novelraw Chapter 60: Up the Mountain
Chapter 60: Up the Mountain
Wang Yi was delighted.
’I got something fun and useful!’
’This Talent Assessment Machine can identify innate talent and aptitude. I can train and assign my subordinates based on their abilities, which is exactly what I need!’
Wang Yi immediately ordered Man Datou to gather the village’s core members. First, to announce the plan to attack Black Mountain Stronghold, and second, to use the Talent Assessment Machine to check the aptitude of his subordinates.
And Man Datou was the first target Wang Yi used the Talent Assessment Machine on. With a CLICK, he took a picture, and a string of text appeared on the screen: "Possesses Barbarian Witch Bloodline, excellent constitution, and good talent for Martial Arts. Suited for practicing straightforward, fierce Cultivation Techniques or Body Refining Techniques. Comprehensive Score: 82. Elite-level combatant."
’Man Datou is just an elite-level combatant? What level is elite? This assessment info is pretty interesting!’
Seeing Gegeda happen to pass by, Wang Yi quickly took a picture with a CLICK of the Talent Assessment Machine. The assessment information immediately appeared on the screen, but it consisted of only a single word: "Demon!"
’A demon? Such a simple assessment!’
Wang Yi rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
A moment later, in the courtyard of the First Dining Hall, a bonfire was lit, its flames illuminating the area.
Everyone arrived one after another, and Wang Yi got busy. The first person he assessed with the Talent Assessment Machine was Yang Wanli.
"Patient with mild delusion disorder. Cares about his reputation. Skilled in internal affairs and persuasion. Comprehensive Score: 71. Potential-level talent!"
’Old Yang is actually a potential-level talent! Haha, a patient with mild delusion disorder!’
Wang Yi then scanned Yang Qingniu with the Talent Assessment Machine, and his assessment quickly appeared.
"Possesses an Earth Spirit Root and can practice Cultivation. Suited for cultivating Earth Magic. Simple-minded and has low intelligence. Comprehensive Score: 73. Potential-level combatant."
Wang Yi was stunned.
’Holy cow, Yang Qingniu actually has the aptitude for Cultivation!’
Wang Yi quietly took note. He continued to use the Talent Assessment Machine to assess everyone’s aptitude, but the results were mostly disappointing. People like Zhang Dashan, Yang Qinggu, and Boss Li all had comprehensive scores in the sixties, marking them as ordinary talents with limited potential for training.
Pang Damao’s score reached 70, but he was still considered an ordinary-level talent. His strengths lay in calligraphy and painting, a good memory, and being an extremely strong swimmer!
The only one who surprised Wang Yi was Zhang Lengzi. The machine also identified him as a "potential-level talent." The Talent Assessment Machine’s evaluation stated he had a high IQ and was skilled in strategy, with a comprehensive score of 74—one point higher than Yang Qingniu, who had a Spirit Root.
’Pang Damao is an extremely strong swimmer? Zhang Lengzi is illiterate, but he has a high IQ...’
Wang Yi clicked his tongue in amazement. He then aimed the Talent Assessment Machine at Jelena and took a picture with a CLICK. The assessment information appeared instantly, a single word: "Prodigy!"
When he assessed Qin Mo with the Talent Assessment Machine, it was also a single word: "Freak!"
’One demon, one prodigy, one freak! Then one elite combatant, three potential-level talents, and I guess I can include Pang Damao too! Not counting the Rock Giant Scorpions and Hardworking Turtles, these are my core members... I haven’t assessed Li Hua’Er. Her innate talent and aptitude shouldn’t be bad. She should at least be a potential-level talent, right?’
After this brief summary, Wang Yi felt it was necessary to hold an assessment drive, using the Talent Assessment Machine to evaluate all the nearby villagers. He might just discover a few more talents.
However, this matter wasn’t urgent.
Next, Wang Yi announced that they would set out for Black Mountain Stronghold the following day and told everyone to get a good night’s rest.
Some were happy, and some were worried.
That night, Pang Damao didn’t sleep, Yang Wanli couldn’t fall asleep, and Zhang Dashan, Factory Director Li, and the others also slept fitfully. In contrast, the five members of the Civilian Militia slept soundly.
「Dawn came in the blink of an eye.」
After breakfast, Man Datou, the five members of the Civilian Militia, Yang Wanli, and Pang Damao all gathered before the Floating Mountain of their own accord.
All eight of them were equipped with General Armor and Iron-Clad Bows. Wang Yi also distributed Bamboo Section Arrows and Hemostatic Pills among them.
It was worth mentioning that there were extra Hundred-Step Arrow Skill Books in the Chaos Warehouse. Wang Yi gave them to Pang Damao and Yang Wanli, so the two of them now also possessed superb Archery skills.
Originally, Wang Yi hadn’t planned on bringing Yang Wanli.
However, the old man was very enthusiastic and insisted on going to gain some experience. Considering his potential use for taking the fall, Wang Yi allowed him to join.
"This battle is your chance to make a name for yourselves. You will no longer be ordinary people!"
Before the Floating Mountain, Wang Yi addressed the group with a serious expression. "The Mountain Bandits we are going to eliminate are vicious thugs. We will be fighting for our lives. Blades have no eyes, and our fates are uncertain. You may not return from this trip. If you’re not prepared, stay behind. I will not force you!"
No one responded.
Wang Yi nodded and shouted, "Very good! In that case, board the mountain!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Board the mountain!"
Hearing this, everyone stepped onto the Floating Mountain and found a place to sit down on its summit.
The three Rock Giant Scorpions and five Hardworking Turtles then boarded the Floating Mountain. All the Fire Dragon Oil produced over the past few days was also moved aboard.
Soon, like a hot air balloon, the Floating Mountain began to rise slowly into the air.
Below, Jelena, Zhang Dashan, Yang Qingxiu, and many other villagers looked up to watch. Gegeda led a flock of Combat Chickens, crowing at the Floating Mountain. On a fishing tower, Qin Mo watched from afar.
’With Gegeda, Jelena, and Qin Mo here, Eggshell Village’s safety shouldn’t be a problem. Jelena’s Small Fireball would be great for setting the mountain ablaze, but it’s better for her to stay in Eggshell Village...’
Wang Yi checked his Chaos Energy. He still had 94,530 points, which should be more than enough to pilot the Floating Mountain for the bandit extermination.
’Once we get there, we’ll launch an aerial strike. The grunts don’t matter. We’ll shoot down the elite bandits and their leaders, destroy the Black Mountain Stronghold’s Gathering Hall, and if conditions permit, set the whole place on fire. The mission should be more or less complete then. It shouldn’t be too hard.’
Wang Yi felt quite relaxed. He looked to the east and shouted, "It’s time for this Lord to make a grand entrance! Floating Mountain, advance!"
Pang Damao shouted from the side, "Boss, that’s the wrong way! It’s over here!"
"Oh."
Wang Yi gave an embarrassed smile and quickly changed the Floating Mountain’s direction of flight.
He didn’t know where Black Mountain Stronghold was, but Pang Damao knew perfectly well.
Yang Wanli sidled up to him and asked, "Boss, why exactly do we have to attack Black Mountain Stronghold?"
’Because it’s a system mission,’ Wang Yi thought. But what he said was, "For fairness and justice!"
"Fairness and justice?" Yang Wanli blinked, then asked, "Who are they? What do they have to do with Black Mountain Stronghold? Besides, even if we are going to attack, isn’t this a bit rushed?"
"There’s no time to lose. Delays will only cause complications!"
Wang Yi said calmly.
Eliminating the Black Mountain Stronghold bandits was a system mission. Although the number of Players who had accepted the mission had dropped from nine to eight, Wang Yi didn’t dare to be careless. If someone else snatched the system reward, it would be his loss.
Furthermore, Wang Yi had already noticed that a Feces Hall Master, Ma Changgui, had been added to the list of Black Mountain Stronghold’s leaders.
Others might not have known who Ma Changgui was, but he knew perfectly well.
He had personally been the one to strip Ma Changgui of his Lord status. If Ma Changgui ever gained power, Wang Yi had no doubt the man would seek revenge.
Perhaps Ma Changgui was the one who instigated Black Mountain Stronghold to send that scouting party a while back.
Wang Yi had no intention of giving the man time to grow stronger. The only way to eliminate this future threat was to crush him completely, right here and now.