novelraw Chapter 1249 - 628: Better to Return Home Early (Part 3)
Chapter 1249 - 628: Better to Return Home Early (Part 3)
That's truly seeking welfare for everyone!
"Also—"
Tong Shan paused for a moment, pointing at Ji Jue: "This Mr. Ji, everyone knows him as well. The level of craftsmanship is beyond my judgment as a Tian Yuan, but as the chief craftsman of this generation and a rising star with two golden ribbons, everyone understands the weight of his talent.
This time, besides essential equipment maintenance and the provision and replenishment of consumables being covered by the Security Bureau, all expenses incurred by the team on the journey for official purposes will be paid by me, as a small subsidy for the brothers."
In an instant, cheers and shouts erupted like thunder.
Everyone widened their eyes in delight, clapping and shouting with excitement: "Brother Shan, you're awesome, Brother Shan, you're generous!!!"
"Mr. Ji?"
Tong Shan looked over with a half smile, "Won't you say a few words?"
"Whatever Brother Shan says is what I say."
Ji Jue smiled calmly, "The maintenance and upkeep of Blessed Creation, the customization and needs of alchemy creations, including the identification and recovery of spoils, everyone can come to me. Consumables like Alchemy Bullet I'll provide for free.
Later, everyone can check this service catalog. We're all in this together, no need to be polite, but there's just one thing that might trouble everyone."
He paused, with a self-mocking sigh amidst the strange looks of old acquaintances: "The self-preservation ability of a craftsman is still somewhat lacking. Moving forward, I'll likely need protection from everyone, and I hope you won't find it bothersome."
Instantly, voices of assurance filled the air, declaring Ji Jue as a brother, affirming that as long as I'm around, not a hair of his will be harmed.
Passion and zeal, resounding continuously.
Only Tong Shan looked sideways at the weak and pitiful craftsman, unwilling to speak.
This dog of a person, with a finger movement, could wipe out at least half of the people here… and the reason the other half might still be around is simply to hear them say thank you!
Leading shoulders, generous craftsmen, favorable prices, and a clear financial path, under such multi-directional stimulation, the team's initially suppressed morale quickly soared.
Soon, the fully geared convoy entered the wilderness, moving forward.
Along the way, occasionally one could see various-sized convoys, heading out with high spirits, but returning tattered, with bloody boards.
Defeat or damage didn't dispel the zeal of those departing.
If everyone is eager with Ascension in front, then the double bounty offered by the Federation Empire and Desert Market against the White Country Restoration Front and the Wolves, it's like pouring a ladle of boiling Fuel Element on the rising flames…
Even inside the carriages, the members of the Vanguard Team finding ways to entertain themselves during tedious times had poker cards printed with various bounties.
Ji Jue had several decks of such poker cards.
Not only money, but the Federation Empire and Desert Market also put forth vast resources and legacies as rewards, even though they didn't expect anyone to truly address these bounties with solutions, it was enough for all arriving Chosen Ones to risk everything, fighting the Wolves.
The Jokers on the cards represented the leaders Ensuer and the confidant Shekri of the White Country Restoration Front.
AKQJ were printed with high-ranking members like Bulhuush, Lazaz, and those confirmed to have appeared in the Forest Country, like the old Wolf.
But this fueling the fire… is it really aimed at the Chosen Ones, or at the Forest Country?
Even if a showdown is inevitable, raising the intensity at this time, is it to quickly reduce the size of the White Country Wolf Pack, or to expedite the gestation of the third Wolf Evil, it's truly hard to tell.
Anyway, Ji Jue never considered the Federation producing anything good.
Do these two sides really have any bottom line to speak of?
Besides, the decline of the White Deer is indeed beneficial to Tian Yuan, isn't it?
With an evil perspective, if I were the Federation, I might take advantage of this activation, further press the White Deer, making Desert Market even more fragmented.
So that once the White Deer regains strength, it won't reenact the Tianyuan White Deer chaos.
After the last Tianyuan White Deer conflict, Desert Market ended the civil unrest, establishing a system of twelve leaders. Certainly, it has expanded in flexibility and scale, buffering many contradictions, and in facing such an organization, cutting off one head only leads to two more, making anyone's approach ineffective.
Yet similarly, the internal completion of integration remains elusive, but if another intense internal struggle occurs, producing an unrivaled hero who suppresses all the leaders, it might catalyze the emergence of a White Deer Great Monarch, completing yet another integration.
Facing such an old adversary, Tian Yuan being on guard is only reasonable.
Besides, the last time the two sides fought, Tian Yuan's victory was merely by luck.
White Deer didn't lose in terms of personnel or formation, but lost the greater situation, defeated shortly after the fall of the Eternal Dynasty amidst burgeoning disasters, leading people yearning for stability and safety, naturally lowering the White Deer one level beneath Tian Yuan.
But now in this era, the White Deer appears silent and low-key, yet when it truly bares its fangs, its terror is probably known by none.
Whether it's kicking someone when they're down or adding flowers to brocade, until the water clears, nothing is certain.
The Federation and Empire are not fools, nor is Desert Market full of idiots.
What the high-ranking members on both sides think about this, Ji Jue finds it hard to discern and simply stops pondering.
At this moment, amidst fragmented thoughts, the Forest Country has already advanced.
Amidst the void, a golden fierce light faintly appeared, gripping tightly around the increasingly gigantic tree.
The tree emerging in Shangrila started from a pale hue, gradually surfacing crimson, with dark red flowers budding as if ready to bloom.
The closer one is, the more one can sense the abnormal atmosphere and… a hint of hunger emerging within.
An Ning sat in the passenger seat, silent.
But this state was clearly a stress reaction, or else she would have seized this chance to relentlessly pester Ji Jue.
Finally, after brief preparations, confirmed locations through spiritual communication, Tongshan Team first broke into the shackled Forest Country!
Snap!
With an illusory sound, Ji Jue felt his sight blacken, the previously clear sky suddenly transformed into tangible darkness.
Despite the sun shining behind, it fails to illuminate the clouds and shadows of the Forest Country.
Not to the extent of pitch darkness, yet such pure darkness and oppression made everyone's breath involuntarily halted, tension rising.
Deeper in the dark, thunder echoed across the sky.
Storms roared.
In the desolate open land, there was nothing.
In the driver's seat of Little Ox and Horse, Ji Jue instinctively adjusted the way he held the steering wheel, his expression serious… concealing his seemingly fish-in-water ease and joy.
Breathing smoothly, as though released from shackles, his body felt unbelievably light.
His previously heavy mood eased, almost humming a tune.
One word, refreshing and carefree!
The soul reflection of Chun Jun, within the mutated state, Black Flame surged.
Upon the chest's void, the long-dormant Wolf Blood Thorn slightly opened its existence, thirstily sensing the changes within the Forest Country, as if to set roots, perception ceaselessly expanded, spread, in sync with the giant tree above the sky.
What he perceived was the resonance between the Forest Country and the Wolves!
He could even faintly feel, right at the tree manifested by Shangrila, closest to the trunk, silently sprouted a branch representing himself!
Oops, just accidentally logged in!
Darn…
Ji Jue's expression froze.
How did I end up being a local again?!