Chapter 137: My Hands Are Getting Itchy

Lin Xiao’s assessment was correct; Feng Yang had exactly this intention. One reason for the Flaming Mercenary Corps' poor reputation was the exceptionally high turnover rate of its personnel. To put it another way, the casualty rate of the corps was staggering. If not for the high remuneration Feng Yang offered to lure recruits, they would have run out of members long ago.

The battle raged on, and Feng Yang’s expression grew increasingly grim. He realized his mistake: he had intervened too early. He had underestimated the combat prowess of the spirit beasts. The Level 5 beasts were manageable enough—most had been wiped out after a few rounds of attacks—but the problem lay with the three Level 6 beasts.

The remaining three were a Thunder Cloud Leopard, a Crimson Flame Tiger, and a Red Gold Bear. The Red Gold Bear was a melee-focused beast, easy enough to avoid, but the other two—one thunder-elemental and one fire-elemental—decimated his ranks with every spirit technique they unleashed. Most of his new recruits had already been slaughtered, leaving only his core inner circle.

Of the hundred men in the Flaming Mercenary Corps, the majority were fresh hires, while about twenty were Feng Yang’s loyalists. These men were all Level 5 cultivators and seasoned mercenaries of Rank C or higher. If he lost them, Feng Yang would suffer a grievous blow to his foundations. Consequently, at the start of the battle, Feng Yang had ordered them to stay at the back of the formation. While the corps had suffered heavy losses, his inner circle had remained relatively unscathed.

But the situation had changed. The recruits were nearly all dead, and the Level 5 beasts were mostly cleared out. Now, only the three Level 6 beasts remained—a much tougher nut to crack. If he sent his loyalists in to finish them off, he would inevitably suffer significant losses. A flash of ruthlessness crossed Feng Yang’s eyes as he surveyed the field littered with beast carcasses. Regardless of the cost, he had to take down these beasts. Otherwise, he would lose out on the treasure. The haul from this mission might exceed all his previous ones combined; once he returned to the city and sold the loot, he would have no trouble finding powerful new lackeys.

"Brothers, it’s come to this—everyone, charge!"

The survivors of the Flaming Mercenary Corps knew the critical moment had arrived. Though they were terrified, they had no choice but to brace themselves and advance.

The remaining survivors were mostly Level 5 powerhouses, and with Feng Yang, a Level 6 cultivator, their chances of victory against the three Level 6 beasts were high.

***

Rat lowered his binoculars. He knew they couldn't stay here any longer. It was time for them to make their move. The scene he had just witnessed wiped away the last shred of guilt he felt. Feng Yang did not view his subordinates as brothers; had he commanded the battle with actual tactics instead of sending his men to charge mindlessly, such heavy casualties would have been impossible—they might even have suffered none at all. Dealing with a man like this required no moral hesitation.

"The time is right. Everyone except Boar, follow me down. We must finish this battle before the Rock Beast leader completes its breakthrough!"

Lin Xiao was stunned. What was going on? They were all going, and he was the only one being left behind? Just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, Rat explained.

"Boar, I know what you’re thinking. I’m not letting you join the fight for the sake of the big picture. You are most useful to us right here; we need you to monitor the surroundings. Furthermore, it’s not that I look down on you, but your actual cultivation is only Level 2. The upcoming battle is beyond your reach."

Lin Xiao: "..."

He really didn't give him any face at all. However, Lin Xiao had to admit that even if he did go, without revealing his trump cards, he wouldn't be of much help. He might even become a burden to the others.

"I understand. Time is tight; everyone, get down there quickly. If that Rock Beast leader breaks through, things will get really difficult."

Seeing Lin Xiao agree, the members of the War Wolf Mercenary Corps breathed a sigh of relief. They truly did not want him involved. The situation on the battlefield was still unclear, and it would be dangerous for him. Without further ado, they descended the mountain, rushing toward the battlefield.

Watching Rat and the others move off, Lin Xiao had no intention of following them. Even from the low hill, he could support the War Wolf Mercenary Corps. The high ground offered a perfect vantage point for a sniper. Although the combat zone was a bit far, it was still within his effective range. He hadn't used his sniper rifle since entering the secret realm.

To be honest, his fingers were itching. He pulled the sniper rifle from his spatial ring. Although Rat had given him one, its power was far inferior to the custom-made rifle Old Brother Shano had prepared for him. Since he wasn't targeting low-level beasts this time, it was better to be careful.

Rat and his team moved swiftly, now only about a thousand meters from the combat site. The battle between the Flaming Mercenary Corps and the three Level 6 beasts was nearing its end. The Thunder Cloud Leopard had been killed, and the Red Gold Bear and Crimson Flame Tiger were at their limits. The Flaming Mercenary Corps hadn't fared well either; Feng Yang’s elites were mostly decimated, with only five men left alive besides him.

Feng Yang casually launched a large fireball, finishing off the battered Red Gold Bear. His expression was dark; he had been too confident. If he had known, he wouldn't have let the cannon fodder rush to their deaths so hastily. He had nearly ended up a commander without an army, but at least the final victor was him! Once he finished off the Crimson Flame Tiger, the Rock Beast leader, still in its breakthrough state, would be his for the taking. He had struck gold this time!

Just as Feng Yang was lost in his fantasies, the heavily wounded Crimson Flame Tiger suddenly erupted with a final burst of energy, unleashing an area-of-effect spirit technique. The six remaining men were huddled together, and since none of them specialized in speed or defense, they had no choice but to take the hit head-on. Feng Yang hadn't expected the tiger to have any fight left in it—wasn't it at its limit?

Without a second thought, Feng Yang grabbed one of his men standing beside him and shoved him in front as a shield. The man he grabbed turned to look at him with an expression of pure disbelief. His loyalty had been fed to the dogs.

After unleashing the technique, the Crimson Flame Tiger collapsed; it had been a desperate, life-ending strike. As the flames dissipated, Feng Yang was the only one left standing. By using his lackey as a shield, and because he was fire-elemental himself and possessed higher resistance, he had survived.

Looking at the lifeless body of the Crimson Flame Tiger, Feng Yang let out a crazed laugh.

"Hahaha! As expected, I am the final victor!"