Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 553 Departure
The next morning, a biting wind howled across the desolate wasteland southwest of Rolling Stone.

One hundred strong farmers, selected from among the rest, stood nervously; after all, they were just greenhorns who had never been on the battlefield.
They wore all sorts of leather and cotton armor, covered in stains and holes; some were even just a few pieces of hard leather sewn together.

The weapons they held were a wide variety of items.

There were rusty knives with chipped edges, old axes with cracked wooden handles, short spears with crooked tips, and even a few pitchforks with their handles almost rotten.

This is the "equipment" that was dug out from the "spare supplies" in the lord's warehouse, and it smells musty and rusty.

The only thing they had in common was that they were all a hundred times better than their previous bare wooden stick.

Li Zhongren stood on a slightly higher earthen slope, looking at the hundred faces in front of him, some blank, some fearful, and some with a hint of numbness and ferocity.

These are the results of his month-long "management" efforts. Their loyalty is all above 60, which means he can command them to fight together at critical moments, just like controlling game units.

"Bros!"

Li Zhongren's voice was not loud, but it clearly pierced through the cold wind, suppressing the whispers of the crowd.

He didn't use fancy words, but rather language that the most basic farmers could understand.

"I know you're afraid! I'm afraid too! But think about it, this is the closest we've ever come to success in our lives. As long as we achieve merit, we'll have money, women, and land. The lord won't be stingy with those who make contributions!"

This is a lie. How could a lord be generous to a farmer? But after this war, he will no longer be the same person, and the balance of power will be reversed.

Of course, the farmers didn't know these things. They were uneducated, lacked long-term vision, and didn't even have a sound set of values. Like mice, they would follow a piece of cheese if placed in front of them.

"Think it over carefully. After we pull off this job, we might have more wealth than we could ever have in a lifetime of farming! Dare to take a gamble with me?"

After a brief silence, one of the farmers responded.

"My lord, will you really give us a reward? I mean, if we come back alive?"

"Of course, I can assure you."

This is the truth. After returning this time, Li Zhongren knew that he would be completely transformed. At that time, that stingy guy would have no choice but to give it to him, even if he didn't want to!
"Let's do it!!"

"Dry!!"

At first, there were only sporadic sounds, but then all the farmers raised their hands and shouted.

In the distance, on the castle walls, Chekhov chuckled coldly.

Just as Li Zhongren had guessed.

A reward?
Bullshit! Of these 100 people, if five of them come back alive, they're lucky.

And he wouldn't let anyone see that anyone had come back alive.

It's not just about the reward.

More importantly, since everyone had died outside and no one had returned, he had an excuse to say that he had sent people but there was still no news, instead of continuously adding people in. Even the farmers were his property.

In fact, the farmers didn't know.

He, as a lord, was very clear about this.

The current war is purely a struggle for resources.

The Baikal Empire.

This was the former name.

During the last succession to the throne, the king died, but no successor was appointed, and the entire country split apart.

Torn apart.

It split into more than a dozen countries.

Currently, the faction he belongs to is called the Spider Territory Duchy, a country founded by the third son of the former king.

This war is between the third prince and the fifth princess.

The root of the war lies in a mineral vein between the two countries. This vein contains rare resources: mithril, mithril, and mithril tin—three minerals with extraordinary properties. Originally, it belonged to the Baikal Empire, but with the empire's fragmentation, the boundaries of many areas have become blurred.

Naturally, war broke out in the pursuit of profit.

Actually, in the beginning, the Third Prince and the Fifth Princess jointly developed this mine, each on their own side, without disturbing each other. However, the problem was that the mine was a whole, but as time went by, the Third Prince's side became more and more barren, while the Fifth Princess's side became more and more rich.

Naturally, the uneven distribution of benefits led to renewed war.

Wars between nations cannot be fought over a single mine. It's like playing chess; you need to take not only the mine but also the nearby territories to ensure safe mining and a continuous supply of ore back to the town.

Therefore, the two kings mobilized their respective lords to set up camp around the mine.

However, to be honest, Chekhov didn't think the war would have any results. It would most likely just be a redistribution of interests. After all, the Third Prince and the Fifth Princess weren't only enemies. If the war got too big, it would only allow other principalities to reap the benefits.

Therefore, from the very beginning, the scale of the war was limited to the border between the two countries.

It's like playing chess; in the end, it's about who has the most pieces left.

In that case, he needs to preserve his strength even more.

After all, only the living are entitled to enjoy the new distribution of benefits at any time.

It's a pity about this guy.

Chekhov knew a little about this Wild Grass 78. He had heard about the other's training in the military camp. He was quite capable, but that was all. His age and physical condition determined his future.

Unless the other party is a superhuman, he has no need to invest.
-
Dividing line

The cold wind whipped up dust from the wasteland, whipping the poorly equipped team.

Li Zhongren walked at the front, his gaze calm, but deep in his mind, that unique "war perspective" had already quietly unfolded.

His vision seemed to be elevated dozens of meters into the air, overlooking a fan-shaped area with a radius of nearly two hundred meters.

The land beneath his feet, the sparse shrubs, the jagged rocks, and the hundred green dots behind him representing the farmers under his command are all clearly reflected in this "God's-eye view".

Above the light spot floated a loyalty value, mostly fluctuating between 60 and 65, carrying an air of unease and confusion.

Beyond this clear view lies a thick, inky "fog of war," obscuring unknown dangers.

"Follow me, don't fall behind, and don't make a sound!"

Li Zhongren gave the order in a low voice, but what the farmers didn't know was that even though they couldn't hear it, the voice would still enter their minds, and they wouldn't have any strange reaction; they would just feel that everything was natural.

This is a group telepathic command ability unlocked after loyalty exceeds 60, which allows commands to be transmitted to every individual.

While it's still far from being a micro-management perspective, for the military, this capability is practically a bug.

He quickly scanned the edge of the fog ahead from his "first-person perspective".

Suddenly, at the edge of clear vision, near a patch of low thorns, several extremely faint red outlines, representing a potential threat, flashed by!

"stop!"

A thought command can be transmitted instantly.

The hundred farmers stopped abruptly, as if a pause button had been pressed, holding their breath and looking nervously at their centurion.

There's a nest of poisonous snakes ahead.

Li Zhongren said calmly that he could have bypassed it, but seeing is believing. Letting these farmers know that he has special abilities would better increase their loyalty.

"A poisonous snake??" "What do we do then?"

Soon, the farmers began to whisper among themselves.

Alright, everyone be quiet. Now, follow my instructions.

Soon, Li Zhongren issued a series of orders.

Retreat so as not to disturb the swarm of venomous snakes.

Search for wood and hay, especially dead trees with resin, around the area where the snakes are located, forming a thick wall of fire more than three meters wide.

Finally, flames rose up.

Everyone step back.

Li Zhongren gave another order.

With the combination of tree sap and dry grass, the flames quickly ignited.

From a wartime perspective, Li Zhongren could clearly see that the snakes were writhing frantically, but faced with the scorching flames exceeding three meters in height, most of them only managed to crawl a short distance before losing their ability to move and ultimately turning into roasted spicy strips.
After removing the charred parts, the remaining snake meat allowed the hundred people to enjoy a delicious meal.

Then they continued on their journey.
Upon entering the edge of the Misty Forest, the light suddenly dimmed, towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, and twisted vines and slippery moss covered the ground.

The journey became extremely difficult, with every step potentially leading to a trap or alerting unknown creatures.

But Li Zhongren is like an experienced guide, and also like a player playing a high-difficulty real-time strategy game.

His perspective on war is like a searchlight, rapidly scanning through the fog.

"Ten steps to the left, go around that seemingly flat patch of moss, there's a mud pit underneath!"

"Don't go near that half-rotten giant tree to your right. Its roots are unstable and it could fall at any moment!"

"Stop! There's something moving in the bushes fifteen meters ahead... It's a large wild boar, wait for it to pass!"

"Look over there, the fungi under the dead tree are edible and non-toxic. Send five people to collect them!"

Every accurate warning and instruction saved the team from unnecessary casualties and exhaustion.

As the farmers munched on the bland but filling mushrooms they had gathered, their gazes toward Li Zhongren shifted from trust to awe.

This "Wild Grass 78" seems to truly possess the guidance of the forest god! Its loyalty has been steadily increasing, generally reaching over 70.

On the third day, as the team ventured deeper into the forest along an ancient riverbed strewn with gravel, a deep red silhouette, the size of an adult bull, suddenly burst into Li Zhongren's perception range at the edge of the fog from a wartime perspective!
It moved with incredible speed, exuding a strong sense of malice and ferocity, and charged straight at the flank of the team!

In that instant, Li Zhongren activated war mode, and the flow of time in the entire world slowed down instantly.

He then realized that what was coming was a wild beast, no, it should be a magical beast.

The so-called magical beasts are wild animals that have evolved extraordinary powers by consuming extraordinary items.

It is at the top of the wilderness food chain.

The one in front of us looks like a leopard.

Its fur is as black as night, its four claws are as sharp as knives, and its fangs gleam with a cold light.

The brave wins when we meet on a narrow road.

Li Zhongren didn't think much more about it and directly began to control the farmers with his mind.

From a wartime perspective, every move of the leopard is broken down and predicted.

"First row on the left, spikes!"

The control is precise down to the individual level.

Almost instinctively, a farmer holding a crooked short spear thrust the spear into a seemingly empty spot, following the instructions in his mind.

"Pfft!"

The spear tip sent a stinging sensation as it pierced flesh, accompanied by the leopard's painful roar!
It just so happened to pounce on that spot and was stabbed in the forelimb joint!
"Second row from the right, throw! Target the head!"

Several chipped axes and heavy stones flew out with a whoosh, and as time slowed down, Li Zhongren could clearly see their flight paths.

The leopard instinctively dodged to avoid its head, but was struck hard in the waist and hip by a rock, causing it to freeze in mid-air.

"Scatter! Get out of its attack range!"

Like puppets on strings, the farmers narrowly avoided the leopard's furious pounce under Li Zhongren's micro-management; its sharp claws only tore through the air and a few pieces of its hide.

The battle turned into a brutal war of attrition.

The leopard is extremely fast and powerful, its claws flashing, and every attack carries a deadly threat.

However, with the combined effects of Li Zhongren's war perspective and the slowing down of time, it seems to be caught in an invisible spider web.

Under his absolute control, the farmers clumsily but precisely executed every command: perfectly timed parries, perilous dodges, and opportunistic thrusts and throws.

The leopard's wounds multiplied, its fur was stained red with blood, and its movements became noticeably slower.

Its eyes were filled with rage and a hint of incredulous fear.

If it could speak, it would surely say, "How could these frail 'foods' be so troublesome?!"
"Chance!"

A cold glint flashed in Li Zhongren's eyes.

He took action himself the moment the leopard's movements became distorted due to excessive blood loss, and its pounce missed, revealing a huge opening!

He charged out like an arrow released from a bow, pouring all his strength into the chipped old knife in his hand. With precise control of the decelerated time, he stabbed it into the depths of the leopard's gaping maw, which was wide open by its roar, at an incredibly tricky angle!
The shrill howl came to an abrupt end.

The leopard's massive body convulsed violently before it collapsed to the ground, dark red blood mixed with fragments of its internal organs gushing from its mouth.

Dead silence.

Only heavy breathing echoed through the forest. One hundred farmers, almost all wounded, yet none dead! Their gazes changed drastically as they looked at the massive carcass of the monster on the ground, then at Li Zhongren standing beside it, covered in blood but unharmed.

Fanaticism! Worship! Unwavering devotion!

Loyalty levels skyrocketed like a rocket!

Most of them broke through 75, and some even reached 80!

After being tempered by blood and fire and achieving miraculous victories, this team was no longer a mob, but had begun to take shape as a truly cohesive force.

Elite unit defeated: Shadowclaw Leopard.

[Gain experience points.]

[Redeem attribute points: 3 points in Strength, 5 points in Agility]

[Skill Extraction: Wind Whisper and Smell (Passive)] Allows the user to sense scents in the air, regardless of distance, wind direction, or wind speed changes.

A warm current flowed into his body, and Li Zhongren immediately felt that his physical condition had undergone a complete transformation, which was indescribable. However, he felt like a weakened version of the Shadow Claw Leopard!

"Hey"

Li Zhongren touched his nose, feeling as if he had inexhaustible energy, and his nose could smell even more scents.
"This is the power that comes from killing."

Although he knew that attribute point increases had a diminishing returns effect, meaning that the stronger you were, the fewer attribute points you could gain, he believed that by accumulating small gains, he could eventually build himself into a human-shaped Gundam.

At that time, the world was so vast, he could go wherever he pleased.
(End of this chapter)