the day, grab a bottle of soda, browse the classholder forums, and play some games...
But before he could start playing, a message from Wan Jiang arrived on his phone.
[Wan Jiang: Boss, are you there?]
[Wan Jiang: Could you give me that Hold a Meeting buff again?]
[Wan Jiang: The Demon Tide is coming, but the squad leader says recruits can't enter the battlefield unless their stats reach 150. I'm just a little short!]
As a border city, Dingcheng would bear the brunt of the approaching Demon Tide.
Dingcheng's defenses had been built like a war fortress, and border troops were stationed there year-round precisely to counter the Evil Demons.
Yi Tian had never imagined that Wan Jiang would create his own opportunity to enter the battlefield even when he did not qualify!
His employee was a little too enthusiastic!
But as his boss, he could hardly ignore him.
With the Demon Tide approaching, perhaps Wan Jiang could even make a name for himself...
With that thought, Yi Tian checked the restrictions on [Hold a Meeting]-[Limited to two uses within 24 hours. Further uses will provide no stat bonuses.]
That meant he could hold unlimited meetings, but the buffs would stop after the second one.
Fortunately, this was only the second use.
Yi Tian immediately activated his skill. "Convene a Tactical Meeting."
Meanwhile, in Dingcheng's Border Defense Zone.
Wan Jiang walked out of the restroom.
He grinned excitedly at the [Tactical Meeting buff] on him.
"I can finally go to the battlefield!"
[Wan Jiang] [Class]: Dragon Gallantry Gunfighter [Quality]: Legendary [Level]: 9 [Strength]: 148 (+44) [Agility]: 125 (+38) [Constitution]: 125 (+38) [Spirit]: 88 (+26) (The values in parentheses represent the buff's bonuses.)
With the meeting buff, all his primary combat stats had risen above 150, and his strength had reached a whopping 192!
With the buff's support, Wan Jiang had achieved the stats of a level 25 rare class at level 9!
At that moment, units of border troops were assembling and heading to the front.
The Vanguard Regiment's squad leader came over and immediately barked upon seeing Wan Jiang, "Wan Jiang! Get back to the recruit camp and train!"
"I know you want to fight, but you'll only get yourself killed if you're not strong enough. Head back for now!"
Wan Jiang beamed. "Squad leader, my stats meet the requirements!"
"What are you say... huh?"
"Holy shit! Where did you get stats that high?!"
Wan Jiang displayed all four of his stats, leaving the squad leader dumbfounded.
"How the hell is this level nine?"
"Then which team should I report to, squad leader?"
"You..."
The squad leader's warning caught in his throat. Finally, he said helplessly, "Go to the reserve force's fifth team."
"Yes, sir!"
Watching Wan Jiang leave in high spirits, the squad leader sank into thought...
Then he found the Vanguard Regiment's commander and solemnly reported the situation.
"Commander, have you noticed that Wan Jiang seems to get a little stronger every time he goes to the restroom?"
The Vanguard Regiment's commander considered it briefly. "That's only natural."
"???"
As a major border defense city, Dingcheng had two additional defensive lines five or six kilometers outside the city, beyond its steel-like walls.
During small demon tides, the border troops engaged in smaller battles, launching ambushes or harassment attacks and splitting into units to contain the tide outside the city.
This both prevented wear on the city's defensive equipment and served to train the soldiers and give them practical combat experience.
"During this small demon tide, our fifth team will mainly operate in Sector 12 of the eastern front!"
"We're responsible for finishing off the remaining Evil Demons behind the Vanguard Regiment's main force. Do not push ahead recklessly!"
At the second defensive line outside the city, the fifth team's captain warned his five members.
The combat forces were divided into the main regiments and reserve forces. The latter's primary task was to hunt down low-level Evil Demons left behind by the main force.
Wan Jiang was one of those reserve soldiers. Although he could only follow behind the main force, he was already more than satisfied on his first trip to the battlefield.
He tightened his grip on the refined-steel spear glowing blue in his hands. After he had met the requirements to enter the battlefield, the commander had specially requisitioned this rare-grade spear for him.
The military was not exactly flush with resources-or rather, resources were scarce throughout Great Xia.
Wan Jiang had only received a rare-grade spear because he had won first place in the New Recruit Martial Arts Tournament, earning it as a reward for military merit.
Fierce winds howled, and decaying demon energy filled the air.
In an instant, thunderbolts fell from the sky like wildly dancing silver dragons, striking the distant mass of monsters surging like a black tide. These attacks came from the high-level classholders serving as the main force.
At the edge of the battlefield illuminated by lightning, the captain of the fifth team raised his hand as they moved through the area.
He signaled that he had spotted three Evil Demons in the distance.
These were low-level Evil Demons called Ghost Children. Their child-sized bodies were a sickly gray-black, their surfaces covered in cracks, and their strength rivaled that of level 30 elites.
The captain gave tactical hand signals, and the members split into groups according to their classes and moved together!
"Taunt!" The team's shield guard acted first, drawing the aggro of all three Ghost Children.
The purpose of the opening taunt was to let them focus their attacks and aim for an instant kill.
Yet before anyone else could strike, Wan Jiang timed the exact moment the taunt took effect and leaped up, blood-red light blooming at his spear tip.
"Armybreaker!"
Boom!
"What kind of attack power does this recruit have?!" The captain froze as Wan Jiang shattered a Ghost Child with a single spear strike!
But what none of them saw was...
After Wan Jiang killed the Evil Demon, wisps of faint gray-black magical power drifted from its corpse as it dissolved into black mist, flowing into the ring his father had left him.
An illusory halo abruptly lit up around the ring.
Before you continue