Chapter 319 - 216: The War Merit Controversy

Chapter 319: Chapter 216: The War Merit Controversy

As Jiang Nianwei listened to Hengji’s explanation, her interest was piqued, and she immediately began asking for more details.

Yu Fei remained silent, simply listening.

The Boundary Region wasn’t peaceful and stable like their home world. In Abyss, for example, over ten million Martial Artists were active year-round, but only about a million of them were officially part of the military.

The super-legion, Demon Suppression, was at the top, with more than a dozen Class-A and Class-B legions under its command, jointly forming the main defensive line.

There were also four ordinary legions. These legions were larger, comprised mainly of Second-Realm Martial Artists. Their primary roles were to garrison strongholds and provide support during offensive operations.

Beyond that were the countless free battle groups, numbering in the thousands, each with a different number of members. These groups were the source of most of the instability here, but they also generated the majority of the profits.

Treasure hunting, prospecting, resource cultivation, farming, metallurgy—the professional legions couldn’t handle everything. They had to delegate these miscellaneous tasks, content to simply collect high taxes and perform regulatory oversight.

Then there were the security forces of large corporations. Unless there was an emergency during a major war, these people generally acted independently. Abyss was no peaceful paradise; when interests clashed, conflicts in the shadows were common.

That was why a group like Yu Fei’s—who looked like rich, naive suckers—had drawn countless eyes while swaggering down the main street. It was precisely because Yu Fei sensed the growing malice that he had decisively unleashed his aura as a deterrent.

Once Hengji announced the name "Shenhan Salty Fish Assault Team," all that malice receded like the tide.

It was no joke. The super-legion garrisoned here, Demon Suppression, was composed primarily of Shenhan graduates and controlled by Shenhan University.

Plotting against the university’s students on its own turf? That was just asking for a death wish.

In theory, when Yu Fei and the others arrived in Abyss, they would only have second-year upperclassmen to show them the ropes, with no special treatment or help—a completely hands-off approach. ’But how could that actually be true?’ Since entering the Boundary Region, his Reversing Destiny Vision had shown him at least ten figures, glowing like orange and red rubies, who were constantly watching over them from the shadows.

"Oh, right. For the next month, all the merit points you earn in battle will be sent to us, the Salted Fish Team, for Boss Feng Hua to distribute. And theoretically, we’ll be taking half of them!"

Qin Hao was instantly alarmed. "Isn’t that a huge rip-off?"

Chi Yu calmly explained from the side, "It’s tradition. It’s most dangerous for you guys when you first enter the battlefield. All sorts of things can happen while you’re still adapting. We’re basically acting as your babysitters and coaches."

"Plus, during this time, we cover the cost of your weapons, gear, ammunition, supplies, camp, and everything else. We won’t let you go completely on your own until you’re fully capable of operating independently.

"In previous years, the upperclassmen would still take a loss, even after taking half the merit points. But this year..."

As he spoke, he glanced over at Yu Fei, who was walking steadily beside them. ’With a first-year student this powerful joining us,’ he thought, ’we might actually turn a profit this year.’

「Nighttime. Battle Banner Tavern.」

It was an open-air barbecue camp that served ingredients and ales sourced locally from Abyss.

According to Hengji, the tavern’s owner was a fourth-year upperclassman. The Battle Banner Tavern was famous for its fresh ingredients and unique flavors. More importantly, all currently enrolled Shenhan students received a 40% discount until they graduated.

Even after graduation, alumni could get a 20% discount just by proving they were from Shenhan.

That evening, all the members from six different classes of first and second-year students were there, getting to know one another. The older students made a point of mingling with the freshmen, constantly sharing stories from the battlefield and offering words of caution.

This helped ease the tension in many of the newcomers’ hearts. The presidents of the various classes gathered at one table, where the conversation inevitably turned to Yu Fei.

"Mr. Yu, can you tell me how you trained your stealth ability? I’m just dying to know which Cultivation Technique has such an insane effect. If you don’t mind sharing, I’d love to learn it myself."

Qingshan proactively sat down next to Yu Fei, extremely interested in this particular ability of his.

He specialized in reconnaissance and had always been quite confident in his own stealth abilities—until he met Yu Fei.

At night, Yu Fei was like a phantom, completely impossible to find.

Qingshan’s stealth was slightly inferior to Yu Fei’s during the day, but he knew how to erase his tracks and had more experience, so in the daylight, the two were more or less evenly matched.

A stealth ability like that was already outstanding; fooling the average support-type Martial Artist would be no problem.

Yu Fei finished the piece of roasted meat in his hand in one bite. The meat, from some unknown beast, was packed with an incredible amount of energy and had a fantastic texture.

"It’s a special effect of my Sword Intent. I haven’t actually started training in any related Secret Techniques!"

Yu Fei explained calmly.

Since it was a unique property of his Sword Intent that others couldn’t replicate, Yu Fei had no reason to hide it.

"So, you’re saying you haven’t even trained in any Secret Techniques for concealing your aura or for stealth?"

Hearing Yu Fei’s answer, Qingshan was flabbergasted. The others also turned to look, their interest clearly piqued.

"That’s right." Yu Fei nodded and grabbed another roasted beast leg from the table.

Qingshan’s face twisted in an exaggerated expression.

"Then if you actually trained in a related Secret Technique, wouldn’t you be completely unstoppable? Dammit, Zhang Hu, get me a lemon! I need something sour!"

Before Zhang Hu could move, Feng Hua tossed one over directly. "We’ve got plenty of lemons for you. Look at you, so pathetic!"

Qingshan caught the lemon, and a faint blue Qi Jin pulsed from his hand, crushing it and squeezing out the juice. He drizzled it evenly over his roasted meat, then lifted the piece to his nose, inhaling with satisfaction before taking a large, contented bite.