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"It's time to eliminate those wolf bandits. After that, I'll finally be able to focus on cultivating in peace."
For the past half-year, Dai Weisi had devoted himself to drilling the new army. As a result, he could only meditate and cultivate at night. His progress had been significantly delayed—he had only managed to advance by one level in six months, reaching Rank 59, Soul King.
All he wanted now was to swiftly wipe out the wolf bandits infesting the Calamity Mountain Range and return to Star Luo City to concentrate on his training—striving to break through to Rank 60 and become a true Soul Emperor.
With his resolve set, Dai Weisi rose to his feet with a determined gaze and returned to the White Tiger Legion's camp. Although it was only six in the morning, the entire legion was already assembled.
Thirty thousand soldiers stood in perfect formation outside the camp, resembling a vast pine forest. Upon seeing Dai Weisi approach, they all dropped to one knee and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Good. Rise!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Once everyone had stood up, Dai Weisi looked around with a resolute gaze and a solemn expression as he addressed them:
"Brothers, I trust you've all heard the news. In the nearby Calamity Mountain Range, a vicious and bloodthirsty gang of wolf bandits has taken root. For years, they've been burning, looting, and killing in the surrounding villages, acting with utter impunity!
Worse yet, they've even resorted to treating our citizens of the Star Luo Empire as livestock and food. Such barbarity is beyond contempt!"
After a brief pause, Dai Weisi continued:
"You are soldiers of the Star Luo Empire. A soldier's foremost duty is to protect the nation—to defend the lives of our people, our kin, and our families!
And now, these abominable fiends—neither man nor beast—are slaughtering our people and harming our children. Tell me, what should we do?!"
"KILL! KILL! KILL!"
In an instant, a deafening chorus of war cries echoed to the heavens. The thunderous roar could be heard for miles, shaking the skies and the earth alike.
Everyone present radiated killing intent, their eyes burning with bloodlust and fervent battle spirit. The expressions on their faces were complex, yet not one showed the slightest trace of fear.
"Well said!" Dai Weisi nodded with satisfaction. "I hereby announce that today's drills are canceled. Our mission today is to annihilate these savage wolf bandits. Tell me—do you have the courage to join me?"
"Of course! We are ready to charge through fire and blood for Your Highness!"
"As soldiers of the White Tiger Legion, we swear to uphold righteousness, protect the people, and secure lasting peace for the Star Luo Empire!"
Seeing their unwavering morale, Dai Weisi nodded approvingly and smiled. "Excellent words!"
"Now hear this: from this moment on, anyone who kills one wolf bandit will receive a reward of ten gold soul coins. Kill two, and you'll get twenty coins. The more you kill, the more you earn—rewards will increase accordingly!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The crowd responded in unison once more. Their eyes lit up with excitement. Though their earlier cries had rung out with righteous fury, who could resist the allure of gold soul coins?
Knowing that just one kill would earn them ten coins, everyone instantly became fired up as if injected with pure adrenaline.
"Very well—move out!"
With that, Dai Weisi leapt onto a black-scaled warhorse and galloped ahead. The rest of the legion followed suit, mounting their steeds and riding closely behind him.
Thanks to Dai Weisi's months of rigorous training, every soldier in the legion had become highly proficient in mounted archery. Even while riding at full speed, they could accurately hit targets using repeating flintlock rifles.
With a single command, the thirty-thousand-strong force began to march, towing artillery in a grand procession. The overwhelming sight left all onlookers stunned and awestruck.
As the march continued, Lietianhu approached with concern and asked,
"Your Highness, the wolf bandits in the Calamity Mountains are too numerous. Should we wait until nightfall to launch our assault? We may have already alerted them—if so, it'll be difficult to wipe them out entirely."
After witnessing the power of artillery and repeating flintlocks firsthand, the question was no longer whether they could win against the wolf bandits, but...
The wolf bandits had no concept of toilets or sanitation. Whenever the urge struck, they would relieve themselves on the spot. Even if they didn't feel the need, once their mood demanded it, they'd squat together with their brothers in the underbrush.
As for the bloodstains on the ground, there was no doubt they belonged to the villagers captured by the wolf bandits. Judging by how the blood had congealed, any man among those spilled was almost certainly dead.
As for women, they were typically kept alive—imprisoned to serve as breeding tools. Though their fate was far more miserable, at least a few survived. If they were lucky, perhaps they could still be rescued.
"Howl! Howl!"
Suddenly, cold wolf howls echoed through the woods. One by one, burly wolf bandits emerged between the trees, drool dripping from their jaws, their eyes glowing red with hunger. Their gaze was filled with greed and bloodlust, as though Dai Weisi and his troops were nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter.
Before long, over three thousand wolf bandits had surrounded Dai Weisi's position. Leading them was a striking cyan wolf bandit. Compared to the others, this cyan leader was not only larger but radiated a perceptible intelligence in its eyes. While the rest acted like mindless beasts, this leader was different—its keen expression clearly set it apart from any ordinary animal.
Suddenly, the cyan wolf baring its teeth, then shockingly spoke in human language: "You've finally arrived. I've been waiting here for quite some time!"
At the sight of this cyan leader, Dai Weisi's eyes lit up instantly. He thought, That's the very wolf bandit chief destined to appear later in the Heaven Dou Empire! I never expected to run into it here. Although he didn't know why this cyan leader had left the Star Luo Empire years ago to go to the Heaven Dou Empire, none of that mattered now.
Dai Weisi knew that this cyan wolf bandit chief possessed a fine-grade ten-thousand-year Right Leg Soul Bone—a soul bone whose attributes and skills would suit him perfectly. If he could obtain that soul bone, his strength would increase dramatically. A smile curved at the corner of his mouth as he realized this mission held an unexpected prize.
If that wolf bandit leader escaped today, Dai Weisi wouldn't hesitate—he'd publicly eat excrement in front of the entire White Tiger Legion as punishment.
(End of Chapter)